The River Flows

by Evil Jacquie

Chapter 1 – A Flood of Guilt

Author's Notes: Buck runs from something.

The sun blazing high overhead did little to warm Buck as he shivered and pulled his still damp coat tighter around him. While he was glad of the brightness of the day, the bitter wind leeched all the warmth right out of his ears, cheeks, nose, feet, and toes. The physical chill was nothing compared to the icy emptiness that had settled inside him. He kept his head lowered, tugged his hat down more firmly, turned up the collar on his tan coat, and urged Steele to move a little faster, knowing that the sooner they reached the next town the sooner they’d both get warm again.

“Come on boy, least it ain’t raining today. Not even drizzling like it did all day yesterday or coming down in buckets like the day before.” Buck murmured more to himself than the horse, his normally cheerful nature making him try to find a way to lighten his spirits. Ever since he’d started on this trip he’d been feeling a heaviness in the pit of his stomach to go with the emptiness in his heart.

Days had past and none had brought him much reason to smile. Buck wasn’t sure where this road would lead him, he just knew it was taking him farther and farther from the only place he really wanted to be. Four Corners was already a long way behind him and the farther north he went the colder it was going to get; colder and more lonesome.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Chris poked Ezra in the side roughly. “Come on Ez, Vin’s found some tracks he thinks are Buck’s.”

The gambler rose hastily from his warm nest of blankets, having no desire to repeat the previous day’s reaction from Larabee. “I’m up. I’m up!” The green eyes flashed as Ezra noted that Josiah was still dragging himself up too. “The sky is barely lightening, how pray tell can Mr. Tanner even see the tracks much less deduce that they belong to our errant knight?” But Ezra stood when Chris turned a little too quickly to answer his question.

“If Vin says they’re Buck’s that’s good enough for me,” the blond growled.

Josiah moved silently and placed himself between Ezra and their irritable leader.

“You didn’t have to come with us Ezra, you could have stayed in town with Nathan and helped take care of JD.” The glower that accompanied these words spoke clearly of violence barely held in check, waiting… needing to burst forth.

“No Mr. Larabee. I was not suggesting that at all.” Ezra shook out his blankets and began rolling them up, not even accepting the cup of coffee that sat waiting for him warming on the rocks surrounding the fire. Chris seemed to calm down as he watched Ezra’s nimble hands make short work of gathering his gear.

Vin rode back in as they finished saddling up. The tracker didn’t even dismount, just held his hand out for the cup that Josiah poured him. “Thanks ’Siah.” Vin eyed Chris for a minute through the steam rising from the rim. “It looks like Buck’s heading straight north. Is there any place in particular that he’d make for up there?” Vin asked diffidently.

Chris shook his head. “He ain’t headin’ nowhere, he’s getting away from…” a long painful pause, “what happened.” The gunslinger mounted and pulled at Pony’s reins as Josiah poured the remainder of the coffee pot over the fire. Larabee didn’t wait for the others to get themselves better situated he kicked Pony into a trot in the direction that Vin had come from. Vin sighed as he gulped down his cup, his eyes met Ezra’s and with a shrug the gambler mounted and gave a little kick to Chaucer to send the chestnut after Pony.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buck had been riding all day, the ground rising steadily along with the wind. He hadn’t seen a single soul in two days. Not that he’d even have noticed, his mind too busy rehashing the events of a week ago. The way the bank robber had ducked and turned as Buck fired, the way JD looked as he fell struck by the bullet from Buck’s gun; the cold feeling that had gripped him as he watched JD’s blood pooling in the dirt.

Buck gradually noticed that the light was failing and thought of finding some kind of shelter for the night. The ground around him was rocky and offered no protection from the elements, and while the day had been clear enough and sunny it had never truly warmed up at all. He hadn‘t been warm for two days, first the cold rain soaking everything and then the wind tasting of snow and ice. Right now it was above freezing but with the coming night it would drop below.

Buck couldn’t bring himself to care too much. He kept riding ahead of him there was a stream still swollen from the previous day’s rain, the water rushing down swiftly pushing small boulders with its new strength.

