It had rained hard for most of the morning in Olsen's Falls. The skies were dark and forbidding. Nevertheless, the town's main church building known simply as, "The House of the Lord," was filled to capacity. "Ma Cunningham's Cafe and Boarding House" was closed for the day, as was the Boar's Head Saloon, in honor of one of the area's most celebrated and as of late, beloved gunfighters, Jesse Logan.

On this particular occasion, even the notorious prostitute Conchita Mireles attended the service, and no one, not even Reverend Phelps or his wife, treated her with disrespect. It was as if, at least in that particular instance, she somehow belonged there. However, Conchita herself was trembling.

As she had entered the building, a huge thunderclap rocked the edifice rattling the window panes. Conchita, superstitious as she was, interpreted the event as an omen-- a sign as it were, that she should indeed mend her wicked ways. At first, she had been tempted to flee the building, but had steeled herself. She would remain for the service, out of respect for Jesse. She felt she owed him that much, at least. Not only that, but, she made up her mind that should Johnny Lancer ask her once more to marry him, she would accept.

He was, after all, a very handsome young man, about her age, and was, as it had turned out, quite wealthy. More importantly, it seemed as though the dashing young gunfighter truly loved her for herself, rather than what her body could provide for him. The only other man who had treated her anywhere near that way had been Jesse Logan, but she had known all along that Jesse had long ago, lost his heart to the beautiful Charlene Lancer.

"Yes," she mused, "the thunderclap must have been a sign from God." She would marry Johnny as soon as he asked again. "Please God," she silently prayed, "let him ask again soon!"

She realized now, all too well, that a gunfighter's existence was precarious, to say the least. The gunfight between Logan and Dain had taught her that if nothing else. Although Johnny was incredibly fast, there was always someone out there faster, and eventually, age would creep un anyway, and his reflexes would began to slow just as her own beauty would eventally fade, and the wrinkles which accompanied age, would inevitably set in. She resolved in her heart that if she were to give up prostitution, Johnny must likewise give up gunfighting. She had no desire to become a widow. However, it appeared that such was the direction Johnny was taking anyway. He seemed to be planning to become a respectable rancher, and had already hired several hands to work the spread he had purchased, which had once belonged to either Captain Fogg or Morgan Tanner. Perhaps, just perhaps, the reckless, young, former outlaw, actually would settle down for good.

The church organ played low, somber, almost ominous notes, which reverberated throughout the chapel. There were flowers everywhere. Reverend Phelps stood in front of the congregation in silence, a far away look in his eyes. Cora Murdoch and her sister, Emily Cunningham were seated on the front pew together. Both were weeping openly as were not a few others present. Shane and Brazos Murdoch were also seated on the front pew along with Johnny Lancer, and even they, were hard pressed to restrain the tears that threatened to flow from their own eyes.

Presently, the darkness inside the church building was dispelled as the sun burst through the cloud cover and shone brightly upon the boom town of Olsen's Falls, bursting through the windows and lighting the interior of the church.. Conchita was convinced, that this too, was a sign from God, albeit, this time, a positive one. YES! She would be allowed to marry Johnny Lancer, to make a home and raise a family. Her prostitution days were over. Conchita beamed, and silently thanked the Lord for the sign, and His answer to her prayer.

Suddenly, the doors to the church opened and Jack Duane, Colt Ballard and Lance Nighthawk appeared carrying Jesse Logan on an inclining cot. Soon afterward, Moose Murdoch escorted a radiant Charlene Logan up the aisle. The wedding ceremony had begun. * * *

Several hours after the gunfight with Dain, Logan had awakened in the doctor's office. A number of people had been in and out to see him but only Charlene (who had refused to leave his side) and Nighthawk were there when he'd awakened. The bullet had grazed his heart and punctured his lung. Similar to what had happened to Moose, only worse. It had been touch and go at first, but Doctor MacDonald had finally been able to stabilize Logan's condition and had managed to remove the bullet successfully.

Jesse had immediately inquired about Dain and was informed that he had killed him. Although Logan could not remember doing so, he had fired three shots. The first, had apparently struck Dain directly in the heart just a split instant before Dain's own bullet hit Jesse. Somehow, Logan had reflexively snapped off two more shots, one of them hitting Dain in the head and the other, in the leg, as the two men fell.

Logan had looked up at Charlene and said weakly but poignantly, "I love you honey, and I always will!" She broke down in tears, unable to speak.

"Am I gonna make it doc?" he gasped.

"Well to be honest, I didn't think so at first. But you're a strong young man, and I'm certain you'll be up and about pretty soon. The doctor was correct enough in that Logan was still able to go through the wedding ceremony on schedule. Of course, the honeymoon would have to wait awhile.

After the wedding ceremony, Logan asked Nighthawk why he had originally taken up such an interest in him before he even knew him. "I remember, Lance, you said you liked me for reasons you may or may not decide to tell me. I'm asking you to tell me now."

The big halfbreed thought about it a moment then sighed. He then grinned and said, "What the hell. Why not? Well, do you remember your father's sister?" "No, I never met her. Paw told me she ran off with a missionary and he never heard from her anymore after that. They just lost track of each other's addresses."

"That's true. She was a good woman. After my own parents died of the smallpox when I was young, her and her husband took me in and raised me. They never had any children of their own, so they adopted me. They educated me and taught me the White man's ways. In a way, that sorta makes us cousins. They're both dead now, and I've never been married or fathered any children that--I know of." he grinned at the last, then continued. "You're the closest thing to family that I have."

Logan had been surprised, but then, it added up and made sense. "Nighthawk, you're welcome to my family anytime! I reckon that sort of puts you into the Murdoch clan since they adopted me. I hope you'll stay on and ride with us."

"Wel, I ain't got nothin' better to do right now, so I reckon I'll do just that." Nighthawk said grinning as the shook hands warmly.

After the wedding ceremony, as they loaded him into the buckboard to transport him back to the Murdoch ranch, Charlene came running up toward them, Jack Duane and Maggie Baldridge in tow. "Jesse!" she cried, "We've got another wedding ta go to next week!" she said, inclining her head toward Duane and Maggie.

Logan reached out his hand to Jack and said simply, "Congratulations Jack, we'll be there come Hell or high water. Count on it!" Charlene climbed aboard the buckboard seat beside Cora Murdoch and took the reigns.

"Ready Jesse?"

"Honey, I was born ready. Let's get back to the ranch."

With that, the Murdoch clan, along with his crew, Josh Mason and Johnny Lancer, rode alongside. As Jesse peered out the back of the buckboard over his feet, he watched the receding figures of Colt Ballard, Jack Duane and Maggie Baldridge still waving in the distance. It was a day he'd treasure for the rest of his life. THE END

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