Theo's Rescue

August 24th, 1877

Northwest of Maddock Woods
As the endless summer morning passes without a sign of cloud in the sky. The constellations take form above the summer horizon. Stars fade into the glare of morning as light fills the hot summer skies. 

There is no road here, and it's fully several hills over -- where the party's tracker had determined that the person who had evidently shot Harry (and who was probably Theo) had gone. Several hills over from that grotesque body, found now almost two weeks ago. The path of those boots, carrying that lightweight figure, had turned to follow the stream, presuming, perhaps, that it would lead to the river and the river, to some location not so distant from Maddock -- if indeed this was the traveler's intent. There'd been an area back a ways, probably recently stumbled-upon and possible the latest starting point for this party, that was a camp area -- the booted traveler had stayed there for a few days, not traveling much into the woods but, as the woods evidence might tell it, lingering near the stream and in it. Many of the larger boulders were rearranged and all those were left disturbed; if the quarry had expected to be trailed, they'd not bothered to hide this stay. 

Now, however, the boots make fresher tracks and twigs that have been broken have only begun to heal -- the party's tracker would have to see the signs of more recent passage -- within a day. Within, once, possibly hours. The valley had deepened and now begins to widen, the forest becoming somewhat more sparse in anticipation of the edge of fields and meadows; the boots were heading down.

Barron pauses near the camp sign, calling over the rest of the party. He points out the camp, the boot trails leading from it. He saddles himself up quickly again, and leads the way down along the path, heading down further into the valley, and making sure the follow the sign.

Kei rides along with his horse, on the left of Barron at point. He lightly slaps the reins on Aisin's right side, and the horse rounds the site, avoiding destroying any possible evidence. Horse and rider head down the path without much more ado.

Damien urges Dante after Barron, finally drawing his rifle as it looks like they might actually be getting somewhere now.

Hank's only change in posture is to shift his grip upon the rifle in his hand. His jaw tightens as he steers his tired horse after the others. For now, he lingers near the end of the line.

Barron has his carbine held in his arms. That cigarette is still between his lips, and he's making his way slowly down the path, pausing every now and then to make sure he's still on track.

Christopher watches everything, a keen eye on the goings on. He's been on more important manhunts before, but they are all important, in the long run.

There's a figure ahead, wading carefully in the stream, looking down. Tallish, very thin with odd sleeveless clothes hanging loose on his frame, the figure is half-crouched, trying to see something in the shadow cast by his own figure onto the water. The noise of the horses breaking through the underbrush is, for the figure that finally comes into view, not heard until the last moment or so -- the babbling of the noisy brook, into which the pale-haired youth so intently peers, provides a sort of auditory camouflage for the approaching riders. But horse hooves on rock -- tlot-tlot and snap and the ring of metal of a shod hoof coming down -- jerks the distant figure into a more upright stance. Clawing at the gun-holster on his left, the youth's head snaps up, then around, and he dives over toward the edge of the stream, near the very scant cover of overhanging bushes. It cannot be comfortable under there, nor can visibility be remarkably good, but that doesn't seem to dissuade the thin figure from folding under it, carefully keeping the gun out of the casual reach of the water.

Kei looks behind him and in front of him to see the rifles come to ready as the solemn column makes its way down the path. His bow remains where it is, slung on his shoulder, though he does remove an arrow from his back, and holds it casually in one hand while he holds the reins in the other. He blinks and points, and murmurs, "I think I see something."
Kei pulls out his glass to look a little closer.

Damien reins his horse to a stop, the butt of his rifle propped on one leg, muzzle pointing up in the air. If that was the kid, he's not going in after him. Not with the boy likely spooked and armed with the gun he shot Harry with. No, this is the sheriff's play.

Barron peers, his eyes narrowed. "Alright, cover mah back," he tells Damien and Kei. He keeps his carbine on his lap, but not pointed towards the figure. He directs his horse down and across the terrain, carefully picking it's way past the rocks, moving closer to the figure. He waves his hat to the figure, settling it back on his neck.

Hank checks the ammunition in his rifle as he eases his horse a little closer. His mount edges along the stream, but doesn't drift past the group. The dusty ramrod has to rein himself in as the sheriff moves forward.

