A/N: And here we are at the season ten finale, A Ride in the Sun. Candy was not originally in this episode, but I loved it so I played with it. One thing also bothered me. Roy says that his deputy found the bank's back door unlocked at 11:30 and that was the first anyone knew about the robbery. So … no one noticed Buck still standing at the hitch rail out front all evening? And Joe and Hoss didn't wonder what was going on when Ben didn't come back in a decent amount of time? Couple plot holes there big enough to throw a horse through. So, I fixed it.

There may be a slight delay (a week or so) before the next update. I have to watch all the season 11 episodes, decide which ones to keep, which ones to alter or wreck, and which ones to ignore completely for now. I intend to recycle The Fence in either 12 or 13 along with Child and a couple others. At the end of this chapter, I have an author's note listing the intended order (as of now) for season 11. It may or may not be adjusted after I've watched everything. Any thoughts or suggestions? Drop me a review or a PM.

A special shout out to Captaintjf for reviewing the last chapter. You're close. And I can't wait for them to get together, either. We're getting close.

As always, I own nothing but my !

Gunfire rang out behind them. Annie hauled Reno to a skidding halt and wheeled him around, Candy mirroring her move. The rattle of a buggy and pounding hooves raced closer. They traded glances and dove off the road into the brush.

A bay horse shot into view around the corner, galloping flat out down the Ponderosa's private road. A man and a woman huddled in the buggy, casting anxious looks over their shoulders as it shot past.

Annie kicked Reno back onto the road and drew her gun as a lone rider appeared. Candy joined her and the man pulled his horse up and turned tail. They shared a look and wheeled around, racing after the fleeing buggy.

The driver had stopped a few hundred feet away, both occupants looking back behind them as she and Candy pulled up. "We seem to be in your debt."

"No charge for running a fella off," Candy said with a crooked grin. The man drew a tiny Derringer and cocked it.

"Hold it right there." Annie froze, gaze sliding sideways. They could take him, if they had to, but she'd rather not have to explain it to Pa.

"Toby," the woman exclaimed. "These two helped us!"

"You happen to be riding on my family's property, friend," Annie said through her teeth. "My name is Anne Cartwright. This is our foreman, Candy. Put that pop gun away or I won't be responsible for what happens."

"Toby, put it away." The woman sighed and offered them a weary smile. "My brother is being very foolish."

"I can relate."

"He's Tobias, and I'm April Horn, and we're both very grateful. Really, we are." Tobias cleared his throat.

"I'm, uh, sorry. I thought you might be part of the gang." Annie studied him with narrowed eyes.

"We only saw one man."

"Well, there were two until one's horse pulled up lame."

"Oh, the one you saw was just catching up to us."

"They ambushed us about three miles down the road. Guns and gunmen, I have to admit, they scare me." Didn't seem like that Derringer bothered him any. She glanced up at the horse and her eyes narrowed again.

"Nothing strange about that, mister. They scare us, too." She threw Candy a look and found him staring at April Horn.

"I doubt that. Well, April, we'd better get moving. While we're talking here, those gunmen could circle on ahead." Annie studied the buggy and worked her fingers on the reins. His sister nodded then turned.

"May I ask where you two are going?"

"Virginia City," Annie said before Candy could answer. The woman's face lit up.

"So are we. Toby, if we ask nicely, maybe they'd ride along with us." She and Candy traded glances.

"Might as well since we're going the same way." April smiled and her brother slapped the reins over the horse's back. They drove on ahead and Annie worked her jaw.

"Was there anything peculiar about that horse?"

"You mean how he wasn't tired?"

"Or sweated up. That horse didn't run three miles, or even two. Maybe half a mile at the most." Candy frowned and tipped his hat up.

"I suppose he could have mistaken the distance, getting shot at does make a man nervous. Even if it is pretty poor shooting."

"Yeah." Annie leaned on the saddle horn. "Not even a scratch on that buggy."

"A bad shot after a couple tenderfoots." He chuckled. "And all Joe would notice is how pretty the girl is. What do you suppose they were after?"

"Only one way to find out." Annie straightened. "Let's go."

"Nevada is big and beautiful," April declared as she settled herself on the hotel's porch railing. "I love the scenery. But I can't say that I care very much for being shot at." Candy chuckled.

"Unless your last name happens to be Cartwright, it doesn't happen too often."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. Happens to us at least once or twice a month." The woman made a face.

"Once is more than enough."

Annie rolled her eyes and continued her perusal of the buggy. Whoever that was, they were a terrible shot. She stroked the bay's nose. And that horse wasn't even warm. Which meant Tobias Horn was, at the very least, a very bad judge of distance.

