After three days, they were in Denver, Colorado. "How long are you staying here?" Jim asked.

"A day or two," West replied. "We have a little matter to attend to."

"You need our help?"

"We'll let you know. In the meantime, you get your pay for your work on the last case."

Jim took the money which he would divide with the others. He felt better knowing they had earned it. "Thanks," he said.

"We'll see you folks later."

West and Gordon left the train. Jim went to the others. "You guys and gals ready to get paid?" he asked.

"I sure am," Bones said.

Suddenly, Q appeared. "Do I get my share?" he asked. "I think I earned it."

They all turned toward him, knowing they could not hurt him but wishing they could. Q put on his haughtiest look. "You know you can't hurt me," he said. "It's useless for you to gang up on me."

"Why don't you just go away?" Jim asked. "We'll get along just fine here without you."

"Really? Well, in that case, we'll just see how you feel after…oh, I won't say how long. It seems pointless to me that you hate the only one who can send you back where you want to be."

Q vanished again. Jim finished dividing the money. "He might have sent us back," Bones said.

"I doubt it," Jim replied. "If he wants us to beg, he's gonna be waiting the rest of our lives."

"I do not believe he came to send us back," Spock said. "I believe he simply came to see if we would beg him to send us back."

"How long are we going to be here?" Uhura asked.

"There is no way to know the answer to that."

"So we just live as though we're where we belong."

"Exactly," Jim said.

"How do we do that?" Bones asked. "We have nothing."

"We'll get something."

"Jim, I will visit whomever I need to and find out where we can buy a piece of land," Spock said. "Perhaps even a mine or a panning outfit."

Jim just stared at him a moment. "Are you suggesting that we look for gold?" he asked.

"This is Colorado, is it not?"

"It is."

"Then it makes sense that we would be able to figure out where some of the gold is without a tremendous amount of effort, and we would have more money to work with when we buy our land."

Bones just stood there with his mouth open a moment. "Did I just hear that right?" he asked and looked at Jim. "Is he suggesting that we…use our knowledge of history to…"

"I think he is," Jim said.

"Captain, since we are here, it is logical to try and make our lives as good as possible," Spock said.

Jim nodded but he had a confused look on his face. "I thought you didn't like using deception."

"I do not see that there is any deception in what I said."

"I wouldn't call it deception," Bones said. "It's like…cheating!"

Jim smiled. "He is right though. You have to admit that."

"Do you expect us to pan for gold or dig in a mine in dresses?" Carol asked with her arms folded.

"No. Besides, you have some other clothes."

Bones shook his head. "We have no idea what we're doing," he said.

"We can figure it out," Uhura said. "After all, we have two scientists, a doctor, a leader, and me. If we find anyone who doesn't speak English, I can help in that area too, and since I am a negotiator, I will find us the best possible deal."

Jim scowled at that. "I think you will be very cunning in that field," he said.

Uhura smiled. "I don't intend for us to get cheated."

Jim thought a moment. "Spock, you and Carol try to figure out where the gold is," he said. "Once we know that, we can figure out if it's already occupied by someone else. And then we can buy it if it's available."

"It's too bad we don't have any history books or the internet," Bones said.

"I think you can remember a lot of it, Bones. You help them."

"Oh, and what are you going to do?"

"I'm gonna go get a list of available land and bring it back here. It might help. So, we're all agreed."

"Yeah," they all said at the same time, but Jim did not think it sounded very enthusiastic.

"Come on, guys," he said. "Once we get that, we can get out of here."

"Jim, I want to talk to you before you go," Carol said.

"Okay."

Jim and Carol went out on the back of the train. "What's going on?" Jim asked.

"Let's get married here," Carol said.

"You got your dress?"

"Not yet. But she's going to mail it. It should be here this week. It has a lot of stitches that have to be done by hand."

"It'll be a treasure then."

"Yes. Jim, we're binding ourselves to this time."

"No matter what time we're in, we love each other."

"Yes."

"So when?"

"As soon as the dress comes. As you know, we only have to go and get married."

"I know. Things were a lot simpler in this time."

"You agree then?"

"Yes. I do."

They both smiled and then kissed. "Oh how touching!" Q said as he appeared there with them and hugged them both as though he were a proud uncle.

Jim and Carol backed away out of his embrace, but there was not far to go on the back of the train. "I thought you were going to leave us alone," Jim said.

"Captain, you really must learn not to be so rude," Q said. "I just wanted you to know that I'm not far away."

"Why don't you just leave us alone if you're not going to send us back?" Jim asked.

"I never said I wasn't. Ta-ta for now."

