Disclaimer: Magnificent Seven does not belong to me and never will. This story is for enjoyment only.
Authors Note: All spelling and grammar errors are mine. I am not an English teacher. This is for fun.
Rating: NC17-for language, violence, and rape. This is Vin/OMC and eventually Chris and Vin. If this is not your cup of tea do not read it.
Feedback welcome, no flames. Thanks
Vin Tanner and Ezra Standish sat on the boardwalk. It was around midnight and surprisingly neither man felt the inclination to go into the saloon and join the other five men who made up their peacekeeping group. They had pulled their chairs down the boardwalk just away from the saloon doors to cut down on the noise. A small table sat between them with a bottle of whiskey and two glasses on it.Vin had become more and more withdrawn in the last two weeks and Ezra was worried about his friend. Not only was Vin pulling away from his friends, but also he looked ill. The normally tanned face was pale, and the dark circles under his eyes indicated he was getting no sleep. The tracker was also limping and Ezra couldn’t remember the last time he had seen Vin sit down to eat anything. There was also the fact that Vin was easily startled, he flinched whenever anyone would get to close to him. What shocked the gambler is the fact that the two men who would normally notice the trackers odd behavior seemed to be oblivious to it.
Chris Larabee invariably would be hovering around his best friend if Tanner so much as looked remotely unhappy or ill. In fact the gunfighter would be ready to shoot the person that had the audacity get between him and his friend.
Then there was Nathan Jackson, the healer. A man who until a week ago seemed to dote on Tanner. After all the young man had saved Jackson’s life a year ago from the lynch mob. Now Jackson seemed to be permanently pissed at the younger man.
Ezra had mentioned to Jackson just a few hours earlier that Vin looked to be coming down with something. Jackson briefly glanced at the sharpshooter then indifferently replied, “Looks fine to me. Besides if he was sick he can come to me. I don’t feel like chasing after him. He lies about how he feels and quite frankly deserves to suffer if he is sick.”
At Standish’s look of surprise, Jackson continued, “Tanner is not the pure soul you think he is. My friend Doctor Russell told me some things that surprised me, as soon as Doc left Tanner came and tried to get sympathy from me. I told him he got what he deserved. If he would’ve done what the doc said told him to do then he’d be feeling better and doc wouldn’t have had to tie him down to treat him. Hell, there were lots of times I wanted to do that to him myself. If you’ll notice even Chris has quit hanging around him. Should watch who you hang around with Ezra, Vin’s standing is going downhill.”
With that Jackson had turned back around and continued drinking his whiskey. Larabee who was sitting with the healer looked up.
“Yeah, Standish. Vin has some secrets he hasn’t let us in on. Figure if I keep sending him out on extra patrols then we don’t have to be around him so much. My eyes have been opened and what they see isn’t real pleasant.”
Ezra was now not only surprised but shocked. The venom dripping out of the two men’s voices shocked and sickened him. What in the hell had Vin done or what did these two men think he had done?
To make matters worse, Ezra had been on his way to the hotel when he had heard a commotion in the alley. Quietly walking down the alley he saw Buck Wilmington slam Vin up against the wall of the hotel.
“I know what you been trying to do, Tanner. I’ve seen how you look at Chris, now that the Doc has let out your dirty little secret. Stay away from Chris. Unless you straighten up we’ll just spread the word and see how these nice upstanding citizens treat you,” Buck snarled.
Before Ezra could reach his friends Buck slammed a big fist into Vin’s stomach letting the smaller man slump to the ground.
As Ezra rushed by Buck to help Vin, Wilmington grabbed his arm and hissed, “Best stay away from him, Ezra. You don’t want to get caught in the crossfire.”
Ez shrugged Bucks arm off and hurried to Vin’s side. Helping the injured man up, Ez started to put his arm around Vin’s waist.
Vin flinched away from him whispering, “Don’t Ez. I’m okay…you don’t need to get caught up in this craziness.”
Ez stood in front of his friend and softly said, “I don’t know what the hell their problem is, but I’m not a part of it. I’ll be up late tonight out on the boardwalk, come on out and join me. I think we need to talk. I think you need to talk.”
Vin looked into his friends green eyes and saw nothing but affection and support. Would those emotions still be there when he told the con man what had happened.
Vin slowly nodded his head.
“Okay, Ez. I really need to talk to someone. If I even look at JD, Buck would probably kill me. Besides the kid and Josiah are out at the reservation until tomorrow night. I’ll meet you later, I have patrol first and if I’m late Larabee will scream at me.”
Finished with his thoughts on the previous happenings in town, Ez turned to his friend and hesitantly said, “What’s going on Vin?”
As Vin started to speak, Chris, Buck and Nathan were reaching the saloon doors. They had decided it was time to turn in. Chris was determined to find the tracker and make sure he didn’t miss his patrol. Not caring that he had just gotten off his last patrol only a couple of hours ago.
The first three words out of the trackers mouth caused all three men to freeze in their tracks.
“I was raped by Doc Russell,” Vin said tonelessly.
Ez who had been raising his glass of whiskey to his mouth spilled part of it on his red jacket. His mouth dropped open as he stared at his friend.
Jackson started to say something but Chris motioned for silence. He wanted to hear everything that Vin had to say. There was a sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach that told him that the way he had treated the younger man in the last two weeks was going to come back to haunt him. That through his anger he would lose the one person he loved…the other half of his soul. Through his jealousy Vin might be forever beyond his reach. Through his meanness and vindictiveness Vin might just leave town and it would be what he deserved.
