Vin followed Lou and Ike back to their hotel and then went to get Earl.

"Where the hell have you been Vin!"

"Out finding our satchel. And not loafing around. I think I know who has it too."

"Where is it?"

"I believe a lady named Laura Dunne is the current occupier of our belongings. I saw her in town today with our bag. She was betting at the card table like she had nothin' to lose."

"Time we pay her a visit." Earl was smiling, wanting his fair share of the satchel.

The two guys walked out of the livery stables and over to the hotel.

"Evening gentleman, you need a room for tonight?" the desk clerk asked politely.

"Maybe, but a friend of ours checked in here today, well was suppose to. She was to meet us and she hasn't showed up yet. I was getting a little worried about her. Her name is Laura Dunne." Earl hoped this would get him the information he needed.

"Let me check and she if she is in our registry." He placed a book on the table and searched for today's entries. "Sorry, no one by that name has checked in."

"She could be with her brother, Ike." He hope he caught the name correctly in a conversation he over heard. Vin added swiftly. "He travels with her a lot for safety."

"Well I do have an Ike McSwain, he checked in with another gentleman named Lou McCloud." As the desk clerk was searching for those named, Vin peeked over and checked out their room numbers.

"Thank you very much. We might as well get a room ourselves and we can talk to Ike tomorrow."

"Very well," and the clerk began registration for the two gentleman. Earl wasn't sure what Vin was up to but played along with him. Vin paid the two dollars and went up stairs with Earl.

"Why did we just buy a room?"

"Do you ever think with that brain of yours? Ike is in room 6 and that Lou fella in room 5. We come up here staying in a room, it don't look suspicious if we spend all night up here. That Ike fellow may have Laura with him for company if you get my drift." They deposited their stuff into room 9.

"Now let's go visit our dear friend Ike." Earl states. With smiles they got their guns ready and walked down the hall to room 6.

It was late and Ike was fast alseep. Vin picked the lock ever so quietly and entered the room. He went up to Ike, gun ready.

"This is your wake up call!" and he shook Ike to a start.

"Where is she?" Vin asked.

Ike looked confused for a minute then recognized the guy from the card table. He must be looking for Lou. Ike shook his head in confusion as if he didn't know what it was all about. A fist from the other side of the bed hit him square in the face.

"Get up!" Earl yelled and dragged Ike out of bed and tied him up. Ike wanted to get out of this situation but the barrel of Vin's gun was unfaltering, too close to chance trying to get away. Earl began searching the room quietly, even pried open the chest with the saddle in it.

"It's not here, anywhere."

"Where is she? I know she has our package." Ike remained still.

"Fine, let's go visit your pal Lou and see if he knows where that pretty gal is."

"Up on your feet," Earl snapped. Vin dragged Ike up. Earl checked the hall, "all clear" He picked Lou's lock and opened the door. They rose her up and were shocked not to find Lou but Laura. Lou was not wearing long johns but a nice nightdress. "Well, well what do we have here." Vin smiled. Lou stared at Ike. She knew this guy was no good. Earl grabbed her and tied her up next to Ike. Both sat down next to the bed.

"OK, so it's not Laura but Lou? Or is it Lou not your real name." Lou was not in the best mood after being woken up in the dead of night from her perfect dream. She just gave Vin an icy gaze.

"What do you really want?" Lou demanded.

"What I want is that velvet satchel."

"Here it is Vin." Earl found it in the dresser drawer. He emptied out Lou's winnings from it.

"There's only money in here." Vin turned around to face the two.

"What did you do with it?"

"With what?" Lou demanded. He hit her across the face.

"What did you do with my property?"

"The only thing I got with that satchel was the necklace. If you want that it's also in the dresser."

"Not the necklace." He hit her again. Ike was getting upset and tried freeing himself from the rope, but it was no use. He got a hard kick in the stomach. Vin was getting very frustrated.

"Where did you get that bag?" This was a question he should have asked first. The answer Lou gave wouldn't have eased his fears any less though. He quieted his voice, remembering it was early in the morning.

"It came with the necklace I bought yesterday, today, what ever," Lou mumbled.

