Denver Outlaws Shirt: The Ultimate Guide to Sports Apparel and Fan Gear

How does the Denver Outlaws shirt represent lacrosse culture. What makes high school apparel significant for team spirit. Why is college fan gear essential for alumni and students. How do sports jerseys connect fans with their favorite teams.

The Legacy of Denver Outlaws Lacrosse

The Denver Outlaws, a professional lacrosse team, has left an indelible mark on the sport’s landscape. Founded in 2006 as part of Major League Lacrosse (MLL), the Outlaws quickly became a dominant force in the league. Their success on the field translated into a passionate fanbase, with their iconic jerseys becoming a symbol of Denver’s lacrosse pride.

The team’s official uniform jersey, featuring the number 1 on both front and back, represents more than just a piece of athletic wear. It embodies the spirit of competitive lacrosse and the dedication of players who have donned the Outlaws’ colors. These jerseys, typically available in adult sizes like Large and XL, have become coveted items for fans and collectors alike.

The Significance of Jersey Number 1

In sports, jersey numbers often carry special meaning. The number 1 on the Denver Outlaws jersey could signify:

• The team’s aspiration to be first in the league
• A tribute to the fans, considering them the team’s primary support
• A representation of unity, with all players working as one unit

This symbolic number adds an extra layer of significance to the jersey, making it more than just a piece of sports memorabilia.

High School Apparel: Fostering School Spirit and Unity

High school apparel plays a crucial role in shaping the identity and culture of educational institutions. From sports jerseys to school-branded clothing, these items serve multiple purposes beyond mere fashion statements.

How does high school apparel impact the school community? It creates a sense of belonging and pride among students, faculty, and alumni. When students wear their school colors or logos, they visually represent their institution, fostering a strong sense of unity and school spirit.

High school sports apparel, in particular, holds special significance. It not only identifies athletes as part of a team but also rallies support from the entire school community. The Coyote Lacrosse team, representing multiple high schools in Boulder County, Colorado, exemplifies this concept of unity through shared apparel.

The Role of Booster Clubs in Supporting High School Athletics

Booster clubs, like the Coyote Lacrosse Booster Club, play a vital role in supporting high school athletics. These non-profit organizations:

1. Raise funds for team equipment and uniforms
2. Organize events to boost team morale
3. Provide financial assistance for travel expenses
4. Support academic initiatives for student-athletes

By auctioning items like the Denver Outlaws jersey, these clubs can generate necessary funds while offering fans unique memorabilia.

College Fan Gear: A Testament to Alma Mater Pride

College fan gear serves as a powerful connection between students, alumni, and their alma maters. These items go beyond mere clothing or accessories; they represent a shared experience, fond memories, and ongoing support for the institution.

Why do people continue to wear college fan gear long after graduation? It’s a way to maintain a connection with their college years, display pride in their educational background, and support their school’s athletic programs. College fan gear often becomes a lifelong staple in many wardrobes, worn during game days, alumni events, or casual outings.

The Economic Impact of College Fan Gear

The college fan gear market is a significant economic force. It generates revenue for:

• Educational institutions through licensing fees
• Local businesses in college towns
• Sports apparel manufacturers
• Online and brick-and-mortar retailers

This economic impact underscores the importance of college fan gear beyond its sentimental value.

Sports Jerseys: More Than Just Team Uniforms

Sports jerseys, like the Denver Outlaws lacrosse jersey, hold a special place in fan culture. They serve as a tangible connection between fans and their favorite teams or players. Wearing a jersey allows fans to feel part of the team, sharing in its victories and defeats.

How do sports jerseys impact fan engagement? They create a visual representation of support, fostering a sense of community among fans. In stadiums or arenas, a sea of team jerseys creates an impressive display of unity and enthusiasm. This visual impact can even influence the morale of players on the field.

The Collectible Value of Sports Jerseys

Many sports jerseys, especially those associated with significant players or historic moments, become valuable collectibles. Factors affecting a jersey’s collectible value include:

1. The player’s reputation and achievements
2. The team’s success during the season
3. The rarity of the jersey design
4. Whether the jersey was game-worn or autographed

Collectors often view these jerseys as investments, with some rare pieces fetching substantial sums at auctions.

