"So you told Hyde?" Annalyn questioned, stabbing the black-eyed peas in her plate with a fork.

Jason took a gulp of his sweet tea. "Yep, sure did. He's gonna be keepin' an eye out for Slick."

"Are we gonna catch Slick and shoot him?" Cohen asked after devouring the last biscuit.

Leroy gave a small chuckle at the question. "Why, no. We're gonna get him, then hand him over to the law. They'll do with him as they see fit."

Laramie lowered his gaze, poking at the remnants of food in his plate. "I hope they hang him."

Cohen agreed. "He deserves it."

Tavin looked at the Archer twins, a soft glow in his eyes. "He just might, but he also deserves forgiveness. Remember what Jesus said about that in Matthew 6:14?"

"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you," Laramie and Cohen rattled off from memory.

"Right." Tavin smiled. "We must forgive, just as He forgives us."

Annalyn sat her fork down. A slight smile formed on her face as she looked across the table at Tavin. "Tae?"

"Yes?"

"You really should become Abilene's next preacher."

"Who's Abilene?" Laramie asked, a look of puzzlement on his face.

Dixie laughed, eyes alight with merriment. "What, not who. Abilene is the name of our town."

Laramie's confused look was replaced by a big grin. "Ohhhh. I've always known it as just town."

Cohen shook his head at his twin. "No, Pa's told us the actual name before."

"Yes he did." Jason smiled, sitting his empty cup on the table.

"I don't remember." Laramie shrugged. "Everytime he was headin' up there and I'd ask where he was goin', he'd always say 'I'm goin' to town'."

Dixie flashed a bright smile. "That's what my Pa always says. It is a little confusin', ain't it?"

Cohen nodded vigorously. "Yes ma'am. It is pretty confusin'."

"Ya learn somethin' new everyday." Jason rubbed his head, feeling the slightly rough spot of scab above his eye where Stoney's hoof had grazed him. He stretched out in his chair, sprawling out his legs and putting a hand just above his stomach.

Dixie beamed seeing Jason in that position. "You full?"

"Full ain't a strong enough word," Jason joked as he gave his belly a pat. "I think I could put a cow to shame."

Tavin guffawed. He stopped mid-laugh, a painful expression on his face as he grabbed his stomach. "I feel ya brother. I believe I could make a hog cry with how much I ate."

Leroy looked up at the ceiling sheepishly. He raised his shoulders in a tiny shrug. "I'm still hungry."

"You're WHAT?!" Annalyn nearly shouted, almost shooting up out of her chair in disbelief.

"I'm still hungry," Leroy repeated with a slightly embarrassed smile.

Jason shook his head. "My goodness! You ate more than me!"

"And that is sayin' somethin'," Tavin whistled with a shake of his head. "Where'd you put all that food?"

Annalyn searched over Leroy with her eyes. She even looked under the table. "That's what I'm wonderin'! 'Cause I sure ain't seein' it anywhere."

Leroy reached behind himself and grabbed the Stetson from the back of his chair, using it to hide his face. "I don't know."

Cohen nudged Leroy with his elbow. "Your ears are turnin' red."

Laramie laughed. "You embarrassed, Leroy?"

Leroy moved the hat away to stare at Laramie, an expression of dramatic confusion on his face. "No te entiendo."

"That's okay," Laramie admitted in a sarcastically sympathetic tone. "I don't understand you either."

"Lord have mercy!" Jason stretched as he rose up from the table. "Y'all are crazy."

Annalyn raised her eyebrows with a shrug. "Guilty as charged. But allow me to let you in on a lil' secret, all the best people are."

"Woo-wee! Couldn't have said it better myself!" Tavin cheered as he grinned at Annalyn.

"Did Tavin Harden just agree with me?" Annalyn asked. She put a hand on her heart, sporting a look of melodramatic shock. "I can't believe this!"

"You'd better believe it before he changes his mind," Jason joked while walking to the door and putting his Stetson on his head.

