While the rabbit cooked, Jim, who had crudely skinned it with a sharp rock, decided he would venture down to the stream and get some water and wash up a bit. His leg hurt like hell and burned but he grit his teeth against the pain. His vision was no longer blurry, but the double vision still plagued him, causing him to stumble more than once. He finally reached the stream and sat on the bank. He leaned over to wash himself and he slipped and fell into the cold water. Jim pulled himself out and lay face down on the bank for a few moments.

"Next time you might want to wake me before you venture off like an idiot, James," Jim looked up and into his partner's angry face.

"Sorry, Artie, you were sleeping and I didn't want to wake you."

"Didn't want to wake me, so you figured you'd mess your leg up by wandering over here. And by the way, how did you manage to catch that rabbit?"

"I threw rocks at him," Jim beamed.

"Well, let's get you back there before your endeavor draws a bear or something. Throwing rocks at a bear won't work," Artie smiled back tiredly.

Artie was glad when Jim was able to get up on his own. He didn't think he could have helped him if his life had depended on it. He led him back to the fire and sat down before turning his attention to the rabbit. It wasn't much but he hoped it would give him the energy he needed. Artie was very impressed that Jim had been able to catch, clean and cook the animal with no knives or anything. Artemus was determined to make it back to Kansas City as soon as possible. He didn't want to have to spend another night on the trail. He handed Jim the hat with berries in it. Then he tore a small piece of meat off the rabbit and handed the stick to his partner.

Jim tore off a small piece and put it back by the fire. He knew Artemus was trying to gauge his vision so Jim closed the eye Artie couldn't see and found his vision was much better. He was able to get the food to his mouth with almost no difficulties. Artie seemed skeptical but pleased. Jim thought he would see how far he could push things with his partner.

"Hey, pal, my vision is just about back to normal, what do you say you let me take over for a while?"

"What, James, you don't trust my driving?" Artie tried to sound wounded.

"Funny, pal. When I got that match out of your pocket I noticed you're running a fever. I thought you could use a break," Jim offered.

"Well, think again, James. Your vision might be clearing up but I can see the infection in that leg. Don't worry about me I'll be fine."

"Sure you will, pal. We'll just go on like yesterday until you just drop," Jim snapped.

"Someone got up on the wrong side of the rock this morning," Artie snapped back.

"Yes, Artie, I did. You said something about not needing or wanting a protector, well, I don't need one either. Nor do I need a partner who thinks I'm worth so damn much more than him that he'd put his life at risk for me," Artie did a double take on that last comment, wondering where it had come from.

"We make a great pair, don't we? Neither of us is in any great shape to be playing the protector but both of us are insisting on it," Artie chuckled.

"Yeah, pal, we are," he replied.

"I tell you what, Jim. I'll pull you as far as I can then if you're leg will allow it I'll let you take over," Artie offered trying to make peace.

"Sounds about as fair as I'm going to get so I'll take it…lead on McDuff."

Artemus picked up the travois and, sighing heavily with his back turned away from Jim, started out toward Kansas City. God, I'm tired, Artie thought as he trudged on, I would love nothing more than to just find a hole and hide there so we can lick our wounds. Jim might be pissed at me, but I don't think I'll tell him about the tracks I saw back at the rock. Whoever is out there wants us to know they're out there. They're trying to scare us and I won't let that affect Jim's recovery. I know they are out there so I can keep my eyes open. As long as I can keep going we won't be sitting ducks. Artie plodded on, lost in his thoughts.

They had gone a couple of more miles in silence when Jim first saw it. A slight movement just off to his right. Jim focused on that spot and forced his vision to clear, surprised when it did. But he had been correct, there…just off to the right was a single horse and rider. He was about to announce his finding when the travois slammed to the ground jolting him.

Jim's head snapped up and he twisted his body and looked at his partner just in time to see Artie sink to his knees. Jim jumped up as quickly as he could and tried to catch his partner before he fell face first onto the ground. His leg slowed him down and he wasn't in time but he did reach Artemus just as he landed on the ground.

"Artie!" Jim shouted as he knelt beside his partner.

"Sorry, Jim, I tried," Artie apologized as he lost consciousness.

"Now you don't have a choice, pal, I'm taking over."

Jim was alarmed when he put his arms under his partner's shoulders to drag him to the travois. Artemus was a ball of fire. He must have been running a fever for the better part of the day, Jim thought as he placed him gently on the travois. He picked up the travois and snuck a look around. Their mysterious shadow seemed to have disappeared for the time being.

Jim's leg was beginning to throb but he was proud of the progress he had made. Jim figured he had made about six or seven miles in the past several hours. Artie had not made a sound. Jim estimated there were about two or three more hours of daylight left and he was determined to use them all to get as close to Kansas City as he could. Damn, how did Artie do this? Jim thought, he literally dragged me until he dropped. I know my arm is cut and so is my leg, but otherwise I'm in better shape than Artie and I feel like someone tore my arms off and filled them with straw. Jim picked a spot off in the horizon and set his sights on reaching that spot. When he finally reached it, he picked the next target and set out.

Artie woke in a fevered haze, confusion clouding his mind. I'm not pulling the travois? How the hell did I get here? He wondered. He heard Jim grunt as he pulled him up a small slope. When they reached the top, Artie noted that the sun was on its way down. Just how long have I been out and what the heck happened to me? Artie wondered. He decided to let Jim know he was awake and wanted answers, not to mention the fact that he felt the need to throw up.

"Jim…" Artie called to his friend, but Jim didn't show any signs of hearing.

