Prologue Standing staring at the cold wooden cross that leaned precariously in the wind, Josephine-Joey- Morgan hardly noted the chill in the air or the tears freezing to her cheeks. Instead she cried silently for the last chance at a normal life that had been lost. A warm hand on her shoulder had her glancing up into the gaze of her father, a bitter, twisted man who spent more time in the bottle than he did working in the fields. Jerking away from him she stepped past the minister and headed for the gate, standing on the other side was her salvation. The tall, quiet bay mare was all that was left of the herd her mother had owned at one time. “Easy girl.” She whispered and sighed when her father’s drunken voice drifted across the wind to her. “It’s gonna break her heart to have to sell that mare, but we can’t afford to keep her. Too many debts, I’ve got enough to just raise my daughter now.” The words were slurred by the ever-present whiskey and sent a cold chill through Joey, what was next? She wondered. Getting rid of her to.    “I’m sure you’ll have no trouble finding a buyer for her.” The smooth voice belonged to one of the men from town and Joey turned to face both men, her chin raised proudly. “I’m sure he wouldn’t if he owned her.” Joey replied confidently, glaring at her father. “But since he doesn’t I’m inclined to think that if he does sell her, I can have him arrested for a horse thief.” “Keep a civil tongue in your head.” Brandon Morgan snarled stepping toward her only to stop when he realized where they were. “We’ll discuss it when we get home.” “No.” Joey shook her head, “No we won’t. I’m not going home with a drunk. I’d rather go live with Mother’s brother than live here.” “Now you listen to me. Your Ma had way too much pride for a woman, I’ll not have you makin’ the same mistake.” Brandon growled at his daughter. At fourteen she was nearly as tall as her mother had been, with long dark wavy hair, and green eyes that were colder than ice, she had a good head on her shoulders for numbers, and many a young man had come to call asking for permission to court her. Now that the entire county knew that they were broke, he’d be hard pressed to marry her off but still she didn’t need to go flopping her jaws about. “Mama’s dead.” Joey replied coldly. “I have intention of joining her in the ground just yet.” With a shake of her head she mounted the mare easily, quickly and gathered her reins as she settled into the saddle. “Count your blessings old man, one less mouth to feed. Means you don’t have to take money away from that bottle you’re so fond of.” Jerking her mount’s head around she kicked her into a gallop and headed north toward Bracer’s Falls. Stopping in the first town she came to, she rented a room at the local hotel before going to the shops. Within an hour she was returning to her room where she tearfully cut off her hair, and discarded her dress for a pair of pants, a rough cotton shirt, vest and a gun. Standing staring into the mirror she sighed, Joey Morgan looked like a boy now. But would she be able to keep up the disguise long enough to make her way in this world? She wondered and sighed. As long as her pa didn’t show up and ruin things, she should be able to. She’d been doing it long enough already. Dawn saw her riding out of town at a lope, her shoulders straight, her face an indiscernible mask as she rode past the brush and the trees, getting closer and closer to freedom with each mile she put under her. Staring at the young man across from her, Joey tried to keep the shock out of her eyes, and the tremble from her fingers. She’d been dealing with outlaws in some form for years, ever since she’d left home. Now at eighteen she had settled into Sweetwater with ease, sharing a house with the other deputy, a sometimesdifficult proposition especially when he was peeling his clothes off for a bath, as he was doing now. “Look Morgan you don’t have to stand there like you’ve never seen a fella take a bath before.” The silky drawl had her turning and all but running to the kitchen where she grabbed a biscuit, apple and a cup of coffee before sliding out the door with a mumbled excuse about work. Sitting on the stoop, Joey had to admit that things were getting more and more interesting around here, she’d been in town for eight months and had landed the job of deputy along with Adrian Miller, a tall, sandy haired man with blue eyes and an uncanny ability to unnerve her. The first time she’d met him she’d been shocked by the sheer massiveness of his persona. He stood over six foot, with broad shoulders that molded into narrow hips and long, muscular legs. The few times she’d seen him without a shirt she’d been awed by the sheer amount of muscle he had, for a man who spent a lot of time doing nothing he had more muscles than she’d ever seen. The cotton shirts he wore were filled out, and each movement was with purpose, there wasn’t anything wasted about him, not movement, not fat, nothing. He was always thinking, reading as well something that when she’d first realized what was happening had made her uneasy, was she to be the only deputy that was available? But the first time there had been trouble she’d been slightly amazed at the level of skill he’d demonstrated, this man was no tenderfoot that was for sure. Glancing up the street Joey sighed, it had been a year since she’d gotten word that Brandon Morgan had been shot in a card game, and while she couldn’t say she was sorry for his passing she did wish he’d shown more thought to those around him. “Hey you gonna sit there all day or what?” Adrian’s voice had her glancing sharply up, her face quickly taking on the scowl she’d adopted. “Why, you in a hurry or something?” “Yeah Morgan, we’re due at the office in five minutes.” “Then lets go.” Joey said rising smoothly and starting for the Marshall’s office. Shaking his head at the shorter man, Adrian fell into step with him as they crossed the street and walked up the few steps to the jail. “Evening Marshall.” “Evening boys.” The distinctly southern drawl had both smiling slightly. The older man who worked with them was from New York originally, but he’d moved out west when he was a small boy and wound up in Kentucky, where he’d developed his accent, his gun hand and his ability to read people. Glancing at the youngsters before him he sighed, Marshall Tom Jacks felt a little uneasy talking bout things with them. Morgan was prone to sullen retreats when things didn’t go his way, or least ways the way he figured they ought to but it was Miller he was more concerned about. The young man had taken a shine to working here in Sweetwater, he had no grand illusions of the life a western town Marshall lived, knowledge to him was power and Miller had plenty of that to go around. “So what’s up?” Adrian asked settling on the edge of the desk easily, his posture relaxed, his facial expression one of curious expectation. “They’re retiring me.” Tom spoke quickly and raised a hand. “Want you to take over the job Miller, figure you’re the one to know such things.” “I wasn’t planning on taking your job.” Adrian spoke softly; he rarely raised his voice except to yell at Joe Morgan for some reason. “I know. I wasn’t planning on giving it up either but still we got to figure it out sooner or later. I’m getting up there in years and the town council has decided I’m too old for this job. Want you to take over in the spring.” “I don’t know.” Adrian frowned slightly. With all the trouble that had been going on around town, an old marshal was well suited to the work. There’d been days when the most exciting thing about wearing a badge was polishing it, and other days when he’d thought he wasn’t cut out to be a lawman, but still. Sweetwater wasn’t exactly a hot bed of activity, nothing like when his Pa was a deputy here. “You’ve got until spring.” Tom said leaning back. “Means you’ll have to decide on your deputies, and make any changes you feel are necessary.” He glanced pointedly at Joe Morgan who shrugged indifferently and stared mulishly back at him. For some reason the lad had a bad attitude, kinda reminded him of a young man he’d met once in Deadwood a few years back that had been murdered. “I’ll let you know.” Adrian replied and glanced out the window. It was only a couple days until Christmas, maybe he could ride out and talk to his family, get their input on the situation. “Can I take a couple days off? I’d like to talk to my family, Pa’s worked here before he’d have some good advice.” “Sure. Take a week. Enjoy the holidays and we’ll see you back here right after the new year.” “I’ll be here.” “Good.” Turning to Joe, Tom sighed. “Looks like it’s just us for the next few days. You got plans or something?” “Nope.” Joey replied and shrugged carelessly. Where would she go on a holiday? Her family was all gone, she didn’t make friends and she hardly used any of the money she made. Sticking around town was as good a reason to get up in the morning as any. “Good. Then it’s settled.” Tom said as he watched Adrian shrug into his heavy coat and pull his hat and gloves on. “You ride safe now. I wouldn’t want you to get caught in a storm.” Smiling Adrian shrugged. “I’m headed home, if I get lost my horse’ll find his way back to the barn. Besides Five Fingers isn’t that far, it starts storming and I’ll just stop off at Hunter’s cabin.” “Sounds good. Merry Christmas.” “Merry Christmas.” Adrian said stepping outside and heading for the livery. Saddling the tall grey mare he rode took little time, and he headed home at a lope. It wouldn’t take him long to get home, a day maybe two at the most but he would do it, he wanted to catch up on old times. Ever since that situation with Peterson and Jenny, he’d been wondering how Hunter was handling himself. The other man was likely to snap at anyone, and tended to be sore when he was pushed, and he’d been pushed to a degree Adrian hadn’t wanted to ever witness. For years it had always been Hunter and Jenny, they were as close as two people could be without exchanging skins, although he’d often wondered if maybe they’d taken things a little farther than anyone had ever thought. From the looks that he’d seen exchanged before Hunter had gone off to school, Adrian could’ve sworn that he knew more about how Jenny was put together than their folks would be happy with. Smiling at the thought of the trouble they’d gotten into as kids Adrian lifted the collar of his coat and rode steadily eastward. The mare’s long legs devouring the ground as they moved along, secure in their movements, at ease with the surroundings. Pulling up in front of stand of pines, Adrian dismounted and made camp as darkness fell, he’d be back at Five Fingers by late tomorrow afternoon. Taking care of the mare was easy, and he made a fire then settled in front of it to think things through. While he did want the job, hell he’d be a fool not to take the position that was offered. It meant a great deal more money, better hours and more benefits than what he was getting now but he didn’t know if he wanted the responsibility of taking care of a couple of deputies, or the whole town to the extent that it would require as marshall. Thinking of deputies he sighed, he wasn’t sure if he wanted Joe Morgan working for him. Granted the man did a helluva job but still, there was something about him that just made him uneasy, some little nuance that set his teeth on edge.  He’d proven himself quite proficient at dealing with the drunks and such, but Joe was a loner, he tended to stay away from everyone around town. As far as Adrian knew he didn’t have a friend to his name, and no family that was alive. He’d mentioned in passing his folks were dead, and he’d been an only child so it made things easy for him. No worrying bout taking care of the folks or making sure he had to be someplace, in Adrian’s mind a very lonely existence. Riding into Five Fingers as the snow started to fall with heavy intent Adrian put his mare up in the barn next to the black Hunter rode and headed for the house door. Raising his hand he knocked quickly, hoping he’d be heard above the storm, but figuring if no one answered shortly he’d just go on in. As the door was opened he stared at his best friend with a smile as the other man’s dazed expression faded replaced by an easy smile. “Adrian what are you doing here?” “Came to visit.” Adrian muttered and shook his head, sending a cascade of snow falling about the porch. “I’ve put my horse in the barn, may I come in.” “By all means.” Hunter said and stepped back to let the other man into the room. Stepping inside Adrian paused when he saw the shadow at the stove before he recognized Jenny Cross. A slight frown married his face before he erased all signs of questions from his expression and turned to Hunter with a smile. “I was going to head on up to the main houses but couldn’t, not in this weather.” “No point in riding in this weather.” Jenny called. “You must be frozen Adrian, might as well sit and half coffee. Dinner’ll be ready shortly.” “Thanks Jenny.” Adrian smiled at her easily and moved into the room, closer to the warmth put off by the big, potbellied stove. “So what brings you over here in this weather?” He asked and noted her slight flush and the grin tugging at her lips. Glancing from her to Hunter he noted the possessive way Hunter watched Jenny and sighed, those two belonged married or something. “I live here.” Jenny replied quietly. “Have since we got back from Omaha.” “That’s right. I heard you two were in Omaha. Aunt Sara and Aunt Laura were sure put out by it, couldn’t figure out what was worse, you being away from home or being in that big city together.” Adrian said. “Ma figured you knew what you were doing, probably did.” “Actually we got married.” Jenny replied as Hunter poured coffee and handed it to Adrian who sat shocked at the table, his face stunned, and his gaze fixed upon her. “What?” He croaked, not sure he’d heard her correctly. They’d gotten married without anyone of the family present? Without anyone telling him? How could that have been? Glancing between them though he sighed, he probably didn’t want to know the details knowing Hunter. Besides if the family wasn’t all that informed that usually meant Hunter and Jenny hadn’t asked before doing it, instead they’d just gone out and done it. “We got married.” Hunter replied moving past his wife to settle at the other end of the table. “Best thing I ever did to.” “Does the folks know about this?” Adrian demanded curious to know what to expect when he did get to the main house. “Yep.” “I’ll be damned.” Adrian breathed and glanced between them, something was different. There was something going on here, something more than a wedding. “Why didn’t anybody tell me.” “Cause Ma and Pa are still trying to figure out a way to get us to get back to the main houses.” Jenny replied sinking into a chair and smiling tiredly at her husband. “And we’re not exactly talking to them right now.” “Oh.” Adrian sighed. “I guess then you wouldn’t know what’s happening at the main houses then.” “Sure.” Hunter said easily. “Aunt Louise and Uncle Kid are thinking of taking another kid in, a little boy this time from out by Missouri way, Uncle Buck and Aunt Laura are busy trying to figure out what the heck we’re supposed to do to get back into their good graces.” “Uh don’t you mean..?” “No.” Hunter laughed at Adrian’s confusion. “Unfortunately for all of us, Uncle Buck’s madder than hell at us right now and there ain’t anyway of changing that.” “Why?” “Cause I’m pregnant.” Jenny replied. “That was fast.” “I was pregnant before I went to Omaha.” Jenny replied quietly, waiting anxiously for the censure to appear. “Oh.” Adrian shrugged guess he’d been right, a glance at her revealed her unease and he smiled slightly. “I’m not one to judge Jennifer you should know that by now.” “We never figured the family was one to judge either.” Hunter rose smoothly. “But they did, and they weren’t quiet about it either.” “Well you know the folks. They figure we’re suppose to do as they say, not as they’ve done.” Adrian grinned. “Might want to remind them that they weren’t exactly angels going into their marriages.” “I know.” Hunter leaned back in his chair after retrieving a bun and another cup for coffee. “I’m not worried. Christmas day we’ll go up and say hi, be all social.” “There somewhere I can pitch my bedroll?” Adrian glanced around and noted a bunk near one wall as well as a door that stood off by the fireplace. “Sure you can have the bunk. Jenny and my room are behind the door.” Hunter replied conspiratorially winking at his friend. “You won’t notice though, this wind’s really giving ‘er.” “I know. Was scared I’d freeze to death coming out here.” Adrian said looking at the young couple. “They’ve approached me about taking over for the Marshall.” He said softly. “It’s an increase in pay, and my own place over the jail but still I don’t know. Means I need to hire on a new deputy.” “Why not keep Joe?” Hunter asked quietly. “He seems to be capable.” “Him and I aren’t exactly on the same page of the book.” Adrian admitted. “Something about him strikes me as odd.” “You’re just picking.” Hunter replied. “He’s damn good at what he does, and he’s familiar with everything. Keep him on. Can’t be any worse than Barnett.” Laughing at the mention of the lovable, yet addle-minded deputy that had worked for Uncle Sam and Grandpa Teaspoon Adrian shook his head. He couldn’t pin point exactly what it was about the young man that set off bells in his head. Maybe it was the fact that he never seemed to sleep, or that he went out of his way to avoid doing things with him. The other day he’d flushed and mumbled something about getting some work done when Adrian had pulled out the tub and stripped down to take a bath. For some reason there was just something about Joe Morgan that made Adrian a little more than uncomfortable, it was entirely too familiar for him to be overtly concerned and yet, he couldn’t shake that feeling. “When’s he retiring?’ Hunter asked. “Who? Joe?” Adrian shook his head. “He ain’t.” “I meant the Marshall.” Hunter replied softly a knowing grin on his face. “Oh next spring. Want to be sure they’ve got a replacement just in case. Not that there’s a hot bed of crime in Sweetwater, ain’t been any excitement since you went through.” Adrian smiled at Hunter. “Just figure they don’t want to be waiting too long.” “Well in that case I’d say take the job. Its not like you’re going to be suddenly swamped with things that are going on Ryan.” Jenny declared rising to check on dinner. Satisfied with the meal she began setting the table easily, familiarly. “Besides your Ma would have kittens if you left the state.” “I know.” Adrian sighed. “Just that I’m not sure I can handle running a town by myself. Joe might be good at what he does, but he’s not exactly Uncle Buck, or Uncle Ike.” “You can’t have perfection in your deputies all the time.” Jenny intoned. “Besides didn’t you say that there wasn’t a whole lot of crime in Sweetwater?” “Just something about him makes me nervous.” Adrian admitted. “He’s always doing weird things.” “Such as?” “Locks the door when he baths, won’t go for a drink in the saloon, don’t smoke.” “Maybe he’s just shy, and so what if he don’t smoke or drink?” Jenny shrugged as she dished up the dumplings while Hunter rose to carve the roast. “Can he shoot straight? Has he let you down before?” “No.” “Then give him a chance.” Jenny smiled. “You might be surprised with the results.” “Yes boss.” Adrian grinned at Jenny as she settled into a chair and bowed her head. Maybe Jenny had a point, what harm could come from him giving Morgan a chance, the lad had proven himself time and again, avoided getting shot and didn’t get into trouble the way some deputies did. He seemed to have a good head on his shoulders as well, so that made it easier on him. “Eat.” Jenny barked pushing the plate closer to him and smiling at his discomfort. “You’ve got until spring to make a decision.” “Sometimes Hunter I wonder why you went after her all those years ago.” Adrian muttered as Jenny smirked at him. “Simple, had to.” Hunter replied cutting his roast with his knife. “She’s always been mine to look out for, couldn’t let her down now could I?” Shaking his head at his friend’s logic Adrian turned his attention to his dinner. As usual Hunter made sense in a twisted kind of way, and arguing with him wouldn’t prove wise. Chapter Two “Looks like nobody’s up.” Adrian drawled sitting his horse easily, despite the snow, and the animal’s unease at the weather. “Looks that way.” Hunter smiled at Jenny. “Remind me never to listen to you when you say lets leave tonight. I’m cold and I’m tired.” “Poor baby, you’ll live I think.” Jenny giggled as Hunter through her a dirty look and pulled up by the barn. “Lets get the stock fed and put away so we can get out of the cold. Who are we waking up first?” Adrian asked. “Your Ma and Pa. Ours will probably have lectures to give.” “Okay.” Hunter grinned at his wife. “Whatever you say.” “Finally he gets it.” Jenny laughed and led her gelding into his stall. “I’ll wait for you Hunter.” “Sounds like a plan.” Hunter declared easily as he unsaddled his mare and deposited the saddle on the rack before unsaddling Jack and taking the bridle off him. A quick toss and the horses had hay in their stalls, followed quickly by some grain as Adrian brought in bucket after bucket of water for them. “We done in here?’ “We are.” Hunter replied as he followed Adrian out into the early morning glow of winter and over to his parents house. Trudging up the steps they knocked the snow off their boots and walked inside only to be swamped by a horde of younger kids and grown ups. “Jenny, Hunter!” Lou laughed softly as she recognized them. “It’s so nice to see you.” “Thanks Aunty Lou.” Jenny smiled and pointed behind her. “Look who we found on our front porch.” “Adrian!” Lou squealed rushing to greet her eldest son. “You look like you’ve been missing meals.” She worried over him. “Let the man get his clothes off woman.” Kid’s growl had her smiling at him as she stepped back. “Son.” “Pa. I got some news.” “Come tell us.” Lou said dragging him toward the kitchen, followed by the pack of siblings, cousins, friends, and smaller children. “I’ve been offered the job of Marshall.” Adrian said when they’d settled into a cup of coffee with Lou making breakfast. She settled bowls upon the table amid groans of agony. Everyone hated oatmeal, a staple in the Miller household in the winter. “Oh?” Lou glanced at Kid and back at her son before turning to grab the coffee pot. “You gonna take it?’ “Thinkin’ on it.’ Adrian admitted. “Means more money, more control over what happens around town. Means I can arrest Hunter whenever he comes to town.” “Ha.” Hunter laughed. “I’ll just be fixing the blisters you’ll be getting from sitting too long.” “You got help?” Kid asked noting Lou’s concerned gaze. “Yeah, Morgan’s my first choice. He’s got a level head on his shoulders, doesn’t go out of his way to get himself into trouble and can out talk most criminals. Figure I’ll be lucky to keep him.” “As long as you’re comfortable working with him.” “I’m very comfortable.” Adrian said uneasily, casting a glance at Hunter and Jenny. “So what’s been going on around here while I’ve been gone? I heard about Jenny and Hunter’s little trip to Omaha, and they’re getting married. Even heard about the baby. How’s everyone handling it?” “Ike and Sara are a little more relaxed about it. Sara’s going slowly insane with the thought of all that could go wrong with a pregnancy.” Lou replied. “She’s not sure about this whole baby thing. Personally, I figure she’s just scared. After all she never had it very easy.” “I know.” Jenny sighed. “I hope she knows Hunter’ll do everything he can for me if there were a problem.” “Sometimes nothing will help.” Lou replied softly, thinking back to Sara’s miscarriage. It had been a lot harder for her to deal with then most women had ever experienced. She’d lost more than just the baby that day; she’d lost a brother, a husband, and friends. In Sara’s mind she’d lost everything so fear was a normal occurrence when it came to babies. “I know.” Jenny looked steadily at her aunt. “I’m just as scared as she is.” “Give it a few hours.” Lou smiled. “She’ll be happy to see you and she’ll be chatting up a storm to go with it.” “I know.” “How are Uncle Buck and Aunty Laura handling things?” Hunter asked. “Laura’s resigned herself to having an impossible husband, and Buck’s madder than hell at himself.” Kid replied. “Figures he shouldn’t have lost his temper, that it put a needless strain on everyone but he couldn’t help it. They are sorry.” Smiling Hunter nodded. “I know. We all sorta over reacted that day.” “You gonna forgive ‘em then?” Lou asked. “Course.” Jenny smiled. “They’re family. Besides if we don’t, they’ll just keep sending someone out to talk to us and I’d never get anything done.” Laughing at the statement everyone glanced up at the sound of the front door opening and a distinct male voice hollering at those gathered in the room. “Hey anyone up yet?” “In the kitchen.” Lou hollered back. “Coffee’s hot.” “Good.” Buck said walking into the room and freezing. Sitting calmly at the table was his daughter and son in law. “I’ll be..” “Hi Pa.” Jenny smiled easily after a slight glance at her husband. “How are you?” “Getting older by the minute.” Buck said walking over and lifting her into his arms for a hug, despite her startled expression and the way she tensed in his arms before relaxing. “I imagine Ma and Pa are up.” Hunter stated. “Nope.” Buck said. “Stuck my head in and there’s no signs of life. There was coffee sitting on the counter biscuits in a bowl and not a sound in the whole house.” “They’re sleeping in.” Hunter chuckled. “Used to do that when I was little. Guess they’re enjoying having no kids around for a day or so.” “Considering we’re eating here, I’d say very much so.” Lou sighed. “How did I get suckered into hosting this many people at Christmas?” “You love us Ma.” Adrian smiled. “Otherwise you wouldn’t do it.” “I know.” With a sigh, Lou shifted and settled into her husband’s lap. “I have to be absolutely crazy.” “Yes ma’am.” Kid smiled into her hair and listened to everyone laughing. A couple more people and their family would be complete, although he didn’t expect to see Sara and Ike until lunchtime. Maybe if he sent word over that Hunter and Jenny were here? Shaking his head at the thought Kid sighed, which would mean they’d be doing it to him when he and Lou ‘slept in’. “We’ll give ‘em till lunch time.” Kid said quietly, noting Hunter’s anxious look. “By that time they’ll have come over and are getting in the way.” “Who’s getting in the way?” Sara’s voice, sweetly relaxed and very satisfied drifted into the room followed by her body and Ike who walked along beside her, a possessive hand at her hip. “You two.” Kid replied with a grin. “We’re going to need more furniture.” “I’ll get it.” Adrian volunteered with a grin. “James, you figurin’ on standing around with nothing better to do, you can help me.” “All you ever do is boss me around.” James grumbled good-naturedly. “Makes me wonder where you got your mind from.” “A steel trap.” Adrian said as he stepped past his aunt and uncle so they could clearly see whom else was setting at the table. He didn’t want to be there for that emotional reunion. Leading his brother out of the room and over to the large den doors, he sighed. This Christmas just didn’t feel like the others in his life. He was too out of touch, there had been too many things in his life that didn’t include his friends, his family and now he was trying to fit himself into something that felt too small. “You planning on staying for a while?” James asked quietly. “A few days.” Adrian replied grabbing a couple of wooden chairs and stacking them so he could carry them easily. “Grab a couple chairs and lets go.” “How come only that many? You could stay and help out around here.” “I got to get back to work.” Adrian said as he led the way back into the kitchen where Aunt Sara was fussing over Hunter and Jenny, it didn’t take a genius to see the fear in her eyes as they rested on Jenny’s slight frame. He could feel the displeasure from his brother’s stare, and sighed, James just didn’t understand that ranching wasn’t in his blood. Adrian needed more than what the ranch provided. Yes indeed it was going to be a very interesting day. Sitting by the fire Adrian stared at the flames absently, his mind taken up with the dilemma he found himself in. He wanted the job, hell he’d kill to get he job he was being offered but he didn’t know if he could handle the responsibility. “What’s bothering you?” The quiet timber of the voice had him glancing up with a start to see his father standing there. Despite the years, Adrian ‘Kid’ Miller Senior had aged very well. There was touch of grey at his temples, but the life in his blue eyes reflected a sharpness of mind that hadn’t been touched by age, war, or sorrow. Yet anyway. “Just thinking of this job I got offered.” “Hunter told me about it.” Kid replied and walked over to sit down across from his son. Despite the late hour, he knew that Adrian wouldn’t go to sleep with this weighing on his mind. Instead he’d sit and ponder it to death. “You know there ain’t nothing that says you have to take the job.” “I want the job.” Adrian said. “I’m just not sure if I can do the job.” “Seems to me that you can. You’ve been doing it for some time; Marshall Jack’s ain’t exactly been out and about lately. Sure he handles things in town, does a good job of it to, but you were the one that went with Hunter to get Peterson. You were the one that tracked those two robbers down and arrested ‘em. You and Morgan have been doing that job for a long time son. Bout time you got paid for it.” “I like Tom.” Adrian replied leaning back in his chair, his long legs stretched out before him. “I like working with a man who’s got the knowledge and skill that comes with age. Besides that I’m not too sure about Morgan. He can handle anything that’s thrown at him but he ain’t exactly social.” Hiding his smile Kid stared at his son’s perplexed look. It was as familiar to him as his own expressions, of course Adrian would have doubts about Joe Morgan, most men would. Only experience and time allowed Kid to see beyond the trappings of the young deputy Adrian worked with. Letting his mind wander back to the first run Lou’d made he realized that Adrian didn’t have a clue about what was right in front of him. It had taken a couple of weeks for Kid to really be comfortable around Lou McCloud, something about him made him uneasy, then when he’d come across him shot and lying face down in the mud he’d been torn. He’d done what any man would’ve done, helped him out. Only Kid had found to his mixed surprise and horror that Lou wasn’t a he, he was a she. He’d never really understood what had possessed him to keep his silence, he knew what could happen to her if she was caught, hell he’d warned her himself the same day she’d been shot. But still he’d held his tongue and allowed her to make her own way. As time wore on though he’d been forced to confront his feelings for her and the day she’d stumbled into the shower on him had made things only too clear for him. He’d loved her right from that first day he’d picked her out of the mud and carried her into the line shack, hell he still loved her even after twenty some odd years of marriage, kids, ranch duties, days of famine and pain, and years and years of peace. Glancing at his son he shifted, maybe Adrian would get as lucky, maybe this Joe would help Adrian discover just what it was that made him who he was. He’d noted the way they worked closely together, they way they didn’t hesitate to help the other out, and he prayed that Adrian would be as lucky as he’d been. “You want my advice?” Kid asked quickly. “Take the job, let Morgan prove himself. I promise you won’t be disappointed.” “Thanks Pa.” Adrian said and sighed leaning his head back and closing his eyes. He so wanted to just give in and take the job but would he be able to keep the level of peace that Tom Jacks had? “Best get some sleep.” Kid said with a fatherly pat on his son’s knee as he rose. “If you don’t you’re gonna be mighty tired tomorrow when its feeding time.” “Yes sir.” Adrian smiled at his father, it so like the older man to put to words the level of work that went with running a ranch. If he could have faith in him, what was Adrian’s problem? He wondered and sighed as he rose to follow his father silently out of the room, pausing at the doorway to watch his father climb the stairs to his parent’s room before he headed down the hall to his room. Tomorrow he’d decide. Adrian figured that would be soon enough, besides listening to Aunty Sara and Aunty Laura all day had worn him out. Climbing into his bed Adrian rolled over, closing his eyes easily and slipping into a deep, dreamless sleep of total exhaustion. Hearing the infernal sounds of someone in the kitchen Adrian opened his eyes a crack and stared at the wall, it hardly seemed fair that he should have to get up before everyone else but sleeping next to the kitchen made rest impossible if someone else was up. Rising he dressed quickly and headed for the kitchen, hoping that coffee was on. Spotting his mother he smiled and dropped a kiss on her head. “Morning Ma.” He said with a smile. “How’re you this morning?’ “Good. How’d you sleep last night?” “Very well.” Adrian said stretching out the kinks in his body. “Kinda missed the noises of having a room mate though.” “Yeah I know what you mean. It’s hard the first few nights when you’re used to sleeping in a room full of people, then there’s none.” Shuddering Lou looked at her son. “You’ll thank your lucky stars someday when its just you and your wife though.” “Ma.” Adrian groaned at her words. “You still trying to marry me off?” “Of course.” Lou smiled at him lovingly. “You’re a good boy Adrian, ain’t no reason for you to be unmarried and living like a hooligan.” “I live with a deputy.” Adrian groaned at his mother who smiled at him and patted his cheek before handing him an empty bucket. “What’s this for?” “Could you go and get me some water. Well’s still open.” She said and turned away from him to gather the makings for breakfast. “Get running water then I wouldn’t have to.” Adrian grumbled as he went. He hated being somewhere that he couldn’t use a pump and get water; it was too much work to haul it up from the well. “Morning.” Hunter’s voice had him glancing at the young man who was standing by the well with a bucket in his hands. “So you reach a decision?’ “Yes.” Adrian grunted as he set the bucket down. “I’m going to take the job, and let Morgan dig his own grave. First time he screws up, he’s gone.” “When’s he screwed up?’ “He ain’t.” Adrian replied. “Which means that when he does, it’s going to be major and then we’ll be in trouble.” “You’d be the one to know.” Hunter replied and headed back for his folks house. “See you later.” “By Hunter.”  Adrian waved him off and headed home, grumbling under his breath about the deputy he’d agreed to keep on. Stepping inside he poured the water into the stove’s water tank and poured himself a cup of coffee, still grumbling and complaining under his breath about Morgan making a mistake. “Adrian don’t you have any better sense than to complain about your associates that way. If we complained..” Lou started pointedly. Drowning her out Adrian nodded briefly from time to time and hid behind his cup of coffee as he listened to her rant on about responsibility. How he’d gotten into this mess he still didn’t know but he wasn’t too keen on putting up with it much long. “Are you listening to me?” Lou demanded as Adrian got that far away look in his eyes, he nodded and spoke quickly quoting her word for word, which irritated the hell out of her. “Oh go on with you. Go wake your brother up.” She snapped and waved him off before turning to the pot of water she’d put on to boil and the can of oatmeal that she’d set on the counter. Why did men have to be so silly? She wondered thinking of her son and how alike his father he was. “Stop by the ranch more often.” Kid growled lovingly at his son. “Don’t forget we live here.” “I won’t forget.” Adrian grinned and mounted up. He was due back in Sweetwater in three days and he planned on being early. A glance at the sky told him that it would be clear weather that day, so he’d make better than average time. “I’ll see you in a few weeks okay?’ “Sure you will.” James smiled at his older brother. “You’ve been saying that for ages now, and we never see you. Just don’t forget that you’re supposed to be here every once in a while.” “I’ll try to. I’m a very busy man you know.” Adrian said and nudged his mount into a lope easily. Waving he headed home to Sweetwater, hoping that the place hadn’t fallen apart in the time he’d been gone. He’d hate to have to kill Morgan for letting it fall into disrepair. Making better time than he’d hoped Adrian rode into Sweetwater late the second night and put his mount up in the barn before heading home to his small room in the house that he shared with Joe. Whistling he reached the door and paused, the town was peaceful, quiet, and he smiled. Looked like his deputy had kept things under control. Opening the door he walked inside and threw his coat, hat and gloves onto the table before turning to close the door. “See you made it back.” Joe’s disgruntled voice had him closing his eyes for a moment. “Try not to jump for joy there Joe. Wouldn’t want you to have a heart attack.” “I’ve been up for two days Miller, you want to banter words with someone, go see one of your friends over at the saloon, I’m not in the mood.” Joe snarled and shuffled off to his room, slamming the door behind him. “Figures.” He muttered and poured himself a coffee. It looked like he was back on the dark list in Morgan’s opinion. Shaking his head at the thought, Adrian smiled some things just didn’t change. As easily as taking time off had been, Adrian found it even easier to fall back into the regular routine as winter began to fade and spring made its appearance. Soon he was sworn in as the new Marshall, keeping Morgan on as a deputy and making things more interesting by refusing to hire another man unless it became apparent that one was needed. “Hey Marshall.” The distinct drawl had him glancing up several weeks after he’d been made Marshall to see a smart aleck cowhand for one of the small ranches in the area standing in the doorway. “What is it Tanner?” “Boss wants to see you. Found some tracks on our land that don’t belong to us, and two dead riders.” “I’ll be right there.” Adrian stood carefully, gracefully as the back door opened and Joe Morgan walked in. “Joe you want to hold the office down for me for a few hours. I’m going to go talk to Ben Tyler about two dead riders.” “Sure thing.” Joe nodded and plunked himself into Adrian’s chair and pulled out the newspaper to read it. Shaking his head, Adrian followed Tanner out into the sunlight and silently started to plan a way of getting rid of his most aggravating problem. Namely one Joe Morgan, seemed like lately all the man did was try and irritate him no end. When he’d confronted him with it, he’d merely smiled charmingly and shrugged. “Can’t help it if you ain’t got the patience Miller.” He’d grunted and returned to reading the paper. Riding out to the Bar T ranch, Adrian scanned the area for tracks and riders on the horizon, anything that would alert him to trouble. Pulling up in front of the ranch house he dismounted as the owner of the ranch, a balding, pot bellied man stepped out of the house and walked or more aptly waddled toward him. “Marshall.” “Mister Tyler.” “Got me two dead hands, and missing about sixty head of cows. You gonna do something ‘bout it?” “Course. Where’d this happen?’ “Out by the edge of the old pond.” The man snorted, his breath coming in wheezing pants. “Found ‘em there this morning when I went out to check on my old bull.” “I’ll take a ride over that way, see if I can find a fresh track. I’ll get to the bottom of this Mister Tyler.” Adrian promised and swung agilely into the saddle and headed out toward the pond, a familiar haunt for some of the cowboys. Casting about for tracks, Adrian paused and frowned. Most of these tracks were to some degree familiar, tracks of horses from the ranch itself. Glancing up he met the gaze of one of the cowhands and sighed, there was no point in revealing anything he did or didn’t know just yet. Unless he was mightily mistaken the cattle had been rustled by some of the ranch hands. “You finding anything?” The man drawled lazily, sitting his pony a few yards away. “Tracks.” Adrian grunted and rose as he moved about the area, thankful that his uncle had taught him how to track from the moment he’d met him. He’d always figured it to come in handy, and it had many times. “Most of us have been over this area a dozen times,” The cowhand began. “Didn’t find anything.” Grunting a reply Adrian rose and glanced around, if the man was telling the truth he’d have to swing wider to find tracks. It was a rarity for anyone to be able to track as well as an Indian, but there were men out there who could do it. Adrian just didn’t see any of Ben Tyler’s men being that good. Leaving his mount ground tied he swung his search a little wider, hoping that he could find a useful track, one untainted by Tyler’s men. Spotting an unfamiliar track he knelt next to it and examined it. The horse that had left it was carrying a heavy load, but he didn’t think it to be a packhorse. Instead he figured that the rider was probably over weight, and tired after the gunfight that had claimed to lives. Searching the area he smiled in satisfaction, he’d obviously been hit if the spattering of blood on the crushed grass was anything to go by. “Well?” The cowboy asked disgruntled, he neither wanted nor needed the Marshall to cross paths with any of the tracks; after all it was a hanging offence to steal another man’s cows.  Shifting in his saddle when the Marshall rose and moved smoothly to his mount he waited, “You find something?” “Nothing that concerns you.” Adrian replied shortly and whirled his mount to nudge it into a lope as he trailed off after the track. An hour later he paused and stared at the fast moving creek that stood in his way. He had a fairly good idea where the man had gone, and if he was right then there’d be no way for Adrian to go in and get him. After all, his kind wasn’t wanted in these parts; turning his mount he headed back to town. There was no way for him to do his alone, he’d need his deputy. Joey sat in the Marshall’s chair and smiled. It felt good to be able to relax away from him, to just sit back and read the paper or nap in the late afternoon sun as she’d found him doing so many times. “You comfortable?” The low growl brought her feet down with a thump of surprise as she turned to stare at her nemesis.  Marshall Miller stood in the doorway, looking rumpled and unhappy with the turn of events causing her to shiver. Adrian Miller in a bad mood meant she’d be avoiding him for the remainder of the day. “Just doing the job.” Joey muttered and rose out of the chair to pace to the coffee pot and pour herself a cup. She glared at Adrian’s head when he stole it and made for the desk. “You find anything?” “Yeah. We’ve got a bunch of no good rustlers in the area.” Adrian replied glancing at his deputy. “And part of ‘em are working for Ben Tyler.” “You’re sure?” “Very.” Adrian declared leaning back to sip on the strong, dark brew. “Tracks don’t lie. Who ever it is was hurt this morning, headed across the creek to Dead Man’s Canyon, and left the rest of his cohorts back on the ranch. Took a few head of steers with him.” “What do you want to do?” Joey asked hoping that his mood would improve as they spoke. “Only thing we can do. Wait ‘em out. They’ll have to come out to strike again, and I have a feeling I know whose place they’re going to hit. When the do we’ll track ‘em and arrest ‘em.” “Okay.” Joey said, she could track riders and cattle. It wasn’t that hard, with a glance at Adrian who sat looking pensively at his paper she sighed, it would be harder not to kill him on the trail than it would be to follow a bunch of no account thieves. Slowly day-by-day a week past until Adrian glanced up and nodded briefly at Miller, “Looks like the rustlers made an appearance.” He muttered as the door to his office flew open and Ben Tyler strode in. “Morning Ben.” “Morning Marshall.” The man sank into a chair uninvited. “They hit me again last night. Took about thirty head and headed southwest.” “Miller.” Adrian rose smoothly, grabbing for a rifle and other possible supplies as he made preparations to leave. “Find Bennett, and tell him to get over here.” “Already here.” The quiet voice had all three turning to greet the tall, lanky youth that wore a star. Everyone in town knew that he was quiet, calm and yet he kept the peace as well as the Marshall did. “You two ridin’ out?” “Yeah. Not sure when we’re going to be back.” Adrian declared. “If you need to deputize more men, do so.” Adrian tossed Joe Morgan a rifle and smiled slightly when it was caught.  Despite his initial reservations Joe Morgan had proven to be a good deputy, aggravating as hell on a personal level but a good, level headed deputy. Preparations for their departure took only a few minutes before they were mounted and riding from town, Adrian’s eyes scanning the horizon for trouble, for a cause for concern even as his every instinct told him that they were riding into trouble. Following behind Adrian slightly, Joey watched him scanning the horizon for riders, the ground for tracks and all with a silent, deadly accuracy. “You’ve done this before.” She said as they pulled up on the border of the Tyler spread. “Yes.” Adrian replied with a slight glance at him. Nodding Joey fell silent; there was no point in breaking his concentration even as she surveyed the ground. It was hard packed with few marks that would have said the men came this way. Feeling the flicker of hope that they’d catch up to them directly fading she bit her lip to stop from sighing. It looked like a night out under the stars. Hearing Adrian give a grunt of acknowledgment she glanced at him, he was kneeling next to a scuff on the ground, his fingers tracing over it carefully. “You find something?” She asked. “Yep.” Adrian glanced up at him and smiled. “Half a days lead on us.” Staring at him as he mounted up and kicked his mount into a lope, she followed soundlessly shocked to the core at the bold statement. There was no way he could have known that from the scuff in the dirt; it wasn’t even a proper track! Riding along Joey kept sneaking glances at Adrian, she’d met his father and one of his friends and they seemed close. He’d said his friend Hunter was self-contained, a man who didn’t need anyone around to be content and she’d believed it of the quiet, calm man. Adrian however, was very much like his friend, he was self-reliant, a survivor, a man who a woman could rely on through anything. She’d seen him handle situations that would have made most men flush with embarrassment and stutter without a flicker of an eyelash, and she’d seen him gun a man down for doing wrong with the same cold determination that she saw now. She’d always been more than a little awed by the young man she worked for, he’d always proven himself in any situation, even when she was quietly falling apart inside. He did his job, and he did it well but not for the reason that many would have thought. He wasn’t gun happy, he wasn’t flashy like so many law men were these days, he knew the law, knew the consequences and was morally responsible for his actions. “Damn.” The quiet word had her pulling up and staring at him. “What is it?” “They’ve crossed into the badlands.” Adrian declared and glanced at him easily. “We’re on the border.” “Of what?” “The Rocking M Ranch.” Adrian replied with an easy grin. “To the west of us is the ranch, to the east is the stretch of desolate land I hope I never have to spend a great deal of time in.” “Well if we’re that close to the ranch, maybe we should stop and ask them if they’ve seen anything?” “No.” Adrian declared with a firm shake of his head. “We go asking if they’ve seen rustlers they’re likely to shoot first, and ask questions later. Or in your case hand you over to me.” “What are you talking about?” Joey sighed, anger rising. She’d known that Adrian was raised on a ranch, he’d mentioned it in passing but she didn’t care to know the details. She just wanted to get this job done. “Most of the ranch hands on the Rocking M are of some nationality other than white. Five Fingers, it’s a small town is less than a days ride across the range, and it houses quite a few of the ranch hands.” Adrian shook his head. “No, I neither need nor want Hunter’s help. Come on we’ll get some water and head after those men.” Shaking her head Joey followed him to the clear, bubbling spring and filled her spare canteen as well as the two that Adrian threw at her. Making a face at one that had obviously been taken from a dead man if the old bloodstains were any indication, she filled it and handed it back to him. She would rather go without than drink from that one. “Don’t worry.” Adrian chuckled at his expression. “That’s for the horses. They’re gonna need water to and where we’re going water’s scarce, it’s rocky ground with little cover and even less water.” “Alright.”  Rising Joey looped the straps of the canteens around her saddle horn and mounted easily, fluidly before following Adrian away from the spring and into country that looked like someone had upset a sand bucket in it. Riding further into it Joey began to feel the spring heat, the sun beating down upon them and rolled her shoulders, hoping that the feel of her own sweat trickling down her back would fade. Reaching for her canteen she took a swig and capped it tightly before turning her attention back to the trail. Following the scant tracks across the rocky ground, Adrian felt the heat of the area settle like a heavy weight about his shoulders but ignored it. Taking the odd sip of water from a canteen until he pulled up and dismounted to investigate the tracks that had split. Part of the men had gone southeast; the others had headed in the direction of the Rocking M. “Looks like they split up. Part of the men have headed southeast, the others southwest.” “So you want to split up as well? Joey asked softly, rubbing her shirtsleeve over her face. “No.” Adrian glanced around and picked up a small, smooth stone tossing it in the air he caught it and held it out to his deputy. “Here.” “What am I supposed to do with this?” Joey asked taking it and staring at it puzzled. “Someone once told me that sucking on stones will help you to prevent dehydration.” He explained. “I’ve done it before, it does work. That way we’ll go easier on the water.” “Sounds good.” Joey said popping the small stone into her mouth and tucking it into her cheek. It tasted of hot earth, a clean and yet somehow very familiar taste. “So what do you want to do?” “We’ll go southeast.” Adrian said mounting up and gathering his reins. “We can always pick up the track again for those headed toward home.” Shaking her head Joey turned her mount east and nudged him into a walk. Adjusting her hat to allow for as much shade over her face as was possible, Joey trudged along behind Adrian until he pulled up as dusk closed in around them. “We’ll camp here.” He said dismounting and stripping his horse of its tack. “I’ll grab some firewood, you dig out something to eat.” He said and disappeared into the growing darkness. “Yes boss.” Joey snarled to herself as she dug in their bags for something to eat. Coming up with some cornmeal, beans and a few strips of jerky she piled ‘em next to the ring of stone she’d made for the fire and waited for Adrian to get back. Getting a fire going was a ridiculously easy thing for Adrian, and he settled before it easily, comfortably, his back pressed against his saddle. Watching Joe Morgan move about camp he had to admit the young man knew his way around a camp, he hadn’t flinched when he’d made dinner, and a might fine one at that, nor did he flinch as washing the plates out with sand. No point in wasting water. “I’ll water the horses.” Joe volunteered rising and grabbing the bloody canteen. As Adrian watched he upended his hat he poured some into the bottom of it for each horse to lip out, comfortable with the movements as darkness closed around them and fell like a soft, comfortable blanket about them. Silence fell in the camp as they stared at the flickering flames lost in their own thoughts until the darkness; the calling of a night bird shattered the silence. Glancing up Joe smiled slightly. “Who taught you to track?” “My uncle.” Adrian replied softly, his coffee resting on his flat stomach. “Who taught him?” Joe asked. “He must have had an Indian teach him, as good as he taught you.” Laughing softly Adrian glanced at Joe and shrugged. “My Uncle is an Indian.” “Oh.” Joe glanced down at her coffee cup and sighed. How like her to make a fool of herself she thought. “Back in 1860 my folks met him when they worked for the express.” Adrian spoke softly, easily about his family despite his attempts to keep them separate. “They became a family, now he has a share in the ranch along with them and my aunty and uncle who actually started the ranch.” “Sounds like they had it made.” Joey drawled and glanced at him. Adrian wore a smile, a far away look in his eyes as he recalled memories from his childhood, from a life before he’d pinned a star to his shirt. “I don’t know.” Adrian glanced at him easily. “I just know that there’s always been a lot of love there, no matter what’s happened we’ve always been able to count on family to help see us through.” Nodding Joey fell silent for a few seconds. “You think the Rocking M will notice if those rustlers cross over onto the ranch? Or even care for that matter?” “Yes.” Adrian sighed. “To both questions. Which is why I’m not too worried about tracking them out that way.”  Shifting he tossed his coffee’s remains at the flames. “Best get some sleep there Morgan, we’ve a long ride ahead of us tomorrow.” Curling up on her saddle Joey placed Adrian at her back, and closed her eyes hoping for sleep to claim her readily, knowing that it would probably be a long night of restlessness. Envy and a deep pain settled in her chest at the memory of the way he spoke of his family, if only she’d had that sort of devotion when she was growing up. Chapter Four Dawn found Adrian rising stiffly from his blankets and making short work of saddling his horse. A glance revealed that Morgan was awake, although nowhere to be found without leaving camp. Glancing up at a slight scuffle on the rocks he stared at the oncoming threat, one hand on his gun, relaxing only when he recognized Joe’s slight form coming out of the darkness. “Morning.” He grunted, it was going to be a long day, he didn’t want to take the time to brew coffee or make something to eat, instead he relied on left over corn dodgers from the night before, cold water and jerky. “We’d best get a move on. They’ll traveling a little slower with so many cattle but still I want to get as much ground under us as we can today.” “Sure thing.” Joey said and saddled up easily, before picking up a little stone and popping into her mouth. She had noticed the day before that as long as she was sucking on it she wasn’t nearly as thirsty as she had been before she’d put it in her mouth so she figured to keep a few small stones handy, never hurt anything. Mounted they turned east and headed out at a lope, a distinct, comfortable silence stretching between them as they let the horses pick their own footing. Watching the trail Adrian allowed his mind to wander; he missed his family but he knew he couldn’t be a rancher. He wasn’t cut out for it, too many days worrying about the weather, about fires, floods, disease, all things that would and could affect the outcome of the ranch. He’d watched his folks worrying about everything from grasshoppers to drought growing up and he’d swore he’d never worry about things beyond his control. Sure he had a vested interest in the ranch, but he never touched the money that was in the account with his name on it. Why would he? He worked, he earned is keep and the meager paycheck he got for risking his life. He had to admit though; there were days when he wondered about what would happen down the line when he met a woman he wanted to marry? How would he be able to handle giving up everything he’d worked so hard for when it came time to marry, to have a family of his own? Maybe Hunter had the right idea, live in a town you owned, you controlled to some extent then you don’t have to worry about outside interests coming in and destroying it. Smiling to himself he shook his head at his own foolishness, for his friend living on the ranch was important but living with Jenny was his life. “What’s so funny?” Joey asked seeing his grin, and hoping he wasn’t laughing at her. For some reason the thought that he was hurt. “Just thinking of Hunter.” Adrian replied and glanced back to see the look in Joe Morgan’s eyes. For some reason the man didn’t like talkin’ bout family and Adrian tried to keep his comments to himself but he was used to dealing with a large family. “What about him?” “Hunter went to medical school for five years.” Adrian replied quickly. “Then he came back to the ranch, married Jenny and settled back into being a rancher.” “Doesn’t he practice?” “Sure he does. For the ranch hands, their families, our family. But for Hunter being a doctor was secondary. He loves ranching.” “Must be in his blood.” Joey replied then tensed when Adrian pulled up sharply, a dark cast coming over his features as he glanced around. “Trouble.” Adrian said dismounting and passing his rein to his deputy before shucking his rifle and trotting off with a stern look at Joe who’d made to dismount. “You stay here. I’ll be right back.” He growled and disappeared into the rocks, moving as smoothly as any man born to the terrain. “Damn fool, what does he think I am?” Joe muttered and took a long pull of water. “A child.” Pulling her gun she sat her mount and looked around, watching for any signs of movement, of life in the rocky ground and found none. Staying alert, she waited for Adrian to get back, her eyes searching the rocks and low shrubs for him, only to jump slightly when he walked up from behind her mount and took his rein. “What you planning on shooting?” Adrian asked glancing at the gun in her hand. “Me?” “Anything that moved.” Joe replied putting the gun back in its holster and gathering her reins. “Find anything?” “One of them was wounded, left him up in those rocks.” Adrian drawled and mounted up easily, his face expressionless, his posture alert and ready. “Bad?’ “He’s dead.” Adrian replied shortly and kicked the mare under him into a lope. “Come  on we’re wasting time. They’re not waiting for us to catch up to them, pressing the cattle forward a little fast. Must be hoping to catch up with one of their cohorts, someone to sell the stock to.” Kicking her mount into a lope, Joe followed Adrian deeper into the rocky, hole filled countryside without a word. From what he was saying Joe had no doubt that Adrian had helped the man along on his quest for death; it was just the type of man he was. Studying him, she sighed softly he rode like he did everything else. Calmly, competently, without worrying about the little things such as rest or what his body was doing. Instead he focused on the ground, on the horizons to see what dangers there were and he knew as well as anyone were out there. Working with him for the past year had shown Joey a side of life that she’d never seen before. He’d demonstrated what it meant to be an honest, upright citizen, a man in the truest sense of the word. While she admired him his abilities as a lawman, she didn’t feel comfortable with him on a more personal level, his kind had little use for a girl who could out shoot, and out ride them. Trotting through the heat of the spring day, Joe followed without complaint even as her resentment grew at Adrian’s ability to focus entirely on the job at hand and not worry about the unpleasantness of the sweat soaking their clothes, or the way the horses snuffled and blew when they paused to water them. “Are we gaining on them?” “I hope so.” Adrian replied glancing at his deputy, his nose was sun burnt, his clothes soaked with sweat and he wore a tired, uncomfortable expression yet he hadn’t complained, not once in the entirety of their ride. They’d been tracking for two days in this god forsaken place, and had yet to come across their quarry but Adrian wasn’t ready to give up yet. He wanted those men for murder as well as rustling. Giving the horses a breather, he sank down onto a rock and surveyed the land uneasily. There was no cover for miles, there were no means of shelter from the day’s heat that was reflected back off the rocks making it even hotter than before, there was only a quiet, a stillness that spoke of something unnatural. He’d grew up in the wide open spaces of the ranch and knew that even here there should still be some signs of life, it wasn’t like they were in the middle of a desert. Instead there was only a weighted stillness. “We’ll catch up today.” Joe said confidently, “After all we’ve been traveling a lot faster than they can with cattle, and that’s got to work in our favor.” “In a sense it does.” Adrian glanced at him before focusing instead on his canteen. “But it also means that we’re going to be tired by the time we get there, the horses will be winded and there’s nothing we can do for it.” “What do you want to do then?” Joe asked wondering if he’d considered turning back and forgetting about catching them. “Ain’t anything to do.” Adrian rose and walked to his mount to swing gracefully into the saddle. “Sitting here isn’t going to get us any closer to those murderers, come on.” “Yes sir.” Joe muttered falling into step with him in silence. Staring at the setting son Adrian felt a little more than uneasy, he had a bad feeling that tonight was going to be trouble. A glance at the stony expression on Joe’s face finished off his expectations for a pleasant evening. If Joe followed through with the look on his face, Adrian felt like he was definitely going to get in hot water, the other man had barely spoken the entire afternoon, answering in muted grunts and shrugs, a bad sign if he’d ever seen one. “Well?” Joe asked softly, his shoulder’s hunched with exhaustion and the low rumble from his midriff indicated that hunger had set in as well. “We’ll make camp here.” Adrian said softly. “Cold camp, no fire.” “Why?’ “I’ve got the distinct feeling that we’re being watched.” Adrian replied glancing at his deputy. “Have been since late afternoon and frankly I don’t want to make any bigger a target then we already are.” “Just when were you going to tell me about this?” Joe asked softly, silkily his tone anything but gentle, it was filled with barely controlled rage. “Just did.” Adrian replied dismounting and stripping the gear from the horse. He made short work of setting up camp, and settled against his saddle with a hunk of jerky and the half-filled canteen. “You gonna sit there all night or get down?” “I’m really beginning to dislike you Miller.” Joey muttered dismounting and stripping the saddle from her mare, before dropping down to the hard ground beside Adrian’s length. “How far do you figure they’re ahead of us?” “A few hours.” Adrian muttered staring out into the night. He didn’t want to scare the young man by telling him that he figured they were actually closer than that, probably only a few hundred yard away watching, waiting for a moment of weakness to be exposed. “You gonna take guard?” “Yes Joe, I’ll take first watch.” Adrian replied with a glance at the youngster in the dark. Listening to him move about Adrian had to admit the man wasn’t nervous in the dark, he moved steadily, quietly but not with any hesitation. There was obviously no fear, no resentment of the night as he moved settling in to the nights rituals and it came through in the rustle of movement that drifted on the night air. “Wake me in a couple hours.” Joe muttered and rolled his eyes when the other man grunted a reply and slid down further into his blankets. Adrian grunted an agreement without taking his eyes off the horizon; he figured Joe Morgan would be getting woken a little earlier than he’d intended if those men out there had anything to say about it. He couldn’t be everywhere at once and he knew it, Morgan would have to fend for himself to some degree. Moving so as not to wake the other man, Adrian brought his rifle up close to him, and settled in as the temperature dropped. It was spring but it didn’t mean that the nights stayed warm. Feeling the toe of a boot in her lower back, Joe came instantly awake and moved slightly only to have a heavy weight pinning her down. “Shh.” The word was guttural and filled with steel. Nodding slightly, Joe waited until Adrian had slid off her before moving slowly and gathering her gun. “What is it?” She whispered as close to his ear as possible. “Company.” Adrian whispered back and glanced at his deputy sharply when he shifted, his shirt pulling apart to reveal the shadow of cleavage. Frowning at the thought, Adrian turned his attention back to the incoming riders without hesitation. He’d deal with his wayward thoughts later. Feeling like a large target had been painted upon his chest, Adrian hunkered down beside his saddle, Morgan to his right as they waited for the silent advance of the men toward them. Swallowing hard, Joey tried not to let her imagination run wild, the moon revealed the stark landscape quite well so she wasn’t blinded by the darkness but still. She could feel the tension getting strung tighter and tighter within her until she could cheerfully have screamed. Only the thought that the men that were hunting them would be upon them in an instant kept her silent, that and the knowledge that if they didn’t kill her, Adrian Miller just might. Hearing rocks being ground together under a booted foot, Joey glanced at Adrian and sighed softly, her finger easing down to the hammer of her gun. She’d be hanged if she were going to let someone just walk in and take control over her. After a few tense moments of silence, Adrian froze and glanced behind them only to duck when within a few seconds the very sky seemed to open up and thunder boomed across the plains, lighting the night with gunfire. “Stay down.” Adrian gasped as Morgan shifted, moving to crawl into the brush with his gun pulled.  Feeling the burn of a bullet sinking into his flesh Adrian swore and whirled with his gun, hoping to catch at least one of them with a bullet. Seeing bodies falling, hearing the grunts and curses of men hit as Morgan opened fire as well Adrian kept firing until his six-gun ran out of shells before he picked up his rifle and started using that. The stench of blood filled his nostrils as he lay there panting, he could hear horses moving and swore, hoping against hope that it wasn’t his horses but knowing that it probably was. As suddenly as the attack had begun it was over, the men retreated, fading away into the darkness leaving behind their dead, the wounded and the two law officers. Holstering her gun, Joey moved softly toward Adrian who lay trying to stop the bleeding from a wound in his upper leg. “How bad you hit?’ “One shot.” He grunted as he tied his handkerchief around it. “And it’s a clean shot, gone through completely.” “Good. They horses are gone I think.” “I know.” “I can whistle for mine.” Joey said, “You figure you can bring yours back with a whistle.” “Hard to say.” Adrian declared uneasily. “Depends on what they’ve done. If they just ran ‘em off she’ll come back on her own, or head for the barn back in Sweetwater, if they’ve taken the horses then we’re in for a long walk.” “Could be that’s best.” Joey said as she knelt and checked the wound; glad to see it wasn’t in bad shape. “By any chance do you happen to have something that we can pack this wound with?” “No.” Adrian grunted as he struggled to get back against his saddle and rest. “Dawn’s coming soon, might as well rest up Joe then we’ll start for finding the horses.” “Do you have to be so stubborn?” “Yes.” Adrian declared. “It’s the only way I can be. It’s in my blood.” “Oh for pete’s sake.” Joe shook her head and sighed. “Well then lets get some rest. I’ll keep an eye out for our friends to come back.” “They won’t be back tonight.” Adrian muttered. “They lost too many men, they’ll wait for a day or so before they come back. “ “Okay.” Joe said leaning back against the edge of Adrian’s saddle and waiting for the dawn to come. Blinking at the light Joe shifted and glanced over her shoulder and stared at Adrian who was pale, with a fine sheen of sweat upon his brow as he sat there waiting for the day to begin. “I’ll see about the horses.” Joe said rising easily, gracefully despite the multitude of bruises along her body. Picking up a rifle she headed east, figuring that was the direction the men would have gone with the horses if they’d stolen them. Raising her fingers to her lips she whistled long and loud for her mare, hoping against hope that both horses would come back easily. She didn’t think Adrian was up to a long walk and that’s what they’d be doing. Walking out of here. Smiling at the sound of hooves on rocks she watched as her mare and Adrian’s mare came trotting forward before retreating back into the circle of the camp. “Well?” Adrian glanced up at him uneasily. His whole body felt like it was on fire. “Found the horses.” Joe muttered and knelt next to him. “At least we won’t be walking out of here all the way back to Sweetwater.” “Who said anything about going back to town?” Adrian returned with a glance at her as he struggled to get to his feet. “We’re going after those men if it kills us.” “Are you insane?” Joey stared at him in amazement and annoyance. “You could bleed to death before we catch up to them. Not to mention the fact that I’m not too all fired set to tell your bosses why I went home and you didn’t. I’m not so lucky as to be offered your job you know.” “Joe Morgan just hush up.” Adrian said with a grimace. “Help me get this mare saddled, sooner we’re saddled and ready to go the better off we’ll be.” “I’m not going to be to blame if you bleed to death.” Joey replied angrily, crossing her arms over her chest, unaware that her shirt had gaped and revealed more than a glimpse of her cleavage. Glaring at him she stepped back when he turned from his mount and nearly bumped her onto her butt. “Did I say you would be?” Adrian asked and glanced down at him where he sat on the ground. Something in the way he sat set off warning bells in his head and he frowned as a sudden thought struck him. Joe usually wore his shirt buttoned all the way to the neck, with his vest buttoned over top of it, and this was the second day in a row that the vest was gone, and the top two buttons were undone. “What are you staring at?” Joe snarled struggling to her feet even as she tried to keep a few inches away from her boss. “You coming or going back to town?” Adrian demanded suddenly, shifting his thoughts from Joe Morgan to the men they were tracking. “I’m coming.” Joey replied and mounted up easily to fall into stride with his mount. “Just don’t blame me when you’re bleeding to death okay?” “I wont’.” Adrian smiled at him. “After this we both deserve a holiday.” He said as they headed along the battered trail the men had left the night before on their escape. He had no grand illusions that the men wouldn’t turn and fight, he knew they would. He only hoped that he could get those responsible for the two cowboys deaths before they got him. Letting his mind wander Adrian could remember the tales his mother used to tell of when she was a deputy for Sam Cain or Teaspoon Hunter in Sweetwater. Both her and his father had worked in the law business, and glad that they’d been able to do that. How often could a young couple, full of images of glory get a chance to whet their appetites for adventure than working for the express and the local law? Granted now, they both told a different story, but for the most part they had no regrets of their early lives. Pa would often sit and talk about how great Ma was for hours on end, how she saved his life more than once, how she had gotten herself into and out of trouble so many times he’d thought he’d have died of a heart attack long before now. “Tell me more about your family.” Joey invited as she trotted along, noting the familiar smile that graced his face. “What do you want to know?” Adrian asked glancing at him out of the corner of his eye and noting the slight bruising along the jaw line, the exhaustion in his eyes and the hunched shoulders. “How’d your Pa meet your Ma?” “They went to work for the same company.” Adrian replied. “Remember I told you ‘bout them working for the express?” “Sure. What did your Ma do? Housekeeping?’ “Nope.” Adrian smiled. “She was a rider. Pa found her on her first run with a gunshot wound and patched her up. From then on out it was the two of them, granted they had some rough spots but what couple don’t.” “Your Pa didn’t mind your ma working for the same company, facing the same risks?’ “Mind? Yes he did, and he got told off about it more’n once.” Adrian grinned. “Course Ma and he laugh about it now but I can imagine it was a lot harder for them than they let on. I’m glad though that they stuck it out. Ma and Pa both deserve to be happy.” “What about your Aunts and Uncles?” Joey asked wistfully, and flushed slightly at the look he sent her. “Aunt Sara and Uncle Ike were married before Ma and Pa. Aunt Sara owned the original land that started the Rocking M ranch, then when she married Pa they started expanding the express station into a small cattle outfit. After the war they built onto it, slowly adding land and cattle until it is what it is now.” “And your Uncle and Aunt, the one that’s..” “Uncle Buck?” Adrian shrugged. “He’s a good man. I met him when I was ten years old. He came to stay here after Ma, Pa, and my brother and sister went to Sweetwater. When we got back, there he was, a man larger than life to us, and yet just as mysterious, just as much a part of the family as anyone else. Ma, Pa, Aunty Sara, and Uncle Ike always talked of him. He taught me to track, how to read sign. I learned quite a bit from my uncle Buck.” “You sound as though he means a great deal to you.” “He’s irreplaceable.” Adrian agreed and glanced back at the slight rider to his left. “Why all the questions?” “Just thinking of how much you love your family, how much you’ve had.” Joe shrugged carelessly, her face set in a pensive look. “Makes me wonder just what happened to mine.” “You said your folks died ages ago.” “Yeah, Ma died when I was fourteen, Pa died a little over a year ago.” Joe shrugged and grinned, “Not that I miss him. He was a drunk but it would have been nice to know that my family was there when I needed them.” “Sometimes its hard to imagine a family that doesn’t stick by you.” Adrian shrugged. “Ma and Pa could tell you, they were both orphans. They made up for it though, surrounded themselves with family, friends, and the things they missed growing up.” “Your Ma was a very brave woman.” Joey smiled at him, relaxed and at ease for the first time in days with him. “To put up with so much as a woman alone facing the world.” “Necessity is the great mother of independence and self reliance.” Adrian quoted his grandfather. “Besides my Pa was always there for my Ma from day one.” Pulling up he glanced at the ground and dismounted uneasily, painfully. Limping to the indent in the ground he swore. “Looks like one more is out of the way. He fell here and his horse drug him.” He said pointing out ahead of them. “I’m not sure if he was killed in the saddle or last night though.” “Well lets hope that he’s gonna stay dead.” Joey replied. “I hate when they don’t.” “I know.” Rising Adrian limped back to his horse and pulled himself into the saddle with the strength in his upper body. “Come on, not much further now I hope.” “Probably not. “ Joey said falling silent as Adrian returned his attention to the ground, the horizon and the hunt. She doubted if he realized just how dedicated he was to his work, and how much of an impact he’d made on the people in Sweetwater who he worked for. Not many men would have been offered the position of Marshall, especially at his age but for some reason they’d give it to him. She’d over heard a couple of them talking about how responsible he was, how he was never drunk or gun happy. How he didn’t make the townspeople feel like they had to bend over backwards to make him an offer he couldn’t refuse. Instead he fit in with them, was one of them and it showed in the respect and admiration he’d gotten. She knew that many a young lady fancied him, many an older lady hoped to gain him into the family by marriage to one fo their daughters or a niece perhaps. Few knew that he would no doubt never marry because he was a lawman first, and foremost. She wondered what he was planning on doing later in life when he’d realized his expectations of becoming a great lawman, when he was alone and miserable. Looking back on a life that was filled with little more than the exploits of a man with a gun, and knowledge of the law. “Damn.” The word was soft, and lethal drawing Joey from her thoughts as she turned to stare into a pair of bright blue eyes that held only slightly less irritation than she often felt. “What?” Joey glanced around fearfully. “Did I ride into you or something?” “There’s a creek nearby.” Adrian muttered and shifted in his saddle. “Come on, we can water the horses and refill our canteens in the process.” “Won’t they be there?” “All that much better.” Adrian smiled at him and nudged his horse into a lope headed for the soft sound of running water. Following without a word Joey went on high alert, every instinct in her body telling her that there was trouble on the horizon. Pulling up by the shallow water she dismounted easily, holding the horses with one hand and her gun with the other as Adrian dismounted and hobbled over to where the water flowed. Kneeling down he filled the canteens easily, handing them to Joey with a careless toss. “Sure hope this works.” Joey whispered moving to the creek and kneeling next to Adrian who rose and took watch, his face expressionless, a cold, indifferent mask as he scanned the surrounding area awaiting attack. Dipping her head under the cold water as best she could she tossed her wet hair back over her shoulders, scattering droplets of water on Adrian, the horses and her clothes in the process. “You ready?” Adrian’s soft question had her rising carelessly, her hat half filled with water as she moved to settle it atop her head, the water soaking her clothes and making her only too aware of the curves that would be exposed. Moving smoothly, hoping he wouldn’t notice, she slipped her vest on and buttoned it up before holding his mount as he struggled back into the saddle and urged his mount through the water. The animals walked along, their heads starting to droop with exhaustion as their riders pulled up atop a small rise and surveyed the land before them. The wind carried the soft sounds of cattle lowing, and men calling to them easily in the dusky light, making both Adrian and Joey a little uneasy. “Well we found ‘em.” Joey stated. “Probably going to regret it before morning to.” “Don’t worry there Joey.” Adrian turned his attention to the deputy riding with him and smiled easily, despite the annoyance that he often brought with him, Joe Morgan was a fine man. And he’d proven time and again that he was hell in a fight, something that made Adrian proud to call him friend. Feeling a little jerk in his chest as he realized that he did indeed think of Joe Morgan as a friend, and not as a nemesis Adrian turned back to survey the small herd of cattle that were grazing on shrub grass in the fading light. “Well?’ “We need to hide out until morning.” Adrian said. “Can’t move this herd in the dark.” “We could use them though.” Joey suggested softly. “They wouldn’t expect a stampede, if we spooked the cattle enough then they’d help us eliminate the threat to us easily.” “A little blood thirsty are we?” Adrian smiled at him and turned his mount away to trot off into a stand of scrub brush, it wasn’t a lot of protection but it would stop them from being spotted too soon. Making camp was simple; jerking the saddles off the horses they tethered them out to graze around the brush before curling up at the base of the tree to catch a few winks of sleep. Morning found Joey lying with her head on Adrian’s chest, her green eyes staring at the hard length of one muscular thigh as the chest beneath her cheek rose and fell with even repetition. Moving slowly so he wouldn’t wake and start ranting at her she sat up only to gasp suddenly and fall back on top of him when he jerked her back into place. “What?” Joey hissed and glanced at him uneasily. “Lay still.” Adrian snapped angrily, his mouth right next to his deputy’s ear. He was going to have a little chat with Miss Joe Morgan as soon as the men that were riding toward them skedaddled. Listening to the male voices dissipate onto the morning wind, Joey watched them fade off into the morning light even as she became aware of a hard length against her back, and a warm weight resting just beneath the curve of one breast. Swallowing a moan she closed her eyes and remained perfectly still. Damn it all to hell, didn’t that man have anything better to do than hold her when there was work to do? Shifting uneasily as she became aware of exactly how they were laying, and more importantly where his hand had shifted to; Joey cringed when he squeezed her back against his body and held her in place. Damn man couldn’t he just leave well enough alone? She thought angrily and squirmed as the last rider disappeared over the slight rise and the sound of hooves retreating reached them. “You and I are going to have a talk.” Adrian hissed at Joey as she squirmed within his grasp. Waking to find himself surrounded by a warm body was bad enough, but to realize that particular body was familiar, and had more curves than his saddle was a bad realization for him to come to. “Bout what?” Joey snarled struggling to raise up, only to be held in place by one large, powerful hand. “You know exactly what I’m referring to. Miss Morgan.” Adrian snarled in her ear, his breath stirring the loose tendrils of hair by her temple. “Oh now he’s going to get all macho on me.” Joey snarled and whirled to stare at him. “I don’t get it. I don’t need nor want a lecture from you..” “You better well sit still and listen.” Adrian ground out angrily as he struggled to his feet. Standing toe to toe with Joey was better than laying with her on top of him, especially when the strongest reaction he had to finding out she was a woman was relief. “Look as long as I do my job what do you have to complain about?” “A lot. You could be killed or worse.” Adrian started. “Please tell me you’re not going to give me the you’re a girl so you can’t do this speech.” Joey groaned and grabbed her saddle. “Because if you are, I’m not listening.” “Joe Morgan!” Growling in impatience Adrian reached down and picked up his tack and saddled up as easily as she did, despite the pain of the wound in his leg. “Look I’m not just saying this for my health you know.” “Leave it alone. I’ve been doing this for most of my life. I can handle anything this world throws at me, including you.” Joey snapped as she mounted up and whirled her mount around to trot off after the rustlers. “Damn fool woman.” Adrian muttered and mounted up to follow her. Chapter Six Continuing to mutter as he tore after Joe, Adrian felt his anger increasing. They were traveling way too easily, too conspicuously for them to be safe. Damn her reckless hide, they were going to run smack dab into trouble and there was nothing for it. Watching her ride before him he sighed, for the first time he really watched her movements, studied her and had to admit if only to himself with a grudging respect that she was good at what she did; well most of the time. Coming astride with her he reached over and pulled back on her reins as he reined in his own horse. “Would you wait?” “I’m going back to Sweetwater.” Joey snarled. “I’m not about to wait around for you ti fire me!” “Did I say I was going to?” Adrian growled and glared at her, meeting her angry stare head on. “I never said anything about firing you..” “Its just a matter of time before you do.” Joe replied coldly. “I don’t know too many Marshall’s that would keep a girl on the payroll..” “My Grandfather did it, so did my uncle.” Adrian replied stiffly, his fingers going slack on the reins. “As annoying as you may be at times, you’re still the best deputy I’ve got.” “I’m the only full-time deputy you’ve got.” Joe replied quietly. “Look, I don’t think now is the time to discuss this. We’re exposed to the men we’re trying to arrest. I don’t know about you but for safety’s sake can we call a truce and just get this done?” “And then what?” “Then we’ll see whether I just shoot you or make you start doing all the cooking.” Adrian smiled easily at her and waited, hoping against hope that she’d agree to his little truce. Granted he didn’t want her around now, it was too dangerous for a girl. If the outlaws they were tracking found out about her, they wouldn’t be as nice as he’d been. Women out here were more of a target for violence than he liked to think, but he couldn’t send her back; what if they caught her alone? What then? No she was safer here with him then out there alone, when they got home he’d see, he doubted if he’d fire her. She was after all the best deputy he had, she knew her way around the town and she followed orders, but it wasn’t like he could make such a decision on his own. The town council of they found out would have her badge in a second, and maybe his. Was it worth it to keep her on? Shuddering slightly at the thought that she’d leave and he’d be alone again, Adrian pushed the thoughts and the chill away and waited. “Fine.” Joe sighed. “I’ll behave till we get home, then there’s no guarantees.” “Deal.” Adrian offered his hand in a shake, hoping she’d take it. Feeling a moment’s elation at the feel of her work roughened hand closing around his he smiled slightly at her then tensed when a low boom echoed across the rocks. Jerking back on the reins, they raced toward the sparse shelter of the rocks even as another boom followed up and Joe’s mare nickered before falling, sending her tumbling from the saddle and sliding over the precipice to land with a thud a few feet below on a shallow stone ledge. Pulling up sharply, Adrian whirled his mare and stared for a split second at the mare that was laying on the ground, a spreading pool of blood washing over the rocks beneath her. “Joe?” He called as he dismounted and raced to the edge. He’d never seen it as he’d led her toward the shelter of the rocky outcropping. He hadn’t known about it, and he’d been filled with panic at the thought that she’d get hurt so he hadn’t been paying attention. Ducking as a flurry of bullets tore into the ground by his feet he dived for the edge and stared down at his deputy, who lay in a prone heap ten feet away. He could see her dark shirt growing darker with blood and swore even as self-preservation kicked in and he whirled to begin firing back at the men. Slipping over the edge he half slid, half tumbled to where Joe Morgan lay and froze. The sound of silence after the few seconds of deafening roar was eerie and he palmed his gun anxiously, for the first time noting the sweat-soaked handle, and the slight tremble in his fingers. Glancing at Joe when she gave a soft moan, he knelt next to her and rested a hand on her shoulder, concerned for her well being and scared that the men were going to catch them. He couldn’t take all of them on, but he’d damn sure give it a try. How long he sat hunched down like that he had no idea, but soon the muscles in his legs began to cramp and pain scissored up into his back even as the sun beat down on his head, making his hair damp with his own sweat. Holstering his gun he glanced at Joe who hadn’t moved and swore softly, succinctly as he rolled her over and noted the jagged rock that had been imbedded in her side. “I’m not a doctor.” Adrian muttered. “How the hell do I deal with this?” He grumbled as he jerked his shirt off and began tearing it into lengths to use as bandages. Offering a slight prayer that she wouldn’t kill him for undressing her, he removed her shirt and shook his head at the binding clothe she wore before padding the wound and tying his shirt strips around her slight waist. “Hope this works.” Adrian muttered as he rose and glanced around, a slight trail led up the incline and he hefted her into place on one shoulder before starting up it, taking care not to jostle her too much, the possibilities of other injuries was too great. Reaching the top of the rise he glanced around, noting that both the horses were lying on the ground, motionless. Shaking his head at the total waste of the animals, he laid Joe down easily, then moved to the horses were stripping both rifles and the extra shells off them before taking the canteens, saddlebags, blankets, and the pouch of food Joe’d tied behind her saddle. Leaving the horses for the carnivores he moved over to where Joe lay and touched her forehead. He was only slightly surprised at the amount of heat she was putting off, fever usually meant infection was setting in and he knew they needed to be where there was shelter. A quick glance around revealed the empty horizon, a few skimpy little trees growing about, and lots of rocks, but nothing that would be useful as a shelter. Sitting back on his haunches Adrian thought about it. They were a three-day ride from the border of the Rocking M, which meant that there should be a cluster of small caves nearby. Few people knew about them, and even fewer used them. He remembered playing in them as a child, hiding with Hunter and James when they wanted to get out of work and later they’d included Jenny because where Hunter went, Jenny went as well.  To get to the caves, he’d have to carry Joe and hope that moving her didn’t make matters worse. Tying the saddle bags, canteens, blankets and such together he strung the rifles with a bit of rein and looped them over his shoulders before he knelt to pick up Joe and start west toward the caves. By the time the sun had reached it’s highest peak, Adrian was silently cursing each step and longing for a horse. His leg was killing him and yet he knew he had to keep going. Despite each aching step, each awkward limp he kept moving until he was exhausted then he stopped to rest. “How the hell did Hunter do it?” He mused. “He was a lot younger for sure, but he was dealing with the makings of a blizzard, I’m not.” Getting no answer from Joe who remained motionless, Adrian shook his head and took a long drink of the water before picking up a small pebble and popping it into his mouth before moving on. Ignoring the heat and discomfort of the sweat that soaked his clothes and ran down his back Adrian kept moving until he saw the familiar outcropping that was the entry into the caves. “Damn, if we’re here this early then we must have been closer to home than I thought.” He said softly, not really expecting a response from Joe who hadn’t moved in his arms. “Closer to where?” Joe croaked her body hurt, her head was spinning and she couldn’t focus on anything but it was the relief in Adrian’s voice that had her paying attention. “The caves.” Adrian replied glancing down at her, she was a mess, her hair clung to her face in damp tendrils, there was a sickly paler to her face, despite the sunburn; and she had bruises along her jaw line. “How you holding up kiddo?” “Thirsty.” Joe whispered softly snuggling back into his shoulder. “I don’t suppose we’ve any water left?” “Sure do.” Adrian said as he shifted her, grimace when she winced with pain. “As soon as we get inside I’ll get some for you.” “Okay.” Joe said falling back into the hazy warmth of semi-consciousness. She barely felt him laying her down, or the blanket that covered her, she did notice the cool touch of water to her lips and sucked greedily before he took it away and let her rest. “I’ll get a fire going.” Adrian said. “Rest easy okay.” With a gentle touch he smoothed the hair from her face and headed back out into the fading sun. It didn’t take long for him to gather some dried wood and return to their camp to build a roaring fire. He had no great illusions about the men that they were trying to escape, they probably thought for sure they’d killed both of them, or would until they checked the dead horses than they’d be back on their trail. Sitting in the darkness, the only light the flickering of the fire, Adrian stared at the cave wall anxiously. Joe was in a bad way, she needed medical attention and she needed to be safe; he couldn’t help her on either count. The caves were only a half days gallop from the main houses, but maybe they were closer to Five Fingers, if he could get to Hunter, then he’d come up and help. Hunter was just as dangerous as a wounded bear and Adrian desperately needed help. Hearing the faint moans from across the fire he moved over and tried to sooth the fever burning within Joe’s body, using the valuable water to help bring the fever down. Knowing they were close to home Adrian had to admit that he could get help, a fresh horse even then he was going hunting. “Cold.” The word was whispered weakly, exhaustion and pain lacing it like a cheap whiskey.  Moving quickly, Adrian piled the remaining blankets on Joe and leaned back against the cave wall. Sometimes he wasn’t sure of anything; depending on how Joe was doing he’d head out in the morning. Closing his eyes he drifted into a slight sleep, waking often throughout the night with each sound, each movement of the darkness beyond the reach of the flames. An hour before dawn he finally gave up on rest and moved to the mouth of the cave to stare out into the gathering light. Joe was resting a little more comfortably now; perhaps he could go and come back without losing her. “I’m going for help.” Adrian said walking back into the cave a few minutes after the sun had risen. “We’re going to need it.” “Okay.” Joe said softly watching him, he didn’t look anxious to go by any means but she knew he had to. She was in more pain now than she’d been yesterday, and the dull throbbing in her side was getting worse by the minute. “Leave me one of the repeaters, and some water. I’ll be okay.” “Liar.” Adrian smiled at her and dropped the loaded gun beside her, along with her six-gun and the extra shells. Picking up the half empty canteen he slung it over his shoulders along with the extra rifle and knelt next to her. “I’ll try to be back by morning. I’ll try to get us a fresh horse, see if Hunter’s home.” Nodding in agreement Joe watched him easily, familiarly. He was hiding something, she could tell by the distant look in his eye and the way he kept fidgeting. Rising she watched him walk out into the sunlight and disappear, his shirt gone, and his pants leg stained with his blood. Feeling weak and tired she lay back down and sighed, she owed him for saving her life this time, just what would be the tally for it though. She wondered before drifting back into a deep sleep, one hand clutching the gun the other pressed against her side. Traveling the now familiar trail, Adrian kept to a steady jog time was of the essence and no amount of foolishness could be wasted upon the trek. Catching sight of landmarks he altered his direction, taking care to keep to the rocks where he’d be harder to track even as the rocky ground gave way to sparsely patched grass, and finally to the belly deep waving sea of green that was the hay fields a few miles east of Five Fingers. Pausing he grinned, he was nearly there. A horse wouldn’t be a problem and he’d be back with Joe by sundown, hopefully with Hunter in attendance. Moving carefully out into the open he sighed, he was now on safe ground, there was little need for extra caution. Breaking into a lope again he headed west, his steps confident, sure, until he glanced at the ground and felt a bolt of fear tear through him. Set deep into the soft ground of the Rocking M was a now familiar track, one that he’d hoped to see only not now. “Damn it.” He studied the track and swore again, it was half a day old if that, and it was deep. The men they’d been tracking had doubled back and were heading for Five Fingers. Torn between anxiety and a desperate need to catch up Adrian paused, what the hell was he going to do? He wasn’t about to risk anyone’s life to catch him or her. With a shake of his head he headed for Five Fingers, moving more cautiously then before, his guard up even as he moved slower, his gaze scanning the horizon for any sign of life. Pausing as he came up on the silhouette of Five Fingers Adrian hunkered down and watched he could see several unfamiliar horses in the corral out back of Hunter’s place, and two men by the school smoking cigarettes. Watching for a moment he felt his blood run cold when Jenny walked out of her house still wearing her nightdress and housecoat, her hair pulled back into a thick braid and a pale, frightened look on her face. Moving as stealthily as he’d been taught Adrian crept into the barn and swore under his breath. Hunter’s black was gone, which meant Hunter was out of town leaving Jenny and the rest of the townsfolk to the rustler’s mercy. Moving quickly he saddled Jenny’s gelding and left him in his stall as he moved through the afternoon shadows toward the school, pulling his knife from its sheath he advanced slowly, carefully noting the back door to Jenny’s place was barred from the outside. Perfect. Within seconds he was standing behind the two men and listening as they joked with each other. “Pity the poor fool who’s coming home to that squaw.” One of the men laughed. “She refuses to do anything Ben says.” “I know. Don’t know why he doesn’t just kill her have it done with. We can hole up here for a bit until the others send word that the buyers taken the cattle.” “Plenty of sport around for us, keep us busy for a few days.” The man laughed joined by his friend. Feeling the rage boiling in his blood, Adrian reached up and withdrew the knife from one of the men, who turned with a look of shock on his face only to stare with blank eyes as the knife was imbedded within his chest. A swift upper swing had the other man falling to the ground to lay gurgling in his own blood as Adrian dropped the knife onto the ground atop him and headed for the familiar house he’d been watching earlier. Pouring small amounts of water into the bucket Jenny shifted, the pain from her contractions was intense but she wasn’t about to let anyone know they weakened her. The man in charge had already kicked her, she didn’t want them to know that she was about to give birth. Setting the bucket down she took a long drink of water from the dipper attached to the well’s bucket before dropping it back into the bucket and letting it go back down the well. Bending down she lifted the bucket of water and turned only to gasp when a hard hand clamped down around her mouth, and one around her extended belly dragging her flush with a hard, warm male body. Struggling she winced as another pain struck, making her go inert as she was drug backwards toward the shade of the barn. Dear God no! She sobbed silently then gasped when she was pressed up against the wall and held there. “You okay?” The familiar voice had her gasping and opening her eyes to stare into the familiar blue gaze of Adrian Miller. “Yes.” She whispered uneasily. “I’m in labor but fine.” “Where is Hunter?” “Up at the main house. Pa fell day before yesterday and hurt himself pretty badly, Hunter went to tend him.” Jenny explained glancing around. Frowning she stared at him, he was shirtless, and soaked in blood. “What happened to you?” “No time.” Adrian muttered glancing around. “Who else is here?” “Nobody. The other women and children are hidden in their homes, or scattered out in the fields. We’ve been hoping Hunter would bring back some help.” Jenny replied with a pained expression. “I’ve got Jack saddled and ready to go. I want you to get to the barn and stay there until I get there.” Adrian looked at her firmly, “And no foolishness. There are bigger things to worry about.” “Yes sir.” Jenny smiled and slid around the corner and into the dim interior of the barn to wait for Adrian to arrive. With Jenny out of the way, Adrian made his way toward the main house. Ducking for cover when he saw the door open and a man step out. Feeling his stomach roll as he realized that the man standing on the porch looking around was Benjamin Tanner Ben Tyler’s foreman Adrian swallowed the bitterness in his mouth and moved forward through the shadows. Hunkered down by the corner of the house he waited patiently for the man to turn away so he could slip up onto the porch. “Hey Walt, you seen where that squaw ran off to?” “No. Last I seen she was headed for the well.” The slurred speech from inside stirred Adrian’s anger even more and he moved low, hugging the porch floor as he crept up behind Ben Tanner. “Probably went to drop the brat.” One of the others called amid a clattering of pots and pans. “Wish she’d hurry up and do it to.” “I know what you mean.” Tanner drawled and stepped back inside. He didn’t figure that she’d run off, no Indian woman would. They were used to submitting to the men around them. Closing the door he paused and shrugged as a chill crept over him making him uneasy and nervous. “What’s wrong? You look like a scared cat.” One of his cohorts chuckled as Adrian silently placed the plank he had gathered from under the bench onto the front of the door, effectively locking them in. Glancing back at the barn he shrugged, no sense in being like them. He’d give ‘em a chance to fight, after all he wasn’t a murderer, he was the law. Pulling the plank loose he turned and headed for the kindling pile, stacking it high against the door along with some larger pieces of wood before pouring the canister of kerosene that Jenny’d tucked away under the edge of the porch on it. “You’ve got to the count of three to surrender.” He hollered, noting the silence that came from inside. “I’m taking you in to face murder and rustling charges.” “Like hell you are Miller.” Tanner shouted back as he smashed out a window and fired at the quick form that dived for cover by the water trough. “I ain’t gonna swing.” “You can burn then.” Adrian hollered. “That house’s gonna go up like smoke through a chimney if you’re not careful.” “You ain’t got the guts.” Tanner shouted then ducked when a bullet sang through the air, shattering the wood beside his head and a moment later Adrian was standing smiling calmly at him, holding a stick that he coolly lit and threw at the house. Within seconds a thick black cloud of acrid smoke filled the small house choking the occupants even as they fired at the shadow that flickered at them through the growing flames. “We’ve got to get out of here.” Tanner choked and headed for the back door only to find it wouldn’t budge. Damn, he’d forgotten they’d barred it so that the woman couldn’t escape. “I’m taking my chances.” One man wheezed and dived out the front door, even as the flames engulfed him, burning his clothes. Firing blindly he didn’t see the woman standing in the barn with a rifle, or hear the boom of the repeater going off, all he felt was the searing heat from the flames and then the burning of hot lead tearing through flesh before nothing, only a peaceful blackness that erased all sensations. Watching the house burn Adrian glanced at Jenny who shrugged and turned to disappear back inside, it was her house, and they had it coming. She wasn’t a wallflower, never had been and she wasn’t going to let a man have all the fun. Hunkering down behind a pile of feed sacks she waited while the sound of gunfire and the stench of burning flesh filled the air. Closing her eyes at the screams from the men she curled into the contractions that tore at her belly, hoping that Adrian would be finished soon. Feeling a weight on her shoulder she glanced up to smile at Adrian as he lifted her easily, setting her on the saddle and climbing up behind her. “Sorry Jenny, I know this is your horse but I can’t take the time to saddle another. We’ve got to get out of here.” “I know.” Jenny said resting against him, fighting the need to cry as they galloped out of the barn, past the burning house, the dead bodies of men laying in the yard. In the distance she could see a lone rider galloping off and tensed. “One got away.” Adrian’s words were cold, passionless and she shivered, fears crawling up her spine at the tension in his voice. “Tanner. He’s the one responsible for this mess.” “What are you going to do?” Jenny asked when she realized that the horse wasn’t headed in the direction of the main houses, but instead out toward the caves they’d played in as children. “I’m taking you where you’ll be safe. I need help with Joe, she’s in a bad way.” “She?” Jenny croaked. “Yeah, I’ll explain later.” Adrian said as the horse ate up the miles until they were pulling up under a rocky under hang and dismounting. Carrying her inside, Adrian settled her next to Joe who’d shifted waking at the clang of shoes on rocks. “What’s going on?” Joe asked seeing the very pregnant lady that Adrian had brought back. “This is Jenny, she’s Hunter’s wife.” Adrian replied. “I need you to stay with her. She’s gone into labor apparently and she’s a bit early.” “How early?” Joey asked softly, glancing at the woman easily. “Six weeks.” “No problem.” Joey replied quickly, easing up into a sitting position despite the pain in her side. Offering a reassuring smile to the other girl she glanced back at Adrian, “We’ll be fine.” “Thanks.” Adrian adjusted the rifle across his back and knelt next to Joe, “Stay here. Anyone walks in here, blow ‘em a new navel.” He spoke softly, his glance casting toward Jenny who was obviously suffering with each contraction. “I’ll keep her safe.” Joe glanced at Adrian and frowned. “What about you?” “I’m going hunting.” Adrian smiled coldly and rose smoothly. “Take care.” He whispered and slipped back out into the fading light, leaving Joe feeling a chill that went all the way to the bone. Riding smoothly along with James, Matthew, and Wolf; Hunter laughed along with the others as Wolf cursed the mare he rode, her gait was chopping and uncomfortable, making him struggle not to get off and shoot her. Glancing sharply at James when he pulled up directly in front of Hunter, causing the black to snort with displeasure he followed his friend’s gaze. Rising into the afternoon sky was a thick, black cloud of smoke that billowed out into the blue sky with stark deliberation. “Why is there smoke billowing from Five Fingers?” James asked as the others came to a dead halt next to him, their merriment forgotten. “Jenny.” Hunter gasped and sunk spur into the mare’s sides, sending her into a full out run. Spurring the mare on, he swallowed as the tight fist of cold, stark terror filled him, squeezing out every breath, making his heart pound. He was barely aware of the others galloping with him past the roaring in is head as he pushed the mare harder and harder, coming up on the rear of his house and pulling back on the reins. Jumping from the saddle before the mare had finished sliding to a halt he dived for the house unaware of Wolf’s quick action. Feeling Wolf grabbing hold of his arm he tugged, “No! Jenny!” Screaming at the flames, he was hardly aware of James and Matthew racing around the corner of the building, all he could feel was the merciless grip of his own fear as the roof caved in, sending a shower of sparks and live embers ten feet into the air. “It’s too late.” Wolf declared, his voice choked as he stared at the building, there was no way that anyone inside was still alive. Holding onto the other man they stared at the flames that devoured the dry wood, licking at it with a voracious appetite. “She’s gone.” “No.” Hunter struggled futilely in Wolf’s grasp, his efforts weak as realization came into focus and the knowledge that Wolf was indeed right. Feeling his legs weakening he slid soundless to the ground, his face an impassive mask as Wolf knelt next to him, a supportive hand on his shoulder. “You might want to come take a look at this.” James gasped rushing around the corner of the building. “Looks like a bloody war zone around here.” He said as Hunter struggled to his feet and followed him around to stare at the charred remains of one man laying half off the porch and another man laying a few feet away from the remains of the porch steps. “What the hell happened?” Wolf demanded as Matthew joined them, a pensive look on his face. “Barn’s empty.” Matthew declared and shrugged as he crossed his arms across his chest. “I don’t know boys, looks more like something out of one of Pa’s horror stories.” “Hunter?” Wolf glanced at his brother in law who’d sucked in a quick breath and was staring at the school. Turning to it he swore he could clearly see the imprint of a body moving around the building, leaving a trail of blood. “Hunter?” Wolf repeated drawing the man’s attention back to him. “It doesn’t look like there is anyone left in town. How the hell could something like this happen? We weren’t gone that long?” “I don’t know.” Hunter whispered shakily. “Come morning I plan on finding out. The horses are winded, and I doubt if we’re up to a long hard run, might as well bunk here tonight. Bury those bastards in the morning and then we’ll head out.” “Uh, there are two more in front of the school.” Matthew declared trotting back from around the school corner. “Who ever did it took off in a hurry.” “Yeah, and they took Jack.” Hunter smiled coldly, calmly sending a chill through the others. “Which means that I can track him a lot faster than they’d ever think.” “Did you find a track?” “Jack’s carrying double. Could be that Jenny got one of ‘em.” Matthew declared. “Could be that they took her.” James said as Hunter glanced once at him before heading for the horses and started unsaddling his mare. Within minutes they had a makeshift camp set up and were digging graves for the men that were dead. Dumping the bodies into a grave, Hunter stared at them in anger and felt the cold fear clutch at him again. He wished he knew for sure if Jenny was alive, if she was okay. She was so close to having the baby; if she was alive it was very likely that she had gone into labor. Shivering at the chill that permeated her body, Joey glanced at Jenny who was lying staring into the flames, her face bathed with sweat, her face wearing the marks of exhaustion. Reaching for a canteen full of water, Joe inched closer to her, the pain in her side ignored as much as possible so that Jenny wouldn’t feel alone. “Drink?” “No.” Jenny shook her head and closed her eyes, her top teeth sinking into her full bottom lip, hard enough to draw blood. “How do you know Adrian?” “I worked for him.” Joey replied calmly, soothingly as she wiped at the sweat soaking Jenny’s hair. “Worked for him? How?” “I used to be a deputy of his, that is until he discovered I was a girl.” Nodding Jenny struggled with her breathing even as she tried to keep her mind focused instead on other things. The pain from each contraction felt like it was tearing her apart, this hurt worse than anything she’d ever done. “You’ve been hurt.” Jenny gasped, grabbing onto the bloodstained shirt the young woman wore. “A cut on my side.” Joe shrugged. “I’ll be fine.” “I’m surprised Adrian left us.” Jenny sighed, relaxing between the contractions. “He’s usually so responsible, so perfect. Like his Pa.” “He’s temperamental.” Joey replied easily. “And bossy, and much too quiet. He sneaks around all the time.” “He does not.” “When have you ever known him to make a sound when he’s walking? He doesn’t do anything that the other men his age do, he don’t drink, he’s not into spending time with the soiled doves, don’t gamble. Do you know that he spends his evenings reading? What kind of man that isn’t perfect does that?” “Sounds like you like him.” Jenny smiled at the slight flush that colored Joe’s otherwise pale face. “So what?” Joe shrugged self-consciously. “I’m not the first woman to think he’s a good catch. There’s a whole town of ‘em.” “Was a town of ‘em.” Jenny replied. “Something tells me that he’s not going to be the Marshall for Sweetwater much longer if this continues. He’s doing exactly what Hunter did, over react. He’s not thinking clearly, he’s thinking with his emotions rather than his head.” “I’d say he’s got a right to it.” Joe said with a pained smile. “They’ve cost him a lot.” “Joe, something doesn’t feel right.” Jenny gasped suddenly and arched. “There’s a lot of pressure.” “Just a second.” Joey said and moved gingerly around Jenny to check. “Jenny I want you to listen to me, okay?” Joey waited for the nod from the other woman before exhaling. “Jenny the baby’s coming. I know this is a little unorthodox, hell it’s not exactly my thing either but you have to push.” “No.” Jenny shook her head angrily. “I’m not due.” “Jenny, if you don’t push both you and the baby will die. Come on now, I know its scary but trust me on this. You’ll be fine, the baby’ll be small but should be fine. I’ve seen babies born two, sometimes two and a half months early and live. Six weeks isn’t all that much time to be early.” “I want Hunter.” “I know.” Joey replied with a sad smile. “I’m sure he’d rather be here than me any day, but still we must do this. Come now, push.” Coaching Jenny through her delivery, Joey waited and watched they had little water so bathing the baby would be difficult but maybe if they used the horse’s water they could do it. Jenny silently cursed every man from her husband right to her father and back again as she struggled with bringing her child into the world. Only the calm tones from Joey kept her focused as darkness fell inside the cave and the fire flickered down to bare embers. Feeling a sudden easing of the pressure, and the burning sensation she gasped with relief. “It’s a girl.” Joey smiled at her and wrapped the baby in a rough woolen blanket. “Here you go, she’s breathing fine but you’re gonna have to feed her soon. She’s gonna be hungry.” “I hate my husband.” Jenny whispered as Joey moved about the cave, pausing to listen now and then even as she gathered everything she could find to make Jenny and the baby comfortable. Sinking to the cave’s floor she tossed a few more sticks of wood onto the fire and watched them catch, the even breathing from nearby telling her that both Jenny and the little girl she’d helped deliver were sleeping soundly. Resting her head on her upraised knees she closed her eyes, she’d rest for just a moment, maybe two then she’d take watch again. Jerking wake Joey tensed and listened, desperate to know what had awakened her. How could she let her guard drop, she should’ve known better? Sitting silently, motionless she listened and heard the indistinct sound of something sucking and sighed. “We didn’t wake you did we?” Jenny’s sleep filled voice filled the cave. “No Jenny, I had to get up anyway.” Joey yawned and glanced out the opening. The sky was pinking; dawn wasn’t far off there was bound to be movement out there. “Good thing I did awaken. It’s nearly dawn, trouble’s never far off.” “I can handle a gun.” Jenny admitted. “Just give me one, no sense in both of us being unprotected. Besides that we’re gonna need something to eat, I don’t know about you but Adrian didn’t bring any food with him when he grabbed me.” “There’s enough food for two people for nearly a week. We should be okay.” Joey said glancing at her easily. She was tired, and her side ached dully but she ignored it. There’d been enough water wasted on her already. “Sure wish Adrian would get here.” “I wish Hunter would show up.” Jenny admitted. “I don’t know if he’s even aware that I’m alive.” “Don’t give up hope yet.” Joey replied stiffly. “As long as we can hold out, we have to. Those men were waiting for cohorts to join them, Adrian’ll find them.” “I know.” Jenny said noting the quiet acceptance of Adrian’s skill, the admiration on the other girl’s face and sighed. The poor fool had no idea just how much she cared about the man she called boss. Turning her thoughts to her husband, Jenny stared at the rising sun, Hunter would have returned by now. Returned and found a destroyed home, maybe he would have headed back to the main houses to get help, more likely he’d have set out to track them. At least she hoped he was tracking her, she didn’t want to think about what would happen if he thought she were dead. Sitting astride the black mare Hunter waited for Wolf to remount, “Well?” “Two riders left here yesterday. Both riding hard and fast, Jack’s track shows he was carrying double.” Wolf declared. “They’re headed east toward the rocks.” “No point in sitting here wasting time.” Hunter drawled coldly. “Could be my wife’s out there with a bunch of mad men.” “After you.” Wolf said letting Hunter take the lead. A glance at the others revealed their unease and disquiet with the situation, it was very likely that the man in question would kill the men that had taken Jenny before they could prevent it. Not that they would, nobody with a brain would interfere when it came to Jenny and Hunter. “Sure wish Adrian were here.” James said softly, anxiety over running amok of the law coloring his tone. “Sometimes he’s okay to have around, now is definitely one of those times.” “Just get in the way.” Hunter grunted as he spotted the familiar track of his old gelding. The horse was tired and it showed in his steps even as they faded into the rocks. Moving along slowly, he searched the ground carefully for a sign that the horse in question had been through. “Over here.” Wolf called and knelt next to a track that had both of them feeling a moment’s elation. The familiar track was of Jenny’s horse, and was headed deeper into the rocky area that had been part of their neighbors ranch until they’d given up and gone further west, hoping to make it big out there. “Come on, the track’s only a few hours old.” Hunter grunted. “This way we can get a little closer to the men who can tell us where Jenny’s at.” Mounting up the four riders headed east, as fast as their mounts would take them. Pushing the horses along they noticed the tracks drifting in circles until they paused and pulled up over looking a small rise where a herd of cattle were penned. “Rustlers.” Hunter ground out and stared at the branded cattle in agitation. “Damn fools, don’t they understand it’s dangerous to cross onto the Rocking M with stolen cattle.” “No.” James sighed. “They’re outlaws. Dangerous men, and damn foolish ones at that.” “Come on, the tracks lead around the herd.” Wolf stated quickly and headed in the direction that they were heading. Pushing Jack Adrian pulled up beneath a canopy of rocks and dismounted, ground tying the horse and pulling his gun. Something told him he was being followed and he was planning on being prepared. A niggling sensation of guilt at leaving Jenny and Joey behind irritated him, he trusted Joey to protect Jenny to the death but it wasn’t a position she should have been put in. The girl didn’t have a clue what kind of critters both two legged and four legged were out here.  