Part Three

Nathan caught a glimpse of J.D. slipping off into the shadows. Casting a glance around, he followed the young man. After a short walk, he found the kid sitting underneath a tall tree, facing away from him. Dunne had picked up a small leafy branch somewhere, or perhaps stripped it off a smaller tree along his path. He sat cross-legged, twirling the limb in his hand.

“You OK, J.D.?” asked the healer.

“Sure,” said the young man, looking at him then turning away once again.

“Just you’ve been awful quiet the last few days.”

“Yeah,’ said J.D., looking down at his fingers plucking the leaves off one by one. “I haven’t had much to say…”

“Any particular reason,” asked Nathan as he dropped down next to him on the grass.

J.D.’s head shot up and he looked wide-eyed at the healer.

“Isn’t what they done to Vin reason enough?” he retorted.

“It’s more than reason enough,” said Nathan. “I was just wonderin’ if there was any certain part that was botherin’ you more than another.”

“Is he gonna make it?” the young man asked in a low voice, looking back down at his busy hands.

“I can’t say for absolute sure right now, J.D.,” said the healer gently, “but Vin’s pretty tough. He’s come through some really bad times back when he was all on his own. And now he’s got us to help him…”

The young man’s hands twisted together.

“I-I s-saw what they done to him,” stammered J.D. “Y’all thought I didn’t… b-but I saw…” Wide, liquid brown eyes rose to meet Jackson’s. They were full of questions. “I-I don’t understand, Nathan,” continued J.D. “Why Vin? Why… him…” The younger man sniffled and drew a sleeve across his eyes. “Why… why…” His breath hitched in his throat.

Nathan reached out and put a gentle hand on Dunne’s shoulder, giving it a squeeze to show he understood.

“Why do bad things happen to good people?” he asked.

J.D. nodded, ducking his head.

“If I knew the answer to that one J.D.,” said Jackson, “I’d be a wise man.”

“It don’t seem fair,” said the younger man.

“I’ve seen an awful lot of things in my life that didn’t seem fair,” said Nathan.

“I-I’m sorry, Nathan,” said J.D., “I didn’t meant to…”

“I know you didn’t,” he replied, giving the younger man a quick one-armed hug.

“Seems like all I do is stumble around and make more trouble for everyone,” commented the young man sadly.

“We all stumble sometimes, J.D.” said Nathan. “We don’t know what to do or what to say when a friend is hurtin’. So we say or do just the wrong thing.”

“I-I can’t help none with this,” said Dunne. “I don’t even know where to start…”

“Well, son,” said the healer, “to start with there’s some things you can do to help me. You’ve already been doin’ some of those.”

The younger man nodded, clearly thinking hard about the older man’s words.

“And sometimes he’s just gonna need someone to sit with him… not to talk… just to be there.”

“I’ll do that, Nathan,” said J.D. earnestly, words rushing over one another now that he was talking to someone about his feelings the last days. “I’ll sit with him anytime. He’s always been there for me. Just tell me what I can do… how I can help. I want to do anything I can. Please, just don’t leave me out.”

“I won’t, J.D.,” promised Jackson, “We won’t. I think we just all forgot for a while that you’ve always been there for us. We were tryin’ to protect you from knowing what happened. It's somethin' comes kinda natural when you care about a body. What we didn't think about is that you have a right to know since you're one of us. And Vin needs you just as much as he needs the rest of us.”

"I want to be there for him, Nathan," said the younger man. "He's my friend too…"

"We won't leave you on the outside again, J.D." promised Nathan.

He wrapped a long arm around the kid's shoulder and thumped him heartily. Dunne grinned at him.

"For now, how 'bout we head on back and see what Josiah's got cooked up for us…"

The young man's stomach growled urgently at the mention of food. Jackson laughed.

"Sounds like a 'yes' to me…" he commented.

Dunne joined him in laughter as they walked back to the barn companionably.

~~<M7*M7>~~

"Chris," said Nathan solemnly, "we all need to talk."

The blond looked from one of his men to the other. Josiah seemed uncomfortable. The others shifted uneasily as if they sensed this was going to be a talk they all wished was unnecessary. They had left Vin resting comfortably in his corner and gathered around the fire outside. Chris squatted near the warmth nursing a hot cup of coffee.

"We need to make plans about how we’re gonna do things before we head back to town," said the dark man. "How we're gonna take care of Vin… once we get back."

"Are you telling me he's not gonna get well, Nathan?" interposed Chris in a grim voice. "How bad is his leg broke?"

"It's pretty bad. His arm's not near so bad and I think the ribs'll heal up fine. He's a lot stronger than he was already." Nathan smiled at the blond. "Always said the boy was tougher'n nails. It's gonna take a while 'fore he's back up all the way, but I believe he can do it." He shook his head. "No, what I'm worrying about is his hearing and his voice. We'll have to watch his back for him awful close. He can't hear… some bounty hunter could sneak up on him too easy. Somebody'll have to be with him all the time…"

"Now, wait a minute," said Chris, grabbing Nathan's arm. "What are you talking about? His hearing? And you said his voice was because of the rope. I thought you meant that wasn't going to be permanent. He's already talking better."

"Talking? Chris, I don't understand what you’re talkin’ about," said Nathan, looking puzzled. "I haven't heard him say anything…" He looked around at the others. "Anybody else?" They all shook their heads. "Josiah and I…we tested his hearing…"

Chris stood abruptly and tossed the rest of his coffee on the fire, body stiff with anger.

"I don't know what you're tryin' to pull, Nathan," he said, his eyes blazing, "or you either, Josiah…" He jerked his head at the older man. "But Vin's hearing is just fine and he's talkin' too. Not a lot… but when did he ever? Maybe your hearing's the one that needs checking."

He turned and stalked back towards the barn. Nathan rose and followed him quietly. The others waited by the fire, knowing it was up to the gentle healer to get through to their leader.

As they approached the corner where Vin lay, Chris slowed. Nathan halted well behind him, silently waiting. The blond had stopped by the end post of a stall. He stood gripping it tightly, other hand near his gun as if he could use it to defend against his fears.

"Vin," Nathan heard Chris say softly. Then again in a normal voice. "Vin."

The tracker was awake, though his head was turned away towards a stray sunbeam that had worked its way through the upper hayloft door. It fell across the piles of straw, lighting them to gold. His eyes weren't focused on the sunbeam, seeming to gaze off into the distance. The fingers on his free hand fidgeted with a long piece of straw. He lifted it to his mouth and began to chew absentmindedly. Tanner's brow was still furrowed with pain. There was no response to his friend.