The figure in the bush may be in denial there, but there is a movement. A shifting. The shadows under the bush alter their composition and the bush's branches rustle to echo the quick, uneasy movements of the figure within.

Kei rides up only a little, his horse being checked a touch with a tug back on the reins. The little Chinaman hardly breathes as he waits for the situation to present itself as safe...or not. The arrow on his lap is joined by his bow, with the arrow resting across it, ready to be cocked. All of this is very quiet, bows not needing to be loaded as a gun might.

Barron slides off his horse once he's within shouting range. He keeps the carbine loose in one hand, but does call out, "Theo, if'n that's you, don't you go shootin' me now son, ah'll tar ya hard with that book ah gave ya ten ways to Sunday, ya hear me?"

The bush is very still for a few moments, then a wayward breeze loops through the shallow valley and rustles leaves and sways branches. Then, finally, a voice comes back: "How can I help you, Sheriff?" Theo's voice, projected, devoid of the ratting nervousness he feels, and sounding merely causal -- credit to a good thespian.

Christopher pulls his horse up short, staying a way back. He likes his rifle.

Kei and Aisin walk up a little closer. His distinct accent and somewhat sing-songy voice are rather distinct, much as Barron's likely is. "Theo...are you injured? Mister Marcel is rather worried about you!" He cuts to the chase. Thespian training aside, there are some things worth addressing squarely. He hooks the bow on the special place on his saddle for it, and starts to look into his satchel, being doctorish. That's what he's here for, after all.

Damien just watches the others as they try to get the boy to come out.

Hank's horse follows after Barron's. He hasn't said one damn word for the entire trip. Not to anyone. When the sheriff seems to get a response, he urges his mount a little faster to reach Barron's horse.

Barron makes his way towards the bush. "We been huntin' for ya for almost two weeks, son." he tells the boy as he approaches. "Come on out, so we can know yer okay," he says. He sets down his rifle, shrugging off his coat as he approaches the bush.

Christopher has had the kid pull a gun on him on his own land, and sure as shit won't put down his guns.

Within the bush, the figure crouches a little more, then curses. He overestimated the depth of the water and it pours over his boot, soaking his sock. Figure. This sort of thing doesn't happen in the story-books. Then again, the fleeing persons don't usually resort to eating crawdads, either. THEY know how to hunt and forage in the woods. Theo absorbs the fact that he's now hindered by one seriously weighted and wet foot, as he drops that knee and leans to look a bit better, under the edge of the bush. Wide eyes survey the party, and Kei's words catch Theo's full momentary attention. "Mister Marcel--? They said he was dead." That was louder. Then, quieter: "Sheriff -- Please -- Don't come in here. He's not dead? Pops didn't die? Please -- This isn't a joke--?" Theo's gun wavers, but won't quite point at Barron.

Barron keeps his hands up, moving the coat over his shoulder. "No, he ain't dead. I talked to 'em just yesterday mornin' to let 'em know how the hunt went. He's a tough one, that man." he replies. He tosses the coat into the bush after a warning, "Here, put that on. Let us make sure yer okay, and get ya back to town, so ya kin get clean and fed, alright?" Calm, reasonable words.

Kei calls, "He almost was, aye as the Sheriff says! But Theo, he is recovering. Not as quickly as he could, given he thinks coffee is the only medicine he needs but --" The Doctor does manage to stop his lecture on the importance of diet in the recuperation process, and says, "Why can we not come in? Is everything alright?" He is digging faster through his satchel.

Christopher is silent, simply watching.

At last, Hank's voice leaves him. The man's baritone is hoarse and scratchy. "If you don't *mind*," he calls, "haul your goddamn, stubborn ass out here so we can get you home." He's still sitting astride his horse with his rifle casually held in one hand.

Christopher isn't in charge of this man, anymore, regardless of what the sheriff said earlier.

