"Ple…ee…ase, c…can't we slow down a little?" Dr. Minner had a death grip around Kid Curry's waist. His eyes were clenched shut. He couldn't bear watching as the horse dodged one tree after another, shifting his direction before his hooves hit the ground at a speed that was shocking. He knew if he fell off he'd be trampled by the second horse they were leading behind them. His hold tightened even more. He had no desire to go to his eternal resting place as a pulverized corpse. His stomach roiled with fear and he swore repeatedly that he'd never sit a horse again as long as he lived; if he lived through this ride.

"Sorry, Doc, ain't gonna happen. Think you could ease up on the squeezin'? It's gettin' kinda hard to breathe." A moment later, the Kid felt the arms bending his ribs through his chest loosen a tiny bit. "Thanks." He was following his own tracks from this morning and it was taking all his concentration to make sure they didn't get lost. Fortunately, the dry, trampled grasses hadn't recovered from his passing this morning and there was a faint trail stretching ahead of them. "Won't be much longer."

XXX

Mac had reached for Heyes forgetting his legs were handcuffed around the post. An abrupt jerk reminded him all too quickly how futile his actions were and he fell back gasping as a hot dagger of pain shot through his injured foot. The hateful outlaw was watching him but he wasn't about to give the grinning jackass the satisfaction of witnessing his weakness. He got his breath under control and sat back against the table. "You have no right to judge me, Heyes. I ain't breakin' the law."

A dimpled smirk cut into Heyes' cheek. "That depends whose law we're talking about, don't it? You say you're a god-fearing man, what do you think God will say come Judgment Day about how you go about doing your job?"

"You worried about my immortal soul?"

"I've just always wondered how people like you can thump their bibles and claim to be God's chosen right before they do the most horrific things. Gives truly good church-going folks a bad name."

"The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance; he will bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked," said Mac with a triumphant smile. "Psalm 58:10."

"Sees the vengeance doesn't mean the same as taking vengeance." Heyes shook his head. "Romans 12:17-21. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.' To the contrary, 'if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

Mac's mouth fell open at Heyes' lengthy, detailed recitation.

Dancing brown eyes mocked him as Heyes added, "I kinda get the feeling that God wants you to leave the revenging to him, don't you?"

XXX

Kid Curry slowed his horse as the trees began to thin and he spotted the old cabin nestled in the meadow. He felt Minner behind him leaning to one side for a better view.

"Are we there?" asked the doctor hopefully.

"Yeah." Everything looked ominously quiet. The Kid drew his gun. He couldn't hear any sounds except the rustling of the browned meadow grasses rippling in a slight breeze. That worried him. It was past dusk and the light was fading away. He squinted towards the cabin looking for movement of any kind. There was none.

"Why did you draw your weapon?"

"'Cause I'm a naturally cautious man, Doc." Curry sent his horse into a walk but kept his Colt trained on the cabin.

"Surely your friend won't shoot us."

"He won't, but the fella with him wouldn't hesitate."

"He's not alone?"

"Nope. The man who shot him is in there, too."

"You left him alone with him?!" Minner couldn't keep the surprise out of his voice.

"Had to; Joshua needed a doctor. Mac's tied up. At least he was when I left. I'm just makin' sure things haven't changed."

The doctor shrank back behind the Kid, closed his eyes, and held his breath as they neared the shack. The horse halted again and he felt Curry begin to dismount. "Wait!" The Kid froze. "Just in case…what's your name?"

"Jones. Thaddeus Jones. My friend is the dark-haired fellow. Joshua Smith. Cyrus Lamford's the other guy. Goes by Mac. Watch out for him. He's mean as a rattler." The Kid slipped out of the saddle and handed the reins to Minner. "Stay here 'til you see me wave. If all hell breaks loose, get outta here. Contact Sheriff Lom Trevors in Porterville and let him know what happened."

The doctor's eyes widened. "You work for a sheriff?"

"No. He's a good friend."

Greatly relieved to realize this fearful man was not some random outlaw, Minner smiled down at the blond. "Be careful."

The Kid nodded, "Always am," and started towards the cabin using the scant trees for cover, zigzagging between them, his eyes on the front of the building.

XXX

Mac was still staring at Heyes with undisguised hatred when Kid Curry appeared in the doorway.

"Nice to see you two makin' friends."

Heyes beamed at his partner. "Haha, I wouldn't go that far. Did you bring a doc?"

"Yep. Hold on a sec and I'll let him know it's safe to come in." The Kid leaned out of the door and waved vigorously to Minner. He chuckled as the doctor tried to persuade his horse to obey him then turned back to Heyes. "He'll be here in a minute. You look better."

"I think I am. Mac, however, seems to have sprung a leak."

Curry's eyes shifted to the other man. He noted the handcuffs around the ankles and the bloody rag wrapped around Mac's foot. "Nice shot."

Heyes grinned. "I've been practicing."

An alarmed cry followed by a muffled thud announced that the doctor had arrived. Minner came through the door straightening his jacket with one hand and clutching his bag with the other. His legs were rubbery from the ride and gave him the general appearance of a drunken sailor on shore leave. His eyes met Heyes'. "Yes, there, well, um, Mr. Smith, I'm Dr. Minner."

"Joshua," nodded Heyes, "and that's Mac Lamford. He's in need of your services, too."

Minner acknowledged Mac and then turned back to Heyes as the Kid leaned over and whispered very softly to Mac. "One word about us and you're a dead man."

Minner set his bag down on the bed and gently began to unwrap the rags from Heyes' foot. He whistled softly as he saw the ugly purple wound. When he poked it slightly it oozed pus and some other substance. "What on earth did you put on this wound?" He asked as he turned to look at the Kid.

