"Mark, if you don't hurry, there won't be any food left by the time we get there!"
"Coming, Pa!"
Only a few moments passed before Mark came bounding out of the house to mount up on BlueBoy.
"What took you so long?"
"I couldn't find a clean shirt."
Lucas shook his head before taking Razor's reins and urging the horse forward. "If you did your laundry more often, you wouldn't have that problem."
"That well's still lookin' awfully low… I'm just trying to save water." Mark laughed as he saw his pa roll his eyes. "Did you sign up for the shooting contest?"
"Figured I'd give it a shot. …You know, you're getting pretty good with your own rifle; you should think about entering."
"…Maybe next year. We were out shooting last night and I think I overdid it."
"…Overdid it? What do you mean?"
"Just the recoil from some of the rifles Jeff had brought… rattled my head a little too much."
"You alright?"
"My headache was gone by this morning, I just don't want to do anything to make it come back." Hoping to change the subject, Mark asked, "Did you end up stopping by Micah's last night?"
Lucas nodded. "Why?"
"Just curious if he's loosened up at all about Jenny and Jeff."
The rancher chuckled as he shook his head. "I don't think Micah will ever be ready for anyone to court his niece. It's going to take a heap of doing for him to get used to the idea. …At least Jenny hasn't started talking about buying property to build a house."
Mark's cheeks turned bright red in embarrassment, causing Lucas to let out a long laugh.
"…You can't blame me… Sally… she was…"
"I understand, Son. …I just hope the next girl you want to marry is a little closer to your age."
When they arrived in town, father and son hitched their horses out of the way before getting something to eat and heading over to the shooting contest. Mark watched for several rounds, but eventually found himself walking away, the constant boom of the firearms having reignited the headache he thought he had gotten rid of.
As he searched the crowd for any of his friends, Mark caught sight of Willie making his way down an alley. He quickened his pace to catch up with him, closing the gap between them as he called out.
"Willie, hold up!"
Without a second thought, Willie turned around swinging. Mark ducked and stepped aside before he could make impact.
"Willie, I just want to talk!"
"There ain't no talkin' for us to do!"
"Maybe not for you, but I still have an apology to make."
"…What are you talking about?"
"Four years ago, I walked into the middle of a conversation about Jeremiah Case. All I knew was that what I was hearing was different from what I had seen. But if I had known who he was, I wouldn't have said what I did in front of everyone. I didn't realize that me speaking up could hurt you, and I'm sorry. If I had known, I would've handled it differently. I didn't know that what I said would-"
"You think I'm hung up about something you said?!" Willie suddenly grabbed Mark's shirt in a fist, nearly lifting the young man off the ground. "McCain, I couldn't have cared less about what you said then, and I don't give two cents now!"
"Then what gives?! There's no point in things going on like this between us!"
"No point?! NO POINT?!" As Willie let go, he brought his other fist around, knocking Mark to the ground. "Your pa ruined my life! YOU ruined my life!"
Mark struggled to push himself up, a kick to the head deterring his efforts.
"And I ain't ever gonna let you forget it! You hear me?! THAT'S the point! YOU AIN'T NEVER GONNA FORGET!"
"…Micah, have you seen Mark?"
"Not since the contest started. Why?"
"He walked off while I was up… his headache came back last night and I'm worried all the gunfire set it off again."
"He's probably around here somewhere with Jenny and Jeffrey. If I see him, I'll let him know you're looking for him."
"Thanks, I-"
"UNCLE MICAH!"
"DOC!"
"MR. McCAIN!"
The rancher and marshal looked up to see Jeffrey running towards Doc Burrage as Jenny pushed her way through the crowd towards them.
"Mr. McCain!"
"Jenny, what's the matter?!"
"It's Mark, behind the store! He's bleeding and he won't wake up!"
Lucas ran through the crowd as Jenny and Micah followed behind him, the marshal asking his niece what happened.
"I don't know! There were noises, and when we came out, Mark was just laying there! He won't wake up!"
"Did you see anyone else?"
"There was someone running away, but I- I couldn't tell who it was!"
"Did Jeffrey see?"
"I don't know, I-"
"MARK!" Lucas dropped to his knees beside his son, cupping the boy's bloody head in his hands. "Mark, wake up, son… Mark, wake up!"
