Running With An Outlaw

6

"It was years ago so it will take me a moment to remember where every thing is.." He stated before his eyes flicked around and he turned his horse to the left and heading toward a medium sized, single story building that was a little ways away from the general store.
"I think this is where the town doctor stays when he isn't home, so he will have the medical supplies we will need..." He said before dismounting his horse and looking up at him. "Are you going to stay out here or go in?"
The outlaw followed him towards the building, being quiet so he didn't raise suspicion anymore than it probably already was.
He stopped his horse at the building and dismounted. "Yeah, I'm going in. I told you I had your back, didn't I? I intend to keep that promise." he said.
With that, he followed Samuel into the building, a pistol tucked in his holster just in case it was needed. 
"Where's the doc, Samuel?"
Sam held up a finger to silence him before calling out to see if any one was in. An older man came out of a back room wiping a pair of thick spectacles on his shirt. He had greying hair and a pot belly, but held himself like he had and expected respect.
"What can I do to you boys?" He asked in a calm tone as his eyes swept over the outlaw to his hidden face before looking at Sam.
"You the doctor round here?"
"Yes, I am. Someone hurt or sick?"
"Sort of. We need tweezers, suture thread, a needle or two, and some medical tape if you have it."
"Sounds like someone's hurt bad if it needs to be stitched. Perhaps you should bring them here and I could patch 'em up for ya?"
The outlaw looked to the doctor as he walked up and then he looked to Samuel, not sure if he could trust this man before them or not. It would be easier to just have the doctor stitch him up than putting his partner through the torture of trying to do it. He exhaled slowly and then looked at the doctor.
"I need fixed up... Think you can do that without pulling any shit?" he asked the older doctor pulling out his gun to show that he wasn't going to be playing around.
The doctor got a smile on his face. "Sure thing, but put down the guns please?" he asked and Clinton looked at Samuel. 
"Think we can trust this guy?" he asked his partner.
Samuel thought about the question for a moment, not wanting to make a wrong decision. He nodded slowly and looked back at the doctor with a cautious expression.
"Don't pull anything," he reinforced as he watched the exchange between the doctor and his... partner. He felt like that word didn't accurately describe their semi-complicated relationship but it was the best one that he could find because he wasn't sure if there was a better one out there for the time being.
He wasn't sure how he felt about the older man poking around on Clint because Sam knew that the outlaw could very easily be stuck at the mercy of the doctor's hands.
The thought put the dark haired male on edge, but he also knew that he would patch him up better than Sam ever could.
"Did you get the bullet out?" the doctor asked Samuel, seeing by the dehydrated and still semi-pale state the other man was in he wasn't much in the condition for talking. The outlaw slowly holstered his weapon and followed the man to an exam room and sat down on the table and waited. 
The doctor was still waiting for an answer from the younger man as he gathered the supplies he needed. Clinton slowly unbuttoned and eased off his shirt. The doctor laid a blanket down under Clinton's shoulder to elevate it some when Clinton laid back. 
"Yeah, I got it out. Just didn't have the supplies to close up the wound," Samuel answered as he followed, leaning against the door frame once the doctor had gathered his things. He wasn't so sure he wanted to be in the room when the doc started, but he knew that if he stayed he could pay attention and do it himself if something like it were to ever happen again.
"Why don't you get over here and you can help hold him down?" the doctor suggested. "Plus, you should learn how to do this since your buddy here seems to like to get shot..." the doctor added.
Clinton chewed his lip a bit, knowing why the doctor was asking Samuel to hold him down. It wasn't going to be a pleasant experience for either man.
Sam nodded after a moment and moved to the outlaw's side, readying himself to hold down the slightly older man.
"Well, hopefully he won't get shot again," he sighed as he got into a decent position and watched what the doctor was doing. He felt bad for the brunette laying between them, there was no way that this was going to pleasant for him.
"Doubt it. Knowing his reputation..." the doctor said as if it was nothing, but knew maybe that would get the younger man's attention.
The outlaw looked at him. "What do you mean?" he asked and the doctor chuckled. "I know who you are..." he said and then opened a bottle of whiskey. "This is going to hurt..." he said and looked at Samuel. "Hold him." he said before pouring the alcohol over the open wound.
Clinton inhaled sharply through painfully clenched teeth, groaning. "Son o-of a..." Clinton exclaimed.
