The defeated Lynchers return.

At sundown the surviving Lynchers stumbled thru the gates of the Warner ranch just in time to be greeted by a group of Lynchers who were readying horses to search for the till now absent Lynchers. The lead Lyncher approached the survivors.

"Carson? What happened? Wheres John?" he asked the bald spectacled Lyncher.

Carson looked dazedly at the lead Lyncher. "I need to speak to Mr Delvers."

"He's in the study." the lead Lyncher told Carson.

The lead Lyncher and Carson headed for the main house while the other Lynchers retired to the bunkhouse. In the main house Carson and his escort entered the study to find Jackson Delvers studying a wall sized map of Deadneck and its surrounding areas.

Jackson Delvers was 6' tall and powerfully built. He had slicked back black hair and a trimmed black moustache. Despite being 50 years old not a single gray hair was evident. Jackson was well dressed in an expensive suit and although unarmed he appeared that he could kill with his bare hands.

"Carson. I thought you had run of with my money." a releived Jackson Delvers said as Carson entered.

"Never sir." a nervous Carson replied.

"I had Wallace here set to come hunt you down." Jackson said indicating Carson's companion. "So wheres my money?"

"Theres been a problem sir." Carson nervously reported to Jackson.

Jackson Delvers came to stand in front of Carson who quickly explained how Lisa had killed Jackson's son, and taken back the money that the Lynchers had aquired.

"You let some bitch steal my money?" roared Jackson at the nervous Carson.

Then with the speed of a striking rattler Jackson landed a blow on Carson that sent him crashing backwards and sprawling on the ground. Jackson then followed up his initial strike and began beating the prone form of Carson. Wallace looked on grinning. Then just as suddenly as it had started the attack ended.

"Wallace!" Jackson called out to the rooms other occupant as he rose and went to the study desk.

"Yes sir, Mr Delvers." answered Wallace, his grin now gone.

"Ready the men." Jackson told him as he began writing. "At sun up I want you to hit Deadneck and recover my money. And find the bitch who took it and you and the lads may indulge yourselves with her."

"Yes sir Mr Delvers." Wallace happily replied and turned to leave.

"Wallace." Jackson Delvers called out. "The townsfolk. I want them demoralized. Not dead. Keep the body count down."

"Yes sir" an unhappier Wallace anwered and then left.

"Carson." Jackson addressed the terrorfied and prone form. "You will travel to Idlewind to send a telegram. Then I want you to find Jessica and get her to come home."

"What if she won't return?" Carson asked as he painfully rose to his feet.

"Tell her that John's dead." Jackson told Carson confidently. "that will get her here."

"If I do that she will probably kill me." Carson protested.

"Thats why you send the telegram first." Jackson told him shoving the note he had been writing into Carson's shirt pocket. "Now get out."

Carson left the study and went to prepare for his journey. Wallace went to the bunkhouse to prepare the Lynchers for their attack on Deadneck. In the study, Jackson Delvers resumed studying the map of Deadneck.