Trevor, older for his age than he looked, ran a hand through his thinning black hair then shoved his hat on and lowered the rim over his eyes. He stared at his little brother, half the size of him, but meaner than snake snot and a killer when he had the guts to. Nicholas kneeled down on one knee to examine the poor, defenseless farmer face down on the floorboards in his ranch home. His face was flat in the floor, his arms sprawled on either side of him, and his feet dangled with the shoelaces untied.

          "He is dead, Trevor." Nicholas said after he took the man's pulse. "I told you I could kill him, and this proves it."

          Trevor shook his head, "You didn't kill him you damn fool. I don't see a bullet in him. No blood! Nothin'!"

          The younger brother stood back up and rubbed the back of his neck. "You never believe me, do you? You can kill a person without having to see the blood. I broke his neck." He simply stated as if he did it every day.

          Trevor shifted his weight, hooked his thumbs in his pant loops, and looked sideways at his brother. "You did what?"

          "Snapped his neck," Nicholas pointed at the old man. "It's an easy doing, and you don't have to deal with blood. Don't have to cover your tracks."

          Trevor laughed out loud, his attitude suddenly changing. "Awe hell Nick! I didn't think you'd be this clever about killing! You've grown up!"

          "I had to back in that prison you broke me out of. Some of ‘em jailers taught me ways to kill using my hands. Simple works." Nicholas looked at his hands then and not a single scratch or scar cursed them. He felt down right proud of himself. He killed this old man because he wanted some answers but the old man wouldn't give him anything, and he killed him without thinking twice. He thought questions were a waste of time anyway and he figured with his older brother's smart thinking and easy access, they'd find the buried explosives within a day's work. They had to get started and then get on their way to Four Corners and find Chris Larabee and shove one of them explosives where it counts. Show the fast gunslinger that he wasn't the quickest, smartest man out in the old west anymore. That he had enemies who seek his blood and want revenge. Two enemies with explosives who knew how to use them...

          Mary skipped around her newspaper office excited and ready to start the day with work and preparing for Billy's birthday party. She wanted to get her papers finished and printed so she could spend all her time on her son's small gathering later this evening. She wanted to get started in the kitchen and prepare him a special birthday dinner, and the cake. Mary couldn't stand the wait to design and bake the cake. She wanted to make that part of the evening to be the most special for Billy.

          As the new eight year old played around outside the building with Jordan and Lily Potter, Mary could have the peace and quiet she needed to get things moving with her papers and without distraction she would be able to plan efficiently on how she wanted the papers to be done in a certain way so she could get rid of the boring work for now and get going on the exciting events of the evening.

          Judge Travis sent a telegram informing Mary he was on his way from the south to come and visit for his grandson's birthday, but he told Mary to keep it a surprise as he had told Billy last week he would be away for three weeks time and wouldn't have been able to make it back in time for his birthday. Sadness had wiped over poor Billy's face and the judge managed to postpone a few business dates so he could be there for the young boy.

          But this was a surprise for Billy, and Travis did not want Mary to spoil it.

          Mary stepped out of the double doors to her home and place of business to find Billy and the Potter children playing on the porch, exactly where Billy had told his mother where he would be. When the young boy saw his mother's bright smile touch his eyes, Mary bent down and moved his chili bowl haircut from his blue eyes.

          "Say Billy, who would like to invite to your birthday dinner this evening?" Mary asked. She looked at Jordan Potter with a smile, and suggested to invite the children and Mrs. Potter. Billy agreed with a wide grin and then Jordan took his little sister's hand and led her down to their home at the general store, the family's business, to ask their mother if they could.

          Billy turned to face Mary with his eyes dropping to the porch's wooden boards. Mary saw this uneasy look on her son's face and questioned it. "What's the matter, baby?"

          Billy looked at his mother again, his eyes lighting up suddenly. "I want Chris to come tonight."

