'Jimmy put the gun down' Lou spoke from where she and Kid stood behind Sam.
'He tried to kill you Lou' Jimmy spoke through gritted teeth.
'But he didn't, he needs to stand trial for the other people he has killed Jimmy' Lou tried to convince him.
O'Day stood in front of Jimmy swallowing convulsively as he watched Jimmy holster his gun, knowing that he had been given a reprieve that not many people before him had received for the young Jimmy Hickock.
Sam threw a pair of handcuffs at Kid and he quickly and efficiently handcuffed the insipid man cowering in front of Jimmy.
Lou moved to Jimmy's side and gently rubbed his arm understanding the turmoil he was going through and wanting him to know that he had her support. Kid shoved the handcuffed O'Day in the middle of the back and he stumbled towards the door. Sam watched the three riders in front of him and decided to give them a moment alone.
'I'll take him down to the Marshall's office and I'll get the town doc to come over and take a look at whoever needs it.' he stated as he too shoved O'Day. The trio were almost completely unaware of Sam's words, Kid and Jimmy looking warily at each other, each trying to gauge what the other would do.
'I had to do it Kid, you needed someone on the inside and he gave me the perfect opportunity.' Kid nodded his head knowing that Jimmy was right, accepting his explanation 'Are you okay?'
'Yeah' Jimmy spoke softly extending a hand for his best friend to shake, Kid shook his hand and drew him into a tight brotherly embrace. Lou stood beside them with tears in her eyes, until they both drew her into the circle of their arms. Jimmy slipped from their arms and allowed them the closeness they needed. Lou took Jimmy's hand in hers and linked her arm around Kid's waist as they walked from the room. Kid knew the pain she was enduring walking at all so he swung her up into his strong arms, carrying her to the Marshall's Office. Jimmy took one final look at the room and closed the door behind them, happy to close what could have been a tragic portion of their young lives.
When they arrived at the Marshall's Office, Sam had taken control. O'Day was locked in the main cell. Cody was seated in the corner, Sam stood in the middle of the room surveying, Buck sat at the table shirtless as the doctor worked on the bulletwound in his shoulder, Ike stood at the back entrance to the office content to merely watch his friends. Kid walked in and placed Lou on a chair at the table and knelt at her side, holding her hands tightly. Jimmy followed closely behind him. It seemed as though after the harrowing events of the past few days, the riders needed nothing more than to be within sight of each other, no words were needed, just the fact that they all knew they were safe seemed to be enough.
Sam watched the six of them with pride. It seemed that everytime he asked them to do anything at all the riders grew in his estimation. When he had met them, he thought that they were just green young kids, some good, some not so good but they had grown into a closeknit family and he was proud to call each and every one of them his friends. They were all still children really forced to leave behind their youth and grow up quicker than normal but they had grown up with a sense of honour and virtue and he had no doubt that each of them would lay down their lives for what they believed was right.
'I want to thank all of you for what you have done here.' he started not really wanting to interrupt the closeness that the riders seemed to be sharing.
'No Problem Sam' Kid spoke for all of them as he surveyed the room and watched his friends all nod their heads in agreement.
'No, I mean it, things could have gone either way here and you could have bailed out and just left this, but instead you stayed and you did what you were sent to do. A lot of good men died in this town. A lot of men and older and with more experience than you tucked their tails between their legs and ran as well, so I just want you to know that I appreciate what you did, and if you ever need anyone to watch your backs, I'm here.' the boys and Lou all realised at that moment that Sam had accepted them and their actions and knew that they would do their best to never let him down.
'Sam, what will happen to him?' Jimmy spoke his contempt for the man in the cell plainly obvious as he jerked his head towards him
'He'll be tried for at least the murders of the three Marshall's, probably attempted murder on Lou and Cody, and anything else we can nail him on, but my guess is that as soon as the circuit judge gets here, he'll be wearing a new necktie.' Sam smiled at the analogy.
He watched as the doctor touched Lou's feet and her face paled at the pain coursing through her feet. 'I don't know if I'll ever be able to see you as a young fella again Lou' he spoke his voice laughing
'Teaspoon will fire her Sam' Kid spoke as Lou rested her face against kid's shoulder, the doctor pulling the dried materials and dirt from her feet.
'Hey I didn't say that I would say anything, I just can't guarantee what I will see in here.' he laughed as he tapped the side of his head.
'What's next Sam' Buck asked wearily
'As soon as I find a Marshall for the town we can go home.' he spoke
It took a further three days for the circuit judge to arrive and as expected O'Day was tried and convicted. Whilst it did not bring any joy to the riders they all witnessed the hanging, needing to see the completion of this episode of their lives.
The riders all contributed to the decision making in the Marshall's Office and as their last act they all decided at Buck's suggestion that John Breen appointed Town Marshall. He was called into the Office completely unaware of what was about to happen.
'You sent for me Marshall Cain.' he spoke as he walked through the door
'My colleagues here have told me that you were a deputy here when they arrived' Sam started
'Yeah' he answered a little confused wondering where this conversation was leading.
'How would you like the top job.' Sam continued 'Pay's not good, but it's a good town and you get somewhere to live' he finished
'I'd love to' he spoke a wide smile on his face
By the time they arrived back at Sweetwater, Buck's shoulder was beginning to heal nicely and whilst still tender he was able to ride relatively normally, Lou however was a different matter. Despite the fact that the boys all quite happily carried her anywhere she needed to go, her independent streak meant that she was still walking. That of course meant that her feet were not healing as quickly as they should. Even riding was difficult because the pressure of her feet on the stirrups was actually reopening the wounds. After several teary attempts to ride she ended up doubling on Katy with Jimmy leading Lightning behind his horse. They all knew that now they had arrived back at Sweetwater, they would not be able to carry her anywhere for fear that Teaspoon would find out about her gender. In gratitude Sam had offered to let her stay in town in the jailhouse where the doctor could have easy access to her. Teaspoon seemed to accept this explanation and the riders all breathed a sigh of relief.
Emma was overjoyed to see her riders back and safe once more shrouded under her protective wing. She fussed over Buck and made a trip into town each day to visit Lou and dress her feet, and just give her some female company, Sam tried his best but he couldn't replace a good girls chat.
When Lou's feet were well enough to allow her to return to the station and walk on her own Sam made the trip to the station with her. Sam made sure that all the riders were there before he spoke to them.
'I got a message from the territorial Governor yesterday, but I wanted to make sure you were all here before I came out to tell you.'
'What is it Sam?' Jimmy asked as eager as the rest of them for Sam to spit it out 'He has sent an official letter of commendation for all of you and has asked me to advise you that you are to receive a reward of $100 each.'
The riders all looked at each other in disbelief.
'Why?' Buck asked the question that everyone was thinking
'Lambert had a $500 bounty on his head and O'Day was $100.' he paused as he watched the realisation sink in 'He was more than happy to split the $600 between all of you.'
*What abut you?* Ike signed
'I'm fine' Sam shook his head 'You kids did all the work, besides I suggested the reward money to the Governor. I want you to have it, think of it as a thank you.' he watched their faces as the realisation of what they could now do with the money.
They looked at each other silly grins on their faces. Whilst they all knew that they had not done it for the money, they were happy to take the money to add to their meagre grubstakes and their lives after the Express and their futures. They knew that they would have many adventures in their future and that this would not be the last time that the Marshall would call on them for help, but for now they could put their most recent adventure behind them and contentedly return to just deliverin the mail they were paid to.