Nothing but forlorn faces were present as Nicole, and those working for Caleb sat at a table in the empty saloon. Caleb had already hung a sign on the door about the closing for the day, but Nicole wondered if they should be closed until the killer was found. With two girls from the saloon dead, that didn't make her feel any safer.

After the weeping had ended, there wasn't much said as everyone pondered over their memories. Nicole mainly thought about her cousin. They had shared so many times together when they were younger. Nicole wished they could have shared more time now that they were adults. Brenda was taken too soon. So was Patsy. Nicole wondered if the older of the girls had any family, and Nicole wished she could have gotten to know Patsy better.

Timothy sat beside Mary with his arm around her shoulders as she rested her head on his chest. It made Nicole's heart swell to know that even though the middle-aged man had a slightly deformed face, that everyone still treated him kindly. She had already made friends with the pianist, and he'd allowed her to play the piano a few times.

Nicole moved her gaze to the other two women. Amber and Teresa supported each other now, just as they always had. Nicole sat by Caleb, and it was all she could do not to cozy up against him. She wasn't sure what he wanted to do with their relationship, so she wouldn't tell anyone about her feelings for him until he said something first.

"Does the sheriff have any leads?" Amber asked as she wiped her teary eyes.

"None," Caleb answered. "All Sheriff Reed knows is that Brenda and Patsy were poisoned, and their blood drained from their bodies." Caleb sighed. "I hoped that we could share our thoughts, and maybe we'll come up with some suspects for the sheriff." He paused as his gaze moved around the table. "Let's start with Brenda. Do any of you know if she was doing something outside of the saloon, or if she had a secret beau?"

Amber, Teresa, and Mary exchanged worried glances, but immediately they dropped their attention to the table. Nicole held her breath. The girls knew something! So, why were they keeping quiet? Perhaps they weren't willing to open up with so many around. Nicole would have to talk with Mary in private.

After a few moments of silence, Caleb shook his head. "All right, then what about Patsy? Was she seeing a secret man outside of the saloon?"

Teresa shook her head. "Caleb, Patsy was seeing a lot of men."

"So was Brenda," Amber added quickly.

Grumbling, Caleb rubbed his forehead. "Well, there must be something that we're missing. Like... what happened before Patsy became sick yesterday? She seemed just fine while we were target practicing."

"I noticed her not feeling well after we danced." Mary leaned forward, resting her arms on the table. "I don't know why I couldn't see it then, but she was flushed, and her forehead was coated with moisture. I thought it was because of the dance."

"All right, so now we have to retrace her steps." Caleb folded his arms across his chest. "Can anyone recall what she'd been doing or who she'd been with?"

Teresa shrugged. "I know she disappeared for a half hour or so, but the floor wasn't busy. I just thought she was with... a man."

"But you don't know which man?" Caleb asked.

The other three girls shook their heads. Nicole didn't know enough people in town to recognize anyone. She closed her eyes and tried to remember. Weston had been trying to flirt with her most of the night, and she watched the floor – and the other women – quite a bit. Patsy was sweet on every man, it seemed. She never really stayed with just one.

The room grew quiet again, but suddenly, a different noise interrupted Nicole's thoughts. It sounded like chanting coming from outside.

She snapped her eyes open. The others at the table were looking at each other in confusion. Caleb turned his head toward one of the windows. A deep frown took over his expression.

He pushed away from the table and stood up so fast, it knocked his chair over. Taking wide strides, he moved toward the window and peeked out.

"What is it?" Timothy asked as he hurried to join Caleb.

"It appears to be a few townsfolks are protesting."

"Protesting?" Amber jumped up and hurried to the window. "Why are they protesting in the snowstorm?"

Mary stood. "The question should be, what are they protesting?"

As everyone left the table, Nicole decided to join them as they moved toward the windows. Thankfully, the snow wasn't coming down as hard now. The small group of people paced back and forth in front of the saloon, all holding lanterns. The sun hadn't quite begun to set, but apparently, they were ready for when it would. Nicole wondered why they would choose this time to shout their frustration at the saloon and those who worked here.

"It sounds like they want us to close the place down," Teresa snapped. "They are fools. All of them!"

"Isn't that Reverend Higley?" Amber snorted brusquely. "Doesn't he know that his sons are our frequent customers?"

Nicole gasped quietly. Heavens, no wonder the reverend was upset. If Nicole's father had sons who went to the saloon, he would have chained them to the church doors.

"Maybe that's why he's upset." Caleb shook his head. "And his wife is out there too, along with Mr. and Mrs. Humphries and their two sons."

