"Jenson, what do you think your doing," McCatney demanded from the man who had saved his life twice now, "You stay here, they’ll hang you." The Captain stared at KC’s eyes, hoping looking for something, but only getting a dead silent stare. The boy clenched his jaw, as if wanting to say something and deciding it better to keep quiet. "I want to help you."

Nodding KC turned to walk back to the jail, McCatney grabbed the boys arm turning him back. Hurtling himself at McCatney, KC pinned the captain against the wall across from the jail, "I could snap your neck if I felt like it, captain, don’t think I’m your friend, because you think I saved your life. I didn’t," KC told him through clenched teeth, then roughly pushed away from the captain and out of the alley to the jail. Passing Josiah, KC barely looked up as he headed back into the jail.

Josiah smiled at McCatney, "Two wrongs don’t make a right, captain," McCatney looked up at Josiah, a confused look on his face, "Can’t help but over hear."

"Yeah," the captain retorted.

"That boy, just kept your bars for you," the man's thick fingers tapped on the captain bars pinned on the uniform, as McCatney walked away.

Lily watched Chris as he slept his face lost some of the years he had taken on by living a hard life. Gently, she fingered a stray hair off his forehead, his breath caught in his throat, body constricting, before letting out the breath as he opened his eyes to look up at the woman. "Morning," he mumbled as a smile spread across his face.

"Morning," Lily said back to him, "just wanted to check on you before I go and see Casey. How you feeling?"

"As well as can be expected," he looked at her taking hold of her wrist before she could get away. She turned back to him, "Be careful, Lil, don’t get too mixed up with that boy."

"Cher, I’m careful, and I’ve got nothing to worry about with Casey," Lily walked out of the room turning back to check on him before closing the door.

An afternoon nap would be unheard of with the bellowing and yelling Frank and Jesse proceeded to do. They sounded more like a bunch or banshies, or kids trying to propel their parents into madness. Josiah, sat behind the desk a mocking smile on his face as he shook his head in amazement. KC stared at the same spot on the bunk that he had found earlier, it didn’t seem to matter what it was or why it was, just that it was. "A fool uttereth all his mind," the wise old man stated calmly to Frank and Jesse, causing them both to cease their tirade for the time being.

Then as if the whole phrase had sunk in, "Hey we’re not fool’s," yelled Jesse.

Josiah laughed a light hearted laugh as the door to the jail opened. "What’s so funny," Vin asked looking at Josiah, who just shook his head.

"I’ll take over, why don’t you go get some food or something," Vin told Josiah as he moved further into the place.

Josiah stood grabbed his hat and started for the door, "Might want to stick some cotton in your ears. Them boys are loud enough to wake the dead."

Vin smiled, "I can handle them."

"Lily," Josiah tipped his hat and held the door for the woman as she entered before he left.

"Howdy, Lily, how’s Chris?"

"He’s resting still," she scanned the jail noticing the three boys, held securely in the one cell. KC hadn’t looked up, as the boy stared at a spot on the bunk, "Mind if I have a word with Casey?"

"Casey, Lily’d like to have a word with you," Vin stated grabbing some shackles and the key before moving over to the cell door. KC stood as if demanded to do so, moving over to the bars, he waited quietly for Vin to make his move. The door opened with a clank, Frank and Jesse had moved to the back of the cell as Vin put the wrist shackles on KC.

Outside the sun beat down on the boardwalk in front of the office where Vin chained KC to the hitching post. Through the door Frank and Jesse could be heard hollering for visitors and food. KC never took her eyes off the ground, to even look at Lily. "How are you doing, cher," KC shifted her eyes down to the end of the road.

"Fine," KC stated dryly, not sure she wanted to pursue this line of questioning, "I’ve got it under control."

Lily watched as KC struggled with her inner turmoil, she wanted to help. "Is there anything I can get you," KC turned her attention back to the hitching post.

"A gun’d be nice."

"I can’t do that, cher."

Nodding, "I know. Let Tanner know, we’re done."

Lily turned to go to the door but stopped, "Casey, why?"

"Cause I’m ready."

"No, why did you . . ."

KC shrugged, "It’s what I know," because I’m tired of running, it’s time to pay for my sins, KC continued in her mind. The haunting images of men, women and children dying had finally taken their toll.

Lily nodded.

Evening wore on like stagnant water in a swamp, Frank had long since lost his enthusiasm to incite a riot, while Jesse turned to perking up and causing havoc when people entered the room. Dark, had set in by the time Molly arrived with their dinner. KC leaned against the corner in the back of the cell, absently toying with a string that was still attached to the blanket. Vin greeted Molly at the door, taking some of the trays off her hands as he moved back toward the cell. Jesse pipped up about how starving he was and it was about time. Frank leaned against the bars of the cell.

