"What was I to do?" Meryl asked angrily as she plucked another fork from the large basket of silverware on the bar top. Giving it a cursory glance as inspection, she dropped it amongst friends in a large metal cup with a growl. "There I was, cornered against the sink in the kitchen without even having had my first cup of coffee yet, although I could hear it percolating in the coffee pot on the counter behind me, and him standing there accusing me of trapping the wretched man in our upstairs apartment like I was some demented jailor! I assure you that I've done no such thing. It's all by their own doing that he sits up there all day, although I really can't say that the fact bothers me in the least." Scowling, Meryl tossed a handful of spoons from the basket and into the shinning metal container between the ones of forks and knives with a loud, angry clink.

Jen's laugh echoed around the dim saloon, catching the startled attention of the small group sitting in the back corner, as she finished drying a serving tray and stacked it under the bar. "Really Meryl, I can't believe that Vash accused you of that. That man has a heart of gold and a soul purer than a newborn child's. He couldn't accuse an enemy of something like that let alone you." Tossing Meryl a challenging grin, she reached for another freshly washed serving tray from the stack beside her.

Meryl's scowl only deepened. "I suppose he didn't say it in so many words, but he did ask me if it was ok for them to sit out on the front porch this afternoon as if it was all up to me."

Jen shrugged her slender shoulders and grabbed another tray. "Well, if I understand correctly, you are the one who has been playing doctor to your unwelcome guest. There's also the fact that you and Millie are the ones paying rent, so I can kind of see where Vash is coming from. He's just showing you respect."

Meryl's face relaxed into a frustrated frown as she continued sorting the silverware. "Yeah, well, then he needs to find a different way to show it."

"Yeah?" Jen challenged her again. "Or maybe you could just tell me what's really got you upset. You've been tied up in a knot like this for days."

If only she could. The story was so ludicrous that only her months of traveling with Vash let her believe it. To tell anyone else was asking for mockery and the address to the nearest psychiatrist. Besides, Vash promised that he could handle everything, so there was no reason to get anyone in town worked up over their problems. "It's nothing."

The bar had been unusually quiet that night. Not that Tuesday evenings weren't usually one of the slowest days of the week, but the only people Meryl had seen her whole shift was Christian and a few of his friends from well digging. They had been sitting across the room at one of the round wooden tables since sundown, slowly working their way to the bottom of heavy glass mugs and beer bottles. Aside from the occasional laugh and call for another round, they'd kept more or less quietly to themselves.

Quiet wasn't all bad. It's true that Meryl preferred keeping herself busy to standing around without purpose or direction, but the evening had been a relaxing one spent in the good company of Jen, Kote, and their family. The little they had to do of cleaning and inventory passed pleasantly with easy chatter and good natured jesting.

The swinging door to the kitchen and stock room swung open behind them, and Kote came out carrying a large plastic tub full of glasses still dripping wet from being washed.

Seeing her husband and his load, Jen's face fell. "Oh, Honey," she moaned, "you said we were done for the night. Where did you find all of these?"

Letting the tub down on the counter, the cups clinking as they were jostled about, Kote turned and dried his hands off on his frilly white apron. Earlier that evening Jen had stolen his heavy red one as a joke from the peg he hung it on during his break, leaving hers as his only option when he returned. With an indifferent shrug, he'd taken it down and tied it around his waist before going back to work.

"Dad found them behind a crate of whiskey." His young face twisted into a grimace as he looked back at the tub. "They looked like they had been there a few days, and I'm not sure what we did to them before letting them sit for so long, but whatever it was we shouldn't have. So really, if anyone should be sorry for their discovery it's me. Those glasses were bad."

"Oh, you poor thing." Stepping close with a solemn look, Jen leaned up on tip-toes and affectionately kissed one corner of his mouth. "Thank you for braving the terror that is our abused and neglected dishes."

Kote quickly reached up and grabbed hold of her waist to pull her close before she could get away, and dipped his head down next to hers. "Is that all the reward I get for being so brave?"

Jen shook her head and smiled, her eyes rolling dramatically, before giving in to his kiss. When he didn't seem interested in pulling back anytime soon, she did so herself before slapping him lightly on the shoulder. "Come on now, not in front of an audience!"

Refusing to completely let go of her, Kote looked around the saloon, his blue eyes incredulous. "Oh, come on now. There's no one but a half dozen drunken manual laborers in the back corner. They don't care one wit."

"That's not who I mean." She whispered. "I mean Meryl." Jen jerked her head in the insurance girl's direction with a meaningful look.

Meryl, who had gone back to sorting silverware, lost in her own spinning and frustrated thoughts, looked up at the sound of her name. "I'm sorry, what was that?"

Jen looked up at Kote with a pained expression. "See? The poor girl is so broken up about the distance still between herself and her buea that she can't even stand the sight of a lover's quick kiss. She had to hide herself in work just to distance herself from it all."

That put Meryl on guard, and she looked at the two of them warily. "I don't know what you've heard, but I assure you that-"

"Come on Meryl, I was just playing with you." Jen laughed. "But really, what's up with you and Vash? I've been watching you two for months now and even had to nurse a broken hearted little brother back to health when he finally realized your attachment to him. Spill!"

"I, there's nothing, I don't know what you've heard - it's all a lie!" Meryl stammered out in a panic. Her eyes were wide in her bright red face, warm from her blush. Looking like the mouse cornered by the cat who can't decide if it wants to run or stay and fight, she stood with a fork and spoon clutched tightly in one hand.

