"Papa. You should have seen him! He was like some wingless angel swooping in to rescue me!" Jack Moulton clasped his little girl tightly to him, tears in his eyes, realising just how close he had been to losing his baby girl. The precious legacy of his darling Ellie.

He turned when he heard footsteps behind him, to see his foreman Pat, hurrying over to him, his face creased in worry."Mr Moulton, the Doc ain't sure Jones is gonna make it. He's hurt real bad!"

Moulton wasn't surprised at the news, he'd suspected as much after seeing his new hand Jones being pulled out from under the flipped and broken carriage. He had however been very careful to shield his daughter from the sight of his battered and still form being quickly transported to the Doctor's office.

Laura pulled away from him, her eyes bright with tears as she stared at him. "He can't die Daddy! He just can't! God, wouldn't be that mean."

Jack who had struggled with his own faith, ever since he'd lost Ellie, couldn't find the right words to reassure her and was relieved when Pat smiled down at her and said gently. "We just gotta accept that God sometimes has plans we don't understand Miss Laura, but I'm sure he'll be listening if you pray for Thaddeus."

Laura with innocent brown eyes, so like her Ma's looked back at Moulton. "Papa, I'm going to pray real loud and real often, till God just has to listen and makes sure Thaddeus gets better."

Jack felt his eyes prick with tears, almost envious at his daughter's naïve belief and managed a smile. "You do that baby! Now Pat, take her home and let Jones' partner know what's happened. He'll want to get here real quick, so let him borrow Mercury. I'll go speak to the Doc and make certain he knows money ain't a problem."

He'd not been sure of Thaddeus Jones, nor his partner when they'd come looking to work for him. They'd both been polite and respectful, but he'd been wary of their tied down guns and the not quite successfully concealed aura of confident authority they both had.

But eager for the extra help, he'd allowed Pat to employ them. The skill and bravery that Jones had shown saving his little girl, had removed the slightest doubt about him being a hapless drifter, and with the obvious long term friendship between the two men, it was highly unlikely Smith was either.

XXX

"Whatcha ya think you were doing drawing attention to yourself like this? When you wake up we're gonna have words ya hear me?"

The Doctor standing back smiled a little, the softness of the man's tone doing nothing to hide the raw emotion in it. He cleared his throat and stepped forward drawing the man's attention reluctantly away from the unconscious form. "Mr Smith is it? I'm sorry I haven't got much to reassure you with, 'cept he's getting the best care."

Dark eyes flashed slightly, before whatever emotion he'd seen was quickly doused. "How is Mr Moulton's little girl?"

Marshall smiled. "Shaken, but unharmed thanks to that young man." He paused as he nodded over at the bed, then added. "The way Miss Laura tells it, your friend there was like some angel from heaven swooping down to save her."

Smith laughed then glanced back at his friend. "I might tell him that, when he wakes up, if I can bear him being smug for a good few days."

Opening his mouth to carefully warn the man that he was not at all certain that his friend would regain consciousness, the Doctor quickly decided against it, at the expression on the suddenly intense young man's face. Smith was obviously all too aware of that possibility and hardly needed it spelling out, so instead he merely said. "I've done all I can for now. We'll know more in a few hours."

XXX

Heyes looking down at his friend, took a breath as he opened his eyes with a low groan and said faintly. "What the hell hit me?"

Heyes shook his head. "Only 'bout 4000 pounds of carriage!"

Kid tried to move, but a look of panic crossed his face. "I can't feel nothin' below my waist." Before Heyes could say anything his gaze flicked down as if to reassure himself he still had legs, before he closed his eyes, his face creased with worry. Then with a shaky sigh he turned to look at his friend, his eyes wide with worry as he whispered. "Why can't I feel them?"

Heyes swallowed hard, the pounding in his ears making him light headed, as a wave of fear swept through him, but with some effort, he only said evenly and quietly. "You're so dosed on pain meds, Doc says you likely won't feel much for a while. He'll be kinda surprised you're awake and not seein' flyin' horses." What he didn't add, was that he was also pretty sure, the Doctor would be surprised if he ever walked again. And if Heyes was being honest, at the list of injuries the Doc had told him about, he wasn't sure of that himself. But he kept his poker face and hoped that none of those concerns showed in face.

