*****Part 13

Buck stepped into the jailhouse and burst out laughing. "What in the Sam Hillare you doing?"

Ezra straightened from his position over the desk. He held a dirt-coveredrag in his hand. Buck noticed the bucket of water and that the floor had been swept.

"Mr. Wilmington, although ourstay is temporary, I refuse to live in such filth."

Buck had to admit it was more pleasant now that there wasn't a constant cloud of dust every time they walked. "Maybe I should hire you to clean up my place."

Ezra glared at the cowboy. "You couldn't get me to set foot in your room if you held a gun to my head."

"Bu…ck," Sadie's sing song voice interrupted the two lawmen's affable verbal war.

Buck turned and rushed out the door. Ezra smiled and dropped the rag into the bucket of water and followed grabbing his red jacket.

Sadie stood just off the boardwalk holding a picnic basket under her arm. She was dressed in a beautiful cream dress that accented her figure and emphasized the dark hair that hung loose about her face.

"Miss Jordan, lovely as always," Ezra politely remarked. He had to admit his friend had good taste in women.

Sadie's smile dropped slightly and she dropped her eyes. "Thank you, Mr. Standish."

Ezra's brow furrowed at the woman's slight change in demeanor.

Sadie's eyes rose up and her smile grew as she looked at Buck, ignoring the gambler's scrutiny. "Buck, I thought maybe we could go on a little picnic."

"Well, I don't know,darlin'," Buck hesitantly answered. "I sorta have a job..." Buck looked up at the gathering clouds west of town. "It also kinda looks like a storm may be coming."

"We won't be long and I know the perfect place just outside of town, we can walk there," Sadie urged. She was running out of time and had to get Buck out of town soon.

"Go on Buck," Ezra quickly interjected. "I would feel the cad, keeping you from such a lovely lady. Things are quiet, as usual, and I believe I can handle things for awhile."

Buck rubbed his chin reluctant to leave Ezra alone, but when he looked at Sadie his resistance and Chris' words melted away. He told himself that he would return soon and that Ez could handle anything that came up. Even though they knew something was amiss there hadn't been any real problems and he wouldn't be far.

Buck's hesitation melted away and he came up beside Sadie relieving her of the basket as she grasped his upper arm. "I know the perfect spot, not far from here," Sadie repeated

As the two sweethearts walked down the street arm and arm, Ezra's feeling of trepidation returned. It wasn't anything he could put into words, just a feeling that something was about to happen. He glanced up and down the avenue. It was almost noon yet several shops had closed their doors and no one walked the streets. It was as if everyone was waiting for something or privy to something. Ezra turned and went back inside the jailhouse for the first time actually eager to return to Four Corners.

tbc