"We live in San Francisco. Our home has a view of the ocean from almost every window. We watch the clipper ships stand out to sea – my brother and I own one, you know – and the fog rolling in."

"That fog is wet and cold," Annie said as she walked over to the porch. "I've been to San Francisco many a time."

Tobias Horn walked outside, hat in hand. "Well," he announced. "You'll be pleasantly surprised. The accommodations are quite good." He turned to Annie. "I know there are several banks here. Is there one you'd care to recommend?" She tilted her head.

"We use the Virginia City Bank across the street."

"Would you introduce me to one of the officials?"

"I don't see why not," she said slowly. He'd told them on the ride in that he was president of Horn Enterprises and she had heard of the business. At least Joe was off buying horses with Hoss, he'd have taken one look at April Horn and never asked a single question.

They crossed the street and walked into the bank, Annie making a beeline for Harry Bishop. "Mr. Bishop." The man looked up from his desk and smiled.

"Anne Cartwright, how are you? Good to see you, Candy. Heard anything from the boys?"

"Not yet. We're not sure if that's good news or bad. Mr. Bishop, this is Tobias Horn and his sister April."

"Oh, it's a pleasure to meet any friend of the Cartwrights." Annie bit her tongue to keep from correcting him. Tobias shocked her when he did.

"I'm afraid I can't lay claim to friendship just yet. My sister and I only met Ms. Cartwright and her foreman two hours ago on the road from Carson." He dug out a card. "I'm with Horn Enterprises, home office San Francisco." Bishop took the card and his eyes widened.

"President of Horn Enterprises."

"Yes, since the death of my father." He pulled out a stack of bills from an inner pocket. "I'd like to make a deposit."

"Of course."

"Thirty thousand dollars." Annie glanced back at Candy next to April Horn. His eyebrows rose.

"That's a lot of money. Carrying that much cash can be dangerous," Bishop said.

"So I've learned. It can also be very helpful in doing business in a new town."

"That's very true." Bishop held up one finger. "Just a second." He scribbled up a receipt. "If you'll just sign here, Mr. Horn." He handed over the receipt and Tobias tucked it in his pocket.

"You should go down to the sheriff's office and tell him what happened on the road." Tobias nodded.

"I agree." They headed outside and the Horns made their way to Roy's office. Annie leaned on Reno's flank, watching them. Candy propped a boot on the bottom of the hitch rail and tipped his hat back.

"He's slick."

"Um-hm."

"Do you think we're a little too suspicious?" Annie turned her head.

"Is there such a thing?"

"Fifteen hundred head of cattle." Her pa shook his head. "Take a few days to round 'em up." Annie sipped her coffee and studied the Horns. She actually liked April's dress today, but that was beside the point. When they'd shown up out of the blue, she'd been surprised, but not totally shocked that they were interested in buying cattle. The Ponderosa did have the best, so it made sense for them to come here. But why not say anything when they were all in town?

Hop Sing carried the coffee pot over to her pa's desk and set it down. "Coffee? Brandy?" Tobias refused, but his associate Mr. Spain, stepped forward.

"I'll have some coffee."

"My drovers will move the herd to the Sacramento Valley, no reason they can't help with the round up," Tobias went on. "I believe the current market price is $16.50 a head, is that correct?" Annie smothered a snort and set her coffee down before she spilled it. For other cattle it might be, but not Ponderosa stock. Her pa hid a smile.

"For run of the range cattle, yes."

"And yours are reputed to be better than that."

"Yes."

"Well, if Mr. Spain finds that to be true, I'll give you eighteen dollars." Annie snorted and they glanced over their shoulders. Her pa looked amused.

"You're still talking about run of the range cattle."

"What do you want?" Her pa lowered his coffee to the desk.

"We figure our cattle are worth twenty dollars a head." Tobias thought for a second.

"I'll give you nineteen." Her pa shook his head.

"Gentlemen …"

"Cash. On the barrel head." He nodded.

"It's a deal."

"I would like that brandy now." Her pa nodded and turned his chair to reach for the decanter. A knock came at the door and Candy jumped off the settee to answer it. Since the move took him away from April Horn, Annie had no objections. There was something ... cold about that woman.

"Hey, Roy." Candy let the sheriff in and Annie wrinkled her nose at the smell coming off the furry vest in his hands.

"I found this stashed under a rock about a mile up the hill from Three Forks. Ma'am, I wonder if you could identify this." He carried it over to April. Tobias left her pa's desk.

