Jenny looked up as he reached the top of the stairs, quickly pulling a blanket over her luggage.
"…Mr. McCain?"
"Mind if I sit down?"
She slowly shook her head, subconsciously biting her lip.
"…Jenny… what you said this afternoon… Jeffrey being murdered wasn't your fault. …And if any… if anything happens to Mark, that's not your fault, either. This trouble between Mark and Willie started a long time ago."
"…Maybe. But Jeff… his pa told him he could wait to leave until Saturday morning. He was going to. …But after… after I told him… about the baby… he started talking about getting married and Santa Fe. He was so worried about getting enough money for us to get up there… he decided to go into Willow Springs Friday afternoon so he could look for a job."
"That's still not your fault. Jim Patterson would have still been watching, and Jeffrey… Jeffrey still would have died."
"…Mr. Patterson?"
Lucas nodded. "We just arrested him for Jeffrey's murder. Patterson is to blame, Jenny. Not you." Several moments passed before he went on, his voice taking on a different tone. "…Jansen… what was it he wanted with you?"
She looked up at the rancher, his expression indicating that he was going to get an answer.
"…He was hired by my aunt to find me. …I came out here to get away from her."
"Why?"
"…She wanted me dead or sent off somewhere so she could control the estate my parents left."
"Does Micah know?"
She shook her head. "…I was afraid he would attract her attention if he tried to interfere. I was scared for both of us, and I knew… I knew if he found out what she had in store for me when he left… it would crush him. …I thought I could disappear and it would all just go away."
"And now?"
"…Now I know it's not going to. …I don't know how I managed to make such a mess of things in such a short amount of time. Jeff's gone… in April I'll be an unwed mother all of eighteen… I have a mad woman for an aunt who wants me dead, and now… now Mark…" Unable to go on, the young woman wiped at the tears trickling down her cheeks.
"The only thing you're responsible for is making a life for you and your baby. Jeffrey, Mark, your aunt… none of that is your fault. …But to keep your child safe, we do need to make sure your aunt is taken care of. And that starts by telling Micah the truth."
"…What good will that do? She'll just keep sending people or come herself or-"
"Hiring out murder is a crime, Jenny. And I'm sure Willie and Dirk will have plenty to say about their employer."
Several moments passed before she looked down at the marshal's office. "…Do you think he'll be angry?"
"I think he'll be worried. I think he'll be upset that you didn't feel like you could tell him. But he loves you. He'll do everything he can to protect you. …I think yesterday was testament to that."
"…Why? Why are you both helping me? After what I did…"
"You told a lie, that's no reason to leave you to someone like your aunt. That's no reason to forget the relationships you've built the last few months. Everyone needs a second chance, Jenny. …Just don't waste yours. Don't run away. Let us help you."
Lucas and Jenny looked up as Micah re-entered his office, his face holding no expression.
"Well?" Lucas asked.
The marshal nodded as he sat down at his desk. "Judge Evans says he's likely to issue the warrant for Leah's arrest, but he wants me and Jenny to meet him in Pine Valley tomorrow so he can talk to us and Willie and Jansen."
"What if they don't cooperate?" Jenny nervously asked.
"Don't worry; I'm sure we'll be able to get at least one of them to talk. Worst case, the judge will have to wait to hear Mark's confirmation of your story before he issues the warrant. After that, I'm sure it will only be a matter of hours before she's taken in."
"…Thank you, Uncle Micah… for everything. I'm sorry I didn't tell you everything when I first arrived."
"I'm just glad you're alright. …Any word on Mark yet?"
Lucas shook his head. "I saw Doc Todd getting a few supplies from the hotel a little while ago… I wasn't able to catch him before he went back to the office."
"…At least we know they're still working."
The father silently nodded, the sentiment bringing him little comfort.
Another two hours came and went before the door finally opened. Lucas stood as the vet entered the office, his eyes pleading for answers.
"…He's not getting worse any more. Doc was able to stop all the bleeding and get him stitched up… there are still concerns, but he seems stable for now. Luke, Doc said you could go over as soon as-"
He had waited long enough. Lucas brushed past the veterinarian, not giving him a chance to finish his statement. As the rancher entered Burrage's office, he called for the doctor before following the man's voice to the back room. Seeing Lucas walk through the door, Doc stepped aside, allowing the father to sit on the edge of the bed beside his son.
Memories of that afternoon again filled the rancher's head as he placed a hand to Mark's pale cheek. He looked the boy over, his heart still fearful of losing his son.
"…I won't lie, there's still a long ways for him to go," Doc began. "But he's made it this far, and that's a good sign. …If he makes it through the night, I'd say his chances are good. I'll give you some time, but I'll be coming in to check on him every fifteen minutes or so. …If you notice any change in his breathing, call for me."
