Author Note: Chapters 16 and 17 will be a long letter from Mort to Daisy in two parts. A big thank you to all the readers of this story! Please feel free to comment.

Mort POV:

'The place on my vest where my badge once was pinned was empty. The badge I once wore so proudly was gone forever. For a moment I felt excited for my new adventure but in the next I felt nothing but dread. What if I couldn't keep my promise?

For several weeks after that fateful Christmas Eve, I heard Slim's broken voice in my head. For probably the first time, since this whole thing started, he really shared his grief with me. He told me how everywhere he looked he heard or saw Jess. He would dream about their adventures together; almost feel him beside him as he rode about the ranch and how, 'God help him he almost gave up on the belief that he was still alive.'

An idea began to form in my mind that maybe I could change the ending of this saga. I felt so guilty and so useless -I knew ranchers, wagon train masters -I could at least try. But I also knew that I couldn't do anything as Laramie's sheriff. I would have no jurisdiction outside of the town I loved so much. I'd have to leave town, and worse yet, if I failed, what would become of me?

It would be a long, arduous journey and I wasn't a young man anymore. I wasn't under any obligation to do this but I made a promise to myself that night and those are the ones you keep.

As usual, when faced with a task, I wrote my options down. Josh was capable of stepping into my shoes. If I just slipped away in the night, left a letter - the town council would have no choice but to pin the badge on him. But that wasn't my style.

Which direction would I go? I'd have to start in Utah and then toss a coin. Was my faithful horse up to the task?

I made a list of all the provisions I would need and made a plan. If I failed, I could lick my wounds at my Pa's ranch in Denver, perhaps visit Daisy Cooper and then decide my future. I wrote and 're-wrote into the early morning hours and finally fell into a restless sleep.'

I wrote Daisy's letter when I hit a small town in Utah.

Dear Daisy,

By the time you receive this letter, I will be gone. I decided, against all advice, to search for Jess on my own. I couldn't stand by any longer and watch Slim fall more and more into the well of depression. I have no idea when or if I'll return to Laramie, but I will write you when I can.

Don't worry too much.

Mort

Mort POV: What I couldn't tell her was that I retired. It was the only choice I had.