Weeks later the Regulators and the outlaw woman followed the Rio Tularosa to a small homestead at Stinking Springs. The group had requested room and board and offered to pay for the accommodations. They were given the bunkhouse to stay in as well as food to eat. It was pleasant enough and they all welcomed a warm bed. The woman was given the only extra room so she had her own private space per Dick's orders. To which, they all looked at him with shock --- even Kristal had been surprised half expecting him to take the room. It wasn't like she hadn't been sleeping out in the open with them all nearby anyway. Still, she relished the privacy.

That early evening, they were all having a nice dinner, or rather trying to. Billy and Dick seemed to be going at each other's throats more and more with each passing day.

Now, Dick was saying a prayer over the food with the others inside, while Dirty Steve stood watch with his dinner in hand, sitting on a ridge making sure nobody was coming for them.

The food was placed nicely on the table and the boys all had their heads bowed except Billy. The blond boy was growing more and more agitated as Dick continued the prayer. Kristal merely sat, glancing between the boys. She had never been the religious sort, but she would be polite enough as Dick continued with the prayer. Though, she too was getting awfully hungry.

"Lord, forgive us for our wrongdoings. For our misguidance by heathen religions. Thank you for keeping us alive..." Dick went on. He was a rather religious sort as John has been as well, so he felt the need to uphold the tradition.

Thinking Dick was done, Billy started to eat.

However, Dick then continued on without missing a beat. "Please guide us in doing the right thing. Our father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name."

"Please Dick, it's getting cold." Billy impatiently announced with a roll of his eyes. His groaning caught the attention of the other's seated there and they all looked up at the blond in surprise that he had interrupted Dick.

Dick suddenly moved, pulling his gun in the process. Seeing Dick move, Billy pulled his gun as well and got it out first. Both men aimed their weapons at each other with a frown.

Charlie appeared annoyed growing tired of this rivalry. All he wanted to do was eat the delicious looking food in front of him. But no, the two boys had to ruin even this nice moment.

"Good lord, y'all act like children." Kristal grumbled, leaning back in her seat with a biscuit in her hand. She wasn't going to wait. Her patience was running thin and she was hungry. "Amen..." She then muttered, feeling the need to finish the prayer - she didn't like leaving loose ends even if it was a prayer. With that said, she ripped a piece of her biscuit off and popped it in her mouth.

"I could've killed ya, Dick." Billy announced ignoring the woman. "I couldv'e killed you. But I don't wanna kill you. I'd rather eat."

The Mexican-Indian man looked to Kristal and smirked before annoyance crossed his face eyeing their leader and Billy. The woman was right. They were acting like children. He decided to take Kristal's movement as well as her end to the prayer as the okay to dig in and began filling his plate. He ignored the two men who still had their guns aimed at each other.

Dick was growing tired of Billy's shit. The man was a cocky bastard and acted like he didn't have a care in the goddamn world. "After we finish this meal, you little rodent. We're going to go out to the yard and see who has the right to run the Regulators."

"Seriously?" Starr queried around a mouthful of biscuit. "Don't we have more ta worry 'bout than this shit?"

Doc agreed with Kristal, but he wasn't about to let the men ruin his meal. "Richard, would you be so kind as to pass the gravy, please?" He then glanced at Kristal, with a smile, "and may I have one of those biscuits miss?"

Chuckling, Kristal tossed him a biscuit and took a bite of the meat she had dished out onto her plate. Doc caught the biscuit, still grinning and dove into his food. The other two, Chavez and Charlie were now stuffing their faces as if they hadn't had a decent meal in weeks, when in reality, they really hadn't.

Dick glared at Billy, not about to take his eyes off the man. "I don't think this concerns you Starr." He said a little harsher than he had meant. What did she know anyway? Right?

"Look, if y'all wanna kill each other, can we do it after we get the justice we all want fer Tunstall?" Kristal growled, her eyes flashing up at Dick. "'Cause unfortunately, they all need ya both. So, both o' ya need to pull yer head outta yer asses, and think 'bout what's good in the here and now... fer the Regulators." Why was she always the voice of reason lately? Men! Nothin' but pansies, acting like children, she thought. "Now can we finish dinner without bloodshed fer once?"

The door suddenly slammed open and Steve rushed in before anyone could say or do anything else. "A might well-heeled man coming."

"Just one?" Dick asked, still not bothering to look away from Billy. He wasn't going to break the gaze first. This was clearly a challenge of wills and Billy wasn't going to win - even if Kristal did make sense.

"Uh-huh." Steve stated simply taking a swig of the drink he had in his hand.

Moving from his meal, Charlie stood to look out the window. Steve was right there was only one man and the curly haired boy's face paled. He recognized that man. "Oh, Lord! It's Buckshot Roberts."

Appearing thoughtful, Dick nodded his head slightly, "we got a warrant for him."

Doc looked mildly amused, "ya think he's coming to surrender?"

