Hunt For Vengeance by Linda

Chris stood looking out the window in his room. From his room, he could see Buck and JD as they sat outside of the jail. He turned his head just a little to the right where Josiah was talking to Nathan. He could only imagine what they were talking about. He could see that Vin was sleeping under his wagon. Even they could feel the heat of the summer.

He turned from the window and slowly walked to the washstand where he poured water from the pitcher into the basin and then splashed some of the water on his face. He stood there letting the cool water run down his face and drop on to his chest. The cool water felt good, but he knew it wouldn't last very long.

He sat down on the edge of the bed. He was trying to decide whether to try and sleep or get dressed and go down to the jail where Buck and JD were. He would try once more to sleep but as he moved to lie down, he could still feel the pain from the gunshot wound, even though it had been several weeks since he had been shot.

He lay back on the bed and slowly laid his head down. He knew that the pain would soon be gone, till the next time, but there were still the memories and they would always be there. He could still remember turning to see her face as she sat on the horse, but at that moment, he knew that he hated her. Why didn't he shoot while he had the chance?

He closed his eyes to try and fall asleep one more time. He could feel himself as he slowly fell asleep but as he lay there, he could see himself standing in front of his house in Eagle Bend. He started to walk closer and, as he did, he could see the fire as it rose up from the roof and then engulfed the whole house. He could hear Sarah and Adam's screams as they tried to escape from the burning house.

Chris was tossing and turning in the bed as he relived the nightmare over and over. He just stood there as he heard the screams again. Then he heard the sounds of a woman's voice. He could hear as she talked about hiring Fowler to kill his family and how they would be together. Then he could see her face as she laughed while the house continued burning around his family. Chris turned and grabbed her by the neck and started to strangle Ella. His hands getting tighter and tighter as she struggled to escape, but then her lifeless body fell to the ground.

He looked to see that his family was gone and that, a few feet away, the person responsible for their deaths lay there on the ground dead. The tears slowly rolled down his face. He could feel them as they dropped one by one. He started screaming and yelling and then fell to the ground. He looked at the burning house and lay there rocking back and forth as he cried for his family.

"Chris, you have to wake up. It's Nathan and Josiah. You're having that nightmare again. Come on now, you have to wake up. Josiah, throw some water on him. It might wake him up."

Josiah took the pitcher and poured the water over Chris's head. It was starting to work as he started to open his eyes. He shook his head as he sat up in the bed and then he moved to the side of the bed.

"Nathan, what happened? Why are you and Josiah in my room?"

"Josiah was going back to the church when he heard you yelling and screaming and how you would kill her. He yelled for me and I knew that you must be having that nightmare. When we opened the door, you were all over the bed and you had your hands around the pillow as if you were choking someone."

Chris sat on the side of the bed rubbing his forehead with his hand. He shook his head as he started to remember a part of it.

"It was the nightmare again. Just like all of the others I've been having. I stopped having them after I came to Four Corners and started my life over and then Ella came back into my life and learned she was the one who had hired Fowler, just for selfish reasons. Before, I could never put a face on the person that I was choking but in this one, I could see her face."

"Chris, the trauma of being shot and finding out that it was someone from your past, who had your family murdered, has brought back the nightmare," explained Josiah.

"Till you find her, the nightmare will continue to haunt you in your sleep," stated Nathan.

"Before I came here, I didn't care what happened to me or anyone else. I felt like I was a dead man inside. The only ones I cared about were gone. When they needed me, I wasn't there, but being here and helping people changed a part of me. Then I met Billy and he started to change the way I felt about life."

"Chris, are you going after her? You don't even know where she may of went to?" asked Nathan.

"I'll go back to Red Fork and start there. She may have gone back to the ranch after we left. She would of had to get clothes and money before leaving the territory. If I have to, I'll go see her father. He still lives at Fort Hays."

"You'll need help," replied Josiah.

"If I need help, I know where to get it."

"You can't do this alone, Chris. You need someone to back you up," Nathan said.

"The town needs all of you here. If I need it, I can send a telegram to Matt and he'll be there."

"Chris, just be careful. The last time she lead you into a trap and it almost cost you your life," replied Nathan.

Chris watched as Nathan and Josiah walked out the door. He took his saddlebags from the closet and put some of his clothes in them. He went back to the closet and pulled out a black shirt. As he put it on, he looked at himself in the mirror. He could see the old Chris when he looked in the mirror. I need him back just for a little while he, thought. The old Chris knows better than I do. He buttoned his shirt and tucked it into his pants. He picked up his hat and put it on his head, and then he threw the black duster over his shoulder. He walked to the dresser, opened the drawer and pulled out a box. He opened it and took out the picture of his family. He then reached in and took out the locket that had been Sarah's. He put them both in his shirt pocket and walked to the bed. He picked up the saddlebags and walked out the door. As he walked down the stairs, he could see Vin standing there.

"Are you sure you don't need at least one of us?"

"Like I told Nathan, I have to do this myself. I know if I need help, you all would be there, but you all are needed here. I can always get help if I need it. I can get Matt and John to help."

Chris walked toward the swinging doors. He opened them and then just stood there holding them open. He started to smile at what he saw. There was Buck and JD with their horses ready to go.

"No, not this time Buck. I have to do this."

"Chris, she could have someone like Jack helping now?"

"I'll find out when I catch up with her."

"Nathan this just came in," Mary said as she walked up.

"What did you do, Nathan?" Chris asked.

"I had Mary send a telegram to Judge Travis. Who sent one to Judge Randall, who sent one to the sheriff in Twin Bluffs. It says that Matt and John have taken a prisoner there. The sheriff passed the message on to them. Matt says for you to stay in Red Fork and they will meet you there."

"Since we can't go with you, you need someone to back you up," replied Vin.

"When I find her, I'll send a telegram."

"Mary, tell Billy I'll be back. I have to face the devil one more time. He'll know what it means."

"I'll tell him."

The morning light was just coming over the roof of the building. Chris mounted his horse, Charlie, and turned him and started to ride out of town.

I have a long journey, but I have to do this, if not for me then for Sarah and Adam, he thought as he rode out of Four Corners.

Chris had been riding for a while when he came to the road that would take him to Eagle Bend. He sat there for a few minutes, before deciding that he had no choice but to go there first. He stopped at the edge of the town. His old place was just past the town. Chris sat there not sure if he could go back there. I have to, thought Chris as he continued on. After a while, he could see the windmill from the road. He knew he was close to his old place. Then he saw on the right, the road that led to his place. As he rode closer, he could see the windmill and what was left of his house. He tied Charlie to a tree and started to walk up the path that would take him to what was left. Just then he could smell smoke and could hear the sounds of someone screaming from inside the house. Chris started running but as he stopped, he realized that he was having flashbacks of that night.

There was the house just they way he found it that night. He just stood there with his eyes closed. He saw his family standing there as he rode off with Buck. I should have been here, he thought, but Sarah said for me to go. I could have saved them if I had been here.

He turned and walked till he could see the picket fence. He stopped and looked at the two wooden crosses. He could feel the tears as they started to well up in his eyes, as he looked at the names of Sarah and Adam. I can still remember everything about you, your smile, your eyes and the way Adam called me pa and our life here, but it hurts when I come here.

This time it's different. I found the man responsible for you and Adam dying. His name was Fowler, but he told me he had been hired by someone else to kill my family. I tried to find out who, but he wouldn't say, then he walked into a burning barn and that was it.

Then a few weeks ago, someone from my past came to Four Corners looking for help. She found me sleeping off a day of drinking. It's what I do on the anniversary of the day that I lost both of you. It was a woman I knew when I was younger. She needed my help, so the boys and I agreed to help her.

Her name was Ella. She reminded me what it use to be like. I started to remember how it was, but I also remembered why I had left her. I noticed that she had changed. She was no longer this wild person from before. I had decided to stay with her and not go back to Four Corners, but then some things happened. First Buck tried to show me things and Vin even tried to tell me that everything she had told me was a lie, but I didn't want to believe him.

Later that night while she was asleep, I remembered her leaving the room and going down the hall and into another room. I found the key she had and I walked to this room. When I opened the door, I couldn't believe what I saw. There were pictures of me everywhere and a picture of us. I opened a drawer and there was more. I was moving things when I found the locket I gave you when we were married. I had just picked it up when I could hear the sound of her voice as she tried to explain.

I asked her where she got it and she said that Fowler had brought it to her as proof that you were dead. All I could hear were the echoes of her voice as she talked about how she was the only one, but my mind kept flashing back to you and Adam. All I could see was the two crosses as the rage started to build. I turned and grabbed her by the neck and tried to strangle her, but then I heard gunfire and I heard something about her killing anyone that got in the way.

I was trying to help my friends when I heard my name. I turned around to see her sitting there on a horse. I had my gun aimed straight at her, but I couldn't shoot. That's when I was shot. Now that I have recovered I'm starting the hunt for her, but I had to stop here so I could tell you I'm sorry that it was someone from my past that did this.

Chris took one more look and then walked back down the lane where Charlie was tied to a tree. As he mounted, he thought he could see Sarah and Adam standing at the top of the lane. As he looked he could see them as they waved. He turned away, then he looked back to see that there was no one there. It's only my memories, he thought.

"I promise not to stop till I find her," vowed a saddened Chris.

He turned Charlie out toward the road back to Eagle Bend. Soon he found himself at the fork in the road. There was the road that would take him to Red Fork and maybe there he could find more answers. The sheriff had been keeping a watchful eye on her ranch and the Culpepper Mining Company but there had been no word lately.

The ride made him think about how bad Ella could be. He was mad at himself for falling into her trap. He should have known that she would never change, not even after all these years. She was still as mean and ruthless as she had been in Kansas.

He thought about all those times when he thought there was something wrong with her and now he realized that there was. He wondered how far she would go to get him back or worse kill someone else that might be close to him. In Red Fork, he had to send a telegram to Vin to be sure and keep a close watch on Mary and Billy, especially Billy, if she found out how close they were.

Chris felt like he had been riding for hours, when he thought he could hear the sound of horses coming up from behind him. He stopped to let them go by, but just then he heard the sound of a gun being pulled from a holster.

"Put your hands up... this is a holdup. Give us all your money," demanded the man as he smiled.

"I don't have any on me and I won't have till I get to Red Fork," replied Chris.

"Look at those posters and see if he's wanted anywhere."

"I have one here that fits his description. A man about 6 foot, sandy blond hair with green eyes usually wears all black and riding a black horse. It says here that he is wanted in Kansas," replied the other man.

"I don't know what you are talking about. I haven't done anything wrong there, so how can I be wanted there?" asked Chris.

"The last we heard you were wanted by your mother for not coming to see her when you said you would," replied the first man as the two men sat there laughing.

Chris sat there and just shook his head as he started to smile. He then turned his horse around to see Matt and John as they sat there smiling.

"What are you doing here? They told you to meet me in Red Fork."

"We were in Red Fork, but you weren't so the sheriff told us just to follow the road and we should run into you," replied Matt.

"I stopped at my old place. I must have lost track of the time."

"You still haven't been able to stop blaming yourself for what happened?" asked John.

"No I haven't. I should have been there, but I agreed to stay with Buck."

"Chris, the last time I was in Four Corners you told me about finding the man who killed your family and that he said he was hired by someone. He refused to tell who it was, before walking into a burning barn and it collapsed on him," remarked Matt.

"I spent weeks trying to think who would've wanted to harm my family or even me, but the one person that would have wanted me dead was Hank, Sarah's father, but he would of gone after me not my family."

"Where's Hank now?" asked John.

"Hank died a year ago. I was with him."

"What about someone from your past? Sometimes you were good and then there was the times you were really bad," stated John.

"I thought about those times in Fort Hays, but I couldn't remember anything. Then six months later, I woke up in jail as Buck was telling me about this person who wanted to hire us. The person wanted us to take care of these men who were trying to take their land for a mining company. I was sitting on the edge of the bed holding my head in my hands and trying to forget my hangover."

"Chris, why were you in jail and where did the hangover come from" John asked.

"It was the third anniversary of their deaths. I had spent the whole day drinking till I was so drunk that I couldn't remember or that I had to forget. Buck put me in the jail so that I could sober up."

"So who was this person that wanted to hire you and the others?" Asked Matt.

"I heard this voice that I knew and when I looked up there stood Ella Gaines. She started talking about this man named Jack and how he wanted her to sell to The Culpepper Mining Company. I agreed to help and the next morning we all left for her place in Red Fork and it seemed that she changed. She had been married and her husband had died leaving her a huge ranch and money."

"This isn't the same Ella we know?"

"Yes, John it was the same Ella."

