The Challenge by Anne Tolar

Chapter 1

Chris Larabee lay face down in the hot New Mexico sand. His shirt was shiny, red, wet with both sweat and blood; and he lay absolutely still. Another man kneeling beside him was Vin Tanner looking in dismay at his blood covered hands, sweat and maybe tears running down his face. Voices from somewhere not too far away drifted past him unnoticed. Vin was much too caught up in the fate of his friends, the growing weakness of his own body, to worry about the voices...yet. Vin used the last of his energy to mostly push the man down the small dip in the sand...hoping it would be enough to get all of them away from incoming bullets. It was the only thing he could do.

The voice drifted past Vin again. "Is he dead?"

"If he ain't he will be. You want I should kill them both and the kid too?"

"Nah, he ain't going nowhere by himself, he's too little. They'll all be dead before anyone finds them."

"You sure. That one don't seem so hurt."

"He's a goner, too. Bleeding good...take a look." The first handed the second the thing the other one had used for distance vision...the thing he had stolen at that last watering hole, just after they shot the first one, wounded the second. Sure enough, the kneeling one showed a bright stream of blood trailing down his back from a large hole in the middle of it. He was kneeling, but he was also weaving. "Yep, he's gonna be dead."

"Gonners. Who cares what happens to that kid...let the desert take him."

At the watering hole, with so little water in the middle of this blazing summer, the too-little one watched in horror as the kneeling one slumped face first onto the sand.

The little one, sandy headed under his little black hat, began to cry. No more than seven, or perhaps eight, he looked at the two men who had saved him before as bullets started towards them. It was always the way they were...putting themselves between trouble and him, telling him to run, or hide, or ride.

Now trouble had found his friends and they needed him, but he wasn't exactly sure what to do. "Wake up. Wake up. Chris! Vin! Wake up. I'm scared! Too much blood. I don't like blood."

Neither man moved...they lay still and unresponsive to his pleas and efforts to shake them awake.

He heard whispers coming and going on the wind. He lay low against the sand, halfway between the two prone ones, and he listened. He thought Chris whispered to him, "Get down, but stay sharp!" He always did what Chris said to do.

"Want me to go finish 'em off?"

"Na. They're near enough, no need to give that kid nothing to look at again. Let's get the hell out of here."

"Damn waste of time. Couldn't even get hold of those horses. Didn't get nothing to speak of at all."

"Well, Harry, sometimes ya win...sometimes ya don't...and sometimes ya just better be damn glad it was you who got out alive. You know that one in black?"

"Nah, Leroy -- why would I?"

"Best to know the gunslingers when ya come across em. That one in black is Chris Larabee."

"Mean one?"

"Not so mean nowdays, but he don't like nobody messing with him, his, or his business. Hear he'll go rattlesnake on ya in about two seconds flat. And if you think you're fast enough to take him? Well, you best think again. I wouldn't want to face him in a fair fight at all! Rather just ambush one like that. Guess it's a good thing we ambushed him today. I guess the only reason we got to them two first was they was having a good time with the kid. Let their guard down a bit. Don't matter how good ya are when you ain't paying attention."

"You sure he's dead? Both of 'em?"

"Figure he is. Second one...that 'en in the deer hide. Think that's Vin Tanner...known to ride with Larabee at times. Had the same ole Mare's Leg he's supposed to carry. Glad he didn't get it clear of the holster before ya shot him."

"Larabee got a gang or something?"

"Hell, yeah...you ain't heard of the seven of 'em around these parts...well generally a little more west?"

"Gang?"

"Of lawdogs, which is a hell of a lot worse! Every last one of 'em as lethal as you get, but Larabee...shewwweee! Bet he could take all the rest single, and I bet they know it. But they follow him. Bunch of 'em took out Top Hat Bob."

"Hell, let's get out of here! They ain't dead now, sun and desert will finish both of 'em fast. Let's just ride on out. They don't know who we are, and they don't stand much chance of finding out."

"Let's just head on to the Roost for a spell. There's five more to that bunch. They find those two shot up, dead or alive...and hell, that boy belongs to somebody they care about, it's plain enough... that five's going to come looking for us. Best get us some back up and a place where they don't like questions."

The wind got silent. Billy stayed put until he got more worried about how he was going to get out of there with his friends than he was about where two such men were going. He came to his knees, and began to pay attention to the surroundings.

"Splatter! Here, Splatter!" His pony was gone. He didn't know where, but after the gun shots knocked the bigger men from their horses, at Chris's last command as he was struck by multiple bullets, Billy had jumped from the saddle like Chris had taught him to do when trouble came. When he cleared the saddle, the little pinto had run. The tracker had pushed him down to protect him from the men who wanted to kill them all, and he had taken a bullet for his efforts, too. Billy knew about men who wanted to kill...men that all too often succeeded in getting what they wanted. They were devils...every one.

He thought he heard the voice of his friend...the older man he was allowed to call Chris. Billy remembered his father, Stephen, but he had been dead for years now, and Chris had been there, at the boys side in good times and bad. Billy wished that this man was his father now. If Chris was his father, maybe then his mother wouldn't have to work so hard. Maybe he would get to go fishing, or hunting more. His father hadn't been a fisherman, but Chris Larabee was. Chris loved to go fishing, and he didn't mind at all if a little boy tagged along. Billy thought he was a great man. Although he sometimes seemed real sad, Chris always had a smile and a hug for him...and Chris wasn't afraid of guns. Not understanding guns had gotten Stephen killed.

He doubled his effort to wake him. "Chris?" The man didn't move. The boy remembered the words the man had told him when they were waiting for a devil a couple of years back. "I've met the Devil more than once...and he ain't beat me yet." Billy had taken courage from that man. That's what he needed now. His courage just might get his friends home. He had to think. "Chris, tell these ole debils to leave us alone!"

One word whispered past his head. "Horses!" Billy looked at Chris, and knew that he had neither moved nor spoken.

"Chris put me on a horse." He paused and thought about the man in black...and the black horse that seemed to do his bidding, even though the horse and the man shared a similar temper at times, too. "PONY!" He called the animal's sometimes name, and he tried to whistle like Chris whistled when he wanted his horse to come. The notes sounded alright, but the boy's mouth was dry and the whistle wasn't very loud.

"Peso?" This call was small and timid. Vin's big horse wasn't there. The size and disposition of the big, blaze-faced bay tended to make Billy more than a little timid. Pony could be a hard head, too, but Chris had taught it early on that Billy was a special friend.

"Splatter?" He missed his dark and white pinto pony, the one Chris had gentled and helped the boy train. "Splatter?" Disheartened, he couldn't believe all the horses were gone. He went to Vin. He touched the bloody hole in his back. The sandy headed man didn't make a sound. Billy moved to Chris, afraid of what he'd find. He touched the man and found blood on his shoulder.

"Maybe they need water. Chris always tells me to drink lots of water." One canteen lay close at hand...a canteen with a bullet hole through the middle. The two men had left them no others. The boy had seen Chris patch one once. He went to get it, and found it wasn't such a big hole. He began to walk...looking at the cactus and shrubs surrounding the watering hole. It took long minutes of close looking to spot one he thought was the right size to push into the bullet hole. He sat down in the sand and pushed the piece of dried root into place. Happy with his work, he ran to the watering hole and filled the canteen. It leaked, the water quickly trickling out into the sand.

"Well, Chris would sure say hell about that!" His mother would wash his mouth out if she heard him even mention that word. But Chris would grin and try not to laugh. "Wake up, Chris!"

"Don't give up...keep on trying...it'll work if you keep on trying." Vin had told him that, and so had Chris...days fishing, days teaching his pony, learning to swim at their favorite pond, hunting for turkeys.

"Don't you give up, Chris. I don't know what to do. Tell that ole debil to leave me alone so I can think like you do!" Billy patched the hole again, working a slightly larger piece of brush into the hole. He jammed it in tight, then left it alone. This time the water held. He filled it to the neck and went back to the men who lay so still. Vin's head was turned to the side. The boy could trickle water down into the tracker's mouth. He did it slowly, having watched Nathan, another of Chris's friends, drizzle water into Chris one time when he was hurt...after Charley shot him by accident. He drizzled a little more into Vin, and was delighted to hear the man cough as the water tried to bring him to consciousness.

"Chris." He went to the blond headed one. The problem was he couldn't move the man. He had known he couldn't move Vin, but Chris wasn't so big...but still, he was no small man either. His mother sometimes called Chris skinny britches, sometimes beanpole, but she always laughed and blushed when she said it to his face. Chris was mostly face down, Billy couldn't get water into his mouth, no matter how hard he tried. He did manage to pour some on his face, which was burning hot.

He sat down. A tired, worried, lonely child now. His two friends lay as still as Billy's father had after he was shot, until his mother came back to help him. His mother had no idea exactly where they were now. Billy knew how hard it was to be all alone and in trouble.

Chris and Vin had let him go with them to pick up some papers at Shiprock in the New Mexico territory. They didn't have anything to do but travel the way they wanted, pick up papers, and see the sights along the way. A special treat for Billy from Chris, with Vin along for added fun and protection. They weren't due back in Four Corners for several more days, according to Chris.

Billy lay his head on his knees and rested a little, trying to come up with a plan. "Don't you go off nowhere half cocked," Chris was always making a plan. Billy stayed totally immobile until he felt something sniff his hair. "Splatter!" The horse backed and snorted. Billy again got still. Chris and Vin could stay still for hours. It was hard work to do, but they needed a horse.

The pony slowly returned and Billy held out his hand to entice him. He reached up slowly and grasped the reins, and as Chris did for Pony, he gently stroked his mount's face and its long silky mane before he moved any farther. "Hi, boy. Can you help me? Can we get them both home?"

Smiling and hopeful, the boy stood and reached into his saddlebag for a shirt and two nice handfuls of grain. He fed one handful to the horse. "Want to do our trick, Splatter. The one Chris taught us. Come on." He tied one arm of the shirt around Chris's limp wrist...he tied it tight, double knotted, leaving as much of a tail to the cloth as possible. Inside the other sleeve he tied the extra feed he had taken from the saddlebag and let the horse sniff the contents. "Find the feed boy...pull the cloth. Come on...you can do it."

The horse did his trick...he grasped the cloth as he always did...pulling, hoping to open the thing and get the feed inside. But this time...the bandana didn't open. The pony pulled the sleeve, the shirt, and the man's arm with it. "Pull, Splatter... pull...get the feed."

Slowly the heavy bundle moved and the man wound up on his back. "Way to go, boy!" Billy untied the feed for the horse, then knelt beside his friend. There was a good deal of blood on the man's head, more on his shoulder, but Billy gasped at the pool of blood at the man's side underneath where he had fallen. When he was pulled and his body turned, Chris finally groaned. "Come on, Chris. Come on...wake up. Get up! Get up! I'm scared. I've got water, and I need you to help me!"

"Billy? BILLY...GET DOWN!" Memory of the gunshots made Chris Larabee move. He pulled the boy behind him before he felt the pain in his side and on his head and shoulder. "Stay down!" When the effects of the gunshots registered on his traumatized brain, he slumped to his side and groaned. In spite of his recent efforts to contain his language in front of this impressionable child, he couldn't resist his predilection for a soft "son-of-a-bitch!".

Billy giggled, a light hiccup accompanying the nervousness of the sound. "Chris...they're gone. But you've got to stay awake...I don't know what to do! Stay awake, please!"

"I'll try, kid." He groaned again and put his hand against his head, wiping blood from his eye, then testing the extent of the damage to his shoulder. He didn't curse, but he hissed and closed his eyes when he pressed against the side again. He valiantly ignored his need to pass out. "How long?"

"Don't know, but Vin's hurt too. Chris, I brought you some water, but I couldn't get it into you. Vin hasn't moved."

"You did good. Vin been conscious? Been awake at all? Just out, or is he bleeding?" Chris pushed up just a little and took a long drink from the canteen. The world began to come right in his vision again.

"He got shot. It's in his back...I know you're shot, too. His is just more toward the middle."

"We got trouble, Billy."

"We got a mess of trouble, Chris!"

Chris smiled past the pain to hear his own words come out of the so small mouth. Pale and tired, he again accepted the canteen the boy offered. He smiled when he realized the repairs the boy had made to the water can. "You learn real good, Billy. Got a good head on your shoulders. Not sure I could a done better. You get any water into Vin?"

"His head's turned where I could get a little in. Figured he was too big, and he smells different. Didn't think Splatter would turn him for the little grain I had...tied him to you instead. You're smaller than Vin, and Splatter knows you real good...didn't have no trouble turning you over."

"Thanks, I think. Think I'm gonna rest a minute or two." The big man's tired eyes closed. The little boy got scared all over again.

"Chris?"

The eyes opened and stared at the boy. The groggy man shook his head to clear his vision and his brain. "Hum? What?"

"Chris, don't sleep...okay. I'm scared."

"Why scared?"

"What if they come back!"

"Come back? Oh...sorta forgot."

"What if Vin dies, like my pa died? What if you die! I don't like being alone with the debil!"

"Whoa. I ain't gonna die, Billy. I'm hurt, but mostly I'm just tired. Try to find something to tie up my side in a bit. Not bleeding much at head or shoulder. Don't think the one in my side hit anything too important. Still...lost some blood...need just a little rest."

"And Vin?"

Chris understood deep down that he had to move now, even if it was going to hurt. With a sigh, and another hiss, he pushed himself more upright. "Best check him...see how bad he is...see if I can get more water in him. Look, I'll get me over there, you bring the water."

"Sure, Chris." The little boy followed the man. He knew something was pretty bad for Chris. The man hissed and made little groaning sounds as he forced himself to move toward his fallen friend. When Chris pulled himself next to Vin, he had to sit still and quiet for several minutes, breathing pretty hard and making the small groaning sounds again. Billy held the water up to Chris's mouth, glad to see the man smile at him and offer small words of praise. Then they both settled next to the scruffy tracker, pouring water into his mouth again."

"Good, Billy. That's enough for now. Look, I got to get his jacket and shirt off. You see blood anywhere but here?"

"No...but didn't see your side neither 'til Splatter turned you over."

"Let's see how he is. I'll try to turn him, but if I can't get it done, we may need to use Splatter again. We'll convince him to do the work." Larabee grabbed his friend by the shoulder with his good arm and tugged hard, but found himself far weaker than he had thought. He wasn't just tired; had lost a great deal of blood.

"Vin, Vin." Larabee shook the tracker, then gave up and whistled for the pinto. The horse ambled over, friendly with the man. "Good boy. Billy, what did you use to get him to pull?"

"My other shirt."

"Your ma's gonna just love to see your Sunday shirt with horse slobber all over it."

"And feed in the cuff." The boy grinned.

"Gonna ban you from traveling with me and Vin...that's for sure."

"Ah, Chris. You know ma won't say nothing."

"Sure she won't, not in front of you...but boy, I know I'm gonna get a piece of her mind for this one. That's okay...no more than I deserve. Okay, hitch it up so he'll do the same for Vin. Let's get him over where we can check him out. Half over to start."

Chapter 2

Splatter was a bright, hard-working horse. He caught on fast that the feed was back in the cloth, and he tugged hard. Vin was on his side in nothing flat. Billy and Chris got a big groan from the man, and even though they were sad to hear the sound of pain...they were all smiles to find him alive. The man's crystal blue eyes opened into the two smiling faces beside him.

"What the hell I doing down here?" Vin started to move, but he didn't make it far.

"Be easy, Vin...gotta check you over."

"Billy okay?"

"Fine. Gave ya water without anybody telling him to. Got Splatter to turn me over. How bad ya hurt?"

"Back hurts like a son-of-a-bitch."

"Looks it. Surprised you aren't dead. Let me have a look."

