"Sheriff! I thought you were supposed to be home resting." Morley stood from behind his desk and tugged at the bottom of his garish vest. "Is everything alright?" The stock expression of concern usually reserved for customers made an automatic appearance as he moved half way around his desk.

"Seems everybody thinks that," Nathan smiled. "I came to thank you for getting that information sent to me and I wanted to ask you if you saw the I.O.U. note that was with them."

Another pause to compose a thoughtful face. "N-o-o, I don't believe I did. What was it for?"

Nathan explained the fact that the man named Ansen Playford had put in a claim for Wellman's property based on that note. "This isn't going to end soon, Morley. They have to investigate that claim as well as authenticate the original will from Blake's uncle. The letter I received from the land registry office back east says it could take maybe a year."

"Oh dear . . . all that money he owed around town . . . and the taxes. The bank will have to- oh dear."

"Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, Morley. Did you send everything I gave you from his cabin?"

"I'm sure we did; it was my secretary who actually mailed it off." He walked around his desk to the door. "Mrs. Hastings, could you come here for a moment please."

Short, spry, with grey hair piled atop her head, rimless glasses on her nose and a gown with a giant ribbon at the throat, Mrs. Hastings marched in and stood at attention. Morely asked about the papers she mailed to the registry office and then bumbled a thank you, dismissing her.

"She always leaves things in here without telling me."

Nathan smothered a grin and waited while the manager dug through his wooden filing cabinet.

"Ah, here it is." He sorted through the file and lifted out the note Nathan had referred to, his face dropping a few inches. "I'll get this in the next mail, Sheriff."

"Maybe see if you can find out anything more about this Playford fella; why he might want Wellman's property."

"I shall try, Sheriff."

Mrs. Hastings was quick-stepping back to the office as Nathan left.

************

The men were saddling their horses when the wind came up blowing a sudden gust of dirt across in front of the cabin and Jethro swore, feeling the grit get into his eyes. Even the sky looked a dusty blue with dobs of filmy cloud. "How long are we gonna hang around this place, Corbin? They said they'd contact you when there was a ruling or something."

Corbin gave a harsh tug on the cinch strap and leaned across the saddle seat. "I told you, I ain't interested in the property. You want it? You wanna stay here and wrangle a few measly cattle for the rest of your days?"

"No, but-"

"But nuthin'. I said I was gonna find that whore and that's what I'm gonna do. You wanna leave. Leave." He tugged the cinch again then swung up into the saddle. "My brother ain't gonna be remembered bein' killed by no fancy, back east, money grubbin'--"

Jethro snorted a laugh. "What money? Look at this place, Corbin."

The glare was answer enough and Jethro busied himself with his own saddle. Gus led his horse around near the others and gave Jethro a brief shake of his head. "He has a point, Corbin. She was sent for."

"Yeah- well I'm sendin' her back-- in a box." He fiddled with the reins and looked at the two men. "Well, what's it to be?"

"Corbin you already got us into a mess hittin' the Sheriff and all," Gus said, taking Jethro's side. "This is crazy talk. We go back there now and we're just askin' for it."

Corbin rode away a few yards and turned back. "You wanna break up that's fine with me; it wasn't your brother what got murdered."

"You don't know that for sure; he prob'ly asked for it." Jethro rubbed his stinging eye and spat.

"What did you say!" Corbin rode back and drew his gun.

"Hey! Take it eas-" Gus stepped forward, arms up, stumbling to a stop when Corbin fired. "Jesus, Corbin!" He bent down to Jethro who was squirming on the ground, blood oozing from a huge hole in his chest. "What the hell! Are you crazy? You've killed him!"

Corbin swung his gun around to Gus. "You made up your mind yet?"

"Yeah, I have. I've decided your mad." He took off his hat and ran his fingers though his hair, looking at his dead friend's surprised expression. The hammer cocked and Gus stood up, facing Corbin. "Go and chase your ghost, Corbin. I'm stayin' here to bury Jethro. And if you get back and I ain't here, don't bother lookin' for me."

"Suit yerself." He wrenched the horse around and kicked it hard into a gallop.

Another gust of wind came up and Gus shielded his eyes. When he looked again Corbin was gone. The fool had gone crazy and Gus wasn't sure what to do. The Sheriff knew they were together; he'd be just as guilty as Corbin no matter what he did. He stared down at Jethro and lost his words. His friend was gone and Gus felt he had to bury him before he did anything else.