"Sorry." the doctor said and then took a pair of tweezers and began cleaning debris from the wound, which made Clinton's eyes tear up. He closed them tightly while harshly biting his lip.
"St-Stop!" he pleaded, but the doctor shook his head.
"We're almost done. Hold on."
Sam held him down and looked at the brunette apologetically before looking back to the doctor. He kept a grip on the outlaw and kept him from moving around too much, while watching the doctor work.
"If you know who he is then why'd you agree to help?" He asked out of one part curiosity and one part nervousness. The fact that the doctor had recognized the outlaw set him on edge, but he hoped that it was a false feeling.
He tried to tune out Clint's sounds of pain and his pleading but he found himself feeling bad that he had to go through this for a bullet he had taken for him. He didn't waver in his hold on him however, knowing it had to be done.
The doctor stopped long enough to look at Samuel."Get that bandana off of him. He's going to pass out because he's not getting enough oxygen." the doctor said and then finished the last of the cleaning of the wound.
Samuel nodded, reached up, and pulled down the bandana enough that he could breath. His eyes pausing on the tears welling up in his eyes and had to fight the urge to reach up and wipe them away. He didn't like seeing Clint in so much pain and it made his chest tighten with concern and empathy.
"Breathe..." the doctor said softly.
Clinton gasped for a breath, his eyes welling up with tears."D-Dammit... I'll kill you, doc!" he threatened.
"You aren't going to kill him, so shush," he scolded as he looked back up at the doctor with a soft shrug and a quiet sigh before looking back down at what he was doing even though the sight turned his stomach slightly.
"Yeah, yeah.. save your breath..." the doctor said and then looked at Samuel. "I agreed to help because you both had guns out. What was I supposed to say? 'No'?"
"I guess you have a point, sorry about that.."
Clinton arched his back and screamed as the doctor poured more alcohol onto the wound to flush out any remaining dirt. This time it was more painful because the skin had been irritated from the doctor clearing the debris. 
"Easy, easy!" the doctor yelled and held down Clinton as well. Clinton groaned and his chest heaved with each breath.
Samuel worked hard to push him back down onto the table along with the doctor. He took a deep breath and looked at at the outlaw as he yelled, the loud tone causing him to flinch slightly.
"Y-You're enjoying th-this, a-aintcha doc?!" Clinton yelled.
"No, no, I'm not. So shut up and focus on breathing before you pass out." the doctor scolded.
Clinton looked at Samuel, a tear sliding down his face. "I get a be-beer after this, right?" he joked, forcing a smile.
"We'll all need a beer after this." the doctor mumbled before working on getting the needle ready to do the sutures. He then started to do the stitches, each one earning a groan from the outlaw from the pain.
"Yes, we will get you a beer after you're patched up," he replied with a roll of his eyes and a soft smile before looking down at what the doctor was doing and giving his arm a comforting squeeze. He had ignored what the doctor said about them all needing a beer because, frankly, Sam wasn't sure he would be able to stomach one at the time being. He took a deep breath himself and looked at the outlaw again.
"I swear to god if you pass out because you held your breath I'm going to kick your ass," The dark haired man threatened.
Clinton shook his head as the doctor worked on the stitches. "W-Will you get him to st-stop f-for two seconds?!" he yelled and the doctor stopped and sighed, resting his hands on the edge of the gable. 'I don't like this any more than you do, buddy. But it needs to be done." he said and Clinton spit at him. The doctor wiped off the spit and then looked at Samuel. 
"Let him pass out. Less of a trouble for me." the doctor said and Clinton laughed. "You know what's f-funny, Samuel?" he said, still laughing.
Samuel glared at the outlaw for a moment when he spit at the doctor, nearly knocking him senseless but somehow managed to stop himself from doing so.
"I'm starting to think you're right," he sighed before looking back down at Clinton deciding to be easier on him since he was a little out of it with pain.
"What's funny?" He asked, catching himself before he said the outlaw's name like he usually did.
"The fact th-that if I tried to e-escape this torture ri-right now by ge-getting up and ki-kicking this man b-between the legs, h-his balls are so shriveled u-up that when I -I hit them, dust would ap-appear...out o-of his pants." Clinton said, laughing. At the mention of him thinking about to escape, Sam put a little more pressure on his side so that he would have difficulties doing so.