Buck kept following the hard packed trail to the stream’s ford and without giving a second thought he urged Steele into the frigid waters. The force of the water shoved at them as soon as they entered, and it didn’t take Buck long to realize he’d made a mistake. Steele stumbled on the freshly loosened stone bottom and in an instant was on his knees. Buck tried desperately to right himself and his mount, but the press of the water was too much. The lanky ladies’ man was swept from his saddle and pulled under by the current. Steele surged up and regained his feet clambering out of the chill water with his reins hanging loosely. The faithful gray gelding snorted and pawed at the muddy ground, moving only a few feet away from the rushing water. He waited head down for his master to return.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Nathan woke with a start. JD must have spoken or coughed he thought, but it was

Casey Wells standing in the doorway looking stricken for having awakened the tired healer.

“I’m sorry Nathan, I didn’t mean to wake you. I can… I can come back later.” Casey stammered out, all the while keeping her eyes glued to the sleeping figure on the cot.

“Nah, don’t be silly. Come on in, Casey. He’s been in and out for the last couple of hours, still groggy from the medicine I gave him, but JD is on the mend now. He’ll be happy to see you.” Nathan motioned for the young woman to enter and rose to usher her into the chair beside the cot. “In fact I’d appreciate it if you could just sit with him for a few minutes and let me get a little air and some fresh water.” Nathan lifted the nearly empty bucket and moved towards the door. A glance back told him that JD was in good hands.

Stretching stiffened muscles as he stepped out the door Nathan was shocked by how cold it had gotten since he last came outside. He reached back inside the door and snagged his heavy coat. Pausing for a call of nature, Nathan made his way over to Inez’s saloon, hoping for some of her tamales or even a bowl of beans and rice. He had no doubt that if he told the pretty senorita it was for JD she’d make some of her spicy chicken soup for him. Inez was the same as the rest of the town’s womenfolk; most of them doted a bit on the youngest of the seven.

As he crossed the road, the hungry healer saw the graceful form of Mary Travis resolutely marching towards him. “Afternoon, Miz Travis.” Nathan tipped his hat when the blonde widow drew herself up to a stop in front of him.

“Mr. Jackson, I was coming to see how JD is doing? I suppose the worst must be passed for you to leave his side?” She asked green eyes looking up at him hopefully.

“Yes ma’am, I believe he has turned the corner, his color is better and he hasn’t had no fever at all.” Nathan was grateful to be able to pass the news on to the newspaper woman knowing that she would convey it to the rest of the community. One way or another, Nathan smiled. Mary smiled back at him and allowed him to go his way.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Vin had no trouble following the trail Buck had left behind, it was almost as if the man didn’t think that anyone would come looking for him. Vin snorted, Buck should have known better than that. If there was one thing that Vin would have bet on with Ezra it was that Chris wouldn’t let Buck just ride off like this. Not that Ezra would have made the bet, the gambler was far too smart for that kind of foolishness. Hell, the only reason Buck had managed to get so far ahead of them was of the way he’d snuck off. Vin, like all the others, had thought that Buck was sitting with JD, probably annoying Nathan with a nonstop stream of advice and concern. Instead Buck had saddled Steele and left while Chris and the others finished locking up the surviving members of the gang. It wasn’t until later that evening that anyone had realized he was gone. Chris had been mad enough to chew raw ore and spit out nails. Or bullets.

Glancing over at Larabee now, Vin knew that no matter what it took Chris wasn’t about to go back to Four Corners without his oldest friend, even if he had to beat the notion to leave out of Buck. The glare on Chris’s face would peel fresh paint off a wall, but every now and then there was a flicker of something else in his eyes. Vin wasn’t sure he fully understood the bonds of friendship that tied all of them together, but then he didn’t really need to. The fact was they all needed Buck around, for a multitude of reasons. And for damn sure they weren’t going to lose the lanky son of a bitch over something like this.

Ezra rode glumly along in Josiah’s wake, as far away from Chris’s foul mood as he could get. Already he’d caught more than his share of sharp words and angry looks, and since Chris had often threatened to shoot the gambler when he was more mellow than he was right now, well Ezra decided that discretion was the better part of valor and hid himself behind Josiah‘s stockier body.