He needed to figure out what he was going to do. Catching tanner would only help alleviate the problem, getting him back to town and a trial was another matter. Besides that, Hunter was a concern; if the man had gotten home to find his house burnt, his wife gone, and the men’s bodies he’d left behind he’d be out looking and nothing would stop him. Catching sight of the man he was stalking, Adrian hunkered down in the shade; it was hot, and bound to get hotter as the day’s air warmed. Come nightfall he’d just mosey down there and slit his throat, if he put up a fight that is. If he was smart he’d just surrender and let the courts deal with his crimes, nobody went up against Hunter McSwain or Adrian Miller for that matter about stealing livestock or taking lives. As the day’s light gave way to darkness, Adrian tensed and watched as several more riders’ rode into view, they were familiar and he realized he’d seen them about town. One of them was a well-known cowpuncher with a short temper and a real thirst for whiskey and women. Five on one wasn’t good odds, Adrian realized but he wasn’t going home without something to show for this little venture, even if it meant leaving their bones to be bleached out in the sun. With a sigh he shook his head he couldn’t do it. He was too much a lawman to just kill indiscriminately, he’d have to take one of ‘em back and he wanted the headman. “Damn it all to hell.” James swore as he studied the terrain. The tracks had doubled back and now they weren’t sure which direction to go. “Matthew and I’ll take the trail out toward the caves, you and Wolf take the trail out toward Parson’s Pond.” He said sitting his horse uneasily. “Sounds good.” Wolf acknowledged and glanced at his friend. “Hunter?” “Yeah.” Hunter nodded. “Keep an eye out though, you’re likely to run into trouble, and I want one of ‘em alive long enough to at least tell us where they dumped my wife.” He snarled and jerked his mount’s head around to gallop off. With a telling glance at the other two boys, Wolf followed him quickly even as James and Matthew rode off toward the caves.                     **** Riding along the familiar trails, James and Matthew kept an uneasy eye on their back trail. This whole area had become well known amongst rustlers and outlaws and with the herd back there it would make it very easy for them to get into a tight spot. “Sure wish Adrian were here.” James repeated and glanced at Hunter’s brother. “Despite Hunter’s sentiment that he’d be in the way, he’s a good shot, and he’s wearing a badge.” “Yeah. Only problem is she’s not his wife.” Matthew replied softly, and glanced around as the hair on the back of his neck stood up. Something or someone was watching them. “Trouble.” “I feel it.” James said easing the tie strap off his gun and palming the gun as they moved forward. “Easy.” He spoke soothingly to his horse as he started to dance around at the sudden tension in the air. “How far are we from the caves?” “Bout two miles.” James replied. “You figure they’re holed up there?” “Could be.” Matthew stated with deceptive calm. “Only one way to find out.” “You do realize you sound just like your brother.” James pointed out with a telling glance at his friend. “I’ll take that as a compliment.” Matthew replied. “Hunter’s a good man, one that few ever get to be.” “He’s an over achiever.” James muttered and nudged his horse into a jog, no sense in waiting around for someone to shoot them. Lying flat out on the rocks, Joey studied the two riders easily. They rode fancy horses, their clothes were those of working cowboys, and yet the clothes didn’t match the horses. Having been around horses all her life, and having watched an excellent breeding program in motion, she knew that good quality horses were very valuable. The pair of horses was something that a hired hand was not prone to getting his hands on not unless he stole the animal. Sliding back out of sight she hugged the skyline and scurried flat-footed across the rocks, her goal reaching the overhang before they did. If she could get the drop on one of them, maybe she could keep both Jenny and the baby alive long enough for Adrian to get back to them. Being careful to keep the two riders in sight she made it to the fork and sighed, from here it was only a few hundred yards to the overhang. Racing across the hot rocks she found a spot and slid into it. The small crack in the rocks wasn’t larger enough for a man to hide in, but it fit her like a glove. It was unobtrusive, and she wouldn’t be falling too far if she jumped one of them. Pressing her back against the rocks behind her, Joey settled in to wait. “Damn!” Matthew hissed and pulled up dismounting easily. “What?” “Damn fool horse picked up a stone.” Matthew declared and dropped the mare’s hoof back down. “She’ll be fine though. Look I’ll catch up, just need to lead her a bit. I noticed it before it did any damage.” “I wait for you at the tongue.” James said referring to the rock ledge that stuck out over the small openings to the caves entrance. He had no intention of going inside, only a fool would go in there without backup, besides there had been no tracks of either Jack or the other horse since they’d gotten onto the trail five miles back. “Sounds good.” Matthew said and started walking his mare forward, she wasn’t limping, or favoring her leg a good sign if he’d ever saw one. It was entirely possible that meant she hadn’t even gotten a stone bruise. Nudging his mount ahead of his friend, James advanced to the tongue his guard slipping a little after a few minutes of nothing happening. Reaching into one pocket he pulled out the small bag of candy he had purchased on his last trip into town and leaned back against the cantle of his saddle to enjoy them while waiting. Tensing when he saw a shadow out of the corner of his eye he noted the ground coming up to meet him in a hurry, along with a warm, lightweight on his body. Dropping his candy, he reached for his gun only to be staring down the barrel of a six-gun. “Move and I’ll blow your head off.” Joey growled and quickly relieved him of his gun. Laying flat on his back with a slight figure standing over him, James studied his captor. The boy didn’t look old enough to shave, much less be carrying a gun. He wasn’t overly tall, probably five-five, and he looked like hell. His clothes were rumpled and blood soaked, his face was pale, and gaunt as though he’d missed some sleep, his short hair was plastered to his face in the heat, and he wore such a mulish, determined expression James couldn’t help but admire it. “So what are you planning on doing with me?” James asked silkily. “Get up.” Joey said waving the gun slightly and backing up. “Make any sudden moves, and your friend’ll be digging two graves.” Paling at the threat James glanced over his shoulder to where Matthew should be coming. They’d walked right into a trap and there wasn’t any way they could get around it. With his hands clear of his body, he moved slowly carefully putting his feet down in such a way that Matthew would notice the tracks right off. “Leave the horse.” Joey snapped as she reached over to snag the rein. “Don’t think I’m so stupid as not to realize what you’re doing.” She said kicking the dirt around to hide the prints he’d left. “Move.” Jabbing the pistol into his kidney she ushered him back along the trail, up over the slight rise so that the horse could follow. Keeping an eye on the ground, James almost groaned when he realized that there were tracks here, very familiar prints in the sand, and scuffs on stone of metallic shoes. Jack had been ridden here. Glancing around uneasily, feeling hope welling in his chest he searched for any sign that Jenny was here and saw nothing. Moving along even when the small man dropped the reins and ushered him inside a cave and back into the darker parts of it James closed his eyes at the faint but distinctly coppery tang of blood in the air. Despite the shadows he could clearly see a figure hunched over by a small fire, the paleness of the clothes sending a bolt of fear through him. Hurrying he was suddenly jerked backwards. “Walk don’t run.” The voice hissed in his ear. “You’re not a guest here.” “What’s going on?” The familiar voice of Jenny had James closing his eyes with relief. “Here.” Joey handed Jenny a gun as she pushed the cowboy to the ground by the flames. “He moves, even twitches Jenny feel free to introduce him to Saint Peter.” Nodding Jenny took the gun and glanced at the cowboy before turning toward Joey. “What about you?” “Just grabbing a bit of rope.” Joey said quickly, shucking the rope off the rifle. “Something to tie his hands with, then I’m going after the other one.” “Other one?” Jenny whispered fearfully and stared at her. “We don’t have enough grub to feed four people.” “Four?” Joey glanced at her. “They don’t eat. Only a guest at a fire eats, they ain’t guests.” “Oh!” Jenny shifted, leveling the gun more firmly at the silent man despite the niggling sense of familiarity. As Joey’s footsteps retreated she smiled coldly at their ‘prisoner’. “Don’t try anything. I’m a good a shot as my husband, who should be coming very soon.” “Jenny don’t you think that you’re being a tad unreasonable?” James asked softly, carefully. “James?” Jenny dropped the gun by the fire and hurried to his side. “Dear God what are you doing here?” “Looking for you.” James replied and glanced out at the sunlight warming the front of the cave. “We have to get out of here.” “We can’t.” Jenny replied. “Joey is coming back, with whoever you were riding with.” “Matthew.” James sighed. “He’s as crazy as his brother. That fella tackles Matthew, he’ll skin him alive.” “She.” Jenny corrected. “She’ll skin him alive.” “Jenny.” “Adrian’ll be back.” Jenny replied. “I know this is a little odd James but just go along with it.” “What about you? You okay? They didn’t hurt you?’ “I’m fine.” Jenny said with a half-shrug. “I think being pregnant saved me. They weren’t going to do anything to me as long as I was pregnant.” “Any idea where they went?” “No.” Jenny shook her head sadly. “All I know is that Adrian got me out of there, and then we were here.” “Where are your clothes?” James asked noting for the first time exactly what his sister in law was wearing, including the bloodstains, and the tears in it as well. “I don’t have any.” Jenny replied. “Joey and I aren’t exactly in the best of shape. She’s got a wound in her side, and I’m afraid I’m useless since having the baby.” “You’re not due yet!” James said and glanced up sharply at the sound of a scuffle at the opening of the cave. “What the heck is that?’ “That would be Joey.” Jenny said shifting to pick up the gun and step back. “I hope.” “Give me the gun.” James said reaching for it. “No.” Jenny smiled at him. “I can handle it.” “Sure you can.” Shaking her head, Jenny turned to watch the cave’s opening. Silently cursing the young man she was prodding along, Joey could feel fresh blood oozing down her side from her wound and glared that much harder at the back of his head. He’d been a little harder to take down then the other one but a swift kick to the belly had helped convince him to do as he was told. “Move.” Joey prodded him again, her hand grasping the reins to her. “I ain’t got all day.” “You’re a dead man you know that don’t you?” “Sure do.” Joey replied calmly, coldly. “Right after I kill you. Move.” “Where’s James?” “If he’s as much a pain as you are, probably dead by now.” Joey muttered with a heart-felt prayer that she was telling the truth. This one would be trouble, watching him she braced herself when he turned quickly, obviously hoping to catch her off guard and take the gun she had. Sidestepping the attack she hit him mid-chest, knocking him to the ground. Reaching down with an angry hiss, she jerked him to his feet and glared at him, “Don’t make me kill you just yet, it would ruin my appetite.” Shoving him roughly toward the cave’s opening she waved the gun in his face and smiled coldly. “Move.” Moving forward carefully, Matthew noted James’s horse standing in the shade, along with the faint but coppery smell of fresh blood, wood smoke and an indistinct mulling sound. With a prayer that it wasn’t Jenny making that noise, he moved forward into the shadows and stared at the woman standing next to the flames, her dark hair flowing freely despite the attempts at putting it into a braid, and sitting at her feet calmly was James. “Some help you are.” Matthew muttered as he sank to the cave’s floor next to his friend. “Find anything out?” “Shut up.” Joey snapped, the pain from her wound had increased sending wave after wave of nauseating agony over her body.  Clutching at the wound she leaned against the wall, her gun never wavering as she stared at the two men. “Hunter’s going to have your head.” Matthew muttered staring at the young man. “And I’m going to watch him do it.” “Shut up.” Joey said through clenched teeth. “We’re going to wait.” “For what? Your boss?” Matthew growled. “There’s two of us, and one of you.” James glanced at Matthew angrily and elbowed him in the ribs, shaking his head furiously. “Don’t.” “Is he always this much of a pain in the ass?” Joey asked glancing at the silent one’s saddle partner. “Only when he’s angry.” James said resignedly. “Then I suggest you cheer him up.” Joey said with a glare. “Or I will.” “Matthew just shut up.” James hissed and glanced at the figure standing by the flames. Matthew turned his head and noted Jenny standing staring at him with an aggravated look on her face, her clothes looked like hell and he noticed she’d obviously had the baby. “You okay?” He asked softly. Jenny nodded and shrugged. “I’m fine.” “Any coffee left?” Joey asked glancing at Jenny. “I think so. Enough for one pot.” “Better make it up. And they don’t get any.” She said pointing the gun at them. Moving on unsteady legs she headed for the cave’s opening to watch to see if anyone was coming, unaware that she was leaving a trail of blood along the floor. “We can take him.” Matthew whispered to James as soon as the lanky youth was out of hearing range. “Two against one.” “Forget it.” James said. “Already tried that idea, Jenny said no.” “Jenny’s not thinking rationally.” “I am so.” Jenny said with a glare. “Leave it be. Before you get yourself killed, then Adrian and Hunter will be very unhappy.” “Adrian’s here?” “Somewhere. Said he was going hunting.” Jenny replied calmly, with a dispassionate shrug. “I have a feeling its not for four legged prey.” “Hunter’s tracking Jack.” “Then Hunter’s tracking Adrian.” Jenny hissed and glanced at the opening. Joey was obviously in pain. “Don’t either of you move, she’s likely to shoot you.” She ordered and moved off toward where Joey was sitting. “Hey.” “What are they doing?” “Grumbling.” Jenny said softly. “They’re harmless.” “Sure they are.” Joey snorted disbelievingly. “Cattle rustlers usually are.” “Actually they’re not rustlers.” Jenny said softly. “They’re family.” “What?” Joey glanced sharply at her and winced. “That’s James Miller, and Matthew McSwain. Adrian’s brother, and my brother-in-law.” “Oh.” Cringing Joey shrugged. “I didn’t know that.” “That’s okay. Now that they’re here though, don’t you think you should rest up a bit? You look like you’re hurting.” “The wound opened again.” “Lets see.” Jenny said moving the shirt carefully out of the way so she could see the puncture wound that Joey had. “Adrian did a good job of bandaging this, it’s pretty clean.” “Probably figuring he wanted the joy of killin’ me.” Joey muttered sadly. “He’s too aggravating.” “Sounds familiar.” Jenny replied. “Look it’s weeping pretty bad, looks like a minor infection might have set in. We need to get it cleaned out. We’re going to have to wash it out.” “No.” Joey shook her head fiercely. “There’s not a lot of water left.” “There are two extra men here who can go fetch more.” Jenny replied firmly. “Come on, they can help us out, or they don’t get any coffee.” “They don’t anyway.” Joey muttered. “I don’t share my coffee.” “Of course you don’t. But they have more supplies that we can use. Besides that, the way I see it I’m tired of running around in my nightshirt, maybe they’ll give me an extra shirt to wear.” “Whatever.” Joey sighed and stood up shakily, her head spinning. “This isn’t getting any better.” “Easy.” Jenny soothed and glanced back at the two men. “James get over here.” She ordered firmly. “I don’t need his help.” “Yes you do.” Jenny rebuked as James walked up. “Grab a hold, before she falls over.” “Some reason why I’m suddenly able to get up and move around?” “Just shut up and help us.” Jenny snapped and met his eyes. “Or I’ll tell Adrian you didn’t, and he can take a strip off you.” “Don’t go tellin’ Adrian anything.” Joey muttered. “He’s already mad enough as it is.” “Adrian’s too much like his Pa.” Jenny replied quietly. “Come on. I promise not to tell Adrian that you reopened your wound, as long as you promise not to tell Hunter that I shot someone.” “Deal.” Joey said leaning heavily on James as they moved slowly back inside the cave. “I’m really beginning to hate those men that did this.” “Aren’t we all.” Jenny laughed softly. A glance at Matthew revealed his concern. “Matthew is there water nearby?” “Sure is.” Rising to his feet agilely Matthew nodded. “Less than a hundred yards.” “We need some.” Jenny said pausing when Joey sank onto the bedroll. Stepping closer to her brother in law she stared at him for a few seconds. “Be careful, and keep an eye out for any riders. It could be either friend or foe.” Handing him a six-gun she stepped back easily and watched him slip out into the sun. “Things just keep getting worse don’t they?” James asked noting the way the young woman who’d gotten the jump on them had slipped into unconsciousness. “We should head home.” “You want to explain to her why she’s not here when she comes to?” Jenny asked with a glance at him. “Or maybe you can explain it to your brother!” “I’m not about to explain anything to Adrian.” James replied quickly, his temper flaring. “He’s not the most understanding person I know, even if he his addle brained.” “No he ain’t.” Jenny replied softly. “If it weren’t for him, I’d be dead right about now.” “Look I ain’t saying he’s a bad guy.” James replied as Jenny glanced at him then got a familiar look in her eye that sent off warnings in his mind. “Why are you looking at me like that?” “I need your shirt.” She replied. “I can’t keep wearing a bloody nightgown, and she needs something other than this on.” She lifted the edge of Joey’s shirt and waited while James grumbled as he slid his shirt off, and moved over to his saddlebags to pull out his spare shirt. Standing in his undershirt staring angrily at the two women he swore. “I hope you know this is the reason I do not plan on ever getting married.” “Just shut up and help out.” Jenny replied as Matthew came in with a full canteen and a scowl. “What’s are you so unhappy ‘bout?” “There are fresh tracks down by the creek.” Matthew declared uneasily. “And they’re headed around this way.” “We have to stay put.” Jenny replied softly as she glanced up at the soft mewling from a few inches away. “Here James, you wash this out.” She handed the canteen to the man and stared at him, “And behave yourself. My daughter’s hungry.” “Great.” James said hunkering down beside Joey’s prone figure. “What exactly am I supposed to do?” “Just pour the water into the wound and flush it out before rebinding it. She’s not awake to rant at you so just do it.” Jenny said sitting down and turning away from the men to feed her daughter. “Besides that, I have a feeling if you don’t, Adrian’s going to be very unhappy.” “Adrian this, Adrian that.” James intoned. “I hope you realize what I’m doing?” “I know.” Jenny glanced at him awkwardly over her shoulder. “Just think how much your brother’s going to be grateful, and how easily it will be to avoid getting your head blown off.” “Here.” Matthew moved James to one side easily. “Like this.” Pouring slowly he let the cool water trickle into the wound, washing it out completely until the canteen was empty before setting it down and glancing around. “More binding?” “There is none.” Jenny called. “You’ll have to use your shirt.” “That means there are two shirts Adrian’s going to owe me.” James snapped. “On top of the one that’s sitting warming there.” Picking up the well-worn cotton he glanced at Matthew who was looking pained at the idea of losing his shirt and sighed. “At least yours is going into strips for binding. Mine’s gone to keep Jenny warm.” He whispered and shuddered. “I don’t think I want it back.” “Just make sure that this is tight.” Matthew said softly. “There are three riders riding together out there. I didn’t recognize the tracks.” “Trouble?” “I’m sure of it.” Matthew replied and glanced at the two women, Jenny sat rocking her baby and Joey laid still, her features relaxed in the deep, dreamless sleep that she was in. “We should have sent word to Pa and the others.” “There was no time.” James replied. “Hunter was impatient to have the hunt under way. We have no choice but to wait until we receive word that there’s something that’s going on.” “I know. It’s just the waiting is going to kill me.” Matthew replied softly as he stuck his gun into its holster. “I’ll take watch.” “Good.” James watched his friend move to the entry of the cave and settle down to watch the goings on. He wondered just what it was that was going to happen, how many more men were out there? Two men could only hold back the tide for so long, and with women and children in the mix it made it even more dangerous a game to play. Shivering at the thought that both Hunter and Adrian were angered by the actions of the cowboys who’d stolen cattle, James settled near the flames. Time would tell, but he doubted if the end was anywhere near being in sight. Settling back on his haunches, Wolf studied the layout of the land. He could see a faint curl of smoke from a campfire in the distance, hear the rustle of the wind in the grass, the shrubbery, even faint drifts of conversation from the camp but there was no indication that there was a woman present. “Well?” Hunter’s low tone didn’t fool him; the other man was dangerously angered. They’d lost Jack’s tracks in the rocks just before sunset, and now in the gathering dusk it looked like it would be another night before they’d be going home. “I can’t tell.” Wolf whispered. “Seems to me that if the had her, we’d be able to tell. Jack’s tracks were lighter, like he’d lost part of his load. Maybe she got away?” “No. If Jenny’d gotten away she’d have gone home.” Hunter replied softly, gently. “She’s out here somewhere.” “You get the feeling like we’re being watched?” Wolf asked. “I could feel someone watching me for hours this afternoon.” “I know. They probably don’t think anything of us. They have no idea who we are, but we don’t ride like lawmen. Probably figure we’re just drifters.” Hunter glanced at his friend, “Maybe they’re waiting until dark before they come after us?’ “I hope so.” Wolf smiled, a bearing of white teeth in the darkness. “Gives us a reason to gut ‘em like fish.” “Yep.” Hunter smiled and settled down beside the other man on the ground. Both horses were well hid; only a fool would go into the trees looking for a horse, especially when it was obvious that both horses weren’t wearing shoes. “Jerky?” Wolf asked holding out the strip of meat to him before turning back to his silent vigil. He feared that Jenny wasn’t in this camp, that she was laying somewhere out there dead with her unborn child still within her. He knew Hunter feared the same thing, and he didn’t think he’d be able to stop him if it was true. Hunter was dangerous; Peterson was lucky that he’d just killed him. He’d never known Hunter not to go after a man for looking twice at Jenny, in fact he was a little too possessive of his sister Wolf thought, but then the only man he knew that was worse than Hunter McSwain was Adrian Miller. They were the same age, and yet they were at opposite ends of the spectrum. Adrian was pleasant, a charmer. Could charm anybody, be it man, woman, or child, Hunter on the other hand was more at ease with just getting things done. He didn’t waste a lot of time on social pleasantries, it was black and white with him, no soft footing at all. Sitting in the darkness, Adrian watched the two men who were hunkered a short distance away from camp and felt the cold, metallic taste of his own guilt and rage fill him. He’d left two women alone to find these men; he had no intention of going home alone. Letting his mind wander he sat there waiting until the moon was high enough to give him a little extra light before he went on the prowl. Unlike most of the men he knew, Joe Morgan had never backed down from a fight in her life. He’d seen her take on men twice her size and win, her prickly attitude was one of total misery for someone, and as much of an aggravation as she was to him. She was also one of his best friends. He trusted her in a fight, any fight without question. It rankled him that he’d never really told her that, granted they’d never really socialized together back in Sweetwater and he doubted if he’d get the opportunity this time if she lived long enough. Something told him she’d ride out, move on without a backward glance; she was so determined to stick it out, to prove herself to everyone that she’d forgotten that her friends were her friends. He wondered how long she’d been like that; he couldn’t imagine the prickly woman being a rich man’s daughter with an attitude like that. She stood toe to toe with him many a time and argued until she was blue in the face, but she never once backed down. She kept her pride, and her opinion even when it was the wrong one in his mind. When they got back to town, first thing he was going to do was buy her dinner. She deserved it, and then he’d beg her to stick around. He wasn’t going to give up on a damn good deputy, just because she was a woman. If his Ma could do it, why couldn’t Joe Morgan? Shifting he glanced skyward and sighed, the moon had risen and the pale white light of it’s glow lit the ground easily. Moving stealthily through the shrubs he hugged the ground and moved toward his quarry, aware that they were moving in the darkness themselves. Following silently, calmly, he waited, letting them get closer to the camp until he was sure he’d have plenty of time to get one of them. Sliding through the darkness easily, he moved along his heart beating slowly, his breathing even and deep, no outward sign of exertion, and no wasted movement. He moved as he’d been taught to move, like a cat. Pausing where the two men had hunkered down he fingered the prints and sighed, they were slightly familiar yet he didn’t know where from. Maybe it was just because he’d seen them before? Reaching for his dagger he swore softly, it wasn’t where he usually put it and his hand moved down his Levi encased thigh to slip the spare he carried from his boot. “Don’t move.” The silky voice was only a split second behind the cold metallic bite of a knife against his throat. “I’d be more worried ‘bout you.” Adrian replied calmly, smoothly, his hand curling around the handle of his knife. “You’re not exactly smart you know.” “Want to bet?” The words were steel laced, and coldly sarcastic. “There are two of us, and only one of you.” “That may be.” Adrian replied and shifted, rolling onto the balls of his feet his hand easing the blade further back against his forearm. “But I’ll take one of you with me.” “Get up.” The growl was from his right and Adrian frowned slightly, it was too familiar to be a threat. Too easily recognized in his mind for him to be concerned and he relaxed, putting the knife back into his boot and sighing. Rising smoothly he noted the man behind him start cursing in Kiowa and grinned. “You know Hunter, if you were going to track someone. The least you could do was set a trap worthy of you and your friend.” He drawled standing there as the light shifted revealing the two men who’d accosted him. “Adrian?” Hunter frowned at Wolf. “What are you doing here?” “I could ask the same of you?” “I’m hunting them.” Adrian nodded toward the faint flicker of the flames. “Why?’ “They’re mine.” Hunter snarled turning his attention and his anger back to the camp. “Well now, I want them to.” Adrian replied. “For murder.” “Then we’re agreed on the crime, just not on the method of payment.” Hunter replied as Wolf moved a few inches away. “I’m siding with Hunter here.” Wolf replied smoothly, silkily. “This doesn’t concern you.” Adrian replied, his head telling him he was wrong. Sure he wanted these men to hang, but he wanted it to be for what they’d done to Joey, not for scaring ten years off Jenny’s life. “It does so.” Hunter replied coldly. “They took my wife.” “She’s fine.” Adrian replied quickly. “She’s back at the caves. A little disgruntled, and very much in labor but otherwise unharmed. Joe’s with her.” “Your deputy?” “Yeah.” Adrian replied. “Damn fool just had to go and get herself hurt to.” “Your deputy is a woman?” Wolf asked, laughter lacing his voice. “Better than any man I’ve ever worked with.” Adrian replied stiffly. “She’s a dead shot, and quick in a situation.” “I’ve seen that.” Hunter said and knelt as he turned his attention back to the camp. “So what are we going to do about them?” “I’m not sure. Seems to me that if we go in there with guns a blazing we stand to lose part if not all of them.” “I know. A scary thought.” Wolf sighed. “I think they’re getting ready to pull out tomorrow, they’ve been keeping the cattle tightly bunched, and never going very far.” “Good. We need to keep them as closely bunched as possible.” Adrian drawled. “Damn I wish we had more men.” “Not me.” Hunter smiled at him in the dark, nothing more than a movement of facial muscles but still for him a sign of old friendship. “Just get in the way. Kill ‘em and let God sort ‘em out.” “You’re blood thirsty you know that.” Adrian stated and sighed. “Come on, we’ve got to sort out a plan to get them. I want at least one of them alive long enough to hang.” “You and your hanging.” Wolf shuddered. “Still I guess it’s one way of dealing with things.” “Yeah.” Hunter glanced around in the darkness, lit only by the faded light of the moon. “We need to get some rest. We’ve got the horses stashed up in those trees.” He pointed behind them. “Good. Jack’s up there to.” Adrian said and headed up the slight incline. “Get some rest then we can head out first thing. I want Tanner.” “Whatever you say.” Hunter said, easily giving into Adrian’s demands now that he knew his wife was safe. Things would go as the Good Lord intended in the morning, not so much as they wanted them. A blessing in Hunter’s mind, meant if the fella Adrian wanted was killed his friend wouldn’t be too upset about it. Hunkered down on the ground, the three men dozed uneasily, one awake at all times as guard, the other two tense and on edge as they waited for the day break. Laying next to Hunter Adrian stared at the darkened sky, torn between letting hunter kill the men, and his sense of duty telling him to take ‘em back for a trial. He doubted of anyone was going to mind if he didn’t bring ‘em back, and as long as the cattle were returned to Tyler, he didn’t think there’d be that much of a stir. What about Joe? When the town council found out about her, they’d fire her and him to for not coming forward sooner. Granted he’d only just found out himself but still, they’d never believe that and in the end it would cost both of them their jobs. Another job would be easy to get, he had a good solid reputation, was well liked, and his demands weren’t too much for a small town to be able to afford. Still he liked being within a day or two’s easy ride to home. He liked the fact that he could take time off to see his folks, his friends at the ranch. He even liked the fact that his deputy was a woman, made things easier on him. Frowning slightly he shifted on the hard ground, his mind darting back to the memory of when he’d found out. He’d been awakened by a warm, soft weight pressed against him, snuggling back into his warmth even as he came awake. Opening his eyes he’d glanced around uneasily for split second until he realized that the weight on his chest was Morgan’s head. Because of the awkward angle they were laying at, he’d reached out to grab his shoulder to shake him awake, only to find his hand curling around the soft curve of a breast under a binding clothe. He’d seen them before, hell his sister wore one when she was working roundup, his mother wore one, everyone of his female relatives both blood and adopted wore one when they were working. Feeling the relief wash over him, he’d panicked, letting anger come to the surface scaring poor Joe and himself in the process. He hadn’t wanted to face why he’d been relieved, why he was so on edge around Morgan. Now he forced himself to admit to it, he’d done it out of fear. He liked Joe Morgan, maybe a little more than he should, she was familiar to him, as familiar as his own reflection. He might not always understand what she was doing, or even what she was saying but he was always aware of her presence, something that would have had disastrous results before he found out Joe was a girl. “Adrian.” Wolf’s soft voice had him sitting up and glancing at his friend. “I’m up.” “I kinda guessed that.” Wolf’s tone held amusement bu no censure. “It’s nearly dawn.” “You get any sleep?” “Only slightly more than you did.” Wolf replied slowly, hesitant to draw attention to the fact that Adrian had spent most of the night wide awake, his anger simmering as they waited for the perfect moment to spring on their prey. “Hunter you awake?” “Am now.” Hunter’s voice was sleepy, yet alert as the other man sat up and glanced around, his gaze settling on the horizon. “We need something that will prevent them running.” “Run the horses off.” Wolf suggested, already stripping anything that would make a noise off him and pulling his hair back into a ponytail to be tied with a rawhide thong. “No point in sitting here wasting time.” He drawled and smiled at the other two. “You coming?” “Yes.” Adrian said with a flicker of a glance at his friend before following Wolf into the growing light. There was no point in trying to figure things out at this point, within minutes the whole situation would be nothing but the echo of booming guns, men’s screams and the stench of blood. Moving stealthily through the gathering light, the trio kept low, their bodies hugging the terrain as they inched along, to where the horses were standing tethered on a line. A quick flick of a wrist with a blade in hand was enough to sever the thin reins and let the horses loose, mounting up Wolf took the lead ropes of the seven ponies and slipped away into the distance with them, returning minutes later alone with a smile upon his face. A glance at the other two had him nodding and they inched along toward the camp where the men were starting to move around. Slipping into the cover that the rocks offered, they curled up into them and waited for a few seconds, counting bodies to make sure that everyone was present and accounted for. “Morning boys.” Adrian called with a lazy, southern drawl that would have made his father proud. “Rise and shine, you’re under arrest.” “For the love of..” The words were cut short as the man opened fire with his six-gun, narrowly missing Adrian’s head with the bullet.  