Maddie's sleep was interrupted by Allison banging on her door. Rising, she rubbed her blue eyes and opened the door.

"Maddie, Pa needs to see you. It seems that a couple of men need to see your pa.....tonight and they need you to get them to your ranch."

Maddie nodded her head and after cleaning up a little with the cool water in the basin, she brushed out her long hair and tied it back into a ponytail. Making sure that she had everything, including her gun, she slapped on her hat and headed on downstairs.

She followed Allison to the front porch, then watched as her best friend high-tailed it back inside. Shaking her head, she approached Mr. Fallon who explained the situation to her. He knew that Maddie could handle herself, but it still galled him to be sending her with these two, even if it was to guide them to her father's ranch. He told her to be careful and be on guard with these two, even though he felt that they were honorable men....they were still gunslingers.

"Okay, Mr. Fallon. Don't worry, I'll make it back to the Circle M okay. I'll send one of the boys back here to let you know that I made it."

She looked up at Sandy and Bones sitting atop their horses, her bright blue eyes taking in everything quickly from their hats to the sidearms to the horses legs. Nodding her head to them, she headed for the livery to gather up Jasmine and her own gear. Riding up to the two men on her black and white painted mustang. Her saddle was light-weight and unusual. Made of skin covered leather draped over a blanket, it had a small saddle horn and thin stirrups. It looked like something the indians would use. It had a handmade scabbard for her .22 rifle, ties in the rear for a bedroll and saddlebags which were tied down securely. The beadwork on the saddle and blanket were beautiful ranging in colors from black to red to blue to white to orange to green. On the rear right corner of the blanket was the beaded picture of a hawk and on the other corner was the beaded picture of a mustang. Jasmine had a flowing mane and tail, both of which were partially white and black. She had one blue eye and one brown and most of the Apache in the area considered Jasmine to be a medicinal horse and knew that she was faithful to Maddie just as Maddie was to her.

"You'll need to head over to Sal's and let Pokey know what's happened, Mr. Fallon. The man I send back can help him get the buckboard wheel fixed and get it and the supplies back to the ranch."

She looked at Sandy and Bones, still assessing the two.

"The Circle M is 8 miles west of town and it's not the nicest of country but if you do as I tell you until we reach the ranch then you'll be fine. As for making it to Coyote Hills......(she smiles)......you'll definately need me or my pa to get you there without any mishap. Let's go and keep up."

Turning Jasmine away from the hotel, she clicks her tongue to her, nudging her in the sides. She gives a laugh as her mare takes off, her black legs picking up speed, onlookers scrambling to get out of the way.

********************************************
The terrain was rather barren, rocky and hard. The night sky was clear, the moon full and the stars bright. Maddie said nothing to the two men, even though she had questions aplenty. She knew that men like these would tell what they wanted when they wanted and they would ask her questions when they pleased. Until then, she'd just lead them to the ranch, knowing that her father wouldn't be too pleased that she'd led them to the ranch alone, but she would deal with that later. Right now, these two men were willing to stand up to McIntire and that made everything well worth it.

They passed the abadoned buckboard with the busted off wheel, now having slowed their mounts to a gallop. There was a warm breeze blowing and every now and then a coyote would yip and another would answer. If the two men thought it strange that Maddie would occassionally yip in return, they said nothing. Maddie on the other hand, was doing this for a reason. Not only did the ranch hands watch out for her, but so did the Apache that found safety on their ranch and the ability to live as they were meant to.

A couple of hours later, the two men would spot armed sentries standing atop rock formations, watching them. Maddie waved to them and they waved back, giving a series of whistles that were answered in kind further on into the terrain.

"We're now on Circle M land and in about an hour we'll be at the ranch house. Pa will be waiting and will know that we're coming."

Maddie said no more as she continued on. Occassionally, the two men would see Maddie give a wave to what appeared to be thin air only to hear a strange whistle in return. It was a well protected ranch, but still McIntire had found ways to get his rustlers inside as there wasn't any fence.

Finally, they reached the ranch-house. It was a two-story log cabin with a wrap-around porch. A large man, standing about 6'2" and weighing around 200 pounds stood there, his arms crossed over his chest. His blue eyes, like his daughter's, stared at the two men riding in then rested on his daughter.

"Maddie, you've got some explaining to do and you will do that here shortly."