Wilmington also was starting to get a bad sense of foreboding. What if Tanner was innocent? In his zeal to protect Chris and the kid had he condemned another friend without listening to his side of the story? Now that he thought about it they only had the word of a stranger, granted Nathan had known the guy but that was years ago. Mentally kicking himself Buck thought I shouldn’t have jumped the gun…shouldn’t have hit him. I just took the word of Nathan who believed his old buddy.
Meanwhile Nathan was also fighting mentally with himself. It couldn’t be true. Doc Russell wouldn’t lie to him. Hell the man had left him several medical books and praised Nathan on the good job he was doing. He treated Nathan like an equal, even inviting him to visit him in San Francisco. Forcing himself to do some hard thinking, Nathan remembered some rumors floating around during the war about Russell. But Nathan had dismissed them, after all Russell was a white doctor and had been teaching Nathan all he could about healing. No way could Russell be guilty of such scandalous behavior especially towards vulnerable hurt young men…oh shit hurt young men…like Vin had been last week. Last week when Nathan was at the reservation for a visit and Vin had hurt his knee. Russell had been in town for just a few hours and he had treated Tanner. Nathan’s thoughts exploded as Vin continued.
“Doc Russell raped me last week. When I hurt my knee he had Buck and Chris help me up to the clinic and then he made them leave. I had a bad feeling but I figured it was just the pain or maybe my distrust of strangers. Then he gave me a needle full of shit. Said it was for the pain but it made me feel real funny. My knee never did stop hurting. He…the…then walked over and locked the door. When he started to take all my clothes off I knew my feelings were right on. My arms and legs didn’t move right. He tied me down to the bed. I tried to call for help but he slapped me…made me so dizzy that by the time I tried to call again he had put a rag in my mouth. Then…then he started to touch me.”
As Vin paused he raised a shaking hand to his head rubbing as though he had a headache. Ezra immediately handed Vin a glass of whiskey and watched with concern as Vin tossed it back.
“Go on, Vin…get it out then we’ll find this bastard and kill him,” Ezra promised his green eyes glinting with hatred.
Vin looked over at his friend. He felt his heart ease a little at the look of friendship, compassion and concern that was flashed his way.
Taking a deep breath Vin continued, “He…he touched me in places that no one had touched before. You know I really haven’t been with anyone, not even Charlotte, despite what everyone thought. Have to trust before I could go to bed with anyone, and then with the bounty I just couldn’t take the chance. At first he just stroked and rubbed me then he began to squeeze and pull. Oh…God…Ezra then he took his pants off and climbed on the bed between my legs. Damn legs still wouldn’t work, and the pain from my knee was so bad. He…he untied my legs and pushed them up and apart. I…I was so spread open I knew…he could see everything. The bastard was practically drooling. He looked at me and I swear…Ez I never have seen such a look of evil on anyone’s face not even when I faced Eli Joe. Then he spit on his fingers and jammed one inside my ass. It hurt so bad…then he just kept working it inside and then added more fingers until I felt like I was going being ripped open. When he stopped I thought…hell I prayed it was over with. Then he…he shoved his cock inside. I screamed and screamed, but…no one heard me. The gag was too tight, besides who ever would suspect a decent doctor of doing such a thing? I must have passed out. When I woke up he had wrapped my knee and told me that Chris had come by to check on me. Said that my friend didn’t even suspect what he had done. In fact said that Chris didn’t even wonder why I was covered up. If he had then he might have seen the ropes around my wrists and ankles. He did it to me a couple of more times…hurt like hell each time. Finally after what seemed like weeks but was only for a day he untied me. No one could see the bruises he left on me. My clothes hid my ankles and wrists. I was so doped up I couldn’t fight back. He made sure he didn’t bite me. When I…I finally left the room my real hell began.”
Here Vin paused again. He poured a healthy slug of whiskey and slung it back. Taking a few minute to get his emotions under control he concentrated on breathing deep and even. Ezra kept a close eye on Vin, but a part of him knew that the three men were hovering behind the saloon doors and if Vin were thinking straight he would have realized it to. Good, he hoped all three men were sick hearing what had been done to their friend.
“First person I ran into was Nathan just outside the hotel. He brushed by me so hard that I stumbled. My knee was wrapped tight and I had a hard time with my balance, not to mention the fact that…well…my…you know my ass hurt. I noticed when I got dressed that I was bleeding some, had thought to ask Nathan what to do without saying a whole lot. Of course I figured he’d question me and worry about me and maybe I could tell him what happened. Imagine my surprise when he turned on me. I called out to him when I stumbled and he got right in my face. Told me I got just what I deserved for being so difficult a patient. That Russell had told him what he’d found when he’d checked me over. Seems the good doctor told Nathan that I’d been having sex with another man and had prop…propositioned him to have sex. He of course being the upstanding man he is declined. I just couldn’t believe it, Ezra. Nathan believed this guy over me…hell I didn’t even get to say hardly a word. So of course I didn’t even ask him to check me over. Been taking care of it ever since. I just…Ezra you think I deserved to be raped?”
Inside the saloon Nathan shut his eyes as they filled with tears. When he had said that to Vin he had meant that Vin being a difficult patient sometimes he had wanted to tie him down. Hell at times he wanted to tie them all down, but Vin was the world’s worst patient. Russell had told him he had to do that to keep the tracker off his feet. Now it looked like he had been told that to keep Nathan from wondering about the marks around Vin’s wrist and ankles. Not that he had even bothered to check his friend out. Vin didn’t deserve to be raped no one did and he didn’t deserve to have his friends turn on him either.
