me!” Balto shouted back, drawing his Colt’s and checking the cylinders.
“On my honor, noone will be harmed!” Steele replied, still watching the town intently.
“You have no honor! Now begone!” Balto yelled, and Steele’s eyes narrowed, and he fired a single shot into the air. Moments later, a horde of dogs appeared on the horizon.
“So be it! Now you will all die!” he yelled, and Balto stood up and fired a shot form each Colt. One missed, and the other struck Steele’s hat. Moments later the gang started firing rifles at the barricade, forcing the defender’s down. Balto shook dirt from his hat and yelled to Doc.
“Get the women and children underground.” he said, and Doc nodded and prepared to run off. Balto grabbed his arm.
“Make sure Jenna is safe.” he said, and Doc nodded again. Balto stood up and returned fire as Doc ran into the nearest house. Several rifles barked from the defenders, and a stray shot struck on of the dogs. Jenna’s father helped him to his feet as Balto unloaded his Colt’s at the attackers, emptying them on four dogs before the rest dived behind cover. Ducking down behind the barricade, Balto reloaded his Colt’s as fast as he could. Jack ran up just as he slid the last round in and offered him a rifle and bandolier.
“Here, fully loaded, both of them.” he said, then ran off, handing out weapons and ammunition. Balto slipped the bandolier over his shoulder and raised the rifle, standing and squeezing off two rounds at the attackers. One fell, a hole in the neck, and the other was struck by a shard of stone from a miss.
Steele growled as he fired at the wolfdog, then ducked as a shotgun pellet struck him over his left eye. Blinking away the blood, he barked to a diminutive husky.
“Star, fetch the dynamite!” he ordered, and Star shook.
“Sir?” he asked, and Steele snarled at him.
“You heard me!” he yelled, and Star ran off.
Balto, having heard this, popped up and took a single shot, scoring a hit on Star’s leg.
“Sorry, Star, but I had no choice.” he whispered to himself as he reloaded.
Henry clapped him on the back.
“Good shot, but there are still more. That is the whole gang, right?” he asked.
“Right, I counted. That’s everyone.” Balto replied, firing off another three shots in rapid succession.
“Good, I wouldn’t want to-” Henry started to reply, before an explosion threw them into a building.

“Dear God, what happened?” Balto asked himself, as he woke to a raging headache.
“Balto, is that you?” he heard someone ask.
“Yes, its me, Henry. Where are you, are you alright?” he asked, crawling towards the voice, slipping over blood and boards.
“I’m fine, what about you?” Henry asked, using his rifle as a crutch.
“I’m fine.” Balto said, wrapping his bandanna around Henry’s leg and tightening it.
“I’m fine.” someone else said.
“I’m fine.” Another dog replied, shakily getting up.
“I found Jack.” the first dog said, softly. He shook his head as he approached them.
“Damn.” Balto swore as he looked out over the town. Several building were burning, and a few dogs were running around trying to put out the fires.
“Jenna.” he and Henry said at the same time, then sprinted away.
“Doc, where’s Jenna?” Balto asked, when he saw the old St. Bernard helping a dog to his feet.
“Gone. Balto they took her!” he said, and Balto fell to his knee’s sobbing.
“How...when...why...Jenna...” Henry muttered as he held his head in his paws.
“Steele. He could never resist a pretty face.” Balto said, standing with fire in his eyes.
“I’m going after them.” He said, and Henry nodded.
“I’m coming.” he said, and they all turned when a voice spoke.
“So am I.” Jon said, coming up behind them, a Colt strapped to each thigh and rifle in his arms.
“What, now your coming?” Balto asked, in a low voice.
“Don’t patronize me, kid. I may be old, but I’m just as good as you are.” Jon admonished.
“We do need his help.” Henry said. Balto nodded and turned.
“Just keep up.” he told Jon, who grinned.
“Or what?” he asked, and Balto shook his head, not turning around.
“We should leave now, while the tracks are fresh.” he said, and Doc spoke up.
“I’d go, but I need to stay behind and help rebuild.” he told them, and Balto nodded.
“Take care, Doc.” he said. Mounting his horse, he waited for Henry and Jon. As soon as they arrived he led they them through the wreckage to the edge of town. A line of horse tracks led into the distance.
“I’m not coming back without her.” Balto said, and Henry nodded.
“I know.” he said, and Jon smiled.
“You really love her, don’t you?” he asked, and Balto sighed.
“You have no idea.” he said, riding ahead.
“I did, once. I was in love, I even had a son, but I had to leave.” Jon sighed.
“Why the hell would you do that? You asked about my father earlier? What I didn’t say about him is the fact I’ve spent my whole life wondering who he was. If my mother would still be alive, if I wouldn’t have gotten mixed up with Steele. I guess he did do one good thing.” he said, and Jon shot him a look.
“What would that be?” he asked.
“Him leaving lead me to Jenna. Other than that he hasn’t done me any good.” Balto said, and urged his horse forward.
“I wish it could have been different, son.” Jon whispered. Henry, having heard him, gave him reassuring smile.
“Give him time, he’ll come around.” he said, and Jon sighed.
“I hope so. I never forgave myself for leaving, but I had no choice.” he said, and Henry chuckled.
“Just have a little patience. He just lost pretty much the last person he loved, so I gather.” He said.
“He should have to leave his wife and newborn son just because of one mistake you made in the past.” Jon snapped back, and Henry glared at him.
“I’m sorry. Its not your fault.”  Jon apologized.
“I understand. When Sara died, I was much the same way.” Henry soothed.
“Are you two coming?” Balto yelled back.

