"…and so we lay to rest Sheriff Walker, who served the law he loved so deeply, who risked his life for the pursuit of justice."

The lawman laid in a pine casket, his hands folded over his chest…and the bullet wound that killed him.

Every resident in Little Amity was in the church. Samantha was sitting between Daniel and Jack. Though she wasn't in tears like everyone else, her look of sadness ably conveyed her grief.

Sitting in the back pew was Danielle, still buried in the book that the deceased had given her to read.

"We commit you to Heaven and the Earth. Safe journey, home, Sheriff." Clutching a bible in his hand, Reverend Lancer administered last rites. The congregation heaved a collective sigh. "Amen."

XxXxXxXxX

Samantha looked guiltily at the townsfolk as she exited the church. She could hear mutterings of 'Fine service' and 'Who could've done such a thing?'.

"One thing's for certain", Tucker asserted. "We're gonna need a new sheriff."

Jack punched his hand into his fist. "You're right! But who can fill Walker's boots?"

"It would have to be someone who wouldn't bow to pressure", Daniel offered.

"Also", Jasmine started. "It would have to be someone who knows the letter of the law."

The eyes of the crowd all focused on the last person to depart the church: Danielle, still reading the book. She glanced up to find people staring at her. "Don't look at me. I'm irrelevant."

"No, you're not! You know the letter of the law!" Jack looked to be bursting with pride.

"And when Walker was putting the screws to you, you didn't give in to him." Starla recalled the morning's encounter.

Danielle closed the book and held it up. "I only agreed to read this book to humor Walker, not replace him."

Reverend Lancer stepped forward. "Besides, doesn't she seem a little…young for the position of sheriff?"

The fair-haired girl glanced up at the clergyman. "Look, Reverend. My whole life, people have been tellin' me that I was 'too young' or 'too dainty' or 'too this' or 'too that'. Well, here's my chance to prove that I'm not too anything."

"What are you saying?"

Danielle shrugs. "I guess you have a new sheriff is what I'm saying."

XxXxXxXxX

The sun was setting over the horizon, giving the sky a gorgeous red-orange hue. Four horses traveled along, cutting striking figures.

The hoof beats of the lead rider's horse ceased. Penelope jumped off of her horse.

"What's the matter?", inquired Katherine.

"Would you take a look at that?"

Katherine, Desiree and Amber glanced in the direction that Penelope was pointing. In the distance was a stagecoach.

"Easy pickings, girls." The redhead grabbed the reins of her horse and slowly walked it toward the coach.

Desiree dismounted her horse and followed suit. If the owner of the stagecoach did possess a great bounty, it would've been a bad idea to make their presence known until just the right moment.

Amber and Katherine followed with their horses.

The coach sat by its lonesome in the middle of the dune. Two horses rested in front of it.

A man with silver hair sat within. He peered out of the back. "Visitors."

"Penelope, how do we know this guy has anything worth takin'?", Amber groused, quietly.

"One way to find out."

"Ladies, good evening to you." The women were startled by the welcoming voice ahead. It belonged to Vlad Masters.

Penelope drew her gun and pointed it at Masters. "Well, Mister, I'm not sure if you're familiar with a robbery or what, but that's just what this is." Katherine and Amber followed their leader's example. Desiree merely drew her gun. No one in her tribe believed in using guns. When she met up with Penelope, though, it was practically a requirement to have one. She has yet to fire it.

Masters put his hands up. "Ladies, you have me at a disadvantage. I have nothing of value on my person…" He lowered his hands behind his back. Upon putting them back up, he held in his hand a revolver. "…except this."

The redhead chuckled. "Four against one. I like those odds."

Masters nodded. "As do I." Faster than the eye could see, he raised his gun, firing at the pistols in the feminine hands and knocking the guns away.

The women caressed their hands and groaned. Masters tipped his hat. "Vlad Masters, at your service."

"Masters?" Penelope couldn't help but stare. "I've heard about you."

"Have you now?"

"Decorated soldier in the War; killed over two hundred."

"Indeed. And just who might you be, my impetuous beauty?"

"Penelope Spencer."

Masters took her bruised hand, gently kissing it. "Such a lovely name. Would you like to stay for dinner?"

"I suppose I could."

He glanced toward Penelope's compatriots. "You're welcome to stay, as well." Masters topped his declaration with a smile, one that gave Desiree pause.

XxXxXxXxX

The saloon was as lively as ever. The residents seemed to be trying to keep their spirits up in the wake of Walker's funeral.

Samantha sat at the bar. She, however, looked to still be in mourning. Jack walked up to her, cleaning a glass.

"Another one."

"Certainly. And why so down? We all miss Sheriff Walker. He would've wanted us to move on."

"You don't understand." Samantha sighed deeply. "It's because of me that Walker's dead."

Jack dropped his glass in shock.

"Those women who killed him…they were here for me."

"What do you mean?", Daniel inquired. She turned toward him, surprised. "I couldn't help but listen in", he said, embarrassed.

"Well, first of all, I'm from back East. My family is pretty wealthy. Perhaps you've heard of the Mansons of Atlanta?"

Both men shook their heads.

"Hmmm. Anyway, as a blossoming young woman, there are certain expectations that one must meet, such as settling down and staying home and raising a family. I didn't want any of those things. I wanted to see the world."

XxXxXxXxX

A few months ago, I ran away from home, but I left my parents a note. If I was going to be stuck as an obedient wife - which I still do not want - I wanted to see what I'd be losing.

Samantha rode a horse against the wide open land.

Some time after I left, I found a treasure hidden in northern Texas. It wasn't much, but I was able to get by.

Samantha pocketed a handful of gold coins.

Then, I ran across the women. They were torturing some poor soul, wanting to know where the treasure was. They caught me and took me with them.