Molly followed Vin apprehensive of the guys in the jail. Vin stopped at the post where the keys to the cell hung. Molly stood away from the cells, just out of reach of whoever would be in there, she watched Vin retrieve the key.

Frank, coughed startling Molly who jumped trying to hold a scream in her throat. The soft sound of paper hitting the floor. Frank smiled like a gentleman, "You’ve dropped something Miss," he leaned down to pick the folded paper up that had landed near the cell.

Molly stared at him for a moment, as he offered the paper back to her. Gingerly, she moved forward, reaching for the paper in the mans hand. As she took hold of the paper she could feel the vise like grip of his hand around her wrist, forcing her arm behind her and turning her back to him. The letter falling to the ground as she screamed, the scream cut short by the feel of the thick arm closing around her throat. "Ah ah ah, cowboy, wouldn’t aim that here. You might hit the girl with that scatter gun," Frank calmly informed Vin.

Vin’s gaze shifted from Frank, who was cold as ice, to Jesse, who smiled and laughed, to KC - unfazed by any of the things going on. While, Molly stared in wide eyed terror, her eyes pleading with Vin to save her. "You don’t want her hurt, you’ll drop that gun and unlock this door," Frank emphasized his intentions by holding Molly around the neck a little tighter, "It won’t be hard to snap this soft, thin neck. . . officer," Frank seemed to be getting off on the thought of what he could do to the woman.

Vin, thought about his options, and right now the only way to keep Molly alive was to do what Frank wanted. Slowly, he lowered the sawed off shotgun placing it on the desk, and moved over to the cell door. He put the key in, and turned it with a loud clunk. The door squealed, as he opened it. Jesse jumped on the opportunity, flying out of the cell cold cocking Vin.

The sound of dead weight hitting the wood floor caused KC to close her eyes. Jesse secured Vin’s hands together before putting the connecting rope over a high hook on the wall and securing his feet together. Molly, watched frozen in terror as Jesse moved closer to her. The wild look in his eye causing her blood to run cold. She wanted a way out, needed. Jesse’s hands were harsh, even more so than Franks as Jesse pulled Molly against him. He held Vin’s six shooter to her head, "Hey darlin’ don’t think about it, jus keep quiet and we’ll be alright," Jesse laughed.

Frank moved out of the cell with the lithe efficiency of a panther. He tried to get Molly back, "She’s mine Jesse," Frank demanded pulling Molly’s hand.

Jesse wouldn’t let go of his hold on her as the two ensued in a tug of war. "She’s mine," KC said with a quiet cool tone.

They both looked in the direction of the voice and found themselves staring down the barrel of a colt revolver. Behind which were dead eyes, a look that caused both Frank and Jesse to tremble, stepping away they gave Molly to KC. Holding Molly from behind, KC held the gun at her head. "Now, come on we’ve gotta get out of here."

KC herded the two to the door of the jail, they took off out of the place like two raccoons in the night raiding the trash. KC stopped at the door holding Molly, she aimed the gun at the roof top across from the jail as she saw the boys mounting some horses, and turn to look for her. KC fired a shot wide from them she watched as they ducked looked around and started firing shots. KC let loose a few more before the boys rode out of town at top speed.

Pulling Molly around, KC whispered low into her ear, "You’ve crossed me once," tossing her toward Vin, who had come around and watched the scene unsure now, "untie him."

Molly did as KC asked as fast as she could though her hands were shaking. Vin rubbed his wrists a second, "Pick up that gun," KC motioned toward the sawed off shotgun he’d laid down earlier. Cautiously he reclaimed his shotgun, and watched the barrel of the gun aimed at him, "aim it."

Vin looked confused as he held the shotgun in his hands, "AIM IT," KC ordered, Vin complied, just as the sounds of hurried steps came pounding on the boardwalk. The door burst in with Ezra, Josiah, and Nathan. Each one quickly taking aim in on KC as he stood there staring Vin down. Looking, around the room, KC allowed the revolver to hang on his finger. Ezra, quickly stepping forward to claim the ill gotten gain, before they ushered KC back into the cell and locking it.

Taking a deep breath KC sat in the back of the cell, as Nathan checked out Molly and Vin. "Won’t be much use going after them now," Vin stated, "no moon, you’ll never find the tracks."

KC snuck looks up at the guys watching and listening. "I don’t get it," Vin said, moving over to the cell, looking in at KC.

"Get what," Josiah asked.

"Why - aw nothing," Vin said as if shaking off what he’d seen and experienced in the past 5 minutes.