I’ve spent this much time with…” Kale stated, “And I’m very happy about it…”

“I’m happy for you, Kale… You seem like a really nice guy…” Kira replied sweetly, “I really enjoy spending time with you… I’m glad I met you…”

Kale felt his heart flutter slightly inside his chest and knew precisely what was happening to him. He was falling in love. The two walked until they came to a house set just near the outskirts of Silent Spring; Kira’s house. Kale walked Kira up to the door and smiled warmly at her.

“I’d like you to have this, Kira,” Kale said, handing her his third pistol, “Just a little gift to remember me by… And don’t bother telling me you can’t accept it, because I insist you keep it…” Kira smiled and held the revolver tightly.

“Thanks Kale… I won’t ever lose it…” she promised, smiling warmly.

“Well, I hope you had a great day, Kira…” the love-struck husky said softly, staring into Kira’s orange eyes.

“I did Kale… Thanks…” she replied in the same soft tone. There was a moment of silence as the two stared back into one another’s eyes before the front door opened and an older jet-black wolfdog stood in the doorway, staring at the two of them.

“Kira, sweetheart, you’re home,” the wolfdog said in a friendly voice, “Who’s this young man?”

“Daddy, this is Kale McGovern. He’s just come into town with his friends,” Kira explained with a smile, placing a hand on his shoulder.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir,” Kale said and held out his hand to Kira’s father.

“The pleasure’s all mine, kiddo…” he replied, shaking Kale’s hand firmly, “The name’s Frederic Thesher, and any friend of my daughter’s is a friend of mine! Kale McGovern- that name sound familiar…” Kale immediately felt a twinge of fear strike him.

“Um, I don’t know why my name would sound familiar, but I’m new around here… Maybe another dog with a similar name to mine?” Kale suggested, hoping he didn’t put 2 and 2 together.

“Yeah, probably. It’s nice to meet you son,” Frederic said in a neutral tone, turning to Kira, “Kira, come on inside! Kale, you come in too! Sit down for a bit, have a drink.”

“Thank you, Mr. Thesher,” Kale said almost automatically as Kira stepped inside, following behind her.

Kale took a seat in the living room and Kira took a seat beside him. Frederic walked over to a liquor cabinet and opened it up, pulling out an aged amber bottle and turning to Kale.

“Would you like a drink, Kale?” he offered.

“Oh, no thanks…” Kale responded, somewhat unnerved by being in the presence of Kira’s father.

“Alright, suit yourself,” Frederic responded, pulling out a single glass and filling it halfway with a bronze liquid before replacing the bottle and taking his drink to an armchair opposite of the two dogs, “So Kale, where do you come from?”

“Well I was born and raised in the town of Veraden. My friends and I travel mostly… But we do have a house, it’s about a couple of hours south of here…” he answered calmly, “We enjoy roaming about, checking out different towns…”

“A hobby of yours, is that?”

“More of a profession…”

Frederic was silent for a moment as he attempted to think of what Kale meant. After a moment of thought, he came up with nothing. He decided to give up thinking about it and let it lie. After all, it probably means nothing serious… Probably just merchants or traders…

“Daddy, you should see some of the tricks Kale can do with his pistols!” Kira said excitedly, “He’s really talented!”

“Oh really?” Frederic asked, chuckling at the embarrassed look Kale got, “Well what can you do? I’d love to see these tricks!”

Kale stood up and pulled out one of his revolvers, twirling it around on his trigger finger several times before tossing it back and forth between hands while twirling it, then tossing it back and forth over his shoulder. He then pulled out his second one and repeated the spinning tricks with dual pistols out. He then moved onto his juggling routine, catching both of them expertly every time. After his performance, he stowed his guns and sat down again. Frederic laughed and applauded Kale.

“Well done!” he said, obviously impressed, “That was fantastic! Have you ever shot anyone before?”

“Yeah… I have…” Kale said, failing to mention why he’d shot all those dogs, pulling out a pocket watch and checking the time, “I’m sorry, but I really should be getting back now… My friends will be wondering where I am…”

“Alright Kale, I trust I’ll be seeing you around sometime…” Frederic said, standing and shaking the husky’s hand farewell. Kale nodded to Frederic and walked to the front door. No sooner had he stepped out the front door, when he heard Kira call to him.

“Kale! Wait!” Kira called out to him, walking out onto the porch behind him.

