Maddie watched Chase peer off into the distance and then listened when Sandy said something about a lone rider in the distance. She couldn't see anything yet, but by the way Chase was acting and then Sandy's statement, she didn't doubt his words. Taking the loop off of her .38 at her hip she made sure that she had an easy draw if she needed it before sitting there quietly. Chase kept looking over her, concern in his green eyes for Maddie was hardly ever quiet and subdued and it worried him. He was afraid that she would try to head back to the ranch to help her pa, which he couldn't blame her for wanting to do, but he had talked to his own pa and then briefly to Mr. Keegan while Maddie had been upstairs gathering a change of clothing. He'd promised the man his pa looked up to and respected that he would help Sandy and Bones keep her safe, for they both knew that McIntire wasn't just furious over the fact that Keegan wouldn't share in his wealth, but with the fact that he wanted Maddie for himself and she had always made it clear that she'd rather spit on the ground he walked on then give him the time of day. Now that McIntire was good and truly fit to be tied, he would go after Keegan and then Maddie. He wondered if Sandy and Bones had any idea of this.

Maddie sat quietly as Sandy looked through the spyglass, her blue eyes studying him. She had seen her ma speak to both him and Bones and had an idea on what she'd said to them. She would have been warning them about her independent nature no doubt. She had the strong urge to turn around and head back, but she knew that her pa wanted her safe so he could concentrate on defending the ranch. She wondered if the Apache warrior from the band that lived on the ranch would be able to find Goyhakla before he found them, that is if the warrior allowed the man from the ranch to live if he was found. She'd heard plenaty of stories about the mighty Apache and actually had great respect for the man who was fighting for himself and his people to live the way they were meant to before the white men came. She would love to meet him, but was smart enough to be a little afraid of it at the same time.

Turning her attention back to the situation at hand, she looked back over the land, finally seeing a moving speck that was the rider. He was heading in the direction of the ranch and this made Maddie sit up straighter in the saddle.

"Sandy....he's heading towards the ranch. Do you see anyone else yet?"

Maddie was clearly trying to stay calm, even under the knowledge that her parents were in danger, knowing that she couldn't turn back. She looked over at Chase who was looking in the distance towards the rider. He turned his green gaze to her, his eyes showing no emotion now.

"Maddie, your pa and mine will survive. With all of the men on the ranch and the warriors....my brothers.....they will survive. We must get Sandy and Bones to Coyote Hills."

"You could guide them as well as I could, Chase. Maybe I should return to the ranch and help my father. He could use an extra gun and set of eyes."

"And you know as well as I that McIntire would take you at the first chance. He's wanted you as his wife to have access to the ranch for 2 years now and you have insulted him at every turn. You know that this is why your father sent you with us. You are a brave woman, Maddie and full of courage, but even your spirit would break under McIntire's fist and rule. You are like a sister to me and I made a promise and intend to keep it."

Maddie just stared at Chase as he spoke. This was the most he'd ever said at one time before and it was strange to witness. She turned and look over at Sandy then Bones and saw the looke on their faces that told her if she tried to return to the ranch she wouldn't get far. She turned her attention back to the lone rider, resigning herself to the fact that she had to follow her father's wishes and remain safe and out of McIntire's clutches, for if anything happened to her ma and pa, then she was sole heir to the Circle M and even though it was a small ranch, it was extremely profitable.

"What are we going to do, Sandy? Do we keep going or head for the rider?"

Sandy watched the loan rider pass from sight behind a wall of rock. Who ever it was, he seemed to be alone and headed in the same westerly direction as they were only the rider was purposely taking a detour toward the Circle M ranch.

"We don't have the luxury of time so we should press on toward Coyote Hills." Sandy replied to the Keegan girl's question, glancing over at his partner for approval. He then looked over his shoulder, as if he could see the rider beyond the ridge, "Who ever the rider was he's heading for the ranch and a lot of guns."

Sandy coxed his chestnut coloured quarter horse forward, prompting Chase and Madison to continue on down the gradual slope toward their destination. It was an uncharacteristically warm night for the time of season and Sandy unbuttoned his buckskin jacket and let the mild wind brush against his light shirt. He tried not to think of what tragedy might befall Madison's home, but McIntire's vengeance would at least work in the favour. If he did attack they would have a significant head start before he learned of their whereabouts, more than enough time to reach Coyote Hills and bring the man to justice.