"Do they ever?" Kristal mumbled quietly.

Shaking his head, Charlie swallowed back the fear. He was tired of all this gunplay and bounties. "Don't look that way."

Still seated at the table, Chavez and Kristal continued eating as if nothing was wrong. The dark haired half breed motioned to the butter, and the blonde woman nodded handing it over to him. Chavez buttered his biscuit and then stuffed it into his mouth not about to let good food go to waste.

Finally Billy responded to Charlie's statement, "he any good?"

"He's killed more people than Smallpox." The quiver in Charlie's voice showed his fear and Kristal finally turned to him, concern in her eyes.

A resounding click was heard as Billy uncocked his gun. "Well, hell... Introduce us."

"Seriously? Can't we jus' once have a decent meal without gettin' shot at fer oh... Say a couple hours?" Kristal grumbled as the boys all stood, following Dick and Billy's lead.

"Not now, Kris. If you want to stay here, be my guest. You can watch a real man kill Roberts." Billy stated, his ego getting the better of him.

"Go to hell, Bonney." Dick growled.

"Right after you, Dick ol' boy!" Billy replied with a wild grin.

Rolling her eyes, she stuffed another bread roll into her pocket and stood up. "Stay here? An' let you fools get shot ta hell? I think not." She stuffed a couple carrot slices into her mouth and then strolled passed Billy and Dick. She pulled her duster off the coat rack and grabbed her hat, "let's get this over with."

Chavez leaned towards Billy, "at least Chiquita is eating." He had a smirk on his face and followed after her.

***

Dick lead the way out of the building, the rest of the Regulators following behind. Kristal was the last to exit the building, placing her hat on her head, staying back watching with narrowed eyes. Approaching the man, Dick lifted a hand as if in greeting and announced, "we got a warrant for you, old man."

The older man, was stocky in his late forties to early fifties. He was covered in furs and looked rugged and slow. But that meant nothing, especially when he was holding a rifle and had a pistol at his side. "I ain't got no business with that war no more, peckerheads, sons o' bitches." The gravelly man explained and then motioned to the blond boy. "I'm on my own. I'm here to get that $150 Sheriff Brady's putting out for the Kid. The rest of you little shits is only worth $110 but I'll take it." His gaze then fell on the girl behind and his eyes lit up. "Though, she's worth $500 in Oklahoma, $300 in Texas and sadly only a hundred dollars in Lincoln... Think a trip to Oklahoma might be worth while. Ain't had a woman in a while, either. Might be nice to get a little release before I turn her ass in."

"What a sweet disposition." Doc said sarcastically even as the other's turned to look at Kristal surprised at her bounties to which she responded with a shrug.

"You ain't touching the woman, you sick son of a bitch," called out Dick, to everyone's surprise.

"Who's gonna stop me? You?" The old man said with a smirk. Roberts then proceeded to drop one of his weapons on the ground and grinned at the group, "lets dance!"

Kristal's gaze hardened on the old man. This Roberts fellow was a disgusting old man, chasing bounties for sport and speaking about her in such a manner. And unfortunately, he knew exactly how much her bounty was in her home state. She ignored the stares from the others, though had been deeply surprised to find Dick standing up for her. He had been different the past couple weeks. Ever since the Peyote incident. Nicer, friendlier, understanding. It was weird and left her avoiding him once more. She almost preferred him hating her. This new side was starting to worry her. Shaking her head, Kristal immediately dodged the blasts that came in their direction and then slipped away unseen.

The other's scrambled for cover, springing into action pulling their guns in the process. Gunfire sounded around them as they tried to fight back. Chavez was suddenly hit and fell to the ground before practically crawling to get behind some cover.

"Chavez!" Dick shouted with concern.

Doc suddenly stood up, preparing to shoot at the old man. A shot sounded from Roberts position and Doc fell to the ground gripping his hand. "Shit!" The blond man growled in pain before looking over at the downed form of Chavez concern in his eyes. His friend hadn't moved. "Hey... Chavez?"

In intense pain, Chavez managed to get out an annoyed "what?" as a response, which satisfied Doc's concerned curiosity.

"Damn," Richard grumbled, seeing that two of his men were down for the count.

Backing away, Roberts kicked open the door to the outhouse and entered. "You missed ya sons of bitches!" He slammed the door shut with a grunt leaving the boys wondering what the hell the old man was doing.

"He's going into the shitter." Dick called out, watching the man carefully. He then caught sight of Billy an idea forming in his head. "Billy?"

"What?" Billy questioned poking his head out to get a look around. He then turned to Dick with questioning in his eye.

"Go in there and cut the son of a bitch in half." Dick told the man. He ignored the curiosity that entered the blond man's eyes. Billy liked a challenge, so he would give the man one, "I'm daring you, Billy."

Billy smirked, and nodded. This was a challenge he would gladly accept. With a look of confidence, Billy edged out from behind the pile of wood they were hiding behind.