          She felt her heart drop to her stomach, but she managed to give her birthday boy a smile. "I'm not sure he will be able to, sweetie. He's a very busy man."

          "But not too busy to come see me, is he?" Billy asked, looking so hopeful and waiting for Mary to give him an answer he wanted to hear.

          Mary didn't want to deny her son anything, especially on his special day, so she took a deep breath and told him she would try to find Chris and ask if he would like to join them for dinner. Billy rose on his legs and wrapped his arms around his mother's neck, and hugged her tightly. Mary about lost her balance on her heels, but she wrapped her arms around him to keep hold and she embraced him with more love in her heart for him.

          Billy let her go, and ran behind her toward Mrs. Potter's store to see if his two friends could come tonight or not. Mary turned around and watched her son fly like the wind on his tall legs, he got from his father, and he kept a hand on his head, keeping his hat from flying off as he jumped from one wooden porch to the next. Mary let out a small laugh, watching her son, admiring the person he came to be at a young age. For all the torment he had already endured with the death of his father and the threat he received the first time he stepped foot back in town afterward.

          Mary shook her head, crossed her arms over her chest, and then walked back in her office building to continue with work.

          The newspapers were finally finished and published and printed as the outside weather cooled and the sun hid behind some dark, heavy clouds. It was hard to see the fine print on the papers since the sun had disappeared and Mary had to squint as she carefully folded each paper for eligible reading without creases.

          Mary untied the ink apron that held any ink blots on her striped black and gray dress and tossed the splotchy garment on the back of a chair, gathered her papers, and opened the door after three hours straight of doing nothing but laboring over them.

          She put on her gleaming smiles and walked in the middle of the town, passing out papers, making small talk and gestures to the locals she'd handed papers to, smiling, and trying to put on a good front that came along with her free spirited soul at the current moment. She was in a high full of hope and wonder of what the night would consist of for her young Billy. Mary wanted to pass out the papers and be done with it so she could get back home and concentrate what she had been thinking about doing all day during work for her son's birthday dinner. What to make, how to make it, and what to really do special and out do herself from the other years.

          Mary passed JD and Buck, wanting to know where Billy was so they could wish the little guy a happy birthday, and Josiah passed her too, tipping his hat at her after taking a newspaper. Horses, carriages, and stagecoaches passed her in the streets and on her way down the lot to come across the part the most busy, she saw Gloria Potter walking her way.

          "Gloria," Mary said, smiling.

          "Mary," the older woman said, returning the smile. "Billy's over at my home with Jordan and Lily. Jordan mentioned something about a birthday dinner?"

          "Yes, that's correct. I want to put on a good show for Billy this evening, and I asked if your little ones would be able to join us. It would mean a lot to Billy. Having children his own age around."

          "And Billy is always welcome over at the home. You're right, there aren't many children around here. There never has been."

          "We're finally getting this town comfortable enough to raise children in. I know I wouldn't want Billy to be here with me if I knew it wasn't safe. Perhaps once the people see it is safe here now, more children will show up." Mary said, offering the older widow a gentle smile then offered to ask again about this evening. "Would you mind if Jordan and Lily came by for dinner?"

          Gloria shook her head, "No, I don't mind at all. What time?"

          "Does seven o'clock sound fine?"

          Gloria nodded, "Sounds just fine."

          Mary and Gloria Potter said their goodbyes and they'd see each other again soon.

          After Gloria walked around her, Mary continued on her walk to deliver and finish with the papers. No longer than a minute passed she spotted Chris headed towards her, only he wasn't. He had his hat lowered down just above his eyebrows, his duster blowing behind him in the late afternoon wind, and he carried with him his saddle heading in the direction of the livery. Mary suspected to go off on a ride, or his shack in the hills to get away from the town when needed.

          This would be a good time than ever to stop Chris before he left, maybe for good for the day, and invite him to dinner. With the newspaper in tow, she pulled them to her dress, and ran the short distance to Chris before he was lost in the horses within the livery doors.

