Part Three

Card Sharps

"I cannot believe she left without telling me." Ezra said staring at the folded note on his table. It had been left peeking at him through the crack of her front door when he had gone to the Emporium and learnt from the staff there that Julia Pemberton had not been in all day. Deciding to investigate, he went to her house and found the note that had been waiting discovery all day. Upon reading it, Ezra learnt that Julia had taken herself off to Eagle Bend in the small hours of the morning to meet the train that Mary Travis and her company would be taking to Denver. Ezra tried to picture the response her arrival would engender and found a bemused smile stealing across his face with almost involuntary action.

"Miss Julia ain't exactly the most forthcoming woman in the world." Nathan said sympathetically as Ezra complained. "She pretty independent when she wants to be." Nathan pointed out since Ezra should be aware of that more than anyone else in the room.

"I know." Ezra sighed. He had thought himself spared by the absence of female company suffered by most of his friends when Julia had not been invited on the Denver trip. He realized that she had taken the rebuttal badly but Ezra was realistic enough to know that it was no more than she deserved. After all, even Ezra had trouble with accepting how she had behaved towards Alexandra and it had taken his dangling her off a building before he could forgive her for that sin.

"Get over it." Vin grumbled, downing his third drink in the last hour. He was determined to drink as much as he could until the ache for Alex no longer existed. He knew he was being ridiculous pining for her but the last two months with Alex had been as close to heaven as Vin Tanner had ever thought he might find on this earth.

Outside the saloon, the sun had set over the horizon and Four Corners had descended into a curtain of black. Most of the seven were present, however, the atmosphere in the tavern seemed somber instead of lively as it was apt to do at this point in the evening.

"Is that your third Mr. Tanner?" Ezra looked at him critically, knowing Vin usually did not drink so much. The tracker had not voiced his feelings but it was blatantly obvious to everyone present, that he was missing his doctor severely and was drowning his sorrows in the bottom of a whisky glass.

"Ain't that your fourth?" Vin returned such as sharply.

Look at you two." Nathan laughed, offering no comfort because he found the whole scene incredibly amusing. "They ain't been gone for more than a day. You're like a bunch of lovesick cows." The healer could not keep the grin from crossing his face. "Ain't that right Buck?" Nathan asked Buck who was sure to contribute with an equally glib remark.

However, there was no answer.

"Buck?" Nathan looked over his shoulder at the big man who was at the bar drinking.

"She wouldn't even let me say anything." Buck looked up and said but not actually registering anyone in his mind. "She just walked away." J.D. met Nathan's gaze with a helpless shrug, since the young man had been at Buck's side all evening trying to console him that Inez was really coming back. Buck was convinced something awful was going to happen to the sultry bartender that would prevent her from ever returning to Four Corners.

"Oh Christ." Chris Larabee rolled his eyes and wondered how some of the bravest men he knew could go completely to pieces with their women out of town. Sure he missed Mary but in truth, he had to admit he was accustomed to her leaving town.

For both Vin and Ezra, this was the first time they had been apart from their lady loves and it was anyone's guess what was going through Buck's mine about Inez. With Vin, the passion for Alex was new and it did not help that they had spent almost every night together since that first time together. While Vin spoke nothing about his sleeping arrangements, Chris knew Vin had not been spending much time in his wagon. Not to mention that unlike Ezra who was older and had a great deal more experience with women, Vin was a virtual novice at this.

Although Chris relied on Vin like no other in the group, it was easy to forget that Vin was a young man, only a few years ahead of J.D. It was his intelligence and years living in the wilderness that marked him a world of difference from J.D. Still for all his wisdom, Vin was young man who was most likely truly in love for the first time in his life. Chris was not so old that he could not remember how that felt. A small smile crossed his lips when he thought of the damn fool things he did when courting Sarah.

Alex and Vin had been virtually inseparable following the situation with Randall Mason. When he was not at the saloon or performing his duties as one of the lawmen in Four Corners, he was with Alex. Chris had to admit he was surprised at how flawlessly their relationship had progressed. The refined urbanite had surprised Chris with her easy acceptance of everything Vin was. It was not uncommon and did send a few tongues wagging when she went riding with Vin without a horse of her own. She was often seen holding on to Vin as they were tearing out of town on Peso, disappearing for hours at end. Like Mary, Alex ignored the gossip because very little about her was conventional.

"How do you handle being away from the fair Mrs. Travis?" Ezra asked, taking note of the sarcasm in Chris' declaration.

"I handle it fine." Chris said, not wishing to discuss his feelings and threw a dangerous look at Ezra for bringing up the subject. For all the mellowing he might be accused of over the past months, he had not softened that much to tolerate intrusions into his personal life.

"No offence intended." Ezra threw his hands up in the air. "It looks like I shall have to suffer with the rest of you." He glanced in Vin's direction and then at Buck, whom J.D. was still trying to console.

"Ah the love of a woman," Josiah sighed, enjoying this side to his companions. "Nothing finer." The benefit of age had left him with fond memories that kept him warm at nights so he could tolerate the lack of a woman in his life.

However, Josiah's dry wit did allow him to enjoy the struggle endured by his younger friends.

"What about you Nathan?" Ezra said deciding Nathan was probably more accessible about such things than Chris. Besides, it did not seem like anything else was going to be discussed this evening. No one was in the mood for much celebration. The problem with true love was that it did not allow any of them to indulge in the company of working girls or any other soft round form that gave comfort in the night. "How do you tolerate your prolonged distance from Rain?"

"I got my work," Nathan said honestly. "People need looking after so much in town, I ain't got time to think about how much I miss her. But that's the way it is and I got to accept it until I'm ready to settle with her permanent."

"And what do you do when you ain't busy Nathan?" J.D. asked, finally tired of trying to unsuccessfully improve Buck's mood.

"I take a lot of cold showers." He grinned and elicited a round of laughter from everyone, including Chris.

"It seems to me, things were a lot simpler when there weren't so many women in town." The young man replied and drew a stern look form Ezra, Vin and Chris.

Even Buck had looked up long enough from his depression to make comment."Don't even think that, J.D." Buck shuddered. "No women in town?" The big man declared. "There ain't nothing finer that seeing a set of nice, round. ."

"Buck." Josiah warned. "Impressionable youngster in the vicinity?"

"Eyes. I meant eyes." He changed tact quickly.

"Good save Mr. Wilmington." Ezra shook his head with a slight smirk. "I see you've emerged from your melancholy." He looked in Buck's direction.

