Chapter 3

Rock Creek, Nebraska

April 1872

Sighing with exasperation, Lara stepped out of the hotel and rolled her eyes in annoyance. For the past two weeks, she had encountered the same sight every morning: Deputy Peterson, sitting across from the hotel, patiently waiting for her. Despite her irritation, she mustered a polite wave and a smile as she walked past the deputy and into the Marshal's office.

As the Marshal greeted her with a gentleness that seemed incongruous with the conversation they had the previous night, Lara's resolve hardened. Despite his unassuming appearance, Lara knew better than to let her guard down. She had learned at that not everyone was as they appeared. Beneath the surface of charm and warmth often lurked lies and deceit

"Miss Alba,"

"Good day, Marshal," Lara replied, extending her hand.

Straight to the point, Lara wasted no time in revealing her intentions. The lawman looked at her curiously, uncertain of what to make of this new arrival in his town.

"How may I assist you, Ma'am?" He furrowed his brow in suspicion.

"Actually, I've come to help you," she announced, her tone betraying a hint of defiance.

"Are you here to tell us where Vasquez is?" He inquired.

With a flick of her wrist, Lara produced a crumpled piece of paper with a list of what looked like chores, extending it toward the Marshal.

"I thought it would be a lot easier for your deputy to follow me if he knew where I was going in advance, unless of course, he'd prefer to escort me."

"I don't know what you're talkin' about," he muttered, his tone strained.

"Of course not," she retorted, her right eyebrow arching defiantly.

Caught in a web of his own making, Kid faltered, his resolve wavering momentarily against the force of Lara's conviction. "If you are afraid of Vasquez, I can protect you,"

"I don't require protection from," she began, then abruptly stopped mid thought. A moment of silence passed between them, the weight of the unsaid clear hung in the stillness.

"So you do know him," The marshal smiled, aware that she had inadvertently revealed her hand.

Lara paused, gathering the veneer of the persona she pretended to embody. "I don't need your protection, marshal," she declared. "And I don't know where he is. That's the truth." With a firm gaze, Lara turned to face the marshal and the man sitting beside him. "Good day."

Her gaze turned to the stranger sitting beside the Marshal. "Sir." With a final glance, Lara turned on her heel, her footsteps echoing against the wooden floorboards as she made her exit.

"So she's the one?" Buck mused, his gaze lingering on Lara's retreating figure.

Kid nodded, his expression solemn. "Yep, that's her."

"You think she's lyin'?" Buck's eyebrow cocked up with curiosity.

Kid shook his head. "I don't know. But, I don't think we've seen the last of Joaquin Vasquez."

"Well Kid, you got your work cut out for you," Buck remarked with a chuckle.

"That's for sure. That woman's given poor Peterson the slip four or five times so far," Kid responded, a wry smile playing on his lips.

"A blind man could give Peterson the slip," Buck interjected, his humor infectious as he teased Kid.

"Buck," Kid chided, a hint of exasperation in his voice, though he couldn't help but crack a smile.

"A lame, blind man," Buck added, barely able to contain his laughter as he stretched the joke further.

Shaking his head, Kid couldn't suppress a grin any longer. "I'm heading out to Willow Bluff today. See if Teaspoon's seen anything," he informed Buck.

"You think he may be headed there?" Buck inquired.

"I overheard Miss. Alba talking to Callie Johnson, asking how far it was to the Bluffs," Kid revealed, a note of significance underlying his words as he shared his observations.

"I'll keep an eye on Peterson," Buck conceded.

"Well, you could have your old job back," Kid remarked with a friendly slap on Buck's back, acknowledging his friend's commitment to the task at hand.

"No thanks," Buck quipped, his response swift and decisive, indicating his reluctance to return to their former roles.

"That's what I thought," Kid replied with a shake of his head, a smile playing on his lips.

"Ride safe Kid." Buck waved as Kid mounted and rode off towards Willow Bluff.