"Very funny, asshole..." the doctor mumbled and pulled a stitch tighter, causing Clinton to groan.
"Ba-Bastard!" Clinton yelled and the doctor looked to Samuel.
"You always have to deal with him being so annoying?"
"Now you hush and be nice to the man who is patchin' you up", Samuel sighed as he rolled his eyes at the outlaw. He had honestly thought about thumping him for insulting the man that could easily 'mess up' and render Clint's arm useless or worse.
He turned his brown gaze back on the doctor and nodded. "He isn't usually this annoying, but I have a feeling I'm going to be dealing with it for a while," he joked with a faint smile as he gave the brunette another light squeeze on the arm.
"This man is so old, when he farts dust comes out. He isn't going to care what the hell I say!" Clinton laughed. It was obvious he was starting to pass out though from the constant feeling of pain from his shoulder.
The doctor ignored the insults and finished the last of the stitches and then worked on making a ointment for the wounds, making it out of herbs and such.
"I have a feeling its more the pain that's making him this way. And maybe a little bit of the fact he's extremely dehydrated probably is not helping matters." the doctor informed Samuel.
"I'll get some water down him soon as we're done here. I'm sorry he's treatin' you like this," Sam apologized as the doctor moved to make the ointment. He brushed Clint's hair out of his eyes and wiped the few tears on his face while the doctor's back was turned, worried when he looked like he was going to pass out, and they would have to wait around in town longer than they needed to. He was glad, however, that he wasn't the one who had caused him the pain again because he wasn't sure that he'd be able to handle his reactions as smoothly as the doctor. 
"If you knew the half of what I was called daily back when I was younger and worked in the hospital that used to be here, you would know that what your friend is saying isn't even close to hurting my feelings whatsoever," the much older man said and then he looked at Samuel once he turned back around.
"I guess I can understand that. Got some tough hide," he joked before he started telling him what needed to be done.
"Comes with the territory. Toughen up or give up." the doctor said and then he looked at his work, pleased with it. "He'll be fine once he gets some water into him." the older man informed.
"I'm going to put some of this on his wound and then bandage him up. Your job is to make sure he doesn't strain the stitches. They'll absorb in time, no need for them to be removed. Usually I'd use regular ones but I doubt you both will be in town again anytime soon." he said, adding, "This being said, absorbable stitches are much weaker than regular stitches, so keep caution of his wound. Don't let him be stupid. His dressing needs to be changed every couple of days, but the ointment doesn't have to be applied every single time, just for the first few days does it need to be used." the doctor instructed.
He then went ahead and began applying the ointment and bandage, Clinton still semi-awake.
Sam listened to him speak and nodded periodically to let him know that he understood what the doctor was saying. Samuel repeated the instructions and warnings in his thoughts until he had them completely memorized before he watched as the old man put the ointment on and the bandage to cover the patched wound. The dark haired male looked down, feeling the outlaw's hand grab his own.
"Sam?" Clinton groaned and grabbed his partner's hand. "Samuel... where are you?"
"I'm right here. Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere," he told him looking down at him with a fond smile, letting his hand be held without really thinking about it.
Clinton smiled a little and stroked Samuel's hand in return for him being there and offering comfort.
"Th-Thank you... You sa-ved my ass..." he said and the doctor noticed pretty quickly how they were acting. He had, had a sneaking suspicion, but wasn't sure until now.
"How long have you two been together...?" he asked, adding. "I won't tell.... Just don't often see this. Picked quite the partner though, boy." he said to Samuel.
Clinton frowned at the doctor. "Shut up!"
"Like I said before, anytime," he smiled before turning a bright red at the doctor's question. He quickly looked down at the table like it had suddenly became the most interesting thing in the world. He paid attention to to the soft stroking on his hand and attempted to get a hold of himself enough to speak.
"He isn't all that bad," he managed finally without looking up from the table and without answering the question.
"Didn't answer my question, why?" the doctor asked and then got some water and sat Clinton up some and helped him drink and then laid him back again.
"What? You embarrassed of me?" Coin on asked, looking at Samuel and then looking away and to the doctor. "When can I go?" he asked, his voice hurried.
"Soon." replied the doctor as he worked on taking care of his supplies.
The dark haired man watched as he helped Clint drink the water, before starting to answer the question when Clint asked if he was embarrassed of him.
