He retracted his hand and then moved his legs. More pain erupted shooting up both legs and wrapping it's demonic fingers around his back. It extended it's brutal talons then and gripped his skull. It was as if his brain was being forced out of the top of his head. An explosion of white head sent his eye open and stoked the fire in his belly. He tried to sit up when the viscious bile rose and couldn't seem to navigate his legs. His blurred vision took in wooden walls, some windows, a cabinet with glass doors and bottles behind it. Someone with dark hair and a mustache was sitting on a chair near his feet. The vomit was in his throat and mouth, choking him. It burned like hell and coupled with the agony he was engulfed in, tears burned. One hand flailed out seeking a port in the nightmare he was lost in. Just then a strong arm grabbed him and a deep voice gave commands.

"Okay, Chris," Josiah soothed, easing the smaller man up and sideways. The toussled blond head was over a basin and thankfully, he'd had the sense to grab a deep one. Chris threw up a lot and Sanchez held on, until the agonizing dry heaves passed. He didn't want Chris to choke on any residue but had no free hand. He eyed the slumbering rogue and called out. "Buck! Buck! Wake up... Buck!"

"Huh?" Buck jumped up too fast and staggered, wiping the sleep from his face. "Shit... I'm sorry Josiah. Whaddya need?"

"Here." He handed over the full basin. "Dump that outside. I'm gonna get him to rinse his mouth out and try to get some water in him."

"Okay," Buck agreed, eyeing the empty area in the back where the room bellied out. Nathan's office was back there, stock piled with medicine, herbs and other stuff. In the very back was a cot, table, chair, stove and sink. But it was empty. "Where's Nate?"

"In his room at the boarding house. He didn't sleep all night between Jake and Chris. I got here about an hour ago and sent him off. He needs to sleep." He took the pitcher of cold water and mug that Buck then handed him. He saw Wilmington's head dip down and shake when they encountered the sheet covered body in the next bed.

"When?" Buck asked, smoothing out the sheet so that Jake was fully covered.

"A few hours ago, Nathan said he was in a lot of pain and then just gasped and died."

"He was a nice old guy," Buck lamented. "Seems cold to have no kin to bury ya."

"The Lord'll will keep him warm, his Father will welcome him home." He got Chris into a sitting position and Buck plied more pillows behind him so that the battered blond was in a sitting position. Josiah tapped the marred cheek and watched the scowl forming. "Chris? Come on now, open your eye. "

"...hurts..." Chris slurred, but forced his eye to open. Two blurry figures were peering at him. The gray haired one was next to him and the dark-haired one by his knee. His mouth was beyond vile. Burning and full of a bitter taste that he knew all too well. "...fuck..." he complained, clucking his tongue and spitting.

"Hold on," Josiah got a mug and tried to give him a drink but his hand was intercepted.

"...gimme... mug..."

"Now look," Sanchez ordered, pulling the mug back. "We can do this easy or hard. You need to rinse and then drink. Your hand is shakin' worse than a virgin on her wedding night. You start spillin' on this sheet and we have to move you to change it." He watched as the lone green eye glared at him while the words were processed. Changing the bed meant moving and that was too painful to contemplate. Still glaring, the mouth opened. "That's a good boy."

"...make me shoot... you... preacher..." Chris drank the water, rinsed twice and drained three mugs more. He rubbed his aching jaw and wondered why his chest smelled and was greasy, not to mention on fire. His head felt as if there was a hatchet buried in it and his back and ribs as if a horse fell on him. "...fuck... hit... me..."

"We ain't sure if it was man or beast or a half-breed, " Buck supplied, moving to take Josiah's spot.

"Chris, Nathan was here all night, I sent him home to rest. But he wanted you to have fluids. Your jaw ain't up to food just yet but how about soup? Maybe some coffee?"

"Whiskey?" Chris decided, lying back on the bank of pillows and closing his throbbing eye.

"Yeah, in the coffee." Sanchez waited for the head to bob. "Buck, you mind the fort, I'm going to the boarding house. I'll make sure Mae knows what we need today. "

Buck nodded and sat down, watching Chris' features meld into confusion. He was trying to remember what happened and was coming up blank most likely. He got his friend a cold mug of apple cider and guided the wobbly hand.

"Bar fight," Buck supplied, taking the mug and setting it down. He waited and the battered face screwed up again and a hand covered it.

