Jake took a position on top of the bank while Josiah and JJ both took cover on the side of the bank, but they soon found themselves sitting in front of the bank talking.

Mike was stationed on the East Side of town and Larry was on the west end of town. Sammy Jo and Mary were at Nathan's watching out the window and door.

They had given the solders who were in fit shape their guns, just in case the outlaws tried to finish the job they started that day before. Josiah and JJ talked and Josiah could tell JJ had allot of respect and love for both his ma and for Jake. He told Josiah all about how good Jake was with horses and how folks from miles away would bring horses to the ranch for Jake to break. As the boy talked Josiah realized that JJ didn't need a father...he already had one of the best in Jake Ten Bears. And Josiah reckoned JJ would find that out on his own. JJ then asked Josiah why he was here and why he helped protect this little town. Josiah took the time to tell him of the Indian village and then of Judge Travis and his deal with the seven. Josiah paused for a few seconds then said

"Them boys are like family to me now, and I think they need me not just for my gun but for spiritual guidance. and sometimes for just someone to talk to when the demons haunt them."

JJ was quite for a spell then he asked." If'n you had known bout me, would ya have married my ma?"

"I would like to think I would have son, but we will never know for sure now. But if'n you or your ma ever need me for anything I'll be there for ya." Josiah said as he placed his hand on the young man's shoulder.

The two of them sit in silence for awhile then JJ asked Josiah if he thought it was wrong or his ma to be in love with Jake. He told Josiah that most white folks were against seeing a white woman with an Indian. JJ also talked about how even the men who would travel for miles to hire Jake to break there horses and would spend sometimes days with Jake while he worked with the horses, would then go behind his back and talk about him and his being an Indian who thought he was good enough to have a white woman for a wife.

JJ told Josiah that he and Larry and Mike has been in allot of fights cause of things others had said about Jake and Sammy. Josiah thought that maybe JJ just needed to talk to someone cause deep down he was just scared that maybe he was wrong for having the feeling he did for Jake, mainly because Jake was Indian. Once again Josiah wished folks could learn that skin color wasn't something anyone should be judged by. But he had seen it too many times to think he could change anything. So he let the boy talk and hoped that JJ would figure out for himself that Jake being Indian had noting to do with what kind of man he was. But from what he had seen and heard from JJ so far made him think JJ already knew all that. When JJ finally stopped talking Josiah asked him one question in his deep calm voice.

"JJ, when ya think about Jake or look at him what do ya see?" JJ looked at Josiah like he was a little crazy then he said." I see a man, I see someone who's been like a pa to me since I was born. I see a man who protects my ma and her home and who loves ma, Larry, Mike and me."

Josiah smiled and told JJ "Well then the way I see if ya don't need to worry bout what others think. cause you see all the important things while others see only an Indian. Then he added "Ya see a pa and that's what Jake has been to ya and those other two boys for a long time."

"I reckon your right, but don't it bother ya that an Indian done raised your son all those years and that he is loving the woman you use to care about?" JJ asked.

"From what I seen so far Jake done a hell of a job raising ya and shaped ya into a man to be proud of, he taught ya to respect others and to give everyone a fair chance. And he has made your ma happy, he takes good care of her, something I didn't do too well when her and I were friends." Josiah said.

JJ had to agree with that one. His ma was happy and Jake would die before he let anything happen to her. It hit JJ then, why he never cared before about the fact that he didn't have a real pa. He saw Jake and himself in his mine. all the things they had done together and all that Jake had taught him and later his two adopted brothers about ranching, handling guns and bows, and about being men. Jake had shown them so many things in the seventeen years of JJ life. Josiah let JJ work thing out in his own mine while they sit and waited for whatever the day would bring.

After awhile Josiah said." Way I see it ya don't need me for your pa, ya got a real fine pa in Jake. So why do ya think you came here looking for me?"

"I don't rightly know. guess I figured I should see the man who fathered me and maybe see if'n he was a better man then the pa I already had. No offence Josiah but if'n it's all the same to ya. I think I'll keep Jake as my pa. And ya and me can maybe learn to be friends." JJ said.

As Josiah went to answer him Larry came running up the street. Mr. Sanchez, someone coming! he yelled.

As he slid to a stop near JJ and Josiah a rider came into town. He stopped in the center of town and yelled out. "I'm looking for the preacher fella!"

Josiah stepped off the sidewalk and strolled over to the fella.

"I'm the preacher. what can I do for ya?"

