A couple of hours passed as Lou tried to console her friend at the loss of her dear brother. It was when the desert winds picked up that they decided to go inside and warm themselves by the fire. Stacy had slowly revealed more and more of what had happened, but also confessed that she didn't understand it all either.

"We'll talk to Teaspoon in the morning. He has connections, and he will help us get to the bottom of this." Lou whispered as she tried not to wake the others who were sleeping soundly.

"Louise, I don't want to drag more people into this. I can always start running again, but I won't have that happen to anyone else." The firelight cast shadows on the traces of fear that lingered upon Stacy's face.

Lou pulled Stacy up, "Come on, you're staying here tonight."

Instantly she objected. "No. I can't, really."

Lou looked stubbornly at her friend. "I said, you are staying here. I'm not letting you go across town in the dark, besides if those men come after you, I want you to be here where you'll be protected.

Stacy chuckled. "You mean under the protection of the fast 'Wild Bill'?" They tried to stifle their laughter.

"Yeah, something like that." Lou gathered the few extra blankets that they had stored in the bunkhouse. "Now you take my bed."

"No, absolutely not!" I'll be fine right here on the floor." Stacy demonstrated by grabbing the blankets and easing herself down.

Lou put her hands on her hips. "You know you are one impossible person?"

Stacy smiled. "Of course." She paused for a moment. "Louise, can I ask you something?" She watched as Lou took off her boots and prepared herself for bed.

"Certainly." I hope this isn't too serious, I need something lighthearted! But Lou patiently waited.

Stacy propped herself up. "How on earth do you survive in here with all of these guys?"

Lou wrinkled her nose at the muffled snore that Cody released. "To be truthful, I don't know!" She carefully stepped on the bottom bunk to hoist herself up, trying not to step on Kid who had decided to sleep sideways with his arm dangling off of the edge.

Intently watching the process Lou was having to go through, Stacy found herself smiling at the scene. How long has it been since I've actually found myself laughing? This is what I needed, it has helped me shut out parts of the past, even if problems are still there. Seeing that Lou had finally made it to her destination, Stacy settled herself down.

"Good night." Lou called softly.

"Nite."

Kid sat up slowly, remembering that it was his morning to ride. The sun wasn't up yet, so the bunkhouse was dark, save for the dim light which came from the glowing ambers in the fireplace. He quietly gathered his things and stood up, strapping on his gunbelt. Before he walked outside, Kid hoisted himself up to plant a kiss on Lou's forehead. She stirred slightly, but just nestled herself more into her pillow.

Cody, who usually wasn't up before the crack of dawn, heard Kid stirring and decided to get up to find out what was going on (he had so forgotten that it was Kid's morning to ride). As he took a few steps closer towards the shadows of the figure he could barely make out, he tripped over a large object that yelled out as he plummeted to the floor. "Ouch!!" Came the cry from the young woman who had been soundly asleep.

"What the...!" Cody screamed as he hit the floor.

Simultaneously, Jimmy sat up straight, startled by the sounds, and whacked his head on the bunk directly above him. "Ouch!" Instinctively he reached for his gun, while trying to rub his throbbing temple. While Kid, on the other hand, wheeled around at the sounds behind him and let out a stifled, "whoa!" as he fell backwards almost landing on Cody with a ground-shattering thud. Lou sat up just in time to see this all go on when she cried out, "Kid! Cody!" Then she paused, realizing what had just happened. "Stacy?" Having everyone awake, the moans and groans began.

Rubbing her shoulder that had now been sufficiently whammed, Stacy forced herself to sit up with her back against the table. "If the outlaws don't kill me, these two just might." She muttered under her breath. But then as she surveyed her surroundings, Stacy couldn't help but find the whole scenario funny. Apparently everyone else found it quite hilarious as well, because there was a short pause before laughter rang out from all of them.

Lou jumped down to help all of them back to their feet. "Guess I should have told you she was on the floor, but then you were asleep and everything." She giggled as she helped a still-stunned Cody rise.

Kid was now on his stomach and he looked over at Stacy. He smiled and saluted playfully. "Good morning!"

She snickered. "Yeah, good morning! Nice of you to drop over."

Jimmy re-holstered his gun and inched back down, placing his hat over his face. "Good night."

Noah rolled over on his side. "Yeah, good night. And Cody, next time, watch where you're going!"

"I really am sorry you guys. Lou just insisted I stay here overnight, seeing as it was so late." Stacy said. Hopefully Louise will just leave it at that. I sure don't want everyone to know yet!

Kid stood up and brushed himself off. "It's really alright. Leave it to him to find the one obstacle on the floor." He motioned towards the blond rider who had headed back to his bed, seeing that there was really nothing of interest to stay up for....especially since he could sleep for another hour before it was officially time for them to get up.

"Well just the same, I'm sorry. Although it was all rather humorous." Stacy tried to keep in the laugher that was itching to come out by placing her hand over her mouth.

Kid headed towards the bunkhouse door. "Have a good ride, Kid." Stacy softly called out after him.

He turned to face her. "Thanks. And you two ladies stay out of trouble while I'm gone. I'll see you tomorrow." He smiled once more before leaving.

"We make no promises." Stacy replied. Lou followed him out, while Stacy began gathering her blankets off of the floor.

Breakfast had been wonderful, thanks to Rachel, and Stacy decided to take a walk out to the corral to see the horses that she had noticed the day before. Lou said she had a few things to do before they could go over and meet Teaspoon. Stacy had offered to help, but Louise insisted that she needed to do those chores on her own.

"Well you are certainly lovely now aren't you?" Stacy said as she gently stroked the neck of the beautiful Palomino that belonged to Jimmy.

"I'd have to agree with you on that one." Started at the sound, Stacy turned to see Jimmy standing behind her. He smile was innocent and completely without threat, and Stacy realized he was quite pleasant to look at.

She hopped down off of the fence post she was standing on and met with him face to face. "I guess we never officially met, Jimmy." Stacy extended her hand, which he shook firmly.

"Guess not. Lou was so happy to see you, I think she smothered you from meeting the rest of us." Jimmy found himself quite intrigued with the stranger before him. Lou's past had brought nothing but trouble, so he felt somewhat on edge by her presence. But still, he found no reason not to trust her.

Stacy nodded affirmatively. "It's just been so long."

Hickok rested his arm on the fence. "I take it you two were very close. She's just never mentioned you....but then it's hard to get Lou to tell you much of anything."

"Yes, I don't think I would have made it as well as I did had it not been for her. She was really close to my brother too....." Her voice trailed off. Then suddenly the disgusted, pale look that struck her face, caused Jimmy to react.

"Stacy, you alright?" His tone was concerned. She stared intently on something behind him for several moments before he too turned to see what she was looking at. Three men mounted on sweaty horses rode past the station. Although the riders didn't look in his direction, their stern faces and dirty expressions instantly clued Jimmy in to the fact that they were up to no good.

He watched as Stacy's shock turned to pure terror. "My gosh, they've found me!" She whispered before sinking down to her knees.

On to Chapter four