He nodded, his voice tight as he answered, "…Thanks, Doc."
All night, Lucas sat at his son's side, pleading with him to fight. He held his breath as Burrage would listen to Mark's heart and lungs, feeling little relief when the doctor assured him nothing had changed.
Early the next morning, Lucas heard a knock on the door and looked up to see Micah entering the room.
"Doc filled me in on Mark. How are you holding up?"
The rancher lifted his shoulders, letting out a deep breath. "…I keep telling myself he'll wake up any minute. …But he doesn't."
"…I'm sorry to leave like this. If it were anything else-"
Lucas shook his head. "That woman needs to be locked up, you have to go."
"Nils is watching the town. If anything changes, wire us in Pine Valley… we hope to be back tonight."
"I will."
"…He'll make it, Lucas-boy."
"…He has to."
That afternoon, Doc had just returned to the front office after checking on Mark when a man with a marshal's badge walked through the front door.
"Can I help you?"
"I'm looking for Lucas McCain; the lady at the hotel told me he would be here."
"…And you would be?"
"Dan Chambers, territorial marshal."
"Marshal Chambers, now isn't a good time. If you'll be in town for a while, it might be better to wait."
"I'm afraid I can't. There's a man being held in your jail for the murder of Jeffrey Waller, and the only thing the acting marshal can tell me is the gossip he's heard around town. Now, unless you can point me in the direction your town council head, I'll need to speak with Mr. McCain."
"Lucas is the head of the council. …If you'll wait over at the marshal's office, I'll see if-"
"That's alright, Doc." Burrage turned around to see the door to the back room slightly ajar, Lucas leaning against the frame. "Marshal Chambers, what can I do for you?"
"To start, you can tell me why you gave Marshal Torrence his badge back without my approval."
"Because North Fork's town charter gives me the authority to. I yielded to your protocol while the killer was still on the loose. But he's been arrested, and if you had taken two minutes to talk to Patterson, you would know he acted alone."
"You still should have-" The marshal stopped as his eyes fell on the figure laying on the bed behind Lucas. "…Who's that?"
"My son. He was shot yesterday while I was here playing deputy for you. Any other questions?"
Chambers slowly shook his head, his expression softening
"If you come up with any more you can ask the barkeep or wait for Micah to get back. If you'll excuse me."
As the door closed behind Lucas, the marshal turned to Doc Burrage. "…How bad is it?"
"Last night I wasn't so sure he was going to survive. I feel a little better, him having made it through the night… but he doesn't seem to be improving… just holding steady."
"How'd it happen?"
"There's been trouble brewing between him and an older boy all summer… not at Mark's fault, mind you. We thought we were rid of him, but from what I understand, he showed up yesterday and shot Mark."
"Well why isn't the kid in jail?"
"…Marshal, I've been up all night just trying to keep Mark alive; I'm sure almost anyone else in town could tell you more than I can."
"…Thanks for your time."
"Lucas?" The rancher looked up to see Lou entering the room, carrying a tray. "Micah wired from Pine Valley. They won't be back until tomorrow."
"…Any word about Jenny's aunt?"
"Not yet." She set the tray down before asking, "How is he?"
"The same."
"…I'm sure he just needs time."
"That's what I'm afraid of… what if he… runs out of time?"
"…Ya can't give up, Lucas. Don't lose hope."
He shook his head, looking back down at Mark. "…If I had been there… if…"
"Ya can't blame yerself!"
"I'm not… I just wish I had told the marshal no."
"And if ya had been home? If ya'd left Mark at the ranch and gone after Jenny? What would've Willie done to him then? Mark might not even be alive!"
Lucas hesitantly nodded, still unable to forget the events of the previous afternoon. "…He was terrified, Lou… his eyes… his voice… the look on his face. …If I had found him sooner…"
"Ya did everything ya could. And ya did find him, and one day soon, I'm sure he'll be askin' ya ta take him home. I know I can't tell ya not ta worry… but don't plague yerself, expectin' the worst. If Mark's proven anythin' this summer, it's that he can fight… maybe not so much with his fists, but with everythin' else that matters."
It was a long night for Lucas, one riddled with nightmares of death and graves and grief. He often startled awake, tears falling down the father's face as he looked up to see that his son was still breathing.
It was shortly after ten o'clock the next morning as Doc Burrage again placed his stethoscope on Mark's chest. Lucas watched, growing concerned as the doctor's brow furrowed.
"What's wrong?"
"…His heart is much stronger. For now, that's a good thing… it'll help make up for how much blood he's lost."
"But?"