"Then what?" That's just loud enough for Barron to hear, and the words warble with some fear, quickly choked away in a clearing of Theo's voice. He looks out again, now having his vision somewhat obscured by the coat, "I don't need that -- Look, Sheriff. Damn. He's alive? Are -- I don't want to hang, Sheriff. If he's really alive," and this isn't some trick, "That'd kill him worse. If you're all going to hang me for what I did to Harry, then--" Theo's interrupted by Hank, looks mildly horrified that he's part of this party, then turns back to Barron, "If they're going to hang me, I'd really rather die out here, Sheriff. I don't want to get hung." He's fast-talking now, and quietly: "They said that he was dead, that the town thought I'd done it, to get some money, I know Wade shot him with my gun. And I didn't want to kill Harry, please believe me, but I don't want to hang. If you're trying to trick me, then just shoot me instead." Theo glances back out again, at Kei, at Hank, then notes in the party Christopher -- aw shit -- and Damien.

Barron points to the coat, "Put that on," he orders, crossing his arms over his chest. "You aiin't gonna hang, ah'm heah to bring ya home, you see? Just put on that coat, holster that pistol and c'mon. Ya can ride back with me after the doctor checks ya out .. and y'kin go see yer pop, who's worried sick 'bout you."

Christopher considers announcing something to the sheriff, then thinks better of it. He doesn't want to be party to another shooting. Too many already in his life.

Hank lifts his rifle and slides it back into place against his saddle. A long sigh slides out of his nostrils. Considering that no one at the ranch has seen him for the better part of a month, it's likely that -nobody- is in charge of him anymore. The cowboy doesn't know the answer to Theo's query about the law, but he does know that he's not leaving here without the youth. At all.

Kei is waiting, brow furrowed, and he is patient, as he tends to be. If he's heard any of what Theo is saying, there is no indication of it. His mare tosses her head lightly -- that is the only stirring that goes on between either of them, save Kei giving her a gentle pat. "Noi-sing," hhe murmurs to her.

Another moment, before Theo makes a decision -- to be tricked or not. The gun's put back in the holster and Theo eases out of the brambles a slightly different way. He doesn't stand up too quickly, but reaches for the coat and offers it back. "It's warm. I'm alright." Theo's hands are partially-wrapped with what might have been the cloth of his sleeves. He does look a little unsteady, though, as Theo takes a few steps more, toward Barron. The youth keeps looking at Hank, though. "You all kind of look like you're looking to shoot someone." Theo does point out, quietly.

Well, as he understands it they're just here to find the boy, not shoot him and so Damien returns his rifle to it's scabbard.

Christopher has seen the kid's gun pointed at him, on his own land, not long ago. He turns to Hank, as he still has his rifle firmly in his hand. An incredulous look passes between Hank and Theo, trying to figure something out.

Hank flatly says, "Seems you already shot him." It's a little strange to spend weeks planning some kind of violent vengeance only to learn there isn't anyone to hurt. The big man clasps and unclasps his hands and tries to ease his face out of its stony expression.

"You should know, Theo, that I of all people don't like shooting anyone or anything." Kei's tone is relieved, not so preachy and noble-ish laced as it tends to be. He asks again, leaning a little over his horse's nose. "Are you hurt? You should be tended to, if so."

Barron reaches back for his carbine, but slings it over his shoulder, taking the coat back. "We thought there was another man after ya," Barron explains as he points to Kei, "Let the doctor check ya out, if yoou would? We can git ya to your kin quick after that."

Shaky, his shoulder nudging Barron's as he tries to slosh along in one bad boot and one good one, Theo finally has to stop and pour the water out of the one. What dignity. What refined grace. *sigh* Theo then glances back at Barron, shakes his head and looks at Kei, "I'm alright. I'm -- Most of it's healed, Doctor Kei. My hands -- They're alright. Will be alright. Some blisters. They had the bright idea of tearing my sleeves off instead of gloves. Mason was supposed to have gloves. Did you get Wade and Burt?" This, spoken to Hank, as Theo almost tries to defend that, "I didn't want to shoot him. I didn't -- I --" He shakes his head, eyes wide and a touch glassy, "I didn't." Back to Barron, "Pops isn't dead?" Christopher is ignored, largely, as is Damien, as if Theo can't quite figure out why they're here and can't quite manage the brain cells to sleuth it out.

