his pocket.

“Unlock the door.” The stranger commanded.

The brown dog did as he was told.

“Hey Balto.” The Stranger said.

Balto’s eyes fluttered open and he sat up in surprise.

“What’s going on?” Balto asked.

“I’m getting you out of here.” The stranger said.

Balto couldn’t place it, but there was something familiar in the stranger’s eyes.

“Who are you?” Balto asked.

“That’s not important right now.” The stranger said. “Get out of that cell.”

Balto nodded and stood up, walking out of the cell.

“Give me the keys.” The stranger said.

The brown dog gave him the keys.

The stranger kicked the brown dog in the back of the legs, and pushed him into the cell, slamming the door behind him.

Balto had located his gunbelt and strapped it back on.

The stranger threw the keys down the hallway, and then turned to Balto.

“Balto…”

The stranger ran over to him, wrapping his arms around Balto.”

“Who are you?” Balto asked.

The stranger let go of him and stepped back, pulling down the bandanna in front of it’s face to reveal…

“Jenna!” Balto said.

Jenna smiled and hugged him again.

“What are you doing here Jenna?” Balto asked.

“I couldn’t let them kill you Balto.”

Balto smiled and ran his hand through her hair.

“Hey you!” a voice yelled from down the hallway.

Jenna spun on her heels and before she even thought about what she was doing, pulled up her pistol and fired.

The bullet hit the white dog in the stomach, throwing a spash of crimson across the adobe wall behind him.

The dog dropped his pistol and fell to his knees, looking at Jenna in bewilderment. Then he looked down at the red stain that was spreading across his stomach. He put his finger in the stain, looking at the red fluid that matted the fur on his hand in shock, unable to believe what had just happened.

He looked up at Jenna once more, and the two locked eyes for a moment. Then the dog crumpled and fell forward on his face.

Jenna looked down at the still smoking pistol in her small hand. A look of horror came over her face and she thought she might get sick.

“Good shot.” Balto said.

Two more deputies stepped inside the hall, and seeing their friend lying in a pool of blood, moved to draw their pistols.

Balto beat them to it though, and the two of them dropped alongside their friend.

“Come on Jenna!” Balto yelled. “Let’s go!”

He grabbed her hand and ran down the hall, stopping at the door at the end of the hallway.

“No time for keys.” He said, kicking the door, splintering the lock and freeing the door, which swung open.

Balto and Jenna ran out the door, to a pair of horses which Jenna had left there earlier.

They mounted the horses and Balto turned to Jenna.

“Meet me at my house.” Balto said. “I’ve a feeling we’re going to need some help with what’s sure to happen next.”

Jenna nodded and spurred her horse, turning and racing through the night.

Balto smiled as he watched her ride off, then he spurred his own horse, hellbent for the telegram office.

Jenna heard Balto’s horse as he approached his home and met him at the door.

She hugged him and stood back.

“Balto, after tonight… well, I can’t really go back home, and I was wondering…”

Balto smiled.

“…of course you can stay here Jenna.” Balto said. “What am I going to do, throw you out after you saved my life?”

Jenna smiled.

Balto walked over to the closet and opened it, withdrawing a white cotton robe.

“You can sleep in this.” Balto said, tossing her the robe. “Sorry if it’s a little small, but it’s all I’ve got.”

“Thanks.” Jenna said.

Balto yawned.

“Well, I don’t know about you Jenna, but I’m bushed. I’m going to hit the hay. There’s a spare room just down the hall from my room, you can sleep there.”

Jenna smiled.

“Thank you Balto.”

She walked down the hall, and Balto found himself unable to look away from her.

“She’s so beautiful.” Balto thought. “I must be the luckiest guy alive.”

He smiled and opened the door to his room and stepped inside, removing his clothes, and climbing onto his bed.

He hung his gun belt on the bed post and pulled his pistol out of the holster, cocked it and replaced it in the holster.

Then he grabbed his hat and laid on his bed, sliding the hat over his face.