"She had me almost convinced that she had changed. That night when Vin came back from Red Fork and told me that everything she was saying was a lie. I found out that Jack worked for her and she owned the mining company. I started to think about some of the things that Buck had told me too. While she was sleeping I thought about what I had heard and then I remembered earlier that she had taken my razor and left. I looked down the hall to see her turn into another room.

I found a key lying beside her. I took it and walked to that room. I opened it and saw just how obsessed she was with me. There were pictures of me everywhere and there were things of mine I hadn't seen since leaving home.

Then I opened this drawer to find Sarah's locket. I had given it to her on the day we were married. That's when Ella came into the room. She was talking about how she had done what she did because we were suppose to be together. I guess I was in shock. I asked her where she got Sarah's locket. She said Fowler had brought it to her as proof that my family was gone. That's when I could see the faces of Sarah and Adam and the two crosses with their names on them.

The whole time I could still hear the echoes of her voice as she tried to say that she had done it for us. She talked about how she had hired Fowler to kill my family and then I snapped and tried to strangle her. The rest of it you all ready know."

"Chris, we'll be in Red Fork shortly. We need to check in with the sheriff to see if he has anything for us, then we can go to the saloon and tell you what we know," replied Matt.

"Matt, is he there?" asked Chris.

"No, his deputy says he went home, but he'll be back in the morning. He says that the sheriff thinks that something may be happening at the ranch."

"Chris, where are you headed?"

"The saloon, I need a drink".

They followed Chris across the street and watched as he walked through the swinging doors. They could see that he had changed from the boy who wanted to be a Marshall just like his father. Now he was a hired gunslinger. Somewhere inside that man, there still had to be that happy boy they knew.

"So what did you find?" Chris asked as he opened the bottle and poured himself a drink and then set the bottle down.

"A few days after the shooting, Judge Travis wired Judge Randall. In the telegram, Travis told Randall he was issuing a warrant for the arrest of Ella Gaines for the attempted murder of seven of his men," John stated.

"The next day Randall announced the new warrant to all of his marshals that were present. Ella's father was there. He still works for the Judge. We saw the look on his face. It was like he was expecting it. Later he came to my house and told me how he had seen Ella in the last few weeks. She needed to borrow money. He said that he gave it to her but when he tried to ask questions, she didn't answer him. She just got up and left," John continued.

"The next day Frank came and told us how Ella use to sit and talk about how Chris would be back to get her, but he didn't believe her. Then one day he said that he heard her talking about how she would make Chris pay for leaving her here. Randall gave us this file for you to read."

"Matt Larabee? I went and told the sheriff you were here. He said for you to come to his office. He thinks that you'll want to know what he's got now," the Deputy informed them.

"Chris, we are going to see the sheriff. You need to look that over," John stated.

"No problem," he replied opening the folder.

As he looked at what was on the paper, he couldn't believe what he was seeing. There were several reports from sheriffs all over the territory. There had to be at least five reports of men missing, only later to be found dead. The reports went back at least fifteen years and each one talked about the involvement of a young woman. After each disappearance, she would leave town. Chris picked up the last paper and noticed the date was just five years ago. It detailed the death of a Joseph Guessler, owner of The Clulpepper Mining Company and a large ranch just outside of Red Fork.

Chris remembered back to that day in the jail. Ella had talked about her husband Joseph dying a few years ago. He remembered her talking about all the money she had. He now realized she gotten it from all of those men over the years and they had paid with their lives.

Chris sat there thinking about everything he now knew. She had done it all just to get one person back, Chris Larabee. Chris just sat there. He was still trying to make sense of everything, but he knew it was possible for her to have done this. He picked up the bottle and poured himself another drink as he put the bottle down. He could remember another bottle and the voices of two people talking about what they would do.

He remembered that he and Ella had been talking about leaving Fort Hays and going away together. Then he heard himself talking about what they wanted in their lives. He could remember wanting the ranch and raising horses and Ella was talking about their lives together. There had been good times for them, but there were also the bad ones. He couldn't even look at another girl without Ella getting jealous and making all sorts of threats.

It was the bad times that had made him decide to leave Ella and Fort Hays. In the last few days, he had met Buck. Remembering their first meeting brought a smile to his face. Buck had been caught in bed with another man's wife. He could still see Buck as he came flying out the window, his clothes landing next to him on the ground.

Then came the morning that he was going to leave. He had told his family of his decision and they understood, but he was leaving with Buck. He remembered what Ella had done when she heard that he was leaving her behind, but for him there was no choice. He realized that there was something about her that he didn't like and he was just afraid of her feelings for him.

He poured another drink. He could still remember that day he rode out of town with Buck. Earlier he told Ella he was leaving, but he wasn't taking her with him and that his mind was made up. He had let her know that he was tired of all the rage she had. As he rode out of town, he could hear as she yelled and screamed that one day he would be sorry. He took one last look. He could see her father trying to hold her as she continued screaming at him. If he didn't leave, he knew that one of them would kill the other one.

She had once again set a trap for him and he had fallen into it. No matter what she did or said, he once again wanted to believe her. When he found out the truth, it only made him mad and then she had almost cost him his life, just like before he thought.

"Chris, how much have you had to drink?" Asked Matt.

"Maybe three, why?"

"Because I need you to have a clear head and thinking straight."

"What did the sheriff have to say?"

"He had been out at the Gessler ranch when we rode in. It seems that there is something going on out there. There have been some freight wagons and they seem to be moving things from the house."

"We need to go to the freight company and check things out there," replied Chris.

"Did you read over what the sheriff gave us about Ella?"

"There's a lot there about all the men she married and how they all disappeared only to show up dead. Her last one was Joseph Gessler. He owned Culpepper Mining Company. That was his ranch just outside of town."

"Chris, what's wrong?"

"I thought that she had changed, but it was all a lie. I was ready to give up everyone and everything I believed in to stay with her."

"Chris, you couldn't have known that then, but now that you do know, she won't be able to do it again."

"You're right. Don't we need to talk to a man at the freight office about some wagons?"

"Yes, little brother, we need to go," replied Matt as he looked at Chris walking through the doors. He was still the same kid.

Matt and Chris walked down the street to the freight office, but he could hear the whispers and the sounds of people talking. He could hear them asking if they knew who the man in black was? Then he heard the man say something about his name was Chris Larabee. Matt and Chris just looked at each other and smiled.

"Your past as a gunslinger?"

"Yeah, my past."

"Chris there's the freight office."

Chris opened the door and walked in followed by Matt. The clerk turned around to see Chris standing there.

"Aren't you?" asked the clerk.

"Yes, but that's in the past. Now I work for Judge Travis out of Four Corners and this is my brother, Matt. He is a U.S. Marshal from Kansas. The sheriff said you could help us."

"Yes I can, but what do you want to know?"

"The last few days freight wagons have been seen at the Gessler ranch. Do you know who hired them?"

"Let me see," the clerk muttered as the small man opened a large book. As he turned each page, he looked at Chris and then back at the book.

"Did you find anything?" asked Matt.

"I'm not sure," he replied as he continued to look at Chris.

"Mr. whatever your name is, we just want to know who hired the wagons to move things from the Gessler ranch. That's all we want to know," Matt stated.

"Let me see here who it was that hired those wagons. I'm sorry I don't mean to stare at you, but everyone knows that you are here and what you are, but they don't know why."

"Mister, what is your name?

"You can call me Harry."

"Harry, the only reason I'm here is to find out who hired those wagons. So maybe you could tell me who," remarked Chris.

"Those wagons were hired a week ago by a Mrs. Jack Hamilton. It says here that everything in the house is to be packed up and delivered to a ranch in Kansas."

"Is there name for the ranch or who owns it?" Matt asked.

"It's to be delivered to a Jake Mason."

"Matt, do you know this Jake Mason?" Asked Chris.

"Yes I do."

"Matt, the name of the person who hired the wagons. It's Ella Gaines."

"How do you that it's Ella?"

"She had a man working for her. His name was Jack Hamilton. She used him to get me to that ranch. He died that day."

"John checked with the county clerk before leaving with the sheriff and it seems that she sold the mining company too. The name of the buyer was Jake Mason."

"It looks like she may have found someone to help her or maybe someone that doesn't know what may happen," replied Chris.

"Chris, I have to ask. Does that always happen to you when you ride into a town?"

"Yep, it does. I always hear 'do you know who the man in black is', then I would hear 'that's Chris Larabee', but it's been almost a year since I last heard it."

"Did you ever wonder if your past would come back to haunt you?"

"I use to wonder but not anymore."

Matt and Chris were walking back toward the saloon when they say John and the sheriff riding down the street. John tied off his horse and headed toward his brothers as they walked to the saloon. John saw them at a table. He walked over and sat down. Chris picked up the bottle and poured all of them a drink.

"Matt, the last of the wagons have left. Do we know where they are going?"

"They're headed for Jake Mason's ranch just outside of Blaine."

"So do we follow them to the ranch?"

"No, we can leave in the morning. We all need a good night's rest, before we hit the trail."

"John, was there anyone there?" asked Chris.

"There were a couple of men. One called himself Luis."

"Did you ask him if Ella had been there?"

"She hasn't been seen there since the day she rode off."

"John, go get three rooms at the hotel."

"Chris, are you coming?"

"I'll be there in a little while."

Chris watched Matt walk out the door. He didn't know if he dared try to sleep for fear the nightmares would come back, but he had to try and sleep. He took one more drink, then stood up from the table and started out of the swinging doors. He walked the few steps to the hotel where John gave him a key. He walked down the hall to his room. Opening the door, he took off the duster and hat laying them on the chair. He could hear the sounds of footsteps. He turned to see Matt standing there.

"It's okay to sleep. Nathan told us about the nightmare and how they affect you. Just remember we're your brothers."

Chris had walked to the window where he was staring at the moon. "I know Matt."

It seemed as if hours had gone by when the door opened and the shadow of a man walked in and sat down in the chair next to the bed.

"I meant what I said," commented Matt as he could see the face of the kid that was now a man all grown up.

Chris was tossing and turning in the bed. He could still remember everything as if it were yesterday. He opened his eyes and then he sat up and moved to sit on the side of the bed. He then noticed that someone was there.

"How long have you been sitting there?"

"I came in after I knew that you had fallen asleep."

"Who told you?"

"Nathan did when he sent the telegram."

"I should have known he would."

"Chris, they're just worried about you and so are we."

"I know."

"I thought the nightmares were gone. When I last saw you, you said that they were finally gone."

"They were till I got shot a few weeks ago and then one night, I was sleeping when I thought I heard the sound of someone screaming. I could see me walking toward a house that was burning and then I heard the screams again. When I looked at the fire, I could see Sarah and she was holding Adam... and then I saw the house fall in around them. I then heard someone laughing. I turned around and there stood Ella laughing. That's when I grabbed her and tried to strangle her."

"Does Nathan think that your being shot caused them to return?"

"I think that being shot may have been the cause."

"Why do you think so?"

"After I came to Four Corners and became more involve with the people, it's like they just slowly went away. I became friends with Billy. He was about the same age as Adam. He had lost his father and I had lost my son. We just seemed to be what the other person needed."

Chris stood up and walked to the window. He looked down at the people standing there in front of the hotel. He could only imagine what they were saying, but then he could see them as they pointed their fingers at him as he stood there looking out. He turned around and walked to the washstand and poured some water in the basin. He splashed some water on his face, then he grabbed a towel and dried his face off.

"Chris, John and I are going to get something to eat."

"I'll be down shortly," he replied as he walked back to the window and looked one more time at the people below.

He slowly turned and started walking to the door, when he saw the person looking back at him from the mirror. He stood there looking at his past. Those people were talking about the man in black and wondering why was he here. He just stood there looking back at the man in the mirror. The man I see standing there is Chris Larabee, he thought. He picked up his duster and placed his hat on his head as he walked out the door.

He walked down the last few steps of the stairs. He found Matt and John sitting at a table. He walked over and sat down. Matt motioned for the man to bring another cup and more coffee, but as he came closer, Chris could see that look in his face. He had seen it several times before. He had seen that look on the man in the freight office. It was a look of fear.

Matt watched as the man poured the coffee and then quickly left. He could see the look on Chris's face as he drank the coffee.

"We need to go," commented Matt. "We have a long ride ahead of us."

"You're right," Chris replied.

He drank the last of the coffee and then stood up and started to walk through the swinging doors. He just stood there looking at the people as the slowly started to walk away. He continued through the doors and down the sidewalk till he came to where his brothers stood.

"Are you all right, Chris?" Matt asked.

"Yeah. I guess so."

"Matt, why are those people pointing at Chris? I keep hearing them talk about this man in black. Who is this person?"

"They are talking about me, John."

"But why?"

