able to fend off the attacks, yes, but these people can't hope to fight the undead by themselves."
"They watched us do it enough to get the idea," Cora said, shifting her weight and glancing through the front door. They were wasting time that Ben might not have to waste. If Father Baez wouldn't leave, she would have to go back alone, and the odds would be against her.
"I'm sorry, Mrs Oglesby, but I can't come with you," Father Baez said. "My place is here."
Cora looked into his dark eyes, gauging his resolve. Finally, she nodded. "All right, then, I'm going back by myself."
Surprise filled the priest's face. "You can't be serious. Nobody can hope to survive a vampire nest after nightfall."
"Maybe I'm just that crazy," Cora said. "All I know is I ain't leaving Ben in that nest by his lonesome." Without waiting for a reply, she marched down the hall toward the door. Near the entryway, a staircase led to the second story of the house. Cora took the steps two at a time, then threw open the door to the guest room where she and Ben were staying. She pulled their traveling trunk from its place in the corner, undid the latches, and began digging through their supplies. She grabbed a spare crucifix and tucked it into her belt. A few more vials of holy water, a handful of garlic cloves, and she was ready.
She snapped the clasps closed and shoved the trunk back toward the corner. Dropping the vials and cloves into her belt pouch, she turned and thundered back down the stairs. The outside air was cool on her face. She grabbed the mare's reins and swung into the saddle.
As she turned Our Lady toward the road, a shape darted through the evening shadows toward the farmhouse door. More figures appeared, following the first with frightening speed. In the dim light, Cora could just make out the stooped forms of men on all fours. Before she could draw her pistol, they disappeared into the house.
Screams and shouts began echoing from the interior. Cursing, Cora jumped out of the saddle and landed running. She drew her revolver as her boots pounded up the porch stairs and into the house. One of the vampires crouched in the hallway, hissing at something through the kitchen door. The big Colt's thunder filled the entryway. Charging through the cloud of smoke, Cora took aim at the vampire's head and fired again. The gray lips fell silent, and she rounded the corner into the kitchen, revolver at the ready.
Father Baez stood a few paces back from the doorway, pointing a crucifix toward her. Behind him, the farmer and his wife stood with their backs to her, crosses pointing outward. Two small children clung to the woman's dress, their frightened eyes peering out from the protective ring of adults.
"By the grace of God," Father Baez said, crossing himself.
"I'm here, Father," she said. "Stay sharp. There's more vampires about."
Father Baez nodded, his eyes searching the ceiling while Cora loaded fresh rounds into her revolver. The pounding of running feet began shaking the walls, the sound moving from over their heads toward the stairs. The clicking of the Colt's hammer was lost amid the cacophony, but the big gun's roar deafened them all when she opened up on the first monster that charged through the doorway. The silver bullet punched through the creature's skull, blowing it backward into the body of its fallen comrade.
Behind her, she heard a shout from the farmer. She whirled around in time to see another vampire standing near the kitchen table, hissing at the raised crosses. Yelling at them to get down, she took aim at the creature's chest. The couple dropped to the floor, the mother grabbing her children and pulling them down with her. Another flame erupted from the revolver's barrel, and the vampire sprawled across the table, limbs dangling.
The rumble of the gunshots faded, and the house fell into an uneasy silence. Sobs came from the youngest child, a girl no older than five, as she hid her face in her mother's dress. Father Baez placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. The farmer stood up, eyes searching every corner of the kitchen as he raised his cross.
Cora's pulse pounded in her ears. She caught Father Baez's eye and nodded. The priest returned the nod, fingering his crucifix. Turning on her heel, she stepped into the hallway. Her free hand pulled the crucifix from her belt as