Sandy mused at the thought of he and Bones running to the law and looking over at his old partner and shared his mind, "Damn. I can't believe what we're doing, Bones. We're usually hiding out from the law instead of looking for it. If Jesse were here, she slap us both up side our heads and kick our arses all the way back to Oregon. Say, you remember when we first met her? We were in that bathhouse, at the... what was it again. Ah! The Queens Hotel and she bust in looking for the son-of-a-bitch that stole her horse!" he started to laugh aloud as the memories flooded back, "What the hell did you say to her? Something like, 'Ma'm if'n ya don't mind I'd rather die with my boots on' and Jesse, she tosses your boots into the tub with you!"

Bones watched as the red shirted rider vanished on the other side of a ridge of rock. Bones inspected the finely made spyglass, it was capped in real silver and down the side of it it said 'Property of the Hudson Bay Company'. Bones grinned as he handed the thing back to his friend.

Bones remembered the first time they met Jesse like it was yesterday, she looked like she was gonna kill somebody when she burst into the baths. All Sandy and Bones could do was try to convince her that they knew nothing about her horse and hope that she did not have the strength to pull them out of their bath water.

Bones had told her that if he was gonna die right there he wanted to get his boots on, Jesse tossed them right into the warm water.

"My boots were wet for a week!" Bones grumped as he recalled.

Bones followed Sandy's lead as he moved down the steppe, it was best that they keep moving even if trouble was all around. The moon was high and cast a impressive amount of light on the rocky countryside. Bones kicked his horse and rode up close to Sandy.

"This marshal better have the sand to do what we need him to do or we're going to have to build a mountain of bodies to make all this right, hell Sandy we'll probably have to do that anyway..." Bones said glumly. Bones was not exactly a ray of sunshine but there was truth in his words. If the marshal did not want any of this business then it was up to Sandy, Bones, a half Apache ranch hand and Keegan's girl to set things right.

Bones thought about the violence and blood that was heading their way like a storm, would the girl and the half breed be able to stomach it? Sandy and Bones had been pushed into corners before, and they did what was necessary and they carried it with them, but these fine young people need not become what Bones had become, someone who is good at killing.

A small wave of guilt washed over Bones as he pondered the odds, he was well aware that he had only been reunited with his old friend Sandy for less than a full day before the trouble started. Bones looked over at Maddie and Chase, they had their whole lives ahead of them.

"You let me know when it's time to build our mountain..." Bones said to is old friend.

Maddie listened to Sandy and Bones talk about a girl named Jesse and then about a mountain of bodies. Her eyes filled with tears which she quickly blinked back and stiffened her spine, refusing to give in to the fear of losing her parents. She only hoped their bodies weren't among the ones in the mountain that the two gunslingers were talking about if the sheriff didn't do anything. Her expressive blue eyes filled with worry, but she didn't turn around. Instead, she kept going, determined to get the two men to Coyote Hills and convince the sheriff to put a stop to McIntire once and for all.

Chase kept a close watch on her and she knew it. He was concerned just as Bones was about whether or not Maddie could handle what was more than likely coming. He knew he could for he'd killed before, but Maddie........as tough as she was, he knew she'd be able to take a life in defense of herself, family or friends, but how badly would it affect her? He'd known Maddie his whole life and she had a temper that had more often than not gotten her in trouble but she also had a heart of gold. He knew that when he killed the drunk who had tried to kill his pa, even though it was to save his father it still affected him to end someone's life. He would never forget it, but he would do it again if he had to.

Maddie followed Sandy and Bones down the gradual slope until they reached the bottom, where they all spurred their mounts into easy, but fast moving gaits. Maddie looked around her as she rode, wondering if Goyhakla was watching them and hoping that he would allow them to pass without incident so that they could reach Coyote Hills as quickly as possible.

They were coming into terrain that was somewhat flat surrounded by large boulders, rocky cliffs and perfect places for bandits or angry Apaches to hide and pick them off. Her senses were on high alert as she scanned the area, knowing that even if someone was there, she wouldn't see them. She was more leery of the bandits than she was the Apache as she respected the Apache and knew pretty much how they lived and what they expected. Bandits lived by their own rules and didn't care who they attacked.

