One Bullet

by Bountyhunter'slady

Missing scene: "Sins of the Past" Vin reflects on the death of Eli Joe.

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Disclaimer: This is entirely a work of fiction, for entertainment purposes only, based on the characters from "The Magnificent Seven." I don't own 'em, wish I did, especially Vin.

Acknowledgments: I like to thank Sherry for all the help she given me, encouragement for one, for the suggestions to make it better and correcting my poor grammar. Brigitta, thank you also for your encouragement to write. Special thanks to Vin who just started talking in that wonderful voice of his and I just had to listen.

Note: This is my very first attempt at writing. I hope you enjoy it.


Vin sat upon a rock high above the valley below, watching the sunset. He came up here when he needed to get away from town, just to be alone and to ponder things out . He needed his thinking time more now, than any time in his young life.

The one thing that he needed to clear his name was forever out of his reach. The one person who could prove his innocence was dead, killed by one of Chris's bullets.

How would he clear his name now? Who else could prove him innocent? Vin wasn't upset at Chris. How could he blame him when he knew he only shot Eli to save his ornery hide? Eli Joe was about to stab him with a knife he pulled from his boot.  He couldn't see it because he was trying to keep Eli Joe from falling off the roof. But that one bullet had taken his hope away of ever having his name cleared.

He remembered Chris's words to him as Eli Joe's body was loaded on the wagon.

"I know you wanted him alive Vin."

And he had told him, "Can't clear my name, if I'm dead."

Hidden behind his assurance however, was the hopelessness that he felt. So, instead, he told Chris he was riding out for a while. Now here he sat, thinking, feeling hopeless and alone. Who was going to help him now?

Behind him he heard the sound of familiar footsteps approaching him, he didn't have to turn and look to know who they belonged to. At that moment he had his answer. He had six somebody's to help him.... six brothers to watch his back until he found another way to clear his name.

Hope filled him once again.

The End

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