Eli sighed with relief as he left the stable, his horse munching happily on a meal of oats.  The letter pouch over his dusty shoulder was nearly empty, only a single letter remaining.  He had strict instructions to bring it to the local bank. The Pony Express didn't often do special runs, but someone had paid good money for this, nearly three times the going rate of $5. Whatever it was, it must be important.<br/><br/>Twenty hours on the trail, and he was sore and dirty all over. He'd picked the letter up in Grand Junction in the middle of the night, along with his regular mail, and had lost track of the number of times he'd switched horses since then. He walked with a slight hitch in his step, his legs still getting accustomed to walking after being locked in one place for so long, and thought longingly of a warm bath and a bed. Onyx Landing was a bit out of the way of his regular routes, but the Express had been short on man power.<br/><br/>He recognized the bank by the bars on the window, and his heart when he tried the handle and met a locked door. The sun was sinking in the sky, painting the horizon in crimson and purple, but he'd hoped he could make it on time to deliver the letter today. He knocked once, hoping maybe someone was inside, but after several long minutes there was no reply.<br/><br/>With a sigh, he turned, scanning the streets and stopping a passerby.<br/><br/>"Pardon, ma'am," he said, his voice soft. "There a boarding house I could stay for the night?"<br/><br/>He could see the portly woman's demeanor change as she looked him over, turning from bothered to motherly in a heartbeat. Short and slight, with a clean shaven face that looked years younger than it should, Eli tended to cause that reaction, especially in women. He shifted uncomfortably, shifting his duster to reveal the well-worn travel clothes and the revolver at his hip that spoke to his ability to take care of himself, and the woman's face hardened a bit.<br/><br/>"Not many beds in town, with the mine closed and the miners all back from their camps.  You could try the bunkhouse."  She gestured back the way Eli had ridden into town.  "But last I heard, it was full. Only other place is the Dusty Rose. They charge by the hour."<br/><br/>"Much obliged, ma'am." Eli tipped his had to her, turning on his heels and heading for the bunkhouse. He didn't need anyone asking questions at a place that charged by the hour.<br/><br/>A short time later, he found himself standing at the swinging doors to the Dusky Rose. Seemed it was here or the stables for him tonight, so with a deep breath he stepped through the doors, the jangling of his spurs drowned out by the rowdy place. He shifted uncomfortably as he looked around. A number of pretty women wearing scarcely enough to be considered appropriate lounged at the bar, and several others sat at tables, giggling with men. For a brief moment, he considered turning tail and camping out in the desert. The risk of being found out here was high.  But there were rumors swirling around Onyx Landing, and he'd seen things on the trail that gave him pause to dismiss them as simply rumors. A chill had followed him since he'd crossed down over the western slope, and he wasn't one to dismiss such feelings.<br/><br/>He crossed the room to the bar, catching the bartender's eye.  "Got a room for the night?" he asked, lowering his voice to make it more gruff. "Just a room, and a bath and some food. Bunk house is all full."<br/><br/>A commotion upstairs caught his attention, and he glanced up nervously, recognizing the sounds of a struggle. His hand went to the gun at his hip, wondering if he should intervene.