It was just before noon when they arrived in town. It had been almost one day exactly since Jimmy had met Josephine, although it seemed like much longer. He could not remember the last time he had rode into Sweetwater two days in a row. Normally he would have turned it down, but with companionship like the blonde beauty that rode beside him, it made the trip more than worthwhile.

     They rode right through the growing town of Sweetwater to the rail station.

     As Teaspoon dismounted he noticed a man riding up behind them. He was a tall middle aged man, with a tough haggard appearance. He looked like he had lived a hard life in the saddle. His deeply tanned face seemed to almost blend in with his sandy blond hair and long drooping mustache. He had sharp eyes, like a hawk. Teaspoon recognized him instantly. It was Sheriff Spencer Hawkins.

     As they dismounted, the man approached. “Marshal Hunter.” The Sheriff’s surly tone made no effort to hide his dislike.

     “Sheriff Hawkins.” Teaspoon’s own tone soured. He had never liked the man the town had now chosen as their Sheriff. Spencer’s idea of fair justice was directly linked to how much money you had in your pocket. But for some reason, the trusting folks of Sweetwater, had nominated him Sheriff in their election just a few months earlier. Teaspoon couldn’t help but feel it was rigged.

     “What brings you by here today.” Sheriff Hawkins inquired, talking right past Teaspoon to Jimmy and Josephine.

     “If you don’t mind.” Teaspoon cocked his head at the man, walking past him into the small rickety railroad house.

     “Howdy Teaspoon.” The portly old man looked up as the three walked in.

     “Long time no see.” Teaspoon smiled. “How’s the wife and kids now Joe?”

     “Oh they’re good.” The man smiled, pushing his glasses further up the bridge of his chubby nose. “Got me a new grandson a few weeks back.”

     “How ‘bout that.” Teaspoon smiled.

     “What can I do you for?” Joe asked, finally getting down to business.

     “Can you wire Denver for me?” Teaspoon asked.

     “I’d love to oblige you, but the injuns have yanked down all our lines again.” He shook his head in frustration. “Damn Cheyennes.”

     Josephine exhaled a soft sigh of relief.

     “All right Joe. You have a good day.” Teaspoon started to leave.

     “You should really come out here more often Marshal!” Joe called to him. “The trains we are getting through here now are really nice. Fine pieces of work.”

     “I just might do that.” Teaspoon smiled.

     “Let’s go get lunch.” Teaspoon turned to Jimmy.

     “Now that’s the best thing you’ve said all day!” Jimmy grinned.

     Sheriff Hawkins watched the street as he rode up to the Sweetwater Hotel. Tying his sorrel to the hitching post he stepped up onto the wooden walkway and through the ornate doorway. Tipping his hat to the clerk, he made his way up the stairs to the rooms above.

     The knock at the door startled Sam Hayes. He rolled out of bed in disgust. This better be good, he thought to himself. He had been in the saddle so much lately that he could not remember the last time he had slept in such a comfortable bed. He rose and pulled his trousers on over his long underwear. He then walked over to the sink and splashed some cold water onto his face. The door knocked again. He reached over to the bedpost where his gunbelt draped, and slipped out his revolver. Gun in hand he opened the door.

     “Sam.” The Sheriff’s nodded.

     “Sheriff Hawkins.” Sam motioned for the Sheriff to follow him inside the room.

     “I just came from the rail station.” Hawkins wasted no time getting down to business.

     Sam waited for the Sheriff to get to the point, but he didn’t. “And?” Sam encouraged him.

     “I think I might have the information you were looking for.” Hawkins said wryly, as Sam Hayes slipped him a bill.

     The sun set with a magnificent array of colors. It had been an unusually hot day, but the cool evening winds made the night peaceful and pleasant. Jimmy leaned into the rail of the front porch with a coffee in hand. It had been a good day. He was beginning to enjoy having Josephine around. Her attentions and affections made him feel good, and he found himself feeling more and more comfortable around her. They had spent quite a bit of time talking, both at lunch and on the ride home. Teaspoon rode a few horse lengths ahead the whole way back. Everyone seemed to want to help Josephine. At dinner both Kid and Cody offered to make a run to Denver to find out about the mysterious man that Jimmy had seen. Teaspoon had settled on sending Buck. There had been alot of troubles lately with Indian raids. He couldn’t afford to put any of the other riders in that kind of situation. Buck left right after supper. It would be a few days before he would reach Denver. Jimmy wondered about what would happen after the man was jailed. Would Josephine return to Colorado? Or would she really stay in Sweetwater just for him?

     “There you are!” Josephine’s voice caught Jimmy off guard.

     He turned around. The light from the open doorway behind her illuminated her soft features Her hair shone like spun gold. Her skin took on subtle hues of pink and orange, not unlike the setting sun. She wore a long white nightgown that was tied with a pink ribbon at the bodice. Jimmy was not sure he had ever seen a more beautiful sight. She started to walk towards him.

     “Don’t move.” Jimmy told her, setting his cup down on the rail.

     She looked around confused, wondering if there was a spider around her or if maybe there was a loose board on the porch. Finally she asked, “Why?”

