"Well my head hurts like the devil, and I'm a mite hungry too." Josiah stated

Mrs Potter offered to go tell the others Josiah was awake and to have someone bring him some food. Nathan checked him out real well when Mrs. Potter left.

"Any dizziness or blurred vision? Do ya feel sick or anything?" he asked with concern.

"Other then my head hurtin' I feel fine, how long you gonna keep me in bed Doctor Jackson?" Josiah joked.

"Well considerin' how stubborn you are a day most likely." Nathan teased back.

Josiah and Nathan heard the sound of many feet coming toward the door. They smiled at each other then Nathan moved back as Chris and the others entered the room.

"Hey Josiah, don't ya know better then to walk off a building." Buck said as he entered the room.

"Boy Josiah I'm glad ya woke up." JD said with a smile.

"Mr Sanchez, I suggest next time you use a ladder to ascend from the roof." Ezra threw in.

Chris only nodded his head at the preacher.

"I'm glad to see you boys to, but could you keep it down my head feels a might tender and all your talkin' ain't helping my headache none." Josiah joked to his friends.

Once assured Josiah would be alright the rest of the men left Chris and Josiah alone.

"Where's Vin, didn't he want to make sure I was alive and kicking?" Josiah asked Chris.

Chris explained about the gold shipment and that Vin was at the bank keeping an eye on things there. He'd be in to visit Josiah soon as one of the others relieved him.

"Well preacher, what you want us to do with the boy that got the drop on ya." Chris said. For a second Josiah thought Chris was being rude but then he noticed the seldom seen smile on Chris face and realized Chris was joking. Josiah was surprised it was so seldom Chris joked or smiled. But if it took Josiah letting some brat of a kid takes pot shots at him and his hitting his head to make Chris smile Josiah figured it was worth the pain.

"Got him in jail. do ya?" Josiah asked.

"Yep, JD put him in there the day this all happened. We been doing our best to scare the crap outta him the past two days. We been talking hangins, prison, and such around him, figured if'n we spooked him real good he'd think twice about shooting at someone else." Chris said.

"Keep him there Chris, I have a few things I'd like to say to the young fella myself." Josiah replied.

Nathan returned with a tray of food and Chris told Josiah he thought he'd go on over and maybe let the kid stew awhile for he told him Josiah was alive and going to be just fine.

Nathan had just checked Josiah shoulder and head when he heard a knock on the door. He opened it to find Miz Park standing to the side so as to not allow Josiah to see her. Asked Nathan if he thought Josiah was up to hearing what she had to say and Nathan figured. Now would be the best time. With his head hurting him and his shoulder so sore it was unlikely Josiah could throw too big a fit once he heard this news. He went inside and informed Josiah that he had a visitor and was he willing to see someone.

Josiah thinking that maybe it was Mary Travis told Nathan he'd be glad to have some company who wasn't a poking and prodding on him every 5 minutes. Nathan escorted Sammy Jo Park into the room and watched Josiah as he realized who his visitor was.

"Sam! Sammy Jo Park! is that you?" Josiah said with surprise.

"It sure is me Joe, been a long time hasn't it?" Sammy Jo answered back.

"Only you ever called me Joe and you know I hate it." Josiah teased.

"Well I always had to be different and since no one else would give you any trouble I felt it my duty to find someway to bring you down a notch or two". Sammy teased back.

Josiah remembered his manners and introduced Sammy and Nathan, They explained that they knew each other and Nathan said he'd wait outside while the two old friends talked.

The two friends exchanged news of their life's and what they each had been doing for the past 17 years. Sammy had been there for about an hour when Josiah asked.

"So what brings you to town? Where you looking for me or just passing through?"

"I got a telegram 4 days ago from some friends of my son's telling me I better get here to Four Corners right quick since my son was in danger of getting in deep trouble with a gunslinging preacher." Sammy Jo said.

"That was your boy! Now that is a find howdy do to a friend of his Ma's." Josiah said.

