Jake and Douglas talked in hushed voices near the barn. Cynthia saw them gathering and sat near her window. She could hear them plain as day, but they couldn't see her. She was going to find out what her father was up to, once and for all.

"I want you to leave tonight, right now," Douglas ordered. "He's from the Pony Express in Sweetwater."

"He delivers mail?" Jake laughed.

"He's all ready seen you." Douglas reminded. "The last thing I need is a nosy rider findin' out my business. Especially one of Teaspoon Hunter's boys."

"Ain't got nothin' to worry bout," Jake affirmed, lighting up a cigarette.

"I want you to stop him from getting close to Cynthia..."

"She still think you're the great father you told her you are?"

Douglas looked at the ground, not out of shame, but because he was beginning to lose his temper. Something he couldn't afford to do. He needed Jake, and Jake knew it. "She believes what she must."

"So, she doesn't know you trade money for guns and supply those red skins with 'em..."

"That's enough!" Douglas scolded. "You will leave now, and take care of our problem before he reaches home, is that clear?"

Jake thought for a moment. "Not a problem, boss," he said. "There is one little detail we have left to discuss though."

"What?"

"Cynthia," he simply said.

Douglas was obviously confused. "What about her? She knows nothing about this..."

Jake laughed, sending a chill down Cynthia's spine. "I don't care if she knows all about your little business, Douglas. I want her to be my wife."

Cynthia closed her eyes, willing her father to say no, to shoot him, to do anything but agree to it. She wouldn't become his wife. Jake had told her on more than one unpleasant occasion what he'd do to her if she were. If he ever loved her at all, he'd tell him to leave.

"Your wife?" Douglas asked.

"Yep, and after that, you'll say out of our lives."

Douglas exhaled, cigarette smoke lingering in the humid air like clouds around his head. He thought for only an instant before smiling. "Deal."

Cynthia stopped a scream from escaping. Tears filled her brown eyes. She'd never become his wife, no matter what her father said. She knew what she had to do, and began packing.

Jimmy was up and ready for his picnic, but his nerves weren't. It confounded him. He could handle himself in any situation, dangerous or otherwise, until it came to women. They were Cody's department, and if he was here right now, Jimmy knew he'd be getting a pretty good ribbing. He stayed in his room until it was time to meed Cynthia downstairs. he'd been trying to think of clever things to say to her, but none came to him.

"Good morning, Mister Scott," Jimmy greeted. "It sure is a beautiful day, ain't it?"

"Aaahhh, Mister Hickock," he replied. "I'm afraid that Cynthia has gone to Colorado Springs..."

Jimmy's brow furrowed. "She did?"

The older man took a long drag from his cigarette. "Yep, took the first stage this mornin'."

Something wasn't right. Why would she plan to have a picnic with him, then leave town, unexplained? There was something in Douglas' eyes, as if he was hiding something. What was going on?

"Guess you'll be leavin' town. Even got your horse ready for ya."

He was being thrown out. Jimmy had never been thrown out of anyplace...well not for being a guest, anyway.

"Thank you for your hospitality," he replied with a tip of his hat.

As he walked to the tree, where his horse was tied, he noticed two sets of hoof prints heading towards town. If Cynthia did take the first stage, she wasn't alone. Had Jake gone with her? Was everything she told him about her and Jake a lie? Somehow that didn't surprise him. Most of the women who liked him had something to hide, why not Cynthia? Why would she have been any different?

Jimmy was almost home. He kept telling himself that his leaving was for the better. What did he have to offer? Certainly wasn't his charm, Cody had that. He wasn't the most handsome of men, that was Buck's downfall. Lord knows, he wasn't the smartest or most sensitive person. Lou was by far the smartest person he knew, and Kid cornered the market on sensitivity.

"Well, Hickock," he said softly, bringing the horse to a stop. He could see the way station from where he was. "Looks like you're the hardened tough guy. Live alone...die alone."

Jimmy was too absorbed in his own thoughts to hear the man coming from behind him, but he felt the bullet. Pain seared through his body as he fell to the dusty ground. He heard another shot, but slipped into darkness before he could feel the pain.

On to Chpaters 10&11 -- the Conclusion!