"…But I am concerned by how fast it's beating. If it doesn't relax in the next little while, I may have to give him something to bring his heart rate down… and that may keep him from waking up."
"Isn't there something else you can do?"
"…I'm afraid not. Hopefully, it'll come down on its own."
That evening, Lucas answered a knock on the door to find Micah and Jenny on the other side. He quickly allowed them in, Jenny asking how Mark was doing.
"…I don't know." The rancher let out a heavy sigh as he again sat down beside his son. "…Twice today, he seemed to be doing a little better, but then his heart started beating too fast. Doc had to give him something both times to slow it down. …What about Leah?"
"Arrested this morning. They're arranging a trial… should be in a month or two."
"Here or there?"
"That's what the courts are trying to determine. Since Leah contracted Jansen in Iowa, it makes jurisdiction a little more complicated."
"What about Willie?"
"Willie was hired by Dirk," Jenny answered. "He'll have a separate charge. …Has Mark come around at all?"
Lucas shook his head. "…Doc says all the sleep could be what he needs to recover. …But I think he is getting more concerned the longer he goes without coming around."
"Anything you need, Lucas-boy?"
"…Mark to wake up… but there's nothing any of us can do about that."
"…If there's anything we can do…"
"Thanks, Micah."
Just as the door closed behind the marshal and his niece, Lucas heard another knock at the door. He looked up, confused to see Marshal Chambers stepping inside the room.
"…I know I'm probably one of the last people you want to see, but I'm leaving on the morning stage and wanted to apologize before I left."
"…Apologize?"
"I have a tendency to shoot first and ask questions later… kind of a dangerous habit to have when you're in my line of work. …I stand by my decision to relieve Micah of his duties, but I should have taken time to listen before I came charging in here. …Guess part of it was pride, not having arrested Patterson myself."
"We knew him best and no one would have suspected a thing if Henry hadn't recognized the gun he was carrying."
"…Thing was, he came up and talked to me the other day. Claimed he saw the Crewse boy on the road to Willow Springs the night Jeffrey Waller died."
"Why place himself at the scene of the murder?"
"My guess is that he thought by mentioning Crewse, he would distract me enough to not look into anything else. …And he did." A few moments passed before he went on, "Mr. McCain, I've known Marshal Torrence for a long time… it didn't give me any pleasure to ask for his badge. …But after what he did to your son, how can you trust him enough to wear it?"
"…Several years ago, I nearly killed three men because I was under the impression they had harmed my son. I'll always regret my actions, but I had to find a way to move on… to prove to myself that those mistakes didn't define who I was. Micah's no less human than the rest of us, but he's a fine enough peace office. And as much as North Fork needs her marshal, Micah needs that badge to give him a sense of purpose. …He needs to find a way to rein in his temper, but I don't think taking his job away is going to do that."
"You figure your son will feel the same way?"
"He was confused and hurt by what Micah did. He was angry. But Mark's never been one to hold onto a grudge, especially against someone he cares about. …In time, I think Micah will be able to set things right again."
The marshal nodded in understanding. "…I thought you might like to know that I talked with the sheriff in Pine Valley… he'll be keeping Jansen and Crewse until their trials. No sense in keeping them around here."
"Thank you."
"Have a good night, Mr. McCain. …I hope your boy recovers soon."
"It's been three days! There has to be something you can do!"
"I wish there was, Luke… but he has to wake up on his own time."
"He hasn't eaten, he hasn't had anything to drink, and you keep giving him a sedative; how is he supposed to get better?"
"I read about a new technique a few years ago that delivers nutrients through the bloodstream. As soon as my supplies get here from Albuquerque, we'll be able to sustain him intravenously. Thankfully, he seems to be holding steady."
"…Couldn't we just try to-"
"Too much risk of him choking and liquid settling in his lungs. …I'm sorry I can't do more."
"…I know you're trying. Thanks, Doc."
"I'll be back as soon as I can, but these calls can't wait any longer. There's a list on my desk; send Micah after me if you get concerned."
As the door closed behind the doctor, Lucas sat down on the edge of the bed, running a hand through his hair. He looked at Mark, wishing he could go back in time. Back to when his son was five years old and crying from a splinter. He could fix that; he could hold his boy and comfort him and make the pain go away. But now? …Now he could do nothing but helplessly watch as his son lay silent, his pale face nearly matching the color of the sheets.
A chill ran down the rancher's spine as he remembered watching his boy with the same helplessness six years before; as he remembered Mark later admitting that he had almost lost the will to fight… the will to live.
"…Please, Son," he cried in a whisper. "Fight… I need you to fight… I need you to live." Lucas rested his head on the pillow beside Mark, tears streaming down his cheeks. "I need you to live…"