"Sandy, Bones....this area we're riding through is prime ground for bandits and rogue Apache. You won't see them until they want you to."

Sandy had taken note of Bones' eyes lingering on the engraved HBC name along the spyglass as he handed it back and returned his smile. He and the gunfighter had alleviated a lot from that company but the spyglass was one item, Sandy had acquired long before they had ever met, back when he still believed in the Hudson Bay. Still, seeing the name always brought back some good memories.

Sandy had been trying not to consider what would happen if the Coyote Hills marshal wouldn't or couldn't stand up to McIntire, but Bones' conclusion seemed to be an accurate assessment. He gave his friend a solemn nod, but between the two gunslingers it was far more than simple gesture, it was a pledge. They'd been tight scrapes before, but neither of them would be alive that night if they hadn't stood together.

"Good to ride with you again old man." Expressed Sandy. Removing any doubt that he in anyway blamed him for gunning down that maggot back in Shady Gulch. He knew, however, just as well as Bones, that this fella, McIntire wasn't going to let up until he had his revenge, and Sandy had little doubt that he'd sacrifice all of his men to get it.

"If that marshal backs down, we're not going have much choice then are we?" Pondered Sandy with a sigh, "Y'know, Bones sometimes a get tired of it... the killing, I mean... seems there's been a lot over these past years."

He didn't say it, but he eluded to the legend that followed Butch Bones Brown. Sandy knew better and didn't believe the story but occasionally the thought of it sent a chill down his spine, the story that stated the former undertaker was the reaper himself, collecting souls before he put his victims six feet under. A story concocted by overly imaginative drunkards, but one, nonetheless that Bones lived up to. Now it seemed there'd be more killing when Maddie warned them that the area they were entering was frequented by bandits and Apache on the war path, but Sandy wasn't about to lie down and die in the name of peace. He was a fighter and if someone struck at him with intent to kill he was surely going to kill them back.

At the mention of rogue Apache in the area, Sandy unfastened the scabbard of his repeating rifle and laid the Henry rifle across his lap. He knew that if the indians were seeking blood, whether they appeared to be peaceful or not wouldn't make much of a difference so he made sure he would be ready.

Maddie couldn't help but overhear Sandy talking to Bones. She was finding that she respected these two men more and more. Looking over at Chase, she saw that he was scanning the area, clearly uneasy as he too had lifted his rifle from it's scabbard. She was thinking about doing the same when she spotted movement up in the rocks above them and about 50 yards to the right. She too, lifted her own rifle out and laid it across her lap. She noticed that Chase had spotted the movement as well.

"About 50 yards to the right was movement."

Chase didn't even turn around to the two men behind them when he spoke, not giving any indication to whomever was up in the rocks that he'd even spoken.

"Not Apache.....worse."

Maddie nodded her head to Chase, knowing now that they were dealing with bandits, probably bandidos if the rumors were correct. She saw Chase's face harden and knew that he was thinking about Allison's mother. He had a crush on her best friend but had never pursued it for fear that her father would reject such a union based on his Apache blood.

Maddie's heart was racing and she was thinking on what to do and when, when a shot rang out, hitting Chase in the meaty part of his shoulder, leaving a deep graze that streamed blood down his arm. Drawing her .38, they spurred their horses into a run when another shot rang out, causing Jasmine to spook, rearing up and almost unseating Maddie. Maddie got her quickly under control and followed Chase. She turned to see if Sandy and Bones were behind them, but didn't get the chance when another shot came from the other side of them, grazing her upper thigh, leaving a deep furrow. She jerked, but nothing more, concentrating on getting through this part of the terrain.

Spotting an outcropping of rocks that would make good cover, Chase turned to Sandy and bones.

"What do you want to do? Make a run for it or a stand?"

He looked over at Maddie and saw her pale, drawn face. Looking down, he saw the blood soaking her upper pants leg.





"You two have the experience here and it's clear that they're just wounding, not trying to kill....yet. Maddie's been hit so what do you want to do?!

"I'm fine Chase. let's just get through this without anyone getting killed. Just go!!"

