Sean hung on as Hawk-Claw rode his rode hard along a thorny path that led up into the mountains. While they rode up the trail, Nathan chuckled into Sean's ear. "You've got to be the craziest son of a bitch that I've met. Not that I'm ungrateful... but you are lucky to be alive." Huffing to himself, Sean mumbled out. "Ya. I was really lucky." Smirking, Nathan hugged him and said coolly. "Let's hope it holds out." As they rode up the trail to the mine, Sean's heart sank. The entranceway was gone. Sliding off the horse, Nathan gawked out. "Oh no... That's not good." Swallowing hard, Sean snapped back at him. "Don't say that?! It means nothing! Help me dig!" Running up to the rocks, Sean started to throw rocks away in blind desperation. He refused to believe that Mark wasn't alright. Nathan placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to stop him, but Sean shrugged him off. Just before Nathan was going to give him a speech, Bob called out to them. "Sean? Nate? That you?" Nathan perked up, answering excitedly. "Ya! You guys alright?" Bob stepped out from around a thick brush, relief filling his voice when he said aloud. "Oh, are we glad to see you!"

Wade limped into view, rushing up to hug Nathan. Hawk-Claw stayed mounted on his horse, keeping a lookout and pretending like he wasn't jealous of their interaction. Abandoning the rocks, Sean jogged up to Bob in the hopes of seeing Mark near him. When he didn't see him, he turned hopeful eyes on Bob who told him gently. "He's not here. There was an explosion... we got separated. Mark was planning to use an old tunnel. We don't know if he made it." Sean straightened himself up, asking seriously. "Where does the old tunnel lead out?" Bob pointed to the other side of the mountain, while informing him. "It used to come out on the other side. A place called old wash out river. It used to be a clear river, but the old cave in turned it into mud." Nodding, Sean turned around and asked Hawk-Claw boldly. "Can I borrow your horse?" Nathan pulled from Wade, stating out firmly. "Whoa. You're not going anywhere on your own. They'll be out looking for us. We need to get someplace safe." Shaking his head, Sean told them all seriously. "I agree. Mark shouldn't be out on his own. You stay with them. Get them someplace safe. I'll find Mark."

Snatching his arm before Sean could take the reins of the horse, Nathan told him sternly. "Hey. You just risked your life to rescue me. I'm not going to let you run off again. You're tired and injured. You need to take care of yourself for a minute." Sean glanced at his bleeding arm but ignored the pain as he retorted. "I don't care. He'd do it for us. I'll rest when he is with us." Twisting his arm from Nathan's grip, Sean tried to plead with Hawk-Claw until Nathan carefully pushed him back and whispered softly to him. "You and Mark are close. I get it. But you're not going alone." Sean gestured to Wade and Bob, whispering back. "They are hurt and need to get away from here. I won't be able to rest until I find him. You'd do the same for Hawk-Claw." Shifting on his feet, Nathan turned and told Hawk-Claw in a fragile voice. "You can take them on foot and hide them, can't you?" Hawk-Claw nodded but added softly. "You plan to go with him?" Nathan bowed his head, mumbling out. "I can't let him go alone. Out of everyone. I'm ready for a fight." Easing off his horse, Hawk-Claw cupped Nathan's face and told him in a tender voice. "I understand. I'll help. But if you find yourself in trouble. Send Fair-Wind back to me."

Nathan nodded, then kissed him passionately. Sean averted his eyes, coaxing the horse away from them enough that he could pull himself onto her. When they parted, Bob slipped Nathan a gun and told him seriously. "I'm pissed we can't go together... but I hope you find him." Nathan nodded, then quickly mounted up behind Sean. Kicking the horse into a run, Sean steered the horse down onto a cattle trail that circled the mine. Sean was sure there was a safer way around, but he only knew of the cattle trail. He'd used it a few times himself. As he rode through the gully, Sean couldn't help noticing the spot where he'd saved Mark. It had felt like ages since then. Reluctantly, glancing up over the hill he spotted his old homestead. The place was completely burned to the ground with just ashen posts left where his house and barn had once been. Slowing the horse, he took a moment to take it in. His whole life had been tied up in that little patch of land. Staring at it, he thought he'd feel a great loss or anger. Instead, he felt something else.

