Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed, glad you're enjoying it so far. Again thanks be to LouC for putting up with my bad grammatical habits.

'Mr Morrow's saloon is to be put up for sale, all the proceeds and his personal effects are hereby bequeathed to Miss Abigail Sciuto,' McGee read aloud from the last will and testament. In front of him, Sheriff Gibbs nodded.

'Sounds fine,' he replied.

'As per Mr Morrow's instructions, I've already arranged to have listings posted in the state paper, as well as in the store in town here, and in five other towns across the county. I'll try and have this matter sorted as promptly as possible, Sheriff. Is there an account for Miss Sciuto where I should deposit the funds of the sale?'

'You'd have to talk to Abby about that.'

'Okay.' McGee replied, sounding entirely too happy at the prospect for Gibbs' liking.

'McGee.'

'Yes, Sheriff?' McGee replied, polite and respectful again. Gibbs contemplated what he wanted to say, it was obvious that the lawyer had an interest in Abby, and as nice as the boy seemed, he couldn't help worrying that Abby's lack of an actual father might be a temptation for young men. He sighed, stating that tactfully wasn't his forte, he'd have to talk to Duck first, the old Doctor was better at that sort of thing than he.

'Good work.' With that, Gibbs took his leave of the lawyer's office, which was only the front room of McGee's house.

Tony fumed over the mystery woman for an entire week before Abby found him and ordered him to attend a Sunday dinner at Ducky's with her. Ducky shared the largest house in Glenside with his very old mother and her two dogs. She mostly kept to the half of the house farthest away from the rooms Ducky used for his practice. The doctor and his stories bored the hell out of Tony most of the time, but the old guy had good scotch and a spare bed that he occasionally let Tony borrow on nights like these, when Tony drank so much he couldn't walk in a straight line.

People in Glenside didn't really know his story, he'd given Gibbs the short version, father ditched him when he was fifteen, made his own way since then. That was all Gibbs cared to know. But Abby and Ducky, when he'd deigned to share that same bit of information with them, saw through his carefree facade.

Thankfully, they never really pressed him to talk about it. Lord, he'd shoot himself before he would be prepared to talk about that. But they were nice to him, inviting him to join them every now and then. He didn't feel like such a stranger in this town because of them.

On this particular night, they were nice enough to put up with his lousy drunk ass through dinner and afterwards as Ducky and Abby talked by the fire and he drank some more. Without complaint, they helped him into the examining room and onto the bed Ducky used for his patients. Abby pressed a kiss to his cheek, before they left him to sleep it off.

'Deputy DiNozzo sir, wake up.'

There was only one person in Glenside who added the sir on the end of his name. Tony groaned. His head was pounding,his mouth felt disgusting and his stomach... well, he'd felt a lot better. 'Go away Palmer,' He muttered.

'I would, only Doctor Mallard has his first patient of the day in ten minutes, and I need to change the linens before then.'

'Do you have to talk so loud, Palmer?'

'Sorry,' Palmer replied, sounding abashed. Tony groaned as he slid his feet back onto the ground, straightening slowly. He glanced up at Palmer, in his suspenders and white coat, and scowled.

'Sorry, rough night.'

'Do you want something for your head Deputy? I think I know what Doctor Mallard would usually prescribe for this.'

'Last time you prescribed me something Palmer, I was pissing blue for a week. I've never been so damned scared in my life.'

'I've gotten better since then.'

'Just water.' Tony replied. Palmer handed him a glass of water which Tony downed. Palmer then handed him his jacket and hat, which he pulled down low over his brow, trying to keep out the sun. He then staggered out of the room, wincing at the glare of the morning sun. Gibbs was gonna have his head for being late to work.

Halfway to the sheriff's office, he came across Abby, who had a strange look on her face. 'You alright, Abby?'

'Better than you, I suspect,' She remarked, looking him over. 'I talked to Gibbs this morning, he's agreed to give you the day off.'

'Thanks. So where are you headed?'

'Mr McGee's offices. It seems he has found a buyer for the saloon, and I have to sign some documents for them,' Abby replied, thus explaining the odd look on her face. He put an arm around her shoulders. In part to provide her with his support, but also because he was still finding walking in a straight line to be something of a challenge.

