Festus was only half-conscious when Matt and Letty rode up. The two men he had killed lay near him and the marshal gave them a cursory check before kneeling next to his friend. "Festus?"
The deputy opened his eyes. "Matthew?" He tried to sit up and Matt restrained him. "Is Letty all right?"
Letty came forward. "I'm right here, Festus."
"Matthew, them two yahoos..."
"Don't worry about them, Festus." The marshal cut his friend's shirt away and drew in his breath. The deputy's shoulder was red and swollen and he gasped in pain when Matt touched it. "The bullet's still in there."
Festus breathed heavily. "I know that."
"Burke's getting Doc...he should be waiting in town for us, but this is getting infected. I'm going to have to clean it out and I'm afraid that's going to hurt." They exchanged a look and Festus murmured, "Cain't you send Letty for somethin' 'fore you get started?"
"I heard that." Letty was very pale but she spoke with a quiet determination. "I'm going to stay right here and help."
The deputy looked pleadingly at Matt but the marshal shrugged. "All right, Letty, if you want to help bring me the canteens and get some wood. I need to make a fire." She got the canteens, then went for the wood.
Festus watched her go, then said, "Matthew, I don't want her seein' this."
Matt took out his knife and tested the edge. "I may need her help."
"But..." The deputy fell silent as Letty approached with an armload of wood. Matt struck a spark and got a fire going, then sent Letty to his horse for bandages and whiskey. She came back and saw the marshal's knife in the flames and her eyes widened.
Matt saw the look on her face. "Letty, you've been a big help. Why don't you wait over by the horses now?"
Her jaw set. "No."
Festus said weakly, "Honey, I want you to go over there."
Letty sat next to him. "Well, I'm not going to listen to you. You'll just have to thump me when you're feeling up to it." Their eyes locked and the marshal got the knife out of the fire.
"Festus, you ready?"
The deputy turned his head away. "Reckon so, Matthew."
Matt took a deep breath and nodded to Letty. "Hold his hands."