A/N: Hello, again, lovely readers. We hope we are finally back on a regular updating schedule. We think you're really going to like this chapter. We hope so, because we really enjoyed writing it.

Once again, our thanks go out to our awesome beta, SweetThunder for sharing her special talents to make this story even more special.

Yes, Stephenie Meyer still owns the Twilight characters, but WE OWN WESTWARD! He belongs to us and we like to play with him. We hope all you guys do too!

So now, please enjoy….

Westward

The Marksman

Chapter 7—Run Ins

Ward was brought up short by the use of his childhood nickname. How the devil did she know about him? And if she kept spouting things like that, she'd ruin everything he had going.

He turned his head just far enough to give her a perfect view of his strong profile as his chiseled jaw and sculpted cheekbones were thrown into relief against the mid-morning sun. His voice took on a gravelly quality as he ground out, low and firm, "The name is Ward. Ward Masen." He shot his eyes in her direction and she was slightly taken aback by the fire that blazed within. Her heart rate increased and it was suddenly hard to breathe. She was tempted to just agree and go away quietly, but she'd felt riled up about him all week long and she was more certain than ever--he was Eddie and she wouldn't back off from her theory.

Her remembered anger helped to steady her nerves enough to reply in a condescending tone, "Okay. If that's what you say." She looked at him, a challenge in her stature.

"That is what I say." He tipped his head and brought his right index finger to the brim of his hat as he said, "Now I bid you good day. Izzy."

"And to you too Ward," she repeated his name with exaggerated emphasis. He nodded seeming satisfied with her understanding about his name. She began to walk away shooting glances over her shoulder every few feet. He had turned around completely to face the street and watched her with a burning curiosity. When she was nearly in the center of the street she turned and grinned. He was as stoic and unmoving as a statue, watching her walk away.

"By the way Eddie, you have a mint leaf stuck in your teeth." She wiggled her fingers at him and hurried across the road and back to Alice's shop.

She faintly heard an annoyed curse shoot from his mouth before he called loudly in her direction, "Ward! Ward Masen!"

She smiled wryly as she pushed her way into Alice's shop. She immediately walked over and peered out the window to see him fuming mad and stomping away. A few people seemed to have noticed the encounter, but it wasn't enough to cause too much of a scene so they just continued about their business. She turned into the display of ready-made dresses hanging from every available surface and protruding into the already narrow pathway that ran through the center of the store. She stopped abruptly, noticing that Jasper was there, and sharing a tender moment with his wife. Isabella was about to turn and head back out of the store when the amused voice of her best friend rang through the overstuffed space.

"And just where," Alice said with her hands on her hips, "do you think you're going Missy?"

"Um, nowhere?" Isabella replied, feeling the earlier blush start to creep back into her cheeks.

"That's right, nowhere. I made extra for lunch and I would be mortally offended if you refused to eat with us." Alice locked the front door, flipped a sign in her window and marched to the back of her store where she had a small office set up--Jasper and Isabella dutifully following behind.

Somehow the pair managed to convince Isabella that she just had to stay in town until after supper. She was happy, though, to remain with Alice for the duration of the afternoon. She really had no reason to rush home. It was good to be able talk with another woman for a change. She loved Jacob, and would never discount the support and companionship that he gave her, but she had missed the sisterhood that she shared with Alice.

Isabella would hide in the back when customers came in, and when the shop wasn't busy, she kept Alice company as she worked on alterations and other shop business. During one of the slow moments, they cleaned the mud and water spots on her boots with methylated spirits. Now it was Isabella's job to use a very stiff-bristled brush to fluff the nap of the suede. She was pleased that her efforts had restored the boots to near perfection.

Alice popped her head in and smiled. "They look brand new Iz. You should put them on now."

"But we just got them clean," Isabella protested. "What if something happens to them again?"

"I promise to make sure you do not go swimming in your boots today. Besides, they are meant to be worn and you don't have the best of luck when you are parading around town in those men's boots."

Isabella huffed remembering her earlier encounter with Eddie—Ward—Edward, and sat down to remove her pa's boots and tug the suede ones on and lace them up. She was vastly annoyed because the shoes were very comfortable, and they did fit much better than her father's old boots. But she was sure that as soon as the laces were tied, some other disaster would occur to damage both her new boots and her fragile hold on her self-respect.

