PLEASE SEE CHAPTER ONE FOR WARNINGS AND DISCLAIMERS

WARNING: Violence/shooting/death in this chapter.

"I mean it, little girl. You stay clear of this or the tanning I just gave you won't even compare."

Torie frowned, but finally gave a resigned nod, "Yes, sir."

With a kiss to her forehead, he laid her on the bed. "You aren't to leave this room unless Mary or I gives you leave and you mind Mary while I'm gone."

"Yes, Papa."

With that Chris left the room and Torie began plotting. She would be damned before giving up having a hand in bringing down the men that killed her mother.

Chapter 10

Cain's hazel eyes narrowed and his tone was clipped as he addressed the scarred man before him. "I told you to stay out of town and out of sight. You of all people would be most recognizable."

"I stayed outta sight," the dark-haired man replied with an air of unconcern. "So what 'av ya learned? Girl here? She remember seein' anythin'?"

"She's here and has recovered, but I have not seen her, and I don't know what she saw that night. Mr. Larabee was aggressive and suspicious, but from what I have heard, that is his nature and might not mean anything."

"We should take care of 'er just ta be safe."

"Show some patience. We need that deed and we're running out of time. Melbourne has put the railroad off as long as he can. Once they find out he isn't in possession of all four adjoining properties, the price will go down considerably and they will make their own offer to Larabee. Since Melbourne's deal with the railroad lets him retain mineral rights on the properties he stands to make a great deal of money. You messed this up once already Sykes."

"Molson screwed it up, an' he ain't likely to it agin," the man answered as a malevolent grin spread across his scarred face, his dark eyes glinting with delight.

Cain sipped the whisky in his glass to help swallow the bile in his throat. Sykes was useful, but his methods were repulsive. He had taken Molson's ear, stating that if the man weren't going to listen to orders he had no use for it. Cain never would have suspected that getting the land deed from the French singer would have resulted in her death, or the near death of her daughter either. He had little stomach for such things, but his brother-in-law paid him well to get results so Cain just tried not to think about the people that sometimes got hurt along the way.

"I've arranged for a distraction, if we should need one. I will get word to you. You and the others stay out of town and out of sight until then."

Sykes held the gaze of his boss for a few seconds before he nodded and slipped out of the room and behind the buildings undetected. He was very good at that. Probably a gift bequeathed him by his Comanche mother.

Mary carefully set the wooden case upon the table, pausing before she opened it. Once Chris had come down from dealing with Torie and Mary had offered some comfort to Billy, the two adults had taken awhile to talk. Mary smiled as she thought about the rare opportunity to get the peacekeeper alone. The news that the newcomers to Four Corners might have been responsible for the death of Torie's mother had in no way caused Mary to hesitate in offering to keep Torie here, but the newspaperwoman had decided to get the gun down as soon as Chris left. It would hardly be the first time she had used a weapon in defense of those she held dear. Opening the case, she stared down at her former husband's shiny revolver and then carefully picked it up. A knock at the open doorway interrupted her train of thought and she dropped the gun back into its case.

"I'm sorry to interrupt," Torie said softly. "And I know that I'm supposed to stay upstairs, but I wanted to say that I'm really sorry about getting Billy into trouble. The firecrackers were my idea and not a good one. I am really sorry. I hope that you'll still let Billy and I be friends."

Mary smiled and opened her arms. "Of course. I forgive you and I'm pleased that you are Billy's friend."

Torie readily stepped into the woman's embrace, returning the hug somewhat awkwardly.

"Not to say that I approve of your actions," Mary said, pulling back from the girl, "But I do understand that children are bound to find some degree of trouble now and again."

"Thanks, Mary," Torie said with a grin before looking down at the gun. "That's a nice piece," she stated in an off-hand manner.

"It was my husband's"

"Doesn't seem like it's seen much use."

"It hasn't," Mary said closing the lid and turning around. "Now I was just about ready to go fix some lunch, and you, miss, are supposed to be staying up in my room as part of your punishment."

"I could help with lunch."

Mary shook her head. "I'll call you when it's ready."

XXOXXOXXOXO

"You have no right to detain me!" an angry Cain insisted as he faced three of the seven peacekeepers through the bars of the jail cell.

"Well, see, that's where yer, wrong," Buck stated his dark mustache twitching as his mouth lifted into a grin. His blue eyes held no humor, however, as he pinned the Texan with a glare. "Rumor has it you know somethin' 'bout a murder in New Orleans."

"I have already told the authorities that I know nothing about Ms. De Launey's death."

"Yeah, but we think yer lyin'," Vin stated from his seat atop the desk, where he was sharpening his large hunting knife.

"On what grounds are you making your slanderous charges?"

"On the grounds that there was a witness who heard you order several masked men to do whatever it took to get a certain land deed from Ms. De Launey," Ezra drawled as he shuffled a deck of cards, his boots leisurely propped on the desk Vin was using as a seat.