Larabee raised his voice and spoke to the Texan again. Not even a movement to indicate the younger man had heard his raised voice. The man in black’s shoulders slumped, his head bowed. Nathan could see his hand where it clutched the post trembling. The healer stepped forward and laid a gentle hand on Chris' arm.

"I thought…" said Chris, his voice breaking with pain. "I must have just been hoping too hard…"

"He'll be safe, Chris," assured Nathan. "We'll keep him safe."

"He won't stand bein' shut up, Nathan," said Chris, shaking his head. "What have I done?" He raised his head to look up into the dim rafters of the building. "I fought to bring him back from the edge…and to what? To be cooped up like some wild animal in a traveling show?"

"We'll find a way," said Nathan firmly. "He's still alive. He's still with us… and we'll work it out somehow. For now, let's just take it one day at a time."

Chris took a deep breath, his back straightening as he braced himself to face one more tragedy, one more rip to his already shredded heart. He circled around to approach Vin from the direction the young man faced. Stepping through the sunbeam, Chris looked like an avenging angel to Nathan. Dressed in black but lined with light, his hair seeming even more golden in the sunlight. He moved forward with easy grace and squatted near the Texan, reaching out to touch his shoulder. The younger man turned his head slightly to look up at Chris, a smile lighting his eyes though they held shadows of pain.

/I'm sorry, Vin. I'm so sorry./

Tanner's brow furrowed.

*Fer what?* Alarm began to spark in the blue eyes. *What's happened? Who's hurt?*

Chris' eyes widened. His hand tightened on the thin shoulder.

/Vin, can you hear me?/

A disgusted look settled on the Texan's face.

*How in hell would I be answerin' ya, if'n I couldn't hear ya.*

Green eyes narrowed. Tanner could see the wheels turning.

/Do you hear anyone else, Vin? Any other sounds?/

*No, nothin' but you… and lots of noises that ain't clear… kinda like listenin' through a wall.* Vin saw something flash in Chris' eyes then. The hand on his shoulder squeezed even tighter in an expression of support. *I's hopin' since I could hear you… the other'd get better.*

Larabee grinned then.

/We'll make it get better, pard./

*What ya gonna do.* Vin chuckled silently. *Shoot me if'n it don't?*

/I might…/ The smile on Chris' face gave the lie to his words.

Nathan watched the two men expressions flitting over their faces as they silently gazed into each other's eyes, lips not even moving. Something was going on. Had their always strong silent communication branched out into a new depth? He'd heard that when a person lost one sense the others compensated for it. Had the tracker received this gift for what he'd lost? The healer watched closely, trying to see if Chris was giving any kind of visual clues, but the black-clad man was still as a statue, save for the emotions obvious on his face.

/Vin, Nathan's behind you to your right. Can you turn and let him know you see him? He doesn't believe you can hear me./

Tanner seemed to understand all the implications in Chris' request.

*Accusin' ya of bein' crazy, was he?* The blue eyes sparkled in amusement. *Tell 'im this is for all that boiled skunk ditch water he's been makin' me drink…*

The younger man turned, smiled his crooked smile at the dark man and flashed him a single-fingered salute. Chris passed on the comment to the healer and they both broke into laughter. Vin just grinned. Nathan came and crouched by the two men.

"I don't pretend to know what's goin' on here, Chris," he said. "But I believe you two are understandin' each other. Don't matter to me how right now, I'm just glad for it. It's gonna make things a whole lot easier." Jackson smiled warmly at the younger man. "So you two had better keep in good practice here, 'coz we're probably gonna push whatever this is as far as it'll go."

Vin watched Nathan closely and although he could see his lips moving, he only heard the same muffled sounds he had been for days. He turned back to Chris, meeting his eyes. The healer watched as their leader passed on what he'd said to the tracker. As the older man apparently finished explaining to him, Vin lifted his uninjured hand and the two men clasped arms as they had done since they met, in a solemn affirmation of their friendship as well as their partnership. The Texan looked over at him and his smile included the healer in the bond of friendship.

The dark healer retreated back to the fire, more than likely to explain to the others his findings. Chris lifted Vin carefully and settled him in the warm shaft of sunshine that had found its way in from the hayloft door. The blond turned perpendicular to Vin, and pulled up one leg for the younger man to lean back on. Chris curled his other leg close to his body and the Texan eased onto the supporting limb, his breath growing harsh from moving the small distance. Vin let his head fall back onto Larabee's knee trying to hide the pain from his friend. It was almost worth the agony of having his body moved to feel sun on his face again. There had been a point when he thought he'd never feel the sun on his face again. The tracker turned his face up to the light, closing his eyes and letting its heat warm him. Larabee watched him basking in the sunbeam and felt his heart lurch.

This was a free soul, untamed either by civilization or all the painful experiences of his life. He should be allowed to roam free, to escape from town when it closed in on him, to sit on a cliff and watch the sunset or just ride off on Peso and follow his mount’s nose when the urge took him. He'd called this man back from death, drawn him back out of his own selfish urges. He'd been trying to cage the eagle, hold it where he wanted it to be. Larabee looked at the young man, the curls framing his face, stubble on his chin lit to a golden glow by the sunlight streaming over him. He reached up and stroked back a curl that was caught on Tanner's cheek with one finger. The blond could see the pulse beating firmly in the slender throat and his fingers drifted down to touch it. It fluttered against his hand. It was like holding that eagle in his arms, to touch the young man. To feel its heart beating against his own. Vin's head rolled on his knee. Blue eyes opened and locked with his.

*Chris…*

/I'm sorry, Vin./

*Ya keep sayin' that.* A small smile curved the lips of the tracker.

/I may not have done you a favor by trying to hold you here with us./

*I tol' ya… 's long as you need me, I'm here. I promised. A Tanner don't go back on a promise…*

/‘We’ll f…/ Chris’ eyes filled. He looked away into the dimness of the upper corner of the building, attempting to conceal that fact. /…to you…/ He brought his gaze back down to meet Vin’s, only to find eyes widened in fear.

*Chris…* The tracker swallowed heavily. *What did ya say?*

*I said…* The blond stopped. *You didn’t hear me…*

Tanner shook his head. Chris saw a slight flutter and glanced down to see that Vin’s hand was shaking. He met blue eyes again.

*But you hear me now…*

Vin nodded, his throat working as he gulped again. Chris’ brows drew together. He thought carefully over the last few minutes, trying to remember if he had done anything different. Larabee realized that the Texan was shaking all over now. He reached out and gathered the younger man close. One hand came up to cup the beautiful face. Chris looked down into wide, fearful eyes. He concentrated on the tracker in his arms.

