The men worked their way back down the mountain, then around to where the horses had been hobbled, relieved to see they were still close by. Jeremy collected their gear and saddled the horses, happy they hadn't wandered very far, and he and Colt switched back, settling Casey on one of the spares, and Towes on another. Arley's horse came up lame after the descent, and he went on the horse with Fisher's body.

"I ain't ridin' with this body in my lap, Treblehorn."

"Well, he can't walk, and your horse can't carry you, so if you want to walk, it's okay with me."

Jeremy took up the lead line for Arley and Mule and started off, ignoring the complaints. They kept a steady pace, not too fast for Casey, who was still weak from the beatings. Colt led Towes and Arley's gimpy horse.

It was early evening when they reached Sunrise, and Doc was pressed into service once more, to look after Casey while Fred Diggs took care of Fisher. Arley and Towes went into two cells, this time double locked, and Colt and Jeremy hit the saloon.

"You missed the last of the jamboree, Colt." Belinda steered the two lawmen to a table. "It was a big success, in no small part to the action you boys provided."

"Had some success of our own, Blue. Wouldn't want it to be a jamboree custom tho'."

"Some?" She leaned back as Slant set three beer mugs on the table.

"One got away, but we got the one that broke your stoop. Figured that might be worth another of these." Colt chugged down his beer, burped and smiled.

"How could a lady refuse such gentlemanly charm. Hope you're paying attention, Jeremy."

Doc came in with Casey and joined them at the table. Belinda took the old miner's hand and told him how happy she was for him with his claim.

"Watch out, Mr. Casey, she might try gettin' you to sign it over."

"Maybe make myself a good deal." Casey smiled weakly and patted, her hand.

"How you feelin'? Doc look after you okay?"

'He's tough stock." Doc said. "A few scratches and bruises. Nothing he wouldn't do to himself up on that mountain."

Slant arrived with more beer and the group settled into an easy camaraderie, trading accounts from the jamboree and the action in the mountains.

"Fixed up another cowboy earlier." Doc said, lighting his stub of a cigar. "Came in with a gouge in his shoulder. Fell off his horse into some brush."

"Was he drunk?" Belinda asked.

"Nope, but he might be now. Came here right after he left my office."

"Oh, him. Yes, he had a few shots, then went right up to the Cowpoke Lounge. Still up there I think."

"Must be rich, all that time upstairs." Jeremy noted.

"Did he say where he had his accident?" Colt's eyes drifted up the stairs to the second floor.

"Nope, but he came into town from the east. Saw him when I was sweeping the front of the office."

Belinda laughed shortly. "You sweep, Doc?"

"Have to. Can't afford to hire folks like you, Blue."

"Did you believe him, Doc?" Colt cut in. "About the wound?" His eyes fixed on the doctor.

"No reason not to, but I did mention it looked like a bullet crease."

Colt stared up at the second floor.

******

Monk stepped out of the Cowpoke Lounge and immediately saw the group below at the table. He moved back slowly into the lounge and shut the door.

"Forget something, cowboy, or back for more?" There was some suggestive teasing from the women in the room.

Without answering, he crossed to the window and assessed his chances of getting out and down to the street without hurting himself.

"Hey, if you're in some kind of trouble, you just better leave now."

He patted his gun and snarled at them. "If you don't want to be in trouble just shut yer mouths and keep it that way. Is there another way off this floor?"

"Just the window - and you're welcome to jump."

"That right. How 'bout I toss you out the window, sweetheart, and jump on you?"

Four girls stood together, backs to the door, watching him. "Just try it."

Monk swore and looked out at the street again. There was no way he could go through the saloon, so he raised the window and stepped out onto the short roof. Immediately, the girls ran over and slammed the window down, then opened the door, screaming.

Colt bolted from the table, his chair tipping behind him.

"What the hell, Colt?" Jeremy followed automatically.

"Our other bad guy, Jer. I'd bet anything." The two lawmen clambered up the stairs and past the women into the lounge.

"He went out the window." One called.

Sure enough, before he even raised the frame, he saw the man racing down the road toward the jail.

"He's headed for the office. C'mon." Out of the room and back down the stairs in leaps and bounds.

Blue and the doc stood beside Casey's chair, mouths agape, as the two men barged through the saloon doors onto the street.

"Get the carbines, Jer," Colt shouted. He drew his gun and began waving startled people off the street. "Get inside, away from the windows!"

******

Monk charged into the jail office, stopping and gaping around. He had no plan, but he saw there would be guns he could use. When he saw Arley and Towes in the back, yanking on the bars and calling, he rushed in, and instead of hunting for keys, shot into the locks until they could be broken open.

"What's happenin'?" Both men found their own guns and strapped them on.

"Sheriff's right outside. Him and that deputy."

The back door suddenly opened and they all drew, ready to shoot, halting when the woman gave a small gasp and tried to run back out.

"Grab 'er, quick! There's our ticket outta here."

Before she could utter a sound, a dirty hand clamped over her mouth, followed by an equally dirty neckerchief, pulled tight behind her neck.

"Okay, let's see what our big sheriff has to say now." Arley struggled the woman to the street door.

Colt worked his way slowly down the wooden walk in front of the general store, while Jeremy ran down behind the buildings on the opposite side of the street. He crouched down and was about to make a dash for the alley when he saw Donny come running out.

"Donny!" He dove off the side walk and tackled the boy back into the alley, protecting him with his body as they rolled over.

"Donny, what the devil are you doing out here? Where's Daisy?"

"Miss Daisy went to see you in the jail." His voice quavered and his wide eyes glistened.

"Daisy . . . when, Donny? When did she--"

"Just now," he began to cry. "The door slammed and I couldn't get in."

"Alright. Alright. No need to cry, everything will be fine. Right now I need you to be a big boy and do me a big favour. Can you do that?"

Little fingers wiped at wet eyes and he looked up into Colt's face - frightened.

"You know Jeremy, my Deputy." Donny nodded. "Okay, I want you to go back up the street by the barber shop, then cross the road and go down behind those buildings," Colt pointed across the road. "Jeremy is over there. I want you to tell him that Miss Daisy is in the jail office. Can you do that? Can you do that for me?"

"Yessir."

"Atta boy, Donny. Ice cream's on me when this is over, okay?"

"What about Miss Daisy?"

"I'll buy her one too," he smiled," now scoot, and be careful."

Colt peeked around the corner at the jail, deep lines of concern furrowing his face and anger roiling up in his gut. He watched the space between the buildings across the street and saw Donny hurry past. He wouldn't be making any move until he knew Jeremy knew the situation. When the jail door opened, his chest hurt at the sight, and he ground his teeth, cursing.

"I want three horses, and you and that deputy out front. Guns in the dirt where I can see them. Now!" Arley's voice sounded flat on the empty street. "Any tricks and this little lady will be the first to pay."

"You won't get away with this, Rudman. You harm that woman and I'll follow you to your grave."

"Tough talk, Treblehorn, but we're holdin' the cards. Horses and guns. Now."

Colt jerked at the poke in his back and he spun around to find Donny staring at him.

"Donny! What the--"

"Mr. Jeremy said to tell you he can see you. He's on the roof over there. He said to signal - is that right?"

"Whuff, Donny. Yeah, that's right. Oh, boy." He ruffled the boy's hair again, and told him to go straight up to the saloon and see Miss Belinda and stay with her.

"I ain't waitin' any longer, Treblehorn."