"You know that I'm not. I'm just not used to the damn question is all," he snapped quietly before looking back at the doctor having answered both their questions in one go.
"A few days if you have to know," he sighed before pulling his hand away from Clint and crossing his arms across his chest.
"No reason to get snappy." Clinton said and then he looked at the doctor and nodded before he looked back to Samuel. "Just don't try to justify it... I don't care if you're embarrassed or not, Sam." he said and then looked back to the doctor.
"I want to go." he said and then got up and grabbed his shirt. "Thanks for the help, Samuel, but you're off the hook." he said and then left, tying his bandana back on before walking outside and then he mounted up on his horse.
Samuel gave an exasperated sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose before thanking the doctor and getting what the outlaw needed and chasing after him.
"Will you just stop for a second?" He called as he watched him mount his horse. Rushing forward and grabbing the horses reigns to keep him from taking off.
"Look, I'm sorry for whatever the hell I did," he said looking up at the outlaw's masked face.
"Yeah, sure. I'll be seein' ya 'round, Samuel. Good luck." The outlaw said through his mask and then he snatched his reins back and turned his horse sharply around and kicked its sides, taking off.
The doctor walked out of his clinic and looked to Samuel. "What was that all about?" the doctor asked, face confused.
"I don't even know, but he sure is givin' me whiplash," Sam replied with another irritated sigh, regretting anything he had said inside the building. The doctor pressed the things needed for the outlaw into Sam's hands, which Samuel shoved into his saddle bags. He noticed a small bottle filled with a clear liquid and when he looked up at doctor he explained that it was a sedative I case the outlaw ever got shot again.
"I'd better go after him, even though I might end up regretting it," he added before swinging himself up into his mare's saddle and looking back down at the doctor's face. 
"I'll be back eventually to pay what we owe ya, I just need to make sure he doesn't go and get himself killed.... can't thank you enough, Doc." 
"Well, godspeed, boy. And don't worry about the payment, just watch your back out there." the doctor said and then watched as Samuel rode off before he headed back inside. 
With that he wheeled his horse around, kicking her sides sharply, and racing after the outlaw in the direction he had taken.
Samuel urged the mare on until she was at her top speed because of how much more of a head start the outlaw had. He began to think that it was because of his reaction in the office at the question and groaned quietly at the thought. Why would he have been mad? It wasn't like they were officially together, unless Clint thought otherwise? The whole mess left Sam's thoughts jumbled and confused to the point that he couldn't make heads nor tails of it. 
He kept going until he could see the outlaw ahead of him, slowing down enough that he could keep him in his sights, but still at a speed he wouldn't lose him.
The outlaw stopped his horse in a bit of a dense forest area. He dismounted and then he leaned his back up against the tree and slowly slid down it and then ran his hand through his hair after he had taken off his hat.
Sam paused at a distance when the outlaw came to a stop and dismounted, but rather than continuing up to him, he turned and walked away to give the man some time alone and now that he knew where he had stopped, he felt better doing so. 
-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'
He spent the next hour attempting to do some hunting, but was unsuccessful because he couldn't focus on what he was doing. He slowly made his way back to where he had left the man before an stopped his horse in front of him, chewing his lip nervously.
"Hey..." He said without dismounting, slightly worried about how Clint would react to him being there. Clinton looked up as he heard a familiar voice. He sighed and rubbed his knee some, like he was unsure of what to say to the younger man upon the mare.
"Hey..." he simply repeated back, nothing else really to say coming to his mind right at the moment. The outlaw then looked at his horse and grabbed its reins, carefully taking off its bridle but keeping the reins around its neck so it couldn't take off. Now they were both stuck in awkward silence.
Sam finally dismounted and held his horses reigns in his hand as he watched him with the gelding.
"I'm sorry I pissed you off, I didn't mean to...." Sam said as he rubbed the back of his neck as he thought, trying to break the silence that stretched between them. He wasn't good at breaking the silences, he never had been, but he hoped that the man wasn't too horribly mad that he would just blow him off.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have let that get to me. I guess just the pain and stuff didn't help..." he said and slowly looked to the younger man and then patted the spot beside him, offering to allow Samuel to sit down beside him.
"You didn't do anything wrong. I just overreacted... I guess." he said and then he rubbed his knee again. "Thanks, um... for finding me that doctor and stuff..." he somewhat mumbled.
