The sky is a bright expanse of azure, interrupted only by a few feathery wisps of clouds, as the riders draw near to Blazer’s Mill. The mountain air has stilled, allowing the autumn morning to grow uncharacteristically warm, as though the territory has briefly forgotten the season.

After a little more than an hour, the  horses come around a bend in the trail, providing the riders with their first glimpse of the small community. It is a cluster of buildings stretched out on a hillside, and the group are immediately able to note that a sawmill and a gristmill are among the modest collection of structures. Beside the sawmill, a boarded up property with a handful of crates on the porch bears the painted words ”Assay Office”, suggesting that Blazer’s Mill once hosted a failed mine.

The streets, notably, appear empty.

The unbroken forest to the left of the trail provides some shade and cover for those that wish to remain unseen. Drawing closer to the settlement, the posse members can hear a handful of shouted words, though none can recognize their meaning. Studying the area, the group members are able to see that a few of the Regulators, Billy, Doc Scurlock, and Charlie Bowdre, are gathered on the porch of a one story building directly across from the sawmill, an establishment which appears to be a restaurant of some kind, or possibly a saloon. All three men’s attention is focused on the sawmill.

After a moment, there is another shout, originating from within the mill, which the riders are now close enough to hear. ”I’m not lettin’ you take me in for a killin’ I didn’t have no hand in!” the deep voice calls. ”You bastards want to come in here and try to drag me out, you’re more than welcome to try!”

22:41, Today: Lena Bauer rolled 4,3 using 1d6,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,3.  Tracking.

Anyone with skill in Tracking is welcome to give me a roll.

LOL

00:37, Today: Jacinta Castillo rolled 4,3 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,3.  Tracking.

Time Travel!  Since we have an hour before that happens and I want to see what the Tracking roll gets us before reacting!

On the way, Kansas Kate caught up to the good (?) doctor's steed on her own borrowed mount.

"Ya got a way ta make it look like ah'm someones else?"  She asked, remembering their earlier talk.  She wasn't sure if he meant he could do it in general, or if he had it in his pocket ready to go.  If the former, well the bandanna would do for now.

Dr. Wayland had been popping another jelly bean into his mouth when Kate offered her question.  In his surprise or excitement, he momentarily choked.  A hack and an uncomfortable looking swallow later, he was finally able to answer, "Indeed!  When we return Ah'd be happy to start the process.  Theah ah meashaments which must be taken, you see.  My facial simulacra are no mere masks, but perfect copies and must be fitted carefully for the illusion to work."  He paused to pop another jelly bean into his mouth, offering the small brown paper penny candy bag out to Kate if she'd like, "If you are amenable, Ah could use those meashaments to make a copy of your own visage for the collection.  With suitable financial recompense, of coahse."

Bauer’s gaze is drawn to the packed earth of the trail. She studies it for a few moments then frowns. Noticing that Castillo is also examining the ground, she throws the scout a questioning look, curious to learn if the tracker’s perception matches her own.

In reply to Dr. Ezekiel Q. Wayland (msg # 4):

"Get it from the wanted posters, it's cheaper."  Kansas Kate replied deadpan.

Jacinta frowned at the tracks and nodded to Bauer.  She gestured with five fingers, made a so-so motion with her hand, and then jutted her fingers behind her head like a headdress.  She pulled her rifle from the scabbard on her horse and jerked the lever to chamber a round, resting the gun on her knee as she turned her mount and approached the others.

Speaking quietly, she reported, "You see 'em up ahead no problem, but there's a group of natives here, as well.  Four or maybe five of 'em.  Got here first.  They could've moved on, but if they're here, they're likely here for a reason.  Anybody heard if this Buckshot fella got friends in any of the nations?  They might be allies."

Kansas Kate answered quietly, figuring she knew as much about this Roberts character as anybody did at the moment.  "Ain't heard of sech.  Could be with th' Wolf What Walks feller.  If they's like him ah ain't worried about 'em, but ah don't know that."

Dr. Wayland popped another jelly bean into his mouth, eyeing Kate a little more closely for a second.  Then he turned back to keeping his eye on the path ahead, "No no.  Only direct meashaments will do.  Highly complex process, you see.  Besides which, Ah have found many wanted postahs to be inaccurate to the point of uselessness."  He did offer the jelly beans out again...just in case.  Second chances are important.

---

At the Mill, Dr. Wayland had become much more attentive and had put his candies away.  Work to be done.  At Castillo's question, Wayland offered, "Ah have heahd Mistah Robahts has many friends within the Mescalero Apache."

”I heard the same,” Bauer says, ”But...the tracks left by the Apaches, assumin’ that’s who they are, are older than those of Billy and his bunch. If they’re here to help Roberts, how’d they know to come? If Buckshot sent word for ‘em, how’d he know there was trouble headin’ his way?”

On the porch where the three Regulators have gathered, Billy and his companions talk together quietly. The Kid scowls and shakes his head. Drawing one of his revolvers from its holster, he opens the weapon and empties it of bullets, replacing them one at a time with rounds taken from the loops on his gunbelt.

Kate pointedly ignored the jelly beans and just scowled.  It was clear this would have to be discussed later.  If at all.

---

"Well, we find Buckshot, we find out."  She responded, though she didn't like this.  But what could she really do about it?