Well here we are again. Another day, another chapter. Just a warning that this instalment has some explicit barn dancing in it. So those of you with a squeemish disposition may wish to avoid. Thank you once again for your very generous comments on the previous chapter. With so much great fan fiction to enjoy I am really grateful that all of you take the time to read, let alone leave your kind comments.

The holding cell door slammed shut with a metallic ring which sounded to James very much like the death knell of his mission in Marfa. He gripped the metal bars either side of his head and peered through the space in between, watching the retreating back of Sheriff Wyatt as he returned to his desk in the main office area of the small police station. Once there he slumped down into his battered swivel chair, hoisted both legs onto the desk and reclined back whilst lowering his hat over his eyes. Before too long the sound of his even breathing indicated he and drifted off to sleep.

James tuned back into the holding cell and looked balefully at his fellow detainees. With the exception of Baz Vegas, who was AWOL and Molly who had gone with an unconscious Mansfield Mike to the towns small medical centre, the whole of three section were there, battered and bruised following their recent brawl. In the adjacent cell were a group of local farm hands and ranchers in a similar state, many still throwing menacing looks at his men, obviously itching to recommence hostilities.

Brains was continuing his argument with the opposing ring leader, a short, stocky man in blue checked shirt and red neckerchief called Bo.

"But its obvious to me that the best follow up to the chassey turn after the third promenade would have been an allemande"

"Oh, that's horse shit boy and you knows it. In these parts the Cincinnati Reel has a do-si-do, followed by a turn, balance and swing" said Bo.

"Your talking bollocks mate" pursued Brains. "That upsets the whole dynamic of the dance. You end up looking like a kangaroo with a spike up its jacksie"

"Let's see how you move with a spike up your arse!" thundered Bo, trying to grab Brains through the intervening bars.

"Oh yer" yelled Brains "come and have a go if you think yer hard enough"

"For goodness sake, will you let it go" Shouted James at both men who looked suitably chastened and retreated to their respective corners where they continued to gesticulate threateningly at each other.

James closed his eyes and blew out through his mouth. He knew he shouldn't have let Mansfield sit on his own with the Mayor at the barn raising. As soon as Hambleton had announced the corporals agreement to participate in the barn dance James had stalked over to the guest of honour.

"What the bloody hell do you think you are doing? Can't I leave you alone for five minutes without your getting yourself neck deep in stool water. What in gods name do you know about calling a barn dance?"

"Sorry sir" replied the corporal apologetically "But you did say not to upset the locals and the mayor is a hard person to say no too"

"It can't be that hard man. You've just got to be polite but firm" said James.

Just then Mayor Hambleton had approached them with a benevolent smile on his face " Ah Major, I see you're eager to get involved in our little shin dig"

"Well actually Mayor, I was just saying to..." Began James

"Excellent, excellent...maybe you and your men can give us a demonstration of your dancing skills"

"But you see I..."

" I'll see you and your men in the barn shortly then" said Hambleton over his shoulder as he had headed towards the new structure where a group of musicians had already been warming up.

James grimaced then shot Mansfield Mike a glance.

"See what I mean sir" said the corporal

"Just shut up and follow me." growled James

They had headed back to the rest of three section who were still sat around the table eating.

"Right, we've got a bit if a situation here, so I want everyone to focus up." Said James " We need to choreograph and learn a barn dance routine and come up with a patter for Mansfield here to call out and we've got about 5 minutes to do it in"

There had been silence for a few seconds before Baz Vegas had burst into laughter "That's a good one sir. Really had me shittin' me self for a minute"

James had looked at his troops "i m not joking I'm afraid. We need a plan and we need one now"

Brains had frowned and looked at his Major intensely for a moment before he said "I'll need paper and a pen. I think I can remember the calls for the Alabama Jubilee which you can read out corp. The rest of you will just have to follow my lead on the dance floor."

They had all stared at Brains in disbeleif. The private had looked up from his fevered scribbling "I was junior county barn dance champion two years running. Me parents were really into it OK? Now stop gawping and gather round."

Back in the holding cell James paced backwards and forwards whilst the rest of the inmates drifted off to sleep. Wyatt shifted in his chair then woke with a start and stretched. He got up stiffly then walked over to a side table and poured himself a coffee from a jug.

"Are you enjoying this?" James called over "You know none of this is our fault, don't you...it was all just a big misunderstanding."

"Well, this misunderstanding led to a pretty serious brawl and a fair amount of damaged property. Night in the cells for everybody to calm down seems like a fair outcome I'd say" replied the sheriff.

James shrugged in resignation. "Could you at least find out how my corporal is and where my missing private has got to?"

Wyatt took a sip of his drink "His Royal Highness is fine. Your medic says just a bang on the head. He'll just have to avoid wearin' his crown for a while. As for your private I have no idea about that, when did you last see him?"

