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Sexual content, violence and profanity.
WARNING: Threat of non consensual same sex intercourse, though it never actually happens. Y
Characters: Vin and Chris
OC(s) A couple of good guys, but mostly baddies:
Synopsis:
This is a response to The "Favorite Episodes" Challenge on Blackraptor.
This is a remake of The Big Valley episode, "The Iron Box," though I've expanded with scenes that were lacking in the BV episode.
I was going to wait and tell you the episode at the end, but my beta reader, Kathy M, tells me it's also a remake of Inmate 78,which I've never seen. Do you think maybe the writers pirated the storyline from Big Valley when they wrote the Magnificent Seven version? Or is this just a coincidence such as occurs when writing Fan Fiction?
Chapter 1
Four Corners
Things had quieted down in Four Corners since the peacekeepers had been hired; leaving the peacekeepers time to pursue other pastimes.Nathan began corresponding with doctors who lived in nearby towns in an effort to learn more about medicine.
Josiah began holding worship services on a regular basis and the once empty and neglected church was full every week.
Buck actually began to think about settling down. Now that he was getting older, he wanted a family complete with a passel of children.
JD proposed to Casey and they were planning a June wedding.
Ezra had his saloon and was now setting up a poker tournament to be held in Four Corners in three weeks.
Chris started with his small one room shack he called a cabin. He had added to it and now it was becoming a nice little house.
Vin often helped Chris with building a barn and doing other chores around the small homestead.
The barn and other out buildings completed, Chris decided it was time to get back to ranching proper; to do that he needed stock. Horses were his passion, cattle were just too smelly, ornery and time consuming.
Larabee sauntered down the quiet street past the Clarion. He was stopped by Mary as she handed him a copy of her latest paper. Chris perused the short story about how the town was prospering. He flipped the paper over. His eyes were immediately drawn to an article about the horse auction to be held in Eagle Bend in four months. 'This is great; I can catch a few horses. With Vin's help we can break quite a few before the auction. We certainly could use the money, a dollar a day risking our lives is not worth it. We rarely do much peacekeeping anymore,' he thought. He strode off at a determined pace to find Vin.
"Vin!" called Chris as he spied the young man climbing out of his wagon. "How would you like to make some serious money?"
"What do you have in mind, Cowboy?" asked the tracker. "This article says there's going to be a horse auction in Taos in a couple of months."
"Yeah, and?" replied the blue eyed sharpshooter.
"And, I was thinking," started Chris.
"Uh oh, dangerous pastime there," teased Vin.
Larabee shot him a deadly glare that Vin ignored.
"I want to catch some of those mustangs, break them and then sell them at the auction. You help and we split the money we make," explained the gunslinger turned rancher.
"Sounds good. When do you want to go after those mustangs?"
"How about we go in the morning? There's nothing going on here the rest of the week. We can take a few days to round up a small herd," replied Larabee with a glint of excitement in his green eyes.
The next morning found the two men saddled up and giving last minute instructions to the others as to where they would be looking for the horses in case they were needed.
"We'll be back in four days. When we get back the rest of you can take turns having a few days off," said Chris.
Tanner offered, "See ya around, boys, don't do nothing I wouldn't do. Let's ride, Cowboy." He kicked his heels and headed out of town with a wave towards the men who stayed behind.
Three days later Chris rode ahead and opened the gate. The string of five horses Vin was leading flowed into the corral. Behind him Chris closed the gate and ran around ready to open the gate between the two corrals.
The tracker removed the lead lines from the wild horses and then rode his own through the gate that Chris was waiting to open once Tanner was ready. Together they quickly unsaddled their weary mounts and headed into the little house to relax. Tomorrow they were due back in Four Corners. They now had sixteen horses ready to be broken, having brought some in each of the three days they were out. This was the first night they would remain at the cabin to rest before going back to peacekeeping.
Chapter 2
Two Months Later
Larabee homestead
Chris held aloft a bottle of Ezra's best bourbon. "Vin and I would like to thank all of you for your help with caring for this many horses, and the building of the second barn. JD's helped us pick out the best eight to take to the auction next week. It's been a lot of work, but the rewards will be worth it."Buck Wilmington raised his glass, "To the two finest horse ranchers this side of the Rockies." The seven men raised their glasses to the start of the Seven Rogues Ranch. The rest of the horses would wait for the next auction or for ads in the paper to bring buyers.