"Yeah," Buck grumbled. "I have come to a conclusion about Inez." He announced to the others.

The rest of the seven looked on in interest, wondering what gem of knowledge Buck would care to illuminate in their presence. With Buck, it was always entertaining. "We are all ears." Ezra prompted.

Actually, Chris was just in the middle of debating whether this would be a good time to go home while Vin had decided he was not quite drunk enough yet and wanted another drink. Josiah was tending bar so he would have to get the bottle to help Vin reach that end. J.D. was always interested in any nonsense Buck had to say and Nathan listened because he had nothing better to do.

"It's a trap." He said decisively. "She's trying to lasso me in."

"I beg your pardon?" Ezra looked at him blankly.

"Its true." Buck retorted, convinced that his theory was sound even though his companions were staring at him with disbelief. Even J.D. was having a little difficulty swallowing this particular idea.

Nevertheless Buck continued speaking despite his less then enthusiastic response from his comrades in arms. "She's got that nesting instinct. You know the one I mean. The one where they start to get older and the future starts preying on their mind and they think that its time to land a man or else they gonna grow old alone and die. She's playing hard to get, that's all it is." Buck grinned triumphantly. "And there ain't no way Buck Wilmington is gonna fall for it. No one woman is going to catch me in any snare. I'm too smart for her." He met their gaze with a wicked gleam. "As a matter of fact, I'm so over Inez, I'm going to find me some female company. You boys can mope around here if you like but ol' Buck ain't gonna be pining for anyone."

With that, he rose from his seat and strode purposefully out the batwing doors, leaving his friends in stunned silence. It was almost a full minute when someone spoke and surprisingly enough, it was Vin who did.

"You can almost hear the rattling in his head when he walks." The tracker said downing another full glass of whiskey.

"I think Inez has finally wised up to him." J.D. said in the lady's defense. He normally always defended Buck but in this instance he could understand Inez's feelings. J.D. thought highly of Inez and knew she cared deeply for Buck but could not trust him enough to give herself over to him. J.D. would have like to have seen them get together but he did not like the idea of Inez wasting away, hoping that Buck would some day come to his senses while at the same time, going through the women in town like there was no tomorrow.

"I think Inez was always wise to him." Josiah remarked. "She's just never did anything about it until now." The preacher said in his low deep voice. "There comes a point in love when reality must take precedence."

"Where the mind takes control instead of the heart." Ezra agreed. "Inez is a smart woman, much too smart for the likes of Buck."

To that no one could disagree.

It took the women most of the night to reach the town of Stone Creek.

They were tired, aching and worst of all broke, since in their hasty departure from the train, only Inez had the foresight to take Mary's bag and that was because she suspected Sanderson's mysterious package was inside its confines. The town was quiet and dark, with only light emanating from the saloon.

Predictably, at this time of night it was the only place still open for business. Thanks to their lack of funds, a room at the hotel seemed well out of their price range and all four women were starting to get very ornery, besides feeling weary and exhausted from their long hike to town.

The saloon seemed even seamier than the Standish Tavern if such a thing was possible. Everything about the place warned away the presence of women and it was not the sort of establishment that they that should frequent at any time. Unfortunately, they had little choice at the moment since it was the only place that provided some form of cheap lodgings. Before approaching the main entrance of the saloon, it became necessary for the women to take stock of their finances.

"I've got some money in my purse." Mary remarked as she noticed Inez carrying it. "But it's not much. I wired some money to a bank in Denver because I did not want to carry cash." She explained.

"All of mine was in my purse which unfortunately, is still on the train." Alex grumbled. "But I can have Four Corners' bank wire me some money in the morning." She sighed, looking at the saloon with visible distaste at the possibility of having to spend the night there.

"It does not help our situation tonight." Inez pointed out with a similar expression of unhappiness. She did not like the idea of spending a night in a saloon. It was different when it was a place she knew well and managed herself, but this was a strange town with none of the seven were here to protect them should anyone take in mind to do them harm. Four women in a rough place like a saloon were very easy and attractive targets. "What about you Julia?" Inez turned to the petite redhead.

"Well I do have emergency money," Julia replied, bending over and reaching into her boot. She produced a painfully thin roll of notes. "It's hardly enough to pay for anything more than a room or two in this wonderful establishment." She said sarcastically.

"It's better than nothing." Mary pointed out as Julia handed it to her. Mary counted the meager collection and frowned at it being not more. This was meant to be a leisurely trip to the city not an escapade into the wilderness. In hindsight, she could safety say that if she known how the day would have turned out, she would have certainly brought more currency with her. With a sigh, Mary decided they probably all felt the same way.

"Okay," Mary took a deep breath looking to the faces around her as she explained the situation. "We get a room for the night and lay low until morning when I can wire Chris to come get us." Even as she said those words, Mary winced slightly, trying not to picture the look on Chris' face when he received a telegram from her telling him that she was stranded in a strange town with dangerous people after her. If Chris ever let her out of town on her own again after this, it would be to be a minor miracle, she thought glumly to herself.

"Oh that will be great." Alex groaned, mindful of the same warning from Vin. "We're never going to live this down you know." She met the widow's gaze.

"Can we do this later?" Julia whined. Her feet ached and she was hungry. This was no time to be quibbling about what the men were or weren't going to do when they arrived in this godforsaken hole For herself personally, she would be so ecstatic about being delivered from this place, and she hardly cared what they thought. "I'm tired and I'm hungry and I want to go to bed." She replied walking towards the saloon without any reservation about the place or the danger lurking behind the batwing doors or the sounds of men laughing amidst rowdy music.

"She does her best work there." The doctor muttered as she reluctantly followed Julia's lead.

Mary watched them get ahead for a moment before turning to her best friend. "Inez, I don't like this." Mary confessed, unable to hide the concern on her face that went deeper than just their immediate situation. The encounter with the two strangers had rattled her. In particular, the threat made by the gigantic Mr. Burke for the injury she had delivered to him. "Those people will still come after us."

"I know." Inez nodded, understanding Mary's fears and her reservations. "But Julia's right, we need to rest. We've been walking all night. We'll think of what to do tomorrow." She offered Mary a comforting and supportive smile.

"We might be safe for tonight, "Mary considered. "But it will still take time for Chris to reach us." Four Corners was almost a hundred miles from here and that was a lengthy journey to make on horse back.

"And they may get here first." Inez concluded, seeing where Mary was going with this. The solution in her mind was clear enough but its application was another thing entirely since they did not even have enough money to leave town. "We've got to raise some money to buy some horses or get the stage out of here."