Jasper met them on the boardwalk just as Alice was locking up her shop for the night. He graciously offered each lady an arm. They strolled casually to The Devil's Luck and pressed through the swinging doors one at a time. The light was much dimmer in the saloon, and there was a trilling, lazy song being played on the piano in the corner. Jasper nodded to the regulars, who acknowledged him likewise, as he steered the two women to a table near the piano.

"Well if it ain't two of my favorite gals!" exclaimed Emmett as they passed by. "What can I get'cha?"

"Lemonade if you've got some."

"I'll have cider," grinned Alice.

"Pour me some fire-water!" hollered Jasper.

Emmett grinned and set to work preparing the drinks. Moments after the trio walked in, Rosalita swept into The Devil's Luck like a sandstorm--she had all the subtlety of a rabid coyote--carrying a box. Isabella's curiosity was piqued, but she couldn't see what it contained from where she sat. Every man in the room took a moment to look her over but then with a glance at the whip coiled on her hip, they all turned back to their drinks and card games. She set the parcel down and stood directly in front of Emmett, using the brass footrest that ran along the entire length of the bar as a step. With a wicked grin and hungry eyes she grabbed him by the shirt and yanked him forward as she hummed sensually. "Ah mi toro hermoso," she said huskily, "béseme."

"With pleasure ma'am," Emmett replied and placed a searing kiss on the beautiful Spanish woman's mouth.

Jasper and several of the other customers began howling and hooting at the bold display of affection. Rosalita broke away from the kiss and gave a hiss to the jeering crowd. "It is nothing you haven't already seen. Es mi amor, tan silencio!" She raised her eyebrow up daring anyone to contradict her. There was immediate silence, save the piano.

Alice and Isabella returned their attention to their drinks as Jasper downed his in one swallow followed by a sharp intake of breath and loud, "hoooo doggie." Emmett was never one to water down his drinks and they packed some serious bite.

The conversation was friendly and as the evening wore on, the atmosphere became looser and more jovial. The gentleman at the piano began plunking out a lively tune. Jasper grinned, his gold tooth flashing in his carefree smile, as he held his hand out to Alice, wordlessly asking for a dance. Isabella was content to sit and watch; her two left feet were not meant for dancing. Her eyes darted to the door when the slatted wings clattered together. It was him!

Again her heart started humming in her ears as it beat double time and it seemed as if all the air had suddenly been sucked out of the room. She didn't know if the cause was anger or excitement and the rush of conflicting emotions was dizzying. This was the second time today that she'd seem him and she was no more prepared to see him this time than she had been this morning. She really didn't want to have another quarrel with him. It just seemed like he brought out the fight in her and for the life of her, she couldn't understand why; they'd never fought when they were children. She tried to keep her eyes focused on her glass but couldn't help sneaking glances at him through her lashes as he sidled up to the bar. He sat down on a stool close to the end where Rosalita had taken up a perch. Isabella watched as the Spanish woman slid the package that she'd been carrying under Eddie's nose right before Emmett set down a glass containing some dark liquid in front of him. Isabella chuckled inwardly as she thought of the name he was insisting on being called – Ward! Ha! He was her Eddie and she just knew it.

Isabella was now blatantly staring at the exchange going on between Eddie and Rosalita. She watched as he opened the box and began examining the contents. He pulled out a bullet and eyed it closely, nodding appreciatively. She wasn't aware of just how engrossed she'd become in her voyeuristic activity until Emmett's large fingers were snapping in front of her nose.

"Iz, you know it ain't polite to stare?" His wide grin let her know that he was on to her fixation.

She closed her slightly open mouth with a snap and said, slightly flustered, "Don't know what you're talkin' about Em." Isabella tried to infuse her words with nonchalance that just wasn't there.

"Sure you don't. Now c'mon and give me a dance." The piano changed tunes and began playing "Yellow Rose of Texas". Isabella knew immediately that Jasper must have requested that tune as it was his favorite.