Ducking behind cover Adrian smiled, perfect way to start a morning. Moving quickly he rolled, moving a few inches deeper into cover before opening fire as the camp came alive with men shouting at each other, guns going off and the steady, deadly threat of rage boiled just beneath the surface. Dust rose where bullets struck, men shouted and rushed about haphazardly trying to fight off the threat that had arisen with the dawn. The smell of blood and burnt gunpowder filled the air even as clouds of smoke rose into the sky with each round fired off. Moving quickly, competently Adrian moved through the rocks, his gaze scanning the area for the man he wanted. Spotting Tanner moving stealthily toward where the horses had been, he shifted direction and followed him a little faster than the other man was moving. “Going somewhere?” Adrian’s voice was silky, cold and merciless as he came up behind the other man, his gun pointed at the spot right behind his ear. “Should’ve figured you’d be a problem.” Tanner drawled carelessly and moved slightly only to freeze when the gun to his head was cocked with slow deliberation. “You won’t kill me, you’re too much of an hour bound sonovabitch.” “You’d be surprised at what I’m willing to do.” Adrian replied, his finger itching to pull the trigger. “As much as I might like to see you hang, I’m fully prepared for you to run. Can’t help it if I have to shoot you to stop you.” “You’re as crazy as that doctor friend of yours that went through town months ago.” Tanner grinned suddenly. “Don’t imagine he’s around?” “Oh he’s here.” Adrian replied moving slowly, circling the other man. “And he wants you just as bad as I do.” “Really? What for?” Tanner hissed at him. “That pretty Indian girl you were bothering? You know the pregnant woman you were waiting on back in town?” Adrian whispered seeing movement and recognizing Hunter’s frame. “That was his wife.” “He’s a fool. No man in his right mind would marry a squaw.” Tanner paled at the words but kept his bravado up. “She’s also the daughter of one of the owners of the Rocking M ranch.” Adrian whispered softly, lethal. “And her Pa wouldn’t be too impressed to hear about what you did.” “I didn’t do anything. Taking a pregnant woman ain’t my thing.” “You better pray that his baby’s okay, because he’s as crazy as I am.” Adrian smirked at him. “Hey Hunter, you looking for this fella?” “Yes.” Hunter’s tone was calm, almost gentle and even. “I want him more than you do.” “Well I want him to.” “Should we flip a coin?” “Naw, lets let Wolf decide.” Adrian smiled coldly at Tanner and shrugged. “He’s better at it than you and I.” “Wolf!” Hunter hollered and waited his gun trained firmly on the man standing between him and Adrian. He’d just as soon shoot the bastard as stand here and look at him, but he wasn’t sure about Adrian. The other man was madder than he’d ever seen him and he doubted if he could control him long enough to get the rustler back to Sweetwater. “What you want?” Wolf said coming closer and eyeing the man between his two friends. “What should we do with him?” Hunter asked pointing his gun a little firmer at the man. “Kill him.” Wolf replied quickly with a half shrug. “Makes sense.” “Well we figured that. Who should do it though?” Adrian grinned at the other man. “Hmm.” Wolf paused for a split second then shrugged. “I’ll do it.” “No you can’t do that!” Tanner cried. “I get a trial, you’re suppose to be the law.” “You know he’s right.” Adrian replied and jerked Tanner up onto his toes with his hand at his throat, wrapped up in his shirt. “I may be the law, but even I have limits. Bind his hands Wolf. We’ll let Jenny decide what his payment is.” “I like that idea.” Hunter smiled suddenly. “She’s a very unpleasant person when she’s angered.” “Good. Maybe he’ll get what he deserves.” Adrian said quickly. “Bind them tightly Wolf, we’ve got to get back to the caves.” “What about the cattle?” “They ain’t going anywhere.” Adrian declared. “Besides we can always come back and get them.” “If we had James and Matthew here we could take ‘em with us.” Hunter replied with a dark frown. “Wonder where the hell they are.” “Where were they going when you saw them last?” Adrian asked. “The caves.” “That could prove to be a problem.” Adrian stated. “Joey’s on guard there, I told her to blow anyone who came by a new navel.” “Then lets hope they got the drop on her.” Hunter said quickly. “Or we’re both out of a brother.” “Lets hope.” Adrian declared easily.  Pushing roughly against Tanner’s chest, he started back for the horses only to pause when Wolf looked at him funnily. “What?” “I ain’t doubling.” “Neither am I.” Hunter declared. Adrian smiled easily. “Who said anything about him riding?” He asked and pushed Tanner a head of him, back through camp where men lay scattered, their vacant stares eerie in the early daylight.  Marching him back up the hill toward the horses, Adrian rolled his shoulders. “A warning for you Tanner, don’t try anything. There’s three of us here who would shoot you down without a moment’s pause. I’m sure you’d like to be able to at least have a chance to atone for your deeds before you meet your maker.” “Shut up.” Tanner growled, desperately looking for a way out. A careful glance at the other two men showed impassive faces, and hard expressions. A glance from a pair of cold blue eyes told him more eloquently than words, he was going to die. It was just a matter of how and when, not if. Chapter Ten Sitting next to Matthew, James stared out over the barren terrain. “Sure wish who ever was out there would hurry the hell up and get in here.” He muttered then tensed. “Look.” Sitting up straighter Matthew studied the oncoming riders and tensed. “Maybe that’s them.” “Could be.” Rising James headed inside easily. “Jenny you stay here. Riders coming, and we need to know who they are before we start firing.” “I’ll watch from here.” Jenny promised with a slight glance at Joey who lay sleeping soundly, her body needing the rest it was taking. “I promise.” “Good. Otherwise we’re going to have more problems then we need.” James said handing a six-gun to her. “Last resort Jenny.” Nodding her understanding, Jenny took the gun and checked its loads. The gun was fully loaded; tucking it into the rope around her waist she sat down between the two men and Joey, and her daughter. If they got past those two before her, she was the last line of defense. “What the hell possessed them to go out here?” Buck groused. “How the hell would I know?” Kid replied wiping a sleeve over his face. “All I know is that they did.” *Children, that’s what they are. Just children.* Ike signed with a dark look on his face. *How many times have we come out here to get them now?* “Too many to count.” Buck replied painfully. His arm had been splinted and wrapped into a sling but he still felt every jar, every jolt from the horses’ movements. “Look at it this way, now we’ve got a legitimate excuse for going grey.” Kid teased his friend, his eye on the greying in the other man’s hair. “Between the wives and kids, we should be white haired by now.” *Either that or in the ground.* Ike grinned. *Hunter and Jenny have somehow managed to make things interesting since they met. If they weren’t I’d be worried.* “Ha, this time its just Jenny.” Buck growled. “Don’t that girl have any sense? I swear she must have been switched with someone else’s child? No daughter of mine would have so little sense.” “Of course not.” Kid soothed and glanced around. “Just as no child of ours would be running around with nothing better to do than sit in a cold, dark cave with a baby on the way. Sara must be going slowly insane.” *Must be? Try is. She’s driven me to drink.* Ike claimed. *If it isn’t one thing with her, it’s another.  I’m amazed that woman’s managed to retain anything this long.* “Trouble.” Kid said glancing up and nodding toward the faint outline of a rocky outcropping. Barely visible two figures stood, rifles held against their thighs, standing as still as the stone that flanked them. “Damn fool arm.” Buck groused as he reached for his gun, only to wince as a sharp flash of pain flooded up his arm and clouded his vision slightly. “I wonder if it’s them.” *I’m not sure.* Ike signed. *And I’m not going to get shot finding out. Stay on your toes, but go easy.* “Yes boss.” Buck glanced at his friend with a grin as they rode slowly toward the two figures standing watching them come. As they got nearer, Kid groaned slightly. “James.” He said nodding slightly. “He’s the only man I know that holds his gun like that.” “Well let him know who’s here. I’m not in a hurry to get shot.” Buck growled his gaze searching for a sign of his daughter. “That’s far enough.” The distinct drawl had the three older men groaning as they realized that the men they were riding towards were offspring. “James!” Kid hollered. “We’re looking for Jenny!” Seeing the two men exchange glances, they waited a few seconds until the guns were lowered and they were waved forward. “Come on in Pa. The more the merrier.” James called back with a laugh and disappeared into the rocks. With a slight shake of his head Kid led the way up to the caves and dismounted before slipping past the opening to come to a halt in the shadows. Within a few seconds his eyes had adjusted and he saw Jenny standing holding a six gun, wearing little more than a man’s shirt, a prone body laying on the other side of the glowing embers and the squirming bundle that was Jenny’s baby. Sensing more than hearing Buck and Ike come up beside him, he glanced at them and sighed. “We should have stayed home.” *Home hell, stayed in bed.* Ike drawled meeting his son’s gaze a moment before he glanced at the others. *Someone want to tell me what’s going on?* “Adrian’s out there.” Jenny replied softly. “His deputy was hurt.” “Joe?” Kid tensed and glanced at the sleeping figure. “Yes. A rather nasty wound in her side.” Jenny replied with a shrug. “Adrian said to stay here.” “Well as much as I like Adrian’s idea, I think getting back home would be a better idea.” Buck snapped and winced. “Only problem is how do we get the injured back? A travois is a wonderful thing, but it’s hell on terrain like this.” “I can ride.” Jenny declared. “I’ll just carry the baby, it’s Joe we need to worry about. She’ll have to double with some, there’s no way she can sit on her own.” “I’ll take her.” James volunteered. “She’s less inclined to kill me than she is to kill Matthew.” “Jenny you got a horse?” “No.” Jenny shook her head. “I’ll have to double with you Pa.” Buck nodded. “If Adrian’s coming back here, we should leave a note or some sign that tells him where you’ve gone. Otherwise he’ll be back on the prowl and I don’t know about you but I don’t want him mad at me.” “Hunter’s with him.” James pointed out. “Dear God.” Kid breathed. “Neither of them has the sense to back down from a fight.” *We can worry about them later. Come on, we’ve got to get these two women back to the house. Sara’s probably getting ready to send out a search party by now.* “I can just hear Laura.” Buck shuddered then glanced at Kid. “At least Kid gets it easy.” “Ah, I don’t think so. Lou’ll have my ass for this.” Kid muttered quickly. “She’s just as much a worry wort as Sara.”  “Then it’s settled?” Jenny asked moving to pick up her daughter. “We should get out of here soon, it’s going to be pretty warm this afternoon and if we want to get home by dark we’re going to have to push the horses.” “We’ll stop in Five Fingers and get fresh ones.” Kid declared. “Alright. James grab Adrian’s deputy and lets go.” “Yes sir.” James said moving quickly he gathered Joey in his arms, blankets and all and headed for the horses, leaving Matthew to leave a message for Adrian and Hunter. Pausing as they neared the entrance to the caves where the women were at, Adrian glanced at Hunter a chill creeping over him at the silence that clung to the area. On its own, the silence wouldn’t have bothered him; after all he’d told Joe to keep everyone safe and that’s what the young woman would do. She’d wait, watch and if need be strike out at anyone who was threatening Jenny even at the risk of her own life. No this silence was what followed after life had moved on, it was an eerie, silence, filled with stillness and calm. “This isn’t right.” Adrian murmured and dismounted easily before heading for the opening his gun drawn. “Maybe my men got them.” Tanner smiled. “A weak, wounded deputy and a pregnant woman. Easy pickings.” “Shut up.” Hunter’s tone was lethal, and made Wolf shudder as he turned to watch Adrian ascend into the rocks in search of signs. “What’s the matter squaw man, don’t like the idea that another man’s taking your wife.” Tanner taunted as he shifted in his saddle. “You have a choice.” Hunter turned to meet the other man’s eyes coldly. “You can keep your tongue the other side of your teeth, or I can cut it out.” Snapping his mouth shut Tanner stared hard at the young man who turned back to wait for the Marshall, something telling him that he didn’t give idle threats. Keeping his council was the safest route available; Tanner wasn’t about to give them another reason to kill him. Hearing the slight scuff of boots on rock he glanced up to see Adrian Miller coming toward him at a high lope. The man wore an easy smile, and looked pleased. “Well?” “They’re at home.” Adrian said mounting up quickly. “Looks like Pa found ‘em.” “That’s a good sign.” Hunter drawled. “So what do we do with him?” “We’re closer to home than to Sweetwater.” Adrian said softly. “I want to check up on Joe, I’ll deputize a couple men and they can take him into Sweetwater.” “Passin’ me off are you Marshall?” Tanner laughed easily only to choke on his laughter when Hunter whirled with knife in hand and reached across his saddle for his throat. “Don’t make me regret letting you keep your tongue.” Hunter hissed and whirled to sit forward in his saddle. “If we’re going back to the main houses, lets get going. I need to know Jenny’s okay.” “Agreed.” Adrian replied and nudged Jack into a ground-eating lope. He was anxious to see how well Joe had held up, especially with the wound in his side. Keeping Jack to a lope they crossed back onto Rocking M land by early evening and decided to camp out by Five Fingers. Tomorrow they’d get to the main houses and see to their women folk. Glancing up from where she sat on the porch Lou stared at the four oncoming riders in amazement. Three she recognized, the fourth looked terrified, and anxious to get away from the other men, a feeling she could easily understand as she realized that Hunter would have been more than a handful with the threat to his wife and unborn child. “Hi.” “Ma.” Adrian dismounted easily and tied Jack to the rail easily before glancing at his prisoner. “We need fresh horses.” “Where are you taking him?” “Wellsburg. I’m going to put him on the train for Sweetwater.” Adrian replied and stretched out the kinks in his body. “Where’s Joe?” “You mean your deputy?” Lou asked softly, noting the worried frown on her son’s face. “Yeah.” “I put her in our guest room.” “She can have mine.” Adrian drawled. “That guest room’s so small a child has no room to move around in it. How is she doing?” “She’s got a fever.” Louise said as the others led their prisoner away. “Jenny says she opened the wound..” “I told her to stay put, not go about like a fool.” Adrian growled and stepped past his mother. “Don’t she know how to listen?” “I think she was more interested in keeping Jenny and Abbie safe.” Louise said, making her son pause. “Jenny said Joe did a good job.” “Joe always does a good job.” Adrian said walking into the house and down the hall to the guest room. Stepping inside he smiled slightly at Jenny who slipped from the room and moved to sit next to Joey who was pale, her face covered in a fine sheen of sweat as she lay there, so still it gave him a moment’s pause. Was she still alive? “Ma said to move her.” James said moving into the room and over to the bed. “Said she could have your room.” “Yeah.” Adrian said moving easily, familiarly and lifting Joe with barely a thought to the effort. She was so light, a stiff wind would blow her away, following James out of the room he headed down the hall to his room and laid her out on his bed, covering her instantly with the warmth of the blankets. “I’m headed for Wellsburg in a few minutes, you’re deputized so get your gear ready.” “But..” James started only to shrug when Adrian walked away; somehow he’d known he was going to get suckered into things again. Mercifully the ride to Sweetwater was short and uneventful, and as soon as Adrian had his prisoner tucked away in jail and a couple more men deputized he headed back to the ranch. Concern for Joe taking precedent over his job for the first time in his life. Blinking Joey groaned and turned her head away from the light, there was a stunning amount of pounding behind her eyes and her entire body felt like it was weighed down with something. Raising one hand to her forehead she groaned and wished suddenly that she was dead. A moment later two things struck her, one she was lying on something soft, comfortable that smelled entirely too familiar, and two there was a presence nearby that was oddly comforting. Opening her eyes slowly she squinted at the light in the room and stared. Adrian Miller sat in a chair a few inches away, his long legs stretched out before him with familiar ease. He was also sound asleep. Clearing her throat she shifted, wincing at the pain in her side, making to get out of bed only to halt when she felt the familiar slide of cotton against bare skin. “Good morning.” Adrian’s soft drawl had her glancing at him in shock. “Morning.” Joey croaked and swallowed as he rose to get her a drink from the pitcher sitting at the side of the bed. Reaching for it with a trembling hand she glanced uneasily at Adrian when he sat on the edge of the bed beside her and held the glass steady for her to drink her fill of the cool water. “How you feeling?” “Like death warmed over.” Joey replied quickly then glanced around. “Where am I?” “The Rocking M.” Adrian said. “Pa and the boys brought you back here when they found you and Jenny.” “Who’s bed did I take?” Joey whispered glancing about hurriedly for her clothes, she didn’t want to stay in someone’s bed. From what Adrian had said many times, she expected this huge family and taking up a bed wasn’t a polite thing to do. “Mine.” Adrian smiled at her, relaxed and at ease with the situation, for some reason he saw nothing out of the ordinary about Joey being in his bed, after all she almost belonged there. Hiding the shock at the thought he watched her face closely, searching for a sign that she wanted out of the room. “Oh, well then I guess I’ll stay put.” Joey drawled and leaned back against the pillows. “I’m sorry.” “For what?” “I blew it. If your Pa, brother, and who else managed to find us then I’d say I failed..” “Naw.” Adrian shrugged. “From what I hear you gave both James and Matthew hell. You did good Morgan.” Smiling at her, he watched her sink back into a healing sleep and glanced up at the soft knock on the door. “Hey?” Jenny stood there with a hesitant look. “Can I come in?” “Sure.” Adrian replied softly. “She’s sleeping.” “I wanted to say thank you.” “For what?” Adrian stared at the young woman before him easily. “For everything. If it hadn’t been for you and Joe we’d be dead now.” “No worries.” “What did the town council decide? I’m sure that man revealed that Joey is a girl..” “They wre going to fire her.” Adrian replied quickly and shrugged. “Were?” Jenny paused. “You convinced them not to?” “No.” Adrian sighed and shifted uneasily in the chair. “I told ‘em what I thought of them, and they fired me. Said since Joey and I are such a good team, we should be able to get by in another town.” “I’m sorry Adrian.” Jenny said softly, feeling saddened by the knowledge that he’d lost the job he’d always wanted. “Don’t be. I’m not.” Adrian glanced at her and smiled. “Joe did her job better than any man I know, and if they want to fire her because she’s a woman, obviously they don’t have much respect in her ability.” “But you do?” Adrian turned his gaze back to the woman lying sleeping soundly, her features relaxed and at ease for the first time in days. “I trust her with my life.” Standing staring at him Jenny sighed, it was obvious that nothing anyone said was going to convince him that he’d thrown something away. “Have you another job lined up?” “No.” Adrian glanced back at her easily, his face expressionless. “Employment is secondary.” “Oh.” Glancing at her hand Jenny sighed, she wondered if he knew just what he was saying. “Well I’ll leave you to your vigil.” She whispered and slipped soundlessly from the room, a small, pleased smile on her face. “Well?” Turning she ran smack dab into her husband’s broad chest. “Well what?” “What’s he going to do now that he has no deputy?” “He has no job.” Jenny replied. “They fired him for sticking up for Joey.” “Has he decided what he’s going to do?” “He’s not thinking about work right now.” Jenny replied softly, a smile gracing her face. “He’s thinking of Joey.” “Could we convince him to take on the job at Five Fingers? This attack just goes to show that we need someone out there to uphold the law from outsiders.” Hunter mused. “Don’t go asking him just yet.” Jenny smiled. “He’ll not give you an answer, he might even get mad at you for asking.” “Do you think he realizes it yet?” “He doesn’t have a clue.” Jenny laughed and headed back to her father’s house with her husband’s arm wrapped around her easily. Chapter Eleven Crawling from the warmth of the bedding Joey stood on shaky legs, the light shift she wore falling to her ankles as she moved. The room was dark, and from outside the window she could hear the patter of rain against the glass yet she moved toward the door, or at least where she hoped the door was. With one hand outstretched before her, searching for the handle she cursed softly when her toe smacked into a hard surface a moment before her hand encountered the warmth of a naked chest. Freezing Joey frowned; she didn’t remember anyone being in the room when she went to sleep. Come to think of it, she didn’t remember too much of anything except Adrian’s soothing tones when she had stirred earlier. “Joe?” The soft, sleep filled query had her stepping back hurriedly only to freeze when a warm, calloused palm wrapped around her wrist and a looming shadow filled the darkness. “I was going to get a drink.” Joe whispered, something telling her that her presence could’ve been perceived as a threat. “I’m sorry I didn’t..” “Hush.” Adrian soothed, ushering back to bed and reaching for the pitcher of water only after he lit a lamp to allow some light in the room. “Here you go.” He spoke softly, knowing that a loud conversation would have the entire house awake. Despite the years, and the peacefulness of the ranch, his Dad was still prone to waking suddenly with memories of the war. “What are you doing here?” Joey asked softly after pushing the empty glass away. “Do they not have room for you?” “Sure they do.” Adrian smiled slightly and tucked her back in. “I’m just used to hearing you breath.” He fibbed slightly; both of them knew that since he’d taken the Marshall’s job they had rarely slept in the same room. “When do you have to go back?” She whispered. “Back?” “To Sweetwater?” Joey whispered. “The trial, surely they must need you to testify.” “Already done.” Adrian replied. “The trial was very rushed, and quickly over with. Tanner was hung about a week ago for murder and cattle rustlin’.” “They gave you time off for it?” “No.” Adrian smiled and shrugged sheepishly. “They fired me.” “What?” Joey snapped, her voice rising slightly only to have him clamp a hand over her mouth. “Why?” She whispered softly pushing his hand away, aware of the situation of him being half-naked in her bedroom. “Because I stood up for you. Tanner told ‘em about you being a girl. He overheard Ma and I talking, they were going to fire you but I spoke up and they fired me. Said that since we’re such a good team, we should be able to get another job easily.” “Oh dear.” Joey stared at him in amazement. “You earned that job, you shouldn’t have spoken up for me.” “Yeah well, I figured I owed my friend something.” Staring at him in amazement Joey smiled slowly and flushed. “Friend huh? I guess I can live with that.” “You’d better.” Adrian said and shifted. “Now then, back to sleep with you. It’ll be an early day tomorrow, it’s the beginning of round-up.” “I guess I should get up tomorrow. I’m sure your family would like to be able to have you sleeping..” “I’m fine Joey. Gets some rest.” Adrian replied and settled back into his chair, a light blanket within reach of his arm as he turned down the lamp to cast the room back into darkness. “Good night.” Joey whispered into the darkness, for the first time in a long, long time not concerned with the morning light. It was the warmth of the sun on her face that woke Joe the next morning and she glanced uneasily at the chair Adrian had been in last night. It was empty, but she knew he’d been there. For some reason she knew he’d slept there until the rich smell of coffee had awakened him waking him from his slumber. Rising she moved about gingerly, her side still ached although more dully then before. Finding a pair of pants, and a shirt she lifted them up and sighed, they obviously belonged to Adrian but she refused to lay in bed one more minute. After dressing she rolled the pants legs up over her ankles and tucked the shirt in searching the room for a belt and finding only an old, worn belt that obviously belonged to a child. Frowning, she considered tossing it back it was probably his from when he was growing up. Whirling to face the oncoming threat, even if it was only to her dignity, she stared at the doorway. Standing with a slight grin on his face, one broad shoulder leaned up against the doorjamb, and his arm crossed against his chest was the original occupant of the room. “Sorry.” Joey held up the belt, “I’m thinking I’m wearing your clothes.” “No problem.” Adrian said, noting the flush that clung to her face. Despite her obvious agitation she looked very much at home in his clothes, clothes that dwarfed her tiny frame. The pants had been rolled up six or seven times, just so her feet peaked out from the hems, the white shirt she had on fell past her knees, and was obviously too big. And yet, regardless of all that she still looked pretty good. “Just wanted to know if you were awake, there’s coffee on.” “Soon as I find something to tie the pants on with, I’ll be there.” Joey said with a slight smile, her nerves taking turns tying her stomach in knots. Swallowing convulsively she watched him walk toward her, completely at ease and take the belt from her now nerveless fingers. “Lift up.” Adrian said kneeling before her as she gathered the shirt above the waistband of her ‘borrowed’ pants. Threading it through the loop he glanced at the bare midriff of his ‘deputy’ and swallowed, it wouldn’t take much for him to touch. Shaking at the thought he pushed it roughly to the back of his mind, there were bigger and more important things going on this time of day than his wondering about a woman’s bare midriff. “So how come you’re still here? I thought you hated living and working on the ranch.” Joey asked. “It wasn’t the ranch I didn’t like.” Adrian replied, knotting the belt carefully, it was the simple fact that I’m not as cattle crazy as my family. Everyone loves what he or she does here Joe, me I’d rather have something to do with my hands than sit in the saddle all day. Besides that, I love the law. I like getting up in the mornin’ and putting a badge on.” Adrian glanced at her easily as he hunkered back on his feet. “I love this place, just not enough to hang up my star.” “Makes sense.” Joey said with a sigh. “Always wished I could have a life of ease, instead I took one where I’m risking my neck for people and they don’t give a damn.” “You were.” Adrian smiled at her and moved gracefully to his feet. “What do you say we grab a bite to eat? I think everyone’s gone by now so it’ll be easy sailing, we can raid the cupboards without hearing about it.” “I like the way your mind works sometimes.” Joey said shuffling carefully toward the door, after lying in bed for several weeks, her body was sore and tender in places she didn’t want to think of. Her side ached with each movement she made, and yet she felt good about getting up and moving around. “Well have you asked him?” Jenny demanded of her husband as they sat on the swing in front of the Miller house. “Not yet woman.” Hunter glanced at her before turning his attention back to his daughter. “Give it some time, she’s not even out of bed yet.” “Oh pish posh.” Jenny snapped. “You should just ask him, then we’d have an answer.” “He’s going to think we’re creating a job for him.” “We aren’t. He can ask anyone; even the people in Five Fingers think we need a lawman. If he’d been there maybe we’d still have a house.” Jenny pointed out. “I believe he’s the one that burnt it down.” Hunter pointed out patiently. “Or have you forgotten that you’re the only witness to what happened?” “I have forgotten nothing.” Jenny sniffed disdainfully with a slight glance at her husband. “Now give me my daughter and go ask him.” “Nag, nag, nag.” Hunter rose steadily and headed for the door. “Just so you know, I’m doing this under protest.” “You do everything under protest.” Jenny smiled slightly at the closing of the door and turned her attention to the little girl in her arms. “Well my dear looks like your uncle might just be coming to live a little closer to home than he’d originally thought.” She mused softly and set the swing into motion with a gentle push. “You talking to yourself?” The distinctive baritone drew a smile as she glanced up to see her brother. “No Wolf, I was talking to Abbie.” “Why the heck would you do that? Can’t you see she’s asleep?” “I can see that. Hunter’s gone to see Adrian, find out if he’s going to move to Five Fingers and work for the town.” Jenny sighed. “I’m hoping so. I’ve had more than enough excitement in the last year and a half to last me a whole lifetime.” “I guess that’s one way of looking at it.” Wolf replied and settled on the swing next to her. “But what if Adrian doesn’t want to move out to the middle of nowhere?” “I’ll talk to him, try to get him to agree. I can’t lose my family.” “He’s not exactly family.” Wolf replied. “He’s your cousin only, its not like you’d be losing a brother, just a good friend.” “He’s family. Don’t matter if there’s no blood, or if there’s nothing but shadows between us.” Jenny smiled easily. “Hunter would be devastated if he didn’t come out.” “Two of ‘em in one town?” Wolf shuddered. “I’m moving back up here.” “Oh go on with you.” Jenny scolded softly. “You know as well as I do that those two are closer than most brothers. If he’s willing to move, then we’ll be glad to have him.” “You’re the boss.” Wolf said and rose smoothly. “I’m going home to thank my wife.” “For what?” “Not having any family that would drive me up the wall.” Wolf replied and headed down the steps. The minute his feet were on the ground he paused, glancing up at the young woman sitting holding a baby. “No matter what Jenny, be careful. We just about lost you, we don’t want to repeat the experience.” “I’ll be careful.” She promised and watched him walk away. Something told her if Adrian were around, she’d be safer than a bear cub in a tree. “Please Adrian.” Hunter said, hoping he sounded convincing enough as he stared at the pair sitting at the table with matching plates of food. “Hunter even if I wanted to say yes, I’m not even going to think of another job just yet.” “But it’s for both of you.” Hunter threw in, a glance at Joey showing a mild interest and a defeated slump to her shoulders. “We heard all about how you stood up for her, figured with such a good deputy you would want to keep her on. This way, she’s got a good paying job, easy time and she doesn’t have to spend hours staring at your ugly face.” “Hey I resent that.” Adrian snapped. “I’m not that homely. Besides that, you’re asking me to speak for Joe, seems to me if you want her opinion you should ask her.” He pointed out and glanced at Joey with a raised eyebrow. “Well?” “Sounds good.” Joey replied. “Course I’m not up to it just yet, but I don’t want to put you out. I mean I can deal with this on my own.” “Nonsense.” Hunter smiled. “Good then it’s settled.” Clapping his hands in glee he smiled at them. “I’ll let you two get back to your lunch, by all means. We’ll have to build a new jail, but I figure that won’t take too long, right after we rebuild my house.” Turning he sauntered out of the room, his easy chuckle drifting back to those sitting at the table. “Do you get the feeling that we’re elected for this job whether we want it or not?” Adrian asked softly. “Yep.” Joey smiled then glanced at him in time to see the frown on his face. “What’s wrong?” “Don’t get me wrong Joe, I think you’re a helluva deputy but this is hard work, you’ve been lucky so far but what if you get shot? What happens if you get caught.” “Are you making excuses cause you don’t want me around?” She asked. “No.” Adrian shook his head firmly. “Just can’t help but feel that you don’t deserve to be a target. Do you realize what’ll happen out there on your own..” “Look I can tell him that I won’t take the job.” Joey said rising stiffly even as Adrian rose as well. Frustration and disappointment rolled into her as she pushed away from the table. “Now that ain’t what I said.” Adrian huffed moving to stand in her path. “I was merely voicing my concerns. We both know you can do the job, that ain’t the point.” “Then what is?” Joe snapped. “The point is that you’re obviously in no shape to be bickering about something that don’t need to be decided right this minute.” “Oh stuff it.” Joey said moving to step past him and cringing when her side sent a shard of white-hot pain up her side, stealing her breath and knocking her for a loop. Gasping for breath she swayed and reached for a chair only to find herself wrapped in a pair of familiar, muscled arms. Inhaling she barely felt the pain that wrapped itself around her upper body as the familiar smell of his soap, and the mingled smells of sweat, horses, and fresh air invaded her senses. Pushing slightly against him she struggled to remain standing even as he stepped back to balance himself, pulling her flush against his body. Glancing up at him she stared at his blue eyes carefully, searching for any sign that he’d noticed the increase in her heart rate, the thunder of her pulse. What was it about him that always made her mind go fuzzy? It wasn’t like he was any better than any other man she’d worked with, just because he was honorable, and decent and acted like he cared about things, didn’t mean he was better than anyone. “You okay?” Adrian asked, hardly noticing the husky timber to his voice, or the low pitch as he stared down at her green eyes. He could feel the kick of her heart against his chest, the warmth, and firmness of her curves as she relaxed into his arms, the steady rise and fall of her breathing, the hammering of her pulse. All told him that she was as affected by the proximity as he was, and yet he couldn’t force himself to let go. Stepping into the kitchen, Kid froze and stared. Standing toe to toe, their attention focused solely on each other was Adrian and Joe. From the way that Adrian’s hands were resting about her waist, Kid didn’t figure either were aware of just how questionable the stance they were taking was. Clearing his throat he hid his smile as two heads whipped around to stare at him with identical quizzical expressions. “I’m not interrupting anything am I?” He asked smoothly. “No Pa.” Adrian stepped back reluctantly, helping Joe into a chair and flushing slightly. He reached over to grab his cup of coffee and took a long drink of the hot, aromatic brew before putting the cup down and snaring his hat. “Best go help Hunter.” He muttered and slipped out of the room without once glancing at either the girl sitting at the table or his father. “Ahh, to be young and in love.” Kid smiled at the young woman. “He reminds me of me before Lou and I were married.” “I’m sure you’re mistaken.” Joey replied softly. “He merely caught me when I slipped. I’d have hit the floor if he hadn’t thought to catch me.” “Indeed.” Kid smiled at her and settled into a chair. “Let me tell you something about Adrian. I can read him like a book, and one that’s written with large, bold letters at that. That man’s besotted with you.” “He is not.” Joey snapped and flushed. “Sorry sir, its just that I know him. He doesn’t even want me for a deputy.” “I take it Hunter approached you both about that job?” “Yes sir.” “Let me guess, Adrian had along list of reasons why you shouldn’t take it?” “Yes.” “Understandable. I had a list of reasons for Lou not to do things every time we got into trouble. We even broke up over it one time, thankfully we were able to see our way around it and figured out that love was more important than pride.” Kid smiled and crossed his hands on the table. “If you want him, all you have to do is get him.” “Exactly what do you mean by that?” Joey asked, her back stiffening at the older man’s look. “I mean I may be old, and my hair may be graying but I’m not blind. I saw the way you were looking at him.” Kid replied. And leaned toward her. “That sort of hunger’s kept me with the same woman for twenty three years.” “I’m not sure I know what you mean?” “I’m going to remind you of this on your wedding day.” Kid declared. “Protesting that you don’t want what you do. Remind me of Jimmy back when we were young, idealistic.” “Jimmy?” “Yeah.” Kid smiled sadly, the old pain not forgotten. “Wild Bill Hickok, or Jimmy to his friends was always denying that he wanted anything from life. I often wondered if he wasn’t deny himself so much because he knew that fate had other plans for him.” “You knew Wild Bill?” Joey smiled slightly. “That must go over well in a conversation.” “I never thought of Jimmy as Wild Bill.” Kid replied and grinned. “But that’s who you remind me of. You know you’re just as stubborn, proud, and maybe a little too unwilling to bend as he was. Adrian cares for you, other wise he wouldn’t have gone toe to toe with the town council about you. I’ve never known my son to do something so foolish as to risk his job for the sake of another person that was for any reason considerably less than what he should think. I don’t mean that you’re a bad person, but Adrian’s not a meet in the middle kinda guy. With him it’s either right or wrong, left or right. You broke that rule, you’re a good deputy but you’re also a woman. A woman doesn’t belong with a star pinned to her chest.” “But..” “For Adrian it’s been a lot harder for him to admit that he needs you around. Trust me on this, he cares and while it’s not wise I don’t blame him. I think he knows more about what you’re going to do than anyone in this world.” Kid stared at her for a moment. “Don’t hide from what you want Joe, if you want him all you have to do is say so.” “I’m not sure..” “Yes you are.” Kid smiled. “Because if he came back in here and said he wanted you, you’d follow him blindly. With you it’s will he appreciate this? Not I wonder how much I can screw his life up.” Rising agilely Kid reached over and picked up part of Joe’s sandwich. “And now I’ve finished my sermon, I shall go find my wife and remind her I love her.” “But..” Joey sat there staring after him for a few seconds pondering what he’d said. Adrian could have kept his job easily enough, all he’d had to do was keep his mouth shut and yet he hadn’t. He hadn’t really said that she shouldn’t take the job in Five Fingers either, he’d merely pointed out that the risks were greater than she’d originally thought of. Could Mister Miller be right? Could Adrian care about her? Saddling up Joey glanced at the house that stood in the morning mist, a light shone from the window and she could hear the laughter of a family getting up to greet the day. Glancing at the buckle on the back cinch she squared her jaw, it was time to move on, time to get away from everyone before they realized she was a fraud. She’d done so much with her life in the short time she’d known Adrian Miller; it was only fitting that she should beg for his job. Maybe if she went and talked to the town council in Sweetwater, they’d give him back his job. Watching him on the ranch she knew that sooner or later he’d die of boredom, he wasn’t meant for the slow pace of being the only law on a ranch. Granted the ranch was big enough to have a small town on it’s western border but still, he deserved the fast paced life of a Marshall of a town bigger and better than Five Fingers. “Slipping away are we?” Adrian’s words were whispered in her ear, even as his warm breath stirred the hair at the nape of her neck. “What are you doing out here?” She asked softly as she moved to gather the reins only to see Adrian saddled and ready. “What do you think?” “I could ask the same of you.” Adrian smiled easily at her, despite the icy blue in his eyes and the stern set to his shoulders. “So what exactly are you doing out here?” “What does it look like?” Joey asked. “I’m going back to Sweetwater, maybe I can convince them to give you your job back.” “Don’t want it.” Adrian drawled. “Besides that I’ve already got another job to come to.” “You and I both know that the slow pace of the ranch would drive you insane within a month. You like the busy, tension of the bigger cities.” “Yeah but see here I’ve got my very own aggravation.” Adrian declared and led his horse out into the mist along side hers. “And she refuses to think about what she’s doing? I could have kept my mouth shut and just let them fire you, or do I need to remind you of that fact?” “Adrian you’re a good lawman, you deserve to be somewhere where you’ll make a name for yourself.” “I already have a name.” He replied swinging into the saddle. “Miller.” The frustration that filled her words had him grinning. “Besides that Morgan, I kinda like working with you. If nothing else it’ll never be boring.” “I’m serious.” Joey sighed and stared at him. “So am I.” Adrian paused and glanced around, taking a deep breath of the morning air and smelling the burning cedar, and the coffee brewing. “If I wanted to be in Sweetwater, I’d be there. Besides that I’m needed here, maybe if I’d been here before Hunter wouldn’t have lost his house, or Jenny gotten scared the way she was..” “You can’t change things.” Joey replied softly, breathing in the warmth of the summer morning air. “No you’re right I can’t. But I can make damn sure that the next time some fool decides to terrorize my friends, my family that I’m there to stop it.” Adrian turned his head slightly. “This is all I’ve got, this is what I am. It isn’t a place that makes me a Marshall, it’s the people I protect and the battles I choose. I can’t, I won’t let them down.” “You’re taking too much on yourself.” “I’m headed for Five Fingers, you coming?” “Yes.” Joey sighed and nudged her mount into a trot as Adrian loped out of the yard. “If only to keep you from killing yourself with this new quest of yours.” Watching the jail take shape, and the lives of those touched by the rustler’s cruelty being rebuilt Joey wondered if she was doing the right thing, would it matter if she pulled out? If she rode off and never came back? Shuddering at the icy cold that settled within her heart at the thought she watched Adrian fall into an easy rapport with the people, relaxing and interacting with others easily. She was a little surprised to find that she was given a small, two room cabin behind the jail to live in; and even more surprised to find out that Adrian would be sharing it with her. “You know I can sleep in the jail?” Joey volunteered as Adrian dumped his gear by the bed under the front window. “I don’t see any problem with that.” “I do.” Adrian said stretching out the kinks in his back. For some reason working around Five Fingers was so much more physical than working in Sweetwater. “Besides that you’ve got the bedroom door, I promise I won’t peak.” “Ha, that’s never worried me before.” Joey muttered and sank down onto the edge of the bed. Glancing at Adrian when he turned his head and stared at her she frowned. “What?” “Why has it never worried you?’ “Why has what never worried me?” Joey asked puzzled by his statement. “Me peaking at you.” “I don’t have anything to peak at.” Joey laughed. “If I did do you honestly believe I could get by with only a binding cloth. Your aunt wears one, so does several of your female relations, and you can still tell they’re women.” “You aren’t my aunt, or my cousins.” Adrian muttered under his breath and sucked in a breath at the mental picture of Joe Morgan without her shirt on. Granted what she did have wasn’t a lot but he liked what she did have, enough to have memorized the shadow of cleavage, the barest hint of the roundness, the firmness of her breasts from nothing more than the recollection of touch and the glimpses he’d gotten throughout their little trip out here. “Very funny.” Joey said with a sigh and frowned. “Are we expecting company?” She asked standing up and moving to the window, her body pressed up against Adrian’s as she leaned over to stare out the window. “No.” Adrian ground out, feeling the warmth of her body through both their clothes. “God help me please.” He glanced heavenward and shifted, hoping to slide away from her without both of them winding up on the floor. “Hey it’s your Pa.’ Joey smiled and moved, countering Adrian’s attempt to get away from her, and in the process hooking her booted foot behind one of his, upending both of them onto the floor. “Would you get off me.” Adrian growled as her body settled on his, knocking the wind from his lungs and pushing him further into the hard flooring. “I’m not going to explain this..” “Hey you two?” Kid’s laughter filled voice had both of them turning to stare at him, “You lose something?” “no.” Joey replied quickly. “Adrian wouldn’t get out of the way when I went to the window, and we wound up tripping and now we’re lying on the floor. It’s not funny.” She snapped glancing at Adrian who’d started to chuckle. “Course it ain’t.” Adrian laughed and lifted her off him with a careless movement of his hands. “But if you don’t take a breath now and then, you’re going to find yourself turning blue before you finish your sentences.” “Shut up.” Joey said climbing to her feet. “What can we do for you Mister Miller?” “Just came down to see if you two were up to a little harvest festival. The ladies at the house have decided that we need one.” “It’s not harvesting time yet Pa.” Adrian protested wincing when he shifted and found that he’d bruised his backside when he’d fallen with Joey on top him. “It’s just an excuse for them to get dressed up.” Kid sighed and sank into a chair. “And knowing your Ma, I’ll never hear the end of it if I don’t agree.” “What would we have to do?” Joey glanced at Adrian then back at his father. “We can’t just leave Five Fingers without anyone here to protect it.” “Oh that’s not a problem.” Kid stated. “Cause we’d have the social down here. There isn’t enough room at home for everyone, and it would be very hard to cram everyone into the barn, not to mention all that work.” “Where are we supposed to have it here?” Adrian pondered aloud, the only building big enough was the school, and it was full of desks, chairs, and other paraphernalia. “We’re going to clean out the school and have it there. You’ve got a week to be prepared.” Kid said and shifted, rising to his feet with the familiar grace of a man used to moving about.  “Day after tomorrow the ladies’ll be down here to help.” He stated walking to the door. “Just so you know, it wasn’t my idea. I have no intention of getting all gussied up like some tin-horn.” “You will if Ma says so.” Adrian muttered, earning a withering glare from his father and the swift elbow from his deputy. “Just get ready.” Kid growled and stepped outside to mount up and head for home. “Well?” Joey turned to her boss. “What do you reckon we should do?” “I think we’re going to have to empty the desks, chairs, and other items from the school so that folks can stand around in it. I don’t like it either, you know as well as I do what happens when folks get carried away with their partying.” “There isn’t any liquor here.” Joey pointed out. “And you’re making a snap judgment based on prejudices.” “No I’m not. There’s a good reason I like a dry town, folks be they white, red, pink or purple tend to act like fools when it comes to getting drunk. I won’t have it.” “The jail’s finished. People get out of hand, we’ll just toss ‘em in there.” “We?” Adrian smiled at her easily and crossed his arms over his chest. “There isn’t going to be a we; you’re going to be dressed up.” “I am not.” Joey protested and glared at him. “I don’t have a suit.” “Dress.” Adrian replied stepping past her. “You’ll be wearing a dress. Ma’ll drive you insane until you agree, and me to so I suggest you just do it.” “You’re a slave driver you know that don’t you?” Joey smiled at him as he opened the door. “Yes I do. I’m going for my walk-about. I’ll be back before long, it’s your turn to cook.” “It’s always my turn to cook.” Joey hollered after him. “When’s it going to be your turn?” “Just get to it.” Adrian called back stepping off the porch and heading up the street, leaving her simmering in her anger at the front door. True to his father’s words, Adrian watched his mother and both his aunts ride into town in a buggy along with his Uncle Ike, and a couple of the other boys. “Well I hope you’re prepared for this.” He said glancing at Joey who glared at him before turning her attention back to the book she’d borrowed off Jenny. “I have no intention of getting all dressed up for something that I’m not going to.” Joey stated haughtily. “If you wish to go, then by all means. Have fun, enjoy yourself and don’t get drunk.” “Why Miss Bossy you will so.” Adrian said chucking her under the chin slightly as he stepped out to meet his mother. “Hi Ma.” “Adrian my this place looks quiet.” Lou commented looking about. Women were moving along the streets, children played around the buildings and the few men in town were either working on construction, clean up or some other method of occupation. “It’s grown since I was here last.” “Yep.” Adrian said leaning against the railing. “We just hired a new black smith, not to mention that Missus Rodriguez is gathering old books to start a library.” “Where’s your deputy?” Sara asked glancing around. “Inside. She’s busy, or she’d be out here to greet you.” Adrian said with a grin. “Seems she’s got some reading that’s very important.” “Drop dead Miller.” Joey’s disgruntled voice came from inside a moment before the door slammed shut on Adrian’s laughter. “How are things working out?” Lou asked quickly glancing at her son. He was so much more relaxed then she’d seen him in a long time, he wasn’t walking around with his gun strapped down, he didn’t have that restless edge to his persona at all. A quick glance at the house had her frowning slightly, could it be that the reason was his deputy? “Amazingly well Ma. Joey’s great, she pulls her own weight and then some.” Adrian grinned and glanced at his cousins who snickered at him. “And she minds her own business boys.” The warning in his voice was clear, and yet the boys just laughed it off and led the horses and buggy away. “Good. So where are we staying?” Louise asked with a glance at Laura who’d moved to stand beside her. Despite the lack of sight, the other woman was as comfortable on the ranch as if she were in her own living room. She very rarely felt the need to ask what was in front of her, and the stately walking cane she carried offered assistance that meant she didn’t even need to ask for help if she did wander off alone. “Yes dear, I’m ready for a sit down.” Laura said and waved at the simmering heat of the late day sun. “You can have the cabin.” Adrian declared. “Joey and I’ll sleep at the jail.” “You sure? We wouldn’t want to put you out.” Sara said. “Nonsense.” Adrian shrugged. “We’d be happy to put you up, after all we take turns sleeping anyway, so it ain’t like we’re in desperate need of the beds.” “If you say so.” Lou said and glanced at her son for a moment as he turned to head inside, stopping only long enough to pick up the satchels that sat on the ground next to where the buggy had been parked. Following him inside she noted the clean, sparsety of the main room and sighed. It was so much like the boy not to put in something that would make living more comfortable. “Joey, you’re looking well.” “Thank you Missus Miller.” Joey smiled at her and glanced at Adrian as he exited her room with a pile of her clothes. “Where are you going with my clothes?” The question was soft, silky and carried a threat. “To the jail.” Adrian declared pausing to lean across the table and snatch the book from her hands. “Where you will be sleeping for the next few nights so get used to it.” “I’ll take my own clothing.” She snapped and reached for them. “I’ve already got them. Grab anything else you want to take with you, you’re going to need it for comfort’s sake.” “Comfort?” Joey laughed humorlessly. “I haven’t known a moment’s comfort since I met you. I suppose I have to sleep in the only cell in the place to.” “No you can sleep on the floor.” Adrian declared and ushered her to her feet. “Come on. Help yourself Ma, if you need anything we’ll be at the jail.” Taking Joey’s arm, he half ushered, half carried her out of the building despite her dark look at him. “I’m going to tear your head off.” Joey snapped and jerked her arm free the moment they were outside. “I do not appreciate being tossed about like some cabbage.” “Oh just get a move on.” Adrian replied. “Or do I need to carry you.” “Go straight to hell.” Joey snapped and stalked off to the jail, ignoring his laughter and the smiles on the women standing watching their bickering. Stomping up the steps she turned to glare at Adrian, “Just so you know, I’m doing this under protest.” “Yes boss, I know.” Adrian grinned at her and closed the door easily behind them. “Do you think he has a solitary clue?” Sara asked as she stood at the window and watched the youngsters bickering across the street. “Nope.” Lou smiled. “Just as all men don’t. Probably be telling his grandchildren about it when he’s your age.” She smiled at Sara who groaned and turned to glare at her. “My age?” Sara glared at her for a second. “You do realize that you’re the same age as I am.” “I know.” Lou smiled. “Just that it’s so much more fun to call you old than it is me.” “Did either of you two bring her dress?” Laura asked lifting the lid off a pot and sniffing the contents delicately. “I didn’t.” Sara glanced at Lou. “Did you?” “Yes Miss Forgetful. I brought the dress, getting her into it is another story.” Lou declared with a grin. “Oh something tells me that’ll be easier than we think.” Sara said softly and turned to stare out the window as her sons walked into the jail. The boys had no idea what was in store for them, none at all. Standing staring at herself in the mirror, Joey groaned as she heard the rustle of skirts behind her. She had to admit that Adrian was right, that his Mother and her friends had suckered her into wearing a dress tonight. Not that Joey minded wearing a dress; it was just that putting on a dress would spell the end of her law-enforcement days. No Marshall was going to keep a woman on, especially when the town knew she was a girl, not even Miller. “You look wonderful.” Sara said with a motherly smile and a slight hug. “Don’t you worry about it darlin’ you’ll knock his socks off.” “Whose socks?” Joey asked turning to face her with a concerned frown on her face. Sara smiled and glanced at Lou and Laura. “Now Jo, I think it’s only fair that I should warn you I’ve been around too long for that kind of response to work on me. I’m neither dumb nor blind, I can see how the two of you act.” “What are you talking about?” She croaked, a sinking sensation in her gut as she realized that her boss’s father must have been jawing with his wife. “I’m really not sure what you mean.” “Come on.” Laura sighed. “We’re going to be late, it was hard enough getting Buck into a tie, without delaying the rewards.” “Reward?” Sara turned to her with a grin. “What did you promise him?” “Some private dancing.” Laura declared and grinned at the muted groan from the young woman standing a short distance away. “Do you mind if we hurry?” “Not at all Missus Cross.” Joey declared moving toward the door. “I’ll be glad to get this underway for you. Can I get you your wrap or anything?” “No dear.” Laura said moving toward the open door. She could hear the faint, melodious sounds of the fiddle player on the night breeze and sighed, she loved it when Buck took her dancing, it was always so much more romantic, and pleasant than the regular days that they spent together. It reminded her of being young and in love. Of fooling around when no one was watching, and sneaking off after dark to the pond to make out, and torment each other. Oh how she missed those days, but she had to admit that sometimes the days they had no were better than those ones. “Well come on.” Joey declared and held the door for the other women. “If I’m stuck in this get up, lets make it for as little time as possible. I’ll have to be careful after this, the townsfolk will know I’m a girl, and they’ll be less likely to do as I tell ‘em.” “A little secret.” Sara whispered softly, pausing next to her. “They already know you’re a girl.” Flushing at the words, Joey glanced around uneasily and stepped out into the darkness to fall into step with Sara McSwain. She had taken an instant liking to the woman a few days before, something she was slightly surprised about; that is until she realized she had never spent a lot of time with the women when she’d been at the main houses, being in a sick bed was a good way to keep company from calling. Trudging along behind the others, Joey glanced around and sighed, maybe she could sneak off and not have to look like some painted doll for a few hours. If she went back to the jail everyone would be too busy to notice she was gone, and Miller might actually thank her for helping keep the peace. “You still there?” Sara’s voice had her wincing. “Yes ma’am.”  She said and moved a little faster, she hated the idea of looking like some living doll, and that’s what she felt like. It had been years since she’d worn a dress, long enough for her to feel more than a little uncomfortable with the idea of being stuck in one. “Well don’t you look chipper?” The familiar voice had her glaring at Hunter McSwain as he stopped her by the doors, his mother kissing his cheek before moving off to where his father stood. “I hate this.” Joey muttered glancing around uneasily. “You think they’d notice if I just sorta slipped away?” “I guarantee it.” Hunter said with a grin. Studying her he stifled the chuckle he could feel building. Despite the fact that her hair was shorter than most women’s she wore the dress with the aplomb of royalty. The soft green set off her eyes, and the fitted waist emphasized her curves although from the way she was glancing around he knew she didn’t want to be there. A glance at his wife showed she was engrossed in a conversation with his sister and he smiled. “Care to dance?” “I don’t dance.” Joey whispered softly and glanced around again, feeling deserted and alone when she didn’t spot Adrian’s familiar figure. “Sure you do.” Hunter declared pulling her along with him toward the dance floor. “And since Adrian’s hiding out, you’re stuck here.” “I’m going to skin his worthless hide.” Joey declared and fell into step with Hunter as they waltzed about the room. “How am I supposed to keep up a respectable distance when I’m getting paraded around like some doll?” She groused. “Oh just relax. Everyone knows you’re a woman, and more importantly they all know you’re Adrian’s so keeping a respectable persona isn’t going to be a problem.” Hunter smiled down at her. “What do you mean?” Joey paused and glared at him as realization struck her. “Adrian’s woman?” “Sure.” Hunter nodded seriously. “Any fool with eyes in their head can see the two of you are interested in each other, frankly I’m surprised he’s not here to punch me out for dancing with you. Adrian doesn’t share well.” “I am not.” “May I?” The silky tones had her glancing over her shoulder at James who grinned at her and swung her off into another dance. Pleading lightheadedness she managed to escape after dancing with every one of Adrian’s friends and relatives. Sinking into a chair by the door she glanced around and felt the return of her anger simmering as she realized he had yet to make an appearance, she’d been stuck in a dress for hours while he was off doing nothing. Rising she moved slowly, cautiously out the door and headed for the jail, hoping against hope that she hadn’t been spotted. Lifting her skirt after nearly tripping on it she stepped onto the boardwalk and reached for the door handle. A swift turn had the door swinging open smoothly to reveal a well lit interior, a warm crackling fire in the stove and Adrian Miller sitting at the desk, his booted feet resting on the top, his hat pulled down low over his face. “Why you snake!” joey slammed the door and advanced across the room as Adrian came awake with a start, his feet dropping to the floor and a guilty look on his face as he realized who had entered ther oom. “Hey Joe. Is it over yet?’ “You left me alone.” Joey snarled as she stomped toward him. “I was stuck dancing with James, and Hunter, and God only knows who else. I don’t dance, I don’t like to be the center of attention and everyone was staring at me.” She snapped. “Now Morgan, I can’t help that.” Adrian drawled staring at her. She seemed to be in a bit of a temper, and that temper was directed at him. “I warned you to keep out of my Mother’s way, but you didn’t listen to me.” “Don’t you start with that I warned you crap.” She snapped and picked up the nearest thing she could grab hold of; ironically it just happened to be her empty coffee cup. “I’ve spent the past few hours feeling like some sort of painted dolly everyone’s came out to see. And you hid over here like I don’t know what but as soon as I come up with a suitable insult I will tell you!” “Now Joe it ain’t my fault if my Mother likes you.” Adrian said ducking as the cup went sailing by his head. “Don’t throw things.” “How am I supposed to do my job?” She stomped one foot and glared at him. “And another thing, how come everyone figures I belong to you?” Hunter’s words echoing in her mind as she stared at Adrian who flushed and shrugged before glancing around for some escape route. “I don’t know.” He said inching his way toward the back door. “Yes you do.” She snapped and moved quickly to block the door, kicking his chair at him and sending him onto his butt in it before moving over to stand with her hands curled around the handles as she glared at him. “You can tell me what you told them.” “I didn’t tell anyone anything.” Adrian protested watching her. Her green eyes flashed angrily as she stared at him each move he made another reason for her to renew her glare. “Honestly, why would I go around telling anyone that you belong to me? I mean it’s not like..” “Oh shut up.” Joey snapped and pushed away from the chair to glance around. Spotting her stuff, she moved toward it with deadly intent. “I’m leaving. I have no intention of being made fun ofl ike this.” “Now just a minute.” Adrian said hopping out of his chair even as it skittered across the floor to bang against the wall and fall over. Moving over he grabbed her clothes as she stuck them into her bag and pulled them out to toss back at the box she’d had them in. “You ain’t going nowhere. Where am I suppose to find a deputy on this short of notice?” “Hire your brother.” Joey snapped grabbing for a shirt and throwing it into her bag before she collect a pair of pants, long johns, binding clothe and a freshly pressed shirt. “I’m leaving and there is nothing you can say that’ll make me change my mind.” She fumed and reached up to unbutton the dress even as Adrian tried to tug it back into place. “You figure we should go rescue him?” Hunter glanced at James who shrugged and leaned against the wall of the church. “You think he’ll appreciate it?” “No.” Hunter grinned. “But if we don’t she may just kill him.” “You’re right.” James said and pushed away from the wall to walk toward the door, setting his cup down on the nearest table and slipping with Hunter out into the night even as they heard a loud crash echo from the jail. “Uh oh.” He murmured and looked at Hunter. “You don’t think she’s killed him do you?” “With those two?” Hunter laughed and slapped James’ on the shoulder. “Come on, better check it out.” Trotting across the street the pair stepped up onto the boardwalk even as they heard Adrian curse and the distinct thump of his boots across the wooden floor. “Might be interesting.” Hunter muttered and reached for the door even as they heard muffled voices from inside, followed by a string of curses and then utter silence. A glance at his friend had Hunter swallowing before he opened the door and stepped inside. Freezing when he realized what he’d walked in on, he stumbled forward when James bumped into him from behind before closing the door. “Uh.” He stuttered and stared at the pair who glared at him. Standing holding Joey’s dress in one hand, and her in the other, Adrian felt the embarrassed flush climbing his neck to turn his face red. He could clearly hear the distinct sound of the fabric tearing, and see the pale flesh exposed along with the shadows of cleavage as she grabbed for the bodice to cover herself with. “What is going on here?” James asked stepping around Hunter and freezing as he realized just what he was seeing. Neither Joey nor Adrian looked overly happy to see either of them and he could clearly see why, Joey’s dress was hanging half off her body, a pale shoulder exposed to the harsh light of a lantern. Adrian stood tensely staring at him, one hand wrapped around the pale green material of Joey’s dress and the other on her arm. “You know Joey, if you wanted to sneak off to meet him, you should’ve picked a better place to do it.” James laughed easily. “Oh shut up.” Joey snapped taking a step toward only to come to a halt when Adrian’s warm, calloused palm skittered across exposed skin. Shuddering at the sensation she stepped back behind him and glared at his brother. “Don’t you two have something better to do than annoy me?” “Nope.” Hunter said leaning against the desk by his hip. “If we did that, we wouldn’t have any fun. Uh are you planning on getting dressed there Joey?” “Go to hell.” Joey muttered and reached for her shirt, hoping to get it without moving any more than she had to. Swearing steadily under her breath she snagged it and pulled it toward her even as the door opened and Adrian’s folks stepped inside. “What’s going on over here?” Kid demanded glancing at Adrian who stood as still as a statue with Joey peaking out from behind him. Hearing the pair groan in unison he hid a smile, looked like they’d been caught doing something. “Nothing.” Adrian muttered. “Hunter and James just came looking for us at a difficult moment.” “Caught them with their pant’s down.” Hunter chuckled at Adrian’s affronted look. “You did not.” Adrian snapped taking a step toward him only to freeze when Joey grabbed hold of his shirt and tugged. “Do not move.” She whispered as she struggled to get into a shirt without losing what cover she had. “Adrian I’d have thought you’d have better sense than this.” Kid stated. “How could you..?” “I haven’t done anything!“ Adrian protested, staring at his father. “Like hell. I can see for myself what’s right in front of me.” “But Pa I never..” Adrian threw his hands up and glanced at Joey who was rapidly buttoning her shirt. “Joe tell ‘em.” “Tell ‘em what?” Joey said glancing around for a pair of pants as the dress started to slip off her hips. Glaring at Adrian when he caught it before it slipped to far and held it in place she glanced past him to the small group standing staring at them. “Why bother?” She muttered. “They won’t believe us.” “Because we’re not guilty of anything.” Adrian muttered and shifted nervously under the disapproval of his parents’ gaze. “We just came over to tell you that we’re going to be staying at Wolf’s for tonight. Laura and Buck have decided to take the cabin, and Sara and Ike I believe are staying above the livery in that small apartment. Frankly I’m quite disappointed in both of you.” Lou snapped and glanced at Hunter and James. “And you as well. You could have had the decency to at least allow them a moment’s privacy to get tidied up again.” “Yes ma’am.” Hunter said hiding his grin as the older couple slipped back out into the night. With a glance at Adrian and Joey who both looked like they’d like to crawl under a rock and hide he grinned. “Behave yourselves now children.” “Get out.” Adrian growled and moved allowing Joey to grab a pair of her pants and slip them on under the skirt before letting the torn dress fall to the ground even as the door closed with a quiet click. “I hate you.” Joey snapped glaring at her boss. “Me? What did I do?’ “You tore it. How am I supposed to be to blame?” “If you’d just let me get changed then none of this would have happened!” Joey stabbed a finger into his chest and glared at him. “Shame on you.” Glaring at her, Adrian slowly counted to ten then shrugged and swore softly. “That’s it.” Bending slightly he picked her up, tossing her over one shoulder and headed for the back door. There was a watering trough not more than ten feet from the back step and he was going to drop the annoying little shrew into it and leave her there to contemplate her temper tantrum! Ignoring her squirming, and kicking he stalked over to the water trough and shifted her weight until he was holding her in his arms, “Cool off.” He snapped and shifted making to drop her only to find himself falling right on top of her in the water. Gasping for air as he surfaced he stared at her in the moonlight as she laughed, despite the fact that she was pinned to the bottom of the trough with his weight on top of her. “What’s so funny?” “How did we wind up in this together?” She laughed at him. “Because you can’t control your temper.” He replied with an easy chuckle. “Come on, out you get and we need to get you into some dry clothes. I think its safe to say we won’t have any more company tonight.” “Your folks are going to think we’re insane.” “Naw.” Adrian grinned at her as she stood dripping before him in the moonlight. “They did similar stuff when they were young so I doubt if they’ll go that far. I’ll probably get a long lecture on how to behave like a gentleman tomorrow but other than that.” He shrugged. “Come on, as warm as it is, it’s still cool enough for you to catch your deal of cold.” “Awe you worryin’ bout me now?” Joey laughed and followed him up the steps and inside. “Yeah.” Adrian glanced at her and smiled. “Figure if I don’t, no one will. Besides that we’re friends, and I look out for my friends.” “Such a sweet talker.” Joey smiled at him as he reached for a dry towel. “Jenny wants us to go to their house tomorrow night for dinner.” “What for?” Adrian said, his voice muffled by the towel he was using to dry his hair before he reached down to strip his shirt off, unaware of how Joey’s eyes were stuck on the tanned expanse he was displaying. “Dinner she said.” Joey replied softly and flushed before turning to grab dry clothes. “Don’t peak.” “No ma’am.” Adrian chuckled. “I’ve had enough of getting caught for one night.” “Well?” Sara asked as Kid and Lou joined them by the school. “They’re busy.” Lou said with a grin. “I think he dropped her in the trough out back.” “That’s not very nice.” Sara glanced at her husband when he chuckled. *Sure it is. Adrian’s not about to let an opportunity like this pass him by. Wonder if they’ve figured it out yet?* “Probably not.” Sara sighed softly and glanced at her husband. “I do know this, I’m getting old, and tired. Come on honey, let’s get to bed.” “Sounds like a plan.” Hearing a rider coming Joey stepped out of the jail and watched the horizon to see a fast moving rider coming their way. Waiting patiently for the youngster to come to a stop next to the hitching rail in front she smiled as she recognized James’ youngest sister, Amanda. “Hi Amanda, what brings you out here?” She asked noting the lithe way the young girl dismounted, she was obviously looking for someone or something, and Joey figured helping her out wouldn’t prove too disastrous. “Hi Joey,” Amanda smiled at the young woman. “Got a letter for you. Came in this morning’s mail, Ma figured it might be important.” “For me?” Joey frowned; she didn’t know anyone who would write a letter to her. With both her folks dead, and no siblings she had no ties to Colorado, not any more. Taking the letter she tore it open than glanced at Amanda. “You want to come in? Rest your behind?” “No thanks.” Amanda smiled. “I’m headed for the swimming hole to catch up with the boys, we got today off from our studies and figure on using the time to the best of our abilities.” “Alright. Thanks again for the post.” “No problem.” Amanda declared easily vaulting into the saddle and galloping eastward toward the huge pond that the children swam in. Moving back inside, Joey settled into Adrian’s comfortable chair and leaned back, her booted feet resting on the desk as she pulled the letter from the envelope and unfolded the page. A few minutes later she tossed the offending piece of paper onto the desk and rose to pace stiffly between the door and the single jail cell. Could she face the past? Could she go home? From what the letter had said, her father’s estate had been settled and she was the beneficiary of his meager savings, money that her mother had hidden away so her father couldn’t drink it away. Turning to the horizon she stared at the blue sky and shivered, going home to Colorado would mean that she would have to leave this place, the people, Adrian behind. She couldn’t, wouldn’t expect anyone to follow her into a place of misery and disgust that was the small town she’d grown up in. “You look deep in thought.” Adrian declared stepping into the room and glancing at Joey who stood rooted to the spot, staring out over the horizon. “Got a letter today.” Joey replied and nodded to the paper lying atop Adrian’s desk. “I have to go home for a while.” “How long?” Adrian asked a chill going through him at the way she answered the question, her body stiff and unyielding as cold and emotionless as her words. “Don’t know. Could be a few weeks, could be a few months.” She replied softly, tonelessly. “When you heading out?” “Tomorrow would be wise.” Joey shrugged and turned to face him. “I think it might be best if I turned in my badge.” “What for?” Adrian croaked and coughed to cover the tone in his voice. “You can’t wait forever for me to get back Miller, I’m looking at settling an old estate, my family’s farm has to be taken care of, there are legal matters that need to be dealt with.” Joey replied moving toward him. “I don’t want to leave you hanging with no options.” Adrian nodded and shifted she was leaving! How could she just go? How could she leave everything they’d worked to build behind? Didn’t she care about the town, about him? Like the fury of a summer storm the questions whirled round his head even as he stood staring at her fidgeting before him. “Miller?” Joey paused and looked at him for a moment, the stunned, scared look on his face had her drawing her brows down into a frown of unease. “What’s wrong?” “Nothing.” Adrian replied hoarsely. “I’ve got to go.” He said rushing out the door and heading for his horse. He couldn’t stand to be in the same reason without telling her she wasn’t leaving. He couldn’t let her leave him; he just couldn’t do it. “Kid looks like your son’s in a hurry.” Buck said glancing up at the sound of hoof beats. He could see Adrian tearing up the trail toward them, and figure something must have happened for him to be pushing his horse that hard. “Wonder what’s going on?” Kid said dropping the log he’d been holding and dusting his hands off on his pants, forgetting Louise’s dire threats to his person about it. “She’s leaving!” Adrian snapped as he did a running dismount that had both Kid and Buck raising their eyebrows in amazement. “Who’s leaving?” Kid asked then jumped slightly when Adrian turned to glare at him. “Who do you think?” Adrian snapped angrily. “Joey, she’s got some excuse that she’s got to go back home and she’s leaving.” “Does she have to go?” “How the hell would I know? I don’t read her mind.” Adrian snarled and stomped between his father and his mount. “Uh don’t take this the wrong way son, but if she has to go there’s not really anything you can do to stop her.” Kid started. “She’s just quitting, refused to even think about just taking a few weeks off and then coming home. She’s talking about leaving for months at a time..” “If she has to go Adrian you have to let her go. You can’t deal with her past for her.” Kid started. “Ha, she doesn’t have a past. She’s just trying to make herself out to be important..” Adrian sighed. “No she isn’t. I don’t like the idea of her taking off like that. She could get robbed, or anything could happen between here and there.” “Did you ask her not to go?” Kid asked. “I mean did you tell her you don’t want her badge?” “Yes.” Adrian sank down onto the pile of logs and stared at his feet. “She just offered me her badge. I don’t want it, I don’t want anything from her except for her to stay here.” “Why?” Buck asked noting the way the young man squirmed at the thought of his deputy-leaving town. “I mean it’s not like you can’t retrain someone..” “I don’t want to train someone to take her place. I happen to like working with her.” Adrian interrupted. “She’s familiar, and she knows me inside and out. We’re a team.” “Is that the only reason you don’t want her to go?” Kid asked quietly. “I mean if you’re so concerned about this then maybe you shouldn’t be sitting here biting our heads off, you should be talking to Joey.” “She’s not talking to nobody.” Adrian replied sullenly. “Why couldn’t she just stay normal?” “Pardon?” “She’s gone all weird lately, like she’s got things on her mind.” Adrian replied. “She’s hardly doing anything but just working around the office and making everyone around her miserable.” “Including you huh?” “No.” Adrian glanced at his father and noted the smile on his face. “What are you so happy about?” “Just reminded me of something.” Kid chuckled. “Sounds a lot like what I was saying when Lou and I were broke up don’t it?” “Exactly. Makes me wonder what you’re thinking?” Buck glanced at Adrian and sighed. “Look take some friendly advice, offer her your support, tell her her job’s here if she wants it and let her go. If you don’t, you’re going to run into more problems than you can handle.” “Really? And you’d know this because..?” “Look Adrian, everyone but the two of you can see what’s been going on. Everyone knows better than to flirt with Joey cause they know how you feel about her, and being the Marshall is pretty important to them. I sure hope you’re smarter than I was, don’t crowd her.” Kid replied firmly. “If you love her, let her go. She’ll come back. She’s not about to stay away from here too long.” “Who said anything about being in love?” Adrian croaked. “No you didn’t, I did.” Kid smiled at his son. “Now then, go home tell her you’ll hang onto her badge for her and let her go do her business. And relax before you have a heart attach.” “Yes sir.” Adrian muttered and mounted up to head back to Five Fingers. He’d let Joey know she had a job to come back to, even if she didn’t want it then he’d let her go in the morning. Sitting on the porch of the cabin in the early evening light Joey stared at the horizon, tomorrow morning she’d head back to Colorado leaving this place behind her. Tomorrow she’d go back to a life that she’d never imagined she’d be going back to, and she’d be going alone. Adrian hadn’t come back from wherever he’d been, a sign of his unrest she imagined. After all it was unlikely he wanted to train another deputy. “Hey.” Adrian’s slow drawl had her glancing sharply up over her shoulder to where he stood leaning against the post. “Hey yourself.” Joey smiled softly. “You get whatever you needed done?” “Yeah.” Adrian sighed softly and glanced out over the ranch. “I imagine you’ll want to get a fresh start huh?” “Yeah.” Joey replied sadly. “Just so you know, I’m holding onto your badge till you get back.” Adrian declared with a forced grin. “Figure once you’re done doing whatever you’ve got to do, you’ll be back. Besides I don’t want to lose the best deputy I’ve ever had.” “I’m the only deputy you’ve ever had.” Joey laughed. “Exactly, for a reason.” Adrian pointed out with an easy smile, pushing aside his own unease at letting her go. “Wouldn’t trust anyone else to cover my back. Take care of your business, and then get your butt back here. I don’t figure you’ll need any more vacations for a while once you’re back in the fold.” “No I don’t reckon I will.” Joey said as Adrian ruffled her hair and headed inside, hanging his gun by the door easily even as he headed for the coffee pot. Turning slightly she stared at him, a frown marring her features as she watched him struggle with making a cup of coffee, and even figuring out what to do with himself. It didn’t look like he was having an easy time of this little surprise, not that she could blame him after all she was the one that was leaving him by himself with no back up. Supper for both of them was strained; a few indistinct monosyllable words broke the silence as they pushed their food around, until Joey rose to retreat to her bedroom. Come morning she was riding out and she didn’t know when she’d be back, or even if she would be back but she had to finish what was in her past. Dawn saw Joey mounting up and riding south toward the run down farm she’d ran from years before.  