As Maddie nodded her head to her father, he turned his gaze onto Sandy and Bones.

"Name is Ian Keegan and I own the Circle M. Who are you and what is it you want?"

Ian was nothing if not blunt and straight to the point. His wife, Abigail, came out the front door and scowled at her husband. Her long black hair, golden skin and dark brown eyes gave away her Indian heritage. She only stood about 5'2" and weighed about 125 pounds. She laid her hand on her husband's arm, giving him a gently smile that was returned.

"Ian, where are your manners. Maddie wouldn't have brought these men if they were a threat and you well know it. Now, why don't you all hand your horses over to Hank there and he'll get them rubbed down. Then you can come on in and have some coffee while you all talk."

Abigail was soft spoken but there was a strength that showed in her expressive brown eyes. She looked at Maddie and smiled at her daughter, nodding her head to show the two men who Hank was and then lead them into the house.

Doing so, Maddie then led the two men through the front door where they stepped into an open living room. Off to the left was a dining area with the kitchen off to the side. A large stone fireplace took up one wall and next to that were the stairs that led upstairs. Once everyone was seated at the oak dining table, Abigail served up coffee, strong and black and good. She set cream and sugar onto the table for anyone who wanted some. Next, she set some small gingerbread cookies in the middle of the table in case the men were a little hungry. She kissed Maddie's cheek before heading back into the kitchen. Maddie looked over to her father then to the two men, waiting.

"Now, gentlemen. What is so important that my daughter had to bring you here in the middle of the night?"

Tumbleweed slept in the underbrush near a canyon in the late afternoon. He hid his horse in the hidden valley where his cattle would have been. He spent most of the early evening burying his crew so that they could rest in peace, away from buzzards while Ethan tried to figure how he was going to make the trip to Coyote Hills. He woke to the sound of vibrations on the ground and instinctively knew a posse was on his trail. Geezus that didn't take long..

Tumbleweed whistled for his Apposala pony. The spotted white, brown horse came trotting over and bowed toward him. Hello ol' girl...Ready ta do some hard riding...Grabbing her reins, Ethan jumped on the horses' back and took off in a gallop.

In the distance the posse kicked up dust from the dessert floor and the noise sounded like a herd of cattle rushing toward his position.

Thinking to hisself...Damn...if I cut back across maybe I can fool them and head fer that ranch I saw a miles ago from here...

Keeping his rifle close at hand, Sandy trailed behind the young girl, following the white of her horse gleaming in the bright moonlight. She was a fair rider and it seemed she wanted to display that the way she drove her mare down the moonlit trail, while he and Bones struggled to navigate the unfamiliar terrain in the dark. He and Bones exchanged a look but said nothing.

Coming up over a ridge, Sandy raised his face to the mild night wind that caught his long hair and played with the hat that more than often hung round his neck rather than on his head. Down the slope they could see lights in the distance and the girl made for them and so they followed her as close as possible.

As the girl yipped away like a Coyote, it reminded Sandy of when he was a boy playing hide and seek with the Kootenay children along the Columbia River. On nights when the moon was bright, they would come calling and toss pebbles at his window, until at last he raised the courage to sneak out and explore the wilderness with the fleet footed natives. Over the years he had become accustomed to soft foot falls of moccassined feet and few times he could hear people stirring in the darkness but he did not let on that he was aware of it.

As they approached the ranch house, Sandy immediately recognized the man who approached them to be Keegan, as he shared the same blue eyes as his daughter. He smoothly dismounted and walked over to the man, extending his hand but Keegan did not reciprocate the gesture, so for a moment they stood face to face their eyes locked. The two men were the same height, Keegan was probably built a lot like Sandy in his younger days but age had added some girth. Still, the man looked as though he could chew a hammer and spit nails while the younger man searched for the proper words and while he did, Sandy noticed that Mr. Keegan's eyes looked past him to his more advanced partner which was often the case, but he didn't pay it any mind. He had always tended to do the talking, not because he knew any better than Bones, but because the older gun fighter preferred to sit back and observe a situation before speaking.

Sandy was about to speak when Keegan's wife acted as a mediator, which was probably more than often the case, and they were invited inside. When they were settled round their large oak dining room table, in a setting that Sandy found very familiar he introduced himself, "I'm Sandy Wilken and this here is Butch Brown, we had a run in with some of McIntire's men." he explained, the undertones of his British accent greatly contrasting Keegan's drawl beneath which one could detect a hint of Irish in some of his words, just as Wilken's accent fluctuated.

