John woke up laying face up to the underside of a large wooden frame of a wagon beneath the thick gray canvas cover that spanned across it. He felt a wave of dread wash over him as he rationalized that he had been captured by the government and was being transported to be imprisoned or executed. Slowly tilting his head he attempted to assess the limited area of the wagon he could see.
He felt lightheaded and exhausted alongside an intense burning pain in his right waist from where he had been shot. struggling to maintain steady breathing he saw personal items loosely strewn around in the back. There was a framed picture of a man and a woman next to a large black trunk that had clothes loosely hanging out of the sides.
Feeling a sense of relief at being able to reasonably assume he wasn't in a government mandated or owned wagon due to the personal items he slowly but cautiously pushed himself up despite the excruciating amounts of pain it caused. It wasn't until John let out an involuntary cough that came out more akin to a wheeze that the man driving the wagon took note of him.
"You're finally awake." The man controlling the reigns handed them to the woman seated beside him and leaned himself further back into the wagon. "We're gonna get you to a doctor mister, just hang in there."
John once again let out a series of restrained coughs as he felt himself being jostled around in the wagon. "I need to…" John struggled to get the sentence out as his vision started closing into darkness but managed to muster the energy to continue "I can't go to Blackwater."
The man both concerned and perplexed by his cryptic request paused before resuming. "Well uh, we aren't going into a town im afraid, I reckon you don't have the blood to spare to make it into Blackwater but I happen to know a guy down around Quakers Cove." The man did his best to keep John engaged so that he wouldn't slip into unconsciousness once again.
"Now. What's your name?" the man asked him. Despite the injury and exhaustion he faced he was still capable of basic rational thought and knew that he had to once again had to create a false identity as he had done before to avoid the large bounty the government would put on his head. "Andrew...Morgan."
John kicked himself internally and felt a mild sense of shame at the name as soon as the words left his mouth.
"Well Mister Morgan just hold in there a little bit longer, we're nearly there."
The horses shakily pulled the wagon down the dirt slope and over to the nearby docks. The woman got off the wagon when they reached a full stop and started to walk around to the back, pulling down the hatch.
The woman put her arms out, offering to help John "Do you figure you can walk inside by yourself?" John began to push himself towards the edge of the wagon bed
"Yea I think I can just about-" He slid himself to the edge of the wagon and pushed himself off. Underestimating the physical toll the day had taken on him his legs collapsed under the weight of his body as soon as he made contact with the ground. He felt a plume of dirt rise into his face as he violently landed on his side.
She let out a surprised yelp and kneeled down to his level, saying something that he didn't focus on. He tried to push himself off the ground but was unable to muster the strength as he once again collapsed into the dirt. He felt his vision close in on him as the man and woman began to lift him by the arms.
John was once again awaken by an intense burning sensation coming from his wound. He let out a deep exhale as he swatted at the source of the pain, a short man in sophisticated but disorderly clothing pressing a damp rag against the bullet wound.
"Who the hell are you?" John slurred out at the man. Putting his arms out the stranger attempted to appease John. "Slow down, you don't need to hurt yourself again, we are nearly done."
He groggily squinted at the short man and surveyed the small cluttered structure filled to the brim with a blend of medical tools and knick knacks with no discernable use. The sky was a dark cloudy purple, indicating that a fair amount of time had passed.
"You the doctor?.." The man smiled and slowly nodded his head "Yes yes, you can call me Doctor Adams"
Deciding that he didn't have the freedom to distrust the man he chose to match his pacifistic mannerisms.
Lightly pushing John back into his original position he applied pressure to the bullet wound with a gray cloth drenched in alcohol. He winced in pain at the cloth and felt the primal urge to punch the man but abstained from causing any conflict. The doctor finished by plastering a large adhesive bandage on Johns side, further helping keep the wound closed.