The outhouse door suddenly opened up and Roberts started shooting at them once again. "Y'all can't blast me!" Came a shout as the door closed once more.

Falling to the ground, Billy hurried back to get under the cover and protection of the wood pile. "Screw that!" Billy shouted, eyeing Dick. They all began to shoot wildly in hopes that they would hit the man through one of the holes in the outhouse door. After a few minutes, they paused to the sound of silence.

"Hey, where'd Starr go?" Steve called out spitting some tobacco to the ground.

Hearing the question, Dick frowned seeing the woman no where to be found. "You think she took off 'cause of the bounty?" Charlie's voice cut through Dick's mind. Had the woman really taken off? What happened to her having their back? Irritation and anger coursed through him. He had been wrong about her, hadn't he? He had tried giving her a chance, hell he even started to... no! He was an idiot and a fool. She left them high and dry!

Shaking his head, Dick knew now he should have known better than to trust her. "An outlaw only looks after themselves..." He spoke softly, though his voice carried. "I knew it all along. But then... she had us all fooled... Can't trust a damned outlaw - especially a woman outlaw." The boys looked at each other with a frown. Was Dick right? Had they all been wrong about Starr? If not then where was she?

It was then that they heard a grunting and sputtering coming from the outhouse. The old man sounded like he had been hit. Dick looked to Billy and frowned. He didn't have time to be dwelling on that damned woman, "cover me."

Cocking his weapon, Dick slowly stood and edged out of the cover of their protection. Slowly he stepped forward, inching towards the small building. A movement then caught his eye and he saw piercing green eyes staring at him from the cover of a bush behind the outhouse. The look on her face clearly said she had heard what he had said, but she merely placed a finger to her lips. He was shocked to see her there. She hadn't left?! He had once again judged her wrongly. Now, wasn't the time to dwell on it though. He would deal with it later.

With a shake of his head, Dick continued forward, when a gun poked through the wooden slats of the outhouse. A shot was fired and Dick clutched his chest and fell to the ground unmoving.

From behind the outhouse, beneath the cover of a bush, Kristal's mouth dropped open. She almost raced out from behind her cover to run to Dick, but stopped herself. If she moved, she would surely be seen and shot. Her plan was to take the old perverted bastard by surprise. Now, she was frozen to her spot. It was as if time seemed to slow, barely inching forward, with Dick's body laying on the ground unmoving.

"Dick!" Steve shouted at the sight of their leader falling to the ground.

"Son of a bitch! Dick we're coming to get you!" Charlie called out trying to get up to go after their fallen friend, but Steve grabbed him, holding him back. The dark-haired boy tried to struggle against Steve, but then relented with sorrow.

"He's dead, Charlie." Steve stated solemnly

"But... but, we gotta go get him!" Charlie tried again to go after their leader.

Steve shook his head at the curly haired boy, his expression holding pain, but he tried hiding it for Charlie's sake. "You want to cross that shithouse again?"

"What're we gonna do? Dick just got his guts blown out?" Still upset, Charlie shook his head trying to comprehend what had just happened. Billy took that moment to sneak away to go for the horses as Charlie continued. "He's our foreman!"

Helping Chavez up, Doc wrapped an arm around the half breed in the hopes to follow Billy to their horses.

Charlie was still reeling. He couldn't quite wrap his head around what had happened and then realized something, "Doc, what are we going to do?"

"This place is gonna be crawling with Murphy men. We gotta get the hell outta here!" The poet of the group called out to Charlie as he lead Chavez away.

"Come on Charlie... come on!" Steve urged, tugging on the man's arm.

Charlie couldn't help but look back, "but... what about Kristal? I don't think she just left us... do ya?"

Hearing Charlie, Doc shook his head helping Chavez get onto his horse, "I dunno, Charlie. She's a big girl, she can handle herself."

Shock washed over Charlie's face at Doc's response. He glanced back again frowning not wanting to leave both Dick's body and Kristal behind —- that is if she was still around somewhere.

"Wouldn't be surprised if she did leave. It'd be the smart thing to do." Came Steve's voice as he spat some tobacco to the ground. "Hell, she'd be the smartest of us all."

"Regulators. Let's rack out, now!" Billy called out from astride his horse. Cornflower colored eyes glanced to Dick's body, then around in the hopes he did see Starr. Her horse was still hitched up to the post where they had left their horses. He didn't think she would leave without her horse... But then where was she? Hiding maybe? That didn't seem like her. But then, what did he really know of her? He swore, his frustration and irritation flashing over his face. They had to move. They needed to get out of there. Waiting could get them caught or killed. He shook his head struggling with what he should do, before turning his mount and riding off motioning for the rest to follow. Like Doc said, she was a big girl. She had handled things before, he didn't doubt she could do it again. And if she had indeed left... he couldn't finish his thoughts, just rode away from the bloody scene.