Vin tied the two counterparts more securely to the edge of the bed and then gagged them. Vin then began helping Earl search Lou's room, certain now they couldn't get loose. His life was in that bag and he wanted it back. Earl and Vin gathered in the corner so their fellow guests couldn't hear them. They had been searching the two rooms almost all night. The sun was about to rise through the window.

"Earl you stay here and watch them. The shop will open soon and then I can check out that gal's story."

Ike and Lou didn't know how they got into this mess or how they were going to get out.

Vin patiently waited outside the jewelry shop until a young lady came to open it up.

"Excuse me miss but can I ask you a question about a necklace?"

"Come on in," She opened the door for him.

"Thank you ma'am."

"Are you shopping for a special girl or your wife?"

"No, but a young lady bought a necklace here yesterday. Do you wrap all your necklaces in a velvet bag?"

"Some we do. Usually if they spend a lot. Yesterday I remember a young lady buying one of our heart necklaces."

"Did you wrap it in the bag?"

"Yes I did. Did you want something similar?" She added.

"No thank you. Thanks for your time." He stormed out, leaving the receptionist confused.

A knock at the door woke up Ike who was exhausted from the lack of sleep. Vin whispered to Earl. Vin took Lou's winnings. Lou got agitated.

"Thanks for the great game, but I'm a sore loser." He waved the money in front of her and placed inside the satchel. He also took the necklace. Lou was bound to get her things back. She didn't want Vin to have the satisfaction of winning this new game. Earl and Vin left, leaving Ike and Lou tied up.

The two sat there wondering if they were coming back at all. In a shared understanding glance they both began to untie or try to untie their ropes.

The men gathered their belongings from room 9 and then they were off to check out.

"Where to now Vin?"

"Sweetwater," and they walked out the door.

It took Lou and Ike another half-hour or more to get their hands free.

"You ok Ike?" He nodded reassuringly and asked Lou the same thing.

"Fine, but I am getting my stuff back! No one swindles me and gets away with it!"

Lou and Ike gathered their stuff and saddled up the horses. Just as Lou was checking them out Ike remembered the chest with the saddle. How could he forget! He ran upstairs to get it. Lou packed up the horses and out comes Ike with a huge new saddle.

"That sure is a beauty, Ike. Buck's gona love it." Ike attached it to his own saddle on the back. It looked kind of funny but it was time to go home. He wanted nothing more. This trip was more then he planned for.

"Thanks again," as Lou waved good bye to the hotel clerk. He heard those thieves were headed to Sweetwater and they had to get their before they did.

"Sorry about all the trouble Ike. I guess I ruined your trip," Lou appoligized. Ike smiled, That's ok lou, I wouldn't have it any other way.

It was late that evening when Jimmy and Noah returned. They had passed on Teaspoons message and Jimmy didn't come home empty handed. He decided the message could wait till dinner time.

Our friends Vin and Earl took their time, rechecking their hiding place to see if it was just moved around. They were just out side Sweetwater and decided to camp there for the night.

Ike and Lou took several short cuts from the main route and got back to Sweetwater before dinner time. Ike wanted to get back before Buck did. Lou wanted to get back before the thieves showed up in town.

After arriving home Ike and Lou put up the horses. Lou helped Ike hide the saddle in the hayloft. As they headed out of the barn both buttoned their lips with a smile.

Jimmy noticed their return and greeted them. He wanted to talk to Teaspoon but that would have to wait.

"How was your trip?" He asked. Lou glanced at Ike.

"Definitely not what we expected. Is Teaspoon around?"

"No, but he'll be back by supper time."

Ike drifted off to catch a nap before dinner came. Lou began telling Jimmy of their mystery guests and her wonderful hand at the poker table.

"I'd love to seen you all dressed up." He said looking into her eyes and with his hand caressing the side of her face. She was so beautiful to him.

"I bet you would have." Lou said with a smile.

"You're also gona have to give me some poker pointers for my next match."

"As long as I'm not playing against you." They shared a sweet kiss and a silent moment between themselves.

"I need your help with a gift I'm working on for Buck."

"What is it?" Jimmy was curious.

