The shootout was intense, but short lived. Luckily the regulators had known that there would be an attempt to rob the bank, thanks to the talkative drunk at Ezra's poker game the night before.

By the time the smoke cleared and the dust settled, one bandit lay dead in the street. Josiah and Buck rounded up the other three and herded them off to the jail.

Seeing one of the men limping, Nathan called out, "I'll be there soon to see to any injuries as soon as I'm done here."

"Take your time, Brother. These heathens will use the time to seek out God's forgiveness."

Nathan turned his attention to his friends. JD had a small scratch on his face from a bullet striking a crate close to him. Needed to be cleaned, but didn't look like it would need stitches. Ezra was favoring his left shoulder. Could it be another dislocation?

"I can imagine those torturous thoughts you are having, Mr. Jackson. I merely bruised my shoulder. Nothing more," Ezra declared, rotating the very shoulder Nathan had been trying to diagnose.

Nathan saw Chris speaking with Mary and some other folk, who came out when the shooting stopped. But where was Vin?

Vin had been up high, on the roof of the hotel. If Vin hadn't come down yet . . .

Nathan ran to the hotel and up the staircase, hitting every other step. Climbing through the open window at the end of the hall, he hoisted himself up to the flat roof.

His racing heart suddenly stopped. "Vin?"

Vin was slouched against the short wall that surrounded the roof. "I'm fine, Nate."

Now his heart sped up. "Where you hit?" He hurried over in front of Vin and looked for any signs of blood.

There was no blood, but Vin was clearly hurting. Nathan found himself looking down where Vin was looking. In the tracker's hands was the pale pink kerchief that was always around his neck. But now it was ripped and frayed in two pieces.

Before Nathan could ask, Vin muttered, "A damn lucky shot. If I had moved, the bullet would be in my neck."

"So you're okay?"

Nathan thought maybe Vin hadn't heard him. He was about to ask his question again when Vin replied quietly, "This was from my mama's dress. I had made three of them long time ago. This is the last one I got."

The pain in Vin's eyes made Nathan's throat tighten up. He knew what it was like to have few memories of loved ones, and even fewer mementos. "I'm pretty good with a needle. Maybe I could try patching it up for you."

Vin looked down at the pieces in his hand, and then back at Nathan. A small smile crept on his face. "Thanks, Nathan."