The next morning came much earlier than Jim would have liked, Donovan pounding on their door. Jim rose and opened the door to let him in. Donovan took in Artie's disheveled look and glanced at Jim, who merely shrugged his shoulders. Donovan, it appeared was to be the spokesman for the group. The others had already gone down stairs for breakfast, instantly alerting Jim and eliciting a groan from Artie.

"What do they think they're doing? You aren't to go anywhere without us; and that includes the restaurant," Jim said angrily.

"I tried to tell them that but they wouldn't listen. So I came straight here to get you, Mr. West. I had hoped to let Mr. Gordon sleep. I don't see the need for two chaperones."

"Nonsense," Artemus grumped, "the President promised you two baby sitters and you'll get two baby sitters."

"Come on, Artie, lighten up," Jim pleaded. Oh man this was going to be one very long week.

"Yeah, you're right, sorry Jim," Artie said as he pulled on his vest then grabbed his fringed riding jacket and opened the door, "you gentlemen coming or do I get to have the pleasure of frick and frack's company all to myself?" he smiled trying to make up for his earlier mood.

Jim bowed to Donovan and allowed him and Artemus to exit the room before him. Artie gave Jim the look, telling him he knew what he was up to and he didn't appreciate being baby sat as well. They joined Matthews and Ketchum in the restaurant and ordered their meals. Jim noticed Donovan keeping a watchful eye on Artie and it made him even more curious about this man.

Their meals finished, Jim noting that again Artie only ate about half, Jim suggested they get an early start on their days plans. Jim had wanted to plan a simple day, hoping Artie could draw the light duty. Ketchum wanted to tour the entire town in one day; Matthews wanted to go hunting so Jim was extremely grateful when Donovan suggested they go to some of the town's more demure shops.

Donovan reminded the men they had lists as long as their arms of things their wives wanted them to bring back and that if they got everything today that would leave the rest of their trip for other adventures. They readily agreed and Jim shot him an appreciative look. Donovan winked and pulled Artie aside and whispered something to him that made Artie laugh. Jim just shook his head as they headed out of the hotel.

After hitting almost every shop in the area, the men decided to stop in at a saloon for a cold beer to wash away the heat of the day. Jim scrutinized his partner when he only ordered coffee, but said nothing. Donovan also only ordered coffee, explaining that alcohol didn't seem to agree with him. Artie and Donovan moved off to their own table, which didn't seem to bother Matthews and Ketchum. Jim was glad Artie had something to distract him and hoped he would be able to spend more time with Donovan.

Finally, it was almost suppertime and the men announced they had finally gotten the last of the items they needed. Jim suggested they take their treasures and head back to the hotel for an early dinner and then get some rest, as they would be going hunting in the morning. Artie's eye lit up at the prospect of sleep. He didn't care if he never ate again he was just dying to drop into a deep sleep.

They arrived at the hotel and deposited their items in their rooms. Jim had made Artie stay downstairs and get them tables in the restaurant. Again, Artie and Donovan took the separate table and seemed to be engrossed in stimulating conversation. Jim cringed inwardly at the thought of having to up with these stuffed shirts and kept reminding himself it was only a few days.

After the evening meal, Jim couldn't gage how much Artie had eaten, he had strategically placed his napkin over his plate when he finished, the men requested that they be allowed to go out and experience the nightlife Atlanta had to offer. Donovan caught Jim's eye and he pointed to Artemus and shook his head no. Jim suggested that he be the one to show them the best nightspots and Artemus would stay behind and protect their belongings.

"That sounds like a great idea, Jim," Donovan said, "Artemus, don't you agree?"

"Yeah, sure, I'd like to get to bed early anyway. Nightlife is Jim's department anyway, he probably knows where every single girl lives between here and Los Angeles," Artie joked.

"Not all of them, Artie, there has to be one or two young ladies I haven't met yet. I'd be terribly disappointed otherwise," Jim replied with a grin.

Jim, Matthews, Ketchum and Donovan departed for the nightclub area and Artie gratefully went upstairs and to his room. He threw his jacket onto a chair and collapsed on the bed. God, he was tired, but something about Donovan kept nagging at his mind. He lay there contemplating their charge when he heard a noise in the next room. Knowing they were all out with Jim, Artie removed his gun from the holster hanging on the bedpost and quietly crept out into the hallway. Ketchum's door was slightly ajar.