Buck and Chris stood like statues. They couldn’t move as Vin told his horrible story.
“No, Vin you did not deserve to be raped. No one does. In Dr. Jackson’s defense I do not think he meant you getting raped…”
“Don’t matter what he meant…he believed that bastard and figured I was a liar. Then he or that doctor friend of his went to Chris and told them their version of what happened. Buck overheard and well you saw him in the alley. Seemed to think I was going to push myself on Chris or JD. JD’s just a kid and Chris has been treating like shit since before that animal ever got to town. But I guess Buck was just looking for some reason to hit me. Bet he was glad when Nathan told Chris all those lies, figured now he’d get rid of me. You know Ez, I never put myself out and I never wanted to come between Buck’s friendship with Chris. Hell, I wanted to be Buck’s friend and until lately I thought we were getting along real well.”
There was a long pause and Ez knew that Vin was working up to what Chris had done or said to him. The one person who could hurt the tracker with just one word or a disapproving look.
“Of course the one that hurt the most was Larabee. I thought of anyone he would believe me. But he didn’t. Like I said thinking back he was putting me at arms length before Russell got here. Don’t know why…can’t figure out what I did to piss him off. Now he just looks at me like I’m trash…something to shove to the side until he needs me to track, patrol or shoot someone. You know what he called me, Ez…”
Very gently in a tone he reserved for nervous children the gambler said, “What did he say, Vin?”
“He called me a whore…said I’d been found out by the good doctor. Even asked who I’d been letting fuck me…asked me if they were any good. Then…then he said…hell Vin if you’re that good maybe I’ll take you for a ride.”
At this point Vin stopped talking. His head was bowed as tears rolled down his cheeks. Ezra felt tears on his cheeks. He hurt for his young friend and even found some sympathy albeit not much for the three men standing inside the saloon. They had gone out of their way to destroy an innocent man…a man who had saved theirs lives more than once and never asked anything in return.
Quickly drying their tears Vin and Ezra had another drink. For several minutes there was silence, then Vin dropped his next bombshell.
“I’m leaving town. I have to wait until I’m healed up. My knee still bothers me and I still bleed from…well you know where… when I ride Peso. Can’t sit for a real long time and still can’t sleep. Talking to you is the longest time I’ve sat for quite a awhile.”
“How have you continued doing the patrols? Surly the pain is overwhelming.”
“It’s a little better. You know Larabee insisted I take patrol the first day Russell untied me. Even though he didn’t know about the rape he knew my knee was screwed up. Barely made it back to town. Yosemite had to help me off the horse…hell I practically fell into his arms. He’s a good man…figured out someone had attacked me and that no one knew. With all the blood that was on my saddle and jeans it was no mystery someone had attacked me like that. He said he had noticed how I was walking…said he had the same thing happen to a friend of his and for me not to worry he would help me out. He even figured out it Russell who attacked me. Said he didn’t trust the guy when he met him. Thank God he’s been around for me…helping me out. Been waiting for me before and after patrol. Helping me on and off the horse, taking care of the saddle and Peso. Even wanted to deck Chris and the others for the way they were treating me. Especially yesterday when I was late getting back. I had fallen off the horse and by the time I was able to get back to town it was late. Larabee was waiting and lit into me. Called me a lazy bastard and said if I couldn’t do my job then I needed to leave town and he would find someone who would. Well I guess he’s going to get his wish, because I’m leaving. I figure I’ll be ready in a week. Bleeding is better and been keeping down some broth…scared to eat anything more. Yeah…I’ll be leaving in a week.”
Vin sat back with a sigh. Ezra was right he did feel a bit better for telling his side of the story…the true side. Now that he had told someone he was leaving it made it all more real. Surprisingly he was glad to leave. Being treated like shit wasn’t pleasant especially when done by supposedly your friends. Of course he would miss the town and most of the people in it. A part of him really wanted to stay but he couldn’t let himself be mistreated anymore.
“If it’s okay with you Vin, I’d like to come with you. Listening to the treatment you have been subjected to sickens me and I find I would like to leave also. We can stick together and guard each other’s backs. It’s not like I’ll be missed. Mr. Jackson and Mr. Larabee have never really trusted me and probably never will no matter how hard I try to change that. Just to let you know Vin, you can talk to me about anything.”
Vin looked over at the gambler and smiled his first real smile in over a week.
“Thanks Ez. I’d try to talk you outa going with me, but truth be told I’d like the company. Kinda got used to having people around me.”
“Then we shall leave together whenever you are ready. Why don’t you let me take your patrol tonight?’
“No, don’t want Larabee breathing down our necks. You just go on into the saloon and make us some traveling money. I’ll see you in the morning…I mean at noon.”
Ez gave his friend a two-fingered salute as the tracker got up and slowly headed for the livery stables.
Ezra walked into the saloon and faced the three men standing there.
“I find your behavior towards Mr. Tanner reprehensible. He was viciously attacked while he was injured. Tied to a bed and raped. How many times has that man saved your lives and never asked for anything in return. Then when he is at his most vulnerable you shove him away. Instead of listening to him, you believe a veritable stranger. I think each of you must ask yourselves why you would do that. I don’t know if you can ever make it up to him, but you have one week to try. If any of you hurts him again I will shoot you and that includes you Mr. Larabee. The only reason I am even letting you have this chance instead of renting a carriage and getting Vin far away from this town is the fact that deep down he doesn’t want to go. There is a small kernel of hope in Vin that things will be okay and he will be accepted again even though he did nothing wrong. Good luck gentleman you are going to need it.”