'Maybe you could ask the new owner to keep the name?' Tony suggested.

'That would be nice. Will you come with me?' she asked suddenly. 'Moral support.'

'Well if I really am off the hook with Gibbs, then sure.'

'Would I lie to you?'

'You do every time we play poker,' Tony replied, earning himself an elbow in the side.

'Please don't do that again,' he begged, holding his stomach, waiting for it to calm down.

He recognised her voice before he recognised her. Sitting in front of McGee's desk, she looked nothing like he'd last seen her, dressed only in a shirt, holding a comically huge gun. He froze up, taking in the thing she'd done with her hair, and the dress, given the fact that she was buying the saloon, must be as expensive as it looked.

'Move, Tony,' Abby ordered, prodding him in the butt. He jumped slightly and stepped out of the doorway. McGee brightened at the sight of Abby and Tony reminded himself to have a word with McGee about his intentions.

The mystery woman stood up, turning to see the new arrivals. She wasn't taken aback to see him at all, though she did smirk at him, looking him over before turning her attention to Abby.

'My condolences for your loss, Miss Sciuto,' she told Abby, in that damn lilting voice that had been haunting him for the last week.

'Thank you.'

'This is Miss David, she has proposed to buy the saloon,' McGee added. 'Uh, why is Deputy DiNozzo here?'

'What's it to you, McGee?' Tony snapped eyeing Miss David, whose name sounded foreign, even if it was ordinary.

'It's a pleasure to meet you as well, Deputy. I'm looking forward to getting to know the both of you better, now that I am moving to town.'

'Lord have mercy,' Tony prayed silently.

'I do have one thing to ask of you before I sign these papers,' Abby said, in a firm voice. Tony remembered why he was there, and shuffled closer to her side.

'Really?' McGee asked, looking perplexed.

'I know that once you buy the place it's all yours to do with what you will. But Mr Morrow was a good friend to me, and a lot of people in town. I would like you to keep his name on the building out of respect,' Abby continued. Tony could tell his friend was getting upset again. He pressed a hand to her arm, guiding her in the last remaining chair. He picked a patch of wall by the door and sagged against it.

'I am agreeable to that Miss Sciuto, I can honestly say that I never had any intention of changing the name,' replied Miss David.

'Thank you. And please call me Abby.'

Tony almost dozed off as the contracts were signed and the arrangements for payment were made. He did take note that Miss David was apparently paying upfront, through a cash deposit at the bank. He wondered what kind of single woman possessed that kind of wealth.

Finally Abby begged off a lunch with McGee and Miss David, to walk Tony home. He happily fled the room, until the too fast movements made his stomach rebel and he was forced to slow down.

'What was that all about, Tony?' Abby asked him as they left McGee's offices.

'All what?'

'I have never seen you miss an opportunity to flirt with a woman before, especially not one as beautiful as Miss David. And she's wealthy to boot.'

'Can you keep a secret Abby?' Tony asked her in a low voice.

'Please, you've seen me bluff,' she smirked and he grinned, which turned into a wince.

'Remember that woman who shot Murphy and got the drop on me?'

'Yeah?'

'It was Miss David.'

'No way!'

'I swear on my life, Abby! Rich little heiress, she is not. I wouldn't be surprised if she's some kind of outlaw who robs trains or something. Maybe that's where she got her money,' Tony mused.

'Wow.'

'I bet she's even better at poker than you, she didn't even blink when she saw me.'

'What are you going to do about her Tony?'

'What do you mean?'

'Shouldn't you arrest her or something?'

'For shooting Murphy? Nah, he had it coming, there's no case to be had there. Besides, if I go accusing her when she's dressed like that, acting like a right little princess, who's gonna believe her over me? I'm just a drunk deputy who let a woman trick him,' he muttered morosely. Abby elbowed him again and he cried out in pain.

'That's for the woman comment,' Abby informed him in a prim voice as she walked on ahead of him, her head held up high.

'Not nice, Abby.'

'Because I like you Tony, I'll write off all that nonsense on account of the bottle of scotch you polished off last night. Stop being so down on yourself, you are a great deputy.'

'Thanks,' He muttered as they stopped outside his place, he pressed a kiss to her cheek. 'I'll see you later.'

