Jim ducked behind the rock and thought about his next move. They were already late getting back to Phoenix and if he knew Grant like he thought he did, things were just beginning to heat up. Jim looked around the rock again and saw "Artie" throwing up for what had to be the fourth time that morning all ready. Damnit, I've got to figure out a way to help him. I can't risk trying to sneak away and get help. In his present condition he could end up in real trouble, Jim decided to try and stall him until "Artie" passed out again and then he would make his move on him unless he found a better plan.
"Hardin, you still up there?" "Artie" yelled.
"Sure am, Bat. It's gettin hot, you wanna take a break out of the sun?" Jim shouted back.
"You just don't know when to give up do you, Hardin?"
"It doesn't take a dummy to see that you're in trouble, Bat. You don't get out of this sun pretty soon, you're liable to pass out."
"You'd just love that wouldn't you, Hardin? Thinkin you could take me then? I wouldn't try it if I were you!"
To make his point clear to Jim, "Artie" fired a shot, narrowly missing him. Jim ducked back behind the rock and waited to see what "Artie's" next move would be. He didn't have long to wait as he heard his friend struggling to get up the hill. Thinking fast, Jim leaned out and fired in Artie's direction, sending him back down under the cover of the rocks.
Maybe if I can keep him pinned down long enough, Grant will get pissed that we're late and come looking for us, Jim thought. He looked and checked on his partner and found himself ducking when a bullet whizzed past his head. This isn't going to be easy but then nothing ever is with Artie, Jim chuckled.
The Captain rode back to the group at a high speed and dismounted as he pulled his spyglass from his uniform. He approached President Grant and handed him the spyglass. The Captain pointed to a rock hill off into the distance. Grant took the offered spyglass and looked in the direction the Captain had pointed.
"Well, there's Mr. West at least," Grant said, "Now we just need to locate Mr. Gordon."
"Sir, as I rode away I could hear gun shots."
"Gun shots? What are we waiting for?" Grant kicked his horse but the Captain held tightly to the bridle.
"Sir, I couldn't see who Mr. West is shooting at but I thought maybe we should send a soldier up there to find out exactly what's going on before you go barging…er…riding up. I don't want you to ride into a potentially dangerous situation."
"Hmm…good thinking, Captain. Send a man up there and find out what's going on. Tell him to take no action just find out from Mr. West what's going on and get back here yesterday!"
"Yes, sir!" The Captain issued the President's orders and returned to his horse to wait for the results.
Several hours had passed and "Artie" hadn't made any attempts to make a move on Jim. He poked his head around the rock and looked for his friend. He found "Artie" sitting with his back against a rock gently rubbing his injured leg, sipping from his canteen. I sure wish this heat would get to him, Jim thought, it's sure getting to me. It's hot as Hades up here. If I feel like jumping in the lake Artie must feel like jumping in a glacier. He's not looking too great either; I've got to think of something.
Just as Jim was about to try reasoning with his friend again, he heard a noise below him and he turned to look. It was one of the cavalrymen that had been on the train. He motioned for him to be quiet and he worked his way down the hill to meet him.
"Mr. West. The President sent me up here to find out what's going on. He decided to come lookin fer ya and, and Mr. West…he's not happy."
"To be honest with you I don't really know what's going on myself."
"Huh, sir?" the soldier asked, confused.
"Artie had an accident while we were fishing. He's got one hell of a concussion and some other injuries. He thinks he's Bat Masterson and I'm John Wesley Hardin. He thinks he has to take me in and turn me over to some sheriff. Right now all I want to do is get him to a doctor and all he wants to do is shoot me and take me in draped over the saddle of his horse."
"Oh brother, the Captain isn't gonna believe this," the solider commented.
"It's not the Captain I'm worried about," Jim replied, "how do you think the President is going to take the news?"
"The…oh Mr. West any chance you could maybe tell him? He's liable to chew my head clean off my shoulders!"
"Sorry, Private, I have my hands full with Artie trying to give me a permanent part, you're on your own with Grant. But tell him to hold off until I signal for him. I don't want to scare Artie and he's pretty jittery right now."
"Yes, sir," the private turned to leave when Jim stopped him.
"Private,"
"Yes, sir?" the private turned back around.
"Tell the President I hope he brought Evans with him…Artie's gonna need him."
"Sir?" he questioned.
"Just tell him…he'll know what I mean." Jim watched the soldier make his way back down the hill.
"That's what he said, Captain, honest. I didn't leave nothin out," the private told his commanding officer.
"But it doesn't make any sense, private," he turned as Grant made his way over to him.
"What doesn't make any sense, Captain?" he demanded to know.
