Doc tended to Ted's wounds before wrapping his own and set about getting blankets and some food from the pile Joey had left behind in his rush to escape. Famous Shoes waited as patiently as he could nearby, but it was obvious that he wanted to be on his way, he never had been one to stand idle. Doc made sure Ted had everything he needed and enough food to last him until help could be sent.

"If only that rascal hadn't kilt the horses" Ted said, frowning. "I'd be able to come with you." The young man had no more desire than Famous Shoes to sit around and do nothing.

"We'll be back with you by two days from now at the latest, just stay warm and eat what you can; I've cut you some more horse meat."

Ted sneered but nodded in thanks. "Well I hope you get here before I have to start on that."

Doc smiled. "So do I." He got to his feet and looked at Famous Shoes. "Let's get goin' then."

The old Indian did not reply but set off at his usual trot leading the way. Doc hobbled along after him, his foot pained him and he was now missing two of his toes thanks to one of the Garza boy's bullets but he was fit enough to travel on foot and the wound in his shoulder, a nasty bullet graze, had stopped bleeding.

They travelled without a long pause for many hours, Doc lost track of whether it was late morning or late afternoon. He supposed it didn't matter, he would be at Ojinaga before nightfall the following day, then he could rest and more importantly he could see Ella. He felt sure that he could employ some reliable men to go and fetch Ted, the young man would be in safe hands and he could plan his departure, he would not stay in Mexico any longer than he needed to. He felt in his very bones that Joey wasn't dead, the wounds the shotgun had inflicted, although painful beyond imagining, would not be enough to bring a man's life to an end… but they could kill him in the long term, if he didn't find a kind soul to pull each pellet out in the next few hours, infection may set in and poison his blood. Either way, Doc didn't want to dwell upon the boy anymore, he wanted to get Ella out, he had a strong urge to leave with her as soon as he could and he aimed to see that plan through.

Famous Shoes never seemed to tire, his trot never slowed and Doc found he had to keep reminding himself to pick up the pace. They made camp soon after night fell and slept briefly for a few hours before setting off again. Even in the unnerving darkness Doc knew he could trust Famous Shoes, the tracker didn't seem to need to see to know exactly where he was going and the best path to take. By the morning of the next day the village was in sight. Doc was exhausted and all his mind could think about was the bed that awaited him. He squinted up at the sky; he guessed it wasn't much past noon, the sun was high in the sky, beating down its unrelenting rays upon his already weakened body.

He entered the village barely able to keep his steps from faltering, but Famous Shoes led him on so he forced himself to put one foot in front of the other until the adobe of Maria Garza came into sight. On the steps sat the little blind girl Teresa, as the two men approached she stood up from her seat, her brow furrowed.

"Who are you?" she asked, sensing them before they had become close enough to bear any threat.

"It's me, Doc, and Famous Shoes."

Teresa smiled. "Doc?" She turned back towards the house and rushed up the stairs. "Mama!" she cried, "Doc is here."

Doc mounted the steps, his footfalls heavy, betraying how weary his body was. Maria soon came to the doorway.

"We were worried" she stated, matter-of-factly. "We thought Joey had killed you."

Doc stared up at her, unsure what to say and quickly decided not to say anything unless he was asked directly about her son's welfare. Maria looked behind him and her eyes fell upon Famous Shoes.

She gave a low sigh. "I better kill another chicken. That old man is always hungry when he comes here."

"Mama, don't kill my brown hen!" Teresa said with panic.

"I won't kill your hen. Tend to your patient, Teresa." Maria gestured back inside the house.

"I think we could both do with some good food if you can spare it Maria" Doc smiled. "How is Captain Call?" He stepped into the warmth of the house.

"He is getting better each day; Teresa tends to his every need." Her eyes took in his bloody clothing with a distrusting frown but remained silent on the subject.

"There will be frost tonight. Do you have any tortillas?" Famous Shoes asked, entering the adobe.

"Si, we have tortillas" Maria said. She turned back to Doc. "Where are your men?"

"I have to ask the same thing Doc, where are my men?" Call put in. He was lying in a side bed, snugly covered in blankets as Teresa fed him with a spoon.

"Joey killed Brookshire" Famous Shoes said casually, taking a tortilla and beginning to eat it. "Joey also shot Doc and he shot Ted and broke his hip. He is not bleeding much, but he cannot walk fast."