Isabella shook her head in protest and tried to pull her hand out of Emmett's large paw, but it was a lost cause. He had already hauled her out of her chair and had begun swinging her around in a jumpy polka. Jasper was singing along loudly, and slightly off key, but nothing seemed to matter when he had Alice in his arms.

Isabella tried and failed to push away the slightly envious feelings she had toward her best friend as she gazed at her wrapped in Jasper's embrace. They had a love match if there ever was one, and she was happy for them. But there was still a part of her that mourned her loneliness and decried the fact that it was quite likely she'd never find someone special to share her life.

Emmett, meanwhile, was doing his darnedest to help her have a bit of fun. He began mimicking Jasper with an effeminate and silly overtone that caused Isabella to laugh wholeheartedly. It felt really good to be laughing again.

She was so caught up in Emmett's bear hug of a hold that her feet hardly touched the floor. Nearing the end of the song, he swung her around releasing one hand, turned her out, and accidentally sent her careening across the dance floor.

Isabella was laughing, feeling a bit dizzy, until she crashed into the hard back of a figure seated at the bar. Not him. Please not him. Anyone but him! She chanted over and over in her head before she turned reluctantly to face her victim. The figure turned around slowly, fire burning in his eyes. Her hands flew to her mouth as she realized her worst fears had come true. He drew his shirtsleeve across his mouth in an agonizingly drawn-out motion. A brown, wet, stain now covered the front of his once pristine white linen shirt. The music ground to a halt and it felt like every last eye in the establishment was trained on them. Again!

Ward looked down his front and back up at Isabella's stricken face. "You ruined my last clean shirt," he ground out. Her mouth worked silently and then anger bloomed on her delicate features and strengthened her demeanor. She drew herself up to her full--though diminutive when compared to Ward--height and faced him down.

"Well, I guess now we're even," she spat back, saucily putting her hands on her hips, challenging him to another verbal sparring match. The fire in her eyes and spice in her voice had a strange effect on Ward's insides. She was so feisty. It amused him to the point that he laughed outright which only served to fan the flames of Izzy's ire.

"Perhaps, but I think you owe me..." and that was as far as he got before…

"Now you just hold on a minute! I don't owe you a cotton-pickin' thing – Eddie!" She interrupted his statement and punctuated each word with a sharp poke in his chest with her index finger. Isabella was mad. And when she was mad, she spoke and acted before she thought. She just couldn't leave well enough alone.

Ward's eyes flashed as she repeated the name. Why did she have to go pressing this Eddie business? No one had called him that in years. If he didn't play this off right, it could ruin everything. Ward knew how gossip spread in a small town, and if he wasn't careful, someone was bound to figure him out.

And now here was Isabella, full of spit and vinegar, ready to blow his entire cover and he was simultaneously struck with how beautiful she looked when she was angry and how she could make him madder than any woman had before. Her face was flushed and her hair was wild and she glowed with just a hint of perspiration. Her chest was heaving from her anger mixed with the effort she'd just expended on the dance floor. She was exquisite, breathtakingly beautiful even. But at the same time she was also just being plain stubborn and rude. He didn't know if he wanted to kiss her senseless or take her over his knee and give her a spanking. The contradiction of the two urges made him extraordinarily cross.

He took a deep breath and was assaulted by the mixed scent of flowers and woman, and he had to fight twice as hard to rein in his emotions before addressing her in a smooth, velvety tone, "I was going to say, before I was so rudely interrupted, that you owed me a dance. Instead, I think I'll just settle for you washin' my shirt." He watched as anger, shock, embarrassment, dismay, and finally, resignation, flitted across her expressive face. "And for the last time, the name's Ward Masen." With that he pulled off his vest, tugged the soiled garment loose from his breeches, lifted it over his head, exposing his perfectly sculpted chest, and tossed it at Isabella, whose eyes were as wide as saucers, and who had been effectively stunned into silence.

He snatched up the box and his vest from the counter and stormed toward the door grumbling under his breath. Isabella watched his movements as he pulled the vest back on, partially covering his muscular torso, but still revealing enough to cause her heart to race and the blood to hum through her veins. She swallowed hard as she fought for breath and composure in the face of such male beauty.