"Oh Sweetheart, the whole town knows." Jen said as she pulled away from Kote. "In fact, Nina and Misha were in here helping me mind Kadence just the other day, and the three of them were asking if I thought you'd let them be flower girls at your wedding. Apparently the speculation of it is pretty major gossip amongst my sisters and their friends." Leaning forward with a conspiratorial grin, she whispered, "They don't want to start rumors or anything, but they're expecting it any day now." Laughing, more at the sake of her young nieces and daughter than Meryl's, she leaned back and grabbed up the last serving tray and her rag.

"Shoot," Kote said as he leaned against the bar, his eyes sparkling at her through sandy-brown bangs, "even I have noticed, and Jen is always telling me I don't pay attention to anything outside of this saloon, so that has to be saying something."

Spinning around on her heels, Meryl threw the silverware in her hand quickly in to the cup of knives and reached for another handful from the basket beside it. "There's nothing. I promise. Even if there was a chance for something to happen, it isn't. It won't. It can't."

Kote looked over at Jen with a shrug before turning and walking back to the stockroom. As the door slowly swung back to a stop behind him, Jen sighed and shook her head.

Both young women were quiet for a few minutes as they continued their cleaning. Meryl sighed as she saw the spoon and fork she had thrown in the cup of knives, and pulled them out. This was ridiculous, getting so worked up about a little teasing. It was like she'd never had a crush or a boyfriend before! When Meryl felt her cheeks had cooled enough and she was again in control of herself, she ventured to start a new topic of conversation. However, it wasn't lost on Jen that Meryl hadn't moved too far away from her favorite subject.

"You know the coat your mother made, the one Vash ordered?" She waited for Jen's hum of acknowledgement and continued. "It's very beautiful. She dropped it off this afternoon around lunch. I don't think I've ever seen anything like it. It's made from the softest leather I've ever seen."

Jen nodded. "I was impressed with it myself; she really out did herself this time. The soft olive-colored lining goes well with the light color of the thomas leather. It took her hours of sifting through the leathers and cloths outback in their shed to find the right skin for the coat, and even longer to find the buckles and clasps she wanted. I'm not sure she's ever put so much work into a coat before." She shrugged. "But like I said, I think she really out did herself on this one."

"All of her work paid off." Meryl smiled sardonically. "It's the nicest thing in our house right now."

Jen smiled back. "I imagine. I was actually thinking to ask for her help on making Kote one. His birthday is coming up next month, and his current coat has seen better days."

Meryl nodded as she placed the cups of silverware under the bar and began helping Jen with the glasses. "I could see him wearing something like it. Maybe with a few less bells and whistles, but I think a long coat would suit him."

Scraping of a chair across the floor and good natured shouts across the saloon caught the girls' attention. Christian was waving goodbye to his friends and making his way up to the bar to close and pay his tab.

"Finally decided to make your way home, have you?" Meryl asked with a smile. "It's nearly midnight. I can't imagine Kim will be pleased that you stayed out so late."

With cheeks warm from the few drinks he'd indulged in that evening, his dark eyes shone brightly under the fringe of his bangs. Pulling out his wallet from an inside pocket of his vest, he gave them an easy smile. "Nah, she'll be fine. I told her not to wait up, as I'd be late. She knows."

Handing him back his change, Jen just smiled. "Take care on your way home, Christian, and we'll see you soon."

"Aye, that you will." He said with another good natured smile and made his way from the saloon.

Meryl watched after him till he stepped down from the saloon's front porch and was gone from sight. "He's good people. His whole family is."

Beside her Jen nodded. "They really are. It's been nice having them in town." Covering a sudden yawn, she threw her rag down on the bar. "Lord, where did that come from! I think I could use some fresh air. Wanna join me?"

Tossing her rag down as well, Meryl nodded. "That sounds wonderful, actually."

The night air was crisp and cool compared to the still stuffy saloon. Tiny slivers of moon that were visible were still low on the horizon, offering little light. Because of this, the town was quiet and dark, and it took a moment for their eyes to adjust to the little light coming through the grimy windows behind them. Even then it was difficult to see beyond the porch's edge.

"Millie is sending her letter of resignation from the job back to headquarters tomorrow." Meryl said quietly.

Rubbing at her arms to keep them warm, Jen looked over at the small, dark haired woman beside her. She looked worn and tired as she leaned slouched against the wooden post. "I'm sorry. I know you two are very close." After a quiet moment she smiled and bumped Meryl with her shoulder. "Can't you just see it? Millie is going to be an amazing mother. You'll have to keep me posted on how everything goes. Every letter you get from her you'll have to tell me about!"

Meryl smiled. "Yeah, I'll-"

Gun shots.

Sharp as a knife and with all of the subtlety of a bullet to the head, three harsh rapports of a handgun rang out across the sleeping town.

Meryl's blood ran cold as the last sounds of the shots ricocheted around town. "Christian." Without thinking, Meryl was off the porch and running in the direction she had last seen him. Nothing could have happened to him, not to Christian! Nothing could happen to the Clarks. They were good people! They didn't need anything like this in their lives! It couldn't be happening!

Meryl was half way down the street, a derringer in hand from a hidden pocket under her apron; Jen shouting in panic behind her on the porch, desperately trying to call her back, when her heart gave a lurch and missed a painful beat in her chest from the next shock that took hold of it.

Loud, delighted laughter rang out through the night before a man cried out at the top of his lungs. "I've done it! He's dead! The Humanoid Typhoon. The Sixty Billion Double Dollar Man. Vash the Stampede!" The man laughed again, nearly bring Meryl to her knees. "He's dead! Completely dead! And I'll be the richest man in the universe!"

Six more shots ripped through the broken peace of the night.