"Just look easy, Cowboy. I ain't in much of a mood."

"Understand." Chris eased the man out of shirt and buckskin coat as gently as he could. Still, the tracker cried out when the shirt pulled out of the bloody hole between his shoulder blades.

"Thought you said you'd go easy on that!"

"Shut up, Vin. Get still. You ought to be dead, that's for sure."

"Why ain't I?"

"Your spirit bag fell down your back. Didn't stop the bullet...it went straight through...but it slowed it down enough it didn't get to nothing real important. Think you can sit up. If you can, I can see about maybe getting that thing out and plugging this hole."

"Just get me up easy...EASY, Chris. AWH!" Vin found himself sitting in the sand, barebacked, shaking a bit from loss of blood. Larabee rested for a time, holding his side, letting the pain find an easier point. Then he turned back to the tracker, who found the tired man wasn't slow or tender with his search for needed repairs.

"Hell, Chris. Oh!"

"Sorry, Vin. Got to get done before I pass out. You just gotta be still. Billy...go get me another canteen of water, and bring me some small pieces of brush and twigs." The boy jumped to do his bidding.

"Vin, you got your knife?"

"Got one. But you got a knife, too, pard. Just why the hell do you need one? You ain't gonna try to be Nate, are ya?.."

"Ain't no kind of medical man, Vin, but I'm close as you're gonna get to Nate. Got to get this bullet out. Don't think it's too deep, but still...got to come out."

"Awh, hell."

"Don't be such a spineless piece of..."

"Here! It stayed full." The boy offered the canteen to Vin first, who drank thirstily and handed it on to Chris who drank until he didn't need or want anymore this time.

Chris handed the water back to Billy, "You drink, son. Drink lots. Right now, we got water for the asking, so you fill yourself up."

"Okay. Here's the fire stuff, Chris!"

"Good." Chris dug in his pockets, hissing as he forced the damaged shoulder to move, until he came up with a small box that held maybe four or five matches. "Billy, remember how I showed ya how to build a little fire?"

"Yeah...how little?"

"Well, I just need to heat something...we don't have anything to cook, and we ain't wanting it for warmth. We got enough stuff around here to make what we need, but no need to waste anything. Start with the thin, dry stuff, set it off with just one match. Might need the others later, before we're past this. You can build us up just a little one. Okay. While I'm getting set, go get just a few bigger sticks, okay. Could need em to make this fire big enough for what we're planning."

"Sure." The boy was off again.

"Chris?"

"Yeah, Vin?"

"Better make it midsize, Cowboy."

"Why?"

"You're bleeding too...I seen the blood on that shoulder. How bad is it?"

"Not good. Past the numb now. Feeling pretty sick. Trying not to puke in front of Billy."

"Then, when you get done with me...I'll have to get done with you."

"Spect you're right. And it's gonna go double for me. Got another one in my side."

"Chris! I got it. How much more wood do I put on?"

"Feed it slow, Billy. You best make it middle size. And, when you've got it going, you might want to go sit over by the watering hole for a bit. Vin and me are gonna have to dig out these bullets. Seems I remember you don't like blood. Don't have to stay and watch at all."

"Might need me?" The too little, but now seemingly too old child looked from one man to the other. They weren't sure if he wanted to be needed, or just didn't want to have to go off even the little distance alone.

Vin eyed Chris, who nodded once, "We could sure use ya, Kid. Only got one to get out of me, but Chris here got shot twice. If you'll just stay close, hand us things, help tear some cloth for us, maybe get water...it'll be a big help. And Billy, there's a mighty big chance we're gonna pass out when it's over. We've both lost blood."

"I ain't afraid of the blood." Billy assured them, but they noticed his face was a little whiter than normal. "Is this going to hurt?"

"Billy," Chris looked at him straight and spoke quietly, his hand resting on the boy's head, "you got to know that this is going to hurt Vin and me both. We might yell a little; we might cuss a little; might yell and cuss a whole lot." Larabee smiled to soften the words, "Don't let that scare ya...ain't nothing that we can't handle...we'll get through it and get moving as soon as we can. If we pass out, you just sort of watch over us while we sleep... shouldn't sleep that long. If the sun goes completely down, you might want to pour water over our heads 'til we wake up. You see anybody coming, you wake us up pronto, and you go hide. If poking us don't work, and calling us don't work, just push down on my shoulder...I'll be up quick enough. Don't worry if I cuss ya...I won't mean it...I just might not be real happy you did it, but it's what you'll have to do. I've shown you how to shoot my pistol. Do you remember all of it...I mean all of it, son?"

The boys eyes were saucers, but he nodded. "I remember, Chris."

"Then, before I go to sleep...if I go to sleep...I'll give it to you, loaded...and you know not to go doing anything stupid, right. You'll just keep it, and you won't use it unless you have to shoot a snake or something. And you do know what I told you about warning shots and shooting serious...right."

"Yes, sir."

"Okay...fire looks big enough. You put both of our knives... blades only...deep in that fire and let me know when that blade of mine is red. What's that mean?"

"It's red hot! Don't touch the blade...just the...the..."

"Hilt. You ready? You're real sure you want to stay here by us? Billy, it don't mean you're less a man if you decide you don't want to do this."

"Yes, sir. I can do it."

"Let one of us know if you change your mind. It's okay to do that too."

"Yes, sir."

"Vin," he poured water over the man's wound. "The whiskey's in Pony's and Peso's saddle bags. Sorry, ain't nothing to dull this any. Hang on."

"Alright...get it done."

"Billy, the blade red?"

"Yes, sir."

"You be careful, but hand it to me. Right now, tear some of that shirt in a long, long strip...might have to use the other blade to start it. Don't let it get to blazing. When I tell ya to, I want you to give me the canteen again, then a strip of cloth, and then another couple. You got it?"

The boy just nodded. The saucer eyes were even larger, but the boy took a deep breath, licked his dry lips, and tore into the shirt. He jumped when Vin screamed. He was even more amazed to see so much blood running down Vin's back and dripping off Chris's knife hand. Vin was panting hard as Chris dug the blade into the tracker's back, and Chris looked like he just might get real, real sick.

"Easy, Vin. I see it. Got to go down one, maybe two more times."

"Great." Vin hissed and bent almost double trying to escape the torture. With dogged determination, he finally held still, as Chris dug deeper and deeper.

"Got it."

Chapter 3

"Vin? Vin?"

"I'm here, Cowboy...but not 'cause I want to be."

"Get still. I'm gonna wash it out. Look, I got a couple of cheroots. Nathan put tobacco in a cut I had one time. I mean this ain't no little cut...it's a damn BIG hole, but might keep it from festering. Only thing...it burned like hell."

"Larabee...don't explain it...just do it." He hissed again as Larabee crushed the smoke and ground the tobacco into the wound, then covered it with a wadded up strip of cloth from Billy and used two more strips to make a tie around Vin's chest and back. When the man had his breath back, he glanced up at Chris, "Leave a couple of those cheroots for me."

"I don't have enough for you to smoke any, Tanner."

"Ain't gonna smoke it...wish I could...but I'm gonna need one for your side, one for your shoulder. Might save a pinch for your head, but that's so hard, probably won't make no difference."

"Keep it up, Tanner. You can split one between those two holes I got...we'll save the other one to have us a smoke when it's done. Got a feelin I'm gonna need it, especially since we're plum out of anesthesia. You steady enough to start on me?"

"Give me a few...my eyes ain't too clear yet, and my hands are still a might shaky...You don't won't me cutting on something too far south."

"Damn right. Ain't funny. Billy, that fire still going?"

"Yeah...getting a little smaller, though."

"Best get us a supply of wood...small stuff...enough to keep it going a spell. Vin's gonna get a little rest. I'm gonna need some more water. You drink again, then top off the canteen."

"Yes, sir." The little boy's legs fairly flew.

"Glad that boy ain't easily spooked, Cowboy. We could be in more trouble than we could handle."

"He's a good boy, Vin. After what life's put him through, he's stayed real strong. I'm proud of him. And he comes in real handy in a pinch." Chris suddenly grimaced, then looked hard into Vin's eyes, "Look, your knife sharp enough to get this over with quick. You gonna make it through two without puking?"

"Hell, Chris. I's a buffalo man. If I don't puke slicing up one of those mangy things, I ain't gonna puke on you either."

"Fine. Let me know when you're ready."

"Think about ten minutes for me to rest?"

"Your call...not much more though...I'm getting to feeling real light headed...think I'm bleeding again, and a might too much."

"Ten then." The tracker started to lie down on the sand.

"Vin? Don't go to sleep. Why don't we just go back to back...hold each other up. Rest...don't sleep. Got to do me fast, or I'm gonna be a gonner."

"That bad?"

"Bad enough. Billy's coming...don't let him hear that."

"Sure, pard. Okay, back to back."

They moved around enough to provide each other support. Chris got still, feeling Vin settle against him. Chris felt woozie, but he heard Billy and rallied for the boy's sake.

"Chris! Chris!"

"Hey you, Kid. What you so excited about?"

"Pony's back!"

"Good." Chris was too weak to move. "How close?"

Billy pointed out across the hot sand...over beyond the water hole. "Just a little past those next rocks to the side. I can see him, but I didn't have enough wet in my mouth to spit, much less whistle."

Chris grinned. The boy had a affection for all the antics of all the men in his team. Billy had quite a gathering of sayings and colorful words too. "Let me have some water?"

"Here! You gonna whistle for him?"

"If I can get enough wet to do it." He drank, holding water in his mouth to get past the arid feel and taste. He was patient with it, gathering the moisture, wetting his lips. He raised his head then, and blew. It was only air, but he sipped more water, repeated the wetting of his mouth, and tried again. The call was short, but sharp and clearly his own. He smiled as the child laughed as he heard the horse answer.

"He's coming, Chris?"

"Yeah, he's coming. Won't be here real soon, though. He's had a spook, and he's a hard one to give up on being scared. He'll be here when he takes a liking to the idea."

"Wonder where Peso is?" Vin was getting seriously winded from trying to stay up, trying not to let on his pain in front of the boy.

"He's just moseying toward Corners, Vin. He's looking for ya, I'm sure, but not as hard as he's looking for the livery and a bucket of oats. Once we get started, you can just blow that harp of yours. He'll come fast enough once we're in earshot"

"Just one problem. That son-of-a-bitch took my harmonica. Other s.o.b. got my spy glass."

"When we find 'em, you gonna beat it out of 'em, or just count coo."

"Much as I love those...might just have to go Comanche on 'em."

Chris's eyebrows raised, and a well-known, too cocky smile tried to come out. "Oooh...you keep promising I'm gonna get to watch you one of these days. Don't never do it though."

"Once I get past being mad, I remember just how much I don't like watching that happen to a man. Ain't a good thing for people to have to look on, Chris."

"Figured as much. Okay...you rested enough? You gonna do this any time soon, or you gonna wait until I'm so nervous I'll embarrass myself in front of this boy?"

"You ain't gonna do that, Chris. You been through this stuff before, and you ain't ever really embarrassed yourself."

"Hope I can still say it when you're done. Come on...which first?"

"Shoulder."

"Here goes nothing." He looked over at the boy. "Billy, Vin's pretty sore I expect. Can ya help me get this shirt off? If we need it, you can tear it for bandages, okay."

The boy didn't answer, but he was up and helping instantly. The shirt was glued to his friend's shoulder now...and Chris jumped and gasped when it started to come undone. "Billy, best pour some water over that so it'll loosen up."

When that small job was done, and the shirt loosened from the hole, Chris reached toward the fire and extracted Vin's long knife. He looked at the blazing tip for a minute. "You know I just hate knives, don't ya."

"'Bout as much as me, I 'spect." Tanner took the blade, grasped Chris's shoulder on the right, and dug the knife into the flesh without pause or mercy. Chris gritted his teeth, but made no sound.

"Chris, it's right up against the bone.. You gotta stay real still, or I could hit something that's gonna make you lose your arm or maybe even your life. You ready?"

"No...I...ain't ready...but that don't matter. Just do it!"

The blood this time ran fast and full down Chris's chest. The man dug his fingers into his own skin as the knife bit and sank into him, searching for the slug. Vin knew he had hit bone when Chris finally screamed and nearly buckled. The bullet backed from the bone, giving him a moment's reprieve, then sank into the pulpy mess below, away from Vin's easy reach.

"Damn, Chris. I'm sorry. It's gone further in. Hold on, I'm gonna try to grab it on top of the blade and pop it out."

"Don't...explain...it...do it!" Vin felt Chris begin to slide as he came close to the edge of consciousness.

"Easy. Hold on."

"To what, Tanner. Ahhhhhh..."

"Easy...easy...still..."

"Ahhhhhhhh...Vin..."

"Know...close, going under it now..."

"AHHHHHHHHHHH!"

"I'm there,...I'm under it...don't you move, Chris...here it..."

"GOD, Tanner...get it out!"

"Don't move. Made me lose it, Chris. Be still. Gonna do it again."

"Tanner...you sack of shit...GET IT!"

"GOT IT!"

"Thank God." Chris straighted a bit, suddenly lurched against Vin and puked a small stream of something into the sand. He felt Vin press a large mass of something against the open wound and managed to keep his protest to a medium-sized hiss. Crushed tobacco was jammed, none to gently, into the cut, a wad of cloth added on the top, and the mass sealed under strips of cloth.

"One down. Ya want a space before we do the other?" Vin washed the next wound with water, then drizzed a little water down Chris's throat. He offered no more when Chris began to choke and struggled for more air.

"Aren't you going to finish tying this one down before you start cutting on my side?"

"Not a good idea. Got to get that bullet out of your side over here on the right. I tie down your right arm, I'm just gonna set those problems off all over again. I'll do it if you want."

"No..." Chris pushed away from his hold on the tracker, not stopping until he found himself falling backward onto the sand. "Put it where it needs to be. Finish it later. Vin..."

"I know."

"Gonna be soon, if you don't move. Give me a little more water, okay."

"Here, Chris. I've got water."

"Thanks, Son. Billy...I'm sorry... you do know I'm not mad at Vin. Just hurts...that's all." Chris knew he had to close his eyes, but he didn't want the boy to worry. "Look, stay here with Vin, make sure you both drink, I got to rest a few minutes... then we got to do the last one."

Seemingly before he could get them closed, Chris opened his green eyes again, and saw the boy's trembling lower lip. He reached out quickly with his left hand and pulled the boy to him, "Look, Billy, you need to cry...you cry...ain't no shame...but know this...I'm okay. I'm real tired, and I'm in a good bit of pain right now, but Vin got that bullet out, so I'm gonna get better real soon. I promise ya, I'm not going anywhere except home to Four Corners with you and Vin. I'm not ever planning to leave you alone...we got some serious fishing and hunting to do. Okay?"

"You promise? You promise that ole debil ain't won this time."

"Naw...you ain't gonna let no devil come around this water hole while I'm resting are ya?"

Billy shook his head. He sniffed then he took Chris's hand in his own. "NO, SIR! He ain't comin' here, cause I'm gonna sit right here 'til you feel all better. Any ole debil tries to hurt you or Vin, I'll just shoot 'em."

"Good," Chris's eyes closed again...then opened one more time. "Just make sure it's a devil you're shooting...I'd appreciate it if you didn't miss and hit me or Vin. Okay."

"Sure, Chris!"

Chapter 4

"Vin?"

"Yeah, Chris. You saying your ready?"

"No...need a little water." He got what he needed, then reached out a hand to his friend, who clasped it crossed-arms. Vin squeezed the arm tight, acknowledging the ritual of friendship they often shared. "Okay, I'm ready. I start moving too much, you just hit me."

"Stretch back, Chris. Might have to sit on ya if it gets too bad."

"Sounds like a plan."