Two weeks later
Vin and Chris were saddled up and ready to head to Taos to sell their best horses. The other five were at the ranch to see them off. "We should be back in a week. See that everyone behaves themselves, especially Buck, JD," stated Chris with a grin.The two ranchers headed, out each leading a string of four horses.
Taos
The sale had gone well; they'd earned over a thousand dollars from the sale of the horses. This would be the seed money to start a breeding program. Chris and Vin went to the bank to get a bank draft for some of their earnings. Neither man wanted to carry that much money.The two happy men set out for home, three days ride from Taos. They stopped in a sleepy backwater town to look at the stock of a rancher named Garth that hadn't been able to make it to the auction. They wanted to see the stud he had for sale.
The stallion was magnificent; ebony black with just a touch of white on his breast. Chris wasn't happy the man had no bill of sale, but Vin thought it would be alright to accept a written note from the rancher with his address so they could contact him if the bill of sale was not forwarded as promised.
They rode out of the Garth ranch about three in the afternoon. They made camp at nightfall and settled down to a supper of beans. They were sipping their coffee around the fire, making plans for the ranch when a twig snapped somewhere out past the circle of light. They reached for their weapons, but stopped when they heard. "Better not boys, we've got you covered. I'm Sheriff Davis. We're looking for a stolen horse."
Chapter 3
That night on the trail
Five men walked into the camp. A big man with a star on his chest walked over to the horses and looked at the three animals. He looked at Chris's horse, then Vin's and finally at the stallion they'd purchased from Garth. "Well looky here, we found the stolen stallion."Chris and Vin were now on their feet. Chris stepped around the fire with the paper Garth had given them. "Sheriff Davis, that horse is not stolen; we bought him from Garth this afternoon."
A sixth man came out of the shadows of the night and replied, "Mr. Garth turned down your offer. That there paper's a forgery."
Vin recognized the man. "You're Garth's foreman, you were there when we handed over the cash and he wrote out this paper for us. What's going on here?" He went for his mare's leg, but was tackled by one of the intruders.
Chris launched himself at another.
The fight didn't last long. It ended when Vin was rolled into the fire by his attacker. The lower right leg of Vin's buckskin pants was on fire. Tanner's scream of pain brought Chris's attention to him. Larabee abandoned his fight with his own attacker. He grabbed up his blanket and snuffed out the fire on Vin's leg. The long haired man's face was screwed up in pain and the blood had seemingly drained from his body as he paled considerably.
The two peacekeepers were roughly pulled apart and bound. They were thrown onto the backs of their horses and led away.
Chris tried hard to shoot an encouraging look Tanner's way, but the younger peacekeeper could barely stay in the saddle. His head was down and a fine sheen of sweat coated his face and neck.
Chapter 4
Later that night
A few miles later, they rode up to the gates of a fenced in compound. There was a two story house, and several building that looked like bunkhouses stood within the enclosure. The regulators were hauled from their horses and drug into the house.There they were forced into the front room which seemed to be an office. Vin was thrown carelessly to the floor where he landed with a grunt of pain and a whoosh of air as the wind was knocked from his lungs.
Chris moved to go to Vin's aid, but was held back by their captors. The warden introduced himself as Warden Ridley and told the captives, "From now on you are inmates 597 and 386. Whatever your names might have been they will no longer be used. Those men no longer exist. You will obey all rules, speak only when spoken to and you will cause no trouble. Any infractions will be dealt with severely.
Vin, having regained his feet, snarled, "Go to hell, you bastard. We ain't even had a trial."
"I'll let your insolence go this one time, because you are new here, don't let it happen again. You were caught red handed with Mr. Garth's stolen stallion."
Vin and Chris shot looks at each other. "Nobody told you, what we were accused of. How did you know it was Garth's horse? You're in this together. We're lawman; you're not going to get away with this." Vin's heated words earned him a punch to the midsection, which doubled him over in pain.
Again Chris tried to get to Vin, but his legs were knocked out from under him.
Warden Riley threw shirts at the captives as they were hauled out to one of the smaller buildings and shoved inside. The door slammed shut before they could regain their feet.
Inside the barracks, Chris helped Vin to an empty cot. There were several other prisoners there; a small man who didn't seem to know where he was and a dark skinned man about Nathan's size and several others. The dark skinned man introduced himself, "I'm Charlie and this is George." He pointed to the small man who was rocking on his cot.