"Because I'm the man in black, at least I use to be, but that was over a year ago. Now that person is gone for good."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yes, John, that person had become cold-hearted and didn't care if he lived or died, but like I said, he's gone."

Chris and his brothers had started to ride out of Red Fork when they saw the sheriff coming their way.

"Glad I caught you before you left. This telegram came from the sheriff over in Silver Creek. He says that a woman fitting the description of the woman you're looking for was there a couple days ago. He thinks she's still there."

"Thanks, sheriff," replied Matt.

"Chris, I'm sorry about the townspeople. They don't think a person can change, but I can see that you have."

"Thanks, sheriff."

"I'll keep an eye on the ranch and if I see or hear anything, I'll send a telegram to Judge Travis."

"We need to ride to Silver Creek to check out the lead," Chris stated.

"Could it be her Chris?"

"It's a possibility. She could have changed her looks. I've seen her do it before."

"Chris when we get to Silver Creek, John is going on to Fort Hays and let Judge Randall know what's happening. Then he'll take some men and ride to Blaine. There he can watch Mason's ranch to see if she goes there."

As they rode out of Red Fork, Chris could still see the people whispering as he rode past them. He thought about it. He was now Chris Larabee, not the gunslinger known as the man in black. He started to smile, just a small one. He was no longer that man. He could feel his heart beating. It was no longer cold. The man in black was gone.

Chris felt as if they had been riding for hours. He could see some trees just ahead. They would stop for a while and rest. He knew the horses needed it and so did Matt and John. John looked like he was about to fall off and Matt was pouring water over his head just to stay cool. It wouldn't be long before they were in Silver Creek. Chris had seen a trail sign a few miles back that said four miles to Silver Creek, but they needed a break from the ride. Chris pointed out the trees to Matt. They followed Chris till they were out of the heat of the sun. He stepped off Charlie and then loosened the cinch so he could relax.

As they sat down under the trees, they felt the breeze as the wind rushed through the trees. John had gotten up and started to walk to the edge of the trees. Chris then heard John yelling. He and Matt jumped and ran toward the sound of his voice. As they got closer, they heard the splashing of water and John's yelling about it being cold.

They just watched John as he moved around in the water. He motioned for them to come in, but Chris stood there remembering another time and another creek. He started to smile as he thought back to that time years ago. He could hear someone coming up from behind him. He moved just in time to see Matt fall in to the water. Chris just laughed as Matt tried to stand in the water. Matt was trying to find his hat as he walked to the edge of the creek.

"I see you can still laugh and I suppose you thought that was funny?"

"Yeah, it was funny seeing you fall in since that's what you were going to do to me."

"I saw you smiling earlier. About what?"

"Remember that time we went down to the creek, the one that ran through the farm?"

""I remember that creek, Chris, and that rope you and John tied to a branch," Matt replied as he sat there smiling.

"I remember that rope and what happened to Chris," John laughed as he looked at Chris.

"I remember that rope and what happened when I tried to swing across that creek. That branch broke and I fell into the creek hitting my head," replied Chris.

"You came out of that water yelling and screaming about how your head hurt. Then we saw the blood running down the side where you had hit it," remarked Matt.

"I can still hear Pa as he yelled at us for going to that creek and Ma when she saw that cut on my head." Chris just sat there smiling.

"Those were the days when we didn't have a care about anything, but those days are gone. Now we're grown up with reponsibilites," stated Matt.

"We need to get to Silver Creek," replied John.

"John's right, we need to get started on the road," Chris agreed.

As they mounted their horses and continued the ride to Silver Creek, Chris rubbed his left arm. He could feel the rope burn on it. Another thing to remember from that day, he thought.

Before long, they saw a sign that had Silver Creek on it. They rode on till they saw some buildings. As they rode down the middle of the street, Chris could see the people as they stared at them. Soon they came to the sheriff's office and as they stepped down to the ground, Chris heard someone yelling his name. He turned around expecting it to be someone standing in the street.

When Chris looked, it was the deputy yelling his name. He stepped up on the sidewalk and waited for him to come closer.

"You are Chris Larabee, aren't you?" asked the deputy.

"Yes, I am."

"The sheriff is at the hotel. He told me to bring all of you there."

"You lead and we'll follow you."

They followed the deputy to the hotel. He opened the door and walked in. Chris and his brothers followed him to a table by the stairs where they saw the sheriff sitting.

"You'll have to excuse me while I have lunch. Would any of you like some coffee?" asked the sheriff.

"We'll take some," replied Matt.

"Joe, tell the waiter to bring some cups and more coffee."

"We got your telegram that the woman we're looking for was here," Chris stated.

"When Sheriff Owens said that Chris Larabee was looking for this person, I had to wonder why you were looking. I remembered that when you were looking for someone, it meant that they would be dead soon."

"That's was true, but not anymore. Now I work for Judge Travis over in Four Corners with six other men. My job is to protect the town."

"So what do you want with this woman?"

"Three years ago this woman hired a man to kill my family. He tied them up and then set fire to the house with them inside. I spent the last three years looking for that man and he's dead, but he told me that he had been hired to do it. A few weeks ago I found out that this woman had hired him, but she got away."

"I remember that fire. It was awful how they died."

"You said that there was a woman here by that description?"

"She's staying at Mrs. Bonds boarding house."

"Where's her house at?" asked Matt.

"Take my deputy, he can show where it is and if you need help, I'm here."

"Thanks Sheriff Taylor."

They followed the deputy out the door and walked down the street to the boarding house. Chris could feel his blood as it rushed to his head. He knew what he wanted to do. He wanted to strangle her till she was dead, but Travis told him to let the courts do it.

They had reached Mrs. Bonds' boarding house. They walked up the stairs to the door, opened it and walked in. The deputy went to find Mrs. Bonds. They heard her as she came from the kitchen into the front room.

"I'm Mrs. Bonds. The deputy says that you men are looking for a woman who may be staying here?"

"Yes ma'am, we are," replied John.

"Why are you looking for? What has she done?"

"Mrs. Bonds, my name is Matt Larabee. This is my brother Chris and my brother John. John and I are U.S. Marshals from Kansas and Chris is from New Mexico," replied Matt.

"What do you want with her?"

"She's wanted in Kansas for at least four murders that we know of and for two in New Mexico."

"Is she here?" asked Chris.

"Come with me. She should be in her room."

The three men followed her up the stairs and down the hallway till they came to a room.

"I'll open the door," stated Chris.

He opened it and walked in. John and Matt followed Chris. He walked to the woman sitting in front of the window. Chris took one look, then turned and walked out the door. He stopped in the hallway.

"Whats wrong, Chris?" asked John.

"It's not Ella, is it?"

"No Matt, it's not her. I've seen her before from the ranch. That's Hilda's sister."

"Chris, you have to talk to her. She may know something about where Ella is right now, if she's in Blaine or somewhere else."

"I'll ask her."

"Greta, do you remember me from the ranch?"

"Yes, I remember you. You're looking for Ella aren't you?"

"Yes, I am. Have you seen her since that day when she rode off.?"

"Yes, she came back to the ranch when she knew you were all gone, but she only came back for clothes and to get money out of the safe and then she left again. I don't know where she is now. You know that she killed my uncle Joseph so she would be free."

"My god, what has she done?"

"Chris, does she know anything about Ella?"

"No she doesn't, but she just told me that Ella murdered her Uncle Joseph, he was Ella's last husband."

"That means at least six people we know about," Matt stated.

"Is she all right?"

"Yes she's fine. She wired her Uncle in Kansas City. He is coming to get her and take her home."

"She's another one of Ella's victims," stated Chris.

"Chris, we need to get rooms for the night. It's getting late and we need to get some rest. I could use a bed and some hot food," replied Matt.

"Yeah I know that feeling too."

"Did I hear you gentlemen talking about rooms?"

"Do you have some?" asked John.

"Yes I do. If you'll come with me, I'll get the keys for you. If you need anything, just let me know. Supper will be ready shortly in the dining room."

"Thanks," Matt replied.

Chris walked to his room. He opened his door and walked in. He took the duster off and laid it on a chair. He removed his hat and put it on the chair. He lifted the pitcher and poured the water into the basin. He put his hands in the cool water and then he splashed some on his face several times. He took the towel off the rack and dried his face and hands. He laid the towel next to the pitcher.

He moved to the side of the bed and just sat there for a while. He started to lay down, but instead he stood up and walked to the window, where he saw the sun was slowly setting. Chris watched it for a while, and as he looked out the window, he snickered to himself. Keep running Ella, because I won't stop till I find you, he vowed as he continued to stare out the window.

The woman stood at the window watching the three men as they rode out of town. She turned away and walked to the man sitting in the chair.

"Make sure Greta gets on that stage to Kansas City. I don't need her talking to anyone else," demanded the woman.

"I'll make sure she's on that stage, Ella," replied Jack.

"Did you happen to hear where they are going to next?"

"I heard something about John riding on to Fort Hays. I didn't hear where the others are heading. You need to be careful."

"I know that, but if I hadn't waited till they left to come back to the ranch, you would have laid there and bled to death."

"Where do we go from here?"

"I don't know for sure yet," she replied as she walked back to the window and looked out.

Chris stopped and turned to look back.

"Chris what's wrong?"

"Did you ever have that feeling that someone was watching you?"

"Are you okay now?"

"Yeah, I'm fine now, but just for a moment there, I could have sworn that someone was staring at me," Chris replied.

"Chris, you still have that look, like you're not sure."

"That feeling is still there. We're going back to Silver Creek, Matt."

"You think she was there?"

"I don't know, but I have this feeling that won't go away."

They turned their horses and headed back to town. They rode as fast as they could. Chris knew that if he was right then he needed to hurry. He could see the boarding house as he rode into the town. He jumped off Charlie and ran up the stairs, through the doors and up the stairs to the second floor. He walked down the hallway, listening for her voice, but he only heard a man's voice as he continued going door to door.

"Excuse me, but what are you doing, Mr. Larabee?" asked Mrs. Bonds.

"She was here."

"How do you know, Chris?" Matt asked.

"I have a gut feeling, that's all I know."

Chris walked to the room where he had talked to Greta the day before, but when he opened the door, she was gone.

"What happened to the woman in that room?"

"I saw her leave with a man. She said she was leaving on the stage, but I thought her uncle was coming for her," replied Mrs. Bonds.

"Chris, what is it?"

"When I talked to her, she had that look of being scared of someone," replied Chris with a stone look on his face.

Chris walked out the door and back down to the end of the hallway. He stopped in front of window. He stood there looking out it. He could see the road that they had taken out of town. He stood there as that feeling came over him again. Which room were you in, he thought. He turned to the left and walked the few steps to the door. He touched the door letting his hand slowly move across it. Nothing, he thought, then he moved to the door on his right. He touched the door and as he moved his hand, he started to smile.

"I need this door opened."

"I have the key," replied Mrs. Bonds.

After she opened the door, Chris walked in. He started smiling as he moved around the room. He went to the window and moved the curtain aside with his hand. As he held it, he looked out to see the road below. I knew you were here, but now I'm sure. I can still smell the perfume you wear in this room.

"She was here in this room and she hasn't been gone long. We need to go after that stagecoach. Greta knows something."

They ran down the stairs and were headed for the doors when Chris felt someone grab his arm. He stopped and looked to see Mrs. Bonds with her hand on his arm.

"Why are you chasing her? She seems to be a nice woman and her husband was very nice too," Mrs. Bonds asked.

"Because that woman murdered my family three years ago and one way or another, she is going to pay," stated an angry Chris.

Chris went out the doors to find Matt and John mounted and ready to go. Matt handed Chris Charlie's reins.

"Which way did the stagecoach go?" asked Chris as he mounted his horse.

"They took the road that would take it to Kansas City," replied John.

"Chris, the coach has about a half hour start on us, but if we ride fast, we should be able to catch up to it," Matt said.

As Chris rode out after the coach, he didn't see the carriage as it took another road out of town.

"I told you it would work, and when he catches up to Greta, she'll tell him what I told her to say."

"Don't know how you do it, but you always manage to get away," replied Jack.

"I always have some sort of a plan when it comes to what I want. Luis take me to the Mason ranch in Blaine, Kansas," ordered the woman as she started laughing.

Chris had never rode Charlie this hard, but he had to catch that coach. They came to a bend in the road where they saw the coach was just ahead. Chris rode harder, and then pulled out his gun and started firing in the air. He needed the driver to slow down. He heard Matt and John as they yelled at the driver. Just as they got closer, the driver pulled back on the reins stopping the horses. Chris rode up to the door of the coach. He stepped down and opened the door. He saw Greta in the corner and she looked like she was afraid at seeing Chris. Chris held out his hand to her. She took it and then he helped her out of the coach.

"She was there wasn't she?" asked angry Chris.