Standing in the shadows of the cabin, Adrian watched her ride away silently, feeling isolated and more alone than he had ever felt before in his life. Throwing himself into the everyday workings of the ranch on top of his duties as Marshall, Adrian rode the range, and the border of the ranch on a regular basis. Checking for prints of any kind, ignoring the barefooted ponies that wandered across the land, if they took a few cows there was no harm, and it wasn’t worth spilling blood over if they were feeding their families. “How’s he doing?” James asked settling next to Hunter a month after Joey’d left. “Busy.” Hunter replied glancing up at the sharp crack of an axe splitting word with a fierce determination. Studying the man he sighed, “he hasn’t stopped working since she left. When’s she due back?” “Don’t know.” James replied. “Adrian didn’t say, other than she could be gone a while. Frankly I’m worried ‘bout him, he’s never been like this before.” “He’s never been in love before.” Hunter chuckled. “Give it some time, he’ll give it a rest sooner or later.” “I have to work with him.” James replied with a glance at his friend. “I was up before dawn this morning making coffee because he was slamming doors and banging pots for hours. Damn fool needs to be shot.” “Naw. He needs to have his deputy back.” Hunter smiled. “Sure wish I knew where she’d ran off to.” “Maybe he does.” James pointed at Adrian who’d tossed the axe down and was piling the wood in an unmitigated heap by the wall. “Hey Adrian you know where Joey went?” “Colorado.” Adrian snarled back. “Why you planning on joinin’ her?” “No.” James replied. “Just thinking maybe you should head out and see what’s keeping her. I’ve got a life you know, can’t be your deputy for ever.” “Oh just shut up and get back to work. You’re a pain in the ass at times little brother.” “Yes sir.” James glanced at Hunter. “See what I mean. He’s been like that for two weeks now. If he gets any worse, I’m going to find a hole and crawl into it.” Laughing at the words, Hunter rose to his feet. “Just be glad you’re not living with him. From what Pa’s been saying he’s a real bear to be around lately and he’s only going to get worse.” “That’s just it, he doesn’t yell or curse or anything. He’s too controlled in his anger.” “He’s not angry, he’s scared.” Hunter replied quickly. “Because he has no way of knowing if she’s coming back to him or not and every instinct in his body tells him that he shouldn’t have let her go.” “Well then why did he?” “Because he had no choice.” Hunter replied and headed into his home quickly where Jenny was sitting working on the homework she’d brought home the day before. “Hey Love, how’s things going?” “Better than Adrian’s going.” Jenny replied with a grin. “Has he actually broke down and talked to anyone lately?” “He’s barking orders.” James said moving over to lift the lid off a pot and sniff at the aromatic scents from within. “That’s not talking.” Jenny replied and shifted to get up and grab the coffee pot. “That’s growling. Why doesn’t he just go to Colorado and get her?” “How do you know where she is?” Hunter demanded glancing at his wife who smiled prettily at him and shrugged. “I’m a woman, she’s a woman. We talk.” Jenny declared. “Besides, she’s in love with him so why shouldn’t I find out where she’s at.” “Jenny sometimes I wonder why he didn’t let you freeze to death.” James muttered as he heard Adrian’s distinct baritone hollering for him. “I’ll deal with you later.” Laughing at him, Jenny watched him walk out of the house and head for the jail. She pitied him having to work with Adrian especially in the mood his older brother was in. “I could’ve told him you know.” “I know.” Hunter sighed and grinned at his wife. “But it’s more fun this way to watch him suffer?” “Something like that.” Jenny replied easily and turned her attention back to her marking. Sitting on the stoop of the boarding house she was staying out, Joey watched the traffic and felt a chill invade her. She longed to be back in Five Fingers where she could walk down the street at night without worrying about someone jumping out from behind a building to attack her, where the most annoying thing was the way Adrian teased her after the sun went down and they were closed up in the jail working on the paperwork. Mostly she just missed Adrian, and the way he was always there, the quiet moments when he didn’t know she was watching him and the way he often sat engrossed in a book or his thoughts and was so studious in his work and in his friendships. She wondered if he missed her as much as she missed him, and what was keeping her in town? The only thing she’d come back for had been resolved, now she had to make a choice about whether to go home to her home, or whether to stay here and be treated like some sort of spectacle. “Why Miss Morgan, you look lost in thought.” The smooth, oily tone had her cringing inwardly as she glanced up to see Randolph Holmes standing at the bottom of the steps. Inwardly wishing she had her gun handy she glared at him coldly. “What do you want Mister Holmes?” She asked indifferently, every instinct on alert. “Just dropped by for a social call.” The man declared moving to sit next to her on the swing. Shifting slightly away from him she glanced with disdain as he sank his lanky length onto the swing and set it into motion. “Why would you do that sir?” She asked, her training and the knowledge she’d gained working with Adrian coming to the forefront, making her skin crawl with apprehension. “Now Miss Morgan.” The man sneered at her and glanced at the pale chiffon dress the woman wore. He knew she had money, no woman rode into town on a flashy pony like she’d done without having some money and he wanted it. “Just being friendly is all.” “Mister Holmes, you are as far from being friendly as I am of being the president of these United States.” She stated calmly and rose to move to the edge of the porch. “Why not cut to the chase sir, and just tell me what it is that you want.” “Miss Morgan I don’t think..” “Mister Holmes.” Joey sighed and crossed her arms. “I haven’t got anything of value..” “This from a woman who rode in on a horse the likes of which I ain’t seen in ten years..” “The horse belongs to my fiancé.” Joey replied smoothly. “Who just happens to be my employer as well.” “What kind of fool would let a girl like you walk around with an animal like that?” He snarled rising to his feet. “The kind you don’t want to mess with.” Joey replied smoothly, coldly as she stared at him. “Why Joey I didn’t realize you were in town?” The distinct drawl of Matthew McSwain had her glancing over her shoulder to see him standing there with a dark bay mare and a curious look on his face. “Hi Matthew.” Joey sighed softly. “What brings you to town?” “Just coming back from visiting Uncle Jeremiah.” The young man replied and glanced at the weasel that stood a short distance away. “I’m sorry I didn’t catch your name.” “Randolph Holmes.” The man said extending a hand and studying the young man. He was dressed in fine clothing, his persona that of a calm, collected youth and yet there was something about him that spoke of a toughness that went bone deep. “Matthew McSwain.” He replied and glanced at Joey, despite the dress and the fancy frills she was still the woman Adrian Miller trusted with his life. “How long you in town for Joey?” “I had figured on going home tomorrow.” Joey replied softly as Holmes scurried off uneasily. “I guess I’m just not cut out for the social set.” She smiled shakily. “Look there’s still a few hours of daylight left, if we leave now we can hit the train station by nine and catch the first train headed north.” Matthew said. “What was he after anyway?” “My money.” Joey laughed humorlessly and shook her head. “Look give me five minutes to change then I’ll be back.” “I’ve got your horse saddled already.” Matthew admitted. “I figured the animal was probably stolen so I had the stable master saddle her and I’ll pick her up on our way. “Okay.” Joey said and breathed a sigh of relief. Where there was one from the Rocking M there was usually more; and only a fool would go up against one of them. With hands that trembled she changed into her riding attire, strapping her gun into place and pulling her coat overtop her clothes before leaving the dress on the bed, along with her last couple of dollars and heading downstairs to meet Matthew. The ride out of town was blessedly short and they urged the horses into a gallop, the minute they were out of town several riders joined them and Joey recognized them as outriders that accompanied the younger of the Rocking M children where ever they had to go. “Deputy Morgan.” The booming greeting came from the tall, pot-bellied Mexican that worked at the livery stable in Five Fingers. “Will Senor Miller ever be glad to see you? His brother is driving him insane.” “Just cause he don’t know how to deal with the boy, don’t mean he’s got to leave it up to me to do.” Joey laughed and followed as they headed for the train depot. Sitting on the train next to Matthew Joey couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that pinched at her nerves as she watched the night flash by. “You anxious to get home?” Matthew asked with a grin. “Yeah actually I am.” Joey smiled at him easily. “I miss everyone, and it’s been so long since I had a good, solid discussion about something other than flower arrangements.” “Oh? I imagine Adrian’s not much for such talk then?’ “You’d be amazed at what Adrian can talk about.” Joey replied firmly. “He probably knows more about things than you’d ever think.” “I’m sure he would.” Matthew said leaning back in his seat. “And you’d defend him until you were blue in the face.” “That’s not a very nice things to say.” Joey muttered flushing slightly. “Why not? It’s the truth. I could say he’s a jackass and you’d tear a strip off me for saying it. You two are about the only ones that haven’t figured out yet what everyone else seems to know.” “Oh what’s that?” Joey replied stiffly. “That you’re annoying?” “That you two are made for each other. Adrian’s probably driving everyone nuts right about now with when is she gonna be back here. Besides that only a blind man wouldn’t notice the look in your eye when someone says his name.” “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” “Sure you do.” Matthew replied with a grin. “Same look Hunter gets when he’s talking ‘bout Jenny.” “If you are insinuating that Adrian is the object of my affections..” “Insinuating hell Joey I’m telling you he is. I bet if he walked in here this very minute you’d get all female on us.” “Go to hell.” Joey replied and turned her attention back to the window, delving deeper into the source of her unease.  “Something’s not right.” She stated after a moment. “There’s something bothering me and I can’t put me finger on it.” “Could it be that fella that was talking to you at the boarding house?” Matthew said glancing at her subtly before turning his attention back to the paper in his hands. “He’s back..” “About five seats.” Matthew replied shifting easily and facing her. “Looks to me like he’s interested in whatever he thinks you’ve got.” “Money.” Joey declared. “And I don’t have any. I spent my last dollar on this ticket.” “Well he’s going to be tagging along with us then. Best keep your wits about you because I have a feeling he’s just waiting for somewhere isolated to strike.” “I hope he waits until we get home.” Joey muttered. “Adrian’ll lock his worthless hide in jail and throw away the key.” “Adrian will?” Matthew turned to smile at Joey who was staring out the window, her chin rested on her fist as she stared out into the darkness. First thing he was going to do when he got home was get those two married off, then she could drive Adrian nuts for life. Sitting on the hard seat Randolph Holmes watched the young woman traveling with the young man and sighed. She had money, it was in everything about her from her clothes to her horse and he wanted it. Having no idea where he was going he’d just bought a ticket and climbed aboard to settle a few feet behind her. Now on day three of the train trip he was curious to see where about they would get off, and what had prompted them to travel such a distance. Glancing to his left he nodded at the surly man that sat staring at him and shifted, soon they’d get off and then they could do what they wanted. He knew the other man was as disreputable as a snake, he’d been in jail more times than he could count and it wasn’t something that bothered either of them. Experience, Randolph called it. Experience and wisdom would help get the money that girl was holding out on them. Pulling into a train station he glance out the window and swore, they were in Nebraska if the sign was any indication, a good sign if he ever saw one. Out here no one would notice him, no one would care one way or the other. Rising he followed the young couple out of the train and watched as their horses were unloaded by several Mexican men before they mounted up and headed out of town. A careful eye noted the way the town’s people moved out of the riders way with haste, men, women, and children turned to stare at them as they rode past. Respect and awe in the eyes of the townsfolk as they watched Randolph’s prey ride out. “Well?” “Lets go.” He snapped with a glance at his accomplice. “No point in standing here all day.” “Sir your horses.” The older man who cared for the stock on the train handed him the reins and shuffled off, a look of fear darting into his eyes as he scurried away. He feared the man, more importantly he feared what would happen when the man followed the McSwain boy, and the deputy from Five Fingers, neither was known for their tolerance of folks, and both were dead shots despite having the escorts that rode with them. Saddling up Adrian frowned at the buckles, something told him trouble was coming, a threat that preceded Joey’s return. He’d wakened this morning in a cold sweat, the image of Joey hanging on the precipice of a cliff clinging to his mind even though he was awake. “Hey where are you going?” James demanded stepping out of the jail as his brother mounted up and turned his horse away from the buildings. “ADRIAN!” He shouted when his brother refused to answer. Pushing his mount Adrian urged the mare to a gallop as he headed down the trail, circling around to the back way that a rider would come in to Five Fingers. Joey was coming home, and with her trouble was coming he could feel it; he could smell it and it scared him. Pulling up Matthew looked at Joey and sighed, she was staring back over her shoulder, a dark, concerned look gracing her face as she watched their trail. “What is it?” “We’re being followed.” She replied softly. “And I don’t mean that in a good way, someone is out there, and I’ve got a bad feeling I know who it is.” “That man from back in Colorado?” “Yeah.” Joey glanced at him then at the men riding with them. “I think we should split up. I’m heading for Five Fingers, you boys aren’t. Might as well go home.” “I’ll ride with you.” Matthew stated and glanced at their escorts. “You boys head on to the house, tell Ma that I’m riding to Five Fingers with Joey.” “Si, I’ll tell her.” The eldest of them nodded and kicked his horse into a gallop followed by his saddle partners leaving Joey and Matthew sitting looking behind them. “Well?” Joey glanced at Matthew and shrugged. “Lets get out of here. I don’t plan on being here any longer than I have to be.” “You figure they’re gonna make a move?” “I know they will. Holmes figures I’ve got money and despite the fact that I do not, I’m not about to stand around and argue the point with him. We ride into town and Adrian’ll be there.” “Not him again.” Matthew muttered as Joey spurred her horse and headed for Five Fingers. He’d grown to despise the name Adrian in a very short time, especially when it was the most commonly used word out of her mouth. Raking spurs over the gelding’s sides he rode he quickly fell into stride with her as they headed cross country to where the familiar terrain began to unfold. Sighing as she gazed at the land before her, Joey smiled slightly the tension she’d been carrying with her easing slightly. She knew that there was still someone coming up from behind but now she felt she was closer to safety than ever before. This was more than just a place she worked, this land was hers, it was home and she wasn’t about to let some tinhorn take anything from her, not on Rocking M land.  “We can’t keep this pace up Joey, these horses’ll never make Five Fingers by dark if we keep at a gallop the whole way.” Matthew protested as they slowed to let the animals catch their breath. “I know, I just can’t shake this feeling that trouble’s getting closer than we want it to.” Joey replied the whirled her mount around as a bullet struck a nearby tree splintering the bark and leaving a nasty scar about the trunk. Spotting the shooter she swore and glanced at Matthew as he spun around in the saddle pulling the rifle he carried from its boot at the same time. “Damn it, why couldn’t they just stayed back in Colorado?” Matthew snapped as he brought the gun up to his shoulder and fired a single shot. Seeing one-man jerk in the saddle but not fall out of it he swore, “How do you do it?” “Do what?” “Kill someone? I can’t kill him, I know he deserves it but still..” “It’s harder than you think.” Joey replied even as she snagged her own rifle and faced him evenly. “But this time I think its better to run than it is to stand and fight. Lets get the hell out of here.” Pulling her mounts head around she kicked her into a gallop and headed up the trail toward safety. Hearing shots, Adrian pulled up and glanced around. They were coming from the edge of Oak Ridge, the southeastern boundary of the ranch. Spurring his mount in that direction he pulled his rifle even as he rode, pushing both himself and his mount harder than ever before. Pulling up sharp enough to make his horse snort in displeasure he stared at the two riders heading for the cover of the trees and swore, one of the horses was more familiar to him than the land, she belonged to him just as her rider did, course now that Joey was home he’d have to convince her of that. Glancing sharply at the riders that were following he kicked his mount into a gallop and pulled up a few yard before them, making them stop as well. “You boys’ are looking for trouble?” He asked evenly, his gaze even and steady. “Get out of the way.” Holmes snarled. “This doesn’t concern you.” “Anything that happens around here concerns me.” Adrian said with a shift of his body in the saddle, one hand bringing the rifle up to rest on his hip. “See this is my land, my town, and you’re trespassing. I could shoot you down where you sit if I had a mind to.” “That would be murder.” “No it wouldn’t. See there’s warnings posted all over the place, this here is private property and you’re not welcome.” “Listen mister, that there boy that just headed into the woods stole something from me, and I aim to get it back.” Holmes snapped impatiently, not caring about the delay in front of him. He could smell the money, and the blood that would precede it. Greed was his only motivation and he fully intended to slake it before the end of the day. “I doubt that.” Adrian replied coldly. “Neither of ‘em would steal anything. Specially when both of them are officers of the law themselves.” “Bull..” “I’d suggest moving on.” Adrian drawled cocking the rifle. “Before you lose your head there buster. Ain’t anything here for you.” Turning his mount he headed for the cover of the trees, seeing a shadow move about at the edge of them and knew whom it was, Joey dang her hide had doubled back after getting Matthew to safety. Tensing when he heard the cocking of a gun, he pushed his horse harder and prayed that the line of trees would surround him before the man could shoot but figuring he was probably wishing for nothing. “No!” The single word was screamed even as he felt the burning, tearing, bite of the bullet in his back. Jerking on the reins he upset the horse, sending his body tumbling onto the plains even as the blue sky above him seemed to shake with thunder and the very ground began to tremble. “Damn it this is more ‘n I bargained for.” Holmes snarled as he whirled his mount around only to freeze at the circle of riders that appeared, most were of Indian blood, a few were blacks, and a couple of the men were white, one had graying sanding hair, the other a tall, stoic looking man who glanced at the other man and moved his hands but said nothing. Nodding the sandy haired man glanced at the man laying on the ground bleeding from the wound in his lower back then his eyes canted toward the rider dismounting furiously beside him to kneel next to him. “How’s he doing Joey?” “He’s in a bad way.” Joey replied quickly. “The bullet tore right through him and there’s nothing to stop the bleeding with.” “Bind the wound, Hunter’s at home and it’s only a few miles.” Kid said as the other riders closed in on the outlaws still sitting staring at the group assembled, fear coloring their expressions even as it bleached their faces of all color. “You sure that’s a good idea?” Joey glanced at Kid and shook her head. “Binding it isn’t going to work long.” “We don’t have a choice.” Kid replied firmly. “I’m not leaving him to bleed to death in the middle of nowhere.” Nodding in agreement, Joey shifted, grabbing for the saddlebags she’d packed. Riding with men who knew she was a woman, she’d put the extra length of her binding clothe into a saddlebag on the train and now jerked it out to wrap around Adrian’s abdomen, hoping it would be enough to stop the bleeding. “Help me.” Joey said with a grunt as Wolf dismounted and moved to her aide, helping her get Adrian into the saddle before stepping back as Joey swung up behind him on the bay and gathered the reins. “I’m going the trail way, it’ll shave off a few miles.” She said as the horse beneath her danced at the command of the rider’s legs. “We’ll meet you there. Tell James that we’ve got a couple prisoners as well.” Kid said and nodded as Joey spurred the bay into a gallop tearing up the trail and disappearing within seconds into the trees. “You can’t do this.” Holmes blustered uneasily. “We’re law abiding folk..” “Law abiding?” Kid shook his head and glanced at Ike who signed something a furious look on his face. “He wants to know if you’re such good, honest, upright citizens why you just shot the US Marshall for Five Fingers in the back?” Kid stated as Buck, Ike and the other riders glared at the pair looking less and less relaxed about the situation. “US Marshall?” Holmes croaked and glanced at his new saddle partner, somehow what had been a short trip to get money from a wisp of a girl had turned into the possibility of a hanging. Killing a Marshall was a hanging offence, and here he wondered just what was going to happen to him if what was said was true. Would they make it to this Five Fingers? More importantly, would they do it alive? “Take their guns.” Buck directed, “And don’t lower your guard at all. I’d hate to have to hang Kid for killing one of them.” Pushing the bay hard, Joey pulled up on the outskirts of town and sighed, she could feel the warm stickiness of Adrian’s blood soaking her clothes. Holding tightly to him even as she felt his body relax even more so he was more dead weight than anything she spurred the horse sharply, making it jump forward into a lunging gallop as she tore toward Hunter’s house, cutting around the jail even as she saw a shadow appear on the steps. “What the hell.” James swore as he recognized Joey and Adrian come tearing into town, hopping off the steps he hurried toward the hospital where Joey was pulling up even as the door swung open and Hunter stepped out. “Howdy Joey.” Hunter said as he noted the woman dismounting a glance at the back of the horse had him paling. “What happened?” “Gun shot.” Joey panted, as she struggled to keep Adrian from falling onto the ground. “It’s in the back, there’s an entry and exit wound.” “Bring him inside.” Hunter spoke firmly, sharply as James rushed to his brother’s side. “James help her.” “I’m way ahead of you Hunter.” James said grabbing and arm and wrapping it around his neck so that between them they managed to get Adrian’s prone figure inside. “Mister Miller said to tell you that they’re bringing in a couple prisoners.” Joey said her breath heaving as she stepped back from where they had stretched Adrian out. “I don’t know if they’re bringing them in dead or alive though.” “Knowing Pa, it might be closer to dead than alive.”  James said stepping back and glancing at Joey fro the first time. “You okay? You’re covered in blood.” “It’s his.” Joey replied staring at where Hunter was cutting the shirt off Adrian’s tanned back. Hunter glanced up at the pair and frowned slightly. “Out.” He said softly, a glance at where Joey was standing a dark look crossing her face as she watched him prepare to clean the wound. “Yes sir.” James said and ushered Joey, none too gently out of the room and into the waiting room. “Come on Joey, you’d best get cleaned up and meet me at the jail. I’ll want you to give me a statement we can send to a judge for trial purposes.” “I think it might be better if I stay here. Hunter might need some help.” Joey replied quickly. “Hunter won’t need any help from you. He doesn’t operate with anyone close in the room, if he needs help he’ll get Jenny.” “But..” Joey glanced at James for the first time and noted the familiar steel gaze that Adrian adopted at times when he was going to be stubborn. “You have a job to do.” James stated quickly. “Come on, I think there is some clean clothes still at the jail of yours.” “All my belongings are at the jail.” Joey muttered as she followed after James. “I live there remember.” “Just get a move on.” James said leading the way to the jail, in time the others would be here and he didn’t want anyone losing their cool and someone getting shot, least of all a family member or someone who would be missed. The outlaws didn’t matter as much as family, although he knew Adrian would have a fit if he found out about his thinking like that. Darkness had crept in as Joey and James sat waiting for the riders to come in, each hour dragging by almost as painful as the wait for information on Adrian’s condition. Spotting the shadows of the riders James glanced at Joey who sat stoically behind her desk, her head bent as she worked on some paperwork. She’d been as silent as death for the past couple of hours, hardly responding to him when he asked a question or made a comment. “Looks like they’re here.” James said and turned back to the door just as the riders pulled up and dismounted. He watched his father pushing one man, a lanky, well dressed man before a rougher, more wild looking rider at the jail house door. “See you made it.” James smiled at his father. “And with both of ‘em still alive.” “Not for long if they don’t shut up.” Kid groused and shoved roughly at the man who’d shot his eldest son. “You sent for a judge?” “Should be here in a couple of days. Uncle Sam’s coming to.” “Why?” Buck asked with a glance at Kid then at his youngest son. “Don’t he think we can handle the situation?” “Said he wanted to be sure that we didn’t get blamed with killing them without just cause. Also said knowing you boys that you’d be likely to shoot first and ask questions later.” James smiled at his uncle. “I wasn’t about to argue with him, especially considering he’s planning on retiring here this year.” “Retiring?” Buck smiled slightly. “Means we’re getting old.” “Ha.” Kid glanced at his friend then at his son. “Speak for yourself.” “I’m going to check up on Adrian.” Joey said settling her hat atop her head as she rose to glanced coldly at the two men in irons. “If they make any move beyond that jail cell door, shoot them.” “Now Joey I don’t think..” James started then shrugged at her look. “You’re the boss.” “What?” Buck asked with a glance at his nephew. “She’s acting Marshall until Adrian’s back on his feet, she’s got the seniority as she put it. Said it was in one of Adrian’s books.” *They read too much.* Ike signed as the door clanged shut behind the two men who’d been caught on the ranch land. *Sure glad we caught then in Nebraska, South Dakota we might not have been able to arrest ‘em.* “Oh they’ll see a trial.” James smiled. “Course they’re gonna wish they’d died out there today when Joey gets done with ‘em. She’s spent entirely too much time around Adrian, just as temperamental as he is.” “James don’t speak like that about your brother.” Kid warned and shrugged. “I suppose we should leave at least a couple guards.” “Might be an idea.” James declared. “Wouldn’t want anyone to start shooting at shadows now would we?” “James.” The warning tone was back in his voice and Kid glanced at the two men who sat silently, side by side on the single cot in the jail cell. “Did Joey say where Matthew went?” “Nope. Ain’t said much at all.” James replied as his father shook his head and disappeared out the door along with both his uncles. Meeting Wolf’s eyes he shrugged, it looked like it was going to be a long night. Leaning against the railing Joey watched the wagon disappearing into the sunrise, the men that had shot Adrian were on their way to Omaha to serve their sentence of ten to fifteen years although she doubted they’d get there alive. Somehow she figured that an ambush lay in wait for them further up the road, and despite feeling like she should warn anyone of it, she couldn’t force herself to move. Hearing the soft rustle of cotton on wood she glanced over her shoulder as the door closed softly behind Louise Miller, “Missus Miller.” “Joey.” Lou stepped closer to the young woman and leaned against the rough wooden wall to stare down the road after the men that had tried to take the life of her son. “Sure feels like we should have gone with them. Made sure they paid.” “Oh they will.” Joey smiled coldly as she glanced at the woman to her right before turning back to the fading outline, it would come their judgment day and it would come soon. “You sure about that?” “As sure as I can be.” Joey replied. “Adrian’s well liked around here, he’s respected. Folks won’t tolerate the way he was treated.” “Vigilantly justice?” “Justice.” Joey replied and pushed off from the wall. “You need me? I’m going to go sit with Adrian he seems to be doing a bit better today.” “Joey.” Lou sighed, she’d spent most of the night talking with Hunter and Kid and she had her doubts about this conversation. “Joey he’s not getting any better.” She whispered painfully, her voice filling with tears she refused to shed without cause. “Sure he is.” Joey replied looking at her. “He’s breathing a lot easier, his temperature is down and it won’t be long before he’s back on hisfeet.” “He hasn’t awoken in two weeks.” Lou replied softly, touching Joey’s arm and staring in surprise when she jerked it away from the gentle touch. “So? You just ready to write him off?” “Joey that isn’t what I mean. Look I know this is hard, he was your friend but even I have to admit that sometimes life doesn’t work the way you want it to.” Lou stated and glanced at her hands. “I don’t want to lose my son but if he doesn’t wake up soon he may never wake up.” “Missus Miller.” Joey paused and glanced at her before moving away from her toward the steps. “I’m late excuse me.” Stepping off the porch she headed for the hospital and where Adrian was still lying, sleeping so soundly. “Joey.” Lou called only to stop trying to reach her when the solid click of a door echoed across the yard. “Damn it.” “She’s stubborn.” Sara’s voice had Lou glancing at her friend. “She’s being foolish. Does she think this is easy for me? He’s my son..” “Yes he is.” Sara smiled at Lou sadly, “But he’s something different to her. Adrian’s given Joey a lot of chances, and he’s not afraid of letting her watch his back something that frankly I’m amazed at. Joey doesn’t strike me as the dependent type, yet I think when it comes to this she is. She depends on Adrian for more than just a job Lou.” “I am well aware of how much those two care about each other.” Lou started. “Then I’m sure you’ll understand why she can’t let go just yet.” Sara replied. “Just as you didn’t let go when they told you Kid was dead.” “That’s different.” “Not really, Joey’s losing her best friend I think she has to come to terms with that on her own. Just as you did with losing Kid those first few weeks after you received word. Granted your situation worked out, he’s alive and well and just as annoyingly stubborn as ever but for her she’s lived with, fought with, nearly died with Adrian they are as close as two people can be without being the same person.” “I know.” Lou sighed. “I’m just worried about what’s going to happen when he does leave us.” “Give it a little time. Who knows, maybe she’ll figure out what it is that she wants, what she needs. Maybe she’ll realize that she isn’t staying because of the job, but because of the man.” “Maybe.” Lou said staring at the hospital a sharp pain in her chest. Maybe. She could only hope that Joey recovered from this before it was too late. Sitting in the hard chair next to Adrian’s bed Joey took out the papers she’d tucked into her pocket and unfolded them. “I brought over the reports from the last few days. Miguel got thrown in jail again, although we had to lock him up in his house since the cell was occupied. Didn’t seem to mind, that and Mister McSwain docked his pay for the day. Jenny’s class has expanded again; she’s got two new students, one of them an older boy who got into trouble with her the other day. Thought it funny try gluing her to a chair, he found out from the others that it wasn’t when they caught him at recess and whooped him good.” She said as she read through the list of daily events that concerned the law of Five Fingers.  “His father wanted to press charges but I refused, said if he didn’t want to get picked on then he shouldn’t be doing foolish things. Oh and Old Man Hobskin’s bay mare was stolen, couple of the kids took her as a joke, I’ve got ‘em cleaning out the stable for a month as punishment.” She glanced at Adrian who hadn’t moved and sighed. She wished he’d wake up, and then things would be back to normal. “Did I tell you that I’m now doing your job? Doing okay with it as well, folks don’t think twice of what I tell ‘em, and for the most part the days are peaceful.” “Course I ain’t planning on doing your job much longer, you’d best be getting yourself back out of this bed and onto your feet. Folks beginning to think you’re looking to retire and I’m getting tired of tellin’ them different.” She stated and glanced at the papers she held in her hands, despite the daily conversations she had, and the endless hours she sat with him waiting, watching he still hadn’t moved more than a finger, and in fact had started to slide deeper into the oblivion of his coma. Hunter had claimed he’s slid into it in the first place because of blood loss, but the wound was healing slowly so why wouldn’t he wake up. “You listening there old man?” Joey whispered, choking back the tears. “I ain’t planning on keeping your job so you’d best be thinking of getting back into the swing of things.” Lying there Adrian listened to the words, hearing the tears choking the voice into an unrecognizable cadence. He wondered why she was so worried, it wasn’t like he was planning on leaving her after all she’d come home, and she’d come back to him. He wasn’t planning on leaving her by herself, not when she was his. Struggling with the weight that seemed to hold him in place he focused on opening his eyes, on looking at her. Blinking at the harsh light that assaulted his eyes he moved his head and stared, Joey sat on the stiff backed chair next to his bed, her head bowed as she frowned at the papers in her hands. A tired, pained expression marked her face as she stared at the words written clearly in the pages she held so tightly to. Swallowing against the dryness that clung to his mouth, he licked at his lips not surprised to find them dry and slightly cracked, he hadn’t had much to drink in several days, just the thought was enough to send his mouth into shock as he realized just how thirsty he was. Moving slowly, trying desperately to get the glass of water he could see sitting so close to the bed he groaned softly and closed his eyes as his arm refused to move much. Damn it all to hell, he was weaker than a newborn calf. Was the only thing that stuck in his mind, he needed to get out of bed, needed to get back to work. He needed to start on getting Joey to stay permanently, not as his deputy but as his girl. Hearing a slight moan from the bed, Joey jerked her head up and stared, Adrian had moved his head so he was facing her. Dropping the pages on the floor as she rose she moved toward him worry etching deep lines in her face. “Adrian?” Joey whispered brushing the curls back from his forehead. “You awake?” “Mm.” Adrian licked at his lips again, content to just lie there and let her fuss over him for a moment, until his thirst began to rise again, choking out the content feeling he’d had. “Water.” He croaked softly, his throat barely working. Grabbing the glass, Joey helped him sit up enough to sip at the water, allowing him to drink his fill before easing him back onto the pillow. “Can I get you anything?” She whispered as she shifted, making to rise. “No.” Adrian smiled weakly at her and closed his eyes; he was so tired as though he hadn’t slept away several days. “I’ll get your Ma.” Joey said rising smoothly her gaze darting toward the door only to freeze when he grabbed her wrist and tugged feebly on her arm. “No. Please don’t leave me again.” Adrian whispered already sinking into the healing sleep he craved. “I won’t.” Joey promised. “I’m never leaving you again.” She didn’t know how yet, but she meant her promise. She had no intention of leaving Adrian Miller ever, for the first time in years she really felt at home. Sinking back onto the mattress she sat there as the sun slowly sank and shadows crept across the floor, darkening the room until it was lit only by the pale glow of the full moon. In a few weeks it would be harvest time, the men would be gathering for haying and round up and maybe if they were all lucky enough to have it, Adrian would be back on his feet. Sitting there studying the play of moonlight on the floor she was hardly aware of the relaxation and exhaustion claiming her tired muscles, of the way she slipped further down on the bed to curl up next to Adrian and close her eyes. Carrying a lantern to light the way, Jenny stepped into Adrian’s room fully prepared to shoo Joey away and froze, her brows arching up in surprise at the picture she saw. Adrian lay sleeping soundly, as he had been for a couple of weeks, his features relaxed, and pale; Joey lay curled up next to him on the bed, her hand wrapped in his, her head pillowed on his thighs as she slept soundly, the only sounds that of their even breathing and the rustle of fabric as Joey moved in her sleep. Turning Jenny stepped back into the hall and stalked down to where Hunter was reviewing Adrian’s records from the surgery. “You are going to have to talk to her.” Jenny stated setting the lamp down on his desk. “Who?” Hunter glanced up then rolled his eyes, “Joey?” “Yes. Do you realize she’s asleep in his room?” “Yes. She’s been sleeping in his room for a week now.” “She’s asleep on his bed.” Jenny stated quickly. “If he dies in the night and she wakes up next to that she’ll freak.” “Jenny we’ve all tried talking to her. Even Aunty Louise has and she just goes off on her own little trip and ignores everything we say. The odds of him pulling through after this long in a coma are slim, but the odds of her accepting that are even slimmer.” Hunter sighed and folded his hands together. “I’m sorry Jenny but we have to just let things happen as they will.” “I don’t want to see her get hurt. I heard about how hard it was for Aunty Louise and Aunty Sara when they figured their husband’s were dead. Joey’s just as attached to Adrian, and it’ll be hard on her when he does..” “Does what?” Joey’s sleepy voice had both of them turning to face her. “Uh.” Jenny glanced at Hunter uneasily and back at the young woman who stood in her rumpled clothes staring at them as though they’d lost their minds. “What’s going on?” “We were just talking about your sleeping arrangements..” Hunter started. “Adrian doesn’t mind.” Joey yawned and leaned against the doorjamb, she’d heard voices and had risen to avoid waking up Adrian. “Adrian doesn’t mind much these days.” Hunter whispered uneasily and glanced at Joey who stared back at him with only a curious expectation in her eyes. “You headed home?” “No I heard someone talking and got up to check it out.” Joey replied quickly and glanced between them. She had a fair idea of what they were talking about and she was going to enjoy watching everyone eat their words. “Sorry.” Jenny muttered and glanced at a shadow in the hall only to pale and step back causing Hunter to rise to his feet. “Jenny?” Hunter moved to where his wife was standing, a shocked almost terrified look on her face.  Glancing up he swore and stared at the figure standing behind Joey Morgan. “What’s going on?” Adrian croaked, his legs felt unsteady and his whole body felt weak, weaker than he’d ever felt before and yet the sound of a conversation, of hushed tones had pulled him from the comfort of the bed, a bed he was certain Joey had occupied at least for part of the night. “We were just discussing..” Jenny whispered as Hunter stepped past her and grabbed Adrian’s arms. “Sit down before you fall.” Hunter ordered helping him into a chair. “You’ve had us plenty worried, sleeping like that.” “What happened?” Adrian glanced at them. “What are you talking about? It’s only been a couple of days..” “Try a couple of weeks.” Joey replied moving closer to him. “I’m afraid everyone’s been a bit worried you were going to leave us.” “Oh for gosh sakes, I ain’t planning on it just yet.” Adrian muttered darkly a look at hunter had the other man squirming. “I know but you lost a lot of blood and to top it all off the wound wasn’t as clean as I’d hoped so when the infection set in it took a bit of doing to get it under control.” Hunter stated. “I’m fine, I’ll live. I am tired though.” Adrian admitted and glanced around. “When can I go home to my own bed, my own room, my own clothes?” “Not for a few more days.” Hunter smiled. “I’ll go get your Ma and Pa, they’ve been out of their minds with worry.” “Sure they have.” Joey muttered darkly and smiled at Hunter easily before turning back to Adrian. “Come on, you can talk to everyone as long as you’re in bed.” “Joe I’m perfectly capable of sitting in a chair..” Adrian started. “Bed or else.” Joey snapped and glared at him as he rose unsteadily and shuffled off with her toward the room he’d been in. After tucking him in, Joey rose smoothly and brushed a lock of hair from her face, she’d have to get it cut. “Alright I’m going to let you get some rest, and I’ll see you in the morning.” Nodding Adrian watched her gather the pages she’d brought in and start for the door. “Joey?” “Yes?” She paused at the door and glanced at him with a raised eyebrow. “Did you mean it?” “Yes.” She smiled softly and slipped out into the darkened corridor headed for the jail, not really surprised to know that he’d heard her promise, it was one of the things that made him who he was. “Well it’s nice to see you.” James stated a few days later after the hubbub surrounding Adrian’s recovery had died down, Ma had been ecstatic, understandably and yet she’d never come right out and said it. Instead she’s spent hours with Adrian and Joey, thanking the young woman more times than anyone could count for her endless faith. It still amazed him that his mother, the most independent, self-aware person he knew could act so out of character. Now staring at his brother who shuffled into the jail and sank into the nearest chair under his own power, a look of pride on his face James knew beyond a doubt that a little faith went along way. “Nice to see you to.” Adrian said his body still ached from the wound but he was at least up and about and able to do something other than stare at the ceiling and picture Joey’s reaction to his bit of news. He’d decided that he wouldn’t be continuing the job of Marshall for Five Fingers, it was up to her or she could pass it along to one of his brothers. Right now his main concern beyond getting back into living was getting Joey, the woman not the law-officer. “I’m surprised Joey’s not here.” James said pouring a cup of coffee and handing it to his brother. “She hasn’t left your side for more than a few minutes since you got shot.” “I know.” Adrian stared into his brew and frowned, he owned her a lot and getting shot had brought home just how much he cared about her. “Soemthing else I need to talk to her about.” “Uh oh.” James breathed. “You’re not mad at her are you? I could have stepped in and taken over for your while you were laid up but she does have more experience than I do and..” “Good god no.” Adrian looked at his brother and sighed. “I’m glad that you trusted your instincts, Joey’s the best there is for this job.” “But?” “Who said there was a but there.” Adrian asked glancing at his brother then away. “I did.” James replied settling on the edge of the desk. “Spit it out. Something’s been bothering you for days, I’d like to know what it is.” “Look you can’t tell.” “I promise not to breath a word of this conversation to anyone until after whatever you’ve got on your mind is resolved.” James promised hoping Adrian wasn’t planning on firing Joey. “I’m not taking my job back.” Adrian started and held up a hand when James made to speak. “I’m giving it to Joey, although I really don’t want her to have it either.” “Why not?” “The last few days I’ve had plenty of time to think, probably too much and I have to admit that I don’t want to wear a star, I don’t want to put my life on the line for a few dollars. I love the law, it’s the one constant in my life from the time I was a youngster but I’ve found something else I love more than a job.” “Someone?” James asked softly staring at his brother who flushed and shrugged. “Yes.” “Did you tell her?” James asked. “Not yet.” “If you love her, why would you ask her to take your job?” “Because I trust her.” Adrian replied. “She’s good at her job, she knows enough to keep herself alive and out of trouble, I see no point to putting a damper on her career just because I have plans.” “Adrian do you honestly think she’s going to take your job if you don’t want it. Especially if those plans you’re talking about include marriage, and children?” James asked quickly. “I’m not going to force her into anything.” Adrian replied and glanced at the door as a shadow crossed it. A brief smile touched his face as he recognized who was standing there. “I’m not interrupting am I?” Joey asked her gaze darting between the two men. “No.” Adrian waved her in. “We were just discussing my plans.” “Oh?” Joey stepped inside and closed the door. “What plans would those be?” “Excuse me.” James stated and rose to his feet. “I’ll leave you two to your discussion.” Waiting until the door closed with a soft click Adrian turned his gaze back to Joey who had sank into a chair and put her booted feet on the desk, “So what are you up to today?” “Just checking over the town.” Joey replied. “And just like everyday except for Saturday everyone’s keeping their nose clean.” After a brief pause she met his eyes. “Why do I get the feeling that I was the topic of conversation?” “Because you were.” Adrian replied, there had always been honesty between them even when she was hiding her gender from him; she’d never lied to him about things. “Oh? You planning on telling me what he said?” “It was what I said.” Adrian replied shifting and wincing at the sudden tearing in his back. “I’m hanging up my badge. The jobs yours if you want it.” “What are you talking about? You’re the Marshall remember, I’m the deputy..” Joey paled at his words. Glancing down into his coffee cup Adrian debated telling her the whole story then shrugged, she’d learn it soon enough. “I was. I don’t want to be a Marshall anymore Joey, I want to settle down.” “What are you talking about? You’re always saying..” “Joey please, just let me finish.” Adrian sighed softly. “I meant what I said the other day. I don’t want you to leave me.” “But..” “I’ve been doing some thinking, that’s pretty much all I’ve been doing lately is thinking. I’m beginning to wish my mind would shut down but the fact remains that as much as I love the law, as much as I love working with people and helping solve problems, I love you more. I know what you’re going to say.” Adrian forged on, aware of the shocked look on her face. “I know we haven’t really had a lot of time to get to know each other beyond the job but you’ve always been my friend, and even at the most aggravating moments you’ve always been there to support me. I’m not sure when I stopped just thinking of you as a friend and started thinking of you in terms of wife, kids, home but I did.” “Uh Adrian..” “Let me finish.” Adrian replied firmly. “I don’t want to rush you, and I don’t want you to think I’m forcing you into making a choice. I just think you need to know where I’m coming from with this. We’ve got all the time in the world now, we can get to know what makes the other tick now that the job isn’t coming between us.” “Why the sudden change of heart?” Joey interrupted, shocked and a slight feeling of amazement flooding her body. She couldn’t catch her breath at his words, all she could hear; all she could feel was elation at the fact that he loved her! “Because I’m not going to take the chance that I could lose you without telling you the truth.” Adrian replied and frowned when she rose from where she’d been sitting to walk toward him. “This isn’t just to embarrass me or something is it?” “No. I want to marry you, have children with you, a life beyond this office.” “What if I don’t want your job?” “Then don’t take it.” Adrian smiled at her easily. “The job is only one part of this world, my main concern is you and me fifty years down the road. I want what my parents have.” Staring at him Joey sighed softly then took a deep breath and moved closer to him to hunker by his chair. “Tell me something.” “What?” “Does this mean that I get my own house?’ Laughing softly at her words, Adrian nodded. “Your own house with as many rooms as you want.” Nodding Joey rested a hand on his arm. “I tell you what, next social we have come to it with me.” She whispered staring at him easily. “Not as my boss, not as my friend, but as an equal. As the man I love.” “You got a deal.” Adrian whispered as she leaned toward him and briefly touched her lips to his just as the door opened. “Not again!” Hunter roared. “Can’t you two control yourselves?” “Hi Hunter.” Adrian laughed at the other man’s irate expression as Joey flushed slightly before climbing to her feet and moving for the coffee pot. “You want some coffee?” “Yes I do. I want a word with both of you.” He said moving to take the chair next to Hunter’s and grinned at the pair of them. “Jenny has made a decision.” “Bout what?” Joey asked and flushed when Hunter smiled so charmingly at her. “Harvest.” Hunter replied. “Next week we’re having a haying social.” “Oh my God.” Joey whispered as Adrian glanced at her and flushed slightly. This time there wouldn’t be any distance between them, this time they were going as a couple. “Oh yes and since you two seem to be unable to control yourselves, you get to be the guests of honor.” “What do you mean?” Adrian croaked noting the expression on the other man’s face. He had a bad, bad feeling that whatever Hunter was cooking they were going to regret it.             Chapter Sixteen Silently cursing fate Adrian slipped the jacket Hunter had given him the day before over his white shirt and glanced once more at his reflection in the mirror. His gut feeling had been right on the money, it had been a week since Hunter had come over to inform them they were to attend this Haying social, and he had yet to see Joey for any longer than a few seconds and at a distance. “Damn fool why couldn’t he leave well enough alone?” Adrian muttered as the door opened and Hunter, James, and Matthew stepped inside. “How’s it going?” James asked noting his brother’s strained look. “How do you think?” Was the curt reply. “My back is killing me.” “If you’d taken it easy the past few days it wouldn’t be.” Hunter replied calmly his gaze darting around the room as though searching for a sign that someone other than his friend was in the room. “What are you looking for?” Adrian growled. “Not what, who.” James replied with a grin. “Joey has slipped past Jenny, Carrie, and Amanda.” “At least she’ll be out of the way.” Adrian muttered quietly. He was beginning to regret having that little talk with Joey the other day, not that he regretted being honest with her, no it was the fact that everyone seemed to be aware of it and had stopped in with advice on what he should do to get her to agree to marry him. “Oh quit bellyaching, she’ll be there. After all this is your coming out party remember?” “Coming out?!” Adrian glanced at Hunter and frowned. “What on earth do you mean?” “This is the first time you two are actually coming as a couple, not as boss and employee or anything so you should have lots of fun. Besides Mother has been dying to know when you two were going to realize this was bound to happen.” “Why is it that your mother is wondering what I’m doing?” Adrian asked softly and shrugged at Hunter’s sheepish look. “Let me guess you’ve been telling the folks about us. You do realize that some might say we’re cursed, both of us have been hurt and it’s not like..” “Adrian just give up already. James and I agree if you just let things happen you two would be old and gray before you realized you two were meant to be together. Frankly I’m shocked that you two haven’t realized that you’re supposed to be in this together.  If you weren’t you’d never have kept her on.” Hunter said with a grin. “Now come on, we’ll help you get over to the church..” “I do not need any help.” Adrian growled even as he took James’s offered assistance, it was humiliating enough not to be able to get over there on his own as it is. “Sure you don’t. But you’ll take it anyway or your mother will have our hides, not to mention Joey’ll shoot us.” “You said Joey was lucky enough to escape.” “Adrian just get a move on.” “I’m beginning to really hate you.” Adrian said as Hunter closed the door behind them and they started up the street toward the well-lit building that people were filing into. Walking along Adrian glanced at the shadows and smothered a sigh, he didn’t want to be at this stupid dance, he wanted to be out there on the back of a good, strong horse, doing a job he could never do again. The outlaw’s had taken more from him that a bit of blood; they’d taken away his chance to build a career of law officer. Sure he wanted out of it now, now that he’d found Joey but still he’d have welcomed the chance to retire with the same respect and dignity that Sam Cain had done just recently. “It bother’s you doesn’t it?” James asked as they neared the church. “Having to quit doing what you were doing?” “Yeah but its not because I want to get married and have a family, I resent the fact that the choice was taken out of my hands by a bullet. What if Joey gets hurt again? Or Jenny that woman is known for disasters? What then? I’m not so sure that I can live with myself if I failed them again.” “You didn’t fail either of them. You can’t fail them.” Hunter faced Adrian steadily. “Adrian you’re the most dependable man I know, and considering that everyone in this family is dependable that’s saying a lot. You aren’t responsible for the whole world, just your little piece of it and that’s not going to change. Frankly you’re lucky to be up and moving around, most men would be dead by now or stuck in a wheel chair.” “I know but what about Joey?” Adrian replied. “She doesn’t deserve to be saddled with a cripple.” “You need to relax Adrian.” Hunter said firmly. “How can you be so sure that she’s going to think that?” “She ain’t here is she?” Adrian pointed out then turned slowly when the other three glanced behind him and froze. “I’d say that’s her.” Hunter whispered and slipped away into the church to meet his wife.  Turning around slowly Adrian smiled hesitantly as he leaned heavily on the railing of the stairwell. “Hey.” He said looking at her. She was dressed in a plain gray dress with her hair done up in a mass of curls on her head and a smile on her face. “You guys took longer to get over here then it took me to get dressed.” She teased gently. “Do you mind if we just sit out here and talk?” “Not at all.” Adrian said moving slowly over to the steps and sinking down on them as she settled next to them. “So what did you want to talk about?” “My job.” Joey stared at her hands a moment then sighed.  “I don’t want it.” “Okay.” Adrian said a trickle of fear going through him. “I could do the job Miller, don’t make no mistake about that.” She pointed out and shrugged. “Its just that I liked doing what I was doing, being a member of a team. Sure I can do the job and hell I could even do it so that I would make everyone proud to have me for a Marshall but..” “But?” Adrian prodded as she sat silently staring at her hands. The fear began to get worse, what if she was thinking of leaving again? What if she’d changed her mind from the other day? Surely she knew that she’d be tied to a cripple for the rest of their lives if she stayed with him, would it matter that much to her? “But the job isn’t important to me Adrian.” Joey spoke softly, her brow furrowed in thought. “I want what I’ve never had, babies, a home. I don’t want to wake up some morning to find myself staring at a set of gates with a hole in by back.” Flushing she glanced at him apologetically. “Sorry.” “No offense taken.” Adrian replied. “So are you thinking of leaving then?” “Sorta.” Joey sighed. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking ‘bout what we talked about a week ago.” “And?” “You said we needed to get to know one another away from the job, away from everything that we’ve faced. I don’t know if we can do that, I look at you and I see the same man I’ve always seen, a proud, intelligent man who’s got more power and money than ten men and you don’t do a damn thing about it.” Joey sighed. “What do you want with me? I’m a drunkards daughter Adrian, I’m broke and I don’t think I’m ever going to be as much of a lady as Jenny or even Caroline McSwain is..” “So?” Adrian shrugged swallowing his fear; he needed clear rational thought not an outburst to change her mind. “If I wanted a lady like them I have to say I don’t think it would be that hard to find one.” “I know that, all you have to do is smile and you’d have women lined up.” Joey smiled at the mental image that popped into her head. “You’d be beating them off with a stick.” “So why are you changing your mind then? Did you think it over and decided that no, you don’t love me? Or is the fact that I’m never going to be able to do the same things I used to do that’s changed your mind?” “No. I thought it over and realized that you’re getting a raw deal if you take me.” “That’s for me to decide isn’t it?” Adrian asked irritated that she’d think that way. “Adrian, lets face it. I’m more at home in slacks and on a horse than I am in a dress. I can cook but I’m useless when it comes to a needle and thread, what man wants a wife that can’t sew or mend?” “You can cook.” Adrian pointed out. “One out of three isn’t very good odds.” “So what if you can’t sew, I can. I’ll do the mending as long as you do the cooking and we’ll work on the rest.” “Adrian.” Joey sighed frustration leaking into her tone. “If you don’t have a problem with me being a cripple and I don’t have a problem with you being unable to sew then what’s there to discuss?” “What about kids?” “Sure I’d like some but that’s something that we can work out later.” Adrian replied noting the way Joey flushed at his words. “Do you realize that we haven’t even kissed..” “Yes we did. In the office the other day.” “That wasn’t a kiss, sorta like a brush with it.” Joey replied and shifted on the step. “Someone always pops up and puts a halt to us having a conversation, or when we’re in a delicate state such as the last social I went to while you hid at the jail. Or Hunter’s busting in when we’re kissing.” Joey sucked in a breath and glanced at him only to see him shaking his head. “What’s so funny?” “When did you become this worried about what was happening with other people?” Adrian asked as he shifted, moving closer to he until they were sitting pressed up against each other, his hand resting on his thigh brushed against hers as she moved. “I’ve never done this before, what if I screw it up.” She whispered only to freeze when he reached up and cupped her jaw with one hand. “That’s half the fun.” Adrian whispered leaning toward her. “The blundering and stumbling. Pa once told me that if he could go back and change anything in this world, the one thing he’d change would be the nothing. He said that looking back on it, the fights and the insanity that was the beginning of their relationship makes him so much more thankful for the fact that he has Ma.” Adrian paused feeling her breath against his lips and feeling the shivers that chased down his spine at the thought that within seconds he would be kissing her, tasting the sweetness that he knew she was. “Perfection only comes after a lot of practice.” He whispered and leaned forward, his lips brushing against hers. Feeling her hands come up to rest on his chest he paused only to have her shift, leaning into him asking for more. Brushing another kiss along her lips he felt more than heard her soft moan of accord and deepened it, pulling her into his arms. Wrapping one arm around her waist he held her head steady with fingers tangled in her hair even as she responded to his kiss, her hands creeping up to wrap around his neck, teasing and tangling in the hair on the nape of his neck. “Not again!” Hunter’s voice had them jerking apart and turning to him guiltily. “This is the third time I’ve caught you two doing something like this. Do you have no sense of propriety? No sense of respectability?” “Do you want to die?” Adrian smiled smoothly at him, his mind still fuzzy with the after affects of her kiss. “Because I’ll be only too happy to oblige you.” “I’m going to get your Father.” Hunter declared and turned to stalk back into the building, intent on finding Kid Miller and letting him know what was going on right outside. “Do you think they’d notice if we just slipped away?” Joey whispered laughing softly as Adrian turned back to her. “I don’t know, we can hope not.” Adrian replied. “Course I don’t know how far we’re going to get with the speed I walk these days.” “Who said we had to walk?” Joey smiled mischievously. “Come on, I wasn’t sure about this so I made arrangements to go for a drive.” “You sneaky little devil.” Adrian said rising awkwardly even as she rose along with him and tugged on his hand. “Come on. The buggy is parked over here.” She said and headed around the corner and froze, Adrian bumping into her from behind as she saw James sitting on the buggy seat watching them. “Can I kill him?” “You tell me, you’re the Marshall.” Adrian laughed as James shook his head. “Don’t go killing me just yet. Ma figured you two were up to something when she didn’t see either of you come in and sent me out here to watch the rigs. Glad of it to.” James declared. “Other wise you’d miss the announcements.” “What announcement?” Joey asked glancing at Adrian then back at his brother. “Seems our good friend and sister Mary is planning on making a little jaunt to her Uncle’s place out in Arizona and wants someone to take her.” “oh no.” Joey groaned. “I’m not taking her.” “That’s right. She’s going with the next shipment of cattle so whoever’s taking the herd gets to take her.” James laughed. “I’m not sure if it’s Jacob or not who’s going. We’ll find out soon enough I reckon. So you two had best get yourselves inside before Pa comes looking with a shotgun Adrian.” James smiled at his brother. “I really think we need a vacation.” Adrian groaned at his brother’s chuckle and offered Joey his arm. “Shall we?” “Might as well, every avenue for escape is blocked. I’d hate to have your Pa shoot you then me have to shoot him.” Laughing at her, Adrian led her inside carefully, his back was still aching from earlier and he just wanted to sit back down. Sitting on the hard chair all night Adrian listened to his parents talking about his sister going west to see their uncle and how she would have to be protected so they didn’t want her taking the stage. Listening to them he smiled to himself, he’d never thought of having a life outside of the law before he’d realized the truth about Joey, but now he could see taking a larger role in the ranch easily. He didn’t think Joey would want to stay this close to the ranch, she’d probably want to move a short distance away, start something of their own but he could live with that. As long as he had her around he wasn’t going to be picky. Not that he was foolish enough to believe that everything was going to be smooth sailing, hell he would have to be as dumb as a post to think that. Knowing Joey and her temperament, an the way he was prone to reacting he figured that it would take months before they were even talking about planning a wedding, not that he’d mind if they did a few things before the wedding that were supposed to come after the vows but that was up to Joey.  No he figured that he’d have a few months to learn exactly what it was that made Joey Morgan who she was. “You look pensive.” The soft voice had him glancing up to smile at his aunt. “Hi Aunty Sara, where’s Aunt Laura?” “She’s talking to Joey.” Sara said settling into a chair next to Adrian. “How are you feeling?” “Sore. But I guess that’s to be expected when you get shot with a rifle at point blank range.” “I don’t mean to pry Adrian but just where do you plan to take this thing with Joey? She’s very devoted to you and I wonder if maybe that’s a side effect of working with you for so long.” “If you’re asking me if I plan on using and losing her then no Aunty Sara.” Adrian sighed and glanced across the room to where Joey was sitting listening to Laura Cross and his mother. “I think I knew there was something about Joey that was special way back when I first was offered the job as US Marshall for Sweetwater, there was something about her that made me uneasy. When I found out Joey was a girl it was like this wave of relief hit me, then the only thing I could think of other than getting her to safety was making sure she didn’t leave me.” “Sounds familiar.” Sara said shifting in her chair and canting a glance across the room to where her husband was standing talking with Buck Cross. “I think even way back then you loved her Adrian, I just don’t think you knew it.” “Surely you don’t mean..” “Oh no. People can see things without being aware of it. Your Pa was attracted to your Ma long before he found out about her, could be your heart saw what your mind couldn’t.” “I guess that’s true.” Adrian replied. “You don’t think I’m jumping the gun do you? I don’t want anyone to think that I’m taking advantage of a situation..” “No one would think that. Everyone with eyes knows that the two of you have been in love for longer than I care to think on. When the town found out about her being a girl it wasn’t like it was a big surprise, most of them knew about Joey before she left the big houses. Folks around here are decent and I think it shows in the way they’ve treated Joey and you. Just do me a favor Adrian don’t waste too much time, sometimes you don’t get second chances like the one you’ve been given. I lost a lot of time with Ike because of my pride, don’t do the same thing I did okay?” “I promise I’ll try not to.” Adrian smiled at his aunt as a shadow moved across them and they glanced up to see Ike McSwain standing there looking at his wife. *Shall we dance Sara?* Ike signed with a smile. “I’d love to.” Sara whispered rising and moving into his arms easily, her body brushing against his as they swirled out onto the dance floor. Watching them Adrian noted the lust and longing in their eyes when they touched and the easy way they moved together, the closeness between their bodies, even as the moved to the music. Even after twenty-four years of marriage it was obvious that there was still a lot of love between them. “You look lonely.” Joey’s soft words had him glancing up to smile at her. “You could say that.” Adrian admitted. “For the right kind of company. Have a seat, I’ll share the wall with you.” Laughing softly Joey settled in the chair and leaned back against him slightly. Despite her initial reservations from the days before she was relaxed and content tonight, tomorrow she’d deal with any problems if there were any. Chapter Seventeen For the umpteenth time Joey wondered what in hell the big deal was, everyone in town had stopped her this morning to offer up bits of advice and such and she was beginning to wish they’d never told James and Matthew that they had to go into Sweetwater to get a few things for the school. Missus Johnson had told her that dressing up nice was a sure fire way to attract Adrian’s attention, Mister Walters had offered her advice on what not to do. “Do not take your guns with you.” He said firmly eyeing the young woman who stood with her badge pinned to her chest and her guns tied down. “Leave ‘em here. A man needs to feel like he’s needed and Adrian’s a man, mark my words Missy, and leave those things at home.” Nodding at the words Joey had made a quick escape to the jail only to tense up when she realized that the advice wasn’t going to end. James and Matthew had both offered her advice on how not to get on Adrian’s bad side. They needed those new books and such and they were so sure she didn’t want to be left behind if she pissed him off. “Don’t piss him off.” Joey muttered. “Got it.” “Got what?” Adrian asked coming up beside her and glancing at the team that stood hitched to a low wagon. “If one more person offers me advice on what to do or not to do on this little trip I’m going to scream.” Joey muttered with a dark look at him. “So far I’ve been told to leave my guns at home, put on a dress, act like a helpless female, do whatever you want to do..” “I get the point.” Adrian said and moved closer to the wagon as Joey hopped up and settled on the seat. She’d changed out of her slacks into a split skirt and dark jacket but that was the only concession she’d made to her gender. Her guns were rolled up and tucked under the seat, clearly visible from where he was standing and a loaded rifle was tied to the back of the seat. “How long are we going to be gone?” Joey asked quickly. “Depends on if the shipments there or not.” Adrian said lifting his cane into the wagon before climbing in slowly, stiffly. In the two months since the haying social he’d made great progress healing but his body still complained about moving around so much. Hunter had said that it would probably always do that, so he’d gotten used to carrying a cane around. “If they are two days, if not could be a few days. Why you in a hurry to get back?” “No, I’m looking forward to a few days without someone offering me advice.” Joey said crossing her arms over her chest and leaning back, one booted foot propped against the headboard of the wagon. “And just so you know, I’m not going to be agreeable, if you suggest something I don’t like I’m going to let you  know about it.” “Of course you will.” Adrian smiled at her and shook out the reins. If you didn’t I’d think you were sick or something. Giddyup.” He called to the team that set out at a trot. “Ha, I’d have to be sick to listen to the way this town talks. Do you realize that they’ve practically got us living together in sin? Just yersterday I heard Missus Fuentes telling Jenny that we live in that one room shack like an old married couple and it was disgraceful. According to her, we’re already expecting a baby..” “We are?” Adrian glanced at her easily. “I don’t remember every getting naked with you.” “Adrian Miller I’m being serious.” Joey glared at him. “I know.” Adrian replied with a serious look. “Look I offered to move out..” “We’ve been sharing that same shack since we got to town. If you move it’ll make us look even more guilty of something.” Joey replied firmly. “It just burns me that they seem to think that I’m deaf and blind. Do they not realize that I’m quite happy with the way things are?” “Probably not.” Adrian declared as the horses trotted along. Despite everyone’s picking and offering advice to them, they’d managed to develop a certain fondness for the townspeople’s concern. Joey especially had been taken in and wrapped in a warm, loving embrace by everyone especially now when she often walked around town in a split skirt, and was often seen walking in the afternoons with Adrian out toward the pond. It didn’t seem that unlikely that they’d remain single until Christmas, as a matter of fact Adrian had discovered that a bet running round town was about them.  He often found amusement in it, but Joey was flustered by all the attention having never been surrounded by a loving family like Fiver Fingers had turned out to be. “It’ll be nice to see everyone again.” Joey commented as they rolled along under the warm autumn sun. “Even if they didn’t approve of me being a deputy.” “Just wait until they find out you’re the Marshall.” Adrian declared. “They’ll really have something to talk about.” “Oh Goodness don’t you go telling them that. Besides I’m only Marshall until we get back then I’m turning the whole thing over to James. He can run the town, see if I care.” “Joey you know you’re going to miss it.” “Sure I will but I’ll get over it.” Joey smiled at him. “Just think a few days without anyone interrupting us, or having to sneak around under Hunter’s nose. I swear that man can smell romance.” Laughing boisterously Adrian nodded. “That he can.” Email Destardi HOME