Quietly, he stood and dressed, then looked out the window over Rock Creek. The town was rough, lawless. He remembered hearing tales of how this town had once been a big boom town, but was now falling apart because of the war. He shook his head. No town should even turn bad.

He heard stirring behind him, and he saw Julie waking up. She turned in bed to face him, smiling. "Good morning," she said.

Ike smiled and walked back to the bed, kneeling down beside it. "Good morning. How are you feeling? Rested?"

Julie nodded. "I feel much better now."

There was a knock on the door, and Wilson, Marcus and Josiah entered. Adam also woke from his sleep and sat up. "Are we ready to go? It's almost ten."

Julie sighed. "I would like to take a shower first, if you boys don't mind."

Wilson nodded. "We'll ready the wagon. Ike, Adam, meet us downstairs."

Ike nodded and the three men left. Adam stood and started to dress while Julie kept staring at the door. She then shook her head and stood, straightening out her nightgown. Ike watched her carefully, making sure she was really ok.

Julie seemed to notice it, and smiled. "I'm really ok, Ike. Now go and help Wilson. If we run late today, he'll be mad."

Ike nodded. Adam finished dressing, and the two left.

They had finished loading the wagon by then, and Ike noticed the Wilson, Marcus and Josiah were all wearing similar clothing. They stood in the alley in which they had parked their wagon that day. Wilson pulled Julie aside. "You, Josiah and Adam are going to the saloon to eat. I'm taking Marcus and Ike. We will meet you two miles due east of here, near the warped oak trees."

"Why are you taking Ike? Why can't he stay with me?"

"Because to keep him with us, he needs to do the crime. If he doesn't, he could bug out. With him guilty, he won't even betray us."

Julie turned to look at Ike, who was chatting with Adam and Josiah. He knew nothing of what was about to happen. This was going to hurt him, a lot. She hoped that he would come to understand that she never meant to get him involved in all of this.

Wilson noticed her look and frowned at it. He motioned for all of them to come and join them. "We start in twenty minutes. Josiah, Adam and Julie, you're the cover crew. Enjoy your lunch."

"What's happening?" Ike asked.

"Now that you're healed, it's time for you to pull your weight around here. You're coming with me and Marcus."

Ike's eyes opened wide. He looked at each of the groups faces. Adam and Julie were sad that they had tricked their friend into this, and Marcus and Josiah's faces where blank slates. Finally, Ike focused back on Wilson. "I won't do it."

"You have no choice." Wilson motioned to Josiah, who drew a gun and placed it at Julie's head. She took a deep breath, knowing that if she tried to fight, she would not survive. She looked at Ike with sad eyes.

Ike watched Julie stiffen to the gun, and wanted to run and help her. He turned back to Wilson. "You wouldn't kill her."

"Don't be so sure, Ike. I've done far worse. Now come on." Wilson motioned for Josiah to take his group and go.

"No." Ike stood his ground. He reached to his hip for his gun, but Wilson drew first and motioned for him to hand it over. Ike locked his eyes with the man, then handed his gun over. Wilson took Ike's gun and handed it to Marcus.

"Now, you have a choice, Ike," Wilson spoke, holding his gun on the young rider. "Either you really join us, or you die. We can't let our secret out now, can we?"

"You can speak."

"All my life, son. But acting like a mute makes it seem very unlikely that we will ever get caught, don't you think? Now come on. And don't try anything stupid, or Julie will die."

Ike turned and took a quick look back at Julie. She had a tear in her eye, but she nodded to Ike, letting him know that she was ok. Ike lowered his head, then looked up at Marcus and Wilson. "You'll pay for this. My friends will come for me and find you out."

Wilson laughed. "You're friends haven't come for you yet, and I doubt they will. Now come on, before we lose our time period."

Josiah took Julie by the arm, hid his gun under her sweater, and walked away with Adam trailing. Ike watched them go, and knew that he had no choice now. Silently, he followed Wilson and Marcus to the back of the bank, and covered his face with a robber's bandana.