When Harry finally decided to stop for the night, Christy was past the point of caring whether she lived or died. Her headache had grown steadily worse as the day wore on, and her backside was tender and sore from riding in the saddle all day. Harry had stopped only once to water the horses. He had quickly untied her hands and allowed her to dismount long enough to get a drink and relieve herself.

They stopped in what seemed like the middle of no where to Christy. Nothing surrounded them but the vast open plain and the stars above. Once again Harry untied Christy’s hands from the saddle while she climbed tiredly down from her horse. Then he retied her hands and settled her on a log in front of the campfire.

“Don’t want you to get no ideas about running off.” Harry grinned at her nastily.

She stared at him sullenly. “I won’t have to run off. Jimmy and Kid will come for me.”

Without warning, Harry slapped her hard across the face, splitting her lip. Feeling the warm blood spill into her mouth, Christy refused to break down and cry. Hatred glowing in her eyes, she spit in Harry’s face. She expected him to be furious, but instead he merely laughed.

“You always were a tomcat.” Harry said with some amusement.

“Why are you doing this, Harry?” She asked.

Harry’s look of mirth quickly faded. He looked very sad as he answered her. “Because I let you down, Christy. I had to come for you and make things right. I shouldn’t have left you.”

She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter now, Harry. It’s too late-“

“Don’t you say that!” He cut her off. “Don’t you say it’s too late! I’ve screwed up everything I’ve ever done in my life; I won’t give up on you.”

“Harry, what are you talking about?” Christy looked puzzled.

Harry sighed deeply. “You remember that night I came back to Charles’ farm? The night you asked me if I had killed those two men who killed Charles?”

She nodded and he continued. “Well, I sort of misled you that night, Chris. I did kill two men, but they weren’t the same ones who killed Charles.”

“Wh-what?” Christy felt a cold wave rush over her body.

“I killed the wrong men, Chris. Brooks and Dixon set me up. I heard from a man in a saloon that Brooks and Dixon would be meeting at a certain place, so I decided to go ahead of them and meet them there, so to speak. It was dark, two riders showed up, and I opened fire on them. Turns out it was two law men Brooks and Dixon had sent on a wild goose chase to catch a bank robber.” Harry’s eyes filled with tears as he remembered that night.

“You shot two law men?” She asked in disbelief.

He nodded. “Yep, a sheriff and a deputy. I’ve been on the run ever since. Now you know why I told you to find someone else.”

“That doesn’t explain why you’re here now.” Christy insisted.

“No, I guess it doesn’t.” Harry agreed. “Truth is, I don’t rightly know. After I saw you in town that night I asked around about you. Couple of people told me they had been seeing you with this Hickok fellow a lot. All this time, Chris, all I’ve been thinking about is you. How I wished it would have worked out between us, how things coulda been different. When I heard you had found somebody new, it went all through me.”

“Jimmy and I are just friends-“ Christy tried to explain.

“Don’t you lie to me!” Harry cried, his anger suddenly returning. “That didn’t look like friends what I saw earlier.”

“Harry, you threatened me! What was Jimmy supposed to do?” Christy felt her own anger returning.

“You shut up!” Harry slapped her again, this time knocking her to the ground. “You don’t belong with him, you’re mine!”

Christy crawled away from him. “You’re crazy, you know that? Not only will Kid and Jimmy come for me, you’ve got every lawman in the territory looking for you for killing two men. You’ll never get away with this, Harry.”

He looked at her and grunted. “Maybe not. But if I go, I’m taking you with me. I’ll die before I see you with another man and so will you.”

Kid woke with a jerk and sat straight up. He had been having a dream that his pa had come back and kidnapped Christy. For a moment he looked around in relief, then he remembered what had really happened. Christy had been taken, but not by his pa. He glanced at the horizon and was relieved to see it was almost daybreak. Today they would find his cousin. He was as sure of it as he was his own name, though why he couldn’t say. He could only pray she would be all right when they found her.

He sat for a few more minutes, thinking about the day ahead, then he rose and made a quick breakfast. Slowly, Teaspoon and the others awoke, and within an hour they were on their way once again. Kid noticed he wasn’t the only one who seemed unusually tense. Even Cody was quiet for once. A feeling of dread seemed to hang in the air.

Jimmy sighed heavily and shifted uncomfortably on his horse. “How much longer, Buck?”

Buck glanced back over his shoulder at his impatient friend. “It will be awhile, Hickok.”

“I just hope we’re not too late.” Kid replied.

In the morning, Christy was surprised when Harry didn’t immediately pack up and break camp. He dawdled over breakfast, and spent awhile just staring into the fire. She wondered why he wasn’t in a hurry to leave.

“Shouldn’t we be going?” She asked as he continued to sit around.

