William Evans

He'd slept in the Bar so he didn't come in while feeling odd from that lady Connie's cigarette and convinced Mark to take the medicine from that man Reno. It seemed to help enough that the next day, they were both sent to school. Their mother gave William a hard look since he hadn't gone in a while.

Things weren't too bad until around lunchtime, one of the older boys had a newspaper that was talking about Wade's latest job, another Southern Pacific payroll. He looked over to William and said, "When's your Ma goin' to marry Wade? Hear he's been sendin' you money."

By the time the words were out of Sam Worthington's mouth, William was punching him.

They knocked over desks and each other, William tasted blood and heard his shirt rip before the teacher pulled them apart.

She made William write lines for the rest of the day, but he still knew there'd be trouble when he got home. There had been rumors of what might have happened in Contention since William came home with Dan's body, most folks just didn't say what they were thinking aloud.

After school, William and Mark took their time riding home and William stayed in the stable, "Tell Ma I'm just finishin' up some chores. I'll be in soon."

"She'll know something's wrong."

"I know, but just go on," William said as Mark sighed and left.