Christopher watches the kid that pulled a gun on him not too long ago, and wonders just what gets into some of these kids. He keeps his rifle at the ready, half standing in his stirrups.

Kei slides lightly off Aisin, and gives the horse an open hand. "Mai yuk," he says, then detaches the satchel from his saddle and approaches Theo. He is slow, tentative, and gentle in tone and manner. "We can wait until you get back to town for most of what I need to look at, but for now, give me your wrist if you would? You've been through quite a lot, I am sure -- you may still be too excited to know if your injuries are more serious." He offers his hand. "Alright?"

Barron slides his rifle back into the saddle boot, and shrugs the coat back on, turning to face Theo and walking back over to the young man. "Ah don't know a Wade or Burt. And he ain't dead," he reassures.

"You show me Wade and Burt and I'll make sure to get 'em," Hank says from his place by his horse. He hasn't taken one step toward Theo since the youth's appearance, but he's here. There is just enough of a vow to his words to give a hint of the menace the unknown pair named Wade and Burt might face.

"Harry's not dead?" Theo asks, then, voice not quite hiding the near-panic, "He's /got/ to be dead -- Pops -- Pops isn't dead. No, Doctor. I just want to go see him. I'm fine. I'm fine. I've been managing alright. I'm fine. I got away before -- I'm fine." Theo does not want to give his hand. He in fact takes several steps away from Kei and looks up the others again -- Christopher, sitting there with his rifle (a familiar pose), Damien, away from the saloon and without Miss Taylor, and Hank. Hank gets a shake of Theo's head, as he draws his fingers through his hair in a nervous gesture, "Wade's the one that shot the man -- And Burt's just plain mean. Said he'd killed me because I beaned him with Wade's gun."

Kei says, "Theo, Harry is dead." He sounds none-too-displeased with that either. Only taking a a few small steps compared to Theo's backpedal, the Doctor is still gentle and kind. "I am sure with all of us here, no oneis going to harm. I can tell from your behavior you are shocked. Please, Theo, give us an opportunity to help you. You are protected now. You are our first concern. The others will get what they deserve, I assure you."

Barron lights the cigarette between his lips, and inhales. "No no, that one is dead." he replies. "The one left back there, he's dead and gone, son. Yer pop, he's fine. Lissen to the doctor. Yer safe now. No one is gonna be executing anyone." A glance at Hank, back to Theo.

Christopher has his mind made up, but he's not the law. He waits, watching all here, making sure nothing happens out of hand. Seems the Sheriff has it well in hand. But one just never knows.

The sheriff can say all that he wants about no executions, but Hank is looking pretty damn grim. He keeps watching Kei and Theo, almost interjecting a comment, but then wisely remaining silent. His hands clench into fists again and release before he reaches up to rub at his unshaven jaw.

"Let's just go back." Theo asks, mostly of Barron, but including Kei in this. He works his way around the other side of Barron's horse, from Kei, then looks again at Hank. It's a wide-eyed look, transparent in anxiety, worry, and one that is blinked away as Theo glances down for a second, away at Christopher's horse, then Damien's hat, then back over to Hank. "Did you bring another horse?"

Barron nods to Theo, as he moves to his stallion and throws himself into the saddle, "We didn't." he explains, "Didn't want to slow ourselves down. You kin ride behind me, if you want." he says. "We'll git ya back home quick, you'll see."

Hank says, "Theo'll ride with me." It's a statement of fact, rather than a suggestion. He turns to look at his horse and then he looks back at Theo. The cowboy adjusts his dusty spectacles.

Christopher slowly moves his horse towards the Sheriff, rifle still in hand. "Got a minute, Barron?"

Kei glances between Theo and Barron, looking more than a little concerned. Theo's a relative of Thierry's no doubt. He begins to put his satchel back on his horse, and he calls over it, "I still would like to examine Theo, just be certain there is no evidence of infection or what have you." This is said matter-of-factly. As he slides up onto his horse nimbly, the little Chinaman looks at all assembled, lips still pursed. A much better ending than it could have been.