Flashes appeared in Chris's throbbing head. He felt stitches and swelling and mulled over Buck's words. A crowded bar, a loud bellow, chairs and tables flying past him. A large hulking man seemingly made of iron. Pain. Pain. Pain. It exploded everywhere and a red curtain covered the odd images. He heard glass break and saw the beast's face above him. He thought of his throbbing body and his lips parted.

"Broke..."

"No, by some miracle you ain't busted up to hell. That animal wanted to separate your head from your body. Damned near succeeded. You got a concussion, a bruised jaw, burned chest, bruised ribs, a small stab wound by your collarbone and stitches in your head. And your face, well, Stud, you ain't lookin' so pretty."

"Who?"

"Ezra said his name was Hawkes."

"Hawkes," Chris spat out and peeled his eye open. The memory of the carnage the beast left behind in that small town returned. "Fuckin' animal..."

"I won't argue that," Buck decided.

Only gifted a moment of reprieve, his mind flashed on the bar again and he was drinking with Vin. He frowned and tilted his head as the weird images continued. He saw Vin on his knees and Hawkes with bloodlust in his eye. Buck was here, why wasn't Vin? He peeled his eye open and saw for the first time, part of a body covered in a sheet. A man that wasn't too large. The pain that uncoiled then was not from his physical injuries, it was a much greated one.

"...fuck... fuck... no... Vin? Shit..."

"Huh?" Buck blinked and saw the agony painted on Chris's face as he stared at the corpse. "Aw, shit, Chris, I'm sorry. That's not Vin, that' Jake."

"Who?"

"Jake Hamilton. He collapsed yesterday and Nathan was with him all day a night. He was a lotta pain until the end. He died a little while ago."

Buck had heard about relief coursing through a body but he'd never seen it. Not until now. It was as if Chris's bone melted into the bed. For a moment, Buck felt as if he was invading Chris's privacy. The other man was too overcome by what he thought he'd lost to speak. So Buck just gave his shoulder a tug.

"Vin's okay, Chris. You know that damn Texan's too ornery to die. He's at Inez's. He got knocked out in the fight. You're damn lucky to be alive."

"Yeah," Chris managed to find a bit of sarcasm, "I feel lucky." Then an image so cold and brutal flashed it caused him to jump. He felt Hawkes hand on his balls and the threat appear along with a knife. He shot his hand under the blanket with fear gripping him.

"What the hell's wrong?" Buck sat up and thought all the liquid Chris had consumed. He knew Nathan had gotten some water into him overnight. Maybe it was his bladder ready to release. "You gotta pee? I'll get Pete." He stood up and got the odd contraption that Nathan made for them when they were confined in bed. It had a handle and looked like a long bottle with a slope on one end. Vin nicknamed it after being wounded. He was trying to slur to them he had to pee and 'Pete' came out.

"Shit..." Chris sighed, relief settling in. "that bastard was gonna cut my balls off. He grabbed them and had a fuckin' knife."

"Yeah, well he won't be cuttin' anyone again, he's dead." Buck handed Pete to Chris and didn't make the mistake of asking if he needed help.

"How?"

"Well, Hawkes was gonna cut your balls off but you had other ideas. You speared his eye with a corkscrew." Buck chuckled when Chris frowned momentarily and then remembered. "He wasn't too happy after that and decided to cut your head off instead. That's when Inez blew his face off. It wasn't much a face to begin ."

"How long?" Chris moved Pete sideways and from under the blanket and handed it too Buck.

"All night," Wilmington answered, leaving to empty Pete and wash it out. He saw that Josiah had made coffee and poured two mugs, dousing one with whiskey. He put the wooden tray on legs that Nathan used over Chris's lap and put the mug down. "It's about six I guess, the sun's comin' up. " He turned just as Larabee winced and rubbed his jaw.

"Just sip, don't talk."

By the time Josiah came back, Chris was out again. Buck poured the spiked coffee into his now empty mug and Josiah brought him a plate of ham, eggs and biscuits. Buck ate and settled back in the chair, eyeing the battered, bloody body in the bed. How many times in the last dozen years or so had he been in the same position.

"Just like the old days," he toasted with a soft smile. He decided to take advantage of the fact that Chris was sleeping and catch a nap. It was going to be a long day.

Vin blinked and opened his eyes and waited for the mud in his brain to ease enough that he'd know where he was. The thick muck remained in place and between the throbbing head and jaw, he was not able to fight the confusion. He eyed the unfamiliar room and the flowered quilt that covered him. He saw soft, new daylight shining behind some curtains on the window. Then some others images caught his eye and left him confused.