Jim thought he would never get used to Q popping in and out like that no matter how many weird things he had seen in his life. Carol hugged him. "I'm worried about this, Jim," she said.

"I am too, but I'm going to that land office and get that list."

"Okay. We'll be thinking while you're gone."

"Good."

Jim left the train and walked into the dusty town. It was not like San Francisco had been, but it was definitely part of the gold rush. He just hoped he did not run up on anymore gun slingers who wanted to boost their reputation, and he hoped his reputation was not preceding him.

Jim walked around the corner onto the front boardwalk of the main town. Denver was definitely bigger than Carson City…and even bigger than Sacramento. He walked down the boardwalk hearing his boots clonk down sounding out his presence here. No one here should know him so he was not all that worried, and he would try to keep a low profile. He passed by the General Store where the shopkeeper was standing in the doorway.

"Howdy," the shopkeeper said. "You looking for something?"

"The land assayer's office," Jim replied.

The man pointed. "Right down there around that corner to the left."

"Thank you."

Jim walked on. At least he knew where he was going now. He passed by the bank just as someone came out. The man had long sideburns and was wearing glasses. "Excuse me," he said in a nerdy voice.

Jim moved over and started to keep on walking. "Wait a minute, Sir," the other man said. "Can you tell me where I can find the land assayer's office?"

Jim looked at him. "Well, that's where I'm going," he said.

"Oh, well, I could walk with you then, couldn't I?"

"I guess so."

"It's better walking with someone than walking alone, I always say."

Jim looked at the man a moment. "Artemus?"

"Shhhh. I'm working."

"Uh, yeah, it's usually better to walk with someone than alone. I agree."

"Makes one feel safer when they're carrying something of value."

Jim wondered if that was a hint. "OH, yes. I don't usually carry anything of value, but…yeah."

"I think we're being followed."

Jim thought he had stepped into another dangerous situation. "So, are you really going to the assayer's office?" he asked quietly.

"No. I'm transporting a payroll to the stage."

"A payroll?"

"Yeah. As in, money. It's going to Colorado Springs."

"And you think someone is following you?"

"It's hard to keep something like this a secret."

"Why is it going on a stage?"

"Our very own Mister West is going to be guarding it."

"Okay. Why don't you guys just take it on the train?"

"That's not our plan. And it's the plan of the one receiving the payroll. It's insured when going on the stage."

Jim nodded. "Oh."

They turned a corner and walked on down to the assayer's office. Artie went on in with Jim, hoping that everyone would think he was walking with a gun slinger…which, technically, he was. When Jim walked in, there were three other people in there. "Morning," Jim said.

"Morning, young man," the man behind the counter said. "What can I do for you?"

Jim was not sure what to say. "My friends and I are wanting to buy some land," he said. "We want to search for gold."

Jim could not help but notice that two of the others in the office glanced at him when he said that. "I was wondering if you could give me a list of the available land around these parts," he said.

"I believe I can help you with that," the assayer said. "Any particular place you're interested in?"

"Something in the mountains where we might have a mine and can pan for gold as well."

"You know it's gonna start getting cold up here in about a month or two."

"Well, we're ready to work so hopefully we'll have something before it gets extremely cold."

"Snow starts flying in October."

Artie scowled at that. "I believe the man just wants to know what land you have available instead of a weather report," he said in his assumed voice.

The assayer frowned. "Fine." He looked at Jim. "Your name?"

"Jim Kirk."

Jim had never seen anyone go so pale so fast. "D-did you say, Jim Kirk?" the assayer asked.

"Yes. Something wrong with that?"

"OH! No sir. I will get that list for you real fast. You just have a seat there, and you can even fix yourself some coffee if you like."

"No thanks. I just want that list."

The assayer hurried over to his books. Jim looked at the others in the room, and they started toward the door. He looked at Artie who grinned slightly and shrugged. They went over and sat down. "I believe your reputation precedes you, my friend," he said quietly.

"What do you…" Jim realized what he meant and why everyone's attitude suddenly changed. "So, they're all afraid of me?"

"Everyone's afraid of a gun slinger in these parts. Especially one who outdrew one of reputation."

Jim frowned. He wished he could get rid of that reputation, but the only way to do that would be to die, and he did not intend to do that. "Okay, so I'm a gun slinger," he said. "I might as well just go with that. I'm gonna be a gun slinging rancher and they better not nobody mess with me."

Artie chuckled at that. "If I weren't so busy all the time, I'd come along with you," he said.

"I tell you what, Mister Gordon. If we end up going back to our time, I'll leave the ranch to you and Mister West, if we have it by then."

Gordon looked at him a little surprised. "Really?"

"Of course. Who else? You guys have helped us."