Ezra then passed them climbing the stairs to his room. He looked back down as all three men wiped tears out of their eyes even the deadly Chris Larabee.
Nathan whispered, “That boy will never forgive me for what I said. I didn’t know he had been raped, but what I accused him of…what Russell said about him…my God what kind of friend does that? He needs to be checked but he’ll never let me close to him. I don’t blame him.”
“You weren’t the only one, Nate. I told him to stay away from Chris and the kid. Pretty much threatened him by telling him I’d tell the people what he had done. Then…damn then I hit him in the gut…doubled him up. With what that bastard did to him it had to have hurt like hell.”
“All of us made mistakes and Vin has been the one to pay for it. My mistakes are even worse than yours. He’s right I was pushing him away before Russell arrived. I…you both will hate me and might find me disgusting but its time I faced the truth. A couple of weeks ago Vin stumbled getting out of his wagon. I just happened to be waiting for him so we could go eat and caught him as he fell. Then…shit I don’t know what happened but when I held him I felt…felt the world shift. Buck it was like the first time I held Sara. Why after being around him all this time did I suddenly feel this way? I even found myself starting to kiss the top of his head. Then I realized that feeling had been there all along. I was scared shitless and pushed him away from me. Tried to keep him at arms length. Then Nathan told me what Russell had said. Felt red-hot jealousy and anger. I said everything Vin said I did. Right now I just wish God would strike me dead.”
Chris shut his eyes waiting for his friends to condemn him for his feelings for Vin. For his wrong feelings towards another man. Surprisingly he felt a hand come down on each shoulder.
“Damn stud if I’d known how you felt I’d shoved that boy right at you. You know I don’t care about how people love each other. I always figured whatever works for them is just fine. I just didn’t want him to hurt you. That’s why I was so pissed off.
“I can’t say I agree with two men loving each other. It’ll take me some getting used to. But I guess now days you gotta take love where you find it. My problem was when I thought Vin had propositioned Russell and then found out he had supposedly been having sex with some man…a man who according to Russell liked rough sex. That was just wrong in my book. Russell is married and I thought an upstanding citizen. I just couldn’t reconcile this side of Vin to the man I’d known for a year. I just blew up and of course Russell stroked my ego and that is all I saw.”
“Fuck, Chris that boy is going on patrol. He sure as hell don’t need to get on a horse,” Buck exclaimed heading out the door.
The three men conferred for a minute. Then they set out to put their plan in motion. They only had a week to make up for all the nastiness they had heaped upon their innocent friend.
Buck and Chris rushed into the livery stables. Vin whirled around to face them dropping his saddle as he reached for his gun. The movement wrenched his knee and he fell. A muffled scream slipped from his mouth as he fell on his ass.
The two men hurried over and reached down to help Vin up. They felt their hearts break as the younger man flinched away from them.
Pretending they didn’t see anything they helped Vin to his feet.
“I’m taking your patrol, Vin. Gotta a lady to see afterwards.”
Before Vin could say anything Buck had saddled his horse and taken off.
Meanwhile Chris had picked up Peso’s saddle and put it away.
“Come on Vin. How about I buy you a drink. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and I’d like to apologize to you for the past two weeks. Been a real bastard to you. Said some real nasty things that I regret saying to you. You didn’t deserve to be called any names and I just wish we could turn back the clock and then they’d never get said. I’d like to make it up to you. How about we start over, cowboy?”
Vin stared hard at the black clad gunslinger. The last five minutes were so confusing.
“Ez told you what I said didn’t he? That was why Buck wanted to take patrol.” Vin said sadly. He now realized that he would be leaving by himself. Ez had betrayed him. Yeah he had good intentions but he had stabbed him in the back.
“NO! Vin, Ezra didn’t tell us anything. We were talking and realized what bastards we had been. Hope to make it up to you. Besides…what the hell would Ez want to tell us?” Chris looked at the younger man hopefully. He prayed his face held nothing but innocent inquiry.
The plan was to be as truthful as they could with Vin, but not let on that they had heard Vin’s story. Vin would tell them whenever or if he ever could. It was the truth Ez had not told them any of Vin’s secrets they had overheard everything. Besides if they couldn’t get Vin to stay then they wanted Ez to go with him so he wouldn’t be alone.
Vin watched Chris’s face closely. He could always tell when Larabee was lying to him. To his surprise the green eyes met his straight on. The gunfighter was telling the truth, Ez had not divulged what he had told him.
Vin felt his frozen broken heart melt just a bit…a small bit. Licking his lips nervously he whispered, “I guess I could have a drink with you. But…you said some things that really hurt me bad, Chris… real bad.”
Chris started to put his hand on the back of Vin’s neck just like he used to before everything started going downhill. He paused in motion when Vin flinched away from him. The sharpshooter caught himself but it was obvious that he did not want anyone touching him.
Chris let his arm drop and headed out the door at a slow enough pace for Vin to walk next to him but not realize that the black clad man was taking it easy because Vin was limping.
“You’re right, cowboy, I did say some real hateful things. I hope to make it up to you. You know Buck is sorry to. He confided in me that he was rough on you even hit you. When he realized what a fool notion he got in his head he felt real bad.”
