There was a crack of bullets and Jed watching the gunfight from a safe distance at Beckman's insistence, stared in horror as Archie fell to the floor clutching his arm in pain. After a moment of frozen shock, he ran to kneel beside him. The old man's right arm was a mess and a steady stream of blood was seeping through Beckman's fingers as he clutched the wound groaning in pain.

Taking a deep breath, Jed ripped his shirt and rolled the torn fabric into a tight ball. Forcing himself to stay calm, despite his shock and roiling stomach, he gently removed Beckman's hand, so he could press the balled up cloth hard to the bleeding wound. Archie still conscious, but as pale as Jed had ever seen him, attempted a smile, which was really more of a grimace as he said. "It's all right son, this allows me to teach you one final lesson, there's always someone faster."

Archie's eyes fell closed as Jed hissed fiercely. "Don't you dare die on me! Don't you dare!" His voice cracked on the final word as the present pain of Archie wounded on the floor, brought back the aching stunned horror of seeing his own family lying dead in front of their burning home. Blinking rapidly, Jed forced both the vivid memory and his current shock firmly away, clearing his mind as The Bullet had taught him to do, as if he was about to enter a gunfight. As his thoughts cleared, the shake in his heads disappeared and he was able to focus on what he had to do, to keep his friend from bleeding to death. Keeping pressure on the wound he yelled fiercely. "Someone get the Doctor!"

It was probably only a few minutes later, although it felt much longer, when Jed hearing rapid footsteps half turned to see a man came running over to them, carrying a bag.

Gentle but firm hands pulled him away even as he fought to stay close. "Son, let the doctor do his work, you're just getting in the way right now."

With Archie being looked after, Jed's detached calm was quickly replaced by fierce anger. Hardly aware of the concerned glances the still milling crowd were giving him, he threw the blood stained cloth in his hands onto the ground and ignoring the red stain marring his fingers, walked into the middle of the square, his right hand drifting to his gun as he looked round for the man responsible for Archie's wound. There was unfortunately no sign of him, Jed realised that he must slipped away in the aftermath of the gunfight and made his escape.

Jed's half formed plan to pursue him was abandoned when the Doctor waved and called over to him. "I'm guessing you're Jed. You better come back over here as he's trying to get up to see where you are, and he needs to stay put till he's cleaned up and bandaged right."

Jed quickly returned to kneel Beckman's side and his attention was soon fully claimed as the medic gave him directions. Archie relaxed almost immediately and lay back down with a relieved sigh when he registered Jed was by his side.

XXX

Hours later with Archie resting comfortably, Jed restlessly paced their hotel room replaying the gunfight over in his head, wishing he'd been able to prevent the injury. As soon as Beckman was well enough to be left, he was determined to find the man who'd caused it and make him regret he'd ever challenged The Bullet. Although he'd not learnt the man's second name and he'd also been a stranger in town, Jed was sure he could hunt him down, because the man's face was burned into his memory. His vengeful thoughts were interrupted as Archie spoke, the unexpected sound made him jump. He'd been sure the old man would have slept for another few hours at least.

With his eyes half-closed the injured gunslinger waved him over with his good arm before patting the sheets to encourage him to sit. "I think we need to have a little chat, son." Unable to quite meet Archie's gaze, not sure exactly what he'd see there, Jed stared down at the checked quilt as he perched carefully on the edge of the bed.

After a moment's silence Beckman said more firmly than Jed would have thought him capable of in his current condition. "I know you're planning on doing something stupid or at the very least reckless." He paused and took Jed's chin gently in his good hand, forcing him to meet his eyes. "I really want you to think again, because if you go hunting for that man the way you want to, one of you is gonna end up dead. Most likely him." He paused again and released Jed's chin to lay an affectionate hand on his shoulder as he said. "I was twenty when I killed my first man, and thirty when I killed my last, five days before I buried my father. There were three more in-between and even all these years later, every one of them sometimes still visit me in my dreams." He paused again and looked slightly pained as if carefully considering his next words before his face cleared as he said. "I truly believe that you're far too good a kid to live with even one death on your conscience. I've taught you everything I know, in an attempt to make sure that you don't ever have to."

Jed half raised his head from studying Beckman's hand resting on his arm, as he said sharply, not liking what Archie was implying. "I ain't gonna shoot him cold without giving him a chance, you oughta know that I ain't never gonna commit murder!" He took a breath to control his temper as Beckman said softly. "I ain't saying you will boy, but I won each of them fights that left a man dead fairly too, but trust me when I tell you, that when you're alone in the dark, that fact don't always help your conscience any."

Jed protested again. "But it just don't feel right not to do something."

Archie shook his head as he said, "You know as well as me that I was beat 'cos my opponent was simply a better shot than I am these days." He paused again and said with some force. "You gotta remember, Jed, he coulda easily killed me if he'd wanted to, but he didn't and you heard Doc Marley, I'll heal up good as new, the bullet didn't even break no bones."