"That will be a neat trick." Mary sighed as she started walking after Alex and Julia who had disappeared into the saloon and were eliciting some loud wolf whistles and calls that could be heard from outside the noisy building. Mary took a deep breath as she prepared to walk in herself door, steeling herself from the barrage of bad behavior she would soon have to endure and feeling like a Jonah about to meet his whale.

Inez said nothing but she did have an idea.

"Come on Alex," Inez urged from inside the confines of their dingy room. "You can do it. I've seen you."

Naturally, upon seeing four women enter the establishment, the saloon manager had automatically decided to up the rent on his lodging so that they could afford little more than one room for all four of them. While the difficult task of deciding who would get the bed and who would be forced to sleep on the grimy floor had yet to arise, it was only a matter of time before the mood got very ugly in the room. There was only one way to avoid this outcome of bloodshed and that was to convince Alex to agree to Inez's plan.

"I don't know," Alex groaned reluctantly as she sat on the bed, massaging her aching feet. She wanted to sleep and forget about the situation they now found themselves in, not undertake the demands of Inez's request. "I'm not really that good."

"I've seen you do it with Ezra." Inez pressed on much to the confusion of Mary Travis and Julia Pemberton who was staring at the doctor in question about this particular skill that was obviously not pertaining to her medical knowledge.

"What were you doing with Ezra?" Julia glared at Alex, since that particular subject was her exclusive territory and she was highly possessive on who had use of it.

Alex glanced sideways and shot her an icy glare before turning back to Inez. "Yes but that was just the two of us and I never got the impression that he was not on to me." She implored.

"What are you talking about?" Mary looked at Inez and Alex blankly as they debated this point.

"Poker." Inez stated. "I've seen Alex throw games while playing with Ezra."

"I thought you couldn't play." Mary turned to her, with accusation. "In fact, I've seen him beat you a lot."

Alex rolled her eyes and met Mary's gaze. "Of course you did." She retorted. "Can you imagine what I'd have to go through if I actually beat him? He's a professional gambler for God sakes, can you imagine the humiliation to his ego if I started beating him as his own game?" Alex answered and then gave them a guilty stare. "So whenever we played, I'd let him win."

Julia could understand the logic behind Alex's actions knowing how highly Ezra regarded his gambling skills. It would utterly kill him to know that she had been letting him win and Julia seriously considered the amusement of telling Ezra of this little truth. She would save that little morsel of news when he was being particularly difficult with her. "So, I gather you play well."

"I would not say that." Alex said modestly. "When I was in medical school, I used to play with the other students and then I did Europe and spent six months in Monte Carlo. They have gambling casinos everywhere there."

"How did you know for sure Inez?" Mary asked, wondering how the bartender had stumbled onto such an interesting secret. Surely it would have been difficult to ascertain just from watching Alex and Ezra play.

"I came into the clinic and saw her giving a patient a game. She did not play like she did with Ezra. If the patient had not already had his pants off, I think he would have lost it." Inez smiled, recalling the scene with some amusement.

Immediately Mary and Julia turned to Alex and looked at the doctor in question.

"I had to apply some solution to an infected wound, it was three step procedure!" Alex said exasperated. "Alright Inez!" She stood up exasperated. "You convinced me. Just keep it to yourselves please and how much money do we have left anyway?"

"Two dollars," Mary sighed as she studied the scant amount in her hand and decided that it would have to do for what Alex had in mind. "I can't give you the rest, I'm going to need it for the telegram."

As far as Alex was concerned, Mary could keep all of it. The doctor did not relish the prospect of venturing into the sea of drunken men downstairs and attempt to hustle them into a card game. Unfortunately, Inez was right. They needed money and they needed it fast or else the two psychopaths on the train had a real chance of catching up to them. Alex did not like the possibility of encountering the duo any more than the rest of her companions. "It will have to do." She climbed off the bed.

"I'm going to find the telegraph office and see if I can't appeal to the operator to send a message tonight." Mary declared purposefully. "If we send it now, Chris will get it first thing tomorrow." There were not disagreements with that plan. "Inez, you and Julia stick close to Alex. Safety in numbers that sort of thing."

"Okay," Inez nodded. "Julia do you still have that gun?"

"Right here." Julia patted the pocket where the weapon was safely hidden.

"Bring it with us." Inez ordered. "It's going to be rough down there. We may need it."

The saloon was lively enough as it was but with the arrival of the three women, it seemed like everything had slowed to silence as hungry eyes followed them down the stairs from the rooms above. It was obvious to everyone that these were no saloon girls but ladies although the question remained why would they be in such inappropriate establishment. It appeared as when they descended, as if no one was interested in anything else that was transpiring in the room.

"Oh this is going to be fun." Alex muttered, feeling like a Christian about to be fed to the lions. Everyone from the painted saloon girls, to the drunken men at the bar, to the more sedate groups around the tables to the bartender held their image until they reached the floor and faded into the background of

bodies.

"Just be calm and everything will be fine." Mary instructed as she broke away from her friends and made her way through customers and disappeared out the door. Alex did not share her optimism.

Inez scanned the room and noticed the only group who was not paying attention to them. These were the men seated at the felt covered table indulging in a game Inez recognized immediately as poker. She looked at Alex and gestured the doctor to follow her as they wove through the crowd trying to avoid roaming hands as they past by some of the rowdier groups. There were four players at the table and judging by the pot piled in the center of the table, Alex knew her two dollars was not going to buy her into it. While she did not voice the potential problem to Inez, Alex considered furiously what she would have to do solve this particular hurdle. Inez was correct in stating that this was the only way out of their present predicament.

"What are you doing?" Inez hissed when she saw Alex beginning to undo one of the buttons on the cuff of her shirt.

"That's a high stakes game there," Alex gestured in the direction of the table. "Two dollars is not going to get us in. We need to front a suitable stake."

Inez's gaze darted to the table and realized with dismay that Alex was right. There was a lot of money piled in the center of the table and she saw ten dollars notes in the collection. She even saw a gold watch and a heavy signet ring in the mix. "What are we going do then?" Inez hissed with disappointment.

"Relax," Alex said coolly, knowing it was never wise to show fear when it came to playing such games of chance. During her years at medical school, Alex had sat up nights at the club with some of her fellow medical students playing the game after they had overcome their prejudice enough to invite her to join them.

