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Secrets Best Kept |
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July 12, 2002
Disclaimers - Think about it...
Big, Mucho, Humongous thanks for Suzy and Diana for beta reading…
Gunshots sounded from all sides of the canyon, it seemed, the echoing sound of bullets firing and ricocheting causing anyone not involved in the gunfight to be confused as to where the men were. Four of the men involved, Vin Tanner, Buck Wilmington, JD Dunne and Josiah Sanchez, however, knew exactly where they were and knew exactly where their adversaries were, as well."I’m gonna take a run at ‘em!" Vin shouted, pointing toward the southern corner of the canyon. "Gotta draw ‘em out, otherwise we’ll be here all night long!"
"No, Vin!" Buck yelled back, not liking the fact that Vin was sacrificing himself.
"Too late, pard’, I’m goin’!" Vin returned and hopped onto his horse before Buck could stop him.
He’d had the plan in mind ever since he knew they’d corner the two bank robbers in Red Fork Canyon. The two men, Jeb Shuck and Amos Carlton, had already led them on a ten-mile chase from Four Corners. They weren’t about to give in easily. Vin figured he’d ride past them fast enough that they’d have to come out of their hiding places to shoot, and therefore give Buck, JD and Josiah the opportunity to take them out.
He hadn’t counted on Jeb shooting his horse out from under him.
"Vin!!"
Three men shouted as one, watching helplessly as their friend was bucked off his horse.
JD heard a bullet hit the rocks to the right of him and remembered the men they were supposed to be shooting while Vin distracted them. He quickly raised his guns and shot back, trying not to think about how Vin had distracted them. Buck and Josiah got off a few shots as well, as the two outlaws broke cover to try to shoot Vin.
When they were sure that Shuck and Carlton were down, the three lawmen mounted their horses and went after Vin, who was being dragged alongside and behind his horse.
JD was the first to catch up to the injured and panicked beast and quickly reached over to grab the reins. Vin’s horse fought the control, but eventually ceded to JD’s commands. By the time the horse had come to a stop, Buck and Josiah were there and dismounting their own horses to rush to Vin’s side.
"Watch that leg!" Josiah called out, pointing to the unnatural bend in Vin’s leg, his right foot still caught up in the stirrup.
Buck nodded and carefully supported the leg as JD held onto the stirrup and maneuvered it off of Vin’s foot. They heard a low groan from Vin as he did so.
"Vin? Can you hear me?" Josiah called, gently touching Vin’s forehead. "Vin?" There was no response from the injured man, though.
Josiah was at a loss for what to do - he was sure Vin was injured badly - how could anyone not be after being dragged by a horse? But where to start looking?
As if reading his mind, Buck spoke up, saying, "Check for bumps and bleedin’ on his head. That’s where Nate usually starts."
Buck, meanwhile, was getting his pocketknife out, in order to slit open Vin’s pants leg to better see his leg injury. "JD, go check on them hombres again," he ordered, pointing to Shuck and Carlton. "Make sure they’re dead or at least unarmed," he added. "Damn, Josiah, I’m gonna need your help with this."
Josiah looked to see what Buck was referring to.
"Gotta get his boot off somehow, the break’s down under," Buck continued. "Should we pull it off or cut it off?"
"Cut it off," Josiah replied.
"They’re both dead," JD reported, returning from checking on the two bank robbers. "The bank money’s still in the saddle bags. How is he?"
"He’s banged up pretty good, JD," Josiah replied. "Hopefully that broken leg’s the worst of it," he added.
"He gonna be okay?"
"If I’ve got anything to say about it, he will be," Buck replied. "Damn fool," he added, under his breath as he began sawing at the tough leather boot with his knife.
As Buck worked, Vin began to rouse, his head lolling back and forth as his pain-filled whimpers became louder.
"Easy, Vin. Easy," Josiah whispered, putting a stilling hand to Vin’s chest. "Try not to move around too much."
"Josiah?" Vin called, opening his eyes. "Ah, shit," he cursed, as the various hurts in his body continued to let him know of their existence.
"Vin, lie still, son," Josiah continued. "We’re gonna take good care of you."
Vin cried out, arching his back. It felt as if someone had shoved his leg into a campfire.
"Josiah?" This time it was Buck calling. He’d just gotten the boot off of Vin’s foot. His face was grim as he showed Josiah what he’d found. "This looks bad."
Josiah nodded as he saw what Buck had - a sharp piece of bone jutting out of the skin just above Vin’s ankle.
"Pack that wound as best you can without moving the bone," Josiah ordered quietly. "Then we’ll bind his legs together." He turned back to face Vin, to tell him what was going on, but found the younger man unconscious once again. "Let’s do it while he’s still out, too," he added.
Buck nodded his agreement before getting JD’s attention. " JD, check on Vin’s horse. See how bad it’s hurt. Then see if you can scrounge up something to make a litter for Vin," he began. "Ain’t no way he’ll be able to ride. Josiah, you and I better check our supplies to see what we’ve got to take care of Vin."
