GEM SALOON & BROTHEL

E. B. was as close to hysterical as Dan had ever seen him. He tried to push by, but Dan stopped him with two strong hands on his shoulders.

"Whoa there...Al ain't receiving anyone at the moment."

E. B. reached past Dan, clawing frantically at the door.

"Al! Al!" He screamed.

"Listen you cocksucker! I told you Al was preoccupied."

E. B. continued to struggle. In a rage, fearing that E. B. would disrupt Al's sexual performance and would take his displeasure out on him, Dan placed a large hand over his mouth.

"E. B. if you don't shut the fuck up I'm going to stick my fist down your throat and rip out your god damn voice box!"

Inside the room he heard a chair scrape loudly across the floor...a girl yelp in pain...heavy footsteps...and a lot of swearing.

"Now you've done it!" Dan started shaking E.B. with one hand. He looked fearfully at the door as it flew open.

"WHAT THE FUCK?! WHAT ARE YOU TWO DUMB COCKSUCKERS TRYING TO DO?!"

Al's eyes were black with rage. He was bare-chested, only clothed in the bottoms of his long johns.

"Al…", E.B. pleaded, as he began to cry.

"Oh shut the fuck up!"

He grabbed E. B. by the arm and threw him into his office. He pointed a finger at Dan. "I'll take care of you later," he said and disappeared inside as he slammed the door shut. The door quickly reopened as a naked whore, clothes clutched in her hands, ran out of the room.

E. B. was pacing back and forth, wringing his hands in despair. Al couldn't make out a word he was saying.

"E. B!...E. B! What is so god damn important to interrupt my sucking and in particular my fucking. And it better be good!"

E. B. stopped and faced Al with tears streaming down his face.

"Smallpox", he choked out.

E. B. had Al's full attention.

"Confirmed?"

E.B. nodded weakly.

"Doc?"

E. B. nodded again.

"Who?"

"Jones. Or was it Smith? One of the two."

"Where are they?"

"Hotel….my hotel." E. B. began to wail again."You have to take care of this."

"Who knows?"

"Just Doc."

"Let's keep it that way."

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"Smallpox?!" Kid looked slowly from Doc to Heyes.

Kid's legs were suddenly weak as he slowly sank into the chair.

"Is he going to make it?"

Kid stared at Heyes, suddenly trying to imagine life without him. Alone. He was unconsciously shaking his head no. He couldn't accept it. He wouldn't accept not having Heyes in his life.

Doc saw the pain cloud Kid's face.

"He kin?"

"Cousin" He managed to choke out. "We're all that's left."

Doc shook his head, "I can't speak to the how, but I'd say no more than four days. Where did you come from?" He talked as he examined Heyes.

"Cattle drive. Got into Deadwood last night."

"You riding with a Miles Ogle,"

"He was the trail boss…"

"Found his body this morning."

"What?! He's dead?! How?!

"The bullet hole in his head is what killed him, but his body showed signs of smallpox."

"I need to examine you. I'm assuming you're feeling fine. No back pain, rashes, nausea, mouth blisters…"

Kid shook his head as he slowly unbuttoned his shirt.

"What about you Doc? You're not afraid?"

"Had the vaccine or rather a crude form of it, but it's effective enough so one doesn't take the full brunt. Too late to give it to him" He said nodding his head towards Heyes. "I'm going to give it to you before your cousin becomes contagious. That will be in the next 24 hours. By then I should have the pest tent set up so he can be isolated. The important thing is to keep him hydrated. I gave him some laudanum. Help with the pain and help him sleep some."

Doc laid a hand on Kid's arm, "They don't all die, Son."

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After Doc left to finish final preparations to the pest tent, Kid collected all their belongings and put them into the saddlebags. There was no way he wasn't going to be by Heyes' side. He took a seat beside the bed and watched as Heyes struggled to breath. The laudanum had given Heyes a reprieve from the tremors but his breathing remained heavy and ragged.

As Kid stood at the basin, to refresh the cloth with some cool water he heard the sound of boots come down the hallway and stop outside their door...at least four pairs... but by then it was too late. He threw himself towards his holstered weapon that hung off the back of the chair, silently cursing himself for having taken it off. Just as he reached his gun, the door splintered open and bodies rushed in the door. Pushed to the floor, a vicious kick to his hand sent his weapon spinning across the floor. He tried to struggle to his feet but the blows and kicks kept coming, forcing him back down to the floor where he was defenseless. He saw a pair of legs move towards the bed and Heyes.