“That why he took my patrol?”
“Yeah it is. Said you needed a night off. Looked like you needed a good nights sleep. I know he wants to talk to you, but I told him I needed to talk to you first.”
A few minutes later they were sitting down at their usual table. Vin did not sit right next to his friend; he sat across on the other side of the table a move that did not go unnoticed by the black clad man. Buck and Nathan hiding in the back room peeking through the door noticed the change in seats also. Chris noticed that Vin only took a sip of the whiskey then left it sitting. He needed to make sure that Vin drank all the whiskey in the glass. Nathan had watered the whiskey in the bottle down and added a sleep powder. He wanted Vin to get sleepy and think it was natural. The tracker would then go to bed and when he was in a deep sleep he would check Vin out. None of the men liked to trick their friend especially since they had been so cruel to him, but Nathan was worried how badly injured Vin was. He knew that right now Vin would not willingly come to see him.
Chris spent the next thirty minutes talking to his friend and coaxing him to finish his drink. Vin just sat silently absorbing everything Chris was saying to him.
As Chris talked, Vin watched his face carefully. He didn’t think the man was lying, but until a week ago he would never have thought three of his friends would turn on him.
Chris looked Vin right in the eye as he talked. He explained everything about his feelings and his reactions. The only thing he left out was the fact that they had overheard his conversation with Ez.
“Remember a couple of weeks ago when you stumbled getting out of your wagon. When I caught you I felt something…something that scared me to death. It was like getting hit up the side of the head. I realized that my feelings towards you had gone from friendship to so much more than brothers. I realized that I loved you.”
Chris watched closely as Vin absorbed this piece of news. Other than the blue eyes getting a bit wider and a larger drink of whiskey being taken Vin showed no emotion.
“I didn’t want to be in love with you Vin. Hell, I didn’t want to love anyone. After my family was killed I figured to keep everyone at a distance. That way I was safe and couldn’t be hurt. Then I had five men worm their way into my heart. Of course there was the sixth man, a longhaired Texan who smashed the walls around my heart to pieces. I just didn’t realize that or refused to accept it until you literally fell into my arms. I reacted badly and I started pushing you away. I guess it was an act of desperation, of self-preservation, but I knew it wouldn’t last. I liked being around you too much. Then when I heard about Russell I’m afraid I grabbed it like a lifeline. I convinced myself that what I felt was just lust…if you…you had given yourself to another man then what I felt was just my personal needs that needed fulfilling. It couldn’t be love. Then there was my jealousy. Damn Vin I was ready to shoot the guy then take you to my ranch and keep you there. My emotions were all over the place and it had been so long since I had even admitted I had emotions. I just exploded at you that day…said some incredibly nasty and hurtful things. I can only say I never meant any of them. You’ve seen me at my worst, and I promise you here and now I will never let that side of me lash out at you again. I promise you that Vin Tanner on my families graves.”
Chris watched that last sentence hit Vin right in the face.
“I told you how I feel about you Vin. I can understand it if you don’t feel the same way. The way I’ve been treating you, I’m just thankful you agreed to have a drink with me. I know that I’ve given you a lot to think about, but just remember I do love you. If you can find it in yourself to forgive I’d be grateful, and if all you can give me is friendship then I’ll be thankful,” Chris said finally finishing his long speech to his friend.
Vin was silent for a long time. He felt real tired…there had been so much that had happened in the last few hours. Spilling his guts to Ez then Chris and Buck doing an about face. He just didn’t know what to believe. Guess Chris was right he needed to sleep maybe tomorrow he could make sense out of all this.
As Chris went to put his hand over Vin’s the younger man snatched his hand back. He wasn’t ready to even accept that innocent of a gesture from the gunfighter.
Chris never let a flicker of emotion cross his face. He didn’t want Vin to know how that reaction affected him. After all he deserved it and he didn’t expect his young friend to forgive him so quickly. He had to earn the trust back first.
As Vin yawned Chris stood up and said, “Looks like you need to get some sleep. You just sleep late tomorrow and I’ll come get you up in time for breakfast.”
Vin was so tired he just nodded and headed for the saloon doors. Nathan and Buck snuck out the back and with Chris following Vin at a distance they watched the tracker as he climbed into his wagon.
The three men huddled on the boardwalk until they were sure Vin was out, then scurried over to peek into the wagon.
Sure enough he was sound asleep. He never woke up as Nathan climbed into the wagon and handed the unconscious man into Bucks arms. None of the men knew that Ezra was watching from his window. He wanted to make sure that Vin was being taken care of.
Vin was taken to the clinic where he was checked over thoroughly by Nathan.
As Vin was divested of his clothes the three men felt varying degrees of emotion.
Nathan felt guilty for not believing Vin over his doctor friend. He noticed the faint rope marks on the slender wrists and ankles. Carefully he took care of the marks knowing that he wouldn’t be able to wrap them. Vin was not to know that anyone was aware of what happened. All three men paled when they saw the finger size bruises on the slim hips. With Bucks help he turned the sharpshooter over on his stomach. Spreading the long legs he motioned for Buck to hold the white ass cheeks apart so he could check the damage done.
Before Buck could move Chris was there and placing his hands on the smooth skin. The blond gunfighter decided no one was going to touch Vin in such an intimate spot unless it was himself or Nathan. Chris was sick to his stomach. He had seen the rope marks on his friend. Now he watched as Nathan checked for worse damage.
