Jim mixed the powders and helped Artie drink his. He noted the heat radiating from his friends body had intensified. Alex had told him this was possible. What Jim didn't tell Artie was that the medicine would also induce sleep if mixed with something else like the headache powders. Jim secretly poured a headache powder into Artie's glass, stirred the mixture then turned back toward his friend, who was panting and sweating profusely.

"Here, Artie," Jim held his head up so he could drink, "drink this, Alex says it will make you feel better."

"Me? What about you, you drank more of that tainted water than I did," Artie didn't like the look in Jim's eye as he helped him drain the glass.

"I'm going to drink mine, Artie. Don't worry. I'm just going to get you settled first."

"Promise?"

"Promise, now let's lay you down, I think you've had enough excitement for one day. I want you to rest now. Alex hopes to have the train moving again real soon."

"James, what did you do?" Artie demanded.

"Me? Nothing," Jim replied innocently.

"James T. West, you come clean this minute," Artemus shouted, or as close to a shout as he could manage.

"Nothing, pal, I just mixed some headache powder into your medicine."

"And just why would you do that for me and NOT for yourself?" He demanded.

"Well…"

"Truth time, James," Artie pushed.

"Damnit, Artie. I only did it for your own good."

"Just what…(yawn) was it…(yawn) that you did…(yawn) for my own good?"

"Alex told me that if I mixed the headache powder with the powder Collins brought back it would make you sleep. Now don't get mad, pal, I was only thinking of your best interests, honest," Jim held his hands up in mock defense.

"Yeah, I know, I just hate sleeping so much. I'd rather be out there looking for the guys that did this," Artie was quickly losing his battle with consciousness.

"I bet you do. But sleep well, my friend. I have Jeremy looking into some things for us and as soon as we get to Fredericksburg and I get you to a hospital, I'm going to take care of that."

"Not fair, Jim, you get to have all the fun. I have a score to settle with those bums," Artie lost his battle and drifted off to sleep.

"Not this time, pal, not this time. They almost took the one person I would give my life for and I can't let that go unpunished. I'm going to get those bastards and if I get drummed out of the Secret Service because of it I will not take you with me," Jim settled back in his chair and drank his glass of medicine.

FREDERICKSBURG—

Jeremy Pike entered his third doctor's office of the day. He hoped he had better luck this time. He talked to the nurse and his hopes lifted. He had to wait for the doctor to return and he sat as patiently as he could. He was idly tapping his fingers on his leg when the doctor finally entered the office.

"Doctor, this gentlemen has been waiting for some time to see you. He's with the Government, sir," the nurse gestured toward Pike, who rose and shook hands with the doctor.

"What can I do for the government, Mr. Pike?"

"A lot, I hope," Jeremy replied as he followed the doctor into his inner office.

Jeremy gave the doctor what little information he's gotten from Jim and asked if the doctor had treated any gun shot wounds in the last few days. The doctor straightened in his chair.

"As a matter of fact a few days ago I did. Two fellas came in here real late the other night. One of em was gut shot. I had to operate most of the night."

"Did he make it?" Pike asked eagerly.

"Yes, yes, he did. I had him the hospital until this morning."

"This morning? Isn't that a bit early to release a gun shot patient?"

"It's a lot too early, that man needed at least two weeks in the hospital if not more. His friend tore through the place and demanded we release him."

"I was in the ward when he burst in and I heard part of their conversation. I was going to tell the sheriff but I got busy. Maybe you should hear this information instead, it's likely that you could do more with it."

"Tell me everything you heard, even if you think it won't matter and I'll let you know."

"Well, this one fella, the one that came busting in, told Nate, he's the wounded one, that he'd just ridden a long way back from trying to get rid of their problem. He told Nate he got caught and they had him locked up but he got away. He said they had to move out and fast because the mud slide would be cleaned by tomorrow."

"Oh boy, I think those are my guys. Did they say where they were headed?"

"No, not really just that they were headed some place East. I tried to tell them Nate shouldn't travel but they seemed in an awful hurry. They took some extra bandages and some medicine and I think one of the nurses said they left in a buckboard."

"Doctor, than you very much. I do want you to tell the sheriff, just in case they didn't get too far. You've been a big help." Jeremy shook his hand and prepared to leave.

"Mr. Pike, I have to warn you, that one fella, he's awful mean."

"Thanks, doctor, but so are we when one of our own is taken down," Jeremy strode off in the direction of the telegraph office.

"I don't give those guys a snowballs chance of getting away with whatever they did to his friend," the doctor said as he shook his head and closed the door.

TRAIN—

"I'm sorry, Mr. West, I don't know how it happened. One of the men got sloppy and he got the upper hand," Alex told him.

"It's not your fault. When did it happen?"

"Near as we can tell about 8 or 9 o'clock last night. We didn't have a steady guard on him, what with clearing the tracks and all, sorry we let you down."

