Author's Note: This gem of a short lived series premiered on ABC in 1958 and was in the top 20 ratings. It ran for four seasons before the powers that be at moved it to a late night time slot and killed it. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching it and studying the characters in great detail so much so that it persuaded my muse to come out of hiding. A couple of things...first off in most of my writings I have Dan and Lily as a committed established couple even if it was never publicly stated in the series. Their relationship had grown tremendously especially towards the end of season four and had the series continued it would have been interesting to see how the relationship would have been developed going forward. Also the development of Johnny McKay had also grown in the last two seasons and if I publish more work I intend on fleshing his character out also.
Although not based upon the episode, the idea for this story came from the season two episode "The Judge" where it is mentioned that after being wounded Dan talks wildly out of his head and mentions a girl named Lily.
Thanks in advance for reading.
"A Different Light"
The sound of the gunshots split the air like thunder. Marshal Dan Troop felt the hot pieces of lead slam into his body. The force of the impact knocked the big man off his horse to the ground and sent the frightened animal on the run, fleeing the danger.
Johnny McKay pulled the reins back on his horse and reached for his six-gun as he jumped from the saddle and held tightly to the saddlehorn to keep the horse between him and the gunman.
Seconds passed, and Johnny heard the sound of the hoof beats running away from the two lawmen. Certain no more shots were coming their way, Johnny McKay dropped the reins of his horse and knelt by Dan.
Marshal Dan Troop struggled into a sitting position. Peacemaker in his right hand, he clutched his left side tightly with his left hand attempting to stop the flow of blood that was now dripping through his fingers. Blood outlined the gaping hole in his upper chest near his left shoulder.
"Take it easy, Mr. Troop," Johnny said as he tried to get a look at the man's injuries. Dan groaned in pain and collapsed against the young deputy.
Johnny gently lowered Dan to the ground. He removed his hat and placed it beneath Dan's head for a makeshift pillow.
"Have to...Johnny...have to get...my horse." Dan said through gritted teeth.
Johnny watched the blood stains on Dan's blue shirt grow more prominent, and he knew if he didn't stop the bleeding, the marshal wouldn't need a horse.
Deputy Johnny McKay worked quickly. Grabbing the saddlebags from his horse, he reached inside and pulled out a clean shirt. He dug deeper inside the leather pouch and found a flask of whiskey he kept for emergencies.
He opened his pocket knife and poured the whiskey over both sides of the blade before cutting the shirt for makeshift bandages.
"Stay with me, Marshal," Johnny said as Dan groaned in pain and drifted in and out of consciousness even though he fought to stay awake.
Johnny quickly unbuttoned Dan's shirt and accessed the man's wounds. He wiped the blood away from the hole in Dan's side, but more spilled out. "This is going to hurt Mr. Troop," Johnny said as he pressed hard against the wound to clear the blood to get a better look.
"Do what you have to do, boy," Dan growled through the pain.
Johnny poured some of the whiskey into the wound and could see that the bullet was too deep to attempt to remove safely. Dan drew in a deep breath in pain when the alcohol seeped inside. Johnny apologized as he forced a swath of the torn-up shirt into the wound and prayed it would slow down the bleeding.
Dan Troop never felt Johnny dig the bullet out of his chest.
Johnny McKay reluctantly mounted his horse and looked down on the unconscious marshal. He didn't want to leave, but he had to find Dan's horse. They were a two-day ride out of Laramie, and Johnny knew the odds of Dan making it back were low, even if he did find the horse. Two men riding one horse lowered them even more.
The sun was beginning to go down when Johnny McKay gave up his search for Dan's horse. Worried about Dan, Johnny spurred his horse and headed back.
Dan Troop heard the approaching hoof beats, and he pulled out his .44 and painfully sat up. Squinting in pain, breath short and left hand clutching his side, he fought dizziness and nausea as he waited on the rider to appear. Relieved to see it was Johnny, Dan re-holstered his gun and lay back down. Johnny jumped from his horse and grabbed his canteen. He dropped by Dan's side and helped the big man to drink.
"Didn't...find...him..." Dan said, sweat beading on his face.
"No. That horse is probably halfway back to Green River by now." Johnny replied. Johnny put the lid on the canteen and set it aside. Then he lifted Dan's shirt to look at the wound and found no fresh blood. "You rest, Mr. Troop. I'm going to set up a camp. "
Dawn broke, and a tired Johnny McKay checked on Dan Troop. The big lawman had drifted in and out of consciousness all night. After changing the makeshift bandages, Johnny helped Dan onto the horse and led the horse toward Laramie.
