<br/><hr/><div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/thumb/e/e4/Natehunter.png/437px-Natehunter.png)</div><br/><strong>Name:</strong>Nathan Hunter<br/><strong>Faction:</strong>Senior Deputy (Law Dogs)<br/><strong>Date:</strong>May 2nd, 1876<br/><strong>Time of Day:</strong>Night<br/><strong>Location:</strong>Camp Gǒu<br/><strong>Tagged:</strong>Margeurite, Closed<br/><hr/>She could feel him tense slightly when even the gentle touch went over his right side – he'd leaned to scoop her up with his left, no doubt placing all the strain of her weight on the injury.<strong>”No, I'm fine.  I wasn't shot,”</strong>he promised.  Though his reddened skin blushed slightly when she mentioned that he was bleeding.<strong>“Ahh... a little,”</strong>he admitted.  He was set to play the bravado to the hilt when he heard the panic in her tone.  He grimaced, but decided it was an occasion when discretion would, perhaps, be the better part of valor.  Some logical part of his mind knew that he was the worse for wear by virtue of his dehydration, his time spent beneath the open sun, his blood loss – and that time would only make those things worse.  He'd fully intended to stop come day break, still a few hours off, but the panic in her contralto was powerfully suggestive.<br/><br/><strong>”I took a knife from one of the guards,”</strong>he explained.<strong>“I – "</strong>He broke off, shaking his head.  No need to terrorize her with the details.<strong>"There's a range along the way.  Switchbacks and some caves.  Keep us out of the sun for a few hours.  If we can keep riding three, four hours, we'll be to the Vigilance Ranch.  Beds and food and fresh water.  And from there, we could be in Gomorra by sundown, the day after.”</strong>He smiled softly, but pulled the horse to a stop, slipping off the saddle and then offering his hands up to her slim waist, and helping her off.<br/><br/><strong>”Safe and sound and back to your husband.”</strong>There was regret and a certain sadness in his eyes.  Wheat he'd done to her still troubled him deeply, gripped him in a vice of guilt.