Inside the Cafe, the Murdoch and Bolton crews were sitting on one side of the room while Morgan Tanner, his gunmen, and lieutenant McCormick sat on the other, McCormick and Tanner sitting at a table alone together. There was a thick uneasy tension permeating the atmosphere as the Murdoch, Bolton, and Tanner crews alternately glowered at one another threateningly over their breakfasts. Morgan Tanner was currently attempting to dissuade Lieutenant McCormick from pursuing Johnny Lancer, oddly enough.

There were reasons for his actions. First of all, like many others in town, he was well aware of the animosity that the Mason brothers held for Lancer, and he felt like he might be able to persuade Lancer to join his own gunhands. He naturally assumed that since the Masons worked for Murdoch, that the rest of Murdoch's crew along with his sons and Jesse Logan, would share that animosity. Thus, he felt that he had a good chance of hiring Johnny on. After all, he had lost five good gunmen the night before, Shade, Watkins, Herman, then later, Jason and Jones who, although not yet dead, would likely be of no further use to him. Besides, the latter two had openly disobeyed his orders so he would have had to deal with them anyway, as an example to the rest.

McCormick was at first recalcitrant and had refused. But Tanner threatened to ruin McCormick's career for him, and reminded him of his relationship with Colonel Foley. Tanner informed the lieutenant that he had powerful connections in the Army back east, and could see to it that McCormick was placed in the most god-forsaken outpost the Army had to offer, should he refuse to cooperate. McCormick sullenly gave in and promised Tanner that no further action would be taken against Lancer.

It went against his grain, and he normally would not have backed down under Tanner's threats. However, before he had left Camp Stockton in pursuit of Lancer, the barmaid, Janet Douglass, had assured him that it had not been Lancer's fault. She'd told him of the setup that his men had going with the card sharp, and how they had drawn on Lancer only after he had called them for cheating. McCormick had reluctantly given chase anyway because several others in the saloon had given him a different story claiming the whole fiasco was Lancer's fault. He had hoped to see to it that Lancer got a fair trail, and privately believed him innocent because he knew the character of the men whom Lancer had killed.

Just then, the door opened and Reverend Phelps walked in looking abnormally haggard and worn, his face pallid, his expression, vapid.

"Mornin' Reverend!" Moose boomed, completely unaware of what had taken place.

Reverend Phelps inadvertantly smiled-- the enthusiasm and smile on the huge man's face was contagious. However, as he stared over at Moose Murdoch who was sitting at a table occupied by himself and Joe Bolton, the memory of Bolton's tragedy returned to him. Phelps remembered that he was in fact, supposed to perform the funeral service for Joe's son, Dan Bolton that very day. He walked over to the table and sank down into a chair beside the two men.

"Pardon my noticin' Reverend but you look like He..., awful." Moose said, catching himself before uttering the profanity in front of the Pastor. Reverend Phelps did not notice however, and would not have cared at that moment what word Moose had uttered. He finally stammered out an explanation as to why he appeared as he did.

Reverend Phelps had not intended it that way, but the whole room had overheard him as he recounted his discovery of the mutilated sheriff earlier that morning. His voice was unnaturally loud, no doubt due to the numerous hell-fire and brimstone sermons he was accustomed to preaching. The whole room had become silent and folks had stared as he had walked in, and thus, when he began recounting his story to Moose and Joe, he had everyone's attention. After he had concluded, the room remained quiet for a moment. Everyone present was in a bit of shock except for Morgan Tanner, who had no more use for the sheriff anyhow. The word was out though, and all were certain that Lance Nighthawk was the perpetrator. The situation couldn't have been much better for Tanner. All of them had witnessed Nighthawk being ordered out of town by Orr the night before, and most had heard Nighthawk's threat.

"He still there?" Murdoch asked.

"Yes, I hadn't the stomach to remove him, and I had to attend to my wife." Phelps replied insipidly.

Murdoch stood up abruptly and said, Joe, we'll be back in a bit, you might ought ta stay here an finish yer breakfast. Boys, come on, let's go have a look."

Shane, Brazos, the Mason brothers, and four other Murdoch cowhands quickly abandoned their breakfasts and rose in unison to follow Moose. "Just hold on a minute!" Lieutenant McCormick commanded in agitation. "Since there are no duly appointed lawmen here, it's my responsibility to conduct this investigation, and I'll expect you to keep out of the way Murdoch so you won't contaminate any of the evidence."

"McCormick, I don't give a tinker's damn about your authority. Technically, this town's under the purview of Fort Davis, not Fort Stockton. Sides, as far as investigatin goes, I doubt any a you Fort Stockton boys could find yer asses with both hands anyhow. That's why I'm headin' over there ta see fer myself what happened. I figure if anyone's liable ta mess up the evidence, it'd be you. You want ta tag along, fine. But don't try orderin' me around. I'm a civilian an I don't recognize your authority in this matter anyhow!"

"Mr. Murdoch, I resent your..." McCormick stopped abruptly as Murdoch disdainfully turned his back to him and bruskly stepped out the door, followed by his sons and hands, pointedly ignoring the Lieutenant. He came quickly to his feet, followed by Tanner and his gunmen, and stepped out into the morning sun in order to follow the Murdoch's over to Reverend Phelps' house.

Although his men had gone with Murdoch, Joe Bolton had remained at the cafe. Oddly enough, it was now Joe Bolton, who was attempting to do for the Revered, what Reverend Phelps was later supposed to do for him i.e., offer consolation and reassurance.

"Reverend, I'm gonna order you some breakfast, an I expect you ta eat it. You need your strength, and your wife will too. Don't worry about deliverin' a sermon over Dan. We both know he was a Christian, an I know he's with the Lord as we speak. I'll get Moose or someone ta deliver the eulogy. You just stay here, pull yourself together, an take good care of that precious wife of yours. She'll be a'needin' you a lot worse'n me." Bolton said.

"Thank you, Brother Joe. I'm terribly sorry, but you are right. I'll have to remain here with Beulah."

"No need to apologize Reverend, I understand. Your first duty before God is to your wife."

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