/It’s all right Vin,/ he soothed. /We’ll work this out… just you and me…/

The Texan relaxed marginally. Chris’ thumb stroked over the young man’s cheekbone. He relaxed a little more.

/Vin?/

*I can hear ya…*

/Good./ Larabee nodded. /Keep talking. We’ll figure out what it was…/

*Keep talkin’ ?* Vin’s ‘voice’ was filled with irony. *’Bout what?*

/Well, you could recite one of your poems…/

The blond grinned. Tanner blushed bright red.

*Any other bright ideas?*

Larabee laughed.

/Your choice then…/

The Texan appeared thoughtful for a minute. Then his voice began to echo softly in Chris’ head.

*When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes…*

The man in black let himself fall for a moment into that soft, raspy tone quoting Shakespeare. He spoke the words with such meaning that Chris was caught in the spell of it. Shaking himself, he turned his thoughts to recalling exactly what they had both been doing just before their silent communication failed them. Stepping through their conversation move by move, he remembered looking up at the dust motes floating in the sunbeam. His eyes drifted back up to the rafters above.

*Like him with friends possess’d…*

Vin’s ‘voice’ cut out. This must have been what terrified his tracker. His eyes snapped back to brilliant blue ones.

* …in these thoughts, myself almost despising…*

Chris smiled reassuringly at the younger man. He still looked very edgy.

/Vin?/ he interrupted softly. /Try something for me. Keep talking but look away from me./

The Texan nodded and kept on reciting the Sonnet.

*Haply I think on thee…*

When Vin’s eyes moved away his ‘voice’ stopped. Chris reached up and stroked the tracker’s cheek. Immediately, his eyes flew to meet Larabee’s.

*…Sings hymns at heaven’s gate * The young man’s voice tailed off.

/Vin, I think I may have it figured out. When I looked up a minute ago, I couldn’t hear you. And when you looked off just now, I couldn’t either…/

*So, it’s when we’re lookin’ each other in the eye?*

/Seems so./

*Could get a mite inconvenient…* mused the tracker.

/I’ll take anything I can get at this point./

Vin’s eyes grew sad.

*Sorry to be such a pain in the ass, Chris.*

/You’ve always been a pain in the ass, Tanner. Don’t see things changin’ now. Truth is, I’m not sure what I’d do if you weren’t./

Vin’s expression lightened at the gentle teasing.

*Yep… have to be Larabee… just to keep you in line…*

Chris chuckled.

/You like Shakespeare Vin?/

The Texan blushed again and tried to turn his face away. Chris held it steady with a gentle finger cupped under his chin.

*I heard that one once… at a travelin’ show. I liked what he said about ‘bootless cries’. Made me think he knew what it’s like bein’ without. I saw the man that recited it later in the Saloon and asked him to say it over a couple of times till I memorized it.*

Larabee shook his head in amazement, grinning in spite of himself. Heard it a “couple of times” and had it totally committed to memory. That was his tracker.

/Shakespeare has a way of doing that…/

Vin shrugged, obviously embarrassed.

*I liked that one. It said somethin’ ta me… here…* The young man touched his hand just over his heart.

Chris nodded.

/Yes, old William does have a way of speaking to your heart. He understood… knew how it could be. You know, there’s those who say Shakespeare knew it all. That he understood all of us… from the common man to kings and nobles./

Vin’s deep blue eyes widened as he thought this over. Then they clouded. Tanner didn’t seem to think Shakespeare knew everything.

*You think he did, Chris?*

/More than most… How about if I read some of his writings to you some time and you tell me what you think?/

Vin’s blush had ebbed but now it rose again.

*Don’t wanna be no trouble…*

/No trouble Vin… or I wouldn’t have offered…/ Chris knew about Vin’s struggle with the printed word, though the man had never told him.

*Then I’d like that…*

Larabee looked at the young man before him solemnly.

/We'll find a way through all this, Vin… I'll find a way… That's my promise to you…/

The smile widened into that lop-sided grin that tugged at Chris' heart.

*I trust ya, cowboy. I know you'll do whatever ya can.*

And somewhere along the way, we’ll find time for Shakespeare Chris promised the blue-eyed man in his heart.

~~<M7*M7>~~

Nathan approached their leader as he hunched at the fire, filling a cup with the strong coffee Josiah kept on the boil there.

"This is what ya need," said the healer, thrusting a cup of herb tea in front of the man.

"Don't need none of that ditch water," retorted Chris.

"Yeah, just like you haven't been holding back the coughin'," said Nathan. Chris glared at him. "That don't work on me… Josiah told me he saw it too…" The dark man looked at him earnestly. "You've got to cough it out, Chris, else it can do damage to your lungs.” The dark man eyed his erstwhile patient. “So, you gonna cooperate… or do Buck, Josiah and I hold you down?”

Green eyes flashed, then grew weary. “Whatever you want, Nathan,” said Chris, suddenly subdued.

Jackson took a step back in surprise. He had fully expected their leader to fight him every step of the way. The healer was never one to miss out on an unexpected chance, however. Quickly he led the blond to a crate he’d padded with blankets, calling out for Josiah as they moved.

“I said I’d cooperate,” growled Larabee.

“I heard ya,” said Nathan, grinning, “but Josiah’s got bigger hands…” He laughed outright at the startled look on the man’s face. “Here now,” he instructed, “lean over this. Hang way over so your chest ain’t on the crate. I’m gonna hold your shoulders and Josiah’s gonna pound on your back…”

“Where the hell do you get these ideas, Nathan?” asked the blond as he slowly complied.

Josiah joined them at this point, grinning as well.

“Never question the divine hand of providence, my friend,” the older man quipped.

“I ain’t givin’ away all my secrets, Chris,” said Jackson, still grinning. He moved forward and knelt, supporting the blond’s shoulders on his knees. “Now, just let your arms relax out to the sides… that’s it…”

The older man knelt also and cupping his hands began to gently pound on their leader's back. Chris almost immediately tried to stifle a cough.

“That ain’t gonna do any good,” said Nathan, shaking his head. “You gotta let it out, Chris. That’s the whole point of this.”

The blond allowed a small cough. Nathan sighed and rolled his eyes. Josiah grinned and thumped him a little harder. A wet, congested cough resulted.

"That's it," urged the healer. The cough turned into an extended spasm. Jackson could see the blond's face was turning red. "Easy… easy," soothed Nathan. "Now, take a deep breath."

The black-clad man managed to draw in a gasping breath only to break into another round of coughs. The healer smiled up at Josiah. It was working.

