The next days and hours were spent in mostly silence. Rosa and I didn’t speak of the fawn, or the men she’d killed. Our silence helped keep our pursuers off our back, but the truth of it was exhaustion—both mental and physical—stayed her tongue.

  Relief filled me like a flask when the capital came into sight. It was unlike any city I knew of. Even Crescent City paled in comparison. Sprawling streets and multi-story buildings—it looked like how people described London or some of the old country cities. Just rows of tall, opulent buildings extending endlessly in an architect’s wet dream.

  Hard to miss structures so large.

  As we entered, I could already spot a handful of them with big, white columns that looked like they were designed to hold something aloft, but as it was with any government, it was all a facade. Monuments to gear-grinding order.

  Unlike my home, these were the giant, beautiful edifices that acted as landmarks instead of churches. And wouldn’t you know it, as we strolled through the downtown streets, they were lined with bona fide electric streetlamps that bathed everything in jaundiced light, each one blazing like a thousand candles. Made the gloomy dusk look like midday.

  Makes you wonder what Heaven and Hell are really fighting over. Did they even notice us pawns down here, defying nature itself?

  That said, there was more greenery and parks than I’d ever have expected. Like the inhabitants were trying to preserve nature too. As if freshly trimmed grass, pathways, and ornamental trees had anything to do with that.

  These people wouldn’t know real nature if it bit them on the rear. All these bootlicking sycophants sucking at the teat of the feds, strutting around in their hundred-dollar suits and timepieces. It made my skin crawl. Everyone was in a rush, going this way or that, as though if they were late, the whole country would crumble.

  Joke’s on them—we didn’t spare them a thought out west. Their law or their order. Hogwash and bullshit.

  I guess it was easier to pretend life has meaning when you’re strolling down paved streets, living in houses with indoor plumbing, or sleeping in buildings so tall, a wolf can’t roam in. When you don’t gotta hunt for food or travel to the creek for fresh water. These soft people probably didn’t even know what a drought was.

  Ace always used to say that one day the States would look like this coast to coast. Weaklings in suits never knowing what it is to fear the open and the dark. That it was our job out west to get rich and fat enough before the grid laid out on top of the cacti and the cracked dirt and buried us outlaws with ’em.

  Hate saying that he was probably right.

  It was then that Rosa uttered her first full sentence in days.

  “This is it…?” she muttered down to me, reminding me about what was important as I walked her horse down the sidewalk. Too long watching all these worker bees in judgment and I might sound too much like Ace.

  Rosa didn’t seem enthused. Wasn’t sure she could these days, regardless.

  There was turmoil brewing in her. How could I expect any less? I’d spent so long either belly through the brush, or following orders to hunt down Lucifer’s minions, I hardly registered how horrific this life would be to a human.

  The worst part was, as we delved into the belly of the governmental beast, an inking crept into my mind that was more frightening than being chased. What if our journey from Golden River had gone so smoothly because they wanted us here?

  But which they? And why?

  Here we were at the end of the road, no more land east of us. Just a great big ocean. All our cards were on the table. Either we had to be laying down a flush, or were we about to lose it all on a bluff.

  “Give me mountains and the range any day,” I said, hoping to keep things lighthearted.

  “It smells foul here.”

  I glanced up. Rosa had her head resting sideways on the horse’s neck, wearing a look of disgust.

  “It’s just new.”

  I didn’t have the heart to tell her it was likely us who stank, not them.

  She’d lost interest in bathing after my rejection, and where we’re from, you were more likely to shit in a hole and bury it than anything else. Who knew what sort of fancy cleaning apparatuses had been invented for folks lucky enough to live in this here cradle of civilization.

  “We should find somewhere for you to rest,” I offered.

  She stopped the horse. “I’ve rested enough.”

  “I don’t think it counts when—”

  “Where’s Chapelwaite?”

  Her tone cut the crisp air. She sat up straight, glaring down at me with reddened eyes. I’d seen people infected by plague, and she shared their rough, sickly appearance. Hard to call a woman with her complexion pale. It was more like her color had been sapped away.

  “I don’t have the slightest clue,” I admitted. “Step one was getting here.”

  “Perfect. So, what? Are we supposed to go banging on doors?”