Behind him, Nathan rubbed his arms and told him gently. "I'm sorry. When this is all over, you could try getting it back." Shaking his head, Sean lifted his chin and told him honestly. "No. There is nothing for me to go back to." Turning the horse, Sean rode on without looking back. He didn't feel like that scared little farmer anymore. Picking up the pace, Sean rode up to the river of mud that blocked the way across. Fair-Wind reared, snorting with distress and Sean didn't blame her. Anything that tried to cross it in the past had gotten stuck and drowned in it. Turning the horse to head up the side toward the mountain, Sean called out desperately. "Mark?!" Nathan helped him look as they rode up along the riverside. The rush of water drowning out most of the sounds around them. Fair-Wind struggled just to walk the muddy riverside but managed to keep herself from getting too stuck. Glancing back at Nathan, Sean asked curiously. "Where did the old tunnel let out at?" Nathan pointed ahead, answering grimly. "It was up there. But you see that slope? That is where the exit used to be before the landslide that caused the cave in. Any exit now will be underwater."

Pulling the horse to a stop, Sean asked Nathan nervously. "So, you're telling me that he is trapped in mud under the water?" Putting a hand on his shoulder, Nathan calmly told him. "What I'm saying is that if Mark followed some tunnel out. It will lead underwater. Where he'll have to dig his way out." Sliding off the horse, Nathan cursed as his feet sank in the mud enough to slow him down but added hopefully. "If there is a hole and Mark got out. The current of the river might have taken him farther downstream. The only way to know for sure, is to get wet." Sean started to climb off, but Nathan pushed him back on, ordering him nicely. "No! Stay up there. If this mud gets into your wounds, you could get infected with something. It smells of a lifetime of rotten death. Besides, I'm not as tired to trudge through this." Sean adjusted himself on his horse, adding with slight disappointment. "You mean that you want someone to pull you out with the horse's reins." Flashing him a grin, Nathan chuckled back. "That too." Sighing with defeat, Sean leaned across the horse's neck, but kept his eyes open for any trace of Mark.

Nathan waded to the half-submerged slope and eased into the water with a slew of curses. The mud clung to Nathan's legs, forcing him to struggle against the rushing water and sludge beneath the dirty water. Easing along the half-submerged slope, Nathan ran his hand along the side, telling Sean coolly. "Nothing yet. Feels pretty solid." Taking a deep breath, Sean announced anxiously. "Nate... If Mark is trapped underwater... I'm going to dig until I find him. He can't... He has a thing about..." Nathan glanced back at him with empathetic eyes, upon replying. "If it comes to that... I'll help you. For now. Just... pray." Sean shifted uncomfortably on the horse, forcing himself to look anywhere except at what Nate was doing. He needed a distraction. He wanted to see Mark walking up the riverside. He wanted it more than anything. When Nathan suddenly yelped out. "SEAN!" Almost twinging his neck from looking back so fast, he saw a man standing on the other side of the riverbed. The man had been well hidden and had managed to get a lasso around Nathan's throat! Nathan gripped the rope around his neck, mere seconds before the man yanked on the rope enough that Nathan fell underwater.

Sean screamed out Nathan's name, withdrawing his gun to shoot the man that was pulling Nathan to the other side. Only to get jumped from behind. The person slammed into him, tackling him off the horse and into the mud. Sean thrashed in the mud that tried to suck him in, while trying to wrestle with the man that was eagerly trying to retrain him. It was a fight that he was losing. From the other side, Nathan strained out a sharp whistle that made Fair-Wind kick and bolt from them. Her retreat nearly knocked over a group of deputies as they rushed in. Too tired to keep fighting the mud and the men, Sean had no other choice but to accept defeat. Yanking him upright, the men tied his arms behind his back and disarmed him. While others rushed across the slope to help retrain Nathan who was starting to win his fight. Up until the Marshal aimed a gun at Sean's face and called out. "Hey, Nate! We got your boy." Sean bowed his head, feeling nothing but shame. When he peeked over his shoulder, he saw Nathan punch one of the deputy's unconscious before tossing his gun aside with a dark scowl. The deputies easily rushed in to retain Nathan.