His side was already bare, Vin's blade hot again. After a brief rinse with water, it was only a few seconds before the hot metal tore into his body again and Chris screamed a full throated scream.

"Easy, Chris."

"In your dreams, Tanner." Chris panted through the pain as he writhed on the ground. "Any idea where this is?"

"Not yet. Be still."

"MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM! SSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! VIN!" Chris pulled himself up, reaching out with his good arm to grab Vin's. "How...much...longer?"

"You don't get still, I'm not gonna find it."

"Shit. Vin...gonna be sick."

"Hold on. HOLD ON, CHRIS...I see it."

"Please, Vin. Get it out...hurry"

"Damn it, Chris...be still. It's moving all over...could cause you real trouble. Just get still!"

"Hell, Vin...you son-of-a-bitch...GET IT OUT!

"Sorry, pard. You be real still...I got a touch on it...got to get a..."

"PLEASE, VIN...PLEASE...How much more."

"On three."

"Sound like Buck, damn it."

"You insult me like that again..."

"Please, Vin. Gonna puke...gonna..."

"One...two...thr..."

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

"Chris? Wake up, Chris. Please. I'm scared. Me and Vin need ya."

"He knows, pard. Look, he's just tired. You and me are gonna stay real quiet for a spell. We're gonna put bandages on this wound just like before. Then we're gonna finish his shouldeer, and we're gonna just let him get a little rest. Look...see...we got the bullet out. Now all he's got to do is heal. And now, we got two horses...see...here comes Pony. He's gonna come check Chris out for himself. When Chris wakes up, he's gonna have all of us right here to make sure he's okay. He's gonna be okay, Billy. You remember, didn't he make you a promise he's gonna be okay?"

The boy nodded,, and smiled up as Vin ruffled his hair. "He did make me a promise, didn't he?"

"Yeah, he sure did."

"And Chris don't EVER lie...right?"

"Well...no...no...Chris Larabee don't never tell no lie. Well, maybe a little lie...but no...he won't never lie to you."

"Good."

"Now, little pard, you gonna do what Chris asked you to do...you gonna watch out for us for a spell?"

"Sure, Vin. I'll guard ya. You gonna sleep?"

"Think I will, just a bit. You just remember we're counting on ya, little pard...Gotta be you to watch all our backs." The tracker checked his friend one more time, assuring himself that the man was breathing, exhausted, but breathing well in spite of his pain. Vin lay beside him then, and he passed out too.

Chapter 5

Chris woke first of the two, wondering where he was, exactly why everything was so dark, why he was on the ground, why he was so cold, why he had a headache, and then, "Who in the hell knifed me? AWH!" He quickly assessed his situation, and knew that moving was going to be a real challenge for the next couple of days.

"Easy, Chris. You're gonna wake up Vin. Here. Drink water."

"Wake up Vin? Why's Vin sleeping, Billy? Where are we? What? Oh! Guess I shouldn't do that. How long have we been out? Who built that fire?"

"Few hours I guess. We're at the same old watering hole. You remember getting shot? Well, Vin got shot too...and you two took bullets out of each other. You been sleeping since then. It's night now, Chris...and, and, and...I'm hungry! I just kept that little fire we started burning, then I's getting cold, so I kept adding more wood...thought I'd let it get too big for a time, but sure has been good since the sun went down."

Chris braced his right arm into his right side with his left hand and tried to sit up. He didn't make it. The yell and curse did wake Vin, who also pulled up hissing. "Chris, just shut the hell up! Who in the hell cut me?"

"Already asked that. Ain't got it totally figured yet. Not the why of it anyway."

"Wanna maybe, oh shit...want to maybe fill me in?"

"I did it. You did it to me. Don't know what we'd a got in a knife fight with each other...I mean, we can usually talk out these things."

"What things, Cowboy?"

"Hell if I know!"

The two of them were acting just a little strange. Billy didn't like it, and he wanted them to stop it. "Don't either of you remember getting shot? Why don't you remember getting shot, Chris?"

"Oh, yeah. Guess I do remember." Vin tried to move his shoulders and uttered a heavy curse. "Bushwackers!"

"Guess I don't remember nothing because of whatever put this knot on my head. Damn...where's the black? Billy, you seen that horse of mine? Where's Vin's and yours? My head feels like ten miles of damn lumpy road. Oh!" He held his head in his hands, pushing his hair back from his face, trying to decide if making an attempt to stand up was even an option.

"Don't you remember anything, Chris? Vin, don't you 'member?"

"Well, kid," Vin tried to reach his back and just swore a blue streak. "You're a son-of-a-bitch, Larabee. Remember you trying to dig to China in my damn back! Awh! Hell, Peso don't seem to be here!"

"He ain't! Pony's over there, Chris. He came back, and Splatter came back. I staked 'em out and took off the saddles while you slept. Gave 'em a little feed."

"How'd you manage my saddle? You took care of Pony AND Splatter. Why didn't I take care of my own horse? AWH!" He pushed up a little, but fell back again. "Guess that explains it...but how'd I get like this?"

"Well, pard, seems I remember a couple of bullets hittin' ya. You falling. They hit me later. Remember you yelling, Billy jumping. Last I remember was trying to check you out. Then nothing."

Anybody got any idea who they were? I don't remember nothing after that one hit my head. Didn't remember the shoulder or the side 'til I tried to move."

"You yelled at me to jump. Vin yelled at me to run. Those men were just yelling to be yelling. I run over there toward those trees, and I dropped down when they rode up. One of 'em's named Harry; other's Leroy, I think. They tried to get your horses, but Peso kicked so hard, one of them gave up real fast. Peso took off. Other man got hold of Pony."

"Bet he just loved that!" Vin laughed and looked over at Chris, noticing for the first time how strained and glassy the man's eyes were.

"Why?"

"You did get hit in the head, pard. Billy, that horse bite, kick, what?"

"It was a bitch of a fight!"

Larabee couldn't help the laugh, or the big groan. "Where'd you hear that one, Billy?"

"You and Vin was talking about two polecats having a ...a...a... dustup...in Mr. Ezra's saloon...first night out."

"When you were supposed to be sleeping?"

"Uh-huh. You said that was one damn fine bitch of a fight!"

"So I did! Well, Watch it. I don't want you getting too much like me with what you say, so don't go quoting me...repeating me, understand?"

"Well, I'll try, but it was just like what that man did... minute he touched the reins, Pony reared up, then he charged him, straight out...slick as snot, knocked him in the dust, stomped him one good time, bit him on the butt, then he kicked him in the ass."

"BILLY!"

"Ah, come on, Chris...ma's not here."

"But I am, and someday you'll tell your ma what you said, and then it's gonna be mine in the dirt. And I sure didn't teach you anything like slick as...you know. Cut it out!"

"Sorry."

"Ole Pony was a bit of a corker, wasn't he?" Chris laughed, then he jerked and hollered. "Damn, Tanner...what did you do to me?" Chris moved his hand away from his side, coming up with a palm full of liquid blood. "Damn, how deep did you have to go?"

"Moved some things around. You moving around made me lose my grip the first time. Second time it was lots further in...had to get up under some things, roll it across something else to get it back to the top. You was screaming a might there at the last."

"'Spect I was. Probably cussing a bit."

"Not too much, Chris, but you scared me plenty. Thought you were going to die."

"You were cussin' good enough, Chris, but he remembered your promise...didn't ya Billy. You told him you weren't going no place except home. Lie back, Chris. Let me look at that."

"You're sure I want to do this?"

"Probably not...but...look, ya got to get your arm and your hand out of my way."

"Hell."

"Hell's right, Chris. You're bleeding a lot. Hope I didn't go hit nothing important."

"Me pitching around, you having to fight to get to that bullet...Did the best you could, Vin."

"Just ain't no way to stitch it, Chris. We could get thread out of the shirts, but we ain't got no needle. We got to find us a way to get more pressure on this so it stops, or at least slows down. We're gonna have to move before too long, probably first light...we got more than a day of riding left."

"Riding? Where are we going?"

"Home...we're headed home. You don't remember?"

"Home...okay...think I remember that. But Vin? Where's home?"

"Chris? Don't ya remember Four Corners?"

"That's home, Billy?" Chris pressed the palms of his hands against his head. "Know stuff's out there on the edge somewhere, just can't pull it into mind. Probably 'cause of this lump on my head, maybe loss of blood. Most likely come back in a little. Maybe when the headache stops."

"Headache all, Cowboy?" Vin turned the man's head, looking deep into his eyes, listening to how he spoke.

"No...head, shoulder, side, wanna puke, pretty dizzy. Let's just say I feel like shit. Don't figure you feel much better right now."

"Ain't so bad, Chris. Think you did a pretty good job, and I weren't nearly as shot up as you. Now, get still. Gonna take a look."

"Think my head and shoulder are okay. Side...feels real hot, and it's real wet."

"Okay...just hang on...and Chris, don't you dare move."

Tanner untied the binding around Chris's body, feeling the man tense as the wound on his side opened wide and ragged again. "Billy, you take these to the watering hole and wash 'em out real good."

"Chris? He really need me to wash this, or he just getting' rid of me. I'm not a baby."

Chris chuckled through the pain at the boy who had gotten serious now. "Vin ain't getting' rid of ya, son. He may be thinking ya need to just go get the bandages ready, especially since it's most likely the only ones we got...but I'll let you in on a secret."

"What secret." Interest shone in the young boy.

"Vin...you'd think he was a tough old buzzard, but he's got a real tender heart. I kinda think he don't want you to have to watch me go through this...don't want ya to hear me bitch and moan again."

"Oh. Well, if we're gonna need that bandaging, I'll go wash it real good, but then I'm gonna come back and just help Vin and hold your hand for a little while. That's what you do, ain't it? You always let people hold on to you when they're scared or hurtin'. That okay?"

"Sure...that's okay. It's sure gonna hurt, and I could use the comfort...just don't let me break your hand."

"You wouldn't do that!"

"I've broke Buck's more than once, put Vin's out of commission for a spell too. I get to hurtin' too bad, ain't liable to remember what I'm holding. You feel my hand start tightening...you get yours out of there...promise."

"I promise."

"Okay...go wash the bandages...get back here. I'm gonna need ya."

"Sure Chris. I'll fill the canteen while I'm down there. You were real thirsty last time."

"You fill Vin up first, then you, then me...got it?"

"Got it." The young man was gone again.

"Don't build me up in that boy's eyes, Chris. I ain't no saint."

"Ain't no doctor either, but ya got your good points. Look, Vin, I'm gettin' real woozie. See if you can get this done before he gets back."

"No way in hell, Chris. And don't you tell that boy I'm OLD!..ain't near bout as old as you! Now, shut up and hang on."

"You gonna use the knife?"

"Probably...try not to, but you just know it might happen. DON'T MOVE!"

Gritted teeth, strained muscles, hisses, and low groans came from Larabee as Tanner spread each layer of his wound and looked for the source of blood. "You okay, Chris."

"NO!"

"Chris! Want water, Chris?"

The man just shook his head and clawed at the sand beneath his hand. His breathing was erratic, small pants between biting pain.

"Chris...want water, Chris?"

The man shook his head harder, knowing the sound of the voice so well but understanding the misery it helped to make him feel, fighting to get past the pain and the nausea building inside his body.

The voice came again..."Chris...want water". A small hand slipped into the big man's grasp.

He snatched his hand from the small one, fear of what he was feeling driving him away from the child, tortured words tumbling from dry lips. "NO! BILLY...GET AWAY FROM ME!"

"Chris?"

"GET AWAY! GO! JUST GO! AHHHHHHH...VIN...God, Vin...you damn, miserable son-of-a-bitch. GET THIS DONE, DAMN IT! AWHHHHHHHHH!"

"Easy, Cowboy. I found where it's coming from. Problem is, I got to get in there and burn it to make it stop. Gonna be hell..."

"Oh, God. Vin...can't..."

"You gotta. You don't, you're gonna bleed to death. You just got to hang on and take it."

"Chris?"

"Billy...not now...Sorry...sorry...Vin...gotta stop..."

"Hold my hand, Chris..."

"Can't...break it..."

"Gotta do this, Chris. Knife's ready now. You ready?"

"Billy...leave me alone. Won't know...might hurt ya."

"Don't matter, Chris. I can do it. Hold on to me..." The young man put his hand against Larabee's left, straight through the mass of caked blood until he had a full, steady grip on the man, his almost father. "You hold to me...I ain't a kid."

"Not a kid, Billy." Chris took a deep breath and curled his fingers around the small hand. Even in pain, aware of the gift the young one gave him, he curled his fingers lightly and held on. "Fine man. Thanks, son. Do it, Vin...just don't let me break his...AHHHHHH, VIN, NO MORE! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" His grip on the boy's hand disappeared.

"VIN, VIN! HE AIN'T...HE CAN'T BE...HE PROMISED!"

Vin dropped the blade into the fire, and quickly placed his hand against Larabee's chest. He wiped the perspiration from his face, and smiled down at the young boy who was crying, great sobs shaking his body. "No...no, little pard. He just passed out again. I'm gonna dry this blood out, then I'll make sure it's not bleeding any more. Long as he ain't still bleeding, he's gonna be okay. You go walk around a few minutes..."

"I wanna stay with you and Chris!"

"I know...just want ya to take a little break. He wakes up 'fore ya get back, I'll call ya. You go take your break. Chris gonna wake up real soon if it don't start bleeding again. Go on now."

Vin watched the boy walk away. When he was sure Billy could not longer see him across the fire, he used water from the canteen to rinse Larabee's blood from his hands, then let his own head drift forward and let the moisture run down his face.

Chapter 6

"Hey, Cowboy. 'Bout time you came to."

Chris found himself under a rather smelly blanket, no shirt, but his side and shoulder were covered in clean black cloths. He had fever, his stomach was decidedly rocky. He looked up into strong morning sunlight and tried to recognize the voice or face of the man kneeling there beside him. "Who are you?"

"Hold on, now. I'm Vin...always been Vin...you do KNOW I'm Vin don't ya?"

Chris shook his head to clear the many cobwebs, then looked again at the man now sitting beside the fire. "Sorry Vin...guess my head's not right just yet. Wasn't seeing too clear."

"Lost a lot of blood yesterday, Larabee. You remember that?"

"Yeah. You're through with that damn knife aren't ya?"

"Seems so. Packing in that side's held up okay."

"Get me up."

"Figured you just needed to rest a long time today...ride out tomorrow...you're running a big ole case of fever, and I sure don't want to have to burn ya again. Reckon you're up to moving yet? How you really feel?"

"Won't know til I try. I'm tired, Vin...bone tired. There anything to drink or eat around here...did we ever feed Billy yesterday? Seems I remember him saying he was hungry. Just don't remember doing anything about it."

"Fed him after ya passed out. Got us some jerky out of your provision bag. Weren't good, but it stopped his belly from growling so loud. 'Fraid he's gonna attract some kind of night varmint. Came damn close. Heard a couple of howls during the night."

"Hell...not wild dogs! Hate those things...hope I never get to know one real personal. There any coffee around here?"

"Yeah...I'll pour ya a cup, let it cool a bit. You warm enough?"

"For now. Woke up sometime in the night, cold as all get-out."

"Should a called me or Billy. There's a couple more blankets."

"Didn't have the breath or heart to call ya. You were finally getting a little sleep yourself. Think the kid was beside me a couple a times, water, cooling my fever. Didn't matter...went back out soon enough. Billy still asleep? Where is he?"

"Took Pony and Splatter to the watering hole. Saw that he watered 'em real good, then he took 'em under the trees down there...staked em out to eat a bit. That boy knows how to work, Chris. You responsible for that?"

"Only cause his mother threatened to tan his britches if he didn't mind me and learn what I wanted him to know. Course, that meant I had to actually teach him something. We've sort a made a game of it. He learns real quick, and he ain't much of a goof-off either."