  “You got a better idea?”

  Her lips pursed.

  “Thought so,” I said. “Here, I’m as blind as you are, Rosa.”

  Now, she sighed audibly. “A Black Badge without a plan. Is that always the case?”

  “We’re improvisors.”

  If she thought she could ruffle my feathers, she picked the wrong topic. Plans were for politicians and generals, and I figured they had enough of those kind ’round these parts. Shar provided so few particulars when it came to the White Throne’s targets, I’d gotten used to just going in blind and reacting. Same with Ace and the Scuttlers, honestly. He cooked the meal all in his head and rarely divulged the ingredients. We were all just onion skins, easily thrown away. Scrapping to survive.

  “I swear, men couldn’t find their dicks if they weren’t jammed between their legs,” Rosa said. “Willy was the same.”

  “God rest his soul.” I thought respect for him might brighten her mood. It didn’t.

  “Fuck God.”

  “Rosa!”

  “What? Isn’t that what this is all about? Get me a mirror, I’ll say it right to his face.”

  “It’s one thing to think it, but blaspheming out loud? That might make it tough to hide.”

  Rosa scoffed. “Wasn’t the point of coming here so we didn’t have to hide?” Her voice rose to a shout. “Well, here we are. Let’s start asking around for Chapelwaite until he tells us everything. Otherwise, aquí estoy, dios o el diablo. Whoever’s listening.”

  I reached up to place my hand over hers. She had the horse’s mane gripped so tight, her knuckles blanched.

  “Don’t.” She pulled away. In that instant, the rage that creased her features diminished, and again, she looked like a ghost, pale and fragile. “Please don’t.”

  “Fair enough,” I said, letting her harshness run over me like a cold winter breeze. I could endure her need to let out steam. Better than bottling it up and exploding again.

  I took in the sights, looking for anything that might get us started. On the corner of an intersection, a kid in dirty clothes and a neat little hat stood holding a stack of newspapers that read EXTRA as a headline. I headed his way.

  If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  “Excuse me, son. You happen to know where we could find the US Marshals Headquarters?”

  The young man looked at me like I had broccoli growing out of my scalp. He turned away, shouting about the day’s stories like he hadn’t even heard me.

  “Well, screw me sideways, then,” I said to nobody.

  I hailed down a fellow making postal deliveries and got the same treatment. He snapped the reins faster than a prairie fire with a tailwind. I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised, me all dressed up like a grubby bandit out of these people’s worst nightmares.

  “You’re about as smooth as a donkey’s ass, James,” Rosa said. She hopped down and handed me the horse’s reins. Her legs didn’t wobble from exertion, which was a good sign that maybe she wasn’t lying, and she was sufficiently rested, despite her appearance.

  What happened next was one of the strangest things I’d ever witnessed, and I was a demon-slaying Hand of God. Rosa approached a man sitting on a bench. He wore a pinstriped suit, with a hat to match. Well-dressed, clean shaven, thick spectacles. Calling him handsome would be a massive stretch though. He had the figure of a thumb, and a balding head to boot. Which meant he probably wasn’t used to being the attention of someone as beautiful as Rosa. He was reading one of the crier boy’s papers while puffing on a cigarette.

  Rosa sat directly beside him and gently wrinkled the paper with a lithe finger, pulling it down to make eye contact. She batted her lashes. The Rosa I knew could seduce the Pope out of his hat and robes, but she earned the same disgusted glare from him which I’d gotten from the others.

  She couldn’t even get a word out.

  “Do you mind?” he asked bluntly.

  She slid closer. “Please, handsome, I need some help.”

  He groaned and slapped a nickel down on the bench. “Here. Now bother someone else.” He snapped and folded the paper, stood, and stormed off with two fingers holding his nose, grumbling under his breath about filthy beggars.

  Rosa’s jaw dropped.

  After I turned down her advances back at camp, I dared not say a word. I couldn’t imagine how she was feeling, being rejected by a thumb in a suit.

  “Shut up.”

  “I didn’t say a word,” I said.

  “You were thinking it.”

  Her hands may have been balled into fists, but I noticed the flash of a smirk on her lips. Good. Maybe her cracking mind was stronger than I thought.

