After school the next day, Brian walked into Loren Bray's store.

"Brian, what are you doing here? Run on home." Loren said.

"I can't. Ma's not home and Sully is working on the reservation with Cloud Dancing today." Brian replied.

"Just stay out of the way I guess." Loren responded. Dorothy walked into the store.

"Brian, your Ma asked me to watch you while Sully is out with Cloud Dancing. Come to the Gazette with me." Dorothy said. She and Brian walked out of Loren's store and over to the Gazette. Dorothy sat down and looked at Brian. "How do you feel about your Ma being in Indiana?"

"It's okay. She said she'd be back shortly." Brian said. Dorothy nodded.

"She will be too Brian." Dorothy stated.

"Thanks Miss Dorothy." Brian responded and walked outside. There was a commotion at Loren's store. Brain ran over just soon enough to hear them hollering.

"I told you, you're not taking anything out of this store unless you pay for it! No credit in my store." Loren hollered. A man pulled out a gun and shot Loren. The men didn't see Brian and he hit the ground.

"Ow!" Brian grunted. The man jumped up and left Brian on the porch. He laid there with a sharp pain running through his body. Grace walked up to Loren's store.

"Brian!" Grace exclaimed. She ran to help him up, but couldn't do it alone. "I'll be back Brian. Don't move." Grace rushed towards Robert E. "Robert E!" Grace gasped. Robert E. looked at her.

"What's the matter Grace?" Robert E. asked her.

"It's Brian. He's on the ground by Loren Bray's store." Grace responded. They both went to find Brian. When they got to the store Brian was still lying there. Grace and Robert E. helped him up.

"Thanks. But go help Mr. Bray. He was shot. I think he's behind the counter. Just then, Jake, Hank and Matthew walked up to the store. They went in. Hank and Jake picked up Loren.

"Let's get him to the clinic." Hank said.

"You can't. Ma's not here. She and Reverend Johnson left yesterday for Indiana." Brian stated.

"What are we supposed to do? Let him bleed to death?' Jake asked loudly.

"Jake. That's enough. We'll take them both to the clinic and watch them carefully." Matthew stated.

"But Matthew, what will happen without Ma?" Brian asked.

"Mr. Bray will be fine Brian. So will you." Matthew replied. "Can you walk?" Brian nodded no. Matthew helped him to the clinic.