With the mere mention of the name McIntire, Ian Keegan's rigid expression turned to concern, and when Sandy elaborated on how the man called William Lock drew on Bones and lost he almost seemed sympathetic to their situation.

Sandy took bite of the gingerbread and a swallow of coffee, smiling his approval to Mrs. Keegan, while Ian digested the news. It was obvious that there was no love lost between Keegan and McIntire. Sandy figured the security on the ranch was to deal with the self proclaimed ruler of the town and so they shared a common enemy.

"We need to get to the marshall in Coyote Hills, Mr. Keegan. They'll be coming after us and the way we see it, our only choice is ride to the law. The real law." Said Sandy, "So we need someone who can set out with us tonight before they come for us and Mr. Fallon said that you know this country like the back of your hand."

Smith slowed his horse as he approached the small canyon, if Tumbleweed was hidin' anywhere it be in the there, it was a good spot to hide your horse. As big Smith slowed his horse the rest of the posse slowed as well, they could see Smith in the bright moonlight, he motioned for them to spread out and find Tumbleweed.

The posse was well armed, Smith himself carried a rifle and the rest had a fair mix of pistols and rifles. Some of the older men in the posse had served in the army and were good shots, they all looked forward to taking a shot at the wanted man. 700 dollars was a lot of money to these working men and they aimed to collect it one way or another.

"Spread out men, I'm gonna ride to the top of those rocks and see if I can see our prize."
Smith steered his horse up the side of the run of boulders, the bright moonlight made the red rocks look dark blue, almost purple. Smith himself had been a scout in the army and had some good skills when it came to hunting a man cross country.

Smith could just make out the sound of a single horse making a hasty run beyond these rocks, Smith's eyes could just make out a single rider riding hard and fast away from the posse. It must be Tumbleweed.

Smith whistled loud and the posse came back into a tight column and they rode quickly after Tumbleweed. Smith could not help but notice that the chased man seemed to be heading in the direction of Keegan's ranch. Keegan was a tough nut but surely he wouldn't make a move to help a murderer and rob the posse of their bounty.

Smith gripped his rifle and wondered about Keegan and the Apache that were rumored to haunt these hills as he rode on in the moonlight.

Goyahkla and a party of eight warriors lay hidden in the rocks of the canyon looking down on the trail as alone rider galloped through the canyon.

Goyahkla and the others were acting as a rear gaurd, as the rest of his band made their way into the mountains to the southwest. After the lone rider passed, Goyahkla motioned with his rifle and two of the warriors ran, jumped on their horses and galloped off after the lone rider. Goyahkla and the war party preparing to move off when a coyote howled in the distance and the flash of a torch could be seen on the rim of the canyon wall. Soon several riders came galloping into the canyon. Goyahkla signaled and the band of warriors hidden in the rocks opened fire with arrows, repeating rifles and carbines. Two of the men in the posse fell from gunshot wounds, one's chest, seemed to explode as the bullet from a Sharps .52 caliber carbine struck him knocking him to the ground.

Smith and the posse were moving quickly through the small canyon, there was no time to waste, the man they were looking for was only a few minutes ahead of them. The men rode with their heads down, the canyon floor was strewn with fallen rocks, but the terrain was not the only hazard here.

Goyaklah and his band of Apache launched an attack on Smith and the 5 other men of the posse, the Indians operated from higher ground which gave them a huge advantage. The Apache chose their targets well, two men just behind Smith fell from their horses as shots rang out from the top of the canyon.

Both men died quickly, one was still tangled in his stirrups, his horse dragging him along. In addition to the gunfire, arrows flew at the white men, one struck Smith and caused him considerable pain as it entered his shoulder just above his collarbone. Smith spurred his horse harder in hopes of getting ahead of the band of Apache.

"Above us! It's an ambush!" Smith shouted through gritted teeth.

The cowboys began to shoot back but there was nothing to see, the Indians were well hidden in the rocks above. Bullets whizzed and zinged around the canyon as the men fired wildly hoping to pick off some of the native men.