Maddie had never been shot before, even though this was just a deep graze, but she decided that she'd much rather be bucked off a wild mustang than this. Her thigh burned and she could feel her blood soaking her pant leg, but she did her best to ignore it pushing forward along with the others.

Sandy dismounted on the run, deftly landing on the pebbled ground, his Henry in one hand and the reins of his horse in other. He stared up at the rocky bluffs around them, black silhouettes against the midnight blue sky, betraying no details nor sign of their attackers.

He glanced over at the half-breed, assessing his wound. The man wouldn't be using that arm for a while making him useless with a rifle. "Draw you gun and watch that pass over there." Sandy ordered Chase his eyes only briefly falling to the wound that girl has sustained.

"What do you think?" Sandy whispered to Bones as he scanned the ridge above them.

They'd rode right into an ambush, and a good one. High rock walls on both sides and only two exits from what he could see. "Damn." Sandy cursed under his breath, he'd been so busy gabbing with Bones and catching up with his old friend, he hadn't been paying that much attention to their course. He had trusted the expertise of his guides, but it had become quite apparent that they knew the land, but lacked the experience to avoid riding into things like box canyons, especially in those areas frequented by bandits. Hell, he should have kept his eyes on the road!

Sandy knew, that Bones could speak some Spanish and had some experience with bandidos, but as yet they weren't sure if in fact that's what they were up against. The only thing he was certain of, was that as soon as they moved under the canopy of rock the shooting had stopped. Whoever their ambushers were, they knew they weren't going anywhere. They were just waiting for them to make their move, and patience was a sign of experience.

Chase felt about useless as a tit on a boar and it showed. He'd failed. He'd known better than to ride into a box canyon and yet he'd allowed trying to impress the gunslingers to cloud his judgement. Now, Maddie was hurt as was he and he felt like a complete idiot.

Maddie on the other hand, was in pain but doing her best not to show it. She knew as well as anyone that they were in trouble and she also knew that McIntire had a few of the bandidos in his pocket so to speak. She just hoped that none of them were in this group.

Once they'd gotten to where they had some cover in the rocks, Maddie gingerly dismounted and pushed Jasmine to the side where she wouldn't be in the way. She took off her bandana from around her neck and tied it over her wound to stop the blood which was already slowing some. She made a sound as she tightened it, but other than that was silent.

Using a large rock for cover, she sat down behind it, looking at Sandy, Bones, and Chase before looking back at the tall silhouettes of the rocks and cliffs. Like Chase, she felt like an idiot but she'd never really guided anyone through here before. She knew how to get to Coyote Falls and she knew the land but she'd always been with men from the ranch who watched out for her. Some guide she was, she thought glumly to herself.

"I should have been paying closer attention, Sandy. I'm sorry. What are we going to do now?"

Her apology was also directed at Bones and she made sure that he knew it before turning her attention back to where she thought the bandits were. Things were not going as planned.

Bones was still off his horse near Sandy when the shots rang out, the gunfighter crouched low where he was watching the jagged rocks that topped the canyon nearby. Whoever they were they knew how to shoot, they had hit Chase and Maddie already.

The full moon was bright but no so much that Bones could see up into the top of the canyon, Bones could see no movement, just a tall stretch of dark blue shadow up to the top of the rocks.

Bones had seen similar moves before, one shooter would stay up on the ridge and take pot shots at the intended victims while the other members of the gang slowly flanked them.

Bones began to shuffle away from the others.
"We should spread out, they're gonna try and flank us in the shadows of the rocks." Bones motioned to the low side of the canyon, a dark spot that would be a good place to emerge from.

Bones hands were on his guns as he moved slowly, keeping his back against the rocks that protected them. If they spread out a little they would be better prepared for any attack on their flanks. With Sandy on one side and Bones at the other their chances were fair.

Bones nodded to Sandy as he moved, the thin man was at the end of the protective canopy, he listened for any out of place sounds.

Maddie stayed crouched behind the large boulder with Chase standing over her holding his six shooter in his good hand. He told ther that Bones had gone to the other side and warned about the bandits flanking them. Maddie's pa had told her about bandidos using this particular form of attack and knew that they would need all four of them with guns drawn to get out of this.

Using the boulder for leverage, she stood up peering around to get a better look. She didn't see Sandy right away but knew he was nearby.

"Stay down, Maddie. Anything happens to you and your pa will have my hide."

