All five of them managed to find themselves seated in the tiny room that served as the Marshall's office, just after midnight that night. While Jimmy and Buck both sat on their bunks, Cody leaned by the door keeping a sharp lookout, Kid sat on a chair beside the table in the center of the room with a very subdued Lou on his lap, her head cradled on his shoulder.
'I found out today that Donovan has a silent partner.' Cody spoke softly, 'And you're not going to like it.' he added for good measure.
'Who?' Lou asked not liking the tone of Cody's voice.
'Cole Lambert,' he stated flatly watching the other boys faces as he spoke
'Damn,' Jimmy murmured.
Each of the riders knew exactly why they should be firghtened of the ex gunfighter, ex marshall of Willow Creek. A man who had had everything, albeit illegal operations, taken from him courtesy of a bullet from Kid.
'Kid I think you should go back to Sweetwater.' Lou spoke softly tightening her grip on his neck.
'No, I'm going to see this thing through.' he spoke quietly.
'Do you think its him?' Buck asked.
'Can't be when I shot him, I didn't do a lot for his gun abilities, he'd be a madman if it is him. Besides its not his style.' Kid spoke.
'I don't want to lose you Kid, it's no shame to run.' Lou spoke softly.
'So the next Marshall can be killed because I was to scared to stay here and catch them.' he looked at the other faces around the room.
'You know none of us would think that.' Buck spoke for all of them.
'I know that, but I would, I have to see this through' he spoke softly.
'Do we have any idea at all who else is involved?' Lou spoke, 'Whoever it is has no contact that I can see with Donovan. He never has any visitors. He makes me stay in the room with him until you guys arrive most of the time. He hardly speaks to anyone.'
'Whoever it is must be operating through Lambert,' Jimmy spoke not sure of the meaning of this new turn of events, but knowing that they were not going to be able to fix this problem on their own. He knew that at least one of them had to get on the inside to be able to find out the real culprit, but their time was starting to run out.
'Cody can you make sure that you become his right hand man, he might talk to you if he thinks he can trust you. Though I don't know what good it will do us.' Kid spoke as he ran through their options in his mind.
'Sure thing.' Cody spoke.
'There's not really anything the rest of us can do, but wait.' Kid spoke as the others all rose. Jimmy and Buck went on their customary tour of the city streets, checking that all was well within their jurisdiction. Both of the riders had taken a shine to their duties as lawmen and were keen to do well even if they wern't making a career of this.
Cody for once in his life being the soul of discretion walked outside to wait for Lou on the landing at the top of the stairs.
Lou twined her arms around Kid's neck, placing a gentle kiss on his cheek, she rested her forehead against his face.
'Please promise me you'll be careful,' she murmured.
'Always,' he spoke happy and content to sit with her in silence, embracing her tightly.
'If I asked you would you go back to Sweetwater for me?' she asked gently.
'I can't Lou, good people are dying because of this man, I can't just walk away without trying to stop it. It's the same as the war I couldn't turn my back on Virginia any more than I could on Willow Creek.' he huggeed her tighter against him.
'For once in your life could you just stop being so damned honourable,' she fumed and pulled out of his embrace. She stalked to the door angrily but at the door she paused and turned to look at him again and crossed back to his side, hugging him desperately.
'I'm sorry,' she paused, 'please be careful.' she almost whispered then ran out the door and down the stairs closely followed by Cody.
They all slept badly that night, the tension of their continued presence in Willow Creek finally taking its toll on all of them. Even Cody who could usually sleep through anything tossed and turned all night unable to find peace even in his dreams.
Early in the morning the three Lawmen took their customary stroll through the streets before stopping at the town restaurant for breakfast. They ate a hearty breakfast of steak and eggs, taking their time over their meal content to sit and enjoy each others company. That is, until their meal was disturbed by the sounds of gunfire from outside.
On to Chapter Eight