The surviving men of the posse pushed forward following Smith and hoping to move through the canyon and away from the Apache. The men were seasoned riders and navigated the rocks and ditches well as the Apache men continued their onslaught.

Bones sat at the table next to Sandy, he did not say much as he observed Keegan and his much smaller wife. Keegan did not seem like a man you'd want to cross but there was also a sense of kindness under the man's beefy exterior.

As Sandy talked about what had occurred in town and the death of William Lock, Keegan's eyes fell on Bones. His blue eyes seemed to size up the thin man as Sandy talked about the trouble. Mrs. Keegan was setting out coffee and sweets, Bones sipped some coffee but did not eat the sweet smelling cookies.

Sandy told Keegan about wanting to get to Coyote hills, he was the only one who could help them and there were rumors that he was friendly with the wild Apache that roamed the space between here and Coyote Hills and if there was any truth to this he was undeniably the man to help them.

Bones nodded politely to Mrs. Keegan as she poured more coffee, she was a friendly enough woman. Bones thought about the gunfight and all the trouble it would cause, and now these good people were in it too."Damn this McIntre" Bones thought. Bones was thinking that the young cowboy that Sandy had spared surely had enough time to get word back to his boss by now, Bones figured that someone was coming to avenge their dead friend and a young man with a broken nose was looking to get even.

A sense of zenlike calm came over Bones as he thought about them coming after him and Sandy, why he would simply send every last one of them to the cemetery on the hill if they came with murder in their hearts. As far as Bones Brown was concerned it was a simple matter, kill or be killed.

Maddie sat at the table, listening to Sandy talk to her father. She was priveledged in the fact that her father treated her as an equal along with her mother. Although, her mother chose to serve the men and her rather than join in. She saw her mother glancing over at the thin man called Butch Brown or Bones as Sandy would call him. She knew what was coming and couldn't stop the smile that began as her tiny mother approached the tough gunman.

"Mr. Brown, you are too skinny and should eat. Now, if the gingerbread cookies aren't to your liking, I can prepare something else while I am preparing pemmican and hard bread for your trip."

Abigail's dark brown eyes looked directly into Bones', her hands on her hips, showing that she clearly had no fear of the tall, skinny gunslinger. She heard a chuckle from Maddie and gave her daughter a scathing look which wiped the smile clean off of her face.

"Mr. Brown, if I were you I would either eat one of those fabulous cookies or allow my wife to fix you something else. She won't leave you alone until you do."

Maddie didn't know what this man would do, but her gaze turned to Sandy and she saw him watching the two as they had a stare down, her mother unrelenting as her father continued to speak to both her and Sandy.

"Mr. Wilkin....Sandy, I cannot guide you to Coyote hills at this time. I have a new herd of mustangs that my boys are bringing in tomorrow and am needed here to see to it that they are taken care of. But, I do know of another who knows this land just as well as I do as well as the Apache tribes and she is just as good with a firearm, knife and bow and arrows as any man I've ever come across. My daughter, Maddie, can guide you and Mr. Brown along with one of my own men, Chase Jones. He's half Apache, his mother being Apache who married one of my ranch hands. He's a good man but I need Maddie to accompany you to make sure that the sheriff knows that you're on the up and up. The sheriff knows us and he has no love lost for McIntire any more than I do, although he is somewhat leery of McIntire."

Maddie's eyes widen when she hears what her father says and she hears her mother's gasp of alarm as well. At the same time, she's elated that her father has enough confidence in her to suggest that she guide these two men. And Chase is just the man she would have chosen herself to accompany them. But, she also saw that it seemed like Sandy wasn't too keen on the idea.

"Mr. Wilken, I assure you that I can handle myself out there. I've spent many nights out in the open and with my Apache friends. I can shoot and ride as well as any man and I know this land as well as my pa. Don't let me being a woman give you pause, because I can assure you that I have no pause......", she turns her attention to her mother, "Ma, you know that I will be fine out there. You and the Apache's have taught me the ways of the land and all that it holds as well as protecting myself. I will be fine."

Maddie, having said her peace, turned her blue eyes back to Sandy. Her eyes showed confidence and knowledge and even though she was young, she was tough and knew that she could do this.

The night was pleasant and John McIntire reclined in his rocker as he puffed on his pipe and watched the happenings just south of his home away from home. When he stayed in town, he lodged at the grand house which was constructed for the would be mayor of Shady Gulch, but such a position had never come to be, at least no one had the courage to fill it so long as McIntire was around.