"I've got something to play with." Once the cuff was loosened, Inez saw a glint of gold slip down the doctor's wrist where it had been concealed under the material previously. It was a thin gold bracelet with intricate links that looked exquisite against her dusky skin.

"My father bought it for me." Alex explained as she undid the clasp and removed it from her wrist.

"Alex, you can't use that." Inez quickly protested even though she knew it was truly the only way. Still, the sentimental value of the object alone was worth more than using it as a stake in something as vulgar as a poker game. "We'll think of something else."

"There is nothing else." The doctor retorted. "Don't worry," she assured Inez. "I don't intend to lose it."

While Inez and Alex advanced upon the gamblers, Julia Pemberton was having no difficulty being the center of so much attention. While the former stayed away from the men they had passed, Julia smiled and greeted anyone who tipped their hat in her direction. The leering eyes of men were something she had become used to over the course of her life to date. She knew how to handle lascivious stares and lustful leers by using just enough wits to stay ahead of them. She battered her eyes at some, offered intent stares at the others and ensuring that they were kept off balance always. Her come hither looks had confused enough men in the room for them to take their time deciding if they would approach the women or not, which was exactly what Julia wanted. She hastened her pace just in time to see Alex and Inez approach the table.

"Good evening gentlemen." Alex introduced herself by stepping right to the edge of the table.

Four sets of eyes looked up at her. Two were well dressed and did not appear that different from Ezra Standish, the third looked as if he had just come riding off a cattle trail while the last man looked more like one of the denizens of Purgatory. Their eyes studied the three women with equal parts lust, curiosity and indifference. It was the older man in one of the fancy suits that responded to their greetings "Good evening ladies, to what do we owe the pleasure of such lovely company?" His gaze moved from Alex to Inez and then Julia respectively.

"I was just watching your game." Alex answered politely. "That's some serious money you're playing with. Any chance a wayward soul like myself could be dealt in?"

The men exchanged glances and then started to laugh. Alex was infuriated by their condescending behaviour and fought the urge to make some glib remark to vindicate herself when Julia leaned over and whispered in her ear. Julia knew enough about the doctor to know that was just hot headed enough to respond to their behaviour in extreme hostility. "Take it easy," she said quietly. "We're here to take their money. Be nice. These are men, they have to be handled delicately."

Alex said nothing and ensured that the anger she felt did not reach her eyes or her mouth where they could have evidence with it. Despite her chagrin, Julia was right. She had to restrain her annoyance. Instead, Alex took a deep breath and turned her high powered gaze at the man who had spoken "I'm so glad that you find my interest amusing Sir," she said with such sickly sweet politeness that Julia would have been proud. "However, I was serious in my intent to play."

"Poker ain't for no woman." The cattle man growled. He was a huge man, dusty and grizzled, with a ten gallon hat and a craggy face that spoke much about his tolerance.

"I'm afraid that my friend here is correct," the first man responded. "Women cannot appreciate the delicacy and subtle intricacy of such a game. Men are risk takers by nature and women are not capable of the bluff."

"I see." Alex smiled, feeling both Inez and Julia squeeze her arms on either side simultaneously to remind her of restraint. Alex gave them both a sarcastic frown before returning her attention to the man, while envisioning the space his beady eyes and the slick dark hair to be occupied by the cross hairs of Vin's Winchester. "I have no wish to intrude on this bastion of male dominance but it does seem quick shocking to me that you gentlemen could be intimidated by a lady?"

They bristled visibly at that remark. Their annoyance moving across the table like a ripple in a stream Alex hid her satisfaction as she saw the cattle man glare at her while the quiet dandy in the corner merely looked on in amusement, even if his attention was firmly focused on Inez. He tipped his hat ever so slightly in her direction before offering her a smile which the bartender received with some measure of surprise. Whoever he was, he stared back at Inez at with the most intense blue green eyes she had ever seen and there was no doubting that the interest in his well chiseled and handsome features was more than fleeting.

Inez was almost grateful when the fancy man addressing Alex spoke again because it gave her an excuse to stop staring at the handsome stranger like a teenager. "No woman intimidates anyone at this table."

"Then let me in." Alex said smoothly with a look of challenge, daring him to prove otherwise. She held out the strand of gold for all of them to see and announced with similar deliberation. "This is my opening stake."

The men eyed the gold bracelet and came to a decision faster than Alex had expected. After a few seconds, the man who had been doing all the speaking, rose to his feet and pulled out a chair for her. "Madam." He said with a smile. "Please sit."

Alex let out a silent sigh of relief and sat down at the chair. However, she was no fool. She detected the resentment in his eyes at being cornered like this. With the exception of Inez's stranger, all of them were wearing thinly concealed distaste on their features at the prospect of playing this game with a woman. The man slid over a deck of cards in her direction. She looked at him questioningly.

"You're the dealer." He said with a hint of triumph. He was trying to scare her off, this much Alex could tell. As the dealer, she stood to make the money but it had the double edged sword of possibly losing her a great deal of it as well if she had to cover the bets of all the winners. Nevertheless, if that was how it was to be, Alex could accept those terms. Besides, she really had no choice to be selective. Still, Alex threw Inez and Julia too, a smile that revealed the confidence that exuded from her when she picked up the deck and started shuffling. Her hands moved so fast as she manipulated the cards to her will that even Inez had widened her eyes at the level of dexterity.

Surgeon's hands, Inez decided.

"I guess that makes it dealer's choice." She said to them showing them absolute no sign of fear. Alex knew what they were trying to do of course. In medical school, she had been forced to endure the same kind of treatment. They were trying to rattle her, trying to see if they could break her resolve. Fortunately that had been tried already by better men then at this table and she had so far managed to prevail. She shuffled the cards deftly, performing those fancy tricks she never let Ezra see while they had been courting.

"Gentlemen," she replied when she split the deck and met their eyes with a confidence that was mostly image than how she truly felt. Still, the key to poker as Ezra Standish had once said, was all in the bluff. "The game is five card stud, deuces are wild and the Jack of Spades is the death card."

The telegraph operator, an elderly woman who went by the name of Doris Stanley was none too impressed when Mary pounded on her door at that hour of the night.

It had taken knocking on a few doors and having to face some very irate inhabitants of Stone Creek before they would stop shouting loud enough to give her the information. Mary had come away from some residences almost certain that she would have been shot had she not vacated the premises once she coaxed the information out of her.