After a swallow, another glance away and back again, Theo nods to Hank and walks over to him. "You look like hell, Mister Mathison." Theo explains. "I'll ride behind you. I don't get along all that well with horses." To Kei, "I am /not/ infected." Theo even goes so far as to look at the Chinese doctor when he says that, but he glances further, to Christopher at his request. Too much. Too much to deal with. Theo looks back at Hank and waits for word to climb up.

Hank swings himself up into his saddle and gathers the reins with one hand. His other hand is offered down to Theo. "Reckon I can't look too much worse than you do," he drawls. "Now get up here before I decide to make you sit up front."

Kei watches Theo with great care. And Thierry just needed some coffee to get out of bed. That didn't happen either. Still, the Doctor does not insist or otherwise react to Theo's protest. He just keeps watching Theo move: how he looks at people, how he walks, how he responds to Hank. All of this is an examination in Chinese medicine, too. Certainly Hank's comment about how Theo looks is a noteworthy tool for diagnosis as well...and entirely true. The Doctor starts to look more concerned, and mumbles a few things in Chinese as he counts on his fingers.

Barron watches Theo, and shrugs. "Alright." he replies as he takes his reins. "Get yerself comfortable, and we'll get ya home." he says, turning his horse to face the way up they came from.

Christopher is waiting for the Sheriff to respond, "This kid goes no where, Hank, until Barron or I say so." The cocking of the rifle he holds marking his words.

Kei turns on Christopher, and snaps openly, "What are you doing?!?! The boy is in shock!"

Reaching a hand up, Theo takes Hank's and swings behind the cowboy, into the saddle. At Christopher's words, Theo just sighs, sags forward against Hank and murmurs something quietly. Theo's good enough to not stick his heels into the horse's side. Not up to being tossed off.

Damien turns to eye Christopher curiously.

Barron pauses from where he had his horse aimed, and turns his head to Christopher, "Everyone jes stay calm," he says in a tired voice. "Yeah, Mr. Quintan?" he asks Christopher, now that everyone is settled.

Christopher rides towards the sheriff, his rifle held low, but ready.

Hank's horse shifts his feet, but doesn't move forward or back. The beast stands where Hank wills it and he isn't going yet. Not yet. While his brown eyes watch Christopher approach the sheriff, Hank reaches back to draw Theo's arm around his waist.

Barron scratches at the back of his neck, listening to what Christopher has to say. Finally he nods, and mutters something to the man before he rises up and turns in his saddle to Hank. "Theo, do me a favor and ride heah with me. Mister Marcel wanted me to reassure ya of a few things on the way home."

Theo is surprised, but exhausted in mild reaction -- he brings both arms around, lightly linking them with one hand clasping the other, in front of Hank's belt. His returns comment -- or something in it -- startles Theo into a slightly more straight pose, but not much more. He mutters to Hank, "I... He --... and I... off... him over... and I don't really pull... on... often, but... he... What--now...." Theo rolls his head toward Barron, Christopher. "You going to shoot me if I don't? If not, then let's go. I'm fine, here. I just want to go see my Pops. If you want my gun," Theo finally offers, "Take it." This last is spoken with a hard look at Christopher.

Christopher offers a low-voice response to Barron and nods, and prepares to move off.

Christopher shrugs to Barron, and rides off.

The stubbornness of Thierry and Theo is something that Kei is all-too-familiar with. Perhaps it irritated him more before all of this happened, but now, he simply looks amused through his overwhelming sense of relief. Stubbornness has gotten both of them somewhere, that much should be said. He offers a half-defense of the boy, "Is it necessary? Or is it something that is more private...?" He cocks an eyebrow and looks at all assembled, trying to remember just how 'private' some mattes are at this point.

Barron shakes his head to Theo after giving Christopher a simple, tired nod. "No, no no. Ah don't want yer gun. Ah trust you, friend. You wanna ride with 'em, it kin wait. Let's get goin', so we kin git ya back to Mister Marcel." he says, indicating the way back with his hand. "Mr Quintan ah think will ride point, you ride in the middle there and ah'll pick up the rear, Mister D'aray will take the left side and the good doctor the right, jes' in case we run into any trouble. Let's ride."

