Re: Never Look Back- The Conclusion- Part 3 -- The Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman Fan Exchange

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Date Posted: 11:41:24 03/05/03 Wed
Author: Sue
Subject: Re: Never Look Back- The Conclusion- Part 3
In reply to: Sue 's message, "Never Look Back- The Conclusion- Foreword" on 08:30:44 02/21/03 Fri

"We played king of the mountain out on the end
The world come chargin up the hill, and we were women and men
Now there's so much that time, time and memory fade away
We got our own roads to ride and chances we got to take
We stood side by side each one fightin for the other
We said until we died we'd always be blood brothers

Now the hardness of this world slowly grinds your dreams away
Makin a fool's joke out of the promises we make
And what once seemed black and white turns to so many shades
of gray
We lose ourselves in work to do and bills to pay
And it's a ride, ride ride, and there ain't much to cover
With no one runnin' by your side my blood brother

On through the houses of the dead past those fallen in their tracks
Always movin ahead and never lookin back
Now I don't know how I feel, I don't know how I feel tonight
If I've fallen neath the wheel, if I've lost or I've gained sight
I don't even know why, I don't know why I made this call
Or if any of this matters anymore after all....*

McKay had witnessed friendlier faces before at a court marshal compared to the stony silence that had marked their trip
thus far. "Sure." he mused " on this journey they were trying to accomplish something that was far from being a picnic, but
he had expected some discussion, at the very least some petty bickering between the two half siblings that accompanied him."
There hadn't been any, none, and that worried him. The only modicum of communication that took place had come from
the chestnut bay beside him as it nuzzled against his good shoulder then face in appreciation for the stone he just removed
from its hoof.

This was the first break they had taken since their departure from Manitou early this morning, and it was a well deserved
one McKay assured himself while he gently stroked the horse in return. Neither of his traveling companions knew much
about horses, and if they had pressed on any further, the bay might have turned up lame as a result. Utilizing the chestnut's
flank now, he tried to straighten his posture then grimaced slightly at the protesting pull of his recent wound. "Dammit!"
He murmured to himself. This wasn't going well though he wouldn't let that fact be known. He wasn't going to let this
slight complaint slow them down any. Time was of the essence. Securing his right hand more firmly around the saddle's
horn, he completed his initial action , but not before a small grunt escaped his lips. Reaching up he swept his forearm
against his brow to wipe away the perspiration his small actions produced. He had wished now that he had purchased a hat
along with the clothes he had bought from Loren's store yesterday. Though it was early spring, the sun was beating
unmercifully down upon the riders making their way toward Colorado Springs, and its effects upon him were developing
into a full blown headache. Not only that but it was causing the remnants of the earlier snows still cloaking the
surrounding landscape to melt, making the road they traveled upon both muddy and hazardous, not to mention filled with
ruts. Using his hand this time he wiped his face again wondering how one could feel both hot and cold at the same time,
and with some difficulty he used that same hand once more to draw his corduroy overcoat that hung awkwardly over his
bandaged sling more closely about him before turning to join the other two men.

Moving nearer to their brief encampment, he found Hank drawing heavily upon the stump of his final cheroot while Ryan
sat close by upon a fallen log. Annoyance filled his countenance as he watched his cousin's approach, but he did not voice
it. It was Hank, who spoke up first.

His, "We should be moving on." produced a look of disgust upon Ryan's face, and a slight perk of satisfaction filled Hank's
own before he responded wryly. "What's the matter little brother? Certainly our accommodations are to your liking?" Ryan
tightened his bound hands into fists, but made no comment only raising his eyes to glare back at the man standing before
him while Hank continued his goading, moving closer to his half sibling as he did. "I see. Still not sayin much." Reaching
forward he gave the other man a hard shove knocking him off balance, but not before Ryan raised his fettered hands and
struck back catching Hank squarely in the jaw and sending him reeling off toward the right.

McKay rushed forward attempting to control the situation from getting further out of hand, his bark presently being far
more effective than his bite. "Will you two stop it!" He shouted angrily while helping Ryan to right himself before turning
toward Hank and giving him a look of disgust. "This isn't doing us any good!" He argued.