"You're welcome, like I told ya before. I like having you around," he sighed as he put a hand on the outlaw's knee with a soft smile before pulling his hand away and laying it across his own lap.
"I like having you around, too. Although I don't get why you're so stupid as to tag along with a wanted man." he said, more joking with the younger guy than anything else.
Samuel sat down beside him and stretched his legs out in front of him. "Can I ask you why it did get to you? You don't have to answer I'm just curious..."
"What do you mean?" he asked and then managed a slight smile as the younger man rested had s hand on his knee. He then put his own hand over Samuels and intertwined his fingers with the younger man's.
"Why did you get upset?" He clarified with a soft smile as he looked down at their hands, his smile widening slightly. 
"I guess I just felt like when the doctor asked you how long we had been together and you got all flustered I felt like you were embarrassed that he found out we were... something. I felt like you were embarrassed by me or something, I don't know. I... I don't know what we are, but I guess I hoped you thought we were more than just a couple nights of really amazing sex is all!" he said and shrugged and then he chuckled some at what Samuel said.
"I got flustered because I'm not used to it is all. I'm not embarrassed of you, I'm just used to hiding. I do think of you as something more than that, but like you I don't know what we are either," he sighed as he explained.
The brunette looked to the horses for a moment as rotated his shoulder a little bit with a small grimace of pain."Think they'd mind if we made out for a bit?"
"You hurting?" He asked before looking to the horses as they grazed together a few meters away he gave a small smile at the question.
"I don't think they'd mind at all," he said with another laugh before kissing him again.
"A little. Its more stiff than anything else.." he said and then somewhat leaned over Samuel and kissed him back again, whispering on his lips, "Good, 'cause I'd like to kiss you for awhile." he said and then kissed him again before moving to his neck for a moment.
"I'm glad you're on the mend. Maybe now I won't have to worry about you as much." The sheriff's son knew that it wasn't the truth, he'd always worry about the outlaw but now it wouldn't be immediate.
"When do you think we'll earn the right to know each other's last names?" he asked as he planted kisses along the man's neck, his hand playing with his partner's fingers.
"I'd like to kiss you for as long as we can," he laughed as the man moved to his neck.
The sheriff's son thought on his question for a few moments before placing a few kisses of his own on Clint's jawline.
"I'll tell you mine whenever you're willing to tell me yours," he smiled before running the fingers of his free hand along the inside of the man's arm.
"Now how come I always have to give my name up to you first? You just like to have control or what, buddy?" he teased and then stole a slight bite on the bottom lip of Sam and then whispered on his lips. "If you must know though, its Danes." he said and then kissed him again, his hand sliding down along Samuel's arm and then his kiss got a bit more passionate.
"I've gotta have a little control somewhere," he joked before listening to his last name, a large smile forming on his face as he pulled the name over. "Mine's Aldridge, which I'm surprised you hadn't already heard it before," he said before the kiss got more passionate. 
"Oh, well maybe once you get a bit more confidence with sex you'll feel like taking some charge there. I enjoy being dominated every once in a while," he admitted and then pulled his lips back as Samuel gave him his last name, a smile forming on his lips. "Samuel Aldridge... has a nice ring. I like it off my tongue, it's very sexy." he said and then brushed his free hand over Sam's cheek before missing him again." A handsome name for a very handsome young man... who's all mine, by the way..." he said in a whisper, smiling upon Sam's lips as he put their fingers together loosely.
Sam blushed again as Clint called him handsome and told him that he was all his. A soft smile formed on his face again and bit his bottom lip gently. "I wouldn't want it any other way," he admitted quietly.
"I think I'm getting better at it, but we might have to 'practice' again once your not so stiff so I can get better~" he flirted quietly after pulling away from the kiss slightly. "I like the way Clinton Danes sounds, it fits you very nicely."
"Ah, that we might... I wouldn't mind that, though... You had me a total mess last night, by the way. Don't think I had ever been that satisfied before. Got a natural talent for pleasing, I have to admit..." he said and then grinned a little at Samuel's blush. "God that's such a turn on for me." he said and then kissed his lips again and brushed his free hand along Samuel's leg.
"I'm glad I managed to do something right for you," he smiled before kissing him again quickly. "I hate it when I blush, but I'm glad you like it," he shrugged before returning the kiss and laying his own hand on Clint's upper leg.
