The next few seconds flew by so quickly, nobody was sure of exactly what happened. At first the people on the porch didn't notice Kid running toward them. Suddenly Kid stopped short as Elizabeth burst out of the cabin with Shawn right behind her.

"Elizabeth, no!" Lou cried.

Logan's next move proved to be his fatal mistake. He saw Elizabeth out of the corner of his eye, and, as a reflex action, turned his gun toward her. Kid saw his opening, and two simultaneous gunshots rang out. Elizabeth fell against Shawn; she was killed instantly. Logan's face reflected his shock as the life drained out of him. He fell towards Lou, knocking her off the porch. Kid reached her side in three strides.

"Lou are you okay?!"

Before she could answer, gunshots began to sound across the clearing.

"We've got to find some cover Lou. Come on." They began to crawl around the side of the cabin.

"Kid, Anna's still inside."

"Is there a back door to the cabin?"

"Yeah. I don't think there's anyone guarding it now either."

They crept up to the back door and listened for sounds of anyone guarding the door.

"Lou, stay here until I get inside."

"Kid..."

"I mean it Lou. You don't have a gun." Kid's face warned her not to argue with him. "As soon as I'm sure its safe you can come in."

"Be careful Kid. If Elizabeth got loose, its pretty likely Anna did too. She's likely to attack you."

Kid looked confused. "I'm sure she'll do no such thing."

"Don't say I didn't warn you Kid," Lou smiled at him.

Kid just shook his head and moved toward the door. He paused beside it and listened for a moment before throwing it open and entering the room with his gun drawn. He barely got inside before he was hit from the side by a tremendous force.

"Ow! What the..." he cried as fists began hitting him. He struggled to get up, but the fighter was determined.

Suddenly the fists stopped hitting him. He looked up to find Lou and another young lady standing over him.

Lou smiled. "Kid meet Anna. Let me just say, I told you so."

Kid closed his eyes and groaned. "Great! Another Lou. That's all we need."

The two girls laughed. "Come on, Kid," Lou said. "Let's get out of here."

"Where's Elizabeth?" Anna asked.

Lou's eyes filled with tears. "I'm sorry, Anna. She ran into the line of gunfire."

"She was going to try to help you." Anna was crying.

"She saved my life," Lou told her, also crying.

The gunfire outside stopped. Lou and Kid led Anna out the back door of the cabin. They made their way around the side of the cabin. Kid looked around the corner to make sure it was safe. The Marshal and his posse were putting handcuffs on Giles and Shawn. The other gang members were dead, as was Elizabeth.

"Thanks for you help boys," The Marshal said to Kid, Jimmy, Buck, and Cody. "I'm sorry you had to be put into such danger Ma'am," he addressed Lou.

Something resembling a growl came from Kid. It took Jimmy and Cody to restrain from attacking the Marshal.

"Kid," Lou said soothingly. "Calm down, I'm fine. He's not worth it anyway."

"Let's just get out of here," Kid said.

The six of them, the four boys and Lou and Anna, headed toward Cottonwood to retrieve Lou and Anna's things before heading home.

Them Marshal and posse stared at the fading image of the riders as they headed toward Cottonwood. The Marshal shook his head. "I sure do envy Marshal Hunter. That's one fine group of young men he has working for him." He turned his horse toward Cottonwood. "Let's get these prisoners to the jail."

"Good-bye Lizzy. I'll miss you," Lou whispered. She and Anna were standing beside Elizabeth's freshly dug grave. The preacher had just finished the short service, and now the boys were waiting at the entrance to the cemetery while Lou and Anna said good-bye to their friend.

"What are you going to do now, Anna?" Lou asked her.

"I'm leaving on the stage tomorrow. I think I'm going to go back to the orphanage for a little while. They asked Lizzy and me to come teach, but since we were supposed to be getting married, we said no. If the position is still open, I may stay there for a while. What about you?"

"I think the boys are ready to get back to Rock Creek. We'll probably leave soon, if you will be all right here. I don't want to leave you alone, but..."

"Don't worry about me, Louise. I'll be fine. You have a job to get back to," Anna smiled. "I still can't believe you ride for the Pony Express. I really guess I shouldn't be surprised though. You always had more courage than the rest of us girls."

"I don't know about that. If you ever wanted to try my job, I'm sure you could handle it."

"Sure, anytime," Anna replied. "But I doubt I'd be as good as you. You could probably show these boys up anyday. I bet you're the best rider in the whole Express."

"Now look here, Anna," Kid smiled as he put his arm around Lou's waist. "I already have to worry about her enough as it is. Please don't encourage her!"

Lou pretended to look mad as the other laughed. "Actually Kid," she said in mock sternness. "She isn't telling me anything I don't already know. I could ride better than you boys anyday."

"Is that a challenge?" Buck asked, eyebrow raised.

"Oh, great!" Kid groaned. "Now they're gonna force us to race all the way back to Rock Creek."

"Speaking of that," Jimmy said. "Its about time we got started."

"Good-bye, Anna. Have a safe journey," Lou hugged her friend good-bye.

"You too, Louise. Come visit me at the orphanage soon, okay?"

"You've got it. Say hi to Jeremiah and Teresa for me please. Tell them I love them, and I promise to come visit as soon as I can."

"I will. Take care of yourself."

"You too, Anna." Lou jumped on her horse. "I'm gonna show these boys up once and for all," she smiled. "Even if I am wearing a dress." With that she took off, leaving the boys in a cloud of dust.

"Hey! Wait up!" Cody yelled as they hurried to catch up with her.

Anna smiled as she watched the riders disappear in a cloud of dust. Memories of horse races at the orphanage, all of which Louise won, flashed through her mind. She shook her head as she walked toward the hotel. Some things never change!