"Ho," Kei says decisively, smiling softly at the 'good doctor' comment, then taps the reins on Aisin's right side. The horse trots off right, to the position where Barron indicated. Kei gives her a loving pat and a clump of parsley.

Damien watches the exchange interestedly and swings his horse into the position that Barron indicates, slipping the thong from his revolver with a casual gesture.

Hank settles a hand over one of Theo's in an oddly comforting gesture. The touch is there for just a second and then the cowboy is reaching for his own rifle again. He's regained his grim and tired expression as his horse follows Christopher.

Christopher gives a look that would frost most men, but likely just infuriates Barron. "If you can keep up with me, sure." He was a Calvary officer for the first part of his military life. Until he got...involved.

Christopher spurs his beast into a run, not wanting to stay another minute here for some reason.

Theo drops his jaw against Hank's back and holds on, quietly, eyes half-lidded. He's already marched through much of these woods and doesn't feel obliged to watch the exit.

Hank senses "Theo pulls herself against him, firming her grip, though it's somewhat shaky on a basal level."

Barron waits for the others to take off before he brings up the rear. He allows Christopher to set the pace. If it's hard and fast, that's just as good, it gets them back to the city proper all the faster.

Hank mutters something that only Theo can hear as he guides his horse along the trail at a much slower pace than Quintan.

Much travel deleted, now in town: 

From the east side of town, Irving turns, then, smiles gently back at you, and lowers her head, once. "Alright. And-- hey. Roast beef tonight, just as promised."

There in the square, another of the now-and-then search parties that have gone off toward the mining district, in search of the missing youth, have arrived. This one is different, however, in its return. This time, there's as many horses and one more rider, returned.

From the east side of town, Thierry smiles, "Thank you." He squints down at the group of riders who've entered the square.

Barron rides in behind the party, apparently having been keeping on the rear. He makes his way to where Hank is letting Theo down, to walk with the youth over towards the east of town.

It's Hank's horse that carries two riders, the second being much leaner, much lighter than the other. With arms clasped around the larger figure, they'd arrived, but now Hank lets Theo down and Theo murmurs up a quiet thanks to the cowboy, who still doesn't take this as any sort of dismissal. Apparently he's appointed himself as Theo's bodyguard, and the horse is passed off to a boy, with a coin, so that Hank can linger in the area, keep watch on Theo as Theo turns to Barron. No words pass then, except a few quiet syllables.
You whisper "You sure you're not going to hang me? I appreciate that." to Barron.

From the square, Barron shakes his head to Theo. His horse is reined in near the sheriff's office, and he makes his way to the young man, indicating eastward. "No, I'm not gonna,." he replies wryly. "Let's go see yer ...Mister Marcel, alright?" He hands over a waterskin from his horse, "Drink this as ya go. It's fresh water."

Thierry stands unsteadily from where he is on the porch. Then he tries to hasten down the stairs, ignoring the pain.

"Grey. Theo's Grey." Theo intones. "Thierry's Marcel. So is Theodora." Theo takes the waterskin and glances again at the Sheriff. Credit to his trust, he takes a drink before sniffing, then hands it back. "I'm alright. Pops is in the boarding house?"

Barron nods to Theo, "He is," he says as the two men walk. "Or knowin' him .. on the porch." He glances at the porch, squinting a bit. "Ah think ah see 'em now, actually.

Thierry makes it down the stairs, as he calls out, "Theo?" He walks faster, yelling out again, "Theo?!"

Theo looks up, sharply, with slightly squinted eyes then shaded with a quickly-brought-up hand. "Pops!" Theo calls out, breaking into a trot and then a run, and leaving Barron as he heads over there, "Pops!" It's not like in the movies; Theo trips, but he's up again fairly quickly, if slower and with a slight limp. Good thing Kei's not here.

The sun hangs directly overhead, its light warming your shoulders.

Were Irving any lest.. robust, she probably would have fainted. Women do such things. Luckily, there is no such incident. But it's clear that her heart has leapt clear from her mouth. She grips the porch railing, dazzled.

Great, Theo's limping, and Thierry's worried about this wounds, so it's a slow process for them to meet. Of course, when Thierry does get there, Theo gets a bear hug and tears.

