The sound of the baby crying woke Bart again and he groaned. Turning to look at the clock, he saw that it wasn't even eight yet. He'd only gotten around five hours of sleep all night, when he really needed ten or twelve—at least—after the past week of fitful sleep on the ground. Sitting up, he scrubbed at his face before going over to the other bed and sitting on it. "So this is what babies do then?" he asked. "Wake up crying every few hours? I wish you'd warned me." With that, he took her out of the bassinet and changed her nappy again.

The baby stopped crying, and laid there blinking bright blue eyes at him.

Bart couldn't help but smile. She really was adorable. He reached a finger to her cheek and lightly brushed it, getting a smile out of the baby. "When you're not crying, you really are a sweet little thing, aren't you?" he said.

The baby's answer was a yawn.

"I know how you feel," Bart said, yawning himself. He rubbed his eyes with a sigh. "Okay, sweetie, are you ready to go downstairs?" He suddenly wondered if he could bring her into the dining room…then again, he realized that he should keep her hidden from public view; he still didn't know whom she'd been so desperately hidden from. "Scratch that," he said. "I'll be right back." With that, he put her back in the bassinet, grabbed his jacket, and left the room, locking the door behind him. As he headed downstairs, he belatedly realized that he must look disheveled, and ran a hand through his hair.

The desk clerk looked up when Bart approached. "Awake again already?"

Bart sighed. "Yeah, figured I might as well eat. Where can I find the sheriff in this town?"

"Across the street and to the left," said the clerk. "I'll send you up breakfast."

Bart nodded. "Can you send up some hot water for a bath too?" he asked.

"Certainly."

"Thanks," Bart said. He went back upstairs and was glad to find the baby fast asleep. "I hope you stay that way for a while," he said.

The baby's body unexpectedly jerked at the sound of his voice, and Bart held his breath, before letting it out when the baby remained asleep. Quietly, he tiptoed away from the bed and opened the door slightly, so no one would knock on it.

His breakfast arrived quickly, and Bart reclined on his bed and ate, trying not to make a single sound. When the hot water was brought up, there was no way to quietly pour it into the tub, but the baby thankfully didn't wake.

Minutes later, Bart sighed with bliss at the feel of the hot water. He was glad for the screen that prevented the baby from seeing him, even though it was a silly thought, since the baby would have no idea what she was seeing anyway. He stayed in there for a long time, eventually falling into a doze.

The desk clerk was surprised a while later, when he saw the 'widower' come down the stairs dressed in an eastern-style suit, looking much better than the travel-worn man who had arrived the night before. He was carrying the baby, who was thankfully quiet.

"Ah," said the clerk. "You clean up well."

Bart chuckled at that, and the clerk could see that he still looked tired. "Thanks. Can you have the sheets changed in my room, on both beds? I'll need fresh towels, too."

The clerk nodded, knowing that babies were messy. "Yes, sir."

Bart nodded his thanks and headed out the door, crossing the street and looking for the sheriff's office. As he walked, he nonchalantly looked around to see if anyone was watching or following him. He saw no one, and was relieved. It wasn't long before he found what he was looking for, and he opened the door and walked in.

An older man was sitting behind a desk, and stood up when Bart entered. "Yes?" he said.

"Hello, Sheriff," said Bart. "My name's Bart Maverick, and I have quite a story to tell you."

The baby chose that moment to gurgle, and the sheriff looked at her. He smiled. "Well, lookie-here," he said. "A baby."

"Do you recognize her?" Bart asked, hopeful.

The sheriff frowned. "Should I?"

Bart sighed. "I was hoping you would." He sat in the chair before the desk. "You see…I found her."

"You found her?!" the sheriff exclaimed.

For the next ten minutes, Bart told him the whole story.

"I was hoping that you would know whom she belongs to," Bart said. "So I can give her back."

"I have no idea," the sheriff told him. "I haven't been the sheriff for very long…I don't know everyone in town yet."

"You don't know of any families that had a new baby a month or two ago?" Bart asked.

The sheriff shook his head.

Bart sighed. "I don't suppose you have a wife who's willing to take her in while we figure out where she belongs?"

The sheriff shook his head. "I'm not married, Mr. Maverick."

"Great," Bart said, with a sigh.

The baby suddenly chose that moment to cry, and Bart started to bounce her around. To his amazement, she stopped.

"It looks like you don't need any help," said the sheriff.

"Believe me, I do," Bart told him. "Before this, I could count on one hand how many times I've held a baby in my life. I don't know the first thing about taking care of one!"

"Well," said the sheriff. "I imagine feedin' and changin' are the main things."

"You're right about that," said Bart. "But you're leaving out the fact that they scream you awake all night. I'm exhausted."

"Oh," said the sheriff. "You want me to look around for someone willing to take her in?"

Bart sighed. "The problem with that, sheriff, is that we don't know who the mother hid her from. We could literally place her right into the wrong hands. What we need to find out is who had a baby in the past month or two, and verify that she is here in town with her child. Whoever turns up to be missing is who we're looking for."

The sheriff nodded. "I'll get on it, Mr. Maverick."

Bart smiled. "Thanks." With that, he stood and left the sheriff's office.

Walking down the street, Bart wondered what else he could possibly do. The sheriff might get lucky and find out whom the baby belonged to quickly…but they'd still have to find out what happened to the woman. Bart suddenly stopped walking when he had a terrible thought: what if she hadn't hidden the baby, but had abandoned it because she didn't want it? The thought was chilling. Could a woman do something like that? he wondered. There he was, a man, a bachelor, and he would never dream of abandoning a baby. No, he thought. That can't be it. He continued to walk.

Suddenly, a man walked into Bart's path and snatched the baby right out of his hands. At the same time, someone's arms wrapped around Bart's from behind, pulling them back and preventing him from drawing his gun. Bart struggled to get free, but an explosive pain filled his head and stars erupted in his vision. His assailant let go and he fell to the ground, out cold.

When Bart woke up, it was slowly and painfully. He could hear people moving around, and someone kept jostling him. A wave of pain filled his head and he winced, with a groan.

"Take it easy," a voice said. "Someone hit you. Don't worry, we'll get your baby back!"

Baby? Realization of what had happened made Bart's eyes pop open and he bolted upright, despite the many hands that were trying to keep him safely immobile where he lay. Immediately, his head pounded with an intensity that left him breathless. His vision swam badly and he passed out again, tipping over right into the people who were kneeling beside him on the ground.

TBC