“Josiah?” Ezra asked as they halted to give the horses a break.

The preacher gave him an answering nod. “What can I do for you brother?”

“Why do you suppose Mr. Wilmington is running from us like this? Surely he cannot think we would condemn him for that inopportune mishap?”

“Inopportune mishap? Damn Ezra, sometimes I think you want Chris to shoot you,” Vin rasped out from behind him.

“Amen brother.” Josiah muttered. “Ezra, Buck shot JD. Even though it was an accident, I hardly think either Buck or Chris for that matter would regard it as a simple mishap of any kind.” The gambler had the grace to appear embarrassed by his choice of words.

“I did not mean to… demean the severity of the incident. I fully realize that JD was badly wounded and I know Mr. Wilmington must have felt horrendous guilt over it.” Ezra hurried on seeing Chris coming in their direction, “I just fail to comprehend why even that would necessitate his departing as he did, especially before we knew if JD would recover.” Ezra finished just as Chris arrived.

“Come on we still got an hour of daylight,” Chris ordered. He glared at all of them equally then without a word turned back to his mount. Vin hastened to climb into Peso’s saddle not giving the ornery beast a chance to act up he surged ahead of the man in black. Ezra and Josiah wasted no time either, but once in their saddles Josiah turned to Ezra.

“Do you remember how hard it was for JD to accept that even though he’d shot Miss Annie, the fault was truly with the outlaws that tried to rob the bank?” the preacher asked quietly.

“Yes, I know it took him a very long time to get over that, if he has in fact done so,” Ezra replied edging Chaucer up beside the older man.

Josiah nodded. “Well, I think that is the same thing that Buck must come to terms with now, and in a way it is even harder for him. Buck has always felt some kind of responsibility for JD; since they first met he has taken the boy under his wing, been a kind of big brother to him.” Josiah paused and considered all he knew about the ladies man. “And then I don’t think that Buck has ever shot an innocent before, at least not to his knowledge.”

Ezra frowned, “But surely Mr. Wilmington realizes that sort of thing can happen to anyone. In the heat of battle, you aim and fire only to find that the target has moved. He was in the war, many a man was killed by friendly fire gone astray there.” Ezra shook his head, “JD would never blame him. No more than you or I or even Mr. Larabee would.”

“Buck blames himself,” Josiah said sadly. “Only he can forgive himself.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Icy water pulled at Buck as he went under floundering, trying to get his feet under him. Surely it couldn’t be that deep here, he should be able to get to shore. But the current was strong and between that and the shock of the cold water, Buck was in danger. Within a few seconds his hands were numb then just as he managed to throw his arm over a branch and hang on to it, his head connected hard with one of the larger boulders, and darkness seemed to fall immediately. The tall gunfighter was swept down stream unconscious.

Chapter 2 - Muddy Waters

Author's Notes: Vin and Chris have a discussion. Chris faces some hard facts.

Vin had managed to track Buck to the muddy river bank just as darkness caught up with them.

Chris still silent and moody dismounted and stomped his way over to the watery muddle of tracks. “Them are Steele’s tracks? They don’t look fresh?” Chris was peering intently down in at the shadowed hoof prints.

“Hell Cowboy, I don’t know how you can tell in the dark,” Vin muttered a little too loudly. The look he got was easy to read even with the failing light.

“How sure are you that these are Steele’s?” Chris snapped; he’d never questioned Vin like this before.

Peso nickered as Vin straightened to his full height ready to snap right back at Larabee. Enough was enough. Vin was saved from defending himself by the answering nicker of a horse across the swollen stream. “Pretty damn sure,” Vin said as he pulled himself into the saddle.

Chris was running back to where Pony stood waiting to be unsaddled.

Vin looked at the ripples of current reflected in the remaining glow of the twilight. He hollered to Josiah, “Josiah, I’ll need your help here. The light’s going fast and the footing here is too iffy to try crossing without a line.” He held out the coil of rope to the grizzled preacher. “I’ll tie this off to me and you keep a hold a me. Just in case…” Josiah nodded his understanding. Ezra moved up to help if needed.