The doctor took a step back after applying his finishing touches and flipped through a small book that was on a nearby shelf. John took this time to reflect on the events that had occurred as the pain started to numb. He felt as if his whole life had crashed down on him in the course of an hour. Uncle had been killed and his barn was burnt down because the federal government betraying and tried to murder him. The most impactful thought that crossed Johns mind was that he had no idea where his family had hidden out at and if they had been caught by the government. However his thoughts were cut abruptly short by Doctor Adams voice interjecting.
"That will be fifty dollars."
"Excuse me?" John was baffled at the extraordinary amount of money.
"I said that will be fi-" Dr. Adams was cut short by John replying in an aggressive voice. "I heard what you said." Taking a moment to sit up on the table John continued in a near mocking tone. "What I want to know is why you're trying to rob me in broad daylight?"
The doctor, taken aback looked at John. He tried to speak but was at a loss of words. "Well I just...I saved your life and I need a way to pay off the e-expenses." John felt cheated but saw the logic in the large price. He sighed and reached for his pouch only to realize that it was no longer on him along with the rest of his accessories.
"Where's my satchel?" John inquired, slightly alarmed that he no control over his most important and personal possessions. Doctor Adams quickly explained where the satchel had gone. "When Frank found you he said you were being robbed by some people, he never found any satchel I'm afraid."
John groaned in disappointment at the revelation, he knew that he had his money, journal, and most important to him irreplaceable photographs of his family. He slowly pushed himself upright and began to walk to the door with a slight limp he did his best to hide.
"Listen fella I can't pay you back now but I promise I'll get you your money eventually." Not replying to John the doctor walked over to a trunk and pulled out his worn hat and the holster that contained his Schofield Revolver and spoke in fake disappointment to tease John. "I suppose I could probably get my money by selling these."
John immediately lashed out again at the man. "What the hell are you doing with my stuff? You said it was stolen!" John prepared for the fight that was soon going to break out but the doctor once again quickly blurted out. "I said your satchel! Nothing about your gun and hat!" The doctor paused to gauge Johns reaction. Despite the fact that he had been shot Doctor Adams was well aware that he could still likely be pummeled by the much taller man. "It's only fair that I have some way to pay off the expenses you cost me!"
John scoffed at the remark. "Not even I would go as far to say I'm worth fifty dollars." That statement sparked the curiosity of how much his bounty would be once it was put up but he didn't have the time to ponder meaningless questions.
Doctor Adams tried to gain Johns sympathy by pleading with him. "Please, I owe some bad people a lot of money and I need to pay it off or they'll have my head! I can't keep putting money into medical expenses and not get a return. "
John attempted to defuse the situation and spoke in a much more somber voice than he had been. "I'm also in trouble with some bad people and so are some people I care very much about and I need to go find them."
There was an awkward few seconds of silence as neither man was able to figure out who should speak next. Doctor Adams rubbed his face and began to speak calmly.
"Do you have a home? Perhaps I could drop you off there so you can attend your business and we can discuss payment at a later time."
John knew that returning to Beecher's Hope would end in a shootout that he couldn't win.
"Friend, I can't explain my situation because quite frankly if I did it would put me and my family in grave danger."
Doctor Adams looked annoyed at his vague answer. "So you plan to just waltz out of here and into the dark with no means of protection right after nearly dying? I thought the bullet went through your waist not through your skull."
Stopping to think Doctor Adams sighed and hesitantly continued. " I can offer you a place to stay for the night and we can discuss your debt in exchange for helping me with a few things in the morning."
John took a moment to consider but knew he had no real choice in the matter. "I don't really have any choice but to accept. What exactly are you going to have me do?"
"I have some business you may be able to help with. I'll explain in the morning." John was intrigued by the statement but was too tired to pry for more information.
The doctor motioned for John to follow him as he lead him to the other similarly sized structure at the entrance of the docks. It was almost as cluttered as the other shack and structurally was in despair but it was still a better alternative than sleeping in the dirt. Sitting against a large wooden counter John and Doctor Adams had a little banter before John slowly beginning to doze off, finally taking a much needed rest.
I'm sorry if this chapter was a bit slow but I plan for things to start getting more interesting. Please leave your thoughts, issues, suggestions, or ideas in the comments, it is very helpful.