James hadn't been exaggerating, Ward thought as he strode out of the saloon. In spite of her beauty, the woman was crazy! But what bothered him most and what he had yet to discover, was why did she, of all people, insist on calling him Eddie?

Ward stretched his arms above his head in a vain attempt to relieve the stiffness in his back as he rose from the cot he was assigned in the ranch bunkhouse. He was glad to be out of the den of iniquity that was Miss Vicky's Inn, but he was stiff and sore from the less than comfortable accommodations he'd been given here at the ranch. When he rode through the gates of the Valle Verde Ranch last evening, Hank and Rufus began caterwauling and hooting, askin' who he'd lost his shirt to at the poker tables. He simply hopped off his mount and made like he was going to punch their lights out. That was about all it took to shoo them off.

He relayed the story to James who chuckled but kept any other comments to himself. James had learned his lesson that first day in town. Though in retelling the story, Ward was reminded of the look on Izzy's face when he threw his shirt at her. Had he just imagined the look of dismay that crossed her face when he mentioned that he had been planning to ask her to dance? He could still feel how tiny and warm she felt as his hands closed around her small waist when he saved her from tipping head over ears down the stairs at the general store. He could see again the brilliant smile she wore when Emmett was twirling her around the dance floor. And that something he couldn't put his finger on that awoke a part of him that he thought died long ago.

He couldn't help remembering how beautiful she looked when she was spitting mad, and how kissable her soft lips looked as he watched her give him what for. And he had only to close his eyes to remember her intoxicating scent and the effect it had on him. It was the reality of her talking and calling him out as Eddie that burst the bubble of the perfect woman he'd conjured up in his mind. He shook off those feelings as he tried to work a crick out of his neck. It was more than just the fact that he hadn't had the company of a fine woman in a long, long time. No, there was more to it than that. He just knew there was more to Izzy than met the eye, and it was itching in his brain.

He reached over to the floor behind the bed where he had left his clothes last night, only to find that his vest and black pants were gone and had been replaced by a set of buckskins.

"What the hell?" he blurted out, turning to James as he inspected the buckskins. "Who took these out of my gear and where the hell are my clothes?"

"Don't ask me," James said in a perplexed voice that Ward could tell was genuine.

"Wait a minute," Ward said as his thoughts raced. He remembered the ribbing he had taken the night before from Rufus and Hank when he had showed up at the ranch without his shirt. He turned to James, "Do you think those two fools had something to do with this?"

James didn't need to ask who Ward was talking about, he just nodded and said, "I wouldn't put it past those two. I've never met two bigger idiots in my life."

Ward looked over at James and quirked his lips into a smirk. "Why don't we beat'em at their own game?"

James' eyebrows shot up in question. "What you got in mind?"

"Well, I'm gonna put these buckskins on and march right out of here like I wear them everyday." The grin on Ward's face was getting bigger all the time. "When they say something, I'm gonna tell 'em that I wear these whenever I'm on a job. I'll tell 'em it's part of my disguise."

The two men shared a chuckle as James said, "Oh, that's good! I can't wait to see the look on their faces."

He dressed quickly in the buckskins, that he had to admit were really comfortable, and headed up to the main house. Arrow had requested that he join them for breakfast. He and Cassius were going to outline their plan in detail before taking him out to scout the area where the "undesirables" were located.

When the brothers commented on his attire, Ward decided to stick with the same story he was going to tell Rufus and Hank. The Valentines accepted his explanation at face value and just chalked it up to eccentricity.

As they ate, Arrow painted a grandiose picture of Devil's Fork becoming the hub of a rail-way system. The increased traffic of goods and people through the area would cause an explosion in the local economy, bringing in large amounts of business. And having already noted that half the storefronts had Valentine in the name, Arrow's pockets were sure to explode as well.

The only problem standing in his way was some vagrant Injuns and one Holly Homesteader who wouldn't sell out. In the few days that Ward had spent with the Valentines, he had learned that they had very little compunction about eliminating any roadblocks that stood in the way of their project. No matter the cost.

"So make sure you've got your rifle," Arrow said with a glint of humor in his eye, "never know what kind of varmints we'll come across while we're out." He gave Cassius a knowing wink and slapped Ward on the shoulder as he walked with him out into the courtyard.