"You'll see. Come on." Lou grabbed the journal from the bunkhouse and took a nice walk.

Dinner came and everyone finally gathered at the bunkhouse. Noah was gone and Buck was back.

"Teaspoon Ike and I think trouble is headed this way." Lou commented.

"Also I got a letter back from the Sheriff in Rock Creek. He said he was coming tomorrow personally."

"What's this all about?" Jimmy questioned.

"Excuse me but did I not start talking first?" Lou went on to explain all the trouble Ike and Lou ran into. "So they took the bag, my money and my necklace. I want it back! If I see him again, I cannot guarantee his safety!"

"I don't think I've even done anything that bad to make you this mad," Kid added.

"Take it easy Lou, we'll keep an eye for those two," Teaspoon tried to calm her down.

Jimmy interrupted again. "Teaspoon, what is going on with those letters you sent out."

Teaspoon knew it was futile to keep things a secret around the boys. So he turned to Cody and had him explain the situation. Lou and Ike got upset about this.

"So all that we went through, my stuff being stolen, woken up by thieves from a nice nights sleep, and beaten because of you Cody." Lou was about to fly over the table but Jimmy restrained her.

"Sit down!" Rachael hollered.

"Rachael's right, calm down. We'll see what the Sheriff has to say first. Lou, Ike you two go to town tomorrow and see if you can find these two. We'll can at least hold them for stealing Lou's money. There is something else you guys need to know about that satchel."

As clean-up was being done from dinner, Lou grabbed Kid away for a moment and both headed off to the barn.

"What is so important Lou?"

"I need to talk to you for a while. Buck's birthday is coming up and I need your help with his gift. Please."

"Sure, anything for you." They sat up in the loft for a while chatting about this and that. Lou's hand was writing feverishly. Lou was also happy about spending time with Kid. Ever since they broke up they haven't talk this much and laughed together in a long time. It felt like the friendship had truly returned.

Morning came and Teaspoon had time to sleep on the plan and fixed it up a bit. Lou would go into town and try to find these guys, then Cody goes to talk up his newly found prize possession or discovery. "Wait for them to find Cody and nab 'em. This would go into effect of course after the Sheriff from Rock Creek comes to town." He was to be there in the late morning.

Cody was disappointed about the satchel and about being bait to thieves who could kill him. But in the end William F. Cody would be the hero, if he lives through it.

Lou was able to drag Rachael away from the breakfast dishes to get her help with Buck's birthday surprise. After her, Teaspoon was the last person Lou had to talk to.

At noon, Lou headed into town. She brought Teaspoon lunch, courtesy of Rachael. Cody was coming in about an hour.

"'bout time, was wondering what happened to you," Teaspoon commented.

"Rachael wanted to make sure you had a nice lunch."

"Well wasn't that thoughtful." Teaspoon looked over the food, mouth watering. "Oh, Lou, this is Sheriff Donavin from over in Rock Creek."

"Afternoon." Lou said formally keeping her head low.

"Hello there son."

The Sheriff went on to mention the robberies they've been having and they couldn't catch these two guys. The last thing they took was that satchel which was part of a set up. They got away again still.

"Cody will be here soon. I'll go see if I can find those two." With that, Lou left for the local restaurants and saloons.

Lou went over to the saloon a way from the sheriff's station at the other side of town. She went in and found the two spending her money on cards and drinks. She wanted to go up to them and let them have it. She controlled herself and left to tell Teaspoon that she found them. When she returned to the sheriff's office she found Cody and the rest of the gang there as well.

"They're at Jack Bennie's saloon, the other end of town," Lou mentioned.

"Time to work your magic, but be subtle." Teaspoon smiled at the rest of the boys as they spread out to watch and guard Cody.

Upon entering the saloon, Lou pointed them out to Cody.

Kid went over to Cody at the bar. They sat near Earl. Kid and Cody started talking.

"Wow, I can't believe you found somthin' like that. Just in the middle of no where. Why don't you share it with the rest of us, play a game of cards Cody?" Kid asked.