Doris lived on the edge of town naturally and Mary felt more than a little nervous walking through the darkened streets, in search of the woman. There had been barely enough to register everything that had gone on since she climbed aboard that train that Mary still had no idea what was the reason for all this excitement and danger. A man named Sanderson had bumped into her, possibly passing on some material, although she had no idea when this transfer might have taken place, before telling her to seek help in the name of Jeremy Seacourt.

Sometimes, Mary wondered if her life was the nexus that drew such strange occurrences to her. She certainly thought Chris believed it, if his reaction to her 'adventures' were anything to go by.

Still, she did have to admit that it was always seemed to happen her.

When she finally knocked on Mrs. Stanley's door, the woman had thought her mad until Mary had somehow convinced her to shut up long enough to explain the predicament she and the others in her company presently found themselves in. Mrs. Stanley was quiet a reasonable woman once she was fully awake and the situation had been explained to her. She had welcome Mary into her home and offered her a hot cup of coffee as she readied herself in presentability so that she could go to the telegraph that adjoined her home.

Mary had composed a short succinct note informing Chris of the situation, she, Inez, Alex and Vin found themselves in and tried not to picture the look on his face or on the others for that matter when he received it. No doubt, the repercussion resulting from today's events would the source of great amusement for Mr. Larabee and associates for some time.

After the message had been sent, Mary thanked Mrs. Stanley who warned her she ought to change lodgings immediately for the saloon was no place for a decent Christian woman to reside even for a night. Mary tended to agree but declined to mention the difficulties they were facing by their lack of funds. As she returned from Mrs. Stanley's home back to the saloon, keeping watch on every shadow because she was still jittery from the threat made by the imposing Mr. Burke. She had no doubt those huge hands could snap her neck easily and not to mention, the cold deliberate look in his lady companion's eyes.

It was one thing to see that in that in a man's eyes. She had become familiar with the ruthlessness that made Chris Larabee what he was. His penetrating gaze alone was enough to send shudders through most people and when she had first met him, Mary could not deny how intimidating he had been to her. The woman who had threatened them had she called 'killer eyes'. There was no doubt in her mind that Sanderson was dead at the hands of Mr. Burke and his lovely companion. Sanderson was dead and they were coming after her because she supposedly had this mysterious item.

Mary also knew that that they would have searched the train after she had escaped with the others. Once that search was complete, she was certain they had the foresight to realize that their quarry had disembarked and in doing so, they would repeat the same action at the next stop or sooner, depending on how desperate the need. Mary was being optimistic when she believed that they had a few hours, they had less. The duo would be making their journey on horseback, not foot like they had and so the gap narrowed again and time was running out. She was almost relieved when she saw the lights of the saloon again, glad that she had not been accosted on the street for travelling at such a late hour. The saloon showed no signs of abating in its revelry as the music and the gay voices were still echoing through the streets. A number of horses were tethered to the hitching post indicating that there was still a sizeable volume of people enjoying the entertainments within the building. She wondered how Alex was doing at the card table and could not suppress a smile when she thought of how Alex had pulled the wool over Ezra's eyes when she had made him believe she knew nothing about cards.

Mary stepped through the bat wing doors and searched the room for her friends. This time, her arrival was no longer the novelty it was and while a few brows were raised, no more attention other than that was paid to her when she stepped into floor of the saloon. The smoke from cigars had created a thin veil above everyone and the customers were well and truly descending into the worst of inebriated behaviour. Some where slouched on tables, looking quite pathetic indeed while others staggered about with working girls making complete jackasses of themselves. Mary ignored them and spotted the card table in the corner of the room. She saw Inez and Julia on either side of Alex, as the doctor numbered one of the players at the table.

"How are we doing?" Mary asked as she stepped up along side Inez.

"You must see it to believe it." Inez gestured towards the table.

"Oh my lord!" Mary exclaimed and quickly softened her voice because she was breaching some protocol of the gambling table. The pile of money at Alex's corner of the table was enough to widen Mary's blue grey eyes in pleasant surprise.

Not only was Alex wearing her bracelet once more but with the exception of the handsome stranger whose eyes appeared only interested in Inez, the other men around the table seemed decidedly unhappy that Alex was capable of playing such a ruthless game of poker. Until now, Mary had been skeptical when Inez had claimed that Alex was a formidable card player because after all, Ezra was the best gambler she knew. However, seeing the pile of money which no doubt would end their financial worries at present, made Mary reevaluate that assessment. Even Ezra would be impressed by how much the doctor has so far won.

"Did she win all that?" Mary whispered in Inez's ear.

"Yes," Inez nodded clearly disturbed by something but she was not voicing what that may be. She did not like the expression on the faces of the men being beaten so completely by a woman and not even a white woman for that matter. Inez could feel the tendrils of tension snake up her spine, raising the hairs on the back of her neck as they made their ascent. Mary caught the concern in Inez's eyes and glanced at the other opponents at the table and took note of the dark look in their eyes as they stared at Alex, who was waiting for them to place their bets.

Alex turned her card and revealed another queen, the third once so far in her collection. The men's eyes widened and the cattle man threw flipped his card over in a gesture of defeat. "I'm out." He said gruffly, glaring at Alex in undisguised hatred. His obvious hostility made Mary even more nervous and the widow could see the situation escalating to boiling point.

"Anyone else?" Alex looked at the faces before her and saw no other takers. "Alright then," she sighed and presented her final card. "Four queens gentlemen, I believe the game is mine."

"I say you're cheating." The cattle man rumbled with his throaty voice. "Ain't no woman who can play cards like that."

"Or any man who can play that badly." Alex replied caustically glaring at him with unconcealed contempt before she continued collecting her winnings.

"Let it go." Inez's stranger remarked casually, showing no signs of the enmity she saw in the other's faces. In fact, he was the only one at the table who did not show any form of resentment at Alex's success at the table. "The lady won fair and square."

"I say she's cheating!" The cattle man roared and reacted by slamming a very large knife into the center of the table, pinning the thickest pile of the money to the table. Alex showed no signs of fear but she was maintaining her cool mostly because she was unsure of how to react.

"I tend to agree with my colleague here." The man with the beady eyes replied, looking at Alex with similar distrust. "I believe we have been hustled."

The stranger was about to react when two of the cattle man's companions who had sauntered over quietly, grabbed him and restrained his gallant attempt to intervene on the behalf of the ladies. Alex forced herself to remain calm, even though she knew that this was about to get very ugly, very soon. "I don't cheat, gentleman." She said icily, hoping reason alone would avoid a situation. "I won fair and square."