"Yes she was, but she made swear not to say anything. She wasn't alone. Jack was with her."

"How could Jack be with her? He was shot that day."

"Yes he was, but the doc and Luis went out and checked. The others were dead, but Jack had only a shoulder wound. The Doc fixed him up and then shortly after that, Ella came back to the ranch. We told her that you were still looking for her, but she said that she was being careful. Later that night, she left and Jack went with her."

"Greta, do you know where she is right now?"

"I overheard her say something about seeing a man by the name of Mason. He's suppose to have a ranch just outside of Blaine, Kansas."

"Matt, do you know how far this town is from Fort Hays?"

"I'm not too sure if I do?"

Chris helped Greta back on the coach and then yelled for the driver to go.

"We need to go back to town and send a telegram to the Judge. Then he can send a Marshal and some men to Blaine, so they will be there when we get to Blaine," replied Matt.

"What is it Chris? You have that look again," John asked.

"That just now was a part of a trap that she is setting and I've been caught in one of her traps before."

"How do you know that?"

"I was watching her eyes as she talked. She was told to say that. Ella uses people to get what she wants. Right now she is trying to set another one for me. This time it won't work."

"Chris, we need to go back and send that telegram," Matt said.

The ride back to town didn't take long and soon they were in front of the telegraph office. Chris and John sat there as Matt went in and sent one to the Judge. Matt walked out and got on his horse. They rode out of town headed for Fort Hays. As he rode, Chris thought about her trap. Just wait Ella, I have a trap for you, thought Chris as he rode on.

Judge Randall stepped from behind his desk and walked to the front door of his office. He could hear someone yelling his name. He opened the door and walked out on to the porch. He saw a young man running towards him. It was him yelling for the Judge and he was waving his arm in the air. In his hand was a telegram for the Judge.

"Judge Randall, Ben from the telegraph office asked me to bring this to you. He says it's important. It's from Matt," the young man said.

"Have a seat on the porch. I need you to take a message to Pete to send for me."

"All right, Judge."

The Judge went to his desk and wrote a message to Judge Travis to come to Fort Hays. He would need him in this matter because of Chris, but he was also in charge of the investigation of three men who had disappeared over the last fifteen years.

"I need you to come to Fort Hays and bring whatever you have found in the disappearance of those men. Chris and his brothers should be here by the time you arrive. Have received a telegram from Matt. They left Silver Creek on Monday morning and should be here by Wednesday. Have sent three marshals and their men to Blaine, Kansas, on Matt's request. They have information that she is going to a ranch there. Will explain more when you get here," wrote the Judge.

The Judge turned and walked to the porch where he handed the paper to the young man.

"Joey, give that to Pete and have him send it to Judge Travis at Dodge City. He's supposed to be there. If the telegram comes back, tell Pete to send it to Abilene. That's the next town on his list."

"Okay, Judge Randall."

Randall stood there on the porch and looked out at the morning sky and marveled at how quiet it was, but soon that would change, he thought. He wondered what Chris and his brothers were talking about, and it wouldn't be about the weather either. When those three are together, you never know what can happen.

"How far do you think we have come?" asked Chris.

"We crossed the Oklahoma border into Kansas about four hours ago. We should be there by morning."

"Where do you think she is by now?" asked John.

"Some where in Kansas and if I know her, she is working on a plan to try and trap me again."

"She has to know by now that you hate her?"

"In her state of mind, she doesn't care. All she wants is for me to stay with her. That's the only thing she wants."

"You believe that she may be crazy?" asked Matt as he looked at Chris.

"There has to be something wrong with her. I don't know if she is that crazy or if she is just that obsessed with me."

"I thought that there was something wrong with her after you left. She use to tell everyone that you were coming back to get her real soon," Matt said.

"That day that I rode out of town with Buck, I told her that I didn't want any more to do with her."

"I remember that day as you rode out of town. She just stood there yelling and screaming about how she would get you back or make you pay."

"I had to get away from her. I had no choice. If I hadn't left when I did, one of us would be dead right now."

"It wasn't long after that, she left town. We didn't know where she had gone until the Judge got a letter from her. She was in Abilene and she had just married this man who owned a liquor business. That's when everything started to happen," stated Matt, a sad look on his face.

Chris thought about what Matt had said as they rode on to Fort Hays. His mind went back to the reports that Matt had given him to read. He could see what she was doing. She would marry those men and then find a way to get rid of them and then she took what they had. Buck had been telling him the truth all along. Hilda had been telling Buck that her uncle owned Culpepper Mining Company and that he was a horse breeder and the ranch was his. After he married Ella, he became very sick and died shortly after that. Four men were dead because of her obsession with him. He started to feel as if he had been the one responsible for their dying. They would still be alive he thought.

"Chris! Chris!" yelled Matt as he tried to get Chris's attention.

"Sorry, I guess was thinking about things. What did you want?"

"We thought we'd stop here and give the horses a rest. I don't know about you, but I need some coffee and maybe something to eat. Mrs. Bonds packed some things for us," Matt said as he stepped down from his horse.

"The coffee sounds good to me and I could use a rest," replied Chris as he led Charlie to a tree and tied him up.

Chris saw John coming from some trees where he had gathered wood for a fire. He stood and watched him as he laid the branches inside the circle of rocks. John had always been the cautious one. He watched John as he lit the fire making sure that it was inside the circle. He just smiled as he saw John moving about as he made the coffee.

He walked to where he had tied his horse, undid his cinch and took off his saddle. He carried it close to the fire where he sat it down. He untied his bedroll and laid it out on the ground. He lay down on the blanket, resting his head on the saddle. He could feel himself starting to drift off to sleep. He heard the sounds of the crackling noises from the fire. As he lay there, he could hear the voices screaming, but then there were the sounds of someone laughing. He heard someone calling his name and there was the feeling as if he was being shaken. He opened his eyes to see that Matt's hands were on his shoulders and he was shaking him.

"Chris? Can you hear me?" Matt yelled as he tried to wake him up.

"Matt, is he waking up?" asked John as he stood there.

"I think he is. He's starting to move. That's it, Chris, you have to wake up. It's just a memory. It's not real, Chris, do you hear me?" Matt yelled as he doubled up his hand into a fist, then hit Chris as hard as he could.

"Matt, what did you do that for?"

"I had to John," Matt replied as he knelt beside Chris.

Matt could see that Chris was starting to move and then he sat up leaning on one arm. He put his hand on his jaw and slowly moved it back and forth as he rubbed it.

"Was it that bad?" Chris asked as he still felt the pain in his cheek.

"Yes, Chris, it was. You kept saying something about when you find her, you'll be the one to kill her. It has to be Ella, right?"

"I wish I could just close my eyes and sleep without the nightmares, but that won't happen till I find her and then maybe it will all end."

"Here, Chris, drink this. It's coffee," John said as he handed the cup to Chris.

"Thanks, John."

Chris sat up on the blanket and shook his head as he tried to wake up more from the sleep. He took the cup from John and took a sip of the coffee. It felt good as he drank it. It was what he needed. As he drank the last of it, he reached for the pot and poured another cup. He sat there holding the cup in his hands. He watched as Matt and John as they sat there.

He couldn't have done this without their help. He had wanted to do this by himself, but now he was glad that Nathan had sent that telegram. He watched as John tried to cook and Matt was trying to tell him how to do it. He had to laugh as he watched them. He had almost forgotten what it was like to have a family.

"Chris, do you want to try some of John's cooking?"

"I guess I'll try it," Chris replied as he took the plate from Matt.

"Chris, is something wrong with it?" John asked.

"It's okay, John. It's just that my jaw hurts from where Matt slugged me."

"Sorry about that, but I didn't know what else to do."

"I just forgot how hard you can hit," Chris replied as he moved his jaw.

"Chris, do you want camp here tonight or get started for Fort Hays? If we leave now, we can be there as the sun is coming up."

"Let's ride on to Fort Hays now. There's no way I'm going to sleep now."

They broke camp and started to ride. After riding for a while, Chris remembered that it would soon be four years since he had lost them but this year he would see that their killer died.

Orrin woke up to hear the driver yelling at the team of horses and the sound of his whip as it cracked the air. He sat there and stretched his tired body. There had been the ride to Dodge City and then he had continued on to Abilene, but it had been worth it.

Logan had been right in his suspicion, but if it hadn't been for Hank Ramsey, they would have never known about any of it. Ramsey had bought the old Jud Allen ranch just outside of Dodge City. It had been for sale for several months after the disappearance of Allen. It had seemed odd that Allen's new wife had put it up for sale, but he had been worth a lot of money and she no longer wanted to stay there.

Orrin thought about what he had found there. He had found several of Jud's friends and what they told him seemed a little odd. They told him that they were surprised that Jud Allen had remarried only a few months after his first wife had died, but what bothered them was that his new wife couldn't have been more than twenty years old and Allen had to be at least fifty.

It was the same in Abilene. A man by the name of Frank Collins had married a much younger woman too, only to become ill and die several months later. Orin had found out at the city clerks' office that the Collins place had also been sold and the money had been sent to a bank in Fort Morgan.

It had been the same story in Fort Morgan. A local rancher by the name of Robert Toland had not been seen for a while. Then a woman claiming to be his wife had come to town to sell his ranch because she was going back east. The bank president had been helpful to Orrin. He showed him all the records of the woman's account. He had described to him a short, petite woman with dark hair and when he showed the man the picture of Ella, he told Orin that that had been the woman.

Orin heard the driver yell that they were coming into Fort Hays. He gathered his briefcase and hat. He had a lot for Logan and he was anxious to see if Chris had arrived yet. The stagecoach stopped in front of Judge Randall's office. Orrin opened the door and stepped down. He had been on that stage for two days and he was tired, but he had to give this to Logan and then he could at least get a nap. He walked up the stairs and opened the door. Randall was coming from another room when he saw Orrin walk in the door.

"Logan, this is everything that I found and you won't believe it when you read it all. We also have a witness that identified Ella from the picture."

"Something happened in Dodge City too. Hank Ramsay found what looked to be an unmarked grave behind his barn. He noticed that the ground looked odd so he and his son started to dig there. After awhile, they found what looked to be a quilt wrapped around something. When he moved it, he found what looks to be the remains of Jud Allen."

"Where's the body now?"

"I sent a marshal and a couple of deputies to bring it back. What's left is over at the Doc's office. He told me this morning that Allen died from a gunshot to the head."

"We need to send telegrams to the marshals in Abilene and Fort Morgan."

"All ready did, Orrin. I'm just waiting for an answer."
"I need to send one to Mary and have her tell the boys to go the Gessler ranch and look there. Then I need a hot bath and maybe a nap. Let me know what you hear, okay."

"Luis, how far are we from Fort Hays?"

"Maybe an hour or so."

"Take me to my father's place."

"Why are we going there? I thought you were going to Blaine?" Jack asked.

"I am but just not yet."

"If you go near Fort Hays, they'll find you for sure."

"If Chris is with his brothers, that means he is going to Fort Hays and I overheard in Silver Creek that he won't stop till he found me."

"Ella, his only reason for finding you is to kill you and if I hadn't shot him that day, you'd be dead right now."

"You're wrong, Jack. He still loves me, he said so."

"You are crazy if you think that. Remember he found out it was you who killed his family and now all he wants is to see you dead."

"You're wrong and I'll prove it to you."

"Hey Chris, there's home. Can you see the town?" asked John.

"I never thought I'd see this place again," spoke Chris as they rode closer.

"Remember what the Judge told you just before you left?" Matt asked.

"Yeah I do. I can see him telling me that one day I would be standing in front of him if I didn't get away from Ella. That's when I met Buck. He had just been found guilty of brawling on the street along with being drunk," Chris told them smiling as he remembered that day.

"It didn't help that I had to arrest you for disturbing the peace, then some cowboy said something to Ella and you pulled your gun on him and threatened to shoot him if he didn't leave her alone."

"I remember that the next day I had a hangover so bad and you and John were running something over the bars, which only made it feel worse."

Chris just looked at Matt as the rode to the edge of town.

Orrin opened the door of the hotel and stepped out on the porch. He walked down the stairs and across the street to Judge Randall's office. He climbed the steps to the porch and opened the door. He heard a side door as it opened and the voice of Randall as he walked into the room.

"Logan, I came over to see if you heard anything from those telegrams that you sent?"

"Not yet, but that looks like Joey running this way."

Joey was running as hard as he could. He opened the door and ran into the Judge's office. He handed the telegram to the Judge then he sat down in the chair to rest.

"It's from the Marshall in Abilene. He says that he and his deputies went to the Collins ranch. They found a grave ten feet from the barn. It was the body of Frank Collins and he had been shot in the head too."