"Well, I'm sure Jim will be as surprised as I am, but I don't know what we would do with a ranch."

"Sell it…whatever. I'll be sure to make out a will right away."

"That's a deal, Mister Kirk."

"Besides, you're liable to retire one day."

"I'm sure."

The assayer soon had the list ready. "Mister Kirk, I have a suggestion," he said. "I put stars beside the ones that might be promising. I thought that might help."

Jim took the list. "Well, thank you very much. I'm sure that will help my friends and me in our decision."

"You just let me know when you're ready to purchase, and I'll get the deed made out for you."

"We can make payments, right?"

"Oh, of course. If you buy a claim, you won't owe a payment until you find something, and then you'll pay ten percent of that."

"Okay. And after that?"

"You would owe the monthly payments. But you never know whether you would find enough to pay the entire amount."

Jim nodded. "Thanks. I'll get back to you."

Jim and Artie left the assayer's office. "What do you think?" Jim asked.

"Sounds pretty fair," Artie replied. "I'm sure he wouldn't try to cheat you."

Jim smiled. "Nobody in their right mind tries to cheat a gun slinger, right?"

"Not if they want to live very long."

They walked on over to the freight office where the stage was already waiting. Jim West was there waiting. He was not wearing his usual fancy suit but was wearing one of his more rugged outfits with jeans and a shirt with a vest. "Anyone following you?" West asked.

"Not sure," Artie replied. "But I ran into my gun slinging friend here and I think they all got discouraged."

West smiled. "That's good." He looked at Jim. "Maybe we should take you along."

"Well, I have to get this list back to the others," Jim said.

"You'll get paid if you just ride along on a horse as another guard."

"You're going all the way to Colorado Springs and leaving the train?"

"The train is going that way too."

"Oh."

"We'll be picked up there."

"So, I guess this will be where we part ways then."

"Most likely. We'll be through Denver again though. Maybe we'll look you folks up."

Jim thought he was getting a little nervous. They had had West and Gordon to give them advice so far, but now they were truly going to be on their own. "I'll have to discuss this with them," he said. "We're planning to buy a claim."

"Well, good luck," West said and shook his hand.

"Good luck to you guys too. How long do I have before you leave?"

"We're leaving in just a few minutes."

"I'll get back as soon as I can."

Jim hurried back down the street, and hurried to the train with the list he had just acquired. "Guys," he said.

"Captain, did you get the list?" Spock asked.

"Yeah…"

"Doctor Marcus and I have managed to determine the most likely places to find gold."

"I need to talk to you guys about something," Jim said as he gave them the list. "Mister West and Mister Gordon are going on a mission to deliver a payroll to Colorado Springs."

They all just waited for Jim to go on. "Well, they asked if I wanted to go along as another guard," he said.

"Jim, we need to go with them," Carol said. "The largest gold strike ever in Colorado, was in Cripple Creek not far from Colorado Springs."

Jim absorbed that a moment. "So, we need to go with them."

"Yes. We can get there much faster on this train."

"Well, I need to let them know. I'll ride as a guard for them."

"Do they need another?" Spock asked. "I would be glad to accompany them as well."

"I am staying on this train," Carol informed them. "I have no desire to ride a horse all the way to Colorado Springs."

"Well, I wouldn't dream of asking you to," Jim said.

"I'll stay with her too," Uhura said.

Bones blew out a breath. "I guess that means I'm going on guard duty too," he said.

"Let's hurry and let them know," Jim said.

Carol realized he was excited about this. "Aren't you going to kiss me before you go?" she asked.

"Of course." Jim took off his hat and kissed her. "Have a pleasant ride, Ma'am."

"You scoundrel"

"What about your dress?"

"It will be forwarded to me."

"Alright. I guess I'll see you when we get to Colorado Springs."

Jim, Bones, and Spock left the train and went to the stage station…or freight office. "We're going with you," Jim said.

"I think this job just got a lot easier," Gordon replied.

"I guess we need three horses then," West said. "Let's go to the livery stable. They should have some good ones."

Once they had horses, they were on their way. The stage pulled out at exactly nine o'clock. "Things sure get going early around here," Jim remarked.

"You can say that again," Bones grumbled. "Can't stay in the bed past six around here."

"You're just not a morning person, Bones."

"I do not believe the doctor could be considered a morning, afternoon, nor evening person," Spock said.

Jim laughed out loud at that. Bones looked at Spock. "Did you just insult me?" he asked.

"I was merely pointing out a fact."

Bones looked at Jim with his incredulous look. "Did you hear what he said?"

Jim was trying his best not to laugh. "I did," he said.

"And you think it's funny. Some friends I have."

