PART 4

Mary pushed open the bat-wing doors and stepped into the saloon pushing a stray blonde hair back in place. Anxious energy still flowed through her after the morning's events. She wasn't a flighty woman, but she realized she could have been killed by the outlaw if Ezra hadn't saved her.

The town's people were busy cleaning up the mess left from the gunfight, which included burying the dead outlaws. She had gathered information about the unfortunate death of Jonathan Berman, the only civilian casualty. She heard that JD had been shot, and prayed she wouldn't be adding to her obituary page. The sight of the four somber lawmen dropped her heart into her stomach.

"Chris, is JD alright?"

Chris looked up as the newswoman crossed the floor and stopped in front of the table her arms wrapped around her stomach.

"Yeah," Chris quickly assuaged her fears. "Nathan thinks he's going to make it, 'Lord, she is beautiful when she's worried,' Chris thought.

"Oh, thank goodness," Mary breathed, bringing her hand to her throat and feeling her quick pulse. She realized that she looked a sight, and tried to shake the dust from her skirt. Her green eyes momentarily locked on Chris' blue ones. She broke her gaze, annoyed at the feelings that Chris Larabee stirred inside her whenever she was near him.

Suddenly, she ceased her feminine maintenance and placed her hands on her hips. "Now, is anyone going to remove that man?" She figured in all the confusion and worry over JD that Ezra forgot to mention the outlaw tied up in her office. Mary glanced around the saloon looking for Ezra.

"What man?" Buck's brow furrowed, drawing his brows together.

Mary frowned and cocked her head to the side. "The one that caused Mr. Standish to throw himself into the Clarion and save me from abduction." Mary smiled then, remembering the filth the gambler tried to dust off his jacket. "The one who's tied up in my office,"

Buck's face fell. "I don't want to hear it, preacher!" He stood and grabbed his hat, avoiding the preacher's I-told-you-so expression and followed Mary out of the saloon.

M7M7M7

When Mary and the four lawmen entered the office the young brigand was struggling to free himself. Mary smiled at the stable boy who just sat on a cabinet watching the outlaw's struggles, a gun resting in his lap. "Thank you, Jerry for watching him."

"No problem, ma'am," Jerry replied and headed back to the stables.

"Ah hell," Buck wiped a hand down his face glaring at the smiling outlaw. "Why didn't Ezra say anything?"

"We didn't exactly give him a chance," Chris said. They had all been so worried about JD that emotions were racing like a runaway train-out of control-and the only way to stop a runaway is to crash it. Unfortunately, the gambler was at the end of the line.

Vin glared at the outlaw who smiled arrogantly back. He couldn't have been much older than JD, but looked like he had seen and done it all, and most of it probably wasn't very nice.

"Well, it's 'bout time someone got here," the outlaw sneered. "Hey, where's that dandy who jumped me? Ain't this considered cruel and unusual punishment? I have my rights you know…You all ain't goin' to be able to hold me…"

"Shut up!" Chris tiredly growled.

"Well, I guess only three got away," Vin said.

"I've seen a poster on this one," Buck declared, staring into the outlaw's smiling and bruised face. "Bryce Rosen, I believe."

"That's me," Bryce proudly acknowledged, trying to sit a little taller. "Wanted all over this here territory. If'n you all are smart you'll let me go, cause my pa is James Rosen, THE James Rosen," he stressed.

"Damn, this one likes to talk more than JD," Buck said, using his boot to push the haughty outlaw over.

Bryce laughed spitefully as he struggled to sit back up. He had hoped to get the pretty newswoman and use her as a hostage so he and his men could get away. It would have worked too, if'n that fancy pants hadn't jumped him. It was just his dumb luck. He knew his father would be angry with him. He thought the town would be easy pickins'. He had lied to his father's men telling them that his father wanted them to go and take the bank. It wasn't his fault his father's men got themselves killed. What town had seven gunslingers protecting it? That bank must be full to the rafters.

"I've heard of James Rosen," Josiah said. "Had a gang down in Texas some years back. Thought he was dead."

"No sir, my pa is alive and kickin' and he ain't gonna take kindly to this, no sir."

Chris rolled his eyes at the young man's boasting. "Let's get him locked up."

"You all are making a big mistake," Bryce stated as Vin cut the ropes that bound his legs. Buck reached down and yanked the young outlaw roughly to his feet, expending some of his anger.

"Son, we've been making mistakes all day. What's one more?"

Bryce's face fell as he tried to figure out Buck's meaning.

"What about Ezra?" Vin asked as Buck and Josiah led Bryce to the jail.

Chris stopped in the doorway of the Clarion and rubbed his eyes. He wondered if Ezra had left for good, but figured he wouldn't leave without knowing for certain that JD was going to be okay. They would have to keep their eyes open. He'd be back.

"If he ain't back this evening we'll go lookin' for him. Let's give things a chance to cool down. I don't want us pulling any more guns on each other."

TBC