The three brothers saddled up as Rufus, Hank and James joined them. Rufus and Hank were all set to enjoy Ward's discomfort when the tables were turned and Ward just smiled at them and continued to saddle his horse. After a few minutes, they couldn't stand it and had to make a comment on Ward's clothes. Without missing a beat, Ward told them the story he had prepared while giving them each a look that would freeze the devil himself in his tracks. They both swallowed thickly and didn't dare disagree. It was clear that the subject wouldn't come up again.

Ward turned back to his mount, quickly secured his rifle scabbard, and swung up into the saddle. He'd already loaded his gun and gun belt with the impressively-crafted ammunition he'd purchased from Rosalita.

The seven men rode for over an hour, slowing as they traveled through the tall pine trees that grew on the bluffs overlooking Devil's Creek. They came to a thinning spot in the trees and Arrow motioned with his raised fist that everyone should stop. Ward inched his horse next to Arrow's and looked in the direction he pointed.

Ward was confused. He'd been expecting a rag tag group of disorganized savages, perhaps a band of vagrants he could easily scare off with no harm. He had not expected carefully constructed huts and the large number of women and children that were present. There was nothing savage about these people. This was an entire community.

"All these redskins gotta go," said Cassius in a low voice, leaning forward in his saddle so that his crimson eyes stared directly into Wards.

"And have you tried asking nicely? Who owns the land?" Ward inquired.

"Well, according to their treaties with the territorial governor, they do. But that's beside the point. Progress is coming, and they are standing in the way. We've offered'em a fair price for the land, but they ain't budgin'," Marcus drawled.

Ward grunted in acknowledgement, though he figured a fair price was probably pennies on the dollar for what the land was really worth.

"So this is where I come in?" Ward questioned slowly.

"Well, you and Mr. Winchester there," Arrow smiled indicating Edward's specialty rifle. "Pick off the leaders, maybe a few of the smaller ones," he stated matter-of-factly. "All at a distance, you know, don't wanting them putting a face to the fear."

"Or an ax in your neck," Cassius chuckled under his breath.

Wards gut twisted with disgust knowing Arrow meant the children. They hired him as an exterminator, but he hadn't signed up to kill peaceful people—women and children no less--who seemed to rightfully belong on this land. This deal was starting to stink and Ward was ready to tell them what they could do with their money when prudence crossed his mind. While he'd like nothing better than to throttle Arrow and put a bullet in all three of the Valentine brothers, his experience told him that patience played out a lot better than haste.

"Come on, let's head to the next property, it's not far." Arrow clucked his tongue and urged his horse back onto the path that followed the ridge.

Ward continued to look out over the Indian settlement, a few small children that had been playing seemed to look up and see him. The wheels started turning in his mind, trying to think of a way to avoid the kind of massacre Arrow was proposing. He would not be a part of that.

"You comin' partner?" James had paused on the trail.

"This ain't right James. You know this ain't right," Ward breathed, too low for the others to hear, as he trotted his horse past James.

"Right? What does that mean anyhow?" James whispered as he caught up with Ward. "I know it's right for me to get paid, and I know it's right to not get the Valentines mad at ya." He sighed and continued, a look of concern twisting his mouth. "Lookey, I know what they want done ain't right, but I didn't realize it was a whole village either," he huffed. "I didn't... I swear! If I'd known, I'd've never signed on with them." He cut his eyes over to Ward as he continued, "But here we are now, so what can I do? What can you do?" James spoke under his breath, an apology written all over his face.

Ward gave him a curt, understanding nod and kicked his horse into a trot to catch up with the group.

As they crested a gentle rise, Ward saw a small homestead with a white clapboard cottage set proudly toward the front of the lot. A barn, listing to the east, rickety and worn, housed a horse and some farming tools. There wasn't much else to the outside other than a few cacti and a neatly kept pathway that led from the back door to a clothesline. There was a single white shirt flapping in the gentle breeze of the morning. The sight of it nagged at him somehow. Was that what he thought it was?

