"Well considering how that went down," Nick began, "I reckon we're gonna start votin' by number of children?"

Eddie was the first to nod in agreement. "Only seems logical."

"For now, I'm stepping aside," Dave stated. "If something happens to me, my family will be looked after. Most of you don't have any kin nearby, and your wives and children would be left destitute if something went wrong."

Lucas started to argue Dave's point, but held his tongue, knowing how he felt didn't change the facts of the situation. "…Noah has four with another on the way… Paul, you just had your fourth, didn't you?"

The saddle maker nodded. "…But while Philip only has two, his wife is also expecting. I reckon that holds some sort of weight, her being in that condition."

"…We do have family back east. They're not wealthy by any means, but they're comfortable. They would see that Melissa and the children were looked after."

"Nick, how many children do you and Lodemia have now?" Lucas inquired.

"Just the two."

"How should we vote?" Dave asked. "One or two at a time?"

Lucas gave the other men an opportunity to speak before answering. "If there aren't any objections, I think it would be best to still decide one at a time."

The men nodded in agreement before taking to their cards. The first vote took little time, all but Noah voting for the man. The men spent a while longer considering the second round before returning their cards to Lucas.

Paul

Paul

Philip

Paul

Philip

Paul

Paul

"Five to two, Paul." A few moments passed before the rancher turned towards the men who would be leaving. "…When you get out there, see if you can get him talking. …I'd like to know what he has in mind for the last man in here."

They nodded in response, several moments passing before Paul broke the silence. "…Anyone else second-guessing the verdict?"

"…I still couldn't say there was enough evidence to convict Walker," Eddie began, "But I've sure been thinking a lot about that trial. …Regardless of what he's hiding, Bennet obviously is convinced we chose wrong."

Nick shook his head. "Or he just wants us to think we did. It still wouldn't surprise me if he killed his own brother."

"That's neither here nor there," Dave said. "We all voted not-guilty. Nothing good ever comes from looking back on a decision like that."

Philip stood from the table, stretching his back as he replied, "One thing is for sure. I ain't never volunteering to serve on a jury again. If this-" The man stopped walking, his eyes growing wide as he saw the handgun in the basket. "Hey, there's a-"

"I know," Lucas interrupted, putting a finger to his mouth before pointing towards the door. "But there isn't much use discussing it now. We'll talk about it later."

The man nodded before returning to the table and sitting down. A few minutes later, the door opened before an all too familiar order was given.

"All right, everyone else against the wall. You two come out one at a time. Try anything and we'll all go up."

Noah stepped out first, walking a ways before turning towards Bennet. "Just what is your plan? They have a right to know what they're up against."

"They're gonna be up against this blasting box if you don't get going. Now move."

The man raised his hands, nodding in compliance before leaving the room. He waited at the end of the hall for Paul, then started towards the front of the building. "You get anything out of him?"

"No more than another threat."

"The man's sick in the head."

"…What do you think it was that Lucas shut Philip up about?"

"I don't know, but I hope whatever it was will give the rest of the men an upper hand."

As they stepped out onto the street, Noah and Paul saw Mark bring BlueBoy to an abrupt halt and jump down from his horse.

"Mark, what are you doing back here?" Micah asked. "You should be-"

"It's Mr. Hamilton! His saddle wasn't cinched right; his horse spooked and he fell!"

"How bad is he hurt?"

"I don't know, he wouldn't wake up and his leg looked twisted something awful!"

"Micah, you send Doc on ahead with the boy," Paul called. "We'll get a team hitched up and follow after them. Mark, where did this happen?"

"On the main road, just a little ways out of town."

"We'll meet you there."

Micah ran to get the doctor as Mark climbed back into the saddle and urged BlueBoy towards the hotel. Doc was soon outside and mounting up behind the boy, asking questions as Mark kicked his horse into a lope.

When they arrived, Doc and Mark saw Mr. Hamilton attempting to sit up as he held a hand to his head.

"Easy there, John. You just stay where you are." The doctor dismounted and quickly began examining his patient. "Can you see straight?"

The man briefly looked up before shaking his head. "Not unless you're going to tell me young Mr. McCain has a twin."

Doc chuckled as he tended to the gash on the man's head, then began to look over the leg. "…Here, take this," he said, offering his flask. "It will help take the edge off."

"…Thank you, but I'll go without it."

"Suit yourself. Micah said there's a wagon coming. I'll set this when they get here, then we'll splint it back at my office. You lay back down for now."

Paul and Noah arrived with the team a few minutes later. Mark watched as Doc set Mr. Hamilton's leg, then as the men loaded the banker into the back of the wagon. As they returned to town, Paul rode John's horse behind the rig next to Mark.

"Mr. DeMoss?"

"Yes?"

"…Do you think my pa is gonna get out of there?"

He studied the boy for a long moment, unsure of how to respond. "…If anyone has a chance of getting the better of Bennet, it's Lucas."

"…But do you think he will?"

Again he hesitated, finally forcing a reassuring smile on his face. "It wouldn't surprise me one bit."

Upon their return to town, Mark stopped in the street as the men continued on to the doctor's. He watched the doors of the meeting hall, his stomach dropping as he saw two figures step through them, his pa nowhere in sight.

"Philip? Nick? How many are left inside?"

As the men answered the marshal's question, Mark led BlueBoy to the hotel and looped his reins around the hitching post. He briefly considered going inside before he turned and ran down the street. Tears slipped down the boy's cheeks as his legs carried him down the dusty road, his ears yearning to hear his father's voice call out behind him.