XXX

"Where the hell is Laura? I told you to keep an eyes on her, while Emma is away visiting her folks! We've already had one close call, it happens again and I might have to reconsider your employment."

Jack Moulton snarled at his housekeeper who looked at him unconcerned, her hands folded across her ample chest. "She with Patrick, they've gone to visit the young man who saved her life. I did not try and stop her. From what I have heard, the boy needs much help to recover."

XXX

Heyes hesitated at the door to the room where his partner was still laid up, careful to school the worry out of his face. There had been little improvement and Kid's mood had darkened with each passing day. He was surprised then to hear soft laughter as he entered, and he found his face breaking into a smile when he saw why.

Laura Moulton was sat by his friend's bed chatting twenty words per minute to his slightly dazed, but obviously charmed partner. "Papa will probably be looking for me, but Conchita will set him right when he gets upset. Besides Pat brought me here and he always keeps me safe. Papa worries too much, but I think that's 'cos he lost my Ma. Usually my Aunt Emma looks after me, but she's visiting her Ma and Pa, so it's Conchita's job till she's back. Conchita's kinda scary, but she bakes really good cookies and lets me help. I've got some in my bag for you to try. I bet they'll make you feel better."

Heyes stepped forward as she quietened and turned away to dig deep in her bag for the cookies in question.

He met his friend's amused expression and hid a smile, very relieved that the little girl had managed to do what he'd failed to do, lift his partner's spirits some. He cleared his throat as Laura triumphantly produced a bag full of cookies and pressed them into Kid's hands.

The door behind them opened and both Laura and Heyes turned to see Moulton in the doorway. Heyes coughed to hide his laugh when Laura stood with her hands on her hips, snorting slightly, before running over to her father to give him a hug. Her words muffled against his chest. "Pa don't be mad, I just needed to say thank you to Thaddeus. And he seemed real sad so I stayed to cheer him up."

Jack smiled as he stroked his daughter's hair. "I'm not mad, Laura, but I think Mr Jones and his friend here, might want to talk in private. But you can come back tomorrow if Thaddeus is happy with that."

Kid nodded. "I'd be real grateful to see her again, Sir. Days sit mighty heavy just lyin' here."

"Then I'll have Pat bring in her into town same time tomorrow."

"Oh Pa!" Laura freed herself from her father's hug and ran over to give Kid a kiss on his nose as she said. "I'll bring more cookies!"

Then she ran back to her father and he pulled her close with a small chuff of laughter. After an exchange of amused glances, Moulton said with his arm round his daughter's shoulders. "Goodbye Gentlemen. I'll come by later in the week."

After the door shut behind them, the Kid laughed softly. "She talks more than you, Heyes!"

Heyes grinned at his friend's expression before sobering and asking the question he asked every day, hoping that today the answer would be different. "Any change?"

Kid shrugged the light going out of his eyes as he replied. "I ain't sure Heyes, I thought I could feel somethin' when the Doc prodded my feet, but I coulda just wanted it to be so."

Heyes not sure what to reply to that, simply sat down in the chair Laura had vacated and said half seriously. "You betta share them cookies with me."

Kid laughed as he unwrapped the packet that Laura had thrust at him and gave an appreciative sniff. "I ain't sure Heyes, the lady gave them to me."

"Hey, Kid, we're partners, what's yours is mine."

XXX

Ten days later, when Heyes entered the sick room, he was amazed to see Kid on his feet, supported by the Doctor and his nurse, not very steady and looking awfully pale, but nonetheless putting weight on his legs. As Heyes watched in slightly breathless silence, he took two shaky steps. When he came to a stop and looked up into Heyes' face, a hint of hope in his expression, Heyes was unable to restrain himself and almost shouted "Kid!" As soon as the words were out, he cursed himself, joy had made him careless, but he simply shrugged, there were ways to explain himself.