The cattleman took a step towards her when suddenly an audible click stopped him dead in his tracks. He looked down at his left flank and saw Mary Travis had jammed the barrel of the gun that Julia had taken when they left the train, firmly into his ribs. During his heated posturing at Alex's guilt, Inez had slipped Mary the weapon. Chris Larabee had given Mary lessons and Inez knew for a fact that Mary was now a very good shot. Besides, Inez had never fired a weapon in her life and did not want this tenuous situation to be her christening moment.

The second man at the table started to move but Julia reacted almost as quickly, the thought flashing so fast in her head that she barely stopped to question it when she saw his hand drop to his gun. Julia grabbed the bottle next to him and promptly smashed it across the back of his head. The glass shattered loudly as he fell forward, his head without uttering a sound, hitting the table hard.

Julia swallowed thickly and turned to Mary still somewhat astonished at what she had just done. "Maybe we should leave now."

"Get his gun." Mary ordered with perfect calm that was in contrast to Julia's wide eyed panic. However, the petite redhead did manage to nod wildly as she reached into the man's holster and hastily undid the flap before pulling out the weapon. "Alex, get the money and let's go." Mary replied without missing a beat, her eyes still focused on the men before her, conveying in her ice cold gaze that she was not afraid to fire.

By now, the rest of the saloon was aware of the altercation but had yet to make any move to intervene. Fights like this were not unusual but it was the first time, it had been undertaken by four women. Alex pulled out the knife in the table and collected her honest winnings despite the assertion of the men at the table. Inez was opening Mary's bag for her and she quickly stashed the notes inside its confines, not caring if a few stray dollars fell out. The men around them were poised to attack, this much Alex could tell. Not even the threat of Mary's gun pointed at one of them would change that eventuality once the opportunity presented itself.

"Alex, take the gun from Julia." Mary instructed, her eyes never leaving the men at the table. At that moment, she seemed perfectly in control of everything and Alex had confidence that Mary knew what she was doing. Alex nodded and took the weapon from Julia because there was no way her father was letting her travel the world with him, without having some knowledge of how to defend herself from the dangers that lurked throughout it. Mary knew that Alex could handle a gun. Julia did not resist as she relinquished the weapon. The Emporium owner was better with derringers than she was with large hand guns such as the one she had been holding.

"We'll get you, you whores!" The cattleman's companions shouted at Mary. They were still holding the stranger would have tried to intercede on their behalf.

He seemed calm actually despite the circumstances and Mary swore that she saw a hint of a smile across his face as if he were amused by what was transpiring.

"Don't make shoot him." Mary cocked the gun and jabbed in deeper into the man's ribs, making him flinch slightly. "Without looking over her shoulder, Mary shouted more orders. "Inez, Julia get outside and find us some horses."

Inez and Julia nodded and hurried out of the saloon as Mary and Alex kept theirs gun poised to fire. Mary started to move first, Alex giving her plenty of cover as she pulled the big man along with her retreat. With a gun set to blow away most of his innards, he did not protest as he was forced to play hostage while the two women made good their escape. Alex waited until Mary had withdrawn far enough for her to start moving as well. Her gun did not waver from the men who still posed a threat and Alex kept her eye trained on them in case any way made any moves that might indicate such intentions.

"Come on Alex!" She heard Mary cry out.

Alex hastened her pace, moving past the shocked faces of men and women who could scarcely wrap their minds around the fact that four women had just walked out of a possible bar room brawl with their hides still intact.

"You ain't getting out here alive, you bitches!" One of the men holding on the stranger barked at her.

Alex all but ignored the impotent attempt to shake her resolve as she finally reached the bat wing doors that led out into the cool night. The draft tingled her skin, signaling the open air as her back pushed through the swinging door and stepped out onto the board walk outside. She did not turn her back on the saloon until after she was well clear of the door and their line of sight. Mary still had her hostage but by now, Inez and Julia were on horseback. A mare and a gelding waited for Mary and Alex having been untethered by Inez when they had first emerged.

"What are you going to do now?" The man sneered. "You're going to have to move away to git on that horse and I ain't gonna let you do that."

"Oh really?" Mary looked at him with a glacial expression on her face. Faster than anyone would have given her credit, the widow brought down the gun across the back of the man's neck. He let out a soft grunt before dropping to knees and collapsing on the floor with a loud thud

Alex stared at her in admiration. "Nicely done Calamity Jane." The doctor grinned and Mary gave her a look as the two women hurried to the horses and quickly mounted them. As they did so, the cattleman's companions finally burst through the door.

"Let's go!" Inez shouted, digging her heels into the side of her horse and sending the animal bolting off just as the men began firing. Julia followed closely, dropping low as the bullets whizzed past her. She looked over her shoulder long enough to see Mary and Alex riding hard behind them in close pursuit. Somewhere in the explosion of gunfire and pounding hooves, Julia heard voices shouting after them.

"Hey that's my horse!"

Riding forward at full gallop, the four women rode out of Stone Creek, looking like something out of the Apocalypse with their hair trailing behind them and their skirts, blowing in the wind. They rode hard and fast for a long time in the darkness, not caring where they went or pausing long enough to catch their breaths. Mary wanted to put as much distance between themselves and those men who would not doubt make them pay for such a public humiliation, not to mention the fact that the horses they were currently riding were stolen property. There were places in the Territory that would hang a man for less.

It was almost an hour of pushing their animals at frantic pace did they dare to slow down long enough to take stock of what they had just done. The horses moved into a light trot as they rode alongside one another, moving across the dark terrain with no idea where they were headed. This part of the Territory was unfamiliar to them and Mary started to feel the same apprehension that time was closing in on them.

"I don't believe this!" Julia exclaimed first for she was most overwhelmed after her sheltered upbringing in the civilized world of Philadelphia. She had not experienced any kind of physical danger to herself until she chose to make the journey to the West and start a new life. Since that decision, her life had been one crisis after another. "We have just stolen horses! We are horse thieves! We'll have criminal records! I'm supposed to be respectable!"

"Hey, we did not have a great deal of choice in the matter!" Mary snapped angrily, feeling the back of her patience snap with that one outburst. "Those men were going to hurt Alex because it's not possible that a woman might beat a man at poker! They would have thrown her in jail, assuming they were that civilized." Mary glared at Julia, sending the woman into silence with that fierce gleam in her eyes. She was not happier about the situation than any one else but necessity required that she act in the manner she did.

"Thank you." Alex said gratefully, knowing that Mary had reacted that way out of fear for her life.