"Let me see that, Sheriff." He took the vest. "I was too busy driving to do much looking, but it could be the vest the gunman was wearing." April had left the settee with a thoughtful look on her face.

"I'm sure it was."

"I figure he wanted you to see this vest and not him." Roy chuckled. "There's at least one gunman that carries a change of clothing. But now he could be wearing anything, and that's gonna make him a lot harder to find." The Horns exchanged glances and Annie took another drink of her coffee.

He carries a change of clothes, but can't hit the broad side of a barn from less than two hundred feet?

Something was not adding up.

After the Horns and their friend left, promising to bring a cashier's check by tomorrow, she didn't even wait for the buggy to roll out of the yard. "Pa, do you get the feeling something is off about them?" Ben laced his fingers together and leaned on his desk.

"Such as?"

"I'm not sure. He says they were ambushed three miles up the road, but that horse didn't run three miles flat out. Maybe half a mile, but I'd say not even that far. Candy could be right, that he's just got a bad sense of distance when he's being shot at, but … I don't know."

"And let's not forget he changes his clothes, but can't shoot worth ten cents?" Candy pushed off the wall and ambled over. "Annie's right, it doesn't fit."

"You two think they're going to try and swindle us out of 1,500 cattle?" Annie cocked her head.

"No," she said slowly. "Unless they've got a dozen men hidden somewhere, they can't move that many head by themselves. Nor could they outrun a posse unless they want to kill most of them in the process, and then what profit would they get?"

"True." Ben stood. "Well, if you figure it out, be sure and tell me before you concoct a plan to stop them. I've got enough gray hairs as it is." He headed outside and Annie downed the last of her coffee.

"Guess we might as well finish the chores, they won't do themselves."

"Your bill of sale." Her pa handed over the document. Horn stuck it in his pocket and withdrew a check.

"Your check, sir."

"Thank you."

"And to complete the transaction, perhaps a glass of your excellent brandy?"

"I was just about to suggest it." Ben turned for the decanter as a knock came at the door. Annie hopped up from the table, since she was closer than Candy, and opened the door. Rudy from the telegraph office stood outside. He smiled when he saw her.

"How are you today, Ms. Anne?"

"Just fine, Rudy, thank you."

"I've got a telegram here for Mr. Tobias Horn." Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the man stiffen. He walked over and she stepped aside. "Telegrapher said to get this out to you as fast as I could."

"Thank you." He fished a coin out of his pocket and handed it to Rudy, who thanked him, tipped his hat to Annie, and hurried back to his horse. She closed the door while Tobias read his message.

"Toby, what is it?" He said nothing, staring at the page in a daze. April left her place beside Candy at the table and hurried over. He glanced up and met his sister's gaze, then let her take the telegram as he wandered back to Ben's desk, still looking like he'd seen a ghost. She looked past him to her pa, who looked just as confused as she felt.

"What's the matter?" He looked at her pa, but still said nothing, as he sank into the chair in front of the desk. He shook his head and stared off at nothing.

"Our clipper ship, the West Wind, was lost with all hands in … in a North Pacific gale."

"That's terrible news." Her pa's face took on a distant look and she wondered if he was remembering lost friends. "I'm sorry to hear that."

"More than just the ship. Captain Jess Bedford was the best friend I ever had." April walked over and put her hand on his shoulder.

"Tell them the rest of it."

"No reason to."

"Then I will." She looked down at the wire. "The bank demands full payment in the next four days." Annie frowned and glanced over at Candy. He shrugged. "You see," April continued, "the West Wind was carrying a cargo of silk, paid for with money borrowed from the Pacific Bank, a short-term loan."

"We do have insurance," her brother interrupted.

"But not enough to cover the ship, let alone the cargo. Toby is too proud, Mr. Cartwright, but if that loan isn't paid in full, Horn Enterprises will go down with the West Wind." Her brother stood.

"All I have to do, sister, is find a buyer for 1,500 head of cattle." He headed for the door. "If one of your men could hitch up our buggy, we have to get to Virginia City and on to San Francisco as fast as possible."

She knew what he was going to do even before he opened the drawer and took out the check. Ben rushed to the door. "You don't have to worry about those cattle. I'll buy them back. Here." He held out the check. Tobias looked down at it.

"Oh, I … I can't ask …"

"Take it."

"Well …" Tobias took out the bill of sale and handed it back. "Thank you. This could mean the difference between financial life and death," he said nervously. The smile slipped off his face. "Oh, it's uh … made out to you. It'd probably speed things up if you were there to explain things to Mr. Bishop."

