Evelyn Sawyer stopped on the cross road, just east of the stage stop. She was close enough that she could smell the smoke from the wood fire. She longed to be home next to her own fireplace, but the one at the stage stop would have to suffice for the night. She had promised Roy that she would tell his friends what happened and that was all she planned to do.

Evelyn nudged her horse forward and pulled it to a stop outside the main door to the building. She slid down off the saddle and was grateful for it. She hadn't ridden that long and that hard for many years. Evelyn lopped the reins over the horse's head and then tied them to the hitching post. She looked around the darkening horizon before she entered the building.

Evelyn quickly stepped up onto the porch and opened the door into the warm room. Everyone inside turned to look at her. Her eyes cast around the room and spotted Larry Talbot; he was the only one she knew well enough to tell about Roy. Crawford's other friends looked familiar, but Evelyn didn't really know them.

Evelyn removed her hat and slowly walked further into the room. She noted that the men sat in smaller groups, as if they didn't know each other; clever she thought.

Larry Talbot smiled at Evelyn as she wove her way over to where he sat next to the hearth. She said nothing until she sat down next to him. Again her eyes scanned the room before they came back to Talbot's.

"I take it this visit means what I think it means," Talbot's voice was low and firm.

Evelyn nodded.

"Where did the sheriff take him?" Talbot asked as he leaned forward, closer to Evelyn.

"The sheriff took Roy back to Spearville where he was meeting with the marshal from Dodge City. He said that is where Roy will be held and tried. They are looking for you too," she informed Talbot.

The outlaw leaned back in his chair and paused in thought. He then looked over to several of his men who were engaged in a card game. He spoke to know one in particular, "I'll send someone ahead to scout out the situation and we'll meet up at first light in Dodge," he said while thinking through his plan.

Ben Preston caught the look on Talbot's face and he nudged Harry Dyer. Both men knew why Evelyn Sawyer was at the stage stop. Now they were curious to know more. Preston indicated to Dyer that he'd talk discretely to Talbot and get the full story.

As Preston stood his eyes caught those of Victor White's. Out of all of Crawford's men, he was likely the mangiest and meanest of the lot. White watched Ben Preston like a wild dog who was looking for a meal.

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Doc finished with the sutures and pulled a white sheet up over Roy Crawford. The doctor was confident that the outlaw would sleep through the night with the amount of laudanum that he administered.

Just the same, Doc would take comfort in having either Matt or Festus stay withy him during the night. Doc wasn't particularly happy with the outlaw's vocal behaviour from before and there was only so much medication he could administer at any given time.

The doctor placed all of the used instruments into a basin and poured an alcohol solution over them before giving them a good cleaning. Once finished he dried the surgical tools and placed them back into his black leather medical bag. Doc turned just as Festus opened the door.

The hill man said nothing at first as he closed the door behind him to keep out the cool damp night air, "How did the operation go, Doc?"

Doc moved closer to the examination table and lifted the unconscious man's wrist, "He'll make it," the doctor said as he took Crawford's pulse. Festus made a face. He understood Doc's dilemma – fix them up so they can hang if they are found guilty – it has happened before and likely to happen again.

The hill man noted the sadness in the doctor's eyes and quickly changed the subject. "Matthew asked me to come up here and keep and eye on him with you," he smiled warmly. Doc nodded, "Thanks, Festus." For some reason Doc felt that it was going to be a long night.

Doc took his seat near his desk while Festus hovered around the door, "You might as well sit down too," Doc said as he pointed to the chair next to his desk. Festus stepped closer and sat down, "Too bad you don't have a checkerboard up here," he tried to humour the doctor. Doc frowned at the deputy, "This is a doctor's office, if you haven't noticed," he grumped. Festus made a face and sighed. He now felt that it was going to be a long night of just waiting for something – if something ever happened.

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Victor White rode into Dodge. It was well after midnight and his horse's head hung down as they made their way up Front Street. The rain had stopped, but the street was still quite muddy. The k=only life he noted was that of the oil-burning street lamps that flickered in the breeze.

White watched the shadows for movement. His eyes were keen in the darkness and in the distance he spotted the jail house where he assumed Roy Crawford was being held.

White nudged his horse forward and the animal lazily walked along the street toward the little red brick building. His main goal was to locate Roy Crawford and to report to Larry Talbot when they arrive a little later on in the early morning hours.

White stopped in front of the livery stable and dismounted. He looked around the empty street before pulling his horse into the stable.

Louie Pheeters stirred at the noise, "Whose there?" he said in a drunken haze as he pushed himself up to have a look around. He saw a large man with a horse and asked again who was in the stable. When the man didn't answer, Pheeters pulled himself to his feet and staggered across the dark stable and starred at the man, "Who are you?" Pheeters asked again.

"No one you need to be concerned with you old rummy," White snarled.

"It's a little late for you to be riding around, isn't it?" Louie continued to bother White.

White narrowed his eyes, "You know maybe you could help me," he sneered at Pheeters who was all too happy to help, "I'll try," Louie said as he wavered on his feet.

White smiled manically at the little man standing before him. "Good," White said. "I'm worried about a friend. I understand that he was brought to Dodge early last evening," White continued to fish for Roy Crawford's whereabouts.

"Oh?" Pheeters said.

"Yeah. But I heard that he got shot. Can't imagine why someone would shoot him," White tried to sound sympathetic.

Louie thought for a moment, "The only person I know that was shot was one of the bank robbers from Spearville," the old man pondered. "Doc has him up in his office to fix him up," he slurred.

"Really?" White asked trying to sound surprised. Louie nodded, "That's what I've heard," he wavered again on his feet. White patted Pheeters on the shoulder, "Thank you. I'll be sure to check in on him in the morning." A slow evil smile crossed White's weathered face.

Louie turned back to the hay pile he was sleeping on, "I sure hope he's not the robber," he said as he crouched down and fell over into the hay and instantly falling asleep.