"Pine tar. It was all we had," said Curry, sheepishly.

"Yes, well, there's a nasty infection brewing in there and these rags didn't help. I'll scrub it with some iodine and cut away the bad tissue but I'm afraid I'll need to apply Bromine. Let me have a look at Mr. Lamford first."

"He'll keep," said the Kid, firmly.

"Nonsense," replied Minner. He walked over the bound man and knelt down. "Mr. Lamford, may I have a look at your wound?"

"Well, since you asked so nicely…" Mac gestured for him to proceed and watched as the doctor examined his foot.

"Fortunately, your wound appears clean, sir. I'll re-clean it with some iodine and we'll have to keep an eye on it for a few days but I think you'll be fine." Minner stood up and look at the Kid. "I'll need clean water." He nodded towards the bucket. "Can you start a fire? Boil that for at least ten minutes."

"It's already been boiled."

"You'll need to do it again, I'm afraid." Minner watched the Kid pick up the bucket and go through the door before he turned back to Heyes. "Mr. Smith, I'm afraid this will be quite painful. May I give you some laudanum to ease your suffering?"

"Let's hold off until Thaddeus returns," answered Heyes. "As friendly as he looks, Mac's a dangerous man; shot me for no good reason."

Mac seethed. "He's lying. He's Hannibal Heyes and his partner is Kid Curry. I was taking him in to collect the reward. I shot him so he wouldn't try getting away."

Minner looked at the sheer ugliness on Mac's face. He could easily believe the man would shoot someone for his own convenience. Jones had already warned him about this man, too. "I don't care who he is, he's my patient. Now, Mr. Smith, lay back and try to relax."

"I'll relax when Thaddeus is back. Meanwhile, I'd like to keep my wits about me." Heyes' hand rested on his gun tucked by his side.

Seeing the weapon, Minner nodded. "Yes, well, perhaps prudence is best. In the meantime, I will light the lantern and get my instruments out."

When the Kid returned with the steaming water, Dr. Minner prepared a heavy dose of laudanum for Heyes. Heyes drank the bitter liquid. All watched as the drug took effect and his eyes closed and his breathing slowed.

"Mr. Jones, I'll need your assistance. This procedure will be quite painful and Mr. Smith must be adequately restrained. If you could please position yourself by his hips, I'll have you hold down his legs as I work on his foot."

With practiced ease, Dr. Minner cleaned and debrided the entry and exit wounds. Heyes twisted fitfully from time to time but the Kid's grip held his foot firmly in place. Once the task was completed, Minner lifted a portion of bromine-soaked lint from a small porcelain bowl with a pair of forceps and paused. "You'll need to hold tight, Mr. Jones. This will burn." He waited until the Kid was ready then quickly plunged the lint into the open entry wound. The effect was immediate. Heyes screamed and sat up struggling with all his strength. His hands beat at the Kid's back and he yelled obscenities before finally weakening, falling back, and sobbingly begging them to stop. Curry's arms shook with the strain of holding his partner down but he didn't let go. His eyes were glued to Heyes' face and the relief he felt when Heyes passed out was palpable.

Dr. Minner quickly applied another wad of soaked lint to the exit wound for good measure and secured the lint in place with clean bandaging. When he finished, he gave the Kid a kind smile and noted the grayish pallor of his assistant. "Very well done, Mr. Jones, I know that was difficult for you. Now, let's see to Mr. Lamford."

"You ain't touchin' me," said Mac menacingly.

"No need to worry, Mr. Lamford. Your wound will not require such extreme treatment. I assure you it will be only be a little painful. However, we must remove those handcuffs, they are cutting off the circulation."

"That ain't safe, Doc," began the Kid.

"Well, it's not safe for Mr. Lamford to leave them on and I'm afraid it's not up for discussion. The cuffs must come off."

"It's a real bad idea, Doc."

"I would've thought you would agree that crippling a man for your own convenience was objectionable," countered Minner thereby ending the argument.

Mac was careful to keep a neutral expression on his face as the Kid begrudgingly removed the cuffs but his mind was working overtime on the possibilities that had just opened up for him.

"Mr. Jones, may I request your services again?" Minner handed Mac a small dose cup of laudanum. "Drink up, sir."

"I ain't drinkin' that. Curry, keep your paws off me, I'll handle it." Mac crossed his arms defiantly.

"Sir…"

"Do what you have to do," snapped Mac.

"You heard him, Doc." The Kid was looking forward to delivering some pain of his own to Mac.

True to his word, Minner tried his best to avoid unnecessary discomfort and was soon wrapping Mac's foot in clean bandages. "There. You were quite brave, Mr. Lamford." He put the foot down gently and turned away to wash up.

A surly grunt was all Mac could offer as a reply. Beads of sweat were dotting his forehead but he had kept his teeth clenched throughout the treatment with only a small whine or two escaping through his lips.

The Kid had been disappointed.

"Well, I'm famished." Minner rummaged around in his doctor's bag and came up holding a sack. "The wife prepared me a rather generous meal. Would you and Mr. Lamford care to share? "

"You go ahead, Doc. I've lost my appetite," replied Curry. He went over and sat down on the edge of Heyes' bed, tucking the covers securely around his partner and patting his shoulder protectively.

Minner watched him thoughtfully. The fearsome man who had kidnapped was long gone and in his place was a kind and caring person. Jones' affection for his partner was heartwarming.

Mac smiled meanly. "I'll have some. Listenin' to Heyes scream has made me hungry."

Minner frowned. It was plain to him that Mr. Jones was not the frightening man he'd thought he was. No, the only frightening man around here was Mr. Lamford.