"Shush, Chase. I'm fine and just as good of a shot as you are. Right now we need all of us in order to get out of this and you darn well know it."

Maddie hated being coddled and even though her leg was burning, she wasn't about ready to sit back while the men took all of the danger upon themselves. She may not be experienced in this kind of gun battle, but she would do what she could. Looking around, she saw another small rock outcropping that provided good coverage while allowing someone to see around them. Only problem was whoever was there wouldn't be able to see behind them but she felt that it was worth the risk.

Instead of telling Chase what she was going to do, not giving him the chance to stop her, she just did it, limping the few yards over to the rocks. A couple of shots rang out, going wide telling her that the shooter could see shadows now instead of prime targets like they'd been on horseback. She made it to the rocks and managed to get herself wedged in between them, peering from behind and over them to look around and try to pinpoint the shooter.

Chase was going to strangle her!! When she took off the way she did, his heart went into his throat especially when he heard the shots fired at her. Damn her and her stubborn hide but he had to admit what she did was a good idea. Where she wound up gave her a perfect view all around her while making herself a harder target. Spotting Sandy, he whistled a bird call to him, gaining his attention. He pointed to the rocks, letting him know in common Indian sign language where Maddie was.

Maddie looked around, almost wishing that the shooter would get off another shot so that she could see the flash of fire from the barrel of the weapon and know where to fire.

Dark clouds had began to dance before the bright moon and as one of the shadows raced across the canyon, Sandy had simply seemed to disappear. A few moments later, Bones caught a glimmer out of the corner of his eye. Sandy had managed to quietly make his way part of the way up the ridge and had positioned himself on a narrow ledge adjacent to the shelf of rock that Chase and the girl were under. Using a pocket mirror, Sandy redirected the moonlight toward his partner in the hopes that his keen eyes would catch it and know that he had him covered. From his current vantage point the rifleman's range covered the entire canyon, but in order to be effective he needed one of those snipers to give him a target.

Sandy grit his teeth. He should of got the half-breed to run out and draw their fire, but he just couldn't bring himself to risk the man's life like that, even though it was the best move the injured could have made. Then something stirred below. It was the girl.

"What the hell are ya doing?" Sandy growled to himself as he watched the lame girl limp over to a cluster of boulders. The position gave her an advantage to support Bones but she was wide open to the snipers! Quickly Sandy turned his attention to the ridge taking advantage of the distraction and sure enough one of those bastards poked his head up and took a couple a shots at her. Maddie didn't see the flash fire, but Sandy sure as hell did.

The sniper had pinned her down and now he was just taking his time and aiming. There was no way he could miss. The experienced shooter, steadied his breathing and slowly squeezed the trigger. A third shot rang out, echoing though the canyon and Maddie was struck from behind. The girl was hit by a tiny rock that had tumbled down from the ridge above her, kicked off by the boot of the rifleman that had her in his sights.

The falling rock that harmlessly bounced off Maddie's shoulder would serve to make the girl aware of another falling object. A few seconds later a large dark image descended from the cliffside and crashed to the ground with a series of sickening snaps and slaps as the body of the sniper landed just behind one of the boulders Maddie was leaning against.

There was another shot, and a bullet ricocheted just above Sandy's head and he immediately returned fire with a series of three rapid firing shots with his Henry that forced the second sniper to retreat from his position on the other ridge just above Bones. Sandy couldn't be sure if he got a piece of the man as he slipped out of sight in another passing shadow, but he was damn sure he'd be thinking twice about showing his head again any time soon.

Maddie turned when the small rock hit her in the shoulder just in time to see one of the snipers fall to the ground, dead. Maddie's stomach churned, but she swallowed down the bile, refusing to give in to the urge to get sick upon hearing the man's body hit the various rocks on his way down. Then she realized that if it hadn't have been for Sandy, she'd be dead now. Taking a couple of deep breaths, she calmed herself, turning back around to keep an eye out for Bones. She'd have a meltdown later, right now she just did her best to ignore the body behind her.