The rest of the boys mounted their horses, but only Doc and Charlie looked back one last time to see Dick's body laying on the ground motionless. A look of sorrow crossed their faces before they turned, following Billy away from the homestead.

~~~~~~~

Watching the men ride away, still hidden in her hiding spot, Kris swore silently. Those assholes left her and Dick behind! Though, she wasn't sure if Brewer was still alive, but she wouldn't leave a man behind, even if he was dead. Dick deserved a proper burial, if she could help it. Moments later the outhouse door kicked open and Roberts exited, grumbling something about 'little shits' and 'at least he got one'.

Wanna bet? Ya got none ya perverted bastard, Kristal thought edging out from behind her bush. Making no sound, she inched forward her gun in one hand, knife in the other. The woman closed the distance and then pressed the barrel of the gun to Roberts' head.

"You really are a brave but stupid woman." Roberts said, knowing it was her.

Kristal shrugged even though he couldn't see it. "Funny how often those two go hand in hand. Yer a perverted bastard an' ya shot m' friends. I ain't about ta let ya get away with that."

"Friends? Didn't they just leave you behind?" The man shifted slightly but Kristal noticed.

The woman knew exactly what he was trying to do. Hell, she had done it herself many times. "Well, guess they ain't as loyal as me, eh? No matter, ya'll still die."

The man chuckled. "Law men will be all over this place soon... you stupid, stupid bitch. You should have left with them - left while you could." He moved again, "now you'll die with your friend."

Two shots were fired. But only one body fell to the ground.

The old man had a large hole in his head as he fell to the ground dead. Blood spattered everywhere, including all over the only one left standing. The young woman glared down at the dead body, still standing tall, though pain washed over her face. Roberts had fired his gun at her, but she had managed to shift and the bullet went right through her side. It was planned all along. She knew how to take a bullet, where it wouldn't cause any extreme damage, however, it didn't mean it didn't hurt like hell. White hot pain coursed through her side, but she didn't falter. She didn't have the luxury of time.

Rushing over to Dick's side, Kristal's brows drew together. "God... Dick... why'd ya have ta be so stupid." She whispered and placed two fingers to his jugular. To her surprise the man was still breathing. "Dick!" She tried waking him up, but it was no use. He was out cold.

Green eyes then lowered to his wound, and sadness filled her once more. The injury was a deadly one. Even with her limited knowledge of fixing up wounds, she doubted he'd last long. Her eyes then lifted up to the clear blue sky and she shook her head. Hadn't she lost enough in the damn world? Sure, the man had given her hell from day one, but he had started to change even going as far as being nice to her. Then again, he had thought she had left them all behind. Did she really look like someone who would do that? Still, she wouldn't let all that bother her. She couldn't...

"I ain't leavin' ya here Brewer...." Kristal finally announced. "I know ya hate me, but I ain't gonna give them assholes the satisfaction of gettin' yer body." She grumbled harshly, letting anger rule her emotions for the moment. Placing two fingers to her lips, she let out a trill whistle and then another. Within a minute her horse trotted over to her.

Standing up, she patted Midnight's flank and eyed the man. Getting Dick onto her horse's back was gonna be a struggle. But she wasn't about to give up and she knew she needed to be quick. Roberts wasn't wrong. The law would be there and soon and she wasn't about to lead anyone to the other Regulators.

With a grunt and using every last bit of strength she had, the blonde woman managed to get Dick draped over her horse's back. It probably would have hurt the man like hell if he had been awake, but thankfully he was still out cold, though his breathing was ragged. Climbing up behind the man, winded and tired, she swore softly before flicking her horses reins and giving a soft but firm kick to Midnight's side. The horse took off in a run.

~~~~~~~

Hours later, Kristal paused down river of the rest of the Regulators, following their trail with ease. She would have gone the rest of the way, but her injury was bothering her and Dick was about to slip off her horse. Slowing Midnight down at the edge of the river, Kristal helped slide Dick to the ground careful not to do any more damage than what was already done. Checking his heartbeat again, Kristal found it, but it was even more faint. She feared the man would die before she got him back to the rest of the group.

Biting her lower lip, Kristal had to move. She hated feeling any sort of weakness, and sadness was one of them. Thirsty, the woman moved to the edge of the river and knelt down to get a drink. The water was cool and refreshing, something she needed at the moment since her mouth felt dry. Lifting her shirt, she eyed the injury to her side. The bullet had indeed passed right through. It was inches away from her other injury, the one that was now a puckered scar, the one that had brought her to Tunstall's attention in what seemed like ages ago. "Seems the scars are never ending. My lot in life, I s'pose." She spoke to no one in particular, trying to keep the anguish she felt at the memory of Tunstall at bay.

"Scars ain't that bad..." Sounded a raspy voice behind her.

Turning she saw Dick awake. He was pale and his skin was mottled with sweat. He was trying to sit up, his face twisting in pain. "Dick?" She questioned stupidly.

