Joe could still feel the lingering effects of Jonah’s passionate kiss on her lips as she and Sheriff Phillips rode in the cart toward the fort. She hadn’t really liked the way he had kissed her… It had felt like goodbye.

                As far as Joe was concerned she and Jonah had shared one too many goodbyes already and she wasn’t nearly ready to share another one.

                “Alright, Miss Joe, you gotta remember to call me Jackson while we’re here….”

                “And you gotta remember to call me Katherine.” Joe replied with a nod. Then she growled under her breath when she realized Sheriff Phillips was staring at her hair. She had allowed a hair dresser in town to dye it black. Jonah had nearly had a conniption when he’d seen her until she’d managed to convince him that it would wash out within a month or so.

                Joe had found it both irritating and endearing when Jonah had gotten so angry to see her hair changed. He’d accused her of ‘playing God’ and ‘messing with perfection’…. A bit dramatic perhaps and yet it had stroked her ego and that slight bit of vanity that the woman in her possessed.

                “Katherine, I do believe you’re an entirely different person.” Sheriff Phillips admitted. “Why I wouldn’t recognize you if it wasn’t for the way you talk.”

                “And therein would lie the quandary that we find ourselves facing, sir.” Joe replied, using her best ladylike impression complete with a bat of her lashes and a dazzling smile. She nearly laughed aloud when Sheriff Phillips swallowed hard and came close to falling off the cart.  “A quandary that can be easily rectified with proper grammar and enunciation. You see, Jackson, it does not quite matter what the woman was born as, if you dress up a hog fancily enough then the fools of this world can be convinced that she is a lady.”

                “Well I’ll be goddamned.” The Sheriff mumbled. Joe gasped and covered her chest with one hand while adjusting her fancy hat with the other.

                “Jackson! Please do watch your language! Speaking that way in front of a lady… You should be ashamed of yourself!”

                “Uh….” The sheriff rubbed at his neck guiltily. “Sorry ‘bout that, Katherine.”

                “That’s Miss Katherine to you.” Joe countered and then she winked and a grin spread across his face.

                “This might just work.”

                “Of course it will.” Joe agreed. Sheriff Phillip’s and herself were not recognizable. He had shaved off his thick black mustache, leaving his face as clean and smooth as it had been on the day he was born, other than the scar across his thin upper lip. He had also switched out his Stetson for a bowler hat and his trail worn clothes for a fancy new suit complete with a shiny gold pocket watch and chain.

                “So we got the plan to get inside clear?” the Sheriff asked as they neared the large wooden gate at the front of the fort.

                “Yep.” Joe replied and then she sighed. “I mean, most certainly. We are a very happily married couple traveling to our new land in the wide open northwest. Though this morning we are not as happy as we would normally be because you got us lost and we have been wandering through the night. We could really use a bite to eat and a bit of rest before getting directions to our destination.”

                “Damn… you’re good at that….”

                “What would that be, darling?” Joe asked with a raise of her brow, (also freshly dyed black).

                “Acting like a right proper lady.”

                “I was raised to be one until my mother was murdered, Sheriff. I know how to play the part.”

                Their conversation was interrupted when a guard called out from the watchtower. “Stop right there! Who are you and what business do you have here?”

                “Here goes nothing.” The Sheriff whispered and then he sat up a bit straighter and looked up at the guard high above them. “Hello, sir. My name is Jackson Proffit and this is my wife Katherine. We are on our way to Wapita but, I’m afraid to say, that I must have taken a wrong turn….”

                “Oh darling that’s a bit of an understatement don’t you think?” Joe spoke up as she smoothed out the light blue satin of her skirt. “The wrong turn of which he speaks was taken around midday yesterday and henceforth we’ve simply been wandering around these dreadful pine forests and communing with all the dreadful little creatures that live in them.”

                Joe could sense the Sheriff’s amusement but each of them were careful to remain in their roles. “Yes well, dear, perhaps if you could offer some assistance in finding the correct way we should go instead of simply sitting there as pretty as you please and complaining with every breath you take….”

                “Complaining!?” Joe exclaimed, covering her chest with her gloved hand. “My darling, I have not yet begun to complain. You have been dragging me all over creation in search of this town you claim will be our own little Eden….”