"Why not, got plenty to spare." Cody flashed the satchel in the air making sure Earl saw it. Moving themselves over to the card table where Vin sat. Vin noticed the stranger with the velvet satchel come over to the table. Earl, behind them, gave Vin a nod.

"Hey fellows can we join ya!" Cody exclaimed.

"My friend here has come into some money recently and I thought it be best if he shared his wealth." Kid stated as the rest of the table went up in chuckles of laughter.

Cody's hand went to the bag he was holding. "I got a pocket full, I can spare a bit but the rest I plan on spending."

"By all means then sit down." Vin shouted. He nodded his head and Earl left the saloon.

Earl was planning on checking out the rest of town real quick, especially the sheriff's office. Make sure he could be avoided.

Lou left the saloon to follow Earl with Jimmy. Buck stayed behind to watch Cody. Earl walked by Teaspoons office and checked inside gracefully. Jimmy and Lou followed.

"If he recognizes Sheriff Donavin, we're through." Jimmy mentioned nervously.

"He won't. The sheriff went to Rachael's, they won't even know he's here."

Lou's words weren't that comforting to Jimmy about the whole situation.

They stopped and pretended to chit-chat on the porch outside a small restaurant. Lou gazing every now and then at Earl. Earl went into the general store across the street, Tompkin's. Lou and Jimmy waited and waited for him to come out, but Earl never left the general store.

"What is he doing in there? Stocking up on ammo for a life time?" Lou said sarcastically. Jimmy was getting tired and anxious of waiting.

"Lou give me a dollar or two." Jimmy demanded.

"What?" Lou didn't have money to just lend out.

"I'm tired of waiting, time to go shopping." Jimmy smiled. Lou picking up the hint dug deep into her pockets and her jacket, all totaling a dollar twenty.

"That's all I got, you owe me."

"Don't worry. I, unlike Cody, will pay you back." Jimmy headed for Tompkin's general store.

Earl went into the store and looked around. He was being followed. He had to get rid of his shadows. When Tompkins was helping another lady in the store that evening, he slid around the counter and back out the back door of the store. He hoped this would confuse his pursuers. Earl walked around a few buildings then popped around the corner of another store, closed for the evening.

There he saw Lou and Jimmy. Lou was handing over some money and Jimmy walked off towards the store. He ran across the street and back down till he was behind Lou in the alleyway. He grabbed Lou, covered her mouth and dragged her into the alley. She was in total shock. She wriggled and tried to get her gun, the man behind her beat her to it. He grabbed her gun and shoved her against the wall.

"What have we here?" he smirked and with her gun still pointed at her, he ripped off her hat and glasses.

"Miss Dunne, what are you up to?" Lou had to think fast and make sure he never connected her with Cody or anyone else.

"You took my money and my necklace, you think I'd just run away and not try and get it back?"

"Who's the other guy with ya sweetheart?"

"Just a friend willing to help me find you."

"You're very persistent. I've never killed anyone before but there's always a first." He grinned, setting his sight on Lou and got ready to fire.

Jimmy went inside the store and in a quick gaze, his fear was answered. He knew Earl had to have slipped out.

"Evenin' Tompkins," Jimmy said politely.

"What can I do for you Jimmy?" Jimmy asked Tompkins if he saw where Earl went.

"He was here and then gone."

"He couldn't just have disappeared. He never came out the front? Where's your back door Tompkins?"

"He'd have to have gone through me to get out the back."

"Thanks." Jimmy was frustrated.

Jimmy knew he could easily get past a man like Tompkins. Why would he have gone out the back unless..unless he knew he was being followed. His first thoughts were of Lou and he ran out of the store. Lou was not where he left her. He calmed himself down so he wouldn't draw attention or do something rash. He was careful crossing the street back toward the alley. He heard Earl and Lou talking and he quickly glanced around the corner. Earl was just about to shoot Lou. He took a step back to think and knocked his foot on a bin, sitting close by. It made a loud clank noise.

Damn it, Jimmy though, so much the element of surprise. Earl had turned, scared of what might be behind him and Lou saw her chance and jumped him. Jimmy heard the ruckess and came around the corner to help Lou. Lou landed a couple of solid punches along with toppling him to the ground. Lou grabbed the gun and was up on her feet.