When the blond emerged a few minutes later, his eyes and nose were streaming. He continued to cough sporadically, even as Nathan and Josiah assisted him to his feet.

"Just be sure you don't swallow any of that, Chris," Jackson admonished him.

Larabee headed to the trough to wash his face and rinse his mouth out.

"Twice a day, Chris," Nathan called after him. "And the tea at every meal…"

The blond continued on as if he hadn't heard him. The healer sighed and played his trump card.

"You cooperate and I won't bring Vin into it…"

Larabee paused only a heartbeat in his stride but Nathan knew he'd heard him and would take it to heart.

"Blackmail, my friend?" asked Josiah, chuckling softly and clapping the tall man on the back.

"Yep," said Nathan, "and I've become reeeal good at it since I started workin' with y'all."

"Sometimes, there are necessary evils," commented the preacher. Nathan grinned.

~~<M7*M7>~~

Vin lay on his back, both legs elevated on a short crate, his back propped by piled up hay, so he could breathe easier. His eyes kept drifting closed, but he felt compelled to drag them open again. Chris lay on his side, only a half arm's length away, propped up on an elbow, his hand resting lightly on Vin's chest. Tanner had his head turned so he could see the man's face, look into his eyes when he needed to. Tonight, the shadows seemed to press close and he felt uneasy letting himself go into sleep. Half-fearing the dreams he sensed waiting for him.

/Sleep, Vin. I'm here./ A slender hand slid up to clasp the one on the tracker's chest.

*I know. Thanks, cowboy.* The blue eyes slid shut again and the younger man's breathing deepened as he slid into sleep.

Chris didn’t intend to sleep, at least not for a while. The blond shifted his body slightly, trying to ease the discomfort in his chest. It was tender from all the coughing. But Nathan seemed satisfied with the black-flecked nasty looking stuff he’d been hacking up. At least someone was happy, he groused to himself. Then he looked across at the thin form beside him. Well, maybe he wasn’t so unhappy himself right now. Stifling a yawn, he rubbed his eyes trying to keep them open. He wouldn’t go to sleep just yet. He wanted to watch his tracker's face relax as he drifted off, Larabee’s hand held tightly to his chest. His body had other things in mind, however and his eyes drifted shut. Soon he was as deeply asleep as the Texan.

~~<M7*M7>~~

Larabee felt warm, secure… safe. At first it was dark, then gradually it brightened to a soft blue haze. His heart thudded, knowing he was on the verge of something important. Wisps of moisture laden fog swirled about him. Emerging from the drifts was the body of Vin Tanner. The Texan walked towards him confidently, a small smile on his square-jawed face. A smile that grew larger and more inviting the closer he came. Chris smiled back and let his own eyes warm at the wonderful vision. Vin stopped only a hair's breadth away from him, his face tilted slightly to look up into his. Blue eyes shone with happiness, humor and…. something deeper, something almost within his reach.

'Chris.'

Just one word in that raspy drawl. His eyes were drawn to that mouth, spread wide in a lop-sided grin and he was lost. The blond leaned forward and touched his lips to that beckoning lushness. His tongue slipped out to taste velvet soft heat. Tanner’s mouth parted even more, tongue slipping out to meet his. He felt firm hands on his chest, stroking, scraping over nipples and he moaned into the hot depths. Chris brought his hands up to cradle the man's head, hold it still, and pressed forward with his tongue and mouth, wanting… needing to devour that sweetness. He stroked over sleek heat, met moist tongue and battled for control. The tracker’s hands slid around his sides and up his back. Strong thumbs massaged down his back to dig hard fingers into his buttocks. He thrust with his tongue, searching out and learning every smallest crevice and corner of Vin's delightful mouth, memorizing the taste, the feel. Tanner's hands gripped even harder, pulling on him, jerking him against his hips.

He cried out, the sound muffled by the lips that now sucked on his. The blond could feel the half hardened cock of the younger man pressing into the curve of his hip. His arms moved down the slender body, hands digging into Vin's back, pulling him closer. Chris thrust his hips against stiffness of Tanner’s cock and it abruptly stiffened to velvety steel. Somehow they were down on their knees… then on the floor, Larabee atop the slender body, pressing himself into the other man as if he wanted to sink all the way through to the surface beneath. His hands stroked and caressed everywhere, touching chest, pinching nipples and scraping down rippling stomach muscles to the coarser hairs at Vin's groin.

Chris’ body covered the slender tracker’s, feeling the delicious warmth of the young man all along his length. Vin arched up against him, their hardened cocks rubbing against each other. The blond moaned deep in his chest and ground his hips into the younger man’s groin. Firm muscles and smooth skin under Larabee’s hands stirred him even more. He couldn’t get enough of the heat beneath him and ran his hands all over Tanner’s body, his mouth devouring sweet lips all the while. And still it wasn’t enough, he needed more… needed to lose himself inside the man. His body throbbed and ached.

Finally he was plunging into the hot body… could feel the wet tightness surrounding him. The air rasped in his throat as his body took over, pounding into the Texan’s. Vin was crying out. He could hear sounds… words but he was too consumed with the fiery ecstasy that flooded him to hear clearly. Over and over again he rammed into Vin’s hard body until everything flashed light around him and his body convulsed, emptying itself into the younger man. He cried out at the unspeakable joy and woke himself up.

Chris jerked awake, gasping for breath. Soft hair caught in his mouth. Larabee realized that in his sleep, he'd moved over and curled his body around Vin's. Brown curls brushed his face. His breathing was still heavy. Vin was shifting restlessly next to him. Stickiness and the damp clinging of his drawers at his groin told him he’d done something he hadn’t since he was a raw young greenhorn. Found relief during a dream. It had been a lot of years since he'd had such a sexually explicit dream, let alone recalled every detail upon waking.

He eased back, unfurling his body and moving away from Tanner. The younger man settled some but continued to move in his sleep, his breath hitching. Biting back a moan, he desperately hoped Vin had been unaware of his movement or its results. Chris reached out and stroked his hands through the younger man's hair, soothing him back into deeper sleep. Vin calmed and Chris rose to his feet in one swift move and fled the barn.

Slipping out of the barn, Chris moved quickly to the horse trough, which still held water from cooling Vin off at the height of his fever. It was quiet and dim on the backside of the trough. Larabee quickly stripped off his dark trousers as well as the drawers he wore underneath. Hanging over the trough, he splashed water over himself to rinse away the sticky residue of his dream. He scrubbed the drawers out quickly, trying to hurry, knowing he needed to get back to Vin fairly soon. The man had already begun to toss about. Chris had learned quickly that when Vin started moving around in his sleep, a screaming nightmare wasn’t far off. The bad dreams happened several times a night, so he would try to let the Texan sleep as long as possible before pulling him out of the nightmare. He couldn’t let Vin see him with the obvious remains of his erotic dream plastered on his trousers for everyone to see. Thinking of the slender tracker brought back the feelings and sensations of the dream. He was instantly and painfully erect once again.