"My boss Harry Fisher sent me. He wants ya to know that we got your friends and if'n ya want to see them alive y'all sit the gold out at the edge of town and let us ride out with it. We'll leave word out there where ya can find your friends. Fisher ain't none too happy with them boys for killing his cousin and he done already beat the shit out of that fella who wears the fancy coat. so I think ya should agree and then no one has to die."

Josiah was shocked that Fisher could have taken Vin, Chris and the others so easy like. He had to think fast, what to do. He couldn't leave Chris and the others to the mercy of Fisher and his men. So he did the only thing he could he agreed to the terms Fisher had set. The man who worked for Fisher laughed and told Josiah he was making the best choice for the town and the men his boss held captive. Then he rode out of town.

Jake had watched as the man gave Josiah his bosses plan, he turned and motioned to Larry over to him and whispered something to him. Larry slipped off while Josiah talked to the man on the horse.

As soon as the man was gone Mary rushed to Josiah. "You can't believe Fisher will just let Chris and the other go. once they have the gold Chris and the other are dead."

"I know that Mary, but I had to do something. We got this evening and tonight to make plans. To figure out a way to get the boys back and still keep the gold safe." Josiah said.

"But we don't got no idea where Chris is, them outlaws could be anywhere." JJ said.

"We well know before we go after them. I sent Larry to fellow the outlaw." Jake told them all.

Mary was shocked that someone would send a young man like Larry out after an outlaw like the one who just left town. "How could you send him out there, what if that man sees him following him. He could kill him."

"No, Larry can track and follow any man or animal without them even Knowing it. He is very good at it. many times he has followed me and I never even knew it." Jake said with a grin.

They all went to the hotel to wait for Larry and to make what plans they could. It was decided that the gold would be taken to Nathan's room with the Soldiers While Mary and the other town folks would be told to lock everything in town us and to stay in their homes were hopefully they would be safe. Sammy would stay with he solders in case Fisher sent any men after the gold. Jake, Josiah and the boys would go after Chris once they knew where to find them.

Larry had been gone for a couple of hours and Josiah was beginning to think he might have got caught when he heard the sound of a horse coming into town. Larry ran to Jake and told him what he knew.

"Them outlaws are about 10 miles outside of town in a box canyon. they got your friends tied to a large rock, that fancy fella is pretty beat up and it looked like maybe the doc and that fella Vin might have gotten hit when Fisher and his men jumped them."

"This canyon, what's it look like?" Josiah wanted to know.

"It's got steep red walls and only one way in or out. No way for them to put guards on top cause the walls are too steep to climb. The only guards are at the entrance of the canyon."

Josiah and Mary both spoke at the same time. "Haunted canyon!"

Sammy Jo looked at them and said. "What is haunted canyon. do you know where it's at and how to get there?"

Mary explained to Sammy and the other." "Ten years ago when the army was gathering up the Indians to take them to the reservation, one young brave and his white wife got away. The army chased them to that canyon, knowing they were trapped the brave and his wife climbed as far as they could up the wall and then they began to sing. The men in the army unit didn't know it at the time but they were singing an Indian death song. While the army watched and their captain pleaded with the brave and his wife to come down, those two jumped to their deaths. Since then no one has been able to stay in that canyon after dark. Folks claim they hear the brave and his wife singing."

Jake and Sammy Jo looked at each other then both of them smiled. Mary and Josiah seeing the smile wondered what the two were thinking. The three young boys, knowing Sammy and Jake as well as they did knew That the two were already making a plan for how to rescue Chris and the others.

Finally Sammy turned to Josiah and Mary and asked. "Would any of the guys know of this tale, Chris or Vin maybe?"

"I know for a fact that JD knows this story. He came to the office one day and asked me about it. I told him what I knew and he also asked for some names of people who might have been in the canyon and heard the sounds." Mary told them.

"And do either of you think JD would tell this tale while they are in the canyon?" Jake asked.

At this Mary and Josiah both laughed. JD was the type young fella who would talk a person's leg off if'n someone didn't gag him. Josiah told Jake this.

"I know that there are many Mexicans and Indians with this gang...They are very superstitious people. So if JD has told this tale. We may be able to use it to get the others out." Jake said.

Josiah figured he might as well listen to Jake's plan since he wasn't sure that with just him and Jake they could get the others out. Mary and Josiah listened as Jake outlined a plan that sounded crazy enough to work.

An hour later found Mary and most of the woman and children of Four Corners inside the church with the gold and the able bodied solders, while the men of the town were stationed at varies places around town. Sammy, Jake, Josiah and the three boys were ready to go and rescue Chris and the others. Mary walked to Josiah and spoke softly "Be careful and bring them home alive."

