Mark and I were out on the range fixing some of the fence post.  It was starting to get dark so we decided to call it a day when we came across a man lying on the ground.....he was close to death.  We put him in the buckboard and rushed him into town to see the doc.  I went straight to Micah's office.  He wasn't there.  Ben Johnson was covering for Micah.  He noticed we had a body and asked me who it was.  I had no idea.  I told him we found him on the range about sundown. I asked him to help me take him over to the doc's.  He said the doc wasn't here either, that he and Micah went to Jonas' place for a barn raising and box supper.  I told him to go get him and to be sure and tell him it was an emergency.  He agreed, but reminded me it was a better than an hour ride out to the Jonas' place.  I told him to do the best he could.

I took the cowboy on into the Doc's office.  I tried to make him as comfortable as I could. I sent Mark out to get the blanket that was in the wagon.  While he was takin' the blanket out of the wagon he noticed a young lady walk out onto the front porch of the hotel.  She called to him and asked him if someone was hurt.  He told her yes.  Then she wanted to know how bad?  He told her he might be dying.  He told her the doctor wasn't in.  She caught his fancy and wasn't paying much attention to what he was doing and walked into the post. 

There was a knock on the door.  The gentleman said that his daughter told him that someone was hurt and that he was a doctor.  Mark invited them in.  When I saw  it was Simon Battle, an ex-gunslinger from Oklahoma, I wanted no part of him.  He sent his daughter Vicki to get his bag.  I told Mark to go with her.  I wanted to talk to this man.  "What are you doin' here?" I asked.  "I might ask you the same thing," said Battle.  "I live here."  "I didn't know, we we're just stopping for the night." said Battle.  "I thought you were dead!" I said.  "A lot of people thought that.....you in particular," said Battle.  He started to examine the cowboy.  I stopped him.  He told me he was dying.  I grabbed him.  "Your no more a doctor then I am." I said.  I tried to stop him from examining him.  Before I could get a punch off he hit me.  He started for his gun.  "Be careful McCain, it'll be like it was like ten years ago.....a fast gun against a fast rifle. Only I guarantee the out come this time." he said. He hadn't changed, the only thing different was that he was a doctor and this man needed a doctor.  All I could do was help. 

"You put a bullet in me once McCain. I've had ten years to think about it. Ten years when you thought I was dead. I could have come after you.....but I didn't!"  "I was too busy to waste my time. But I'll tell you this.....I wasn't afraid of you then and I'm not afraid of you now."  He kept working on the cowboy the whole time.  "I heard you settled down. I didn't believe it.....I still don't." Said Battle. Just then the kids came in.  He told Vicki to go on back to the hotel.  She wanted to stay and help.  I threw Mark some money and told him to take the young lady to supper.  "Why sure."  "They got real good apple pie," said Mark.  She agreed and they headed over for supper.

It wasn't long when two cowboys barged in.  The one was Stacey and the other was Spicer.  He asked if he was alive.  "Doc you're makin' a mistake, that man don't want to live!"  "You didn't hear me Doc, I said let him die!" "No man's got a right to live after doing this to me," said Spicer.  He had a nasty cut on his face.....the left cheek.  I asked him if he shot Stark.  "Maybe.....maybe not!"  He asked the Doc what the answer was.  "If I can possibly save this guys life, I will!" "Then if you'd like.....I'd look at your face." Said Battle.  "You save him and you won't be lookin' at nothin' cause you'll be dead!" Said Spicer.  He was gettin' ready to shoot the Doc when I took my rifle and knocked his gun out of his hand.  "Now you said all you're gonna say mister.....now back out that door, both of you!"  I said.  As they backed out the door Spicer said he'd be out in the street waitin' on me.  "Remember what I said....."You save him.....I'll kill you Doc!"  I slammed the door behind him.

The Doc asked who they were.  I told him they were ridin' the Lobo brand.  "Are they still killing their own?" Asked Battle.  "Why not? I think about half of the two bit gunmen in the territory.....drunks.....outlaws.....thrown together on one ranch. What do you expect?" I asked.  "Did you ever work for Lobo?" Asked Battle.  "I thought about it once," I said.  "So did I," said Battle.  "I think there are four of 'em out there," I said. 

Mark and Vicki was havin' a nice supper.  They were enjoying each others company.  Vicki told Mark that after her mother died they moved to Chicago.  That was where her father studied medicine.  Mark was smitten.  He was enjoying watching Vicki and didn't hear everything she was saying.  But when she got to the part about how they lived out here 10 years ago when she was six.....well that sure woke him up!  "Only six! That means your sixteen years old now!"   "How old are you Mark?"  That did it.  He started to shovel the food in.  "How old did you say?" She asked him again.  "Ummmmm.....you want some pie.....I'll order it?"  That took care of that! He never did have to answer the question about his age.  He was relieved.

