Jonathan Beck and his wife Stephanie stood nervously on the stagecoach platform in the west end of Kansas City. Jonathan was eager to take up his new veterinary service in Wichita, having just graduated into the new profession. He would be later be joined by his wife and expected child. "Don't look like you're going to a funeral, Stephanie. I'll be sending for you in about two weeks, once I find a suitable place for us to stay. Wichita is a fairly big town, so I'm sure it won't be too difficult to find something," he smiled to his wife of two years.
Stephanie smiled and wrapped her arm through his and hugged it tight, "I know. It's just going to seem so long," she smiled. Jonathan smiled back and was just about to kiss Stephanie on the cheek when the rumble of the approaching stagecoach caught their attention. "Looks like our adventure to a new life is about to begin, "Honey," he mused as he readied himself for the long ride in the bouncing coach.
"I love you," Stephanie peered deep into her husband's eyes. He smiled and kissed his wife tenderly on the lips, "I love you more than I can tell." Obviously time stood still for the Becks as the stagecoach driver hollered at Jonathan, "You getting aboard or stayin' here?!?"
Jonathan and Stephanie giggled, "You best go now, Mr Beck. I just might change my mind about this whole idea of your's and keep you here!"
Jonathan gave his wife a quick peck on the cheek, "I'll wire for you as soon as I can. Say in about two weeks, okay!?" he said as he boarded the stage. And before he was fully seated the driver clipped the reigns over the rumps of his team and the stagecoach lurched forward throwing the veterinarian back into his seat and causing his wife to giggle as she waved farewell.
As the coach rounded the corner Mrs Jonathan Beck slowly clutched her hands to her chest and breathed a silent prayer for the time to speed along until she was with her husband again.
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It was mid afternoon in Lawrence, Kansas, as Derrick Madill and his youngest brother crossed the dusty street. They played nonchalant while keeping a watchful eye on the bank. Madill's other brother and his three other pack members wandered the streets as well - each one waiting for Madill's signal and all of them knowing exactly what their job was.
"Derrick?" Jerry Madill questioned, "When are you gonna call it. I feel like folks are staring at me."
"Cool you're heels, little brother. I'll call it soon. I figure by about three o'clock the townsfolk will have completed most of their business and the bank will be bursting at the seams with their money," Derrick leaned against a post across the street from the bank. He could see all of his men and he was just about to give the signal when he looked at Jerry. "Okay, boy, you go and play drunk at the tavern and we'll pick you up on the way out of town."
"Why do I always have to play drunk? When do I get to be in on a bank robbery?" the young Madill complained as he muttered his way up the street to the local watering hole. Derrick shook his head in tired disbelief. He never figured that Jerry would ever amount to anything after his head injury he suffered years before. The best Derrick could do it to keep in within eye sight and mostly out of the way of the action. This was all an oath he swore to himself after his mother died suddenly.
Once Jerry was out of sight, Madill gave the signal and his men moved in slowly on the bank. Once they stood on the boardwalk out front the quickly pulled bandanas up over their faces and pushed quickly through the doors. Phil Hastings stood guard at the door and watched out the window as Derrick and his brother Douglas ordered the tellers to empty their trays into the saddled bags they supplied. Meanwhile Vincent Rogers and David Stuart pushed their way back to the bank managers vault and demanded him to open it - with guns drawn and levelled at him, Mr Thompson had no choice and opened he big vault.
The whole hold up lasted less than a minute and the Madill gang bursted out the front firing shots into the air and quickly dispersing in every alley possible in their well planned escape route. It was over before the ton of Lawrence even knew it happened. Just like all the other robberies that the Madill gang preformed.
Derrick was true to his word and met up with his brother Jerry and quickly had him mount the horse that he held and without so much of a bother, they rode out of town, "Still wish I could do that, Derrick," Jerry whined.
"Maybe next time kid," Derrick playfully swatted his brother on the shoulder and pretended to race him out of town.