After shouting out instructions to the town folk cautiously coming out of hiding including for a telegram to be sent to Clearwater for backup, Gabriel mounted Apollo and took off after the bank robber. The fact that the man had taken off in the direction of Clearwater did not surprise him. As he rode past the empty Walsh home, Gabriel had a feeling the criminal was planning on trying to hop the train as it pulled out of the station.

The snow was a blessing this day as it revealed the tracks of the robber. Granted, a few places his tracks got mixed up with the horse tracks from everyday coming and goings of the people in the area, but the long strides of the horse at a fast pace were distinguishable from the leisurely tracks of the others. Eventually, the only tracks there were those of his bank robber.

Getting a glimpse of the robber ahead of him, Gabriel urged more from his mount. Whether it was to please his rider or because he noticed the horse ahead of him it wasn't clear, but Apollo responded with more speed. They began to close the distance. Gabriel removed his revolver from the holster and was about to shout for the criminal to stop, when the man turned to look back and fired his own gun. A searing pain in his left shoulder told Gabriel the man's shot had hit him. Despite the pain, he held onto the reigns with that hand, bringing his gun up with his right arm. Instead of aiming for the criminal and risk hitting the horse, Gabriel aimed for a spot on the ground in front of the fleeing horse. The shot had the desired effect of spooking the animal. Still looking over his shoulder, the Brookfield bank robber was unprepared and was thrown from the horse.

Still ignoring his throbbing shoulder, Gabriel swooped down on the criminal. An indent a bit away showed where the gun had fallen as the Mountie leveled his own gun at the bank robber as he stood over him.

"You are under arrest for the robbery of the Brookfield Savings and Loan," Gabriel told him. "Now, roll over on your stomach."

There was still defiance in the man's eye but after a glance at the gun, he did as instructed. Gabriel figured the man figured a Mountie wouldn't miss at this range. He cuffed the man's hands behind his back.

"You know if you pass out from blood loss I am going to make a run for it," the man taunted.

"Thanks for the head's up," Gabriel replied before, taking the man's belt off. He secured the man's ankles together before walking back to Apollo while keeping an eye on the man on the ground. As best as he could, Gabriel tried to wrap his shoulder to apply pressure to the gunshot wound. He then retrieved the criminal's gun and put it in his saddle bags. Luckily, the spooked horse hadn't gone far, and only when he had the animal close by again did he untie the man's ankles, changed the cuffs so the man's hands were in front of him and helped him onto the horse. With the reigns in hand, Gabriel mounted Apollo and started them in the direction of Clearwater. He wasn't sure which was closer but he did no that backup was in the direction of Clearwater - not Brookfield.

With the adrenaline wearing off, Gabriel became aware of the shoulder pain and started feeling lightheaded. Still, he forced himself to remain conscious, He had no doubt the man would run if he passed out. Would probably put another bullet in him for good measure as well.

Approaching riders told Gabriel his backup was on the way. Even as a relief washed over him, the approaching Mounties started to blur. Gabriel knew the blood loss had started to get to him. Though he held the reigns, it was Apollo that kept them moving forward, going toward the other Mounties.

Even as the dark coats blurred, a red serge appeared clearly in front of him. Seemingly floating in air, was his commanding officer from the Northern Territories. But that wasn't possible. Jack Thornton had been killed in a training accident some months ago.

"All the bullets flying around us up north, and you manage to wait until you get home to get shot," Jack said, a scolding tone to the words to match his expression.

"Just lucky, I guess," Gabriel replied, trying to sound flippant.

"Well, I hate to tell you Kinslow, but it isn't your time yet," Jack told him.

"I just want to sleep," Gabriel murmured even as he felt someone shaking him.

"He needs a doctor, fast," a far away voice said.

"Get him to the hospital. We'll deal with this guy."

"Not yet, Kinslow," Jack told him. "Your fight is not over. You need to hold on. That's an order."

"Yes, sir," Gabriel murmured, even as the image of Jack faded away and darkness closed in.