"Hey Mort." Slim shouted out as they crossed the yard to the sheriff hitching his horse.

Mort looked at the two Cowboys with concern weighing on his brow. "Jess I got some bad news."

"If it's that Bud escaped I already know." Jess said.

Mort cocked his head and looked at Jess. "How do you already know? I just got the telegram from the prison this morning."

"Mallory told us this morning." Jess said as casually as he could.

Now Mort was really confused. "Mallory? Where did you see her?"

"She's inside with Daisy. She came this morning." Jess answered. He knew Mort knew about the issues he had had at the Simm's ranch, but he couldn't understand why Mort seemed so confused and why saying Mallory was in the house sent Mort's eyes darting around the ranch.

"Maybe we should all go inside." Slim suggested, noticing how nervous Mort had suddenly become.

"That's a good idea. But I should tell you that Mallory was there when he escaped." Mort said.

Now it was Jess that became nervous. "Why would she do a fool thing like that?"

"Why don't we all go inside and find out." Slim suggested again. A cold chill ran up his spine. He wasn't sure if there was true cause for it or if Jess' and Mort's nervousness was spreading to him. Suddenly though standing out in the open seemed like a bad idea. The two looked at Slim, agreed, and the three went inside.

When they walked in Mike was sitting at the table whittling something and laughs came from the kitchen from Daisy and Mallory. The two women walked out of the kitchen smiling.

Mallory's smile quickly faded and terror seeped into her eyes at the sight of Mort. The terror quickly turned to a crazy rage.

Jess saw it coming and barely had time to react. Mallory grabbed the gun from the mantle and began firing wildly at Mort. Jess managed to get Mort shoved out of the way fast enough that a bullet only grazed Mort's upper impact with the floor though left the man unconscious. Another bullet grazed Slim's thigh. Daisy dove behind the now turned over table with Mike. Jess charged at Mallory grabbing the gun from her hand.

Once Jess had the gun Mallory wrapped her arms around Jess and began to sob into his shoulder. "Oh Jess you saved me. They came to take me away and you saved me."

Jess tucked the pistol in his waistband and patted Mallory's back hoping to keep her from hurting anyone else. He gave Slim a pleading look of desperation.

Slim looked on bemused by what had just happened . "Mike, Daisy you can come out. Daisy you may want to come over here and take a look at Mort. He's unconscious."

Daisy rushed over to Mort's side and began looking him over. "Looks like he hit his head on the floor. The graze on his arm isn't so bad. Mike go get me some water and rags." Then the blood on Slim's jeans and the fact he was still sitting on the floor caught her attention. "What about you Slim?"

"I can wait. Help Mort first. I'll still be here when you're done." Slim said looking over at Jess and Mallory.

Once Jess had Mallory calmed down he walked over to Slim. "Are you and Mort ok?" Jess asked in a shaky voice.

"I'm fine, Daisy says he'll be fine. What was that?" Slim asked looking over at Mallory who sat at the table quivering and watching the two men a little too intensely for Slims liking.

"I told you. She has fits. That's why Curt sent her away for help." Jess said in a low tone so Mallory couldn't here.

"Are you afraid of her?" Slim asked.

"No." Jess quickly answered sounding insulted. "She's a woman. What can I do to her? I can't hit her." Jess whispered harshly.

Slim gave a nod of agreement. "Especially not in her condition. So what are we going to do?"

Jess looked back at the still staring Mallory and smiled. "I wish I knew. We need to talk to her though. To see how close Bud is."

"Bud? Why would he come here?" Slim asked.

"Because the last words he spoke before getting taken to prison was that he was going to kill me." Jess answered.

Once Slim was patched up by Daisy the four sat at the table. Daisy sent Mike to his room to work on his studies. Mallory sat quietly as if in another world.

Not able to handle the silence anymore Daisy looked around the table and asked. "Suppers ready. Whose hungry?"

"I will be in a few moments I just need to clear a few things up with Mallory first." Jess said. He barely got the words out for the large knot that was forming in his throat.

At the sound of her name Mallory quickly snapped back to reality looking at Jess and smiling.

Jess looked into her eyes. "Mallory is it true to helped Bud escape?"

"Oh yes Jess. I did it for you." Mallory said

"Say again? How is that for me?" Jess asked

"You can kill him now. So he will leave us alone for good." Mallory answered.

Jess shifted uneasy in his chair and a muscle in his jaw began to twitch. "Mallory I've told you and told you. There is no us." Jess said cautiously.

"Sure there is Jess, you saved me." Mallory said and smiled

Jess buried his face in his hands and let out a low aggravated moan. "Mallory." He started in.

"Now Jess. Let's just hear her out. She came a long way." Daisy said hoping to prevent another fit from Mallory.

Jess took a deep breath. "Can you just explain to us what all happened?" Jess asked Mallory.

Mallory looked up as if thinking back on it. "Well, Carver, Buds lead man, showed up at the house I was staying at. He told me I had to help Bud escape or he would kill Curt. I agreed because I knew it would give you a chance to finally get him. I distracted the guard while Carver broke Bud free."

Jess looked at Slim who was still in disbelief at Mallory's thinking. "Where is Bud now?" Jess asked

"He's gathering his men. He won't be here for at least a couple weeks. So we have time to get reacquainted." Mallory said

"Does Curt know you're out?" Jess then asked.

"No. All he'll do is come get me and take me back. That'll mess up everything." Mallory said then a panicked look came to her face. "I wont let that happen Jess. Not even Curt."

Slim tensed ready to jump up by the sound of Mallory's tone. Jess quickly took Mallory hands in his. "Mallory you're here now. No one is taking you anywhere." Jess said in a soft tone to calm the woman down.

Slim looked at Jess. "Jess, can I speak with you outside a moment?"

Jess gave Mallory a guarded look and stepped outside with Slim. "What is it?" He asked when they got outside.

"Jess, we can't let her stay here. What about Daisy and Mike? That woman is a loose cannon." Slim said

"I know that. I'll just take her to town and stay with her there." Jess said.

"I'm not letting you do that either. You can't take on a whole gang on your own." Slim protested.

"What do you mean you're not letting me?" Jess snapped at Slim with a clenched jaw.

"What I'm trying to say is that you're family and I don't want to see you hurt anymore than I want to see Mike or Daisy hurt." Slim explained quickly.

"Then what do we do?" Jess asked

"I don't know, but we'll figure it out. For now though let's eat. I'm starved." Slim said and two men went back into the house.