"Now wait just a minute!" John Hamilton stood, knocking his fist on the table. "Doc and Judge Hanavan I understand- but there's no reason for me to be the next one out that door. I'm entirely replaceable!"

"…The man's not wrong," Nick mumbled.

"Oh he isn't?" Dave asked. "The bank carries quite a few folks in town- including you."

"If something happens to me, the company will send someone else."

"Maybe so," Lucas answered. "But what happens when a big city banker comes out here and starts looking at the books? They can start calling notes that folks won't have the money to pay on until harvest. John understands what it means to be a small farmer and has extended loans far past what is fair. If John gets replaced, there's a good chance it'll drive a fair number of folks out of town."

Philip hesitated before responding to Lucas's comment. "…Nothing personal, John, but Drake's in a similar situation with the land office. There's a number of deals being worked right now, and Drake's the only neutral party. He's also backed a number of loans, personally, and is North Fork's only hope of brokering a deal with the railroad company. …And a rail line would bring a good bit of money to town."

"He makes an adequate point," John answered.

Drake shook his head. "Like Philip said, they're personal loans, not company money. Those notes have no risk of being called. And it's going to be years before a railway gets put in."

"I wouldn't be too certain of that. Before I arrived here, I heard quite a bit of talk of a depot being put in somewhere hereabouts, and North Fork was mentioned more than once."

"John, that's all potential," Charlie reminded. "The bank carries a good number of farms and businesses that are already established. We need to deal with what is, not what could be."

"This whole discussion is based on what could be," Nick retorted.

"If we don't come up with a decision soon, all those could bes will be! No offense, Drake, but I think more of the community is reliant on John's position at the bank than yours at the land office."

"None taken."

"I still say you're overestimating my value."

"We need to put it to a vote," Lucas said. "We're running out of time."

The men again lifted their pencils, the return of the cards taking much longer than it had before. Lucas carefully evaluated the votes before announcing the results.

"…Three to eight. John, you're out."

"Lucas, I-"

"Mr. Bennet, please!"

Lucas stood at the sound of his son's voice and ran across the room. "Mark?!"

"Please let my pa go! He didn't do anything!"

"Mark, you get out of here, Son! You hear me?!" Lucas pounded on the door, repeating his statement. "Mark! Get out of here!"

"Don't worry, McCain," the man called. "I won't hurt him. Unlike you, the boy is innocent."

"But my pa didn't do anything!"

"Mark, get back to Micah's, NOW!"

"Go on, do as your pa says, boy."

"MARK!"

"…He's gone, McCain. And unless you're the next one to come out, I suggest you back away from that door. All of you, face the wall again."

Lucas slowly turned and walked away, stopping as he met John part way across the room. "…John, will you do me a favor?"

"Anything, Lucas."

"Take Mark back to the ranch and wait there with him. …I don't want him here if anything happens."

"…He won't be too agreeable to leave."

"I know he won't. Tell him that's the way I want it."

The man slowly nodded, realizing how difficult the simple task would be.

"And John?" The rancher hesitated, knowing what he wanted to say might only cause his boy more concern. "…Tell him to put the coffee on for when I get home."

When the door opened, John slowly walked into the next room. He briefly looked Bennet over before shaking his head and quickly making an exit.

The banker was greeted by the marshal as he left the building, answering the few questions Micah had before asking about Mark.

"I left him over at my office about a half hour ago. Why?"

"…Mark was inside the courtroom just a few minutes ago. Bennet and Lucas sent him back out here."

"He what?!"

"So you haven't seen him?"

"I wouldn't have let him in there if I had! What was the boy thinking?!"

"…He was thinking about his father."

The two men hurried to the jail, finding Mark sitting in the doorway of the back room with his legs drawn to his chest.

"Mark McCain! I told you to stay here!"

The boy didn't answer, but kept staring down the alleyway.

"Mark…"

The marshal stepped forward, only for a hand to stop him. "…You're needed outside. Let me talk to him… Lucas wanted me to take him back to the ranch."

"…Alright."

As Micah walked away, John knelt down beside the boy. "…Mark, what you did was very foolish… but it was also very brave. I don't know very many men who would have tried what you did."

"…My pa would have." Mark looked down, wiping away a tear. "Mr. Hamilton, why does Mr. Bennet want to kill somebody? It ain't fair! It ain't right!"

"…No, it's not. But your father is going to do everything he can to stop him. …It might be quite some time before this is all over, and your father wants you to get on home so you can put the coffee on for him and turn in. I'll see about getting a horse, then why don't you and I ride back to the ranch together?"

The boy shook his head. "I don't want to leave. As long as Pa's still in there-"

"It's what your father wanted, Mark. He'll be home in due time." The banker patted the boy on the shoulder as he stood. "You wait here, I'll be back in a few minutes."

After gaining permission to borrow a horse, John made his way back to the jail. He stepped into the back room, shaking his head as he realized the boy was nowhere to be seen.

"Mark?"

The banker searched the back alley before returning to the street and approaching the marshal.

"Did Mark come out here while I was at the hotel?"

"No, why?"

"The boy's run off."

Micah sighed in frustration as he looked to the meeting hall, then the hotel. "Get a few men from the hotel to help you look for him. That boy…"

"…You can't rightly blame him. His father's facing a mad man and he's told to go home… I didn't expect him to take it lying down."

"Mark's old enough to understand why Lucas doesn't want him here; he should have done as he was told. Let me know when you find him."

As time went on, Micah continued watching the courthouse, periodically checking in with the other men. It was just past nine when the door opened again, Drake Freemont stepping onto the street.

"Drake?" The marshal stepped forward, meeting him halfway. "How are they doing in there?"

"As well as can be expected. Lucas is helping to keep the discussions… civil."

"Judge Hanavan said Bennet was standing near the jury gallery with the blasting box. He still there?"

"Still close enough to set it off if need be, but I saw him pacing when I left."

The marshal nodded.

"Anything I can do to help?"

"John Hamilton and a few others are looking for Mark McCain. He's been missing for about a half hour."

"…I take it he wasn't too happy about going home?"

"No. John tried talking to him, but he slipped out of the office and no one has any idea where he ran off to. The good news is we know he wouldn't have left town. …I'm just worried he's hiding too close to that building."

"We'll find him."