Chapter Eight

A/N Any towns I use in this story are, as far as I know, purely made up. If I wind up using one that really exists or did exist-and I know it-I'll say so.

Excerpt from Ch Seven

"I can't take you, son. Don't ask me why, I just can't." Damion had turned and stormed out of the room. In the past, that sentence had always meant his father was getting weird feelings and something bad had always happened afterward. It had made Gideon more than nervous, and he'd wanted to argue with his father-only he hadn't. He still didn't; he simply stepped away from the coach and onto the boardwalk. Only when his father had driven the coach away did the young lad turn and walk away thinking 'This isn't going to end well; I just know it."

Thanks to the full moon and a sky that was full of small, sparkling diamonds-at least Nick thought the stars appeared to be diamonds- something he didn't hesitate to tell his wife. For, while her eyesight was starting to get better, she still could not see as well as possible. They had made good time and were a good five miles away from the scene of 'the accident' before night had fallen. Nick allowed himself to go over the last few minutes he'd had with his friend. The gentleman had taken a bit of a tumble while staging the accident. While Damion hadn't been seriously hurt, he did get a few bruises and a small cut. He'd laughed when Nick rushed over to help him.

"I think someone," Damion sat up, but stayed near the rocks, "is watching over us. This takes care of my problem."

"What problem?" Nick asked, only to have it hit him full force what his friend was talking about. Once he connected the dots-as it were-he started laughing, along with Damion and Elizabeth-who had also realized what was going on. "Yeah, guess you won't have trouble convincing anyone there was an accident."

Damion had then shocked Nick by pointing to two bags that he, Damion, had taken off the coach before the two of them had pushed the coach off the embankment. "As you are very well aware, it's getting colder every night. Those are for you and Elizabeth. They have some extra supplies you'll need. You should be fine until you get to a town that's far enough away that they won't question any new names the two of you come up with. And, don't tell me what you'll be going by. The less I know, the better."

Nick stopped his horse when he saw a covered wagon; naturally, it meant Elizabeth-who could barely tell it was a wagon-stopped as well. Not knowing who was in the wagon, he started to push his new horse forward only to have Elizabeth reach out and touch his arm. "Whoever is in there will want to know who we are. What are our new names?"

"I can go by my middle name, Jonathon. I don't think you need to change yours. I mean, your first name. As far as a last name?" Nick scratched the back of his neck. "I have no clue right now. Only, if they down right insist on one, I'll have to come up with something." He then started towards the wagon; Elizabeth rode alongside him.

As they drew near the wagon, they heard someone coughing. Nick quickly dismounted, keeping his hand on top of his pistol-just in case. "Stay on your horse for now." He figured he didn't have to clarify the fact that -if necessary-she could make a fast escape if she was in the saddle. He didn't. Slowly he made his way around the back and looked inside. He was shocked by what he saw. "Elizabeth!" He snapped. He might have said more only the moment he called out her name, Elizabeth was off her horse and making her way towards him as fast as she could-without falling on her face.

"What is it?" Elizabeth asked.

"Looks to be a man and a woman, probably man and wife." Nick told her.

"Oh my!" She wasted no time taking Nick's hand and insisting that he help her into the back. "I might not be able to see as good as I should only, I can still make out enough to be of some help." Soon she was kneeling in between an elderly white-haired couple-and feeling their foreheads. As she did so, Nick told her he guessed them to be in their early seventies. What on earth were they doing out in the middle of nowhere?

"They're both running a fever. We have to get them to a doctor." She looked at Nick and confessed she had no idea where they were. "I've been trusting you when it comes to that. I mean, to keep us from getting totally lost. Do you have any idea how far away a town is?" Evem as she asked the questin, she felt apprehnsion growing inside her.

While Nick was inwardly smiling at the confidence she was showing in him, his face remained serious. "Gideon gave me a map before we ever left Silver Springs. I know, roughly, where we're at. I'm sure I can find out where we need to go."

While Nick retrieved the map, Elizabeth began feeling around and picking up one item after another. Hoping to see what, if any, medicine the couple had in the wagon. Soon she was pulling a bottle out from the far corner. She wasn't surprised to catch the smell of alcohol as she lifted up the bottle. By the smell, there was no doubt it was a bottle of whiskey. So many people thought it could be used as medicine. She had her own opinion on that one.

"What are you looking for?" Nick poked his head in.

"Something to help these poor people, only found a bottle of whisky so far." Elizabeth replied as she held up the bottle.

"Don't tempt me." Nick, who loved the idea of a shot of whiskey at the moment, gave Elizabeth a grin as she managed to put the bottle back where she found it. "The barrels on the side of this wagon are full of water. Their horses seem well rested. I'll tether our animals to the back. I'll build a campfire. I should be able to read this map by the light of the fire. We'll have to take turns sleeping. In the morning, we can head towards whatever town the map says is closest."

He didn't have to ask why she had a look of concern in her eyes, as he had the same one. "I'm far enough away from Stockton, and a good spell away from Silver Springs. We should be okay. Anyway," he looked at the ill couple-the gentleman was coughing again- "I don't see where we have a choice."

"Truth be told, neither do I. Please, get me some water from one of their barrels before you start that fire." Elizabeth started looking and feeling all around her; she was hoping to find anything close to a rag while Nick did as she asked. It was going to be a long night.