Harry stood and scanned the horizon. “Nope, I think we’ll just wait right here.”

She followed his gaze but saw nothing. “Wait for what?”

“I can’t outride those friends of yours; they’re better mounted, so I’m going to stay here. They’ll show up sooner or later.” Harry sat down again and began cleaning his pistols.

Christy looked at him in amazement. “Harry, there’s only one of you. There’s no way you can outfight all of them.”

“I won’t have to fight them. I have you.” Harry sneered. “They won’t shoot because they’ll be afraid of hurting you. All I’ll have to do is pick ‘em off, one by one.”

“Harry, this is crazy. Let me go, I promise I won’t tell anyone where you are.” Christy pleaded. “They will have you outnumbered and you can’t hide behind me forever.”

He grabbed her by her shoulders and shook her roughly. “You just don’t know when to shut up, do you? If I let you go, you’d have that cousin of yours and Mr. ‘Wild Bill’ Hickok on my back quicker than I could turn around. Now, sit down over there and keep that trap of yours shut. I will get us out of this, and after I’m finished getting rid of all your pesky friends, we’ll go back to Charles’ and we’ll be together, just like it was meant to be.”

“And what if you don’t get rid of all my ‘pesky friends’?” Christy risked asking.

He snorted. “Well, I think you know what happens then. Either we get rid of them, or we’ll die trying.”

Much to Buck’s surprise, they caught up with Christy and Harry in the early afternoon. So unexpected was their appearance, that Buck almost rode in on them before he knew it. He observed them over a small ridge, relieved to see Christy seemed to be all right. He quickly rode back to the others.

“What is it, son?” Teaspoon asked with concern as Buck came galloping back towards them.

“They’re camped about half a mile that way.” He pointed. “It doesn’t look like they have moved since last night.”

“Why wouldn’t he be trying to get as far away from us as possible, Teaspoon?” Cody wondered.

“I don’t know, Cody, but it sounds awful suspicious.” Teaspoon scratched his head thoughtfully.

“Do you think it’s a trap?” Jimmy looked to the older man.

“Could be. We better watch our back. Why don’t we split up and surround them?” Teaspoon checked his guns to make sure they were loaded. He looked at Kid. “You come with me.”

“Teaspoon, I ain’t gonna do nothin’ to get Christy hurt.” Kid insisted.

Teaspoon looked at Kid doubtfully. “I know you wouldn’t on purpose, son. I’d just feel better having you with me.”

The riders split up, with a very aggravated looking Kid following Teaspoon. Before long they had closed in on Harry’s camp and quickly they surrounded it. Kid sat anxiously on his horse and Teaspoon was glad he had brought the young man with him. Kid was so agitated he looked ready to charge the camp at any moment.

Except for the small ridge from which Buck had observed Harry and Christy the open plains offered no protection so the riders advanced upon the camp in plain sight and Harry soon spotted them. He yanked Christy off the ground by her arm and pulled her in front of him. He pulled his gun from its holster and held it to Christy’s side.

“Mornin’!” Harry called to them cheerfully.

“Let her go, Turner.” Jimmy spoke in a quiet deadly voice. He had no doubt that if he got the chance, he would kill Harry Turner.

Harry chuckled. “Now you know I can’t do that.”

“Quit hiding behind a girl!” Kid yelled. “Come fight like a man.”

“Stay back!” Harry warned as the group of riders steadily advanced toward him. “Stay back or I’ll kill her!”

Teaspoon held up his hand and tried a diplomatic approach. “We don’t want no trouble. Just let the girl go and we’ll be on our way.”

“Shut up, old man.” Harry growled. “How stupid do you think I am? If I let her go, you’ll drop me in a second.”

Cody smiled. “You’re probably right, mister, but we’re gonna take you anyway. The question is do you want to make it easy or not?”

Kid slowly began to unfasten his gunbelt. He removed it and threw it to the ground. Ignoring Teaspoon, who tried to stop him, Kid slowly raised his hands in the air. “Take me instead.”

Harry looked at Kid as if he’d lost his mind. “What?”

“You heard me. Let Christy go and take me instead.” Kid cautiously took a step closer.

“No way.” Harry shook his head. “You don’t understand, boy. The only way you’re going to get her back is to kill me.”

With growing panic, Harry watched the riders close in a little more on him. Things weren’t going as well as he’d expected. With Christy as protection, he’d thought her friends would be afraid to attack him. However, the band of riders seemed to ignore the fact that he held Christy’s life in his hands as they steadfastly approached him.

Christy shivered in Harry’s grasp. She had a horrible feeling something was fixing to happen. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Jimmy looking at her. The expression on his face was terrible; it shone with hatred towards Harry, rage, and fear. Kid kept creeping closer to them, his eyes dark with anger. She could feel Harry trembling next to her. He seemed very close to losing complete control.