Josiah patted her hand and told her not to worry. "God tends to watch out for fools and children and I guess we got a bit of both riding here."

The six of them rode toward what Mary hoped would be a small fight.

Vin had no trouble finding the spot where Fisher and his men had ambushed the army.

"Well Vin, what way did they go? Chris asked the tracker.

"Toward the south, and they left a trail any fool could follow. I don't like it. Ya'd think a man like Fisher would be a bit more careful so he couldn't be tracked." Vin said

Him and the others follow the tracks for about three miles when Vin once again stopped and got off his horse. he looked around then told the others.

"This is where they split up. Half when toward town the other half went west."

"Well then I reckon west is where we go." Buck said.

"Yep I reckon." Chris replied.

They had been riding for about an hour when Vin got that feeling. The one that warned him somethin' wasn't right. He had turned to say somethin' to Chris when all hell broke out. From what seem like out of the ground men came up with guns at the ready.

"Well now I reckon ya boys would be right smart if'n ya just drop those guns of your." A dark haired tall man said.

Chris seeing he and the others were surrounded did as the man said. But he wanted nothing more then to blow this fella away.

"Who the hell are ya, what do ya want with us?" Chris snarled.

"I'm Harry Fisher and I plan on using you six to get me a shipment of army gold. then I plan on killing every one of you sons of bitches for killing my cousin Al.," the man said.

Ezra laughed and Harry Fisher decided that the fancy dressed man would be the first to feel his wrath.

"What the hell ya laughing out, ya think I'm joking bout killing ya?" Harry shouted as he pulled Ezra off his horse.

"Why sir I believe you. It's just that we won't be of any value to you in exchange for the gold. The army has no reason to bargain with you. And we are nothing to them. So your plan has a fatal flaw in it." Ezra said calmly.

Harry hated being laughed at and worst he hated being told his plans were stupid and to Harry that is what Ezra meant. He had one of his men hold Ezra as he beat the gambler with his fist and his rife. Chris and the others watched then tried to go to Ezra's aid. Fighting broke out between Chris and his men and the Fisher gang.

Chris and the boys were outnumbered and the men with Harry weren't afraid to kill. A shot rang out and Nathan cried out. He saw that one of the men had hit him in the fleshy part of his arm. The bullet had went right through and so he knew he'd be alright. The gunshot had put a stop to the fighting. Fisher and his men roped Chris and the others together and forced them to walk ahead of them toward the canyon some miles away.

Vin had a pretty good idea where they were headed and he told the others. JD right away begin to tell them all he knew of the canyon and it's tales. The outlaws riding near him heard his talking and one of them asked him why the canyon was called haunted canyon. JD eagerly explained about the Indian brave and his white wife. Then he told them he himself had talked to one of the ranchers who had heard the singing of the brave and his wife one night when he had gone into the canyon looking for some of his cattle that had strayed off his ranch. By mid afternoon they had reached the canyon and JD entered hoping all the while that this singing tale was just a story folks made up to scare little children.

Once inside he could see that the canyon had high steep walls of dark red and the only thing inside was rocks and a few sagebrush bushes. It sure didn't look like a place one would think of as haunted but then he hadn't ever seen any haunted places so he couldn't be sure what one would look like.

Ezra had made it on his own power to the canyon but once there he seemed to collapse. Nathan reached him in time to catch him before he hit the ground.

"Ezra, can ya hear me?" Nathan asked.

"My hearing is just fine Mr Jackson. It's the rest of my senses that seem to not be operating well." Ezra said.

"How bad ya hurt. anythin' broken?" Nathan asked.

"No I seem to be all in one piece just a little rough around the edges it feels like. Ezra tried to joke.

But Nathan and the others knew he was in a lot of pain. He would have been usin' them fancy words none of them understood if'n he wasn't feeling too bad.

"No need to be brave Ezra, if'n somethin' is broken maybe I can fix it up So.'s it don't hurt so much." Nathan said.

"I assure you Mr. Jackson. I would not have made it this far if I had any broken bones. I walked all this way and did not once fall flat on my face. so I'll be just fine." Ezra said with a smile.

Nathan and the others knew that Ezra could be stubborn so they let him sit down and said no more.

Fisher soon come over and had them move over to a large rock off to the side of the canyon. One of his men made them sit against the rock side by side. then he used a rope to rope them to the rock and each other. All the while JD keep talking about the haunting of the canyon. Chris and the others let the kid talk, hoping he would not realize they were in deep trouble here. With just Josiah left to come to their rescue it was unlikely any of them would get out of this canyon alive. Oh they knew Josiah would try to save them but what could one man do against fourteen men.

