by his head.
        "Well, if someone could go one day without his 'animal magnetism' 
kicking in, maybe we wouldn't get into these predicaments." Ezra 
Standish drawled shooting over a large barrel who's contents were 
anyone's guess.
        "Don't blame me.  I can't help it.  Women just...like me." Buck 
Wilmington smiled.
        "This was supposed to be our vacation, Buck.  Two days without any... 
any..."
        "Aggravations. "Ezra interjected, firing again.
        "Exactly." JD said shooting around the back of the wagon he and Buck 
were hiding behind.
        "How was I to know she was married?" Buck said defensively.
        The men shooting at them had chased them until they were out of town. 
        Now the three men were hiding behind a wagon and some barrels they 
happened upon.
        "How many are there?" JD asked, peeking around the wagon.
        "Get back!" Buck pulled him back next to him as a bullet whizzed by. 
"You don't do that." Buck scolded.  "Do you want to die young?"
        Ezra leaned against the barrel he was hiding behind and reloaded.  "I'm 
almost out of ammunition." He informed the other two men.
        "Me too." JD said.
        The look Ezra got from Buck wasn't reassuring. 
        "Splendid." Ezra said dryly, springing up and letting loose another 
line of bullets, then dropping back down .
        "Uh, Ezra?  This might not be the best time to ask." JD said, "But 
what's in that barrel?"
        Ezra looked at his young companion in disbelief.  "I don't know."  He 
said, slightly irritated, that, of all the times to ask dumb questions, he had to pick now.
        "Then could you tell me what 'tent' is?" JD asked.
        "What?" Buck asked.
        "TNT.  Tent." JD said.  "It's printed on the barrel in big letters." JD 
said pointing at the barrel with his gun.
        Ezra spun around and looked in horror.  Printed in solid black letters 
was 'TNT.'  As fast as he could, Ezra scrambled over between JD and Buck 
and moved JD's gun away from the barrel.
        "Do not point your weapon at that container." Ezra said. "What results would not be pleasant."
        "Why?" JD asked, utterly baffled.
        "That's an explosive, kid." Buck informed him.
        "If there is TNT in there then..." Ezra trailed, lifting the tarp from 
the wagon.  "Mr. Wilmington, I suggest we vacate the premises."
        "What?  Why?" Buck asked, shooting again.
        "Because we will be in a dire situation if we stay." Ezra informed, 
pointing to the wagons contents.
        "Holy-" Buck said as he turned to run.
        "I couldn't have said it better if I made the attempt." Ezra said 
following.
        JD stood there dumbfounded. "What?" he asked.  Buck turned around and grabbed JD by his arm and pulled him away.
        "Keep down." He ordered as all three ran as fast and as far away from 
the wagon as they could.
        "That's it.  Run away like cowards!"The woman's husband yelled after 
them.
        Buck stopped short.  Ezra and JD went a few more steps then stopped.
        Buck's eyes were burning.  "No one-No One-calls me a coward." He hissed with barely controlled anger.
        "Mr. Wilmington, I suggest that for once you let go of your pride and 
run." Ezra suggested.
        "No one calls me a coward." Buck repeated.
        "Buck, come on." JD coaxed.
        Buck turned around and lifted his shooting arm.  "No one calls me a 
coward!" he yelled back and pulled the trigger. 
        The bullet hit dead center of the wagon.  The explosion was deafening 
and bright.  It knocked Buck, Ezra and JD on their backs.  Smoke plumed 
hundreds of feet in the air.
        Buck, JD and Ezra slowly sat up and watched the black smoke curling in the air.
        "Buck," JD said, "Remind me never to get you mad."
        "I think we would all benefit if we made our way back to Four Corners." Ezra suggested standing up.
        "No one calls me a coward." Buck said as all three men walked away to 
find their horses.

        It was late afternoon when JD, Ezra, and Buck made it back to Four 
Corners.  They looked worse for wear, considering they were covered from 
head to toe in dust and dirt.
        "What happened to you three?" Vin asked the trio as they sat at a table in the town saloon.
        "My guess would be woman problems." Chris commented from the bar.
        "A very astute assumption, Mr. Larabee." Ezra said with a pointed look at Buck.
        "How many times do I have to say it?  I didn't know she was married." 
Buck said.
        "So. Did anything exciting happen while we were gone?" JD asked 
attempting to change the subject. 
        "It looks like you guys had enough excitement for all of us." Vin said 
patting JD on the back and making a heavy cloud of dust rise.
        Ezra pulled out a deck of cards from his vest pocket.  "Anyone up for a 
friendly game of chance?" It had only been a few hours since his last 
game, but his fingers were itching to deal a hand.
