When he returned though...there was no help for him. The dust, sun, and gun smoke had been horrible on him and he breathed with a constant wheeze, when he wasn't coughing. Wyatt insisted on a sanitarium...and I had to agree. Fighting as well as a sick man could, we received wicked lashes of the tongue and sarcasm. I remained by his side, as did Wyatt. Leaving only for basic necessities, his friend was more then willing to fill in my position. Every day was a struggle with my own breaking heart and with the disease running rampant in his lungs. I prayed for his health but each day I was unanswered. I listened quietly from the doorway of his room, the priest having just left for giving last rights. "Why Hello Wyatt...Father Feeney and I were... just investigating the mysteries ….of the church of Rome...It appears my hypocrisy...knows no bounds." The well man just chuckled. "You're no hypocrite, Doc. You just like to sound like one." There was a pause and the sound of the drawer opening. "Well, let's see. Where are we today? I'm seventeen dollars down to you. Two bits a hand. Stud?" I heard my love speak up. "You keep comin' back here...I told you not to, and I meant it." Wyatt just laughed it off. "You're the only person I can afford to lose to anymore." There was a sound of dealing before Wyatt spoke once more. "How we feelin' today, Doc?" "I'm dyin'. How are you?" I nearly snorted. Even now his tongue was still sharp. Wyatt seemed unfazed. "Pretty much the same." "So now we add self-pity to our list of frailties." "All right, Doc." Said Wyatt, his tone changing slightly before going back to the lighter one. "All right, how many cards you want?" "I don't want to play anymore..." I heard defeat and exhaustion in the sick man's voice and had to close my eyes against the tears. "How many?" Insisted Wyatt. "Damn you...You're the most fallible, stubborn, self-deluded..." "I call." "...bullheaded man I've ever known in my entire life." "You win." Continued Wyatt, as though Doc hadn't spoke at all. "Yet with all, you're the only human being in my entire life who ever gave me hope...besides her." "I'm glad she was able to make you happy." Said Wyatt. "It took me so long...just to find out that she's all I ever really wanted...What did you want?" "To live a normal life." Said Wyatt quietly. "There is no normal life, Wyatt, there's just life. Now get on with it." "I don't know how." "Sure you do...say goodbye to me... Go grab that spirited actress and make her your own. Take that beauty and run...don't look back. Live every second, right up to the hilt...Live Wyatt. Live for me." He took a raspy breath. "Wyatt, if you were ever my friend, if you ever had the slightest feelin' for me, leave now...please?" I heard the broken tone of my lover and grit my teeth to stop my tears. The scraping of the chair brought my attention back to hear Wyatt speak. "Thanks for always bein' there Doc." With that he stepped out into the hall. Meeting my gaze, his eyes softened. He said nothing, but squeezed my shoulder before continuing on. Stepping in I took his place. "That goes just as much for you darlin'." He whispered, shaking terribly. "I cannot." I said softly, my voice trembling while I still held in my tears. "Yes you can..." He reached out, his skin a pasty white compared to my own light mocha. "I need a promise from you...my moonshine." "Anything." I whispered. "Do not follow me...live on, and be happy." He swallowed hard. "Doc...John...do not leave me alone...I beg you." I said, tears finally falling freely now. "There, there, darlin'...don't cry...someone so beautiful shouldn't cry." He brushed them away. "I feel confident we will meet again." He clutched my hand with his and squeezed tight before going suddenly limp. "Doc?" I whispered. He didn't answer, bright green eyes remained locked behind his lids. "Doc..." I whimpered, a shaking hand stroking his face. I still received no answer and I laid my head to his chest...craving, needing to hear that familiar sound of him breathing, but I would never hear it again. Never more would I see that smile or get lost in those endless green pools. I laid there, sobbing into the lifeless chest as I lost my love forever.

Quickly thereafter, I found out from my medicine woman that I was with child, torn between crying for joy and sobbing in grief, I stayed in the village, unable to face the civilized world. I heard rumors of Wyatt, now and again, and every night before bed I would rotate the ring still around my finger. I would never take another, devoting all the love in my heart to a dark skinned, green eyed boy.