Chris didn't care about his death, but he felt JD, Vin Ezra Nathan and Buck should have been allowed to live a lot longer then this. He wished now they had never taken on the peacekeeping job for Judge Travis. Those men with him didn't deserve to die like this and he sure as hell couldn't do a thing to save them.

"Chris, ya think Josiah can somehow save us?" Buck asked.

"One man against all fourteen of those men. No, Josiah is good but he'd have to be God himself to get us out of here alive." Chris said.

"But Chris, Josiah ain't alone. he has 4 of the best shots I ever seen with him. Maybe they will help him save us." Vin said.

"Now why would they want to help save us, put their own lives in danger and the live of their son for strangers, not likely my friend." Buck replied.

"I don't know Buck, that Miz Park seems like a women who'd help stranger if'n they needed help. and Jake he won't just sit in town and let us be killed. He just don't have it in him to let decent folk die that way." Nathan softly spoke.

"You gentleman have forgotten one thing." Ezra said.

"What's that Ezra?' Asked JD.

"Mr Sanchez is a very resourceful man and he can talk a person into helping him out with out to much trouble. Hell I wouldn't be surprised to see Mr. Sanchez and the whole town ride into this canyon sometime tonight." Ezra drawled in his most soft southern tone.

If nothing else he made JD and the others laugh. They soon became quite, each thinking that this might be the way it would end for them all.

Josiah couldn't believe he let Jake and Sammy Jo talk him into going along with their crazy plan. Hell Fisher and his gang were grown men. No way would this "haunting" stuff work on them. No matter if Jake did think the Mexicans and Indians in the group would believe the canyon was haunted. But then he didn't have any plans so this one was the best thing as far as saving his friends was concerned. He just prayed it would work. It had grown dark on the ride. darker then normal for this time of year. No stars and the moon kept slipping behind clouds. At times Josiah could hardly see in front of his horse. But Jake and the three boys seemed able to see in the dark. Sammy rode beside Josiah and she had been looking over at him allot since they left town. Finally she spoke.

"Josiah, we'll get you friends out alive. Please don't worry."

"I just don't see how you and Jake think this will work is all. Hell grown men ain't afraid of ghost and the two of you think those men will be so distracted as to let us slip into the canyon and get the boys without getting ourselves killed. I got to be crazy just going along with this." Josiah said.

"Listen Josiah I been around Indian and Mexicans a long time and let me tell ya, they are very superstitious about things. If young JD told the tale about Haunted Canyon, You can believe most of them are already making the sign of the cross or asking the sprites to guard them from this Indian worrier and his woman." Sammy told him.

Maybe but Fisher ain't going to be worried bout that. Hell he is likely on close terms with the devil so some ghost ain't going to bother him now." Josiah replied.

Sammy only patted Josiah hand and they rode onward. They reached the canyon around midnight; it was so dark even Jake was having a hard time seeing. The wind had picked up too and the area around the canyon seemed to shimmer with fog.

Inside Chris had noticed that the later it got and the more the men drank, the more the keep coming over and asking JD to tell them about the warrior and his woman. Chris was a little surprised that JD knew so much about the canyon, For Chris didn't think JD had ever been here before. One of the Indians walked over and spoke to Vin.

"You bounty hunter! What you know of this place? he slurred.

"I know not to stay here at night I reckon". Vin said.

Fisher hearing his men, became angry and begin cussing his men out and telling JD to shut his mouth.

"I can't believe grown men are letting some green kid scare them about ghost and spirits. hell can't ya'll see he and his friends are just trying to spook us, So.'s they can escape. Now stop your whinin' and keep a look out for trouble. And you boy you'd best shut the hell up for I do it for ya." Harry shouted.

Then Harry and his men walked over to the small fire they had started. The six men were silent for a short while then Nathan began to speak. More to him self it seemed then to the others.

"On the last plantation I was on, the Master had whipped one of the slaves to death the day daddy and I arrived. It was the first thing we saw when we got there...Him whipping that poor fella and no one able to help him. Once he was dead the Master left him hang for three days as an example to us all not to try and escape.

A week later some of the slaves swore they saw him at night up to the big house. for years even new slaves who never even knew what the man looked like would swear they saw him. The Master and his men got so spooked they would shoot at anything at night. Some of em were so scared they'd hide in buildin' when they was suppose to be watching the slaves at night. It's how I got away. they was so scared they wasn't watching and I ran off and got clean away."

