Disclaimer: Don't own 'em, wish I did.
Follows Cattle Rustlers!
Many thanks to my wonderful Beta readers, Sar and Kathye. Thank you very much for all your help and suggestions.
"Either of you seen JD today?" Buck Wilmington asked as he stepped onto the boardwalk in front of the jail.Chris Larabee took a sip from the cup of coffee he held in his hand before answering, "Nope."
"Weren't you two going fishin' this afternoon?" Vin Tanner asked leaning the chair he was in against the jailhouse wall.
"I thought so, but nobody's seen him around since last night." Buck sat down on the steps and rested his back against a post.
The three men sat in silence for a few moments before Buck spoke again, "Something's been bothering JD lately. I was hoping to get him to tell me what it was today."
Chris raised his eyebrows and looked over at Vin, who shrugged before asking, "What makes you think something's going on?"
Buck frowned in thought before responding, "He's just been real quiet, the last couple of day, like he was thinking something over."
Chris shook his head in amusement. "Nothing wrong with being quiet on occassion, Buck."
Vin chuckled quietly, earning a scowl from Buck.
"Maybe you're right," Buck admitted reluctantly. He didn't really believe it though, something about the way JD had been acting the last few days made him sure that something was going on.
"Why don't you ask Ezra?" Vin asked.
"Ezra?" Buck looked at Vin, puzzled.
"Yeah."
"Now, why would I ask Ezra about what's going on with JD? I'm his best friend, if he was going to confide in anyone, it'd be me," Buck exclaimed aggravatedly. "Or maybe Josiah," he added after a moment's thought.
"Forget I said anything." Vin tried to calm the tall gunslinger, his chair coming down with a soft thump.
"No. I want to know why you think Ezra would know something I don't about JD?"
"Buck, take it easy," Chris warned.
"Stay outta this Chris. I want Vin here to answer my question." Buck glared briefly at blond gunslinger before turning his attention back to the sharpshooter.
Vin glanced up at the noon-day sun and sighed before answering, "I've just overheard JD and Ezra talking in the saloon late at night sometimes when I've been out patroling the town."
Buck's brows drew together in bewilderment. He glanced over at his old friend to see if he had known about this and was oddly comforted by the fact that Chris seemed just as surprised as he was.
"How long have these late night chats been going on?" Buck asked, starting to feel hurt that someone might know more about what was going on with his best friend and little brother.
"Buck," Chris warned, but the lean man waved him off.
"How long, Vin?" Buck stood from his spot on the steps and towered over the tracker.
"Don't rightly know," Vin admitted and stared up at Buck, warning him silently to back off and let the matter drop.
"Aw....hell. If anyone needs me, I'll be at the saloon." Buck stepped off the boardwalk and strode quickly across the street before disappearing into the saloon.
The two remaining men were silent for several minutes each lost in their own thoughts.
Chris swallowed the last of his coffee before asking, "What didn't you tell Buck?"
The long haired tracker shot an exasperated look at his friend. He stared over at the saloon while he admitted, "I saw JD ride out this morning with Ezra."
Larabee tilted his head, his cool eyes showing his curiosity as he waited for the rest.
He didn't have to wait long.
"I was outside the stable this morning when they rode out. I'd seen Ezra go inside and thought I'd wander over and..." Vin paused, turning his head to grin broadly and wink at Chris "...wish him a good mornin'"
The sharpshooter hesitated a moment before continuing, "I didn't hear what was said, but JD rode out looking just about as nervous and scared as I've ever seen him and then Ezra comes riding out..." Vin squinted his eyes looking towards the street as he recalled the memory. "...he comes riding out, holding his hand to his cheek and looking like...like...aw, hell, I don't know." He took his hat off and ran his fingers through his hair, trying to come up with the right words.
"Like what?" Chris finally asked impatiently.
"I don't know, like he'd just won the biggest pot of his life." Vin stared at the saloon as he tried to figure out what he had seen that morning. After a while he realized that Chris hadn't said anything and glanced over at the blonde gunslinger to try and gauge his thoughts. The other man was staring at something in the distance. Vin watched as the older man slowly stood up and took a few steps to the edge of the boardwalk.
"Chris?"
"Where's Nathan?"
"Thought I saw him carrying some supplies over to his rooms. Why?" Vin stood and walked over to stand beside Larabee, turning to see what had caught his attention. His eyes widened in disbelief at the sight of Ezra riding into town cradling JD in front of him. Looking closer, he realized that the younger man was unconcious.
Without saying a word they both took off at a run to meet their two returning members. They arrived in front of Nathan's clinic just as Ezra stopped. Vin quickly ran up the stairs to let Nathan know they were coming.
Chris reached to ease his injured friend off the horse, but the gambler tightened his hold causing JD to moan. Chris glanced up at Ezra and saw a stricken look race across his face.
"Ezra," the gunslinger said in a low voice.
Standish blinked a few times before looking down at the leader of their small group. "He's been shot," he said simply.
Chris nodded tersely before trying again to take JD off the horse. "Let's get him up to Nathan."
fin
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Continues in The Clinic