"It was at the barn dance just before the...incident. He was talking to some middle aged woman" said James

"Well can you describe this woman?" Asked the sheriff.

James described what he could remember of her and Wyatt slowly smiled. "Oh, I wouldn't worry about him tonight Major. He's gonna be tied up for a while but CJ'll take good care of him till the mornin' when I'll send a deputy to pick him up"

James looked at the sheriff in confusion and was about to press the point when the door of the station opened and Molly walked in. She looked tired and worried but managed to give James a smile which seemed to lift the load from his shoulders just a little. Whatever his troubles he new she was his and that would never change.

She approached the sheriff and spoke to him in a low voice. The sheriff looked across at James then gave a short nod but raised his hand to show all the digits "but just five minutes" he said.

Molly walked over to the holding cell and stood in front of James "Alright sir, what's it like in Sing Sing?"

"Well, the food is terrible and the company leaves something to be desired but at least there are en-suite facilities" said James nodding to the bucket in the corner of the cell.

Molly grimaced "You want to hope Smurf don't need to take a dump, all that raw meat ain't easy to digest. Boys don't call him 'light a match' for nothing"

James pulled a face then said "Wyatt says Mansfield's just got a bump on the head"

Molly nodded "Yer, lucky he's got such a thick skull. Should be right as rain in the morning. Know anything about what happens next?"

"Sheriff' ll keep us in over night then I expect it will depend in whether the rancher wants to press any charges. You managed to speak to Morley?"

"Yep, he's going to see what he can do" replied Molly "In the meantime try and get some sleep OK?"

"Don't suppose you want to stay do you?. Plenty of room" said James

"No thanks. Don't want to make your bitches jealous" smirked Molly indicating his cell mates.

James laughed then squeezed her hand. Molly wished him good night, kissed him fleetingly on the lips and was gone.

James turned away and headed towards one of the bunks. He lay down and looked up at the ceiling replaying again in his mind the events of the evening...

James had led his men into the new barn whilst Mansfield Mike had mounted a makeshift stage at one end of the large space and joined the small group of musicians. Brains had directed three section into their starting positions where they were joined by a number of giggling local women who had volunteered to partner the troops. Molly had held back but James spotted her and strode over, taking her hand and leading her out to join the rest "For better, for worse, remember?" He said.

Molly had laughed "It can't get much worse than this can it?"

Suddenly the music had struck up and Mansfield had taken up the microphone

"Ace of Diamonds, Jack of Spades

Meet your partner and all promenade"

They had set off down the hall in formation, keeping a close eye on Brains and his partner who led the way.

"Allemande Left with your left hand. Back to the partner for a right and left grand" Mansfield Mike intoned as they span and handed their partners before going back into hold.

James had to admit that, although it was far from perfect it was not the total disaster he had feared. Three section seemed to get the hang of the dance gradually and James had actually started to enjoy himself by the end. When the music had finally stopped they had received polite applause from the audience and James, hugely relieved, had led them all from the floor. At least he thought he had until the audience had started to applaud once more and he turned to see Brains and his partner walking to the centre of the room where the private signalled to the band to play again. Mansfield had started to call the dance and Brains whorled his partner around the floor in what had quickly become a virtuoso performance.

James had then noticed a stocky man with a blue checked shirt and red neckerchief glaring at the couple before grabing his partner and striding onto the dance floor. They too had started to dance, matching Brains move for move, cranking up the difficulty until both couples where a blur of movement. The crowd had cheered them on and a man beside James ad exclaimed "A dance duel, we ain't had a good dance duel for ages"

The crowd had become progressively rowdier and James had started to hear calls of "C'mon Bo show that sonofabitch how its done!". The atmosphere had become increasingly charged and James had been about to pull Brains off the floor when disaster had struck. Brains and his partner were in the middle of a quick step section in ballroom hold which took them close to the crowd. From out of the packed spectators someone appeared to push a large black briefcase into the path of the oncoming dancers. Brains had only had time to push his partner out of the way before careering into the obstacle and flying into the most vocal section of the crowd.

Within seconds fists were flying and three section had waded into the melee to help their comrade. The brawl had spilled out onto the dance floor, accompanied by the sound of screaming and shouting as people either joined the fight or fled the scene.

James bellowed for his men to stop but the noise and confusion was too great. He had had no alternative but to enter the middle of the fray in a desperate attempt to separate the waring parties. He had just pulled apart Brains and the man Bo when he was stunned by a chair being broken over his head from behind. He had fallen to his knees, his head spinning and his vision blurred. James had shaken his head to clear the mist and looked up to see a heaving mass of men crash through the timber wall of the new barn and out into the night.

Then suddenly they had all been deafened by the report of a revolver being fired into the air. A further shot had stopped the fight dead but had also dislodged a section of roof beam which had come down onto Mansfield Mikes head, knocking him out.

