On Boot Hill a bewildered Unger found a newly dug grave with a stolen wooden marker. 

Unger scratched his head. 

Bad enough, he thought, having people come up here to Boot Hill digging up graves.

Now he finds someone has dug a new grave. 

Didn't leave much of a marker for its occupant. 

Just a dried out wooden plank for a grave stone. 

With nothing but one word carved into it. 

POPS

"The heathen that buried you, Pops didn't think you were worth the price of a decent burial." Unger cursed. 

"If there is any justice in this world, God will strike him down dead!"

God watched as the heathen rode north in search of Justice. 

He didn't bother to strike him down. 

Maybe because he thought it would do no good.

O'Boyle found Marshal Justice.

The Marshal was in a bad way. 

 However, not as bad as the two bandits whom the marshal had killed that now lay in the back of wagon.

 ________

Marshal Justice watched the dust cloud as it grew closer.

He holstered his gun when he saw O'Boyle.

"You alone? Where's my bandit?" the Marshal asked.

"He just didn't want to come to our hanging picnic." Smiled O'Boyle. 

"Told him he was been unfair. How else can fathers make men out of their sons if they can't watch an outlaw choke and fowl himself at the end of a rope. Said he'd die first. So I obliged."

"Where's the body?"

"Sorry Marshal, buried the body on Boot Hill seemed stupid to bring it back considering that's where it's gonna end up." Smiled O'Boyle.

The marshal temper grew. 

"You buried it! Just how do I know, you killed this outlaw! I wouldn't be surprised if you're in Cahoots with this gang. Maybe you let him go!"

"You can always go dig him up he ain't going anywhere!" O'Boyle grinned.

The marshal wondered what Rue saw in this smiling fool.

"Sometimes boy, I just don't get you!"

"Don't worry Marshal, I get that a lot round here."

_________

By mid day they arrived back in Busted Gulch. 

Outside the hotel Rue strolled out to welcome them but found they were both in bad shape.

"Well your boy proved his worth, or so it seems," Justice told Rue. 

He reached inside his vest and pulled out the papers.

"I'm giving him a pardon on the condition that he stays in your custody.

You vouched for him. He is your responsibility. 

 He goes bad you could end up serving his sentence."

"That's not fair, Marshal! You can't put that on Rue!"

The marshal was taken aback by seeing O'Boyle's anger for the first time.

"It's okay, Ronan. I accept your conditions Marshal." Rue said, taking the papers from him.

"You can't! It's too much!" O'Boyle shouted and collapsed over trying to get to Rue.

Rue went to pick him up. He raised his hand stopping her and pulled himself back up onto his feet. 

Anger flashed in his eyes at Rue, which she ignored. 

"I accept your conditions, Marshal and that's that," Rue said then turned cold to O'Boyle. 

"You work for me now, O'Boyle. If you so much as think of turning bad. You will wish I left you in that jail to hang!"

Ronan said nothing he just looked her in her eyes and wondered what he did to deserve such compassion. 

His smile returned. 

"Right Boss, no turning bad. Anything else, Boss."

"Wipe that smug smile off your face and get inside. And for heaven's sake clean yourself up, O'Boyle. You're late for work." Rue ordered. "I'll make sure the Marshal gets to Doc."

"Right Boss. Sorry Boss." O'Boyle kept on grinning.

"It's okay, I'm deducting it from your wages."

O'Boyle's smile dropped and he made his way to the hotel door. 

"Guess that's that," the Marshal said. 

Rue's eyes turned sorrowful. "You're injuries..."

Justice smiled. "I know, Rue. Sure hope you know what you're doing."

"So do I." Rue mumbled, turning to look back at O'Boyle entering her hotel. 

"So do I."