"Johnny," Dan called out after a couple of hours in the saddle. Johnny looked back and saw the big man slumping over the horse's neck. Johnny made it to the injured lawman just as Dan fell from the horse. The young deputy bore the brunt of the big lawman's weight and gently eased him to the ground.
A quick check of the wounds revealed Dan's side was bleeding again. Johnny applied more pressure and replaced the bloody bandage with a fresh, thicker swath of shirt. The young deputy used a tied-together cut-up sleeve to secure the bandage around Dan's slim waist. Knowing the clock was ticking, he lifted Dan onto the saddle and climbed behind the injured man.
They made it several miles closer to Laramie before Johnny knew he had to allow the big chestnut horse to rest.
Fever had set in on the injured marshal and his lucid moments were few. Johnny checked the wounds and bathed Dan's forehead with a wet handkerchief.
"Johnny," Dan said in a brief moment of clarity. "I'm not making it back to Laramie." He said through the pain. "Promise me...you will watch after Lily."
"You're going to make it back, marshal, and you can look after Miss Lily," Johnny replied.
"Promise me, Johnny," Dan said firmly.
Johnny swallowed and fought hard to keep the fear from his voice.
"I promise, Mr. Troop."
Dan Troop survived the night, and Johnny McKay knew they had to make it to Laramie by the end of the day. Johnny helped Dan into the saddle, then got behind him and wrapped his arms around the big man's chest. Spurring the horse into a brisk trot, Johnny headed for Laramie.
It wasn't long before Dan swayed, and Johnny's arms were aching. He drew from his inner strength, pulled Dan's fevered body closer to his chest, and rode on.
As the miles slowly passed, the depth of Dan's fevered state grew more profound, and he began to ramble. Dan's mind wandered, his words carrying the weight of unfiltered emotions. Amidst his delirious ramblings, he spoke of Lily Merrill, his voice laden with affection. His words teased at the intimate moments they had shared, the tender whispers that had passed between them in the quiet of their private moments.
Taken aback by Dan's unguarded revelations Johnny blushed, a mix of surprise and discomfort coloring his features. He cleared his throat, and his voice laced with embarrassment and fondness said. "Now, Mr. Troop, let's keep our minds on getting you home. Miss Lily's waiting for us, and I'm sure she's gonna have a lot to say when she sees you in this condition."
Dan's fevered words continued, oblivious to Johnny's discomfort, as he rambled about stolen kisses and stolen moments shared with Lily. His delirious state allowed for a raw honesty that revealed the depths of his feelings. The words were equal parts endearing and embarrassing, weaving a tapestry of their love and intimacy.
Johnny, struggling to keep Dan on the horse and steadfast in getting them back to Laramie, couldn't help but smile, even as his face flushed crimson. He offered a lighthearted response, hoping to steer the conversation away from the more intimate details. "Marshal, you sure have a way with words, but let's save those stories for another time, shall we?"
The horse's hooves pounded against the earth, their rhythmic beats merging with the cadence of their conversation. Johnny's grip on the reins tightened, his arms around Dan providing stability and support. With each passing mile, his determination grew.
As they approached the outskirts of town, Johnny's voice grew more urgent in his words of encouragement. "We made it home, Mr. Troop." His voice was a mix of determination and genuine concern, a testament to their bond. He felt the big man's body go slack, and Johnny tightened his grip on the unconscious marshal and prayed they had made it back in time.
Marshal Dan Troop spent two weeks at Doc Shea's as he recovered from his wounds and then another week with Lily at the Birdcage as she continued to care for him. After three weeks the Laramie lawman had all the bed rest and fussing over he could stand, and against the doctor's orders and Lily's protests, he made his way down the stairs and into the saloon below. Johnny stood by his side, ready to render assistance should it be required.
A group of townspeople came to the Birdcage as a show of gratitude and support for the marshal, and Dan soon grew tired as he shook hands with his many supporters. Easing his big frame into a chair, he smiled when Jake placed a steaming cup of coffee on the table before him.
Dan's left arm was in a sling, and unable to assist Lily as she was seated, so the duty fell to Johnny, who gladly obliged by making sure her chair was
as close to Dan as possible before he walked around and took a seat across the table from the couple.
How many times he thought he had looked at them and never realized the depth of their love? Was he naive, or were Dan and Lily simply that good at hiding it? Now after being an unwilling witness to Dan's private emotions, he saw the couple in a different light.