He shook his head as a few dazed men staggered out of the Golden Lotus Tea House. More opium addicts to add to an already long list, but McIntire really didn't care. He bought the place in secret a year ago under the agreement than Mr. Tsing never made mention to anyone that he was the owner. As ruthless as he was, McIntire still had an image to maintain and consorting with the Chinese was bad for business. Not that it really mattered in the grand scheme of things but in absence of any true competition he kept himself sharp by upholding to the standards he would expect of any other businessman. It was why, McIntire was always dressed immaculately. His black suites were always clean and pressed, his boots polished and his gun shined, a crisp image which served to add to his infamy.

"Evenin' Mr. McIntire, mind if'n I have a word?" Rumbled Blackie as he limped up the stairs of the veranda, the stiffness of his right leg only noticeable when performing such motions.

McIntire acknowledged his man with a nod as he re-lit his pipe and fanned out the match.

"Seem's we have a problem. Redcoat Wilken and Bones Brown are in town. I tried convincing them to leave them be until we could get more men, but they wouldn't abide." Informed Bill Black, otherwise known as 'Blackie'.

McIntire thought for a moment while he recalled where he had heard the names before then he when it struck he announced, "Oregon City." to which Blackie acknowledged with a nod.

If McIntire was concerned about his prodigy he didn't say it, but Blackie had known the man long enough to tell when he was worried by the way he stared off in the distance. William Lock, had been like a son to the man and while he wasn't the coddling type his favoritism had always been quite obvious which was why Blackie had thought it best to let him know that he had tried to convince Wil to let things alone. The glare that McIntire cast toward him so much as told him that he knew Blackie was covering his arse, but if anything McIntire believed that all men were responsible for their own actions and wouldn't hold it against him if the worst happened.

"Why don't you round up some of the boys, Blackie." Ordered McIntire, and that's when a young Pete Dalton came running round the corner of the Golden Lotus like the devil himself was after him.

"Mr. McIntire! Mr. McIntire! He shot 'em! He killed, Wil!" Screamed the out of breath kid, his busted nose streaming with blood as he tripped up the stairs, collapsing on the veranda.

Big Blackie walked over to the boy and pulled him up into a sitting position. "Move yer hands" he ordered, and as he looked over the boys cracked nose grunted, "Broke it good. You ain't shot are ye?"

"No... but they killed, Wil. Shot 'em down in the street in front of Fallon's."

McIntire was quiet, a seething volcano about to erupt but he stayed in control, his exterior remaining cool. "Blackie." he said sternly, "Take Pete to the Doc, then round up the men."

Blackie complied, scooping up Pete and ushering him back down the main street to the doctor while McIntire remained in his chair silently fuming. As he watched his two men vanish down the street, he took out his Colt and inspected the cartridge, making sure everything was in working order, he then smoothly rose and walked round to the back of the house where he had a private corral. He saddled up his handsome black quarter horse and rode down Main Street.

A crowd had gathered round the body of William Lock and the undertaker was overseeing matters.

"Get back ye vultures!" Growled McIntire, dismounting on the run and in one fluid motion ending up at the side of his fallen man. It was no secret that Wil was McIntire's right hand man, rumors even circulated that he was an illegitimate son, but there was no truth to it. A definite truth, however, was McIntire's anger. It was not often that the people of Shady Gulch witnessed the man showing much emotion, but McIntire is in a full rage. "Get back!" he shouted, as he kneeled beside Wil.

The gun fighter inspected the bubbling black wound and cursed under his breath as he recognized the severity. It was a shot meant to kill and he as he closed the eyes of the man who had been like a son to him he swore vengeance. Standing slowly, McIntire looked at the people around him.

"Which way did they go?" He demanded.

"They road off west with the Keegan girl." Answered a fearful man.

"Keegan," Said McIntire in a low guttural tone, "He's crossed me fer the last time."

Sandy glanced over at Butch then back to the girl. He took her words to heart but didn't offer any in return the idea of being responsible for her was just too much for him to handle. He stood up and extended a hand to Ian Keegan. "Sorry to involve you in this matter, sir. I hope we didn't put you in it." he told him then motioned to Bones that they were clearing out on their own.

