Molly's transformation from a sweet, pretty woman to a cold, hateful outlaw would have shocked anyone else, but Lou didn't even blink. "The game's over, Molly. I'm taking you and your brother to jail."

"I don't think so." Molly sneered. Then, she nodded once to Andy, who then started to walk towards Lou.

"Stop or I'll shoot!" Lou said, becoming unnerved at the sight of the huge, simple man walking determinedly

Lou gasped, only able to get a breath of air to her lungs. Molly walked up and smiled smugly. "Now Louise, you and I have to have an understanding. I'm going to return to your friends at the station, and you're not going to say a word about this, or I have a feeling the Pony Express is going to receive news that one of their riders has only been pretending to be a boy. Do I make myself clear?"

Lou nodded, desperate to breathe again. Satisfied, Molly nodded and Andy released his death grip on her. Lou collapsed to the ground, dizzy and only half-conscious. Molly stood over her and suddenly gave her a vicious kick in the ribs. Lou groaned and rolled over, still gasping for breath. She heard Molly say something about tending to Andy's flesh wound before she passed out.

A slight breeze brought a breath of relief to the unrelenting heat of the afternoon. Another round of storm clouds were building up in the horizon, and there was no doubt there'd be another storm later in the day. Lou moaned and opened her eyes, disoriented. For a few seconds she had no idea where she was or how she got there, but then she coughed, her throat still sore, and she remembered all at once. She cursed herself for letting them get away, but she shivered when she thought of Andy and how he could've crushed her neck without even trying.

She scrambled to her feet and her right side screamed in protest. Lou rubbed her rib cage gently, and figured Molly probably bruised a few ribs. She shook her head in anger, remembering Molly's threat. If Molly thought Lou would let her go, just because of the risk to her job, she obviously underestimated her. Lou quickly sought out Lightning and began galloping towards home. Lou swallowed back a few tears that surfaced when she thought of losing her job, but if that was the price to pay, then so be it. She grimly rode on, determined to bring Molly down, even if she went down with her.

"Where have you been?" Rachel scolded, coming out onto the porch, hands upon her hips. "I have been worried sick! We waited about a half hour for you before starting dinner."

Lou slid off Lightning and her knees almost buckled. She hadn't eaten all day and she was so thirsty. Jesse, who had snuck out of the house to see what was going on, ran to help her. "Are you all right, Lou?"

She nodded, her eyes blazing. She looked up at Rachel and could see her friend was torn between being angry and worried about her. "Well?"

Lou swallowed the pain in her throat. "Where's Molly?"

Rachel threw up her hands. "Is that what this is all about? Honestly Lou, go wash up and then you can join us for some supper. Jesse, you get in here, right now."

Jesse, who still had an arm around Lou's shoulders to support her, looked at Lou in concern. He was already at least a head taller than she was, and she felt like she was trembling. He frowned, noticing her neck looked like it had bruises on it. "Lou are you okay?"

She smiled at him, but her eyes were rimmed with exhaustion. "I'm fine Jesse. Thanks. Why don't you go on and do what Rachel says." She took the hand that he had wrapped around her and squeezed it as she returned it to his side.

"Okay…" Reluctantly he went up the stairs and went inside. Rachel followed him.

Lou stood outside alone for a moment, gathering her strength. She allowed herself a long, cold drink of water, which revitalized her somewhat. Then, taking a deep breath and squaring her shoulders, she walked inside. Everyone stopped eating to look at her.

"Lou-" Kid said, shocked by her appearance but even more concerned about the dangerous look in her eyes.

"Louise I thought I told you to wash up." Rachel said angrily.

"You did Rachel." Lou said evenly. "But there's something I've got to do first." She looked at Molly with a level and confident stare as she said, "Teaspoon, I'd like you to arrest Molly and Andy Pierson for possession of stolen government property."

"You mean the $25,000 worth of gold?" Teaspoon asked her drily. At Lou's shocked look, he explained. "She turned it into me earlier this afternoon."

Lou looked at Molly, who smiled shyly. "I didn't know you were watching me and Andy dig it up Lou." She laughed softly, "If I had, I probably would've asked for your help." Her joke wasn't enough to lighten the tension.

"She's lyin' Teaspoon." Lou said, her heart beating fast when she realized the trap she had walked into.

"Really, Lou?" Teaspoon asked. "How do you figure?"

Lou looked around at everyone's faces and realized they all thought she was crazy. "She either gave you the gold and plans on stealin' it back, or she only gave you part of what she found and she's keeping the rest."

Kid stood up. "Lou, I think you'd better just step outside and cool down." He said softly. He lay his hands on her shoulders.

She shrugged them off. "Please, you have to believe me, I found them and he-" She pointed to Andy, who showed no reaction. "He tried to kill me."

Molly frowned, feigning hurt feelings. "Now wait a minute, Lou. My brother may be simple-minded but he is not capable of hurting another living being!" Tears sprang to her eyes.

Something in Lou snapped. She darted toward Molly and lunged for her, a fury possessing her. She vaguely felt arms and hands pulling her back and restraining her. She realized Kid, Jimmy and Noah all had a hold of her and they lifted her up off the ground and carried her outside, where they finally let her go. The others followed the commotion outside, including Molly. No one noticed, however, that Andy skulked away to the barn.

Teaspoon came down the steps. "What is the matter with you Lou?" He roared.

Lou fumed as she regained her footing. "I can't believe you're taking her side over mine."

"You're the only one asking us to take sides, Lou." Kid retorted as Molly stood demurely by.