"Careful, Lucas," Micah warned. "His neck…"
"Jenny, did you move him at all?!"
"Jeff shook his shoulders, but that was it… we ran to get you and-"
"Let me through," Burrage ordered. "Luke, don't move his head."
As Micah and Jenny stepped aside, the doctor knelt down beside Mark to begin his examination.
"Did anyone see what happened?"
While everyone else shook their heads, Jeff verbalized his response. "I didn't see what happened, but I could swear it was Willie we saw running down the alley when we came out. Before that it sounded like someone was arguing."
Doc nodded before looking up at Lucas. "As far as I can tell, his neck seems alright. I still want you to hold his head still while Micah and I carry him over to my office. Jennifer, run ahead to get the doors; Jeffrey, make sure there's a clear path through the crowd. Micah, Lucas, we're going to take this slow and easy. Watch me carefully."
The few short minutes it took to carry Mark to the doctor's office were agonizing for Lucas as he felt his son's blood seeping through his fingers. When they finally had him set on the examination table, Doc began giving orders, the last of which was for Micah to take Lucas to the jail.
"Doc-"
"He's breathing, Luke; he's alive. Now get out of my office so I can concentrate and keep it that way."
Lucas stared in helpless shock as Micah took the rancher's arm and led him to the jailhouse. After pushing him into a chair, Micah drew the shades, allowing Jeff and his niece inside before locking the door to his office.
"Jeffrey, you're absolutely certain it was Willie Crewse you saw running away?"
"I recognized him sure enough- and those boots of his, you can't mistake those."
Staring down at his blood-stained hands, Lucas pushed through the lump in his throat as he looked up at the marshal. "…I want him found, Micah. I want him found and I want him locked up before-"
"He couldn't have gone far, Lucas-boy. I'll get a couple of men together and we'll track him down."
"Marshal Torrence, I want to go with you."
"Sorry, Jeffrey. I can't let you get involved."
"He nearly killed my best friend! I'm already involved! You send me home, I'll go on my own!"
Micah let out a heavy sigh before nodding. "You stay with whoever I pair you up with. …Jenny, would you put some coffee on? I think we're going to be needing it."
"Micah?"
The marshal turned towards Lucas, devastation written all over the father's face.
"…I don't care what Mark says when he wakes up. That boy is going to pay for what he's done."
Time seemed to stand still as Lucas and Jenny waited for news of Mark. The rancher finally resorted to pacing, his long legs striding across the floor. Nearly two hours had passed before the door to the office opened, Doc Burrage stepping inside.
"Doc?"
"Luke, please sit down."
"Is Mark alright?"
"He's holding his own. Take a seat."
Lucas hesitated before following the doctor's instruction and sitting down on the corner of the desk. "How is he?"
"He hasn't come around yet, and I reckon it could be quite some time until he does. Mark has a lot of the same injuries he sustained earlier this summer between Willie and the creek accident, though this time some of his ribs are broken. But what I'm most concerned about is that he finally managed to fracture his skull. I'm afraid I can't even begin to tell you what to expect… we won't know much of anything until he wakes up, and it will take time for him to fully heal if he can."
"If he can?!"
"…I'm fairly confident he'll wake up… that's not so much my concern. There are times damage is done to the brain that… that just can't be reversed. After the number of beatings Mark's taken this summer… I just want you to be prepared."
"Damage? What kind of damage?"
"…Luke, the brain controls all human function… there are any number of things an injury like that could affect. We'll just have to wait."
"Can I see him now?"
The doctor nodded. "I'd like to move him to the back of my office. Jennifer, would you give us a hand? I need someone to hold his head still, just to be safe."
"Of course."
Jenny followed the men back to Doc's, shuddering as she was reminded of the severity of Mark's injuries. Once he had been moved to the cot in the back room, Lucas took a seat beside his son, Jenny stepping to the door.
"…Mr. McCain, is there anything I can do?"
The rancher shook his head.
"…I'll bring some coffee over for you later."
"Thank you."
Lucas again turned his attention to his son as the door closed behind the young woman. His gaze moved from one wound to the next, a sick feeling of regret settling in his stomach.
Doc came in to check on Mark every hour, the sun having been long set before he saw any sign of improvement.
"His pulse seems stronger; that's good."