The barrel of a gun touched the underside of Sean's chin, forcing him to look up into the Marshal's smug sneer. Yet, all Sean could think about was Mark. His lost chance to save him. The Marshal let out a throaty chuckle, before practically purring into his face. "You are a slippery one. But your friends are your weakness. Too bad you arrived too late to save them all." Lowering the gun, the Marshal straightened up and excitedly told them. "I guess, plans have changed. You both will die by my hands today. Let's go, Boys. Let's not keep the devil waiting." The deputies yanked Sean toward the horses they had hidden in the tree line. Tying him and Nathan up to walk behind separate horses back to Iron Hills. The walk was tiring, but Sean managed to keep himself from being choked to death from the horse's pace. As they walked through the dusty town, Sean caught the eyes of people who used to know him. That used to care. Now they only looked at him with fear and mistrust. His home felt strange to him now. Colder and distant. Riding up to the gallows, the Marshal called out. "Take them up there. Put that one in the noose but save that one for me."

Sean winced as he was dragged up the steps of the gallows but was pulled short. While Nathan was forced into the noose. The Marshal tipped his hat to the mayor, who eased out of the tavern with a few people to watch. Allowing the Marshal to boast loudly. "These two are all that is left of Mark's gang. If he didn't die in the cave in... He'll join them when I catch him. Otherwise, I'm just going to rid us of these loose ends now, if you don't mind?" The mayor waved a hand with approval and the Marshal whirled around to happily tell Nathan and Sean. "You will be hung. And you... I'm going to enjoy lashing you before I take your head." A deputy set a chopping block down in front of Sean, while the deputy holding him, forced him down to his knees. Sean's breathing sped up, but he ultimately felt emotionally numb. He didn't want to believe that Mark was dead, but part of him was excepting that he was. A deputy shackled a ball and chain to Nathan's legs, while the Marshal teased out. "You would be able to pull yourself up now. Now when the trapdoor falls, the weight will help snap your neck. That is my mercy to you, because I want you to fucking die!"

Nathan started to sling curses at him until a deputy gagged him and blindfolded him. When the Marshal walked over to Sean, the deputy shoved him down across the block. Holding him down firmly as someone else cut open the back of his shirt to expose his flesh. The Marshal accepted a small nine tailed whip, kneeling menacingly to let Sean see it as he whispered to him. "You shot me. You've humiliated me... and now. I'm going to put you in your place and post your head as a warning to others. The Pinkertons can take what is left of your defiled corpse. Ya... I know what you mean to Mark. And if he is still out there. I want him to see what happens to... HIS kind." Anger flared through Sean, prompting him to raise his head a little and snap back. "Mark is alive. And he's coming for you. You will never be safe." The Marshal snorted, rising to his feet and snapping aloud. "Let's get started. First, I'll whip this bitch. Then we'll hang his friend before I take his head." Sean inhaled slowly, bracing himself to be hit. He refused to cry out. He didn't care how badly it would hurt. He'd hold out and piss him off for as long as he could. All their hopes were riding on Hawk-Claw, Bob, and Wade.

Back at the river,Hawk-Claw rode down the hill on Fair-Wind with Bob and Wade on stolen horses oftheir own. Hopping off the horse,Hawk-Claw observed the muddy ground and told the others. "They were ambushed." Wade adjusted on his horse, askinghopefully. "Did they find Mark?" Hawk-Claw followed Nathan's trail to theriver but shrugged out. "I don't know. Ionly see Sean's and Nathan's footprints. Lots of others... but they could havescooped him up directly from the river." Bob exhaled, turning his horse as he told them. "Then we go back to save them." Wade nodded, piping up. "Mark will understand. He'd want us to gosave them." They all nodded, when avoice coughed from farther down. "Whatwould I want?" All eyes darted to a manthat was trudging up the riverside, he was completely coated in thick mud andlooked exhausted. Bob's lips curled intoa grin as he excitedly called out. "Mark?!" Spitting muddy water, Mark shrugged hisshoulders and panted out. "What's leftof me." To Be Continued...