"Josiah I'm so sorry, if I had known he was even headed this way I would have stopped him." she whispered.

"Why was your boy so angry with me anyways, or is it just that he didn't like my looks or something?" Josiah asked.

" There is no way to say this but to say it straight out. My son is called JJ but his full name is Josiah Joe Park. He's almost 17 and he found out a few months ago that you are his father." Sammy watched Josiah as she said this.

For a long time Josiah just looked at her, then he must have seen the truth in her face cause he give a big sigh and rubbed his head.

"WHY! WHY DID YOU NEVER TELL ME! THAT LAST NIGHT WE TALKED YOU HAD TO HAVE KNOWN THEN, YOU SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME THEN!" Josiah shouted.

At each word Sammy Jo flinched and drew back in her seat.

"DAMN IT WOMAN! I CAN'T BELIEVE ALL THOSE YEARS HAVE PASSED AND NOW I FIND OUT I HAVE A SON! Josiah yelled.

Nathan opened to the door thinking he better stop Josiah before Josiah let his anger get the best of him. Chris too had heard the shouting and arrived to hear Josiah shout.

"OUT! I DON'T NEED ANY OF YOU TO KEEP ME UNDER CONTROL."

"Fine, just remember that's a lady yawl yelling at." Nathan said.

"Not likely to forget seeing as how she just informed me she had my child." Josiah snapped.

Nathan and Chris left the two alone but didn't go far. Chris walked to sit on the steps of the building and Nathan joined him there. The two said nothing for a few minutes until Nathan finally turned to Chris and asked,

"Ya suppose Miz Park will be alright in there with Josiah? "

"I think Miz Park can handle Josiah just fine, she seems the type woman who always comes out on top." Chris answered.

"What ya got against Miz Park, Chris ya been rough on her since we first met her yesterday." Nathan had to ask.

"Seen her type before, she'll bleed Josiah dry with this cock and bull story of hers about that boy being his son." Chris replied.

"Ya don't think the kid might be Josiah's then Chris?" Nathan asked.

"Can't say, just seems to me that a girl who found herself in that position would have informed her fella as soon as she could. And she sure wouldn't let him go off and never return. Nathan you know as well as I do what folk say and how they treat young ladies who find themselves in the family way and without a man to marry. You truly believe some girl is going to deal with that all on her own when all she has to do it tell the fella?" was Chris's only reply.

"She loved em Chris, I could see that the day she first came in to see em. Maybe she told us the truth bout not wantin' Josiah to have any more burdens then he already had." Nathan tried to reason out for Chris.

"Yea maybe, but if she was telling the truth she'd be the first woman I ever heard of to make that sort of sacrifice for some man." Chris said.

Josiah meanwhile was still giving Sammy Jo an earful. "I TRUELY CAN'T BELIEVE YOU NEVER TOLD ME! IT'S BEEN 17 YEARS SAMMY, WHY HAVEN'T YOU TRIED TO FIND ME. HELL WHAT AM I SAYIN' YOU SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME THAT LAST TIME WE WAS TOGETHER."

"OK! STOP RIGHT THERE JOSIAH SANCHEZ." Sammy yelled.

"Maybe it was wrong of me not to tell you, but if you think back you would realize I did what I thought was the right thing, maybe not for me but for you. Damn you Josiah I couldn't tell you then and after you were gone it was too late. Once JJ was born I figured I would never see you again. For all I knew you might have been dead, you've been to so many foreign lands and all over America I had no way of knowing you hadn't been shot or killed somehow. Wasn't till pa come for a visit six months ago I even knew you were still alive. And do you think my decision was easy! Do you think my life has been easy? You know how folks treat unwed mothers. Well I have been dealing with that all alone for 17 years, while you been going your merry way. So don't you dare try and make me feel any worst then I do already."

