The next day Jack and Delilah took Billy into town again.

"Guess the good doctor isn't keen on seein' me again anytime soon." Jack avoided Delilah's gaze and sat down on the sidewalk at the corner of the local dressmaker. "I'll be waitin' here for you." With a contented smile on his face, his eyes lingered on Delilah crossing the street. A heavy hand dropping on his shoulder startled him. He leapt to his feet as rough hands clenched into his shirt and pushed him into the narrow side alley.

Jack spun around and raised his fists ready to fight. When he got sight of the offender, he dropped his arms, straightened his back and tilted up his chin.

The man in front of him was about forty years old, of heavy build, with shoulder-long dark hair, heavy beard, and a sly glint in his eyes. His voice was deep and treacherously amicable as he greeted the younger man. "Hiya, Jeremy, long time no see."

"Yeah, long time, Racine. And it's Jack now."

Racine laughed. "Jack? Alright. But don't think a name would change a thing between us. You know why I'm here."

"Wanna buy me a beer?" Jack offered with an innocent smile, but showing too much teeth.

"Don't play dumb with me." Racine's eyes drifted to Delilah and Billy just entering the doctor's office across the street. "Nice girl. Pretty. Wouldn't mind spending some quality time with her."

A dangerous spark appeared in Jack's eyes. "Leave her alone! That's the kinda thinkin' that got you locked away."

"Ah, your girl, ain't she?" Racine tilted his head. "That your brat?"

"Nope. She's a widow. Work for her. 'Cause I've got all that money you're after," Jack said, his voice soft on the surface, but with a core of iron underneath.

"So, you do know what it's all about." Racine's eyes narrowed as he moved into Jack's space, trying to back him up against the wall. But the slender blond stood like a rock, so Racine ended up only inches away from his face and growled, "I know how things went. One of you sold me out and ran off with the money. Hank, Slim and Matt had no clue. Guess who I figured had done this to me?"

Jack leaned into him even more, tilted his head and snarled, "I wasn't even in on the job."

"But your uncle Eddy was. Was supposed to ride shotgun. Got us the route and all but didn't show up in the end. Figured you talked him out of it."

"He was sick. Could have cost him his life."

"He's dead now, anyway. You knew enough to set me up!" Racine spat out.

"There was no set-up – just bad timin', bad plannin'. I told you back then, but you wouldn't listen. There is no money."

"Ah, of course, that's what you've got to say. But you can't reckon I'm going to believe it, do you?"

"Nope, but I can't change what's true."

The older man snorted, turned around and moved a few paces. He ran his hand over his beard and faced Jack again. "You know, actually I don't care what's on your mind. I only care about the loot."

"That's always been your problem, Lou: you talk too much and never listen. There. Is. No. Money." Jack's hands balled into fists and opened again in slow motion.

"Too bad for you, pal. I can't let you off the hook that easy; you know that. I've got to keep up my reputation."

Jack kept silent, glaring at his opponent and tensed up even more. He gave the impression of a loaded gun ready to go off.

But Racine didn't act on it. His eyes were captured by two men sauntering down the street. He took two steps back, diving deeper into the shadows as he watched Heyes and Curry walk by. "I'll be..." he muttered under his breath.

"What?"

"You see those guys?"

"What guys?"

"The two guys heading for the barber. Tall, one of them slim, dark-haired, black hat. The other blond and meatier."

"It's not my habit watchin' other guys. What about them?"

"You know who they are? I don't know the blond, but the dark-one sure as heck is Hannibal Heyes. I bet the brawny-one is his partner, Kid Curry. You know what that means?"

Jack's eyes flashed for a beat. "More guys like us?"

"Like us?" Racine laughed. "I don't think so. They're worth $10,000 apiece."

"And why would I care?"

"Shut up and let me think."

Jack pulled a face, the corner of his mouth twitching, but kept silent.

"You still claiming having no money?" Racine asked after a while.

"Yup."

"So, you can call yourself lucky, 'cause there's the money you owe me. $20,000 just waiting to be picked up." Racine pointed down the street. "Get me the reward on those two, and I'll forgive you. Forget about our little... misunderstanding."

"You want me to squeal on them? Rat out Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry, if you're right with your guess? You know what messin' around with them means?" Upset, Jack pointed two fingers down the street. "Kid Curry bein' said to be the fastest gun in the West and Heyes as sharp with his mind he's no bit easier to get a drop on?" He thrust out his arms, exposing his chest, and cracked his neck. "Why don't you just shoot me right away and get it over with?"

"Don't tempt me, Jeremy," the older man growled. "And there's still the matter of $20,000."