"NO!" Kid screamed and pushed himself onto all fours. He lunged towards the man, managing to grab one of his legs, but one leg was free to kick Kid repeatedly in the face and head. Barely conscious and bloodied, Kid released his hold and collapsed.

Hearing Kid scream, shocked Heyes' through his drug and fevered haze. He fought as best he could to get the blankets off and come to his partner's aid. But before he could free himself, a pair of gloved hands threw him violently back down onto the bed.

"Son of.." Heyes words were slurred. He tried to fight back but his hands fluttered uselessly in front of him. The man laughed as he hit Heyes viciously across the face with his fist. Heyes felt sharp pain before he was thrown into total darkness.

Richardson had heard the men too. Instinctively he ducked back into the room he had just finished cleaning, leaving the door open a crack he watched as they stopped in front of Room 25. One of the men, lowered a shoulder and hit the door with such force, it splintered and tore the door off one hinge. The men rushed in… From his vantage point he could not see the struggle but he could hear it. He crouched down, and began to softly moan. He heard a man scream "NO!" then a short time later silence. Minutes later two men dragged a badly beaten… Or was he dead?... man from the room. He wasn't sure if that was the man who had introduced himself as Jones. Richardson quickly covered his mouth for fear he would cry out. Shortly later a man exited the room with a body draped over his shoulder. It was completely wrapped in a sheet except for the two socked feet that hung out the bottom. The last man trailed, carrying their personal belongings. Tears stung Richardson's eyes. He had liked them. They had been nice to him. He stood up, holding the antlers high over his head and bent his head to pray.

"Richardson?! Richardson? Where are you...you addle brained idiot?"! E. B. searched the hallway. He carried two soapy buckets of water. He dropped the buckets, furious when he saw his damaged door.

"Animals!" E. B. said to himself. "And who is going to pay for my damage? You Al…" He snorted in disgust, "If I were to to calculate my financial loss would you honor it… hardly. I know what you think...E. B. is a nuisance…an annoyance… someone to be dismissed with a wave of your hand… Dammit Richardson! Where are you?!"

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When Doc returned, the room was empty. The damaged door hung precariously on the frame. The mattress lay bare. There were no traces of either Smith or Jones. The heavy smell of lye filled the air. There was a small red spot on the floor. Doc pushed at it with the toe of his boot. He balled his fists up and stormed out of the room.

Doc caught E. B. as he tried to run out the back door. Grabbing him by the collar he threw him down hard to the floor. He jumped on top of his body grabbing hair in both hands as he began slamming E. B.'s head against the carpeted floor.

"WHERE THE FUCK ARE THEY?!"

E. B. was screaming and struggling as he tried to wriggle out from under Doc's weight.

"Don't know", E.B. whimpered.

"Al can't shit without it getting it all over you, you lying son of a bitch!"

Doc felt like he could have killed the man. It would be so easy to wrap his hands around his neck and squeeze. Doc slammed E. B.'s head down one more time and felt him go limp. Before he stood up, he retrieved his glasses from the floor and wiped the blood off his hands onto his coat. He headed out the front door towards the Gem.

GEM SALOON & BROTHEL

"Here he comes" reported Dan "And he looks peeved. Should I stop him at the door?"

Al shook his head no.

"Stop right there Doc." Al stood up from the table and held his hands up. "It had to be done."

"Are they dead? Did you fucking kill them?" Doc asked through clenched teeth, as he advanced towards Al. Dan moved quickly to intercept Doc. Al stopped him with a shake of his head as he slowly sat down.

"Bad for the town. Bad for business."

"Dead customers are bad for business. Not getting the fucking vaccine from Fort Kearny like I told you months ago, is bad for business. You think that boy was the only one?"

Al looked up, startled.

"Yes Al. It's here. And you can't kill it away. Where are those boys?

Dan began squealing like a pig.

Doc's eyes widened in horror.

"Jesus fucking Christ! Jesus fucking Christ" He moaned. Doc was shaking with rage as he grabbed a bottle of whiskey off the bar and stormed out the door.