The three went about their assigned tasks without a quarrel. Buck was just finishing up bandaging the leg wound, being careful of the bone end, when Vin started to come around again.
Buck looked up at the painful sounds. Josiah was already at Vin’s side.
"How’s he doin’, Josiah?" JD asked as he kneeled down next to Vin.
"I feel… like shit…" Vin replied, pain filling his voice. A cry of pain escaped his lips then, as he moved, trying to get to a less painful position.
"Try not to move, Vin," Josiah said, again putting a hand to Vin’s chest, trying to keep him still.
"Yeah, you look like shit, too, Vin," Buck retorted, trying to add some humor to the situation.
"Oh, God… hurts! What’s wrong…with my leg?"
"It’s broken, Vin," Josiah told him. "Buck and I are gonna try to keep it from getting worse. We’re gonna need you to hold on for a bit. It’s gonna be a rough ride while we move it, okay?"
"Can’t be… worse…. than how it feels… already!"
"Can’t we do something for him? He’s really hurting!" JD put in.
"Was just waitin’ for him to wake up," Buck replied, holding up a bottle of whiskey he’d found in his saddlebag. "You think you can handle it, Vin?"
"Give me… the damn… bottle… Buck," Vin rasped, closing his eyes tightly as another wave of pain traveled through his body.
Buck quickly uncorked the bottle. "Ready?" he asked, and then, upon getting a nod from Vin, slipped one of his hands under Vin’s neck to help him hold his head up in order to take a few sips of the liquor.
Vin tried to hold in the coughs that filled his lungs as the hot liquid entered his throat, but found he couldn’t. He found himself being held tightly in Buck’s arms as the bout of coughing finally stopped. His ribs and back ached fiercely from the action and his injuries and it was all he could do to breathe in and out, despite the pain the necessary movement caused. Before Buck could protest, Vin quickly grabbed the whiskey bottle out of his hands and began to down more of the liquid.
"Slow, Vin. Slow!" Buck exclaimed, grabbing the bottle back before Vin made himself sick on it. "Just a little at a time," he soothed, setting the bottle back onto Vin’s lips.
"Shuck? Carlton? Did you get ‘em?" Vin managed to get out after finishing another few sips.
"Yeah, Vin, we got ‘em," JD replied happily.
"No thanks to that damn fool stunt you pulled!" Buck added angrily. "You coulda gotten yourself killed! Damn, you practically did! What the hell were you thinkin’?"
Not allowing Vin the chance to answer, Josiah put his hand on Buck’s shoulder and said his name, a warning in his voice.
"Damn. Forget it, Vin," Buck said. "Let’s just see about gettin’ you home."
"Vin, where else you hurtin’?" Josiah asked. He needed to know and also thought that by asking, he’d give the liquor a little more time to get into Vin’s system before they finished up with his leg.
Vin took another swig from the whiskey bottle before answering, "My leg’s… killin’ me. An’ my ribs… feels like I busted… a few of ‘em. They hurt the worst… but I’m hurtin’ …all over. Ain’t …gonna be able… to ride."
"I guess you better hold on tight to that bottle then. Ain’t got nothin’ else for ya until we can get you to Nate. But don’t you worry, we’ll take care of ya, Vin," Josiah replied.
"JD, why don’t you finish workin’ on the litter," Buck said. He thought it best that JD was occupied for a bit while he and Josiah tended Vin’s wounds.
Buck and Josiah examined Vin further, finding some bruising on Vin’s rib cage, agreeing with Vin’s own assessment of a couple of them being broken. They also found bruises along both forearms, and after binding his legs together and gently rolling him onto his side, found more bruising and scrapes on his back. They also continued to encourage Vin to drink more of the whiskey.
Within an hour, JD had fashioned a crude litter for Vin, using two long branches he’d found and cut, some rope and blankets. Vin was also well on his way to being fully drunk.
"We’re just about ready, Vin," Buck said to the injured man, gently taking the near empty whiskey bottle from him. "Why don’t you start thinkin’ on some good happy thoughts now while we move ya," he suggested.
"Yeah, sshuurr," Vin mumbled in reply, reaching for the bottle that had become his salvation from the pain.
"Yeah, like what some pretty young lady can do to make them hurts go away," Josiah added as he grabbed hold of Vin’s belt buckle, preparing to lift his middle.
"Or like a real pretty sunset," JD offered, putting his hands under Vin’s shoulders.
Seeing a smile on Vin’s face, Buck, putting his hands under Vin’s legs, asked, "So whatcha thinkin’ on, Vin?" He nodded and the three men lifted their injured friend in one motion.
"Mmm… last time Chris… fucked me…"
It was all the three men could do to not drop Vin on the spot upon hearing the words. There was a definite hesitation before Buck gathered his wits and motioned the other two to continue on with their task. As soon as Vin was settled onto the litter the three backed away and just looked at each other.