          "Chris!" she yelled out.

          Chris turned toward the call of his name, and found Mary running up to him and as she approached, she put her hand on the wooden livery door as if stopping him from going in.

          Mary stopped, trying to catch her breath, her papers clutched in one arm. "Good thing I caught you now before it was too late."

          Chris narrowed his brow, "Excuse me?"

          Mary looked in the livery, gracing over all the beautiful horses. "You were on your way to leave, were you not?"

          Chris didn't give his reason for going to the livery and instead waited for why he was stopped in the middle of his business. Mary saw the wait in his green eyes, and she quickly shook her head to get rid of any girlie feeling she held tight in her chest.

          "I apologize for my rude call, but I need to ask you something. A favor really."

          "Favor?" Chris asked.

          "Yes, a favor from me for Billy." She shifted her weight and switched the newspapers to the other arm. "Today is his eighth birthday and I....he was wondering if you would like to join us for dinner this evening to celebrate."

          Chris wasn't stupid and he caught onto this little cat and mouse game he'd been playing with Mary since the beginning of time. "He was wondering?"

          Mary blushed, a sheet of reds and pinks outlining her cheekbones and the soft, gentle skin below her eyes. "Well....yes, Chris. I told him I'd ask you when I saw you."

          Chris did away with the small flirting and the uncomfortable presence he felt whenever Mary strode by him. He had feelings for the woman that was clear to him, but no one else knew, not even her. He would hide behind his love for her for as long as it lasted and until his heart wanted more for a change, a longing to stop the hunting for his family's murderer and finally rest and retire. Chris never thought Mary would be his next lover, and she might not be now but somewhere down the line he would claim her. Chris just hoped it wouldn't be too late until he did for Mary might not be around when he'd be ready.

          Pushing back the thoughts, and his heartaches, Chris looked at the woman, and shook his head. "I don't know Mary. Things around here haven't been settling right with me the last few days. I don't wanna ruin Billy's dinner because of me."

          This time Mary shook her head, "No, Chris, you would be no interruption. He wants you to come. He really does." She gripped her newspapers tighter in her arms. "It would mean the world to my son if you'd join us this evening. Around seven?"

          How could Chris not agree? He wanted to, but on the darker side of his thoughts he knew Mary and Billy wouldn't be safe in his presence. Even if he was paid to protect the town, Chris had more enemies than he could count, or remember, and they'd crawl and destroy anywhere he stepped and had a good time in. Hell, the saloon was half destroyed because of him, the fights the seven had, the crazy drinking they do, and Chris on occasion. No, it wouldn't be a wise choice to oblige Mary's invitation.

          Then Chris thought about Billy, the young boy who reminded him a lot of his own son, Adam. They were about the same age, Adam a little bit older, would be nine years old now if he were alive, and Chris could just imagine what his face would look like if he discovered Sarah wanting to do something real special for him on his birthday. How she would go to great lengths to make sure their son was happy every second, and Chris wouldn't miss his son's birthday for the world.

          That's what it was like with Billy now. Even when he wasn't Chris's family blood, he still considered the little man as a son he'd always protect. He didn't want to let him down on his special day, and when Mary was going out of her way to make sure her son was happy.

          If Chris couldn't make it right with his feelings about his lost loved ones, then he could at least tempt to with Mary and Billy.

          "Seven?" Chris spoke up, looking back into Mary's hopeful expression. "All right."

          "Thank you, Chris." Mary said, and put a gentle hand over Chris's unyielding hand, and they stopped, took a breath, and gazed into each other's eyes. The quiet stillness shook Mary up, and Chris had to pull away before he did something he'd regret. Mary smiled at him again, never leaving his eyes then walked away.

          Chris glanced over his shoulder to watch her leave, the ends of her dress fluttering in the dirt as she continued to pass out newspapers and conversation with locals. He turned back to face the crowd before him, and then he tightened his grip on his saddle before heading into the livery.