She jumped when she heard the series of shots and then it was quiet.....for now. She looked up and saw the clouds begin to cover the full moon. They had to get out of this and get to Coyote Hills!! She knew while they were pinned down here, McIntire was probably gathering his men to attack her parents' ranch. She peered back up over the boulders, trying to spot Bones but knowing that she wouldn't be able to. She looked over at Chase and saw him looking out over the terrain. Then, she saw him look up at Sandy and then over at her. She didn't know what he was thinking, but she had a feeling that it may not be good.

Bones caught sight of Sandy's signal and stayed low just beneath the rock ledge, Maddie was moving out in the open. The girl was quick, even with a wounded leg, the hidden shooter took aim at her again.

Immediately after the sound of the sniper's shots Bones heard the familiar bark of Sandy's Henry rifle, the hidden shooter above Maddie fell dead from his perch. Another hidden gunman fired at Sandy from just above Bones, taking this as his cue Bones slipped out from under the ledge and slinked around and up that side of the canyon.

Bones could be quiet as a breeze if he wanted, he crept through the shadows, making his way closer to where he had seen the shots come at Sandy. Clouds were rolling in, they obscured the pale moon, making the ridge even more difficult to navigate.

Bones had his Colts in his hands as he walked up the ridge, he could not see much in the long shadows up here and this other armed man seemed equally gifted at being near silent. Bones was not the type to waste ammunition and decided against flushing this would be killer out from his spot with wild gunfire, instead the thin gunfighter stood still and listened for any sounds. The night was quiet, Bones took a few small steps forward, his guns still in his hands, out in front of him.

Suddenly there was the subtle sound of boot heels shifting in the rocks and sand here on the ridge as the hidden gunman moved to make his way down the far side of the canyon, away from Bones. The man moved swiftly, he made his way down the opposite side from where Bones had gone up, he would soon be emerging from the rocks very near Chase and Maddie below.

Bones quickened his pace as he watched for the man, this sneaky bastard must have been half mountain lion by the way he moved through the rocks and boulders. Bones could hear him but had yet to catch a glimpse of the shooter.

"He's coming your way girl, you and your stable boy better look sharp!" Bones shouted as he made his way down the ridge.

Bones looked across the ravine, Sandy was out there training his rifle but Bones feared that the young man and the girl would see the bandit first and have to make their move.

Bones was right that Sandy had his rifle trained, but just not at the stealthy sniper that had snuck him. As the quickdraw expert, pursued the rifleman, Sandy took a shot only he near hit him in the foot. Now, Sandy had been known to miss what he was aiming for, but never by much so there had to reason for him stopping Bones in his tracks.

Sandy didn't know what else to do, other than take a shot at his friend to warn him. Two more gunmen were making their way through a narrow pass, far too small for horses but just right for some human jackals. They were the flank, that Bones had suspected only they had been playing possum, waiting for the perfect opportunity. Sandy had just been lucky enough to catch sight of them through a small gap, but they were otherwise obscured from a clear shot.

Sandy could only hope that Bones saw the men in time, and if he did he was on his own unless he could draw them into the open, otherwise Sandy didn't have clear shot. Unfortunately the girl and her man, Chase were on their own with the experienced marksman that descended on them with murder in his eyes. Sandy tried to get a bead on him, but in order to pull off his sharp shooting warning for Bones, he had put himself way out of position. There just wasn't enough time for him to act.

"God dammit! Shoot him Maddie!" Screamed Sandy as loud as he could with an urgency to his voice that wasn't just concerned with her safety, but more so because Chase was putting himself directly in the path of the gunman. With his one bad arm stiffening his movements and the loss of blood, Sandy didn't know if the man would be able properly aim his pistol let alone fire it.

Smith was huffing and puffing, he and his remaining 3 men had made it to a cluster of large boulders, the Apache in the rocks above them were silent for now. The Indians were most likely not done with Smith and his men, after all, the white men had crossed into Apache raiding land in an effort to catch Tumbleweed Dawson.

Smith's shoulder ached from the arrow wound, the broken shaft of the weapon was sticking out of Smith's bloodied shirt just above his right collarbone. Smith listened for the Apache, but they could be silent as death, for this was their landscape.

"What are we gonna do now Smith?" One of the men asked wide-eyed as they crouched together in the dark.

"Don't mess your britches yet boys, they won't get us all." Smith said holding his rifle firm. The seasoned fighter was hurting but he was determined to kill as many of the Apache as he could before they took him down.