Shortly after Logan rode out, Lancer and Ballard were rudely awakened by a loud insistent pounding upon the office door. "Shoot, I guess there's someone out there thet cain't read plain English!" Lancer groaned, referring to the late Sheriff Orr's old do not disturb sign, they'd hung out. Ballard opened the door and a man he did not know hurriedly explained how Billy Fogg had just been killed by Jesse Logan in a gunfight over at the Boar's Head.

"Shit! That's all we need right now." Ballard grumbled. Ballard along with Johnny Lancer (whom Ballard had temporarily deputized), headed reluctantly over to the saloon.

In Dr. Anders' office, Slinger Hawk had been standing guard by the window. He heard someone yell to another passing by, "Guess what Bill? Jesse Logan just gunned down Billy Fogg!"

"Is he dead Mark?"

"Hell yes! The Fogg boy started it, but he wasn't fast enough to finish it. He hit the floor deader'n a doornail!"

Hawk quickly related what he'd overheard on the street to the others in the doctor's office. Immediately assuming command, Blackjack ordered, "Let's go boys. You stay here and watch over the captain, Haylock. You Lomax and Hawk can fetch Billy's body, and I'll pick a fight with Logan and gun 'em down." Lomax and Hawk agreed and the three left and headed to the Boar's Head.

When they arrived, they found Lancer and Ballard asking questions of the patrons at the bar. Blackjack said loudly, "Someone get that son-of-a-bitch, Logan. I aim ta settle up with 'em right now!"

Lancer and Ballard turned their attention to the three Fogg gunmen and Ballard said, "Look, Logan's left town. Let's us five step outside. I want ta talk."

Ballard, Lancer and the three Fogg gunmen stepped out on the street and Ballard said, "I'd appreciate it if you'd tell me why you're in town."

"I don't figure it's any of your business." Slade said.

"Look dammit, its my business cause I'm the sheriff. I don't want trouble, but If you don't tell me what's up, my deputy and me can sure serve ya up some, in spades!"

Slinger Hawk said, "Hold on Blackjack, Ballard's not with Tanner anymore. I reckon we can trust 'em."

"Yeah, I know, he's with Murdoch, and so's that Logan, and look what he done." Blackjack replied.

"I ain't WITH no one. I'm the sheriff, and that's all there is too it! Ballard said, his voice becoming threatening.

"It was a fair fight, Blackjack, I heard 'em say it. Anyhow, we both know how the kid was always on the prod." Hawk said.

"Alright then, you tell 'em. I ain't gonna be responsible." Slade agreed grudgingly.

Hawk then quickly explained why they were there, beginning with the raid on the Tanner ranch the previous night, and the fight near the Santiago Mountains earlier that day."

Lancer whistled in amazement and Ballard said, "Alright. But that means that Tanner's gonna be madder'n hellfire when he finds out you boys burned down his ranch. Let's go to the doc's and see how its coming. I want you boys out of town as soon as possible."

Upon arrival at the doctor's office, they found that Captain Fogg's condition had worsened considerably. Pneumonia had set in his remaining lung, and Doc Anders had had to remove the right one. Doc Anders informed them that there was simply no way that the Captain could travel. As it was, it would be almost a miracle if he survived at all.

Ballard sighed, then he looked over the four gunmen, his expression turning serious. "Alright boys, he cain't go and that's that, but you can. Get out of town. Tanner's men could be here at any time, and I don't want anymore gunplay. I stand a lot better chance of protecting the Captain if you ain't here, than if ya are."

The Fogg men talked it over a moment then Blackjack said, "Alright, but Haylock's stayin' here. He's gonna keep an eye on the captain and the doc. Sides, he's got an elbow what needs some more seein' to anyhow. Give us about twenty minutes, and we'll sneak out of town as quietly as we can. But know this, Sheriff, and you too, Lancer. If anything happens ta the Captain sides a natural death, we'll hold you two personally responsible and we'll be gunnin' for ya certain."

"At your convenience, pardner!" Lancer drawled, then he and Ballard left the doctor's office heading back toward the sheriff's office.

