A/N: With the multiple storms and other trials, hurts and disasters that seem to be nearly everywhere right now, here's hoping that Calleigh and her latest whim will give you a small break from it all. I hope that you will find a reason to laugh, smile, chuckle or grin when reading this FLAME Series tale. Also, I just want to tell you how much I do appreciate you readers-old and new. You and your feedback are what keeps Calleigh's Gunsmoke Universe alive and I THANK YOU!

Separate Journeys

Chapter 1

Shopping Trip

June 12th

Hays, Kansas

"Where will you be?" Newly glanced around the street, taking notice as to how much busier it was in Hays, than back home. His hand still gently held his wife's forearm.

"I wanted to go over there, to McAllister's General Store. I saw some toys in the window. How long will you be?"

"Just long enough to do the paperwork on Matheson. The Sheriff said it would only take fifteen minutes."

"Uh-huh..." Calleigh reached down and squeezed his hand. "In lawman talk, that means a half-an-hour." She offered him a teasing smile that held promises of something quite enticing in the near future.

"Come get me when you're done."

As Newly watched her walk down the boardwalk, a smile of pride crossed his lips. It was clear—his Calleigh was the prettiest girl in town. And she had chosen him. Chosen, he thought? Stalked, was probably closer to the truth; but either way, he was a lucky man.

O00O00O

Calleigh stopped to look at the toys in the window before wandering inside. Right off, she noticed the doll with red hair. That would be perfect, except for the fact that Hadley would never give up Bootsie for another doll. However, that rocking horse had definite possibilities. With a smile and a desire to shop, she entered the store.

"Good afternoon." The greeting sprouted from a thin, gangly man. Despite the white hair and deeply lined face, his sparkling eyes and friendly smile still revealed a youthful soul. "Let me guess..." His voice had grown raspy over the years. "You want to look at that little redhaired doll. Do you have a daughter?"

"A baby sister." Calleigh could see the question in the old man's eyes. "Yes, she has red hair too. But she also has a bear, Bootsie, that she would never give up." With a quick glance at the toy in question, she added sadly. "Even for a beauty like that. I am interested in that rocking horse, though. She's a very active child."

A new sparkle hit the old man's eyes. One hand shot up into the air as he motioned for her to follow him. "I have something new. It just arrived yesterday and I think it will be just the thing for a lively little redhead. "He disappeared behind a sheet of black curtains.

Calleigh wandered aimlessly by the front counter while she waited for his return. She took little notice of the two women leaving the store; but the two shabby cowboys coming in caught her attention. It was obvious they had just ridden in from the prairie. Judging from the dirt that wafted from every step they took, it was also obvious, they'd been traveling for days.

The sudden appearance of the clerk drew her attention away from the motley pair. "This comes all the way from New York." With as much pride as if he had made the toy himself, the man set it up on the counter. It was a wooden horse, but it was also a tricycle. A beautifully carved head and neck rose up from the center of the handlebars. Even the seat was designed to look like a leather saddle.

Calleigh's eyes grew wide, right along with her smile. Nimble fingers lightly touched along the detail. "This is absolutely perfect! Hadley will love this." For a moment, she felt like hugging the old man. "My little brother recently got a horse of his own and she has been so jealous."

"Well, then, this should be just the thing." He returned to the rear of the counter. "Will you be taking it with you?"

"Oh." Suddenly the smile disappeared. "We're taking the stage home. Do you have a box or something?"

"I still have the crate it was shipped in. I will box it up and have it delivered to the station for you. You mentioned a little brother." It was clear the older man had a lot of experience as a salesman. "Were you wanting to look for something for him as well?"

Calleigh smiled at the craftiness of the older man. "You read my mind …Mister?"

"Jenner. Not Mister; just Jenner, ma'am."

"Well, Jenner, what can you show me for a very bright, very energetic six-year-old boy?" Calleigh followed the man back to the toy section, giving him a clear, if not unbiased, description of her little brother. She was surprised when he led her to a Beggs, live-steam toy train.