Jed still feeling both angry and guilty, wasn't entirely convinced and said fiercely. "But he still hurt you bad and..." The memory of Beckman lying sprawled on the ground hit him forcibly as he spoke and he trailed off, his eyes falling to his hands as he bit his lip hard to try and clear the image from his head.

Archie patted his elbow and laughed weakly, bringing Jed's gaze back up. "Son, a lot of what you're feeling is guilt at not being able to stop me getting hurt, but you ain't responsible for what happened, lets just call it an occupational hazard. It's been a lot of years since the last time, but this ain't even close to the first time that I've been shot and it's a long way from being the worst injury I've ever had." He chuckled and winked. "I'm taking this as just another sign that it's nearly time for me to go home."

Jed sighed, not entirely satisfied, but as he watched the older man's eyes begin to droop close as he drifted back off to sleep, he realised that he was exhausted too. He undressed quietly and slipped into his own bed, hoping some rest would help clear his mind and give him some perspective on what had happened.

XXX

Heyes lay on his bunk in Devil's Hole cursing his bad luck. The rest of the boys were away in Gobbler's Gulch, happily spending their hard stolen cash on whiskey, women and poker. He'd been unable to go with them, feeling too sick from a touch of grippe for the longish ride into town. The fact that it'd mostly been his plan was making it even less easy to deal with the fact he was stuck here by himself, while the others were making the most of having full pockets again. Two days after they'd ridden off, he was feeling a lot better, but knew by the time he made it into town, the boys would have spent up and be set on returning to the hole, eager for the next job so they could refill their empty wallets.

Heyes' plan to start his own gang had stalled when on reaching Dalton Springs he'd heard about a big job being planned that needed a few extra men. He'd done a bit of research and had felt optimistic from what he heard that The Devil's Hole Gang was very different from Plummer's outfit. Besides the lure of quick cash had proved too big a temptation to resist and he'd joined up three days before the robbery.

He hadn't regretted his decision yet. His new gang was as different as he'd hoped it would be from his first. Friendlier, less vicious and with a leader certainly more open to listening to him, which Heyes figured was good for everyone involved.

While his long term aim was still to lead his own gang, for now he was settled here, even if the man in charge did annoyingly insist on calling him Hannibal- a name he'd left behind when he and Jed had run from Valpo with barely a happy memory of the place between them and even fewer regrets at leaving. He was planning on beginning his search for Jed before the first snows came and intended that they'd both be back at the hole with the first sign of spring.

He was torn out of his musings by the door of the bunkhouse opening. He looked up surprised to see Big Jim Santana entering, a grin on his face and a pack of cards in his hands. "Hannibal, I wish to show you a trick that I believe will amuse you and indeed pass the time till the boys return." He paused and added. "I also have a proposition that you may have an interest in accepting."

Heyes swung his legs to the edge of the bed, intrigued by both the words and the amused expression on Jim's face. He walked over to the table in the middle of the room and sat down as Heyes pulled out the chair opposite. "I'm listening."

Jim winked at him and shuffled the cards in his hand before placing them on the table."I learnt this little trick from a handsome gambler by the name of Maverick on a Mississippi riverboat. He of course had his own name for it, but I call it five pat hands."

He proceeded to demonstrate and after a couple of minutes, Heyes laughed delighted. "It's a sucker's bet, as there ain't hardly no way for you to lose."

"Indeed, Hannibal, I thought you would like it."

Heyes smiled, shook his head and tried it for himself a couple of times before resting his elbows on the table to look up. "So, Jim, what's this proposition you think I'll like?"

Jim leant back his head on one side. "I have observed you these last weeks and you have impressed me. I believe it important to reward excellence, therefore I have decided to appoint you as my second."

Heyes figuring that he would face not inconsiderable resistance and not relishing the prospect of having to fight to maintain the position, however eager he was to accept it, opened his mouth to ask exactly how Jim intended to enforce the decision. Jim's smile simply widened as he said cheerfully. "Now, Hannibal, I have as I believe is the correct expression, squared it with the other boys, including Senor Carlson. I made it quite clear that my decision is final and that if they have a problem with it, they know where the door is. There were some bruises, but they soon saw the situation my way, so you will be free to enjoy the position."

Heyes shrugged and nodded, happy with that, he could deal with the less overt forms of protest just fine. "So what happens next?"

"You will move into the spare room in my cabin and assist with the planning, be second bandit on all jobs and receive a slighter larger share of the take." He paused a moment then added, surprising Heyes a little. "I am of course aware of your plans to seek your lost kin, but there is time enough before you leave, for you to establish yourself. If he chooses to return with you, I believe both of you will find your place here."