Author's note: Sorry it has taken me so long to post this chapter. Real life has been a little crazy, and while I have had the time, I really haven't had the inclination to write. No guarantees, but I'll try to do better in the future.

As always, I appreciate all the reviews and comments. Keep them coming. Nothing motivates me to write more than finding reviews in my inbox.

CHAPTER 10

It was early the next morning when Chris stepped out onto the porch of the boarding house to enjoy a cheroot with his first cup of coffee. The town was unusually quiet for that time of day, but given the late night most people had had, he wasn't surprised. It had been close to midnight when he had walked Mary back to the Clarion with Billy asleep on his shoulder.

Thankfully, the dance had gone relatively smoothly. There were only a couple of drunks sleeping off their night of excess at the jail. It just so happened that both of them were part of the rodeo troop. He didn't envy them having to compete on a bucking bronco later in the day.

Chris turned at the sound of the door opening behind him and watched as Sammy slipped out to join him. She, too, held a steaming cup of coffee in her hand. Deciding to pick his battles, he'd allowed her to win the argument over whether or not she was old enough to drink the beverage. He still drew the line at anything alcoholic, however

They sat in companionable silence for a few minutes before Chris spoke. "Looked like you enjoyed yourself last night." He flicked the butt of his cheroot into the dirt road, unsure of how he was going to broach the subject that was foremost in his mind. Deciding to just plow ahead, he continued, "I saw you dancing with Michael Langdon."

Sammy took a sip of her coffee and studied the man she now considered to be her father. She had a very good idea about what was bothering him. "I didn't encourage him. But you didn't want me to be rude, did you?"

Chris didn't rise to the bait. "He's not somebody you want to get involved with."

"Sounds like you're speaking from experience," Sammy replied cheekily. She glanced over at the gunman as she lowered her coffee cup. "Did some girl's father warn her away from you?"

Chris nearly smiled. "That's none 'a your business, young lady. All you need to know is that I don't want you spendin' time with him."

Sammy couldn't hide her cheeky grin. Although she had no intentions of spending time with Michael Langdon, she wasn't above needling Chris a little about his over protectiveness. In response to Chris's directive she shrugged. "We'll see," she said as she came to her feet. "I can't make any promises." She quickly turned and went back inside the boarding house before Chris could reply.

The grin on Sammy's face had given her away, and Chris was sure from their conversation that she would not be seeking out Michael Langdon. However, he was going to keep an eye on both of them. Not for the first time, he wondered if this is how the fathers of some of the young women he'd courted had felt. He was about to take another drink of his coffee when movement in front of the Clarion taught his attention. Chris sat the mug on the porch railing and stepped off the porch. Someone paying a call to the newspaper office this early in the morning couldn't be a good thing.

XxxxxxX XxxxxxX XxxxxxX

Mary slept later than she had planned. She supposed it was due to the lateness of the night. After peaking into Billy's room to check on him, she made her way to the kitchen of the small apartment above the Clarion's office.

She had taken the first sip of her morning coffee when pounding knocks on the door of the Clarion echoed through the building. Concerned that the noise would wake Billy, Mary sat the coffee cup on the counter and hurried down the stairs. Through the glass pane in the door, she saw it was Arthur Butterfield, the owner of Butterfield's Store, standing on the other side. Given the sour expression on his face, she knew this was not going to be a pleasant conversation.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Butterfield, but I don't have the Clarion open for business yet. I'm sure you understand that with the dance it was a rather late night last night. If you would like to come back in an hour or so, I'd be more than happy to help you then." There had been an agreement among the vast majority of the business owners in town that they would open a couple of hours late the day after dance so that everyone could have the opportunity to enjoy themselves without having to worry about getting up the early the next morning to open their businesses on time.

"I would not like to come back later," Mr. Butterfield stated as he pushed his way past Mary to enter the building. "I have something important to discuss with you regarding," he gestured in the general direction of the school house, "that young woman this town has hired to teach our children." Although he was unmarried and did not have any children who attended the small school, he still felt a civil duty to voice his opinion.

Mary had no choice but to step back and close the door. She sighed heavily before turning. "Mr. Butterfield," she began, "what is your so important that it could not wait until later?"

Arthur bristled slightly at the impatient tone in Mary's voice. "I would think that as a business woman, much less as a mother with a child in that woman's classroom, you would share my concern."