"Hey, Starr..." He greeted and began to cough. Blood spewed from his mouth and he tried to wipe it away, but could barely move anymore. His strength had depleted.

Pulling a handkerchief from her pocket, Kristal moved to his side. "Yer hurt bad, Brewer..."

"Yeah... I know." Richard's gaze lifted to her as she wiped the blood from his face. "Why?" He paused to cough again and then frowned. He was dying and he knew it. "You didn't leave... why?"

The man's question took her by surprise. "I thought I told ya? Y'all have wormed yer way into my cold-ass heart in one way or another." Despite the affection in her voice, her expression remained distant.

"One way or another?" Brewer rasped before shaking his head. Pain coursed through his features at the movement. Seeing Kristal move to help him, he lifted his fingers up in an effort to stop her. "Stop... I'm dying. I know it..." He paused again, his clouded gaze staring up at her. "You act all cold... distant... like a... a bitch. But you ain't... Why? Could have... made things different."

Kristal rolled her eyes, "yeah? How? I'm an outlaw remember?" Blinking, she turned her head away from him. She knew there was nothing she could do. He was going to die... another life lost... She was tired of losing people. "Y'all thought I left anyhow... y'all think the worst o' me. Or have ya forgotten that?"

Richard coughed up some more blood, to which Kristal turned back to him and wiped away the offending ickor. He didn't understand why she was being so kind, but it warmed his slowing heart. "Perhaps... but, you keep people... at arms length... don't let 'em... in." His words were beginning to slur together. "You refused... to tell me... anything. I worried..." He tried to shake his head. "We thought... your bounty... I wouldn't have blamed you if you ran. He was a crude... son-of-a-bitch..."

Putting up a hand to make him stop talking, Kristal sighed. "Ya worried fer John... I know. I did too, Dick. I didn't want to see him hurt. I knew what my past could get me... what it could do to everyone. I was gonna leave once I was better... but didn't... I dunno why I stayed..." She scoffed and shook her head. No, that wasn't true, she knew why she stayed, hadn't she told Dick the very reason was because she had grown soft and she had grown fond of the Regulators and especially John. "Maybe I should'a though..." Her gaze fell, wondering if it would have been better for all of them. Maybe if she had left, John wouldn't have died... It was a foolish thought, but her sorrow was building up in her chest.

"Ya know, they thought I was dead... those I was protectin' y'all from... At least 'till all o' this." Kristal frowned and lowered her eyes even further, to her bloodied hands, grief filling her green hues for John and now Dick. She tried to think how this could have been prevented, but she didn't see a way out. "I'm an outlaw Dick... raised by outlaws. I never had a choice. It wasn't like I chose to be this. I was forced into it... raised into it... hell, if ya wanna be specific, I was trained into it at a young age. I learned how ta handle a gun at eight years old, a knife at seven. The first man I ever killed... I was thirteen. The outlaw life ain't glamorous. It's shit... I didn't exactly want it." Even though she enjoyed the thrill of it all, living day to day wondering if it was going to be your last took a toll on a person. "I thought I got away... but I realize, I'll never be free."

Lifting her eyes to Dick, Kristal frowned. The man's eyes were closed. Was he... The rim around her eyes grew red with unshed tears. Why the hell was she getting so emotional over Dick's death. He hated her! "If ya want an apology, ya can have it... I'm sorry I was a bitch... fer purposely gettin' on yer nerves. Fer bein' so..."

"Secretive? ...mysterious? Not... forthcoming? A pain... in my... ass?"

"Yeah... sure..." The blonde woman sighed a hint of a smirk on her lips, before it disappeared. "But ya hated me, Brewer... That was clear... Hell, ya still hate me..."

"... no" Dick's voice whispered, but it was firm enough to leave no room for her to argue. "I think... I've grown... to care... deeply for... you." Brown eyes opened and looked up at her. "I was a fool... I'm the one... who... should... apologize." His words were nothing more but a struggled breath, slow, sporadic, but held an underlying truth. "Starr..." He began and when she refused to look at him, he tried again. "Kristal..." This time her gaze turned on him, surprise in her eyes hearing him say her name. "I'm... I... I don't have long... I can... tell..." He breathed, struggling for breath. "Be wary... of Bonney... he's crazy... a... a loose... canon... Don't trust him... He's gonna... get everyone... killed. I don't want... him being the... reason... something bad... happens to... you."

"Yer gonna tell me not ta trust Bonney... like ya didn't trust me?" Kristal queried softly, not wanting to start an argument, but she couldn't help it. She already didn't trust Billy much, but then again, he was the only one who believed her with McCloskey. And unfortunately, as annoying as the man was, he didn't seem so bad. It was strange though, hearing Dick sound so... protective of her where Billy was concerned. She never would have ever thought Richard Brewer would grow protective of her.

"I trust you now... you stayed... came for me. I'm just sorry... I realized it... too late."

"I couldn't leave ya, Dick. I ain't like that... I know y'all thought..."