Chris introduced the newcomers, "I'm Chris Larabee and this if Vin Jackson." He didn't want to give Vin's real name in case one of their captors recognized it. There was no sense bringing more trouble on them if they could help it. "Is there any water available? Vin needs a drink and I need to clean out this burn.
Charlie brought him some water. Chris helped the nearly unconscious Vin take a drink and then poured a bit of water over the burn. Remnants of Vin's buckskins were embedded in the burned flesh.
Chapter 5
The next morning, the men were all forced out into the cool morning air. Vin managed to stand on his good leg. After the warden was finished speaking, Chris stated, "My friend needs a doctor.""Then one of you should have spoken up before the work details were assigned. He'll have to wait."
Chris went to lunge for the warden, but Charlie and George held him back. The prisoners were herded into a wagon and taken to an area where there were rocks scattered all around. Chris could see a large area had been cleared in a strip. He thought, 'Looks like we're clearing a road.
The men were put to work moving the heavy stones from the path. Chris picked up rocks and passed them to Tanner timing it so that Charlie on Vin's other side could take them immediately from the injured man. When the guards weren't looking, Chris handed them directly to Charlie. They were given a short break for lunch which consisted of bread and water with a spoon of beans. Then they were put back to work.
When the day was over, the men were returned to the wagon and returned to the compound.
M7
At the gate the guards stopped a big man on a brown horse. He was dressed in the brown robes of a Catholic priest. "I'm Father Josiah. I've come to minister to the prisoners; some are members of my flock. You can't forbid a man the opportunity to make things right with the Lord before his days end.
They let the priest in.
Josiah hurried over as Vin was helped down from the wagon. "Brother Chris, Brother Vin. I'll get Judge Travis and get you out of here. Don't do anything to provoke them. The others won't be back to Four Corners until sometime tonight or tomorrow.
He left to wire the others and to find the Judge and bring him to see this prison.
The next morning the prisoners were rousted again.
Chris asked for medical attention for Vin when they stumbled out of the small shack.
Warden Riley allowed Vin to go see the doctor. He hobbled into the building labeled clinic and found the doctor passed out drunk on a cot behind a curtain. He returned to the shelves by the door and opened cupboards pulling out pots and bottles and smelling the contents until he found one that smelled similar to something Nathan used for burns. Picking up a small stick applicator he applied the cream to the burn.
As he was finishing, the warden entered the clinic and began to taunt the prisoner about his long hair. "Maybe 597 likes you for the long hair. Does he use you for his woman? Maybe I should try you out myself."
Hearing the ugly comments, the normally quiet tracker, lashed out verbally. "You wouldn't know what real friendship is about if it came up and slapped you in the face."
The warden called over his shoulder through the partially opened door, "Jenkins, prisoner 386 needs to be taught a lesson."
Two guards, one Vin assumed was Jenkins, rushed into the room and dragged the now struggling sharpshooter out into the compound.
Meanwhile the warden called out, "Assemble the prisoners."
Chris and the others were rousted from the barracks buildings where they were given breakfast. As he exited the building Larabee tried desperately to get to Vin when he saw what was happening. Charlie and another large man, grabbed for Chris; barely holding him back.
The guards tied Vin's hands out to his sides and above his head to two upright columns set in the yard. The leather straps were so tight that they pulled the long haired man to his toes. A guard ripped Vin's shirt down the back with a hunting knife.
By the time the tracker was secure another guard emerged from the house with a long whip. He handed it to the man the prisoners knew to be the captain of the guard.
Charlie and two other large prisoners held fast to the enraged blond, "You'll only make it worse," he counseled.
Vin tried to make out the rhythm of the strokes, but there was none. There was no way for him to predict when the lash would strike next. This made it harder for the tracker to deal with his current circumstances. 'If only I could make eye contact with Chris. He would help me get through this,' he thought. 'I won't give the bastard the satisfaction of crying out.'
Larabee's anguish was written across his face as the whip struck his best friend. Vin's back was to Chris, so no eye contact could be made. With every lash Chris flinched as though he were struck along with Tanner. Not able to help, Chris turned his head away.
Charlie offered, "You'd best watch or it will go worse for him. He's almost out now. They'll beat him to death to make you pay if you don't watch."
Chris bit his lip and stoically watched the lashing take place. Inside he continued to seethe and plan. Somehow, he would get to Vin and they would escape.
Vin could contain his pain no longer. He cried out. The warden stopped the onslaught.