"…You said it could be some time before he wakes up. How long…"
"I wish I had an answer for you, Luke. There's no way to tell."
"…When the Stark brothers came and Mark hurt his head…"
"I'm sorry, but that doesn't help us at all. One injury is never the same as another."
"…What about-"
The rancher's statement was interrupted by a knock on the door. Doc Burrage answered it, allowing Lou and Jenny inside.
"Lucas, I just got back from the Kanes' and heard…" Lou stopped, stepping closer to the bed as tears glistened in her eyes. "Doc… how bad…"
"I think he'll come around, but as I was just explaining to Luke, there's no telling when. We just have to wait."
"…What… what happened?"
There was anger in the father's voice as he answered, "Willie Crewse is what happened."
"Willie? He… he did this to Mark? Why would…"
"I don't know!" Lucas let out a deep breath as he shook his head. "…I'm sorry, Lou. …Willie's had it out for Mark for quite some time, but this summer… something changed. Mark wouldn't tell me what it was about and he didn't want to press charges… he thought he could resolve it on his own. …Mark disappeared during the social tonight and Jenny and Jeffrey found him unconscious behind the store."
"What about Willie?"
"Micah got some men together; they're out looking for him now."
Lucas looked up at Jenny as she set a tray of coffee on a side table. "…Jeffrey said it sounded like someone was arguing. Did you hear what they were arguing about?"
"I'm sorry, I just heard voices… I couldn't make out what was being said."
"Do you think Jeffrey might have?"
"…I doubt it… the voices were quite muffled."
Lucas nodded in understanding before Lou asked if he needed anything.
"No, thank you."
"If there's anythin' at all I can do, please let me know."
"I will."
Lou and Jenny said goodnight before taking their leave, Doc seeing them out. Another hour passed before the door opened behind Lucas, the rancher turning to see Micah entering the room.
"How are you holding up?"
Lucas shook his head, pressing the heels of his palms against his forehead. "I should have put a stop to this a long time ago."
"It was his call, Lucas."
"Not entirely. I shouldn't have let him try any more… I should have known it would lead to this…"
"How could you? You didn't even know what they were fighting over."
"I should have gotten Mark to tell me. …What did Willie have to say when you found him?"
"…I'm sorry, Lucas… there wasn't a trace."
The rancher whipped around, anger in his face. "What are you doing here then?!"
"We searched everywhere we could before dark, and then some. No signs of where he went. We'll start up again in the morning."
"In the morning," Lucas growled. "He could be halfway to Santa Fe by then."
"I'm sorry, but there's just no point in us looking any more tonight. Most of those men don't have a clue about tracking anything smaller than a buffalo."
"…I know. …What about Willie's folks? Did they tell you anything?"
"His step-father was the only one home… said the boy hadn't been around much the last few weeks."
"Where's Martha?"
"Didn't say."
"…Thanks for trying."
"How's Mark?"
"…We won't really know until he wakes up, and Doc doesn't have any idea when that will be."
The marshal nodded, clapping a hand around Lucas's shoulder. "I'll be in my office if anything changes."
Early the next morning, Lucas reached out to take his son's hand and grew concerned at how cold and clammy his skin felt. He quickly strode to the door leading the main office, calling for the doctor.
"Luke, what is it?"
"He's cold to the touch, like his body temperature is dropping."
Burrage followed the father to the back room and briefly looked his patient over before retrieving several blankets. "These should help. Has he stirred at all since I came in last?"
"No. Doc, why is he so cold?"
"Shock, lack of movement, the damage to his head… there could be any number of reasons."
"Is there anything else we can do?"
"For now, we have to wait. When he wakes up, we can get something warm inside of him. …I just saw Micah and a few men ride out… thought you'd want to know."
Lucas nodded as he sat down on the bed beside his son, putting a hand to his cheek. "…If he doesn't…"
"Don't start thinking that way. It won't do anyone any good. I'm sure he just needs a little more time. …I'll be at my desk if you need anything."
Doc returned to the front room, letting out a heavy sigh as he dropped into a chair. He'd never been one to give false hope, but he wondered if he had given the father too much hope.
Half an hour later, the front door to the front office opened as Jeff stuck his head inside. "Doc?"
"Jeffrey, come on in."
The young man shut the door behind him as he asked, "…How's Mark?"
"A little better last night… a little worse this morning."