It seemed that Ian Keegan was well aware that they had steered McIntire toward him, but it seemed he'd been expecting the man to come head on at him for some time now and assured him that they'd be fine. Sandy, however, felt that the man was being a little too optimistic, but then it suddenly occurred to him that's why he volunteered his daughter. To get her away from the ranch. There was no telling what McIntire and his boys would do to her and Ian was simply choosing the lesser of two evils for her sake.

"We could stay, sir." Offered Sandy.

Keegan smiled and slapped him on the shoulder. "No. You and yer friend get." he sternly told him, then he looked over at his daughter, "Maddie will guide you right. You just keep your eyes on her."

Sandy nodded, acknowledging the dual meaning of the man's words. Seemed they'd be keeping an eye on the girl after all, but it was the least they could do for the man. Maybe the girl could take of herself, but then maybe she was too much of fire cracker to know when to up a run.

"Com 'on." Sandy said to Maddie, "Let's get on to Coyote Hills. The sooner we leave the sooner we can make it back with the law."

Sandy exchanged one more look with Ian Keegan and gave him a nod, leaving the house and giving the girl some time to say good bye to her Pa. He made his way outside, mounted his horse and waited for Maddie to join them and lead the way.

While they waited, Sandy road his horse along side Bones. "Think they have a chance against McIntire?" he said quietly to the quick draw.

Keegan's men looked like they had sand, but McIntire had no doubt assembled a small army of gunfighters and even with the help of a few Apache, Sandy didn't think they'd last long against the master of Shady Gulch. Hopefully, they could hold out until they made it back, but he feared they'd only return in time to bury the dead.

It seemed Mrs. Keegan was was going to lean on Bones until he ate something, the cowboy nodded and took one of the ginger cookies and bit into it. The ginger was strong with a hint of sweet on the end, not Bones' cup of tea but he finished the thing.

"Thank you mam..." Bones said to the friendly woman.

It seemed that Pa Keegan was going to have Sandy and Bones travel with his daughter despite Sandy's silent protests, there was no arguing with the man. Bones could see a look in the man's eyes, he was no dullard, he knew that some combination of McIntire's wrath was heading to this ranch and if Maddie did not go with Sandy and Bones that she would be in the middle of it. Keegan had some tough looking ranch hands to help in a fight, and maybe some Apache hiding in the wings, Bones hoped that they were tough enough.

Bones admired Keegan, he was going to make his stand at his homestead, if McIntire's cowboys were coming Keegan would face them here. Bones wondered if Maddie was fully aware of what her leaving with them meant.

Bones looked to Sandy as he pulled along side of him out front of Keegan's home.
"Chance or no, sometimes you've gotta make a stand...you don't always go to a fight, sometimes it comes to you."

Maddie watched as Bones and Sandy left the ranch house, feeling as if she were missing something that passed between her pa and the two gunslingers. Looking back at her father, it then dawned on her what was going on. Her father knew that McIntire would find out that she had been the one to lead the two men back to their ranch and with the hatred between her father and McIntire, it could very well be the last straw and send McIntire and his small army straight here.

"Pa, maybe I should stay. You're gonna need all the guns you can get and I'm a better shot then most of the boys here."

"No, Maddie. I'm sending you're ma to the Apache camp along with one of my men to ask for help from the band that live here with us, albeit in hiding. I will send another man out to try and locate Goyahkla and ask him to allow you, Chase, Sandy and Bones to pass through peacefully. I can only hope that he will do this, knowing what we do here on the ranch for his people. I can only hope that he realizes that at least here, on this ranch, his people can live in peace and the way they were meant to live. I only wish we could do more. Hopefully, he and his band will allow you to pass without any incidents. Now, come here and give me a hug."

Maddie rushed into her father's arms, hugging him tightly as her mother came out of the kitchen with a pouch full of pemmican, Indian flat bread and beef jerky. She had tears streaming down her face as she pulled Maddie into a tight embrace.

"These two men are honorable men, Maddie, even though others don't see them that way. We will be safe until your return. I love you, Madison."