The cry from his friend and the absence of the sound of the lash brought Chris back from his escape plans. He watched in horror as Vin was dragged across the yard and pushed into an iron box that was just higher than Vin's waist. Being crammed inside the box forced the tracker's knees to his chin. The sun shone down on the box. The guard's closed the box's door and locked it with a skeleton key. There were only tiny slots in the box to provide oxygen.
The remaining prisoners were herded back to the barracks. Chris stood at the window and pressed his face near the bars. From this position he could see the box where his friend was imprisoned.
Charlie walked over to stand behind the gunslinger. "You need to get him out of there. He won't last long in the hot sun.
The day wore on. Inside the barracks the men began to sweat as the temperature rose. Chris could only imagine the heat inside the box. He strained to hear Vin's mumbling. First in English and then what Chris assumed was Kiowa or Comanche. To Chris it sounded like a prayer chant. As the day wore on mumbling became less recognizable as a language and it was harder to hear.
Night began to fall. The temperature dropped. The iron box would keep the heat for several hours. Chris watched as several of the guards rode out and the gate shut behind them. He turned to Charlie, "I've got to get him out of there. Do you know where the key is kept?"
"There's a box on the wall in the office, there's lots of keys in that box," the dark skinned man replied.
Larabee thought back when he was in the room earlier in the evening.
"Please let Vin out. Whatever he did, he's paid for it. You're gonna kill him." Chris's stomach threatened to revolt as he asked for his friend's freedom from the box of death.
The warden studied the proud man before him. Even through everything he'd dished out to these two men, he still hadn't broken this man. He carefully considered his response. "Are you willing to beg for his life? Do you treasure him that much?"
"Chris Larabee begs from no man," stated the blonde gunslinger.
"I'll just have to tell him that his supposed friend doesn't value his life," replied the sadistic warden.
Larabee hit his knees, his hands folded in supplication. "Please, by all that is holy, let him out before you kill him. We'll do whatever you want."
The warden laughed and pushed the kneeling man over.
Chris landed on his butt.
He was dragged from the room by the guards; Warden Riley's laughter following him all the way back to the barracks.
Chapter 6
The Escape
Larabee came back to the present. He knew exactly where the keys were. He'd seen them earlier.He quickly laid out a plan, where Charlie would get the wire cutters in the tool box and then cut a hole in the nearby fence. Chris would get the key and free Vin. The other large prisoner, Jacob, would keep a lookout.
Chris watched the lights go off in the warden's house. He pried loose a board off the door jamb that Charlie pointed out earlier. This let him open the door. He and Charlie slipped out into the night.
About to cut the fence, Charlie saw some of the guards who had left laying in wait on the other side. 'Trap,' his mind screamed. He hurried back to Chris who was opening the box.
The warden saw his plan falling apart. He was going to kill the newcomers as a lesson to the other prisoners. He held a gun on Chris as he moved towards the box. "Going somewhere, 597?"
Chris let his rage flow. He fought the warden and knocked him out. The key had been lost in the fight. Larabee scrambled to find it. He moved to the box and opened it. As he pulled Vin into his arms, he heard a familiar voice call out. "You in the prison, open up this is Judge Orrin Travis." Chris looked up and saw several riders. He cradled Vin in his arms.
A guard came from the woods and opened the gate.
Judge Travis raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. He and the men with him entered the yard at a gallop. "What is going on here? Spread out and secure the compound. Lock the guards in one of the buildings," he ordered.
Nathan threw himself off his horse and rushed to Chris and Vin. The remaining four regulators right behind him.
Author's Note: Here I've deviated from the episode to a missing scene.
They carefully carried Vin into the house and laid him in the warden's bed. Chris looked up from where he knelt next to the bed. "Nathan, he's gonna make it isn't he?" he asked.
Nathan looked at the men before him. Chris was dirty and obviously tired and hungry, judging by the weight he'd lost. Then he looked at the man on the bed. What he saw told him Vin was running a high fever, his tongue was swollen, and he no longer perspired. His clothes were dirty and he smelled of human waste. "Chris, I'll do all I can. Vin is a fighter." The healer turned to Josiah. "We need some prayers brother. I also need lots of cool water, bandages and an eye dropper if one can be found."
Ezra heard the last as he came back in the room with the first gallons of cold water that would be needed. "One of the habitations indicates it is a medical building. I'll endeavor to find what you require forthwith. It should contain bandages, tools and medicines. Perhaps we should relocate Mr. Tanner over there."