Jimmy impressed with Lou said, "Well that was easy." He didn't have to lift one finger. Lou herself had to smirk a bit on that one.

"Where is it?" Lou shouted. "I want my necklace back."

Earl, scared, "I don't have it." His voice shaking. Jimmy catching on to what Lou was doing played along. He kneeled next to Earl.

"Well that's too bad" and he punched the guy.

"Do you know where it is?" Lou said threateningly.

"I can get it back."

"With my money, not one cent missing.'

"Yeah, I can get it." His eyes looking at the gun barrel pointed at him.

"You get it for me by ten o'clock tonight or I will continually hunt you down. You crossed the wrong woman." She smiled triumphantly, "See you at the livery stables." She socked one more hit. "If you're not there, you wish you were never born."

"Got that?" jimmy pointed in his last words.

"Yeah," he was holding his stomach on his knees as Jimmy and Lou left back for the saloon.

On the way they stopped by the sheriff's office. They shared what happened with Teaspoon and how their cover was almost blown.

"That story should have covered Cody. He wouldn't put to and two together. But now they'll probably hit Cody early and then split town."

Lou felt bad about speeding up the timetable but that way they were more prepared.

After several card games, Vin left to meet Earl and plan how to get their satchel back. He went off to the hotel to their room. He saw Earl, very pale except for the bruises on his face and the black eye.

"What happened to you?"

"It's that Laura Dunne girl. She's here and brought a hired gun with her. I think it's that Wild Bill Hickok fellow. He looked like he did in those books I read about him. He wore his gun the same too. He is bad news. Miss Dunne says if we don't pay up her and that fellow will come after us. I meet up with both of them." he explained about being followed and how he ran into them.

He changed the fight scene just a bit. "Then the gun man came out of no where. He was huge. He jumped me for my gun that I was gonna shot her with. We got into a fight. He was fast." He didn't want to tell Vin he got beat up by a girl of all things.

"What else did he say?"

"Not much. Miss Dunne wants her money by ten o' clock by the stables or she'll hunt us down."

"I can't believe it. You're afraid of that little girl?"

"Not her, that hired gun." He really didn't know too much about the guy, he was afraid of the woman.

"Here's the plan, we go back to the saloon for that Cody fellow, grab our satchel and split town. I'm not giving anything back to that arrogant and mouthy girl."

So Vin won out. They would keep and eye on their package and then take it back when they saw the chance.

Jimmy informed Buck of what happened and that they would try to go after Cody rather soon. Jimmy positioned himself at the bar to put the fright in Earl. Lou also kept her distance but acted like the two guys weren't even there when they entered back into the saloon.

Cody was in the corner eating a later dinner. The two sat at another table and got a drink. Earl pointed out Jimmy to Vin and he didn't see Lou anywhere. Vin wasn't worried. He watched Cody. Cody gave Kid a signal he came over to the table and joined Cody. After a drink for them as well he paid his bill and they left the saloon.

A few moments later Vin and Earl left too. Vin was just within ear range of Kid and Cody as they parted.

"Well I hope to run into you again Kid, see ya later." Cody bid a farewell and walked towards a hotel while Kid walked the other direction.

The streets of Sweetwater were not crowded but not barren either. Vin and Earl split up. Earl followed and Vin tried to cut of Cody before he got to the hotel. Buck turned and followed them. Jimmy and Lou went out the back and followed behind the buildings, when they saw Vin they hid.

As Cody approached, Vin snuck up behind him and Earl helped shoved him down the alley, with a gun pointed sharply in his back.

"Hand it over." Vin shouted.

"What?" Cody tried to look confused and bewildered about the whole event.

"The gold you found, it's ours."

He detached the satchel and gave it to Vin. Earl knocked out Cody from behind with his gun.

"Time he wakes up, we'll be long gone." Earl mentioned.

The two scattered around the corner. Lou and Jimmy came coming up to them. Lou saw them first and the satchel that Cody had.

"There they go," Lou whispered to Jimmy. She then acted before thinking and yells towards them to stop and opens fire.

