Robert put a hand on Stephen's shoulder as the man drove the wagon.
"You have to stop unless you want to kill Quantro!"
"No," Quantro yelled painfully from the back of the wagon. "Keep going! We must get as far as we can!"
"I won't be responsible for your life then," Robert said before he looked at Stephen. "I'm telling you the truth!"
Stephen didn't stop but Robert noticed that he did slow down which was little comfort as Robert started to feel the effects of the wagon ride himself.
"We're coming up to the river," Stephen said as Quantro nodded.
"We'll wait here for the others," the leader said as he closed his eyes.
Robert looked behind them a short while later as several riders on horse back suddenly approached.
Stopping the wagon as Ernest rode up, Stephen looked at his breathless companion.
"What are you doing here so soon!"
"We were ambushed," Ernest said looking at Robert. "The Marshal and the deputy's had hidden guns!"
Robert smirked at Matt's ingenuity as Stephen turned around and delivered a back handed punch to the side of Robert's head.
"Just tell me one thing Ernesto," Stephen said as Robert picked himself up from the floor of the wagon. "Are they dead?"
"No, senior," Ernest said shaking his head. "And we lost several men."
Stephen looked over the men that rode up and nodded. "We have to go," he said looking at Quantro. "They might be coming for him!"
Robert put a hand to his head as Stephen drove the wagon into the river. Expecting the wagon to turn south, he was surprised when Stephen went north instead and Quantro's men followed.
Looking back at the bank, Robert knew Festus would easily be able to see the tracks if they were following, where they went into the river but once there, he would have no way of knowing they went north instead of south.
The wagon traveled along the shallowest part of the river which also brought them within an arms reach of trees and brush.
Looking around to make sure no one was watching, Robert grabbed a branch and snapped it in half and left the bottom part dangling before anyone saw what he did.
Festus stopped at the end of the road that lead in and out of Dodge.
"They headed south Matthew," he said looking at the tracks the wagon and riders left behind.
"Just as we figured," Matt said looking at the two men. "They'll head south to Mexico as fast as they can travel."
"Which from the looks of these tracks," Newly stated. "They're moving pretty fast."
"But eventually that wagon will slow them down," Festus said following the tracks. "Let's go!"
After being jostled and bounced around for several hours, Stephen turned the wagon down a smaller tributary in the river to a large sandbar just as the sun started to go down.
"We'll stay here tonight," Stephen said looking at Ernest. "Position the guards."
"Si," Ernest said riding over to Quantro's men to give the order."
Robert took a breath to steady himself before opening his bag and pulling out his stethoscope.
As Stephen and Quantro's men set up camp, Robert busied himself with checking the leaders condition.
"How is he?" Stephen asked as Robert put away his instruments.
"He'd be a lot better if you hadn't moved him like I told you not to," Robert snapped harshly.
"That's why we brought you along," Stephen said evenly before taking a step toward him. "You'd better make sure he stays alive because if he don't, we won't have a need to keep you around, understand!"
"Perfectly," Robert replied with a wiry grin as Stephen moved off toward the camp. Watching him leave, Robert grabbed the edge of the wagon for support as vertigo suddenly assailed him.
"This is where they went in Matthew," Festus said looking at the tracks along the riverbank.
"Alright," Matt said looking around. "We'll make camp here and start out at first light."
"We could push on," Newly said looking south as Matt shook his head.
"No, I think we'll wait till morning," Matt said climbing down off his horse.
"You got ya a feelin bout somethin, Matthew," Festus asked tying up Ruth.
"I'm not sure Festus," Matt said quietly.
"You'll sleep in the tent with me and Quantro," Stephen said pushing Robert toward a canvas tent.
"What, don't you trust me," Robert said stepping inside as Stephen shook his head no. "I'm crushed!"
"Shut up," Stephen said pushing Robert onto a cot. "It wasn't my idea to bring you but he needs your help so you will help him!"
"Only because I'm sworn to," Robert said evenly. "It makes no difference that he's a murder."
"That's good for him then, isn't it?" Stephen said tying Robert's feet together before doing the same to his hands. "Don't get any ideas of going anywhere, we have guards positioned everywhere!"
"I'm sure you do," Robert replied before he laid on the cot. Exhausted and weak it didn't take long for him to fall into a deep sleep.
Festus stared into the fire as Matt and Newly spoke in hushed tones until Matt turned to him.
"I'll take watch," he said as Festus shook his head no.
"I won't be able ta sleep any way Matthew," Festus stated absently. "Why you suppose April never told me bout him?"
"Well," Matt said quietly. "As I recall, you weren't exactly the marrying type back then and I can't imagine a young Festus Haggen with a child, could you?"
"Prolly not," Festus said with a nod. "I weren't settled, was I?"
"Nope," Matt said wistfully. "And I'm sure April knew it and was probably embarrassed herself and didn't want to put that kind of pressure on you."
"Guess so," Festus said gently. "Just wish things had been different is all."