"Oh, yes. Mr. Bishop is very touchy about rules and regulations. I'll ride in with you." Ben grabbed his hat and gun belt. "I'll be back." The door closed behind the three of them and Annie turned, her head tilted.

"They have thirty thousand dollars in cash, but need a short term loan to buy your cargo?" Candy shrugged and set down his fork.

"You'd know better than me about that. Is it common?"

"I have no idea what the going rate is on silk. As for the loan, a lot of businesses are cash poor, most of their assets are tied up in the building or buildings they own, the inventory they sell, or the machinery they use to make whatever they sell – like a newspaper would have a lot of money tied up in the press, the ink, all the type and the paper."

"Makes sense. But why not use that thirty thousand to pay for the silk? I can't imagine it'd cost more than that."

"If your financial situation is so bad that losing one ship and cargo would kill you, why compound that risk by spreading your resources even thinner?" She sat down on the settee and propped her feet on the table, chin in hand. "It doesn't make sense."

"Lucky Mr. Cartwright can't see that." Candy nodded at her boots. "You know what he'd say."

"I do know the difference between an ottoman and a table." He laughed.

"Maybe Tobias Horn is just a bad business man."

"I certainly wouldn't do it." Candy laughed again and stood up, making his way across the room. He stopped behind the settee and leaned against the back, looking down over her shoulder.

"You're smart. I'm betting he's not. I'll be out in the barn finishing the stalls. If you figure out what doesn't fit, give a holler." She hummed agreement and he left the house.

Why would they do that?

Of course, maybe they hadn't realized the situation was that bad, or maybe they were trying to offset it by selling the cattle for a huge profit. Which was possible. But to take that big a risk … owning ships was a huge risk in and of itself. There were a lot of vessels that went to sea and never came back.

She sat there thinking so long, she jumped when Hop Sing cleared his throat. "Missy Annie need take feet off table before Mistah Cartwright come back." She dropped her boots to the floor and Hop Sing smiled to himself.

"I was just thinking."

"Sometimes, think too hard," he said as he spread the between-meals tablecloth over the table. "Answer often right in front of face."

"They can't swindle us out of the cattle, you can't move 1,500 head with only three people. They cash their check, get their money back, return to San Francisco, and …" she trailed off and drew in a sharp breath as she looked at the clock.

How had she not seen it before now?

"You have no idea how right you are." She jumped off the settee and ran for the door, grabbing hers and Candy's gun belts and hats on her way outside.

"What I say?" Their cook hollered after her, but she didn't take time to answer. How could she have been so blind?

"Candy!" They almost crashed into each other at the barn doors. "We've got to get to town, now. They've already got a couple hours head start."

"What's wrong?"

"What's to stop them from leaving town with more than the thirty thousand they brought in?"

"Oh." He gave the word three syllables instead of one. "The bad shot, the fresh horse –"

"They planned everything, even getting Pa to let them in the bank after hours, just like …" she trailed off and Candy nodded once.

"Yeah. Let's go."

They saddled up in minutes, then tore out the barn door like they were being chased by a brush fire. The whole trip into town, Annie was hoping with everything she had that they'd run into her pa coming home. But they didn't.

They drew rein at the hitch rail next to the bank, both horses lathered and blowing. Annie scrambled down and ran up to the bank, pounding on the door. "Mr. Bishop! Pa!" There was no answer and she turned, scanning the street. "You see anything?"

"No. Maybe they decided to have a beer – wait, no. What meeting does he have tonight?"

"It's Thursday." She tried to peer under the shades on the windows. "The only night he doesn't have a meeting somewhere. I don't see Buck."

"I'll check the livery." Candy ran down the street and Annie pounded on the door again.

"Pa! Mr. Bishop, are you in there? Pa!" Her heart slammed against her ribs. She backed up and looked the building over. Nothing seemed out of place … but why wasn't he home? If the Horns weren't planning something underhanded, why didn't the pieces fit?

"Annie!" Candy ran back and skidded to a halt. "Buck's at the livery. Sam said some guy told him Mr. Cartwright had asked him to bring his horse down since he was planning to have supper with Mr. Bishop."

"Pa'd stable Buck himself."

"I know." Candy looked at the bank. "We've got to get in there." He ran around the back into the alley, Annie on his tail, and pounded on the rear door. "Mr. Bishop! Mr. Cartwright!" The door fell open and they stared at each other, eyes wide. Candy drew his gun and eased inside, then swore under his breath. "Get Doc Martin!"