"Even if we don't hear anything from Fort Morgan, we at least have the other bodies and the witness from the bank," replied Orrin.

"Hey Orrin, I can see someone riding down the street and he has a Marshall on each side of him," snickered Randall as he started to laugh.

"It's Chris."

They stood on the porch and watched as the men rode up to the Judge's office. They stepped down from their horses and walked up the steps to the porch.

"Did he give you any trouble on the way here?" asked Randall as he smiled at the men.

"Nothing we couldn't handle. Remember he is our little brother and we're use to him giving us trouble," Matt replied as he laughed.

"Did you have problems coming here?" asked Orrin.

"No problems, but I have a feeling that she's not too far away," stated Chris as he looked out the door.

"Chris, I sent marshals to Blaine. Do you think she's still going there?" asked Randall.

"I'm not sure anymore. Have you heard from your men there?"

"No I haven't."

"Then what I was feeling has happened. Going to Blaine was a trick to throw me off guard, but it didn't work. She has to be somewhere close. She had been in Silver Creek, when I was."

"Do you think that she's here in town?"

"No she's not, but she has to have someone watching for her. Is there anyone new in town that you know of?"

"Not that I know of," replied Randall.

"Chris, I saw this man standing in front of the saloon when we rode in. He seemed to be following us as we rode closer," remarked Matt.

"Did you see what he looked like?"

"He looked like he was out place, that's why I watched him. He was wearing a top hat and a long coat and he was Mexican."

"That was her man. His name is Luis and he drives her carriage, but where is she?"

"I have to tell Miss Ella that he is here," he thought as the man continued to watch from the corner of the building. He walked to a horse and rode out of town.

In the distance a group of riders could be seen riding to the ranch house. The front door opened and a man walked out on the porch and stopped. He watched as the riders came closer to the house. One of the riders stepped down from his horse and walked to the edge of the porch.

"I see you found the place," Jack stated.

"It wasn't too hard," answered the man.

"Were you able to find enough for the job?"

"What was left of them, I found at the saloon in Red Fork. The others I hired," replied the man.

"The bunkhouse is over there. After you get settled in, I'll let you know what's going to happen next."

Jack turned and walked back into the house. As he closed the door behind him, he heard her voice as she came down the stairs. He walked over and held her hand as she came down the last two steps and walked into the parlor room.

"Jack, have you seen Luis?"

"No, Ella, I haven't. Why? Did you send him somewhere?"

"I asked him to go in to town and to see if Chris has gotten there yet."

"Why did you do that?"

"Because I wanted to. I need to know if he's here."

"Someone is riding up, I can hear a horse."

Ella stood up and walked to the door, just as Luis got off the horse. He walked to the porch where Ella was standing.

"I saw him in town and he's with his brothers, Miss Ella," reported Luis.

"Good, now to begin the next part of the plan, do you know what to do, Jack?"

"Yes, I know what to do," he replied as he walked out the door and got on his horse.

"When I'm through with you, you'll wish you hadn't left me here. There'll be another death on your conscious," stated the woman as she walked back in the house laughing.

The town of Fort Hays was starting to get busy for the day. The storekeepers were opening their doors and setting out various merchandise. the Judge's marshals were at the corral getting their horses ready for the day. You could hear them as they talked about the orders that had been given to them. Two of them were to go to Fort Morgan and bring back the president of the local bank and then take him to a place out of town and keep him there till the time that they needed him.

One had been sent to Blaine to bring back the others from there. The orders had seemed a little odd for the Judge, but he was the boss, they thought. The orders were to ride just out of town, but to stay within sight of the town.

"All right, it's time to mount and get started for the day. We can't get anything done just standing here," yelled Marshal McClain as he mounted his horse smiling and shaking his head.

As the marshals rode out of town, they passed Judge Travis. He was on his way to the restaurant for his morning coffee. He waved as they rode past him. He opened the doors and walked in. He found Chris sitting at a table and walked over to join him.

"How long have you been here, Chris?"

"Long enough to empty one pot of coffee."

"What would like this morning Judge Travis?" Asked the waiter who kept looking at Chris.

"I'll have the same as usual and bring another pot of coffee. You can stop staring at that man too."

"Judge, do you know who that man is that you're sitting with? It's Chris Larabee."

"Yes, I do know who he is and for the last year he has been working for me as a lawman in Four Corners. Now can you get that coffee or do I have to?"

The waiter brought the coffee and started to pour the coffee in to the cups, but he was still a little shaky. Just then, Chris looked up at the man.

"I promise not to shoot you, only if you stop shaking and don't spill the coffee okay," he joked smiling as he looked at the waiter.

"I'm sorry, really I am, but I heard some men talking this morning about how they had been hired to kill a man by the name of Chris Larabee."

"What did these men look like? Did they say who hired them? Did you see which way they rode out of town?" Chris asked.

"They looked liked any other cowboy and they didn't say who hired them. I didn't see them leave."

"Have you seen anyone else that you didn't know?" asked the Judge.

"No, I haven't seen anyone but those men".

"Chris, you know what this means?"

"Yes, I do," Chris replied as he continued to drink his coffee.

"We'd better get over to Judge Randall's office."

Judge Travis and Chris just stood as they looked up and down the street to see if there were any strangers. They started to walk over to the Judge's office. Chris looked to see if he could find Matt anywhere, but he couldn't so he went on with Travis.

"Chris, that waiter really was afraid of you, wasn't he?"

"When I walked in they just stopped and watched me, but then when I sat down and waited and no one came near, that's when I got up and waited on myself. I went and got a cup and the coffee and sat back down."

"I guess they weren't expecting Chris Larabee to come home, because it usually means that someone could die."

"There is still that possibility someone could Judge."

They walked up the steps to Randall's office. Chris opened the door. Travis stepped in followed by Chris. Randall was standing at a map with Matt. the Judge was pointing to places on the map as he talked to Matt.

"Matt, we may have a problem. The waiter at the restaurant told us that there were some men there and he overheard them talking about being hired to kill someone. That someone is me."

"I know, Chris."

"But how did you find out?"

"I sent John for some food and that's when the waiter told John. They rode out of town, but we don't know which way."

"They have to be holding out somewhere?"

"We were looking at the map trying to figure out where. The black dots are places where someone is living and the red ones are empty places."

"I have sent men to those places to check," replied Randall.

"Orrin, you and I need to talk about what we have here and what we can expect."

"I brought everything with me," replied Travis. "Do you two think that you can continue talking outside?"

"No problem, Judge," Matt answered as he opened the door and they walked out.

Chris and Matt sat down in chairs on the porch and watched as the people went by. They pretended not to be staring at Chris, but everyone could see that they were. Then Chris saw a woman walking toward them that he remembered. She had been one of his ma's friends. She stopped and pointed a finger at Matt.

"Matthew Larabee, you should be ashamed of yourself. Your mother would take a stick after you if she knew you were having anything to do with that man you're sitting next to," the woman said as scolded Matt.

Matt and Chris sat there listening to her, but then they just smiled as they remembered something from their days as kids.

"Mrs. Ewing, has anyone taken any of your apple pies in the last few years?" Chris asked with a smile.

"No, young man, not since Matt's younger brother took one out of my window. He ate the pie and left the pan."

"Mrs. Ewing, I'm that kid brother of Matt's. I'm Chris."

"You are Chris Larabee, but are you a gunfighter or something like that?"

"I use to be, but now that's all behind me."

"Good for you. I always knew that Martha's boys would grow and make something of themselves, even if they were a little bad as boys."

Chris and Matt sat there laughing as she walked on down the street.

"I had almost forgotten about that pie. You were suppose to share with us."

"I haven't forgotten it. After I ate all of it, I was sick for a couple days," Chris said.

"Since you arrived yesterday, half of the town thinks we should lock you up and the other half wants us to ask you to leave town."

"My life changed over a year ago and I'm not that same person."

"I know, Chris, but you did have a reputation before then... but then if my family had been killed, I'm sure that I would of changed too."

"Logan, what is that you're holding?"

"It's my records of a trial for which I was the Judge."

"Whose trial?"

"That of Frank Gaines."

"Ella's father?"

"Yes. He was a marshal for me till we found out that he was also the head of a gang of outlaws that were pulling off robberies from here to the Texas border. It was Andrew Larabee that discovered his real identity. When he was brought before me, I had no choice but to sentence him to hang. There had been people killed in those robberies. Ella always blamed Andrew and a few months later, Andrew and John were ambushed. John made it, but Andrew died the next day. I know she had something to do with it."

"When did Chris become involved with her?"

"It was shortly after that. They were pretty close. Ella's father never cared what she did and Chris's father was afraid that his son would become fascinated with the dark side of the gun."

"Logan, you know that neither of us can be the Judge on the bench for her trial."

"I know, Orrin, that's why I sent a telegram to a close friend of mine because if it comes down to it, he's the only who can do it," replied Judge Randall.

As the two brothers sat there talking, a deputy ran past them and into the Judge's office.

"Matt, come here and bring Chris with you," yelled Randall.

As the two came through the door, there was a sad look on the Judge's face.

"What's wrong?" asked Matt.

"Have either of you seen John?"

"I saw him out at the corral. He was leaving with a couple of deputies to do checks of the area," replied Matt.

"Jess and his men were sent to check out some of the places on the map. They were coming up to your pa's old place when they saw three horses just wandering. When they came closer, they found three men hanging from a tree."

"Matt, when we realized that one of them was John, we hurried to them. We cut them down as fast as we could. It must have just happened because they were still breathing just barely. We took them over to the Doc's office. This was pinned to John," replied Jess.

"It's from Ella. It says she's not done till all of Chris's family is dead and then there will be no one to come between them," read an angry Chris.

"Are you sure he's the right one for this?"

"Yes, Orrin, I'm sure that he is the only one that can hang a woman and not even flinch when it happens."

Matt and Chris opened the door to Doc's office. As they walked in, they found John lying in a bed. They moved closer to his bed, but he was still asleep, so they turned and walked out into a room where the doctor was sitting.

"If you're wondering how John is, then he's going to be okay. His throat is going to be sore for a while and the rope burn will eventually heal, but he will have a scar there. He's lucky to be alive. A few more minutes and all three of them would have been dead."

"Matt, John is awake if you want to talk to him, but remember I don't want him to do much talking either."

"I understand."

They walked toward the bed where John lay. In a raspy voice John tried to talk, but he was coughing too hard. He tried once more, but he couldn't.

"Don't try, John, just take it easy."

Chris and Matt turned and walked out the door. They stood there for a few minutes before going on to Judge Randall's office.

He opened the door to his office and walked out on to the porch. He stood there for a few minutes while he adjusted his long coat and hat, and then pulled out a cigar from his pocket and lit it. He walked to the top of the steps and stood there. He slowly moved his head as he looked at the group of riders sitting there on their horses. He started down the steps and walked to his horse. After mounting his horse, he sat there for a few seconds as he took a few puffs of the cigar.

"Well, boys, we have a long ride ahead of us so best we get started. Did someone send the telegram to Judge Randall telling him that I was coming?"

"Yes, Judge, I did," replied the man sitting next to the Judge.

"Then let's move out," yelled the Judge.

Judge Randall stood on the front porch. He could see Chris and Matt as they walked toward his office. He saw the look on Matt's face. It was the same as Chris's. He stepped back into his office. The boys followed him in.

"I have been looking over this note that was found on John and what does she mean by 'no one coming between us'?"

"She had Jack try to get rid of Vin and the others at the Gessler ranch but instead the boys got them first. That's when she told me that she would kill anyone that came between us."

"If that's what she's doing, then Matt could be next," stated the Judge.

"Why get rid of us? We've never been in Chris's life after he left here?"

"But you are now, Matt," replied Chris.

As the men rode up to the house, a woman stepped out on the porch and stood there.

"Well? Did you get the job done like I told you to, Jack?"

"Yes, I did... and when we left he was hanging from a tree," Jack replied smiling at Ella.

"I told him that I would kill anyone that came between us and I meant it."

"Matt, we need to take a ride out there. We may be able to find which way they went?"

"I agree with you, but we need to take some men with us."

"Chris, do you think she hired those men that the waiter talked about?" Travis asked.

"I believe she did. Without help, she wouldn't have been able to do what she did."

"While you boys are gone, I'm going to have some men walking around, keeping their eyes open for anyone they don't know," replied Randall.

The boys were mounting their horses and starting to ride out of town. They could see Joey as he came running from the telegraph office. He was waving a telegram in the air and yelling for Judge Randall. the Judge opened the door and walked out on the porch just as Joey came up the steps.

"Have a seat, Joey, you look like the devil's been chasing you."

"He's not chasing me, Judge, but that telegram says he's coming to town, doesn't it?"

"Yes Joey, in a way, he is coming."

