"He's resting fine right now but it will be a while before he's fit again." The doc rolled a slim cigar between his fingers and rested his feet on the edge of his desk. "Might even lose the use of that arm. Can't tell yet. There's a big important artery in that area that feeds nerves and such. If it was badly damaged . . ." The doc sucked his teeth and put his cigar in his mouth.

"What about the shooter?"

"He's dead."

Link rolled his eyes. "I know he's dead, doc, do we know who he is?"

"Well I don't know him and if you didn't find anything in his belongings then your guess is as good as mine. He might be Mexican or even Asian; his skin is tanned lookin' and it isn't from sunshine and the eyes have that look."

"That look . . . doc speak?" Link chuckled. "We didn't find anything on his horse either after we rounded it up. I keep thinking it's something to do with this last job we were on but who is a real puzzler. That Asian thought might back that up."

The office door opened and Myrna came in with a distraught Dawn. She ran to the bed and knelt beside it, crying and speaking in her language.

"He needs to rest, Myrna," the doc said.

"I'll watch she doesn't disturb him. Why don't you leave us alone for a while, we'll be good."

"Thirty minutes and do not wake him."

Dawn looked at Myrna and the expression nearly broke her heart. She placed her arms about the girl and told her all the things she knew people said in these situations. They sat together on the floor next to the cot where Harlan lay, silently watching the man they both felt great affection for.

******

"She's taking it hard."

"He saved her life, doc, guess she would." The two men strolled along the walk in front of the bank and the law office.

"I see the marshall's back," Doc observed. "Down there with Tubbs."

"Yeah, and I'll likely get another of his silent interrogations." Link stopped, and took the doc's arm. "You think he'll be okay, really?"

"Told you, Link, a lot depends on what happened inside. I can't see that stuff, I can only patch up what I see." Doc patted his back and told him not to worry and that it was out of their hands now. "I better get back. Make sure the women haven't done anything silly."

"Okay. I'll go see Raintree."

******

Sheriff Tubbs tapped his fingers on his stomach and made a grumbling sound. "Raintree was here again. He didn't sound pleased."

"How could you tell?"

"Just a feeling."

"Where'd he go, I was gonna speak to him? I imagine he thinks he should have taken us both in last time he was here."

"Well I wouldn't bet on him not doin' it this time, Link."

"I just hope he has something on that shooter; it drives me nuts not knowing who he might be."

"Somebody from Gerrard's mob? San Francisco? The one whose shoulder Harlan shattered?"

"Maybe. Where'd you say he went?"

"Said he wanted to talk to the doc."

Link sat up, staring at Tubbs. "You got the paperwork on that guy here on file?"

"What guy?"

"Him, the guy Harlan shot."

"My copies."

"Let me see them a minute."

With a great effort, Tubbs went to his wooden filing cabinet and pulled out the file he'd copied to Raintree."

"Says his name was Carl Highwater; was he native? Sure didn't look it."

"Yep, white father, injun mother. Doc told him he'd be better off tellin' us his particulars rather the people at the county prison, they'd only ask but once."

"His partner was an ex stage robber. Wesley Barr. Even had an old poster on him I forgot all about."

"Do you know what happened to Highwater? Did he go to jail?"

"Raintree took him away. Can't imagine him takin' him home to meet his mother. Somethin' botherin' you?"

"Where is he? Why isn't he here with you?"

"Told you, said he wanted to talk to the doc."

******

Doc held up his hands in protest. "He can't be moved, Marshall. He needs to stay still and rest. That wound was close to killin' him."

Raintree stared impassively at the doc, his attention drifting to the two women and then to Harlan.

"I'm takin' him in along with his partner. They've got too much explaining to do with all these shootings."

"He isn't going anywhere, just leave him 'till we see if he even gets better!"

"He can get better in Sacramento."

"You can't do this!" Myrna stepped up beside the doctor, her face a mix of anger and fear. Dawn moved up behind Myrna and stared at the marshall then tugged her arm.

Raintree made a move toward the bed and the doc stepped in front of him. "For god's sake man, listen to reason. He can't be moved; you could kill him."

"What?" Myrna whispered as Dawn spoke softly in her ear.

"I see this man in Sanfrisco." Myrna turned around and steered her back to the corner of the room.

"What do you mean?" Their voices remained hushed.

"He was at port when I come by boat. He with customs men."

Myrna felt a shiver down her back and she was almost afraid to turn around.

