As Morgan Tanner walked down the street, he noticed a group of four men standing outside the bank, and noted that there were five horses--all bearing the BAR-O brand. He headed toward the bank, his enthusiasm growing. This, was what he'd been waiting for. He could now begin clamping down on Bolton in earnest. He would soon find out whether the Esperanza gang would be needed or not. As he walked by, the BAR-O hands glared at him sullenly. Unless he missed his guess, besides these four, there were only about five other hands left on the BAR-O. He merely smiled at them confidently as he entered the bank.

Tanner found Bolton in the bank president's office in back, attempting to obtain an extension on his mortgage. Tanner motioned for the bank president, Simon Greenbaum, to leave and promptly sat down behind Greenbaum's desk. "Mr. Bolton, my sincerest condolences on the loss of your son." Tanner said unconvincingly.

"Like hell! It was your men that did it, and I figure you put them up to it!" Bolton replied rather heatedly.

"Mr. Bolton, I assure you I did no such thing. My men were on their own time, and as such was the case, I cannot and will not accept responsibility for their actions in this matter. Like I said, they were on their own time. As I heard it though, your men were caught cheating at cards, and when called on the carpet for their actions, elected to fight. I deeply regret that your son chose to involve himself in such a situation instead of simply demanding that your men pay back the money they won through their nefarious activities. Nevertheless, I have some importan matters which I wish to discuss with you." replied Tanner.

"I'll just bet you do, Tanner." Bolton said sarcastically.

"For one thing, Mr. Bolton, I would have instructed the bank president to give you your extension, had I not apprehended your men rustling my cattle the day before yesterday." As Bolton's jaw dropped, Tanner continued-- "Don't bother to proclaim your innocence. The sheriff examined the evidence and came to the same conclusions. Unless you can prove that your men were acting alone, then I must assume they were acting under your own orders. However, they attempted to evade apprehension, and were unfortunately, both slain. Thus, I fear, they cannot help you out. However, Due to the unfortunate set of circumstances that have overtaken you concerning the death of your son, I have declined to press charges against you-- this time."

Bolton looked flabbergasted and said, "I don't know what the hell you're talking about, but I never ordered anyone to rustle from you and you damn well know it. You just have me arrested. You'll play hell getting any proof of wrongdoing on my part! I'm tempted to call you out in the street as it is, Tanner."

Tanner's eyes narrowed as he stared Bolton straight in the eye and said, "I assure you sir, that is one thing you do not wish to do. I make no exaggeration when I say that I am extremely proficient with a pistol, and you would have less chance than your son did against that gunman Wilson. Let me be frank. You are heavily in debt. If you sell me your ranch right now, you will have enough money to return east and begin some business that is more suitable to your abilities. The way you have been going, within six months I will own the ranch outright, regardless. Why not wise up and sell out now, while you still can? I'm giving you the opportunity to walk away with at least something. The only other option you possess is to walk away with nothing at all except even more debt. All you have to do is sign these papers, Mr. Bolton, and you can put all of this nastiness behind you. If you do not, I assure you, your situation will deteriorate rapidly and considerably." Tanner warned menacingly.

Bolton could no longer hold Tanner's gaze, but he replied with somewhat less authority, "No, Tanner, I'll make it work. Somehow, I'm going to beat you. I'll make it work to show that my son did not die in vain, or I'll die trying."

Tanner glared at him and replied, "Yes, it may very well come to that. You may go, Mr. Bolton. I fear we have little else to discuss. I'll give you one week, to change your mind. After that, I'll withdraw my generous offer. Good day!"

With that, Tanner abruptly ended the conversation, got up, and left the room. Bolton was feeling the pressure, and no longer felt as though he could make it work at all. Instinctively, he knew he'd been beaten.

As Tanner left the bank, Anse Talbot, one of the BAR-O cowhands waiting outside for his boss, spat a stream of tobacco juice at Tanner which hit his freshly polished shoes. No longer able to contain his anger and contempt he said, "Tanner, you Gawddamned Yankee piece of shit. I ought ta shoot you down like the dog you are. Be saving folks a heap of trouble later on!"

At that moment, Chico Portalis, Peaceful Jones and Bart Jason rode up behind Tanner and Jones asked, "Is there a problem here Mr. Tanner?"

And from behind the three gunmen, another voice chimed in, "Yeah, IS there a problem, Tanner?"

The three gunmen wheeled around to see Jesse Logan walk up and then step up beside the four BAR-O cowhands. None of the three MT gunmen, who had just returned to town, had yet heard that Logan was even up and about, much less that he had already gunned down Wilson. But Tanner, was furious, and was thinking that it might be a good time to cut his gunmen loose on Logan, especially since Jesse had already killed one of his "own" gunmen earlier that morning. Surely, he could not beat all three, he reasoned. He knew, that had he been in possession of his own weapon, that would have been the course he would have taken, being supremely confident of his own abilities. However, he was unarmed and might very well be caught in the cross-fire. Still, he could not let such an insult go unanswered.

Tanner walked up to Talbot and belted him flush on the jaw, fracturing it, and knocking the outspoken young cowboy unconscious. The three gunmen were eyeing Jesse directly, scarcely paying the other cowhands any attention. Logan, ignored them and said, "You want to try that one on me, big man?"

Tanner, had no fear of the smaller gunfighter, having boxed extensively back east. He was certain that he could make short work of Logan, but the situation was getting out of hand, and he had no desire to become involved in a street brawl. At that moment, Joe Bolton came out the bank door, and rushed to the side of the fallen Anse Talbot, just as Sheriff Orr walked up.