"Nonsense!" Cain blustered, but the peacekeepers each noted the fear in the man's eyes as well as the bead of sweat on his brow.

Just then the door opened and the two Larabees entered the room. Torie took one look at the man behind the bars and lunged in his direction only to be stopped by her father's solid hold about her waist.

"Fils de pute! Clébard! Je vous tuerai!"

"Guess that's him then," Vin noted while Chris pulled the girl from the building, slamming the door behind him.

"That girl is clearly out of her mind. If she is Ms. De Launey's daughter, her injuries must have left her confused. No judge or jury is going to accept her testimony as valid," Cain said with a smirk.

"Judge? Jury?" Buck chuckled. "What makes ya think yer goin' to court?" The man behind the bars looked confused at Buck's statement, but before he could formulate a response, the tall peacekeeper continued, "Hell, Chris is gonna come back here and kill you."

Cain's eyes widened in shock at the statement while Vin and Ezra just nodded their agreement to Buck's observation.

"He can't do that! You can't let him!"

Buck approached the bars, a wild look in his eyes that made Cain take a few steps back. "Let him?" Buck's voice had become dangerously quiet. "You nearly ripped half the soul outta his baby girl the night you ordered those men to kill her mama. It'd take a lot more than the three of us to stop him." Buck slammed his hands against the bars, "Hell, the only thing keepin' me from doing it myself is that Chris would shoot me if I beat him to it!"

Vin grinned evilly and Ezra showed no emotion whatsoever as the man's breathing quickened and he fell onto the bunk in his jail cell.

"He can't just summarily execute me without a trial. That's illegal."

"Hell, yer from Texas," Vin said with a shrug, "Ya know it happens all tha time."

"I didn't kill that woman and I didn't order her death!"

"But you did order them to do whatever it took to get the land deed," Ezra observed with an air of unconcern.

"I didn't know they would kill her or hurt the girl. I never meant for that to happen."

Ezra grinned. "Well now, though I might be inclined to believe you, I seriously doubt that my compatriots will. Still, seeing your death sentence fulfilled does fall lower on the priority list than bringing down the men who actually performed the horrific deed. Perhaps if you could provide us with their whereabouts, we just might be able to see about granting a stay of execution."

"I don't know exactly where they are," Cain hedged.

"Now that is unfortunate," Ezra said with a sigh, "As Mr. Larabee will undoubtedly be walking through that door in less than five minutes intent upon bringing about your very painful demise."

Swallowing several times, Cain's hazel eyes met Ezra's in desperation. "They are camped somewhere out of town. I don't know which direction, but it's close, an easy ride."

Vin was up like a flash and out the door while Ezra got a few more details from Cain. Two minutes later Chris slammed into the room grabbing the keys to the cell. "Vin's getting' the horses," he said tilting his head toward the door as a silent command to the two men still in the room. Buck and Ezra were quick to vacate.

As Chris opened the cell, Cain backed against the furthest wall. "I, I told your men all that I know. I did not order that woman's death. I-"

Further speech was cut off as Chris grabbed the man around the throat. "If I don't find those men, I will come back here and take you apart piece by piece," he threatened darkly. With that he dropped his hold on Cain's throat and landed a punch to his face knocking the other man to the floor just as JD entered the jail with a drunken cowboy in tow.

Chris slammed the bars closed and made sure the cell was locked, tossing the keys to JD. "What'd he do?"

"Just drunk and waiving his gun around. Got a round off into the air. Needs to sleep it off before he hurts someone."

Chris nodded; less concerned about the rowdy cowboys now that he knew Cain's men were camped out of town. "Vin, Buck, Ezra, and I are going after the others. Make sure this one stays put. Josiah and Nathan will be keeping an eye on Torie and the rest of town."

"I will Chris," JD answered putting his prisoner into the cell next to Cain's.

Several hours later, gunshots outside drew JD's attention and he stepped out onto the boardwalk his weapons drawn. Nathan was headed down the street at a run and it looked as if Josiah were trying to gain control of a fight gone bad in the street outside of the saloon. JD rushed to aid his friends.

Chris, Vin, Ezra, and Buck road into town just as the others were getting the ruckus under control. Though they had two men in custody, anyone could look at Chris's face and know he was not pleased with the afternoon's venture. Before the peacekeepers had time to exchange stories, a frantic middle-aged woman ran from the boarding house, yelling for help. As it turned out, more than one room had been vandalized while she had been visiting a friend and she had caught site of a man with only one ear running from the establishment.

Chris swore heatedly, knowing that someone had been searching for the land deed, and possibly for Torie. He was quick to head for Mary's. Meeting him with frantic wide eyes, the newspaperwoman was nearly in tears.

"She's gone, Chris. I'm so sorry. I am absolutely certain that no one has been here, but I think Torie climbed out of the window. There was a rope tied off to the bed and thrown out the window."

Chris closed his eyes and tried to remain calm as JD ran through the door. "Cain's gone, Chris."

