Ben pushed Toby into a chair. The kid was swaying like he was about to collapse and blood was oozing sluggishly down his left cheek. Jack Bellows' eyes were narrow and his lips tight with suspicion.

"Who did that to you?"

Toby shook his head impatiently. He was still breathing hard and spoke with an effort.

"I slid in the ice on the way here; hit my head on a hitching rail."

Cort eyes were glinting and Ben sensed danger. He pushed his handkerchief and a beer into Toby's hands and spoke hastily.

"Tell us what happened, Toby. The whole story."

The kid took a few gulps from the bottle and pressed the handkerchief to the cut on his head. He tried to pull himself together.

"I went over to the jailhouse to get Cort's stuff but when I got there the street door was unlocked and it was empty save for that Deputy called Hawkes. He was tied up and gagged and looked like he'd been beaten pretty good. He said Billy and the rest of 'em went running down to the church when they heard about the fire and not long after the County Sheriff was banging on the door and demanding to be let in. Turns out he had some buddies with him and they overpowered Hawkes and left with Henry Usher…"

He paused to take a few sips of beer.

"Where did they go?" Cort's voice was low but the menace it contained was enough to turn everybody's head.

Toby shrugged. "All the roads out of town are blocked so they must be here somewhere. I untied Hawkes and went to the church; there's a big crowd of people all throwing snow on the fire but it's gotten a good hold and I reckon it'll burn to the ground."

"Did you see the priest?" Cort sounded agitated now and Ben glanced at him again. His whole body was tense, like a rattlesnake about to strike, and he readied himself, certain his friend was about to do something rash. Toby was shaking his head again.

"I didn't see him but I'm pretty sure Usher's gang started that fire for cover while they busted him out of the jailhouse."

"It was revenge." Cort got slowly to his feet, his eyes flashing. "That priest helped me today, spoke out against Henry Usher and now he's getting punished…"

Ben took a few steps back towards the door. He saw Jack Bellows get up, caught his eye and knew he was thinking the same thing. He kept his voice calm, though his heart was pounding.

"Me and Jack'll go to the church and see what's happening."

Cort shook his head. "If he dies it's my fault and I won't have another priest's death on my conscience!"

Vivienne Furnell gripped his sleeve and tried to pull him back into his seat but he shook her hand away impatiently. Jonathan Briers spoke sternly.

"Whatever idea you've got in your head, son, you can forget it. You can't leave this lockup without bringing a whole heap of trouble on yourself, so sit down and calm down!"

"Like hell!"

Cort lunged towards the door, knocking his chair over and scattering glasses and plates across the table and onto the floor. Ben braced himself but Cort cannoned into him with enough force to knock him back against the wall. He grabbed his arm as he tried to get through the doorway and a moment later Jack Bellows grabbed the other. Cort struggled like a madman, cursing and shouting, and nearly broke free of their hold until Jack Bellows' fist in his stomach gave them a brief respite. In the moment of quiet he heard Jonathan Briers telling them to lock him in one of the dormitories but even so it took the added assistance of Briers and Toby to drag Cort down there, fighting and screaming bloody murder the whole way. When they shoved him inside and threw the three sturdy bolts he sprang towards the door, spitting insults and glaring at them like a man possessed.

Ben didn't have the time or inclination to reason with him. He needed to get down to the church, talk with Billy Reynolds and tell him they had bigger problems on their hands than just a fire. For Cort's sake he hoped Father Reuben hadn't been inside the church when the fire started but, from Toby's description, he doubted anybody could have survived the blaze.

As they headed back to the kitchen it transpired that Jack and Toby were of a similar mind. Nobody wanted to stay inside while the situation in Bisbee was running out of control and even Jonathan Briers insisted on going to see the judge and apprising him of recent events. That would leave Vivienne Furnell alone with Cort. Ben had a few misgivings but told himself she'd be safe enough so long as Cort was locked inside the dormitory. There were two armed guards outside the main door at the top of the stairs and they'd given Toby one hell of a hard time when he'd tried to enter a few minutes earlier. They were court appointed, Ben was pretty sure they'd keep any unsolicited visitors out and besides, he didn't plan on being gone for long.

Vivienne was clearing up the mess on the kitchen floor when they returned. She straightened up and eyed them disapprovingly.

"Is Cort still standing or did you all find it necessary to punch him some more?"

Ben smiled grimly. "Cort's fine, but he's mad as hell right now so I wouldn't go near him if I were you."

Jonathan took her arm. "Myself and the boys are going into town for a short while. There are two guards at the top of the stairs and they'll have strict instructions not to let anybody else inside. Will you be alright on your own?"

She stared at him. "I'm not alone, Cort's here…"

Jonathan eyed her knowingly. "If Cort leaves this place he'll be considered an escaped prisoner and as such can be legitimately shot on sight. There are people out there prepared to do it as well, so think on that little sister…"

She reddened slightly and he nodded. "For his own sake, leave him where he is until we get back."

She simply pursed her lips, returned to the cleaning and they all trooped up the stairs. Ben left orders with the guards that nobody was to be allowed entry to the lockup and they hefted their shotguns and nodded their understanding. Briers peeled off to go visit the judge and Ben, Bellows and Toby shuffled and slid their way down the steep road which led to the church.

They were met with a scene of carnage. The church roof had collapsed entirely and taken most of the outer structure with it. Heavy roof beams and wooden joists were lying haphazardly, burning intensely and the heat had melted the snow for several hundred yards around. The gathered crowd seemed to comprise every resident of Bisbee and people were watching silently or conducting muted conversations with their neighbours. Everybody seemed dazed or shocked by what had happened and had given up trying to fight the blaze.

It took them a good ten minutes of searching faces before they came across Billy Reynolds. Three of his deputies were with him, including the injured man Hawkes and the deep frown on Billy's grizzled face grew even deeper when he saw them.

"Aren't you supposed to be guarding your Marshal?"

Ben nodded curtly. "Cort's concerned about Father Reuben so we came down to check on him."

Billy's expression changed and Ben's stomach twisted at the profound sadness on his face.

"We've all been looking but nobody's seen him since before the fire started and well… it's too early to be checking the ashes…"

Ben gazed at the burning scene before him but it was impossible to tell if any of the blackened and charred remains on the floor might have been a body.

"This fire didn't start by accident, Billy."

Billy scratched his beard. "I know it. This is Henry Usher's work."

Ben nodded. "And where do you reckon he is now?"

"Still in town. I'll get the boys looking as soon as we're sure this fire and crowd is under control."

Ben had a better idea. He beckoned Deputy Hawkes and the man limped over. His face was puffy and red and he was holding a bloody cloth to his mouth. Ben eyed him grimly.

"What happened after Usher's men forced their way into the jail?"

Hawkes shrugged. "They beat me, tied me up, then they took the keys and freed Usher."

Did they say anything? Give you any clue where they were going?

The man shook his head. "Usher said something about getting money so I figured they had a bank in mind but we checked 'em all and nobody's pulled a robbery. I reckon I must have heard wrong."

Ben frowned, he couldn't figure it out but then Toby butted between them and he looked scared as hell.

"Dammit Ben, it's our money he wants. He's going after Cort and we left him alone and locked in a cell!"

Ben glanced at Jack Bellows, whose expression confirmed his worst fears. Billy cursed hard under his breath. A moment later he raised his voice and rallied his troops.

"Everybody up to the courthouse, and prepare for a fight!"

Ben ran like Cort's life depended on it.