Marshal Wilkes wrapped his coat tighter around himself as he rode through the snow. Half of his posse along with William Allen was with him while the other half of his posse was with Josh Allen and some of William Allen's ranch hands. It was early in the morning and they had been searching all night. They had found some white material that William had said looked like it had came from the shirt Samantha had been wearing when she disappeared.
Joshua looked at the horse tracks on the ground. The snow was covering them fast so he had decided that he should follow them and find out where they led. After that he would go back and find the rest of posse and the marshal. He was hoping he would get to Samantha in time. He felt so bad about the way he had talked to her the day before about the bull. He knew that she had only been trying to help.
Chavez broke the kiss and stared down into Samantha's eyes before kissing her once more, this time more quickly. Chavez pulled away and Samantha bit her lower lip.
"Your beautiful, Samantha," Chavez said, staring down at her, a serious expression on his face. Samantha felt the heat on her face and knew she was blushing. She hated it when she blushed.
"Even more beautiful when you blush," Chavez said, smiling at her. He leaned down and kissed her gently again. Samantha kissed him back gently.
Early the next morning Josh watched his sister sleeping with her head on the outlaw's shoulder. William stood beside him, watching his daughter. He didn't know what was going on but he knew it was important that he got his daughter away from that man. He recognized the man. The man had been one of the young men who had left the indian village the morning William and the other soldiers had attacked it. It wasn't something William was proud of but he couldn't take it back.
William had been told that everyone had been killed that day but he had obviously been wrong. He didn't know why he recognized this man who had his arms wrapped around Samantha but he did. Maybe it was the look in the man's eyes. Suddenly it hit William, he knew why he recognized the man. The man was only half indian. He was also half Mexican. That's what had set him apart from the other men in the village on that day. That's what had made him stand out to William on that day when he had watched the men leave the village with all of the other soldiers.
Chavez's eyes opened wide. Someone was out in the trees watching him. Samantha groaned and raised her head up off of his shoulder to look up at him.
"What's goin...?" Samanthat started. Chavez put his hand over her mouth and took his pistol out of the holster. He loaded it quickly under the blanket.
"Shh," Chavez whispered, "there's someone out there." Samantha nodded to let Chavez know that she understood so he removed his hand from her mouth. Chavez had barely got the gun loaded when the posse stepped out of the woods, surrounding them. Chavez jumped to his feet, Samantha staying beside him, glancing around her until she saw her father's face, a look of sadness clear in his eyes. Chavez followed her gaze and took aim at William with his pistol. Samantha watched him cock the gun and it was then that she saw Josh, raising his gun, taking aim at Chavez. Samantha stepped in front of Chavez just as Josh pulled the trigger. William gasped as the bullet meant for Chavez hit Samantha and she fell down to the ground.
Chavez could feel the tears that we're about to fall from his eyes as he stared down at the girl. Marshal Wilkes stared at the man as the posse all gathered around Samantha's body, staring down at her. A sadness coming over their faces. Marshal Wilkes stared at Chavez for a second before speaking.
"She made you a better man, didn't she?" Marshal Wilkes asked. Chavez glared at the Marshal, raising his pistol and pointing it at William.
"Almost," Chavez said, pulling the trigger and turning to run toward the woods as the posse stared, watching in shock. William fell to the ground as the posse got over their shock and started shooting at Chavez as he ran away from them through the woods.