"I got ya a little broth on the fire, Chris. Want some?"

"No. Coffee. Know I hate broth. If it's all we got, I'll drink it. Got anything else, let me have it. This ain't my gut we're worrying over...just my side. I'm hungry and my heads still crazy. Think I need to eat."

"Well, got us a little something."

"Good...what?"

"Well...just a few Gunnison's."

"Gunnison's? What the hell are..."

"Prairie dogs."

"What? You want me to eat what? Don't think I'm gonna do that, Tanner. Sounds just plain nasty."

"Suite yourself. There ain't nothing else. Could look for rattlesnake if you want."

"Rather not. What made you think I'd...we'd...want Prairie Dog?"

"Bunch of 'em started barking real sharp this morning, first light. Sort of went to tell 'em to shut up, let me sleep, not wake you or the boy, but couple of 'em just went on chattering, so I convinced 'em once and for all to just let us rest."

"Where you get these Prairie Dogs?"

"Tracked a couple of their sentries out of here. They got a little town over the ridge."

"Getting a might low, Tanner, if you've sunk to tracking them things. Ain't worth much a nothing."

"Figured as much. Ain't much more than a bite per dog, but my guts singing too and about sunup this morning, them little critters looked like prime beef. Navajo eat 'em real regular. Gut 'em, stick 'em in the fire to singe off the hair, then just let 'em roast a spell. Threw a little of your salt and pepper on 'em. Made you some broth by putting your skillet under the spit to catch the drippings. Would a been better if we'd had us a little wild onion, but don't smell too bad."

"Don't smell that good either."

"Chris! Chris! You're awake! Vin said you'd keep your promise!"

"AWH!"

The little boy pulled back. "I'm sorry, Chris!"

"S'okay, kid." Chris blew out several breaths, trying to stop the pain caused by the boy's enthusiasm. "Hug me...just don't hug me quite so hard...and try for my left side, okay." His face was pale, his brow sweaty, and his empty stomach rebellious. He puked. "Sorry, Billy. Just so hungry, my stomach's on a tear."

"Vin caught us some prayer dogs."

"Prairie dogs?"

"Yeah...he says they'll taste good enough, but Chris, I think they stink!"

"Thanks I get for running all over this dust bowl trying to catch the little pests." Vin put on a hurt face.

Chris just rolled his eyes. "Think you let bullets do the running...didn't ya? I'm sorry, Vin. Didn't mean to stomp on your feelings. Didn't mean to down ya, and for now...I 'spect they'll taste better than rattlesnake."

"Ain't much chance they WON'T taste better than THAT, Cowboy."

Chris laughed quietly. "Question is, are you just gonna talk about eating, or you gonna feed us?"

The child could have been any of Chris's friends, jawing and picking at each other around a saloon table or camp fire. "Been talking all morning, Chris. He could wear the ears off a mule."

"Kid..." Chris looked him in the eye...a smile suddenly blooming brighter on his face.

"Huh?"

"I'm letting you stay around ole Buck too much."

"I like ole Buck, Chris!"

"So do I. Glad you do too. Now, you ask old Vin over there if he can maybe get me up."

"Now, Chris. Since I'm being Nate right now, I'll be Nate. NO! You can't get up yet...you need to rest."

"I need to do something else worse."

"Oh. Well,...that's different."

"Well, nothing! I got to get up and move. Don't think it'll be much of a problem once I'm upright. Gonna probably cuss about a year, but still I can take care of what I need to take care of. You gonna help me, or do I get Billy to bring me Pony. Horse has dragged me up out of the dirt many a time. Ain't no reason he won't drag me up now."

"Hard headed, mangy cuss. He drags you up this time, your side's gonna bust open, and then I'm gonna have to burn you again, and then we won't be riding tomorrow either!"

"Calm down, Vin. Rather you just help me up, pard. Then I won't bust nothing open, and we'll ride tomorrow. Thing is, I need to stand up and maybe walk about ten-twenty steps over there. We gonna argue all day, or you gonna help me, let me get done, and FEED ME!"

"Ain't nothing as ornery or argumentative, Billy, as a beat up or cut up Larabee."

"Yeah! Nathan says so too!" The boy giggled and watched Chris's face turn bright red.

"Unless it's a Tanner! Hump! You two shut up and get me up!"

"Okay, coming. You want something to bite on?"

"Shut up, Tanner. Give me a hand here. Wait! Use my LEFT HAND! AWH!"

"Sorry. Let's go real slow."

"I'm with you. WAIT! SLOW, DAMN IT!" He was upright and puking in a flash. "Tanner...you...ahhhh...damn, that's mean!"

"Shut up, Chris. You ain't the only hurtin' fool here."

"You pull anything open?" Chris was all concern, ignoring his pain now.

"Probably. Get you settled, you can check it. Billy, canteen full?"

"Starting to leak again. I'll look for another plug."

"Good." Chris was slowly stretching himself taller, pulling on his side. "Billy, you checked my saddle bags real good?"

"Pretty good. Found the jerky. Why?"

"Find a bottle of anything in there? Something that says Red Hills Rye on the front?"

"Chris...ya don't need to start drinking. I mean, you're past the worst of this. I ain't planning on cutting ya no more."

"Ain't gonna cut you either, and I ain't about to drink around here...but I 'spect we need to just clean these things out a bit."

"Ain't nothing like that in your saddlebag, Chris. One named Harry took two bottles that fell on the ground when he went after Pony."

"I think I need to shoot him. Well, Vin...ain't no rye; guess we boil us some water."

"You damn sure ain't Nathan!"

"I know I ain't, Vin...that's why it's gonna get cooled just a little before we use it this time. Man makes me feel like a scalded dog, every damn time!"

"Least I like your plan more than I generally like Nathan's. He does tend to get just a might enthusiastic in his doctoring, don't he? You ready to move yet."

"Yeah. You? Ain't gonna get no better with us just standing here. Billy...where's Billy?"

"He's done gone to the water, Chris. Moves a whole lots faster than me or you."

"Ain't it the pitiful truth! Come on...I got a need...you're bound to have one too."

"Nope. I been visiting Prairie Dog Town this morning. Didn't sleep in like no old man like you."

"Mean man, Tanner."

Vin just laughed and shrugged. "Come on...let's move."

"LEFT SIDE. Tanner...you're a mean son-..."

"Want I should heat the knife, Larabee? You're insultin' me again."

"No. I want food, Tanner. I got to have food."

"Come on then...stop your yammerin' and take a step... Good ...Now another...Quit pushing on that side. Hell, pard, ain't THAT bad ... Stop your bellyaching, Chris. Hell, Cowboy ... Billy's less a baby than you!"

Chapter 7

"AWH! Damn, Cowboy. I didn't insult ya that much! Awh! You said you'd cool this stuff down." Chris had stripped him one-handed of the battered shirt and holey jacket, finding a now nasty wound. His reaction was anger...knowing his friend had let himself suffer while paying attention to Chris's wounds instead. In anger, frustration, and deep concern, Larabee had simply pulled the coffee pot of hot water up, dipped a small rag into it, and slapped it against Tanner's bare back. If he'd been able to do it, Tanner would have tried to flatten the grouch. "GET OFF ME, LARABEE!"

"Just lay there on your gut and be still! You just been keeping this a secret, Tanner. It's oozin' blood...where'd you find this stuff to keep it from showing? You get Billy to put it down your shirt, tell him not to tell me? This is red as fire, and I bet it feels like fire too, and you're plain burning up with fever. You just shut up, and get still."

"Like you ain't ever kept nothing secret from us when you hurt like hell. How many times Nate tied you down so you'd stay put while he worked on something? One of us had to stay awake, keep watch."

"Problem is, YOU didn't make it. Ya passed out anyway! Thousand wonders you ever woke up! Yeah, I've sure as hell ducked it...you ducked it...we all ducked Nate, regular as clockwork...hell, Nate's ducked Nate. But the thing! Don't you NEVER tell that boy it's right to keep a secret from me. Could get him killed, could get us all killed... Mary too. Shit, Tanner...makes me damn mad!"

"Thought you was hungry. AWH! BACK OFF!"

"I am hungry...guess that's why I've boiling this out so fast, maybe why I'm so mad and poking on you so hard. No...I'm mad cause ya took a chance that could a got you killed. Don't like it when you get stupid, Vin. Now...you just get yourself still!"

"AWH! ENOUGH! You just wait...wait til I get hold a you, you mangy..."

"YOU AIN'T getting hold a me, again, Tanner. I'm doing me while you fix the food you promised Billy and me more'n an hour ago. I don't eat soon, I'm just gonna pass out for about a week. Let you roast in this heat. Least you got a shirt to keep it off your back."

"You through boiling me alive, yet?"

"Going deeper 'fore I'm done with you! Need a little leather to chew on?"

"Naw...I can take it. I ain't no BABY, like you! AWH! I think you made China that time, son-of-a-AWH!"

"Get still, Vin. Mean it. This is deep and putrid. Need it cleaned out so your fever goes down. Think it'll be okay til we get ya to Nathan, but not if we don't clean it and pack it again. Sorry it's so mean, pard...but I got to go all the way down."

"Just finish it, Cowboy. I'll try to be still Sorry I got Billy involved. Don't be mad at him."

"Shoot, I'm not gonna ever get mad at that boy for your stupidity." Chris took a deep breath and sighed. The next rag was more gently placed deep in Tanner's back. Shit, I know you were trying to watch out for me. I ain't that mad, but it scared me...finding how bad this is. I think maybe you're the first that's scared me to my bones in a damn long time, least since J.D. in that Seminole village. You know you're my brother, don't ya? Ya know you're important? Well, don't you do this EVER gain."

"STOP IT!" The little boy had fire in his eyes. He stood in front of them and gave his order loud and clear.

"Huh?"

"What?"

"STOP YELLIN AT EACH OTHER! I DON'T WANT YOU TO YELL ANY MORE!"

"Look, Billy...son...we're just fussin'. We ain't that mad. Just forgot all about ya being here. We get riled or spooked, we get hurt, we just poke at each other. No worry for you to take. Look, why don't ya get us a little of that prairie dog...maybe some of the meat, so we get past being such prickly pears."

"Well, okay...but don't you two do it again. You hear!"

"Yeah, little pard. Chris and me hear ya real clear."

The boy left, the two men finally laughed. "Chris, that boy's gonna be as mean an ole bear as Orrin Travis."

"Might just be, Vin. Hope he don't try to hang me."

"Chris?"

"Yeah, Vin?"

"If ya ain't that mad at me any more, would ya please not pour no more of that boiling shit on my butt!"

"Damn..." The man moved the coffee pot and threw away the rag. "Sorry, Vin."

"Yeah, you're plenty sorry. Think ya'd have better aim! Get some of that fat stuff out of that prairie dog broth and smear it so it don't burn so much! Do it again...I'm gonna figure out how to get mine back 'fore you get home. Then Nathan can fix it."

"Mean man, Tanner."

"Chris?"

"WHAT!"

"I'm still cooking?"

"Yep. You ain't getting your hands on me."

"When we getting out of here?"

"Late afternoon if we can. Morning at latest. Time we got the boy back home, got our busted up bodies home to Nathan too. Hate to admit it, but we're gonna need him."

"Think we can do it?"

"Gonna try real hard. Got to share the horses. Me and Billy can swap on Pony. You and Billy on Splatter. Don't want to put the boy to walking. Gonna be a miserable ride, real challenge to keep moving. Don't look forward to it at all. Hell. Get cookin', Vin, 'for I slam starve to death."

"I'll cook. You check yourself out real good. Remember what you said to me...not to lie about what hurts. Well, same goes for you."

"Ah, hell. Who made you Nathan?"

"Me...get to work."

Chapter 8

"Chris, you sure you can ride, and walk?" Vin approached him as he was brushing the black gelding, slowly, working the brush from his saddlebag with his left hand alone. He braced his right shoulder against his right side, occasionally resting his body against the horse to stop the deep, achy pull. He wiped his head repeatedly against a piece of his shirt he had stretched across the horse's back.

"If you're up to it, we can get started, Vin. Get as far as we can before night fall. Think we can make the south side of the San Juan, move north of Eagle Bend around sunup...not quite a day left tomorrow. Think ya can make it that far?"

"We only got one canteen, sharing horses. Ya think you can go that far?"

"Figure we turn north pretty fast, let ourselves sort of weave along the San Juan...take us a little north of Eagle Bend, but at least we're not too dry. Got water when we need it. Easier travel too...easier on the horses and Billy."

"When we gonna go, then?"

Chris thought as he outlined his plans. "Thought we'd sleep a couple hours.. You need it. Admit I need it. We've both got fever still, but I think it's down a bit for me. How you doing?"

"Still sore, still hot, not too bad though."

"Like hell."

"Truth, Chris. Think traveling when it ain't so hot would definitely be a good plan."

"Okay. Billy?"

"Yeah, Chris!"

"Think you can ride a ways this afternoon late?"

"You can't ride. Vin can't neither!"

"Now, son. Vin and me feel like we need to get moving. We'll have to move slower than normal, save the horses...see if we can hook up with Peso someplace. We're gonna try to get close to Eagle Bend tonight, move on toward Four Corners in the morning. You up to the ride?"

"I can do it, Chris. But..."

"Billy. Just need to hear your answer, son. Your straight answer. Vin and me have to make our own choice. I want your thoughts about you. Are you too tired to move? Can you ride Pony part of the time. Figure you and me share Pony; you and Vin share Splatter."

"What about Peso? We gonna look for Peso?"

"We're gonna hunt as we go. Peso won't go too far without Vin. I figure he'll show up somewhere...might beat us to Corners, but figure we'll find him. Now...what about you?"

"I can do it."

"Well, then, it's set. We'll set out in a few hours. You've eaten enough?"

"Ate one of those prairie dog things. Not much, but enough. Want me to pack the other ones in your saddlebags?"

"Good plan. I got a little jerky left, any biscuit mix down in there?"

"Not that I found. Think that fell out when the rye fell out. Haven't seen it since they left."

"Then we ride with a little jerky and a little prairie dog...and one canteen of water. It's set. Billy, I want you to go take a nap."

"A NAP!"

"Don't argue with me, Billy." The man, tired again and hurting, caught the harshness in his voice and knelt slowly and painfully before the boy. "Son...Vin and me are taking a rest too. This ride ain't gonna be fun. It's gonna be slow, and hot, and Vin and me are gonna be pretty miserable most of the time. I want ya to be brave, and I know you're not a kid. Just put up with any stunt we pull, any hollering we do. I want you to just get rested before we have to set out. You're no baby, and neither are Vin and me, but we all need some sleep. And once we set out, there's a couple more things I want ya to do."

"What?" The boy's eyes were big as saucers.

"You make sure we don't run out of water, and you watch our backs."

Chapter 9

"Chris? Wake up, Chris."

"Billy?" He was groggy, his body hot again. He took the brimming canteen from the young man and drained every drop into a parched throat. "What? Need something?"

"Are we gonna go?"

"Yeah...figure so...any reason why not?"

"No...but sky's looking dark...not night dark...rain dark."

"Vin awake?"

"No. He's still sleeping...muttering some."

"Fever?"

"Both of ya. You're real hot and sweatin' something fierce."

"Yeah...admit it. You remember how many watering holes we passed on the way to Shiprock?"

"You don't 'member?"

"Not at the moment. Are we going to have anywhere to get water on the way back? Gonna need water."

"Think it was three after we passed the river. That enough?"

"Hope so. Maybe we'll find Peso, pick up another canteen. You go fill this one again. Make sure Vin drinks a full one, two if he can. You drink as much as you can. Let me have another. I'm real thirsty. Start it up now...need to move."

