Lou work up early the next morning and decided to go check on Lightning before she met the girls for breakfast. As she walked toward the livery stable she enjoyed the peacefulness of the town. Only a few people were out and none of the shops were open yet.

"Hello boy," she said as she came to Lightning's stall. "I bet you're hungry, huh?" Lou scooped some oats out of a bucket to feed to her horse. As he began to eat, she noticed a small cut on his hoof. "What happened?" She bent down to check, but before she could stand back up she heard two men enter the stable. Something made her keep out of sight.

"So, here's the plan. Logan, Shawn, and Tommy are going to pull the job in St. Jo and meet us here in a few days. We got work of some land documents that should have reached St. Jo yesterday. If we get a hold of those papers we could become very rich men."

"How's that?"

"Those papers contain information about where the railroad is gonna be built. If we know that, we can use the money we've made robbin' banks to buy up all that land, then sell it to the railroad for a hugh profit."

The two men talked for a few more minutes, mostly revealing plans for more bank robberies. Once they left, Lou emerged from her hiding place.

"Oh no!" She thought. "Those bank robbers are here, and I have to warn the Marshal." She checked to make sure no one was around before she left the livery and quickly made her way to the Marshal's office. He wasn't there so she decided to go meet her friends and come back before she left town.

Anna and Elizabeth were already seated in the hotel dining room when Lou walked in. "I'm sorry I'm late. Have you been waiting long?"

"Don't worry Louise. We just got here," Anna said laughing. "Remember, we're always late for everything."

"So, where are those two incredibly handsome young men I'm supposed to be meeting?" Lou asked as she sat down.

"They should be here any minute now. They had some business to take care of, but they said to go ahead and order," Elizabeth informed her.

Just then the waiter brought them menus and said he would be back in a few minutes to take their orders. The three girls were silent as they tried to decide what to order. Lou had just made up her mind when the two men from the livery stable walked up to their table.

"Are we very late?" The one who had done most of the talking earlier asked.

"Not really. We were just about to order." Anna answered him. "Louise, I'd like you to meet Michael Carter, my fiancee. And this is Giles, his brother and Elizabeth's fiancee.

"I'll sure be glad when we can drop off these papers and go home. Sometimes I hate these special runs." Kid and Jimmy were eating breakfast while they waited for the bank to open.

"Well Kid, at least nothing happened. I really expected someone to hold us up on the trail or to break into our room. But it seems as if Teaspoon was wrong this time. We just gotta take these to the bank and we can head back to Rock Creek. Safe and sound."

Thirty minutes later the two riders stood in the bank waiting to talk to the manager, when three men entered, guns drawn. "This is a robbery. Nobody move or talk and nobody will get hurt. You," one said, pointing his gun at Kid and Jimmy. "Throw your guns over here." Kid and Jimmy obeyed even though the look on their faces said they were not too happy about it.

The other two men went to the teller's windows. "Fill these bags with all your money. And I want those land documents that came in yesterday."

"What land documents?" The manager, who had come out of his office when he heard the commotion, asked. "I don't know what you are talking about."

"Don't lie to me! We know that two pony express riders were supposed to deliver them yesterday. We want them."

The manager looked at Kid and Jimmy. "Is that what you boys wanted to see me about?"

Jimmy gave the manager a dirty look. He sure didn't know when to keep his mouth shut. "Nope, we just wanted to talk to you about getting a loan. We're trying to start a horse tradin' business."

"You're lying." One of the robbers turned his gun toward Kid and Jimmy. "Only express riders carry mochillas."

Jimmy had forgotten that Kid held the pouch containing the papers. "Hand over them papers and we'll just leave as if nothin' happened.Oh, and whoever owns that prettly little paint horse outside, we'll be taking her too. My horse is lame, and I sure like that one."

Kid's eyes flashed anger as he handed over the papers. Robbin' banks was one thing, but now they were gonna take Katy too. And there was nothing he could do about it. Not yet anyway.

"Much obliged." The leader of the gang said as they left the bank. "You folks go on about your business. Although I don't think you're gonna get your loan today." The man looked at Jimmy sarcastically. With that, the men mounted their horses and rode out of town.

"Come on Jimmy." Kid's voice was full of anger.

"Where are we going?"

"To the livery."

"What for?"

"I gotta get a horse. I'm goin' after them."

"Kid..."

"They took Katy. I'm gonna get her back."

"Pleased to meet you, Louise," Michael Carter said.

Lou finally recovered from her shock enough to respond. "You too. Anna and Elizabeth have told me a lot about you." They didn't tell me you were bank robbers though. I have to find some way to warn them.

Somehow, Lou managed to get through breakfast without making Michael and Giles suspicious. She even managed to hold up her end of the conversation. The whole time though, she was trying to figure out how to talk to the girls alone so she could warn them. It turned out to be easier than she expected.

"Well," Michael said when he was finished eating. "Giles and me have some business to take care of. We'll see you girls later."

"It was nice to meet you Louise." Giles added as he followed his brother out of the restaurant.

"Well girls," Lou began standing up. "It was great seeing you again. But I have to get home. Why don't you girls walk back to the hotel with me while I get my things."

"Sure. I hate to see you go, just when we've found each other again."

"Well, you just be sure to invite me to the wedding."

"Of course, Louise! It wouldn't be right if you weren't there!" Anna exclaimed. "Girls, I have to tell you something," Lou said, suddenly serious. "Do the names Logan, Shawn, and Tommy mean anything to you?"

"They are Michael and Giles' brothers." Anna said, puzzled. "But how'd you..."

"I heard Michael and Giles talking in the livery stable earlier. They were talking about robbing banks."

"You mean..." Elizabeth gasped.

"I think the Carter brothers are the ones responsible for all the bank robberies that have been happening in the territory lately."

"Surely you are mistaken!"

"No, I'm afraid she is quite right." The three girls spun around to see Michael and Giles pointing guns at them. "Well Miss Louise, you three just got yourselves in a heap of trouble."

On to Chapter Four