"Judge, is he really as bad as they say he is?"

"I heard one time that a rattler came up from behind him and before the rattler could strike, the Judge turned and spit in the snake's face. This made the snake so mad that he slithered off."

"Do you really believe that, Judge?"

"Joey, whether I believe that story or not, the one thing that I can believe is that he is bad enough to do here what he has to do."

The Judge walked with Joey to the porch and watched him as he ran back to the telegraph office. He turned and started back inside when he noticed riders coming from the north end of town. He yelled for Jake who was standing at the corral to bring some men to his office.

Jake looked to see why the Judge was yelling for him when he noticed the men riding closer to the Judge. With a whistle from Jake, several deputies ran to the Judge's office where they took up position around the Judge. As the men came closer, he saw that one of the men was wearing a badge. They stopped in front of the Judge's office and stepped down from their horses. They then walked up to the Judge.

"Are you Judge Randall?" asked the man wearing the badge.

"Yes I am, and you are?"

"I'm Marshal Lane from Fort Morgan. We have your witness for the trial."

"I sent some men for him. What happened to them?"

"A few days ago a riderless horse came into town. One of my men caught him. That's when they noticed the blood on the saddle. I sent some out to look. That's when they found them. They had been shot. They got them back to the doctor's office. One of them told me that he was from Fort Hays and he was to bring back a witness for you."

"The doctor says that they will be all right, they just need time to heal, so I thought that I would bring him here for you," replied the Marshall.

"Thanks, Marshall Lane, for your help. Jake, take the witness over to the hotel. Two of you men go with him and stay with him."

"Marshal, you and your men must be tired. Go over to the hotel and tell Lucas that I said to give you each a room and to feed you. Just tell him to send me the bill."

"Thanks, Judge."

"Well Logan, do you think that Chris is right?"

"Do I think she had my deputies shot? Yes I do, but what else could happen?"

As Matt and Chris rode closer, they could see the tree where John had been found with the two deputies. There was still what was left of three ropes hanging from the tree. Chris rode to the tree and pulled the ropes down and threw them on the ground. Matt gave orders to the men to look for any signs of tracks that would tell them which way the men had gone. Matt watched as they dismounted and started to look for signs. He could still see Chris as he just sat there staring at he tree.

Chris could feel his emotions as they started to rise up. He lifted his hat and let it slowly slide down his back. He could feel the tear as it rolled down his cheek. He lifted his hand to wipe it away. He could see John as his body just hung there from the tree.

One way or another, I have to stop her madness before anyone else is hurt or killed, he thought.

Matt rode up beside Chris. "Are you all right?"

"Yes, but I have to stop her. I'm the only that can do it. If I can find her, maybe she'll listen to me if I tell her that I'll stay with her if she ends it all now."

"No Chris, I wouldn't let you do it. You're not giving up just to make her happy. You have a life and it's not with her, is it?" Matt yelled.

"Yes, I do and there's a little boy waiting for me to come back. Matt, we continue on looking for her."

"Hey Matt, come here. We found some tracks. It looks like several horses went that way."

"Those tracks are headed east toward the old Martin place. Mount up men and lets move out," ordered Matt.

They rode east following the tracks closely. They had been riding for a few miles when Matt raised his hand to stop them.

"Jess, has anyone been here to check it out?"

"It was checked a couple days ago but we found nothing there."

"Jess, take a couple men and ride up to that ridge and take a look."

"Matt, you think someone's down there?" asked Chris.

"Yes, Chris, I do."

"How do you know that they didn't keep riding?"

"Because Pa helped Henry Martin build that house and he was afraid of being attacked from the back of the house, so he built part of the house into a small hill."

"So the only way out is from the front."

"As we rode closer, I thought that I could smell smoke and then I saw what looked like smoke coming over that hill."

"Doesn't Henry Martin live down there?"

"No, he died a year ago."

"Matt, there's someone down there. There are horses in the corral and we saw men standing outside of the house and there's a fancy carriage down by the barn."

"Jess, did you see a man dressed like a fancy dude wearing gloves and smoking a cigar?"

"He was standing on the porch and he looked like he was giving orders to those men."

"That's Jack, her partner. That means she must be in the house."

"Jess, I want you to ride back to town. We need more men and let the Judge know what's happening and hurry. We'll try to keep them here till you get back."

Jess rode as hard as he could till he was in front of the Judge's office. He jumped from his horse and ran into his office.

"Judge, Matt needs more men out at the old Martin place," Jess reported.

"Take as many men as you need."

Judge Randall just stood there watching as Jess left. He closed his eyes as he heard the man's voice as he came closer. The man walked into the room with a gun pointed at Randall.

"If you kill me, you'll hang for killing a Federal Judge."

"I'm not going to kill you, but I want you to give a message to Chris for Ella. Tell him to meet her out at his old place or Louise is next."

The Judge turned his head as he heard the man's footsteps as he ran out the back door of his office. He opened the door and ran out on the porch, where he yelled at the men standing at the corral. They heard the Judge yelling and came running as fast as they could.

"Bob, there was a man in my office. He went out the back door. I want you to follow him. There should be footprints leading away from the back door."

"No problem, Judge," he replied as he walked through the office to the back door.

"Roy, you come with me. I need to send a telegram. The rest of you spread out and look for anyone that may be suspicious looking and report back."

"Let's go, boys."

The Judge walked back into his office and sat down at his desk where he wrote a message to be sent.

"Roy, take this to the telegraph office and have Pete send this to Marshal Tom Benton in Reno and stay there till he sends a telegram back, understood?"

"Yes, sir," he replied as he took the paper from the Judge and walked out of the office.

Randall sat there thinking about what the man had said. He felt like he had been sitting there forever and now he was starting to worry. He needed to hear from Tom now so he would know that Louise was all right. Just then, he heard the sound of someone walking up the steps. He opened the side drawer and pulled out a gun, laying it on his lap. He sat there as the steps came closer. He moved his hand to grab the handle of the gun. He watched as the knob on the door turned and slowly opened. He saw the shadow of a man as he moved the door and walked in.

"Logan, are you all right?"

"Orrin, my God, I could have shot you," Randall exclaimed as the Judge breathed a sigh of relief.

"I saw you earlier on the porch yelling at the men and I wasn't sure if everything was okay."

"There was a man here in my office. He had a gun on me. It was the one Chris called Jack. He had a message for Chris. He also said for me to tell Chris that if he didn't come, that Louise would be next."

"Do you know where Louise lives?"

"She lives over in Reno with her husband Tom Benton."

"He's the Marshal over in Reno, isn't he?"

"Yes, he's one of my men and I'm waiting on a telegram from him. I saw him last month and he said Louise was going to see her mother and aunt in Kansas City."

"Where's Chris and Matt?"

"They went out to where John was found. Jess came back to tell me that they found tracks that led to an old farmhouse. They saw several men and a woman. They sent Jess back for more men. I haven't heard anything since."

"Have you heard from Roy yet?"

"He's left and should be here by tomorrow morning with his men."

Chris could hear the sound of riders coming closer. He moved down the ridge to take a look. It was Jess and more men. He motioned for them to stay there. He moved back up the ridge where Matt was watching the house.

"How many do you think are down there?" Chris asked.

"I count about fifteen or so, but we can take them," Matt replied.

"I'm glad you think so."

"Let's move back down the ridge. We need a plan."

"Well, Matt, have you thought of one yet?"

"Jess, take some men and start surrounding the place. We need to pick off as many we can before we go in."

"What kind of plan is that?"

"If you've got a better one, let me know."

"No, but I'd like to come out in one piece," Chris answered.

"Everyone mount up," Matt ordered.

"I hope this works. I don't want to have to tell Judge Randall how you got shot."

"You just remember to duck when the bullets go by, little brother."

Jess had his men surround the farmhouse then gave the orders for them to start shooting at the farmhouse. From their position, they could see the men as they tried to shoot back. Others were trying to ride out only to get shot by a deputy. Matt gave the orders to ride in. As the men approached, Matt yelled for the men to give up.

Chris had heard that sound before as the bullet went past him and then he heard the sound of a body hitting the ground. He turned to see Matt lying face down on the ground. He dismounted and ran to Matt who was trying to sit up. Chris knelt down to help him. Matt was holding his left arm. The blood was running down his arm from the wound in his arm. Chris tore Matt's sleeve off as he tried to help his brother. He tore a strip of cloth and tied it around Matt's arm. Matt tried to stand up, but he was feeling dizzy from the blood loss. Chris helped him to mount his horse. Chris heard the sound of guns firing from the farmhouse.

He rode closer to the farmhouse, holding the reins of Matt's horse and his gun in his other hand. He could see Jess and some men as they slowly moved toward the house. He heard Jess yell for them to come out or his men would open fire. Then he told them to throw out their guns.

The door slowly opened as the men inside threw their guns out and they walked out on to the porch with their hands in the air. Chris looked at each man, but Jack wasn't there.

"Chris, I'll be alright. You need to go check and see if she's hiding in the house. Go on."

Chris started walking toward the house. He had been waiting for this a long time. He walked through the door and started to go through each room as he looked for her, but there were no signs of any kind of her even being here. He walked back out the door and stood on the porch. He watched as Jess and his men tied the hands of the men, then he noticed Luis standing behind another man.

"Jess, I need to speak to that man in the top hat. His name is Luis," Chris said as he walked toward the man.

"I'll get him for you," Jess replied as he went over and took the man aside for Chris.

"Jess, someone needs to take a look at Matt. He's been shot in the arm."

"I'll send someone to look after him."

Jess had one of the deputies take care of Matt's arm. While he went back to making sure that they had everyone, Chris moved Luis aside to talk to him.

"Luis, you know who I am?"

"Yes I do, senor Chris, and you want to know where she is?"

"Yes I do."

"All I know is that she left here yesterday with Jack. She said that she had to go to a place called Reno to meet someone. That's all I know."

"Jess, when you get back to town, let Luis go. He's not a part of her madness."

"I gotcha. Chris, what is Matt yelling about? Something about Reno?"

"Matt? What are you yelling about? What's in Reno?"

"Chris, Louise and her husband Tom live in Reno. He's the marshal there."

"The Judge was yelling something as I rode out of town. I only heard parts of it but it was something to do with you, Chris. The Judge said something about you being at the old place or Louise was next."

"Matt, I have to go."

"Chris, you can't go by yourself. You could be riding into a trap. Take some of the boys with you for backup. Jess, you go with him too."

"Matt, I don't need them."

"I can't give you orders, but those boys have to take orders from me and I say that they go," Matt replied.

"What old place is she talking about Chris?"

"She's talking about our old farm. We use to hang out there after Ma moved to Kansas City."

"Just be careful, Chris."

Matt sat there watching Chris and the others as they rode off in the direction of the old Larabee place. He gave the order for the men to move out, but after a few minutes he stopped and sat there. He then turned and looked at Luke.

Luke beat Matt to the question. "How fast can I ride back to town and let the Judge know what's happening and to bring more men to your old place?"

At Matt's nod, he headed for town.

"We can handle these men till we get back to town too. Matt, be careful and leave me at least six men to get these boys back," Shorty continued as he and six men continued on.

"I can't let you do this without me. Pa made me promise to look after you and now is a good time to start," Matt muttered as he turned his horse and rode after her Chris.

Luke had ridden his horse so hard that lather was starting to form on his horse. Just a little more and he would be in town. After a while, he saw the corrals and the barn. The Judge's office was close. Joey saw Luke as he rode up on his horse. Joey was running as hard he could. The telegram he had was important and the Judge was waiting for it. He ran up the steps and into the Judge's office.

"Judge Randall, this just came for you," Joey said as he handed him the telegram.

"Is it from Reno?" asked Travis.

"Yes, it's from Tom, says he's sorry, but he had to send a telegram to Martha, to see if Louise had arrived as planned. He just received his answer from Martha and it reads as follows. 'Louise did not arrive in Kansas City as planned. Sent telegrams to every stop that the train would make. Received one from the stop in Garden City that a woman fitting Louise's description was seen leaving the train with a tall man with dark hair and a mustache. He says that he heard a woman's voice call him Jack, hope this helps you.'"

"Judge Randall," Luke called out as he ran into the office.

"What is it, Luke?"

"Earlier I heard you yelling a message at me to give to Chris as I rode off. I gave him the message and he and some deputies are headed for the Larabee farm."

"Where's Matt and the other men?"

"Matt sent me here to get more men and to let you know. Shorty and some of the boys are bringing in those men from the Martin place. Matt is following Chris."

"Go get whatever men you need and head for that farm."

Luke started out the door and stopped on the porch and watched as a group of riders rode into town. He stood there as they rode up to the Judge's office and stopped. He watched as the man in the long black coat and top hat sat there staring at him.