The Rise of Vintage and Retro Sports Apparel

In recent years, there’s been a surge in popularity for vintage and retro sports apparel. This trend extends to high school, college, and professional team gear, with fans seeking out classic designs and logos from past decades.

Why has vintage sports apparel become so popular? It taps into nostalgia, allowing fans to connect with the history of their favorite teams. Vintage designs often feature unique color schemes, logos, or typography that stand out in today’s market. Additionally, wearing vintage gear can be seen as a way of demonstrating long-standing loyalty to a team.

Authenticity in the Vintage Market

With the rise in demand for vintage sports apparel, authenticity has become a crucial concern. Buyers should be aware of:

• The differences between authentic vintage items and modern reproductions
• Common signs of wear and aging in genuine vintage apparel
• Reputable sellers and authentication services
• The importance of provenance in determining an item’s value

Understanding these factors can help collectors make informed decisions when purchasing vintage sports apparel.

The Intersection of Fashion and Sports Apparel

Sports apparel has transcended its original purpose, becoming a significant part of contemporary fashion. High-end designers and streetwear brands frequently collaborate with sports teams and leagues to create unique, fashion-forward pieces that appeal to both sports fans and style enthusiasts.

How has this fusion of sports and fashion impacted the apparel industry? It has led to:

1. Increased visibility for sports brands in non-athletic contexts
2. New revenue streams for teams and leagues
3. A blurring of lines between athletic wear and everyday fashion
4. Greater emphasis on design and aesthetics in sports apparel

This trend has expanded the market for sports-related clothing, reaching consumers who may not be traditional sports fans.

Sustainability in Sports Apparel

As environmental concerns become more prominent, the sports apparel industry is increasingly focusing on sustainability. Many brands are now exploring:

• Use of recycled materials in jersey production
• Eco-friendly dyeing processes
• Reduced packaging waste
• Programs for recycling old jerseys and gear

These initiatives not only appeal to environmentally conscious consumers but also help reduce the industry’s ecological footprint.

The Future of Sports Apparel and Fan Gear

The world of sports apparel and fan gear continues to evolve, driven by technological advancements and changing consumer preferences. Emerging trends in this space include:

1. Smart Fabrics: Jerseys and other sports apparel incorporating technology for performance tracking or enhanced comfort.

2. Customization: Increased options for personalizing jerseys and fan gear, allowing fans to create unique items.

3. Augmented Reality: The integration of AR technology in apparel, potentially allowing fans to access team stats or player information by scanning their jersey.

4. Sustainable Materials: Growing use of eco-friendly fabrics and production methods in response to environmental concerns.

5. Digital Collectibles: The rise of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) representing digital versions of jerseys or other sports memorabilia.

How will these innovations shape the future of sports apparel? They have the potential to create more engaging fan experiences, improve athlete performance, and address environmental concerns associated with apparel production.

The Global Reach of Sports Apparel

As sports continue to gain popularity worldwide, the market for team apparel and fan gear is expanding globally. This growth is driven by:

• Increased international broadcasts of sports events
• The rise of social media allowing fans to connect across borders
• Growing participation in sports in developing countries
• The universal appeal of sports as a form of entertainment and cultural expression

This global expansion presents both opportunities and challenges for sports apparel brands and retailers.

In conclusion, the Denver Outlaws shirt represents just one facet of the vast and dynamic world of sports apparel. From high school team spirit to professional sports fandom, from vintage collectibles to cutting-edge smart fabrics, sports apparel continues to play a significant role in athletic culture, fashion, and fan engagement. As the industry evolves, it will undoubtedly continue to innovate, providing fans with new ways to express their passion and support for their favorite teams and sports.

Denver Outlaws Lacrosse Official Uniform Jersey XL

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This auction item was generously donated by Major League Lacrosse. Up for bid is a brand new Major League Lacrosse Denver Outlaws lacrosse uniform jersey with the number 1 front and back. This is an official jersey in size adult large. See our other auction for official Denver Outlaws lacrosse shorts. All proceeds from this auction go directly to the Coyote Lacrosse Booster Club, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization located in Boulder County, Colorado which provides financial support to the Coyote Lacrosse team that includes student athletes from Monarch, Broomfield, Centaurus, Holy Family, Peak to Peak and Adams County District 12 High Schools. The Coyote Lacrosse Booster Club’s tax exempt ID number is 74-3251477. Winning bidder has the option of picking up the item in the Superior/Louisville area or in downtown Denver with no shipping fee. Shipping and handling cost listed includes USPS First Class mail. Any additional services desired (insurance, tracking number, etc) are at additional cost to purchaser. Sorry, no international sales without advance bidding approval. Payment by PayPal is required for all shipped items. Cash payment accepted for picked up items only. No checks or credit cards. Note: the title of this auction indicates the jersey is a size XL. The item description says Large. It is a Large . I am unable to change

the listing title because a bid has been placed. Sorry for any misunderstanding.
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The Amish Outlaws Straight Outta Lancaster…