"What?" Annie scrambled after him, her lungs emptying in a rush. "Pa!" She lunged, only to have Candy haul her back.

"Get the doctor!" She swallowed hard, turned, and ran, nearly falling over her own feet in her haste.

"Doc Martin!" She ran down the street, yelling at the top of her lungs, long before he could hope to hear her. If he was even in town. Annie hit the front door of his office at a dead run, hurling it open so hard it crashed against the wall. "Doc Martin!" The man ran into the room, a napkin from supper clutched in his hand. "In the bank! Pa and Harry Bishop! Hurry, please!"

The doctor ducked out of sight only long enough to collect his bag, then he was out the door, running much faster than a man his age normally could.

By the time they got back to the bank, a small crowd had gathered. Doc Martin shoved his way through and rushed inside. Barely able to breath, Annie stumbled after him and ran right into Candy.

"He's alive," were the first words out of his mouth and her knees almost gave way in relief. He caught her arm and guided her to the corner. "Mr. Bishop isn't, though. Vault's open, the safe's been emptied."

"I should have known that's what they were up."

"Neither of us figured it out."

"Annie, get over here, he's asking for you." She broke away from Candy and knelt in the floor beside Doc Martin and her pa.

"Pa, can you hear me?"

"Told them," he mumbled. "Told them … you'd figure it out." Her throat closed. Not soon enough to make a difference.

"We'll get them, Pa, don't you worry." His fingers grasped at her sleeve.

"Well planned. Be … be careful."

"We will," she said hoarsely, and looked over at Doc Martin, who patted her arm.

"I'll take care of him, I promise."

"All right." She straightened. "Let's go, Candy." She stalked out of the bank, even as the doctor called for men to help him move her father to his office. Sitting here waiting for news wouldn't stop those killers from escaping and they already had a decent head start.

"Ms. Anne, Candy." Roy fell into step with them outside, hat in hand. "I'm sorry about your pa, missy. People saw Tobias and the girl driving south in a buggy, but that's all we've got right now. I've got a posse saddling up, got fresh horses for the both of you."

"Thanks, Roy." The Horns wouldn't get away with this, not as long as she had anything to say about it. "I can't believe I didn't…"

"No one did, don't beat yourself up about it. They were slick all right, but I guarantee you they didn't count on their crime being discovered this fast. We'll be ready to ride in less than half an hour."

Candy rode back down the hill and brought his borrowed horse to a halt. "Rope corral up there, grain sacks and water buckets. Must have stashed their horses for a few days."

"Any tracks?" Roy pushed off the abandoned buggy.

"Three sets heading south."

"Purcell, take this buggy back to town and see to the horse. Let's go." The sheriff climbed back into his saddle and they rode off into the coming night, Annie taking point to study the tracks. Only Hoss was better at reading sign, and it wasn't by much anymore. But this, this was almost too easy. Not once did they attempt to cover their tracks, change direction, or otherwise elude the pursuers they must know would be chasing them at some point. Did they think they wouldn't be discovered until they were too far away to track? Or did they just not care? She splashed her horse through the stream and rode on.

"Annie, this is as good a place as any to stop for the night, can't see anymore," Roy called up a couple hours later. She turned in her saddle, squinting to make him out in the gloom.

"Make some torches and we can keep riding, they're not gonna get away with this."

"They won't, missy, I promise you that. But we ain't gonna do nobody any good if we get turned around out here."

"They haven't deviated once this whole time." And that bothered her for some reason. Were they being led into a trap? Maybe they should stop for now and confront the Horns in daylight. She turned, found Candy on her right.

He nodded once and she heaved a sigh. If he agreed with Roy, he must be suspicious, too. As well planned as it was, who knew what else the Horns had up their sleeves. "All right, but only until first light."

Where did they go? She turned her horse in circles, back-tracking along the route, but there was no sign, not even a scuff in the dirt, or an overturned leaf. She splashed back through the stream and jumped the horse out at another spot, but there was nothing there either. Gnawing on her lip, she rode back to Candy, who leaned on his saddle horn, hat tipped back off his forehead.

"Don't look at me, sweetheart, I'm as confused as you."

"They was still heading south when we lost 'em, I say we keep going." Roy sidled his bay up next to them.

No … Annie looked over her shoulder. Straight as an arrow, then it vanishes? She'd lay odds the Horns wanted them to follow the obvious trail. "We should split up. They might have headed northeast."

"Across the desert?" Candy straightened.

"That's a three day crossing," Roy protested. "There's not any water holes for the first hundred miles! They can't carry enough for them and the horses, besides, they got a woman along."

