"Kid Cole in the flesh," the man continued. He was rough-looking. His face was scarred from too many fights and his hair hadn't seen scissors or razors in quite a while. Yet, he wore a friendly smile.

"Matt Harris," Kid said, returning a smile.

Ruth, meanwhile, snaked her hand up to the poster and ripped it down from the brick wall and folded it behind her back, slipping the paper into her Bible as casually as she could. She didn't know if this man would turn him in, but she wasn't planning on taking any chances.

"I didn't know you were back. Why don't you come grab a drink?" Matt asked.

"I don't drink anymore."

He seemed surprised by Kid's reply but then he recovered. "What does that matter? I know Camille would like to see you," he said with a suggestive grin and a raise of his eyebrows.

"That's not a good idea either. Have I introduced you to my wife, Mrs. Cole?" He held his hand out toward Ruth, in case he had missed her, putting a special emphasis on wife.

His look was one of pure confusion. He glanced briefly at her and then his eyes went back to Kid. "What's happened to you? What's gone and took the fun out of you?"

"I found out what real fun is, lasting fun. I found God or I should say He found me."

"You went and got religion," he said, the tone implying he would've been better off contracting something less harmful like cholera or bubonic plague.

"We can still talk. I wouldn't mind catching up with you."

"Forget it. If I wanted to talk to a parson, I could find one easy enough," he muttered and went on his way.

Given Matt's sudden cooling towards Kid, she was glad she had decided to hide the poster.

Kid just humphed and shook his head. "Looks like you lose some friends when you change your direction."

"You do and the sad thing is it's them that do the leaving. Something about God makes them uncomfortable."

"Well, I guess we better get situated before nightfall."

They paid to board the horses and wagon at the livery and then paid for a room at a hotel.

"So who was this Camille?" Ruth asked as she took off her cloak in their room. She was trying to sound casual and calm, but it had been on her mind since the name was mentioned.

"Just a friend," he said while he checked the bed for signs of pests as it wasn't the finest-looking hotel he'd ever seen.

"A good friend?"

He didn't want to lie to her. He knew what she was asking. He walked up to her and took both of her hands in his. "Yes, at one time."

"I see." Ruth couldn't deny it bothered her. First there was Carla and now Camille. Just how many of these old friends did he have? One for every town?

"It's you I love. You're the only woman I've ever wanted to marry."

She believed him, but that didn't make Camille a whole lot easier to digest. Still, she was determined not to be jealous. She pulled away and took the poster out of her Bible, changing the subject to the more pressing issue. "This worries me. You ought to lie low until we leave."

"Too much to do. I'm going to go buy some of the more immediate supplies we need and then I'll see if I can't find a better prospect among the posters. Though I suppose I could turn in myself in."

"You're very funny," she said dryly, not thinking it was a laughing matter at all. "Somebody's hiding behind your name and trying to make it your neck in a noose. That don't bother you?"

"Well, it's not like my reputation was all that shining to begin with."

"But you weren't breaking no laws. What if one of your old pals tries to turn you in for the reward? Like Matt?"

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. In the meantime, I'll see if I can find out more about these robberies. Try not to worry. I'm not going to go shouting my name from the rooftops and that description they gave could fit any number of men."

"Well, let me go with you then."

"I'll find out more if I'm alone. Some men don't open up easy with a lady around."

"You're going in the saloon, ain't you?" she asked disapprovingly.

"There's no better place to pick up information of that nature."

She didn't look thrilled, but he made good points. "I guess I'll go find the churches and let them know we're having a revival tomorrow after I scout out a suitable place."

"St. Louis is a big place. I'm not sure I like the idea of you wandering around it alone."

"It's safer for me right now than you. I'll be fine if I stick to where there's plenty of people around. Besides, most are kind of leery about messing with a woman carrying a Bible and I'll be back here before dark."

Kid found he couldn't argue with that reasoning either. "Just be alert."

They went downstairs together and saw that a crowd was pressed around the outside of the hotel, looking as if they were waiting on somebody to come out.

"Apparently you have a lot of friends I don't know about in St. Louis," Ruth said.

"I don't know these people," Kid replied.

"I was just kidding. Must be somebody important staying like the president. Imagine if we were under the same roof as the president of the United States." There was no hero worship in her voice just amusement.

"I'm sure we would've heard about it if he was."

The crowd parted for them but only so far before it enclosed around them. By the time they realized they were the ones they'd been waiting on, their way of escape was gone. They couldn't move forwards or backwards. They were trapped in a sea of people and hands reached out touching Ruth.

"Sister Ruth! Heal me!" "Touch me!" Frantic, pleading voices cried.

It felt like some kind of nightmare, only the crushing of bodies proved it was no dream. Kid did his best to shelter her with his body and they pushed through the crowd, making a way where there was none.