"Hmm, he's always messing with horses and animals, I never thought about a train." The infamous grin appeared as she handed the metal toy to the salesman. "Jenner, you are a genius."

He returned the toy to its original box and held out his hand to let the lady lead the way back to the counter. 'I will have this delivered with the horse." Jenner pulled a pad from under the counter and began to take down Calleigh's information. Within a few minutes, the purchase was paid for and the shipping order ready to go.

"Yes sir, I do believe this is going to be my favorite store in Hays."

The two barely had time to share a laugh, when one of the scruffy cowboys stepped closer to the lady. "Yeah old man, it's my favorite store too."

Jenner looked beyond the young lady, focusing on the gun pointed at him. Calleigh was still facing the clerk, but she could tell by the heavy breathing, that the gunman was only a foot or two behind her. She knew there were two, but was unable to discern the whereabouts of the other man.

"Just open that cash drawer." He stepped closer to Calleigh and gave her shoulder a nudge with his gun. "You. Lady… What's in your bag? You must be rich, buying these fancy toys."

Calleigh's blue eyes rose slowly, coming to rest on the clerk. Jenner was cautious, but she couldn't read fear in his eyes. What she could see was a weathered old hand slowly sliding toward the shelf under the counter.

The second man finally stepped into her line of sight. She could sense, more than see, that he was to her left, about four feet. "Hurry up, Tabbow! Get the money!"

Unlike his partner, the shorter man appeared nervous. He was much younger—and by the way the gun shook in his hand—Calleigh guessed he was still new to the game. The man behind her wasn't a novice.

"Calm down, Hyatt. Scairdy little squirt. You just keep your eye on the door. We don't need no company." He took another step forward and waved the gun at the clerk. "Hurry up." Again, he nudged Calleigh, ordering her to dump the contents of her reticule onto the counter.

At first, she was angry with herself for not taking that little derringer, but it wouldn't have done much good if he was going to steal her reticule. Following his instructions, she pulled on the drawstring and let the contents tumble onto the counter.

Despite the situation, Calleigh had felt more anger than fear, until she saw that look in Jenner's eye. He was awaiting a chance to grab the gun he obviously had under the counter.

Her gold bracelet with diamond chips fell onto the smooth, wooden surface. The first day on the journey, the clasp had broken. Her next stop today was to have been the jewelers. The sparkly item instantly drew the gunman's attention.

This was the moment Jenner had been waiting for—when he saw the nearest gunman take his eyes off the cash drawer, in order to retrieve the bracelet. At that moment, the old man went for his gun. Jenner's hand returned into view, armed with a .45. Before he had a chance to fire, the gunman put a bullet near the old man's heart. The gun dropped from his hand, onto the counter, while Jenner fell to the floor.

In that same instant, Calleigh lunged for Jenner's gun and with one shot, dropped the robber. While she meant that one to be a kill shot, she was kinder—and only wounded the younger boy.

Newly was on his way to the mercantile when he heard the shots. He knew Calleigh was in there and he also knew she was unarmed. Why did I talk her out of taking her derringer! That thought repeatedly raced through his head, as fast as his legs raced carrying him to the store. With his gun drawn, he was ready when he burst through the door.

He came in low, ready to prepare for return fire; but there was no fire—there was hardly any sound at all. The first thing he saw, was the dead man in front of the counter. The second was the wounded man against the south wall.

"Calleigh!"

"I'm back here!" A slender hand waved from behind the wooden counter.

Newly rushed around to the back of the store. His lungs drew in a much-needed breath when he saw that his wife was okay. "Are you hit?"

"No, but Jenner is." Calleigh was doing her best to stop the bleeding, but she knew it was hopeless. "Why did you have to do that?" It was only a whisper, but the old man still heard it.

"I wanted… you… to… to get home to those… little ones." He grimaced from the pain and tried to speak again, but it was too late.

Calleigh gently laid him on the floor, then took refuge in Newly's consoling arms.

TBC