Jesse Bannister spent several weeks in Cactus Flats playing high stakes poker. The saloon owner tolerated his presence for a percentage of the money Jesse took in, which worked well for both men.

Angel Eyes spent some nights assisting his friend by sitting in on some games, which helped to lure other players into a false sense of security. He spent other nights with Emma, whose sexual appetite was as high as his own.

The murder of the stranger at the old mine was never solved, though the sheriff eventually wrote it off as a robbery gone wrong, then promptly forgot about it. It was the subject of town gossip for a bit longer, but no one really cared, as no one had known the victim.

The only ones whose suspicions were anywhere close to the truth were Emma and her grandfather, but they never shared their thoughts on the matter with each other or anyone else. Eventually, they, too, moved on, though Emma filed the information in her memory.

Emma had been feeling queasy in the morning for several days. She had managed so far not to vomit, and to conceal how she'd felt from her family. It had also been the second month since she'd had her monthly and she was concerned.

Her friend, Janie, was training to be a midwife, so the young women had naturally talked together about the birds and the bees. Emma feared she might be with child. This was something that had never crossed her mind during the many passion filled nights she'd shared with Angel Eyes.

She needed to see Janie as soon as possible, who could better assess her condition. Emma could trust her friend to keep it confidential as well. She knew her mother would overreact and immediately hustle her off to the doctor, which Emma definitely did not want.

After her half day of work on Saturday, Emma headed straight for Janie's house. Her parents did not question her, as she often visited her friend on the weekend.

As she approached the Parker home, she found her friend hanging laundry in the backyard. "I need to talk to you bad," she said as she joined Janie at the clothesline.

"Pick up some clothes pins and help me finish hanging this wash," Janie told her. "My mother said this is my last chore for the day, so we can sit on the bench and talk when we're done."

Once they were finished and had sat on the bench, Janie turned to Emma and said, "So, what is it? I can tell you're nearly bursting at the seams to tell me."

Emma swallowed hard, then gathered her courage. "I think I'm with child," she finally managed to say, looking away from her friend.

"Well, it isn't any wonder the way you two have been going at it like rabbits," Janie observed bluntly. "I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner."

After a moment, she said in a softer voice, "What makes you think you're in a family way?"

"I've been feeling sick in the morning and I've missed two monthlies in a row," Emma reported.

"I'd say you're going to have a baby, then," Janie said. "What do you want to do about it?"

"Do?" the other woman exclaimed. "What do you mean?"

"My aunt and I have attended some of the fancy women at the brothel," Janie confided. "There are methods to end a pregnancy. That's why you hardly ever see that sort with children." After a breath, she added, "But I wouldn't recommend that, as it's very dangerous."

"Oh, no, I could never do that!" Emma shuddered at the very thought of it.

"Do you love him?" Janie asked quietly, moving on. "Do you want to marry him?"

"I care about him," Emma admitted. "But I'm not 'in love' and, besides, Angel Eyes is neither the marrying, nor the fatherly, type. I'm pretty sure he's some sort of outlaw."

"Oh, dear," Janie said. "I would say so if he doesn't even go by his real name. Do you even know what his name is?"

"His last name is Sentenza," Emma replied. "But I only know that because I overheard another man call him that. I don't know what his first name is."

Janie was silent for a few moments, deep in thought. "But you need to tell him," she said. "You have to give him the chance to do right by you. It's only fair."

Late one afternoon, Angel Eyes was sitting in the saloon, at loose ends. Jesse was sleeping off a late night poker game and Emma was at work. Normally, he was happy spending time alone, as it suited his introverted personality, but he was bored with being idle and was ready for a new job.

As he was about to go across the street to the cafe, a well-dressed man about his own age came in, looked around briefly, then quietly approached him. After ordering a drink from the bartender, he quietly said, "Angel Eyes? You match the description I was given."

"That's right," the hired gun replied. He waited for the man to state his business.

The man handed him a folded piece of paper, then said, "I have a business proposition for you. The details are written there." As Angel Eyes read the paper, the man added, "You came highly recommended. I was told you were the best at what you do."

"So I've been told," he replied laconically. He had nothing to prove.

"I'll pay you in advance to get this done at your earliest opportunity," the client said,

"That's my usual requirement." Angel Eyes said. "I should be able to get this done within the next two weeks, most likely sooner."

Handing the hired gun an envelope, facing away from others in the saloon, the client said, "I will be out of town for the next two weeks. I hope this amount is appropriate."

After briefly counting the money, Angel Eyes slipped it into an interior coat pocket. It was about twice his usual fee, but he didn't mention that. He lit his pipe, then burned the paper the client had given him, already having memorized the contents. As the ashes fluttered into the ash tray, he finally said, "It's acceptable."

Two hours later, after collecting his gear, the hired gun left town to do the job he'd been hired for. He'd seen Jesse briefly before he left, telling him he'd be on a job and when he expected to return. After riding his horse to the nearest town with rail service, he put the animal in the stock car and rode the train to his destination.

"Do you want me to go with you to tell him?" Janie offered when she saw how apprehensive Emma was.

"You can walk over there with me, but I'd better go up to his hotel room alone," Emma replied. "I've never just shown up there without being invited first, so I don't know how he'll react, especially if someone ais with me." After a moment, she added, "He's a very private man, you see."

"So you've said," her friend replied. "But this has to be done. And sooner, rather than later."

"I know," Emma said. "Let's go now before Iose my nerve."

Once they reached town, the two young women hurried along the back alleys until they reached the back door to the hotel.

"Wait here," Emma said, as she reached to open the door. "I'll let you know if I'm going to be a long while."

"All right."

Emma slowly climbed the stairs. Once she stood at Angel Eyes' door, she took a deep breath, then knocked softly.

There was no response, so she put her ear to the door to listen for any sounds within. Hearing nothing, she whispered, "Angel Eyes!"

Still no response. Emma swallowed hard, then tried the door, which opened easily. She was dismayed to see all his gear gone. After a moment, however, she noticed a note left on the bed, addressed to her. She snatched it up and read:

Have some business out of town. Will see you when I return in about a week or two.

She folded the note and put it inside her pocket. She went back outside to where Janie was waiting.

"He wasn't there," Emma reported. "But he left me a note telling me he'll be back in a week or two."

"Oh, dear," Janie said. "You'll just have to wait for him."

"Nothing else I can do," Emma said miserably. "I just hope my mother doesn't notice in that time."