"What's going on here?" Orr asked anxiously. "This man, Tanner pointed to the man on the ground, spat upon my shoe and insulted me Sheriff. I merely returned the compliment, and Mr. Logan here seems to wish to take the quarrel further than is warranted. However, I am a busy man, and have other items to attend to. We'll speak again, Logan. Good day." With that, Tanner walked off and motioned for his gunmen to follow.

Bolton thanked Jesse for his intervention, and Talbot finally came to, swearing vengeance through a badly broken jaw. Bolton and Logan calmed him down, and Bolton told him to let it go, as he would need their help for the funeral arrangements. At that moment, a group of riders rode into view. Jesse looked up to see the welcome sight of Moose Murdoch, his sons, the Mason brothers along with four other punchers whom he knew well.

"You fellas sure took yer sweet time about gettin' here." Jesse said grinning.

"Glad ta see yer alright Jess." Murdoch said and then turned his attention to Bolton. "Joe, I'm damn sorry bout what happened. If there's anything I can do for you, let me know."

"Thanks, Moose. Bolton replied. "I don't guess there is though. I'm fixing to get a bite to eat, then take Dan back to the ranch for burial. I know he'd rather be buried there than in the Boothill here in town."

"Well, mind if we join you? The boys and I are kinda hungry too." Moose offered.

"Why not?" Bolton replied, secretly glad for the company as well as the added security it offered. Tanner's men would be much less apt to make trouble now. For one thing, they were now outnumbered at the moment, and they would not be facing mere cowpunchers whose pride far exceeded their ability with a gun. Sheriff Orr had faded back into the shadows and retreated back into his office. He had no desire to face Murdoch's men who, if Logan was any indication of their disposition, would react to his presence somewhat unfavorably.

Down the street, the arrival of Murdoch and crew did not go unnoticed by Tanner and his gunmen either. Jones and Jason were getting visibly nervous although Portalis seemed unaffected.

"Jason, go over to the livery stable and retrieve my horse." Tanner ordered. "I'm riding out to the ranch. There's nothing to be gained here today and anyhow, I believe I have matters well under control. Murdoch's men might be contemplating initiating a confrontation. I'm not prepared for that yet. When I am, it will be on my terms, and I intend to have all of my gunmen present." Tanner said.

The arrival of Murdoch and crew had confirmed what Tanner feared might happen. True, he still wasn't completely certain that it would happen yet, but he was fairly certain now that it would very soon. Murdoch was extremely wealthy, and although the bank would not help Bolton out, Murdoch easily could if he chose to. Tanner feared he would, and that was another reason for the added insurance of the Esperanza gang. Tanner smiled to himself. He was convinced, that he had all his bets covered. At the return of Jason with Tanner's prize stallion, the four men set out for the security of the MT Hacienda.

After sending Talbot to the doctor to have his jaw attended to, the Murdoch and Bolton crowd went to Ma Cunningham's for lunch. Murdoch had requested a table in the back and out of the way in order to speak privately with Joe Bolton. After only a little prompting on Murdoch's part, Bolton explained his financial plight.

"And the hell of the matter is Moose, that I haven't the foggiest notion of how I'm going to make it work." said Bolton. "Some of my crew have left, and I'm afraid, and dang near certain, more will follow. They're not gunmen, just cowboys for the most part. And I don't know that I can even pay them much longer as it is." Bolton continued, his voice tinged with frustration and helplessness.

"Joe, you should have come to me earlier. I'll pay off your mortgage, and your men. I'll also send over a few of my hands to help you guard and work your herd." Murdoch replied.

Bolton, having difficulty restraining the tears that were threatening to well up in his eyes, shook his head and said, "That's mighty generous of you Moose, but I can't accept your charity, much as I'd like to."

"Charity, hellfire! Moose boomed. "It ain't charity pardner. I expect you to pay me back as soon as yer ranch is up and on its feet again, and you are able to do so. Either all at once, or bit by bit. I'm tryin' to help out a friend, offering a hand up, not a hand out, by God. What do you say?"

Bolton was almost speechless with gratitude but said, "Since you put it that way, I gladly accept your offer Moose. I'll pay you back the money in full, but I don't know how I can ever repay you for your generosity."

"Hell, Joe, you can pay me back by makin' yer ranch work, and keepin' that bastard Tanner from gettin' his slimy Yankee hands on it."

"I'll do my best, Moose, I promise you that."

"When's the funeral, Joe?" Murdoch inquired.

"I plan to take Dan home and bury him tomorrow afternoon. I don't plan on any real formalities other than to ask Reverend Dwight Phelps to perform the service." Bolton replied.

"Well, I reckon me and the boys'll ride out with ya tomorrow, if'n ya don't mind. Dan was a fine boy, honest and decent and I reckon we'd like to be there ta kinda see him off." Murdoch said, although he was also wanting to be there just in case Tanner had any designs on Bolton's life.

"Moose, I'd be right glad to have you, all of you. I just didn't want to invite too many of the townsfolk because I just don't feel up to it. But please do come."

"It's settled then. We'll ride out with you right after breakfast in the morning. Right now, me and the boys are gonna try and get some shut-eye for a few hours over at the hotel. We've been up a long time, and I imagine the boys would like to paint the town a bit before riding out tomorrow." Murdoch said with a mischievous grin.

With that, the men got up and paid their bills and left. The Murdoch crowd, to the hotel to catch up on their sleep, and Bolton, to attend to his son's funeral arrangements.

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