"You didn't, Alex. These things happen. Don't worry yourself over it. It might even be a good thing. I'll wire Jeremy and have him keep an eye out for him. If we're lucky he'll lead us to his partner."

Jim went back to the main car and sent a wire to Jeremy but the acknowledgement was a reply instead. Jeremy had sent him a wire telling him about the leads he had. Jim's smile broadened when Jeremy told him that the President had demanded the Army help clear the tracks and get Artemus to a hospital pronto. Jim clicked out a quick reply and proceeded to Artie's room with the news. He hoped his friend would be awake and he wasn't disappointed, but the look on Artie's face spoke volumes.

"Artie, you're awake," he stated hesitantly.

"Yes, James, I am. Good thing, too," Artie glared.

"Why is that, pal?" Jim crossed to the sideboard, grabbing clean bandages.

"You know damn well why. What do you think you're doing? Trying to get yourself drummed out of the Service?" Artie growled.

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb with me, James West. And next time you want to send wires you don't want me to know about you might want to disconnect the backup telegraph."

"Oh," Jim moaned.

"Oh is right. How you got Jeremy in on your little plot I'll never know, but I will not sit by and watch you destroy your careers on my account. That little plot you cooked up is murder, Jim."

"I know it is, Artie. And I didn't ask Jeremy to help he demanded to help. And that's not all, Artie. We kind of got some help higher up."

"Kind of…who James?" Artie queried.

"Artie, hear me out before you…"

"Who JAMES!" Artie demanded breathlessly.

"Okay, okay, pal, anything to get you to calm down. First off, you must not have been awake for all of the telegrams. The first one was the most important to my plan."

"It was from President Grant. He is sending the Army to help with the mudslide situation. Second, he is 100 percent behind our plan and he put these guys under the category of Most Wanted," Jim spoke softly as he changed Artie's bandages, noticing his wheezing and soft groans.

"He did what?!? Artie questioned, "Why would he do that?"

"I guess the President doesn't take kindly to people messing with his agents. And the Secret Service agents have run into these guys before. Apparently the whole thing in Baltimore was a set up. They found out you were an agent and targeted you."

"Oh nice to know I could supply some form of amusement for them," Artie snorted disgustedly.

"At least they showed good taste," Jim replied.

"Yeah."

Jim removed to bandages around Artie's chest and gently probed the incision area. The skin was not as red but the bruise didn't show any signs of going away anytime soon. Artie groaned and pushed Jim's hand away when he probed to see how well the broken ribs were healing. Jim didn't like that, but he gently rebandaged them and checked his side wound, then proceeded on to his leg.

Artie's leg seemed to be doing better without the bandage so Jim decided to leave it off for the time being. The telegraph started rattling. Artie moved to grab the paper and pencil on the sideboard.

"I'll get it, Artie, you just relax," Jim grabbed the pencil and paper and began writing.

"Well, finally some good news," he said as he typed an acknowledgement, "I'll go tell Alex and as soon as they finish up here we can get going."

"There was a lot more to the message than that, Jim. Sorry but I couldn't keep up, I'm getting a headache."

"Let me fix you a headache powder."

"Just a headache powder?" Artie questioned.

"If you want, pal, but I wish you'd get some more sleep," Jim pleaded.

"I promise I'll try to sleep, Jim. I don't like that concoction, it makes my vision blurry."

"Why didn't you tell me that before? Okay, no concoction but you need to some sleep. I don't want you in a state of exhaustion on top of everything else when we get to Fredericksburg. President Grant would have my head."

"Oh now that I'd pay to see," Artie grinned.

Jim gave Artie the medicine and when he put the glass on the sideboard he disconnected the telegraph and returned to Artie's side. He pulled the blankets up and tucked him in. They chatted idly for a time, Jim hoping Artie would fall asleep, Artie hoping the train would get moving again soon. The sooner they were moving the sooner they could get after the bad guys. Artie asked for a glass of water. Jim rose and began pouring.

"Sure thing, pal, then I think I'll go tend to my horse and maybe after that fix us something to eat so you can sleep, how does that sound?" Jim turned around with the glass of water to find Artie sleeping soundly.

FREDERICKSBURG—

"Mr. President, I do not condone your plan. In fact, I forbid it," Colonel Richmond was yelling.

"Colonel, you are not in a position for forbid me anything nor to condone or not condone any plans I might have. I have already spoken to the Army and the plan has been approved."

"But, Mr. President…"

But nothing Colonel. I am going and that's final. I will meet the Wanderer just prior to the mudslide and ride back on that train. I want to see first hand the damage the storm did and I need to confer with Mr. West on the upcoming summit."

"And you want to see how Artemus Gordon is fairing. I understand, sir, and I won't stand in your way," Richmond sighed.

"Smart man, Richmond. You will of course accompany me. I think we could use the trip back to go over security with Mr. West and I'd imagine that about now he would appreciate a break from Mr. Gordon."

"I bet he does. I just hope we find the train in one piece," they shared a laugh.