'Get some sleep.'

Tony was extra early for work on the Tuesday, he'd even gone as far as to start cleaning their tack when Gibbs arrived at the office. Gibbs nodded at his deputy and headed inside. He kicked up his heels and looked out towards the saloon.

Glenside was a small place. Most of the locals lived on the surrounding properties so the businesses outnumbered residences. At the northern end of the main road stood Ducky's house, the largest in the area. There were a few other residential houses heading further in to town. Then in the centre of Glenside, the saloon, bank and Mr McGee's residences and offices sat in a row, directly across the street from the sheriff's offices and Jail. Immediately to the left of those was the general store and a few doors further than that the undertaker's. The far southern end of town was marked by the Blacksmith's forge. There were plans to build a Town Hall next to the bank, just as soon as someone found the money.

There was something to be said for the convenience of having the bank and the saloon directly across from the sheriff's offices. Most of Gibbs' daily work could be conducted without having to saddle the horses.

This morning it allowed him to watch the newest citizen of Glenside. Miss David. Abby had talked about her at dinner the previous night, apparently she was a real proper looking lady, and that DiNozzo was intrigued. The last part didn't surprise him, DiNozzo was attracted to good looking women like a dog to a bone.

There was something else about her that Abby knew, and that she'd done her best to hide from him. He didn't press her further about it. Abby wouldn't keep something that he absolutely needed to know from him. He would just figure out Miss David's secret himself.

Miss David was apparently an early riser like himself. She'd moved into one of the guest rooms over the saloon the night before. He'd yet to arrange to have Mr Morrow's personal effects removed from the owner's quarters out the back, but Abby said that Miss David was happy to give them time to organise things.

Now the woman was dressed in clothing more suited to a man, that she looked quite comfortable in. He watched as she led her horse out of the stables and mounted. Miss David didn't waste time getting up to a gallop, racing out of town. He sighed. About time he put some more coffee on anyways.

Tony had just finished cleaning the tack and had it all stowed away behind the jail when Miss David rode up, breathing hard and sweating from her ride. She spotted Tony and grinned, dismounting to approach the deputy.

'It's good to see you looking more... well, Deputy,' She remarked, eyeing him over in the way that never failed to affect him.

'Back at you,' he replied stiffly, folding his arms over his chest. She smirked, examining his stance.

'You are not happy with me, Tony.'

'It's Deputy DiNozzo. And no, I'm not.'

'Is this about the other week? I hope my, ah, sudden departure, didn't cause you any trouble.'

'Well not really, The sheriff loves it when I tell ridiculous stories about half naked woman who shoot suspects and vanish into thin air. I didn't look like an idiot at all!'

'I apologise, only I was so embarrassed to be caught in that state that I just had to flee,' her eyes sparkled and the barest hint of a smile curved her lips. Tony knew she must be laughing at him on the inside.

'I've heard that one before.'

'Really?'

'Not that one specifically, but I know when someone's speaking bull to me, Miss David.'

'I'm sure you do,' she teased, smiling again. 'Perhaps I can make it up to you.'

'Make what up to me? I'm fine.'

'When I get the saloon back in business, I will buy you a nice dinner, and all that you care to drink.'

'Buy me dinner? My understanding of proper courting procedures suggests, that I am meant to be the one buying you dinner.'

'Courting?' she raised an eyebrow. 'Who said anything about courting? Besides, I own the saloon. It makes more sense for me to give you a free meal. Otherwise, you are essentially buying me a meal from myself.'

Tony frowned at the derisive tone with which she spoke of courtship and his ego couldn't help but wonder if it was the idea in general or him specifically to which she objected. 'Yeah, you own the saloon. How does a lady your age, unmarried I assume from the Miss, come to be able to afford to buy saloons? Rich daddy?' he probed, only to see Miss David flush and turn to pat her horse.

'That's none of your business, Deputy. Have a good day.' She turned and led her horse back to the saloon's stables. Tony frowned after her, maybe he'd been more right about the train robber remark than he'd thought at the time. Why else would she avoid the question? Most ladies liked to brag about their father's assets. But then, he was quickly getting the feeling that Miss David was definitely not like 'most ladies'.