JD finally broke the silence. "Did he just say? Did…?" He gulped and swallowed. "Did he just say what I think he said???"
Buck looked at Josiah and then at JD and then back at Josiah.
"Yeah, he did," Buck finally said.
"Lord have mercy," Josiah whispered.
"So what are we gonna do?" JD asked.
"What do you mean, ‘do,’ JD?" Buck asked.
"You heard him, Buck! He and Chris… They… Shit!"
"What we have to ‘do,’ gentlemen," Josiah said, interrupting, "is get Vin back to town."
"But-"
"We’ll worry about that later, JD," Buck said, letting out a deep breath. "Josiah’s right. We gotta get Vin back to town."
JD looked over at the still smiling Vin and still couldn’t believe what he’d heard.
+ + + + + + +
Chris Larabee stood up in the stirrups, giving his achy legs a chance to stretch out. He’d been riding for about two hours, leisurely making his way toward Four Corners. He’d had some "things to do, people to see," in Eagle Bend and had done just that, leaving the other six Peacekeepers with no more information than that, either.
He remembered the raised eyebrow looks and smiled. He knew that JD and Buck, especially, had probably spent the two days he’d been gone coming up with all sorts of possible reasons of why he’d gone or who he’d seen. Nathan had given him a list of supplies to pick up and money for their purchase. Ezra gave him the names of several gamblers that he should not play poker with, and he didn’t. Josiah had just wished him a safe journey. Only Vin, the only one that didn’t have to be expressly invited, had offered to go with him. But Chris had declined the offer and only nodded when Vin just responded with, "Watch yer back."
He’d ridden a little further when he saw some other riders in the distance. He made out six horses, but only three riders. They were all riding slow and one looked like it was dragging something. He pulled back his duster and exposed his guns, just to be safe. He watched as they appeared to be heading his way, toward the trail leading to Four Corners. And as they got closer, he recognized the riders. They apparently recognized him, too, he realized, as JD began to wave and broke away from the group, riding towards him.
"Chris!" JD shouted, nearing Chris and his horse. "Chri- " JD stopped abruptly then, seeing his friend and suddenly recalling Vin’s words. His jaw worked, opening and closing his mouth, but no words came out.
"JD? What’s going on?" Chris asked. He began to worry some more when he realized that two of the horses had bodies tied to them. "JD?"
"Um…uh…it’s Vin!" JD blurted out, finally finding his voice. "He’s hurt," he added quickly, seeing the look of dread that came across Chris’s face.
Chris looked at JD, relieved that Vin wasn’t one of the dead, but still wondering what could possibly have flustered JD so. Vin must really be bad off, he thought and spurred his horse onward, to meet up with the other men. He pulled along side the litter to get a good look at Vin.
"What happened?" he asked, not bothering to look at Buck or Josiah.
"Chased a couple of bank robbers out into Red Fork Canyon," Josiah began, motioning to the two men strapped to the horses.
"Damn fool drew their fire," Buck continued, looking at Vin. "Got his horse shot and his foot got caught up in the stirrup." He looked at Chris then, to see if he needed to explain anything further.
Chris’s brow furrowed as he shook his head, not needing any more of an explanation. Damn fool, indeed, he agreed. "How bad?" he asked.
"His leg’s really bad," Josiah replied. "Bone’s come through the skin."
"He been out the whole time?"
Buck and Josiah glanced at each other quickly before Buck answered, "No, he’s been in and out a few times. Right now he’s just sleepin’ off the bottle of whiskey we gave ‘im."
Chris nodded his head and finally looked at the two men. Well, three, now that JD had joined them. And as he looked at them, he noticed that something wasn’t right. There was something they weren’t telling him.
"What?!" he demanded. "What else happened?"
"Nothing!" JD exclaimed.
"It’s been a tough day, Chris," Buck replied. "And we still got us a few miles left to go before we get to town."
Chris looked at them again, finally settling his eyes on JD. But JD wouldn’t meet his gaze, just agreed with Buck, that they "should get going."
So Chris followed the group, still feeling uneasy, but knowing that they shouldn’t waste any more time in getting Vin back to town.
+ + + + + + +
A little more than an hour had passed by the time the group had reached the outskirts of town. Chris was still puzzled by the odd behavior of his friends. He knew that there was something they weren’t telling him. But what?
He’d heard about the bank robbery. How Nathan and Ezra had stayed in town to help clean things up. Nathan had two patients to take care of. The bank teller, Ethan Barker, had been shot by Shuck for not getting the money fast enough, and one of the customers, Jake Ridgefield, had apparently gotten shoved around by Carlton for no apparent reason at all. Ezra was busy helping secure whatever monies were left in the bank until the bank owners could be contacted. That fact did not settle well with Chris, but what choice did he have?
