Cybil waved to Ryan as he slouched into the diningroom and sat back with a wide smile at his appearance. Ryan pulled a face and took a seat opposite her at the table.

"My goodness, Marshal, what got hold of you?"

"You don't need to know, Miss Marsh, just let it be said that I rid myself of an old devil and have bin got by a new one... temporarily anyway."

Cybil drew a long oh with her mouth and leaned forward on one elbow. "As a reporter I must warn you that you just gave me a challenge I can't ignore."

"And as a Territorial Marshal, I'm tellin' you to back off." While they attempted to stare one another down a waiter slid up to the table with a massive steak, smothered in onions and sided with a heap of mashed potatoes.

"Good Lord, are you really going to eat that?"

"Every last bite and I'm gonna take my time doin' it."

"Would you like me to cut it for you, Marshal?" She asked, watching him fumble with one hand. He nodded with a thunderous look and even let her feed him the first bite from his fork.

Half an hour later the steak was little more than a bare bone and three glasses of whiskey had helped wash down the last of the potato. Ryan leaned back and gasped comfortably while Cybil watched in amusement.

"Now that was good. I haven't had a steak like that since I don't know when... maybe never."

She laughed. "Quite a bit of whiskey as well."

"Yeah, well there's a reason." When he saw her eyes brighten he waved his good hand. "Forget it. I ain't sayin' a word."

Cybil looked up and her eyebrows rose expressing great interest. "I don't think you have to, Marshal."

Ryan turned and groaned inwardly as Eliza Heaven swept across the room in her emerald green gown showing more than ample cleavage and a predatory smile.

"How was the steak, Marshal?" She glided up to his chair and placed a possessive hand on his neck, giving Cybil a patronizing look. "I don't think we've met." She said pointedly.

"You're right," Cybil replied. "No real reason we should have is there?" She covered the answer with a bright smile and offered her hand with her name.

"Aaah, the reporter woman." Cybil showed her surprise and nodded. "Don't be so shocked, Miss Marsh. Even women in my profession take time to read."

"I'm flattered you read me." Cybil answered.

"And I do, quite easily." The double meaning struck home like an arrow and Cybil felt her neck burning. "I guess I'll have to take a rain check on our negotiation, Marshal. Maybe you'll drop back when you get paid." She patted the back of his head and let her fingers trail as she gave a slight nod and swept away repeating the elegance of her arrival.

Ryan was staring at Cybil with a bemused expression, watching the play of emotions on her face and her body language. When she could stand it no longer she snapped at him and he laughed aloud causing her to blush all the harder.

"Miss Marsh, I do hope you write this as part of your story. Your readers will get quite a hoot out of knowing you can be—"

"Can be what!" She challenged. "In- in... in love with a dopey, stubborn, stupid...?" Ryan's face stopped her cold. His eyes were wide with surprise and his mouth fell open as he took in her words. "All right, so now you know." She took out a hanky and dabbed at her eyes, shaking her head and moaning her stupidity.

"Did you say, love?" Ryan stood and walked around to her chair, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Go away! I don't- I hate you!" She started to cry harder and her head fell against his side.

Ryan gaped about the room; several other men and a few women were all staring in fascination. He patted her back and bent down to whisper so the others wouldn't hear. "Miss Marsh... Cybil... I- I am so surprised and flattered I can't think straight." Her head came up and tear streaked cheeks glistened as she sought his eyes. "I think it best if we continue this some where's else." He helped her up and they left the room leaning into one another, spurred on by a

round of applause.

Carl stood by the engine of the GM&R line train to Ainsworth and chatted with the engineer. When he saw Ryan and Cybil Marsh headed his way he excused himself and waddled over, beaming.

"They're gonna let me take the throttle for part of the trip."

Ryan laughed. "Sounds like you don't mind the long trip."

"Amos is comin' with us, they have him on crutches and he's doin' fine. The mayor has organized a rail gang to go back to the canyon and fix the bridge and the track and as soon as the telegraph is up and workin' he's gonna let my company know what's happenin'"

"Glad things are workin' out okay, Carl. Say so long to Amos for us and have a safe journey home."

"Any journey after that last one will be safe, Marshal." Carl laughed and steadied his stomach with two hands. "You best get my full name for that story of yours, Miss Marsh. It's Engineer, Carl 'Whistler' Jacobs of the Great Mountain and River Railway."

Cybil made the appropriate impressive reaction and promised she would get it right. Then they hugged briefly and waved Carl aboard the train.

"There goes Peter and Penny and the Bellows sisters." Cybil waved as the group climbed aboard the passenger car behind them.

"Are they another item?" Ryan asked.

Cybil looked at him. "Another item?"

"Yeah... like us." He gave her an 'I dare you look' and waited for her response. The train whistle blew and a blast of steam surrounded them as the first chugging sound of departure rang along the platform. They missed the frantic waves goodbye from the passengers and when the steam dissipated, Carl gave a tune on the engine whistle when he saw the couple locked in a close embrace.

"I guess we are an item now." Cybil said pulling slightly away.

Ryan took her arm and headed back toward the hotel. "Might as well seal the deal then, Miss Marsh."

"What will my readers say?" She said with mock concern.

"Cybil Marsh does what it takes to get the story and this time it's her story."

There was another long mournful blast from the whistle and a coincidental chime from the town hall clock. They stopped and looked toward the building, each with their own thoughts as they realized Otis Devlin had just dropped through the hangman's trap door.

THE END