At the sound of the gunshots most everyone that was left in the Byway headed outside.

Dixie didn't move for a few minutes and when she did she headed for the stairs. When she reached her room she went inside and locked her door. She didn't light her lamp and went and sat at the window.

It was mayhem below on the street. Men shouting, women screaming, with one body face up on the wooden boardwalk and one face down in the dirt.

Her head was spinning. Thoughts racing through it so fast she couldn't grab a hold of any of them. She pulled her shawl around her shoulders tight.

Below her window a few drunks were attempting to figure out what they could do next now that the fun was over it seemed at the Lawyers.

"Gonna get that Lawyer bastard fir killin poor Rowzee' said a slurred man's voice.

Then she heard another say "Lawless here now. You see Conway go down..like a tree falling " then loud laughter followed.

Wilmot, Dead! Benjamin must be alive... but where was he?

Dixie was processing what she had just heard. What to do. She wanted to talk to Katherine McInnis real bad but that was impossible tonight.

Once again in her Life, Dixie La Fleur's inner voice started talking to her. When it spoke she listened.

Git Dixie, make a move, do it first thing. Tell Katherine what your thinking then get out of this Town. Don't wait, don't look back.
Get your things together, ask Doc Shepard for some help and then go, go as far away from this rotten place as you can. It's time.You know it is.

Her inner voice was scaring her but she knew from experience it never lied and she knew she has to do what it was telling her.
Her head hurt.
Dixie allowed her head to rest on the back of her Chair and closed her eyes. willing the dull throb above her brow to ease.

----------------------------------------------------------


Casey was sound asleep. He awoke startled. Taking a second for his head to recognize that someone was tapping quietly on his door.
Then he heard the voice quietly saying "Casey.. Casey wake up.. please Casey...it's me, Dixie...Casey!"

He half jumped out his bed and half fell to his door. He opened it to find Dixie standing with a piece of paper in her hand. She pushed passed him into his room.

"Close the door Casey, this is serious" said Dixie.

Casey closed the door and went to light the lamp on the table.
"No. leave the lamp out Casey. I need your help, will you help me?"
Casey was wide awake now, "what is it Dix"
"Will you take this note and put it under Sam Shepard's door...now"
"Right now Dixie? it's just gone 3 in the morning"
"I know that Casey but I want Sam Shepard to get this and read it as soon as he gets in. He is always at his place real early, will you do this for me?"
Casey looked at Dixie. Just for a split second he saw something he had never really seen before. He saw Dixie's Heart. He saw behind all her bluff, all her detachment. All he saw was a beautiful young woman who was asking him to help her.

"Give me it here Dixie, Ill get dressed and head over there right away. You Ok?"
"Thank you Casey, yeah I'll be fine, just need you to do this for me and I'll be all set,
less you know the better, if you catch my meaning" Dixie walked to the door but turned and walked back over to Casey...
"I won't be seeing you tonight Casey, you're a good un, don't waste your Life here."
She kissed his cheek then turned and left his room closing the door quietly behind her.
Casey raised his hand and placed it over where she had put her lips.