"Its getting' dark... We should find somewhere to bunk for the night, babe." he said and then turned a little red when he realized what he said. "S-Sorry." he mumbled and rubbed the back of his neck, obviously embarrassed he let that slip.
When the brunette pulled away he looked around as well nodding slowly, his eyes snapping back to him when he called him babe.
Samuel found a broad smile forming on his face when Clint's face turned a little red, he leaned forward and kissed him quickly," I like that color on you.... also you don't need to apologize. I liked it."
"You do a lot of things right for me, what're you talking about?" Clinton huffed and then he got up and offered a hand to Samuel and helped him up and then playfully punched him on the shoulder when he mentioned he liked the color of him when he blushed. "Not funny..." he mumbled, turning redder.
"I'm glad you liked it... maybe I'll use it more." he said, clearing his throat in hopes it would get some of the redness away, but he was failing miserably.
"Where should we camp for, um, the night...?" he asked, hoping getting onto another subject would help his blushing.
Samuel laughed and accepted his hand to stand up. He laughed harder when he was playfully punched in the shoulder and moved forward to kiss his cheek once he had managed to get a hold of himself. "I like it," he said before stepping away with a soft smile," I'd like that if you did keep calling me that."
"There was a spot a few minutes away that I noticed when I was giving you some space that might work," he answered after a few seconds of thought.
He then slightly blushed again as Samuel kissed his cheek.
"A-Alright, let's go check this area out and see if it'll work for the night..." he stammered out and cleared his throat and then re-bridled his horse and mounted up.
"I think it's nice to know I can make you flustered too," he laughed before walking over to his own horse and slipping her bit back into her mouth. He mounted his horse and looked over at the outlaw.
"Uh-huh, you just are happy you have something to pick on me with now." the outlaw commented and then turned his horse, who was acting incredibly stubborn at the moment. "C'mon." he nudged and the horse finally started to move, catching up with the mare.
"Sure am," he chuckled quietly before noticing the gelding was acting stubborn before suggesting," If you give him a flick with the reigns on his neck next to his shoulder he might knock it off."
"It's this way," he grinned before turning around and leading the way toward the area he had seen before
"How far?" he asked as he rode neck to neck with his partner's horse.
"Only a few minutes from here, don't worry. We'll get there in plenty of time to check it out and make up a camp.." 
The dark haired man looked at him for a moment before looking forward again for the area he had seen. It wasn't long before he noticed the area where the undergrowth grew to be dense in an area and pointed.
"There", he said as he turned toward the area and through a thinner patch. Inside the area was an almost completely clear dip in the ground, ringed by the thick undergrowth it was likely a place a large herd of deer had bed down for the night at some point.
"He's alright. If he keeps it up I'll just get a bit rougher on him." Clinton said and then stopped the gelding once they got to the area. He dismounted and then untacked the gelding and he ran his hand over the horse's back. "Samuel, come here... Did you notice this before?" he asked and pointed to an area where the gelding's skin twitched some and there was s bump there. "What is that...?" he asked and looked to the younger man.
"Do you think its some kind if saddle sore? Maybe from leaving his tack on all-night the night we were at my cabin? I hadn't noticed it before though..." he said and unbridled the horse and got out his halter from the saddle bag and out it on him and tied him loosely to the tree for the night.
Sam dismounted as well before starting to pull his horse's saddle off, turning to the man when he called his name. "Hold on girl, I'll be right back," he promised as he patted her hip and walked over. 
He looked where the man pointed and ran a gentle hand over the area which caused the horse to snort and try to kick at him. 
"I've never noticed before and I'm not sure what it is, but he sure isn't liking it so it could very possibly be the start of one. I think he would have been acting up a lot sooner if it had been from then and I would have hoped we would have noticed..."
The outlaw watched Samuel's gentle hand run over the gelding's back and stepped back when the horse attempted to kick at Samuel. "Be careful, Sam..." he said and then stepped back up and looked over the bump himself again and then nodded in agreement to what the sheriff's son had to say. "Yeah, you're right, we would've."
He moved to his own mare and untacked her, running his hands over her back and sides to look for any spots that were similar, but found none.
He pulled the bridle off and haltered her before tying her up beside the gelding and turned to look at the spot again. 