He was drifting to sleep, when he heard his door open.

Balto tipped the hat up off his face and looked to see Jenna standing in the doorway.

She smiled and shrugged the white robe off her shoulders, revealing only her beautiful scarlet and cream coat beneath.

Balto felt his heart speed up substantially as she walked over to his bed and climbed up on his belly.

She leaned down and kissed him.

“I love you Balto.” She said.

Balto wrapped his arms around her back, surprised at how soft her fur was, and spun around, switching places with her.

She laughed.

“I love you too Jenna.” Balto said, kissing her.

When their lips parted, he looked at her face for a long time.

“What are you doing?” Jenna finally asked.

“I was just thinking.” Balto said.

She smiled.

“…’bout what?”

Balto smiled back at her.

“You know Jenna, I love the life of an outlaw. The feeling I get when the lead starts flying is… well, I guess it’s a kind of euphoria. It’s like a drug, a drug that I can’t seem to get enough of, and yet… and yet right now I’m ready to give it up; to live straight from now on. I want to live with you forever.”

Jenna smiled.

“I do too.”

She kissed him again and laid her head on his chest.

It was quiet for a few minutes.

“You know, if my dad knew about this he’d skin both of us alive, litterally.” Jenna said.

Balto and Jenna laughed.

“…but that doesn’t matter anymore.” She said. “You’re right, it’s time I started making my own decisions…”

She picked up her head and looked him square in the eyes.

Balto slowly drowned in those beautiful eyes…

Chapter 6:

Late the next morning, Balto was woken by a pounding at his door.

He blinked a few times, giving his eyes a chance to adjust to the sunlight that was streaming through the windows now.

Balto looked over and saw Jenna on her side beside him.

He smiled and kissed her neck.

Then he stood up and pulled on his clothes, strapping on his gunbelt and pulling his pistol.

He walked to the front door and, ready for anything, opened the door.

“Whoa Billy!” The dog at the door said, throwing up his hands.

Balto let the hammer down and holstered his pistol.

“Hey Sam.” He said. “…didn’t take you long to get here. Where are the others?”

“They’re here too.” Sam said.

“You weren’t kidding when you said you were in trouble.’ A voice said.

Balto smiled as a black dog stepped in front of Sam.

“Hey Tram.” Balto said. “Yeah, we’re in a bit of a tight spot.”

“Balto, who are you talking to?”

Balto turned to see Jenna standing in the room, the tiny robe clasped around her shoulders.

“Hey Balto!” Sam said. “Way to go!”

“Nice one Balto.” Tram said. “How’d you manage her?”

Balto sighed.

“Jenna, these are my friends. I’ll introduce you, but first please go put your clothes on.”

Jenna looked down and her cheeks flushed red, as she realized she was naked under the rather short and tight fitting cotton robe.

She dissapeared into the hall.

“…as I was saying,” Balto said. “…we’re in a bit of a tight spot.”

“No kidding.” Tram said. “Check this out.”

He held out a tan piece of paper and Balto took it.

“…found it posted at the saloon when we rode into town.” Tram said.

It read:

Wanted!

Dead or Alive

William H. Balto A.K.A. Billy the Kid

and

Jenna L. Thatcher

These two are wanted in connection with the murder of the Sheriff and five deputies of Sawyer’s Falls, Jail Breaking and Fleeing from the local law enforcement. They are to be considered armed and dangerous.

Reward: $10,000

- Baron Von Earl

Above the text were scrawled two drawings, one of him, and one of Jenna.

“Shit.” Balto said. “Sure didn’t take them long.”

“When did this happen?” A tan dog asked, stepping forward.

“It was just last night Kaltag.” Balto said.

“What did the girl do to get in trouble?” Sam asked.

“She… uh… broke me out of jail.” Balto said.

“Really?” Sam asked. “You, Billy the Kid, had to be rescued by a girl?”

Balto nodded and the gang started cracking up.

Jenna walked back into the room, now dressed in her brown pants