Part of Ray wanted to leave her out on the front lawn, but he couldn't because he knew there was still hope for his soul. He wasn’t a cold-blooded killer like the girl he was holding.
Doc Myers’ cabin was right next to what used to be Ray’s parent’s cabin. The Doc had lived alone ever since he came to Wisconsin from the east. Nobody knew much about him but they were all happy to have him in the settlement. He had always been a very close friend to Ray’s family.
With the girl in his arms Ray knocked on the door and pushed on in. “Doc! It's Ray! I have someone who needs your help!”
The doctor entered the room, pulling his burgundy robe tightly around him, “Ray! Ray, they said you were dead, you and your Pa. Where's Emery, is he alive too?”
“Pa didn't make it, Doc. They killed him.”
“Well I'm sorry to hear that son; your Pa was a good man and a dear friend. I'll miss him. Now, I guess you had somethin’ to do with all the trouble goin’ on up north with those timber cutters?”
“Maybe, Doc.”
“Well it would be hard to blame you if you had killed the whole lot of them. But be careful son, those are some dangerous men.”
“Where’s Ma, Doc?”
“You know your mother was never the type to run from trouble, but they told her you and your Pa was gone. She told me the only family she had left was a sister out in California so she headed west. You may be able to catch up to her. Riding alone she’ll need to join a wagon train. Those trains move mighty slow."
The doctor's spectacled eyes turned toward Samantha's lifeless figure. "Now what do we have here?”
Ray laid the girl down onto the Doc’s makeshift examining table in the side room.
“Hey, that’s the Foster girl. You didn't shoot her… did you son?”
“No sir, her Pa was tryin’ to shoot me when she stepped between us to grab my gun. I went to confront him and he turned it into gunplay.”
"Well he’ll still blame you for his daughter getting shot. You better head out and soon!”
“He won't be blamin’ anyone, Doc.”
Doc Meyers looked up from the girl into Ray’s face, “Well, I can't say I'm sorry he’s dead. But I wish someone other than you would have done it.”
As the Doctor placed a rag filled with a strong smelling chemical over the girl’s mouth and nose for a few seconds he looked at Ray, “You have to get out of here. These people will lynch you. Even though they were afraid of Foster, hated him in fact, most were still dependent on him to run this settlement and bring in the money. And this girl, she’ll tell everyone you killed him in cold blood. Ride boy, ride and don't ever look back.”
“Thanks Doc, thanks for always bein’ there for my family,” said Ray as he reached for the door he turned back. “Will she be okay?”
“She'll be okay, but it looks like she took a pretty hard hit on the jaw,” smiled Doc.
“Anesthetic Doc, it was the only way I could get her here. I don't think you'll need that smelly stuff on that cloth to keep her out,” Ray smiled back. “I'll write you from the trail, and let you know how we’re doing.”
“I'd like that son. You got any money?” Doc said kindly.
“I'm okay, thanks again Doc. Oh, you might want to go next door in an hour or so and make sure Gus gets inside. I’d hate to think he’d lost some fingers on my account. I’ll be seein’ you.” With that Ray stepped out onto the front porch and into the brisk night air. He found Larry and John still sitting in their saddles when he stepped off the porch. Larry handed Ray the reins to his horse.
“Where we headed?” John asked.
“We?” Ray was surprised.
“Gus saw our faces at your cabin, I’ll bet by now those crewmen have figured out the two new hires are no longer around. I’d say the trouble you’re in is the same trouble we’re in.”
“What about your life here boys?” Ray asked quietly.
“Ray, your family was our life. Larry and I have no real families here, you said as much yourself. The families that took us in are more than ready to see us go,” explained John.
“We’ll always appreciate what they did for us, but its time go,” agreed Larry.
“Well boys then I guess we have a long ride ahead of us. How does California sound to you?”
“California sounds alright to me,” answered Larry.
“I got no problem with it,” said John.
“Well then we might as well get started,” Ray said as he swung up into the saddle.
“I always wanted to see California,” smiled Larry, with a gleam in his eye.
“Hell, you never heard of California before tonight,” laughed John as he swung his horse out into the path.