In Devil's Hole men started arriving, loosening the cinches but not unsaddling their horses as they watched and waited to make sure everyone made it back safely. The outlaws stood outside of the bunkhouse nervously drinking coffee that Preacher had made since he and Hank had been the first men to arrive. They had been followed only minutes later by the second pair, but it took almost half an hour for the third to appear and dismount, wearily accepting the coffee that was handed to them.

"Everybody all right?"

"Yeah, posse didn't chase us after we split."

"Us neither."

"Or us…damn," their co-leader sighed looking worriedly back toward the entrance to their hideout.

"They'll be all right."

"They'll be here before ya know it."

"Yeah…hope you're right," he said quietly.

He wasn't so sure, but then he always worried when they had to separate, just as he knew his partner worried about him…especially when being they were being chased. The men stayed outside, conversation slowing down the longer they waited, until finally it stopped altogether. All heads swiveled around looking toward the entrance when they heard a single warning shot. They didn't have long to wait as two lathered horses trotted slowly up, stopping at the corral.

"Saddlebags and canteens are gone," Lobo noticed immediately.

"And Wheat's bedroll," Kyle added.

"Billy look after these animals," Hank ordered the young man who had joined the gang only a week ago.

"All right men, mount up, let's go find 'em. Salem you stay here and fire off two shots in case we miss 'em."

xxx

The two men traveling on foot through the trees had managed to put perhaps a mile behind them, but after supporting more and more of his companions' weight as he weakened, Wheat had to stop. As carefully as he could he lowered him to the ground. Both men were sweating heavily and Wheat could see the prone man breathing quickly and shallowly, his eyes closed tightly in pain. He saw the blood seeping through the makeshift bandage and pushing his hat back he took a deep breath before dropping his head and running a hand across his face as he tried to decide what to do. Looking down at him again he knew that somehow he needed to get him to the Hole.

"Wheat…"

"Yeah."

"Can't go…any fur…further."

"Ya just need to take a breather."

"No…too far…you gotta…leave me."

Wheat snorted a laugh in disbelief.

"Yeah, yer partner'll kill me."

"No…he'll under…stand."

"Sure he will."

Wheat lifted his head with one hand, holding the canteen with the other as he helped him take a drink of water. They had both stopped talking the only sound the panting breaths of the wounded man. Wheat sighed, his eyes closing, knowing that he had to leave him behind so he could get the help he needed.

"Wheat…" he said breathlessly.

"What…"

"Watch his …back for…me."

"That's your job."

"Please…" his voice was fading.

Wheat sighed.

"P...promise…me."

"I'll watch out for 'im but just 'til you're back on yer feet." he said after taking a deep breath.

"Promise…"

"Yeah…I promise," he huffed.

Wheat saw his mouth begin to turn up in a smile, his eyes slowly losing focus as he slipped into unconsciousness again.

"Shit," he hissed as he sat back on his heels looking in the direction of not only safety but medical care. Getting to his feet, he opened his bedroll and covered him. Taking one last drink from the canteen, he propped it within easy reach at the sick man's side and took a couple steps away. Stopping he took one last look back.

"I'm gonna go get help but I swear if your partner kills me for leavin' ya I'm gonna come back and haunt ya."

With that he disappeared into the trees hoping that he could find help in time.

xxx

Six men mounted their horses and made their way back out of the safety of their hideout in search of their two missing gang members. They rode silently, looking and listening for any sign that might indicate which way they had gone. They became more and more frustrated the farther they went, having seen no sign of their missing men.

"Dammit, they can't be this far back. We know they're on foot and would've hightailed it into the trees. Head back toward the Hole a ways."

Wordlessly they turned their horses going back the way they had just come. After a couple miles they reined up again, sitting their horses as they tried to decide where their friends would be.

"Preacher you and Hank help me search in the bush, Kyle you and Lobo lead our horses."

The three outlaws wove their way through the trees, separating but staying within sight of each other. For a good half an hour they searched seeing nothing…and then they all heard the sound of crashing somewhere in front of them. They froze, guns drawn, not knowing whether it was their missing friends or an animal.

xxx

Wheat continued walking until he tripped over the hidden root of a tree and fell. Cussing under his breath, he got back up, but hearing something up ahead he pulled his gun, crouching down wondering if the posse had decided to search for them in the trees. Peeking around a tree he saw someone slowly stand up. Squinting, he smiled as he recognized him. Getting slowly and painfully to his feet he slipped his gun back into its' holster.

"Preacher," he shouted, waving his hand.

He saw his head swing around to look in his direction.

"Over here boys," Preacher hollered at the two who were with him, frowning when he saw only Wheat.

The men walked toward each other. Preacher reached Wheat first and he wordlessly took note of the torn knee of his pants and the spots of blood around the many small tears in his shirt. He could also see the lines of exhaustion etched on his face along with the dark circles beginning to form under his eyes.

"Where is he?" Hank, the second man to reach Wheat after Preacher, asked almost fearfully.

"Back there…he couldn't go no further." Looking back over his shoulder he didn't see the third man arrive.

"You left him?"

Wheat felt a pair of fists grab his shirtfront and give him a rough shake. Jerking his head around in surprise, he found himself looking into a pair of very angry eyes.

"Was only doin' what…" he started.

"No-one left behind, remember?"

He was given another shake. That did it…Wheat drew himself up to his full height and glared back, shoving the man hard enough that he lost his hold on the shirt and staggered back two steps.

"Now look…" Wheat snarled.

Preacher and Hank pushed themselves between the two angry men before it could escalate further.

"Ain't the time to argue, we gotta go get 'im. It's gonna be dark soon."

"You're right Preacher...Hank go let the others know where we are, bring 'em as close as you can. All right Wheat, where'd ya leave my partner?" he demanded, his eyes still flashing angrily.

" 'Bout half a mile or so from here," Wheat growled.

With Wheat showing the way they were able to make their way back through the bush. After fifteen minutes of difficult walking, all three stopped, freezing monetarily when they saw the motionless man exactly where Wheat had left him. Then as one they moved closer to the downed man, Preacher checking him over as his partner and Wheat hung back a couple of steps…waiting.

"He's still alive, but we need to get him back to the cabin so's I can dig the bullet out."

It was a struggle but the three of them along with the help of the bedroll that he had been covered with, got him to the path where Kyle, Lobo and Hank were waiting with the horses. They got him up on a horse, his partner mounting behind him, wrapping his arms around him to hold him steady. Wheat looked up at him still visibly angry.

"I'm goin' back for the saddlebags. I hid 'em a ways back as I kinda had my hands full," he snapped irritably as their eyes met again.

"Kyle stay with him."

With Wheat still cussing under his breath he mounted up behind Kyle. He didn't see the look aimed at his back as they rode off in opposite directions…one pair to pick up that which had been left behind and the rest riding slowly back to Devil's Hole to doctor their wounded man.