Something moved at the entrance of the cave. Kid was ready.

"Thaddeus?"

Kid kept waiting; the voice was Sara's, but was she alone?

She ducked inside the cave, carrying what looked like a carpet bag. Although Kid held fast a moment, no one followed her. He flipped his gun back in its holster before she could see he'd had it out.

"Sara." He stood, took the bag from her, and helped her sit. "What're you doin' here?"

She smiled—he saw the white of her teeth in the dark. "Thought ya were rid of me?"

"It ain't that—"

"I know. I got Cora to the Johnson's. After Emma an' her quieted down an' got to sleep, I kissed 'em an' left."

"The girls are alright?"

"Yeah. I hated to leave 'em, but someone had to mother you two."

Kid looked down at Heyes and back over at her, running a hand through his hair. Someone else to protect. "I 'preciate the thought, Sara, but—"

"Oh, hush," she said. "Hand me the bag."

Curry complied. He was back in his position next to Heyes; Sara was sitting on the other side of his partner. "You climb all the way up with that sack?"

"Sure. Me an' Jimmy useta come here all the time. We'd bring the girls. He'd take 'em up one at a time an' I'd bring the picnic basket. 'Sides, a bag of stuff ain't near to what Josh weighs. I'm glad you made it okay; I uz afraid you two'd get hurt an' it'd be my fault."

Kid rubbed his scraped leg ruefully, remembering teetering on the rock while carrying Heyes. "It wasn't that bad a climb."

Sara pulled a blanket out of the bag. Kid tucked it around Heyes as she unloaded two flasks, a few canteens, and a hunk of cheese. "I got some clean rags, too."

Kid stared at her shadowy face.

Sara's teeth glinted again; she felt his stare. "Marybeth figured on what I 'uz up to. She heard me arguin' with Ted 'bout sendin' someone out for you boys an' then she saw me get the girls to sleep quick after, an' so she casually showed me where mosta this stuff wuz. Good thing she took a likin' to you. She's a strong…determined…type of woman."

Kid silently agreed.

"How's Josh?"

"Fever's worse." His tone was stoic, his strength evident, but his voice was chapped, raw with its continuous use of reminding Heyes that he still had a tie to life. Sara heard all of that in his tone and her heart felt and sympathized with the heaviness of Kid's own.

"I brought a flask of whiskey, a flask of soup, and two canteens of water. Here." She tossed the hunk of cheese into his lap. "I saved it when I ate at Marybeth's. I'm gonna wet a rag an' mop 'im down."

"A flask of soup?"

"Keeps it warm. I thought maybe Joshua could have some sips later on. Go on an' eat, Thaddeus. After that we can open the whiskey."

Kid blinked, started to say something and then stopped.

"To clean his shoulder with. Now go on an' eat 'fore I hafta spoon feed you."

Curry snorted, amused. "You got a spoon in that bag of yours?"

Her teeth flashed briefly. "You never know, I might. Finish all that cheese, now, you need your strength."

Faced with the no-nonsense, mothering tone of her voice, Kid ate the cheese, which tasted faintly of mothballs. He watched Sara wet a cloth and wipe Heyes' face after putting another wet rag on his neck. After Kid was finished eating, he moved behind Heyes and gently propped him up.

Kid grabbed a canteen and poured a little water into Heyes' mouth. With some encouragement, Heyes swallowed a few gulps but managed to look annoyed, even unconscious.

"Thank you, Sara." Kid said in the quiet, desperate voice he always had when faced with losing his partner.

She reached over and rubbed his arm. "You ready for the whiskey?"

The corners of Curry's mouth twitched upwards. "I been ready for it."

Sara laughed softly. "Alright, you unbutton him. No use getting his shirt soaked."

Kid undid Heyes' shirt and eased it off his shoulder. The wound was red; the black stitches leering in the dark like a grotesque mouth. The skin around the injury was a pinkish-red. Kid squinted worriedly but didn't spot any noticeable streak of red.

"Get a good hold on him," Sara instructed softly. "I'm sorry, Josh," she said to Heyes. "This'll burn."

She poured some of the whiskey over the wound, catching it with a rag after it ran over his injury. Heyes' tensed beneath Kid's restraint and muttered something, trying to turn over. Kid held him steady, his forehead crinkled, his blue eyes guilty. Sara poured the alcohol again and then took a cloth and dabbed the wound. Kid flinched along with Heyes. She buttoned Heyes' shirt and Kid released his hold, putting his coat back under Heyes' head and covering him with the blanket. Sara took a wet rag and dabbed all around his face.

"He oughta have some more water in a bit."

Curry nodded. Heyes grunted and reached out, muttering something.

"Here." Kid murmured, grasping his friend's searching hand. "I'm here."

Heyes stilled. Sara smiled at the two of them, her eyes wet. They reminded her of her relationship with Jimmy, but maybe closer, even. She swallowed. "Anythin' else you need? I can sit with him while you get some rest."

"No," Kid replied too quickly. Then, "No thanks, Sara, I couldn't sleep anyhow."

He'd be too busy worrying and planning to get even with the men responsible.

"Well…" Sara sounded hesitant and stood. "I…I promised Marybeth I'd come back soon as I was done helpin'. It uz the only way she'd let me outta the house without tellin' Ted. She said if'n I wasn't back afore mid-mornin', she'd send Ted out after me, leavin' her an' the girls alone with the hands. I…I don't know their hands…"

Kid frowned. She wanted to traipse about the woods alone again? "Sara—"

"I needta get back to my girls, it's just that I hadta make sure someone helped you boys. But please don't keep me from leavin'… If Emma or Cora wakes up an' I ain't there they'll be terrified, they'll never forgive me."

Kid sighed and stood, avoiding putting pressure on his bad ankle. "You didn't see or hear nobody in the woods?"

"No. An' if I came across someone there's always the six-gun." Her tone softened and her eyes pleaded. "Please, Thaddeus, please let me go."

He couldn't keep her here if she wanted to leave, not while watching his partner and taking care of him. She'd made it to the Johnson's before and realistically it wasn't really that safe in the cave. "You'll be careful?"

"I will. An' you two stay safe." Sara crouched down and kissed Heyes' cheek before moving over to Kid and embracing him. She smelled like the woods, like cedar. "You won't come back with me? I'll help with Josh an' we can rest a lot…"

Kid glanced at Heyes before looking back at her close, worried face. "You think it's okay to move him, his fever still goin' strong?" His voice was quiet.

There was a long pause as she squeezed him to her. "No," she exhaled the word in a sigh. "Best keep him still." She released him and moved back a few steps, her arms around herself for warmth or comfort. "I'll worry 'bout you two. Take care of Joshua but take care of yourself, too. You might could eat some of that soup. An' keep him cool, make him drink some water. None of the whiskey, though, not 'till his fever's broke. That'll be the sign he's getting' well, if the fever breaks…"

Kid nodded. "Get back to Marybeth's house safe an' send her my thanks."

"I will. I'll try to get Ted to send men to help you tomorrow; he ain't gonna send 'em in the dark. Be safe, now."

And she was gone as quick as she'd appeared, the scent of cedar lingering behind her along with the hope she'd brought him. Heyes had a better chance to get well with the supplies she'd brought. All Kid had to do now was get his partner through the night, get his fever down… After that, after he knew Heyes was out of danger, he'd finish what the rancher's had started.