Turning to slam his open palm into the wall the black-clad gunfighter cursed again and headed out to retrieve his horse. Vin met and slowed his friend with a hand on his shoulder. Their eyes met and Vin quietly gave his own report.

"Thet group of cowboys from Texas has hightailed it outta town, think maybe they're jest a diversion. Plenty a tracks to follow, but knowin' which ones might be tricky. Fury is gone, too, but," here Vin shook his head, "With all the traffic, I cain't pick out his tracks amongst the others. We'd do well to split up and each follow a group."

Chris nodded, accepting the tracker's advice. He felt as if a an iron hand were wrapped around his heart and his mind drifted back to a day long ago when he and Buck had returned to find his house burned down and his wife and child dead to the flames. He honestly did not think he could survive losing another child.

"We'll find 'em, Chris. More importantly, we'll find her," Vin stated softly.

Within minutes the seven peacekeepers were riding out of town with purpose as Mary watched in silent anguish, her arms around her son.

"Why'd she leave, Ma?" Billy wanted to know.

Mary shook her head. "She's so angry, Billy. She feels that she must do something."

The boy's brow furrowed. He had been so scared when his father had been murdered. So frightened that the men would come back and kill his mother. He could understand, though, a bit of what Torie was feeling. "Chris'll find those men and Torie's gonna be just fine," he stated resolutely.

Mary smiled. The sun rose and set on Chris Larabee as far as Billy was concerned. With a blush the woman realized that her own sentiments were not far behind those of her son. Offering the boy a hug she directed him back inside.

After setting Billy to a menial task in the sitting room, more just to occupy his hands and thoughts than anything else, Mary moved to make some tea. It could be hours before she heard anything. This was always the hardest part…waiting. She prayed that they found Torie and that the girl was all right. Hopefully they would also find the men responsible for Ysebella's murder. Torie deserved some peace and closure.

Stepping back to lean against the counter while the water heated, Mary closed her eyes and added a prayer for Chris, and the other peacekeepers. A slight smile pulled at her lips as she considered their earlier kiss. He had stated once that he was the "bad element," but she found her heart did not care at all. His job, his very life, was full of danger but somehow Mary realized that she would rather accept the risk involved in loving Chris than to settle for less with another man.

After the water heated, she made herself some tea and poured Billy some milk, putting the drinks on a tray and adding a plate of cookies as well. She took a deep breath and calmed her nerves. Billy would be looking to her to gauge the seriousness of the situation. Pasting on a smile she moved into the sitting room.

Mary entered the sitting room and the tray went clattering to the floor spilling milk and tea everywhere. There standing by the fire, a huge hunting knife held to Billy's throat, was a dark-haired man with even darker eyes and a hideously scarred face. The scene and the terror in her son's eyes nearly took Mary's breath away.

"Where's the girl?" the man demanded roughly.

"I don't know what you're talking about. Please, please let my son go."

"Ya do know," Sykes stated roughly tightening his grip on Billy. "And yer gonna tell me or I'm gonna cut up yer boy right in front a ya."

"Torie left," Mary answered honestly. "I have no idea where she is."

"Maybe ya need a demonstration," the man said coldly his knife inching up to Billy's ear as the boy whimpered.

"Honest to God! She left and I have no idea where she went!" Mary all but screamed taking several steps toward the pair.

"Ya'd do well ta stay back an' away," Sykes warned and Mary froze. "Where would she go?"

"I don't know."

"Seems yer not much use ta me at all," the man growled and the knife cut into Billy's flesh, causing the boy to cry out.

"NO!" Mary screamed just as a gunshot rang out.

Sykes dropped his knife and his hand fell to his gun as he lifted Billy with his other arm.

"You would do well to still your hand," Torie's voice was cold as a gravestone as she stood at the doorway, Mary's shiny revolver pointed right at Sykes. "Let him go."

"Or what?" the man asked with a chuckle though his other hand came off of the weapon on his hip. He took a step toward Torie, not loosening his hold on Billy.

"Whatcha gonna do girlie? Ya really think ya have it in ya ta kill a man?" He laughed out right and took another step towards Torie his dark eyes pinning her with a certain distain. "Takin' someone's life, it's hard fer even many thet's growed. Now someone like me," here he stopped to run a hand over Billy's throat smearing blood as he did so with an evil smile. "I could snap this boy's neck without a thought. How 'bout ya drop thet gun, 'fore someone gets hurt thet ya don't want ta see hurt." Sykes took a few more steps toward Torie.

Three gunshots resonated through the small room and Sykes fell to the floor. Billy ran to his mother and she met him half way throwing her arms around her son. Torie paused momentarily, looking at the smoking weapon in her hands before she lowered it and approached the man on the floor, gasping for breath that was not going to come.

"I imagine I would care a great deal about taking a human life. Putting down a rabid dog, however, well that is another matter quite entirely," she said in a whisper swallowing convulsively. A look of surprise flashed through the man's eyes before they closed forever.

TBC