Always and Forever... Maybe *Spot Conlon*

I can't believe he actually came. I thought that he might, but he seemed pretty certain last night that there was no way he would ever come back to 'Hattan.

As we wait for Jack and Davey to come back out from Pulitzer's office, I turn to Spot. "I like ya shirt."

Spot smirks. "Really? That's all you got to say to me afta what happened the last time I saw ya?"

I blush. "Yeah. You look hot in purple."

Spot's smirk grows. "Now's not the time for flattery, darlin'. We's 'bout to win a strike."

"You really think we's gonna win?"

"Why else do you think I brought my boys here?"

"I thought you said it was 'cause of me."

"Don't get ahead of yaself, darlin'. I said it was only a little 'cause of you. You's convinced me that 'Hattan was in it to win it. A few other people did too," Spot says, glancing over my shoulder.

I turn around but all I see is Race talking to Mush. "Oh."

Then Jack and Davey are walking out of the gates, so we all rush over there to hear the news. As we crowd around Jack, he leans down and whispers something to Les before picking him up and placing him on his shoulders. The crowd of kids falls silent as we wait for Jack's word.

"We beat 'em!" Jack yells. We all cheer.

"Told ya we could win!" Spot yells over the noise. I smile at him.

Mush runs over and pulls me into a hug. I laugh. He pulls away and then runs over to Davey and Sarah, pulling them into a hug. Jack turns to Spot and me.

"Thanks for comin'," Jack says to Spot as they spit shake.

"I's still don't trust ya," Spot says. "But I's glad we won."

Jack nods and smiles at me. "Thanks for believin' in me."

"What else are best friends for?" I ask, smiling. I high-five Les, who's still on Jack's shoulders. "We did it Les!"

Les grins. "I know! Can you believe it!? I'm so glad Davey and I started selling papers and met you guys!"

I laugh. "Me too, kid. Me too."

Les looks off in the distance and worry grows on his face. "Jack, it's the bulls. It's the bulls, let me down!"

I turn around and sure enough, here comes Snyder on his carriage. Les gets off Jack's shoulders and Jack turns to leave but is stopped by Denton.

"Jack, it's over," Denton says. Jack tries to run again, but Denton grabs his arms. "No, no, no! You don't have to run! Not anymore. Not from the likes of him anyway." Denton pushes Jack towards the carriage. I trust Denton most of the time but what is he doing!?

One of the bulls opens the back of the carriage, and all the kids from the Refuge jump out, dressed in regular clothes.

"Boy, ain't I glad you saved me, Danny," Crutchy says, shaking his head.

"Hey, don't worry 'bout it Crutchy. I wasn't gonna leave one of my friends behind," I say, patting his shoulder.

Another bull brings Snyder around. He's in handcuffs. He's pushed into the carriage and a bull shuts the door and latches it. We all cheer again, happy to see that evil man gone.

"Hey, Jack look! It's ya friend!" Crutchy says, pointing at a carriage in the distance.

"Is that Teddy Roosevelt?" I ask, my eyebrows raised. Roosevelt is tipping his hat and saying hi to all the kids around him.