The only thing that the three could be hiding would have to concern Vin, Chris felt. But he’d seen the injuries, and knew exactly how bad they were. And weren’t. It wasn’t as if they were trying to protect him, fearing Vin’s death. Buck, at least, would have told him the truth, if he felt that was the case.
He looked over at JD, only to see the younger man quickly turn away. That was probably the fifth time he’d caught JD staring at him and it was really getting on his nerves. He was just about to call JD on the fact, when the boy announced that he’d ride ahead and alert Nathan of Vin’s injuries and took off at a gallop.
As they entered town, he looked towards Nathan’s clinic. Sure enough, the dark man was already descending the stairs, followed closely by JD.
"How’s he doin’?" Nathan asked, kneeling next to the litter when the group came to a stop. But instead of waiting for an answer, he just began to check Vin over for himself. "How much whiskey you give him?" he asked, prying open Vin’s eyelids to check the reaction it caused.
"Drank a whole bottle," Buck replied, looking back at Vin, hearing him groan. "Figured it was best for ‘im. Help with the pain, keep ‘im still."
Nathan just nodded in agreement and continued his assessment. "Vin? You hear me? Vin?" he called. Vin only moaned quietly in response, until Nathan touched his leg, anyway.
"Shit!" he yelled out, opening his eyes as he tried to reach for Nathan’s hands.
"Easy, Cowboy," Chris soothed, grabbing Vin’s hands, preventing him from interfering.
"Chris? You’re back?" Vin whispered. And when Nathan finally stopped prodding and poking him, Vin relaxed and smiled, whispering, "Chris. You’re back," contentedly.
"Let’s get ‘im upstairs," Nathan ordered. "Want to get that leg tended to ‘fore it festers or somethin’."
The group unhitched the litter from the horse and lifted it and Vin together and carried him up the stairs. Vin protested the movement, letting out groans and cries of pain, but there was nothing any of them could do to help him until they got him inside and into Nathan’s capable hands.
Nathan began issuing orders even as they climbed the stairs. He wanted clean water, fresh linens, clean bandages, a warm fire and plenty of light, just for starters. He also wanted Vin stripped and washed as thoroughly as possible without worsening his injuries.
And even then, as he gently washed the dirt and blood off of Vin’s face and chest, Chris felt the stares of three sets of eyes upon him and he wondered what the hell he had done or said to make them behave so oddly. I swear, as soon as we’re done taking care of Vin, I’m gonna get answers! he thought.
And then he felt another set of eyes staring at him. He looked down to see the pain-filled blue eyes of his best friend gazing at him.
"Hurts," Vin whispered, trying to swallow against the dryness of his throat.
"That’s what you get for pulling a damn fool stunt like that, Tanner," Chris said in response, hoping Vin would be able to see past the harsh words despite his drunken state.
But Vin just clenched his eyes shut tight as Nathan’s ministrations increased and the numbing effects of the alcohol decreased. Chris barely noticed the bone-breaking grip Vin had on his wrist as he turned to Nathan.
"Nate?" he called. "You got any Laudanum for him? That whiskey’s wearing off."
Nathan turned to Josiah. "Top shelf, on the right," he said, pointing to his medicine cabinet. "Give him a double dose," he added, bringing his attention back to look grimly at the wounded leg in front of him.
+ + + + + + +
The whole process of cleaning, setting and bandaging Vin’s injuries took almost two hours. By the time they were done, the men were exhausted. Chris took one more look at his unconscious friend before heading out to join the others outside Nathan’s clinic.
Chris leaned against the railing, and while taking a glance around the town, took out a cheroot and lit it. He took a few puffs before turning his gaze to the group. To three, in particular. JD, he noticed, still wasn’t looking at him. Josiah met his gaze, but Chris couldn’t figure out what the man was thinking. It looked like he was in possession of some important knowledge, but after a while, Chris felt as if he was the one being scrutinized. Then came Buck. Buck never could hide anything from Chris, not for long, anyway. Over the years they’d known each other, there weren’t too many secrets between them, and those that were there, all belonged to Chris.
"So. You boys ready to tell me what really happened back there? I know you’re keeping something from me," he said, his voice low.
JD and Josiah both looked at Buck, figuring that he’d know what to tell Chris, since he knew him the longest. They barely noticed the intrigued looks Nathan and Ezra now had on their faces.
"Nothin’ else happened, Chris," Buck replied evenly, meeting Chris’s gaze. "We told you everything that needed tellin’."
Any further conversation was interrupted when Mary called to them from the street.
"JD? Buck? Josiah? Mr. Stevens is waiting to talk to you all. He wants to know if you’d gotten the bank’s money back," she said.
"JD? Where’d you put the money?" Josiah asked.
JD quickly headed back into the clinic and then returned with the bank robbers’ saddlebags. "Got it right here," he said. Inwardly, he was smiling, happy to go talk to Mr. Stevens, the bank’s manager, return the money, and, most importantly, get away from Chris.