"Did ya ever see him Nathan?" JD wanted to know

"Nope, but then I wasn't lookin' to see em either. I know enough bout evil that I don't go looking for it." Nathan replied.

As Nathan finished speaking, fog begin to roll into the canyon opening and rise. The fog made everything inside the canyon shimmer and wave. Wind begin to blow lightly and the moon once again when behind a cloud. The six were shocked when they heard off toward the back of the canyon the sound of singing.

"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT! Buck said.

"Death song of the apache Indians." Vin explained to his friends.

"OH SHIT! CHRIS WHAT THE HELL DO WE DO NOW?" young JD asked as he tried to slid closer to Buck.

"It's just the wind JD. Buck said. Right Chris?"

"I don't know Buck, I ain't never heard the wind sound like that." Chris replied.

As the fog become thicker and the wind blow harder the outlaws begin to panic and several ran to their horses and rode out. All the while Harry Fisher cussed and screamed at them to be quite and to settle down. The singing became louder and louder and the fog thicker and thicker until it was almost impossible to see anything.

Chris jumped when he felt someone cut the rope holding him and the others in place. And when he saw the blue eyes of young JJ Park twinkle at him he knew that Josiah had somehow found a way to get them out. He and the other soon found themselves free but still inside the canyon with the outlaws, who were so busy trying to find the source of the "singing" they never even noticed that two young boys and a large man had slipped inside to the peacekeepers and released them.

Chris told Nathan to take Ezra and head on out while he and the others took care of the outlaws. Josiah thought they would make it since so far this whole idea of Jake's seemed to be working. But the fog and wind and the loud singing made even Chris a little jumpy and JD had somehow ended up walking right over beside Harry Fisher. When he realized his prisoners were free he grabbed JD and placed a knife to his throat.

"I'll kill this kid if'n y'all don't let me ride outta here". He screamed.

"Give it up Fisher. Even if we wanted to let ya ride out. I think the spirits have other ideas." Josiah said.

Fisher looked around wildly for help from one of his men. Most were captured or had ran out on him. The few that were free were down on their knees praying and watching the back of the canyon. Fisher kicked one to get his attention and shouted.

"DAMN IT MAN, GET UP. WE CAN GET OUTTA HERE IF'N YA'D STOP ACTIN' LIKE A FOOL."

The Mexican only shook his head and pointed toward the back of the canyon. Fisher turned with JD still tight in his grip. The fog was thick and at first he saw nothing but as it shimmered and waved he spotted what had so frightened his men. Near the back of the canyon, weaving to and fro, was an Indian with long black hair wearing only a breechcloth, beside him walked a white woman with long brown hair in an Indian dress. Fisher tightened his grip and pressed the knife harder to JD throat.

"GO AWAY DAMN YA.LEAVE ME ALONE! "Fisher screamed.

He turned back to the peacekeepers and shouted. "HE'S DEAD IF'N YA'LL DON'T HELP ME. I SWEAR IT."

Chris afraid any move he or his men made would push Fisher over the edge stayed back. Josiah walked forward and spoke to Fisher trying to calm him down. he was thinking maybe Jake and Sammy has gone a little overboard on the "haunting" thing.

"Fisher. let the boy go. ya don't want to hurt him. It would only makes things worse for ya."

Fisher stepped back and Josiah watched as blood begin to drip down the blade of the knife held to JD's throat. Buck seeing the pain in JD's eyes rushed forward.

"DAMN IT FISHER LET HIM GO, IF'N THE WARRIOR DON'T KILL YA I WILL IF YOU CUT THAT BOY ANYMORE!"

Fisher only laughed and pressed a little more with the knife. Chris and the others watched and felt helpless, then the sound of an arrow slicing throughout the air was heard. Fisher let out a scream then let JD go he reached behind him but could not pull out the arrow in his back.

The peacekeepers watched as he fell to his knees and then to his face, as he died. JD rushed to Buck. shaking and scared but otherwise alright.

"Ya alright kid?" Chris asked.

JD nodded his head then asked. "Who the hell was that back there?" Josiah hugged JD and answered. "Sammy and Jake did a fine job of scarin' the bad guys didn't they."

The men laughed but then stopped as Larry spoke from behind them. "That wasn't Jake and Sammy, they been right here with us keeping these men from running off."

"Then who the hell was that?" Chris asked.

"Perhaps the warrior and his women do haunt this place." Jake replied.

Even Chris couldn't debate that. Because if it hadn't been Jake and Sammy back there then it had to have been something none of them could explain. Chris and the other gathered up the prisoners and headed toward Four Corners.