"The private here just got back from talking to Mr. West. But I swear, sir, it just doesn't make any sense."
"Maybe the private can explain it to me," Grant turned to the private.
"Son, maybe you'd better tell me all about your conversation with Mr. West."
"Well, sir, Mr. West told me that Mr. Gordon had some kind of accident when they were fishing…"
"Oh brother, why does that not surprise me?" Grant groaned, "Go on…"
"Well, sir, then Mr. West told me he was tryin to convince Mr. Gordon that he wanted to help him…"
"Convince him, what's wrong with Artemus?" Grant asked his concern showing.
"Well, sir, he said Mr. Gordon hit his head pretty hard in his accident and well…" the private paused not wanting to continue.
"What did he say? Spit it out, man!" Grant wanted to know.
"Mr. President, sir, I don't know how to tell you…"
"Try just opening your mouth and making words come out, Private," The Captain interjected.
"All right, Captain, but you ain't gonna like it."
"Just tell us, Private, let me be the judge of whether or not I like what you have to tell me," Grant pushed.
"Yes, sir. Well, that's when Mr. West got real strange, sir. If I didn't know better I'd think the sun was gettin to him. He made the weirdest comments I ever heard."
"He told me to tell you Mr. Gordon thinks he's Bat Masterson and he thinks Mr. West is John Wesley Hardin and that Mr. Gordon has to take him in to the law."
"He what?" Grant asked.
"Yes, sir, that's what he said. I guess Mr. Gordon musta hit his head really hard. And Mr. West told me Mr. Gordon has some other injuries too and to tell you that he hoped you brought Evans with you and that you'd know what that meant."
"Damn, unfortunately I do. Private go tell Evans it's the terrible twosome at it again and get his equipment ready but we don't know exactly what to get ready for."
"And tell him to keep his comments to himself," Grant smirked as the private scurried to comply.
"Oh, sir," the private turned back around, "Mr. West said to stay away from that hill until he signaled to you."
"Thank you, Private," Grant turned to the Captain, "Captain, I want you to have a few of your men ride down both ways a mile or so, far enough to be well out of Gordon's line of sight. Have them climb those rocks and try to surround him but they are NOT under ANY circumstances to get close enough to be spotted."
"Yes, sir, but, sir, you do know they will have to dismount when they climb those rocks."
"Yes, Captain, I am fully aware of that, get to the point."
"Well, sir, getting into position could take the rest of the day."
"Hmm, you're right…tell the men to take some rations we may need to wait until morning to move in. And Captain, tell them no fires tonight we don't want to spook Mr. Gordon or whomever he thinks he is."
The Captain left Grant alone by his horse as he went to carry out his orders. Artemus, my friend, what have you gotten yourself into this time? Grant wondered as he put the telescope to his eye and looked toward the hill again.
"Artie" sipped on his canteen and wiped his brow, Hardin was right; it was getting stifling the longer the day wore on. He thought about rushing Hardin but he had the drop on him and "Artie" knew he was in no shape to try that. Being up on the top of the hill was working to his advantage. Damnit, I let Hardin get the drop on me. How could I let that happen? "Artie" thought.
"I wonder if I should just listen to Hardin and let him help me," "Artie" said to himself aloud as he checked his leg.
"Nah, I don't need his help…I don't need anybody's help. Like my Great Aunt Maude always used to say…'Never take help from someone you don't want to be owing down the road'…Okay where in blue blazes did that come from?" "Artie" sipped on his water wondering just how all these mixed up thoughts were getting into his mind.
Up on the hill, Jim looked down toward where he suspected Grant and the soldiers were. He saw the Private riding up to the hill again and went down to meet him.
"Mr. West, sir," the Private said, "President Grant has his doctor waiting back at camp and he wanted me to let you know what they have planned," the Private filled him in and Jim became quiet and thoughtful.
"Hmm…I'm glad you guys are here but I'm not sure that's the right course of action to take. Private, I want you to go back to that camp and tell Grant to have the men just wait once they get into position. Don't do anything unless I signal them. They might be handy if Artie really goes off the deep end."
"And I want you to give this note to Dr. Evans. It details all the symptoms I've been able to detect in Artie and a plan I think will work if he approves of it. Ask him if there's anything I can try to do to get through to him…I don't want one of you soldiers taking any unnecessary pot shots at my partner."
Jim handed the note to the Private, telling him to hurry. The Private handed him two full canteens, telling him Grant sent them figuring Jim could figure out how to get one to Artie. Jim accepted the canteens and watched as the Private scrambled back down the hill and jumped onto his horse and rode away.