Mary suppressed another sigh. It wouldn't pay to antagonize this man further. "You still haven't told me what your concern is, Mr. Butterfield."

He drew himself straighter, in an attempt to increase his inconsiderable height. "The fact that she is spending time with that Vin Tanner. As a school teacher, Miss Bishop is required to maintain a sterling reputation and remain a good influence on her students. That cannot happen if she is being courted by a man like that."

"And just what kind of man would that be?" Mary crossed her arms over her chest, signaling her impatience. She glanced over at the door as Chris silently entered and closed it.

"He's a gunslinger, and an Indian lover. That's not the type of man a decent woman should associate with, especially a woman who has influence over the children of this town. Who knows what crazy ideas she'll pick up from him and pass on to her students."

"You mean ideas like protecting others who can't defend themselves and treating people with respect no matter the color of their skin," Chris asked as he stalked further into the room. He'd heard enough of the conversation to know exactly who Butterfield was talking about.

Butterfield took a step back and opened his mouth to speak, but quickly closed it. Moving toward the door, he took a wide path around Chris. "This isn't over, Mrs. Travis." He quickly left, slamming the door hard enough to rattle the windows.

"What was that about?" Chris asked, coming to stand in front of Mary. He pulled her into a brief hug.

"I take it you heard?"

"Part of it," he replied as he dropped a quick kiss onto her forehead.

Mary stepped back out of Chris's comforting embrace. "I have a feeling he's going to try and make trouble for Nancy over her relationship with Vin."

"Is there anything in her contract that requires her to remain single or not see anyone?"

Mary shook her head. "No. A lot of schools require that their teachers remain unmarried and not be involved in any way with a man, but we decided to leave that out of our contract. It helped us to recruit Nancy. Plus, I can't see any reason why a school teacher cannot have a normal life like everyone else. Still," she paused, shaking her head. "Some people, including Arthur Butterfield, disagreed with that. And, he's never been shy with regard to his feelings about having the seven of you here."

"Is he going to be able to cause her to lose her job?" Chris was concerned. He was fond of Nancy, and didn't want any trouble for her. Not to mention what it would do to Vin.

"There are a few people in town who feel the same way he does about the peacekeepers, but as you know, most people support you. Vin is well liked, so that will. So, he could cause some trouble, but I don't think Nancy will end up losing her job over it."

XxxxxxxX XxxxxxX XxxxxxxX

Chris stepped off the boardwalk onto the dusty street. He turned at the sound of his name, and watched as the young woman who worked at the telegraph office came hurrying toward him. He moved back to the board walk to meet her.

"Gertrude," Chris nodded as she came to a stop in front of him. "Something I can do for you?"

"Mr. Larabee, this telegram can for you from Snellville," she said as she held the folded piece of paper out to him. "Papa said you would want it right away." Her father operated the telegraph office, and she earned spending money working there a few days a week.

They spent a few minutes in small talk, something that Chris had become accustomed to during the time he'd spent in Four Corners. After Gertrude took her leave, Chris opened the folded telegram and read its contents. Cursing ripely, he headed to the jail.

He entered the jail to find Buck sitting behind the desk. "You're up early. Didn't expect to see you until after lunch." Tossing his hat on the desk, he grabbed a chair from the corner and moved it so he could sit across from Buck.

Buck shrugged. "I drew the short straw on early patrol." He studied his long-time friend. "What's eatin' at you?" He'd seen that four-flusher, Michael Langdon, sniffing around Sammy during the dance. He'd nearly stepped in, but Cactus Blossom had drawn his attention away.

In response, Chris handed over the crumpled piece of paper. While waiting for Buck to read it, he went to the filing cabinet and opened the top drawer. He pulled out a bottle of whiskey and two shot glasses. Filling both glasses to the brim, Chris downed one and handed the other to Buck.

Buck accepted the drink and waited until Chris had resumed his seat before speaking. "You think the Temples were behind the horse theft in Snellville."

"Don't know, but it's a mighty big coincidence that a horse Adella Temple had claimed to own ended up going missing the day after the rodeo pulled up stakes and headed out."

"You checked with Yosemite yet? Is that stallion of his where it's supposed to be?"

"I haven't been over there yet, but I figure Yosemite would have let us know by now if he were missing."

Buck rubbed his hand across his chin. "You're probably right. Ain't nothing to now but watch that crew from the rodeo until they head out for their next show."

TBC