"Well," Inez sighed. "You did win all that money. It solved one problem at least." She glanced at the bag peeking through the saddlebag at her. "Now we can hold up somewhere and wait until Chris and the others get here."

"Chris!" Mary groaned in realization. "I sent him a wire that we'd be in Stone Creek." Suddenly the image of him finding out she was in trouble again, superseded the shock he would be in for once he and the seven actually arrived in Stone Creek and discovered what she and the others had been up to.

"Well," Inez thought quickly. "When we get to the next town, just send him a wire in Stone Creek, telling him where we are." She suggested.

Mary looked up and replied with some surprise. "Yes, that would work."

"Assuming we get to another town," Alex remarked allowing her gaze to move across the landscape. The land ahead was flat with nothing but mountains in the distance and sparse vegetation scattered across the ground. The stars were shining brightly overhead and there was some beauty to what they were seeing even if it did seem a little desolate and barren. "I wish we had a map of this area. I would really like to get to a hotel and a bed."

"For once I agree with her." Julia retorted. "This trip has been more than I bargained for."

"Well look at this way," Inez quipped. "You are getting to enjoy bonding process you were after." The woman offered Julia a smile and under the circumstances, it was rather infectious. Before long, the still quiet of the night was filled with the momentary laughter of all four as they forget their present troubles for a short time.

After they had composed themselves once again, the seriousness of their situation returned to them and Julia found herself asking. "Do you think those men will come after us?"

Unfortunately, Mary believed they would. "I think so." She nodded. "We humiliated them in front of everybody, that type of man don't forget easily. We have to keep moving until we get to a town."

There was a visible groan at the prospect of riding continuously in search of civilization but each of them knew that it was a necessary evil. Until they got out of sight or at least until the arrival of the seven, none of them would be safe. If those men at the saloon did not get their hands on them, then it would most likely be the lethal duo that had ambushed them on the train. Mary was only certain of one thing as they kept riding into the night.

This trip to Denver was going to be memorable.

Once the four women had made their escape, the men in the saloon who had restrained him had lost all interest in Jeremy Seacourt. They were too liquored up and furious to contend with him when there were four women somewhere in the Territory who had stolen away their manhood in the most resourceful manner it had been Jeremy's pleasure to witness. Even now, he could not wipe the amused smile off his face when he pictured the whole scene in his head.

From the exotic looking creature who had imposed herself on their card game, to the golden hair goddess who had held everyone at bay with her steely eyes and not to mention the fiery redhead whose use of a liquor bottle was memorable to say the least. However, the woman Jeremy recalled most was none of these. The sultry lady with wild dark hair and the loveliest face he had ever seen was the one who captured his attention the most. She reminded him of all things untamed, wild and spirited. In her dark eyes, he could see the raging of a thousand storms and wondered what it would be like to be carried away by such gale force presence.

He wondered how they had come to be in Stone Creek or in a saloon for that matter because none of them looked at all comfortable at being inside the establishment. It was almost as if they were forced there out of necessity, although their ability to handle adversity impressed Jeremy Seacourt to no end. In any case, he knew he could not linger on the identity of the Latin temptress who had captured his attention so completely when he had a job to do. Sanderson had checked in on the train and Jeremy assumed he would be in Stone Creek which was their secondary meeting place in case of trouble. However, Sanderson was nowhere to be seen and Jeremy was starting to assume that he would never arrive. Thus, he was faced with the dilemma that the enemy may already have the precious item he was searching. That however was the worst case scenario and while Sanderson may not have kept their meeting, Jeremy knew the man was a loyalist and would never allow the package to fall into wrong hands even under the threat of death. Still, if Sanderson had made alternate arrangements then Jeremy was similarly lost for there was no way to know what those arrangements might have been if Sanderson was dead.

Somehow, he had to find out what happened to that package.

"Mr. Larabee!"

Chris turned around and saw Franklin, the town's telegraph operator, flagging him down as Chris walked down the street and crossed the street in front of the telegraph office. It was almost noon when Chris had returned to Four Corners, having gone home to his shack since Mary was not in town and he had not wish to sleep in her bed when she was not there. It just felt too empty for his liking.

The telegraph operator had seen him through the window and he was passing and had hurried out to greet him.

"Mr. Larabee!" He said out of breath as he hurried towards Chris, clutching the piece of paper in his hand that was addressed to the notorious gunslinger. "This came for you early this morning."

Chris looked at him puzzled as Franklin handed him the piece of paper, knowing it could not possibly be Mary because she would still be on the train to Denver. He was secured in the knowledge that she could not possibly get into any difficulties while she was on a moving train. It was probably from the Judge or some of the other towns. It was well known that he was the law in town these days and anyone requiring to reach him on an official matter might well employ this method to contact him.

"Thanks Franklin." Chris replied as he unfolded the paper and read the content.

Franklin saw no change in Chris Larabee's expression except maybe a tightening in the muscles of his jaw. The gunslinger said nothing, sucking in his breath before nodding his thanks at the man and walking of without any further communication. However, as Franklin turned back to his office he heard a very low hiss that could have come from anywhere but made him look over his shoulder at the gunslinger nonetheless.

"Goddamned, I knew it!"

Chris stormed into the saloon wondering why he was at all surprised by the contents of the telegram before him. He should have known that if there was some way for Mary Travis to attract trouble, she would find it, even if was on a speeding locomotive. When she got together with Inez and now Alex, it was like setting a match to a gunpowder and watching it explode. For some reason, that triumvirate was so volatile that Chris wondered if it was in the best interests of mankind to keep each of them locked up. Now with Julia Pemberton in the mix, God only knew what was happening out there in the town of. .

Chris glanced at the telegram again. .at the town of Stone Creek.

Chris consoled himself with such thoughts because being mad was the only way he could keep the fear of something terrible happening to Mary at bay. His love for her was so deep that the thought of danger anywhere near her person stole his breath away and left a sharp ache in his stomach that would not be dispelled until he was sure of her safety. After losing Sarah, Chris knew he was overly cautious with Mary's protection but damn, didn't she give reason to though. There was no woman alive who was capable of landing herself in more hot water than Mary Travis. He supposed that is why he loved her so much that she knew how to take risks and enjoyed the thrill of danger.

Mary liked bad elements in her life, he found himself thinking with a smile. Chris entered the saloon and saw everyone in their usual places. The saloon was relatively quiet with a few people scattered in corners while the temporary waitresses that Inez had hired in her absence moved around the room, ensuring everyone's glass was never empty for long. Some looked up at Chris as he entered but most were too busy drinking to care. His friends however, met his arrival with little more than a slight nod of acknowledgment as Chris swept through the doors and headed straight for them.

