JD leaned forward on the table. He had long since lost the few dollars he was playing with as well as any interest in playing with the others. Right now it was just Chris, Vin, Buck, and Ezra. He kept trying to see how Ezra did it. He honestly didn't think he was cheating but he won just about every hand. Looking up as the doors swung open his jaw dropped. "There's a sight you don't see everyday." The rest of the men turned to look. "I feel like there's a joke in there somewhere. A nun walks into a saloon…"

"That ain't no joke. That's the nun from Vista City where Josiah's sister is." Vin stood up and walked over to meet the nun by the door. "Sister…are you looking for Josiah?"

The woman recognized the man in front of her. "You came to visit Hannah about a year ago, right?"

"Yes ma'am. Josiah's at the church. I can take you to him." He glanced over at Chris who had followed him to the door. "Did something happen to Hannah?" The question came out hesitantly but he would rather be prepared for what they'd have to deal with. Josiah had talked about Hannah with the other six men a few times over the last year. Not much more than what he had told Vin but it was a start at least. He still struggled every time he went to see her but every time was a little bit better than the time before.

The nun nodded. "I'm afraid she's missing."

Chris frowned. "Missing. How exactly does that happen?"

She shook her head. "I wish I knew." She followed Chris and Vin out of the saloon. The church was a short walk. Nathan looked up when they walked in. He could tell something was wrong. Josiah froze mid swing of the hammer when he realized who his visitors were.

"What happened?" The wood from the hammer drove into his palms as he tightened his grip around the handle.

"I went to get her yesterday morning for breakfast and she was gone. No one saw anything." She looked over at the men standing around Josiah. "I was hoping maybe if you came you'd see something we don't see."

Vin nodded. "Josiah, I'll go saddle our horses. If the two of us escort the Sister back, I can see if I can pick up a trail." He glanced over at Chris. "If we leave now we can get there before midnight, pick up the trail in the morning." Two day old trail wasn't going to be easy. "We'll move faster with just the two of us. We'll call for the cavalry if we need you."

Buck leaned against the post outside of the saloon. "You hear from Vin yet?"

Chris nodded and put the book he was reading down. "Couple hours ago. They picked up some wagon tracks. They're going to follow and see where it leads. They're tracking back in this direction so if they come across anything at least we're closer." He could hear the sound of feet and glanced over his shoulder as the temporary school door opened and eight kids poured out. He looked back at Buck grinning, "Incoming…"

"Hey Chris! Hey Buck!" Billy yelled as he ran past Chris and Buck, making a beeline for the newspaper office. The other kids scattered, half of them playing with Buck in the street before heading to their respective houses.

Ezra pushed the saloon doors open and leaned against the wall as the last of the children ran down the boardwalk. "JD still visiting Ms. Wells?"

Buck hopped back up on the boardwalk. "He got a late start. Left a little while ago." Buck grinned at Ezra as Maddie walked out of the temporary school and kissed Ezra on the cheek before going into the saloon. It had become almost a routine and Buck found it downright adorable. It was refreshing to see. JD and Casey didn't hardly count. Half the time JD didn't know what he was doing despite multiple attempts on his part to help. He was interested to see what Ezra would do once the new school next to the church got finished. He thought he'd probably find an excuse to be in that direction every time class let out.

"Chris!" Billy raced down the boardwalk skidding to a stop in front of the three men. "Have you seen mama? I went to the office and she wasn't there. And it was a mess."

Chris frowned and stood up. "I'll see if I can find her. Buck, take Billy to Mrs. Potter." He walked towards the newspaper office, aware that Ezra was following. Pushing open the door he looked around. The hairs on the back of his neck were already standing up and the sight in front of him wasn't helping.

Ezra paused at the door and looked at the office. It had the distinct look of a struggle. Pushing past Chris he walked into the back room. A certain amount of relief washed over him when he saw that the room was empty. They all knew how Chris felt about Mary. No one said anything, and Chris and Mary never acted on it, but they all knew. He did not want to see what the man would do if something happened to her. He knelt down and looked at a series of scuff marks on the floor. "Chris…". He turned when the distinct sound of spurs got closer. "Maybe out the back door?" He pointed at the scuff marks leading to the door.

Chris moved to the door and pushed it open. The fact that it wasn't latched made him think Ezra was right. He looked at the tracks in the soft dirt behind the newspaper office.

"Wagon?" Ezra looked both ways. It was hard to tell which direction they would have gone. He looked over his shoulder as he heard Buck and JD.

"Chris?" Buck got to the back first. He could tell from the look on his face there was a problem. "Nettie and Casey are missing too."

"Missing?" Ezra frowned.

"They weren't there. Looked like there was trouble. Nettie's rifle was on the porch." JD looked around the newspaper office and almost jumped as Ezra darted out door.

Chris followed him, knowing exactly what he was thinking. He followed him into the saloon as Ezra skidded to a stop in front of the bar. "Have you seen Maddie?"

One of the men sitting at the bar shrugged tipping over his empty glass. "Maybe she's in the back with Inez. She went back to get another bottle and hasn't come back yet."

Chris followed Ezra into the back room and stopped at the door. The mess in the newspaper office was nothing compared to the broken bottles and tipped over crates strewn across the floor. The door leading to the rear alley was swinging. Chris stepped through the broken glass and looked down at the same wagon tracks.