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Then there was movement between him and the station. Readjusting the binoculars, Chase focused on the movement. There, he'd found it.
"Mathew Tyler," Chase whispered as he shook his head. "Don't do it. Don't get yourself killed… "
But Chase saw him moving slowly against the ground toward the station. He could use the boys' help. He had to get to him before Hawks did.
Without another thought, Chase began moving very quickly against the ground in a sort of crawling run. He moved swiftly, the rocks and the sand grinding against him as he moved. Mathew was close to the station, too close.
Chase finally caught up to him and threw himself on top of the boy. He grabbed at his mouth to silence him first, "Don't say a word, do you understand?"
Mathew grunted and was about to flip him over when Chase whispered, "Do not move, Mathew. I need your help. We've got to get Hawks, together."
Mathew shook his head, "I'll get Hawks, myself, don't you worry none about that, now get off me." He nearly shouted.
"Be silent, my friend, I’m on your side. But you can't go in there in broad daylight. He'll gun you down before you can get up," Chase whispered against his ear.
Mathew relaxed his body to the ground. "You got a better idea?"
"Yes, we wait till dark. Then we can go in. If we are lucky, there will be no moon." Chase sighed.
"Okay…okay, but would you get off me, you weigh a ton for someone who ain't fat," Mathew said, his temper dying slowly.
Chase rolled off with a slight chuckle. "Stay down, don't move or get up. Just stay where you are. In the desert a man is easily seen when he moves, but if he does not move, he blends with the land."
"Scout talk?" Mathew frowned.
"Fact…"
Mathew rolled over. "Where's the others?"
"The Captain and Lee are back a ways, they will come later," Chase offered, lying on his stomach so the sun did not burn his eyelids. "Lee took a bullet and the Captain is nursing a head injury."
"And Josh…"
"Didn't make it," Chase sighed heavily.
Mathew nodded slowly. "Yeah, I figured he wouldn't. This will kill Katherine."
Chase looked at him, "Do not move any more than is necessary, or they will see you."
"He's got Miss. Katherine," Mathew cried.
"Yeah, I know…"
Mathew shot him a quick look. "I guess I might as well tell you…I wanted to court her…but I was always too scared to ask."
"Perhaps you should have," Chase offered.
"Never seemed the right time. Now…it's too late…," he said lowly.
"Why…do you say that?" Chase frowned at him.
"Aw…it don't take much to see how she feels about you…" Mathew admitted.
Chas tried not to smile, for it pleased him greatly that others could see this. But he saw the hurt in Mathew's face too, and realized Mathew was still a kid.
"She never looked at me like that." Mathew looked away.
"Right now, Katherine needs us. And I might not come out of this alive, Mathew. So do I have your word that if I don't, you'll take care of her?" Chase asked as he stared at the young man.