His musings were interrupted when the back door banged open and Izzy came strolling out and yanked the shirt off the line and balled it up as tight as she could. It would retain the wrinkles for days, but the action made Ward chuckle at her fiery spite.

"Well, there you go Masen. A perfect opportunity! Why not get one out of the way right now? This should be easy," smiled Arrow, "there's not a single obstacle anywhere."

Ward stiffened in his seat. What?! he thought. No, this definitely wasn't right.

"And, we're well within your range, aren't we?" sneered Cassius.

Ward put a firm hold on the anger that was now coursing through him as their intentions became clear. It took everything in him to answer in a calm tone, "So, other than committing the unforgivable sin of being in your way, what has the woman done to incur your wrath?"

"I don't think I appreciate your attitude Masen," growled Cassius. Arrow set a hand on his shoulder to calm his unpredictable brother and turned to Ward.

"What hasn't she done?" hissed Arrow. "That girl is like a pebble in my boot! She's nearly destitute since her pa…died." The hesitation in Arrow's voice churned up Wards curiosity but now wasn't the time to ask about that. "The bank will own the property within a month's time, and she's just too damned stubborn to see reason. And we're pretty dadgum sure that she's planning somethin' 'gainst us with them redskins." Arrow was seething by the end of his tirade, his face was red and blotchy and his nostrils were flared. The cool calculating facade was momentarily stripped away, replaced with raw greed and evil.

"Then why don't you just wait until the bank takes the land, you own half the bank anyhow don't you?" The tone Ward was taking with Arrow was dangerous, but at least he was restraining himself from strangling the man with his bare hands. Even under normal circumstances, he could not and would not condone this level of injustice or unwarranted violence. To become the best gunslinger in the West, Ward had developed a healthy respect for his weapons, and what they could do. He wasn't one to casually kill people, especially women. Especially this woman even if she did drive him to distraction. For some reason, she sparked something else deep inside him; spoke to the chivalry that was an inborn part of him. He had a nearly uncontrollable need to protect her, from everything, at all costs.

"We own forty-nine percent, and we don't have a month to wait," growled Arrow. "If construction don't begin within a fortnight, our investors will pull out and we'll be up the creek without a paddle." Arrow was red in the face with anger as he screeched, "She has to be taken care of now."

"Whatsamatter?" Rufus jeered, "ya chicken?"

James, whose horse was right next to Rufus, raised his rifle butt and smashed Rufus square in the jaw. Because he was caught off guard, Rufus slipped sideways nearly falling off his saddle, cursing James the whole time.

"Shut up Rufus, this ain't your matter," James snarled. Marcus eyed the scuffle with interest, one hand curled loosely around the handle of his pistol, but said nothing that might interrupt the stare down that was currently going on between Arrow and Ward.

"Well?" Arrow looked expectantly at Ward, who hadn't budged, his eyes riveted on the young woman who had now stuffed the shirt behind her head and was laid out in the shade reading a book. Devil take it, but he still admired her spunk! And there was no way in hell that he was going to let any harm come to her. Not while he had breath in his body. But Ward knew he was in it up to his elbows with no apparent way out at the moment.

"And if I refuse?" he spoke softly, still masking his fury as he bided his time.

"If you refuse, then Cassius, I'm sure, will have no qualms about escorting you away from Devil's Fork. Don't think that we believe your real name is Ward Masen either. A man with your prowess with a gun don't go unnoticed in these parts. I am a powerful man, and though I haven't figured out exactly who you are yet, you can rest assured, that I will soon." Arrow left nothing to the imagination as to his meaning. Cassius would escort Ward to some remote place and put a bullet in his head.

Sighing heavily, Ward pulled his rifle from its leather sheath and checked the magazine. "That's more like it man," Arrow's approving tone sent more waves of disgust and nausea ripping through Ward's insides, but he wasn't in the position to do much about it.

Reluctantly he lifted the sight and loaded the first round into the chamber. He could feel his hands tremble ever so slightly as he raised the gun to his shoulder. Never had he aimed a weapon at a woman or a child, never once. And his hands never shook, especially not when he was aiming his gun. He could feel his throat tighten and the faint taste of bile at the back of his tongue as he sighted the brown haired woman in his cross-hairs. He took one last swallow and pulled the trigger.

