I stood by the window and watched as Charlie and his stallions disembarked their horses and trotted over to the local saloon, leaving some armed civilians to guard the hotel. Mane chuckled to himself as Clover entered the room in a frantic mood.

“Oh this is bad… really bad…” She began to murmur to herself then looked up to us. “Uhm… I think there’s a back door we can use to escape.” She informed us.

“But the train isn’t here yet.” Elijah replied as he peeked out the window to confirm what he had said.

“Forget Mane! Just let him go. We don’t need to die for this.” She gasped. Mane chuckled again with a ‘I told you so’ look on his face. Elijah shook his head but then Clover pulled out wads of cash from her saddle bags.

“I’ll give you each three hundred bits cash… you don’t have any obligations to the railroad, I swear.” She told us. Elijah chuckled then stepped forwards.

“You know… it’s funny… you aren’t paying us to walk away… you’re paying us so that you can walk away and not feel guilty.” Elijah replied as he patted her on the shoulder. “This stallion is getting on the train… one way or another.” He said before trotting back over to the window. Clover gulped then looked to me and nodded.

“The train arrives in little under two hours.” She informed me then trotted away.

I sighed as I flopped down on the chair across from the bed. Daring came over and sat beside me. “So… how do we do it?” She asked. I held my hoof to my head as I tried to think.

I heard Brixie’s voice and looked up. “What’s this?” She asked as she looked to a scrap of paper that Mane had given her. “It’s… me… and Billy and…” She trailed off.

“It’s your future… if you live.” Mane replied then levitated over a piece of paper to Daring and myself. I gazed over it with Daring. On the paper was a happy looking family. There was a beautiful mare in her husband’s forelegs with four young children standing close to them, all with smiles on their faces.

“I’ll do it.” Elijah spoke up and we looked over to him. “You all have futures… I don’t. I have nothing to live for… no one needs me.” He stated.

“Elijah! Don’t say that!” I gasped, knowing that it would be suicide for him to go alone. He shook his hoof as he stood up.

“John… I owe you my life… It is the least I can do to repay you.” He stated.

“I won’t let you go alone! I have a personal vendetta to clear with Mane.” I told him as I stood up. Daring stood with me.

“I’m going to.” She stated but I looked to her and shook my head. “WHAT?! Of course I’m going! You can’t use that speech then tell me I can’t go!” She argued.

“Daring… I love you, more than life itself… but I won’t risk putting you in more danger than you’re already in. That and you’ve never been able to shoot somepony so I really don’t know if it’s a good idea tagging along.” I told her. She looked down to the floor in defeat, knowing I was right. I contemplated doing it now but figured it was a bad time.

I stepped forwards and hugged her tightly. “Don’t worry… we can handle it… Billy?” I asked as I looked over to him. He was breathing heavily but with a steady pace.

“John… there’s… at least sixty of them out there… I don’t know… Brixie… I just… I just…” He stammered, almost breathless. I stepped forwards and rested a hoof on his shoulder.

“Don’t worry… I understand.” I told him but Mane chuckled and sat up.

“Apparently you don’t, John. If you did understand then you wouldn’t be going. You’d be staying behind to take care of Daring… and making sure your child grows up with a father.” He told me.

“What child?” I asked and Mane simply chuckled.

“John… she’s pregnant. I sensed it with my magic.” He told me. I gulped in realization of the fact. Daring looked to me with a seriously worried look. Mane laid back down and made an offer.

“I’ll give you three hundred bits right now to just… let me go.” He stated and I shook my head. He looked to me and smiled. “You’re right… your honour is worth more than that… two thousand… in cash. Just let me trot out those doors like nothing happened.” He replied. I thought about it for a brief second.

“So… I just let you go, get the cash then high tail it? And what would I tell ponies? That you just got the jump on all of us and managed to escape? Come on Mane, ponies are smarter than that.” I told him and he shrugged.

“Well…?” He asked and I shook my head as I sat down on the chair by the window.

“Do me a favour Mane.” I stated and he looked over to me with a curious stare. “Just shut up.” I told him and he laughed.

“After all we’ve been through, we’re still not friends?” He asked in a seemingly playful tone.

“No, we’re not… now stop talking to me.”