“Get back!” Harry screamed. His voice broke and he began to sob. His finger shook on the trigger of his gun.

“Kid!” Teaspoon warned. “Kid, get back. He’s gonna-“

Teaspoon’s words were cut off as a shot rang through the air. For a moment, all Christy felt was surprise that everyone was still standing after Harry had fired his pistol. She looked around at the riders, her friends, wondering why they were all staring at her. She glanced down and saw the blood beginning to pour down her dress. He shot me, she thought with dismay. The last thing she saw as she fell to the ground was Kid rushing to catch her. He seemed to be saying something to her, but she couldn’t make out the words.

“Christy, oh God, no!” Kid caught Christy and pulled her to him.

Kid laid her gently on the ground, resting her head on his lap. He was unaware of the activity around him, he didn’t even notice when Jimmy shot Harry, who was dead before he even hit the ground. Kid rubbed Christy’s cheeks, trying to rub some color back into them. He felt a sob tear loose from deep within him.

The others gathered around him, looking at Christy’s motionless body. Jimmy swallowed hard as he bent down. He placed two fingers on Christy’s neck, hoping against hope to find a pulse.

“She’s alive!” He cried weakly.

Kid looked up, his face tear-stained. “She’s alive?”

Jimmy nodded and Teaspoon quickly stepped between them. “We’ve got to stop this bleeding.”

Jimmy removed his coat and ripped the sleeve from his black shirt. Balling it up, he placed it firmly against Christy’s side. Within minutes the piece of material was soaked with blood. Next he tried his saddle blanket, leaning over her still form to apply pressure. Cody and Buck began looking for limbs to fashion a travois to carry Christy on.

“Where’s the closest doctor, Teaspoon?” Kid asked quietly. Relieved as he was that Christy was breathing, he knew the danger was far from over.

“I think there’s a little town called Bear Creek not far from here.” Teaspoon said thoughtfully.

“Can’t we take her back to Rock Creek?” Jimmy looked up from his position at Christy’s side.

Teaspoon reluctantly shook his head. “It’s too far, she’d never make it.”

When they were finally ready to leave, Buck gestured back to Harry Turner’s body. “What are we going to do about him?”

Jimmy glanced back at the body in disgust. “Leave him.”

Buck glanced at Teaspoon who shrugged. “We don’t have time to bury him anyway.”

Chapter Fourteen

The doctor looked skeptically out the window again at the odd lot of men waiting outside. He sighed as he glanced down at the pale young woman lying on the bed. “I don’t know who you are, miss, but you sure have a lot of folks who care about you.”

As he talked to his patient, he moved busily around the bed. The group of men had brought her to him almost four hours ago, during which time the doctor had feverishly worked to remove a bullet lodged in her side. There had been no time to ask questions when they arrived, but now the doctor found his curiosity aroused. All of the men had looked tired and edgy, so he figured he better save his questions a little longer.

The doctor washed his hands and headed outside to talk to the little group. Closing the door behind him, he stepped onto the porch and was immediately surrounded.

“Well?” Jimmy asked.

The doctor shook hands all around, introducing himself as Dr. Hawkins, before turning to the impatient young man. “I got the bullet out, but she lost a lot of blood.”

“Will she live?” Kid’s eyes were ringed with dark circles.

Dr. Hawkins shrugged helplessly. “I don’t know. Thankfully, none of her internal organs seem damaged, but it’s hard to say. The next twenty-four hours will tell us a lot.”

“Can we see her?” Teaspoon spoke up.

The doctor hesitated. “Well, she’s unconscious, but I don’t suppose it will hurt. I’ll run over to the hotel and pick up a bite to eat, if you’ll watch her.”

They filed into the small, dim room and huddled around the bed where Christy lay. Even in sleep, her face looked drawn and troubled. No one spoke as they gazed down at her.

Finally, Teaspoon stirred. “Well, boys, I don’t think there’s anything we can do for her tonight. Why don’t we go get us a room for the night and check on her first thing in the morning?”

“I won’t leave her, Teaspoon.” Kid replied.

Jimmy stood up behind him. “Neither will I.”

Teaspoon sighed. “I know. I didn’t figure you would. What about you two?”

Buck shook his head and Cody patted Teaspoon’s shoulder. “Looks like we’re staying.”

Teaspoon finally managed to talk Buck and Cody into going to the restaurant with him to get some supper. Kid sat in a chair by Christy’s bed and Jimmy sat on a bench outside the office. The doctor returned soon with a plate of beans and steak. Noticing the pair standing guard over his patient he glanced guiltily down at his supper.