Buck saw the look on Chris’s face and was thankful that Russell was long gone or his old friend would probably commit murder.
As Nathan gently wiped a little blood off his friend, Vin moaned and shifted on the cot. Buck immediately knelt down and stroked through the long hair whispering to the hurt man that he was safe and no one was going to hurt him. Vin calmed.
After cleaning up the area Nathan checked for tears. He put some balm on the tears that he did find. With the help of the other two men he dressed the sharpshooter.
Nathan hurried across the room and out the door. Buck and Chris could hear him throwing up.
After a few minutes Nathan came back in and after drinking some water he washed his hands.
“Nathan?” Chris said looking fearful. Maybe Vin was hurt a lot worse than they had feared.
“That boy will never forgive me for treating him the way I have. The bastard fucked him hard and probably didn’t use anything to ease the way every time he took Vin. There are a couple of tears that haven’t had a chance to heal. We need to make sure he stays off his horse. If we can manage it that balm needs to be applied every night.”
“We’ll manage it, Nathan. Somehow we’ll manage it,” Buck said.
Chris sat on the side of the cot brushing his fingers through Vin’s long hair. He reached down and picked up one slender wrist. Stroking his fingers over the rope marks he envisioned the terror and pain his young friend had to endure for hours while his friends went about their business. Granted they had not known what Russell was doing, but turning their backs on the tracker later was unacceptable.
“I promise you Vin Tanner that we will make all this up to you. I will make sure you know how much I love you and I will make damn sure no one hurts you like this again and I will find Russell,” Chris vowed.
“Chris…now…” Buck started the immediately shut up when the Larabee glare was turned on him.
“I will find and kill Russell. You won’t stop me, Buck. I’m not planning on leaving until Vin is okay and I know he’s not going to take off when my back is turned. Then I will hunt that bastard down and kill him very slowly.”
Buck wisely kept his mouth shut. He didn’t want to stop Chris from killing Russell he just wanted in on it. In fact he had a pretty good idea that this was one time Nathan would be along and get into the fun. They just needed to make sure no one tied the bastard’s death back to them.
Vin was carefully carried back to his wagon and gently tucked inside. Making sure he was sleeping deeply and peacefully the three men headed back to their own rooms.
Chris headed over to the jail. It was his turn to keep an eye out for trouble. He would keep an eye on the wagon during his nightly rounds.
Over the next several days the three men never left Vin alone for long. He would have been suspicious but after asking Ezra if he had passed on their conversation Vin knew that the gambler had kept his secret. Besides there was still that part of him, a big part of him that wanted to take everything his friends said at face value. If he just accepted that his friends were sorry for their behavior then he could stay in town. He never had wanted to leave anyway.
Chris constantly kept his eyes on him, watching him as though afraid that Vin would suddenly disappear on him. Buck after apologizing for his words and the blow to the stomach was constantly wanting to buy Vin a drink or asking if he needed anything.
Chris had a hard time not laughing at Buck’s antics. Buck was bending over backwards to make everything up to Vin. His old friend had a big heart and it had been damaged when he had heard Vin’s story, knowing that he had a hand in hurting the younger man. Poor Vin just watched the lady’s man practically flutter around him. The wide blue eyes just looked on in amazement as Buck took to hovering over him like he did JD, hell worse than he did JD.
JD and Josiah had no idea what had happened. They had been informed that there had been a big misunderstanding and everything had been cleared up.
Then there was Nathan. He had cornered Vin in the livery one evening. After several halting sentences Nathan finally explained to Vin what he had meant that day. As Nathan rambled on with his apology he had no idea that he had inadvertently let Vin know that he knew what had happened.
Looking at Nathan Vin realized that his friends had made a mistake…a huge mistake but they were sorry for it and were trying their best to make up for it. He would never let them know that he knew they were aware of what happened. Obviously this was a secret they wanted to keep from him…to protect him. Smiling to himself Vin realized that all the good sleep nights he had been having lately was probably due to something the guys were slipping in his drink at night. He had been alone so long that he had figured out someone had been entering his wagon. It just seemed off somehow when he woke up in the morning. He also knew his own body. The marks on his wrists and ankles had healed real fast and he had not put anything on them. His ass was feeling so much better and of course there were all the reasons he was given why he couldn’t go on patrol. His heart was healed…after the horrible crime that had been committed against him he finally felt whole again.
Accepting Nathan’s halting apology Vin set them all on the road to recovery. Of course now Nathan hovered as bad as Bucklin…shit he was worse. If they weren’t careful he would just have to shoot them…yeah that would show them who was boss.
Yosemite found himself getting a little extra money from the three men when he took care of their horses. He knew that it was a thank you for taking such good care of the young sharpshooter. They would never say it, but he could tell by the looks in their eyes that they really appreciated his care of Vin.
When Vin told Ez he wasn’t leaving town, Ez said he was glad. Vin was happy to learn that Nathan and Chris had also apologized to Ezra. Ez told Vin it was because they were turning over a new leaf. That they were not bad just had done a bad thing, as all men were liable to do in their lifetime. The three men had resolved to not judge people to fast or condemn them out of hand. Ez like the others did not know that Vin had figured out the others knew he had been raped.
Vin would never tell. It was his secret. He would not put them on the spot.
Chris waited until he saw Vin start to look like a hunted rabbit every time Buck or Nathan came near him. It was time to take the next step in his pursuit of the younger man. After talking to Nathan Chris knew that Vin was completely healed physically.
