Walter hurried up the road licking jam from his finger and stumbling on a rut before jumping up onto the walk in front of the buildings. He barged into the jail house and called for the Sheriff.

Nathan came from his room and leaned in the doorway, arms outstretched on the frame. It had been two days since his final apology to Allison and it was still resonating in the back of his mind. They had spent almost the entire night together exploring and discovering one another physically, mentally and intellectually. It took him a moment to realize Walter was standing there, waiting.

"What is it, Walter?"

"Mister Jepson gave me a message for you." He licked the inside of his finger then wiped his hand on his pants.

"Are you going to give it to me?"

"Right, yep." He handed Nathan a crumpled piece of paper and stood back, head bobbing.

The message read that Playford had wired two men, telling them to get to Parkerville as fast as possible, he had jobs for them. That was no problem as far as Nathan could see; Playford wanted fencers. What caught his attention were the names of one of the men - 'Plug Hat' Johnson and Donnie Iwai. He folded the message and stuck it in his shirt.

"Thank Jepson for me, Walter and don't get that door handle sticky on your way out."

He went to his file cabinet and dragged out a file of old wanted posters and sorted through them until he spotted the one he wanted. It was a picture of a scruffy bearded man around forty with close set eyes and a scar on one lip - 'Plug Hat' Johnson. Wanted for rustling, stage robbing and the shooting of a bartender in the town of Buffalo Wing. Among known associates was the name of Donnie Iwai.

The poster was nearly five years old and obviously still open since he was coming to Parkerville. Nathan put the file away leaving the poster on top of the cabinet. It was a strange pair, he thought, a black man and a Japanese - but no less deadly. They weren't coming to Parkerville to string wire.

**********

Once again the noon stage blew into town in a cloud of noise and dust, hauling up in front of the hotel, unloading its passengers, baggage and mail bags. Mrs. Hastings, wearing a thundercloud face followed the driver into the hotel where all the mail was left for pick up by recipients. She stood huffing and glaring at the driver and Ryan as they sorted through the items in the bag, gratefully finding the envelope for the bank and seeing Mrs. Hastings on her way.

"Poison she is." The driver spat unerringly into the copper spittoon by the desk.

"Something's changed; she used to be pretty nice."

"Don't want to know, jest sign fer that bag and I'm goin' to wet my whistle, water the horse and be on my way." As he headed into the bar two people came in from the street and Ryan cleared a space on the desk.

"Howdy folks, looking for a room?"

Bates glanced at Dora and gave a tiny shrug at her expression. "Two rooms and put 'em both under Deputy Marshal Bates."

"Deputy Marshal! Absolutely, sir and welcome to the Cooper Hotel and Saloon. Two rooms, second floor right across from the stairs. Can I get you to sign the book and I'll get those bags upstairs for you."

"Where's your mayor's office?"

"Right across the street and down a couple. Can't miss it, has the flag outside."

"Thanks. Take the bags up, we'll be back later."

Edith looked up, removing her wire glasses and adopting a curious smile. "May I help you?"

"Here to see the Mayor. I'm Deputy Marshal Bates and this is Deputy Dora Cutter. He wrote to me and-"

"I know all about that Marshal, right this way please." Brisk, efficient and tall, Bates thought as she moved ahead of them opening the large door to the Mayor's sanctum. "Deputy Marshal Bates and Deputy Dora Cutter, sir." She stepped aside while they entered then left, closing the door.

Willard stayed behind his desk but leaned across to shake hands with both, indicating chairs.

"You made excellent time, Marshal, thank you for coming."

"Your letter intrigued me, Mister Mayor. So, what has been taking place?"

Outside they heard the driver yell as the stage left town in another cloud of dust.

**********

"And ten pounds of flour, please, Edward." Maggie called to the back of the store, checking her list then she walked over to where Allison was sorting newly arrived items. "You've been quiet these past few days, dear is everything alright?"

"Everythin's fine, Maggie, thank you."

"Hmm- I know it's none of my business but are things alright between you and Nathan?" She stared, eyebrows elevated, waiting.

Allison nodded but soon realized that wasn't enough. There was no option but to answer and, leaning on a pile of new dresses, she revealed what Maggie was bursting to know.

"Oh, Allison! That's so- how marvellous for you . . . for you both."

"Let's keep that between us, okay." She was the one now who waited, forcing a promise from her friend.

"You should come to the hotel for dinner and we can celebrate."

"Maggie!" Allison looked horrified

"Oh- yes- I know. Lips are sealed, dear." She drew her fingers across her mouth and winked.

**********

Nathan came from the back again, hearing the door close. He stopped in the doorway at the sight of the two people, his eyes darting to his holster hanging by the door.

"Sheriff? Deputy Marshal Bates. Deputy Cutter." His thumb indicated Dora.

Nathan stared at the woman, taken by the confidence she showed the way she wore her weapons. He dragged his eyes back to Bates and offered his hand, catching the amusement in the dark eyes and the twitch of the large moustache.

"Dora gets that a lot, Sheriff but she's the first person I'd pick if I got in trouble. Crack shot and nail hard."

"Remember that, Winston."

He grinned and gave Nathan a conspiratorial wink.

They sat in the office discussing the events that brought the pair to town along with Nathan's theories.

"I know Iwai," Dora said. "Saw him in Bryson Mills once. He's nasty."

"Trace Banner worries me more; killin' is his profession. It's all he does." Nathan reminded them about Corbin and his own bit of a stand-off with the gunman. "Playford isn't gathering them all together for a card game; he's planning on taking over and keeping Wellman's land."

"And you think this banker of yours is in on it."

"I do. It was the timing. At first he was all helpful and business like, sending and receiving information from the land registry then suddenly, after a visit from Playford, he had confirmation of Playford's claim and was staying low."

"What's that got to do with timing," Dora asked.

"He couldn't have got those papers when he did. We had no stage delivery and I checked with our telegraph office. Nothing came."

Bates stretched his legs out and linked his hands behind his head, grunting as they heard a few bones pop. "Reckon a talk with this banker . . .?"

"Ashbridge. Morley Ashbridge."

"Right. A talk with him is in order I guess. Want to introduce us?"

"I can do that. Just be careful of his secretary, Mrs. Hastings. He's been using her as a messenger lately and I think her fuse is just about burned down to the stick. I feel better having your Deputy with us."

Dora levelled a gaze at Nathan and he immediately saw the nail hard woman Bates teased about.

**********

Morley deflated at the introduction and sagged into his chair like a collapsed tent. The two lawmen sat quietly, watching him and his eyes scanned the woman, mentally revising his definition. She definitely looked more dangerous; at least he was wearing a smile.

Nathan bade them a farewell, tipped a cautious hat to Mrs. Hastings and fled the bank. It was past lunch time but a visit to Ledger's couldn't hurt and Allison would be interested in the latest news. Maybe some of that special cake might provide him with a good reason to bother her at work. He quickened his pace and hopped up to the store front when he saw Wren waving and calling his name.

"Twice I get a visit from the lovely, Wren." He smiled and waited while she caught her breath.

"Jen- Jennie said that Trace fella was in the saloon making trouble; she's afraid he might hurt one of us." Nathan glanced at the store window then took Wren's arm and hustled her back up the street to the saloon.

Ryan came from behind the desk and reaffirmed Jennie's concerns. His hand squeezed Nathan's arm.

"Is he upstairs now?" Ryan nodded. Nathan leaned down to Wren, whispering, "Where's Ruger?"

"He only works at night when we are the busiest." She was biting her nails and he gently pulled her hand away.

"You stay with Ryan." Nathan crossed to the saloon and headed up the stairs.