"Maybe you're just overtired." Noah said calmly, laying a hand on her arm.

Lou jerked it away. "I thought you were my friends."

"We are your friends, Lou." Cody said. "That doesn't mean we think you're right all of the time."

Lou looked at them and saw that they were all against her, that they all thought she was crazy. Her eyes met Jimmy's. "Jimmy?" He had always stuck by her in the past, but she could already tell even he was uncertain. Hurt, her eyes met Jesse's and he looked very confused. She dropped her gaze and groaned in agitation. Then, glancing up again, she caught Molly's smug look. Unable to help herself, she lunged at her again. Kid grabbed her and flung her backwards, making her stumble and fall. "Lou that's enough."

She stared at him. He'd never used force on her like that before. He stared back, as if he too were surprised by his actions. He seemed to regret it, and tried to approach her but Lou scrambled to her feet and backed away, shaking her head. "I don't believe this."

"Lou, come back!" Kid cried.

She shook her head, running for the barn. "Just leave me alone."

They stood watching her retreating figure. Molly spoke first, breaking the uneasy silence. "I'm so sorry."

"Don't be." Kid turned to her. "This isn't your fault."

"You shouldn't have pushed her like that Kid." Jimmy said, his voice low.

"Look, I didn't mean to, okay?" He snapped defensively.

"I think I should go talk to her." Molly said.

All heads swiveled towards her. Buck shook his head. "I don't think that's such a good idea. You see, Lou has a pretty bad temper."

"And she's not too happy with you right now," Noah pointed out.

"Yes, you see, so it's me who has to talk to her." Molly insisted. "I've got to work things out between us."

They looked reluctant, but if she was determined, there was nothing they could do about it. Thunder boomed above them as more storm clouds continued to roll in. "Just remember," Cody told her, "We'll be nearby, so just yell if she tries to kill you."

They watched as Molly made her way to the barn. Jimmy shook his head. "Well this ought to be good."

Only Jesse stood back from the others. He had never known Lou to overreact like this before, and truth be told, he wasn't too impressed with Molly and her brother. There was something strange about those two anyway. Besides, he was pretty sure those had been bruises on her neck. He stole away from the boys and as they walked back towards the house, he walked to the barn. When he opened the door, he was not ready for what he saw.

Lou was bleeding! And Andy was holding her, her arms pinned tightly behind her back. And Molly was smiling, gloating! Jesse crept in closer to hear what they were saying.

"Ah tempestuous Louise." Molly said in a condescending manner. "You're so hotheaded, I'm afraid you have no credibility and I have nothing but. Your friends believe me, not you."

"They'll figure you out. Don't you worry." Lou said.

Molly laughed. "Oh, eventually maybe, but I'm not going to give them the chance. Although I thought it might be fun to spend some time here, you know, hanging out with the boys like you've done for so long, I've tired of it. I'll just complete my business and leave. Even though the Kid and I were really starting to hit it off."

Lou stared with hatred at her nemesis. "And what business are you here to do?" Lou asked. "Finishing whatever Confederate garbage Jed left unfinished?"

"My my how astute." Molly said, her smile quickly fading. "I knew I couldn't risk you much longer." She grabbed Lou's chin in a tight grip. "I've tired of you too, Louise. I think it's time for you to go."

"If I go I'm taking you with me!" Using Andy as leverage, Lou brought up her feet and kicked Molly full force in the stomach. But she struggled uselessly against Andy. He was at least twice her size and twice as strong.

Jesse couldn't stand it any longer. He sprung up and charged toward Andy like a bull toward a red flag. "Let her go!"

Lou's eyes widened in disbelief and concern. "Jesse!"

Andy backhanded him and Jesse fell to the ground, stunned. He struggled to get up but Andy brought his foot up and laid it down over Jesse's chest. He started wheezing from the weight. Lou realized with alarm that Andy could break his rib cage and kill Jesse. She took a deep breath and twisted herself around until Andy's arm was within her reach. She sunk her teeth into his skin until she tasted blood, making him howl just as thunder crashed around them. Jesse scrambled out from under his step but then stopped when Molly's gun was aimed at him.

"Leave him alone!" Lou warned.

Lightning flashed, revealing Molly's face contorted in rage. She mumbled, "I don't have time for this." Using the handle of the gun, she struck Jesse on the side of his head. He slumped back, unconscious.

"How are you going to explain that?" Lou asked, looking worriedly at Jesse. The last thing she wanted was for him to get hurt.

"I won't have to." Molly spat. "By the time he wakes up, I'll be long gone." She smiled. "And so will you." She lunged at Lou, slapping her visciously across the face. She slapped her again, and Lou sagged in Andy's arms.

"Think you're so great now, Louise?" Molly sneered. "Take her to the river, Andy, like we talked about."

Lou spit out blood onto the barn's dirt floor. "Even if you do kill me, they'll hunt you down and kill you for what you've done."

"I don't think so." Molly said. "Even if they care when your body washes up about 10 miles downstream from here, they'll think it was an accident. There was a storm, the river's flooded anyway, and you were so upset that you missed your footing. Bye bye, Louise. It was nice knowing you."

Molly watched in satisfaction as Andy picked Lou up and effortlessly carried her outside. She kicked some hay over Jesse's body, then straightened herself up and, resuming her role of benevolent Molly, she left the barn and walked towards the house. With Lou finally out of the way, Molly thought to herself in satisfaction, her plan was going better than she had hoped.

On to The Conclusion!