"If you don't get out of my way, I'll be forced to arrest you as well, Doctor."

"He doesn't want to arrest him, doc; he wants to kill him!" Myrna choked out the words then clasped a hand to her throat as the marshall stopped and faced her.

"What! What are you−"

"Dawn saw him at the docks in Frisco . . . working with the customs men."

Raintree grabbed the doctor's arm and spun him across into Myrna, both stumbling backwards into Dawn.

"One move and you are all dead, not just him."

"Same goes for you, Raintree." Link stood in the open office door, his gun cocked and aimed at the marshall.

"You move quietly for a gimpy white man."

"Aw shucks, thanks. Now drop your gunbelt . . . carefully." He stepped inside and waved the two women and the doc outside.

"You won't shoot me, Kane. With all the killing you've done they won't even give you a trial."

"I don't have to shoot you, just take you in and let you explain all about Highwater and his brother and your connection to Lantern."

"Good luck to you there, cowboy." He suddenly reached down and clamped a hand on Harlan's throat. "Drop your gun or he's finished right away."

The move was too quick for Link to do anything and he cursed inwardly at his carelessness.

"Toss it outside- now!"

Reluctantly, Link threw the gun out the door and straightened up, expecting the worst. Raintree let Harlan go and stood up, drawing his own gun.

"You boys made me work awful hard this past while. First shooting Gerrard and Highwater then Lantern and his group. I gave you every chance to let it all go. Too bad Highwater's brother had a different idea. That wasn't my idea by the way."

"Am I supposed to thank you?"

"I suppose not. But now things have changed and it's my idea now. You tried to stop me, which is true, but you didn't and in the shootout both you and Harlan died."

Raintree rounded on him and waved him over to the bed. "Might as well be together at the end."

"You forgetting the witnesses outside?"

"Nope. They'll be next; trying to obstruct justice."

"Justice . . . you and your scummy lot wouldn't know justice if it bit you."

"Well, 'till then I'll just be the Territory Marshall sadly doing his job." He raised his gun and Link swallowed hard.

The explosion was loud in the small room and Link flinched back as Raintree's chest opened in a gaping wound. Surprise was the only different expression he had seen on the marshall and he stared at it all the way to the floor where the big man fell with a crash. In the doorway, trembling and crying, Dawn stood with Link's gun, arms outstretched and shaking.

Three people surrounded her immediately and all jabbering at once. Link relieved her of the gun while Myrna and the doc led her away from the carnage, muttering a string of soothing words. Link rolled Raintree over and winced at the size of the wound. Fired that close the bullet had damaged pretty well all the contents. He stood and shook his head; the surprise was still on the marshall's face.

He leaned down and checked Harlan's breathing, letting out a relieved sigh then he went out to find the others.

******

"What the devil!" Sheriff Tubbs scratched his head and looked around the table in the hotel he shared with Arthur, the partners and all the girls.

"That's the whole story beginning to end, Sheriff." Link raised his glass and gave a toast. "To all the good guys and the bad guys they stopped."

"And who almost stopped them too," Myrna added.

"So Raintree was working with the Sacramento group all along?" Tubbs shook his head. "And it was Highwater's brother that bushwhacked Harlan."

"You're getting it, Sheriff."

"So Highwater worked for . . .?"

"Raintree. He was the group's go to man for the gun fightin'."

"What a mess."

"Well it's over now and Harlan and I are retired restaurantoors."

"How eloquent, Link. I should bless my stars having you as a partner." Myrna tipped her glass and winked.

Dawn adjusted the pillow in the big armchair behind Harlan's head, leaning in and kissing him.

"I love you, Harlan and I take care of you."

"Back at you, Dawn and it won't be long before I'm taking care of you again."

"Doctor say your arm will be good again."

"All the better to grab you," he laughed, pulling her onto his lap.

"Whoa you two! Good thing this is a hotel." Link teased.

"You're right, Harlan laughed through a cloud of Dawn's hair, "and luckier still, we know the owner."

The chatter and laughter continued right through a gourmet meal prepared by the girls. It was time to relax and enjoy.

******

The sun fell behind the mountains and the trail disappeared in the faint moonlight. The riders slowed to a walk and closed together.

"That River Flats?"

"Yep, an' this is where they're at."

"You're gonna enjoy this, ain't ya?"

The man spat and bared his teeth. "Yeah . . . I'm gonna enjoy this."

A breeze picked up and swirled dust in the rider's faces as they made their way slowly to the edge of town.

END