Chapter One

Sweetwater had changed in the few months he'd been gone. The town had grown, and he did not recognize many of the faces he passed on the busy street. Riding his paint mare down the middle of the street, he looked around for a familiar face...one in particular.

"Kid! I'm surprised to see you here," he glanced in the direction of the voice. It was one he recognized, deep, with a heavy Australian accent. He smiled at the sight of the former deputy of Benton, standing on the boardwalk next to a pretty young lady.

"Hack Wilkins," he dismounted and tied Katy at the hitching post in front of what used to be Tompkins general store. "I had heard you were helping as a deputy here now. It's good to see you."

"You too, Kid," Hack shook his hand and then turned to introduce Kid to the girl at his side. "Kid, this is Anne Marie Mosley. She owns the dry goods store now. Anne Marie, this is Kid, one of the former Sweetwater Pony Express riders."

"Pleased to meet you, Miss Mosley," Kid shook the hand she offered.

"Likewise, Kid," Anne Marie smiled. "I've heard a lot about you from Louise and Hack."

"Hack, you've been telling stories about me?" Kid turned to the deputy and grinned. "Let me assure you, Miss Mosley, whatever he told you, it isn't true."

"I've learned that about most of what Hack says," Anne Marie laughed.

"Very funny," Hack interrupted. "Kid are you here to see Louise?"

"Yeah, thought it was time to pay a visit," Kid replied. "Do you know where I can find her?"

"Actually, she had to escort a prisoner to Ft. Laramie. She should be back in two or three days."

"Oh," Kid looked disappointed. "Well, I guess I will just have to stay until she gets back. Teaspoon let me have two weeks off."

"Don t worry Kid," Hack threw his arm over Kid s shoulder. "I'll let you help me keep the peace around here. As you can see, Sweetwater has grown, and well, it's getting difficult for one person to do the job. Lou sent for some help from Blue Creek, but the sheriff there sent a message that they can't spare anyone right now, especially since they already have me on loan."

"What happened to Barnett?" Kid asked.

"He left a few weeks ago. His mother is sick apparently, and hasn't been getting any better. My boss in Blue Creek is letting me stay on here until Barnett gets back, but I'm thinking about moving here permanently," Hack smiled at Anne Marie. "But here, let's take your things up to the hotel. I'm glad you don't mind helping me out while Lou's gone."

"Nothin' to it," Kid grinned. "If I remember correctly, you need all the help you can get." The two men said goodbye to Anne Marie at the entrance to the store and continued on to the hotel, laughing and insulting each other as only friends can do.

"The territorial governor thanks you Marshal McCloud," the army captain said, locking the prisoner into the cell. "Pete Minter has been running from the law for years. He's killed twenty men. How'd you ever catch him?"

"He got into a fight in the saloon," Lou explained. "I threw him in jail for disturbing the peace, and he was too drunk to resist much. My deputy, Hack Wilkins, was going through old wanted posters that night-it's a hobby of his-and recognized him."

"Well, tell Mr. Wilkins the governor thanks him, too." The captain handed her the $500 reward. You might want to split that with him.

"Don't worry, I will," Lou said, leaving the office.

She wandered around the fort for a while, not really paying a lot of attention to where she was going. Ever since Josiah's death, she had been struggling with her feelings for the young man. She had learned to love him in the short time she had known him, but only as a close friend. His love for her had been deeper, she knew, but it was more than she was ready for. It had been months since she and Kid broke things off, but...

Lou stopped short as she came to the edge of the fort. She had been wandering in circles for over an hour, and suddenly realized that she was hungry and tired. Pushing her thoughts away, she headed for the livery to retrieve her saddle bags. A short while later, she sank into a hot bath in her hotel room and closed her eyes, letting the heat from the water soothe her aching muscles.

The sheriff of Blue Creek was sending someone to help Hack while she was away. Maybe she would just take her time getting back and do some thinking about the direction her life was taking.

Her decision made, she headed back to the hotel to pay her room up for the next week. She would send a message to Hack and tell him not to expect her back for about a week and a half.