He pushed himself up from the ground where he had rested. He wanted to scream at the hot pain in his side. He buried the urge somewhere and managed to pull himself up straighter. He moved to Vin, but decided against waking him, afraid Vin would take one look and decide they were staying where they were. If they stayed, they both got soaked by a storm, they might not get the boy that depended on them home at all.

He moved to the shelter of the small hill where Pony was staked out. He walked slowly, holding his side, and once he was blocked from Billy's and Vin's possible view, he puked hard. When he finally felt he had nothing more to lose from his stomach, he walked for the first time directly to the watering hole. He knelt in misery and drank until his rocky stomach protested and emptied again. Afraid someone had seen, he quickly buried the evidence in the wet sand on the shore and moved back up the hill.

"Chris...don't tell me you're okay. I'll know you're a liar." Vin was sitting in the sand, pale and sweaty.

"I feel like you look."

"That bad?"

"Yeah, mostly got a miserable headache, but we got a storm coming. We got to get moving if we want to keep any chance of being dry. Can you move...I mean move, and keep on moving?"

"Got to do it. Both of us. You sick?"

"Puked a couple of times...not so bad now. Bad, you understand, just a little bit better than when you finished me yesterday."

"Then, we ride...but we ride slow as we can, slow as we can to beat that storm...that your plan?"

"Hoping like hell that thing goes somewhere else. You got any idea?"

"Nah. But it's moving...we best move, too."

"BILLY!"

"Yeah, Chris."

"Get the water for you and Vin. I'll get my own. Then saddle up...we're moving out, now."

"Okay, Chris. You want me to saddle Pony, too."

"I'll get him. You help Vin get set."

"Pard...you and me will saddle Pony on halves."

"Horse is gonna kick your butt, Tanner. Always does...now's no different."

"Then I'll saddle Splatter."

"Kid'll think your babying him. And Vin...one of us needs to try to not get hurt again. You just hold back and be our ace in the hole."

"Hell, Chris."

"I'm okay. I can do it. If I can't, I'll call."

"Okay...what do I do?"

"Drink water, make sure Billy does, make sure the canteen's full. Then, you take a look and choose exactly how we're going to go. You're the one that can get us home. Go get ready to do it."

The storm moved slowly toward the watering hole. Splatter stood quiet and waiting. Chris stood by the black's side. Vin and Billy looked around quickly when he slung the saddle up on the horse and couldn't hold back the shriek. Vin moved as quickly as possible to his side. "You okay. Want me to cinch it?"

"Not yet. Trying." But when he bent his knees to reach the leather strap, he nearly hit the ground. "Oooohhh!"

"How you gonna get in a saddle, Chris, much less stay in one?"

Larabee straightened. "Give me a minute...and the forward cinch strap." He accepted the strap from Tanner's hands and looped it through the top ring. Vin watched him grimace as he tried to feed the latigo through the lower ring.

"Larabee...this your turn to be stupid? Your flank ain't in any kind of shape to be moving around like this. Let me cinch this saddle so you can get on it."

"Gonna pull your back. What if he bites or kicks?"

"You just hold his head, and sweet talk this thing so he don't kick me. Better than you pulling that side open. Give it up, pard; being muleheaded just ain't gonna do er this time. Look, I can't get ya on him...my back won't take it. I can do this. Now move over."

"Hell, Vin."

"So you ain't a baby. You're a hurt man, Larabee. Standing around making a big fuss of what a man you are ain't getting us any closer home. Now, that's got the forward done, let's get the rear cinch finished, then somehow, we've got to get you mounted."

"I got a plan!"

The two men looked at Billy, speaking almost in unison. "You do?"

"Sure...Just go swimming! You lead Pony into the watering hole, then you just float out and let yourself float up to the saddle. Shouldn't have so far to pull up. Shouldn't hurt so much."

Chris went to pondering. "Pony don't like swimming too much. My saddle's gonna get pretty wet."

"I'll hold Pony's head. He won't hurt me."

"Shoot, hot as this sun is, pard...it'll dry and you'll dry fast. Good idea, little pard. Come on, Chris...move."

"Guess it's worth a try." The three made slow progress to the watering hole with Pony reluctantly following the small boy into the water. The major hurdle was the depth of the hole, and Billy's shortness. Chris smiled at the boy's efforts, "It's okay, Billy. I can take him out deeper."

Chris led the black as deep as the stingy pond allowed. "Whoa son. Look, don't kick. Gonna be real trouble if you start kicking now. Whoa..." Chris gathered the reins and moved to the horse's side. He found himself able to get his boot into the stirrup with much less pain in his side. He sucked in a deep breath and lifted himself into the saddle. He moaned pathetically as he settled into the seat and tried to push back into the cantle. Holding extremely tight to the horn cap, he pulled the reins and started moving Pony up the bank of the pond.

As the gelding rose from the water, a stream of sediment dripped from the side swell, near Chris's hand, and made a plopping sound as it hit the ground. The horse backed, jerked to a halt, and bounded back up the side. "WHOA...whoa, son." Chris hissed and doubled onto the horse's neck. Vin grabbed the now dangling reins, and felt the horse begin to rear. Chris gasped and held to his side, feeling something deep inside, below his ribs, begin to pull.

"Hold on Chris. Hold on." Vin fought the reins; the horse fought the man.

"Whoa, Pony. Whoa. Don''t worry. It's okay. That's Chris up there. Just hold still, let him get balanced again. Whoa, son."

At the child's soft words, the horse finally nickered softly and stood still, blowing, eyes flashing, ears laid back. Chris finally spoke, too. "Whoa...whoa, son...just water. Enjoy it while you got it, Pony."

"You okay, Chris? Anything busted open again?"

"Don't think so. Definitely gonna puke." Chris lay his head over the side and proved he was right. "Billy, you'd think all you was good for was toting water, but would ya just hand me the canteen again?"

"Sure, Chris. You okay now?"

"I'm either better or there just ain't nothing left to put out." He accepted the canteen again and drank it all.

"Slow down, Chris."

"Last place to get filled on water for awhile. Best take in as much as I can."

"Just don't get your stomach on another tear."

"K. Thanks Vin. Thanks, Billy. Thought he's hell-bent headed all the way to Corners for a minute."

"Thought that lunatic was putting you on the ground, Pard."

"Ain't no horse gonna put me on the ground! Not now. Not ever. Are we ready to ride yet? Billy...which ya riding first?"

"Splatter! Pony's in one dang ornery mood!"

"Takes after his boss, little pard. Come on...let's see if we can't get me in the saddle a little easier than Chris."

Chapter 10

"Did you bury that fire?" Chris finally said something. He was still miserable, but he didn't figure he was much more miserable than Vin, and Billy was getting restless. Chris figured that was because there wasn't any joking or talking going on since they'd left the camp. He pulled himself up straighter in the saddle, moaned only a little, and waited for Vin to make an effort at answering him.

"Yeah...good enough I think...and it's surrounded by sand...ain't going nowhere."

"Glad you remembered. I didn't think one thing about it."

"You okay, Cowboy?"

"Not exactly...and neither are you. How'd you get on that horse?"

"I don't think I remember...just did it."

"How long's getting home gonna take?"

"About twenty years, if we don't speed up."

"I's thinking we hadn't ridden this damn slow in forever. Think one of us had a boil."

"What's a boil?" The little boy knew it had to be meant as a joke. He hated it when he didn't get the meaning.

"Sore butt, little pard." Vin grinned and winked at the smallest rider, and felt better when the boy laughed much brighter than the joke truly warranted.

"Want water, Chris?"

"Yeah, Billy, I'll take a taste. Thanks." He accepted the water can from Vin, and drank a short pull. "Here, spect Vin's in need and you best drink yourself."

"I'm okay."

"Little pard...you're watching the water. You ain't to hold off drinking. It's hot out here, and Chris and me don't want you getting dehydrated."

"Okay...maybe just one sip. But you first, Vin."

"Okay...one sip." Vin drank and made sure the boy drank before he capped the canteen.

"Okay...we all had water?"

"Yeah, Chris...we're all liquefied. What?"

"Somebody best get a move on...thought we had lost that storm, but there's clouds coming out a the west now. We're heading straight for it."

"How come I didn't notice that?"

"Vin, you've been leaning your face into that horse's neck for about the last hour. You think you can stand speeding up?"

"I can, if you can, pard."

"Need to try. We don't need to run...Splatter's carrying too much weight as it is. Maybe a little canter?"

"Anything but a trot."

"I'm with you. Billy? You hold tight. Let us know if it's too rough to hold on back there."

"I'm not a..."

"You're not ten yet, either. Hold tight."

"Yes, sir. You, too!"

Chris eased Pony into his smoothest gait, surprised that he didn't have to yell. The horse was moving smooth as silk. He looked across at his friends, realizing instantly that Splatter had yet to develop his moves. His stride was a little sharp, too choppy, and Vin had gone totally pale again. "Billy, see if you can ease him up a bit. He's not into a canter yet."

"Come on, Splatter. Haul your..."

"BILLY!"

"Sorry. Come on, Splatter, get it in line."

"That's better." Chris grinned at him. "Vin..."

"I'm here. Wish I had this jacket off. Collar's hitting that exact spot every time this horse takes a step."

"How far to the watering hole?"

"Hour or two."

"Look, pull up a minute. Billy...help him get that thing off. Don't want to get that hole bleeding again."

"Sure. Vin can you flex your shoulders back?" The boy gripped the collar of the shirt and hauled back on the garment as the tracker leaned his neck back to ease the pain. The buckskin was heavy. When it came off at last, Billy lost it over the side of the horse."

"Ah, hell!"

"Kid, your ma is gonna beat his butt."

"Ah, Vin. Why'd she beat Chris's butt...it's you says Ah, hell all the time. Chris just says shi..."

"BILLY!"

"Ah, Chris...you're getting worse than ma!"

"You ain't EVER seen me at my worst. Now, you put a lid on that. Got to get back in practice of being a gentleman. Might get your mouth cleaned out before we get to Corners, but if you don't, I will."

"You wouldn't beat MY butt, would you Chris?"

"Never know. Depends on just how ornery I feel, just how much you make me REALLY mad. Fair warning, Billy. Button it up, kid."

"Yes, sir!" The boy relaxed a little when he saw Chris raise his cocky eyebrow and grin. "Chris, can you reach that coat? Vin can't get off, and I can't reach it."

"Sure. Move on up a bit so I can get it." He pulled into position and reached toward the ground to retrieve the coat. "Ah, shit!" It was said low; in response to the stab to his side, grating of the shoulder padding stuck deep inside the wound, and the wild spinning of his head. But Billy heard it.

"You said..."

"Little pard...don't think I'd mess with him right now."

"What's wrong?"

"You tell me."

"He gonna pass out again?" Billy watched as Chris wrenched himself up, his teeth gritted, his face sweating.

"We'll see. You just keep Splatter real still so Pony don't move either. Give him a minute to get set."

"Here, Vin." Opening his eyes again, and groaning only a bit, Chris finally moved Pony up beside the other horse. "Here's your coat."

"You need to be still a minute?" Vin watched Chris wipe the sweat off his forehead, push his blond hair back with shaking fingers, using the brim to hide his pain-contorted face, and slowly resettle his hat. These were long practiced moves, well known to the tracker. When done, Vin knew his friend was either ready to move, or determined to do it anyway.

"No." The man leaned over the side and puked. "Think that's got it. Let's go."

They rode mostly in silence for a time. Vin could tell Chris was still hurting, and he felt like somebody had knifed him in the back again himself. One eye on the on-coming clouds, one-eye on Larabee and a sense of the boy against his back, Vin reset their direction toward the San Joan River. At one point, he became aware that Larabee was now asleep in the saddle, their gait again slowing to a plodding walk.

"Vin?"

"Yeah, Billy?"

"Is Chris going to be okay?"

"Think so, but he's pretty tired. We'll just keep a watch on him, stop if he gets worse."

"Vin?"

"Yeah?"

"Where'd you grow up?"

"Mostly everywhere."

"You got a ma and pa?"

"No...course I did have both...but I lost 'em both real young."

"What happened?"

"Well, my pa got killed; ma died of a fever."

"When was that?"

"Both 'fore I was five. Then I went to the orphanage."

"ORPHANAGE!?"

"Yeah."

"You get 'dopted?"

"Na. Nobody wanted me...I's too old and I's a mad, ornery kid, Billy. Wasn't nothing good the director could tell nobody about me. And I sure as hell...heck...didn't give him any reason to like me. Hell... Shoot...wasn't no reason for me to like him neither!"

"Granpa took me to visit an orphanage with him one time...in Kansas City. It was real dark, and it smelled, don't think nobody never took a bath, and I didn't think that place made anybody real happy."

"When'd Orrin, your grandpa, take you to see that?"

"Last year, before I came back to live with Ma...before Granpa moved out here."

"'member the name of the place."

"Yeah. Kansas City Orphanage."

"I'll be damned."

"What?"

"That was where I was. Just wasn't there long."

"Why?"

"I just got the hell...the HELL...away from that place...I's about seven, maybe eight, and I wasn't gonna take another beating from that piece of...that man."

"He BEAT you?"

"Damn near every day. Oh, I'd do something to get it, okay; but he just liked giving it a bit too much."

"That means you didn't have any place to live? You were my age?"

"Yeah, guess I was."

"Nobody took care of you?"

"Lots of people tried, Billy. Settlers, Comanche, Apache, few nice families...Apache taught me to hunt buffalo; one black hunter took me under his wing, taught me how to hunt outlaws. They's all nice enough...taught me how to get by; but I just didn't have any real family until I came to Four Corners and met Chris. Full grown man before I felt like I had a real family again...and then I got Chris for a brother, and then I got five more brothers, and I met your ma and you, and your grandpa. Been a good life these last few years...made up for lots of the bad times. I'm lucky."

"You REALLY lived with Comanches? And Apaches. Weren't you scared?"

"With the Comanche? Mostly I just was real quiet and real respectful. Moved on pretty quick. Apaches took me in...let me stay...held a party to celebrate my manhood."

"HOW?!"

"Well, I helped 'em in this raid the Pawnee pulled on their village. Killed one, got wounded, killed another. They made me a man for that...treated me just like one of their own."

"I'd a been scared. Aren't they real mean?"

"They're people, Billy. They work, they play, they feed their people and take care of them. Pawnee like to take captives and they like to kill. Apache only kill when somebody hurts 'em. Comanche? Depends on their mood at the time. Apache got a real sense of what's fair, but you let somebody treat them bad...well, they're just not apt to treat you too good either, that being the case. People are people, Billy. Raised a little different 'cause of where they live, what they have...we all eat, sleep, do all the same things. Remember that...some good, some bad, some blowing with the wind...you get to meet them, just take time to help out and learn what they got to offer. Ain't a bad life at all. A little respect, a little kindness, goes a long way. You treat 'em all like you'd like to be treated."

"Ma says that's from The Bible."

"Is. Ma used to read it to me when I was little. Seems a real fine rule to live by."

"Chris says so too. Vin, you said Chris is your brother? But he ain't your brother, not really, is he?"

"To us, it's blood, Billy. Not a matter of who our flesh and blood was...we're kin. We don't know why we met, but it was for a reason. The others too. Reason we're where we are, but we don't know the why of it. Don't matter. Day Chris and I met, it was like I'd known him all my life...knew him, understood him, respected him, felt like I'd found my home. He says it was the same with him. I hope so."

"Wish I had a brother."

"Well, could happen...mean if your ma marries again, if you get a new pa, might be a brother or sister sometime."

"Know what?" The boy's voice lowered in secrecy.

"What, little pard."

"Chris is MY father...least he is in here." He touched his chest. "I mean I remember loving my real pa, but he ain't here. Chris is here, He's my pa now."