"Could you tell the Judge that Roy is here from Texas. He'll know who it is."

Luke turned and went back into the office.

"Judge Randall, there's a man out here. He says his name is Roy and he's from Texas."

"Go ahead and do what you're supposed to do."

Judge Randall walked out on the porch. Travis was beside him as the two men stood there looking at the man on the horse.

"See you made it, Roy. Was it a long trip?"

"Not really, just little hot. Did I hear something about needing men. I'm sure that my boys would be glad to help," replied Roy.

"Whatever you say, Judge," said the man sitting next to him.

"This is Luke. Just follow him, he knows where he's going."

"Well you heard the Judge, just follow him," he said as Roy pointed at Luke.

"Logan, Joey just brought this telegram. Tom is riding here and if they hurt Louise, they will answer to him," stated Judge Travis.

From a distance, Chris could be seen as he rode closer. He had that stone cold look of the man from his past. He had to be that man in black for one last time. He had to become that lost soul for just once more. Then he could let him die forever. He wanted justice for his family.

As Matt rode closer, he could see Chris from a distance as he stood beside the barn. He moved his head slowly till he found the deputies that rode with Chris. They had each taken a position closer to the house. He rode a little closer, then stopped and dismounted his horse. He grabbed his arm. He could still feel the pain as he moved it. He couldn't let the pain stop him as he started to move closer to where Chris stood. Chris could hear the footsteps as the person came closer. He turned with his gun drawn to see who it was. He just stood there shaking his head as Matt walked closer. He put his gun back in the holster and started toward Matt.

"What are you doing here? You need to have that arm looked at by the doctor."

"I'm fine and it's not the first time I've been shot. It only hurts when I move my arm."

"You're as stubborn as someone else I know."

"Who would that be Chris? Maybe you."

"All right, Matt, but just be careful."

Chris moved closer to the edge of the barn with Matt just behind him. He could see the men as they slowly moved a little closer to the house. He watched as one of them had moved close enough to be able to see in a rear window. He held up his hand to show that there were at least five people in the house. The deputy quickly moved away from the window. Chris could see the shadow of a man in front of the window.

"Do you think there's more than five in there?"

"I'm not sure. One of the men we caught said that Jack left with several men. So if he sees five men from where he is, then there could be more throughout the house."

"Have you even seen any signs that they have Louise?"

"No, I haven't and that bothers me. They know I'm out here."

"Jess is coming with more men. We just need to try and wait them out till then."

"I don't know how long we can wait. It all depends on her state of mind. One minute she could be sane and the next she could go off the deep end."

"Chris, why do you have a worried look on your face?"

"When I made the decision to hunt for Ella, I didn't know that people would get hurt. First John, then you and now Louise."

"Chris, this hunt for the killer started the night your family died. Until a few months ago, you didn't know the hunt would take you back to Ella. But you know she won't stop till there's no one left to get in her way.

"I know that, Matt, but I didn't want you to be involved with this. I said the same thing to the guys back in Four Corners."

"Chris, they are your friends and they would have helped if you had asked them. Just like John and I are your brothers, we still would have helped even if you had said no, because like you said, I'm stubborn."

He just shook his head and let out a sigh as he looked at Matt. Then they heard the sound of riders coming up behind them. Matt could see Jess as they rode closer.

"Matt, have Jess and the others spread out and don't do anything till I say so."

Chris stepped out from the side of the barn and started to walk toward the house.

"Chris, what do you think you're doing?" Matt hissed as he grabbed his arm.

"What I have to do, Matt. She has Louise in there and I can't let anything happen to her. It's me that she wants and if I can talk to her maybe she'll let Louise go."

"Chris, just remember that I'm here and so are the others, so the first sign of trouble, I'll be there."

"All right, Matt."

Chris removed his duster and handed it to Matt. He took one last look and then he turned and started walking toward the farmhouse. He could sense each man as he walked. He could hear a rider coming up from behind him. He wanted to look, but he knew that he couldn't. Matt heard the sounds of a rider behind him. He turned to see who it was. The rider was Tom Benton, Louise's husband. Tom was running toward Chris, Matt moved to grab him and pulled him aside.

"Matt, you've got to stop him please. They could kill Louise," demanded an angry Tom.

"Chris knows what he's doing, Tom, you have to give him a chance."

He was a few steps from the house when he stopped and just stood there. He could hear the sounds of people talking from inside the house, but no one had come near the door or even looked out.

"I'm here, Ella, just like you wanted," Chris yelled as he watched the front door.

He stood there waiting for the door to open, and then heard the door slowly open and the sound of footsteps on the porch. He looked to see Jack holding Louise and beside him stood Ella. Chris looked at his sister. He could sense the fear in her as she stood there with a gun at her back. He just stood there looking at Ella. He could feel the hatred as it started to rise up in his soul. He wondered how he could have ever loved someone like her, but now all he wanted was to see her dead. He watched her as she walked down the steps and moved closer to him. As he stood there, she walked around him. He could feel her cold eyes as she looked at him. She stopped in front of him and just stood there looking at him. She moved closer. She touched his arm and he flinched at the thought of her touching him.

"I'm here. Isn't that what you wanted, Ella?"

"Yes it is, Chris, but I wanted you to come alone."

"They came to get Louise. You have to let her go."

"I don't know if I will since she means something to you."

"She's my sister and you know that."

"What are you willing to do if I let her go?"

"I'll agree to go with you, wherever you want to go."

"How do I know that those men won't start shooting the minute we ride out from here?"

"Because I can make them mount up and ride off."

"Then tell them to leave."

"Matt, tell everyone to mount up and leave."

"Chris, do you know what your saying?"

"Yes, Matt, I do... tell them to go to town."

"Matt, you can't do what he's says. That's my wife and I'm not leaving without her. Do you hear me?" yelled Tom with an angry look on his face.

"If I didn't believe that Chris knows what he's doing, I wouldn't leave, but he must have a plan. You have to give him a chance."

Matt motioned for the men to mount up and ride out. He looked at Chris. He could see the disgusted look on his face each time Ella touched him. As Matt mounted his horse, he could see Jess and two more men lying behind the rocks. He just smiled. He knew that Chris did have a plan. They rode till they were just out of sight and then they stopped and waited for his next move.

"They left, Ella. Now let Louise go and I'll keep my promise."

"Do you really mean it, Chris?"

"I said I would, now let her go."

"Jack put her on a horse and let her go," Ella ordered as she turned to look at Jack.

Louise sat there on the horse just looking at Chris. She could feel the tears roll down her cheeks, she was afraid of what could happen. Chris was watching Jack as he walked around the horse. He could see Ella standing close to him. Just then he heard a gun firing, he turned to see Louise as she slumped over and started to fall to the ground.

He hurried to catch her and as they both fell to the ground, he sat up holding his sister in his arms. She didn't move as she lay there. Chris laid his hand on her cheek. He slowly moved his had over her hair and then he held her head in his hand. He sat there just rocking her back and forth. He couldn't stop the tears as they ran down his face. He just sat there crying and holding Louise.

"You didn't have to do that. She was never in your way and you knew it," yelled an angry Chris.

"Yes, I did. Now you don't have to worry about her."

"Jack, have the men get the horses. We are leaving and bring Chris's too. He's leaving with us, also."

From where was sitting, Chris could see the glare from the rifle and the face behind it. He knew it was Jess. Then he saw the three fingers as Jess slowly raised them above the rock. It was Jess's way of letting Chris know that there were three more men with him.

Chris was still holding Louise when he heard Ella say something about getting on his horse. He moved to lay Louise on the ground. He kissed her on the forehead as he laid her down. He slowly stood up as he looked at her lying there. The anger was growing inside of him. He was handed the reins to his horse and told to mount. As he sat there, he turned to look one last time. Chris could Jess as he looked over the rocks.

Jess could see the look on Chris's face and nodded back that he understood. He explained the plan to other men as they lay there waiting. They were starting to ride out when Chris moved to knock Ella off her horse. She lay there with Chris pinning her down. She tried to move from under him. He fought with her for a few seconds, then he pulled his gun and pointed it at her side.

"Move again and I have no problems pulling the trigger," Chris growled as he lay there.

He could hear the bullets as they whistled by. He lay there not sure of who was firing. He could hear Jess yelling as more shots rang out. Then he heard the sound of horses coming closer and Matt yelling about checking the house and the barn for anyone else.

"Chris, you have to let me go."

"Why should I let you go, tell me, Ella, why?"

"Because you love me and you know that I love you."

"No, Ella, I don't, lay here quietly or I'll shoot you and I don't need a reason."

"Chris, are you okay?" Matt called out.

"I'm fine, I just need some rope to tie her up."

"Jess, help Chris."

"Jess can you handle her for me?"

"No problem."

Chris ran to Louise who was still lying in the grass. He picked her up and held her. He whispered into her ear. She slowly opened her eyes to see Chris holding her.

"Chris, what happened?"

"You've been shot Louise, in the shoulder. It's not bad, but you need to lay still. Tom will be here soon."

"Are you alright, Chris?"

"I am now," he replied as he held his sister. He could still hear Ella as Jess led her off.

"Chris, you can't do this to me. You know that you love me."

He could still her yelling his name as Jess rode off with her to Fort Hays.

"Chris, I sent a man back to let the Judge know what happened here," Matt said.

"Louise will be okay. She was just grazed in the shoulder."

"Tom is taking her back to town to the Doc's office and then home."

"Is it over, Chris?"

"No, not till I know what's going to happen to her, then maybe it will be."

Logan looked up from the papers on his desk. He and Orrin had been going over all of the evidence that they had gathered. He could hear the riders outside. He stood up and walked to the door. He opened the door and stepped out on the porch. He saw Jess as he rode closer. He was holding the reins of the horse on which sat his prisoner. He looked to see that the prisoner's hands had been tied to the saddle horn. There was a muffling sound and he was surprised to see the prisoner gagged.

Logan turned to see more of his deputies riding down the street. He noticed the five prisoners that were being led in. He was starting to worry, neither Matt nor Chris could be seen anywhere. Orrin and Judge Roy joined Logan out in the street. Judge Roy just walked around looking at each of the prisoners. He stopped and looked at Ella as she struggled to lose the gag. He took a few puffs of the cigar as he watched her, and then he started to smile as he walked away.

"Jess, why do you have her gagged?" Logan asked as he walked closer to her.

"Judge for the last half hour all I have heard is her yelling for Chris. I suppose you want me to remove it?" he asked as a frustrated Jess looked at the Judge.

"No, Jess, leave the gag there."

Orrin had been watching for Chris and Matt. He turned to look down the street. In the distance, he could see them as they rode into town. He could see the look on Chris's face as he rode closer. He could see the smile on Chris's face. It was a look he wasn't used to seeing.

Judge Roy walked to where Orin was standing. He watched as Chris and Matt came closer. He stood there with a frown on his face as he stared at Chris. Orrin turned to see the Judge with an awful look on his face.

"What's the matter with you?"

"That is Chris Larabee riding with that Marshal?"

"Yes it is, and that concerns you why?"

"After the last few years, someone has finally caught up to him. Is he the reason I'm here?"

"No, he's not the reason, that lady you were looking at, she is the reason you're here," replied Orrin as he pointed at Ella.

"What has she done?"

"She killed six people and tried to kill nine other people. Two of them are U.S. Marshals."

"Are you talking about her?" he asked as he looked at Ella. "She couldn't be that bad?"

"You don't know her. Four years ago she hired a man to kill another man's wife and son just because she wanted the man. He came home to find his house on fire and to hear the screams of his family. That man is Chris Larabee and he has changed. Now he works for me."

"If that had happened to me, I probably would of done what he did. When you turn to the dark side, it's rough on a person. I know... I've been there most of my life."

He just turned and walked away. Chris stopped and watched Judge Roy walk past him. He could hear him as he muttered to himself. Chris just laughed at what he was hearing.

"Chris, what's so funny?" Matt asked as he rode up next to Chris.

"It's what Judge Roy was saying. He's upset that it's not me he who's on trial. He thought you were bringing me in till Orrin told him that I was now working for him."

"Chris, as soon as we get done here, we need to go check on Louise and I'm sure by now that Tom has calmed down."

"Matt, what did you do to Tom?"

"A couple of the boys helped me tie him to a tree. He wouldn't listen to me and he would have just got in the way."

"You better hope he has," Chris laughed.

They walked to Judge Randall's office and up the steps to the porch. He could hear her as she continued to yell his name as they led her off to the jail. He stood there as he felt a sigh of relief. He could hear someone as they came up from behind him. He turned to see Judge Roy as he came closer to the porch.

"When does this trial start?" asked the Judge as he stood there chewing on his cigar.

