"It's just a crease. What the heck is all the excitement. Where are the other two, that's what matters now?"

"They ran and got lost in the crowd." Jeremy said, panting from his jog from the livery. The Doc was packing up his bag and lighting a cigar.

"The assayer!"

"Casey's watchin' him, I wouldn't worry. That shotgun he carries scares me." He wrestled Arley to his feet, and had him face the wall with his hands behind his back.

"Run him over to the jail, and then we'll look for the others. I have to speak to Blue about her broken railing." Colt thanked the doc for the patch on his arm and went inside.

"Just a chat." Blue was leaning backwards on the bar on her elbows as Colt came in.

"I know, and I'm sorry."

"You know you scared off half my business."

"They'll be back, and Slant'll have them drinkin' up a storm while he tells them his version of the shoot-out." He stretched his arm.

"You going to live?" She slid a full shot glass toward him.

"Depends." He swallowed the drink and told her about the broken railing. How Arley had tried ducking as he fired and slipped, crashing through it onto his head on the ground. "I'll get Fred to fix it all up and see that the town pays him for the work.

"So you missed him?"

"Yeah, well I was ducking too."

"Yet he hit you."

"Is there a point, Blue." Colt pulled face and shook his head.

She hid a smile and winked at Slant behind the bar. "No, no point. Just a little surprised."

"Yeah, well . . ." He nodded and walked to the doors, stopping part way through. "I saw the wink." Blue and Slant laughed at the swinging doors.

Colt was stopped a few feet from the saloon, his eyes rolled and he sucked in a deep breath as the mayor and two councilmen braced him.

"Your actions are jeopardizing the celebration, Sheriff. We've had a few parents take their children and look to leave."

"I'm sure you convinced them all was well, Edgar. Sorry if executing my duty as Sheriff has interrupted your big day."

"I'm not sure I like that attitude, Treblehorn." Edgar's face flushed as he took a defiant pose. His two council member associates backing him up - less confidently.

"Maybe you'd rather like havin' the assayer murdered, along with any other folks in the vicinity instead. I got work to do, Edgar." He pushed past and hurried through the crowd.

Edgar stood pale-faced, mouth hanging open. His associates staring at one another wide-eyed.

******

"What was Arley thinkin'?" Jitter peered out from behind a ring toss booth, checking the crowd.

"Damn fool, that's what. Now he's in jail. Lucky that sheriff missed."

"But Arley got him."

"Bah! Scratch on the arm." Bowie spit into the dirt. "We need to get to Waites and make sure that claim don't get registered, then we need to do somethin' about Arley."

"We should go and tell Baron." Jitter faced his partner.

"Are you nuts? He hears that and you can be sure as your little doll there, he won't miss. You do as I say, and we get this job done."

"Who made you boss?"

The finger pushed Jitter's nose up, and his head banged against the back of the booth.

"I did. Any objections?" Jitter shook his head and pulled at his nose. "Alright. Now, first we need to get our guns, so let's go . . . and be careful."

******

Jeremy caught up with Colt at the livery. He saw the dark cloud that was Casey's face and he figured Colt had brought him up to date already.

"Good, Jer, you're here. Mr. Casey is going to remain deputized for a bit while we search the town for those other two. He's gonna keep watch here on the assay."

Colt turned back to Casey. "Just keep watch, right, Mr. Casey? No takin' matters into your own hand?"

"Long as I figure it's safe."

"Guess we'll just have to hope it is then."

Jeremy walked closer to Colt as they left, and whispered. "You think he'll be okay there?"

"Pretty sure, yeah. You take that side of the street and I'll do this one. And don't assume they aren't armed, Jer."

Colt remained casual but alert, walking through the crowds, smilin' at the odd looks at the stain on his shirt sleeve. He drifted over to the first booth and walked around behind, scanning the area up and down the back of the buildings. A few kids were running a bit wild, and he suddenly worried about the safety of everyone.

"Going to try for a prize, Sheriff?" The booth operator called out when he saw Colt emerge from behind his stand.

"Don't want folks to know I can't toss a balloon, Arch," he grinned, drawing chuckles from a few people close by. He continued up the street, eyes probing every face. He went behind another booth and stood, looking all around. They were here, he knew it. They hadn't left town.

******

"What the devil is going on, Colt Treblehorn - oh - you've been shot!" Daisy gasped, as she spun him around by the arm, behind the booth.

"Shh, it's a scratch. What are you doing here?"

"I saw you creeping about the stalls . . . that shot I heard . . ." Worry creased her face.

"It's a bit complicated. Right now I need to find some people so--"

"You need to tell me what's going on." Serious lines replaced the worry and he knew Daisy wouldn't be put off.

"Follow me but stay behind. I'll try and explain."

They stood behind the general store, scanning the area before Colt moved her closer to the building. With as little detail as possible, he related the story to date, knowing her newspaper instincts were rapidly building.

"Are you saying Landsman actually sent men to--"

"I'm not sayin' anything more, Daisy. I've got to find the other two before somebody gets killed. Now you just go back to your stand and stay watchful."

"This is news, Colt! I need to be involved."

"No, no, no. You can write up what happened after something's happened - and it'll be old news if you don't quit pesterin' and let me go."

He swore he could feel the heat of her glare on his back as he squeezed her arm and hurried off.

******

Jeremy stood with his back pressed against the building, gun drawn, and indecision playing in his mind. He found the horses behind the bank, and the two men checking their carbines. He didn't know where Colt was. He knew Casey was just across the street at the livery, and he knew Nigel was sitting on a wagon full of guns on the other side of the bank. Still, he couldn't decide what to do. He knew facing them alone was a bad option, yet trying to get to the livery, and they saw him, might be just as dangerous. The target shooting had ended after the gossip began spreading, so any shooting would attract some interest, he hoped.

He froze as he heard them coming his way.

Jitter grabbed Bowie's arm, pulling him to a stop.

"That's the old man's mule, Bowie. That's all his gear."

"Damn! He's here already. We gotta move."

"What if we're too late?"

"Then I'll have to take him down. If he's dead the claim will be open again."

"How do you know?"

"Never mind how I know. You get the horses and meet me around the back of the livery - ready to go. Don't mess up, Splink."

Jeremy heard the whole conversation and was ready to grab the one called Bowie as soon as he appeared. He figured he could get one, now that they were splitting up. He crouched down, gun up and ready for Bowie to come around the corner.

"Should I take the old man's mule too?" Jitter called from behind the bank.

Bowie turned, face set with rage, and at the same time Jeremy jumped up, expecting him to still be coming. He had moved too quickly, and Bowie heard his movement, spinning and firing his rifle.

Casey jumped up from his chair at the sound of the shot, and dashed across to the bank. Old Nigel was creeping around from his post on the wagon, a large shotgun thrust out in front. Casey waved a hand for him to stay back just as they heard another shot, and Jeremy staggered out of the alley, diving onto the walk in front of the bank.

Bowie's head appeared around the corner and Nigel's gun boomed, blasting a chunk of wooden siding off the corner of the bank. Casey swore and dashed onto the walk, checking on Jeremy, and hauling him into the doorway. Nigel was leaning against the building; firing the gun had given him an unexpected recoil, and he slid to the ground, stunned.

"Are you hit bad, Deputy?"

"No. He got the side of my boot," Jeremy fingered the slashed leather. "Hurts like thunder though."

"Can you go 'round the other way and I'll go this way."

"Hang on, Mr. Casey, you're just temporary. This is my job."

"It's me they're after, sonny, and I ain't just sittin' and watchin'."

"You'll do as I tell you. Check on old Nigel there, then make sure our friend doesn't come out of that alley. I am going around the other way."