  “Maybe, next time, we don’t ask politely,” she said.

  Rosa’s art of seduction failing so spectacularly was a sign of just how far outside of our element we were. Kindly asking to be invited into the headquarters of a government division clearly wasn’t as simple as scheduling a meeting with the local sheriff. Who knew how many people even knew where to find such a thing in a city this big.

  Hiding got us here safely, but asking around was gonna mussy up the ant mound. So, I had an idea.

  “Impolitely works,” I said. “You’re a genius, Rosa.”

  “What?”

  Taking charge was a new thing for me, but Rosa was right. For obvious reasons—like Death on our heels—we didn’t have time for searching and wading through restrictions. Chapelwaite had apparently become an important man. Important men hid behind aides and waiting rooms.

  There are two kinds of monsters when you boil it down. It’s that simple. There are those you go after, and those you draw to you. We’d spent so long running, I’d forgotten the advantage we had over every bootlicker in this wretched sand pile—I was a fucking outlaw.

  “You wanted a plan, and now I’ve got one,” I said.

  We couldn’t pretend to be civilized folk like this. I’d embrace what we were and bring the answers right to us.

  “Care to fill me in?” she asked.

  I shook my head. “You might not like it.”

  “Probably because I’m smart.”

  “Just trust me.”

  Without asking, I grabbed her by the hips, then lifted her onto the horse. She had no time to protest. Clicking my tongue, I got the creature moving briskly. Rosa hastily grabbed the reins so she didn’t slide off the horse’s rump. If she wanted a man of action, I could grant her that. Was about all I was good for anyhow.

  She needed direction to control her chaotic thoughts. That was what Shar had always done with me when I strayed, or when my doubts got the better of me and I began to question my very existence.

  Gimme a big job to do. Make me think it’s important and that I was changing a damn thing. Only difference between me and the angels? I wouldn’t be lying.

  I moved us along at a steady pace down the busy avenue. Carts and carriages marched along. Befittingly, they looked like little ants, darting wherever they were going. It was almost night, and men in suits were still busy with meetings over dinner and drinks. Businessmen or politicians, I couldn’t say. I could only imagine the types of deals being made, or what land out west these cheese dicks had never laid eyes upon was being bought and sold.

  And the construction… It was everywhere. Wooden scaffolding taller than any steeple I’d ever known towered to my left and right. You’d have thought Rosa and I hadn’t just crossed hundreds of miles of open land, everyone was so eager to cram together. I don’t know what they were all so afraid of missing.

  All the people were too focused on their next step. It truly boggles the mind how anyone could live like this. Never a moment to take a deep breath, look off, and admire the view. Always working. Always moving.

  Eventually, when we were forced to stop to avoid two men carrying a large pane of glass across the street, Rosa hopped off the horse and grabbed me by the collar. I’d gotten so lost in the hubbub, she startled me. The reins slipped through my fingers, and just like that, we had no horse. The beast took off, barreling into a man riding a bicycle—stupid-looking things, they are—and causing him to tumbled into a puddle.

  The man shouted something fierce, though I barely heard him.

  “Christ on a cactus, Rosa. What did you go and do that for?” I did my best not to shout.

  “Tell me what your big idea is!” she hissed. “I am not—”

  “I told you, it was your idea, not mine.” I stood firm. “I asked you to trust me.”

  Her fiery glare returned. Lord save the first of our enemies to cross us next.

  “Well, now we’re on foot. Aren’t we?” I wanted to kick dirt, but goddammit, there was nothing except paved roads. Instead, I sucked at my teeth, and said, “Here’s what I need you to do. Go in there and get yourself a gut warmer.” I pointed to a saloon at the corner of the block just behind us. If that’s what they even call it here. The door had glass with words printed on it, and inside, there were tables covered in white linen—not a whore in sight.

  “That ain’t part of the plan,” I said, “but you damn well need it.”

  “Then what?” She didn’t argue. Lucky her. At least she could still paint her nose to take the edge off, unlike me who had a habit of playing make-believe with three fingers of whiskey.

  “Then you’re gonna watch me.” I handed her my rifle. “No matter what I do, I want you to watch me and follow exactly where they take me.”

  “Who?” she asked, cautiously taking the weapon.

