A/N: Sorry for the delay, writer's block. I know where the story is going, it's just a matter of working the filler chapters into place and they're generally not as easy to write since there's no real plot. This one is also very short, just a little one-shot type of thing to move the characters forward. As always, I own nothing but my OC and original stories.

February, 1871, Winnemuca, Nevada

"I think that's everything." Candy stuffed their fresh supplies into the saddlebags and slung them over his shoulder. "Won't see many more towns until we hit California," he remarked casually on the way out of the general store. Annie cast a quick look around, but no one set red flags waving. If there were any bounty hunters around, they were laying low. Her chest tightened as they mounted up and turned their horses.

The trail split, one branch heading due west and the other turned in an arc to the southwest, pointing straight as an arrow towards the home she hadn't seen in a year. So close … just a couple hundred miles … and yet so far.

"Well, it's about time, brother!" That slick drawl sent a chill down her spine. A bay gelding nosed in next to them and Whitaker adjusted his hat with a sly smirk. "Ya'll sure took your time getting here." Annie saw red and he chuckled. "Little sister, I do believe that if looks could kill, I'd be writhing on the ground right now."

"Damn right you would be," she hissed under her breath. Dear God, what did he have in mind?

"Come on, it's hardly my fault the weather was bad, Sam. I reckon you got caught in it, too, unless I miss my guess." He shifted in his saddle, still smirking. "Cut your brother some slack."

"I'd rather cut you to ribbons," she snarled while searching the streets in her periphery. What if he'd set them up somehow? His mocking laughter grated on her nerves. Whitaker glanced at Griff and shook his head.

"Not happy to see your dear brother, kid?"

"No." Whitaker laughed again and shoved his hat back off his forehead, squinting at the trail stretching out in the distance.

"Ya'll still heading for California and MCPhail? I wish you luck," he said with a smile that Annie didn't trust at all.

"Don't wish it all on us," Candy said evenly as he adjusted his reins. "You just might need some yourself."

"Maybe," Whitaker agreed. "Kinda like to see that as a matter of fact."

"Give us time," Annie said sweetly for the benefit of a couple passing by. "There's a lot we can show you, big brother." The two moved on and she added in a low hiss, "starting with your funeral."

"That would be most interesting, little sister." He backed his horse a few steps. "What a pity we haven't time. We have to be in California by the end of the month, after all." He touched his hat. "I have to stop at the blacksmith but I'll catch up out on the trail." His eyes glowed. "Don't wait for me, little brother," he teased, then rode off, leaving Annie, for one, fuming in her saddle.

"I hate him."

"We all do," Candy said under his breath. "Damn, but he's arrogant. And I thought Adam was bad."

"This guy could teach that Yankee granite-head a few things, that's for sure."

"You know the hard part?" Griff asked. "If we didn't know what he'd done, I don't know if I'd believe it."

"You hit that nail on the head," Candy grouched. "Let's get moving, we got a long way to go still and I'd rather he be behind us. The last thing we need is to run into the aftermath of another bank robbery."

"We'll make them believe it," Annie insisted. She wouldn't accept anything less. "All we have to do is get him in the same room as Candy in front of witnesses and it'll be obvious."

"I hope so." Candy took the lead as they picked up the western trail. "It's rarely that easy for us, but maybe this time we'll catch a break."

"We will. It's been almost a year and things are finally starting to turn in our favor." Annie nudged her pinto up to a canter. "The faster we reach Los Robles, the sooner Whitaker dances on air." The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end and she whipped around in the saddle.

Whitaker sat his bay just on the edge of town, watching them ride away. "What the –" She reined her horse down and they followed suit, milling in a loose circle in the middle of the trail. He raised a hand and touched the brim of his hat. "What is he playing at?"

"Could always ask him," Candy said with a shrug. "He might even give us an honest answer." Irritation flared and she kicked her horse into motion.

"Maybe I will." There wasn't anyone else out here, but it was too close to town to risk shooting him out of hand. She slid the pinto to a stop a few feet away from the silent double. "Why?" Red clouded her vision. It would be so easy. Whitaker looked at her, then over her shoulder at Candy and Griff.

"Because I can, Mrs. Canaday," he said with a smirk. "Don't you wish you had the freedom to do the same?" He touched his hat again. "Ma'am." The bay lurched into motion and he galloped past her, darting between Candy and Griff close enough to make Griff's bay shy sideways. Annie rode back to join them, glaring after Whitaker.

"I'm gonna kill that bastard if it's the last thing I do." She flipped her braid over her shoulder. "And it's gonna be so legal the Supreme Court couldn't find a problem with it if they searched for the next hundred years." And it had nothing to do with her pa's distant connections to Chief Justice Salmon Chase.

"What'd he say?"

"Because he can," she quoted menacingly. "The rat loves mind games."