Curtains? Flowered quilt? More flowers in a vase? A chair with a pair of woman's undergarments draped on it?

"...hell's goin' on..." he whispered, then hissed when his jaw flared. He rubbed it and felt the swelling. He closed his eyes and recalled a dream, a wonderful dream with Inez holding him and kissing him. His eyes shot open then and zoned on the woman's undergarments nearby. Was it a dream? "shit..."

He sat up, tossed his legs over the bed and tried to stand. That was his first mistake. The dizzyness was overwhelming and he swayed, hitting the tin basin on the bedstand and sending it to the floor. A flash of hair and a colorful skirt whizzed by. Two small but very determined hands forced him back onto the bed.

"What do you think you are doing?" Inez said in a harsh tone.

Vin blinked in a stupor, eyeing the twins hands burning right through the skin on his chest. He recalled those hands on his face and chest and felt those lips again. The undergarments seemed to jump up and down at him in accusation. What the hell had he done? He lifted his shamed face up then and felt his face flush. She was so beautiful and so close, with such tenderness in her eyes.

"m'sorry... Inez... I can't believe I done... musta been drunk," he murmured of his aching head.

"What?"

She was confused now and saw down next to him on the bed. Then she saw his eyes, those beautiful blue eyes that were so expressive eyeing her undergarments. Two and two added up and she almost chuckled at his remorse. That was just one more thing that made him special. No man she'd been with had every given that to her. She tipped his sorrowful face up and smiled at him, letting her thumb caress his cheek.

"You did nothing to be sorry for, Vin. There was a fight last night, you were knocked out and Josiah brought you here to rest. Nathan was by and checked on you. He said you had to stay put, you hurt your jaw."

"So... we... didn't...." He peeked up shyly and was rewarded by the warmest smile he'd ever encountered. It filled him up and caused him to tingle all over.

"No, sweet Vin," she answered, stroking his face. "But thank you for that. Nobody ever treated..."

He took the hand and kissed it, rubbing his fingers over hers. "...they's fools then. Don't recall meetin' any lady finer..."

"I have some pudding," she managed, feeling hot all over. She sat on the bed and slowly fed him the sweet caramel pudding

Vin was like a puppet, unable to move. His jaw hurt but the warm pudding melted on his tongue and slipped easily down his throat. It was wonderful, rich and sweet. In between spoonfuls, she updated him on Chris and what happened. He drank in the details along with some cider. He was mezmerized by her face and enchanted by her voice. It was as warm and soothing as the pudding. Her bronzed skin stood out against the white peasant blouse and he felt guilty about the want in him that wanted to taste every inch of it. Finally, the simple meal was done. She stood up to return to the kitchen and found him trying to rise. "No, you have to rest. Nathan said..."

"Can't stay here," Vin insisted, "Ya don't need no tongues waggin'. It ain't right, me bein' in yer bed."

She wanted to tell him then, to pour her heart out. She wanted nothing more than to share his bed and his heart. But she folded herself into him then and hugged him, letting her head rest on his chest. If felt so good, so right, she could have been content forever. She thought on his wonderful heart than and kept those words he spoke. They wrapped around inside her and she shivered again.

"Inez?" Vin croaked, pulling her close. The eyes that looked back at him were full of emotion, burning with desire.

Could she really be embracing him and looking at him that way? He ran his hand up her spine than and she shuddered, her warm breath danced on his chest. She lifted her face up then and parted her lips. He bent down and captured them, drinking in the sweetness and relishing the splendour . He groaned and moved his hands down over her hips, pulling her closer.

Inez was tingling all over and allowed his kiss to fuel her desire. The seed was planted and she slid her hands up his back, rubbing the taut area over his waistline. She kissed him back and heard him groaning . She felt the pressure building where their bodies met and then he swayed.

"Vin?" She pulled back and saw the color draining from his face. His eyes went wide and then started to roll back. In the back of her head she heard Nathan's warning about a concussion and blackouts. She pushed him back down and caught him as he fell sideways.

Vin managed to pull his legs up and was vaguely aware of her pulling the quilt up. She kissed him again and the last thing he saw was his angel's smile

"Sleep... my sweet Vin..."

"...sweet..."

"Si, my Vin... my heart..." she vowed, full of the wonderment that budding love brings.