“Shit,” he muttered. Getting the tight black trousers over damp, bare and sensitized skin looked hopeless. Sighing, he struggled into the damp legs. Jerked and pulled until he had the waistband up over his firmly muscled ass… but then he was defeated. Larabee looked down. There was no way that was going in there without some significant pain involved. His hand drifted down. Well, there was one way. Pictures flooded his mind from the dream… smells, tastes, the feel of silky skin over hard muscle. His hand curled around his penis, the thumb reaching up to stroke over the head, spreading the thick moisture around the sensitive area. When had he ever had a dream with smells and tastes? But he remembered the scent of Vin’s hair like sweet grass in the sun, his taste like wild sassafras Chris had chewed when he was a child. His hand began to move now and he bent over slightly, bracing himself with the other hand on the trough.

Chris could almost feel the lithe young body against him, the heat pouring off his tracker. A soft moan escaped his lips, his breath coming quick and fast. He tightened his grip around the swollen, aching shaft of his cock and could almost imagine Vin’s ass like fevered silk pulling him in. It had felt so good in the dream. He had needed Tanner so desperately. His eyes drifted shut as the dream images became more vivid. Chris recalled pounding into the young man’s body, watching through narrowed eyes Vin’s legs splayed before him, blue eyes wide as he looked up at Larabee. His body remembered the feelings all too well and he arched harder into his fist, picking up speed. The dream pictures moved on and he heard Vin crying out. This time he focused on his tracker’s voice. They weren’t just sounds… moans. There were words. Words he could almost hear… almost understand.

When the words of the Texan at last rang clear, he found himself lunging for the deeply shadowed lee of the barn. Bent over, he retched up what seemed like everything he’d swallowed in the last month. Chris Larabee shuddered as a wave of icy dark pain swept over him. In his dream, Vin had been crying, “No… no… don’t… stop…” and at the last, “please… please…” as he forced himself on the vulnerable man. Vin had cried out to him to stop in the dream and he'd been too hell-bent on his own pleasure to listen to the young man's pleas.

Still fighting the dry heaves, Chris staggered back over to the trough and ducked his head under the water. He sucked up mouthfuls and spat them on the ground, trying to rinse the foul taste out of his mouth. Shivering as cold fingers of fear embraced his heart, the trickles of water down his torso felt like ice. At least there was no problem getting his penis back inside his trousers now. His raging erection had completely deflated.

Had the dream been an omen… or a shadow of the recent past? Knowing he really had to get back to the young man in the barn now, he forced himself to walk quickly. He’d been gone far too long already and Vin had been restless when he left. He would just have to force it all back down. Tanner needed his care and protection right now. He couldn’t let his feelings… or his fears show. The young man needed calm strength to bring him through this ordeal. And Chris Larabee was going to be there for him no matter what the personal cost.

When he returned to the dimly lit corner of the barn, he discovered that the tracker had totally thrown off all his covers. Tossing about wildly, the Texan’s one free arm flailed blindly. His breath was harsh and rasping in his chest. When Chris tried to gather the slender body up in his arms, Vin arched his back trying frantically to pull away from him. Chris felt tears start to his eyes. When he was here to pull the Texan out of the devastating dreams before they got a deep hold on him, the younger man didn’t get this frantic. Larabee tried to hum, though his voice kept breaking. He caught hold of the one free hand and brought it up to his cheek, cradling it there to keep the tracker from hurting himself, rocking the thin body gently. Chris was looking down into his face when the Texan finally broke free of the dream and impossibly huge blue eyes flew open.

*No… No… don’t… pleasepleaseplease…*

/It’s all right, Vin…/ Chris tried to soothe. /Shhhh… shhh… you’re safe now…/

The man choked. He’d almost added ‘I’m here…’ but he was coming to wonder if that was true anymore. He wasn’t so sure Tanner was safe when he was there now.

Slowly, Vin calmed, responding to Larabee’s touch, the feel of his arms holding him safe. The blue eyes drifted closed once again. Chris sat holding him the remainder of the night, trying to choke back the tears and sobs that made their way into his chest.

~~<M7*M7>~~

Nathan looked at Chris across the fire. Buck, Ezra and Josiah had gathered there as well. J.D. was sitting with Vin, helping him to eat some broth.

"We need to plan," he said softly. "Josiah and I been talking. We think we can sling a litter between two of the horses."

"You think he'll be ready to travel soon?" asked Chris eyes narrowing in concern.

"I need to get him back to town," said Nathan. "I don't have enough supplies here. We're runnin' outta food and everything. We'll have to take it slow… but I think it's time."

"Buck," said Chris, "you and J.D. help them with anything they need." The gunslinger turned back to the healer. "We'll be ready to go when you are, Nathan."

Larabee tossed out the rest of his coffee and rose, moving back to the barn and Vin.

~~<M7*M7>~~

Two days later they prepared to ride out. Nathan, Josiah, Chris and Buck lifted Vin gently between them on a blanket and carried him out of the barn. J.D. held the horses steady. Vin’s eyes were tightly closed against the pain the movement was causing. They settled him on the pallet hung between Pony and Hippocrates. Nathan intended to keep a close eye on his patient. Chris would allow no one between him and his tracker. They tied loose strips of blankets over the Texan’s thighs and torso to hold him steady in the litter.

Chris had wrapped one of his spare shirts around the younger man’s bare shoulders and cocooned him carefully in a blanket. The nights had begun to be cool as it moved on into autumn. Days were still comfortable but had a definite fall feeling to them. He wanted to be sure the tracker was protected both from the dust as well as the morning nip in the air. Smiling at the Texan, he had slipped the man’s mare’s leg inside the wrappings. Buck, Ezra and J.D. had scoured the barn and outbuildings looking for items that might prove useful. The kid had found Tanner’s weapon buried at the bottom of a pile of old harness in the far back corner of a storage shack. Vin’s eyes lit up at the sight.