Steele, living up to his reputation of a ruthless taskmaster, drove the remainder of his gang hard. By nightfall, Balto and company were camping at the state border.
“How far now?” Henry asked, walking up behind Balto.
“About five hours, give or take.” Balto said, and Henry crouched next to him.
“How can you tell?” he asked, mystified by the tracks.
“Half wolf, remember? Instinct, and experience.” Balto said, standing and walking over to the fire Jon was coaxing into life.
“We’ll have them soon. I hope.” he said, lying on his back and staring at the stars. “Jenna.” he whispered to himself, gripping his rifle tightly. Then, suddenly, he got up and dig around and looked in his saddlebags. After a moment he walked over to Henry.
“Henry, if I don’t make it, I want you to do something for me.” he said, and Henry looked up.
“What?” he asked, and Balto handed him a ring.
“Give that to Jenna. It was my mother’s, I want her to have it.” he said, then turned and walked out into the darkness. Jon reached over and took the ring from Henry.
“I remember when I gave this to Aniu. It cost me a fortune at the time, but it looked so beautiful on her...the diamond would reflect her white fur. It looked amazing.” he said, and sighed.
“You don’t mind Balto giving that to Jenna, do you?” Jon asked after a moment.
“Why wouldn’t I?” Henry asked, confused.
“That’s the engagement ring I gave his mother.” Jon said, and Henry smiled.
“No, I don’t.” he said, and put the ring in his pocket. Meanwhile, Balto was standing on a hill, watching the stars and listening to the silence. Jenna, I will find you, I swear on my life I will.
He stood there and thought of Jenna, and the life that they might one day have. “Jenna.” he whispered again, then sighed and walked back to the campfire. Henry and Jon were already asleep. Sighing again, he laid down by the fire and fell asleep.

The next morning, Henry and Jon were shaken awake before dawn.
“Wake up, lets try for a head start.” he said and Henry yawned.
“Sorry, we don’t have any coffee.” Balto said, before Henry could ask.
“Damn.” He muttered, and yawned again.
“Well, now that we’re awake, lets at least eat.” Jon said, digging around in a saddlebag. Henry nodded sleepily, while Balto paced back and forth.
“Calm down, Balto, their probably not even awake yet.” Henry told him, btu Balto only paced faster.
“I cant help it, it’s just what I do, my mother would pace, too. She said it would drive my father crazy.”
“It’s driving me crazy. Sit down.” Jon said, and Balto glared at him, then sat and watched them eat, impatiently. As soon as they finished, he left, and they followed him, even as he followed the trail of Steele. By mid afternoon they were standing outside a burning town, watching the dogs mill about.
“Welcome to Rockwell.” Balto said, and nudged his horse into motion. Jon and Henry followed, and a few minutes later