James had looked in the direction of the shots and had found Sheriff Wyatt, his gun levelled at the brawlers. "I think y'all need to come down the jailhouse with me"

As they had been herded out by the Sheriff and two of his deputies, James could have sworn he had seen the large black briefcase which had been the original cause of the trouble being picked up by a short, oriental man, who had looked around surreptitiously and then walked quickly from the room...

When James woke, the following morning it took him a second to work out where he was but the grey bars which surrounded him caused the memories to come flooding back quickly enough. He sat up on the bunk and looked through to the main office where the murmur of low voices could just be made out. James was releived to see Baz Vegas sitting in a chair in front Sheriff Wyatt, a blanket around his shoulders and a mug of steaming coffee in his hand. He seemed to be talking animatedly while Wyatt took some notes.

After a few minutes Wyatt closed his note book and gestured over to James. Baz glanced over and then rose unsteadily from his chair before shuffling across to the holding cell. James met the private by the cell door

"Baz, are you OK? Where the hell have you been?"

"Sir, sorry sir...its been terrible...I..." A sob escaped from Baz and he put a shaking hand to his forehead

"Goodness man, what's the matter, what is it?" Said James confused

"She seemed really nice...said she had some real English tea and scones back at her place...cream, jam...the works...it sounded lovely, you know a taste of home..." Said Baz

James grabbed the mans shoulder through the bars "Baz, its OK you can tell me..."

"There was no tea or scones but there was plenty of cream, all over the place...and you don't want to know where she put the jam...I'll be picking out raspberry pips for weeks.."

James pulled the man towards him in an awkward hug "Its all right, let it all out, your safe now..."

Across town, Mayor Hambleton was sat at his dinning table enjoying a large breakfast when the door bell rang. "Get that will you honey?" He called to his wife, who bustled along the hallway muttering under her breath. She flung open the door to find a figure standing in her porch.

"May I speak with Mayor Hambleton please?" Asked the visitor

The Mayoress stared at the new arrival for a moment before recognition dawned

"Oh ma goodness its you isn't it? I recognise you from your picture in them fancy ladies magazines...your Jonathan ain't ya?"

"Guilty as charged" said Beck "May I come in?"...

James looked at the watery porridge with distaste "I thought it was just a saying. I didn't think we actually had to eat the stuff" he muttered. The noise of someone entering the main office made him look up, setting aside the bowl of slop with some relief. Into the room walked an attractive middle aged lady with a small boy of about 7 years old.

Wyatt shot up from his seat when he spotted them and seemed to become very nervous, very quickly, not knowing quite what to do and ending up hopping about like a lunatic. The woman smiled sweetly at him and placed a brown paper bag on the sheriffs desk, saying something about a heart breakfast after a busy night. Wyatt stuttered a very awkward thank you before the door of the station opened again and Mayor Hambleton walked in accompanied by the rancher from the evening before.

James had been dreading this moment. The man had obviously come to confirm he was pressing charges. The major groaned to himself and prepared to meet his fate.

Wyatt seemed to be in an animated conversation with the Mayor while the rancher, the lady and her son looked on. The sheriff eventually threw his hands up and surrendered the keys of the holding cell to the Mayor who walked over to James beaming.

"Good morning Major. Looks like yesterdays misunderstandin' has all been ironed out and you and your men are free to go."

James looked at the man in disbelief "I don't follow you" he said as the cell door swung open.

Hambleton maintained his smile. "Your friend has explained everything. Just some high spirits and a few broken chairs. No harm done"

"My friend, what friend?" Said James confused

Then from the door of the police station came the sound of singing

"Chicks and ducks and geese better scurry

When Jonathan is out in the Surrey

When Jonathan is out in the Surrey with the fringe on top"

"Beck!" Said James in surprise

His friend stood in the doorway in a blue gingham dress and bright red shoes

"Not today, James, today I am channelling Dorothy battling the wicked witches of injustice"

"Well, whoever you are thank you!" Said James

"Oh it was nothing. I was in the area anyway, looking for leather producers who can fill a very lucrative order to supply me with material for my latest range of underwear. By pure luck I met these two wonderful gentlemen this morning, one being the mayor of this beautiful town and the other who just happens to own one of the largest ranches in the area with its own tannery. It was really a match made in heaven. Anyway I must leave you for now since we have contracts to sign gentlemen, but let's catch up later" and with that Jonathan swept out of the room with the mayor and the rancher in his wake.

James smiled and shook his head, then turned to organise his troops. They stood in a group with the local men who had been released at the same time and the two parties were facing off already. Before James could intervene Bo had shoved Brains into Smurf, who stumbled, dislodging his dark glasses momentarily and exposing his bright red eyes. Smurf had the glasses on in a second and James was sure no one had noticed. No one that is except the boy who had come to visit the sheriff with his mother. He was staring at Smurf, not in fear James realised, but in recognition. In a flash the major realised that their mission might just have its first lead.