Chris told his men that he and Vin needed to get away from town for a while. They would be gone for a few days and would be out at his place if they needed to get in touch.
They had been at the shack for a couple of days working at fixing up the place. Chris stayed close to his friend. They were hyper sensitive around each other. Chris couldn’t resist touching the slim body with fleeting caresses. They were done so quickly that Vin had no reason to feel uneasy. Vin did some hunting; they spent the evenings sitting on the front porch just enjoying the peace and solitude. Nights were spent just sleeping next to each other on the bed. There were times Chris thought he would die from need with Vin so close, but he had vowed not to rush his friend and he meant it. He would wait until Vin came to him…even if it killed him.
Chris took a deep breath. He had apologized to Vin but he needed to clear the air a little more.
“Vin, I know I said I was sorry and you accepted the apology. I just want to say again that all those nasty things I said…well… I will carry the guilt of saying them to my grave. I just want you to think on what I said about loving you. Do you think you can ever love me in return?”
Licking his lips not knowing that the blond followed the path of his tongue avidly, Vin finally said, “I think I fell for you the instant I saw you. Just never felt that way before, I was scared…so I never said anything. The words you threw in my face hurt bad, I told you that. I know how you can get when you get pissed, just never thought you’d turn on me. Shocked me real bad. But even after all that I love you…guess I always will. Seems we’re stuck with each other, cowboy.”
Chris looked over to see Vin smiling his crooked little smile.
Slowly moving so Vin could back away if he wanted to Chris leaned over and kissed the damp lips. As they opened up under his mouth the blond slipped his tongue inside savoring the taste of the man he loved.
Reluctantly pulling away Chris glanced down and was relieved to see the hardness in Vin’s jeans. Thank God the boy wanted this as bad as he did. Chris stood up and pulled Vin to his feet. The blond wrapped his arms around Vin and pulled him close as he claimed the sweet mouth one more time. He felt Vin tense slightly so he slowly released the sharpshooter nipping gently at the swollen lips he had just savored.
Seeing the blue eyes looking up at him, Chris smiled.
“Time for sleep, cowboy…and I mean sleep. This is moving at your speed. However long it takes because you are so worth it.”
Chris headed into the cabin leaving a stunned young man behind him.
No one had every thought he was worth anything let alone worth loving at least since his momma had died.
Vin followed the lean blond inside where he found Chris already in bed asleep. Undressing Vin climbed into the bed. Waiting for a few minutes he finally determined that Chris was really asleep.
Pressing a kiss to the top of Chris’s head Vin whispered, “I love you, Chris. I promise I’ll be ready before long.”
Vin snuggled down on his side and promptly went to sleep dreaming of the man lying next to him.
Green eyes opened and Chris smiled. He had been awake when he heard Vin’s whisper. Things were going to be fine. When he had Vin settled in their relationship he would take care of the only loose end left…Russell.
Chris moved a bit closer to the lithe body and gently lay his hand on top of Vin's hip. When Vin didn’t wake up he nestled in a little closer. Sighing deeply he drifted off to sleep.
The next few days followed the same leisurely pattern. The only change was that they were falling asleep at night wrapped in each other’s arms. The kisses and touches were becoming more intense. There were times Vin thought his friend was trying to kiss him to death. But what a way to go.
Chris had watched Vin all day. The younger man had been deep in thought since breakfast. It was now just after dinner.
“Think I’m going to go down to the pond and take a swim. Wash off some of this dust,” Vin said. As he went to head down to the creek, Vin grabbed Chris by the back of the neck and claimed the blonde’s lips in a hard kiss. This was one of the few times Vin had initiated a kiss. Looking deeply into the blue eyes Chris saw that Vin was ready to take the next step. Vin was silently giving him the green light.
“Sounds good, cowboy. You go on ahead and I’ll join you in a few minutes.”
Vin quickly stripped and dove into the water. His stomach was full of butterflies. Now that he had decided to take the relationship with the lean blonde to the next step he was real nervous. Sure he knew Chris wouldn’t hurt him, but he couldn’t help but remember the pain of Russell’s thrusting hard and deep inside his body, not caring about his screams.
Vin swam over to a big rock that lay in about a foot of water. Planting his feet flat on the bottom of the pond, he sat on the edge of the rock. He braced his hands behind him, letting his head fall back as he soaked up the last of the sunrays. It was so quiet and serene out here, the perfect place to lay his demons to rest. Russell was the past, Chris was his future. So deep in thought the sharpshooter failed to notice Chris standing on the bank staring at the vision in front of him.
As he watched Vin raised one leg and put his foot up on the rock, the wind blowing just enough to make his long golden hair flutter on the breeze. Chris spread the thick blanket on the ground and tossed another blanket on top of it. He placed a tin of grease on the ground to help him ease the way, but right now he was going to rock his best friends world.
Slipping quietly into the water Chris finally stood right in front of the tanned gorgeous body. Vin raised his head and looked right into searing green eyes. He couldn’t move if his life depended on it, Chris was in total control of what was about to transpire and Vin wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Don’t move a inch, cowboy. I want to taste and touch…I want to drive you crazy with need,” Chris whispered. At Vin's nod Chris reached out and framed the beautiful face. Standing between the trackers long legs Chris placed kisses all over Vin's face. He then slanted his mouth over the full lips savoring the sweetness of Vin's mouth. His tongue explored every inch of Vin’s mouth as he breathed deep inhaling the Texans scent. Moving his attention downward he nipped and licked his way down sensitive throat to the hard brown nubs. Vin hissed and arched as Chris began suckling at his nipples. When he wasn’t sucking on a nipple his fingers were plucking and playing with the other one sending frissoms of pleasure tingling through his body.
