Assassination? The words stuck in Stacy's throat as she forced herself to read it once more.........just to make sure she was really seeing what she knew she was seeing! Reading on to the next page she saw a clearly-written schedule of when it as supposed to happen. Two days from this date!

She looked out towards the end of the hallway, making sure that nobody had seen her. Stacy was not about to let their new president be shot by some Southern assassins. Not if it cost her life, or the life of her friends. Tucking the documents in the folds her dress, she tried to walk naturally down the hall.

There in the lobby, she noticed that the crowd gathered around Lou had dissipated into only one of the guards. She sat fanning herself in one of the chairs. "Oh, Louise, if only you knew how well you can play that out." Stacy whispered as she approached her friend.

"Oh sister!" Lou said as she extended her hand delicately for Stacy to help her to her feet. "Did you find that water?" She asked, but Stacy knew what she had meant, Lou had been referring to the documents.

"Yes, I did, put it tasted really poisoned. I thought my dear sister wouldn't be able to handle this city water after our fresh well water back home." Stacy said, almost forgetting to add her southern accent.

Lou's visage became glazed with worry. The word poison could only mean that it was pretty bad. "Let's go home, I'm so tired." She said softly, trying to fake another potential woozy, fainting spell.

"Yes, I think that is a good idea. We'll come back and check on that dear boy another day." Stacy said as she took Lou's arm and helped her towards the door. The guards seemed disappointed at their sudden departure.

"Are you two sure you have to leave?" One of them asked solemnly. His eyes filled with reject. Not very often that pretty ladies came around.

"Yes, my sister needs to rest. And our mother will just be swooning with worry." Stacy smiled. "But I do thank you gentlemen for your kindness."

Tipping their hats, they each reached to open the door. Nodding with thanks, Stacy lightly brushed past the closest security guard with another smile, and continued to escort her 'weak' friend out the door, until they knew they were safely out of sight. Stopping in front of the building, they let out a sigh of relief.

"Remind me to not make stealing a full-time job. It wears you out." Lou teased as she grinned at their success. She was taken back by Stacy's sorrowful expression. "What is it?" Lou asked, with her voice full of concern.

"Louise, there's something very serious to these papers. Now we don't have much time, but no matter what, those men cannot get these!" She looked around the corner to make sure that Matt or Bobby weren't in the immediate vicinity. "In here are plans to kill the President, two days from today."

Lou's eyes lit up with shock. "What!?" She exclaimed.

Stacy put her finger up to her lips. "Shhhh, we have to figure out a way to keep these from them." She said in a whisper.

A burly man, they immediately recognized stepped from around the corner. "Good, I'm glad you decided to join us again." Matt said sarcastically. "Now, hand them over." He ordered pulling Stacy's arm into the alley.

Reluctantly Stacy stepped back further into the shaded alley and pulled out the papers, handing them over as ordered. She was careful to keep her right hand tucked in the loose folds of her skirt, there was something she had hidden there that she wasn't quite ready to use.

Matt grinned broadly and showed them to his friend. "Looks like we're back in business!" His voice rang out with maniacal laughter.

Bobby nodded, quite pleased with their success. "You got it."

Matt took a last look at their four prisoners. He gave them a light salute. "I really do have to thank you for being so cooperative. And now, I'm afraid that you've done your service." Matt gave a gesture to Bobby. "I'm sorry Stacy, if this weren't all business, I just might get to know you better."

"You don't have to do this." Lou said softly.

Stacy frowned in reply and glared at him with no trace of emotion on her face. She took a look at her three other friends, their expressions clearly unsure of what to do. Bobby lifted his gun and aimed it directly at Stacy's head. Clicking back the hammer, her three friends closed their eyes waiting for that final ring that would bring the young woman to her death.

"Stacy!" Lou cried out as she heard a shot, and the sound of someone falling to the ground. Her face lit up as she allowed herself to look up. Stacy was standing right beside her, her gun lifted towards Matt. Bobby was lying on the ground, still clutching his gun.

Matt reached for his holster, but Stacy silenced him with one sentence. "You want to join your friend?" She clicked the hammer back and took a step towards him.

"Stacy, how did you......?" Jimmy didn't finish his sentence as she took the documents from Matt's clutches and handed them to him. Kid anxiously stepped in closer and looked them over as Jimmy began reading it. Their eyes widened at the same time.

"So that's what this is all about." Was all Jimmy could manage to say. He was completely shocked. He knew that there had to be something extremely significant to all of this, but never once had he dreamed it would be something as serious as an assassination plot.

Matt peered at her. "There's a lot more to this than you'll ever realize." Was all that he said.

"And there's a lot that I can live without knowing." She replied. "Come on, we're taking you in." With that she motioned for him to drop his weapon to the ground. Kid picked up the gun and followed behind as they lead the man to the town's Marshal. There would be a lot of explaining to do. Stacy could only hope that someone would believe all of this. She wasn't even so sure that she did.

Much to their surprise, word had been spread to several of the larger towns about possible documents that could prove fatal to the newly-elected President. The Marshal was, needless to say, very pleased that his town would be getting the recognition. Word was sent immediately that the President needed to change his plans, and that extra security needed to be placed around his residence. The four riders, although quite frazzled from the past day's events were quite pleased that they had been successful in saving the life of their nation's leader.

"Stacy, it's really been bothering me where you got that gun." Lou stated as they saddled their horses in preparation to head home. She knew Stacy had a few tricked tucked under her 'belt', but this one had her baffled.

"Well, remember that sweet little ole' guard we charmed?" Stacy asked, waiting for a response. Lou nodded for her to continue.

"You charmed guards?" Jimmy and Kid said in time. Each of them looking at one of the girls, who in turn smiled at each other and then at the guys. "Of course, and we were really good at it too. How else do you think we would have gotten in there in the first place?" Lou asked. The two men shrugged not knowing what to say.

Lou was still waiting for Stacy to tell how she had managed to swipe one of their weapons. "It was really quite simple actually." She continued. "Just brush past them, smile, reach for their holster, and wink, all at the same time." Stacy couldn't help but laugh at the thought. In fact, it brought upon some laughs from the others as well. Stacy was a.......well, er, a gun pit-pocketer, if there is such a thing.

"All in a day's work." Jimmy said as they mounted their trusty steeds to head home.

"I'm just glad this day is over." Kid added as he shifted in his saddle.

Stacy glanced at all of them. "Yeah, I think that we could safely say we all agree on that one." Lou sat atop lightning and stared at her friend for a moment. They had really done it........they had come out of this alive! She reached out for her friend's hand and squeezed it tightly. "Let's go home!" Louise shouted.