Maddie hugged both once more before heading upstairs to grab a change of clothes for her saddlebags. She stopped long enough in the study to grab extra ammunition for her .22 rifle and .38 special six shooter when she put the .22 rifle back and grabbed her .44 Henry along with the proper ammunition. She looked once more to her parents before sliding out of the door to see Sandy, Bones and now Chase waiting for her on their horses. She saw Chase holding Jasmine's reins as one of the hands had already brushed her out and re-saddled her. She stuffed her clothes into the saddle bags that had a bedroll tied over them. Her .44 rifle was already loaded and in it's holster and her .38 was strapped to her hip. She swung up into the homemade saddle and turned to Chase, giving him a sad smile which he returned. Both knew that it was a possibility that they would be coming back to nothing more than a shell.

Chase Jones was 26 years old, 5'9" and about 175 pounds of muscle. He had striking green eyes, golden skin and thick amber colored hair that hung in a braid half-way down his back. He had a long scar down the right side of his face from a knife fight with one of McIntire's men a few years back. He and Maddie had grown up together and he looked at her as a little sister and she to him as a big brother. He had already introduced himself to Sandy and Bones before Maddie had come out.

Abigail came out of the house, handing Sandy, Bones, and Chase pouches like Maddie's filled with pemmican, Indian flat bread and beef jerky. Speaking low enough for only Sandy and Bones to hear she motioned to them that she wanted a word.

"Maddie is head strong, but she's not addle-brained. She's quick to temper and just as quick to jump in and help but she's a good girl. Please.....please take care of her. You both know as well as I do that it's very likely that her pa and I won't be here when you return and Maddie suspects this as well. Just........take good care of her. She'll try the patience of a saint, but she won't let you down when you need her."

Laying a small, gently hand on the leg of both men, she thanked them for what they were doing and turned to stand with her husband on the porch.

Maddie, holding back the tears, smiled to her parents as she turned Jasmine away from the house and headed out. It would be approximately 7 to 10 days before they returned, depending on whether or not they ran into any trouble along the way there and the way back and how quickly they could get the sheriff to be ready to ride back to Shady Gulch. Maddie knew that it was very likely that McIntire would retaliate before then and she could only hope that her pa, his men and the Apache they had befriended would be able to hold him off until they could return with the sheriff.

Her demeanor was somewhat subdued as they left the boundaries of the ranch an hour later. She'd been quiet but on alert for anything suspicious. Turning around, she cast a hopeful glance back at the land that she called home, knowing that she may not see it again. Before she turned back, her gaze stopped on Sandy her blue eyes showing that she did indeed know that she may be an orphan before they returned. She gave him a small smile as she turned back around on Jasmine and nudged her into a gallop.

Only the sound of stray dog scampering down the board walk could be heard while John McIntire's will and anger imposed a silence over the streets and saloons. "William Lock is dead!" he had shouted to all the onlookers that had gathered on Main Street, "He's dead and I'll be damned if any one of you is going to disrespect his memory this night. I want all the saloons closed! And, if I see one man raising a drink to their lips no in honor to this fine man lying here, I'll flay the flesh from their bones!"

There wasn't a man, woman or child that didn't believe for a moment that he wouldn't do it either and a deafening quiet settled on the town. Fearful of McIntire's wrath not a body moved while the undertaker carefully oversaw the moving of Wil Lock's body onto his cart. He requested a couple of deputies to assist him and the man treated the body like priceless china else McIntire shoot him dead on the spot. The undertaker knew that blood would spill this night over the murder of the Marshal's favorite and many more would require his care before dawn.

Blackie road up main street, past the other eleven deputies that were more like McIntire's personal guard. Each one seasoned in their trade, a few had even served with McIntire back in Missouri Territory when he was a hired gun for the railway. They were all loyal to the end and followed his word to the letter.

"Sir. The men are gatherin' at the end of Jackson Street." Informed Blackie.

McIntire silently watched as the undertaker's cart carried the body of Wil Lock up the street to the morgue. The men patiently awaited his command, and when he was ready ever so slightly waved his hand and the twelve deputies moved out behind Blackie who had always been the number two despite McIntire's relationship with Wil. Blackie would never say it to the bosses face but he always knew that kid's mouth would get him shot dead, he wasn't one of them but for some reason, McIntire had taken a shine to the boy. Now that he was dead, Blackie knew that McIntire wouldn't be satisfied until every last man, woman and even child associated with Wil's murder suffered the same fate.

