Chapter Two Three Seconds in Hope

The sun had climbed high. The light was white and sharp. Rusk stood at the east end of the street, feet apart, body tipped forward. Jack stood at the west end, left shoulder ahead, right hand hanging loose. His shadow lay beside his boots like a black blade. Sheriff Harlan appeared on the steps of the town office. He was a red-faced heavy man with a star badge on his chest. His hand rested on his holster, but he made no move to stop the duel. Beside him stood a man in a black suit, a gold watch chain hanging from his vest pocket and flashing in the sun. Elias Crowe. It was the first time Jack had seen him. Crowe was in his thirties, clean-shaven, with eyes like hard glass.