"Is he awake yet?"
The doctor shook his head. "…You have any idea what Mark and Willie were arguing over?"
"No. A while back, Mark had told me this whole thing was over something he said, but I find that a little hard to believe."
"Oh?"
"Just look at everything Willie's done to him… that can't be over a few measly words."
"Maybe they weren't quite so measly."
"I don't know… I mean, Mark wasn't always the greatest about keeping his mouth shut when he should've, but by the time Willie moved here, he had learned to be a lot more tactful than most folks."
"Guess we'll just have to wait for one of them to tell us what happened." A few moments passed before the doctor went on, "It's a lucky thing you and Jennifer found Mark when you did. How'd you end up back there, anyway?"
"…We… uh… well… Jenny and me… Jenny needed help with something in the store. So that's why we were in there… so… so I could help her. …I gotta get going… I'm supposed to open the shop for Pa. Thanks, Doc."
Burrage eyed the boy curiously as he fumbled with the doorknob and hurried outside. Shaking his head, the doctor turned back to his desk.
Much later that morning, Doc was again checking on Mark when he saw the young man grimace in pain. Lucas reached forward to place a hand on his son's shoulder as the doctor called to the boy.
"Mark, can you hear me?"
Lucas grew concerned as he watched his son turn his head into the pillow, raising a hand to cover his other ear. He reached out to pull Mark's hand back, Doc Burrage stopping him.
"Give him a few minutes, Luke; let him adjust."
"What's wrong?"
"His brain's been rattled, there's a lot for him to take in as he comes around."
The voices above Mark seemed overwhelmingly loud before they suddenly became muffled and quiet. The pounding ache of his head urged the young man to return to the darkness, but he felt a hand on his shoulder, pulling him out of sleep and into consciousness.
"Mark?"
Mark's half-opened eyes looked up to see his pa worriedly staring down at him. He watched as his father's lips moved, but the words he heard didn't make sense. He slowly turned his head towards the other figure in the room to see Doc Burrage talking to him.
"How do you feel?"
Lucas and Doc both grew concerned as confusion made its way across the young man's face. He suddenly turned back to Lucas, his eyes growing wider as he sat upright.
"Son, what's the matter?"
Mark raised his hands, grabbing the sides of his head as he tightly closed his eyes.
"Doc?!"
Burrage sat down on the side of the bed, calmly reaching out to take the boy's hands, again gaining his attention. "Mark, look at me. Can you hear what I'm saying?"
The confusion in the patient's eyes gave way to panic as he looked from the doctor to Lucas, then back at Doc Burrage again.
"…Understand," he coarsely whispered. "I don't… don't understand…"
"Doc, what does he mean?!"
"Hand me that paper and pencil."
Lucas did as the doctor said, watching as he wrote a note and showed it to his son. Mark studied the piece of paper as his vision slowly came into focus. He knew the letters on the page were supposed to make up words, but he couldn't make out what was written.
"…Don't… understand," he repeated.
"Doc, what's wrong?!"
"Luke, I'm going to hold his attention while I check his eyes. I want you to go over to the door and slam it shut when he's not looking."
Lucas apprehensively nodded, making his way across the room as he watched Doc light a lamp and move it towards his son's face. He waited until the doctor gave a nod before slamming the door shut, causing Mark to cover his ears. The rancher returned to the bedside as he again asked the doctor what was wrong.
"His hearing and his eyes seem alright… I think his brain's just a little muddled and having a hard time comprehending everything we're saying. It should resolve with time."
"Isn't there anything you can do?"
"He just needs time. …But getting some food into him certainly won't hurt. I'll be back."
As the doctor walked away, Lucas placed his hands on Mark's shoulders, encouraging him to lay down.
"…Understand… Pa… can't… doesn't sense…"
The rancher merely nodded, hoping his eyes would convey that he understood, and that it would be alright. He felt Mark's frame relax under his hold and kept a hand on his son's shoulder as he sat down.
Mark looked up to the window, trying to determine what time it was as he attempted to remember what had happened. He closed his eyes, the image of Willie suddenly flashing through his mind.
"…Chars…"
The rancher's brow furrowed in confusion as he tried to understand what his son was saying.
"Char… chars… Willie… press chars…"
Lucas reassuringly squeezed Mark's shoulder, causing the boy to quiet.