Part Two: Chapters 72-74 Summary

On the north bank of the Arkansas River, Wilbargers' horse is waiting when Deets arrives to scout it out. He crosses and, seeing blood on the saddle, backtracks until he finds Wilbarger, badly wounded and too injured to move. He asked for Gus, but only if Gus isn't too busy. Gus convinces Lorie to just stay with the wagon in his absence. She wants to go with Gus instead, but Gus knows that if they can, they'll hunt the men who did this, and he doesn't want to have to watch Lorie at the same time. He rightfully guesses that she's afraid he won't come back, and assures her he wouldn't do that. He asks Dish to look after her, knowing he'll watch her like a hawk, loving her like he does. After setting all of this...