Lou opened her mouth slightly. She froze and looked into the shadowy face of the figure that closing over her. Slowly sliding her hand under the pillow, she searched for the cold metal of her stashed gun.

"I don't know what you mean." Was her soft, calm sounding response. She pulled her weapon gently closer and awaited his next move.

The stranger grabbed her arm and pinned it down. He's going to find it! Panic swelled in her body, she was in a helpless position. Her breathing stopped and she closed her eyes, almost expecting that he was going to kill her right at that moment.

"I hate women that play games!" He said in a hoarse whisper. "Now what have you and your friends done with it"?

She resisted the urge to fight his tight grip. "I said, I don't know what you are talking about!"

"OK, if you want to do it that way...I'm going to search your room!" He began throwing her belongings around in a frantic pursuit. Lou sat up and slowly edged her way to the end of the bed. Raising her gun, she looked around trying to make out his figure in the blackness of the night. "Don't move, I've got a gun." She ordered.

Hearing footsteps inch closer, Lou clicked back the hammer letting him sense she meant business.

"Look, I ain't going to harm you. I just want what's mine." Although his tone sounded sincere, she wasn't convinced.

Lou lifted her gun higher trying to find her target if it became necessary. She steadied her shaking hand. If I had what you are looking for, I would have given it. But I told you, I don't know what you are talking about!" Her voice clearly expressed the frustration and anger that was building inside of her.

Looking around in the darkness it was hard to make out much of anything. The man had clearly kept himself in the shadows, which was not hard to do. Lou felt the warmth of something coming closer. Then without warning, warm fingers gripped her neck from behind. Flailing her arms, Louise tried to scream. It seemed that the more air she tried to take in the harder it became to breathe. Struggling with a last burst of strength, she drove her elbow into his stomach.

It didn't break his grasp, but the hesitation in his squeeze gave her enough time to rotate so that she could fire a shot blindly into her attacker. Instantly he released her and fell to the floor. Lou stood shocked and still. It took her several minutes for the realization of what had happened to sink in.

Dropping her gun in detest, she darted to the door. Before she was able to reach for the nob, the door swung open with Kid and Jimmy right behind it. "Lou!" They exclaimed at the same time.

The shock wore off and Lou went running, tears streaming down her face. She grabbed Kid tightly and never wanted to let go. He pulled her close. "Are you alright!? What happened"?

Her voice was stifled in his shirt. "I....I don't know. He just told me to give it to him." Turning slowly she looked over at the body which was curled up on her floor. "Who do you think he is, Jimmy"? She asked, the trembling echoed in her voice.

Hicock took a lantern over to the body and examined it, "It was Harvey." His voice was monotone, so Kid and Lou were unable to sense if there was sadness in his voice. His stiff posture and expressionless face gave them no hint as to how he was reacting to this.

Kid gently sat Lou down on the edge of the bed. He went over to Jimmy and pushed his shoulder up, forcing him to look up. "OK, Jimmy, I want to know about your friend! Lou almost got killed by him. There's something you're not telling me and I demand to know what it is!" Kid looked him square in the eyes. Jimmy knew he wouldn't give this one up easily.

Jimmy looked over to Lou who had been carefully watching. "I'm sorry Lou. I don't know what he wanted. All I can say is that Harvey used to have some bad business dealings."

He started to walk out of the room, but Kid stopped him with a swift punch. Jimmy instantly returned the aggression sending Kid back into the wall. Kid regained his footing, and charged at him to throw another blow. Seeing the arising fight, Lou rose and stood between them, forcing the fight to a complete halt. "Alright you two that is enough!"

They both glared at her almost wishing that she hadn't been there to stop it. "I don't like the way you've been acting, Jimmy, and it's got to stop. You want to have problems, fine. But you better leave other people out of them. Especially Lou!" Kid realized that above all else he was terrified of what might have happened to Lou. It didn't matter to him that he knew nothing of Jimmy's sinister friend, but this gave him an excuse to say what he had been wanting to say. "James Hickok, you've changed. We've all seen it. I don't know what your problem is. There was a time when you would have told us what was going on. Guess I knew this was going to happen, and that you would let all of your reputation change you. You still have control over who you are, so other people's actions ain't no excuse. The man I once called my friend doesn't exist anymore. I just hope he knows how much I'll miss him....and that we all cared enough to stick with him through it all."

Kid motioned for Lou to follow him. Turning to glance at Jimmy, Lou saw him staring wordlessly at the floor. She prayed that something Kid said would make him back into the man he used to be. She turned gracefully and walked out of the room.

Lou snuggled herself under the warm blankets of Jimmy and Kid's bed. She hadn't realized until now how chilled she was by the early morning breeze that blew through the window. Kid was sitting up at the small table, his gun rested easy. She knew what had happened shortly before hurt him terribly. Although Kid and Jimmy had drifted apart, she knew neither one of them could function completely without the other. There was a special bond they held that no one could break, even in the worst of situations.

Lying there for what seemed like hours, Louise stared at the ceiling. The silence brought her no comfort. As she turned on her side once more trying to force herself to sleep, the distinct sound of footsteps approached the door. It slowly moved open, causing Kid to jump with his gun in hand.

"Don't shoot." Jimmy whispered. "I promise I ain't a stranger." Kid eased his weapon down, returning his glare to the table top. Jimmy walked quietly over to sit opposite him, trying not to wake the still Lou whom he thought was sleeping.

Placing his steadfast Navy Colt on the table, Jimmy looked at his friend. "You know, Kid, what you said about me was all true. I have changed, and to be truthful I don't know why. Just seems like so much has happened these past few weeks, you and Lou, Ike's death, and the talk of war." He rested his forehead in his hand. "Guess I haven't been fair to myself....or to you, my family."

Kid nodded, grateful for the first sign of Jimmy's willingness to accept the truth of his recent behavior. "Thanks Jimmy. Oh, and I'm sorry for the punch. Sometimes I think things and I shouldn't always act on them."

Jimmy playfully punched his arm. "Yeah, well next time I ain't going to hit you back so soft." Both men smiled. "She sleeping"? Jimmy asked pointing to Lou.

"Yeah, thankfully." He replied looking over at the still figure.

After gazing a few moments, Jimmy turned to Kid. "You know, I never noticed it before, but Lou's pretty when she sleeps."

Trying not to laugh, Lou repositioned herself. Finally they worked something out peaceably. Without a second thought, she fell fast asleep, deep in the wonderful world of dreams.

Take me to Part Five