McIntire remained stationary, leaning over the horn of his saddle, staring into nothingness while his men road off. Slowly then, his dark eyes moved slowly across the crowd, casting their cold hatred over everyone if only just because they were still living. Not a soul moved, and only when McIntire was but a shadow at in the darkness up Main Street to people relax and slowly make their way to their homes.

At the end of Jackson street a small army was beginning to gather. Men from McIntire's ranch and surrounding areas were mobilizing with the efficiency of a military outfit and in another hour they'd be forty strong. Then once and for all McIntire would wipe out the Circle M and string up Keegan in the center of town for all to see, after he learned where this Redcoat Wilken and Bones Brown were. As for Keegan's brat of daughter, well, he had special plans for her. He'd been tolerant and patient of the girl for far too long and it was high time the finest looking filly in town paid him the respect he was due.



Mrs. Keegan's words echoed through Sandy's mind as they road into the night. He at least was glad the kindly woman would be spared, but as for Ian Keegan, he hoped that the man went down swinging and took as many with him as he could. The half-breed, Chase wasn't too talkative, but then from what Sandy had learned about the Apache that was pretty typical. He has happy though to have the man with them, as much as he wanted to honor the wishes of Maddie's mother, he was no babysitter and Bones even less so, although on more than occasion he had heard the old koot offer, Jesse a kind word or two when she needed it. Despite his gruff and haggard exterior that man had a soft side, at least for his friends, which Sandy was thankful for.

They were not far from the ranch when, Chase paused at the edge of a low valley stretching westward. He partly closed his eyes and listened as if waiting for the wind to carry distance sounds to him, and for all Sandy knew, maybe it would. He'd seen stranger things among the Kootenay, but then something caught his eye. The marksman's keen eyes peered out into the moonlit steppe and at first he thought that maybe he had caught sight of a coyote but then it became clear that it something else.

"There's a rider down there." Sandy announced and though no one else would have caught sight of it yet, Bones at least would know not to doubt the man's eyesight.

A year ago some Dutch eye doctor created some scale for measuring people's vision and Butch and Sandy had the opportunity to take the test when they were at the doctor in Oregon City getting patched up from a rather boisterous evening. Turned out, Bones' eyes were fairly decent but Sandy's amazed the doctor. He had said that people with good, normal vision was 20/20, but that Sandy fit into a small group of people that had 20/10, which meant he could see twice as good as most. It was probably why Sandy could shoot the tail off a hawk at three hundred feet, so when he said he saw something, Bones listened.

"Just one Sandy?" Bones asked.
Sandy was looking to the west, maybe this rider was one of Keegan's men, but why would he be moving through this patch so late at night? It could be a trap, many more men, McIntire's men could be just behind this lone rider. It could be the beginning of one hell of a fight. Bones opened his long coat making it easier to pull his pistols if need be. Bones looked into the dark valley below, he could not see this rider yet but if Sandy said he was there, he was.

Keegan's girl and the half breed seemed unshaken by Sandy's announcement, they merely readied themselves for what might come. Bones got off his horse and walked up to Sandy to get a better idea of where the rider was coming in at. Sandy looked into the night, his eyes were as sharp as they come.

Bones remembered a time when they were feuding with the Hudson Bay Company and they were leaving a town up north with their saddle bags full of HB silver. No one was following them as they camped outside of town overnight. In the morning as they saddled up again Sandy joked that he could shoot the bell of the schoolhouse in town from their camp. Bones thought it impossible, but Sandy simply took up his rifle and rang that bell. When this happened that morning it was still very early and the light was poor and damn it all if Sandy didn't ring that bell.

"What's it look like Sandy?" Bones asked.

"Just one... so far." Replied Sandy as he reached into his saddle bag and took out a spy glass. As good as his eyes were, it had been invaluable to him. 'Wonder why no one had ever considered rigging one these to a rifle?', thought Sandy.

Looking out across the range, Sandy got a close look at the lone rider and spied a man that sat tall in the saddle, sporting a fancy double breasted red shirt. "Never seen him before." Said Sandy, "I can't tell whether he's a friendly or not but by the ways he's riding I'd say someone's after him."

Sandy handed the spyglass off to Bones. "See for yourself. Y'know, I wonder if that might be that range-rider, Dawson." he guessed, "If it is that means the posse isn't far behind, but if that's a scout heading up McIntire's men we better high tail it."