Now Laramie never seems so very far away when I'm enjoying the ride, and it never seems very close when I'm in a terrible hurry. Exceptions can always be made on both points, but I wasn't looking for exceptions. I was looking for the doc's house, and I wanted it to come up real quick.

The sun was gone when I was finally riding down that slight dip into Laramie, and I slowly trotted down Main Street my eyes peeled for the doc's house. There was still a light on in the front and I was slightly happy for the small favor. Slipping off I caught Slim up in my arms and pulled him from the horse. He gave a stir when I had him halfway down, and he brought his feet up to stop himself from hitting his knees.

I was pulling on his collar and slipped a hand under his arm, walking us for the door.

"Almost there." I said softly and he made a grunt of a reply.

I was thankful the trip to the door was short. Slim tripped up each step and I was struggling to get his bigger hulk to stand when we hit the porch. Light spilled into our faces and the good old doc made some exclamation before hurrying out to help me.

It was a long time later that I was slowly walking out of the doc's house and over to the hitching rail where I loosely grabbed the reins to Traveler and swung up riding down to the saloon. Not busy at that time and it was in the middle of the week, so when I pushed the doors open and slowly walked to the bar I calculated there to be one cowboy, besides myself, and way too many saloon girls.

"Whisky." I said softly hitting the bar and realizing just how tired I was.

I felt like a man of fifty and was leaning kinda low on the wood. The glass hit the table and I slowly took a sip rolling it in my hands. I was looking at it rather hard, wishing it would give me the answers. Doc hadn't said anything, just asked loads of questions and sent me away. Said he'd let me know as soon as he did, but I had seen the deep purple and black bruises on Slim's left side and I did have to wonder. Could have been something simple like some busted ribs or it could have been something complicated. Complicated I didn't even want to get into so I pushed those thoughts out of my head and tried to think positively. And in my positive thinking I was struck dumb by a frightening thought.

Daisy.

An empty cup hit the counter, and silver was still spinning on wood as the saloon door swished shut. My eyes darted to Mort's, thinking that the best place to start and I carried myself quickly to the light. Mort was still sitting behind his desk when I entered and he smiled at me.

"Jess! What brings you to town, Daisy?" he was getting up and a puzzled perhaps relaxed frown crossed my face.

"I actually came to ask you about her. See them?"

His smile all but disappeared and he was frowning at me. "Didn't Jimmy make it to your place? I thought that's why you were here. Wagon broke an axle and it's gonna be over night at the livery. I sent Jimmy out to let you all know… Didn't he reach you?"

I sank into a chair feeling one problem float away and took off my hat playing with it loosely in my hands.

"I wouldn't know Mort. I didn't pass him on the way in, and he didn't make it to the ranch."

"Strange." Mort was frowning rubbing his jaw and he rolled his chair back going to have a look out the door. Perhaps looking for answers.

"Daisy at the hotel?"

He jumped and I hid a smile having broken his thinking.

"Yeah, her and Mike took a room."

"Thanks," I mumbled.

"Hey, what's wrong with you?"

I looked back at him genuinely surprised thinking I had hid how I felt so very well. Mort was watching me expectantly and I sighed, fixing the brim to my hat.

"It's Slim." I said softly, and could feel the temperature in the room drop. "We were tusslin' in our barn over…" I shook my head and was surprised at how hard I was having to concentrate on my hat. "It weren't nothin' bad, but all the sudden he fell over complainin' about his side and…" I shook my head loosing word and Mort's feet shuffled.

He was suddenly sitting in his chair again and looking at me straight on.

"What's wrong? Is he okay?"

"Not sure." I muttered softly. "Took him over to doc's he's supposed to let me know but then I remember Daisy and I came a lookin'."

The chair squeaked and Mort let out a sigh. "No, no. She's fine, over at the hotel," he said all very distantly and I glanced up at his face with a soft smile.

His hand was resting on his jaw and he was staring out the window in great thought. Always the great thinker, he struck a solution and turned back to me.

"You'll let me know?"

"As soon as I do." I promised and got to my feet shuffling for the door.

I paused to put on my hat and Mort's hands slowly swept his desk.

"If there's anything I can do…?"

"I'll be the first to ask."

I flicked a smile and tugged open the door, stepping outside and breathing in a deep breath before running a hand over my face and starting for my horse.

"You just gotta be okay Slim," I mumbled softly, my hand slipping up the neck to my horse and heading for the horn.

Swinging up I let my head hang low and rode for the hotel. I didn't know that I really wanted to tell Daisy, not right then, but I didn't have any place to go unless I wanted to head back into the saloon, and I really didn't, not really.