        "Not for me, thanks.  I think I won my limit today." Vin said getting 
up, and walking out the door. "Ma'am." he said as a woman walked past 
him through the swinging doors of the saloon.
        Buck watched her as she sat down at a table.  To him she looked lost 
and alone.  He got up from his chair and moved to the bar.
        "What's her story?"  Buck asked Chris.
        Chris glanced over at the woman and, returning his attention to his 
bottle , said, "Ms. Travis said that she was looking for someone."
        "Well now." Buck said with a smile and a twinkle in his eye. "Maybe I'm the one she is looking for."
        "Don't forget to ask if she's married." Chris suggested with a smile.
        "Good idea." Buck said thoughtfully.  Then with his best swagger, he 
walked over to where the lonely looking woman was sitting.
        "I couldn't help but notice that you were sitting here all by 
yourself." Buck said as he pulled up a chair. "A very pretty-no , make 
that beautiful-woman such as yourself shouldn't be sitting her all by 
her lonesome."
        The woman turned her deep green eyes to Buck and smiled weakly. "Thank you, sir, for the compliment.  But I'd really like to be alone."
        "My friend told me that you were looking for someone."  Buck tried.  He was totally captivated by her green eyes.  They were strangely dark and 
dull.  "Maybe I can help."
        Instantly, life sparkled in her eyes. "Really?" she asked hopefully.
        "I'll do my best." Buck said, thinking how beautiful her eyes were when 
they were happy.
        "I'm looking for this man." She said pulling a photo from her purse and handing it to Buck.  "Oh, where are my manners?  My name is Samantha Byrd." She held out a hand to the man who could be the key to who she was looking for.
        "Buck Wilmington at your service." Buck said taking and kissing the 
back of her gloved hand.  His charm turned on full force.
        To Buck her face looked as delicate and soft as a porcelain doll's.  It 
became even more striking as a smile spread across it.
        Taking his eyes from her face for a second, he glanced at the photo, 
then looked at it more closely.
        "He might be a few years older.  I haven't seen him in a while." 
Samantha explained.
        Just like Mary, Buck had a feeling he knew who this man in the photo 
was but he couldn't place him.
        "What's his name." Buck asked.
        "Jesse.  Jesse Byrd." Samantha said, her eyes dulling slightly.
        "Maybe one of my friends can help."  Buck said rising from his chair. 
Samantha got up also and followed him to Ezra and JD's table.  Ezra had 
just won a hand from JD and was raking his money in with a large smile.
        "Gentlemen, this beautiful woman is in need of our assistance." Buck 
informed them as Chris walked over and sat down.
        Not another one, Ezra thought, content with his winnings.
        "Howdy,  Ma'am." JD said, clearly interested in the damsel in distress.
        "Hello," she said softly.
        Ezra glanced up from his winnings, his eyes meeting hers briefly, then 
he returned his attention to his recent winnings.
        "Now," Buck was saying, "this is Miss Samantha Byrd.  She is looking 
for this man." Buck handed the picture to JD who handed it to Ezra who 
gave it to Chris.  "Do any of you recognize him?" Buck asked.
        "No.  Sorry, Ma'am." Came the general reply.
        "Do you think you could help me look for him?" Samantha asked 
desperately.
        "I'm sorry, Ma'am." Chris said, getting up and moving to the bar.  "But we aren't in the business of missing people."
        Samantha looked desperately to Buck, but he was to shocked by Chris' 
statement to say anything.
        "I'll pay you if that's what you want.  Just, please, help me find 
him."  Samantha said as her eyes filled with tears.
        Ezra, being the man he was, looked Samantha up and down, taking 
inventory of her appearance.  White gloved hands, dark green dress, and 
fiery red hair.  From Ezra's expert opinion, he could see that she could 
be very wealthy.
        Samantha's hand reached for a gold necklace that had a small, gold 
cross on it.  Holding the delicate cross between her thumb and 
forefinger she moved to back and forth nervously.
        Buck followed Chris.  "Come on, Chris," he whispered.  "She needs our help."
        "No, Buck.  We can't be helping every beautiful woman with a sad 
story." Chris said.  Buck couldn't figure out why Chris didn't want to 
help this woman.  Usually he would be jumping at the chance to help 
someone.  What made this any different?
        "Well we seem to help Ms. Travis an awful lot."  Buck said before he 
could stop.
        Chris didn't say anything.  He didn't have to, his eyes reflected his 
hurt and anger.  For a second, Buck was afraid that Chris would blow up 
in a rage, but he didn't.  Instead Chris said in a nice, even tone, "Help her if you want." then he walked out of the saloon.