"No. The less we move him the better. JD, go with Ezra; empty my saddle bags on the dresser; use them to carry as much as you can from the clinic and hurry."
Buck came in the room carrying a metal bathtub. "Can we put him in a tub? He certainly needs cleaned up."
"Let's wipe him down first. Fill the tub partway with the well water. Put enough hot water in until it's nearly same temperature as Vin. Then we'll put him in the tub and start adding cool water a little at a time as his temperature goes down," instructed the healer.
Vin made a gurgling sound, drawing everyone's attention.
Chris began to speak softly to the insensate man, much as a wrangler would to a skittish horse. "Vin, Nathan's here. You're safe now. Lay still and let him take care of you. Save your strength for the fight to get better. Don't let that bastard win; now that we're free."
Nathan turned Vin on his side. "Josiah, push some of those extra pillows behind him and then see to Chris." He turned his attention to the still kneeling man, "Chris let Josiah take care of you or I'll have him knock you out. I can't be worrying about you while I take care of Vin. He'll need you when he wakes."
Larabee looked up at the healer, "I can't leave him. He needs someone to keep him here, urge him to fight."
Nathan handed the cloth he was using to Josiah. Then he knelt down next to the gunslinger. "Don't you trust me and the others to care for Vin?" he asked gently.
Chris flinched as though slapped. "Of course, I do, but it's just been the two of us here." He trailed off not sure what point he really was trying to make.
Nathan thought furiously, "How about you convince Vin we're here and that Buck is going to stay with him and protect him? He trusts Buck, right? He'd want you to be taken care of, wouldn't he?"
"I suppose you're right. Give me a minute to talk to him and then I'll go with Josiah," conceded Chris.
"Good man," praised Nathan.
Larabee whispered in Vin's ear. "Hey, buddy, Nathan says I need to get cleaned up and get something to eat. Buck is going to stay with you. He won't let anything hurt you. The other guys are here too. Someone will always be with you. I gotta go before Nathan makes me drink one of his teas." There was no response from the tracker.
Having finished filling the tub to Nathan's orders, Buck patted Chris on the back and helped him to his feet, "Don't worry, Stud; I'll take good care of him. You let Josiah take care of you for a while."
Josiah guided Chris from the room and took him to find another bedroom. They passed JD and Ezra on the way. "Was there another tub in the clinic, JD?"
"Yes, should I get it?"
"That would be most helpful. I need to find some clean clothes for Chris too," said Josiah.
"There's a pitcher and a basin of hot water in that room." JD indicated the room with a pointing finger. Chris's saddlebags are on the bed. Their horses were found in the stable. You need anything else, just holler. Chris, we'll take good care of Vin." JD took the supplies he carried to Nathan.
Chapter 7
Meanwhile, Ezra entered Vin's sick room, carrying as many supplies as he could. "Nathan, there's a plethora of creams, ointments and noxious liquids here. Your desire for an eyedropper has also been filled. JD will arrive momentarily. He's appraising Josiah and Chris of what we've uncovered.While Ezra was talking, Nathan and Buck cut away the rags Vin was wearing. The top layer of filth was being washed from the tracker's lean frame.
Vin remained unaware of the care he was being given, though true to his word, Buck kept up a steady stream of reassurance aimed at the young man.
JD entered the room and took in the scene. The tracker lay unclothed on the bed; the heat from the fever causing his skin to have a red tinge as the blood in his body tried to get as close to the cool air as possible. "Good thing he's not awake for this. He's mighty shy about people seeing him undressed."
"I'd gladly pull a sheet over him, if he weren't so sick. We need to cool him down. I think it's time to put him in the tub. I've gotten as much filth off of him as I can. Let's lift him carefully and ease him down into the water. Be careful of his back and that leg. Hold onto him tightly. He's gonna buck when we place him in the water," advised Nathan.
The four men picked up the tracker and lowered him gently into the waiting tub.
Vin screamed when he was lowered into the water, in his mind he felt he was going under.
In the other room, Chris heard the scream and scrambled from the room wearing only his drawers. He bellowed, "What are you doing to him?" as he barreled through the door.
Vin thrashed in the tub, clawing at the sides, trying to get away from this new torment; the water caused the raw flesh to sting. "Chris, help!" he called.
