Both of the women stiffened and wondered what they should do. It wasn't too late to call out for help and have the four riders come running back. Of course then it wouldn't take half of that time for the men to pull the trigger and shoot them both.

Stacy turned to face her enemies. "Leave Lou out of this."

One of the men, apparently the leader, looked at her with an evil, stark glaze. In her mind, Stacy had instant flashbacks of the horrible night when the men shot Joey. She could hear their laughter that rang out simultaneously with the shot that was fired....the same one that killed her brother. Although she hadn't seen their faces, Stacy envisioned that this is probably what they looked like; viciously cold, heartless, and un-feeling.

"Now that would be a good suggestion, 'cepting the fact that she's already been a witness to all of this. So come with us real quite like, and there won't be any trouble, see?" His gun was raised slightly.

Stacy defiantly stepped towards him. She had taken enough....from all of them. "What is it you want? Or do you just like browsing around murdering innocent people?" As soon as the words were out, she was nervously anticipating the response. Unaware, she was gripping her friends hand tightly but Lou didn't seem to notice and returned with equal pressure.

"We need you to give us the treasury documents your brother stole." His tone was calm, which needless to say surprised them both.

Stacy refused to believe what they said. Joey had said that there was trouble in the government office, but he surely couldn't have stolen documents! "My brother didn't steal anything! And if you had something important to get from him, you should have gotten it before you killed him!" She felt her face flush a bright red.

"He refused to turn them over to us." He said simplistically.

Resisting the urge to lunge at one of them, Stacy hastily turned from the man's gaze. She couldn't take the pain anymore.

"Come on Stacy, let's get away from this scum." Lou grabbed her arm and wheeled her around.

There was a sudden spring action when this happened, and both of the women were whipped backwards. "You aren't going anywhere!"

Lou and Stacy looked at each other with the same 'you got any good ideas?' expression. Surely these two men weren't stupid enough to shoot them both right out there in the open. Then came a sound that they both realized would save them; Teaspoon Hunter appeared suddenly with Buck, Noah, and Cody shortly behind.

"I'd suggest you back off. Now." Teaspoon's face clearly stated that he wasn't kidding and meant business.

The men looked at his badge and then at the boys with him. Their leader was going to play his cards right. He smiled warmly and motioned for his men to back off. "Well, Marshal. Isn't this a nice surprise. I was just telling these two ladies about how much we were enjoying this little town of your's, but that it's kinda funny how easy it is to have something stolen. I'd suggest you increase your deputies." There was no way that his voice could have been more sarcastic.

Stacy started to step forward, but she felt one of the riders tug on her coat and stopped dead in her tracks. This was one situation to leave to Teaspoon.

"I suggest you boys leave town before I find a reason to lock you up. And by the looks of it, I ain't gunna have a hard time finding one." He pointed to the gun which was now in the man's hand resting loosely on his leg.

Without much hesitation the man turned to his followers. "You heard the Marshal boys, they don't want us around here." He looked over at Stacy. "I'll be seeing you again." She threw him a look of detest and fled from the scene. She stopped only long enough to thank Teaspoon and the others.

"Stacy, what are you doing?" Lou's tone was more reprimanding than questioning. Her friend just continued without looking up.

"I'm packing."

Lou sat down heavily in front of her, forcing Stacy to look into her eyes. The hotel's bed springs squeaked at the motion. "Where are you going?"

Latching her bag closed, Stacy turned to leave the room. "I don't know, Lou. I'm going to find out what it is that those men want, and if my brother has done something wrong...." Her voice quivered at the thought, "Then I want to make it right." She grabbed her friend's hand and squeezed it. "Thank you for everything."

Lou brushed it off. Somehow she felt as if she was a big part of this. Stacy was family, some of the only family she had known before coming to ride for the Express. She couldn't let her go alone. "I'm going with you."

The floor creaked at the sound of an approaching person. They both turned to face the door. "Then so will I."

On to Chapter Six