     “Because I want to remember this.” Jimmy admitted, showing his rarely visited tender side. She smiled as he slowly walked up to her. Her mouth opened to say something. “Shhh.” Jimmy hushed her. Then looking straight into her twinkling green eyes, he kissed her softly.

     “Come for a walk with me Jimmy Hickok.” She grabbed his arm, almost yanking him down the stairs, he stumbled forward onto her, landing on top of her in the grass.

     “Are you okay?” He asked propping himself onto one elbow to look at her better.

     “I am now.” She whispered, pulling him to her she kissed him deeply. They rolled around looking up at the fireflies, and the stars, twinkling above them.

     “Jimmy will you help me find the man that killed my husband?” She asked softly.

     He hated hearing that word ‘husband’. It made him feel guilty for laying in the grass with a woman he was beginning to care about. “I told you I would.” His voice seemed to reflect his uncomfort.

     “I don’t want this man to stand trial. I don’t want this man to hang in Denver. I want to see him shot, and have him feel the bullet tear through him as it did my husband.” She explained.

     There was that word again. The mood had been spoiled. “You want me to kill him?” Jimmy was taken aback.

     “He’s a killer.” She explained simply.

     “I can’t do that.” Jimmy reasoned. He knew that he wanted to, he wanted more than anything to do whatever it took for things to be past this point and life to go on together for both of them. But it wasn’t up to him. It was up to a judge.

     She sighed. “I’m sorry Jimmy, it’s just that get so angry when I think about...”

     “It’s all right.” He stood up and started back towards the porch.

     Her sudden screams broke the silence that had dropped between them. Jimmy scrambled back down the porch steps to see a large darkly dressed man, the same man he had seen in town, with a cloth over Josephine’s mouth, dragging her off and draping her over his horse. There was another man that rode up who stayed a ways back in the distance. Jimmy could not make his features out. The large man snarled at Jimmy. “Stay out of this. It’s not your concern.”

     “Like hell it’s not.” Jimmy snapped back. He reached for his guns, realizing they were still hanging inside the bunkhouse. He jumped forward and tackled the large man. The two rolled around on the grass exchanging blows.

     Teaspoon stepped outside. “What’s going on here?” The man kicked Jimmy in the face with his boot, knocking him cold at least for the moment. He dragged his spur across Jimmy’s cheek. Then reaching for his gun he fired a shot at Teaspoon, nicking his shoulder.

     Cody, who had heard all the commotion had ran to get his rifle, and as the man was clambering up onto his mount, Cody leveled his rifle and drew aim. Dispite the distance Cody managed to hit the man in the arm. He reloaded for a second shot but they were all ready gone.

     Jimmy got up as the dust settled. He rushed for the stable.

     “Woah.” Noah tried to stop him. Jimmy looked in rough shape.

     “Out of my way.” Jimmy growled, pushing him aside.

     As Jimmy had his horse out of the stable he noticed Teaspoon’s shoulder. Lou was wrapping a bandage around it. “He Okay?” Jimmy queried of Lou. Lou nodded. Jimmy spurred his horse. Whoever had done this would pay, and it would no longer be up to the law to decide.

     Kid came out from the stable with Katy. He looked over at Teaspoon.

     “Better stay out of Jimmy’s sight Kid, if he spots you he may not be so happy to see you.” Teaspoon warned him. Kid nodded, kicking the strong into into full gallop.

     Jimmy had been riding for miles but without luck. How could they just disappear? Where could they be? He wondered. He knew his horse would be faster than theirs, they would be slowed by the extra passenger. They could not have doubled back he would have seen them. He slowed to a walk to sort out his thoughts.

     “You can come out Kid.” Jimmy hollered. He had known for at least ten minutes that Kid was tailing him. Besides, if this had happened to Kid or Noah or Cody or any of the riders, Jimmy would have followed them too. He waited for Kid to come out into the clearing, after a few minutes he finally emerged.

     “Jimmy you look awful.” Kid’s face fixated on the gash on Jimmy’s cheek. He had obviously been oblivious to the blood streaking down the side of his face.

     Jimmy’s hand came up to touch it and he pulled it away, bloody. “It’s just a cut.”

     “It looks bad.” Kid commented.

     “Are you a doctor now?” Jimmy quipped.

     “No.” Kid gave up. There was no talking sense into Jimmy’s thick skull.

     Neither of them spoke again as they rode. They just took turns watching the ground and trees and the open land ahead, looking for any trace of the men that had abducted Josephine.

     Kid spotted a white hanky on the ground, and a pair of fresh horse tracks leading from the hilly brush that bordered the flat prarie lands. “Jimmy!” Kid urged. It took Jimmy a moment to acknowledge him, his mind was obviously elsewhere. Kid pointed the tracks out to him, and Jimmy almost bowled Kid over wheeling his horse around.

     Kid stopped to examine the hanky. As he took a careful sniff, he drew his head back from the pungent smell. “Chloroform.” He muttered to himself.

     “Come on.” Jimmy shouted to Kid, kicking the palomino into a furious gallop.

On to Chapter 4!