As Lou gave chase Jimmy mumbled to himself, "There goes the element of surprise, yet again," and followed after her.

Buck hearing the shots ran towards the alley with Kid. Buck stayed behind with Cody making sure he was alright then went to get Teaspoon. Kid followed in hot pursuit. Vin and Earl ran towards the barn. Ike was in there taking care of a few horses. When he heard the two bust in, he hid up in the loft.

"It's that wench and that hired gun of hers. I told you we shouldn't just run. Give her her stuff back and we can leave with the gold." Earl pleaded.

"Let's just take them out and be done with it." Vin stated and that was the final word on the matter.

Jimmy and Lou edged around the corner and shots rang out towards them. Lou ran inside to one side with Jimmy inside on the other, firing towards to stable areas at the two men they couldn't see.

Lou was firing occasionally but looked up as hay was flying from above before her eyes. She looked up as a figure fell from the sky and toppled her.

Jimmy wasn't paying a bit of attention. He ran forward to another empty stable firing his gun. Lou shoved the intruder off of her swinging in a punch or two. Both got to their knees with gun barrels aiming at each other. It was Ike. They smiled and would laugh about it all later but with bullets flying at them piercing the air it was not the time.

Lou did hit one of her targets, Earl in the shoulder. Kid came up behind the one of the thieves, Earl.

"Drop it right there," Kid stated. Earl spun around and thrusted himself at Kid. Kid didn't have time to get one shot off. Earl, even without his hurt shoulder was a push over. With a few punches he was down and out.

"Give it up Vincent!" Jimmy shouted but not expecting much to come of it. Vin in a state of panic, saw Earl lying on the ground, ran for the door.

"Goin' somewhere?" Teaspoon asked with a smile.

Vin dropped his gun and gave up in defeat, yet angry within.

The two villains wound up in jail and Sheriff Donavin was going to take them to the territorial jail then next day.

"So Sheriff Donavin tried to get these two by riggin' this here bag with fools gold." Teaspoon explained in the sheriff's office.

"I can't believe it's worthless." Cody said disappointed, "What a shame."

"Fake? Fools gold?" Vin's evil eyes turned toward Earl, "When we get out of here I'm gona kill you!"

"Relax you'll have plenty of time behind bars together to do that." Marshall Donavin stated, "I'll be by tomorrow to pick them up." Out he walked, back to the hotel.

"What about my stuff?" Lou asked hopefully.

"We searched their hotel room and found this." Buck held before her the necklace she bought. It was very fancy. "I have to admit I'd love to see you in the dress this goes with." Buck smiled handing it over. Lou turned flush in the face.

"What about my card winnings?" she added, fearing now there was no such luck in getting her money back. "They didn't spend it all?"

"Apparently not," as Cody was flipping through a stack of cash.

"160 of that is mine!" Teaspoon gave Lou back her winnings.

"I am impressed you won all that playing poker." Kid mentioned.

"Well when you're good, you're good." Lou gave a triumphant reply.

The next day the thieves were escorted out of Sweetwater. Noah came back from his run early for birthday celebrations. Lou was to head out next.

"Well Rachael I just couldn't miss your cake, the thought of Cody eating all was too much to bear." Noah said as he dismounted. Buck was helping Lou get her horse ready as she went inside to get her gift.

"Happy birthday Buck," and she handed over her wrapped gift. Buck smiled and unwrapped the journal. He thumbed through the pages and found it divided into sections. There was Buck's words of wisdom, my adventures with Buck, and what everyone loved about Buck. He had to laugh. It was cute and very meaningful to him to read through the entries by everyone.

"This is probably the best gift I could ever get." He then gave Lou a hug and a soft kiss on the cheek.

"Not till you see Ike's. He got me beat. Sorry I'll miss all the good food, save some ok."

"Will do" and Buck went back inside.

Jimmy, in the afternoon sunlight and breeze gave Lou a kiss as well. "Ride safe." She mounted and off she went.

Kid came back from picking up Samantha for the afternoon festivities. Kid smiled to his best friend and said, "So Jimmy what can we look forward to for next week?"