The report from the shot echoed through the still air. When the dust jumped just beyond Isabella's position, Hank hollered out a guffaw. "You missed!" he roared. The Valentine brothers remained still, not quite believing their eyes. This was the man who never missed. He was as good as Ed Cullen or maybe even better.

With the sound of the shot and Hank's laughter still ringing all around, Ward spurred his horse and took off at a full gallop down the trail. He watched as Izzy scrambled off the ground and ran into the house. He could hear the shouts and hoof beats thundering behind him but he bent low over his horse's neck, urging him to move faster, clutching the reins in one hand and his rifle in the other.

Ward was as good a horseman as he was a marksman so he made it down to the house before the others caught up, though he could see he had only a few seconds advantage.

He chanced a glance toward the house and watched with incredulity as Izzy ran back out. "Hey, lady! You gotta get the hell outta here!"

"Don't you 'hey lady' me Eddie, and how dare you curse at me! I ain't going anywhere." She had her rifle in her hand and had almost made it to where Ward stood, when the rest of the group reined their mounts to a dusty stop in the yard. Rufus quickly jumped off his horse and grabbed Isabella from behind, holding a knife to her throat.

She began to struggle, screaming at him to let go of her, until she felt the jagged blade cut ever so slightly into the soft skin of her neck.

"Well, well, little Isabella," Arrow spoke in a sickly-sweet voice.

"What do you want Arrow? Were you shootin' at me?"

"Ah no, that would be our hired man here, Mr. Masen."

Isabella's face fell as her head jerked in Ward's direction. "How could you Eddie? How could you shoot at me?" This had all been too much for her: The anniversary of her father's death, the humiliation in town, Eddie showing up. She felt herself retreating into that place in her brain where she didn't have to worry about such big problems.

"Shut your mouth Iz," Ward warned her softly, his eyes never leaving Arrow. Her eyes widened at his words and she suddenly began to realize, in some very small way, just how much trouble they were in.

"Well Mr. Masen, I didn't take you for the point blank type of person, but if that's how you want to do things then, by all means." Arrow said as he dismounted. He walked up next to where Isabella was still being restrained by Rufus and leaned over to whisper into her ear. Whatever he said to her caused her to kick her legs violently. When Arrow simply laughed in her face she spit at him and yelled, "You're a worthless, low-down, dirty, rotten coyote, Arrow Valentine!"

The back of Arrow's hand flew out, striking Isabella's cheek snapping her head sharply to the side. Ward jumped down off his horse and stalked toward Arrow. He glanced over at Isabella and watched in stunned silence as she spit at Arrow again; this time the saliva was streaked with blood.

"Leave her alone!" Ward's voice was menacingly low and he managed to get off one good punch to Arrow's nose before two sets of hands grabbed his arms. Hitting a woman was never acceptable, not in Ward's book. And never with this woman! He wasn't proud that he had shot at her, but at least he hadn't hit her.

"Now Ward, that was just plain disrespectful," Arrow said with a sneer as he threw an order over his shoulder. "Hank, get the rope and tie him up."

Arrow crossed the small space between himself and Ward, who was still being held immobile by Marcus and Cassius, and buried his fist into Ward's gut. He landed another blow to Ward's cheek, sending an explosive pain ripping through his mouth and jaw. He stuffed another punch to Ward's midsection, causing his knees to buckle under him. Turning away in disgust, Arrow signaled to Rufus to let Izzy go as Hank rushed to tie up Ward.

"Well Miss Swan, say goodbye to your daddy's house and to your gallant champion over here," he smirked as he indicated the tied up man on the ground. He turned to go but Izzy rushed toward him, beating his back in futility. He turned sharply and backhanded her again, spinning her to the ground. "You had your chance to do this the easy way, Missy, but instead you chose to fight us. You wanted the hard way, well now you're gettin' what you had commin'," he roared.

Rufus and Hank picked up Izzy by the arms and she started fighting again, scratching and biting anything she could reach. She must've gotten in a good one because Hank screamed in pain and immediately hit Izzy in the gut, doubling her over. She fell to her knees and lost some of her fight. They quickly tied her up as well then walked over to where Ward had been sitting. He kicked out hard with his bound legs trying to take out Hank's footing, but he missed by a hairs breadth. The two men began wailing on Wards face and torso, striking anywhere they could.