Larabee pushed his way between his friends. He grabbed Vin's face with an open hand on each cheek. "Vin, calm down. You're safe. You're in a bathtub. It's not over your head. We just need to get you cleaned up and get your temperature down. Relax, Cowboy."
Vin stopped his struggling. He recognized that voice. His mind would not put a name to it; though he knew he could trust this man.
"Chris, we need to pour water over his head to help cool him."
"No, Nathan. Look at him, he's terrified. Give me one of those towels. Maybe if I do it this way. I can keep him calm and clean him up."
"Here, Stud," offered Buck quietly as he handed over a small towel.
Chris soaked the towel and moved it to the top of Vin's head. His other hand pushed the tracker's chin up so the water would flow down his back instead of his face. Vin didn't fight or startle, so Chris kept up the flow of the water, all the while maintaining a reassuring flow of words.
"Maybe now would be a good time to wash his hair. Get the evidence of his sickness cleaned away," suggested JD.
Nathan was about to answer when he noticed Larabee's shivering. "JD, go get Chris's clothes."
"I have them, Nathan. I threw them on the bed when I followed Chris in here.
"Mr. Larabee, you sir need to don your clothing. Might I suggest, you let me take over. I've watched what you're doing and I'm sure I can emulate your actions. I won't let him drown."
"I'm ok, I won't leave him again," stated Chris.
"Yes, and I'm Abe Lincoln," retorted Nathan. "Josiah, help please. "Chris, you're shivering. We won't leave the room. Come on stand up. I'll help you and you can come right back over here if he needs you. Let Ezra take over for a little while."
Chapter 8
Judge Travis entered the room. "Chris, I need to know what happened here. How did you come to be here? What happened to Mr. Tanner?"Nathan intervened, "Judge, they need some time to heal. Please don't push Chris right now. He and Vin are in need of healing."
"I know that Nathan, but I have to convene an inquiry board. I need information to present to justify such an action."
"Judge, I don't give a rat's ass about an inquiry board. My friends are hurting. Vin almost died, he still might. Can't any of the other inmates tell you what happened?" asked Buck with more than a hint of menace in his tone.
"Buck, if you want justice done, I need to know the facts."
"Judge Travis, can it wait until morning. Chris hasn't eaten, or slept since this ordeal began from the look of him. Will a few hours make much difference?" asked Nathan. "My first concern is the health of my patients.
"Ok, I'm sorry. There's not much I can do to help here. I thought maybe I could get the ball rolling on an inquiry."
"Maybe I could help. I saw the man who was helping Chris and Vin. Maybe we could talk to him together. Or maybe he'll talk to me. I'm not a fancy judge like you are. I'm just a kid," offered JD.
Everyone chuckled at JD's remark. Everyone except Vin, though the corner of his mouth turned up just a bit in a very small grin.
"Hey, Cowboy, did you hear that? JD just admitted he's a kid."
"JD is kid," slurred the tracker.
"How about a drink, Cowboy?" asked Chris with the first smile anyone had seen since the two were rescued. Chris helped Vin try to take a drink, but all that happened was he choked.
"Let me in there, Buck," demanded Nathan.
Buck moved back and let Nathan get down next to Vin. Nathan pulled some of the water into the dropper and put it in the side of Vin's mouth. Vin sucked on the dropper.
"I have an idea, here. He rinsed a smooth cloth in fresh water. Then dipped in into the cup Vin had choked on trying to drink. He folded the cloth and put a corner in Vin's mouth. Vin sucked the water from the cloth and JD dipped the cloth in the cup again.
"Looks like he's gonna be all right, if we can keep his wounds from getting anymore infected. Let's get him out and onto the dry towels on the bed. I need to stitch some of the wounds on his back and tend his leg.
JD left with Judge Travis to find the man who had been helping Chris. Charlie explained what he knew about their time in the prison. He told them, "All new prisoners are given a talking to and the rules explained when they first come. Chris was taken to the warden's office after Vin was put in the box in the yard. I don't know what happened either of those times or why Vin was punished. The boy's gonna be all right ain't he? I never did see two men who care for each other the way those two do that ain't brothers. You sure, they ain't?"
"I'm sure, Charlie. Thank you. I'll be calling a board of inquiry together to go over each man's sentence. Because you helped my men, we'll start with yours. In the meantime, my men are in charge, if there is anything you need let me know."
"Cans I see the boy? He must be something to cause such devotion."