Josiah was shocked at Sammy Jo. When he had knew her she never shouted at anyone and she always backed down when her pa or anyone else give her a hard time. He could see that she had changed a great deal. And he knew why, she was right he was as much at fault as she was. He had taken his pleasure with her and never once did he think of the consequences. He left her and never once went back to make sure she didn't need him. He guessed in some way this was the Lords way of showing him that he had been just as careless as any other young man had.

At this point Sammy Jo had once again felt the tears build and roll down her cheeks. At the sight of her crying Josiah eased himself off the bed and took her hands in his. Sammy looked up into his face and saw that he had gotten pass his initial anger and was now thinking with his head instead of his heart. The two of them had lots to talk about and lots to work out, but for now she would let him comfort her, the way he should have that long ago night seventeen years ago.

"Sammy Jo, I am sorry. I was old enough to know we might have created a child, but in my anger with my father and with finding my sister the way she was I just wasn't thinking right. That's no excuse for my actions and I know it, but I don't know what to say right now." Josiah said.

"There isn't any need for you to explain anything to me Josiah. We both were old enough to know what we did was wrong and it didn't really help either of us. You still remained angry with your father for his treatment of your sister and his bitterness with you because you wanted to learn about more then just his god. He was so hateful after you got back from spending those two years with the Cheyenne. He treated you so bad, I wanted to shake him and tell him to open his eyes and see what a good person you truly were. But I couldn't, so I give you what comfort I could. And me, I knew if my father ever found out what I was doing with you he's whip the skin right off my back, but I didn't care cause I sometimes hated him so much all I wanted was to get away from him." Sammy explained.

"It still ain't right Sammy. what we did will end up hurting someone else alot worst then if every hurt you or I. What am I suppose to say to a son I never knew I had." Josiah wondered aloud.

Josiah and Sammy sat and talked for a long time, then Sammy insisted Josiah rest. She promised to visit later that evening.

Chris was going to take over at the bank so Vin could get somethin' to eat when he heard someone riding into town fast and yelling at the top of his lungs. By the time the rider got to Chris, the other had joined him in the street.

"It's one of them boys that was with that kid JJ." JD said. Chris helped the boy get his horse under control and then asked.

"What's the matter kid?"

Instead of answering Chris the kid jumped off his horse and ran to JD, "Sheriff Dunn, Jake Ten Bears sent me to tell ya, a group of army fellas were ambushed outside of town. Jake and Larry were heading back to the ambush site and sent me to tell ya what was happening." the kid explained.

"What do we do Chris? " JD asked the grim faced leader of the seven.

"I'll take Buck and Ezra and we'll go see if any one survived. You, Nathan and Vin keep the shipment safe." Chris answered as he started to the livery.

"Sir, Jake said I was to tell ya that him and Larry will bring back any survivors and that he would need to talk with ya once he gets into town." the kid said.

"I'll still ride out that way JD, so lets tell Vin and then I'll get Buck and Ezra to ride with me." Chris said.

"Mike! what are you doing in town, I told you to stay with Jake until I sent for you." Sammy questioned the kid.

"Jake sent me Miss Park." Mike explained about what he was in town for and at the news that Jake and Larry had gone to the site of the ambush Sammy Jo got angry.

"Damn that Jake, he knows better then to go any where near army men. He'll end up getting himself shot for sure. " She said.

Chris and two of his men were mounting up when they saw several riders coming into town. At the rear of the riders rode a tall full blooded Apache Indian with long coal black hair wearing buckskin pants and vest and a tan cowboy hat. He was a sight to behold as he rode toward the center of town. tall with broad shoulders and will developed muscles in his arms and chest, since the vest was only buttoned half way down everyone could see those muscles ripple as he rode. He rode straight to where Sammy and the kid Mike were standing. Sammy Jo Park placed her hand on his leg and spoke sharply to him.

"What's the matter with you Jake, those army fellas could have shot you on sight. This isn't Santa Fe you know. These people don't know you for all they know you could be some renegade Apache planning on killing them."