“Yeah?” Kale asked, turning around only to see Kira place her hands on his shoulders and gently kiss him. After a moment, they parted and Kira smiled sweetly at him.

“Goodnight Kale…” she said softly and sweetly.

“Goodnight, Kira… Sweet dreams…” Kale responded in a soft whisper.

He watched Kira walk back inside before walking down the steps and back toward the saloon, a large smile on his face. Along the way through the town, he passed Balto and tipped his hat to his friend, not really caring where he was going to. Walking back into the crowded saloon, Kale walked up to his room- only to find the door was open a crack.

Kale stared cautiously at the door for a moment before pulling out one of his new pacemakers and pulling back the hammer. He placed a hand on the door and pushed it open slowly and silently. His eyes scanned the dark room as he stepped inside, pistol leveled, ready to shoot at anything. As soon as he got to the oil lamp on the nightstand, he sighed and lowered the hammer down on his revolver- only to be grabbed around the neck.

Kale gasped slightly as he was jerked backwards and the door was closed. His pistol fell from his hand and clattered to the wooden floor. The grip around his neck tightened and Kale began to choke as a sinister voice whispered into his ear.

“Ya know, you’re pretty slippery… I’ve been trying to catch you all day, but you kept getting out of my sight…” came a hushed whisper from the voice of Steele, “But now I’ve got you… and you’re gonna tell me why you and your pals are really in town…”

Kale grunted as he tried to squirm away from Steele’s grip. After a few moments of struggling, Kale elbowed the evil husky in his stomach, gaining his freedom and diving for his pistol. He rolled onto his back and pointed his gun at Steele as his enemy regained his composure, a shocked look on his face. Kale smirked, pulled the hammer back, and pulled the trigger.

Click!

His pistol was empty. Kale gritted his teeth as he remembered unloading it to show off his tricks to take some weight off the guns to make it a little bit easier and he’d never reloaded them. Steele walked over to Kale as the husky stowed his empty pistol and felt a hand grab his shirt. He was lifted off the floor and into the air, staring down into the face of the sheriff. Steele hit Kale in the side of his face before tossing him to the bed.

As Kale got up, he dashed for the door- only to feel something hard smash against his head and he collapsed to the floor. He rolled onto his back, his vision badly blurred. Around him, shards of glass lay strewn across the wood-paneled floor and knew Steele had hit him with the wall mirror. As Steele approached the downed husky, Kale lay weak on the ground.

Steele smirked and scoffed as he picked Kale up again, this time by the throat and tightened his grip forcefully around the dog’s neck. Kale gasped and choked as he flailed about in the sheriff’s strong grip. His already blurred vision began to spin and his head was pounding. Steele laughed with evil triumph as Kale’s body relaxed and went limp, his vision going black as he passed out.

          Balto arrived promptly at Jenna’s house just as the time turned 7:30. He knocked on the door and straightened out his leather jacket just before the door opened and Jenna smiled at him.

“Hey Balto! You’re right on time! Come in!” Jenna said, opening the door for him. Balto tipped his hat to her and stepped inside, looking around the nicely-furnished house.

“Wow… You have a nice home here, Jenna…” Balto complimented, slowly striding through the rooms, admiring everything.

“Thanks… It’s a shame you couldn’t meet my Dad tonight though…” she replied, catching Balto’s attention.

“Wait, your Dad’s not here?” he asked.

“Nope, he’s out of town on business errands…” Jenna answered, then froze suddenly, “Oh shoot, I’ve left the stove on!”

Jenna quickly walked through the room and into an adjacent one. Balto slowly followed her around and into a dining room. In another room to the left was the kitchen, where Jenna was. Balto took off his leather jacket and placed it on the back of his chair before sitting down in it. Jenna then came out with a basket of sliced bread and set it down on the circular dining table.

“I hope you like stew, because I made my special recipe tonight!” Jenna said proudly, going back into the kitchen and bringing out a pot filled with a delicious-smelling stew.

“It smells absolutely heavenly, Jen…” Balto replied as he sniffed the air.

“Thanks Balto,” replied Jenna, spooning out the stew into two bowls and handing one to Balto before sitting down and taking her own bowl, “I hope you like it.” Balto took a spoonful, then another, and another.

“Mmm, it’s delicious Jenna!” Balto said ecstatically, “You’re an excellent cook!”