Chris gasped and pushed back into a large wall of pillows, using the one eye that would open to navigate a room. The sun was pouring in and he knew by the strength of it, it was midday. For a few moments, he was very confused. He knew by the cot, wall and window, this was Nathan's clinic. But he couldn't figure out why he was here. He heard a deep male voice humming from somewhere behind him.

"Nate?"

He rested his throbbing eye until he heard a scraping of boots on wood. A gentle hand to his neck brought his eye open again. Nathan Jackson pulled out a stethescope and began to listen to his chest. CHris sat quietly while the healer examined him. Satisifed, Nathan left for a moment and returned with a tray full of bowls.

"Soup, water, tea and puddin'," Nathan directed. "How's yuhr back?"

"Sore, stiff," Chris answered, moving his back around. He sat forward and backward, hissing a bit but realizing no serious injury existed. He knew the legs would be the next question and pulled both up and moved them around as well.

"Good." Nathan set the tray down and took a seat on the small stool by the bed. "Yuh ain't busted nuthin, but yuhr bruised bad. "

Chris took two spoonfuls of the vegetable soup and frowned. Bits and pieces of a bar fight came back to him. He vaguely recalled Buck and Josiah talking to him earlier. Then he saw the face of Gideon Hawkes and dropped the spoon.

"Chris?" Nathan leaned in and waved a hand in front of the transfixed green eyes. He snapped his fingers and they blinked. "Yuh get dizzy?"

"No," Larabee took a sip of the tea and sighed. "It was Hawkes. I should have killed that fuckin' bastard two years ago."

"He's dead enuf now," Jackson stated. "Matter of fact, JD says there's papers on 'im. There might be reward."

"How's Vin?" Chris asked, resuming his meal. His jaw ached and he didn't want to waste it talking when he could be eating.

"Better. His face ain't nearly as pretty as yuhrs," the healer teased. "He got knocked out, his jaws sore and his ribs are a mite bruised. I'm gonna check on him and send him ta get a hot bath, it'll help."

"Speakin' of which," Chris asked, pushing the empty soup bowl away and draining the water. "When's my bail money coming?"

"Not today," Nathan advised, "The head o'yuhrs got bounced t'much. I want yuh ta stay put in that bed. He saw the blond man counting on his fingers.

"Still Thursday?"

"All day," Nathan answered. He recalled Buck telling Josiah that he and VIn would be going to Grover's Pass for the auction. "Yuh ain't ridin' to Grover's Pass on Friday neither. Yuh'll be lucky if yuh can walk ta the saloon, let alone set a horse."

"I'll be fine by Saturday morning." Larabee didn't leave any room for argument. His eyes skirted to the empty bunk and he recalled a body there earlier. "Jake?"

"Down at the undertakers. He suffered quite a bit, damn shame," Nathan said sadly. "He's got no kin."

"You see to a coffin and burial, I'll take care of it," Chris said, taking Pete when Nathan offered it.

"Okay," Nathan agreed, taking the empty tray and moving it back to the kitchen.

He poured Chris a large mug of coffee and laced it with a painkiller. He knew by the tension in his jaw and the wincing eye Larabee was in a great deal of pain. He took a pan of herbs from the oven and dumped them into a small pillow case. Once they were packed inside, he tied the end. WHen he returned, Larabee was finished.

"This outta help yuhr back," Jackson predicted, easing Larabee forward and laying the hot herbal pack along the length of his back. He took the groan of bliss to be a good sign. Then he got the mug of coffee and put in on the small table by Larabee's hand.

"Thanks," Chris sighed, the heat spreading through and across his back was wonderful. "for everything, Nate."

"I'm gonna git some lunch and then check on Vin. I'll be back later. Move yuhr legs around a bit, don't let that back get stiff."

Chris sipped on the strong coffee and watched Nathan's dark head go past the window. He thought again on how lucky they were to have him in their group. He was a solid friend, the kind most men never find. He had to be exhausted, having worked on Jack all day and night and then having him and Vin to tend to as well. Three sips later, the spiked coffee was starting to relax him and the heat in the pack was adding to the lull. He rested his eye and laid his head back. His respite was short lived. A pat to the knee and a loud voice drew his eye open.

"Damn you're pretty," Buck boomed, tapping the bronzed chest lightly. "If I wasn't a full-breast man, I'd have to make a move on you."

"You couldn't afford me," Chris quipped.