Maria had stopped her other tasks at the mention of her son's name. "Billy will help you fetch your man" she said distractedly, before turning to face Famous Shoes fully. "What about my son?"

"Doc shot Joey with the big shotgun - Joey rode away, he was shot in the back and legs. I don't know where he is. I didn't see his track."

Maria walked away and stared out of the window, her expression clearly stating she was fighting with two conflicting emotions, sorrow and relief. Finally she turned back to Doc, her eyes watering slightly.

"Ella is resting" she said, knowing this is what the man really wanted to hear of. "Joey came and took her; she escaped and came here a few days ago. She is not hurt" she said quickly, seeing the concerned look upon Doc's face. "She is still tired." She forced a smile. "But I am sure she would not mind if you woke her."

Doc gave a firm nod and made his way into the bedroom. Ella was sleeping on the large iron bedstead, a quilt covering her lightly. Gently he sat upon the bed and reached out a hand, he brushed a few stray strands of hair from her face. Ella's eyes slowly fluttered open and she looked at Doc with a sleep laden gaze. As her mind fully took in what she was seeing her eyes became wide.

"Doc?"

"Took me longer than I thought" Doc said with a forced grin, suddenly feeling a welling of emotion flood through him at the mere sight of her.

"Doc!" Ella breathed, as if just saying the name out loud was a huge relief. She sat up and wrapped her arms about his neck, pulling him close to her, uncaring that he smelled of stale sweat and died blood.

"Are you okay?" Doc asked, embracing her tightly and finding his eyes had begun to water.

"I'm okay" Ella sobbed through her own tears.

"Did he hurt you?" Doc pulled back, studying her face intently.

"No, I'm okay" she repeated, and Doc embraced her again, in the moment of being reunited all thoughts of what had occurred seemed to have dimmed and as it began to filter through she decided she couldn't tell him that she'd given herself to Joey, not now, not until they were far away from this place and all the sorrow and death it had brought them both.

"What happened?" Doc pulled back once more with his question.

Ella wiped at her wet cheeks. "He took me up to an old cave, an abandoned mine, he was going to kill me… but he still wanted me I guess." She paused, her eyes glancing away from his. "An' he wanted to find Call's men so he left, I guess he was going to come back for me later… or leave me there" Ella said, omitting half of what had happened in that dark, dank place.

Doc had always found he could read her easily and this time was no exception, she was keeping something from him, of that he was sure and in his heart he knew what she'd had to do to 'save' herself, but he had no time to dwell upon the matter, it would have to wait.

"What about you?" Ella asked, placing a palm to his cheek.

"I'm okay; a little shot-up is all."

Ella's eyes widened. "Are you hurt bad?"

Doc shook his head. "A bullet took a chunk out of my shoulder and I'm two toes less than when I set out." He grinned and gave a low chuckle. Ella found she couldn't help but laugh with him.

"Let me take a look and wrap it up with clean cloth" she said with a loving smile.

"Later," Doc smiled in return, "I have to send Billy out to get Ted, a man in the posse."

Ella hesitated, "And Joey?" She paused. "Did you kill him?" She felt strangely sick just speaking the words.

"No, I shot him, but he's still alive." He took both of Ella's hands in his. "That's why I want us to leave soon. There's a chance he might die from his wounds but I don't feel like chancin' it."

Ella nodded. "I think we should leave as soon as we can Doc."

"Make sure you're ready tomorrow, we'll leave no later than noon."

Ella squeezed his hands.

---

Joey rode aimlessly for hours, heading in only a vague direction he knew he wanted to go in, most of the time he allowed the horse to go where it pleased. The wounds in his back and legs burned and prickled unpleasantly, each movement he made felt like a strange stabbing pain that radiated through his entire being and caused him to grit his teeth. He had thought of going up onto a hill and shooting Doc after he had been hit by the big shotgun, but after he had ridden a little away from the clearing he no longer felt like he wanted to. His mind was blurred by the pain and he found no enjoyment in thinking of taking the man's life.

Joey was angry with himself. How could he, a great killer, commended by other killers, be caught out so shamefully? He knew his error had been to leaving that shotgun on the ground, it shouldn't have mattered if he wanted it or not he should have taken it. He berated himself over and over for the mistake, his mind replaying the whole scene many times as the pain continued to grow. He wanted to get home, his mother could tend to his wounds, pull out the pellets, make him good food until his strength was regained and wash his clothes so they were soft. These thoughts kept him awake and his hands wrapped around his horses' reins. Then when he was well he would take his brother and sister up to the cave and kill them… But what of Ella? She would die if he didn't go back for her. Perhaps if she died things would become simple again, but Joey found he didn't want things to return to how they had been without her. His mother would help, he would make her go and get Ella, bring her back to the village and then she could tend to him until he was well.

