Cheyenne seemed to ignore Molly when out of the corner of her eye she saw Vin heading toward the livery. A stranger was following him. The man's Indian heritage evident. Long black hair hung under his hat and lay straight down his back. He wore a fringed buckskin coat and moccasin boots. His copper skin smooth and his dark eyes never left his prey as he followed him.

Leaving Molly in mind sentence Cheyenne followed instinctively sensing trouble.

She quietly opened the livery stable door and crept in, her gun drawn. The man that had been following Vin stood with his back to her and facing Vin with his gun aimed at him. Vin's weapon lay on the ground near him and his hands were raised as he faced the stranger.

"Been looking for you a long time Tanner," the man was saying unaware of Cheyenne's presence as she slipped inside the door and concealed herself in a nearby stall.

"Well ya found me," Vin said calmly as he caught sight of Cheyenne quietly creeping up to them. Vin kept a small smile from crossing his lips and his eyes stayed fixed on the man in front of him.

"Wasn't hard," the man continued his French accent barely noticeable. "You and your friends been makin' quit a name for yourselves. Too bad they will be down to six men now instead of seven. Brings me no pleasure takin' you in Tanner. But that five hundred dollar bounty will bring my family food and blankets to keep them through many winter months."

His words had no sooner left his mouth then he felt the steel coldness of a gun barrel at the back of his head and heard the hammer pulled back. He froze.

"Not this time LaRoch," came the French Indian laced voice of a female from behind him.

"Drop the gun. Maintenant. (Now)" She growled.

A smile crossed the man's face as he recognized the voice behind him and he let his gun drop raising his hands in defeat. Vin wasted now time in retrieving his weapon from the ground and snatching up the other man's at the same time.

"Well hello Cheyenne." The man said as he slowly turned to face her.

Cheyenne took a step back keeping her gun aimed at that man's head.

"Been a while," he finished with a slight nod.

Vin, bewildered that the man seemed to know Cheyenne he looked at her confused. "You know this guy?" He asked her.

Cheyenne gave him a simple nod. Then spoke with urgency in her tone. "Vin, go, he will not follow." She insisted. Vin understanding she would keep this man busy so that he could get away rushed to finish saddling his mount.

"Friend of your's Cheyenne?" The man asked motioning with his head toward Vin but his eyes stayed fixed on the woman that held the gun on him. "And where is your faithful guardian?"

Cheyenne only glared at him. Vin lead his horse up to her and handed her the mans gun he had picked up. "I'll send ya some help, you be alright for spell?" He asked with concern.

Cheyenne gave him a quick nod. "Go!" She commanded.

Vin tipped the brim of his hat to her in a thankful gesture. "I owe ya one," then lead his mount quickly out of the stables.

The man let a disappointed sigh escape him. "You just lost me five hundred dollars my friend. Hope you got a good reason."

"He is innocent." Cheyenne said flatly.

"Then why's he got a bounty on his head?" The man asked not believing Cheyenne's statement.

"He did not do this thing he is wanted for, he was framed." She told him matter-of-factly.

He looked at her and sarcastically asked. "Can I put my hands down now?"

"When he has had time to get away I will let you go." She told him sternly.

For a split second the man thought about rushing her thinking that because of their past friendship she would hesitate to shoot. But he knew Cheyenne well enough to know that if she were protecting someone, especially some one she considered a friend she would not think twice about pulling the trigger so he let the thought drop.

Just then Josiah burst threw the doors followed by Chris. Their guns drawn. Josiah immediately went to Cheyenne's side. "You all right?" He asked the concern eminating in his tone. Cheyenne nodded then turned to Chris.

"Vin?"

"Safe," he answered her. "Who is this guy?"

"Gabe LaRoch." Josiah answered for her glaring at the man. "Bounty hunter."

"Well ain't no bounty for ya here boy. My advice to you is to move on." Chris sneered.

"Now that sounds like good advice Mister." LaRoch mocked. "But me and Cheyenne we go way back and I ain't seen her and the preacher here in quite a spell. I'd kinda like to stick around a while do some catchin' up if ya don't mind."

"Looks to me she don't think too much of ya considerin' she's got a gun pointed at your head." Chris said with a crooked smile.

"Ya well, that's just her way a sayin' howdy. Ain't that so Cheyenne." LaRoch said giving Cheyenne a sideways grin.

"You go after Tanner again and I will kill you." Cheyenne warned.

"Now, now girl don't get riled. I give you my word. You say he's innocent so I'll let it go. If he's a good enough friend of your's for ya to protect him like that well I guess he can't be all bad, eh?"

Cheyenne eased the hammer back replacing it safely. "I have your word?" she asked.

"Vous avez mon mot. (You have my word.)" He repeated. "Now can I put my hands down?"

Cheyenne almost smiled and gave him an approving nod.

"You trust him?" Chris asked Josiah before he returned his gun to his holster.

Josiah nodded slowly. "Ya," he said hesitantly. "I don't like him much, but I trust him with his word."

Cheyenne handed LaRoch his gun and he took it replacing it in the holster at his side.

"The least you can do for lettin my bounty run off is buy me a beer." LaRouch smiled at Cheyenne "Whadda ya say?"

Cheyenne set her gun back in her holster and motioned with her head toward the stable doors in silent acceptance of LaRoch's suggestion. The two walked side by side out of the livery. Josiah and Chris watched as they disappeared threw the doors.

"You gonna tell me 'bout this guy?" Chris asked Josiah who, lost in his own thoughts, still stared at the doorway.

"Huh?" Josiah pulled back out of his revere by Chris's question. He took in a deep breath and let it out.

"LaRoch? Well he's a bounty hunter like I told ya. His tribe's all been but wiped out from sickness, white soldiers, not sure what all happened." Josiah began, "his ma's Sioux and his pa, like Cheyenne's was a French Canadian trapper. He got himself killed some time ago. A dispute over a gold claim I heard. LaRouch took up bounty hunten to track down the men who'd done it then just kept on workin at it to feed and care for what was left of his family and tribe."

"So what's he got to do with Cheyenne?" Chris asked curiously.

"Him and Cheyenne knew each other as children. Seems her pa and his was partners for a spell till they both went their separate ways. We ran into him about the time I found Cheyenne. Then again a few years back around Fort Sumptner."

"You think he'll be trouble?" Chris asked.

"Na." Josiah answered beginning to loose himself in his own thoughts again. "Least ways not the kind a trouble that'd concern you or the town."

Chris gave Josiah a confused look. "Just what's that suppose to mean?"

Josiah didn't look at Chris as he answered. "It's personal." and began to make his way out of the livery. Chris stood a moment watching as Josiah exited the stable curious as to just what it was the preacher was hiding.

Cheyenne and Gabe LaRouch entered the saloon and walked up to the bar. After ordering and receiving their beer they went to a table and sat down.

Josiah and Chris entered not long after. Josiah's eyes roamed the room until he spotted Cheyenne at the table with LaRouch. Chris noted his friend's uneasiness as he watched the two intently. Josiah ordered a whiskey and leaned against the bar as he downed the shot and ordered another.

Chris stood watching Josiah's reactions with curiosity and caution. The look in Josiah's eyes was anything but friendly. But he better than anyone knew the rule of not delving too far into anothers private affairs and he had already asked too much at the livery so he said nothing as he continued to sip at his drink and kept his eyes open for trouble.

KC sat in a far corner on the opposite end of the room. He had been watching the two from the moment they entered.