"Ya don't say? Well, if you're choosing your own, and it's just fine to add on people you like, you could a done a lot worse. You know he had a son once."

"Yeah, he told me when we were at the house...when the debil was after us."

"He told you?"

"Yeah...shouldn't he have."

"His choice...but it means a whole lot if he chose to tell you so soon after he met you., you being such a little fella. Chris don't tell many, and he don't talk often. He gave ya a present, Billy. He was telling you that he liked you, and he trusted you. 'Member that too!"

"I will. Don't tell him I said nothing about him being my pa...he might not want no other son...least for a while."

"Oh...I'm gonna tell ya a secret, little pard."

"What secret? About Chris?"

"Yeah. He thinks you're real special, just as special as that first little boy. You looking on him like you do...you'll make him real, real happy."

"Good."

Vin looked across the sand to the man riding with only a bit of shirt to cover his now reddening back. He thought the man slept, but as he looked he saw a soft smile on the man's face. Vin led them forward toward the San Joan, now in silence, letting his friend rest in the revelry.

Chapter 11

"How much water do we have left, Billy?" The boy had to have a break. Vin lifted the youngster down from the horse and let him walk. He eased himself down gingerly. They were standing at the third watering hole...just as dry as the last two they had passed.

"Lot less than half."

"Well, there's sure nothing but mud here, and not much of that. Last two been dry as a bone, now this one. Only thing left is the river...five more hours...it's getting late to make the river before tonight."

"Chris and you need water."

"We all need water, but you're right. Chris is burning up. He ain't said nothing, but I bet he's bleeding inside again. And he ain't woke since we left the last hole. Ain't drunk nothing but one sip since the first one was dry."

"You're gonna make him drink this time, ain't ya, Vin?"

"Yep. You're gonna shame him into it; I'll get it down him. He gets a sip, you get a sip, these horses get a sip."

"And you get a sip!"

"Yeah, and I get a sip, too. That'll probably finish off the canteen. Look, you're gonna ride, Billy. Chris is gonna stay in the saddle. I'm gonna walk a spell. When we move out, I'm gonna lift you up on Pony with Chris. Let Splatter rest a little. I know it's gonna slow us down, but we ain't gonna die. We're just gonna get real thirsty."

"You can ride Splatter!"

"Billy, he's been real dependable this whole trip...but I don't want to break him down. I'm too big for him, especially if he's carrying double. We've got to move slow for Chris's sake anyway, I'm just gonna give Splatter a chance to get his wind back. You're little. I want you in the saddle. You try to walk, you'll slow us down worse. Understand?"

"I'm not a ..."

"Billy...don't argue. Vin's not saying you're a kid, just saying he needs you to do what he asks."

"Hey, Cowboy."

"Hey, self. How long I been out?"

"Hours. You're burning up."

"Figured. Got a big hitch in my side, and my shoulder's hot and botherin'."

"How's the head?"

"Don't ask. How's your back?"

"Bitching too. Think it needs a real good stretch. Gonna just stay down a bit."

"Lie like a dog, Tanner.

"I'm doing okay..."

"Heard the conversation, Vin. Shot up, not deaf. Look, get me down. I'll walk a spell too."

"Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!"

"Didn't say I's gonna walk forever. Just give Pony a little break."

"Break that side open, ya mean."

"Think I did that a LONG time ago...deep...inside."

"Figured as much. You ain't walking, Larabee. You're drinking a sip of water, you're NOT gonna walk that horse. I ain't gonna argue this one with ya, pard."

"Where exactly are we? Can't be that far from the river."

"About four, maybe five hours...maybe six if we stand here talking too long, don't get to moving."

"Why's that?"

"Been moving careful. Ain't been a drop of water in any of the holes since we broke camp this morning. This is gonna be the last sip of water 'til we hit that river."

"Not good."

"Tell me more. I'm not worried about Pony or Splatter. They had lots of water before we took out. We've given both of the horses water along...not much, but they ain't dry. You're sucking mud, Cowboy."

"Billy?"

"He's okay, and he's had a little. He'll get thirsty, but he knows what's coming and he's ready for it. You got about two good sips, I've got one."

"Why do I get more?"

"Cause ya puked everywhere, and you've lost too much moisture. You've got the biggest need, and it ain't gonna make much of a difference no how. You're just gonna be thirsty...we're all gonna be thirsty."

"I get one, you get one, Billy gets two. Way it is."

"NO!"

"Billy, don't argue with me."

"Ain't gonna do it, Chris. You got fever. Ma always gives me lots of water when I've got fever. This sure ain't much, but a little extra will help ya. I'm not a baby. I can do this!"

"Chris, he's offering you something special. You take it, and you tell that boy thanks...you hear?"

"Yeah...hear. Thanks, Billy."

They divided the water carefully. Each drinking their share, making sure to give no less to the horses.

Chapter 12

Vin was dog tired and bleeding a bit, but he was still walking. Billy reached down occasionally, trying to stop the trickle of red down Vin's back. Somewhere along the way, they had decided Splatter was fine enough and could carry Billy with no trouble. The trouble was with Chris. He tried to ride more upright, tried to talk and even laugh with the boy and his friend. He wanted to walk, to let Vin ride, but he knew he couldn't...not now...not while the gash in his side was losing blood all the time. It was a small, growing spot on his side, but it was determined not to stop, not to complain, not to pass out again.

How Chris wished they could stop. He was thirsty beyond measure, his head ached, his shoulder was on fire.

The first clap of thunder spooked the smaller horse, but Vin had firm hold on the reins. While his back made him curse, Billy held tight to the saddle, avoiding the spill Vin had feared. Chris wasn't so lucky. Pony shied and snorted as the second clap was followed almost immediately by the burning white bolt of lightening. Chris held tight and single-minded, but he felt his side tear again. There was nothing short of a torrent of rain. They were all soaked in what seemed like mere seconds.

"Chris?! You okay?" Vin had to shout to be heard.

"Make do. See any place to get out of this?" He turned his head up to the sky and, as the only good thing he could recognize, let the rain slam into his mouth. The sharp, pelting rain made his head ache more, so he cupped his hands and let the wet cold drops fall into them, sucking in the handfuls as they pooled.

"No...not in these flatlands. No place for cover."

Chris was resolute enough, accepting the fate..."Then we ride. Ain't no other way. How far to the river?"

"Normally, be less than an hour, but this is gonna slow us down."

"Get on the horse, Vin."

"Chris, Splatter's still tired. He's limping just a little on the right."

"Come on, Vin. Check his hoof...he's a strong horse, shouldn't be this tired after you've been walking. See if it's his hoof."

The tracker leaned forward with a solid moan. In the lessening light, he pulled the little horse's leg onto his knee and peered down at the hoof. "Uh! Hold still horse! Yeah...small stone between soul and shoe."

"Hoof pick's in my saddle bag. Can ya get it out?"

"Yeah, think so. That'll let him pick up since we're in this sandy stuff. Probably be rested enough after we cross the river."

"We haven't crossed yet?"

"No. Chris, pard, When we get close to the San Jose, there's an old sod fort...could see if we can find a little corner to tuck into out of this rain. Think you'd like to do that? Lay down a bit...maybe get a little sleep, eat a little prairie dog?"

"Just need water. Rains hard enough ... knock my head off, but I can't get enough water in me to stop being thirsty. Don't think I need to get down, Vin. You get us to that fort, you want to stop, I'll damn sure give it a try."

"How bad?"

"If we don't move, I'm gonna start puking for real, and then I'm just gonna...fall...off." Chris crumpled in the saddle, clinging to the horn.

"Whoa, Pony. Chris, Cowboy, hold on now. Don't need ya to sleep. Can you make it just a little more?"

"Try." For perhaps the hundredth time that long, miserable day, Chris pushed his hair back under his hat and covered his head. "Vin?"

"Yeah, Chris."

"Best tie me on here. Wasn't kidding about falling off. Think I'm gonna pass out."

"Come on, Chris. You hang on. Don't you sleep. We're gonna get ya somewhere fast."

"Thought we'd crossed this damn river once today."

"No, you're just wet enough to think we've crossed it. How ya doing, pard?"

"Could cut ice blocks off my butt, Tanner. I'm damn cold!"

"Yeah, sun's going down. Ya still got fever. Gonna be real cold we don't get across here and get us a fire going somewhere."

"How you gonna build a fire in the rain, Vin?"

"I'm gonna get us someplace dry. Then I'll worry about the fire."

"I can do it. I've got the matches!"

"Billy...you still got 'em?"

"You said keep 'em, Chris. I kept 'em. And I kept 'em dry, too."

"Tanner...that kid puts us to shame. I forgot about the matches."

"Tell me bout it."

"But how we're gonna get across this damn river!"

"BILLY!"

"Chris...I'm sorry...but I'm hungry, and I'm thirsty, and we still haven't crossed this d... ole river!"

"BILLY!"

"Then get us across!"

Chris just stared at the water in the river. "Then come on. I'll get us there."

Vin put a hand against the man's reins, refusing to let him move. "Chris...you can't..."

"So I can't...like you got on that horse, we're gonna just swim this river. "

"You're just dumb, Larabee."

"Hell...not dumb, just wanna move...get us home. All I can manage to think about, Vin...gettin' home, gettin' wet, gettin' warm. Hell, Billy ain't this much a baby!"

"Ain't a baby, Cowboy. You're just tired and weak. Let's just be still a minute and let you think up your plan."

"Ain't no plan anywhere in my brain, Vin. Think all I see anymore is dark. Think, Vin...you think there might just be a place, a low place we can maybe just walk em over? Truth, I don't wanna have to swim. I just really don't want to have to swim. Pony's gonna balk, and I'm so cold, think that would just about do me in. Ain't been this damn tired since I left Jericho."

Vin pulled Splatter closer to the man and looked up into Chris's dead-tired eyes. He had no doubt that if they decided to swim the river, Chris just might not make it. One balk of the horse, one slip on the saddle, too numbed fingers, a too swift current, Chris would die. "So who says we have to cross here. Same difference for a couple hours. Come on...let's just ride along this bank toward the west...see if we can find us a place. We don't...we'll just swim later. Least on this side, we can most likely find a way to fill the canteen."

"Sounds like a plan, Vin. Wish this damn rain would just take a mind to QUIT! Damn I'm cold!"

"Shoot...we have to swim this river? Who's gonna care about a little ole rain."

"Guess that's true. Come on Vin. I wanna go home."

"Startin to sound just a bit like a little ole kid there pard." Vin sympathetically gripped the man's shoulder.

"Hell, shut up, Tanner...I ain't no kid."

"Cowboy, I could a told you that."

Chapter 13

They moved through the rain, through the night ...for Chris, way too fast now, but he held on and moved. Vin rode with Billy in front now, mostly to prop himself more upright, and so Billy could reach out to pull Pony into the right path as Chris continued to ride unknowingly beside them. They found the place to cross sometime around sun rise. They woke Chris, then crossed and took up the long trail leading leading to Eagle Bend.

"You wanna maybe stop in Eagle Bend, Chris. Rest up?"

"NO!"

"They maybe got a doctor there."

"NO!"

"Know they've got a saloon."

"Not for love, nor money, Tanner. I ain't stopping in Eagle Bend."

"Why not?"

"Stains! Son-of-a-bitch. I ain't got enough spit to call that bastard out, and I can't draw worth nothing. He knows I'm there? He's just gonna bushwack us. Next time I meet that s.o.b., he ain't near bout gonna get the first punch. Leave it alone!"

"Getting to be real ornery, Larabee."

"Vin...I ain't in the mood. I just wanna get home. We just keep moving, we'll be there tonight. Now...just don't talk so much. I pass out...just leave me that way...I'm beyond bushed."

"I know. Just trying to keep ya talking. We'll just by-pass the place, take the short cut."

"What short cut?"

"Up the ridge line...up to where the boys and me camped when we was looking for ya before."

"Bears."

"Yep, told ya there was three of 'em. Probably moved on by now."

"Not fighting bears, Vin. Go around."

"Chris, it's the fastest way."

"No bears. No dogs. No...no critters. Just wanna sleep! Get warm. Stop pukin'. Eat...Let my head... lie down on... a big down...pill... Want ... damn shoulder ... to just..."

"He's out again?"

"Yeah, Billy. He's lost too much blood. Side's covered now...he's pulled it near all the way open. Just part of the burning that's holding the deepest part shut."

"Ain't dead yet." The gunslinger's head came up a bit. He pushed hard to sit upright.

"Thought you passed out on us again, Chris."

"Wouldn't mind a bit, long as ya keep me in the saddle. Just bouncing in and out...trying not to puke."

"Well, at least now ya got water to wash out your mouth." Vin and Billy pulled the horses to a stop.

"Obliged." Chris accepted the canteen and drank his fill. How far we got left, now?"

"Like a kid on a buckboard. Are we there yet? Are we there yet?"

"Would just be nice to lie down and not move for a bit. Been in this saddle forever."

"You lie down in the wrong place, Pard, you ain't gonna have to worry about getting up."

"You're in awful talkative mood."

"Yeah, I am at that. I think my back's finally stopped killing me."

"Wish I could say the same for my side, my shoulder...my head, too."

"Ridge then?"

"Hell, Vin. Okay...least I'll sleep in a bed tonight."

"One of Nathan's beds."

"Ah, shit!"

"CHRIS!"

"Sorry, son!"

The boy giggled. The man slumped in his saddle. The three moved out, slow and quiet.

The bullets missed him by inches. Chris reacted as he had learned to do from lots of fast flying bullets, stray and intended. He dove from the saddle and landed in a small gulley beside the road to Four Corners. Vin was quickly in the ditch, with Billy between the partners. Chris grabbed the boy's hat, shoving boy and hat into the dirt behind them. "Stay down!"

"See anything?" Tanner asked, breathless and shaken.

"No. Think it came from over there." Chris jerked his head toward a stand of trees. When he settled back into the rut, he felt the extent of the latest injury to everything on his right. He buried his head in his arms and tried not to scream. He couldn't stop the retch or the spewing vomit.

The little boy's head came up next to Larabee. "It's them."

"Who? It's who?" Vin stuck his head up enough to see two figures in a small clump of trees. They both had guns...one a rifle, one probably a .44.

"Harry and Leroy! See...one by that tree...one by the other. That one on the right's the one who tried to get Pony; other tried for Peso. See, see that one move! Pony sure got a good kick into his rump!"

"Who are they? You've got last names for 'em?"

"Didn't say 'em. One on the left shot you. Both of 'em shot Chris."

"Son-of-a-bitch." Tanner stammered in shock.

"Yeah...they was supposed to be heading for somewhere called The Roost!"

"The Roost. You sure they said the Roost?"

"Sure did. They was on a ridge above us, they didn't try to stay quiet. Had this long talk about who you were, decided both of you were dead or dying so they didn't have to shoot you again. Decided the desert's gonna kill me."

"Boys must be from around Hole-in-the Wall. They were going to kill you too? Why they want to kill us? I didn't even know 'em. You, Chris?"

"Never seen em before. We gonna sit here discussing them, we gonna just ignore 'em, or are we gonna go get 'em."

"That's just plain stupid, Cowboy. How you gonna go get 'em. Hell, how am I gonna go get 'em."

"Your choice, Tanner. I ain't worth much of nothing, but you decide to go for 'em, I've got your back."

"Don't need to go nowhere. Just need my rifle. Damn that horse. Picked a fine time to go home."

"You think he's home?"

"Yeah...that lughead ... he ain't home by now, he's just got plain lazy."

"Well, Vin...may a been there, but he sure ain't home."

"What makes you think that, little pard?"

"He's right over there...with your brothers."

