OCTOBER 25, 1861

Tyler came riding into Dreamville. She stabled her horse at the livery, and then went over to the Dreamville Hotel to check in again. She had checked out several weeks ago to go exploring the terrain and to look for Rick, the wanted man because she had nothing else to do while waiting on Jedidiah to return.

“Good mornin’, Jen,” Tyler said as she signed the register book.

“Good mornin’.” Jen replied coldly.

“Jen are you ever goin’ to forgive me?” Tyler inquired.

“Nope!” Jen replied and went back to writing, ignoring Tyler.

Tyler just shook her head and went up to her room. She threw her saddlebags onto the bed, and then decided to tell Sheriff Teaspoon what she knew about Rick. As she entered the jailhouse, she saw the sheriff catnapping. She smiled and walked up to the desk, clearing her throat as she moved. She stopped in front of the desk, waited a few seconds and then cleared her throat again. An eye immediately opened up to see who was there. Seeing Tyler, Teaspoon opened both eyes and pushed his hat up. “Yes, may I help you?” He asked as he sat up straight.

“I just wanted to tell you that I found and followed that guy’s, Rick, trail. It led me to Cottonwood, where while gathering information, I found out that he grabbed a stagecoach heading west to XX, but of course he could keep goin’ there’s no’s tellin’ where he’s headin’. I just thought ya might like to know.” Tyler stated. “Now if there was a bounty on his head, I’d go and bring him back for ya.”

“No! No bounty.” Sheriff Teaspoon stated.

“I’ll put a bounty on his head, Teaspoon.” Walter said as he entered.

“You will? How much?” Tyler inquired, more interested in catching the man now if he had a bounty on his head.

“I’ll put a five hundred bounty on his head, ‘Wanted Dead or Alive.” Walter answered. That man shouldn’t be out running the countryside. He could be collecting more girls to do the same thing. He should be punished.”

“I agree, Walter, but I’d much rather have him alive to stand trial than dead.” Teaspoon stated.

“Well, if there’s any way possible for me to bring him back alive, I will. I prefer them alive when I can.” Tyler knew five hundred dollars wasn’t as much as she was used to. She usually chose men that had bounties on their heads for twice that much, but she hadn’t found an outlaw yet that she had wanted to track. And she had really wanted to get her money she was owed from Jedidiah before taking off to parts unknown. She would talk to his sister’s before leaving. Maybe they would pay her for her services. She sure could use the money. “You heard him sheriff, he’s putting up a reward for that Rick fella. Is he honest or should I get it in writin’?”

“I’m honest enough.” Walter replied, “And besides, I’m going to head over to the newspaper office and get them to do up a ‘Wanted Poster’ on him. You wantta come along Teaspoon. You can describe the fella better than I can.”

“Sure.” Teaspoon stood up to follow because he really didn’t have anything else better to do.

Tyler left the jailhouse before they did, but she stopped outside to examine the ‘Wanted Posters’. Then she headed over to the newspaper office, too, to find out if Jedidiah’s sister would compensate her for her renowned services.