The pain was soon all he could focus upon and he welcomed its headiness, the effect left him feeling as if he was swaying slightly even though he was perfectly stationary. He finally stopped as night fell. He dismounted and sat upon the dusty, cold ground. He had no desire to make a fire and no blanket to wrap himself in, everything that had not been attached to his horse has been left back in that clearing. As he came to realize that he would find no comfort in rest, he got into the saddle again and allowed his horse to amble onwards.

By some point of the next day, Joey's horse had led him to where he wished to be. The animal knew the way home well and when Joey looked up he saw the outline of Ojinaga. With gritted teeth he dismounted and pulled out his telescope. Through its lens he could clearly see the goings on in the little village. Many people were going about their daily business and his mother's house stood solid and welcoming just as it always did. Joey gave a small, bitter laugh at the fact he both loved and despised the place. He could have moved to Mexico City a long time ago and yet he kept returning here as if he couldn't control the pull it had on him.

His attention was caught as a man emerged from the house. It was the old Indian, Famous Shoes. He watched with a furrowed brow as Famous Shoes began to trot out of the village. Joey's eyes narrowed as he saw the bundle the old man carried. It was Joey's own blue blanket, the one he had purchased in Mexico City. Joey wanted that blanket back, it was his and he hated anyone taking what was his. He folded the telescope and put it back in his saddle bag before swinging himself back up onto his horse.

---

Famous Shoes trotted along happily. He had become bored sitting in the stuffy house in Ojinaga, he always preferred outside to houses. They always felt like a cage to him, solid walls with only one small doorway. He would return back to Maria's home when it darkened a little more, when fresh food would be cooked. For now he was content in tracking small animals and reading a few sparse horse tracks he came across. He had been tracking for about an hour when he came across the first track that unnerved him. It was a horse track that he knew well, Joey Garza's track. Joey was slight but leant to the right when he was in the saddle, but the most telling sign was the droplets of blood that were upon the ground beside it.

Famous Shoes straightened up and looked around, his sharp eyes searching but he could see nothing. Perhaps the young boy had only passed this way. He got up from his crouched position and changed direction. He trotted on this path for a good few paces before he came across another track, the same track as he had already seen with blood glistening up at him, almost mocking him. Again he looked about him but saw nothing to cause alarm, he changed direction once more.

It was only a short time later that the same track greeted him; Joey Garza was playing games with him. He knew it was over; the young boy was skilled in tracking and already had him where he wanted him to be. Famous Shoes unfolded the blue blanket he had been carrying underneath his arm and laid it out upon the ground. He knelt down upon it and stretched his arms out towards the sky before beginning to sing his own personal death song.

As he sang, his voice rising higher and higher, he saw Joey Garza make his move. He rode out of his hiding place straight towards where Famous Shoes sat, his rifle across his saddle. He rode in close and slowly began to circle the old Indian, his very presence threatening, like a thunder cloud waiting to break with rain.

Famous Shoes watched him with wary eyes, his brow furrowing in confusion as Joey continued to ride around him. He noticed how the young boy's back looked as if it was festering mess; perhaps infection had already taken hold. Blood from the wounds upon his legs had run down his horse's sides, staining the animal's coat a dark red.

When Joey felt he was close enough he dismounted with ease, no outward signs of distress were present upon his expression, but Famous Shoes could see the distance within his gaze, the boy was in a lot of pain.

Famous Shoes' death song had faded to silence as the two men stared at each other.

"Get off my blanket. And give me back my knife" Joey demanded, and Famous Shoes noticed how the young man seemed to almost be stooping from the effort of just keeping himself upon his feet. Surprised by Joey's words Famous Shoes got up and handed over the blanket and knife just as had been requested, before he again sat back down and began his song once more. Now surely the boy would kill him for leading Call's posse in a hunt for him and for taking his belongings.

But Joey did not give him another glance; he simply got back onto his horse and began to ride away. Famous Shoes' eyes followed Joey's path, almost not daring to believe he had been spared… Why had he been spared? He watched Joey ride away for a few moments before he got to his feet and began to take a path away from Ojinaga. He felt he had tracked enough for one night and he knew where the young train bandit would be heading next.