Rising early the next morning, Ladybird and Wysteria washed up then went down for breakfast. They noticed no sign of the two men from last night and sat with a little more ease having being disturbed of their conversation over throwing people from trains.

Having missed supper last night they both were famished and followed Trish into the dining room. Far different from the rest of the inn the room looked newer and had murals painted on the walls. The floor was still wet from being mopped and the windows had been opened to let in the early warm breeze before it became too hot. After making their plates the two sisters sat down to plan their day.

"I think we should try and cover as much ground today as possible," Ladybird said looking over her map. "This here ring of trees looks like it grows in less harsh conditions. I can't wait to get there." She laughed.

Wysteria smiled and looked around the room. It seemed all the guests were on some mission or another. She couldn't help but wonder what had spurred them and if they were anything like her and Ladybird.

As she looked around the room her eyes fell on the murals. The one on the opposite wall was of an open prairie with a woman hanging laundry. The wall at the main entrance was only painted dark blue but the one opposite it showed a battle between cowboys and Indians. Lastly she looked behind Ladybird and her heart leapt.

"The Joshua tree."

Ladybird looked up from her plate. "Come again?"

Wysteria pointed behind her and Ladybird turned around. "It's the Joshua trees." Raising her hands she matched them to the branches. "It is the same."

Ladybird got up from her seat and went over to the mural. The sky was a perfect blue and her heart swelled at the familiar curl of the clouds. She ran her fingers down the bark of one of the trees and down to the name sighed at the bottom. "A Winters."

"I always found it strange that someone should name a desert painting something like that," Trish said as she came around to refill their teacups.

Ladybird just smiled at her and turned back to the mural. "Another clue." She could almost see her father smiling and winking at her the way he did when she had been clever. They were on their way!

/

Philemon followed the man through the cabin to a back room. They passed a man sleeping fully dressed, even down to his boots, to keep warm from the cold. As they entered the room a man that sat at the center of an old desk took a cloth and dabbed his left eye.

"What have you brought me?" his hoarse voice asked.

"Philemon Yewtree," the man who had led him there answered.

"Yewtree?" the man at the desk said. "As in the mining company? Well, don't we have a catch." He lit a cigarette. "What can I do for you?"

"I was told that you could track old trails," Philemon said. "My fiancée ran off and I'm looking to find her."

January Frost laughed. "That sounds personal. I'm a treasure hunter...I can't help with your romance."

Philemon felt his anger rising. "I was sent by Elizabeth Winters." At the sound of the name the whole room seemed to ice over as everyone froze. Philemon looked around then continued. "My fiancée is her granddaughter and she belongs to me. I want her back."

"She must be a looker then," January said. "Do you know why she ran off?"

"She went looking for her sister from what I understand," Philemon said. "The stupid girl ran off and they had to send someone after her."

January leaned back in his chair and smiled. "They must know something about the treasure," he said.

"I bet the Red Herrings tipped them off," another man said.

"Stop!" Philemon said. "What treasure, what red herring?"

January smiled. "Your fiancée, as you claim her to be, never told you of her father's legendary treasure?" He laughed when Philemon shook his head. "People have been after it for years but no one really believes it exists. It's what Amos Winters was killed for. His wife then took their daughters into hiding and for seven long years no one knew where they were." He got up from the table and went to a map behind him. "Until now."

"Don't you think of messing with Ladybird, she's mine!" Philemon said.

January scoffed. "I don't want your little bride," he said trailing a line on the map with his finger. "What I want is worth more than that. It's a spit in a dead man's face."

"So will you help me or not?" Philemon said. He was starting to fill the cold of the outside.

"What's in it for me?" January asked and men in the room with them nodded.

Philemon calculated everything. "I'll pay you in advance," he said.

"And?" January pressed.

Philemon stood taller. "You get me to Ladybird and you can have whatever treasure they are after. No arguments needed. It's yours."

