Tumbleweeds danced across the prairie as the horse came to a stop in the middle of the desert. The somber rider reached for his canteen and swallowed a mouthful of the warm water. He wiped his mouth with the back of his gloved hand before replacing the lid. His blonde hair brushed the collar of his well worn duster. His green eyes shone with determination as he stared off into the horizon. The Silver Star on his chest glistened in the summer sum. The desert was bare. He dismounted and took a few steps into the desert, then knelt down to discover that the desert wind was trying to make his job harder. The tracks he had been following had been blown away with the tumbleweeds. He stood and decided to keep going the way the tracks had been leading. There was a little town up ahead called Sweetwater. He remounted his horse and nudged the tired animal in the direction his prisoners had escaped to.

Sam studied the checker board calculating his next move.

Cody sat impatiently waiting his turn. "Come on Sam, its checkers not life or death."

Sam ignored the comment and smiled as he picked up his black checker and jumped three of Cody's red checkers, landing his black piece on Cody's side of the board and said "King me."

Cody placed another black checker on Sam's piece. "Well it's about time. I thought we would be shoveling snow before you moved." Cody said quickly rebounding and capturing two of Sam's pieces.

Whatever brilliant remark Sam was going to say died on his tongue as a young boy ran into the Marshal's office. "Marshal, Marshal" The boy gasped trying to catch his breath.

Sam rose to his feet and approached the boy. "Timothy, what is the problem?" he asked full of concern.

The boy caught his breath and with a shaky hand pointed toward the saloon. "Three …men.. with big guns…. "

Cody and Sam ran down the road to the saloon. The sound of silence from the usually noisy saloon had them both concerned. Cody had his rifle ready as Sam pointed around the back of the saloon. Cody nodded and disappeared around the edge of the building. Sam pushed open the saloon doors and saw everyone with their hands up and three gunmen standing in different areas of the bar. The leader, who Sam realized had a big mouth and was finding it hard to keep it shut, had his back to where Sam had entered. "You boys put the guns down before somebody gets hurt." He shouted as he saw Cody sneak in from the back door.

The leader turned and pointed his rifle at Sam and laughed "You think you can take us all in?"

Cody aimed his rifle at the man just as the saloon door behind Sam swung open. Sam sighed a breath of relief as he heard Jimmy say. " I think we can take you all in. Or just drop ya right here. Your choice." Ike and Buck walked around Sam with their guns drawn as Kid and Lou came in from behind Cody.

Sam stepped toward the bandit and repeated his request. "Put the guns down. Because I can't control what these boys do, your chances are better with me, then with them."

The leader of the threesome looked at his friends then at the seven guns that were pointed at them. He slowly lowered his gun as his buddies did the same. Jimmy, Cody and Sam escorted the men to the jail until Sam could figure out who they were. "Thanks boys" Sam said as he shut the jail cell door. "You've got good timing"

"I saw Cody sneaking around the back of the saloon and figured he was either sneaking up on food or you guys had trouble." Kid said with a smile. Cody shot Kid a evil grin before punching him on the shoulder.

Sam smiled and sat at his desk. He opened a drawer laid the bad guys guns into it and pulled out a stack of wanted posters. He split the stack up and handed some to each of the boys. "See if we can figure out who they are"

After the entire stack had been gone through and the culprits pictures laid across Sam's desk; Sam thanked the boys for their help. "Thanks boys but ya'll better be getting' home Emma will be havin' supper ready before to long." He smiled and knew Emma would have their dinner ready and be ready for their evening together before too long. He needed to get Barnett to watch the prisoners.

As the boys approached the station, Teaspoon came out to meet them. "Lou, I need you and Ike to make a run to Cheyenne, get something to eat and head out." They nodded and went inside to eat.

Emma sat the food on the table and laid a small pack of food on the table. "Lou this is for you and Ike." She smiled at them and pushed a stray hair behind her ears. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have plans for the evening. You two ride safe." She placed a hand on Lou's shoulder and sent a smile to the boys as she walked out of the bunkhouse to prepare for her evening with Sam.