A/N: First Chapter of the 12 Chapters of Christmas! Posting dates will be December 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 24, and 25. Now, I know that would make a total of 14 chapters, but I really want to finish my entire fanfiction by Christmas Day, so I added two at the end! Merry Christmas everyone! And enjoy Chapter 40!

(Chapter Forty)

The Morgans Strike

An alarm sounded loudly. The bank was being robbed! It's the Morgan Gang! was the thought running through everyone's minds.

Jack heard the alarm and jumped out of bed.

"What's wrong, Jack?" his wife asked him, concern filling her voice.

"I'm sorry I woke you," he said as he slipped on a shirt. "It's the bank. It's being robbed," he said as he rushed out of the bedroom. Elizabeth could hear the front door slam.

"God, help him to catch the robbers. And please, please bring him home safely. Amen," she prayed a short, heart-felt prayer.

Jack had managed to gather a few men to help him capture the Bank robbers. He found Bill, Jesse, and Lee in the saloon. Carson had heard a commotion outside the infirmary and volunteered to help. Frank was not far away so he asked if he could be of any help. This all happened very fast. So together, the six of them surrounded the bank. The three doors were covered by Lee, Carson, and Jesse. Frank was hiding behind a nearby tree with the entire building in view. Jack and Bill entered the bank from opposite ends. If they took more than 15 minutes the three men guarding the doors were told to enter carefully. All men carried a gun but were told not to fire it unless it was absolutely necessary.

Jack entered cautiously from the north side as Bill entered abruptly from the south. Pretending to be a customer, Bill asked to see the manager. He took the man aside and told him of their plan. The robbers quickly demanded that the teller give them all the money.

Bill carefully pulled out his gun as Jack crept around the corner. Hiding the gun behind his jacket, Bill signaled to his partner. Jack signaled out the window, and Lee and Carson crept in and pulled out their guns. Jesse came in, and, pretending to be a customer, approached the robbers.

"Do I know you?" he questioned, already knowing the answer.

"I don't think so. Who are you?"

"The name's Flynn. Jesse Flynn. I rode with the Garrison Gang until they were arrested. Didn't catch me, so I was looking to join another gang. Want some help there?"

They reluctantly agreed. Jack showed himself slowly.

"This whole building is surrounded. I'm sorry, it looks like the game is over for you."

"Oh, is it?" the leader, Abe asked.

"Abe, what are we going to do?" Vince asked, obviously concerned by Jack's words.

"Well, I'll tell you what we're not going to do. We're not going to panic," Abe responded in his toughest voice.

"There's no way out, Abe," Jack said calmly, yet strongly.

Abe pointed his gun at Jack and cocked in slowly.

Jesse flung the gun out of his hands as he shouted "Abe!"

The other two criminals ran for their lives, and Jack and Carson ran after him.

Meanwhile, Jesse was in a brawl on the floor for the gun. Who would reach it first? It was a matter of life and death. Both men grabbed the gun with one hand and yanked. It flew through the air and landed a few feet away. Both men scrambled to their feet. Jesse kicked the man to the ground and ran to the gun. He pointed it at the man and yelled, "Stay where you are!"

Jack was chasing Vince with the help of Carson. In the meantime, Bill had cornered Ross with the help of Lee. Frank, who was standing by, had jumped in to help Jesse keep an eye on Abe.

Vince tripped over a log, and Jack caught up to him as he scrambled to his feet and resumed running.

"Vince!" Jack yelled, only a few yards behind him.

He stopped in his tracks. Jack had him at gunpoint when Carson reached them. Carson drew his gun for backup just as Vince did the same.

"You don't have a way out of this, Vince. We can take you in alive and breathing or hanging over a saddle, dead. Put your gun down, Vince. Put your gun down."

Vince lowered his gun to hand it over to Jack, but when Jack reached him, Vince raised it, smacked him in the face, and ran.

"Stop!" Carson yelled as he fired a shot in the air. The man stopped immediately.

Carson took the handcuffs from Jack and put them on Vince. "Now, let's move it," he said roughly as the man struggled against the pressure of the cuffs.

"Thanks for the help, guys. I couldn't have done it without you, Carson. And Jesse, Lee, Frank – " Jack acknowledged all of their help but was cut short.

"You handled yourself pretty fine too, Jack," Bill interrupted his speech.

Everyone was bustling about, asking about the bank robbers.

"Was it dangerous?" "What happened?" "Was anyone hurt?" "Did you catch them?"

Everyone seemed to have questions about something or another.

Yes, it was dangerous. Everybody is fine. There are minor injuries only. Yes, they were caught and put in jail. Apparently the man who had been in the infirmary a few days prior was part of the gang and had been shot in their last robbery. The one in which young Belinda Marshall was kidnapped. He had escaped; but in all the towns he had stopped in, no one wanted to help him. Then he found Hope Valley. This town would be a push-over. He sent a telegram to his buddies and they came as soon as possible, leaving the young girl in an abandoned cabin along the way. And Faith had gotten caught in the middle of their plans. Everyone was safe and sound now, and they all seemed satisfied with the answers. Yet every time one question was answered, two more would fill its place.

Well, I suppose they will get plenty more questions. I guess that comes with being a hero.