        "Chris," Buck called after him, knowing that he hit a nerve.  When 
Chris kept walking, Buck knew that he wasn't going to come back for a 
while.
        After a moment of silence, Samantha said, "I'm sorry for causing such a problem.  Maybe it would be better if I leave."
        "No." Buck reassured her, sitting down at the table. "You don't have to leave.  He'll come around.  If not, I can do this without him."
        "So you'll help me?" she asked hopefully.
        "Yes, Ma'am.  I'm going to help you."
        "So will I." JD chimed in.
        "Ezra?" Buck asked.
        Ezra looked up from counting his winnings, "If there is money involved, I am willing to lend my time."
        "Oh thank you.  Thank you." Samantha said, her face brimming with 
gratitude.
        "I'll see if I can get a few more of my friends to help," Buck said to 
the smiling woman.  "How long have you been looking for Mr. Byrd?" he 
asked.
        When he didn't get an answer, Buck looked up from his bottle. "Ma'am?" he asked.  Samantha was staring at Ezra with the strangest look.
        In the mounting silence, Ezra felt some eyes on him.  He looked up from his money to see everyone staring at him and Samantha.
        "Is something wrong?" Ezra asked innocently.
        Samantha seemed to come out of her semi trance.  "No," she said, 
quickly looking away.  "Nothing's wrong.  Um...what were you saying?" 
she asked Buck.
        Buck looked at Ezra and then at Samantha, a look of sheer puzzlement on his face. "I was just wondering how long you were looking for Mr. Byrd."
        "About two years." Samantha replied.  "If you don't mind, I'd like to 
go back to my hotel room.  I've had a long exhausting day, what with the 
stagecoach ride and now this wonderful outcome with you gentlemen 
agreeing to help me, I'm just so tired out."
        "It's no problem, Ma'am." JD said.
        "I'll see you tomorrow then?" Samantha said.
        "We'll be right here." Buck smiled.  "Would you like me to escort you 
back to your room?"
        "No, I'll manage, thank you." Samantha replied. "Gentlemen." As she 
walked out the swinging doors she looked back at Ezra, then proceeded 
through the doors and out of sight.
        "Why do you think she really left?" JD asked.
        "She said she was tired," Buck said, turning his twinkling eyes to 
Ezra.
        "What?" Ezra asked innocently.
        "I think she might be...What's the word I'm looking for, JD?" Buck 
asked, feigning ignorance.
        Catching on, JD said, "Oh, I don't know, Buck.  Could it be...Oh let's 
just say...Love?" JD asked.
        Buck snapped his fingers and pointed at JD. "That's the one.  I do 
believe our Miss Byrd is in love."
        Ezra looked from one man to the other. "What are you talking about?"
        "Are you that blind?" Buck asked exasperated.  "That look she gave you.  It had something in it."
        "And that something was curiosity," Ezra said, not liking where this 
conversation was going. "Nothing more."
        "I beg to differ." Buck said.
        "Your fascination with love is unequivocally distressing." Ezra stated, 
picking up his cards and rising to leave the saloon.
        JD looked completely confused by Ezra's statement.  "Why does he use 
such big words?" he asked Buck.
        "I think he does it to confuse us." Buck said shaking his head.

        Ezra walked down the boardwalk absently shuffling his cards and 
thinking.
        Maybe, Ezra mused, Maybe Buck is right this time.  Ezra smiled and 
laughed to himself.  Highly unlikely, he thought.  But the idea was 
appealing.  It had been a long time since he had felt something for 
someone. 
        An awful long time, Ezra thought bitterly.  His smile faded as he 
pushed the image of dark blond hair framing eyes the color of storm 
ravaged skies out of his mind.  Slowly he climbed the steps of the church.
        Through the open door, Ezra saw Josiah.  He was kneeling by the front 
of the church next to a pew that looked like it was in dire need of 
repair.
        "Hello, Ezra." Josiah said without turning.
        "Mr. Sanchez." Ezra said in reply.
        "What brings you here?" Josiah asked. "Are you in need of guidance?"
        "I just need a place to think." Ezra said as he sat down and put his 
cards away.
        Josiah pulled a nail out of the pew and set it down on the floor. 
Then, glancing up at Ezra, said, "About a woman I 'spect."
        "What led you to that conclusion?" Ezra asked, his eyebrows raised in 
surprise.
        "Much like when you play poker, I have learned how to read people's 
faces.  It helps to tell how they have sinned." Josiah replied, pulling 
another nail out of the pew. "Instead of how they will sin."
