Chris nodded. "Yeah. I got one of them. I don't know how bad."
Just then; the rest of the peacekeepers, Mary, Nettie, and Casey walked upto him. "Why did my nephew go with them?" Nettie demanded.
"Don't know," Chris replied. "He was playing cards with them in the saloon, like they were friends."
Nettie's face hardened. "I love Justin, but if he's associating with those... bastards," she said with disgust, "then he no longer has a home with me." Grabbing Casey by the arm, she said, "Come along."
After Casey and Nettie were gone, Mary spoke up. "What do you gentlemen plan to do about those outlaws?"
"Go after them, I guess," replied Chris.
Mary nodded. "Good. That would be in your best interests. I've aleady telegraphed Judge Travis and informed him about those men. Now, I need to get to my office and get the newspaper out. Good day." With that said, Mary flounced off, her nose in the air.
Chris sighed. "Well, men, let's get saddled up and after them." The other six men nodded and followed Chris to the stables.
The six men had ridden out of Four Corners as if the Devil was on their tails. They had made sure to cover their tracks, also backtracking to throw a posse off, and ended up holed up in a cave. There was an overhang that would conceal their horses.
After helping Ben of o his horse, Brian and Michael helped him walk deep into the cave, while the other three men found wood to build a fire with.
After the fire was built, Ben's shirt was removed. The bullet that had hit him had caught him right under the left shoulder blade and it was still in him. Brian opened a satchel and pulled out a bottle of whiskey and a long ivory-handled knife.
Brian held the blade of the knife in the fire for a few moments, to sterelize it. After a piece of wood was put between Ben's teeth, so he could bite down if he needed to, Brian stared digging the bullet out. After a few long minutes, Brian triumphantly held the bullet up for the others to see.
After pouring a good amount of whiskey over the wound, Brian fixed a clean white bandage over it. "Now, just rest, Ben," he said.
Ben nodded, his eyes drooping.
"Thanks," whispered Michael. Brian just shrugged. He had learned to remove bullets when he was a child. But he knew that Ben wasn't completely out of harm's way. They still needed to keep an eye out for infection. Michael remained at Ben's side, while the others gathered around the fire. They could all tell that Brian was angry.
"We weren't even able to rob the damn bank!" Brian hissed. "I was too busy trying to play with my cousin's head. We should have just robbed the bank, then gotten the hell out of there the fist night!"
"Then, you wouldn't have gotten to know me," said a quiet voice.
Brian looked at Justin, not realizing that his face had softened. He just nodded, causing Justin to bestow one of his 'sunshine' smiles on him.
After a moment, Ted asked, "What now?"
"After dark, tonight, we'll heading back. Ben, of course, will stay here with Michael and Justin."
"No," protested Justin. "I'm going with you!"
Brian thought about it for a moment. It would be a good chance to see if Justin had what it took to be an outlaw. He wanted Justin with him for a long time. Then again, he didn't want Justin to loose the innocence he seemed to possess. Afer a slight hesitation, he nodded.
"You mind staying here, Emmett?" Brian asked.
Emmett shook his head and smiled. "Nope. It'll give me some time to practice a new shuffelin' technique."
Brian nodded. "It's settled, then. After the robbery, we'll come back here. In the morning, one of us will ride to the next town over and send a telegram to Debbie. We may need her help to get out of here." Brian's eyes darkened. If his cousin tried to cause him... them... anymore trouble, the bastad would be breathing his last.