What they didn't know however, was that standing back in the shadows, Wade Terrell had overheard their conversation with the Foggs out in the street in front of the Boar's Head. He, along with Ace Scurlock, Case Tyree, and Duke Collins had arrived less than one half hour ago. Collins, was in conference with the mayor and head banker, along with the rest of the town council while Scurlock and Tyree waited just outside the door. Terrell hurried over to them, interrupting the conference, then privately informed Collins of what had transpired. Collins' responded by saying, "Alright, the town council has just authorized me to appoint you three as lawmen. Terrell, you're the town marshal, Scurlock, you're his deputy. Tyree, you are officially the new sheriff. Let's go."

As Ballard and Lancer stepped into the sheriff's office, they were immediately confronted by Terrell, Scurlock and Tyree, standing side by side. Suddenly, as they were about to draw, they heard the distinctive cocking of two pistols directly behind them. Quicker than the eye could follow, the three MT gunmen in front of them had their pistols out covering them.

From behind them, Duke Collins said, "Alright you two, gently remove your gunbelts. As of now, you are no longer lawmen. The town council has relieved you of that burdensome duty and appointed those men before you to the task." As Ballard and Lancer carefully removed their gunbelts and badges, Collins continued. "However, it has come to my attention that you men are possibly sympathetic to the Murdoch's and furthermore, have been harboring, aiding, and abetting, fugitives from justice. Namely, Captain Fogg and a what's left of his merry men. Therefore, I have little choice but to lock you up to insure the safety of this town and see to it that justice prevails."

At that, Duke ushered them into a cell and locked the door. "You'd better hope I don't get out, you Limey bastard. When I do, I'm gonna take that Limey tongue of yours, cut it off, and shove it up your ass!" Lancer snarled.

"Oh, I doubt you will be getting out anytime soon unless of course, you are shot while attempting to escape--which, I might add, is a distinct possibility. But if you do sir, I assure you, I will be awaiting you. I'm certain that I could teach you a thing or two concerning the efficient usage of a pistol."

With that, Collins ordered the three Concho River gunmen to find and incarcerate, or gun down, Slade, Lomax and Hawk, preferably the latter.

After they'd left, Ballard drawled confidently, "Collins, ya know this ain't gonna work. The town thinks we're heros, me an Lancer here. After all, me and Duane saved your bosses' precious bank, and me and Lancer here brought back Emillio Esperanza, deader'n a doornail. Half of 'em are convinced that Esperanza worked for yer boss, and I happen ta know he did."

"Certainly, they think you are heros now, until they learn of the plan concocted by Murdoch and Fogg, to gain control over the whole territory. You see, they formed an alliance with one another, hired the Esperanzas, then after the Esperanzas had done their fiendish work for them, pursued them and wiped them out to a man in order to ensure their silence. Fogg of course, massacred the MT southfork crew to ensure that Tanner would pursue him. That way, when Murdoch and crew caught up with Esperanza and massacred his bunch, there would be no one left alive to confess that Murdoch and Fogg had hired them. Had Tanner and some of his men been present in the posse, some of the Esperanza gang would have been left alive and would have admitted as to the fact that it was Murdoch and Fogg who hired them. You see gentlemen, people are easily convinced. In about two days, they will all believe the story, and Tanner will once again regain his status, and the Murdoch's will be outlaws. I am preparing the appropriate paperwork right now, and I will send it to Colonel Foley at Fort Stockton, then another shall be sent to the Texas Rangers, and yet another, to the governor. Soon there will be a price on the Murdochs, and anyone associated with them. I assure you, Mr. Tanner knows how to pull political strings. Pity, Mr. Lancer, that your hard earned pardon will be so swiftly revoked. Ah but then, you are used to being on the other side of the law. I fear however, that Captain Fogg, will not make it through the night. Most unfortunate."

"You son-of-a-Limey-bitch! I'm gonna get outa here and bore you right between the eyes!" Lancer exclaimed heatedly.

"Calm down pard, his kind usually finds a way a buryin hisself!" Ballard said confidantly, winking and grinning at Collins who grinned back, shook his head, then shrugged his shoulders as if to imply that such fools were welcome to believe anything they wished.

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