        A moment of silence passed between them before Josiah finally asked the question Ezra was dreading.  "Who is she?"
        "Anna." Ezra said softly.
        "Good, Christian name." Josiah approved.  "Why did you start thinking of her?"
        Ezra threw his arm over the back of the pew and said, "Because of  Mr. 
Wilmington and his ludicrous ponderings of the opposite sex and love."
        "Would this pertain to the young woman who came into town today?" 
Josiah asked, putting his hammer down.
        "Yes," Ezra replied. "She is asking our help in finding someone and 
during the conversation she began to stare at me like-" Ezra stopped.
        "Like what?" Josiah asked trying to read Ezra's  expression.
        "Like she knew me." Ezra finally said.
        "Do you know her?"
        Ezra laughed shortly, "No.  I encounter to many people in my line of 
work to remember one woman."
        "You remember Anna." Josiah stated.
        Of course I do, Ezra thought. "That's a whole different subject that I 
do not wish to discuss."
        Josiah nodded his understanding.  "This woman.  Are you interested in 
her?"
        "No." Ezra said quickly. "I mean, she looks intriguing."
        "You mean she looks rich." Josiah interjected.
        "I did not say that."
        "No.  But you were thinking it."
        "Maybe," Ezra confessed, " But that doesn't mean  that that would be 
the only reason I would be fascinated by her.  I do have morals."
        "Of course you do." Josiah concurred.
        "That  look she gave me was very incomprehensible."
        "And you want me to suggest how you handle it."
        Ezra thought for a moment then nodded his head. "You seem to know 
things at times that no one else does.  I thought you could give me a 
suggestion at the least."
        Josiah smiled at this.
        "Call it intuition," Ezra continued, "or divine intervention.  Whatever 
it is, I need you to tell me how to handle this.  Usually I can handle 
things on my own.  I have been most of my life.  But this situation is 
to anomalous."
        Josiah was silent.  When he finally spoke he said, "My advice to you is 
to get to know this woman and see if she does know you.  What you find 
might surprise you."
        "Is that all?" For some reason, Ezra was expecting great words of 
wisdom, and he felt slightly disappointed.
        "That's it." 
        Ezra watched as Josiah picked up his hammer and began pulling nails out of the pew once again.  Ezra stood and walked out of the church.  He was surprised to see that the sun had set, leaving the sky a fiery orange.
        Ezra went to his room and took a quick bath and changed into some clean clothes.  He was standing in front of the mirror, tying his tie, when a 
knock came from the door. 
        "Who is it?" he asked, reaching for his gun.
        "It's Samantha.  May I talk to you for a moment?"
        Before the words were completely said, Ezra had the door open.  Holding on to the knob with one hand and leaning on the door frame with the other, Ezra found himself caught in her emerald eyes.
        "Yes, Miss Byrd?"
        "I just wanted to thank you for offering to help me.  Your friends 
turned down my offer for money, so I thought that I should come and ask 
you about how much you require for your services." Samantha explained.
        "You don't have to pay me." Did I just say that? Ezra asked himself.
        "Are you sure?" Samantha asked, opening her purse and pulling out a 
large wad of bills.  "I'd be glad to pay you anything and everything I 
have."
        Ezra felt sick.  This woman was willing to pay everything she had to 
find someone.
        There was a time I would have done the same, he thought.
        "Mr. Standish?" Samantha was asking.
        "Yes?"
        "I asked if you were sure about your decision."
        "Yes.  I'm positive.  I do not need any of your finance."
        "Thank you." Samantha's eyes roamed over his face and settled on his 
green eyes.  "You miss her, don't you?"
        Ezra was caught off guard. "Who?" he asked as his heart hitched in his 
chest.
        "I don't know what her name is.  All I know is you have the same look 
in your eyes that I have had for two years.  A look of emptiness." 
Samantha said sadly.
        Ezra turned from the door and grabbed his red jacket.  "I do not know 
what you are suggesting."
        Samantha watched him put on the jacket.  "I know how it feels." 
Samantha said.  "You miss them.  So much so that you feel like dying. 
But instead of dealing with the pain you push it back.  You don't think 
of them, but you know that they deserve better than that."
        Ezra stood staring at the woman who was in his doorway.  She's right, 
Ezra thought with shock. But how?
        "I don't mean to be impetuous, but I must go to dinner." Ezra moved 
around the woman and out the door.
        "Mr. Standish." Samantha said.
        Ezra turned to her.  "Someday you'll realize that her memory is all you 
have left, and you'll need to tell someone." With that she moved past 
him, leaving him in silence.