They thought I knew where to find the treasure.

XxXxXxXxX

"Whatever became of the treasure?", Jack asked.

Samantha flipped a couple of coins onto the bar. He looked down at them. "That's the last of it. I'm not proud of what happened, but if there's anything I can do to make this right…"

Jack put his hand up. "Samantha, you may have brought a gang of bandits, but you're a member of this community. We take care of our own."

The young woman simply stared into the barkeep's eyes. "Thank you", Samantha said as she placed her hands on the bar.

XxXxXxXxX

"Enjoying the meal, ladies?", Masters called out from his stagecoach. He could not have sounded more ingratiating.

The women dined on beef stew. Katherine swallowed her portion. "Oh, yes. I never had anything this nice when I was with my worthless fiance--"

Desiree shoved a forkful of stew into Katherine's mouth, silencing her. "It's very satisfying." A small smile tugged at the Native American's lips.

"Yeah, it's not bad." Amber ran her fork through the bowl. She couldn't help but glance toward the coach.

Katherine swallowed the mouthful that Desiree fed her. "I wonder what's in it."

Amber looked at her. She mentally debated whether or not to tell her that there seemed to be a dearth of rabbits and coyotes running about.

XxXxXxXxX

Masters gazed over at Penelope as she tore into her stew.

Putting down her fork, she looked up and caught his expression. "Do I have something on my face?"

"I must say, dear lady, that you have bewitched me."

"Have I?"

"Indeed. Once I complete my business out here, I could certainly see the two of us settling down."

Penelope's eyes widened. "I'm what you might call…someone of interest. The law and I don't really have the best relationship."

"You would be protected the rest of your days."

The redhead jerked away. "I couldn't."

Masters reared back. "So, what? Are you scared of getting your heart broken?"

Penelope sighed. "More of what I'll do to the guy who breaks my heart. My last suitor, Bert, loved me with all his heart. Unfortunately, he loved money just a little bit more. I caught him rooting through my stash one day. This was before I was forced to a life of crime and I had some money tucked away."

"What happened to him?"

"I did the best thing for him: I sent him on a little vacation…" The redhead took a sip from her stein for dramatic effect. "…on two horses."

Masters cringed. He'd heard stories from passers-by about how people would be tied between horses headed in opposite directions. For the sake of his constitution, he convinced himself that it was nothing more than talk.

"I'm not sure where he ended up, but I bet you anything the people there were not happy to see him."

"My dear Penelope", the gentleman said as he took her hands in his own. "I would never betray you. I would never pillage from you. I would never let any harm come to you."

"Pretty words, Masters."

"Call me 'Vlad'."

"Vlad, I don't know if I can give up this life I've cultivated for myself." Penelope motioned to the outside. "The girls might be okay in regular society, but I'm too wild. I can't be tamed."

"Did I mention the vast fortune I've accrued over the years?"

"Do go on."

"I have several people working under me at my mansion, but I would give almost anything for a woman like you to work under me, on top of me and ahead of me."

"Well, aren't you the respectable gentleman?"

"No respectable gentleman is that respectable."

"So, what brings you out here, Vlad?"

"I'm hoping for an acquisition of some land. There's a nice piece of property some miles that a way." He extends his hand toward outside.

"Sounds intriguing."

"There's just one thing standing between me and the property."

"What's that?"

"The rightful owners. Are you, by any chance, familiar with a town called Little Amity?"

Penelope started to laugh. "We were up there this morning looking for some girl. The sheriff tried to give us trouble…" She whipped out her pistol with her right hand. "…but I gave it right back." She holstered her weapon.

"The sheriff is dead?"

"Gone like last year."

"Well, that's one obstacle out of my way." Masters looked to be deep in thought. "I've got an idea."

"What kind of idea?"

The man smiled as he took the redhead's hands into his own. "The kind that insures the two of us a long and happy future together."

XxXxXxXxX

Shot glasses littered the bar in front of Samantha. "You know, if there were more alcohol in the world", she said in a voice suggesting that she was currently an authority on more alcohol. "There would be less problems. Just get everyone nice and loaded."

Daniel walked up to her. "Too much?"

"She passed too much eight drinks ago", Jack stated with a shake of the head.

"I'd best take her home." Daniel wrapped Samantha's arm around him and walked her out.

At that moment, Danielle glanced off at the two young adults. "She gonna be all right?"

"I hope so."

XxXxXxXxX

"You know, you remind me of a guy. He wasn't, either." Even with Daniel's assistance, Samantha was barely able to stay on her feet.

"Well, I'm sure he'd want you to get into bed, too."

The two of them approached the hotel.

"Well, here we are."

"But I'm feelin' so…uh, tired." The woman grabbed her head. The effects of her drinking were clearly asserting themselves.

Daniel opened the door. "That's good to know. A good night's sleep is the best thing for excess drinking."

"Could you stay with me?", Samantha said as the young man guided her up the stairs.

"I don't know about that. I think you could take care of yourself."

Unbeknownst to them, four figures on horses rode past the hotel.

XxXxXxXxX

Daniel helped Samantha into bed, placing the covers over her.

She smiled. "Maybe, when this is over, you could come back East with me."

"I'd like that." He patted her arm. "Good night, Miss Samantha."

"Good night." Her voice was barely above a whisper. The feeling of sleep quickly overtook her.

XxXxXxXxX

Daniel had a smile on his face. He could feel the stirrings of love between him and the stranger. There were a number of fine ladies in Little Amity, but he didn't feel the same chemistry that he had with Samantha.

With a content demeanor, he walked back into the saloon, where the mood grew quieter since he departed.

"What's going on--"

He felt himself get knocked on the head and fell to the floor. Upon coming to moments later, he was face-to-face with the grinning visage of Penelope Spencer.

"Good, you're awake."