If advanced tickets are available for a show, it will say “TICKETS” next to the listing with a link. If it says “NOTIFY ME” then it’s a cover at the door. PRIVATE EVENTS are not open to the public. We do our best to list accurate start and end times. Shows typically run for a two to two and a half hour window from the start time listed on our web site. Occasionally venues advertise longer show times which is beyond our control. Please always feel free to contact us directly to confirm any and all details. Thanks for understanding!

It is a little-known fact that most Amish practice a tradition similar to the Christian “Confirmation” and Jewish “Bar Mitzvah” called “Rumspringa” (literal translation: “running around”) in which Amish children at the age of 16 have an opportunity to live free of the strict Amish code of conduct before deciding if they want to come back and be baptized into the Amish church.

Surprisingly, virtually all of the youths return.

But sometimes they don’t.

Four out of the original six members of The Amish Outlaws were born and raised in Lancaster, PA and had a strict Amish upbringing. No electricity from land lines, no alcohol, no musical instruments, but their spirits were too wild for the Amish lifestyle. Once they trampled in the Devil’s Playground, there was no turning back.

In the years since Rumspringa, the members of the Amish Outlaws have become very well acclimated to the pleasures and vices of the modern world…  music, most of all.

Thus, with a bold lust for life and a fire for music and performance that can only come from 16 years of repression, The Amish Outlaws were unleashed upon the world.

Favorite food: Foie Gras or SPAM.

BROTHER HEZEKIAH X

Lead Vocals

Favorite food: Anything that used to be alive.

BROTHER AMOS DEF

Keyboard/Vocals

Favorite food: A 4 by 4 from In & Out

BROTHER BIG DADDY ABEL

Lead Vocals

Favorite food: Hamburgers
Endorsed by: GHS Strings

BROTHER EAZY EZEKIEL

Bass

Favorite food: Ceviche

BROTHER SNOOP JOB

Guitar/Vocals

Favorite food: Lobster poached in butter

BROTHER JAKOB THE PIPELAYER

Drums

We are regularly asked a lot of questions by people, not just about the weather or the time, but about ourselves. We decided to answer some of them here for the curious folk out there.

1) Are you really Amish?

Well, this all depends on who you ask. Brothers Job, Abel and Jakob are not now and never were Amish (though we do consider them to be “honorary Amish”). The other three Brothers (“from a different mother,” as the saying goes) were raised Amish, however were not baptized as adults in the Amish faith. We are still “Amish,” however, the same way that if an individual raised Catholic or Jewish that is not practicing is still Catholic or Jewish.

2) Is this a joke?

No. This is a joke:

An Amish lady is trotting down the road in her horse and buggy when she is pulled over by a police man. The officer says, “Ma’am, I’m not going to ticket you, but I do have to issue a warning. You have a broken reflector on your buggy.”

She replies, “Oh, I’ll let my husband know as soon as I get home.”

“That’s fine,” the officer replies. “Another thing, ma’am. I don’t like the way that one rein loops across the horse’s back and around his testicles. I consider that animal abuse. That’s cruelty to animals. Have your husband take care of that right away.”

Later that day, the lady is home telling her husband about her encounter with the cop.

“Well, dear, what exactly did he say?”

“He said the reflector is broken.”

“I can fix that in two minutes. Anything else?”

“I’m not sure, something about the emergency brake.”

3) Do you still see your family?

Yes, we do. It is a popular misconception that the Amish shun individuals that decide not to be baptized. That is not true. If an Amish person decides not to be baptized, his or her decision is accepted (though not usually approved of), and the family and community still accept that individual. If you are baptized and then leave the faith or get baptized into another faith, then you will most likely be shunned, but even then, it is a last resort. The Amish believe in forgiveness and will always try to bring an individual back to the faith before shunning him or her. They will also always welcome you back, even after being shunned, as long as you make a confession and apology.

