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Chapter 21:

"Griff?" Paul softly said as he probed at the wounds. "Griff, can you hear me? It's Doc Martin. I'm gonna check you out now," he explained, noticing the ragged bullet wound first. Griff's latest episode had left him weak and nauseous. He flinched when the doctor touched him, but he did not have the energy to do much more. "Steady, boy. I'm almost done." Finally, Paul turned his attention to the ankle wound. By now, Griff's ankle was swollen and discolored so much his foot was barely recognizable. The bite wounds stretched across the inflamed skin and throbbed relentlessly. Red streaks crawled up Griff's calf and extended up to his toes. With Jamie hastily having explained the circumstances of Griff's wounds to him, Doc Martin was not entirely surprised by the teen's deteriorating health, but he was disappointed.

After feeling Griff's lymph nodes and taking his pulse, Paul finally addressed the four anxious men in the room. "Griff is in critical condition," he confirmed. "That bite on his ankle is badly infected. It's causing a fever, which is draining his energy. If the infection doesn't clear up, Griff will develop gangrene."

"Gangrene?" Candy gasped. "But that means-"

"Amputation," finished Doc Martin. "Normally I'd start Griff on antibiotics and quinine to flush out the infection, but my bag is still with Issac!" he huffed in exasperation. Composing himself, Paul turned to Ben. "I'll have to ride to my office to obtain the medicine Griff needs, if I have it in stock, that is. God help us if I don't. But in the meantime, this foot needs to be drained of this pus." The doctor shook his head. "Did Issac put that bullet hole in his shoulder, too?"

"Jamie shot Griff," Candy answered without missing a beat. "An accident, of course."

Before anyone else had a chance to respond, Griff started to move restlessly. That phrase cut through Griff's reprieve and he opened his eyes. "Shot… I'm shot!" he cried.

Ben quickly laid his hand on Griff's good shoulder to comfort and to restrain Griff. "Take it easy," he shushed. "Just lie still, boy. You're alright."

"Don't… don't shoot me," Griff begged. Instead of Paul's worried face, Griff saw Jamie aiming his pistol at his head. "Jamie, don't shoot me, please! I'm shot!"

Doc Martin felt Griff's forehead. "His fever's soaring, but I don't even have a thermometer to gauge it."

"The wolf, shoot the wolf! No, I'm shot! You shot me… Help..." cried Griff. "Jamie? J-Joe?"

"Issac is a menace," Paul growled. It was rare for everyone to see such an emotional and spiteful side of their doctor. "How much more damage can he inflict?"

"Because of Issac?" Candy echoed again, unable to stay silent. "Doc, what happened out there? Why were you so late? And where's your bag?"

Paul sighed apologetically and explained, "I should've recognized that animal even with the shaved face and shorter hair. He intercepted me outside my office. I'd just returned from Reno. He told me that his wife was about to give birth and I guess I was too tired from the ride, I didn't hear them warning bells or took notice of the branding on the horse he was riding. It was Hoss's. So I went along and if it weren't for young Jamie who'd been following us the whole time, I wouldn't be here now. Jamie cut me loose and said he'd be right behind me but..." Paul shook his head sadly. "I'm so sorry, Ben. I should've turned back, helped the boy."

Ben placed a hand firmly on the doctor's shoulder. "No, you did the right thing. We know now that Issac's armed. The only horses I'm missing are Chubb and Thunder. Since Hoss was bushwhacked for his, I think it's a safe assumption that Issac was responsible and he would have Hoss's rifle. Issac only needed one hostage. Since he had laid in wait for you, he might've killed Jamie. Thanks to your courage, he has a chance."

"Chubb's outside in the yard now," Paul sheepishly shrugged. "He's real tired, but he got me here as fast as he could."

Wanting to make himself useful, Joe excuse himself to take care of his brother's horse. "I'll put him up in the barn," he offered. "So is Thunder the only horse we're missing?"

"Jamie took Buck with him," answered Ben. "They've only got one horse to work with. Maybe that'll slow them up enough for us to reach them."

"But what about Thunder?" Candy asked, knowing that if Griff were of sound mind, he would be wondering the same thing.

"We'll look for him after we've got Jamie back," promised Ben, sitting down and aimlessly scratching his neck. "But as time goes on, it's gonna be harder to find him. I'm sorry, Candy, but with Jamie gone, I can't put anyone at risk to go on some wild goose chase. I know what that stallion means to Griff, but Issac has my son."

Candy's heart went out to Ben. He knew all too well what Isaac was capable of. Griff had barely survived his last encounter with the brutal convict. He doubted Jamie's age would save him from Issac's cruelty. "I'll saddle the horses."

"No. By the time we reach Montpelier Gorge, they'd have made it to the gorge and Issac would have the advantage. He'd make sure they hole up somewhere where he could see us approaching and that won't help Jamie. We leave before dawn with the money." As unbearable as it was for the Cartwright patriarch to not rush headlong over to his youngest son, he knew that to do so and get caught, would be a death sentence for the boy. Issac was desperate and he'd sooner kill Jamie than get thrown back into prison. They needed to devise a plan. They had to make the criminal believe they would pay him.

A sudden cry of fear broke the conversation and diverted their attention back to the wounded young man on the bed. "Issac! No, not the hell box, no… no!" Griff started to struggle to raise himself off the mattress, whimpering as strong but gentle hands held him down. "Oh God, let me out!" he pleaded. "Jamie? Help me… I… I need you…"

"We're here, Griff," Candy assured his young friend. "Settle down, boy."

"I've leave tonight to obtain his medicine so I can get back by morning," Doctor Martin stated. "But that wound has to be drained right away. Are you fellas up to it?"

Faced with the prospect of cutting into Griff and possibly crippling him for the rest of his life, Candy recoiled. "What?" he gaped. "You're not staying? You're walking out and leaving him?"

"I'm depending on Griff's constitution and that medicine to save his life," Paul argued hotly. He gestured to Griff's writhing form. "And maybe a little help from God. Without that medicine, he has no chance, Candy. You have to understand that."

"What I understand is that you're signing Griff's death warrant!" seethed Candy. "How can y-"

"Take Joe with you, Paul," Ben suggested, silencing his foreman. "He's in the barn now, but he'll be happy to escort you. That way, if you run into any trouble, you'll have a better chance."

"Thank, Ben. I'll walk you through the process before I go," said the caring doctor. "You know I'd stay if I could."

Adam nodded shortly. He kept a steady hand and an unreadable expression. Knowing that Candy was scared for Griff and in need of a supportive brother, Adam assigned himself the solemn task. "We know, Doc. I'll do the surgery," he volunteered, swallowing the bile that threatened to rise in his throat when he thought of cutting into Griff.