/Only in case of emergency, Vin…/ admonished Chris. /If it isn’t a life-threatening-we’re-all-fixing-to-die situation, I’ll make you wish it was./

Tanner nodded but his eyes shone as he patted the sawed off rifle. Chris laid his hand on the tracker’s and pressed. He could see the gratitude in Vin’s eyes. It was the first time in many days the Texan hadn’t felt totally helpless as if his whole life had been taken from his control. The gunslinger knew Vin had been on his own and self-sufficient for a long time. He also knew it both irked and terrified the man to be in a position where he had to depend on others. The tracker had slowly come to trust them and allow them to help him, most notably Chris. But to be so dependent on them for so much for so long had been eating at the Vin. Larabee was fully expecting an explosion from the Texan before too long. He intended to do everything he could to hold that off for as much time as possible.

Nathan mounted Hippocrates after checking to be sure Vin was secure. Chris was already astride Pony. He looked down at the younger man laid out beside him, his pale face drawn from the movement so far. They hadn’t even started yet. The blond leaned over to touch Vin’s cheek lightly. The startling blue eyes opened.

/Let me know if it gets to be too much, Vin./ A stubborn look in the man’s eyes briefly made him want to wring his neck. /I mean it! If you don’t, I’ll set Nathan on your sorry ass…/

Vin managed a small grin at that.

*I’ll let ya know, cowboy.*

Chris smiled at him. Vin felt the now familiar tug in his gut at that smile. As the men started their horses forward at a walk, Chris making sure Pony’s gait matched Hippocrates, pain flared in the Texan’s body. He closed his eyes again, taking slow deep breaths in an attempt to keep his face under control. Tanner tilted his head a little, snuggling his face into the black shirt wrapped around him. It smelled of the cigarillos the blond smoked… and Chris. The pain eased into the back of his mind and became more tolerable.

As they left the barn and burned house behind, none looked back. All eyes were on the body slung between the two horses. All thoughts were ahead to the town they’d come to think of as home.

Every few hours during the day they stopped to rest the horses and stretch their legs. They tried to feed Vin a little broth but all he could handle was a few sips of water. Chris knew he was suffering, but they had to get him back to Four Corners. They needed the town’s supplies and access to whatever would be required for Tanner to heal completely. He gritted his teeth as he watched the man wrestle with the pain. Keeping an eye on his face, he called a halt whenever the younger man’s expression took on a grey cast and his breathing became too harsh. It was going to be a long, slow trip back. They stopped early to make camp, finding a place near a stream.

~~<M7*M7>~~

Buck strode back to the campfire, having been relieved by Josiah on watch. He glanced over at the large blanketed hump he knew contained Chris and Vin. Only a small thatch of blond hair peeked out. Larabee lay propped against a couple of saddles, Vin curled up against his chest half upright to ease his breathing. One of the tracker's legs was propped up on the milk stool J.D. had trimmed down for him. The blond had pulled the blankets high around them to keep the cold night air from his and Tanner's still weakened lungs.

You couldn’t tell where one of them ended and the other began under the piled covers. Buck stroked his mustache to cover the grin that kept forcing its way to the surface at the sight. The big gunslinger let his eyes travel back to the figure closer to the campfire. He caught a gleam of reflected firelight underneath the black flat-brimmed hat and ducked his head.

"Ezra," he whispered under guise of kneeling down to feed the fire. "Josiah and I heard someone movin' around out there. Keep alert."

There was a minute shifting of the form that acknowledged his warning. Having adjusted the fire to his satisfaction, Buck rose from his knees and slowly walked over to where the other two men curled together. He sighed heavily, hesitating for a second, not wanting to disturb Vin if it really wasn't necessary.

The Texan had been exhausted when they slipped him out of the pallet. Nathan brewed some of his tea at the fire but the injured man had been hardly able to swallow a few mouthfuls before dozing off. Chris sat near the fire, holding Vin up against his chest, waking the man every little bit to get most of the cup of tea down him. Nathan had insisted he needed the fluids more than sleep. Larabee glared at him, reluctant to disturb Vin, but then proceeded to get the liquid down his tracker in the way he saw fit. Buck supported Tanner upright while Josiah and Chris piled saddles and bags to make a place for the Texan to rest with his head and chest raised. The younger man had not even seemed to notice when they shifted him to the prepared place.

Buck sighed again, but their leader needed to know of the forms they had seen slipping through the dark. Wilmington knew that Chris slept lightly at best. Vin lay closest to the fire, with Larabee between him and the chill night air. Buck hunched down and adjusted the blankets around the tracker.

"Got company, Ole Dog," he breathed.

There was not much motion from the two men, but Wilmington saw a slight flutter of the blankets that indicated Chris' hand slipping towards the pearl handled Colt. Vin's breathing continued deep and even. He dared to hope the tracker had not been aware of his presence.

Once again, Buck stood, now heading towards the far side of the fire to his own blanket roll near Nathan and J.D. The other two men had bedded down on the other side, away from the light. The healer was tired from caring for Vin and had been sent on his way by Chris who assured him he would take care of the tracker during the night. He had only taken a couple of steps past the flames when there was a wild shout from Josiah.

"STOP! Hold it right there!!"

A flash of gunfire quickly followed. Standish rolled to his feet in one swift move, guns in both hands. Larabee was on one knee, firing towards the bushes near Nathan and J.D., his back to Vin's form. Ezra returned fire also, even as he moved to the other side of Tanner to protect him from their attackers.

Buck kicked dirt over the fire, partially smothering it to reduce the light and make them less visible. He dashed over to the other two men he had not been able to warn. They rose from their blanket rolls slower than Ezra and Chris. Dark forms advanced out of the trees on all sides, firing at them. Josiah had joined J.D. and Nathan now.

Chris knelt on one knee, firing steadily at the flashes from the guns of the men surrounding them. Suddenly, another flash of light lit the area just below his ass. He jumped, then gritted his teeth as a shadow that had been slipping up on him from the side fell to the ground. Another flash and a third. Another body fell. Focusing downward, he saw the barrel of a mare's leg peeking out from between his legs. Twisting his head around to look over his shoulder he met a pair of blue eyes looking up at him from a position on the ground.

"What the HELL do you think you're doing?" Larabee growled.

*Saving your ass.*

"Saving it! You mean singeing it. You ever do that again," said Chris, "and I'll string you up by your balls!"

Vin's eyes crinkled in amusement.

*Any time you wanna give it a try, cowboy.*

The eyes flicked away and the mare's leg fired again. Chris turned quickly back to scan the edge of the firelight. He heard a low moan from behind him and Ezra's gun stopped its steady firing. Larabee was just turning to see if Vin was aware of Standish's problem when something heavy and hard hit the back of his head. Stars danced before his eyes and there was sand in his mouth. He reached up a hand to the back of his head and slowly tried to pick himself up off the ground. How had he gotten there?