4) What does your family think about what you are doing now?

Speaking for myself (Ezekiel), they are happy for me, because they know I have found something (playing music) that makes me happy and allows me to bring happiness to others. While they are not thrilled that I decided not to be baptized and would rather I was living back in the Amish community, they respect my decision and have never tried to dissuade me from doing what I love to do.

5) Can you drink?

Obviously, yes. If we couldn’t, we would either be dead from dehydration or have to walk around with IVs providing us with the necessary fluids to survive.

6) Can you drive cars?

Yes, we can, though, Brother Hezekiah has a little more trouble with it than most folks. If we were still practicing Amish, we would not be allowed to. HOWEVER, even practicing Amish people can ride in cars and buses but are forbidden to own one. The Amish can ride tractors on the farm though they must have metal tires instead of rubber to prevent them from being used for traveling long distances.

7) Is your beard real?

8) Can I have your hat?

No. We like our hats and need them to cover our heads. We have lost a handful of hats (well, actually more than a handful as a handful of hats would be just one hat) by letting people at shows wear them. Then we are hatless, which is not a good thing, as none of us have good hair. One time, Brother Ezekiel had his hat stolen at a show in New York. He was asked by a young lady in the audience if she could wear the hat, and he obliged, making her promise to return it. She didn’t. The passing of the hat was even captured on camera, shown in this image. If anyone knows where my hat is, I would love to get it back as it had been my hat for over two years, and I miss my hat. I have since obtained a new hat, but it doesn’t fit as well and tends to fall off of my enormous head.

Outlaw read online by Patricia Potter (Page 8)

— Well, Newton started it when he sent for that Indian traitor.

– Both of them go to hell. It was a pretty nice little town. Now I won’t let Carrie drive into town.

One of the men turned around and saw Lobo. The others noticed the change in his expression, and one by one they turned and stared at the stranger, lowering their eyes to his waist. When they saw that there was no revolver at the belt, there was a general sigh of relief. Hostile views became friendly, or at least neutral.

The shop owner approached him.

— How can I help, mister?

— I need a doctor.

— He left to take birth, — said the owner, — and it is not known when he will return.

Lobo did not pay attention to the glances cast at him.

– Maybe then you have some kind of ointment for burns?

Six pairs of eyes stared at his hands.

– Hey, aren’t you the guy who helped Willow Taylor, huh? one asked.

The news spread quickly in Newton. They knew all about the fire, all the details, and Dr. Barclay was sick and tired of building a barn next Saturday.

Damn, Lobo thought, regretting that he had come into town.

“I burned myself on the coffee pot,” he lied. “So what about the ointment?” Also gloves and a shirt.

Interest in him faded immediately. This stranger, apart from his cold stare, looked like any wandering cowboy looking for work. He didn’t even have a revolver.

The purchase did not take long. Lobo carefully counted out the coins, like a man who doesn’t have many. He picked up his purchases and, after taking a few steps, stopped and turned around.

— I heard you mentioned Canton. March Canton?

One of the men looked at him with renewed interest.

– Do you know him? he asked cautiously.

– Heard. What is he doing here?

– Killed a man on Saturday evening. I heard he came to deal with another shooter, Lobo. Do you know him?

– They told me.

– Well, let him try with might and main. I didn’t see anyone like this Canton. The voice was full of admiration mixed with fear. “That would certainly be something to look at. For these two.

— Stopped in the city, mister? another asked. Lobo shrugged vaguely.

— Where is Canton now?

– Must be Gar Morrow’s.

Lobo nodded and left.

— Not too talkative, right? He heard an excited voice behind him.

— I wonder why he should find out about Canton? You don’t think…

— Well, no. And he doesn’t carry a revolver. Also, I heard Lobo is half Indian. There is definitely no Indian blood in this.

Mounting his horse, Lobo curled his lips into a half-grin. And rumors have a good side. But what the hell is Canton doing here?

He always had in mind the possibility that someday they might meet. This thought never bothered him much.

Until now. For some stupid reason, he was now worried. And didn’t know why.

* * *

There was an excited buzz in the classroom. Eton is completely out of the loop. He dipped his pigtails into an inkwell and fired gumballs at Robert.

