Bart's fever rose a little overnight, but not as high as it had the first time, and he didn't become delirious. He slept deeper than the night before, which was good on one hand—as he really needed the rest—but it was bad on the other hand, because it made the congestion worse since he wasn't awake to cough.

Bret kept dozing off, but his brother's noisy breathing always woke him up...either that or the rain. It was coming down in buckets, and he didn't know how on earth Bart was sleeping through it. With a sigh, he re-wet the cloth on Bart's forehead for what felt like the millionth time, as he thought back to what had happened with Gus Peters. Frankly, he didn't know how Peters thought he would get away with what he did…unless he planned to kill the two of them and leave town after he got the money. With shock, Bret realized that it was quite possible, and that they were very lucky that Peters hadn't already killed Bart before he'd arrived with the money...if he had, Bret knew that he would've killed Peters with his bare hands.

Bret was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he never realized when the sun came up…which also had a lot to do with the rain. It was still coming down heavily and the sky was very dark. It was when his brother suddenly woke that he realized how much time had passed.

Bart started coughing, and it lasted quite a while thanks to all the gunk in his lungs that had accumulated while he'd slept. He drank the water that his brother handed him, and blinked at him blearily after he was finished.

Bret smiled at him. "Feeling any better?"

Bart felt like he'd been run over by a stagecoach, but he nodded anyway, not wanting to disappoint his brother.

Bret smiled wider, though he knew that Bart could be lying.

Bart tried to remember what had happened the previous day, but his mind was fuzzy. "The money?" he hoarsely asked.

"Got it all," Bret replied.

Bart was relieved. "Peters is dead," he suddenly remembered.

Bret nodded.

Bart suddenly noticed that his wrists felt sore, and he pulled his arms out from under the blanket, frowning to see them rimmed with irritated, rope-burned skin. He remembered being tied to the saddlehorn, and suddenly recalled Peters telling him to stop coughing when they were behind the rocks waiting for Bret to arrive. He remembered seeing stars and then blackness until he later woke with Bret's face above him.

Bret silently watched his brother as everything came back to him.

Bart suddenly raised his left hand and gingerly touched the side of his face, which was bruised and aching. "He had a mean swing."

Bret nodded. "I noticed."

Thunder suddenly rumbled, and Bart looked towards the window, watching the sheets of rain lash at it. "Where did that come from?" he asked, before coughing again.

"Been going on all night," Bret told him, pouring him more water.

Bart couldn't believe that he hadn't heard it, but after what he'd been through, he guessed that he shouldn't really be surprised.

"Think you can handle leaving later today?" Bret asked, handing him the glass.

Bart took it. "After the way these past few days have been, I'm ready to go now," he said.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

After feeding his brother, Bret went to see the sheriff, like he'd promised. The hotel clerk had already confirmed what Bret had said about Peters kidnapping his brother, so the sheriff believed Bret's story without even questioning Bart. He ruled Peters' death as self-defense, closing the case as quickly as he'd opened it.

Bart's fever broke again and the rain stopped before it was time to leave, so it was two very relieved Mavericks who stepped aboard the train that afternoon. Bret had rented a compartment like his brother had suggested, and Bart quickly claimed one of the beds.

Bret was exhausted himself, after hardly sleeping the past couple of nights while nursing his brother through his fever, and laid down on the other bed as the train's whistle blew, signaling its imminent departure.

"Bret?" Bart suddenly mumbled.

"Hmm?" Bret mumbled back.

"Are we heading somewhere warmer?" Bart asked, realizing that he had no idea where they were going.

"Um hmm," Bret answered, already falling asleep.

"Good," Bart mumbled.

The train started chugging along, and the swaying motion wasn't enough to wake either of them.

THE END
Thanks for reading, everyone! Stay tuned for my next story!