He pulled himself up and looked around him again, blinking rapidly, trying to clear and focus his vision. Chris twisted around to check on Vin and found him pushing futilely at a heavy body that had fallen across him. It was the man who had hit him over the back of the head with his pistol. Tanner's face was a mask of agony. The heavy weight of the man had to be aggravating his injuries and causing him excruciating pain.

Larabee grabbed hold of the man's shirt and rolled him off Vin. He realized the gunfire had died out and glanced around to check on his friends. Ezra lay slumped on the ground beyond Tanner, arm flung out towards the Texan as if he'd reached for him even as he fell. Head throbbing, Chris gently rolled Standish over. Buck was at his elbow, pulling back the man's jacket to discover the bloodstained shirt.

Josiah came up beside Chris and helped him move the body of the attacker further away from the Texan. Buck was kneeling beside Ezra, though the gambler already struggled to get up, protesting he was "perfectly capable, thank you."

"At least a couple of 'em got away," muttered Josiah. "Sorry, Chris…"

"You did the best you could," said the blond, looking up from checking Vin, who was heaving for breath now that he was released from the heavy weight. "We all did," said Chris. "Even those who shouldn't have been…"

He glared down at the tracker beside him. Vin looked at him with defiant blue eyes.

*I cover m' friend's backs,* retorted the Texan, squinting up at Larabee, even as he gasped for air.

/When you’re not shooting them in the ass, you mean. I don't know how the hell you cocked that gun of yours... but if you knocked anything loose, I'm gonna hold you down while Nathan whips your scrawny ass!/

*Ain't the first time I done it one-handed.*

The Texan scowled up at him, lips set in a thin angry line. Chris was immediately repentant. The man was obviously in a lot of pain and he was chewing him out. It just made him want to scream at the world to see his injured tracker in more danger. Larabee admitted to himself that it made no sense at all to take it out on Tanner.

"Well," he said casting a glance at Nathan bent over the two bodies near by, "they won't be back tonight at least."

His eyes narrowed. They'd come too close to Tanner for his peace of mind. After assuring himself that Vin was propped up and breathing easier, Chris moved over to help Buck and the preacher with Ezra who was now fighting off the healer. Standish refused to let them have a look at his injury. J.D. had already headed off to the creek with a bucket to bring water for Nathan. Between the three of them they managed to get the southerner to his feet and over near the fire. Jackson joined them there with his saddlebags in hand.

Josiah built up the fire again for more visibility and proceeded to shift the bodies further away from their campsite. The big man wondered if there was any way to know for sure if this attack had been directed by their female nemesis, Ella. Or had it just been chance that had brought the men across their camp.

Nathan kept batting away the gambler's hands. Ezra was very pale, his skin clammy even as he was drenched in sweat. His eyes were unfocused though he seemed to be peering around, trying to place his surroundings and the men before him. Buck slid up behind Standish, taking his wrists firmly in hand.

"He don't know where he is or who we are," said the big gunslinger. "Ezra… Ezra!" he said firmly. "It's all right."

"Buck?" said the younger man weakly, still looking around, trying to focus.

"You can rest…" said Wilmington. "I'm watchin' for ya."

The gambler nodded once and stopped thrashing, his eyes drifting closed. Nathan quickly slipped his arm out of the red coat and peeled back the frilled shirt. Chris stood just behind him, resisting the urge to peek over the healer's shoulder, waiting for the verdict. Jackson poked and prodded as Buck eased Ezra back some more giving the man more room to maneuver.

"Nathan," said Chris finally, as the dark man seemed to be working steadily, oblivious to the blond waiting anxiously.

"He's gonna be all right, Chris," said Nathan, at last glancing up to their leader. "If he behaves himself, that is. Bullet cracked his rib… but then it went on through." Nathan turned to grin at Buck. "He ain't gonna be shufflin' cards too good for a while, but he'll be fine."

Chris and Buck both heaved a sigh of relief.

"Just hold on to him there, Buck," said Nathan, "and we'll get him wrapped up while he's still out of it. Once he comes to, he'll be fussin' again."

Wilmington grinned and shifted his position to hold the southerner where Jackson could clean the wound and bind up his ribs. Ezra's head lolled back against his shoulder, the soft hair tickling his neck. Buck's hands tightened on the slender, fragile body. His heart had leapt to his throat when he'd seen the man go down. Standish was so self-sufficient that to see him helpless and unaware like this was a shock.

Larabee nodded at the dark man and turned back to check on Vin once again, only to lunge across the clearing. The tracker was most of the way to the surrounding trees, single-mindedly dragging his body along with his one good arm… away from where Josiah was laying out the bodies.

"Vin… NO!" cried the blond, then realized the young man couldn’t hear him. With a couple of quick strides, he was kneeling by the man and reaching to gather him up in his arms. Tanner fought him wildly until the gunfighter grabbed his chin and jerked it up and around so their eyes met.

"Vin, you're safe. They're gone…" The blue eyes were dilated to black holes. They jerked away from Larabee's gaze to focus on the three bodies Josiah had lined up and was now bent over saying a prayer. As Chris pulled the slender body closer to him he could feel the tremors shaking the younger man. He pulled on Vin's face again, trying to get him to meet his eyes. Tanner's shaking increased as he looked wild-eyed at the faces of the three dead men highlighted by the firelight. Chris had to shake him to get his attention, but even then he wasn't positive that Vin was seeing him.

/They can't hurt you, pard. They're dead/ No response. /Vin… Vin, what is it?/

*T-they…* A heavy gulp and the fragile body shook even more. *They…kn-knew me… I ‘member ‘em.*

Chris wrapped his arms around the tracker and pulled him into the lee of his body. Vin's hand came up to grip his shirt tightly and his face was buried in Chris' neck. He began to rock him gently, stroking a soothing hand through the long curls, even as he thought about the younger man's words. Just how well they had known him, he didn't really want to think about. It gave him a visceral satisfaction to know they were dead and could no longer torture or terrify his tracker.

"Oh, God," thought Larabee. "No wonder you were trying to get away, my friend…"

He lifted the man tenderly in his arms, keeping his body between Tanner and the dead faces across the fire, he moved slowly back to the piled saddles and blankets they'd abandoned in haste. Easing himself and the Texan down to the ground, Chris continued to hold him on his lap, rocking the warm body and crooning unconsciously to him. Vin's body was still shaking wildly and he gasped for breath. Larabee pulled the blankets around the younger man and stroked his back in soothing circles. Josiah came into view and squatted by them, catching Chris' eye.

"Move them," said Chris in a low deadly voice. "Out of sight…"

The preacher's eyes widened, his mouth opened in a gasp as he took in the trembling body and understood.