"I’ll join you, JD," Josiah said, following JD toward the stairs, also happy to escape the situation with Chris.
Chris watched the two head down the stairs before returning his gaze to Buck. "Ain’t you gonna join ‘em? Give your side of the story to Mary and Mr. Stevens?" he asked, arching his eyebrow.
Ezra, while even more intrigued by the mystery goings on between Chris and Buck, was smart enough to recognize a dangerous situation when he saw it. "Come, Mr. Jackson," he said, grabbing Nathan by the elbow. "Let’s check up on your patients."
Nathan was surprised by Ezra’s words and actions, but didn’t argue, and followed him inside into the clinic.
"Just you and me, now, Buck."
"Let’s do this in my room," Buck replied and walked away without waiting for a response from Chris.
+ + + + + + +
JD and Josiah met up with Mr. Stevens at the bank and handed over the money to the man, waiting patiently as he counted it, making sure that it was all there. They then agreed to talk to Mary about what happened, giving her the front-page story for the morning’s Clarion News.
As Josiah was about to relate his version of the bank robbery events, he felt JD’s elbow in his side. He looked to the young man, who then pointed to the other side of the street. Josiah just nodded and started telling Mary the tale, but kept his eyes on Buck and Chris as the two men headed for the boarding house.
+ + + + + + +
After Chris entered the room, Buck closed the door and locked it. He did not want to be disturbed.
Chris just stood in the middle of the room and waited and watched as Buck paced back and forth a few times. He was not ready, however, when Buck stopped pacing and took a swing at him, hitting him in the jaw and sending him sprawling to the floor.
"What the hell was that for?!" he growled, looking up at Buck, seeing the anger still seething, coiled in Buck’s frame.
"What the hell was that for?!" Buck replied back, venom in his voice. "How long, Chris? How long?"
"How long what, Buck?" Chris asked, backing away as he got up off the floor. "What the hell did I do?"
"You know good and well what the hell you did, Chris! Or what you’ve been doing! I just want to know how long!"
"How long what?!" Chris demanded again.
"How long have you been fuckin’ Vin, that’s what!" Buck finally answered, not sure if he was pleased with the reaction that was now on Chris’s face.
"What?!! Vin? Me…and Vin?" Chris sputtered, not believing the words that came from Buck’s mouth, unable to form coherent ones of his own.
"Yeah, you and Vin, Chris. How long?"
"I don’t know what you’re talking about, Buck!" Chris shouted back. "You know me!"
"Yeah, Chris, I guess I still do," Buck replied, his voice back low again.
Chris watched as Buck began to pace the room again. Saw the hurt on his old friend’s face. "Buck. What’s going on? Tell me what happened out there."
"I gotta spell it out, do I?" Buck asked. Seeing the nod and still confused look on Chris’s face, he continued, saying, "Out after Vin got hurt. After we got him drunk. We told him to start thinkin’ on some ‘happy thoughts’ to get him through the pain. You wanna know what his ‘happy thought’ was, Chris? It was the last time you fucked him!"
Chris’s knees gave and he landed hard on the bed behind him, his mouth agape.
"JD and Josiah heard, too?" Chris finally whispered after a few moments.
"Oh yeah, they heard, too."
"Buck…" he began, but then stopped, when he realized that he truly didn’t know what else to say.
"Nothin’ else to say, Chris?" Buck asked.
"Buck…"
"Said that already," Buck called from where he was now standing, looking out the window.
"It ain’t true, Buck," he finally said. "I don’t know why he said that. You gotta believe me."
Buck turned to look at Chris again.
"I wouldn’t do that, Buck," Chris whispered.
"You did it once already, Chris. Why would this be any different?"
"I don’t understand, Buck," Chris replied. "What Vin said ain’t true."
He waited silently, bearing Buck’s scrutiny with all the patience he could muster.
"He’s mine, Chris. He’s mine," Buck whispered. "You aren’t gonna take him from me, not like you took Sarah."
+ + + + + + +
JD had just finished telling his side of the story for Mary, when he remembered to request that she keep Vin’s name out of the story.
"Of course, JD," she replied with a smile. "We’ve done this before. It’s a shame he can’t receive the recognition he deserves for all the good he does for this town," she mused.
"When the time comes, and hopefully it’ll be a long way off, the Lord will recognize him," Josiah put in.
"I’m sure of that," Mary agreed. "I do hope he’ll be okay," she added, looking toward Nathan’s clinic.
+ + + + + + +
"Mr. Jackson?" Ezra called from Vin’s bedside. "He seems to be stirring."
Nathan finished checking on his other patient, Mr. Barker, the bank teller, and moved to sit next to Vin. He put a hand to Vin’s forehead and frowned at the slight warmth he felt before checking on the bindings that were keeping Vin’s leg immobile.
"Chris?" Vin whispered.
