Amelia looked at the men who came riding in and she wondered if one of them might be Dylan Daggett finally reaching the town. She knew what he wanted, who he wanted but not exactly why.

But Clara was safe back at the ranch with the others most likely with the mare and the foal. Amelia kept walking to get a closer look. She didn't recognize the men and they headed to the saloon. So she followed and she ran into Ernie who had picked up on them as well.

"Who are they?"

He just looked at her and shrugged slightly.

"They rode in like gangbusters and if they're not outlaws…"

Amelia nodded, understanding.

"Then they might be a posse out looking for someone…I wonder who."

Ernie smiled.

"I'm going to go find out," he said, "That's what I do."

She thought he'd come to town to do a feature story on Bella but he'd turned out to be interested in the same murder that she'd witnessed back in San Francisco. So they both went over to the saloon and Amelia noticed right off that one of the older man was a well known gunslinger and sometimes federal marshal named Boone Walton. And then she thought…Walton..were the two men related, the gunslinger and the man who died in the jail cell?

He looked like he was in charge of everything even though he'd been in town only a few moments. They'd all tied their horses by the saloon entrance and they had gone inside. By the time she and Ernie had also gone inside they were surrounding Sam who seemed harried.

"Where is he…where's the marshal?"

Scotty folded his arms.

"His name is Ethan Cord and why do you assume he'd be in the saloon?"

Boone looked weary, likely from what might have been a long ride given that he was based in Salt Lake City when he wasn't working.

"They're always in the saloon in small towns like this one when there's no action."

Scotty who had walked up shook his head.

"Ethan's out riding the ranches to talk to them," he said, "He's been having them keep a look out on the main roads into town."

"You expecting anyone?"

"The Daggett gang's been rumored to be in the area."

Boone nodded slightly.

"Yes…I've heard the stories but last I heard they were heading to Virginia City," he said, "The marshals are already gearing up for them there."

Amelia looked at him.

"So why are you here? Who are you looking for Mr. Walton?"

He looked at her with a smile forming on his lips, tipping his hat.

"I think you know…if you know my name," he said, "I'm here about the man dying in the jail cell."

"You know him?"

He nodded.

"Yeah I do…he's my brother. He's not someone who causes trouble Miss…"

"Amelia Lawson," she said, "and I know you're Boone Walton…when the man died, I didn't know he was a relative or I'm sure you would have been contacted."

He shrugged.

"We're estranged…haven't spoken in some years," Boone said, "but when I heard he wound up dead in some jail cell in a sorry excuse for a town…"

Scotty spoke up.

"Hey…"

Boone didn't look apologetic.

"Anyway, I had to check it out for myself," he said, "I want to see the body."

Amelia nodded.

"It's in an ice shed in a barn," she said, "Doc Carter has been keeping an eye on it."

Ernie spoke up, paper in hand.

"You can't be…are you really Boone Walton?"

"Yes I am…at least that's what my mama told me," he said, "I need to talk to this Mr. Cord…when he returns."

Another man approached them and smiled at him.

"Hi, I'm Dakota, and I'm a deputy under Marshal Cord," he said, "I'm just about to head to the office after some breakfast."

Boone nodded and they left. Ernie followed them peppering Boone with questions, most of which he answered tersely in five words or less. Amelia could tell he was used to reporters but probably didn't like them much.

They reached the office and Ethan still hadn't returned. Boone looked around it and didn't look all that impressed but he didn't say anything. Charlie who had been sitting at Ethan's desk jumped up to offer him some coffee.

"It's not that warm but it's still strong."

Boone nodded and Charlie went to pour him a cup.

"So how long has he been marshal?"

Dakota rubbed the back of his neck.

"About two years," he said, "He took the job under duress but he'd been doing it mostly for a while. At least he gets paid now."

"Know the feeling but it's a calling," Boone said, "Only some men are suited for it. I hope Cord is one of them."

Amelia smiled.

"He's more than suited," she said, "He's born for it though it took me a while to accept it."

Boone nodded.

"I imagine so," he said, "You the wife?"

Amelia felt taken aback and shook her head.

"No…we were engaged once but the job…I didn't think I could handle it if anything happened to him."

"Bad things happen to anyone left to uphold the law," Boone said, "All kinds of terrible things…why I've seen marshals hung and set on fire."

Amelia swallowed hard because she imagined Ethan like that and the familiar fear hit her but not as much as it might have back when they'd been engaged. Ernie spoke up again.

"You ever been to San Francisco?"

Boone arched his brows at him.

"Yes…on occasion," he said, "Nice city…run by four gangs struggling for power."

Ernie smiled.

"Ah so you have been there," he said, "Your brother was there…a while back. There was another murder, a young man named Warrick."

Boone frowned.

"I haven't heard of him but it doesn't surprise me," he said, "Blood spills the street of any large city…what were the circumstances?"

Amelia looked down at her hands as Ernie started talking.

"His body was found lying in a mess of blood not long after," he said, "They thought it was Dylan Daggett and his gang…"

Boone snorted slightly.

"Hardly…I'd guess he was some young businessman probably new in town who didn't know that there are rules," he said, "Some gang approached him to make payments…regular payments for security and not knowing better, I'm guessing he said no."

Amelia blinked her eyes, impressed.

"How did you know?"

He turned and looked at her.

"Because I've been doing this for over 25 years Ms Lawson," he said, "By that time I'd seen almost everything."

Ernie scratched his neck.

"So then it was one of the gang leaders who ordered it?"

Boone nodded.

"Yes…that's how it's done," he said, "So you saying there's a connection between these two murders, the one there and here."

Amelia didn't respond to give herself away. She knew that he'd guessed correctly about the motive of why the gang had acted…but not the target and why Warrick was murdered. Still, his analysis of it had been much more accurate than the one presented back in San Francisco or the press including Ernie. At least he appeared to be paying close attention.

"They kill anyone who witnesses it too don't they?"

Boone glanced at her and nodded.

"Yes…no one to know that they've even been there," he said, "Allows them to keep their hands clean."

Ethan rode back from where he'd met up with Clancy. The man had told him that not long before he arrived, a group of men on horses had ridden down the road next to his ranch clearly with purpose. Ethan sighed, knowing he needed to get back if that had been Daggett and his gang. Dakota and Charlie were still in town and could hold them off until he got there but they might need to deputize some men so Ethan told Clancy to ride back with him just in case.

So they both did that and Ethan thought about what he might find when he arrived. He knew that Daggett was after Clara most likely and that she was hopefully at the ranch with Bella and Amelia. But he somehow sensed that she might be in danger too.

So he spurred his horse and rode back harder.