"James!" Artie tried again, the travois stopped.

"Hey, pal. I think we've made great time. I'm guessing I've made six or seven miles on top of the couple you got this morning."

"There's still an hour or so of daylight left…I want to get as far as I can."

"Jim, can you stop for a minute?"

"Sure, pal, anything wrong?"

"I think I'm going to be sick," Artemus said as he tried to roll to the side.

Jim held his friend when he finished and his body was shaking. Artie's elbow smashed down on Jim's leg but he bit his lip to keep the groan in check. Finally Artemus settled down and Jim laid him back down.

"Sorry, Jim," Artie said has he pointed to his leg, which was now bleeding.

"It's okay, pal, don't worry about it," Jim tried to reassure him by smiling.

"Jim, what happened?" Artie wondered.

"What do you mean, pal?"

"How did I get here with you pulling me? I'm pretty sure it was the other way around this morning," Artie waited for an answer.

"You walked about two or three miles then all of a sudden you dropped the travois then before I could get to you, you fell to your knees then flat onto your face. I'm sorry, Artie, I tried, I really did," Artie could see the guilt written in his friend's features.

"Jim, it wasn't your fault. If anything I'm to blame. You tried to get me to stop but I wouldn't listen. You've had to walk all day on that leg and if it has been made worse I'll never forgive myself."

"Come on, Artie. It's not your fault. You literally walked yourself into the ground, which by the way I did say you'd do, just trying to get me home safe."

"A wise man once said that's what partner's do," Artie smiled, Jim just rolled his eyes and returned the smile.

Jim looked around and spotted a grove of trees. He struggled to his feet, grabbed the travois and headed for the trees. Artie protested having to spend another night on the trail. But Jim ignored him. Artie needed a good night's sleep and if sleeping here was the best he could do for him then he would do it. At least there was shelter, water and if Jim was lucky food.

He pulled Artie into the trees and pulled some brush around them to conceal them as much as possible. He got Artie settled on a bed of leaves and pine needles, then he went in search of food and water, amid protests from Artemus.

"Jim, if you're insistent about staying here at least let me help," Artie made to rise but fell back on the leaves.

"Sorry, pal, you wouldn't let me help when it was apparent I couldn't hold my head up and now you're the one who can't hold his head up, so I'm not going to let you do anything."

"Just lie back and rest for a bit, pal. I'm going to get some water, and see if I can find anything for you to eat."

"Not just me, James. Remember I know how much energy it takes to pull this thing."

Jim followed the sound of the running water and soon came to the stream. He washed up and in doing so he saw some fish swimming in the stream. He broke a branch off of a nearby tree and after several attempts he finally speared a fish. He kept trying again until he caught a couple more. He filled his hat with water and went back to where he had left Artemus.

"Hey pal, check this out! I got us dinner," Jim held up his catch.

"It's a good thing we still have a few matches left, I really hate sushi," Artie replied jokingly.

Jim quickly started a fire and put the fish over it to cook. Then he turned his attention to his partner. Artemus tried to protest but Jim waved him back. Jim had taken the remaining strips of cloth to the stream with him and had soaked them in the water. He put them on the worst of Artie's wounds, the filet incisions and the cuts on his chest. He carefully washed his other cuts. Then Jim returned to the stream for water for them to drink. By the time he returned the fish was ready to eat. Jim forced Artie to eat and once he was finished Jim devoured his meal.

Jim finished eating and decided to try to keep the fire going. He came back dragging some fallen limbs and was glad to see his partner lying down and sound asleep. Now it's my turn and no matter what it takes, pal, you're not leaving that travois until we get back to Kansas City if I have to find a way to tie you onto it. Jim thought as he stoked the fire. He sat contemplating his partner still baffled by what Artie had been mumbling earlier. I'll just have to find a way to show Artie how much his life means to me, I can't have him thinking I'm worth more than he is. If anything Artie is worth a hundred of me, what the hell did Loveless do to you, pal, to make you think that way? Jim lay down within reach of his partner and went to sleep.

Artie woke feeling somewhat better than he had the day before. He hoped Jim would listen to reason and let him pull him today; they were almost back to Kansas City for Pete's sake. He lifted his head and looked around. Jim was nowhere in sight. Artie tried to rise and put a hand to his head when his vision swam.

"Damn, I'm going to have to do better than that if I want to fool Jim," Artie told himself.

"Give any thoughts of fooling JIM up, pal, he's on to you," Jim smiled down at his partner.

"I got us some more fish. What do you say I cook them and you eat them?"

"Cook for yourself if you don't mind, Jim. I don't think I could keep it down."

"You okay, pal?" Jim asked concern filling his voice.

"If I tell you yeah will you let me pull the travois?" Artie grinned.

"Not on your life, pal. We only have a few miles to cover today and I think I can get us there by this afternoon. I won't have you falling face first again. You scared the life out of me." Artie again gave him a confused look but chose not to pursue the issue.

"You got any water?" Artie licked his lips.

"Sure, pal, got a hat full just for you," Jim handed him the hat and began to cook the fish.

Jim returned to the fire, eager to cook his catch and get underway as soon as possible. He tried to get Artemus to eat but he again refused. Jim was glad that he had at least drunk some water. All of the water Jim noted when he looked into the hat. Jim went and filled the hat again and handed it to his friend as he announced they were ready to go. Jim had soaked Artie's bandages and put them back on he only wished they had some clean ones. Artie's stifled groans were not lost on him as Jim picked up the travois and set out. Both noting there had been no sign of their mysterious shadow since the previous night.