"You just go on back to sleep, now, Vin," Nathan murmured above Vin’s quiet mumblings. "Everybody’s okay. You just rest now," he soothed.
After Vin was asleep again, Nathan sat back and sighed in relief. He looked up to find Ezra gazing at him.
"What?"
"Does something seem odd to you, Mr. Jackson?" Ezra asked.
"Like what?"
"Like the way Messrs. Wilmington and Larabee looked like they were ready to kill each other?" Ezra explained. "And how Messrs. Dunne and Sanchez were so quick to leave?"
"Seems like you were a might quick to leave, too, Ezra, now that I think on it," Nathan replied.
"I do know a dangerous situation when I see one, Mr. Jackson. I’d just like to know why it was so dangerous…"
"I’m sure Chris is just worried about Vin and wanted to get all the details," Nathan reasoned.
"But surely, all one would have to do is ask our young sheriff, and one would get more details than needed," Ezra returned, trying to get Nathan to see that there must indeed be some intrigue involved.
"Ezra, if it was any of our business, we’d know by now," Nathan said, shaking his head, refusing to be pulled into Ezra’s musings.
Ezra was about to argue when he saw the stubborn set of Nathan’s eyes. He’d just have to go right to the source, then. "Well, Mr. Jackson," he began. "If you haven’t any further need of my services…?"
"Get outta here, Ezra," Nathan replied. "And thanks for the help."
"My pleasure, Mr. Jackson," Ezra replied with a tip of his hat before heading out of the clinic. At the top of the stairs, Ezra looked around town. "Now, about that source…" he said to himself.
+ + + + + + +
As Josiah and JD entered the sheriff’s office, JD finally asked the question again.
"What are we gonna do, Josiah?"
"We aren’t gonna do anything, JD," Josiah answered. "Ain’t none of our business, boy," he added, seeing the dissatisfied look his first answer put on JD’s face.
"But…"
"But nothin’, JD. Like I said, it ain’t none of our business what other people do in private."
"I just can’t believe it, you know?" JD thought aloud. "How could they? Chris was married once, so how? Why?"
"JD." Josiah wasn’t sure what to say to JD. He sighed loudly. "JD. Listen. I don’t know the hows or whys of these things. And I admit, I ain’t too fond of hearin’ about things like this. It’s unnatural. It’s against God’s law. But we know these men. They’re the same men we’ve been ridin’ with since we joined up in that Seminole village."
"Do we know them?" JD asked, interrupting. "Heck, Josiah! Vin’s got a bounty on his head! And you ever wonder why Chris’s family was murdered?"
"But you believe Vin’s innocent, don’t you? And Chris’s family? Even he says he doesn’t know why," Josiah retorted. "They’re good men, JD. Both of them. You’ve seen the good they’ve done."
"So this doesn’t bother you at all?" JD asked, shaking his head.
"Never said that, JD," he replied. "I just think the thing that’s botherin’ me more is the fact that we never noticed…"
+ + + + + + +
Ezra stood outside the sheriff’s office, trying to look casual as he eavesdropped on JD and Josiah’s conversation. Unfortunately, for him, he came late into the conversation and only heard from where Josiah mentioned the group joining up at the Seminole village. But it was enough to pique his curiosity further to wonder what he’d been missing, what he hadn’t noticed, either. I’ll just have to corner young Mr. Dunne when he is alone, he thought, moving away quickly when the two men started for the door.
"Hey, Ezra," Josiah called. "How’s Vin doing?"
"When I left him a short while ago, he was still blissfully asleep," he replied, turning to greet the two. "Mr. Jackson is worried about possible infection, of course, but only time will tell."
"Have you seen Buck and Chris?" JD asked warily, looking about the town as he asked.
"Not since they left the clinic together, shortly after your own departure," he answered. "Anything we should be concerned about, Mr. Dunne? You seem a bit worried."
JD’s eyes quickly looked to Josiah, and receiving a stern glare from the other man, JD replied, "No, nothing at all. Just wondering."
"I see," Ezra replied easily, putting on a smile for the young man. "Well, then. Shall I buy you gentlemen a drink at the saloon? Surely, you haven’t had time to relax since you’ve come back from your dramatic chase?"
+ + + + + + +
"He’s yours?"
Buck sighed aloud as he slid down the wall to sit on the floor. He tilted his head back against the wall before whispering, "Yeah, Chris. He’s mine. Least, I thought he was…" He gave Chris a questioning look, then.
Chris shook his head at that. "Never, Buck. Honest to God."
"Then why the hell would he say that?" Buck asked himself, more than Chris.
"I guess only Vin can answer that one, Buck," Chris replied softly.
Chris watched as Buck continued to just sit on the floor, alternating between rubbing his hands down his face and through his hair. He didn’t know what to think of the situation. He’d known Vin and Buck had become good friends. And he’d noticed some of the looks the two would give each other, like they had an inside joke going, the kind he’d have with Buck or Vin, as close friends do. But he didn’t think it was anything like what he found it to be now. Leaving Buck in the condition he was in now. That he considered Vin to be… his…
"You love him?" he asked suddenly, not sure if he really wanted to know the answer.
