After their bellies were full, and the dishes cleaned, Asa and Josiah rushed through the house, bounding out the front door so hard their cat, Ghost, jumped from his perch upon the railing that circled the porch, surprised from his late afternoon nap. He gave a strained meow and trotted down the steps, disappearing under the house.

Asa made it to the porch swing first and waited for his brother to get situated before opening the book to his marked spot.

"I wonder how mean Juno Dawkins really is." Josiah pondered, winded, combined with his dash through the house and pent up excitement.

"I bet he's meaner than 'Big' Smith."

"No way. No one can be meaner than 'Big' Smith." Asa gave his brother a look all siblings eventually give one another. The look that says 'what do you know? I'm older than you'. No matter how long they would live, the older sibling would always hold that deviation in time over the younger one's head.

"'The sun warmed their backs as they rode toward Donner. By the time they reached the outer limits of the town, the air had reached an uncomfortably high temperature, causing beads of sweat to form and roll down the side of each bounty hunter's face.'"

The town was still asleep by the looks of things. Folks who stuck around the dying town weren't much for honest trade, thus no reason for many things to be open, aside from the saloons. But Brisco knew just because everyone else was asleep, it didn't mean Jessie would be.

She had always been the last to bed and the first to rise. As she grew older, the amount of sleep she required nearly halved, which meant most times she would be up and around after only three hours of sleep, a habit Brisco found considerably annoying. But her lack of need for much sleep benefited her; it was easy to stay ahead of the law when the law was still asleep.

He didn't see his sister lurking around one of the few shops that lined the street, so he figured the saloon would be the best bet.

"We not gonna find food in there." Bowler carped as he dismounted, but followed a silent Brisco nonetheless.

The saloon was just as vacant as the street, much to the irritation of Brisco. He made his way to the bar, well aware Bowler was hanging back, keeping his eye on outside. He ordered a whiskey from a guarded looking barkeep; strangers were probably given extra scrutiny, just in case some over excited sheriff or bounty hunter, or hell just anyone looking to make a name for himself, decided to wander in.

He was granted his drink, which he savoured as he watched Bowler out of the corner of his eye. The manhunter was leaning against the side of the door, his arms folded across his chest, his hat pulled down low. He was an intimidating presence, even when he didn't mean to be.

Brisco went for another sip of the amber liquid when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He nearly dropped his drink in surprise as he spun on a heel. Jessie was looking up at him, her face a mixture of uncertainty and happiness. Brisco took a moment to glance over at Bowler, who hadn't been alerted to her presence, before taking a good look at his sister. She had lost weight since the last time he had seen her, and she didn't come with much to begin with. Her hair was longer, too, pulled toward the back and allowed to hang down to her lower back. She looked older, too. Not in the physical sense, mind you, but the emotional. Eyes were the window to the soul, Shakespeare once said, or maybe it was DaVinci, it didn't matter. What mattered was just how true that statement was. When he looked into his sister's eyes, he could see a woman wise beyond the youthful appearance. A woman without much sympathy, but maybe just a hint of empathy.

"Hello, Jess."

"Hello, Brisco."

"You been here the whole time?" Jessie shook her head.

"Nope. I saw you guys from the hotel."

"How'd you get past Bowler?" Brisco was genuinely curious. The hotel was situated just across the throughfare; Bowler should have certainly seen her leave.

"You got here right on time." Jessie continued, ignoring his question. "I was a little worried you wouldn't figure it all out in time."

"In time for what?"

"It's a long story, sort of, and I'm starving." Jessie nodded Bowler's way. "I bet he is, too. I heard him complaining about food."

"Jess." Brisco grabbed her arm as she started to pull away from the bar. She stopped and looked up at him questioningly. "It's good to see you." Her gaze softened and she smiled.

"It's good to see you, too."

"I wonder what Jessie is up to." Josiah interrupted, grabbing the edge of the book and tilting it toward him so he could get a better look at the picture sketched opposite the page. There stood Brisco County Jr., his chin covered in growth, gripping the arm of Jessamyn County. They could see the tip of her dark ponytail, peeking out from just under her elbow, pitched to the side by the movement of her head as she turned to look up at her brother. The movement forever etched in time. She was dressed in black, symbolizing she was supposed to be bad, contradictory to the light colors Brisco wore, but Asa had never thought her to be all rotten. She couldn't be. She was a County and with that great name came great moral responsibility. That was what the very first capturing of Brisco's adventures told him, anyway, and he believed it.

Asa yanked the corner from Josiah's grasp, clearly annoyed. "How about you let me read it so we can find out?" Josiah stuck a tongue out at the older boy but relented, settling back against the wooden swing.

"'The hotel was where the citizenry of Donner could currently be found. Breakfast was being served and it looked as if every outlaw and cowboy had come in to get his fair share. A smile tore across Bowler's lips and he pushed his way past the siblings toward the banquet style set up located at the edge of the main floor.

"Hey, I was here first." one heavyset outlaw growled when Bowler pushed in front of him, his plate filled with samples of each item the hotel had to offer.

"I don't care." Bowler growled back, reaching for a plate.

"Well, you're gonna care, mister." The outlaw hissed, giving Bowler a shove. Brisco and Jessie watched in amusement, content with sitting back and enjoying the scene which was about to unfold.

