The three dogs then walked into the house of the outlaws. Kale had already gone into the kitchen and was busily munching on an apple. He finished it quickly and walked up the stairs, Kira following behind him.

“We have two spare rooms, you can have one Kira and Jenna can have the other…” Kale said, showing her to one of the guestrooms, “Sleep well, Kira… I’ll see you in the morning…”

“Goodnight, handsome…” Kira whispered, kissing him gently before walking into her room and closing the door. Kale smiled widely and walked into his room, pulling off his jeans, hat, and bandolier, hanging it on a post of his bed, cocking his pistol before re-holstering it and settling down and laying his head on his pillow. In a matter of minutes, Kale was deep in sleep, Kira asleep in her room just down the hall.

Balto, Jenna, and Kaltag walked upstairs. Balto led Jenna to her room as Kaltag went into his room and shut the door.

“Goodnight Jenna… Pleasant dreams…” Balto said softly, kissing Jenna’s cheek gently. Jenna wrapped her arms around Balto and kissed him passionately.

“Goodnight, Balto… I love you…” she whispered back. Balto’s heart skipped a beat as she said that, returning her kiss.

“I love you too, Jen…” Balto whispered. Jenna let him go and walked into her room. Balto smiled and sighed happily before walking into his room, pulling his clothes off, and doing the same trick Kale had done with his pistols. He closed his eyes and tipped the brim of his hat down before finally going to sleep.

            The next morning, the usually peaceful town of Silent Spring was up in arms. Word had gotten around that the three outlaws had escaped and that two girls, Jenna McMahn and Kira Thesher had disappeared, most likely kidnapped by the ruthless criminals. Three more deputies had been killed that night and after they were buried, Sheriff Steele was under assault by the townsfolk.

“How could you let them get away?” one enraged dog asked.

“I thought you said you had them secured and under control!” another one shouted furiously.

“People, calm down!” Steele shouted loudly so they could hear him, “Listen, we’re following as many leads as we can to find those three outlaws, but your insults really aren’t helping! Please, if you have any information on these three, step forward to us and tell us. You can also talk to us in privacy if you prefer that, but we need all the leads we can get. Thank you.”

With that, Steele motioned for his remaining five deputies and they walked back to his office. All the way, the chastising shouts of the citizens of Silent Spring resonated behind him. Steele forcefully shoved the door open and stepped inside, Nikki locking it once everyone was inside.

“How the hell could this happen?!” Steele asked angrily, “Those three were safely locked up and now they’re loose and they’ve taken two girls, I’m under fire, and they’re probably laughing their damn heads off at me!”

“Um… Steele? Sir?” one of the deputies, the one who’d been knocked out, spoke up, “I… I might be able to tell you how they got out…” Steele shot him a rage-filled glare.

“How?” he demanded, ice-blue eyes filled with fury, “How did those bastards get out?”

“W-well, last night, I was jumped by two dogs… I couldn’t get a clear look at them though…” he explained, “They put a gun to my head and led me back in here… They demanded that everyone get out and then they knocked me out… They probably let them out…” Steele stared at the deputy for a moment before chuckling almost insanely and pulling out his revolver, cocking it and aiming it at the dog’s head.

“So the reason they’re free was because you were careless?!” Steele shouted.

“N-no sir! I-it wasn’t my f-fault!” the deputy stammered and fell backward to the floor, “I-I’m sorry!”

“You should be…” Steele muttered, pulling the trigger on the empty pistol, “Now get up…” The deputy had broken out into a nervous sweat as he uneasily got to his feet, his friends helping him up.

“Boss, what are we going to do?” Nikki asked.

“Yeah! We have nothing!” Star chimed in, “No leads, no clues, nothing!”

Steele was about to answer when a knock at the door stopped him. He growled softly and made his way to the door. He glanced through the window and saw Frederic Thesher. Knowing he wouldn’t harass him, Steele opened the door and let the husky in.

“What is this about, Mr. Thesher?” Steele asked neutrally, masking his anger and frustration.

“I… I think I might have some information as to where those three are…” Frederic said, looking around at everyone, “Please, if I give it to you, will you get my daughter back? She was one of the girls who were taken!”