Dixie tried to raise an eyebrow, but both came up instead and she smiled. "Where are you goin'?"

Jason paused on his way out, throwing a glance at Dixie over his shoulder. "Back to town. I'm gonna have a talk with Ma." He leaned up against the door frame with a sly smirk. "Wanna come with me?"

Dixie hopped out of her chair so quick it nearly toppled. "Yes!"

Leroy caught the chair before it hit the floor. He glanced between Jason and Dixie with a smile. "Did y'all hear that? She said yes!"

"Ooooh! She said yes!" Laramie and Cohen hooted as Dixie made her way to Jason's side.

"Why, of course she said yes. Who could say no to this?" Jason questioned, stooping to kiss the living daylights out of Dixie.

Tavin glared at Jason, who beamed a grin. "Hey, now! Don't be stealin' kisses from my sister!"

Laramie shrugged, looking over at Tavin. "I don't know much about all that stuff, but looks to me like he didn't steal it."

Annalyn and Leroy laughed at the horrible look on Tavin's face. He flushed crimson. "W-whatever."

Jason laughed before bending down and kissing Dixie on the nose. "Stay here while I go get the buckboard ready so Tavin won't have a conniption."

Dixie nodded meekly, following Jason as far as the front porch before sitting down on the swing. She watched him go, taking in everything about him. His walk, the way his hair curled under his hat, and how his very presence brightened the day. She knew in her heart that she loved Jason, all six-foot-seven-inches of him.

A pitiful whimper startled Dixie from her musing. She looked down to find a pale yellow dog looking up at her with big brown eyes full of longing. The sight of the dog excited her to no ends, but also surprised her. "Hank! You're still alive!"

As the dog put his head in her lap, Dixie went down memory lane to ten years ago when her, Tavin, and the Archer kids found Hank as a puppy.

They had found him while playing in the woods behind the Archer place and carried him back to the house. No matter how much Dixie had begged her parents, they wouldn't let her keep the starving creature. Matthew Archer had saved the day, agreeing to keep the tiny puppy, who the kids had lovingly named Hank. Despite Hank's pitiful state, he survived and grew to be a faithful companion. He'd been at the Archer's ever since, and even went with them when they moved.

"Hank remembers you," Jason said softly.

Dixie flinched, sucking in a breath and willing her heart to quit racing as Hank turned to stare at Jason. "Mercy me! You scared me silly!"

A look of concern flickered in Jason's eyes. He pulled himself on to the porch and put his hand on top of Dixie's. "I'm sorry, sweetie. I didn't mean to scare you."

Dixie laughed, looking into Jason's beautiful eyes. "Think nothin' of it. I was just lost in thought."

"Hmm," Jason murmured, pulling her up from the swing. He rubbed the back of his head, cheeks aflame after he noticed the purest glow of emotion he's ever seen twinkling in Dixie's eyes. "A-are you ready to go?"

Dixie smiled beautifully. She walked by Jason to the waiting buckboard, feeling his gaze the whole way.

The ride to Dr. Ross's place seemed so brief to Dixie and Jason, and it felt as though they had been riding for just a few short minutes before arriving at the doctor's door.

Jason swiftly stopped the horses and and alighted off the buckboard to help Dixie down, a broad smile tugging at his lips.

"Why, thank you, sir!" Dixie giggled as she took his hand.

Jason supplied a winning grin as he tipped his hat. "It's my pleasure, ma'am."

Before the pair ever made it to the door, it burst open and Dr. Ross ran out to meet them. By the slightly frightened look on his face, they could tell whatever he was gonna say couldn't be good.

"Thank the Lord you showed up!" Dr. Ross exclaimed as he stood in front of them.

The color instantly drained from Jason's face. He gripped his other hand so hard his knuckles turned white. He shared a look with Dixie and, before he had a chance to ask a single question, Dr. Ross beckoned them to follow him.

"Come on! We mustn't linger," Dr. Ross admonished urgently.

Lord Jesus, Jason prayed silently as he grabbed Dixie's hand and tugged her along. Help us.