Whooping and yelling wildly, the three members of the Vipers Gang galloped westward across the open plains. At the lead was Scarlet Kate, her trademark ruby braid trailing in the breeze behind her. To her left, half a length behind was Black Sally and opposite Tornado Jane. The three infamous outlaws had just robbed the bank of Red Ridge.

 Besides the saddle bags stuffed with bank notes, each woman had a second, struggling girl slung embarrassingly across the bow of her saddle. Kate had one of the pretty bank tellers, Sally one of the girls from the saloon and Jane a stranger who had to be regretting stopping in Red Ridge today of all days. The three hostages had their hands and feet bound with cord and quiet “Mmpphhs!” of distress slipped out of the bandanas each had tied across her mouth.

 It was something of a trademark of the gang, to always pick the prettiest townswomen they could for their hostages and for a good reason. Had they ridden out of town with that fat banker or the blubbering mayor as a shield, some men might consider taking a shot anyway and shed few tears if he missed his mark, but even the roughest gunslinger would hesitate to shoot if he might hit an innocent lady and a right pretty one at that.

 Kate glanced back over her shoulder. The distant dust cloud approaching said that Red Ridge’s sheriff had finally gotten his posse organized and deputized and was coming after them, hell for leather. It hardly mattered. In another half hour, Kate and her gang would be safely within Rattlesnake Canyon and an unwary posse could search its winding gulches from here till judgement day and not find their hideout.

 Sure enough, just as the sun was setting far off westward, the gang rode into the isolated cave they used, still whooping excitedly over their success. The hostages were lifted from the saddles and deposited, none too gently, in a back corner of the cave. “Make yourselves at home ladies.” Kate teased. “By this time tomorrow, we’ll be safely over the border. There, we’ll introduce you to some friends of ours whom I’m sure will be just delighted to make your acquaintance.”

 “Oh yes, we’re sure of it.” Sally added, “They pay us fifty dollars a head for finding fresh girls for their bordello.” The three outlaws laughed at the dismayed moans and sobs of their captives.

 Then, they forgot about their prisoners, tending to the horses and preparing the meager supper they could manage out of a saddlebag and without a fire. A few bottles of whiskey made the cold bacon and beans more palatable. None was shared with the captives though. As the hours stretched by, the food and firewater did the job and soon the outlaws’ revels turned to heavy snores.

 Back in the corner of the cave, one of the captives had, apparently, been waiting for just this moment. “Squirming around, she brought her bound feet up within reach of her tied hands. Concealed within her boot was a small but sharp knife which made short work of her bonds. Untying the bandanna gag, she motioned to her fellow captives to remain quiet.

 Kate was roughly roused from her deep slumber by something hard being shoved under her nose. It was, she found distressingly the barrel of a revolver. Even more distressing, as her hand automatically went for the empty holster, she realized it was her own gun.

 Kate looked up, a dumbstruck look on her face as she saw who held the gun. The pretty, but meek looking woman she’d taken for a hostage back in town had been transformed. Gone was the plain gingham dress and bonnet and now she was dressed much like the outlaws in jeans and button-up shirt and best, only hers had a silver star pinned to the front.

 Evening Scarlet Kate…” The woman said with a smirk. “We didn’t get a chance to get introduced back in town so I’ll do so now. The name’s Mary Goodnight...Marshall Goodnight. Don’t try anything or you’ll be needing a new boss!” This last was directed to Kate’s confederates who had awoken and were equally discomfited to find themselves disarmed in their sleep.

 “Bring the ropes over…” Mary called to the bank teller who had been busy untying her fellow hostage. She hurried forward with the cords that had so recently bound them. “If you would be so obliging…” Mary said, handing the ropes to Kate. “You know what to do with these, as I found for myself…”

 The outlaw scowled, but she had no choice. Turning, she quickly bound her two companions hands and feet together. At Mary’s order, she gagged them with the bandannas as well. “We’ve been trying to catch your gang for a while.” Mary said, keeping the pistol pointed at them the whole time. “But every time we got close, you disappeared into the canyon. Only way I could find your hideout was to let you take me hostage and bring me back here.” As Kate finished the last knot, she was directed to turn and present her own hands for binding.

 The next morning, the sheriff and his posse, bleary eyed and weary from spending the whole night scouring dead ends and hundreds of tiny caves got a most delightful surprise. First came their two missing women, riding one horse. Not far behind came the Marshall on the second. She was leading the third, over which were slung the three hogtied and unhappy outlaws.

 “I think this marks the end of Scarlet Kate and her outlaw gang.” Mary told the Sheriff as she rode up.