Ezra was holding court at his favourite table, playing cards with Nathan, Vin and Buck. Since the saloon was not too busy at this hour of the day, Chris attributed Josiah's absence to the preacher returning to his church to tend things there. He was after all the closest thing to a spiritual guide in Four Corners and his time had to be allocated as such. With custom so slow, Josiah probably felt it was safe to ease up on his supervision of Ezra as per Inez's orders. Chris assumed the same situation with J.D. Dunne's lack of appearance. The young man who made it a point as the town's official sheriff to conduct a daily patrol of the streets, was probably out doing the rounds of Four Corners before he would eventually work his way back to this spot.

"Saddle up." Chris announced shortly, bringing an abrupt halt to the conversation around the table. The four men at the table stared immediately at him in question.

"Where're we going?" Vin drawled with little enthusiasm as he put down his cards slowly and somewhat gingerly on the table in the space before him. It was unusual for Vin to appear so disinterested because usually, Vin only played poker when he had nothing else better to do. The young tracker always seemed poised for action and hated being indoors more than he had. Most of the time, he liked sitting outside the saloon, where he could keep open sky in sight.

However this particular morning, Chris noticed Vin seemed a little slower off the mark than usual and attributed this sudden shift in behaviour to the raging hangover he must surely be suffering after getting blind stinking drunk the night before.

"Stone Creek." Chris retorted, trying to stay cool and telling himself silently, over and over again that Mary probably had a perfectly good explanation that would completely exonerate her from how she had become embroiled in yet another situation.

"Stone Creek?" Nathan looked up at Chris in question. "Ain't that about a hundred miles up north?" The healer inquired having ridden through the town some years back. It was not a pleasant place to be, Nathan decided from the memory of his visit.

"About that." The gunslinger nodded although he had pegged it at about 120 miles. Still, it was a good distance away and at least a full day's ride from Four Corners which only made Chris more impatient to get going. It was bad enough that Mary was in trouble but it infuriated Chris that he might not reach her in time because of the distance.

"Why are we going to such a godforsaken place?" Buck questioned, knowing the town in his travels as well and was reluctant to make the journey there. He was quite content to enjoy the relative calm that Four Corners was enjoying and did not wish to make the long ride to Stone Creek. Besides, if Buck's memory served, it was not much of a town, just a place one passed by on the way to Denver that was not even worth the stop.

"Because the women are there." Chris stated barely able to hide the smouldering anger in his voice as he spoke.

"The women?" Ezra met his gaze and immediately sat up in his chair as did Vin, who looked up at him intently at that announcement. "As in Julia, Mary, Alexandra and Inez?" The gambler asked, his voice rising an octave in astonishment.

"Those women." Chris said emphasizing each word with careful deliberation.

"What the hell are they doing there?" Vin demanded with just as much vehemence. "They're supposed to be on a train to Denver!"

"I don't know." Chris retorted, his irritation growing by the minute because the information in the telegram was so scant. He was burning with need to know what was happening with the woman he loved who was at so far out of his reach at the moment, Chris could not stand how helpless he felt. He needed to get riding soon, just so that he could feel as if he were doing something. "All it says in this telegram, is that they're in Stone Creek without money and in trouble. The word trouble was underlined." Chris said through gritted teeth.

"Well that took a little longer than I expected." Buck said with a perfectly straight face even though a smirk seemed more appropriate considering the tone of his voice.

"How you reckon that?" Vin looked at the older man as he stood up. Vin felt his head ache at the sudden movement and knew it was going to be one long ride to Stone Creek with his head the way it was. However, like Chris, Vin wanted to get going now. While he did not share Chris' sixth sense that Alex could become embroiled in anything dangerous, he knew how wilful she could be when she felt threatened. For her sake as well as anyone she might encounter, Vin wanted to get to her immediately.

"Well I expected them to get into some trouble as soon as they left the train." Buck replied, trying to hide his own concern for Inez's welfare under that usual cocky sense of humour and the smug expression that was creeping into his features. "I am impressed they held out this long."

"I find your humour ill timed Mr. Wilmington." Ezra replied, slipping on his coat and hat as he readied himself for the journey. Unlike the rest of the ladies, Julia Pemberton was nowhere as resourceful and Ezra knew she was next to useless in a crisis situation. "The ladies could be in deadly danger."

"Sure they are." Buck responded standing up. "That's the only kind they ever get into. Remember when they burnt down the Chesterton place?" He reminded. Who could forget the next day when both Inez and Mary suffered from a massive hangover and then had adverse reactions to Buck's sure fire remedy for the affliction. "Then Mary got tangled up with that crazy Indian cult."

Chris rolled his eyes remembering that incident all too well. Mary had gone on some insane quest to discover the nature of some mysterious artefact. The whole incident has the finesse of a cheap dime store novel.

"Don't forget Miss Alex riding off for Mrs. Doherty and then later on she done gone after Vin when that Mason fella was in town." Nathan added, feeling the need to alleviate some of the burden from Mary's name as he looked in the tracker's direction. Vin shifted uncomfortably but could not suppress the smile on his face when he recalled both those incidents. Those had been interesting days between doctor and him and despite himself, he could not view it unfavourably.

"Are you done?" Chris snapped, not appreciating the reminders of just how much jeopardy each woman was capable of finding themselves despite the limitations of modern technology. He was eager to begin their journey and did not want to know all the things that could be happening to Mary and the others while they were wasting time here.

"Shall we get Josiah and J.D.?" Nathan asked as they group walked towards the door with Chris in the lead.

"No." Chris said firmly. "Someone's got to stay behind and look after things." He made a mental note to stop by the church on their way out of town to let Josiah know what was happening. While it was relatively quiet in Four Corners at the moment, the journey to and from Stone Creek would still take at least two days and it was necessary for someone to remain behind and keep an eye on things. Chris had no idea how long they would be gone but he did not want to leave Four Corners completely unprotected for any length of time.

"I hope they're all right." Vin found himself mumbling as they stepped out into the light. The bright glare of the sun made the tracker flinch. Oh yeah, he was going to be in great shape to go rescue Alex.

"Oh come on," Buck said attempting to assure the young man who was no doubt worried about Alexandra Styles. "How much trouble really could they possibly get into?"

No one bothered to answer but the looks he got from Chris, Ezra and Vin respectively, spoke volumes.

TO BE CONTINUED