"It starts tomorrow morning. We have a man here who's agreed to be her lawyer. We gave him everything we have and he's been working on it," replied Logan.

"If there's nothing more, then I'll see you in the morning. I'm headed for the saloon for a drink."

He turned and walked down the street followed by some of his men. Chris and Matt looked at each other, then turned to walk across the street.

"Where are you two going?" asked the Judge.

"To check on Louise and to see if Tom has calmed down yet."

They continued on to the Doc's office. They stepped on the porch and walked the few steps to his door. Matt grabbed the door knob and opened the door. They could hear the Doc's voice in the other room. They moved closer to the drawn curtain. Using his hand, he moved it back. The Doc was trying to explain to Tom that Louise would be all right, but Tom asked him to check again. Louise lay in the bed with her shoulder wrapped in bandages. They could see her smile as she tried to help the Doc with Tom. She turned to see Matt and Chris as they walked closer to the bed.

"Are you all right?" Chris asked as he sat down in the chair.

"Yes, the doctor says it's only a flesh wound and that it'll heal in a few days, but Tom won't listen to anything," Louise replied as she looked at her brothers.

"Judge Randall sent a telegram to Ma so that she knows you're all right," Matt said.

"Are you two crazy? Louise could have been killed out there," yelled Tom as he came closer.

"Tom, there was a rifle on the man holding Louise. Jess was behind the rocks with orders to shoot anyone holding a gun on her," replied Chris.

"I guess you're right. It's just that when I saw Chris holding her and I thought she was dead. When Chris laid her down, my heart just sank and I didn't know what to do."

"Tom, she was awake when I was holding her. I whispered to her to play dead and not move," Chris replied.

"That woman Jess brought in. Is she the one you've been looking for?"

"Yes, she's the one."

"Tom, we're going now, that way you two can have some time alone," Matt said.

Matt and Chris stood up and turned to walk out the door and into the street. Chris stopped and looked at the saloon, then he looked at the hotel. He either needed a drink or a bed. He turned and told Matt good night as he walked to the hotel.

He took the key from the clerk and walked up the stairs to his room. He put the key in the lock and turned the knob. He opened the door and walked in. He took his hat off and laid it on the chair. He slowly pulled each arm out of the sleeves of the duster and then threw it on the chair. He then removed each suspender one at a time and slowly unbuttoned his shirt one button at a time. Then he took it off and threw it at the chair. He sat down on the edge of the bed and took his boots off. He put his feet on the bed and laid his head down on the pillow. He was almost afraid to sleep for fear of the nightmares, but he was so tired that he didn't care anymore. He closed his eyes and let himself relax.

As he lay there, he could feel the warm sun on his face. For the first time in a while, he had been able to sleep without the recurring nightmares. Chris sat up on the edge of the bed for a few minutes then he stood up and walked to the window. The people were starting to gather outside the courthouse. he turned to the left where he saw four men riding in with the twelve men that had been selected for the jury. He watched from the window as they were led into a side door of the building.

Chris turned and walked toward the chair where he had laid his bedroll from the previous night. He picked it up and unrolled it on the bed. He went through it till he found the light blue shirt. He laid it on the bed and then walked to the washstand where he picked up the pitcher and poured some water into the basin. After splashing water on his face several times, he grabbed a towel and dried his face off. As he looked in the mirror, he could see a different face looking back.

He laid the towel down and walked to the bed and picked up the shirt. As he put it on, he thought about what was going to happen today. He buttoned the last button on the shirt and pulled up his suspenders. He could hear the sounds of people moving about on the streets. He walked toward the window and looked out. He could see the courthouse and Judge Randall's marshals as they stood guard.

He moved toward the chair and picked up his hat, adjusting it on his head. He picked up his gun and strapped it on and tied the holster down to his leg. He opened the door and walked out into the hallway and started down the hallway to the steps. He stopped for a moment. He could hear the people talking in the lobby about the trial and of the special judge that Randall had brought in.

He started down the steps and he could feel their eyes as they stared at him and whispered among them. He just headed for the door and stepped out on the porch. He felt a hand grab his arm.

"How about some coffee before court starts?" Matt asked as they walked down the porch to the steps.

"I could use some. I was going to have some in the restaurant, but everyone is staring and all they can talk about is that it's a woman on trial... and of Randall's judge," Chris replied.

"That's all we've heard all morning. Let's walk to the Judge's office. He always have coffee on the stove and it'll be out of the way."

"I've been getting stared at ever since I left my room."

"How did you sleep last night?"

"You're wondering about the nightmare, aren't you? I don't remember having one."

"Maybe they're gone for good, Chris."

Matt and Chris continued toward the Judge's office. They could see the crowd in front of the courthouse. They walked up the steps and onto the porch. Matt walked into the office, but Chris moved to the edge of the porch where he could see more of the crowd. He could see Jess from where he stood. He yelled at him and he turned and walked toward Chris.

"Jess, why is everyone coming to this trial? Is it because it's a woman?"

"Some of it has to do with it being a woman and some remember Ella and what she was like when she lived here, but I think it's who the Judge is more than anything else."

"He's one of Judge Randall's friends?" asked Chris as he still looked at the crowd.

"He's not really one of the Judge's close friends, not like how Judge Travis and he are long time friends. It's because of the circumstances they had to bring in someone else who could do what he may have to do," replied Jess.

"So who is this judge that has everyone talking and what can he do that no one else can do?"

"I think you better ask Matt, okay Chris? I need to get back to work," Jess stated as he walked off toward the courthouse.

Chris turned and walked into the office where Matt was pouring the coffee into a couple cups. He handed one to Chris who had the look on his face.

"Who's this judge everyone's talking about, and what can he do that Travis and Randall can't?"

"Chris, if you were a judge, could you hang a woman if you had to?"

"I don't know if I could."

"That's why Judge Randall sent for this man, because he can if he has to. He's done it before, so we know that means there's no problem for him."

Chris turned and walked out the door and onto the porch where he stood and watched as the crowd became larger. He turned and looked at Matt. There was only one judge that he knew of that had hanged a woman. He was known to be the only the Judge in the area of the Pecos.

"Judge Randall brought in Judge Roy Beane from the Pecos area, didn't he?" asked Chris as he stared at the courthouse.

"Yes, Chris, he did. They feel the charges against her are that serious. Randall and Travis both agree that she should hang for what she did."

Chris poured more coffee into the cup. As he slowly drank it, he let out a sigh of relief as the weight lifted from his shoulders. It had taken four years, but now it was over and shortly it would be the end of Ella.

"Matt, Chris, Judge Randall wants you both down at the courthouse. The trial is ready to start," yelled Jess as he ran into the office.

"It's time to go, Chris," Matt said as he put his hat on his head and walked down the stairs and toward the courthouse, Chris beside him.

They could hear as the people whispered to each other. They just continued on till they had reached the steps. They climbed each one till they entered the door to the courtroom. They could see Judge Randall and Travis sitting at a table on the right side. Ella's lawyer was sitting on the left. He had a worried look on his face. Matt and Chris moved to sit behind Randall and Travis.

Chris turned his head as the doors to the courtroom were opened. He watched as the rows filled up with people. The two rows behind them had been reserved for the families of her victims. He saw Jess and Luke as they escorted them to the seats. He could see the anger on some of their faces, while others were trying to hold back the tears. He knew how they felt.

He could hear the sounds of muttering voices and footsteps of several people. He turned to see an opened door and four men as they escorted Ella to the table. He heard her calling his name, but he ignored her and started talking to Travis about when he would be leaving for Four Corners.

He still kept hearing his name, then there was a muffled sound as one of the marshals was given an order to gag her. There was the bailiff's call for everyone to stand as the Judge entered the courtroom. As he announced the Judge, Chris could hear the people talking, then there was the sound of a gavel as the Judge called an order to the courtroom.

Chris sat there just looking at the Judge. He had heard of him, but never had he seen him. He was very close to that person, who people had described. He had a stubble of a beard and was always smoking a cigar, no matter where was.

Judge Randall stood up and gave an opening statement and read the charges that had been filed. He talked about the four men who had been tricked by her and how her being obsessed with a man had cost him his wife and son and how she planned to murder six of his friends and his brothers and sister. She admitted to others that she would kill anyone that came between them.

"Mr. Hastings do you have an opening statement to give to me?"

"Yes, sir I do. My client is innocent. There is there no proof that she had anyone killed. Do you think that this woman could be capable of murdering anyone or even give that kind of order?" stated Hastings.

"You asked me a question and my answer is this. I have seen rattlesnakes come in all shapes and sizes and they are just as likely to strike as anyone of them. Do I think she could do it? That's not up to me, but the jury," replied Beane. "Call your first witness, Randall."

"I call as my first witness, John Larabee," Randall said as John walked to the chair.

After being sworn in, John sat down.

"John, you are a U.S. Marshall out Fort Hays?"

"Yes, I am."

"Explain to the court what happened when you and your men were checking out empty homes around here."

"We had rode up to this farm that we knew was empty. We were starting to ride off when I felt a rope around me. I looked to see my men were tied up and that's when I saw this woman coming out of the house. There was a man with her. She called him Jack. He came over where we sat on our horses. He asked me what my name was. I told him it was John Larabee. That's when she asked me if Chris was my brother and I said yes. That's when she told this Jack to hang us from this tree. The last thing that I heard was her saying that she would kill anyone that came between her and Chris."

"Is that all you have to say, well then you may go," ordered the Judge as he took a puff on the cigar.

"I call Chris Larabee to the stand."

"Chris, your family was murdered by Ella Gaines weren't they?"

"Yes, they were. I didn't know who did it until last year when a man by the name of John Littlefox told Judge Travis that he knew about the fire that killed a woman and her son. He told me about a man named Fowler who had been hired to kill them, but he refused to tell me who had hired him. Then Ella came back into my life looking for help. From what I saw, it looked like she had changed. Then one night I watched her go into this room. The next night I found the keys and went there. What I found scared me. It was like a shrine to me, then I opened this drawer and found a locket in it that belonged to my wife. That's when she came in and told me that she did it for us. She admitted to me that she had hired Fowler to kill them. I sort of went crazy and tried to strangle her. When we heard the gun shots from outside, she yelled that she would kill anyone that came between us," Chris recalled as he looked at Ella with a disgusted look on his face.

Chris stepped down from the chair and walked back to where Matt was sitting. He looked at her as he sat down. He could see the angry look on her face.

"Judge, I could call lots more people, but they would all have the same story," Judge Randall stated.

"That's very true, Judge Randall, and if we were in my court on the Pecos, this trial would've been over after the first witness. Mr. Hastings would you like to change your client's plea? From what I just heard, she's guilty."

"Judge Beane, I have to agree with you and change her plea to guilty."

"The jury is dismissed. I don't need you, but thanks for coming."

Luke and Jess walked the men out of the courthouse. Chris watched the Judge's face as his expression changed. He looked to see Ella still trying to scream through the gag and she kept moving around in the chair. Just then, he heard the Judge as he cleared his throat.

"Many of you know who I am and the reputation that follows me. Some don't believe that I have done it, but five years ago, I sentenced a woman to hang for killing her husband. I feel that if it's good enough for a man to hang for killing someone, then it's also good for a woman. I have no choice in this matter. Ella Gaines you will be taken to Fort Smith where, upon five days after your arrival there, you will be hanged till dead. May God have mercy on your soul. Take the gag off and let her speak."

"I didn't kill his family. He did when he left them alone."

Chris heard what she said and tried to get to her, but Matt was struggling to hold him as he tried to get loose. Then Matt felt the blow to his jaw and he lost his grip on Chris. Chris moved too fast for anyone to catch him. He had his hands around Ella's neck and was trying to strangle her. She tried to gasp for air as he squeezed harder. Matt tried to pull Chris off, but he couldn't. Suddenly, Chris let go. Matt moved him away as the deputies came closer. Chris could still hear her yelling at him. He turned and walked out the door with Matt. He just stood there and shook his head.

"How stupid could I have been, losing control like that? She only said that to make me mad."

"Are you all right?"

"Yes, I am."

"Let's go to the Judge's office. We need something to drink and I know he keeps a bottle in his desk."

"Matt, who takes her to Fort Smith?"

"Four U.S. Marshals will take her there and stay till it's over. Randall is having her body brought back to bury beside her father."

"When will you be leaving, Chris?"

"After I talk to Judge Travis, I'll be leaving. There's a little boy named Billy that I promised to take fishing. So I need to get back to him."

"That's the Judge's grandson, isn't it?"

"Yes, he is, but he doesn't have a dad and I don't have a son anymore, so we are good for each other. Now where is that bottle you were talking about?" Chris asked as he smiled and walked across the street with his arms around his brother's shoulders.

THE END