Bowler pulled himself to his full height, towering over the suddenly wide-eyed scofflaw. He leaned in close so that his face was only a mere inches from the other man's, its features twisted into a menacing scowl. "I suggest if you want to keep your teeth so you can eat this food you git outta my face and just sit tight." After a few seconds, the outlaw wisely nodded and stepped back, allowing Bowler to grab a second plate and commence filling.

"What?" Bowler asked after emerging from the crowd and noticing the look on his friend's face.

"Nothing." It was now Bowler's turn to lead. The crowd parted and chairs scootched closer to the table as Bowler approached, well aware it was the better choice to stay out of the six and a half foot man and finish their breakfast in peace. They may have been some of the most terrifying men in the West, but they weren't stupid.

They found a place in the back, a little cramped but it would have to do. Brisco reached for one of the plates after they had settled, only to have it yanked clear from his clasp by Bowler.

"Hey!" Brisco objected.

"Get your own."

"You mean to tell me you're going to eat all of that?"

"Yes I am." Bowler grinned before shoving a heaping forkful of eggs into his mouth.

"You're such a pal, Bowler." Brisco gave his partner one last look of aggravation before turning to his sister who had taken place beside him. "So, you gonna start telling us what's going on?"

Jessie scanned the crowd, satisfied there was no one of importance in the bunch and leaned in close.

"Where do you want me to start?"

"How about with the train robbery." A wicked beam spread across her lips.

"That was good, huh. I was worried you wouldn't figure it out, but I read somewhere you've been riding with Bowler for some damn reason. If there's anyone who knows when I've been somewhere, it's him."

"Thanks, County." Bowler uttered, his mouth full.

"Why'd you do it? What was the point?"

"I figured you'd be interested in a piece of knowledge I happened to come across." An eyebrow raised.

"You couldn't just send a telegraph? You had to rob a train? You realize you stole from one of my employers and that man wants me to bring back the head of the person responsible."

"Of course I know. Why do you think I only took his money? It's fine, by the way. It's buried and I'll tell you where. You can take it back to Ethan Emerson and he's not going to give two figs about who stole it. Anyway, I couldn't just send a telegram. Where was I going to send the telegraph from? Here? Have you seen this place? There's not exactly a wanting need for a telegraph office."

"You could have sent it from Reno. God knows you were close enough." Jessie shook her head.

"I only had a limited amount of time, Brisco. Look, I knew you would figure it out and then you would put two and two together and find out where I was and you did. Although, I really can't believe that stupid trick worked on the engineer."

"Heh, tell me about it." Bowler interjected after a bite of toast.

"It's so stupid it's almost genius." Jessie rested her chin on the palm of her hand, pondering. "Does that mean Pete Hutter is so stupid he's almost genius? Or brilliantly stupid?"

"Is Juno here?" Brisco asked, diverting the conversation in a direction he had been wanting since the moment he laid eyes on Jessie. His sister sat up, allowing her hand to fall to the table.

"He is. Eventually, he'll be awake and then I'll have to explain the two of you, but I guess that shouldn't be too hard."

"Looks like you'll have to come up with something quick." Bowler nodded toward the doorway of the hotel. Jessie turned to follow his gaze, groaning without even realizing it when Juno caught her eye.

The outlaw looked alert and refreshed and caught sight of Jessie immediately. When he noticed the two men with her, his face hardened and his eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"Fantastic." Jessie muttered, forcing a wide smile upon her face. A smile which her husband did not return. "Juno!" she called out sweetly once he was within earshot. "Come meet my friends."

With her back turned, Jessie didn't notice the apprehensive glance shared between the bounty hunters. They were nervous, unsure if Juno knew exactly what Brisco County Jr and Lord Bowler looked like. If he did, the three of them would most certainly meet their maker by way of a bullet.

"Who are you?" Juno's gaze was stony and lacked warmth as it fell on Brisco then Bowler and back again.

"Juno." Jessie grabbed his arm and pulled him close. "Meet…" a pause and a brief look of anxiety crossed her face. "'Kansas' Wiley Stafford and Joe Echohawk. They're friends of mine."

"Friends." The tasted sour upon his lips.

"Yes, friends." Brisco exclaimed, leaning back in his chair and looking up at Juno coolly. "We first met Jessie in Mexico about a year ago."

"What are you doing here?" Juno's expression failed to soften.

"You need help, do you not?" Jessie asked, the words rolling off her tongue sweet as honey. Her blue eyes were focused on him, wide and innocent. For the first time since entering the hotel, Juno focused his wife. "I got you help."

"I don't know these men."

"But I do." Juno seemed to ponder that phrase, chewing on the corner of his bottom lip. He finally nodded.

"We'll discuss this later. We need to go."

"Go where?" Brisco asked before he even realized he was saying it. He received the other end of the cold stare in return.

"That's really none of your business, is it, Mr. Stafford."

"No, I suppose it isn't." Jessie got to her feet, more at the pull Juno gave to her arm than by her own free will. Words passed between the siblings silently before Jessie turned to follow Juno out of the hotel, her dark ponytail swinging behind her.

"Well, that was enlightening." Brisco heaved a sigh.

"Boys! It's time to get washed up for bed."

The brothers groaned at the sound of their father's voice. "But, dad!" the cried out in unison.

"No 'buts'. Let's go. It's late." Asa scowled as he hopped from the porch swing and led his brother into the house. "Now don't get like that. You can read more tomorrow."

"But it was just starting to get really good." Josiah piped up, the door slamming shut behind him.

"Brisco is just going to have to wait until tomorrow. Sorry."