Nibbling his way down the hard stomach he licked his lips looking at the rosy red hard cock standing proudly erect in the next of golden curls. Using the tip of his finger he smeared the bead of moisture on the tip of Vin’s cock around. Curious about Vin’s taste he raised the finger to his lips and licked it clean. Seeing big blue eyes staring at him, he smiled.
“Taste mighty fine, babe. Can’t wait to taste somewhere else.”
The blond was delighted to see a blush spread over the expressive face.
Vin whimpered as Chris licked his cockhead then teased at his slit, the blondes tongue tip dipping inside. Then the talented tongue ran up and down his shaft, nipping at his balls. Just when he didn’t think he could take anymore Chris engulfed his cock in his hot wet mouth. For the next few minutes Chris worked the shaft with his tongue, lips, teeth and throat. Vin screamed as he came. Chris swallowed the slightly bitter cum.
The blond smiled as raised up and saw that Vin had collapsed back onto the rock. The younger mans breathing was ragged.
When Vin roused up enough to look around he found himself lying on the blanket with Chris sprawled on top of him. The feel of skin on skin was intoxicating. As he parted his mouth Chris swooped down and kissed him deeply.
Without giving Vin a chance to think to much Chris began to tease the trackers body until he felt the spent cock begin to stir again. Chris turned Vin over on his side and spooned in behind him. Coating his fingers with grease he grasped Vin’s cock and stroked it. As Vin panted going with the sensations blond liberally coated the fingers of his other hand. As Vin pushed back against him he massaged Vin’s sensitive hole. When the younger man didn’t seem to mind what his fingers were doing he slipped one inside. As Vin tensed he slowly crooked his finger and touched that one special spot in his lover’s body. Vin screamed and bucked up.
“Fuck, Chris…that…what the hell was that…do it again,” Vin panted.
Chris laughed delighted at Vin’s response.
“Just your pleasure spot, cowboy. Gonna be touching it a lot in just a few minutes. Send you into the clouds.”
Now that he had Vin’s total attention as he hit the young mans prostate several times Chris worked until he had three fingers inside the tight channel. Scissoring his fingers the blond worked until he knew Vin was ready, his hole loose and ready for him. Coating his hard wet cock Chris pressed up behind the sweat covered body.
Vin felt Chris’s cock touch his hole and knew he was ready. God was he ready.
The blond took his time and inched his way inside the incredibly tight ass.
Vin felt the fullness inside him, the pulsating heat of Chris’s cock. As the tip of the blondes shaft nudged his prostate Vin found himself whimpering as he bucked again shoving the hard shaft deeper inside him.
Chris heard Vin whisper harshly, “Move, Chris…move…take me.”
Chris obliged by pushing inside deeper and deeper until he felt his balls touch Vin. Then he began to move slowly, deep thrusts. He couldn’t believe the tightness, the heat surrounding his cock.
Vin moaned as he was claimed and possessed by the man he loved. He was lost in the sensations as he felt the hard cock hitting his hard gland bringing bright lights shimmering behind his eyes.
Vin writhed in his arms. A hoarse yell followed his climax his muscles clamping down on the hardness in his ass. Chris followed his lover into ecstasy as Vin surrendered to his lover. The blonde’s climax sending his seed deep into bowels of the slender body that had become suddenly become limp.
The emotional feelings of being made love to, of being possessed and taken by the other half of his soul had been too much. Vin had passed out.
Chris rested his forehead against Vin’s back. He struggled to control his breathing. Carefully while Vin was still out he pulled out of the still spasming entrance. Cleaning them both up he was relieved there was no blood.
Chris lay on his back and pulled Vin into his arms. The extra blanket was pulled over them both. It was only a few minutes until his love began to move.
“How do you feel, sweetheart?” Chris asked.
“I feel loved for the first time since my ma died.”
“I’m glad, Vin. That is the way I want you to feel. I love you with all my heart.”
“Love you to, Chris.”
After a brief hesitation, Vin quietly asked, “Can we do this again tonight?’
Chris laughed as he hugged the lean body closer.
“I think you might be a little sore. How about you take me later?”
Vin raised up on his elbow and gazed into dreamy green eyes.
“You serious?”
“Damn straight I’m serious. I want to feel you moving inside me, taking me like I took you. We are together Vin…equal in everything. Okay?”
Chris watched as his lovers blue eyes lit up.
“Okay…just let me know when…because I’m ready now.”
The feared gunfighter moaned. He had created a monster…a young gorgeous virile monster who just might be the death of him…but what a way to go.
Vin then set out to drive his blond lover crazy, their laughter and joy carrying across the wind as they celebrated each other and their love.
Riding up to the Larabee cabin, Buck heard his friends. It didn’t take much to figure out what was going on. He smiled happy that the two men were together. He would come back tomorrow and deliver the news that Russell was dead. Killed on a stagecoach by robbers. A just end even if it had been to fast for the bastard. Feeling his own groin tighten as he listened to the two men making love he turned the horse and headed back to town. The way he felt it was going to take two women to satisfy him tonight. Yeah life was good in Four Corners.
The End