"Well, Bones, you have to admit, you are a little grumpy."

Bones shook his head. "Boy, you get on a trail with people and you know how they really feel about you," he said.

"Come on, Bones. We like having you around."

"Why? So you can poke fun at me?"

"You're not getting your feelings hurt about that, are you?"

"No. I guess he's probably right."

"I was not attempting to hurt your feelings," Spock said. "I was only…"

"I know. Never mind. Your dry sense of humor."

"Maybe we should sing another trail song," Jim suggested.

"We should probably be quiet so we can concentrate on whether anyone's sneaking around here wanting to shoot our brains out so they can steal this payroll," Bones said.

"I don't think anyone will try anything before we're further from town."

"That could be right, but you never know."

"I just hope we can find what we need down there."

"Since we can pinpoint where the strike was which would occur next year, we should be able to become quite wealthy, Captain," Spock said.

"Don't call me captain, Spock," Jim replied.

"Jim."

They were silent a while as they watched around them. "Hey, Jim!" West called.

Jim rode up beside the stagecoach. "Why don't you ride on up ahead and see if you see anything suspicious?" West asked.

"Sure. I'll take Bones with me," Jim said. He rode back to Bones. "Hey, let's ride up ahead and look for suspicious activity. Spock, you stay with the stagecoach."

Jim and Bones rode on up ahead of the stagecoach at a gallop. "So what should we look for?" Bones asked after they had ridden for a while.

Jim considered that a moment. "I guess we look and see if there are any gunmen perched on hills or horses standing around that shouldn't be there."

"You mean like that one over there?" Bones asked pointing under a big tree.

Jim looked where he was pointing. "Yeah, that might be a good place to start," he said.

"So what should we do?"

"Let's go over there under that other tree."

Bones followed Jim over into the shadows of the trees. They had gotten out ahead of the stage, and had time to find out what was going on before it got there. Bones drew his weapon and checked the load. "I don't want to be having to do any fast draws," he said.

"Me neither," Jim replied as he drew his own. "Let's go."

They moved under the trees and found that there were three horses tied under the tree rather than just one. "That means we've got three to deal with," Jim whispered. "Question is: where are they?"

Bones pointed. "Probably right up there in those rocks on each side of the road." He looked at Jim. "Which side do you want?"

Jim scowled at that. "Let's just stay together. If we start shooting, they're gonna hear and know something's wrong."

"Good idea."

They made their way around the back of the rock formation. Jim looked around the edge, and could see one of the outlaws up on the rocks with a rifle. He looked at Bones and nodded. "Jim, I'm a doctor, not a gun slinger," he whispered.

"You're a gun slinger today," Jim replied.

Jim sneaked from behind the rocks and started up the short trail that led up to the ledge where the gunman was waiting for the stage. He got within five feet and pulled the hammer back on his gun. "Hold it right there," he said.

The gunman froze. "Turn around," Jim said. "Slowly. And don't pick up that rifle. I wouldn't want to have to give you another hole for ventilation."

The man turned around slowly and looked at Jim. The look on his face made Jim wonder if he had heard that rumor about him. "Come over here," he said.

"Take off that gun belt," Bones added.

The man pretended that he would take off the gun belt, but instead, he reached for his gun. Jim saw what he was doing, and fired before he could, hitting him in the hand.

Jim West and the others heard the gunshot. "Stop the stage!" West said.

The stage driver pulled the reins and yelled, "Whoa!"

Spock came around to the side of the stage as it came to a stop. "I believe they have run into some trouble," he said.

"Yeah," West agreed. "Let me have your horse. You get up here."

Spock got down from his horse. He supposed West would be more experienced in something like this than he was. He climbed up onto the stage as West got on the horse and headed on to find out what was going on.

Jim and Bones had gotten the gunman down and tied him up. "Where are the other two?" Jim asked.

The gunman just glared at them. "I don't think he's going to tell us," Bones said.

"I don't either. I guess we'll have to find them on our own. Let's get up there and look around."

"We might get our hats shot off too…and our head with it."

"Come on, Bones."

They climbed back up the rock formation and looked out toward the other side of the trail. "Chances are, they're not gonna show their heads over there," Bones said.

"Hey, Ralph! What was that shooting over there?" someone yelled from the other side.

Jim looked at Bones. "A varmint!" Bones yelled.

Jim rolled his eyes at that. "You better not be shooting at anything else but human varmints from now on!" the other yelled back.

Jim was surprised that they actually bought that. He got the rifle that the gunman had left there and looked across the way again. He could see the hat of one of the others sticking over the edge of the rocks. "I see one of them," he whispered.