Dick tried to shake his head, and he gasped a little for breath. "I was wrong... you are... special... different. I... was too... late... Too stubborn... to see... it."

At his words, Kristal couldn't help the scoff that left her lips. "Sure, now yer jus' delusional..." She then smirked, "but I'll admit, ya are stubborn as hell."

"No... had I seen it sooner..." Dick tried to speak his new found feelings. Feelings that had begun to bloom over the past few weeks. Feelings he had tried to push down. "I would have... told you..."

"Stop it! I don't wanna hear it!" Kristal practically shouted.

"What... Why...?" Was all Dick could spit out.

"Because... I ain't special. Not like that." A frown pulled at her features and she had to turn away from Dick again. This kind of talk put her on edge and made her irritable.

"You are... you're beautiful... Kris... Had I not been... so foolish..."

Again Kristal shook her head interrupting him. "If you say anythin' 'bout fancyin' me..." She stopped and stared at the ground. She'd what? Kill him? The poor man was already dying. "Jus' don't Dick. I don't do love, or relationships or any o' that shit. Hell, I don't even really do friendships. I ain't ever had any. They're jus' attachments that can get ya killed..."

"What?" Dick was clearly baffled even in his weakened state. "Why... not?" He needed to know. He wanted to help. But he didn't have much time left. The struggle to breathe, to keep his eyes open... What could he possibly do? How could he help her like he so desperately wanted.

Kristal squeezed her eyes shut, unwanted memories entering her mind. "Love is stupid... foolish... gets ya hurt or killed. I never want a broken heart — to be in pain like that... I hear it's worse than death. So, who needs it? Carin' fer people an' losin' 'em already hurts enough... losin' someone ya love... I don't need that shit." Swallowing hard, she shook her head. "Same reason I don't do friendships either... ya care fer 'em... an' I've already been stupid enough in that. Look how that turned out... The others... they left. Abandoned both of us."

Dick was silent again and Kristal nearly panicked thinking he had breathed his last during her little tangent. His eyes then opened and looked at her with a strength she didn't think he quite possessed. "Kristal Starr... you can't shy away from love. When... you... find it. Embrace it. Love comes... in many forms. And I ain't ashamed to say... least not... anymore... I..." His voice faltered and then lowered as he tried to get it out again... "I... I've... come... to— you..." his word were so soft and broken she couldn't hear him completely.

The woman's brows furrowed, eyes narrowing and she looked like she was about to be sick. "Wh-what?" There was no way... But he was acting weird — had been acting weird. Ever since they had made it through the Mescalero Reservation. He couldn't possibly... could he? Sure she hadn't heard him very well, but the implications were there. Though she didn't want to believe it. Kristal wanted to run, but somehow stayed her ground.

Dick didn't clarify what he said or what he felt. He just continued on as best he could wanting to get out what he needed to say before he couldn't. "Don't... shut... others... Regulators... out. Kristal..." His hand lifted to rest over hers. "They're... family. They... need... you... Need your... wisdom... and... guidance... You are.... smart... skilled... and..." He took a heavy breath, "experienced... they... need... you."

And Richard Brewer drew his last breath.

"Brewer?" Kristal cried out, her voice cracking slightly. "Dick?" She tried again, her breath coming in slow sobs. "Goddamnit, Richard!" She shouted, her voice cracking, getting lost on the breeze.

The normally stoic woman bowed her head, grieving the loss of a brother. Yet, no tear fell, though her eyes remained red-rimmed. Silent sobs, however, racked her body and she remained like that for some time.

It wasn't until Midnight, her beloved horse, came over to her and nosed her arm that she finally moved. Her gaze turned on the horse and she nodded. "Yeah... yeah.. we gotta keep... movin'... Ain't that always the way?" She grumbled. Her gaze took in the peaceful expression on Dick's face and shook her head. His words had stunned her and she didn't quite know how to take them. She had no idea he felt that way. Had there been any times...? No! It had been merely a couple weeks that he head started changing towards her. Since the Peyote incident! She couldn't tell anyone. They'd laugh at her anyway. Dick possibly having feelings for her? Ha! It was laughable. But he had said... no, surely she had misunderstood. After all she couldn't make out what he said completely anyway. Still, the whole ordeal took a toll on her supposedly cold heart.