Hank used the back of his right hand to wipe a small stream of blood now dripping from his bottom lip; the result of
Ryan's fortuitous blow before glaring back at McKay then Ryan. "You're lucky I need you." He growled staring down the
younger man before turning away like a bear ready to lick its wounds.

Ryan took no regard of Hank's threat appearing more concerned with the current state of his dress as he tried his best with
bound hands to restore his previous appearance and then spoke up for the first time since their departure from Manitou
bemoaning, "Would you look at what he's done to my sack coat!" staring down at the right flank of dark grey wool now
spattered with mud.

"What's the matter little brother?" Hank returned mockingly while facing the other two men once again, now holding the
neckerchief he previously wore against his injured lip. "Ruined your fine duds have I?"

"I'll have you know that I paid good money for this coat!" Ryan's voice rose in contempt.

"Really now?" Hank slurred narrowing the distance between himself and the other man causing Ryan to shrink back in
anticipation of a forthcoming blow.

McKay stepped between them holding up his good arm to ward Hank off though the other man took no notice pushing
roughly past him and McKay issued a rough warning. "Hank!"

"Nothing to worry about Sergeant..." Hank drawled, acting to tighten the precarious leash about his barely contained
temper, while narrowing his eyes in amusment as he stared back down at the less fortunate man upon the log. "I was just
admiring my little brother's finery. Must have cost him a pretty penny. Did you buy it with that blood money of yers?" He
finished bitingly before brushing past McKay, who had once again placed himself cautiously between the two in a
meager attempt of defense. Reaching down he jerked the crisp white handkerchief from breast pocket of Ryan's coat.
"Monogramed too!" He snarled while examining it more closely, his eyes widening in counterfeit admiration before he
drew it closer toward himself. "Mighty pretty scent too! Smells like roses and something else.

"Sandalwood and jasmine, if you must know. " Ryan gave up grudgingly as he played along with Hank's little game.

Hank's eyebrows lifted in exaggerated astonishment before he muttered. "Well it seems here Sergeant that our common
relative's been livin the good life. That won't last for long!" Hank finished while throwing the mongrammed material
disgustedly back at Ryan's face. "Prison's to good for you little brother. A hangman's noose will be much more preferable."
And Hank stomped off.

McKay bent to retrieve Ryan's handkerchief while considering Hank's final words. He had enough evidence in his jacket
pocket now to put Ryan away in jail for a very long time, but a hangman's noose. He didn't relish the possibility. He could
understand Hank's anger especially considering Ryan's possible involvement in both Zach's disability and the Thatcher's
current dilema, but could McKay, himself, condemn his own flesh and blood to death? He had almost been willing to do so
months earlier when the same possible fate awaited Shelby, but things were different now. He was different now. He
realized that human nature was not as cut and dry as he had liked to believe it was. Extenuating circumstances sometimes
acted to muddy the swirling waters of life that surrounded them. Clutching the cloth in his good hand, he was abruptly
reminded of the injury to his other extremity as a throbbing pain shot down from his shoulder to his very fingers and he
unsuccessfully tried to clench his hand against it, his fingers curling lightly while making brief contact with an age old scar
before loosening once again.

"Here." McKay muttered distractedly while moving forward in an attempt to tuck the stark white patch of material back into Ryan's front coat
pocket only to sway slightly with a loss of balance that he quickly compensated for but not before another uneasy shudder
moved through him.

It was now Ryan's turn to deliver a mocking retort. "Well Cousin Terrence, I must admit, ya looked a tad sight better last
time I saw ya."

McKay's lip curled in annoyance, but he chose to ignore Ryan's sarcastic response and answered only . "For your own
welfare Ryan, I'd think wisely before aggravating Hank again. With this bum arm of mine, I can't promise I'll be able to
hold him back a second time."

Hank suddenly called over to interrupt the two. "Time to get movin!"

McKay turned and moved off, albeit shakily, to ready for their impending departure as Ryan snickered softly to himself.
"I'm counting on that dear cousin, Terrence. I'm counting on that."

* Bruce Springsteen's Blood Brothers.

A/N- Things don't look too promising right now. All I can say is hold on.

I'll be using another excerpt from a Bruce song later on when dealing with Hank's, McKay's and Ryan's story. I like the rawness and grittiness of Bruce's music. I think it does well in describing the tense atmosphere surrounding these three. :)

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