                “Sorry to intrude…” The guard spoke up and Joe and Sheriff Phillip’s both looked up at him with annoyance carefully plastered on their faces. “What you folks need to do is turn on around and head east. You’ll reach a town in a couple of hours.”

                “Sir, I beg of you, my husband dearest here has had us wandering throughout the day yesterday and through the night. We have no food and are very tired. I must also see to some feminine needs. Praytell might we be allowed to come in long enough to replenish our stomachs and relieve ourselves?”

                “Your stomach will survive ‘til you get to town.” The guard stated gruffly. “And there’s plenty of bushes to help you take care of the rest.”

                “The WOODS?!” Joe exclaimed in a high pitched screech of disbelief that even she was proud of. “You wish for me to lift my skirts in the woods?! I, sir, am a lady!”

                “Sir, get your loud mouthed harpy on out of here.” The guard warned, raising the carbine in his hands. Sheriff Phillip’s stood up and fixed the guard with an angry glare.

                “You sir will watch how you speak to my wife. Now she might be a harpy but she’s my harpy…” Joe fought the urge to elbow the good Sheriff’s knee caps. The guard acted as if he were about to speak but then he looked behind him.

                “I’ll be right back. Stay where you are.” He warned them and then he disappeared from sight.

                “Harpy?” Joe whispered, fighting back a grin as Sheriff Phillip’s sat back down. He laid his hand over his heart and offered her a smile.

                “My harpy.”

                “Jonah’ll kick yer ass if’n he hears ya talkin’ like that. I don’t know if you’ve noticed but the man tends to go a bit crazy now and then.”

                “A man tends to do all kinds of crazy things when it comes to his family.” He agreed and Joe simply nodded, remembering what he had told them about the murder of his own family and his own actions afterward.

                “Alright you two.” The guard called from atop the door. “The boss says to go ahead and let you on in.”

                Joe nodded her thanks and then the wide log doors began to swing open. Joe took a deep breath to steady herself and prepare for seeing that damned whore who had stolen her son. She knew that she had promised Jonah to be a good girl and not act until Clayton was out of here and safe. She also knew that Jonah was watching them closely through a looking glass from a tree a short distance away.

                He would see anything and everything that took place just inside the fort, however once they were inside the house he would no longer be able to watch and therefore wouldn’t know if she needed help.

                The plan was to sneak Clayton out though no one knew exactly how they were going to accomplish that feat. Joe knew that she would just have to let the wind carry her in whichever direction it felt was right to save her son.

                Joe looked around the fort as the entered and took stock of everything that she saw. One building that seemed to be a barracks. Two smaller buildings were beside it and there were a couple even smaller buildings along the side wall of the fort. Joe guessed these were supply buildings.

                The mansion in the center didn’t surprise Joe in the least. This was the kind of home she had expected Scarlett to live in. Loud, gaudy and ostentatious. Stained glass on some of the windows, vast columns and even a gargoyle statue. Though even Joe could admit that the flower gardens and the fountain were rather beautiful.

                Then her eyes fell on Scarlett and hatred burned in her gut. The woman hadn’t changed in five years… If anything she was more beautiful than she had been. As their cart neared Scarlett and Sheriff Phillips pulled it to a halt Joe saw Scarlett’s eyes fall on her.

                Joe forced herself to act as if she’d never seen the woman before as she smiled politely. She could feel the two guards in the watchtowers watching her closely and there were eyes everywhere around the fort. Men lounging against barrels, sitting on the benches beside the barracks and smoking while they stared at the newcomers.

                Joe also saw Bear. She recognized him from the train station and he truly was the biggest man she had ever seen. And then Joe saw the boy standing behind him. Only the boy’s arm and a tuft of air were visible but she knew that was her Clayton. Joe’s heart cried out for him and it was almost as if he must have heard her because he took a step to the side and his eyes met hers.

                Joe prayed he would recognize her and know that his mama had come to save him and then his eyes moved past her as if not caring that she was there at all and she saw sadness in their gray depths. It seemed as if her disguise was a good one. Her own son didn’t even know who she was.