Tension was also felt throughout the town. After the shooting on Saturday, everyone was waiting to see what would happen next. Judging eyes, curious and pensive eyes all followed Willow, who seemed to be the center of the storm.

After school, while the twins were washing off the boards, she went to see Sullivan, but he wasn’t there. She stood in front of the office, for some reason with a sense of loss. She definitely needed someone to talk to. She hoped that her stranger would show up the previous day and waited for him. But only Sullivan arrived with a cart harness and Willow’s horses. In addition, he went to look for Brady and Jupiter, but they both disappeared somewhere.

Since morning, Willow has been filled with a premonition of something. As she helped Estella prepare breakfast, her hands trembled, and she watched with unusual attention as Sally Sue fed her little brood of chickens. She did not smile, as usual, noticing the special attention paid to the spoiled and ungrateful Brunnhilde.

Everything looked serene, but something ominous was approaching.

All day at school she had the feeling that, as Sullivan had said, the devil knows what was about to break out. Or maybe it was just an acute disappointment that the stranger didn’t show up. She almost called for disaster, as he only seemed to spring from nothing at such moments.

The tension and foreboding that gripped the town resulted in almost a third of her students not showing up at the school, which had grown to nearly forty students—and when she first arrived there were fifteen. It was very difficult to get that many.

In the early months, she wondered out loud why there were so many more boys than girls in the school, until Betty McIntyre informed her that most farmers and ranchers did not feel the need to teach girls anything more than what their mothers could teach them.

For the next eight weeks, Willow spent her rented horse riding from ranch to ranch, persuading parents to send their daughters to school.

That’s how she met Jake.

One Saturday morning she was passing by his house, and he was giving Jupiter water. She was hot and tired, and everything ached from the long ride.

When she explained what she needed, he looked at her curiously and invited her into the house. He has no children, he said, but he often thought …

He faltered, but Willow saw the look of shame and impatience in his eyes and knew what he meant. She’s been through this before. It was quite common that many adults could not read and write. Schools were few and far between, and many families simply did not see the need for teaching.

Jake was grouchy and even rude, but she knew he was just probing her. When he invited her to call again, she realized that she had passed the test. After several visits, he finally confessed what he needed, and several evenings a week she taught him to read and write.

It’s for his wife, he said. She often read the Bible to him, the only book he had. She didn’t care that he couldn’t read, but now he needed the comfort of the Book of Good. It would bring him closer to her, and now that he felt the nearness of old age and death, he felt the need for it.

Willow remembered how she puffed out with pride when he first read the whole sentence. It was worth the time spent on it. But then he seemed to get better, and more and more often he told her about his two friends, Alex and Gare, who now hated each other. He was afraid to die, afraid of what might happen between them, but still he wanted to connect with his wife.

But, he sometimes muttered, Willow could have prevented that, somehow she could have bridged the gap, which he couldn’t. He knew it.

Willow wasn’t convinced. And yet, when he was already dying, she could no more refuse him his last desire than she could refuse to teach him. Like Jake, she felt that there must be a way to keep the peace in the valley.

Now, after the dance, she wasn’t so sure. Some of her confidence vanished the next day when everything went wrong, when her stranger didn’t show up, when Brady and Jupiter didn’t come back, when it didn’t rain again and the vegetable garden thinned out even more.

Nothing improved on Monday, when the town seemed about to explode.

She was no longer sure.

As she rode home with the twins, she looked around the hills in the hopeless hope of seeing the one she now believed was their salvation. He must be around somewhere. She was afraid to think that he had suffered more than it seemed then, or that he had left. She now felt a new void in herself and knew that only he could fill it. So she scanned each hill, squinting her eyes against the glare of the sun.

But she didn’t see him. And she was so alone.

* * *

As before, Lobo heard the approach of the horses long before they showed up.

He returned from the city and took care of his hands, then fastened his belt with a holster. He forced himself not to linger on the road, not to look out for her. He was not a teenager in love, and it was time for him to stop acting like a fool.

He practiced drawing his revolver, knowing how important it was to keep his hands numb. He ignored the pain and was proud that his hands were as fast as ever.

Canton was here! The stakes were rising.

The last time he saw Canton was a few months ago in Denver, which his professional colleague also chose as his base. Unlike Lobo, Canton cared about the impression he made. He always dressed in black and diligently shined a revolver, the notches on the handle of which only a blind man could miss.