"How you doin', old dog?" Wilmington asked, eyeing the bruised and battered body with a skeptical eye.

"Feelin' like an old dog," Chris agreed, toasting the thought with his mug before taking a sip. "A whipped, old dog." He eyed the rogues unmarred face and tilted his head. "How'd you come out clean?"

"I was in a battle of my own," Buck updated, wagging his eyebrows. "Damn near drowned in a multiple mountain of flesh."

"Both of 'em?" Chris inquired of the pair of women he'd seen Buck walking off with the night before.

"One and half," Buck replied, his eyes glazing when he recalled the event.

"A half?" the blond made the mistake of asking.

"Well you see, Sadie was ridin' me and Millie was tryin' to smother me with those lovely pillows she has."

"Jesus, Buck, I just ate," Chris groaned and wrinkled his nose. "You sleep in shit, you know that?"

"Born under a lucky star," the dark-haired man laughed. "By the time that shotgun went off and I got my drawers on, the action was over."

"Everything okay now?"

"Yeah, Ezra and the kid are cleanin' up the saloon, it's a mess. Josiah is helpin' Matt dig a grave for Jake. Damn shame, he was a nice old guy."

"Helluva thing to die alone," Chris commented, putting the nearly empty mug of coffee down. He yawned and laid his head back, enjoying the heat of the back pack.

Buck was a bit startled by the quiet comment Chris made. Maybe nearly getting killed made him think about his own mortality.

"Hell, stud," Buck said, clapping Chris's blanketed knee, "You ain't gonna die alone. I'll come and I'll bring some friends. If Ezra ain't in jail, I'll find him and drag him along. Josiah will find a kind word to say over ya. Vin'll play somethin' on that damn mouth organ he totes around. You'll have such a crowd , the kid'll have to hire someone to keep the peace."

Chris grinned then, not just for the shit-eatin' grin Buck wore but for all the warmth behind hit. He had no doubt Buck was here last night and would remain here until he was up and about again. He was damned glad to have him for a friend.

"So any of these friends that you're bringing to my funeral, women?"

"Hell, ya even gotta ask?" Buck feigned hurt. "I figure I have a few dozen within ridin' distance that will be required to comfort me in my time of need."

"What about my time of need?" Larabee asked.

"Well, damn son," Wilmington grinned. "You'll be dead, you won't need comfortin'"

"You can never tell, Bucko," Larabee shot back, using the nickname he'd given Buck shortly after they met. He saw the light of the power of it reflected back in Buck's smile. "You might be rubbing off on me. Wilmington's always loaded and ready to fire."

"Damn straight!" Buck bragged, tapping his groin.

"How far to Grovers Pass?" Larabee yawned and laid his head back.

"Chris, you ain't gonna be ready by Saturday. Me and Vin can handle it."

"After two days of having Nathan ply me with runny eggs and oatmeal, I'll drag myself out on crutches if I have to. "

"It's a three hour ride, give or take," Buck answered. "Auctions at noon. We leave out after breakfast and ride slow, we'll make it." He saw the blond head nod and then fall back. "Chris?" He whispered, then stood and pulled the quilt up. "Damn, between him and Vin ridin' hurt it's gonna be a long weekend."

Vin was sitting up, eating pudding when Nathan arrived. Inez had a full house in the saloon for the midday meal and he hadn't seen her in hours.

"Yuh look better than the last time I seen yuh," Nathan said, pressing his hands on Vin's side. The slim man flinched and hissed, pulling away. "How yuh feel?"

"Feel better if yer hands weren't cold," Vin snapped, slapping at the hand that now was touching his jaw. "Leave me be, 'm fine."

"Crankier than a bear with a thorn in his paw." Nate grinned, seeing the normal signs of Tanner recovering. He hated being handled and especially being in bed. "Yuhr gettin' better. Blurry eyes, throwin' up..."

"No!" Vin growled, flashing his irate blues on the chuckling healer. "Where's my clothes?"

"I want yuh t'get a bath, Vin. A hot soak in a tub will loosin' up them sore muscles. And I know yuhr still totin' a headache. Yuh had a concussion and yuh might be dizzy, so stay off yuhr horse and away from steps."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Vin answered, sitting up and putting his feet over the bed. "How's Chris?"

"Lucky," Nathan answered, handing Vin his drawers, pants and a clean shirt. "Nothin's busted but he's gonna be sore as hell for awhile. His back is botherin' him and his face is a mess." He saw Vin pause after putting his shirt on and stand up. Nathan held his elbow steady while the younger man got his pants on.