At one point, Hank looked over his shoulder to James and said, "You better come git your licks in 'cause we ain't gonna cotton no bellyachin' from you fer not havin' a go at this'un."

James was in a pickle now. He didn't agree with the Valentines methods, but if he tried to do anything about it now, he'd be on the receiving end of a whole lot of hurt. He knew he'd have to bide his time if he wanted to get out of this mess with his skin intact. He swallowed his disgust and stood in front of Ward as he was hauled to his feet, and gave him an apologetic look before punching him hard in the gut and once on the same cheek that Arrow had struck. At this point, Ward was nothing more than a barely conscious sack of potatoes. And with one last hard punch to the back of his head, James knocked him out completely.

Izzy's screaming had begun to irritate Arrow, who struck her once more before instructing Hank to shut her up. Hank raised the butt of his gun and brought it down heavily on the side of her head, knocking her unconscious.

After several moments of eerie silence as the men looked upon their handy work, the rattle of a wagon came around the house from the barn. Cassius drove Isabella's old buckboard and stopped beside the two motionless bodies.

"What now boss?" Hank asked Arrow as he stared speculatively at Ward and Izzy.

"Take this," Arrow tossed a coil of rope to Hank, "and get rid of 'em." He waved his hand dismissively toward the unconscious pair.

Hank and Rufus were congratulating themselves on a good fight as they loaded Ward and Izzy into the back of the wagon. James climbed up into the drivers seat and took the reins. Arrow looked at James pointedly and said, "You make sure it's done right." James nodded once and watched the three brothers trot off toward the center of town. He had to fight the twitch in his fingers that were itching towards his gun as he watched them disappear from sight.

James gritted his teeth as Rufus and Hank jumped up on the buckboard, taking their seats beside him before he clicked to the horse, setting the wagon into motion. It was a long trip to Ghost Tree and he hoped silently he wouldn't have to shoot the two idiots beside him before they got there.

Two hours later, James pulled up on the reins halting the wagon by the tree and got down to help remove their cargo. He had listened to Rufus and Hank argue on the proper way to make a noose with which to hang the two in the back. Hank had argued that it should be done one and Rufus argued it should be done another way or it would come loose under the strain. James had had just about all he could take of the two buffoons. He also knew he was not going to let them hang these two by the neck. And he had, over the course of the two-hour trip, come up with a plan. It wouldn't be pretty, but at least it wouldn't be out and out murder. They might have a chance.

"Hey, boys, we ain't gonna let these two get off that easy are we?"

Hank and Rufus stopped in mid argument to look at James. Hank spoke up, "What you talking about, James?"

"I'm talking about making these two suffer some for the trouble they've given us today," James told them, seeing that they were taking his words to heart.

"And how might we do that?" asked Rufus, leaning towards James a little.

"Well, instead of hanging them by the neck, let's hang them by their ankles and let the buzzards have 'em?

Hank and Rufus looked at James for a moment before looking at each other. Broad smiles broke across their faces as they warmed to the idea. With just a little encouragement, James soon had them thinking it was their idea all along.

A/N:

Melly: So, you're getting more snow, eh Belly?

Belly: I sure am. I'm beginning to think I fell asleep one day before Christmas and woke up in Alaska!

Melly: Maybe you're neighbors with the Denali girls….

Belly: Maybe. But they better stay away from our Westward!

Melly: Yes, or we'll scratch their eyes out. Westward is ours!

Belly: Definitely! So how do you like the UST building between Ward and Izzy? Now everyone will have to go back and re-read the first chapter!

Melly: Is UST ever a bad think? I guess if it remains unresolved, it is. And yes, we're just about caught up with our timeline with the first chapter. I'm so excited to know what people think.

Belly: Oh, me too! Hear that, lovely readers? We love reviews!

Melly: That we do, and since we're posting this early, we have all day to dream of Westward.

Belly: Yes, I'll watch it snow and you watch the sun and we'll both think of Westward.

Melly & Belly: * sigh *