Morning came much too soon for Louise as she turned towards the blaring sun which beamed through the window. Propping herself up slowly, she looked over at Jimmy and Kid, who both had their heads rested on the table. "Guess we better move quickly," Lou said to herself softly. Sensing a stiff pain in her shoulder and neck, she grimaced in pain as she stood on her weary legs.

Gently laying a hand on each of the men's shoulders, she shook them. "Come on you two, we've overslept." They both rose slowly with dark circles under their eyes and dazed expressions.

"Man, when did that happen"? Jimmy asked as he stretched his arms.

Kid stood up. "We should have been up an hour ago." He looked over at Louise noticing the bruises that had now swelled on her neck. "You feeling alright, Lou"?

She gently touched the tender area, "Yes, I'll be fine. You two get ready and I'll meet you in a bit." Turning she went back to her original room, and within a short time (once again in men's clothing) had gone back to see if her traveling companions were ready.

Approaching their door, Lou heard the last portion of Jimmy's statement, and she stopped to listen. "...so I let them take him to the doctor."

Lou sensed concern in Kid's voice. "So then he really isn't dead? What if he comes after one of us again, Jimmy"?

Instantly Louise knew what was going on and she leaned her head against the wall, bracing herself against shock. "Kid, he won't be in any condition to move for a few days." Jimmy continued. "That's going to give us plenty of time to fulfill our job and get home."

"I don't care, we need to stop him." Kid's voice was beginning to rise. "How could you let him go like that, after what he did"?

"Just trust me this one time."

Kid was about to argue once again, but then he heard Lou's footsteps approach the room. The conversation abruptly stopped.

Stepping in, she smiled slightly. "Are you boys ready"?

Both of them shot her a somewhat startled expression, and hoped that she hadn't heard their discussion. The last thing Lou needed right now was to know that the man who tried to kill her last night was now going free.

"Yes, let's get going." Jimmy said as he strapped on his gun belt.

The riding time passed quickly as Lou relived the previous terror of the early morning's events. She wondered why Jimmy had just taken his old friend to the doctor without having him turned in for attempted murder. It just doesn't make sense! He tried to kill me! Why would Jimmy let a man like that go free?

St. Joseph was busy with the usual activities of the early evening. People scurried home from their day's work, while stagecoaches and wagons filled the streets. Jimmy, Kid, and Lou, reached the headquarters of Russell, Majors, and Waddell at the end of town and dismounted from their horses.

Inside, where things were a bit more peaceful, several of the workers seemed to be preparing to go home. The three riders approached the bald man at the front desk, who seemed to be the only one still slaving away with his duties. "We're from the Rock Creek Station. You have a delivery for us to make." Jimmy stated.

The man looked at him questioningly. "You're 'Wild Bill' Hickok, ain't you"?

Jimmy tried to keep his composure cool. "No, it's James, James Butler Hickok. Now for that delivery"? He rested his arm on the desk.

"Oh, let me go get that." He pushed himself out of his chair and went towards the back of the office.

"Thank you." Jimmy muttered under his breath. He turned to face Kid and Lou. "Must be really important." He said sarcastically.

Lou eyed him seriously. "Yes, it must have....seeing as that's probably what your friend tried to kill me over." Jimmy didn't know how to respond so he turned his attention back to the man who was now approaching with a small envelope in his hand.

He handed it to Jimmy. "Now you be sure to get this safely to Ft. Kearny now."

Kid looked at the man surprised. "Sir, that's our job....to deliver the mail safely."

"Of course. No offense." He replied.

They took the 'mysterious' mail, thanking the small figured man. Mounting their horses, once again they were back on the trail heading towards the direction of Rock Creek. It was decided that they would camp a few miles outside of town, Lou had admitted that she didn't feel like staying at the hotel. Kid and Jimmy couldn't blame her, and they both agreed that it would be a good idea to stick together. This mail was obviously something of significance, so three guns should be around at all times.

Jimmy rounded a corner which was sheltered by a small cliff, and stopped. "This looks like a good place to stop. I figured we've covered enough miles for one day." Kid and Lou followed his lead.

"Fine by me," Kid stated. "Don't know about you two, but I'm exhausted." They both nodded in agreement....it's not like much sleep had been obtained the previous night.

"What do you think it is that we've got exactly"? Lou asked as she began unloading some of her gear.

Jimmy began stacking a firewood pile. "I don't know, but it must be a popular item. The only thing I can figure is that since we're told to go to Ft. Kearny, it's some sort of military document."

Kid sat down and propped his back against his saddle. "Would that explain why your friend wanted it badly enough to try and kill Lou over it? Assuming this document is what he wanted."

Suddenly they heard a snap of a twig. Jumping, they turned to see Harvey once again with a gun staring madly into Jimmy's eyes. Clearly, he was not playing games and all seriousness was evident in his evil glare. He turned to Kid, "You're right, it is was exactly what I want."

"Now, am I still supposed to trust you"? Kid asked Jimmy through a clinched jaw.

Take me to Part Six!