“You and your friend want something to eat?” He offered Kid. “I’ll be glad to share.”

“No thanks.” Kid answered. “Teaspoon is going to bring us something back.”

Kid sat in the half dark room silently. He was glad the others had left and glad that Jimmy sat outside. He felt like being alone with his thoughts. He watched Christy’s chest gently rise and fall with her breathing. In his head, Kid replayed the events of the afternoon over and over. If only he hadn’t gotten so close to Harry, maybe Christy would be unhurt right now.

The hours ticked by. Every once in a while Jimmy would come inside to check on Christy. Each time Kid greeted him with the same response. “Nothing’s changed.” He could see Teaspoon, Buck, and Cody lined up on the bench outside the window. Teaspoon’s head was tipped back as if he were sleeping and Cody’s head rested heavily against his hand. The doctor snored loudly from his bed on the couch in the tiny living room.

For two days Kid maintained his position at Christy’s bedside, only rising to relieve himself and once to cross the street to the hotel for a quick bath. He ate when Teaspoon brought him something and he slept some late at night, sitting up in his chair.

Jimmy mostly stayed on the porch of the doctor’s office. If he stayed inside for more than a few minutes, he would begin to prowl the room like a caged animal. The very sight of Christy seemed to intensify his discomfort; he could hardly stand to see her lying on the bed so lifeless.

Teaspoon, Buck, and Cody had finally given in and gotten a room at the hotel. Teaspoon had sent a letter to Rachel and the others to let them know what had happened. It seemed there was nothing else to do but wait.

On the third morning, Kid rose from the wooden, ladder-back chair that he had sat in so long he felt like he was attached to it. He stretched and looked hopefully at Christy. With disappointment he noted she hadn’t moved. He went to the window and looked out at the busy street, filled with people going about their daily business.

Sensing Kid’s movements, Jimmy quickly came inside. “Is she-“

Kid shook his head. “No, nothing.”

Jimmy noticed again the dark circles under his friend’s eyes. “Listen, Kid, why don’t you go get something to eat? You’ll feel better if you get out of here for awhile. I’ll stay and watch her.”

“I don’t know, Jimmy. What if she wakes up?” Kid hesitated.

“Then I’ll come get you.” Jimmy said firmly. “Now go.”

“Jimmy,” Kid turned to face his friend. “I just want to say I’m sorry. I haven’t been exactly fair to you lately.”

Jimmy ducked his head. “You don’t have to apologize, Kid.”

“Yes, I do.” Kid said earnestly. “When I’m wrong, I say I’m wrong. I was just so determined not to let Christy get hurt again; I didn’t even give you a chance. Then she ends up getting hurt by that lowlife Turner…”

“It weren’t your fault, Kid. You can’t protect her from everything.”

Kid shrugged. “Maybe you’re right.”

“I know I’m right.” Jimmy guided Kid to the door. “Now get out of here.”

Reluctantly, Kid allowed himself to be pushed outside. The bright morning sunshine blinded him momentarily, but he had to admit the warm breeze against his skin felt wonderful. Teaspoon stood up so fast he almost knocked Cody off the bench.

“Anything change, son?” Teaspoon asked as he settled his brown bowler hat more firmly onto his head.

“No. Jimmy just talked me into getting some breakfast, is all.”

“Well, that sounds like a good idea.” He turned to Buck and Cody. “How about it? You two want to join us?”

Jimmy watched as the four of them headed toward the hotel, then he took Kid’s place in the narrow chair. Dr. Hawkins had risen and was examining Christy. He sighed and shook his head as he continued his poking and prodding.

“I don’t know. I just don’t know.” The doctor sighed again. “I thought she would have woken up by now.”

Jimmy rubbed his forehead, hoping the doctor would leave soon.

“Well, I’ll be back.” Dr. Hawkins began gathering his bag and supplies. “I’ve got to check on one of my patients. She just had a baby.”

Jimmy nodded and tried to be polite. “That’s real nice.”

“I won’t be gone long.” The doctor said as he left.

Relieved to be alone, Jimmy stretched his long legs in front of him and leaned his head against the wall. He closed his eyes, glad for a chance to rest. He jumped as he heard a noise to his left. He looked down at the bed to find Christy staring back up at him.

“You’re awake!” Jimmy smiled unbelievingly as he tried to hide the tears welling in his eyes.

“That doctor was making too much damn noise.” She mumbled.

Jimmy couldn’t restrain his laughter. “Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.” He glanced at her again happily. “I better go get Kid.”

“Jimmy, wait.” She called weakly.

He turned to her expectantly. “Thank you.” She whispered. “Thank you for coming for me.”

Jimmy leaned down close enough to give Christy a soft kiss. “I’ll always come for you.”