Although Canton did not seek skirmishes, he did not try to avoid them either. His presence was always tangible and foreshadowed trouble, being called to a quarrel, Canton always tried to finish what someone else started. “That keeps the reputation going,” he told Lobo, “and the deadlier the reputation, the bigger the payoff. ”

The danger was also greater. But Canton didn’t seem to care. He was a man who enjoyed walking on the edge and didn’t care if it meant death.

Lobo had a different take on this. He never tried to draw attention to himself, but simply did the job. He usually dressed simply, like any other cowboy, because he was not at all attracted to run into a quarrel every time he came to a new place. He was engaged in business and did not consider it necessary to provide his rather rare skill for free.

He did not stop the spread of legends, because they were good for him. When a person is frightened, his hands tremble, fear was an ally in his business.

Since he was an Apache warrior, everyone seemed to think that he should have dark hair and skin, and he did not try to dispel this misconception. Even if people saw him in action, the legends surrounding him remained. He grew taller, darker, more violent. Only when the victim met him face to face and saw light turquoise eyes as cold as death, did she understand who and what she was dealing with. Some in such cases simply fled and then always remained silent. Others who did not run were dead.

Such an existence was extremely empty and lonely, but that was enough for him. Since he never knew any personal affection, he did not really believe in its existence, at least for him. He did not need anyone and did not want anyone – a philosophy that helped him survive. Since he did not believe in tender feelings, they could not embarrass him, he could not miss them. His only goal was freedom – only it gave him satisfaction. Professionalism gave him this freedom, and in addition, which was highly desirable, he was left to himself.

His thoughts were interrupted by the very cautious approach of two riders.

“Mr. Newton wants to see you,” said one. Lobo looked at them coldly.

– I’ll drop by.

“He said just now,” another said nervously.

“I said I’d come,” Lobo frowned, his hand on the revolver, which he put back in its holster. The two looked at each other silently and decided that they valued their lives more than their jobs.

Yes sir, Mr Lobo.

In this forced display of politeness, Lobo raised an eyebrow and his lips curled in derision. He turned his back to them, as if to signify the end of the audience, and listened to the receding clatter of hooves. Let Newton sweat a little. He did not like this guy who fought against women and children, and yet something irresistible kept him from leaving. This boy, Chad, and little Sally Sue, and the woman’s blue eyes kept popping up in front of him. There must be a way for them to leave the ranch on their own, without violence, but judging by how determined the woman was to stay and how Newton was ready for anything, this seemed impossible.

* * *

Only in the evening did he condescend to arrive at Newton’s ranch.

New gloves were on his hands, the sleeve of his shirt concealed swollen red blisters on his forearm. The revolver was drawn to his hip, and his eyes glowed menacingly, as if a fire were burning in their depths.

Newton immediately noticed the change. He had feared the man before, when his eyes were freezing cold, but now they seemed to be the eyes of the devil. But, he tried to tell himself, Lobo was his devil. Lobo noted his fright with a calm sneer. He could see from his face that Newton was annoyed by his refusal to come at the first call.

“By this time I was counting on the result,” Newton said.

“I told you that I would do the work my way,” Lobo replied. – If you want me to leave…

– Will you be able to fulfill it?

— Yes, but in the way I see fit.

– May I ask how? Newton said sarcastically.

— No.

Newton turned purple with rage, but did not dare to protest. Now that Gar Morrow had Canton, Newton needed Lobo more than ever. He was already wondering if he had started something that he would not be able to finish.

“I’m hiring more people,” he blurted out. Lobo shrugged nonchalantly.

– Morrow hired Canton.

– I heard.

– I want you to kill him.

Lobo clenched his jaw.

– That’s not what I was hired for.

– Get another ten thousand. He insulted my daughter…

— Is that enough to kill a man?

— Maybe you are afraid? Newton asked, immediately regretting his words.

“I don’t like you, Newton,” Lobo said after a long, threatening silence. “I’m not sure I want to kill someone for you. I agreed to do one job, and I will do it, but no more. Not for someone like you.

Lobo turned and walked out, leaving Newton trembling with fear and rage.

Chapter 7

Chad looked at the afternoon sun, then at what he had done, and winced.