The cowhands from the Lobo Ranch were gathered together outside of the saloon.  Spicer wanted to settle things with me.  Just then Stacey remembered something about the big silver B on the gun holster of Battle.  He told them Battle was a gunfighter who disappeared from the Oklahoma Territory about ten years ago.  Britt heard of him too.  He heard that Battle was more then good.  Spicer liked this.  This was as good as it could get.  He wanted to get him a gunfighter like that.  "No man puts his gun aside for ten years and comes back good," said Spicer.  He was getting tired of waiting.  They headed towards Doc Burrage's.  "Hey doc! How you comin'?" "Keepin' him alive doc?"  "You know something.....I changed my mind;  You hear me?  You too sodbuster!"  "I changed my mind, I want you to keep him alive."  "The boys here say that the doc's name is Simon Battle, a real good boy with a gun!"  "Well you keep old Stark alive so I can find out."  "Yeah.....I'm gonna stay here until you come out and then I'm gonna kill you Simon Battle."

Mark and Vicky were just getting ready to head over to the Doc's office. They hurried in and told us that they heard what Spicer had said.  Vicki was upset.  She had hoped he didn't mean what he had said.  "I'm afraid he did Vicki," said Battle.  "No!"  She turned to me.  "Can't you do something?"  "Vicki.....listen to me.  Do you remember when your mother passed away? Do you remember?"  "Yes..... I remember very well what you said, that you were gonna change!" Said Vicki.  "I have," said Battle.  "To this?" "I'm not gonna let you!" "You've got to stop them!" Yelled Vicki.  "Vicki listen," said Battle.  "No you listen," said Vicki.  She turned and walked towards us.  "My father was in a gunfight once. He was shot and he almost died. A lot of people thought he had."  "But my mother nursed him day and night for weeks. She wore herself out trying to keep him alive because there was no doctor anywhere."  "He lived.....but she was so tired and so weak.....she got the fever."  "We did what we could but there was nothing we could do, because there was no doctor."  "He promised her then.....he promised her.....the very last thing she ever heard was," Vicki couldn't finish, she was crying too much.  She ran to her father's arms. "I promised her I'd become a doctor. Start helping people.....instead of being what I was," said Battle.  "Your a doctor and your gonna stay one! Don't go out there," she pleaded. 

"Come on doc.....Whatcha waitin' for? Old Stark still alive?" Yelled Spicer.  "You afraid to come out?"  "I'm talkin to you too sodbuster."  Just then Spicer shot a flower pot that was hanging in the window of the doc's office.  "We're still waitin'," yelled Spicer. Spicer then motioned for Stacey and Sag to go and take cover where they wouldn't be seen. "Come on doc.....you'll make us come in after ya'," said Spicer. Battle talked to his daughter.  He had to make her understand.  "Vicki.....those men want to kill me because I saved this man's life.  If I don't stand up and defend what I am.....then it's all been in vain."  Vicki turned to her father.  She knew he was right.  He told her to watch Stark's pulse and respiration and to keep him quiet.  We both went out together to face those cowhands.

"He's alive," I said.  Stacey was hidden on top of The Madera House, behind the sign.  Battle saw him before I did.  Battle pushed me aside.  He saved my life.  He then shot and killed Stacey and Sag.   I shot Britt.  Spice was out of ammo.  Battle then went to face him.  "Put it away, I'm gonna give you a chance to live city boy!" Said Battle to Spicer meaning to put away his gun.  All the while Battle kept approaching him.  "Put it away!" Said Battle again.  Spicer then went to shoot Battle but Battle was faster, he shot Spicer's gun out of his hands.  "You satisfied?" Asked Battle.  "Yeah," said Spicer.  Battle then walked up to Spicer and said....."Well I'm not!"  He hit him a good shot and knocked him to the ground.  

Mark then rushed out to hug me.  Vicki came out.....she wanted to make sure he was alright; she took one look and went back in.  Battle went into talk to her.  "His pulse is getting stronger, his breathing's good. He's asleep now, I think."  She then turned to her father with tears in her eyes. "Oh Daddy!" Cried Vicki!  "It's alright honey, it's all over," said Battle. 

I told Vicki to write and let me know how they are gettin' along.  She said she would.  She told Mark she'd write to him.  "Battle.....I was wrong," I said.  "That makes two of us," said Battle.  "Good luck Doc!"  We shook hands.  "Thank you Lucas." 

"Kinda makes life seem worth while, doesn't it?" Asked Mark.  "Yeah it sure does son.....what's the matter?"  "That Vicki.....why does she have to be almost sixteen?"  "Well son now look....."  "Don't say it Pa.....I know."