"In the morning if the healer will allow it. I'm sure you'll be able to see him before they leave here. Thank you, Charlie, for being here for my men until I could get here."
Chapter 9
The next morning
Chris awoke to sun streaming through the window. Chris had climbed in bed with the restless Vin during the night, but the tracker's fever had dropped and he finally fell into a deep sleep; Chris following him shortly after.The other five took turns keeping watch over their reclaimed brothers. Ezra took the late shift, Buck was sitting with them as the sun rose and Chris's green eyes cracked open with a start. "Easy, Stud. He's sleeping. How are you feeling this morning?" he whispered so as to not wake the still sleeping Tanner.
"Coffee," croaked the blond gunslinger.
Buck chuckled and poured the man a cup of 'wake up juice.'
Chris pulled his still sleeping arm out from under the sleeping man and sat on the side of the bed. He accepted the cup Buck handed him.
Nathan entered the room with a tray. "Breakfast is here," he announced quietly.
"Smells good. Josiah?" he asked.
"Yes, Josiah made the eggs."
"Good, because you can't cook. You're a hell of a healer, but you can't cook worth shit," groused the blond good naturedly.
The attention of the three men was drawn to the tracker as he began to shift on the bed and small mewling noises came from the long- haired man.
"Vin, come on wake up, Cowboy," encouraged Chris. "Let me see those baby blues."
The blue eyes in question cracked open and then slammed shut as the bright sun pierced them.
Nathan scrambled to pull the shade and draw the curtains. "Vin, try again," he urged. "I've darkened the room a bit."
The blue eyes opened and the nose sniffed, "Coffee?" questioned the tracker.
"Water, broth and tea first; then we'll see about coffee," said the healer.
"Cat piss," said Vin with a scrunched up face.
"Good for you, cat piss," retorted the healer.
"Good morning, Vin," greeted JD cheerily as he entered the room.
"Kid," greeted Tanner.
"I brought you some water, and you insult me. I'm not that much younger than you, you know."
"Thanks, Kid; nickname like Cowboy and Stud."
"All right, enough banter. I want you to drink the water," said Nathan as he helped the long-haired man raise up enough not to choke. "Now the broth," said Nathan.
"Sick," said the tracker.
"Quick," said Nathan.
JD held the basin as Vin's stomach returned the water.
"Aw, hell," rasped the tracker as Nathan wiped his face.
"Hey, Cowboy. You're looking better this morning," said Larabee as he entered the room.
"Feel . . .like . . . shit," said tanner between gasps for breath.
"Nathan, what's wrong. Why can't he breathe right?" questioned Larabee as he settled on the edge of the tracker's bed.
"The water coming back up irritated his already damaged throat. If he stays quiet and doesn't try to talk; the swelling should go back down again," said the healer.
"Would ice help?" asked JD. "Maybe we could chip some and let him suck on it. He would get some water and it would soothe his throat. Momma used to do that for me when I was ill."
"There must be some in town," offered Buck. We could wrap a block in blankets to help keep it cold and then chip it here."
"Can we just take him to town? I want out of this hell hole," said Larabee.
"He's not strong enough yet. If he's doing better we can leave tomorrow," said Nathan.
"Good Morning, gentlemen. Mr. Tanner, It's good to see you awake," said Judge Travis as he walked into the room. "Nathan, can Vin and Chris answer questions now?"
"Chris can, in another room. Vin's throat is to irritated to talk. I'd like to find some ice to help the swelling."
"There's an ice room in the basement. We found it last night. You've been taking care of these two so I'm not surprised you didn't know." Turning to Chris, he said, "Would you come with me. I want to know your side of what happened. There's things only you can tell me."
Chris looked at Vin, unsure he wanted to leave his friend.
Vin saw the indecision on his friend's face, he waved in a go on motion.
Chris smiled sadly and followed the Judge to the warden's office. It didn't take long for Larabee to tell his version of events; most of which Orrin had heard from Charlie. He listened carefully and his heart broke as Chris told of begging for Vin's life and the warden's refusal. Larabee paced the room like a caged circus tiger unable to relax in a room where the awful memories took place. He couldn't tell the judge why Vin was punished. He didn't know of the ugly remarks the warden made to Vin and right now, the tracker was in no position to tell him.
"Chris, can Vin write down what happened in the clinic?" asked the Judge, unaware ex-bounty hunter couldn't read or write.