"Sammy, those men needed help, I figured they'd take it from anyone as long as it was offered." As Jake spoke he got off his horse and turned to help a young solder down off his horse. The young man looked bad, he was shot at least twice that Sammy could see and blood covered him every where.

"Jake, carry him and I'll take you to someone who might be able to help him" Sammy said as she started walking toward Nathan's room. All told Jake and Larry had found only 8 men alive when they got to the site of the ambush..

Nathan had seen them coming and told Josiah he would have company while he was healing from his head wound. Once Chris and the boys along with Sammy and Jake come in with the 8 wounded men Josiah knew Nathan was going to need all the bed space he could find. He managed to get up and dressed after Sammy stepped outside. Then he found a seat and began to roll bandages for Nathan.

Sammy came back in and helped Nathan with the wounded. Chris and the others joined Jake at the livery.

"What the hell happened out there?" demanded Chris.

"No sure, I had left the boys and was hunting when I head gunfire, by the time I got there all the army fellas was down. The ambushers were riding away. I rode back and got Larry, sent Mike into town and Larry and I went to save the men we could. Whoever planned this attack knew what he was doing, he hit the army fellas from a hill top and they probably never knew what hit them" Jake told Chris.

"Captain William's, was he dead when you got there?" Chris asked.

"Yes he was. Jake paused as if he didn't want to say anymore but he figured Chris should know what had happened to the captain.

"He was shot almost 20 times, most of them at close range. Someone wanted him dead real bad from the looks of it."

"Good lord, who would shoot a man that many times?" Buck asked

"Someone who was full of hate." Vin answered.

As Chris went to speak again he heard Josiah calling for him.

"CHRIS! YOU BETTER GET UP HERE."

Chris rushed to Nathan's to find Nathan and Miss Park trying to hold down young solder. He walked over and took hold of the boy and helped Nathan got the boy laid back down.

"Mr. Larabee! I heard em; it was Al Fisher and his men, bout thirty of em. Fisher keep shooting the captain and saying the gold would be his before the day was over. When one of his men asked him why he hated the captain so much, he told em it was cause the captain had been after him for years and he wanted to make sure the devil was dead fore he went after the gold shipment." the boy was crying as he spoke.

"It's alright boy, Fisher won't get the gold and I'll make damn sure he pays for killing the captain and so many of his men. You let Nathan take care of ya." Chris told the boy.

Chris along with Josiah joined his men outside the room.

"Boys we got trouble headed this way, JD, you Buck and Ezra warn the town folks.

Vin you have the bank closed and locked up tight. See if any of the men folk can help us. 30 men against us 6 ain't good odds."

"It's 7, Chris. " Josiah stated.

"Josiah I know you want to help but your head wound might cause ya to Blacks out at any time, we both know that. Ya can stay here with Nathan and keep those boys safe." Chris told his friend.

Josiah seemed to realize Chris was right so he agreed to stay at Nathan's.

From below them they hear Jake Ten bears speak.

"Let JJ out of jail, him and his friends and I will help you protect the gold."

"And I can help too." Sammy Jo said from the doorway.

"No! I won't put my men in danger by letting a women handle a gun. " Chris snapped.

"Mr. Larabee, you have no idea how well I handle a gun or a bow and arrow for that matter. Perhaps before you go making snap judgements you should find out." Sammy snapped back at Chris.

Josiah raised his eyebrows and waited for Larabee to explode. But before he could Jake entered the conversation.

"Miss Park can shot the eye out of an eagle if she had to, I taught her and all three boys myself. We are offering our help Mr. Larabee, you should take It."

Chris hated to take help from those people but he didn't like the odds either.

"Alright, but she stays out of sight." Chris finally said.

Find by me, I don't plan on standing in the street while outlaws come riding down the middle of it." Sammy said.

"JD go get the kid out of jail. Chris looked down at Jake and said. Ya best go with him and tell the kid what we have planned."