The place was quiet, night had taken over hours ago. Josiah sat behind the desk, reading through a book, Mary delivered to him earlier in the shift. KC, sat on the bunk with her back to the corner, eyes staring up at the window to the outside world. Morning would bring Judge Travis. The thought of the man she had never met echoed in her mind.

"Where no counsel is, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety," Josiah spoke in his soft tone as he watched his charge.

KC looked over at the old man, a quizzical look on her face. With a smile Josiah stood and made his way to lean against the cell.

"You look troubled," he stated more plainly.

"No trouble," KC tried to ward off the man's inquisitions.

"The truth shall set you free."

"Or bound you forever," KC finished.

Josiah smiled as he flipped through some pages absently in the book, "You're a lot smarter than you seem. I'd like to help if I can, but the lord can only help those who help themselves."

The wee hours of morning broke over the horizon when the stage settled to a stop in the town. Judge Travis, smiled at his young traveling companion. "I wish you luck on your search, Jake," Travis told the young boy before dispatching himself from the stage.

"Thank you, sir," Jake told the man's back. He looked out the window of the stage across the street. He watched for a moment as the people of the town milled about.

"Mister, you getting off or sleeping in there, tonight," the driver called in bringing Jake back to where he was.

"I'm comin'," He called as he got off the stage. The town was smaller than he was used too. The smell of horses invaded his nostrils, and he smiled. Looking around the town, he tried to make reference to where he should go in order to see if anyone had seen his mother. "Where can someone get something to drink," Jake asked the stage driver. The man pointed toward the saloon. Jake smiled, "Thank you, mister."

Turning Jake walked toward the saloon, stepping up onto the boardwalk, he stopped a moment to look around. Taking note of the different buildings along the street. "Strange place," he said aloud to himself, before walking into the saloon.

Inside was a little slow, a few men sat here and there, walking up to the bar, he took note of the woman behind it, she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

"What can I do for you, Cher," the woman asked when she stopped before him.

No drinking alcohol, Mrs. Hargroves words came to him. The small warning she had given him before he left. "Some milk if I could," Jake asked with a smile, "I'm awful parched."

The boy looked about as close to being a man as JD. Large features, and the politeness of a child. The face was familiar but, Lily couldn't place it. Lily, went straight to getting the young man what he had asked for, "I've never seen you around before, are you from around here," she asked wiping the bar.

"No, ma'am, born in Virginia, Been in New York, the past 4 years. The Hargroves thought it best to get culture," Jake laughed.

Lily smiled, "Culture can be a good thing, but what brings you out west?"

"Searchin', trying to find my mother," he fished into his pocket and pulled out a locket, popping it open he showed Lily the picture inside.

Lily stared at the picture of the woman, she wore a nice modest dress, alarm almost struck in Lily's face as she noticed the scar on the woman's left temple. Almost unnoticeable in the photograph. "When was the last time you've seen her," Lily asked trying to hide her thoughts about who this woman in the picture could be.

"Probably the day I was born," he watched Lily, "I figure she's somewhere out west. Ran into some folks outside of town about ten to twelve days ago, they took my horse and belongings, they were going to shoot me. That's when the third one showed up and knocked them senseless. Then the guy threw a pouch of money at me, and the three rode off. I must admit this is a strange land out here," Jake smiled shaking his head. He took a long draw off his cup of milk.

"You planing on staying around town long," Lily asked, wondering if it was KC who had saved this young man.

"Just long enough to take a look around, and gather some information," Jake looked around, "but that looks to be scarce," Jake sighed as he finished off his milk, "Thank you ma'am for your conversation," he placed payment for the milk on the counter, then turned to leave.

"Wait a minute, Cher, can I ask your name?"

Jake looked back at the woman, smiled, "Jake Hardin."

Judge Travis, stood solemnly before the prisoner, Josiah stood near, McCatney stood quietly behind the judge. "Do you know the charges that are being brought against you," Judge Travis asked.

"Murder and Robbery," KC answered not looking up from the floor.

"Are you guilty?"

KC's eyes shifted up and to the right as she thought about her answer to this judge. She'd never been before a judge before. "Guilty," KC stated as her eyes shift back to the floor. Travis sighed, looked and looked at Josiah grimly.

"You aren't guilty," McCatney broke in suddenly grabbing KC through the bars and pulling her to them in a show of force, "You didn't kill that kid. You knew the gold wasn't in that bank. Come on," Josiah held McCatney forcing the officers grip off of KC and pulling him out of the jail, "You didn't do it."

If I'm going to save my son I did, KC thought with firmness as she stared at McCatney struggling to get away from Josiah as the older man pulled him out of the place.

Travis, watched the scene unfold his mind taking in the actions of Capt. McCatney, and KC's lack of action. There was something in the way he wouldn't look anyone in the eyes, that bothered Travis. Taking a long look at KC, he finally turned and walked out of the jail, contemplating what had just happened.

"He didn't do it judge," McCatney pleaded with Travis, "that man in there he isn't a murderer. He helped me and a woman to escape from Peg-Leg and Jesse. Judge, he saved our lives."

"Captain, what do you want me to do, Mr. Jenson just pleaded guilty to the charges."

"Judge, he's saved my life on more than one occasion, when he could have just as easily killed me," McCatney continued to plead, "Sir, the shotgun rider on that stage wasn't killed by KC."

"Captain, if not that there's the escape of Peg-Leg and Jesse to contend with, Mr. Jenson has aided in their escape, and I've also been told he held Vin Tanner at gun point. What do you say to those charges?"

McCatney and Judge Travis stared at each other for a time, each sizing up the other, McCatney folded first, his eyes turned down he shook his head and walked away.

"What do you know of this Mr. Jensen, Josiah," Judge Travis asked.

"Hard to say, but there is honor among thieves," Josiah stated with a philosophical tone, before heading back into the jail.

Josiah walked back inside the jail, his forward momentum not stopping until he had reached the cell. KC had taken up residence in his usual spot. "Is what the Captain said true about the shotgun rider?"

"What does it matter," KC said eyes focused on some obscure form on the wall.

"Could save your life."

"At what expense," KC exploded flying to her feet, "Just leave it be."

Josiah watched as KC regained control of himself and sat back down on the bunk. There was an edginess that flowed through him as he sat there. More like a load of dynamite about to explode, and no one knew just how long the fuse was. He couldn't tell what the boy was thinking, but he knew that whatever it was held a great weight on the kid's shoulders.