"Sir, Vin can't read or write. He doesn't like people knowing. He's skilled at getting other to read things for him without letting on that he can't. I caught on, quickly, because I study people. The others don't know."
"I see. Well I'll just have to wait until he can tell me, then won't I?"
The conversation was interrupted by a knock on the door. Judge Travis's aide stepped through when he heard the Judge call out, "Come in."
"Sir, the former captain of the guard is requesting a deal; his life for information on those in charge. He's offering information, hidden books and the reason that Mr. Tanner was so abused."
"Bring him here. I'll listen to what he has to offer and then tell him if it's enough."
The aide stepped back out the door and moments later he and another man escorted the prisoner into the room.
"Tell me what you know and then I'll tell you what I can do for you. No promises up front."
"Ok, can you promise to tell my wife what happened to me?" the prisoner asked.
"Yes, I'll agree to that," said the judge.
"Under the floorboards under the desk, there is a set of books with information about the men here that Mr. Garth framed to get free labor for his ranch. The railroad is going to be building through here and Garth wanted a path already cleared to be sure he could sell some of his land to the railroad. I was employed by the prison commission. I found out about what was going on and when I threatened to tell the commission, they said they'd kill my family. They took my little boy for two weeks to prove they could harm them. He barely leaves my wife's side now."
"What about Mr. Tanner?"
"You mean inmate 386?" He received a nod. "Not with him here. He'll kill me."
"I won't let him, if you tell me what happened. If you don't, I'll go check on Mr. Tanner and leave you here with him," threatened the Judge.
"All right, I've got your word on that?"
"Yes."
The prisoner, Mr. Tanner was allowed to go to the clinic though the doctor was stone cold drunk. He was treating his own wound, when Warden Riley entered the clinic. He made some nasty remarks about this one here, being concerned for Mr. Tanner's welfare because he, Tanner, served as his woman."
Chris growled and slammed his fist into the wall.
"Why would Riley think that?" questioned the judge.
"The warden likes the young pretty boys; they are easier to control after he threatens them. He'd threaten and they would follow the rules with no more complaints; it's worked on them all except for Mr. Tanner. He's young, pretty for a man and has that long hair. Then there was the way 597 protected him. They aren't even brothers.
"They may not be brothers by birth, but I assure you they are brothers in every other sense of the word. If I can corroborate your story, I'll go easier on you. Are there any other of these young men here? To your knowledge did he ever follow through on his threats?"
"He only threatened as far as I know."
The prisoner was removed from the room.
Chris continued to pace; not saying a word.
"Chris, sit down. He can't hurt Tanner now. He's locked up," said Orrin.
"Vin's in that bastard's bed upstairs. I've got to get Vin out of here before he realizes where he is."
"He didn't follow through on his threats to Vin. Don't let your anger endanger Vin's health."
"Are we through now, Judge? I want to talk to Nathan about moving Vin," said Larabee.
"Go on. Check on Vin. If Nathan says he can be moved, take him to town until he's well enough to travel back to Four Corners," replied the Judge.
Chris went back upstairs and found Nathan with Vin. He caught the healer's eye and motioned him out into the hall.
Buck noticed Chris and joined him and Nathan in the hall. "What's up, Stud?" asked the rogue.
"Apparently, according to the head guard, Warden Riley threatened to . . ." he didn't even want to think it, let alone say it.
"To what, Chris?" prompted Nathan knowing it would be bad if Chris was reluctant to even say it.
"He threatened to use Vin as his woman," the blond ground out between clenched teeth.
"Aw hell, as Vin would say," swore the ladies man. "Nathan, please tell me he didn't follow through on that?"
"There's no evidence he followed through," assured the healer.
"There wasn't time," supplied Chris. "Nathan, is Vin well enough to be taken to the nearest town. I want him out of here and protected where that bastard can't get near him, if he should get loose."
"We'll be able to move him in the morning. He'll be on his feet by then and itching to get out of here. He's already becoming difficult to keep in bed.
Chapter 10
The next morning.
"Vin take it easy and let us help you," complained Nathan."I can make it. I want to talk to Charlie and the others before we leave," said Vin.
End of missing scene
Chris and Vin walked slowly into the barracks where they had been imprisoned. "Charlie, when you get out of here, I'll help you find a place near Four Corners. You're a good man to have around," said Vin.
Chris helped Vin into the waiting wagon and they headed to the nearby town. Three days later they headed back to Four Corners.
The End