Barron makes his way along to both men, actually reaching around Theo to get the waterskin so it doesn't get sloshed. "Ah got 'em, like ah promised." he tells Thierry. "None the worse for wear. He's fine. Rattled a bit, like ah expected, but ok. And we're gonna have a guard at yer door for the next week or two. No argument, jes to be safe."

Irving rubs her own eyes raw. She stays by the porch, anxious for both the limp and gimp oarties. Her face swalling up with red and chin warbling a little. A soft, "Praise Jesus."

Christopher wonders where this devotion is to the killer of his father, but says nothing.

Theo is enfolded by Thierry, with his own voice having dropped to a more quiet tone, speeded by that lowered volume: "I thought you were dead, Papa. They told me you were dead. They said, you'd been killed by my gun and that they were looking for me to hang, and that I'd wanted your money and that-- Damn, I'm glad you're alright. You're alright? You're shot, but you lived, oh--" Theo backs off enough to look Thierry over, "You look like hell too."

Thierry talks over that speech of Barron's, mostly because he's not paying attention to anything else but Theo. To him, Thierry murmurs, "I have been worried about you for so long. I am so happy -" his voice chokes off. "Damnit, Theo, you scared me to death. But it's nice to know you've kept your tongue sharp."

Barron smiles at the pair, and caps the waterskin, walking his way towards the boarding house as well, letting his hat fall off the back of his head and hang by hte thong. "Let's git inside?" he suggests.

Christopher watches the father and son, and looks about for Hank.

"Got beat enough for it," Theo grins, then, and reaches to catch Thierry's hand, to bring it up to brush Thierry's knuckles against his cheek, "I thought you'd come after me, then they told me you were dead. And you didn't come. It made sense. So I didn't see any reason to come back, once I got away. I'm sorry," Theo finally says, with a sheepish half-smile, "I didn't mean to worry you. If I'd known you were alive, I'd have come back. It's been bad, Pops." Theo then says, "I had to kill a man and I -- thought when they came, that they were going to hang me." Barron gets a quick look from Theo, as does Hank, Christopher. Short-lived, those glances. Theo looks back at Thierry and smiles brilliantly.

Theo heads, as well, toward the Boarding House. Theirry shouldn't be out, looking that bad. Right?

Irving strolls off towards the boarding house.
Irving has left.

Thierry squeezes Theo's hand as he mutters, "It's enough to know that you're here, now. I have missed you so damned much."

Barron holds the door open for the pair, a smile on his worn face. Most of his exhaustions seems to have bled away, and he even stomps out the cigarette he had in his teeth.

Christopher sits, watching the goings ons.

"Well, I was a little worried about the hanging part, see, Papa.... I don't want to hang," Theo glances over at Theirry, grins and then proceeds through the door with only a barely-noticed thanks to the Sheriff. Theo hasn't surrendered Thierry's hand, and doesn't seem in any hurry to do so. "I didn't pick that fight, by the way. I feel that I should tell you this. They," Theo shrugs theatrically, "Have a problem with Shakespeare and they thought I was a pansy." Nevermind how Theo comes off.

Thierry hung back to say something to Barron, then followed.

Barron strolls over from the roadway.
Barron has arrived.

And Hank comes through too, a grim shadow perhaps softened (or perhaps not) by the sight of this odd reunion.

Barron follows the pair in, only to lean against the door. He clears his throat to get their attention, first. "Gentlemen?" he asks. "Lissen, a h'm gonna hang out on the porch heah and make sure things stay calm. Theo, ah'm gonna ask sometime tonight, ah'm gonna come back and get the descriptions of these folks so ah can find 'em. Don't yoou go anywhere alone fer a while, and ah'm gonna have someone watching the boarding house for ya. You two just rest, and get reunited, like."

"Yes, Sheriff." Theo's eyes track past Barron to Hank, and then back to Barron. Good choice, by Theo's pick. "I'm really not wanting to do much but eat and sleep. And I'll be happy to talk to you later." Theo eases nearer Thierry, though, rests his head slightly on the less-bandaged shoulder.