  “Keep your distance, and don’t do anything even after they take me. Just watch wherever we are, stay out of sight, and if Ace or the Horsemen happen to arrive, well… hats off to them.”

  My eyes were drawn to her hands, which had caused so much damage on our journey, hoping she’d catch my drift.

  “Would you just tell me what the plan is?”

  “Simple. I’m going fishing. For federal marshals.”

  “James…”

  I ignored her and took a step onto the street.

  Rosa tried to stop me. It was good to see her acting right again. I turned around, and it was indeed her. The real her. Her face was brew of confusion and concern, and caring was one of her strongest suits.

  Smiling, I said, “Trust me, and let me do what I do, Rosa. Okay?”

  She chewed on her lip. “I’m sorry, James. For… every—”

  “Apologizing is for shit-heels. You’ve got nothing to be sorry for. Hell, you’re handling all this better than I ever did becoming a Black Badge. Now, just sit tight, and keep an eye on me, you hear?”

  She nodded. “Give ’em hell, cowboy.” She adjusted my collar, then gave me a gentle push on my way.

  “Out of sight,” I reminded her over my shoulder. “Remember, they can’t hurt me.”

  Once again, I wondered if someone wanted us here. We’d only stopped because of those glass men, and it just so happened we were across the avenue from the grandest, whitest building I’d seen yet in the city. A sweeping staircase led up to a grand colonnade designed to look like a Roman temple. Above it, a dome towered over the entire city, wrapped in yet more pretentious columns. And at the very top sat a bronze statue of a woman in a ridiculous-looking flowing robe.

  You don’t design a building like that to fill it with nobodies. Thing was like a great big stamp of power. A park filled with perfectly arranged trees lay between it and me. I crossed the manufactured nature until I neared a stone plaza loaded with parked carriages and propertied city folk milling about.

  I must have looked like the Devil stalking through. A few noticed and murmured, so used to their pleasantries, though they didn’t panic. Men at arms at the foot of the stairs stirred. Not officers—soldiers in their Union blues.

  There are monsters everywhere, you see. On these civilized streets as well as my badlands. You can put on a swanky outfit and wax your mustache, but they’re there all the same.

  Here, the monsters weren’t goat-men Nephilim or demons or werewolves; they were men like me. I didn’t give these soldiers—who likely hadn’t seen action since the war—or these men who’d been born to silver spoons, an extra second to realize what was about to go down.

  Quick as a whip, I looped my lasso around the necks of three—what I presumed to be politicians. Then I put my back into yanking them toward me. They staggered in a cluster, tripping over one another like bumbling idiots. When the rope went slack, I wrapped it around my forearm, and aimed both Peacemakers at two of their heads. Screams of terror like a goddamn orchestra. It sounded like Heaven to my ears. Someone had to disturb all this peace. Someone had to remind these people how the world really was. And by golly, I think I was just the fucking guy to do it.

  “I’m looking for Marshal Chapelwaite!” I shouted.

  One of my captives—I’m gonna call him droopy drawers since he already lost his insides in the form a big pile of shit—responded in a shriek, “I don’t know who that is!”

  “Someone will.”

  I fired a shot into the sky then returned my aim. That really stirred the pot, which was why I had no intention of letting Rosa in on it. If bullets started flying, I could handle it. If she lost control, well… half the senators in the capital might have wound up incidentally vaporized.

  “Put your gun down!” a voice bellowed.

  “Lower your weapon!” another echoed.

  “Make me,” I retorted, turning my guns on them.

  Two soldiers converged on me. I could tell they were shocked. An act as brazen as this just straight up didn’t make sense. It was suicide for anyone capable of dying. It’d sure get those greasy gears of government grinding though.

  “Marshal Chapelwaite!” I demanded. “I know he’s in the city. I want him here, now.”

  “Please, don’t hurt us,” droopy drawers begged.

  “I don’t wanna kill anybody.” That was true. “But I will if I have to.” Also true.

  If Rosa was at her wit’s end with everything, I was damn near close. Win the hand or bust.

  Ace had Chapelwaite under his spell. That I knew for sure. I also knew that neither would ever see this coming.

  Why?

  Because it was exactly what Ace Ryker would do.