Vin hated this. He had seen lots of arrow wounds, helped dig out quite a few, even been on the receiving end once. Worst pain he’d ever suffered through, and to say he’d suffered was putting it mildly. Arrows were nasty weapons and they were never easy to deal with. Usually you had to go in and cut the blade out or risk doing twice the damage pulling it back out as it did going in.

"Get a fire started, we’ve got to do this right now." Vin didn’t look up at Buck again. He couldn’t stand to see the stricken look he knew was on the big man’s face. God, he wished he knew how many spikes were carved into the razor sharp stone embedded in J.D.’s belly. He prayed that he could keep his hand steady enough to do what he had to do when he dug in the knife and J.D.’s screams filled the canyon.

Tanner knew the minute he saw where the arrow was and how deep it had gone in, that he’d have to get it out before J.D. thrashed around too much or even coughed and shoved it too far into his insides to survive. That is if he wasn’t already too far gone. Vin lowered his head and put his hand on J.D.’s face. The boy already felt hotter than normal, but the tracker knew the fever hadn’t even begun. J.D. pulled away from his touch and mumbled incoherently.

"Fire’s goin’" Buck’s quiet voice broke through Vin’s reverie and he wondered how long he’d sat staring at J.D.

"Lay this on the flames." Vin pulled a Bowie knife from his boot and handed it to Wilmington. The gunslinger rolled it over in his hands, the reality of what Vin was going to do sinking into his brain. Tanner heard Buck groan as he placed the blade into the fire and knew exactly how the man felt.

"You know what you’re doin’?" It was a simple question without accusation, he knew Buck just needed confirmation they were doing the right thing.

"Done this before if that’s what yer askin’" Vin felt like he’d swallowed one of those sticks Buck had set on fire and it was searing its way through the pit of his stomach. Memories flooded into his mind; memories of the other men he’d cut into or held down while someone else did. He tried to block out their torturous cries that still echoed in his head. "Wouldn’t do this if we had another choice."

"I know." Buck sounded weary, yet resigned. "I trust you."

Vin nodded slightly. "Hold ‘im still." He waited for Buck to grip the kid’s shoulders then he grasped the shaft of the arrow with both hands. He let out a short grunt as he popped the wood in half.

He felt J.D.’s muscles tense and the boy screamed and opened his eyes wide.

"J.D., it’s all right, it’s all right." Buck caught the flailing arms and leaned over to subdue the youth’s attempts to break away. J.D.’s cries faded into weak moans and he collapsed under Buck’s hands.

Vin felt the presence behind him before he registered the sound of footsteps in his ears. He whirled around, bringing up the mare’s leg and saw Buck reach for his own weapon. The couple stepped from cover, the woman in front, her man a few steps back, still in the trees.

"He meant you no harm." The woman spoke confidently, hiding any fear she might have had at being held at gunpoint.

Buck stood up and stepped toward her. She flinched but did not run. Vin quietly motioned for Buck to stay back.

"He thought that was the man who took me. He was only protecting my life."

Vin had figured J.D.’s attack had merely been a case of mistaken identity – he had no reason to believe the brave’s actions were purely malicious.

"We want to help him." She eyed Buck as she stepped closer and motioned at J.D. as he tossed his head restlessly.

"I think you’ve done enough." Buck’s words were tough, but Vin could hear the emotion flowing underneath and put his hand on his friend’s shoulder.

"No, Buck. Let them help."

Buck turned to face the tracker, his voice barely a whisper as he spoke. "I don’t want them cuttin’ on J.D." The man’s dark blue eyes misted over and Vin knew he wasn’t thinking straight. He understood Buck’s reluctance, his mistrust, but deep in his gut Vin knew if J.D. had any chance at all they’d need more knowledge than he had to offer.

"Buck, listen to me. It was a mistake, they didn’t have to come back, but she wants to make it right." Vin paused and spoke softly. "I can bet you they know more about gettin’ arrows outta people than I’ll ever know."

Vin watched the agony of the decision play on the big gunslinger’s face. "You said you trusted me – just trust me on this."

Buck hung his head and stuck his gun back into the holster and took his place beside J.D. Vin slapped him on the shoulder as he turned back toward the Indian couple and nodded. "Ok, tell us what you need us to do."

The woman sat cross-legged next to J.D. and ran her hand around the swollen flesh of his wounded belly, then pressed gently.

J.D. would have sat upright if not for Buck’s quick reflexes and strong arms keeping his body on the ground. A hitching cry escaped his throat and the woman removed her hand. She turned and cupped J.D.’s face between her palms, using her thumbs to rub away the tears that gathered in the corners of his eyes. She leaned in close and spoke something in the boy’s ear. Kiowa, Vin was fairly sure. Although he couldn’t quite make out the exact words, he was pretty sure it was a prayer.

PART 2

Vin helped the woman strip away J.D.’s ripped and dirty clothing and laid him flat on the bedroll. Buck watched, no longer able to control the nervousness that had taken over his body. His hands shook, his mouth felt like he’d been chewing cotton and his heart quivered violently against his breastbone.

Just the thought of what they were about to do to the poor kid tore Buck up inside. Not to mention the fact that there wasn’t a damn thing he could do except hold him and try to make him realize his suffering was for his own good. God he hated this. Buck felt his hands curl around his hat brim, twisting the material cruelly in his frustration. Even when he realized what he was doing he couldn’t stop, there would be no relaxing for quite a while now.

"Buck." Vin’s quiet call made his heart skip a beat as he turned to face the tracker.

"We need you to get his arms."

Buck nodded and swallowed hard, trying to work up enough moisture to keep from choking. He knew, hell, everyone in town knew, that he would do anything for this kid; including letting someone hurt him if that would save his life. He’d told Vin the truth when he said he trusted him. Yet as he knelt down and gently took J.D.’s arms and folded them over the boy’s head he prayed for the courage it would take to watch the Indian woman wield that knife.

Buck’s body trembled harder as he secured his hold and leaned down to where his face was inches from J.D.’s ear. "Just stay with me, boy." The older man whispered. Buck finished his silent prayer by asking that they all be able to handle whatever happened during these next several minutes of hell.

Buck cut his eyes upward to see Vin watching him. He knew the tracker was silently asking if he was ready.

Hell, f*ckin’ No, I ain’t ready to have him cut open like a Christmas pig! Buck thought, but he nodded anyway and Vin turned toward the woman. The brave held J.D.’s legs tight and Vin pinned the kid’s upper body to the ground, thankfully blocking Buck’s view of the makeshift surgery.

Buck bit his lip and tightened his grip as he felt J.D. jerk awake, the boy’s eyes popping open and staring terrified into his friend’s face.

"Nooooooooo!" J.D. screamed and bucked under his touch, but he was held fast.

"Just ride it out, kid, you’re gonna be fine." Buck tried to sound calm and sure of himself, but he could hear the waver of fear as he said the words.

"Buck, please!" J.D. screamed and stiffened, desperately trying to wiggle away from their hold. "Stop, pleaseeeee!"

Tears clouded Buck’s vision as he increased his hold on the boy, stopping his weak struggle but not his pitiful wails of agony. He looked away, unable to witness the boy’s dark eyes pleading with him to help him, to make them stop hurting him. "I’m sorry, J.D." Buck whispered. "I am so sorry."