Artie crept over to the door and cocked his pistol. He jumped into the door, slamming it open and scaring the intruder. The man dropped the items he had taken and reached for his gun. Artie didn't intend on letting him get it out. He fired and the man went down and didn't get up. Artie checked for a pulse and found none. He shook his head as a crowd gathered around the door. Damn, the killing just never stops, Artie sighed. The sheriff entered the room and wanted to know what happened. Artie filled him in and the sheriff told him he would have to come down to the jailhouse to file a report. Artie sighed, nodded his head and went to get his fringed jacket. Sleep would have to wait.

Three hours later Artie had finally answered all of the sheriff's questions to his satisfaction and the proper reports had been filed and he was allowed to leave. He literally dragged himself down the street to the hotel, hoping he would get there and in bed before Jim got back. He had just entered their room and removed his jacket for the second time that night when the door opened and Jim entered.

"Artie?" he questioned, "You going someplace?"

"Just got back. I thought you made that doctor a promise, Jim. You failed miserably, pal," Artie tried to sound lighthearted.

"What are you talking about?" the hairs were standing at attention on the back of Jim's neck.

"Oh nothing," Artie said nonchalantly.

"Artie!"

"You weren't here to baby sit me like you were supposed to so I just made my own excitement."

"Artemus…"

"No, Jim, it's okay, no big deal…" Artie replied with an overly dramatic wave of his hand.

"Artemus Gordon!"

"Okay, Okay, you don't have to yell. While you were out saloon hopping, someone decided to pay a visit to our lovely friend Ketchum's room."

"What? Was anyone hurt?" Jim looked at his friend.

"I'm fine, dad. The intruder, whoever he was isn't doing so great."

"Where is he, I'd like to question him."

"You can't…" Artie let his sentence trail off.

"Can't? Why not? Artie, what is it?" Jim could see the look on his face and it worried him.

"I had to shoot him," Artie whispered.

"What? I didn't catch that, pal."

"I did it again, Jim. I had to shoot him. He left me no choice. I threw open the door and confronted him and he pulled a gun…I had no choice but to shoot…I killed him. I killed an innocent person again," Artie almost cried.

"Artie, he hardly sounds innocent if he was robbing someone's room."

"Yeah, that's what the witnesses told the sheriff. I just got back from filing the reports. Jim, do you know that they file more reports than we do? Heck, I even think I just filed a report with the sheriff requesting to file a report about shooting an armed intruder!" Jim thought Artie looked like her were going to collapse so he pushed him down onto the bed. He pulled Artie's boots off and pulled the blankets up over him.

"You just go to sleep, pal. I'm revising the plans a little. Tomorrow I will take Matthews and Ketchum hunting and you will take Donovan on a tour of the museum."

"Jim, I won't be molly coddled. If the agenda calls for hunting then I'll get up and go hunting," Artie snapped.

"No it's not that, Artie. Donovan wants a break from them and they don't want to check out some stuffy old museum they want to go shoot at something."

"Why do I get the hint that you're not telling me something?" Artie wondered.

"It's nothing…"

"James…"

"Really, pal, it's nothing. Just that Donovan and Matthews got into it at one of the saloons we went to. I get the idea Donovan doesn't want to be on this little trip any more than Matthews and Ketchum want him here."

"I would like to know how Donovan got mixed up with those two. They make quite an odd trio," Artie mused, Jim noted the tired expression.

"Me too. But right now the only thing I'd like to know is why you are still up. Get to sleep, mister!" Jim tried to sound official.

"You don't have to tell me twice!" Artie turned over and waited until he felt Jim slide into the bed then turned the lamp down.

Within seconds, Artie was sleeping and Jim lay there wondering just who Donovan really was what he was doing here. He felt that Donovan had some sort of ulterior motive and he was bound and determined to find out what it was. Jim turned onto his side, his back still ached if he slept on it all night and he wanted to keep an eye on his partner anyway. He watched the steady rise and fall of his shoulder as he drifted off to sleep.