The ground was easier to dig inside the stable and Gus managed a crude marker from some old bits of wood. He stood and said the only thing he could think of and that was, a short goodbye then he got his horse and headed for town . . . the Sheriff needed to know what had happened and Corbin had to be stopped.

***********

Walter Kirkland licked his fingers and wiped his hands on his pants. That special cake order Ledger got in was surely somethin' he could go for, yes sir. He continued day dreaming as he tidied up the tack room in the back of the livery but stopped abruptly when he saw the rider through the space in the board wall. It looked to Walter like the fella Nathan had asked about; the angry brother of Blake Wellman. He moved around to the front of the livery and watched the rider go up behind the buildings. Walter figured that looked like trouble and he closed the shop and headed up to the jail.

Nathan sighed and sat up; resting wasn't going to be much of a choice it appeared.

"Walter, I told you I would get your pay--"

"It's him, Sheriff- the Wellman brother."

"What do mean, Walter?" Nathan leaned forward on his desk, apprehension priming his attention.

"He just rode in and he went up behind the buildings. I seen him."

Nathan grabbed his hat and gun belt and told Walter to watch the office while he took a look himself.

"Am I in charge then?"

"Yes, Walter- until I get back." He shook his head, regretting the action and left the office.

Nathan walked slowly up the walk, pausing between buildings for a cautious look. The fact that Walter hadn't mentioned anyone else gave him more cause for concern. Were Wellman's men taking a different route? Were they here at all? He kept an eye on the lanes across the street in case they were here and had split up. A few people paused and spoke to him as they passed, some asking after his health and Nathan nodded and smiled without stopping.

When he reached Ledger's store he hesitated, choosing whether to go in or not. He didn't want to draw any attention to Allison but he didn't want to risk her being in danger either. He stepped off the walk and looked around behind the store. There was nothing to see and he wondered where Corbin went. Back out of the lane, he crossed the street and headed for the hotel.

Maggie came from the kitchen, a scowl adorning her face. "Nathan you are not supposed to be wandering around town you are supposed to be resting."

He let her finish a few more commands then placed his hands on her shoulders and said her name firmly before telling why he was there. "I'll wait here if you just go across and make sure Allison is in the store and alright. Don't alarm her. I'm going to keep looking to see where he went but if he's watching me from someplace, I don't want to draw attention to the store."

"And who's going to watch you, Nathan Tessler, with your concussion."

"Amos has a large mouth. I'll be fine, you just check on Allison for me."

He stayed by the door, out of sight of the street and watched Maggie make her way to the store. Did they all know it was a concussion, he wondered. A chat with the doc was in order, not that it would make a difference, he conceded to himself. Just as the thought left his head he saw Wellman heading for the store. It could be innocent, he thought but didn't believe it, something or someone tipped him.

Nathan started across the street when Maggie and Allison came out of the store just as Wellman arrived. He moved more behind Wellman so he wouldn't be noticed and walked a little faster. He could see they were speaking but he couldn't hear and anxiety burned in his stomach. Maggie had Allison's arm and was leading her past Wellman who was staring hard at them both.

"Hello ladies," Nathan managed without showing his nervousness.

"Hello, Sheriff," Maggie answered, using his title with emphasis. "Lovely weather."

"Uh- it is- for a change. Wind's always a bother," he added as they stopped beside him, smiling.

"Everything well with you both today?"

"Just fine . . . now." Maggie answered, whispering the last word. "We're headed to the hotel for some bread I've been making. Ally mentioned she would like to buy some."

Taking his cue from Maggie's performance he offered to accompany them and see just what attraction the bread had. Glancing back, Nathan noticed that Wellman had hesitated going inside, pausing instead to hear their conversation.

"He's suspicious I think. What did he say?"

"He just said flat out that he never believed me about the 'whore' going back east and he find her in time." Maggie stuck out a defiant chin. "I just told him he was rude troublemaker and to get out of our way."

Nathan looked down, a small grin forming, caught and matched by Allison but hers faded quickly. He knew she was worried. They entered the hotel and Nathan saw them back to the kitchen then he took the stairs to the third floor.