"We'll have to watch it and see if it turns into anything. Probably shouldn't put his saddle on for a little while if we can keep from it..." He moved to start collecting stones for a fire pit.
The brunette stroked the gelding's neck before helping by gathering some wood for the fire and stacking it nicely like a teepee once Samuel had the stones set.
"Think he'd be alright to ride bareback for a while instead? Give whatever that is a chance to heal?" he asked, knowing he knew a good amount about horsemanship, but Samuel knew more about the health knowledge of equines than he did.
"Want to light the fire or me?" he asked and looked to Samuel and then he got up and went and got out blankets to use for the night out of his saddle bag and got them laid out for him and his partner.
Samuel worked at it until the small blaze in the kindling started burning onto the larger pieces thinking on the question about bareback riding.
"Yeah, that should be fine, but it's gonna get mighty uncomfortable for you if you have to go any sort of long distance," he warned as he watched his partner lay out the blankets for the night for them to use. "Hopefully it's nothing too bad and it will clear up after some time."
"I actually prefer riding bareback to be honest. I always found it more comfortable than a leather saddle." he said and shrugged some and then he sat down on his blanket and laid back and then patted the spot beside him.
"To each their own," Sam stated with a soft shrug.
"Care to lay with the devil?" Clinton asked with a grin appearing on his lips, a slight sparkle in his eyes. The horses seemed to settle well and were enjoying getting some time without humans on their backs for a couple of hours.
The dark haired man made his way around the fire to sit next to Clinton with a small grin of his own. He settled in, but didn't lay down himself at first.
"I'm afraid I'm no good at resisting temptation," he joked before leaning down and pressing a soft kiss onto the man's lips before pulling away and laying next to him, one arm folded under his head.
"I know all about temptation." he said and then laid onto his side and out his arm over Samuel's abdomen and then laid his head on the man's shoulder and leaned up enough to kiss his jawline.
Sam smiled again when he put his arm over him and laid his head on his shoulder, a subtle shiver running down his back at the kiss to his jaw. 
"I'm sorry I ran off earlier." he said and stroked Sam's hand. "Do you forgive me?" he asked and gave Sam a sad face, with puppy dog eyes.
Sam's smile disappeared when the outlaw apologized again and asked if he forgave him. He started to say something sarcastic but when he saw that face it was all he could do to stop from breaking. The guy was damn good at that face.
"Of course I forgive you, Clint. I wouldn't be here if I didn't," he said truthfully as he wrapped his free arm around him and grabbed the brunette's hand with his other, locking their fingers together as another small smile formed on his face.
"Why do you forgive me so easily when I've done nothing but out you in bad situations since we've met?" he asked and stroked Sam's hand with his thumb as their fingers were interlocked. "I don't get why you so easily forgive a man like me, when you have no idea of the horrible things I've done in my life to folks." he said and snuggled his head into Sam's crook of his neck and sighed softly.
"I don't feel like I deserve your caring heart or your patience you give to me..."
"I forgive you because I care about you, and that's what you do when you care about someone," Samuel started, "A person's actions doesn't always define who they are because that is determined in here", he said tapping the area above the outlaw's heart with a finger on his free hand. "And despite all the walls you have built up, I believe you have a good heart inside you." He took a breath as he finished and kissed the top of his partner's head softly, giving his hand a soft squeeze and a gentle smile appeared on his face.
"Everyone deserves a little kindness, Clinton. Even those who don't believe they do."
"Do you only care about me... or is there more feelings than just that?" he asked and then he kissed Samuel softly and brushed his hand along the younger man's cheek and rested his forehead to his. "And know that I'm going to always have your back, no matter what happens." he said and then he brushed his hand down Sam's arm, his other hand still interlocked with Samuel's hand. 
"I'll try to be a better man, but I think it's too late for me to have a second chance... Maybe with you I have one, but if your father ever finds me... I don't think his heart is up to giving second chances to murderers..." he sighed and looked down.
"There is more feelings than just caring, I know that for sure," he answered quietly after the soft kiss as he looked into those blue eyes he found so beautiful. He smiled when Clinton said that he would always have his back and as he brushed a hand down his arm, sending another subtle shiver down his spine.
"I will always have your back as well," he stated before pressing a soft kiss onto the man's lips. Disappointed when he looked down with a sigh.