"No sense puttin' on anythin' else," Vin stated, "T'much t'pull off in the bath house."

"How's yuhr jaw?" Nate asked, shoving Vin's slouch hat on his head. The arm went out and the healer hung his gunbelt and mare's leg over his shoulder.

"Sore... but I ain't eatin' any more puddin'. I reckon by supper I can manage somethin' besides puddin'."

He shuffled a few steps and then straighted up, walking to the back door. He was glad Nathan was by his side for the first part of the journey. He was a little dizzy and the sun seemed very bright. When they got to the bathhouse, he nodded once, tipping his hat.

"Sorry about firin' yer ear, Nate."

"No, yuh ain't!" Nate laughed. "Yuh have a good soak and rest, Yuh'll feel better."

It took longer than usual for Vin to get his stiff body into the hot water. But once he sat down and rested his head against the high back, he felt like he was in heaven. The steam rose around him and he closed his eyes. Inez's face appeared in his mind's eye and he groaned, recalling her hands on him and those kisses. He let his imagination grow and envisioned her in the tub with him. She was straddling him, using the soap to glide over him and bending low, kissing him, her breasts wet and ripe.

"Shit..." Vin hissed, feeling himself growing hard under the water. "Good thing I'm in a tub."

The clinic was quiet when Vin arrived. By the time he'd climbed to the top, he was a bit tired and dizzy. He peered inside first, hoping to avoid the wrath of Nathan. Josiah was in the back, reading a newspaper.

Josiah heard the door and looked up, recognizing the hat first. His face split into a grin and he rose up.

"Afternoon Brother Vin," he called out and got a single dip of the head. "Coffee?"

"Thanks," Vin answered, shuffling to the back. Chris was sleeping and Vin winced, his eyes raking in the multitude of injuries. In addition to the battered face and stab wound, there was a nasty burn swathed in salve and blistering on one side of his upper chest.

"Damn, his face looks like a dime's worth o'dog meat."

"That about covers it," Josiah agreed, putting the sweeted brew down along with a piece of pie. "Take little bites, it's peach, Mae made it this morning."

"Thanks, Josiah," Vin said, taking his hat off and sitting on the bunk across from Chris.

"I'll be in the back, if you need me."

"Yeah," he replied, pulling the small stool next to Chris over to use as a table of sorts. He took a tiny nibble of the pie and groaned. Not only were the peaches sweet but it was loaded with cinnamon and the crust was buttery. He continued to vocalize his pleasure as he ate.

Chris frowned, wondering what was interrupting his nap. He peeled an eye open and saw the long hair first. Vin was on the bunk next to him, enjoying something sweet.

"Damn, Tanner, you got a woman over there?" He inquired of the moans of pleasure.

"Wouldn't taste this good," Vin answered, finishing the last of the pie and taking some coffee.

"You don't know the right women," Chris disagreed, reaching an arm out. In a flash, he was being at up, the pillows fluffed and eased back. "Thanks. How you doin'?"

"I'm okay, a little dizzy."

"You were born a little dizzy," Chris teased, glad to see only a slight bruise on Vin's jaw, although it was swollen. "Sorry you got in the middle of that bastard's wrath."

"Ya sure can pick 'em," Vin replied, yawning. He leaned back on the bunk, resting against the wall. "How's yer back?"

"Nathan's been using some kind of sac full of hot herbs. I'll tell you what, he knows his stuff. It feels a lot better than when I first woke up."

"Best ya stay put then, until it's better. Me and Bucklin can handle the horse sale."

"I'll be fine by Saturday," Chris stated. "I'll be ready to bust out by then."

"I hear that," Vin agreed, wincing at the afternoon sun shot through the curtain and his his face. The short journey to the tub, the bath and the walk up the stairs wore him out. He'd rest his eyes a moment.

Josiah arrived a few moments later, with another hot pac for Chris. He eyed the snoring tracker and shook his head.

"He wore himself out moanin' over the damn pie," Chris updated, moving so Josiah could lay the sac behind him. "Nathan outta sell this shit, it's great."

"You need anything?" Josiah asked. "I have to wire the Judge and update him."

"No, we'll be fine," Chris answered. He settled back and let the heat massage his tender back. It wasn't long before both friends were dozing in the afternoon sun.

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