"What am I, a steer?" Candy snorted and Roy threw him a dirty look. "There might be water at Sand Butte."

"This time of year? Maybe, but as slick as they planned this whole shenanigan, they'd never make that mistake."

"That's the point, Roy. Slick as they planned it, who'd expect them to cross the desert? I bet that third man planted water caches." Roy shook his head.

"You might be right, missy, but I still think our best bet is to go south."

"I'm going."

"I'm with her, Roy. If you don't find 'em, we will."

"Suit yourselves." He rode off with the rest of the posse. Annie turned the horse.

"We should fill our canteens again, everything we've got that'll hold water." She eyed the horizon to the northeast. They had a long, hot ride ahead.

Once the canteens were full to the brim, they rode off at an easy lope. They could afford to save their horses right now, no one could travel fast across that desert, not unless you wanted to kill your mount.

A couple hours later, they trotted along the edge of the desert, eyes to the ground, watching. She'd backtracked to the point they lost the tracks, and headed northeast from there, hoping they'd find them again.

There.

They stopped and Candy whistled softly. "You were right." He stared out across the desert. "Not what I would have done, but it does cut off pursuit."

"Some of it, maybe, but not all." Annie clucked to her horse and led the way onto the shifting sand and scrub.

By the time they reached Sand Butte, the sun was high, and sweat trickled down the back of her neck under her shirt. Her clothes stuck to her skin, and the heat rising from the sand was like opening an oven door in the summer.

"There is water," Candy said as they stopped. He jumped down and she followed him to the edge of the spring, pausing to collect her canteen. He dipped a hand in the spring and brought it to his face. She knelt, would have dunked her canteen in, but he threw an arm across her chest. "Uh-uh."

"What?"

"Smells funny."

"Alkaline?" His face twisted.

"More like garlic."

"Garlic?" Annie dipped her hand in and sniffed the water. That was odd. "What would make it smell like that?" She looked around. Candy nudged her side and she followed his gaze to a dead rabbit sprawled on the other side of the spring. He rose from his crouch and went to inspect the animal. Suddenly, he stiffened, and bent to pick something up from under a scraggly bush. "What is it?" He turned around.

"Arsenic." He tossed her the tin can he was holding. A bitter taste filled her mouth.

"They don't care who they kill."

"Nope." He trudged back and picked up a broken branch. "Better mark this hole." He jammed the branch into the ground at the water's edge and she placed the can on top. Without another word, they returned to the horses.

"They can't be too far ahead of us."

"One problem, sweetheart. They've got water and we don't."

"So what do you suggest? We go back for the posse, we lose them for good. They get across that desert, we'll never catch them, not before they disappear, only to reappear somewhere else with new names, to pull the same trick again when they've blown through all the money."

"I know." They stared at each other over their horse's backs. "We don't have enough water for both of us to cross. Only one way we can do it: one of us goes after them, the other rides back to turn the posse around."

"If you dare suggest I go back for the posse, I'll –"

"What – fire me, sweetheart?" He cracked a grin. "I know you can handle yourself." His smile faded as fast as it had appeared. "Fact is, it won't be easy no matter who does it. That's a long, hot, lonely ride. And if we catch up to 'em, it'll be three against one. And I don't particularly like those odds, not when they can see us coming from miles away."

"You're still saying we, Canaday."

"We'll do it fair." He dug into his pocket and pulled out a silver dollar. "Heads, I cross, tails, you cross."

"Is it a two-headed coin?" He laughed.

"No." The coin caught the light as it spiraled up, then plummeted and landed in the sand. Candy bent to study it. "Well, you get your wish, sweetheart." He straightened and showed her the coin, his face going hard. "Ride two hours, then walk one, it's an old cavalry trick. Only take a drink when you absolutely have to, save most of it for the horse. If they've got water cached, it'll be somewhere they can see for miles before they get to it. Try and get ahead of them if you can and find that water first." He handed over his canteen. "Be careful, sweetheart. I don't want to have to tell Mr. Cartwright I lost you."

"I will." They mounted up and looked at each other. Candy reached out and touched her shoulder.

"I'll turn that posse around as fast as I can." He kicked his horse into a lope and rode away to the south. Annie swallowed hard and stared out across the empty desert.

"You crossed Cartwrights, and now you're going to pay." She nudged the horse into a walk and set out.

All day, she did nothing but walk, every third hour hopping down and trudging in front across the shifting sand. They could push their horses across this if they wanted to, but she wasn't even going to trot until the sun went down and it was cooler. Then, she'd make up a lot of ground. The horse blew out a breath and she patted its neck. "Another few minutes and you can have a drink."