From the top of the lush green ridge, as if sent from heaven's hands, the five remaining peacekeepers rode towards them, steady, guns drawn. Chris lay his head in the grass and sighed as he finally gave in to the weakness and misery.

The incoming riders split. Buck and Nathan made their way toward the fallen men, As they approached, Buck eyed the enthusiastic boy, noted the awkward stance of the tracker, searched and found the most seriously injured one, his long-time friend, laying prone in the gully. The other three, Josiah, Ezra, and J.D. rode full out toward the two outlaws scrambling for horses and a way out of the way of the seven.

Buck just barked at Vin. "Where you been? Mary's about to worry herself to death. Said she's gonna skin the lot of us if we didn't come looking for you three! Course, she's always just a little early with her worrying. We figured you were just taking a couple extra days to do nothing important."

Vin made it to a fully standing position, arching his back to ease the abiding pain. "Hey, Buck. Missed an interesting trip. Glad you listened to Mary this time. Glad you boys decided not to sit around drinking beer."

"Vin..."

"Look, Nate."

"You look here! What's going on? Chris ain't got no shirt. Your hides are both blistered bad. And what's wrong with his shoulder? Why you been using shirts for bandages?"

Chris's eyes opened a little, but he didn't move. "Nate...Let's just save this conversation for when we get someplace else. We sorta got a few little problems on our hands."

"Where's trouble, Chris. Where you hit? See your head...looks like your shoulder..what else?"

Vin sat down again, abruptly, a little plead in his voice. "Nate, now just ain't the time. See them trees over there? There's two varmints in those trees, and Chris and me would sure appreciate it if you'd just go pick 'em up...or maybe get me my long rifle out of that dang horse's scabbard and just let me take care of it permanent."

"Josiah and the rest are after 'em now. No worries. Just rest. Buck, get 'em some more water."

"Pick 'em up? Hell, Tanner? Just shoot the sons-a-bitches. Only fair."

Buck laughed until he saw how serious Chris was. "Why you want to shoot those men, Chris? What they done to you?"

"They're the ones who shot us. Been two days, Vin? Three? I don't know anymore. Don't know how they got here. Don't know nothing."

"Damn, Stud!"

"Chris...you been riding all that time?"

"No...just since yesterday. First day, we had to sorta get the bullets out 'fore we could move."

"You let Vin cut on you?"

"Turn about. Me, him; him, me. Both sorta passed out a while."

"You best not tell Mary you two left Billy without no protection!"

"Hell, Buck. Boy was watching our backs. You know, he ain't a baby."

"Chris...we're going back to Eagle Bend."

That brought him at least half way up from the dirt and mostly dried mud. "NO! We've already passed that place, Nate. Passed it on purpose. We're going home. I wanna go HOME! And Stains..."

"I'm gonna need help if I'm gonna get you and Vin both stitched up. J.D., Buck...somebody can see Billy gets home.

"I'm NOT GOING!" The boy moved beside Larabee, staring defiance at the medical man, holding proudly to the prone man's hand. "You ain't gonna make me! Promised Chris and Vin I was gonna help 'em get home. They ain't going home, NEITHER AM I!"

"Chris...you be reasonable. You don't need to ride. Eagle Bend ain't but a few miles back...need to get you settled. You got stitches anyplace? How'd you bust 'em open? I need to check you over, then get you into a bed."

"But Stains?"

"Stains ain't gonna do nothing, Chris. I'll need Doc Simmons to help me with the two of you. He's in Eagle Bend."

"NO!"

"Chris...gotta get ya some help."

"Not Simmons! I don't want him cutting and digging into me again!"

"Saved you enough. Let me see what's going on here. Buck...hold him down."

J.D. was the first to return from the hunt for the outlaws. "Chris! We got 'em!"

"You shoot 'em?" His voice was low and breathless as Nathan began to explore his shoulder, but he was interested.

"No. They give up real fast. Josiah and Ez are walking 'em back. Here, Vin. One of them had your spy glass; other your harmonica."

"Thanks, J.D. Thought I'd never see 'em again."

"Ought to shoot 'em, J.D...maybe hang 'em."

"Ah, Chris...you don't really mean that do you? Not without a trial!?"

"Why not? Good enough for 'em. Reason Nate's got another chance to tear me apart. BUCK! AWH! Get off me!"

"Now, Chris. Just gotta help ya be still a bit, let Nathan look ya over."

"Hell...let him look you over! AHHHHH!"

Seeing Larabee's attitude changing for the worst in record time, Nathan switched tactics. "Vin...let's just start on you. Just sit down and lean forward. We'll just cut that off."

"Hell, Nate. Ain't cutting on NOTHING! Chris done CUT the bullet out. No need you pullin all of it open again."

"Ain't gonna fight with both of you. Buck, hand me that bottle of Laudanum out of my bag.

"Nate," Larabee hissed as Buck touched his side, only now moving enough for his friend to see how much blood he had lost. "You ain't knocking me out! I ain't taking Laudanum. Just leave it the hell alone!"

"Chris..."

"Chris, nothing. Simmons and Nate got me hooked on that stuff before. Coming off that makes the rest of this a damn holiday. I hurt enough. I ain't gonna do it."

Nate knelt by him, a metal probe in his hand. "Can understand that, Chris...but I've still got to check you over. You just get real still. You ain't gonna duck this."

"I'm gonna try. Buck, get me on Pony. Let's go home."

"Chris...I ain't gonna let you..."

"Okay...I'll get ya on Pony." Buck looked at Nathan, who stopped his protests and waited for Chris to be settled in the saddle. The ornery man, now an unhappy patient, winced when he was shifted, screamed at being moved, puked, then finally slumped across Pony's neck."

"Okay, Nate, Figured we wouldn't have to argue much once we picked him up.

"Vin. I ain't gonna argue with you either. I'm taking you back to Eagle Bend. You going with Laudanum or without?"

"Without, ya miserable cuss. He's right about Stains, Nate. Man's been laying for him ever since your pa didn't get hung. He hears Chris is there, he's gonna want a fight...and Stains don't know the meaning of a fair fight."

"There's plenty of us to watch both your backs, Vin. Chris leaves here for Four Corners, I don't think he's gonna make it. That in his shoulder's infected...that wad in there must not a been changed since it was put in. That side? Don't know if it's infected, but it's sure pulled open."

"Didn't have any more bandages, no whiskey, and after yesterday morning, wasn't any water to wash out the padding."

"Bet that in your back's the same thing."

"Spect so. It's sure hurting enough...started smelling corruption sometime this morning...on Chris and on me. Billy asked what the smell was."

"Okay. Buck had the right idea. Before Chris wakes up again...let's get him back to town, find Simmons, see if we can't just get him all patched up. Then, I'll take care of your back."

"Ah, hell!"

"VIN!"

"Shoot, little pard. We ain't home with your ma yet, and I sure as hell ain't looking forward to none of this."

"Okay, J.D. can see Billy gets home."

"NO! I AIN'T GOING, BUCK! I AIN'T MOVING ONE DAMN BIT AWAY FROM CHRIS AND VIN! AND DON'T NOBODY TELL ME I CAN'T CUSS IF I WANT TO!

"Vin...you boys best talk some sense into that boy. Mary's..."

"He stays!" The two injured men answered as one. The boy just giggled and went to mount his horse.

"Okay, Vin. Let's get Chris in the saddle, get you on your horse too."

"Anybody loosened him up since he got back?"

"Nope. Saved that for you. He left ya walking, I figured you'd want to have a little talk."

"Right now, I just don't want my butt landing in the dirt no more. Let Josiah sit him a spell. That ought to teach him."

"My friend, all God's creatures know I am a gentle soul. I will not participate in punishing your friend...he's saved you many a time."

"I know it Josiah. I don't want him hurt. I just want him a little tired so he don't take it in his head to pitch me off."

"Oh, just exercise? I can certainly accommodate you in that. Why don't you take my old friend. He is a spirited but sympathetic soul when it comes to my oft weary bones."

"Much obliged, Josiah. Think I'll take ya up on that."

"Well, gentlemen. If the rest of you are seeing to the needs of our injured compatriots, I shall see that these two pieces of dirt are escorted to the jail in Four Corners."

"Ya gonna walk 'em all the way back, Ez? Don't ya need someone to help ya watch 'em?"

"I would not be insulted nor object to such an arrangement, Mr. Tanner. Would you care to join me?"

"Go on back, Ez. Ya ain't gonna save him or Chris from a stay in bed in Eagle Bend. They've got visits with Doc Simmons, and I'm taking them there right now."

"Son-of-a---"

"Castor Oil, Chris."

"Shit, Nathan!"

Billy just giggled as the band of friends moved toward their resting place.

Chapter 14

"Be still, dag-nab-it! Make me miss my aim, Larabee!" The tall, neat bearded doctor dug deep into Chris's shoulder. He dug matter of factly, unconcerned for the pain and perspiration on his patient's face. Well acquainted with the man's manner, Chris hung on, his body shaking, trying to escape as best he could. He dug his hands into the firm mattress as deeply as his physician dug into flesh.

"GOD! SIMMONS---you miserable---AWHHH!"

"Just be glad it ain't Jackson taking care of this. He's in a bad mood when they drug you in here. Said you wouldn't take no Laudanum to ease the pain, wanted him to take you all the way to Four Corners before anybody touched this. Told him I'd see you appreciated the finer things in medicine by the time I got through."

"I think I've learned my lesson." He flinched sideways against the pain that set his side pulsing. He gritted his teeth, twisted and moaned, but nothing stopped the scream as a probe entered the deepest part of his shoulder and pulled out the stinking, embedded wad. He panted, "Where's Vin?"

Simmons picked up a large, sharp scaple, and began to dig. Chris shrieked. Simmons ignored his pain and continued to talk. "Heard him yellin in the room next door. Evidently what he should have taken out on you, Nathan is taking out on the other one they drug in here. How'd you get shot up this time?"

"Hell if I know. Took a little rest at a watering hole, two men just rode up and shot us both."

"Who's the kid? Not yours is he?"

"Not my get...but he's mine. Good kid."

"So you're bedding the ma?"

"None of your business. AWHHHHHHHH!"

"Get quiet, Larabee. This is just your shoulder. Wait 'til I get to work on that side. You're a pretty stubborn man, as I remember. But you best be still...everything's infected. Makes it hard for me to find the bottom. You don't want to feel me missing the bottom, do you?

"No...don't miss. Hell, Doc...got any whiskey this time? Gonna let me have a drink?"

"Nope. Still don't give whiskey to my patients. Only give it to me." The doctor reached to a table beside himself and uncorked a bottle of fine single malt. Chris licked his dry lips, and wished for a single taste.

"Ah, well...you sure got a long way to go. Guess a drop won't hurt, but from then on, it's water."

"Thanks." Simmons poured a tiny pool of the dark amber whiskey into a glass, holding it for Chris to drink. "Definitely better. Look...Doc...I get good points if I don't move before you get through with this? I stay still, you'll give me a little more before you start cutting on my side?"

"Might. You'll have to be real good, real still, have to do what I tell ya to do."

"Deal. MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM...hell, Doc. Ain't you reached bottom yet?"

"So much for good or quiet! Be still."

"Get it done. Just can't do...AHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

The man Simmons had patched up at a prison farm called Jericho, when they were both there for no good reason except the warden's greed, hadn't needed irons to keep him still this time. Simmons knew him as a man of good spirit, kind heart, and tough resolve. He looked down at Larabee's wrinkled brow and found him passed out from the exhaustion. "That's right. You just sleep a bit. Get you finished up on this one, son. You just sleep, let the pain go past."

"God Nate...NOOOO...please no more. Thought Simmons was a son-of-a-bitch."

"I am. Get still, Larabee."

"Look...Doc...I'll take the Laudanum. I'll take anything...just...ahhhh...make...this ... stop! AHHHHHH!" His body was at war with the pain again, the nausea, the fever. He held as still as he could, and he didn't cry...but oh how he wanted, needed, to cuss and yell. The pain was worse than when Charley had shot him, and he had thought Simmon's ministrations that time had been hell. "Can't do this anymore."

"Easy, boy. Managed to pull this open clean down to the pit. You just don't never learn. Got to try something...got to fight everything. You just stick yourself in the middle of every trouble there is."

"Gives you enough to do. AHH-AHHH-AHHH...AHHHHHHHHH. What in the hell are you doing in there?"

"Well...you see...that bullet sort of took a nice scenic tour of your insides. It went in straight enough until it hit this rib." Simmons tapped the scalpel against Chris's rib, and Chris tried to come off the table. Simmons just pushed him down and poured rot gut whiskey straight into the wound. "Gotta move this out of the way...get to your liver."

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! SHIT! THIS AIN'T NOTHING TO LAUGH ABOUT! AHHHHH!"

"Be still, Larabee. When it jumped off the rib, it just swam in around your liver, bounced off that without much more than a scratch, and scooted in next to, slightly under, your gallbladder. Nicked that...didn't make it spill too bad. Think I'll just stitch this up, leave it all in place for a spell. It gets worse, we can just do 'er all over again couple a days from now. You're one lucky son-of-a-bitch, know that?"

"Don't feel so lucky. Ain't we had this conversation before? Please...ohhhhh..."

"Seems real familiar. No wonder you were puking like all get out. Gallbladder was leaking way too much bile. Didn't you feel any pain in here?"

"Hell, yes. Felt it then...feel it now. DAMN, Doc...ahhhhhhhh.! Can't ya just ... back off? Ohhhhhhhh!"

"How that friend of yours got that bullet out, I'll never know. Didn't study that kind of surgery 'til I was almost graduated. My patient, first three times, was a corpse."

"Well, I AIN'T. Come on, Doc. I said I'd take the Laudanum. I need the whiskey, but I'll take the Laudanum! I don't care if I'm strung up like a kite. Put me out...please just put me out or kill me. I can't..."

"Sure ya can. Took that knife slit to your side being stitched at Jericho. Took it when he tried to lame ya, had ya whipped, split your skull open. Took all of it when I was going over ya after that warden done what he done. You think you're miserable and bleeding now...that bastard tried to gut ya through your back door. Almost did it too. Mean s.o.b. Glad ya got to him like ya did...rattler for a rattler. Poetic justice, you ask me." Simmons took another sip of the single malt.

"Still don't wanta see no snake, or a truncheon."

"Can't say as I blame ya."

"Please, Doc. Won't ya let me have whiskey...please...or a little laudanum. Tired, Doc."

"I spect you are, son. Here, I can stop a second here...getting ready to close ya up anyhow, soon as I finish fetching that slug."

"God, Doc. God it ...it hurts. Gonna puke."

"Not now, you ain't. You're gonna be still, and we're gonna talk til it's done. Just take a couple deep breaths."

"AHHHHHHHHHH!"

The last part of the packing ripped out of the hole in Larabee's side, bringing a layer of flesh with it. "Got it. Now, let's just hold your head up a bit...get you a little relief."

"Whiskey?" Chris could only hope. "Ahhhhhhh. Hell, pushing in like that ain't a help, Doc. Whiskey? Just a little whiskey?"

"Nope. You're a hard head, Larabee. Laudanum...just take a big ole swig."

"I'll puke, Doc."

"Wouldn't if I was you. You puke, I might slip in there...take out your gallbladder while you're not expecting it. Here, you gonna take this, or am I gonna force it down your guzzle."

"Just make sure it's enough. I don't wanna feel anything else. Please, Doc." Larabee knew his hand was shaking hard as he reached to take Simmon's hand. "Doc...please Doc...just had enough."

"I hear. Ain't gonna let ya hurt no more...least for a while."

The Laudanum was strong, and Chris welcomed the burn as it soaked into his brain and body. "Thanks, Doc." He swallowed hard, refusing to allow the stuff to find it's way out.

