Okay, I guess Duke is a hero of sorts, but that's no reason not to pay attention to me. The boys in the posse did some rudimentary bandaging of the injured rustlers; not one was unscathed. They were slapping Duke on the back and celebrating ridding the community of a threat to all their livelihoods, and perhaps even their lives. She couldn't help but admire his cool courage and marksmanship, even as she was annoyed that he did not focus on her discovery at Belle's ranch. But he did face a brush with death and kill or capture some very dangerous men.

Anna almost forgot about her brother with the celebration at hand as they rode back triumphantly and in good spirits. What a thrill!

However, something wasn't right when they came below the crest line of the hill. Something in the air smelled of smoke.

Her heart pounded with panic as her eyes caught up to the sight. Belle's house was on fire! The rafters under the roof were collapsing in on themselves. Windows blasted open from the inner heat permitted the flames licking at the eaves. She couldn't see anyone moving, just the pillar of fire in the middle of the dry wood house.

Adrenaline surged through her, and she galloped onward, fearing the worst. What about the girls? The animals? Were they safe? She felt no compassion for Belle, but the girls were innocent, and the animals were defenseless.

Finally, small forms could be seen through the smoke. Jill and Sally stood on the lawn outside, and Buster sat shaking beside them.

"Where's Belle? And Lucy?"

They merely stared, wide-eyed. They were in shock. It would be hard to get answers out of them. The men came up and looked at the burning house, shaking their heads.

"No point in organizing a bucket brigade; that house is just going to burn itself out. Is everybody out of the fire?" Duke asked as he inspected the scene. "I hate to see a ranch destroyed, even one belonging to a murderer."

It would be dangerous to try to rescue someone from the burning building if they were not dead yet.

Lucy came running out from behind the house, shrieking, "We were just here, I don't know what happened! Belle is trapped inside!"

"Don't listen to her! She's lying for Belle!" shouted Anna. "I bet she's burnt this place down for the insurance money and gone running off. We have to hurry and chase her down before she escapes!"

"How could you say that?" Lucy cried, shooting her a sour face.

Anna wasn't falling for it, not now. She cocked the pistol she got from Duke and aimed it at Lucy. "No more of your lies and covering for her! I swear we will march you right down to the sheriff, and you will hang for her crimes right alongside her! You better start telling some truth; maybe we can vouch for you to the judge to lighten your sentence," warned Anna.

Lucy screamed and crouched down, her arms raised. "Okay, okay! You're right! She has run off. Promised to share the insurance money with me!" she cried.

"Where is she?"

"You have to chase her down. She's heading to the town, heading west."

"Where?"

"To the big city. She said she was going to get a train to San Francisco. I swear! Don't let me hang!"

Anna and Duke exchanged glances. Duke was so calm under pressure. She pushed down the feelings bubbling up inside her, threatening to ruin her. She did not want to expose him to more danger, but the fact that he was willing to help and would know the right thing to do was reassuring.

"Let's go," Anna declared. "But someone needs to stay here with the girls and animals, make sure they are okay."

"I'll handle it, ma'am," said Bob the shopkeeper.

"Thank you, that's very kind." She felt reassured; Bob was a nice fellow, and he would make sure they were taken care of. He'd been there for her at the very beginning and the end of her adventures in Cherry Springs.