So, Kristal decided to push Dick's last words aside preferring to act like he hadn't said what he had said. It was easier that way. Again, she lifted Dick's body onto her horse, struggling some, wincing away her own pain. If nothing else, she would bring him to the other Regulators, so they could properly bury and grieve their friend and brother's death.

~~~~~~~

The five Regulators that were left rode for a while trying to get as far away from Buckshot Roberts and the impending lawmen as possible. Morale was low due to Dick's death and the loss of Kristal, and the stakes were even higher. They were leaderless and they didn't know what to do. Deciding to pause down river, Billy looked over to Doc, "where to Doc?"

The blond man looked up at Billy's voice and then shook his head. "I'm going into Patricio if it looks safe. I gotta write Dick's mother in Vermont. And get some clean wraps for this." He held up his bleeding hand.

Nodding, Billy turned his gaze to their surroundings. "Well, whatever you do. Don't go near Lincoln." It was a wordless acknowledgement that they would stay where they were for a time, making camp and wait for him.

Mirroring Billy's nod, Doc had to agree with the man. "See ya."

The four remaining men prepared to make camp for the evening and hoped that the law wouldn't follow their trail. It didn't take long and soon they had a fire made and their bedrolls laid out. They waited on Doc and a couple of them even hoped that maybe Starr would turn up.

Chewing tobacco, while Billy sat working on his gun, Dirty Steve watched the man curiously. He was doing something to the weapon and he wasn't quite sure what. "What'cha doing there Billy?"

"Well, sir..." Billy began filing down the sight of his gun. "With the sight filed down I got an eighth of a second drop on our good Sheriff Brady." He smirked as he lifted his gun, aimed and fired near Chavez.

"Billy we can't touch the sheriff. Dick said so, don't you know that? Besides we can't keep this up?" Came the meek voice of Charlie. He was making something to eat with their meager supplies and wishing Dick and Kristal were still with them. Their absence left a hole inside him.

The blond man frowned before rolling his eyes. "Well, Dick ain't around anymore is he, Charlie?" Shaking his head, he looked towards the man who refused to return his gaze. He was being harsh and he knew it, but someone had to be. "Seems Kris bailed on us as well." If she were still with them she would have already followed them, wouldn't she have? He frowned, disappointed. It bothered him more than he liked to admit. He wasn't even sure why it did either. Other than the fact she had gotten under his skin. After all this time riling her up, she had become a staple. The thought of her leaving them, it hurt. But he didn't want to dwell on that right then. "Right now, Sheriff Brady is in desperate need of being removed to office."

On the ridge above their little makeshift camp, Chavez shook his head. "We're not going after Brady. No Murphy men... no more. I told you, I'd find the way. And the way is west." He frowned, and looked across the distance. "Chiquita is the only one smart enough to get away."

"West huh?" Billy feigned confusion and pointed his gun to his right. "West is that way." He then pointed his gun to the left, "and the bastards we gotta kill are that way." Again he shook his head and waved a hand in dismissal. "Don't talk about Starr... she abandoned us in our time of need. Thought I could count on at least her... She's the only one who seemed equally minded in all this... Bull shit! Stuck up for her too. And she went and betrayed us! Good for nothin'..." He trailed off realizing his emotions were getting the better of him.

Eyeing Billy with concern deep in his wise gaze, Chavez let out a sigh. "The only bastards that are gonna get killed are us, Chivato. Let it go." His gaze then fell to the ground and he turned his back on the others. "Let it all go... Chiquita too. I will not speak ill of her. And you shouldn't either."

"Yeah, you heard that bastard, Roberts. She got one hell of a bounty on her head in multiple states it seems." Charlie intervened before getting lost in thought. "She was right to leave."

Billy scoffed incredulously. He couldn't believe what he was hearing! Did no one think like he did? Did no one understand the meaning of loyalty, friendship... of being pals? "Let it go? Murphy's taking inventory in Tunstall's store right now! And you're saying that means nothing to you?" He shook his head, his smile shifting to one of disbelief. "And Starr... left in our darkest hour. We were getting shot at. You were hit, Chavez! Doc injured! Dick was killed! And she fuckin' turned yella and bailed. And you want to let it go? Bounties be damned. I thought we were... friends... Thought we could rely on her... Seems I was wrong."

Chavez turned abruptly and looked at Billy with annoyance and scoffed, "it means nothing to me? Murphy and his politicians have taken more blood from me than they ever will from you." The man spat pained by the memories that plagued him. "Chiquita is a decent woman. I can see it in her eyes. She's pained. But you can't see passed your own nose, Chivato! Do not talk ill of her!"

Now Billy grew sarcastically amused, "You're wrong about what I see when it comes to her, Chavez... I don't plan on talking ill of her 'cause I don't wanna talk about her at all! I don't even wanna hear her fucking name!" It pained him anyway, more than he was letting on. She had been the one person he thought he could trust. His gaze turned to look out into the distance. For some reason, he hoped that he would see her ride up, that his conclusions were wrong. But she didn't. Kristal Starr was long gone and he doubted they'd ever see her again. It pained him, which shifted more into anger. It was easier to be angry than be hurting. He hooked his fingers into the pockets of his pants and then raised a brow, turning his attention back on Chavez. "And, how do you figure Murphy took more from you then me? You don't know what I've been through."

