They were a short distance from town, and Walker was trying to start a fire. Once River had asked to be a stone. Now she felt like one. Walker gave up on the fire and swore.
"I forgot my hat."

River broke down then. He lost the hat. He wouldn't get it back until she brought it to him. Which meant history still occurred as it did.
"It's a hat!" Walker exclaimed as he moved next to her. "I'll live!"

River couldn't help but laugh.
"That's not it at all..." She paused, hearing a horse. They both turned as Impala climbed down.
"Major demon heading for town." She stated, "Flash flood, dirt devils, sand storms. You name it. Vera and Serenity went ahead..."
"Lilith." River jumped to her feet.
"Walker, I'm really sorry! I don't expect you to fight my battle!" With that she jumped on the horse. Impala grinned as she hopped on the front.
"That's that Raziel I know!"


The saloon was shaking. Scarlet was behind the bar and Jean was trying to pull Sam off Vera.
"Let me at her!" Vera shouted. "I'll settle with an ear!"
"That's the Temptress from before?" Impala locked eyes on Scarlet and whipped out a knife. "My people have a method for dealing with people we don't like, and her pretty red hair will make a great scalp!"
"Sister-in-law or not," Sam hissed. "Stay back."

A gun shot silenced all of them and River flipped around. Bobby...?
"What in the Sam Hill are you all doing? Did you idjits miss the demonic omens! It's a good thing Collene came to get me or you'd be arguing when it got here!"

No. This was Birch.
"Maybe if everyone wasn't trying to kill me..." Scarlet began.
"Maybe if you weren't a hellish Harlot-" Vera snapped.
"Because Jean and Rowena aren't saloon girls!"
"Why you-"

A crack of thunder as all the candles went out and the doors burst open made them shut them up. A woman in a black dress and blonde hair entered and smiled as her eyes went white.
"Which one of you is Raziel?"
"Lilith!"

Attention was at the door again as Walker burst in. Lilith's face lit up as she walked to him.
"Lover. You've done well."
"Have I earned a reward?"
"I suppose you have. Right now
isn't the time..."
"Rowena lives."

Silence from all directions. Sam was glaring at River, who still didn't get his...jealousy? Lilith spoke before she could work it out.
"You should have spoken to me sooner."
"Why?"
"Her life was already pleaded for. It is forfeit."
"No!" Walker pushed past her. "Rowena! Look out!"

Scarlet hadn't let out a single thought as she got behind River. River flipped around and faced her as she ran the knife into her gut.

"Rowena!" Walker, Collene, and Birch shouted as Scarlet twisted the blade.
"Raziel!" Vera, Impala, and Jean cried as the demon pulled out the blade.
"River!" Sam shouted as he ran to her.

She fell into his arms as he fell to his knees.
"River, no, I-I should have-I'm sorry-River!" He sobbed. She wanted to forgive him, but life was leaving her too fast and she had to tell him. River reached up and tugged him down by the collar so his ear next to her lips, her breath a single word and warning.
"Ruby."