“Calm down, Mr. Thesher… We’ll get them both back and bring those three outlaws to justice…” Steele replied coolly, giving his deputies an eager look, “Now, what info might you have for us?” Frederic looked at Steele before saying,

“I know where they live… I know where their hide-out is located…” A malicious grin slowly inched its way across Steele’s maw as he stared excitedly at Frederic. The evil husky then said, in a cool, dark tone,

“Go on…”

            Jenna’s amber eyes slowly fluttered open as the morning sunlight began its course through the sky and streamed through her window. She stretched and got up, quickly getting dressed before walking out into the upstairs hallway. She walked to Kira’s door and knocked twice.

“Kira? You up yet?” Jenna asked softly, getting no response, “Kira? Are you in there?”

From downstairs, Jenna heard a soft laugh. It was Kira. Walking downstairs, the red and white husky followed the noise and a delicious smell into the kitchen at the back of the house. Inside the kitchen, Balto and Kaltag were sitting around a large circular table, Kale was at the stove cooking and Kira was beside him, arms wrapped around him and a large smile on her face.

“Hey Jen! Mornin’!” Balto said brightly, “Did you sleep well last night?”

“Yeah… Thanks Balto…” Jenna replied with a smile, taking a seat at the table.

“Jenna! This is the best idea I think I’ve ever had!” Kira exclaimed happily, squeezing Kale tightly as she held him. The black and white husky winced slightly and looked at Kira.

“Watch my shoulder please…” he said calmly, chuckling softly as Kira immediately let go of him, “Hope you’re hungry Jenna. I’m making pancakes and eggs!”

“Kale’s easily our best cook!” Kaltag said, “He’s the best, the greatest, the most incredible-” Once more, he was shut up as Balto hit him on his forehead.

“Alright guys, breakfast’s ready!” Kale called back to them, placing the food on five plates and carefully carrying them to the table, “Dig in!”

The room was silent as everyone feasted on Kale’s deliciously-prepared meal. Kale smirked at the look of utter amazement on Jenna’s and Kira’s faces.

“This is fantastic!” Jenna complimented, smiling widely as she finished up.

“See?” Kaltag stated, “Kale’s the best, the greatest, the most incredible-” And Kaltag was hit on the head once more.

“Jenna, Kira, I’d just like to thank you on behalf of all three of us for saving our lives…” Balto said, giving them a small smile, “If it weren’t for your bravery, we’d be dangling from the gallows right now… Thank you…”

“Yes… Thank you so much Jenna, Kira…” Kale said right after Balto, smiling widely to the two females.

“You two are the most heroic, the bravest, the most phenomenal-” Kaltag rambled on until this time both Balto and Kale hit him.

“It was nothing really… We just had to do it…” Jenna answered softly.

“We couldn’t let you three die… You may be outlaws, but we love you… and Kaltag’s your friend so he got the same deal…” Kira said, grinning playfully.

“Hey!” Kaltag cried out, suddenly realizing what she had meant. The other four burst into laughter.

“C’mon Kal, it’s just a joke!” Balto said, patting the tan husky on his back, “By the way, Kale, how long do you reckon we have to stay here until we’re discovered? About a few weeks, right?” Kale choked on the water he’d been drinking at the time, spitting up a bit, coughing and sputtering.

“Kale, what is it?” Jenna asked. Kale and Kira exchanged nervous glances.

“He wouldn’t… Would he?” Kale asked Kira nervously.

“To get me back? He’d do anything…” Kira replied, a worried look on her face.

“Son of a bitch…” Kale muttered, covering his eyes and shaking his head, “This is just damn perfect…”

“What, Kale?” Balto asked seriously, “What did you do?” Kale sighed heavily and shook his head again.

“Please don’t get too mad at me Balto… He was just so inquisitive and I wanted to make a good impression, seeing as I wanted to be with Kira, and-” Kale said, getting an irritated look from Balto.

“Who the hell are you talking about Kale?” Balto asked in a near shout, “Who did you want to make a good impression on?”

“Kira’s father…” Kale admitted, bowing his head, “I kinda told him where we were…”

“Oh Kale, you didn’t!” Kaltag moaned, rolling his eyes. Balto covered his eyes and muttered a few profanities under his breath.

“Look, I’m sorry! I just wanted him to like me!” Kale protested, “I didn’t think things would actually come to this!”

“Alright, let’s plan this out…” Balto said calmly, “They’ll probably gather up other forces and supplies before heading down here- not to mention the two hour ride… So they should be here tomorrow morning… That gives up all day to