Luckily though, it appeared that either the Doctor hadn't noticed or at least wasn't concerned, because after settling Kid back on the edge of the bed, he turned to Heyes with a smile. "It's early days yet Mr Smith, but it's looking hopeful."

Heyes felt tears unexpectedly prick in his eyes as he met his friend's gaze and found himself unusually lost for words as Kid said. "Well Laura was determined I was gonna get better and it ain't right to disappoint a lady."

XXX

Laura presented herself at the Doctor's office a few days later, when Pat finally had time to bring her into town, and said excitedly. "I knew God would hafta listen to me! Pa always says I'm impossible to say no to! I bet those cookies helped too! I got some more for him. Can I visit with him? I got so much to tell him!"

Heyes smiled at the girl, before kneeling down to her level. "Thaddeus is kinda tired, maybe ask your Pa 'bout coming tomorrow."

Although Kid was recovering well, he was still frustrated at what he saw as his slow progress and he'd fallen that morning, trying too hard. As a result he was sore and embarrassed, and his temper more than a little uncertain, making Heyes unsure of how her chattering would be received at the moment.

The Doc and Heyes, but not Laura were surprised, when the door behind them opened and Kid leaning heavily against the door jam, holding crutches in his right hand, with his eyes tired said softly. "I think a visit and some more of them cookies might just be what the Doctor ordered."

XXX

"Mr Smith, the Doc was telling me you and Thaddeus are leavin' in three days. Laura and I wanted to give you something, to make sure your friend understands just how grateful we are to him."

Heyes smiled and shook his head. "Ain't no need, Mr Moulton. The money and settling up with the Doc are plenty."

"Oh, Mr Smith, I believe in settling my debts properly. Besides Laura would never forgive me if I didn't do what she asked. Come up to the ranch tonight when your friend is settled. Conchita will be more than happy to feed you!"

XXX

In the light of the full moon Heyes looked over at the beautiful dark brown horse looking at him from over the stable door as Jack Moulton and Laura watched him carefully. He understood, knowing horses as he did, that the gift of such a graceful beast was a generous one. He stroked the horse's nose softly and received a snuffle and gentle nuzzle in return and as he did so, never quiet for long, Laura said happily.

"I wanted Thaddeus to have a grey one, but Pa said Hickory would be a better choice."

Moulton cleared his throat and said chidingly. "I warned you not to name him sweetie, we aren't keeping him."

"Oh Pa! Don't be silly, I know he's not mine to keep, but horses need names! Ma always told you that. And besides Thaddeus won't mind that I named him because girls are better at naming things."

Heyes laughed as he continued to pet the horse, then said softly. "She's right, Mr Moulton, if it'd been left to Thaddeus he'd be called something far less appropriate." He turned to face Laura. "He'll love the name sweetie, it's perfect."

Heyes couldn't wait to see his friend's expression when he set eyes on the animal and knew that his partner would insist on a side trip to somewhere where they could keep him safe until their amnesty came through. Heyes turned back to the horse and continued to stroke his nose gently, and knew very clearly that he wouldn't fight his partner on that. The memory of a pretty pair of brown eyes would stop him if he tried.

Heyes dragged his gaze away from the Kid's gift as Moulton cleared his throat, and saw in his expression lots of questions about who exactly they were and what they were hiding from. But at the expression of pure love that crossed his face, as he glanced down at his daughter, Heyes also knew with a sense of overwhelming relief that he would ask none of them.

Their future was still uncertain and Heyes was very aware that the Kid's recovery wasn't quite complete. But now at last as the ache in his chest eased, he could finally take a normal breath, something he'd doubted he'd ever be able to do again in the past long weeks of waiting and worrying.

As he led the horse back to the town, the ownership papers safely stowed in his saddlebags ,he was already considering places that might be an option for the horse, when the inevitable change of mount was needed. The Carlson's maybe or perhaps even Clementine. Either way he was certain Hickory would be a part of their lives for the rest of his.