If Brady did find Jupiter, such a fence would never hold the bull now that the coals from the burning barn had almost burned through the top row of poles.

He fiddled with them all day, trying to replace them with scraps of boards from the fence, which he dragged here, tied to a horse. But he was not able to strengthen them well without someone else’s help, and Estella turned out to be worse than useless.

In the end, Chad decided to haul the boards up with rope and tie them up before nailing them to the posts. He really wanted to finish everything by the time Willow got home. Now that Brady was gone, he wanted to prove he was a man.

Chad didn’t want to leave the ranch. It was the only home he knew, and Willow was the only family he had.

He will protect her without sparing his life.

Chad knew what was happening, although Willow, trying to protect him and others, did not say anything about it. But word spread quickly, and yesterday the twins returned home, almost bursting with excitement, with the news of the mercenaries gathered in Newton. It didn’t take much ingenuity to guess everything. He overheard Dr. Sullivan’s conversation with Willow and heard enough to understand how much Alex Newton wanted the ranch. After spending several years in the saloon, he knew that Newton usually got what he wanted.

Well, he won’t see this ranch. As long as Chad is here.

He was sweating under the hot July sun. In a week, the school will close for several months for the holidays while students help harvest or drive cattle to Denver. Willow will be gardening like last year, if anything else survives. The corn had shrunk completely, the beans were dying.

Chad looked at the fireball in the sky and wiped his forehead on his sleeve. He could use some help, that’s for sure. He again, like the last few days, remembered the tall stranger. He wished he were here. Chad just couldn’t believe he’d gone like that. He was… an omen. Like in Willow’s books.

Chad has never bowed to anyone before. His father was a drunk, as was Brady, and although Brady never hit him, his dad’s favorite pastime was hitting Chad. Chad hated him, hated his tattered clothes, hated the one-room cabin that was always dirty. He hated the saloon where his father made him work instead of sending him to school like other kids. They pushed him, spat on him, slapped him, laughed at him. Then his father died, and the sheriff wanted to send him to an orphanage.

Chad heard about these places and decided he’d better run away from home. He was just about to do it when Willow caught him in her kitchen, gathering food for the journey. He thought that she would be at school, but she finished school early to take her sick child home.

Instead of getting angry or dragging him to the sheriff, she sat him down at the table and fed him hot. She did not scold him, otherwise he would have pushed her away and ran away. She began to ask where he was going to go and how he thought to live on without education.

– I can be a cowboy. They don’t need to read books.

— And how do they know if they are being paid right or if they are being deceived, or if all their cattle are still there?

Chad thought about it. Finally he said:

– I’m too big to go to school. And I’m not going to any shelter.

Willow, whom he then called Miss Willow, was looking at him intently. He was ten years old and small and thin for his age.

“I bet you can learn better than any of them,” she said defiantly.

“I’m not going to school,” he insisted.

— If I teach you here, separately, will you try … will you try to overtake them all?

He accepted the challenge. He will show all these snobs who called him stupid and laughed at the way he was dressed and mocked his father. So he moved in with Miss Willow, and she let him know that he deserved love and affection. He studied very diligently and just as diligently worked in the stable where she arranged him. He loved horses and other animals, although he never had his own. The only time he brought home a kitten, which his father killed, and he never again dared to show interest in animals.

Shortly after Miss Willow took him in, she also took in Sally Sue, then the twins. Her small house was packed to capacity. Then she inherited the ranch and they moved there.

But a lot has changed since then. The fire, which for them was a disaster. The garden that Willow had counted on so much was dying, and old man Newton called bandits here to take the ranch away from them.

Chad tried to put one of the planks up and it started to fall. He grabbed it, stumbled, and a heavy beam fell on his arm. Blood spattered in all directions. He yelled in surprise, and Estella and Sally Sue came running to the scream. Seeing so much blood, both froze. Sally Sue roared, and Estella rushed to Chad.

Chad jumped up and down in pain, holding his hand with his other hand. The blood continued to flow, and the pain cut through him like a sharpened blade. He fell to his knees with the feeling that he was being burned with a red-hot iron.

Everything will be all right, boy.

The sounded voice was deep, confident. A large hand rested on his shoulder. He did not hear the sound of hooves and wondered how this man got here. Oddly enough, the pain subsided a little, as if the power of a stranger was being transferred to him.