"Thought I did."
"He love you?"
"Thought he did."
Chris closed his eyes against the anger he saw in Buck’s.
"Buck, you can’t blame me for this," Chris said, meeting Buck’s gaze again, suddenly angry, himself. "I haven’t done anything to encourage him. It’s never gone beyond friendship. I ain’t like you…and Vin." Chris rose from the bed and walked over to stand before Buck. "So I suggest you start thinking of a way to get that information to JD and Josiah," he added before unlocking the door and leaving the room.
Buck watched Chris go and stared at the closed door.
"Sure, Chris. Worry about your reputation. What’ll the boys think? Don’t give a shit about me. About me losin’ Vin. Ah, shit. What the hell are you saying, Wilmington? Like you’d want the whole town to know about you and Vin, either? Ain’t there a reason why you do so many of them saloon girls? To hide the fact that you like Vin better? Reputation like that could kill you in some parts. Most parts."
Buck sighed aloud and closed his eyes, gathering his strength. Then he stood up and headed for the door.
+ + + + + + +
"So, gentlemen, now that you’ve had your dinners, and are not in a nasty position of talking with your mouths full, you must give me all the details of the chase," Ezra politely asked, setting another pitcher of beer down in front of JD and Josiah. "And don’t leave out a thing!"
"Ain’t much more to tell than what you’ve heard, Ezra," Josiah replied quickly. "We followed Shuck and Carlton out to Red Fork Canyon. And just when they thought they had us boxed in, Vin rode out to draw them out of hiding. We got them."
"And they got Vin. Or, his horse, anyway," JD added.
"Ah yes, Mr. Tanner sacrificing himself once again," Ezra put in, shaking his head. "I take it Mr. Wilmington’s inability to stop him is the reason he and Mr. Larabee are having words?"
"No, that has nothin’ to do with it," JD corrected, almost immediately regretting it.
"Don’t know what they’re havin’ words about, Ezra," Josiah added quickly. "But it ain’t none of our business, now is it?" His tone was serious and his words aimed more at JD than Ezra.
"Of course, Reverend," Ezra replied. "Just wondering if there might be anything we could do to help, to keep our little group in harmony."
"I’m sure they’d let us know if they needed our help, Ezra."
"Shall I pour you another beer, Mr. Dunne?"
+ + + + + + +
Nathan was checking over Vin’s bandages again, looking for signs of infection. Despite all his attempts, he couldn’t stop thinking about Chris and Buck. "Damn you, Ezra! Why the hell you gotta put these ideas in my head?"
"Nate?"
"Ssshhh… Sorry, Vin. Didn’t mean to wake ya," he apologized.
"What’d Ezra do this time?" Vin asked groggily.
"Oh, nothin’," Nathan replied, putting his hand to Vin’s forehead. "You know Ez, always tryin’ to start up some mischief or somethin’."
"‘Bout what?" Vin asked, wincing when he tried to move on the bed to get more comfortable.
"Don’t try to move around none, Vin," Nathan said, putting a hand to Vin’s chest. "Got your leg tied up tight down there. You busted it up pretty good."
"How long am I gonna be here, you reckon?" Vin got in between the sips of water Nathan began to give him.
"Depends on how well those bones knit."
"So what’s Ez got up his sleeve this time? Anythin’ I need to worry on up here?"
"Nah," Nathan replied quickly. "He’s just got it in his head that Chris and Buck are gonna fight about somethin’ that happened while you all were out chasin’ them bank robbers."
"‘Tweren’t Buck’s fault I rode out," Vin said with a sigh, shaking his head. He yawned loudly and said, "Damn, Nathan, what’d you put in that water?"
"Just the usual stuff to keep you sleepy and quiet, Vin," Nathan replied with a smile. "Now you just rest and stop worryin’ about what everybody else is doin’ and sayin’."
+ + + + + + +
As Buck emerged from the boarding house he saw Chris head out of the livery. As Chris mounted his horse, he looked toward Buck and met his gaze. No words were exchanged, but Buck felt as if he was the one that needed to apologize when Chris finally turned and headed out of town.
Like it’s my fault Vin said what he did? Like it’s my fault that he wants you. Like it’s my fault… yeah, Buck, like you could ever compete with Chris? He got Sarah’s heart, why not Vin’s, too?
Buck shook away the negative thoughts and tried again to think of what to say to JD and Josiah. He went to the jail first and took a deep breath before heading inside. Finding it empty, he sighed in relief, letting out the breath he’d been holding. "Only putting off the inevitable, Buck," he muttered aloud. "Hell, gives you five more minutes to figure out how to tell them that ‘No, Chris ain’t fuckin’ Vin. Vin was just drunk and delirious. And just tellin’ us that I don’t fuck ‘im good enough and he wants Chris to fuck ‘im instead.’ Yeah, that’ll go over good. Shit."