THREE HOURS EARLIER

"But Al told YOU to do it!" There was terror in Johnny Burn's voice as he pleaded with Dan.

Dan looked at the young man coldly. "And I'm telling you" he snarled "Take them to Wu's. Let the pigs have them."

Johnny stared at Dan, incredulous. "These are white folks Dan. I...I…" He stammered. "Please"

Johnny had been raised by a father that was a strict Baptist preacher in the hills of Tennessee, where he quickly learned to do what you were told with no questions asked. He had never questioned or refused an order but...

Dan's hand shot out and grabbed the front of Johnny's shirt, almost yanking him off his feet. He threw him against the wall, pinning him with a strong forearm. Johnny turned his face away as spit flew from Dan's mouth.

"DO YOU NEED ME TO TALK SLOWER? He screamed. "You damn well better do what I say or Wu's pigs are going to look like a fucking better choice for you than what I'll do to you!"

Johnny managed a weak nod. Horror etched his face. But they ain't dead he thought. They ain't dead.

Johnny headed the wagon west on Main Street towards the Chinese section of town. He pulled the duo of horses to an abrupt stop. His palms were sweating. Suddenly sick, he leaned out of the wagon and threw up. He couldn't do it. Why couldn't Dan have just let him get rid of the horses? He could have done that. Johnny had never done anything like this and there was no way he was going to start now. Feeding white people to hungry hogs and alive no less. His eternal soul would be destined to Hell for sure.

Johnny needed to dump the bodies as soon as possible. If he took too much time Dan would be wise to him not following his explicit directions. He drove the team east along the Whitewood Creek, then up the road that served as a shortcut to Spearfish.

He was getting nervous. It was taking too long. Johnny pulled off into a wooded area and pulled the first body out by his legs and unceremoniously dumped him on the ground. He dragged it off the road then returned to retrieve the second body. Putting gloves on, he pulled it still wrapped in the sheet, off the wagon. He dragged the body further off the road. There was no movement or any indication that either men were still alive. He slipped the gloves off after he had thrown all their possessions into the brush and threw them aside.

"If you are alive...Sorry"

He turned the wagon around and hurried back to Deadwood.

"What the fuck?"

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Jane dropped the empty whiskey bottle, shattering it on the hard ground. She rubbed her eyes with two balled up fists. There was something laying off the trail. A bit of white standing out in the darkness, had caught her eye. She slid off her horse and staggered closer, pulling her weapon from her holster, as she stumbled towards the object. Her hand reached out for support from a tree. She wasn't sure what she was looking at. It appeared to be what was left of a body laying on top of a lumpy white sheet. Or what once had been a white sheet. Dark stains covered where the head lay.

"Hey."

With her toe she poked at the body, leaning as far away from it as she could.

"Hey!" She said louder, her boot delivering a harder kick. The body moaned loudly and rolled off the sheet. There was something familiar about the man. Jane took a closer look, the man's face catching enough moonlight for her to realize who she was looking at. Half his face was black in the moonlight with blood. Both eyes were puffy and swollen. One was completely closed. His lips were split, bloody and caked with dirt.

"Thaddeus?! Thaddeus?! Hey it's Jane. Look what they've done to your purdy face. Who the fuck did this to you? You want me to fetch the Doc or are you fixing on dying now?"

His mouth moved, but no words came out. Jane holstered her pistol and knelt beside him. She leaned an ear close to his lips. The coppery smell of blood filled her nose.

"OH LORD! A FUCKING GHOST!"

She yelped in fright as the sheet moved. Suddenly she was stone cold sober. Jane jumped up and immediately tripped over an exposed root. Pushing herself up on unsteady feet, weapon drawn, she advanced towards the sheet. Taking the barrel of her pistol she lifted the corner. Under the sheet was another man she assumed was Smith, Thaddeus' partner. His eyes were closed, face flush with fever. His chest rose and fell with each labored breath.

Jane scanned the area trying to figure what to do next. There was a pool of dried blood about twelve feet away. There were drag marks and blood in the dirt. It appeared as if Thaddeus had dragged himself to his partner and protectively covered him. She was touched by the gesture. Pals to the end. She took a blanket from her bedroll and covered both men as best she could.

"I'm getting Doc. Don't fucking die. Either one of you… Don't fucking die."