"The red sands creek reservation" Chavez stated simply, though the pain was coursing through him now. The pain from memories he had pushed deep down. He wouldn't forget about Kristal, but he would not speak of her. He couldn't anyway; his own past was trying to drown him, as well as everything else that was now catching up to him. All the past events coming to a head. It was weighing on him. He knew what he should do, what his vision told him to do.

"What's he talking about?" Billy asked the others.

Charlie shrugged, "I dunno." And Steve just shook his head looking dumbfounded.

"Two hundred and seven people butchered in the snow with their stomach's empty. My mother's people. You see Murphy and company was under government contract to supply with beef. Two winters ago, he send only rotten meat. No corn, no flour, only rancid beef crawling with worms. So, I went out with a band to a traders camp to try and get food. Oh yeah, they welcomed us in. And then they opened fire on us. I got away - only me! But when I got back to the Red Sands, I found out that the army had already heard about our 'big Indian uprising'. And they paid us back. My mother was cut by a saber from her privates to her neck. My sister's were just babies and they had their heads bashed in with boot heels so the army could save on bullets. Everybody in my reservation was butchered, and it means nothing to me!" Chavez shouted, tears in his eyes. The anguish he felt resurfacing all over again. "Oh yeah, I went to Lincoln to take Murphy's head, and that's when John Tunstall's found me. And he took me in. And he taught me a better way to bury Murphy."

Not even looking at Chavez, Steve replied. "Murphy buried him the old Irish way, Chavez."

Grateful for Steve's input, Billy nodded, "that's right Steve. And he starved out your family, Chavez. And now he's doing it to every small farmer in the territory." He waved his gun, around as if to encompass the area. "But if you wanna run, go ahead. Just go right on ahead. Bye. You got no loyalty, Navajo."

"Navajo." Steve repeated his voice dark and then added, "like Starr who took off and left us. Maybe she was smart, but she got no loyalty."

"Damn straight!" Billy agreed. It was easier to be mad than to allow himself to process the pain. He then motioned to Chavez with a wave of his hand. "He ain't nothin' but a piece of chicken-shit in the rain."

"No!" Chavez was still clearly upset. His expression dark and pained as he edged his way down the ridge to where the others were. "We had our ceremony back there on the ridge, Chivato. Now, I don't know what your vision told you, but mine told me that we are headed for blood. Blood like a river."

Swallowing Charlie appeared uncomfortable and a bit green around the edges.

Continuing on, Chavez didn't miss a beat. "I'm the last of my clan, the last of my people. If I die, and I'm not afraid of dying Chivato, the sacred hoop is broken. Now, I have to go west to make my people live again."

Steve spat on the ground, his expression unreadable. Billy turned his back on Chavez, hiding his irritation at Chavez's actions and words.

"Charlie...?" Chavez questioned pausing as he reached his horse. He was about climb on the beasts back, but called back to the man, "will you come with me?"

Uncomfortable at being singled out, Charlie looked over at the tobacco eating man, "you ain't saying much, Dirty Steve."

"'Cause he ain't got much to say, Charlie. Ol' Steve understands the meaning of the word 'Pals', don't ya Steve?" Billy spoke up again not about to let his group break apart. They had already lost too many. They needed to stay together and somehow he needed to make Chavez see his point. "See ya got three or four good pals, well then, ya got yerself a tribe. And there ain't nothing stronger than that. We're your family now, Chavez. You walk away from us, well... then you break our sacred hoop. We gotta stick together fellas. That's the only way, I see it."

With a frown, Chavez shook his head staring over his horses back. He hated Billy's words, but he knew they would break him in the end. Before he could do anything else, he saw a lone rider on a dark horse riding towards them. The rider appeared to be slumped forward and was carrying something over it's hind end. "Rider!" Chavez hissed out and the other three boys jumped to readiness.

Billy quickly had his guns cocked, rushing up the ridge, and aimed at the rider, eyes narrowed. He couldn't quite make out who it was in the distance and it worried him. Who could it be? It was a single rider, no posse or lawmen. "Be ready gentleman. Could be another of Murphy's... Or someone out for bounties, like Roberts."

Coming up from behind Billy, Steve shook his head. "Should just shoot 'em and be done with it. Better safe than sorry, yeah?"

Oddly enough, Steve made a good point. It would be better to shoot. He could probably injure the person easily enough. No need to kill them. Then again... his thoughts shifted to Tunstall lying in the ground dead and Billy raised his gun a little higher ready to kill whoever this was. His finger slid over the trigger, slowly squeezing, ready to pull tight as soon as he knew whether this was friend or foe.

"Chivato stop!"

"Billy don't!"

Both Chavez and Charlie's voice rang out, startling Billy. He fired his shot on accident, knowing the bullet wouldn't hit any vital organs on the stranger like he had planned, but he doubted it would miss either. The rider fell from the horse just like Billy knew they would. Their black hat fell from their head to reveal golden hair billowing in the waning sun. Cornflower blue eyes widened in shock, his heart pounding in his head and he swore.

Charlie gasped and stared in shock before announcing to them all, "you just shot Kristal!"