"It's never too late for a second chance and hopefully he never finds either of us, because I know he's not going to react well to me being with you. He doesn't take kindly to people like me and you, he doesn't understand it..." He mumbled before lifting Clint's face to look at him again. "But don't worry, we'll figure out something to stay away from him."
"I sometimes think it would be better if I just allowed your father to arrest me and then all of this running and watching our backs would be over. I know it would be hard for you at first, but... but you could find someone better than me to spend your days with, Samuel... Someone you wouldn't have to spend every night with one eye open just to make sure nobody was about ready to kill the man you loved." Clinton said and stroked Sam's hand, resting his lips upon it and closing his eyes, forcing back tears. 
"Every night I regret getting you into this mess... You deserve so much better than this..." he said and slowly opened his eyes as his head was lifted. "I'm so sorry, Samuel... I shouldn't talk like that..." he said and sighed and then closer his eyes and buried his face into the crook of the sheriff's son's neck. "I'll be quiet now.." he said in almost a whisper.
Sam listened to him and bad to fight back the tears that welled up in his eyes at the words. He quickly blinked them away, not willing to cry even though the words struck him hard.
"The thing is, Clint... I don't want to be with anyone else. If I did I would have left when you took of earlier. There are some risks yes, but I'm willing to deal with them to deal with them," He sighed as the man buried his face in the crook of his neck. "I'm sure there is a place somewhere that hasn't heard of you where we can live peacefully without worry.... and please don't stop talking with me. I love the sound of your voice..."
"I.. I love your voice, too..." he managed to say with the weakest of smiles.
"I'm sorry, Samuel. I-I didn't mean to upset you..." he whispered from where he had his his face in Sam's neck and then he wrapped his arm around the younger man and just stayed there, holding back his own tears.
"L-Like where, Sam? Where could we go? And what about your father?" he asked and lifted his head to look at Sam, a single tear managing to escape and slide down his cheek. 
Seeing the tear slide down Clinton's face was almost enough to break the sheriff's son. He reached out and wiped the tear from his face with a gentle hand, and watched as he finished wiping his eyes and sat up some after asking the questions.
"What about everything you've had here? Your life here? Why leave it for a wanted killer?" he asked and wiped his eyes and then exhaled with an emotional quiver and sat up some.
"I don't know. Anywhere, we could leave the state, start somewhere new. My father can continue chasing his own own horse's tail for all I care," he started. "The things I had here weren't that great and I found myself in a constant loop of not wanting to do anything but hide away and drink at the saloon on occasion. My ma wanted me to stick around to help with the ranch, but that was never what I wanted to do... So I would gladly give up a long, unhappy loop, for a life with you any.. day. I would rather be with the man I have feelin's for than to never find that again.." By the time had finished he had lost the battle with his own emotions and a few tears had slid down his own face which he quickly wiped away. He sat up himself so that he was eye level with the outlaw again. "I'm sorry if that doesn't make any sense to you.... but it does to me." 
Samuel looked over his face and noticed how upset he looked and he forced himself to drag his eyes away before more tears spilled over. Sam turned back to him and wiped the man's tears away with a soft sigh.
Clinton leaned slightly into the touch of the younger man's hand as he wiped away his single tear with such gentleness. He then got himself sat up and he sighed and wiped away his other tears on his own and sniffled some.
"N-No, it makes sense, Samuel..." he said and then swallowed a bit hard and he turned himself to face Sam and he rested his forehead to the younger man's and closed his eyes.
"It's settled then... H-How 'bout we leave at dawn? Get the hell out of here? Find somewhere we don't have to watch our backs every time we lay down to try to sleep at night?" he suggested, not moving at all from what position he had out himself in, his hand coming up to hold the younger man's.
"You've got me a total m-mess now..." he said and sniffled again, having to laugh a little weakly at how emotional he had gotten. "You've made me an emotional mushy mess, S-Sam..."
"I like that i-idea," Sam said with a weak smile as he tilted his head to place a soft kiss on his lips, his hand turning slightly so that he could hold his as well. He brought his free hand up and brushed Clint's hair out of his face slightly before giving him another small smile.
He gave a faint laugh when be said that he was a mushy mess and kissed him again. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."
The two men laid back again finally and Sam curled up beside the outlaw, wrapping his arm over the man's broad chest but made sure that he was careful of his shoulder. It didn't take any time at all for the sheriff's son to fall asleep against the brunette's warmth.