"No thanks needed. Just try to sleep. No matter what, boy...you best not puke."

Chapter 15

"Hey, Cowboy."

"Vin? Where are we? Don't remember."

"Eagle Bend."

"Why?"

"Nate and Doc Simmons been working on you. Worked on me a couple days...but you've been out more'n five days. Still got fever now, but it's down a good bit."

"Gonna puke."

"Promised Simmons ya wasn't gonna do that."

"To hell with Simmons. AWH! What DID he do to me?"

"Think he went fishing. Ya look like he beat ya six ways to Sunday. How you feel."

"Like he did it. Here...get me up."

"Ohhhh, no. He sits you up, Larabee, I've got something just perfect to make him want to go sit somewhere else for quite a spell...got plenty for you too."

"Later, pard." The tracker left.

"Tanner! Get back here!"

"Look, Larabee. You're gonna be in that bed for maybe another week. I ain't gonna put up with no nonsense. How do ya feel?"

"Tired. Sick. Tired of being sick. Sore as hell. Wish somebody would make all this stop for a while."

"Here, just take a spoon of this." It was a gigantic spoon, and Larabee had to swallow the stuff three times before he got it under control.

"That stuff's shit, Doc."

"Begging for it pretty good couple days ago."

"Don't remember beggin'."

"You probably wouldn't. Shut up...let me check this out."

"NO!"

"Larabee...I got this stuff...work for you just like it'd work for your friend."

"Ain't gonna!"

"How you gonna stop it. See...I just pinch your nose like this...pour it right down."

"AWKKKKK! Son-of-a-bitch. AWKKKKK!"

"You want to say that again?"

"No. What the hell was that stuff?"

"You tell me."

"Castor oil? You're gonna make me sick with that? Now?!"

"See...it just don't matter to me how much you puke, how much your gut seizes. That'll stop soon enough. Now, you gonna be still, let me check this out?"

"Shit. Hell, just get it done."

"Funny how a stiff dose of castor oil makes ornery gunslingers like you real reasonable, real fast."

"When can I get up?"

"You let me take a look at all this, I just might tell ya. All in all, it'll be soon enough. Doubt you'll stay up too long, though."

"UMMMMMPH!...UMMMMMPH!...STOP! AHHHH!"

"Just take a breath. Not that bad."

"ON YOU MAYBE! Hell. When do I get to move?"

"After lunch today, with conditions."

"What conditions..."

"You don't go no place under your own power. You eat what you're offered to eat. You don't try to do nothing I don't approve of. You don't try to go see the horse, you don't try to get on the horse, you don't try to walk down the street. In other words, you don't do NOTHING!"

"I can sit outside? Breath some fresh air."

"I'd think. Balcony over there. Start there, but don't try it without help."

"Okay. Where's Billy? They didn't send him home, did they?"

"That boy? 'Bout as bullheaded as you. Since I quit cutting on ya, he's spent about half his hours right here in this room. Bad as you were, much fever as you had, much as you puked, he didn't budge...don't expect you remember him being here."

"Don't remember nothing. Glad he's here."

"He's coming to bring you some broth today about noon. Might actually have something good and solid in it. Then him and your friends are heading home. His ma sent word that they'd best be home tonight...or not come home. Can she do that?"

"She and her ex-father-in-law can do damn near anything. But she's just worried about the boy. She tends to back us up...most of the time."

"Your friends have been scattered around town all week. Notice there's always one on the front porch, another outside your door. What are all you men 'fraid of, Larabee?"

"Nothing."

"They all said you'd lie about it."

"Stains."

"Oh, that one. Where you meet him?"

"Here first, then Corners. He tried to hang a man without a trial. Judge moved the trial to Four Corners. Stains showed up with a mob, started a dust up after a trial down there. Stains threw the first punch; I caught it. His cronies sort of piled on, but we won...run em out of town. He didn't like it very much. Doc..."

"Hold on," Simmons poured rot gut into the hole again. Just breath deep...It'll pass. You think he's carrying a grudge?"

"Wouldn't doubt it. He ain't fit to be a sheriff."

"No, not. All I got to say is avoid him like the plaque. You get hit on that side, that shoulder, you throw one punch, it ain't gonna be pretty. Your head still hurting?"

"No. Don't feel so sick any more either. Ate a pretty good breakfast this morning...with coffee."

"That's real good...I ain't gonna ask what you ate. Can see most of it on your nightshirt anyhow. Now, this is all looking okay...not gonna change anything now, not gonna have to poke around on you so much any more. Just let everything stay real still. Go back to sleep. The boy will wake ya when it's time to eat lunch."

"Doc...when can I go home?"

"You do what I say...more than half the time...should be able to ride a wagon to Corners in a week."

Chapter 16

The only way to avoid Simmons' wrath was to stay still...the best way to stay still, to sleep. Chris slept, finally warm, dry, and only in pain when he or Simmons pushed too hard. He wanted more than anything to be in his bed, in his room, in Four Corners. He really wanted to go home to his cabin, but he knew nobody was going to let him, and he knew he couldn't start moving around as much as that would require. So he slept in Eagle Bend, in the back room of Simmon's clinic, waiting to get well enough to ride.

After a few days, he forced himself out of Simmon's bed, determined to make a break for the boardwalk. Far too weak, he bumped into the table beside him, nearly upending it and himself. He stifled a curse.

"Dag-nab-it, Larabee. Told you what I's gonna to do to you if you moved before I said you could. Where you going?" Simmons grabbed his arm, pushing him in the opposite direction...back toward the bed.

"Doc...I'm just gonna get a little fresh air, let my face see a little soft sunshine. Thought I'd sit on the porch for maybe an hour or so. Tell me it's real nice out there."

"But you wasn't gonna ask were ya?"

"Well...no...just gonna move."

"I'll get ya out there this time, boy, but you move again without my say...I've got more of that bottle you're gonna drink."

"Ain't gonna happen...not again..."

"How you gonna stop it this time?"

"I'm gonna get my horse, and I'm gonna get the hell out of here."

"You want out or not?"

"Come on, Doc. I've got cabin fever, that's all. I ain't going nowhere. Come on...get me outside...please!"

"Well...this once."

He felt more himself...a new black shirt, buttoned half way; cleaned black pants, and boots, and a bright blanket over his shoulders, he drifted off to sleep with his feet in a chair. He woke with a decided start and a little gasp.

"Hey, Chris!"

The child's greeting woke him and plastered a bright, welcoming smile to his face. "Hey, kid. Where ya...OOMPH! Hug me with just a little less enthusiasm, son. Where'd you come from?"

"He's riding with me, Cowboy. How ya doing?"

"VIN!" He put out his left hand, ignoring the pull in the right shoulder, and grasped his friend's arm in their special greeting. His smile was even wider as he started to talk, "Mending...slow. Way too slow. Lonesome as hell without my partners. How'd you get loose? What brings you two back, Vin; and Billy, how'd you get loose from your ma this quick?"

"He pulled one of the best stunts I've seen in half my life." Vin grinned and tipped the boys little hat over into his eyes.

"You gonna tell me, Billy...or do I have to wait and ask your ma?"

"Ah, Chris. It wasn't nothing."

"He just let the tears roll, pard. Played the charmer just as good as Buck. Looked up in his mama's face, told her he had thought you was dead, made her promise he could come with me to check on ya. Then, he pulled out the tears and stomped that woman's heart clean into the ground."

"Mary said yes? She let him come...with me here?"

"Shoot, Chris. She'd be here herself if she wasn't trying to convince all of us that you ain't nothing THAT special. But we all seen her...she's worrying about ya."

"That so. Probably just waiting to give me a piece of her mind."

"Ez is taking bets on that one. Worrying or waiting...he's giving two to one on kicking not kissing. Said he's gonna retire on this one."

"Ah, hell!"

"CHRIS!"

"Sorry, Billy. You boys here to stay, or you just got a day pass?"

"We're here 'til you're ready to ride. How long Simmons gonna keep ya?"

"Says..."

"Promises nothing, Larabee. Ya been out here long enough. I want ya inside and back in bed real soon."

"Vin and Billy can come too, right?"

"Yeah, long as you get your butt back in that bed, fast."

"I'll be in directly."

"I'll be checking...don't tempt me to do anything you're gonna hate."

The doctor left him with his minutes of reprieve. "I been real lonely, pards. This ain't no place for friendly people."

"Should a sent us a telegram, Cowboy. Might could a convinced Mary you needed us a lot sooner if you'd pulled one of Billy's stunts. Woman's a real sucker for a man's tears."

"Shoot...Billy, we're gonna talk."

"You ain't gonna beat my butt, are ya?"

"No...ain't ever...probably never will. But I AIN'T making promises...you understand? Come on, let's see if you two can get me up and up those stairs 'fore Simmons decides to do something I'm gonna regret."

Vin braced him as he stood, then let him go as he protested being treated like an invalid in front of the town. He took his first step, then with only a small showing grimace, Chris took a nice long stride toward the door.

"LARABEE!"

"Ah, shit! What do you want, Stains?" Larabee turned around slow, but pulled himself up tall and straight. He neither flinched nor retreated from the hefty man standing in the street below him.

"What you doing in my town. You takin' to huntin' in my town?"

"Huntin' what?"

"Heard you's up toward the Roost. Heard you got hold of the Longeren brothers."

"Who are the Longeren brothers? Why would I want 'em. I ain't no bounty hunter."

"Don't ya go telling me you weren't huntin' those boys. One of your six partners showed up with 'em in Four Corners, with Harry and Leroy all trussed up and being walked into jail. Say you're aiming to hang 'em."

"IT'S THEM, VIN! THEY FINALLY GOT A NAME!"

"Seems so, little pard. Harry and Leroy Longerer. I STILL ain't heard of 'em, have you Chris."

"No. Stains...I don't want to hang 'em...not yet. They ain't killed nobody that I heard of. Shot a couple of fellas, stole some stuff. Just turned 'em over to the Judge, let him decide."

"You're always putting your nose in my business." Stains moved up the steps to the boardwalk, putting his face far too close for Larabee's comfort.

"What business of yours are the Longerens?"

"They's in town the other day...I spotted 'em. I's ready to collect a nice reward...dead or alive."

"Sorry I spoiled your plans. Guess I'll have to tell the boys...let them collect the reward. They brought 'em in...not me."

"You're a liar...a lying son-of-a-bitch!"

Vin angled himself between Larabee and Stains. "Chris...he ain't worth it. He's just putting ya to a challenge."

"He calls it...I'll answer."

"BUT CHRIS!"

"Billy...stay out of this. Stay back."

"Chris...it'll wait 'til another day."

"Vin...he called me a liar."

"You ready to let him put you back in that bed...you want Simmons working on you some more?"

"Who says I'm gonna lose?"

"Me, you miserable son-of-a-bitch. I'm gonna put your lights out!"

"You're gonna try...that'll be the end of it."

"Larabee! You let him draw you into this, I've got this bottle of stuff you're gonna just love...for about a month!"

"Larabee...I'm gonna give you to three..."

Chris looked around the boardwalk...from small, to friend, to old, and then to Stains. Totally calm, his eyes tightened as he glared at the man. His smile was feral. All he said was "THREE!"

"Dag-nab-it, Larabee!"

"AWH! Not so damn tight, Doc. It ain't broke."

"It's busted! Be still so I can get the bones in there straight...or you want that shooting hand of yours to ache for life. You're just a dang fool! In addition to all those stitches I put in over the last week, you got to go ask for more. You always a bonehead?"

"Probably, but that son-of-a-bitch ain't ever gonna just about think to call me a lying son-of-a-bitch again. How many stitches?"

"Him? Close to eighty. Nose, ear half tore off, bit him, punched in eye and cut in eyebrow, chin--both sides, think there's one busted arm...and you managed to get in one mean kick. He's gonna have a tender little limp a bit."

"Good."

"Good...you think that's good? Let's look at you."

"Ya don't need to check me over any more. I'm okay."

"Hand..."

"Awh!"

"Shut up...gotta finish taping this on the boards. Stitches to that shoulder."

"They were already there...didn't break but one or two..."

"Or ten. How'd you manage to NOT break open that side? You doubled over mighty hard."

"Doubled BEFORE he hit me. Covered up. Most of the time, I can take a pretty good punch...I ain't a kid. Known how to fight since I was one."

"Well...try to stay out of trouble...and go get yourself back in bed."

"Doc...I don't need to be in bed."

"Yeah, you do."

"Why? I won the fight didn't I? I didn't bust nothing open. When can I go home? This was supposed to be a short trip. I been gone a couple of weeks. I need to ride."

"You'll want to stick around one more day, maybe two. Open up." The Doctor held out a stick to check Larabee's mouth.

"Why?" Chris opened up wide and innocent. The big spoon gagged him, and he swallowed before he knew it was coming. "CASTOR OIL? SHIT!" He spit it as far and as fast as he could, but it had been a really big spoon.

"Gotta let all that medicine get out of your system. Just stick around 'til that's over, then you can go...'spect riding'll go real slow."

"Shit!"

"Want to say that again?"

"No!"

"Figured he'd keep you there another week, pard. How'd you manage to get him to turn you loose? You still look like something run over by the stage. He ever figure what made you feel so poorly again yesterday? You SURE you're up to this?" The three rode together, slow and easy, minimizing the lingering stiffness, but enjoying the fresh air, sunshine, and a last chance at finishing their vacation together. Vin had taken up his harmonica, Chris whistled, Billy just blew air past his lips, grinning, and trying to learn something different from his friends and now partners.

"Just a little leftover from the cutting. I'm gonna be just fine...least I will when I get back to my cabin."

"Cabin? Nathan ain't gonna like that!"

"Let him try something. I'm going to my place, and I'm gonna take along a bottle of single-malt, and I'm gonna get a few cheroots, and a steak, and ...hell, anything else good I can find. I'm hungry."

"How'd you really get loose?"

"I took him out to breakfast yesterday. Convinced him I needed to go home."

"How'd ya do that? Don't seem much like a convincible man to me! And he weren't really happy with you after that fight."

"Oh...just got to know how to talk his language. Same as Stains...you just got to get it done right." Chris suddenly grinned, looking at Vin with his cocky eyebrow raised up high.

"Give it, Cowboy. What did you do?"

"Oh, weren't nothing." But he rode and grinned...enjoying his secret.

"Had to a done something. You don't tell, I'm gonna sick J.D. on ya with some of his jokes."

"Mean man, Tanner."

"Tell!"

"Well, I asked him real polite...he said no. Gonna hold me down for another damn week. I just gave him a little challenge...I mean we been working on a challenge ever since we left Four Corners...figured Simmons might enjoy one too."

"What was it?"

"Oh, told him if he didn't let me go, I wasn't gonna tell him where I hid his castor oil...a full bottle, a damn BIG bottle...somewhere around his place. Wasn't gonna know if it was office, surgery...just have to figure it out for himself. He wanted to turn me loose...I'd tell him where it was."

"Where'd ya put it?"

"Can I trust ya?"

"TELL!"

"Know how he likes to tip a little while he works?"

"You didn't!"

"Single malt...and rot gut rye. Oh, and I sorta coated his coffee pot, too. And there's some in his flask, mixed with the sherry. It's oily enough, he shouldn't notice nothing. I think he's gonna love the challenge, don't you?"

"So he let ya go? You told him where it was?"

"Yeah...well, I told him most of it."

"You best hope you don't ever have to see that man again."

"I'm gonna try to avoid him, least 'til he forgets."

"CHRIS?"

"Yeah, son?"

"Uh...I saw Doc Simmons when I was rounding up Splatter. He told me to give you a message!"

"He did...what was it?"

"He said to tell ya he loves a challenge, and that you won that round; but he said he don't ever forget!"

"Ah, Shit!"

"CHRIS!"

THE END