"You gonna shoot him?" Bones asked.

Jim shucked the rifle. "I don't see that I have much choice since they are wary now," he said. He stuck the barrel of the rifle over the rocks and aimed carefully at the hat he could see. He squeezed the trigger and saw the hat fly off but he was not sure he hit whoever had been wearing it.

"They're real wary now," Jim whispered.

"What do we do now?" Bones asked.

"Let's get down there and see if they try and come over here after us. It's hard to believe there were only three of them."

"If there are more, then where are the other two from those other horses?"

"Good question. Let's just be careful."

They got down from the rock formation and started around but did not see anyone. However as they got to the end of the formation, they saw West on the other side of the trail. They would have to cross that trail in the open to get over there so they decided to stay there where they were and watch while West investigated that side. They squatted behind a pile of rocks where they could see the whole area.

Jim could see West sneaking along the rocks on the other side of the trail, and then he saw a flicker of movement on top of the rock formation on that side. There was a gunman there who was in a position where West would not see him. "You see him?" Bones asked.

"Yes," Jim replied as he aimed the rifle. He fired and the man fell off the formation. He looked at Bones. "I guess he's dead."

"If he's not, he must have some hard bones, and organs."

West moved on toward the rock formation, and he could see that there were three more horses on that side of the trail. He motioned to Jim and Bones to check for more gunmen.

Jim looked at Bones. "Did you get that?" he asked.

"I think he's suggesting that there may be more over here," Bones said.

"But where? They're not up there."

"Could be anywhere over there in all those rocks. Probably in places where they could have the stagecoach surrounded."

"We better get back around this formation then and see if we can find more of them."

They moved back around the rock formation to look around to the other side. "I still don't see anybody," Jim whispered.

"Maybe there's an indention around there at the front of it."

"Why would they not have moved yet then?"

Bones scowled at that question. "I don't know. Maybe they're waiting for us."

Jim blew out a breath. "I'm gonna find out," he said.

"Be careful. I don't want to be having to dig another bullet out of you."

Jim moved around the side of the rock formation and slid along the wall toward the front of it that faced the trail. As he got to the corner of that, he moved slowly so he could see around it and then jerked his head back when he saw that there was definitely a gunman around there, but he was looking toward Jim West.

Jim motioned to Bones that he had seen the gunman. Bones moved up beside him, and they got their guns ready. Jim counted silently. "One…two…"

They went around the corner with their guns ready, and the gunman was startled but he swung around with his rifle, firing prematurely, but Jim did not miss. Bones looked at the fallen gunman. "You think there are anymore?" he asked as he looked around them.

Just then, a bullet barely missed them and ricocheted off the rocks beside them. Jim and Bones ducked down behind the rocks. They heard more gunfire now, and figured Jim West had finally found the ones on that side of the trail. "We need to find a way out of here," Jim said.

"Let's just crawl back that way," Bones suggested.

"Crawl? We have to be ready for anything."

Just then another bullet ricocheted off the rocks and almost hit Jim. "Oh, I think someone knows we're down here," he said. "Let's move!"

They started moving faster as another bullet made its way down into the area where they were, but they finally got around the rocks and went to their right. To their horror, there was another gunman coming from that way. Jim rolled to his left just as a bullet took up space where he had been. He came to his feet and aimed at the gunman, but Bones fired first this time.

Jim was surprised as he looked at Bones who was still lying on the ground, but the barrel of his gun was smoking. "I was afraid he would kill you," Bones said looking terribly guilty.

The gunman was moaning and holding his hand. "He's not dead, Bones," Jim replied.

"Well, I didn't want to kill him."

They went over to the gunman and took his guns from him. They realized there was no more gunfire from across the trail either. "Looks like West took care of that side," Jim said.

"Or they took care of him," Bones replied.

"Let's get these two back over there."

They got the two outlaws that they had not killed and got them back over to their horses. Then they saw Jim West coming with one. "Hopefully this will be the only attempt," he said.

"What do we do with all these guys?" Jim asked.

West had been thinking about that. "I guess we could take them back to Denver, but that's gonna mean it'll be even later tomorrow when we get to Colorado Springs, and it might even be the next day."

"That's not a good thing, is it?"

"No, but we don't have much choice. We're certainly not taking them all the way to Colorado Springs with us."

"Further there than going back."

"Exactly."

Jim took his hat off and wiped sweat off his forehead. "You think there'll be anymore attempts at this stage?"

"I don't know," West said.

"So you weren't expecting this?"

"We were, but we were hoping they wouldn't go for it with all of us guarding the stage."

"I guess that just made it more of a target."

"Plus, Artie was disguised. Let's get going."