Troopers Hodgson and Elcombe went about their business to get the camp ready for the night just as the rain began - the thunder wasn't too far behind. The two men had enough traps that they easily made a lean-to and one to hang far enough in the trees to protect the fire. The wind swirled around causing the flames to lick and dance at the growing darkness.

Williams had stepped down from his horse and pulled his pulled his rifle from the boot tied to his saddle. He tied his horse to a small tree and cautiously moved toward the camp below.

Festus and Cox were not too far behind the sergeant. Festus motioned for Cox to continue after Williams while he made his way down to the stream so he could get a better view of just what sergeant Williams was planning. Cox nodded and pulled his gun from his holster and moved slowly forward.

Festus turned and carefully moved down through the brush to reach the stream. He hoped that the sound of the rain and the rolling thunder was enough to mask his movement through the scrub-brush. With a large flash of lightening, the deputy could see the water's edge and he quickly moved to it.

The storm was intensifying with the wind picking up causing the heavy rain to appear to fall sideways. Festus could make out sergeant Williams, from where he was now standing in the stream. The deputy moved slowly forward with his gun clutched tightly in his right hand.

Cox continued to follow Williams who was now dangerously close to the two troopers. Both Hodgson and Elcombe were deeply engrossed in conversation and their meal. Williams pulled his gun from his holster and raised the weapon in the direction of the camp, "Hodgson? Elcombe?" he bellowed through the stormy weather.

Hodgson froze - his eyes were wide as he looked at Elcombe, who wore the same look on his face. Both men slowly moved within their lean-to gathering their guns.

"Step out from your tent," Williams ordered.

Cox was about ten feet behind Williams. He waited to see what the sergeant was planning on doing before he acted. Williams moved closer, "I said for you to get out here!" he yelled again at the two troopers.

Hodgson motioned to Elcombe that they would step out, but with their guns drawn. They've gotten this far and Hodgson wasn't about to lose the money or worse go back to the fort and face a court-marshal. "I'm ordering you one more time," Williams shouted as more thunder rumbled overhead.

Williams took another few steps forward and with a flash of lightening he spotted Festus standing in the stream. Williams cursed out loud, but his words were muffled by more thunder. The sergeant's teeth were clenched in rage as ne realized that if the deputy was here, so likely there were the other men from the fort as well. He had to act quickly if he was going to follow through on his plan.

Hodgson and Elcombe stepped out of the lean-to and held their guns on the sergeant, "Drop your gun sarge," Hodgson spoke clearly and loudly.

Williams quickly looked over to the deputy who was now making his way out of the stream. "You drop your guns," Williams turned his attention back to the two troopers.

"You aren't taking me or Frank back," Hodgson said as he raised his weapon. Elcombe followed with this gun, "Me neither," he said.

"I wasn't planing on taking you back. I was just planning on making you dead, once I take that money away from you," Williams' tone was eerily cold and calculated.

Cox stepped closer, "Don't do anything stupid," he warned Williams who was now glaring at his friend. "Why. Why did you have to come?" Williams seethed.

"We are supposed to recover the money," Cox said as he squared himself to Williams.

"No one is getting the money!" Hodgson bellowed and opened fire at Williams and Cox. Cox dove out of the way, landing hard on his left knee, while Williams fired back at the two troopers. Festus fired at Elcombe who had taken a shot at him. The deputy hit the trooper in his right upper arm reeling him backwards.

Hodgson fired another shot at Williams who was now shooting at both Hodgson and Festus. It became a three-way fight. Hodgson hit Williams in the leg sending him to the ground and temporarily out of service. The trooper then turned his attention the deputy who had fired several shots in his direction; both narrowly missing Hodgson.

Hodgson fired a shot and it appeared to have hit the deputy in his left arm. As Festus grabbed at his left forearm, he turned slightly. Williams was watching and what he thought was the most rational thought he had, he would eliminate all witnesses to his plan. Williams picked up his gun and aimed it at the deputy who seemed to be struggling. He fired a shot and watched the hill man arch backward before he fell awkwardly to the ground.

Cox righted himself and finally got to his feet just as Williams and Hodgson fired at each other one more time. Then there was silence - except for the deep moaning coming from Williams. Cox limped over to his friend and looked down just as the rest of the troopers arrived.

"Check the others," Cox ordered. "Festus is down that way," he pointed as he watched the men dismount and scurry in all directions.

Cox painfully lowered himself to his friend, "Why?"

Williams looked up, "It was too much of a temptation," he gasped. "Hodgson had a good idea, and he ruined me," he blinked back at his friend who tried to examine the wound in Williams chest. There was little he could do for his friend. "I'm sure we could have worked something out," Cox spoke softly.

Williams shook his head no, "Once I got that money in my head, there was one," he coughed and groaned, "going back for me. I had and nothing career, and they made it worse," he sighed.

Cox nodded trying to understand what was going through Williams' mind, "Take it easy and we'll get you back to Dodge," he said as he slowly stood.

"No," Williams said. "You know as well as I do, I," he grit his teeth as a wave of pain gripped him. His breathing was growing shallow and rapid. "Leave me alone and get out of here," he looked up at Cox. Cox stood numb. The words were meanspirited and hurt him. Cox turned away and began to walk through the rain toward Hodgson and Elcombe, when one of the other troopers called out for him, "Sarge?"

Cox made a face and turned, "What is it?"

"The deputy from Dodge is hurt really badly," trooper Dodds stated.

Cox limped quickly over to the downed deputy. A large patch of dark blood cover the man's lower back. Cox knelt down and took a closer look, "Festus?" he nudged the hill man. Festus didn't stir. Cox looked up at the trooper, "We need to get him back to Dodge, quickly," he said.

Trooper Dodds nodded, "I'll make a travois," he quickly stood. Cox nodded, "Thanks Dodds," he said quietly as another flash of lightening light up the area.