Chapter 42

"But why would that guy lie to us?" Charlie asked. None of this made any sense he kept telling himself.

Buck shook his finger in Charlie's direction. "Kid was here in this cave when that old man was talking to us. He had the Kid and he was trying to lead us away from him. That's why he sent us in the opposite direction - he figured we'd ride up to the hill and just keep going, you know, try to catch up to our friend."

"But it makes no sense," Charlie argued. "How would he know the Kid?"

"That I don't know," Buck admitted. "But it's the only logical explanation. Kid was shot; he was hurt bad enough to be thrown off his horse. He couldn't have just got up and walked away to hide somewhere, he'd have needed help. And maybe it was against his will." He started toward the entrance to the cave, holding tightly to Kid's gun belt. "Why didn't I think clearly on this yesterday?"

"'Cause we only met the old guy a few minutes ago," Charlie reasoned, catching up to him. "It still don't make sense to me. Why help someone out and in the middle of a gunfight to boot?"

"Maybe he was trying to help him out and now feels the Kid owes him for saving his life. People are funny that way; you know, he risks his life to save Kid’s and now he wants something in return. And it might be something Kid’s not willing to give. Or maybe Kid knows the guy from somewhere else and the old man recognized him - it's not like any of our pasts are an open book. I don't know but at least it's something to go by, more than we had before. I would say the Kid didn’t want anything to do with the man, that’s why he ran ‘cause if not, the man would have told us about him when you mentioned we were looking for someone. It has to be the only explanation to why Kid doesn’t have his gun and why the old man didn’t want us to know about him knowing where Kid was. Kid is out there trying to get away from the trapper and the trapper is out there trying to find Kid.”

“Alright, that all makes sense but can you be absolutely sure Kid is trying to get away from the old man?” Charlie asked. “Maybe the trapper is just taking Kid to a doctor and that’s why he’s not here. Or maybe Kid wasn’t hurt that bad and he left on his own.”

“Then why keep it from us? We have badges on; he could see that plain as day. Charlie, he deliberately mentioned things about Kid that only his friends would know so he’s seen him. And if he was telling the truth about where he saw Kid, I would have found footprints and we wouldn’t have found Kid’s gun in the cave that has definitely been occupied by the trapper himself. Besides, like I said, Kid’s gun is here; I doubt it but if he left on his own with there being no trouble, he would never have done it without his weapon. Besides, even with being wounded, he wouldn’t willingly take it off if he thought he was in danger so someone had to have taken it off for him. If he didn’t think the trapper was a threat, Kid would still be in the cave healing up. He had to have left in a hurry, that’s why he doesn’t have his gun.” Buck knew he kept repeating the facts over again but he needed Charlie to follow his line of thinking.

“I guess so,” Charlie sighed. “Maybe you’re right – Kid’s running and the trapper is after him. So all we have to do is win the race, find Kid first," Charlie said. "Should be easy as falling off a horse," he muttered to himself.

"I think it might be," Buck said, motioning the blonde young man toward the edge of the path. "Look at this - footprints and they're fresh too. The wind hasn't blown dirt over them yet. Someone went down here and recently."

Both men looked at each other and grinned. In the next instant, their heads were disappearing over the edge of the slope.

Kid moved past some tall plants and came into view of the most beautiful sight he'd seen in more than a day. It was dark and wet and so inviting. He licked his lips, tasting it already.

He half ran half stumbled his way to the water's edge. Kid fell to his knees then onto his belly. With his good hand, he brought the liquid up to his lips. He closed his eyes, enjoying the feel of it sliding down his throat. He sighed in satisfaction.

Kid had no plans of leaving that spot just yet so he removed his hat and brought the creek water splashing onto his face, hair and neck. It made him feel energized for the first time since he'd woke up last night. All of a sudden, he felt as if he could carry out his mission of getting out of this damn valley. He then concentrated on cleaning his wound.

Bringing another handful of water to his mouth, Kid froze as he heard movement in the direction he'd just come from. "Shoot," he said under his breath. He released the water and struggled to his feet. There was no way he was going to let that crazy old man get a hold of him again. Gratitude was one thing but Kid knew he wouldn't be able to get away from him a second time.

Looking around, Kid knew he had to try to erase his trail. There was only one way to do it. As quietly as possible, he entered the water then trudged through the creek but didn't cross it. Instead, he went downstream.

Buck and Charlie pushed their way through the various plants that seemed to be all over the valley floor.

"This leads us back to the creek," Charlie surmised. "We know Kid isn't there."

"Remember, we were at the creek when Kid was in the cave," Buck reminded him, having no doubt in his mind that Kid was alive, seriously injured but still alive. "He's gonna need water so it makes perfect sense."

Buck started down the path toward the creek. He stopped dead in his tracks, causing Charlie to bump into his back.

"Now do you believe me that Kid is alive?" Buck asked mysteriously.

"Huh?"

Buck moved aside and pointed to a rock. Imprinted on its surface was the image of a hand, a handprint made from blood.