+ + + + + + +
"Well, boys, I don’t know about you, but I think I’m about done in," Josiah proclaimed, rising from his seat. "JD, looks like you’ve about had it, too."
"I’m fine, Josiah," JD replied. "Don’t you worry about me."
Josiah nodded, understanding the double meaning behind JD’s words. He just hoped Ezra didn’t buy him too many more beers or Vin wouldn’t be the only one with drunken proclamations to worry about. He grabbed his hat and headed for the saloon doors. Scanning the street before heading out, he spotted Buck nearing the church. He headed that way, too.
+ + + + + + +
Chris rode toward his home outside town. He couldn’t bear to be in town. Couldn’t bear to see the stares, wonder what was behind the thoughts of the men he knew. Of the man he thought he knew. Vin. Vin said I fucked him! That that was one of his "happy thoughts" of all things! Hell, I know Buck used to fool around… with men… sometimes. But I figured with all the women he talks about, he was done with that. That it was a phase or something. He stopped his horse under a tree and dismounted. Dropping the reins, he sat down and leaned against the tree trunk with a sigh. But, Vin? Vin and Buck? "And how the hell did I get into the middle of this?!"
+ + + + + + +
Josiah met Buck just inside the church.
"So… how’d it go with Chris?" Josiah asked, opening the conversation when he realized that Buck was reluctant to.
Buck took a deep breath and let it out. "There ain’t nothin’ goin’ on between Vin and Chris. Chris was just as surprised by what Vin said as we were," he began.
"So why do you think Vin said it?"
"Maybe it’s just what he wants. You know, some weird, secret dream or somethin’."
"How’d Chris take it, though?" Josiah asked. "I know I’d be a mite uncomfortable if I found out that my best friend has been secretly dreaming about me in a personal way. Unless, of course, that best friend was a female…"
"He was surprised," was all Buck could say. Yeah, surprised as all hell when I punched him and accused him of stealing my… my what? Boyfriend? Lover? Whatever the hell we are…were.
"Buck? You okay?" Josiah asked, watching as Buck seemed to slide out of their conversation.
"What? Oh, sorry, Josiah," Buck replied, shaking his head. "Anyway, he just seemed surprised, I guess. That and a bit worried about his reputation and all. Wanted you and JD to be assured that he ain’t one of them "funny boys", if you know what I mean."
"Like Vin?"
"Never know about some people now, do we?"
"Well, Buck, like I told JD, it ain’t none of our business what people do in private," Josiah went on. "We may not like some of Vin’s… choices, but we have to like the man, because he’s proven again and again that he’s a good one."
"Amen to that, Josiah. Amen to that."
"And speaking of JD, you may want to rescue him from Ezra’s clutches before he starts to regret drinkin’ all those beers Ezra’s been buyin’ him," Josiah added.
"Damn it all to hell," Buck muttered, giving Josiah a backhanded wave of goodnight on his way out of the church and toward the saloon.
+ + + + + + +
"So tell me again, JD, what on earth would make Chris so mad at Buck? Something Vin did?"
"Said."
"Said?"
"Sshaid. We told Vin to think…on some reeally happy thoughtsss… to make him feel better. You wanna know what he sshaid?"
"Do tell."
"Well, firsht, I said he ssshould… think on some… some… somesing reeeeaaallllllyyyy pretty. You know, like a setsun."
"A setsun?"
"Yeah. And then, anyway, we assked Vin what…what he was thinkin’. An’ you know what he ssaid?!" JD continued, looking around the saloon, making sure no one was listening. "He said - "
"JD! JD, are you drunk?" Buck’s voice boomed.
"That’s not what he said!" JD argued, standing up from his seat and facing Buck, now. "He said…"
JD did not get to complete his thought as he fell to the floor in a drunken heap, unconscious.
"Damn it, Ezra!" Buck yelled. "Don’t you know by now that the boy can’t handle more’n two beers! What the hell did you think you were doing gettin’ him drunk like that?" he went on, scooping JD up off the floor and heaving him over his shoulder. "You ain’t never the one that’s gotta nurse him all night when he’s pukin’ his guts up," he continued to complain as he hauled his young friend out of the saloon.
Once he was outdoors and on his way to the boarding house, Buck let out a sigh of relief. He’d gotten there just in time to prevent JD from spilling his guts about Vin to the whole town.
How the hell did you get into this mess, Wilmington? By takin’ an extra long look at Vin Tanner, that’s how.
He looked toward Nathan’s clinic and sighed again. He hoped Vin was doing alright. Nathan seemed to believe he would be okay. He desperately wanted to see Vin. But between having to take care of JD and his fears of facing Vin again after what he’d said, Buck didn’t think it would be any time soon.