All across the camp, the gunshots rang out like distant bellows of thunder from an oncoming storm, rousing the attention of all including Gus and Claudia...and of course Elijah.

	Elijah soon burst from the flaps of his tent, gazing towards the north from where the rancorous pops and bangs resonated.  Somehow, he had a feeling in his gut, a sick, gnawing feeling that John and the others were in trouble.  Alas, from who?  They were just out hunting is all.  Surely John, even a man as dumb as he, wouldn't have done something to gain the ire of a few lawmen.  Nor would those other boys, Seth and Jamie, the two brothers.  Unless...it wasn't lawmen.  Elijah's brow furrowed.  It better not be those goddamn Thunder Hill boys he thought, a cold, determined look in his eyes.  If it was, God help those sorry,  murdering sons a bitches when he got a hold of them, especially if their leader was with them. 

	 "Alright fellas!"  He shouted over the clattering gunfire in the distance, quickly giving a shrill whistle to call Boudica to him.  With one foot in the stirrup, he hoisted himself over the mare's saddle, reaching down to grasp the stock of his prized Winchester.  "Change of plans!  Miss Lockhart, you and Claudia watch over the girls!"  His sharp eyes then turned towards the two men at his side.  "Ben, Pete, you ride with me!  I don't know what the hell's goin' on, but I got a feelin' our boy John is in deep shit!  Saddle up!"

	And with that, Elijah gave a swift kick to Boudica's side.  However, before he raced out of the camp with two of his trusted guns by his side, he halted Boudica just short of the wagon, leaning over to give Claudia a quick kiss on the lips.  "If anything happens, hon, I love you."  He said to her.  "Watch over the girls, and goddammit, don't get yourselves killed now."

	"You watch yourself too, Elijah."  Claudia replied hastily, a deep pang of concern wearing upon her beautiful face and slightly marring her charming good looks.  "I love you.  Now go!  Go get John!"

	"I shall return!"  Said Elijah loudly, spurring Boudica into a thunderous gallop.  "Let's ride, boys!"


	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mc9xm6UmVp8


	Meanwhile, out on the prairie, the bullets continued to fly between John and the rest of the Thunder Hill Gang.  He had already been shot once, feeling the stinging, burning pain throb in his left side, yet he grit his teeth and continued to battle throughout the overwhelming agony.  He loaded another two rounds into his shotgun and quickly snapped the barrels shut, taking aim over the boulder that was his cover and firing.  "You goddamn bastards!"  He hollered over the raging sound of bullets whizzing and snapping, men shouting and guns firing back at him.  "I'll send you all to Hell!"  Throughout the firefight, he made sure to keep a close eye on Jamie.  Thank God the boy was still alive, but he was holding on by mere threads.  Already, the young man's skin appeared pale as a ghost to John, his eyes glazed over with an empty, cold stare into nothing.  "Jamie!  Jamie, hold on!"  John shouted to him, but the other outlaw gave no response, not even a curt nod.  John gulped sharply, assuming the worst.

	"Seth!"  He then called over to the other man, Seth hastily ducking down as another flurry of bullets came screaming towards him.  Little, tiny puffs of dust and debris erupted from the thick granite boulders, casting shards of rocks in every direction.  To describe the scene, the only word was...chaos.  "Seth!  I think he's dead!  Look at him!"  He pointed to Jamie quickly before returning fire with his shotgun.  Seth paused for a moment and looked down at Jamie.  He soon fell to his knees, placing his hand over Jamie's blood-soaked chest, only to look up at John with terror in his trembling eyes.

	John's face went pale as his own eyes met Seth's.  He knew then it was true.  "Goddammit!"  He cried out, his voice choked by tears of both sadness and pure anger.  He quickly reached down to his holster, yanking his Schofield loose and firing madly at the Thunder Hill boys, his eyes burning with rage.  "You killed Jamie, you sons a bitches!  Now I'm gonna kill all you!"  One by one men were falling, either their chests bursting with a shower of spraying blood or their heads popping like liquid filled balloons.  John was pissed now.  If only they had made it back to the camp in time.  If only they had not gone hunting like Elijah insisted!  He was furious, and he was letting all of those bastards taste every bit of it.