January dabbed his tear eye and nodded. "I like you," he said.

Philemon nodded. "And as a bonus you can have pleasure of shooting her little sister."

January took a drag in his cigarette. "A little violent don't you think?"

"It's necessary to get what I want," Philemon said.

"Very well," January said. "But you are required to take an oath of allegiance to the Windstalkers. Give me your hand. Now hold the other up and repeat after me. I here do swear my allegiance to the Windstalkers. I will not turn against my allegiance, nor renege on my promise..."

As January Frost spoke men brought in a white cloak and gloves and dressed Philemon in it. The words off the oath were then echoed and he lowered his hand.

"We wear white scarves in this band," January said.

Philemon scoffed and swung his red scarf back around his neck. "It wasn't in your oath." He turned and left the room.

"I don't know about this one, Jack," one of the Windstalkers whispered.

January took a drag on his cigarette and exhaled the smoke. "We'll find his fiancée," he said. "Those girls of Amos Winters know the way to his treasure and I plan to find it." He sat back down at his desk.

"Why did Elizabeth Winters send him to us?"

"Isn't it obvious?" January asked. "Her success is riding on his satisfaction. That snow queen Elizabeth never had enough heart to share with a lot of people. She gave part to her husband and the rest to her son. Her granddaughters are just pawns in her game to get what she wants. In other words, once a Windstalker always a Windstalker."

He got up from his desk and went outside where he found a brooding Philemon staring at the frost bitten ground. Deer could be heard in the far distance feasting on the wood of the surrounding forest.

"The seasons change fast here," Philemon said.

January nodded and removed his cigarette from between his lips. "Is there anything I should know about your fiancée?"

"Ladybird is easily cowed," Philemon said. "She may have her father's rifle with her but don't worry, he made her promise never to point it at anyone."

January nodded and took another drag from his cigarette. Two plumes escaped his mouth as he exhaled, one from the smoke and the other from the cold. "You are giving me an easy catch."

"Just don't hurt her," Philemon said.

"Planning to have a few words with her yourself once she's caught?" January asked with a smirk. His white flesh had already turned paler from the outside cold and Philemon thought he had never met a person that better suited their name. "I know your type," January went on. "Rich gentlemen are pleasant to outside company but are savages toward their wives. I once tangled with such a man whose wife lived in constant terror of him."

"And?"

"She doesn't anymore," January said exhaling smoke. "I will find your bird and you can do with her what you like. You have an oath with me and I will not go against you. That of course means that you cannot go against me. We have enemies, we Windstalkers. The Red Herrings for one..."

Philemon nodded. "Are you familiar with a man called Tennessee Wellbeloved?"

"The EAK messenger boy?" January laughed. "I know of him. Why?"

"I think he's the one they sent after the youngest sister," Philemon said.

"Ah," January nodded. "Well this may change a few things."

"Why?"

"Tennessee is a member of the EAK, that's the End After Knights. They like to think of themselves as heroes," January said. "They are strong and stealth and they will defend their own. If your fiancée meets up with Tennessee it will be harder to get her back."

"Then we have to get her before he does."

January nodded in agreement. "But..." he said and Philemon grew tense. "her father, Amos, was a member of the EAK long ago."

"So!"

"So they may already be on her trail." He pointed forward. "They call themselves the End After Knights because they are composed of many people who are known to be dead. Like true ghost they praise the land; materializing from seemingly nowhere. They are master swordsmen. Some say they sold their souls for their skills."

"Nonsense!"

"Indeed," January said. "But just the last part."

"I know how to shoot," Philemon said. "I'm not afraid of a sword wielding idiot!"

January winced. "You should be." He patted Philemon on the back. "You had better get your rest if you want to leave out tomorrow and I would wear a softer scarf if I were you. You stick out like a beacon."

Philemon scoffed and stuck his hands in the pockets of his coat. His anger blazed like a fire inside him against Ladybird. How dare she refuse him?