After leaving the jail, Bess made her way to the alley behind the Silver Dollar Saloon. A horse was waiting for her, saddled and bridled. She took a few seconds to open the saddle bag. It held several gold pieces, and she breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't take the time to count them but mounted and rode out of town at a leisurely pace. Once she was clear of Virginia City, she turned north, leaving the traveled road.

Two men waited for her at a small farmhouse. When Bess hadn't shown up after several hours, they knew she wasn't coming. "I can't believe she didn't want the rest of her money," one said.

"She had enough in the saddlebag to get out of town. Bess is smart. Maybe she figured out that we were ordered to get rid of her when she came here."

"The Company doesn't like loose ends."

"The Company doesn't like attention. She's somebody else's problem now. Let's get out of here."

The men went out to the barn, got their horses, and left. They rode for several hours before stopping for the night. They'd built a fire and cooked beans and bacon for supper. One man was scooping food onto his plate when he heard a noise behind him. He turned to see his partner grabbing at his throat, blood pouring through his fingers. As he watched, the man fell to the ground.

Bess was holding a gun on him. "Do you have the rest of the money I was promised?"

His eyes on the dying man, he answered, "There was never any money for you. The Company told us to kill you and get the gold pieces in your saddlebag when you came to the farm."

Bess nodded. She'd been right about the men who'd approached her with an offer to kill Dan. "All right – thanks." She lowered the gun barrel, and the man breathed a sigh of relief. He was thinking he might survive this night when he felt a blow. He looked down to see a knife sticking out of his chest. He stared at the woman for a second before sitting flat on the ground. He fell back, still looking at her as he died.

Bess watched the life leave his eyes. In those last seconds, he seemed to be asking her why, and she explained, "I can't leave any loose ends, and a knife is quieter than a gun." When she was certain he was dead, she retrieved her knife, cleaning it on his shirt. Then she went through his pockets and then his partner's. She took their pocket watches and cash before going through their saddle bags. When she had collected the little money and few valuables they carried, she stuffed everything into her saddlebag, released the horses, put out the campfire, and left.

…

That evening a quiet group gathered in the great room after supper at the Ponderosa. News of Dan's murder and Bess's probable guilt had them all concerned for Melissa's safety and their own. The sound of hoof beats and a loud "Hello the house," caused them to jump. Hoss picked up his Colt before answering the door. "It's Roy," he announced, and everyone relaxed. He opened the door, and Roy came inside, taking off his hat.

Hop Sing brought him a cup of coffee, and Ben waited while he took a sip. "I guess Ted told you about Dan?" Roy asked. When everyone nodded, he went on. "Dave and I went over to the Silver Dollar, and they said Bess didn't come back after taking Dan his dinner. We went over to her little shack. All her clothes, her books, kitchen tackle, it was all there. As far as we could tell she didn't take anything with her. A few people saw her riding out of town, but nothing seemed to be wrong, and they didn't notice which way she went. She's just disappeared."

"I can't be sorry Dan's dead," Paul said. There was a general murmur of agreement, and Ben thought, what an epitaph for a man.

Roy took an envelope from his pocket, and looked at the Martins. "I've heard from Melissa's relatives in Boston." He passed the letter over to Paul who opened it, and scanned it quickly. He handed it to Marian, and stood, watching her reaction. Marian took more time, reading it carefully. When she finished, she looked up at her husband. "Oh, Paul, do you think we could…"

"We'll talk about it," he promised her.