Candy should have made it back to the posse by now, if not he had to be close. They'd be heading northeast any time now. She scanned the horizon, searching for something that stood out, a rock formation, a distinctive tree, or oddly-shaped butte. Only an idiot would simply bury the water in the sand and hope they could find it again. Nothing yet. She adjusted her hat and rode on, jumping down after a couple minutes to water the horse.

Light flashed at the top of the dune up ahead and she froze. Sunlight on a rifle barrel. She capped the canteen just as the rifle barked, kicking up sand next to the horse's hooves. The animal neighed and wheeled around. She let him go for the moment and dove behind a nearby dune.

It hadn't taken as long as she'd thought to catch up. They must have been confident they weren't being followed. She peered over the edge, her pistol in hand.

That didn't look like Tobias perched on that dune, it looked more like his friend Mr. Spain. If that was even the man's name.

If they didn't care who they killed, how was he still alive? All that money would go farther split two ways instead of three. Annie had a feeling she was looking at the man who'd cached the water. Now, if it was her, she wouldn't have written anything on a map, ensuring they'd have to keep her alive if they wanted to get away. Had he done the same? She measured distance; it'd be on the long side, but she might make it, and pulled the trigger, blowing a branch in half maybe six inches from his face.

The man jerked backwards and disappeared, but she didn't believe for a minute she'd hit him, too. No, he wanted her to show herself. A quick glance behind her revealed the horse trotting back the way they'd come.

Well, he was no Reno, that was for sure.

The sound of running hooves reached over the dune and she sat back on her heels. It was worth a try. She whistled, hoping they were too far away and moving too fast to hear it over the rumble of hooves.

The gelding's ears flicked back and she shook the canteen. He slowed and turned around, returning at a slow trot, head hanging by the time he reached her side. She opened the canteen again and offered him a few handfuls. "You might not be Reno, but you're not half bad, boy." She took one swallow for herself and swung back into the saddle. "Let's go."

She paused to study the tracks a couple times, but the three outlaws didn't slow down. Annie shook her head. Stupid, tearing around like that. She patted the gelding's neck and on they went under the baking sun.

As soon as the sun went down, she urged the gelding into a trot until she couldn't see far enough ahead to ride faster than a walk. She stopped once to rest the horse for an hour, letting him pick at the sparse scrub until he'd gotten something in his stomach at least, then rode on again.

By the time light was peeking over the horizon, the tracks showed they had finally slowed to a walk. A little ways further on, a scrubby hill rose above the sand. Annie halted. The last time she approached a hill, she almost lost the horse.

They might not be on the other side, but then again, they might be. She looked around. Not much cover to hide the horse. She backtracked a few dozen feet and tied him to a bush behind a low dune, hoping he wouldn't raise his head too much. The longer they thought she was afoot, the better. She crept up the hill and peered over the top.

The Horns and their friend were on the other side, packing their bedrolls onto their horses. Annie stiffened, a smile curving her lips.

They'd left two of their canteens down below, giving her a perfect shot. She drew her pistol and cocked the hammer, keeping one eye on the three of them as she lined up her shots. One chance was all she'd get.

Annie fired twice, punching a hole in both canteens, then rolled backwards down the slope, scrambling for her horse once she was at the bottom. She ducked behind the dune, cooing softly to the horse to keep it from throwing its head up. She waited several minutes, but there was no sound of fleeing hooves.

A rifle roared, and the gelding jumped. "Easy." What was going on over there? Were they shooting wild in an effort to get her to show herself? Horses neighed, then the muted thump of hooves reached her. She frowned.

It sounded like there were only two riding out. Were they leaving one behind to flush her out? Or had they lightened their load?

Annie slipped out from behind the dune, leading the horse. She scanned the hill up ahead, taking her time to advance. She rounded the hill and found Tobias Horn sprawled on the ground, a bullet in his chest, sightless eyes staring up at the burning sun. His horse stood a few feet away. She ground tied her horse and unsaddled the other animal, then slipped the bridle over its ears and slapped its flank to send it back the way they'd come. The posse would be coming up soon, and they might find it before it died of thirst.

She took the last canteen off her saddle and shook it. Half left. Her gaze found the horse. Unless they had a cache nearby, he wasn't going to last much past today. She studied the horizon. Now that they were down to whatever had been in that last canteen they hadn't left with the others, how short did it leave them? Two people and two horses with one canteen wouldn't make it far. She figured they wouldn't give the animals any at all, crippling their escape even further.