"What's wrong with them?" Timothy asked. "They've had all this time to protect, and yet they chose to do it today of all days?"

Nicole listened to the words the small crowd outside was shouting. Shut down your business. You are evil! The Lord is not happy. Repent and sin no more.

Nicole looked at Caleb. "Maybe that's why they are doing it today – because of what has happened."

Caleb's forehead creased. "Do you think this is because of the killings?"

She shrugged. "It would make sense. Why else would they say what they are saying?"

"Well, I'm not going to shut this place down. However, I can understand why they think we're evil since two of my girls died." Caleb paused as he glanced out the window again. "This is ridiculous. I need to make them go home and get out of this cold weather."

As he stomped toward the door, Nicole tried not to sigh with happiness. He was thinking of others. What a wonderful man he was.

Everyone seemed to find the front door more interesting now as they watched and listened to Caleb try and talk some sense into the small crowd. Nicole moved closer to the window and was able to see the people better. She might not know many people in this town, but she recognized faces. They all stopped their marching and stared wide-eyed at Caleb.

"Please, go home," he said calmly. "We understand your frustration, but we are mourning. Why are you making it worse?"

Reverend Higley stepped closer to Caleb. The older man was at least a head smaller than the saloon owner, but the reverend's scowl was more fierce.

"The whole town is in mourning, and we'll continue to be until you close down Satan's establishment. Places like this are only for the wicked."

Amber snorted from near the front door, but nobody outside heard her. She peeked over her shoulder at those who remained inside. "Who wants to tell him that I was sitting on his son's lap last night?" She giggled. "In fact, I think we all were. Well, except for Nikki."

Nicole didn't want to grin, but she couldn't help it. But she quickly sobered her expression and glanced back out the window to watch Caleb try to handle the rowdy group.

"I'm sorry you feel that way, Reverend Higley," Caleb said. "But I'm not closing my place down. Not for you, and not because you disagree with what goes on in this place."

The older man's face reddened. "Serving alcohol on Sunday is the worst sin of all."

Caleb shook his head. "I beg to differ, sir. From what I learned while attending church, I thought the worst sin of all was killing another human being."

Mary, Amber, and Teresa snickered behind their hands covering their mouths.

"Exactly!" The reverend's voice lifted. "And that is what's going on in this corrupt establishment. We demand that you close down."

Caleb folded his arms, continuing to stare at the holy man. Finally, he nodded. "I'll tell you what, Reverend Higley. If I promise to close the saloon on Sundays, will you then leave now and return to your homes? I fear you'll all catch pneumonia if you stay out here in the cold."

"Do you promise to close on Sundays?"

Caleb nodded. "I promise to let my patrons go to church on Sunday so that they're nice and rested up for when they come back on Monday."

"Augh!" The preacher threw up his hands. "I assure you, if they go to church on Sunday, they will not return on Monday."

"Fine. Then you would have done your job, Reverend Higley." Caleb cocked his head. "But I tell you what. I'll let you do your job and call the sinners of the town to repentance, and I'll do my job and serve the rest of the town drinks and provide them a little entertainment in their humdrum lives."

"Mr. West, I hope you're in insinuating—"

"I never insinuate Reverend. I tell it like it is." He glanced up at the snow before looking back at the older man. "Now, please, return to your homes so that I don't get blamed for when you all come down with pneumonia."

The group outside muttered within their circle and started breaking up. Nicole sighed. Thankfully, Caleb was able to talk some sense into them.

Just before she turned away from the window, a man's face caught her attention. She snapped her gaze back on the man as her heart started pumping wildly. No, it couldn't be him! Why would he be in Stumptown, anyway? There was no way he would have known that she was here.

She moved closer to the window yet stood to the side so that nobody could see her. She silently prayed that her mind was playing tricks on her. But the man stood looking at the building as if trying to see who was inside. It is him!

Fear froze her body as if she was the fool standing out in the freezing snowstorm without a stitch of clothing on. The walls seemed to close in around her, and the ringing in her ears was getting louder.

Why Lord? Why, when she finally thought she found a place to call home – a place where she could feel safe – why would Edward Patterson come into her life again?

If he recognized her, he would run to the sheriff and spill everything about what had happened when she lived in Billings. Sheriff Reed would arrest her and throw her in jail. She would be the town's next hanging, she was sure of it.

Dizziness assailed her. She closed her eyes to try and stop the room from spinning. The voices inside the saloon began to fade. Her legs crumbled beneath her, and she fell to the floor in an unconscious heap.