                As Joe allowed Sheriff Phillips to help her down from the cart, she took in Clayton’s appearance. He was dirty and his cheek was bruised. His sleeves were rolled up and bruises marred the smooth skin of his arms. There was also dried blood soaked onto the front of his shirt. His hair was a mess, his eyes were tired and she could see the slump in his shoulders.

                Scarlett couldn’t die soon enough.

                “Hello and welcome to my home.” Scarlett stated with a gracious smile as Joe and Sheriff Phillips stood in front of her. Joe tore her eyes away from Clayton and smiled back at Scarlett.

                “Thank you so much for allowing my husband and I to come in and rest ourselves.” She replied graciously. Scarlett studied her hard for a moment and then she studied the Sheriff.

                “What were your names again?”

                “I’m Jackson Proffit and this is my wife Katherine.”

                “My name is Scarlett and it is wonderful to meet you. Sorry about the less than warm reception but I have been expecting visitors that I’m not very keen on having and the guards were simply worried that you might be them.”

                “We are trying to reach Wapita.” Joe replied with a tip of her head. “But my husband dearest here took a wrong turn around midday yesterday and has had us wondering the woods all night.”

                Scarlett’s eyes widened. “You must be exhausted!”

                “Quite.” Joe replied fixing Sheriff Phillips with a glare that had him clearing his throat and smiling apologetically.

                “You are more than welcome to come on in, clean up a bit and then join us for breakfast. We were just about to sit down to eat.”

                “Is this your son?” Joe asked as she once again turned to Clayton. She saw Bear’s hand squeeze Clayton’s shoulder and pain filled her son’s eyes. It took every ounce of willpower that Joe had to keep from pulling the gun that was in her dress pocket and putting a bullet directly into the biggest man she’d ever seen’s giant head.

                “Yes. I apologize for the shape he’s in. He’s a rambunctious one and always covered in dirt and finding new ways to hurt himself.” Scarlett replied with a smile. “Now please come on in to my home and allow me to show you to a washroom. It has been ever so long since I’ve had another lady to talk to!”

***

                “Well they’re inside.” Jonah ground out as he shoved the looking glass back into his pocket. He quickly made his way back down the tree and Reb nodded.

                “It’s gonna be okay, Jonah. Joe can take care of herself.”

                “Yeah I know she can.” Jonah agreed truthfully. But that didn’t help ease the fear he was feeling. At least he had seen his son. Clayton was alive and the relief of knowing that and seeing his son with his own two eyes had eased at least some of the panic he felt.

                But having Joe out of his sight and in that house with that madwoman was going to drive him crazy. Though Jonah was glad to see that most of the guards were either outside or in the barracks. He had counted a total of thirteen which left only five unaccounted for. Those men must be inside the house… Jonah’s only hope was that the hired help inside would not risk their lives for Scarlett. He and his friends could probably handle eighteen guards if they played things right but if all the cooks, servants and the rest fought for Scarlett then their odds went down considerably.  

                “Where the hell is Bart?” Jonah demanded as Reb took the looking glass from him and turned to start up the tree and take his shift.

                “He said he wanted to go for a walk.” Reb replied.

                “A walk?”

                “That’s what he said. I think the little bastards backin’ out. Never figured him fer a coward though.”

                Jonah shook his head and watched Reb climb into the tree. Jonah hadn’t figured Bart for a coward either but then again he hadn’t thought the man would ever lie the way he had and clearly Bart had done that so….. But this wasn’t good. If Bart didn’t come back then there would be one less person to help take out Scarlett and her people.

                Jonah sat down at the base of the pine and tried desperately not to think about what might be going on inside that house. If Reb saw any movement, any rush toward the mansion, anyone sneaking out the back then he would tell him.

                Seconds ticked by and turned into minutes which in turn became hours. One hour…. One and a half hours… Nearly two hours passed without a sound and then suddenly Reb let out a shocked gasp.

                Jonah jumped to his feet, (and very nearly out of his skin at the sudden sound). “What is it?!” he demanded.

                “Shit.” Reb muttered, never taking his eye away from the looking glass. Jonah fought the urge to shoot the bastard out of the tree.

                “What?!” he ground out through his tightening jaw.

                “Jonah… We got a problem.”