A/N: First off, let me just say that the response I got for the first chapter blew me away. Six reviews! I may sound pretty desperate, but I've never gotten so many all at once, and I'm truly grateful and happy that you took the time to read what I wrote. This second chapter's for everyone who reviewed:

BrilliantDarkness

Lana Coombe

valsore

brankel1

AA – MamaBirdCat

SkeeterJoe

Thanks so much! I hope you enjoy!

Chapter Two

Darkness had fallen. A penny moon climbed higher in the sky, staring down emotionlessly at the two still figures beside the dying campfire.

Buck stirred, letting out a slight groan as he came back to consciousness. His head throbbed as he forced his eyes open, blinking slightly, trying to get his wavering, blurry vision to focus.

Kid was slumped against the tree where he had been tied, head hanging limply, the rawhide ties around his wrists the only thing holding him up. Bloody welts shewed clearly through the slashed fabric of his shirt, each one deep and ugly. From this distance, Buck couldn't tell whether his friend was alive or dead.

The young Kiowa sat up slowly, grimacing as his injured ribs screamed in protest. After the cowhand and his buddies had taken turns whipping Kid until he passed out, they had turned their anger on Buck, kicking and punching him while calling him every filthy name they could think of. At first the boy had taken their blows numbly, unable to tear his eyes away from the motionless body of his friend, but eventually he fought back, receiving a blow to his head for his pains, which sent him into unconsciousness.

After glancing around to make sure the men were really gone, Buck moved over to Kid. He put a hand lightly on the side of the other boy's neck and was relieved to find a weak pulse.

Kid needed help—and fast. Buck started to head towards where they had tied up the horses the night before, but stopped as he remembered Jensen's words from last night: "By the time morning comes, those horses'll be halfway to the ocean." There was only one way he could get the aid that Kid needed.

"Hang on, Kid," the young Kiowa said softly, before heading with slow, halting steps in the direction of Sweetwater.

PX

Instinct was both a blessing and a curse, Jimmy Hickock decided. Thanks to the infamous dime novel writer, J.D. Marcus, and a few more close run-insthan he would have cared for with wanna-be heroes itching for the chance to make a name for themselves by killing "Wild Bill" Hickock, Jimmy had developed a finely tuned instinct wherever danger to himself or his friends was concerned. In this case, it was Buck and Kid's safety that was bothering him.

Carrying army dispatches was a dangerous job, Jimmy knew from experience, and even though Kid had said that he and Buck would be gone three or four days at the most, Jimmy hadn't been able to shake off the niggling sensation of unease he had felt since their departure.

Giving up on sleep, Jimmy kicked off his quilt and slid out of the bunk he shared with Cody, careful not to wake the other boy. After dressing quietly, he left the bunkhouse and stepped onto the porch, breathing in the early morning air.

As Jimmy stood there, the sound of thundering hooves broke the stillness as two ponies galloped into the station yard and screeched to a halt, trembling. One of them was Kid's Katy, the other belonged to Buck.

Alarm spread through Jimmy like wildfire. "Teaspoon!" he hollered.

The stationmaster appeared almost instantly, his weatherbeaten face creased with concern. "What is it, son?"

"We've got trouble," Jimmy snapped, pointing to the sweat-lathered ponies.

Rachel and the other riders had arrived, just long enough to hear the last of Jimmy's sentence and see the ponies. "Hey, those're Kid and Buck's horses," Cody said, frowning in puzzlement. "What are they doin' here?"

"I don't know," Jimmy said, "but I aim to find out." He headed for the barn and in a couple of minutes came out with his horse. The other riders, after hastily yanking on their clothes, retrieved their mounts. Several minutes later, seven riders, including Teaspoon, galloped out of the station yard, leaving an anxious Rachel behind.

PX

It seemed like he had been walking for days. Buck stopped short, tilting his head back to look at the rising sun while cradling his ribs with his right arm. Was it really only yesterday that he and Kid had walked into that saloon in Blue Creek, looking forward to a hot meal and the ride home? How quickly things had changed since then.

Just then, the ground underneath his feet vibrated with the pounding rhythm of horses' hooves. Buck froze, apprehension building inside him. If the people heading his way were friendly, maybe he could get help for Kid. But if they weren't...He hesitated, torn.

Jimmy couldn't believe his eyes at first when he caught sight of the figure ahead. Was that Buck? No hat, no coat, no gun...and by the looks of it, someone had given him a harsh beating. The young gunslinger's jaw clenched.

"Tell me that ain't who I think it is." Cody's drawl, for once, was unaccompanied by the grin that usually graced his wide mouth, and his normally bright blue eyes were grim.

"Buck!" Jimmy shouted, yanking his horse to an abrupt halt as he came within feet of the other rider. He leapt down, firing questions like bullets. "What happened? Where's Kid?"

Buck opened his mouth to answer, but no words came. His knees buckled and he nearly fell, only to have Jimmy and Ike, who had also dismounted, grab him before he hit the ground.

The other riders pulled their mounts to a halt and climbed down. Teaspoon made his way past them and knelt next to Buck, genuine care etched on his leathered features. "What happened, son? Who did this to ya?"

"Couple of cowhands..." Buck whispered, fighting to stay conscious. "They got Kid...whipped him bad..."

"Where is he?" Lou demanded, fear shining in her large brown eyes. "Where's Kid?"

"Camp... 'bout six miles from here," Buck managed, before he stopped fighting completely and let the blackness take him.

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