"J.D." rumbled the big man, "I need you to help me with a task."

The young man came to him eagerly and they moved off together. Nathan knelt by Chris, reaching out a hand to check on Vin.

"He's not hurt," said Chris. "At least not that way…"

Jackson hissed as he took in Josiah quickly removing the bodies from sight with J.D.'s help.

"Should have guessed they'd come after us," said the dark man in a soft voice. "You think she sent 'em?"

Larabee's eyes were grim. There was no doubt in his mind who had set them on their trail.

"They were tryin' to get to you, Chris," continued Nathan. "I saw that big one rush Ezra."

The healer reached out and ran his hands over the back of Larabee's skull. The blond flinched away, grimacing at the pain. Jackson was firm, however and continued to prod at the swiftly rising lump.

"And just when were you plannin' on tellin' me about this?" asked Nathan in an exasperated voice. "You've got a knot on top of a knot there. When did you get the first one?"

"Gettin' Vin out of the house," said Chris, twisting away. "Leave it alone. I'll be all right…"

"Sure," said Nathan, "and when you fall asleep and never wake up… who'll take care of Vin then?"

"Didn't think about that…” said Chris, eyes wide as he swallowed heavily. “I've heard of men who got hit on the head and never woke up…"

"Well, you better start thinkin' Chris," said Nathan. "He's gonna need somebody for a long time."

Jackson moved away, back to Buck and Ezra. The blond looked down at the too-thin body he held. He couldn't see Vin's face right now, but he could feel the soft hair against one hand, the heaving back against the other. Larabee knew he wanted to be there for Vin. The real question was… should he? Wouldn't Vin be better off with someone else, someone who wasn't finding it more and more of a struggle not to touch him. Someone who wasn't thinking of wanting to do what those men had done. Chris closed his eyes and tried to calm his pounding heart.

Not the way they had, of course. Still, to lose himself in that hot body, bury himself in slick heat. Larabee had been on long lonely trails, had eased himself with other willing male bodies. It was an alternative when a man got to craving something besides his own hand. When he'd had Sarah to go home to, he'd refrained, preferring her sweet touch to anything. But there'd been times… before her… and after. Never though, had he found himself wondering what it would be like to touch firm flesh, to run his hands over a leanly muscled chest, to touch another man's lips with his own and delve into the mouth behind them.

Vin stirred beneath his touch. With a gasp, Chris realized the hand that had been tracing slow circles on the man's back to soothe his tremors had begun to trace a slow path down the tracker's spine. That hand now rested over the S curve low on his back. The other had tunneled into the long hair at the nape of the Texan's neck and held the back of his skull tightly. Vin's head tilted back and half-closed blue eyes met his.

*Chris?*

/Sorry, Vin. It's all right. I was thinking…/

*Thinkin' 'bout what?* A small frown appeared on the pale face.

/Reckon you can handle riding in the litter again for a while?/

The young man appeared to consider his request for a moment.

*Think you're right, Chris. Think we oughta get outta here.*

By the time Josiah and J.D. had completed their grisly task and the preacher had said a quiet word over the bodies, Chris had spurred the others to break camp. Both Nathan and Ezra assured him that the southerner could ride. Considering the circumstances, he would have to. They eased Vin back into the litter, strapping him down carefully. Buck was there to give Standish a silent boost into the saddle. The gambler opened his mouth to protest but closed it at the look on Wilmington’s face. The seven men moved off silently into the night.

They pushed forward, stopping only for brief halts to rest and water the horses. Chris and Nathan tried to get the tracker to swallow something. The best he could manage was a few sips of water. Larabee knew the healer fretted over Vin’s inability to get enough down to sustain his severely wounded body. Their pace was slow so the extra burden on Pony and Hippocrates wasn’t too wearing. They swallowed hardtack and dried beef while still in their saddles and kept going.

Buck rode unobtrusively on the uninjured side of Ezra. J.D. kept pace on the other. Both men by silent assent, kept an eye on the gambler. When he began to list one way or the other, Wilmington’s arm would slip out and gently push or pull the man back upright. Josiah brought up the rear, keeping close watch on all the men in front of him as well as checking for signs of pursuit behind them.

Chris’ head throbbed anew, his breath burned in his lungs. His attention was split between the thin body swaying in the litter beside him and the trail just ahead. Everything began to close in until only a narrow tunnel appeared ahead of him. Larabee clenched his jaw and held himself in the saddle by main force. Every time the darkness threatened to rise up and claim him, he battled it back, clinging to his determination to watch over the Texan. His chest ached as he watched the young man rocking along in the litter, face drawn with pain. He seemed only half-conscious, though it was a given that the movement kept him in constant torment.

All Larabee could think of was that they had to make it back to town where Nathan could have everything he needed to nurse Vin back to health, where the rest of them could guard the young man in the upstairs clinic. No more men out of the dark from all directions. It ripped at him that he had to put the tracker through more pain in order to get him to safety and the help he needed. But once again, Ella had forced his hand. The woman would pay for this. He swore it on his dead wife and child’s graves, and on the Texan’s still living body. She would pay for every moment of pain she had caused Vin. He rode on through the bright sun while everything grew dimmer around him, teeth clenched, revenge building like a tidal wave in his heart.

They chased the wind now, running before Chris Larabee’s demons, moving as fast as they could while still keeping Pony and Hippocrates in step. There was no more time to ease the journey for Vin. They needed to make it home before the men who had escaped them found Ella and brought back more of their number.

Chris had to trust the others to watch and listen for those who might be thundering up behind them. All his attention was focused on the road just ahead and the tracker beside him. He watched the trail, each breath a prayer that Four Corners was just over that rise, just beyond that grove of trees, just beyond his sight. He watched the tracker, agonizing over every harshly drawn breath, over the deep furrow between his eyes that spoke of the pain he was enduring, hoping each inhale wouldn’t be the last. They were pushing him too much and Larabee knew it. He feared the results of this last part of the trip.

Vin Tanner had survived the fire, thanks to some incredible coincidence of luck and timing. But would he survive the aftermath? Could Chris bring him back to them from the hell of mind and body he’d suffered?

The sun crawled across the sky. Chris found his breath rasping in and out of his lungs in time with Vin’s painful gasps. Every pounding thump of Pony’s hooves on the road became a chant in his heart.

‘Stay Vin… stay with me. Don’t leave. Don’t go. Almost there… soon. Then you can rest… just don’t leave me alone… again. If you go… I’ll follow you… into the fire.’

FINI… for now

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“It ain’t over ‘til the Gambler sings…”