Jack dropped his arms again, vaguely indicating the street. "Alright, so you're gonna make them shoot me. Not much of a difference at my end of the deal."

"Don't you know, they never shot anyone?"

"There's a first time for everything!"

"They don't know you. And if you're as smart as your mouth, you're gonna find a way to take them out one by one before they even know what you're up to. They're wanted dead or alive. Nobody's safe from a bullet in the night, not even Kid Curry."

"You want me to shoot them in the back and make money off their dead bodies?" Disgust flared up in the corners of Jack's eyes.

"There was a time when you didn't care too much about other men's concerns. If anything, you liked hurting people in the past, indulging your power."

"I don't do that no more."

"Yeah, I can see that," Racine sneered. "Once you were a fierce dog, fighting all the time, but now you're weak. They're dead meat, anyway. It's only a matter of time until someone guns them down with that price on their head. You follow them around, take them out tonight, and turn them in come morning."

"Why don't you turn them in yourself?" Jack snapped.

"And run into some clever lawman so he can put me away, too?" The older man laughed, a dirty unpleasant sound. "No, thanks. I'm not that stupid. You owe me. You'll turn them in and get me the reward. Easy as that. You won't get the money right away, but you're gonna tell them you can't wait that long, and have it sent to Tucson. I know, I can trust you with this. You wouldn't dare cheat me again."

"I'm not gonna do this!" Jack lifted up his chin, his face a composition of angles and hard lines. "I've got a choice. And you can't make me."

"Oh, I think I can. One journey's gonna end here. The only choice you should care about is whose journey it is. And spare me your trying to pretend that woman doesn't mean a thing to you. I'm not blind." Racine gave him time to let his words sink in, then laid his arm around Jack's shoulder in a skewed gesture of friendship.

"Actually, I don't care which way you handle them. All I care about is the money. If you win their trust and make them come with you, it's fine with me. I've seen you dazzle folks in the past. So cast your spell or use your gun and get me the reward."

Jack shook his arm off but didn't respond otherwise.

Racine drew back and continued, "See, for old times' sake I'm giving you a chance here – a chance to get even, pay me back. I've always liked you. I wouldn't want to hurt you, but right now, I'm short of alternatives – just like you. We'll meet here at noon, and I'll watch you turn them in. You'll get me that money, we settle the score, and I'll go to Mexico. No harm, no foul. There'll be no hard feelings between us anymore. Promise."

Jack's eyes were piercing into the other man's eyes. "Yeah, we'll settle the score. Once and for all."

"And don't get funny ideas. Stick to our plan or your little lady-friend and her brat are getting to know me. Might not enjoy it as much as I will."

-o-o-o-

Jack stood alone in the back alley across from the doctor's, staring at the wall. His face was dark, his eyes smoldering. He turned his head when he heard the door of the doctor's open. Delilah with Billy in her arms exited. Her eyes panned the street up and down.

Jack composed himself and approached them, his attitude calm, but serious. "How is he?"

Delilah shook her head. "Still no improvement."

"The doctor ask you to leave Billy with him?"

"Yes, but I told him no."

"Maybe you should do what he told you."

Her eyes widened. "What? But yesterday you said..."

"I know what I said, Delilah," he replied softly, "but he's right. He's right."

"What made you change your mind?"

"Billy'll get better treatment there."

She looked him deep in the eyes. "There's more to it. What are you hiding from me?"

Jack averted his eyes and started to turn away, but then looked back at her again. "Racine... he's here. And he'll come see me. I can't have you around then."

"But why would he care?"

"Old story. Don't matter now. But I don't want you to get in his way."

"So, you send us away just like that?"

Several beats passed, a set of emotions flashing through Jack's eyes, before he came to a decision. "I can't protect you," he admitted quietly. "You're not safe with me. He's not safe." His look indicated the little boy. "Billy should be in town at the doctor's. He'll get better care there." He caught her eyes and held her gaze with incredible intensity. "Stay with him. Care for him. He needs you. And I need to know you're safe."

Gently, Delilah laid her hand on his arm. "You're not your father, Jack."

"I don't blame him. There wasn't much he could do. But I'll keep you safe no matter what," Jack stated. "I couldn't live with myself if somethin' happened to you on my account. I'll do whatever necessary to protect you and our boy."

A brief smile ghosted over her face. "I know you will." Delilah leaned into him and kissed his cheek gently. "You're a good man. You'll do the right thing."

Jack avoided her look as he took the boy from her arms. "Yeah, the right thing. The right thing; that's what I'll do."