Annie gave the horse a couple handfuls of water, took one swallow herself, and mounted up. She'd ride one hour and walk two, and still come out ahead. She aimed the gelding's nose off to the left and swung onto a parallel track to the hoof prints stretching out in front of her.

It was hours later when a towering rock formation rose up above the horizon. She studied it a moment and a smile crossed her face, splitting her chapped lips. It had to be the site of their cache, there was nothing else this prominent for miles. "Almost there, boy." She wiped her mouth with her sleeve and nudged the horse forward. The animal balked. "I know, you're thirsty. It's right up there, come on." She gave him a light kick, but he still wouldn't go. "All right, you win." She dismounted and gave him two handfuls of water. There was so little left, it barely covered the bottom. "Come on." This time, he followed, head hanging so low his nose almost touched the sand.

Where was it? He wouldn't hide it behind some random boulder he might not be able to find again, it had to be obvious. And it had to be enough for three people and three horses until they reached the next one, so where was it? She scanned the rocky face rising above her.

Not too high up, or else they risked not being able to climb up and get it if they were too weak. Somewhere low, somewhere obvious …

Her gaze snagged on the rocky knob jutting out near the base. Devil's Anvil. She left the horse and ran the last few dozen feet, landing on her knees at the base of the rocks. Her heart skipped a beat as she cradled a heavy canteen. She whipped around to stare behind her.

She'd beat them here. Annie looked down at the canteen in her hands. If they liked to play games, she was more than willing to take a seat at the table.

There they were, stumbling and shuffling along under the baking sun, staggering really. And afoot, as she'd expected. She adjusted her position and shifted the rifle barrel a few inches to the right. She wasn't out to kill them, unless they gave her no choice, but the need for water should make them do whatever she wanted. One shot should be enough.

She waited until they were only about ten feet away, then pulled the trigger. Both figures stumbled to a halt, staring at her on top of the dune in shock. "That's far enough. I don't want to kill you, but I will if you force me to. Drop your guns and I'll share the water you were kind enough to provide."

"You're bluffing," Spain mumbled. "You don't have any water, you can't have." Annie gave him a feral smile and picked up one of the canteens, letting a tiny stream run onto the sand.

Both of them swallowed hard, gaze locked on the water. They looked terrible. "Drop it." Spain threw the rifle aside. "The other one." He tossed his pistol and took a step forward. "The other, other one. I know you've got Tobias' gun, too." For a split second, it looked like he was going to force her hand, then he meekly tossed it away. "Now, back up, away from those guns."

"Water …" April Horn rasped, coughing.

Annie worked her way around the dune and whistled once; the horse trotted over. She plucked a canteen off the overburdened saddle and tossed it to them, then collected the guns and money bags, and mounted up. "Drink up, then start walking. We've got a long way to go." She traded her rifle for her pistol and leaned on the saddle horn, watching them fight over the canteen.

"He said you'd figure it out," April finally rasped, her voice hoarse. "He said you'd catch us."

"Pa's always right. And by the way, I let the horse lick that one." They both froze and stared at the canteen.

"Why would you …"

"You shot my pa and killed Harry Bishop, be glad that's all I did. Now get moving." She'd been tempted to do worse, but her options were quite limited.

"You realize you've probably got your brother shipping more water than Dixie again, don't you?" Candy chuckled as he refilled her glass from the pitcher. She threw him a dirty look and swallowed several times before answering.

"He can handle it. There were a couple times out there, I was beginning to worry I wouldn't find their cache in time."

"I'm just glad both of you are home safe," Ben said from his chair, his arm in a sling.

"I'm glad April Horn is a bad shot, another inch lower and an inch to the left and you wouldn't be here, Pa."

"No sense worrying about it now. The bank has its money back, I have my daughter and my foreman, and those two are locked up in Roy's jail. I'd like to say I can't believe she let him shoot her brother, but … I find I can believe it all too easily." He sighed. "Well, we're going to have quite the story to tell your brothers when they return, aren't we?" Candy laughed.

"Make sure they know she made them drink after the horse."

"Why?" He laughed harder.

"She had to get the idea from somewhere." He and Ben both looked sideways at Annie. She raised her glass in a mock toast.

"I'll never tell."

Season 11

Another Windmill to Go

The Silence at Stillwater

The Stalker

Meena

Dead Wrong

Danger Road

Is There Any Man Here ...?

Long Way to Ogden

Erin

Kingdom of Fear

The Big Jackpot

Caution: Easter Bunny Crossing

A Matter of Circumstance

Never Say Die