Chris almost pushed passed the three men but a snarl from Josiah stopped him cold.

“Don’t be a fool Chris! Let Vin take a line across first, you won’t help Buck any getting yourself hurt trying to cross that in the dark.” Josiah indicated the swirling waters rushing past with a largish tree branch. It was so seldom that Josiah raised his voice, that now it penetrated Chris’s anger like nothing else would have.

“Fine! Get on with it then.” A sudden thought struck Chris. “Wait, maybe I should go across first.” Vin snorted, Ezra rolled his eyes, and Josiah shook his head, “Well all right, but you be careful Vin.” Chris stayed mounted his impatience clear.

Cautiously Vin let Peso chose his own path into and through the rapid current that swirled and eddied higher around the black gelding’s legs. For one thing, while Peso was a right pain in the ass most of the time, the horse was uncanny in its ability to pick a safer path than his rider could find while mounted. Slowly they made their way across the deeper section of the river and clambered up the far bank.

As soon as Peso was on dry land he snorted and bucked a little to show exactly what he thought of Vin’s choice of crossing. The answering nicker and thud of hooves was very close now. Vin dismounted, pulled the line over to a large tree, and tied it off. “Okay I got the line secured.” He shouted across the stream.

Immediately the line went taut, Vin knew without a doubt it was Larabee crossing over. He moved farther into the little copse of trees, the stamp of a foot and then a velvet soft nose greeted him. Steele nickered into his palm as he pushed his head closer to the comfort of the familiar scent. Vin frowned. Steele was still saddled, the reins dangled on one side the other still caught over his pommel.

Chris caught up to him in a matter of moments, “Where’s Buck?” He growled. Vin rolled his eyes in irritation.

“Do you think I got him hid in my coat, Larabee?” Then he gestured to the ghostly grey horse standing patiently before him. “You ever know Buck to leave Steele untended?”

Chris stared hard at Vin, glanced at Steele and glared around the small clearing. “Damn! Where is he?” About then Ezra rode up and joined them, thoroughly soaked.

“What happened to you?” Vin asked concerned with the shivering gambler overriding his annoyance with Chris’s behavior.

“I was unseated and practically washed away when Chaucer stumbled. I’d have been in serious difficulty if not for the safety line.” As the con man spoke a chill ran through Chris.

“Vin!”

“I’m on it Cowboy!” Vin ran back to the bank just in time to see Josiah’s mount stumble and the preacher flung from his back. Even in the dim light Vin could see that the preacher was in trouble. “Chris! Ez! Josiah needs help!” Vin climbed down to the water’s edge, grasped the rope and waded part way out to grab the bigger man and haul him to his feet. It wasn’t an easy task and both of them were soaked through from head to toe. Ezra and Chris helped pull them to up the last few feet of the embankment. Seeker surged up the bank just behind them.

“We gotta build a fire, get y’all warm,” Chris commanded as he took in the constant shivers already wracking the three other peacemakers. “Hopefully Buck will see it too.” Unspoken was the prayer that the missing man would be able to get to them. Chris could see that any search for his old friend would have to wait until dawn.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buck groaned and tried to sit up, but the effort only made him gag and vomit more. Foul tasting muddy water choked him as he retched again and again. It felt like he’d swallowed half the river, and now it was all coming back up. Buck finally fell back exhausted, he was freezing and every inch of him felt bruised and beaten.

Only gradually did he become aware of a fire burning near him, working hard to lift just his head Buck looked around him. There was a small fire just in front of where he lay on an old horse blanket, a battered coffee pot sat propped on rocks at its edge. Buck wanted that pot to have coffee in it very badly. The idea of something hot inside him was all he could think of for a moment. With shaking hands he reached out to grasp the handle.

“Oh, so you’re awake. Got the shakes real bad now don’t cha? Guess something hot would help.” A gruff voice came from behind Buck’s line of vision, calloused work worn hands grabbed the pot before he could reach it and Buck sagged back onto the blanket shivering.

The next thing he knew a blue enamel cup was poked into his hand, the welcome heat making him wrap both hands around it as he lifted his head to sip at it. Buck could feel the warmth trailing all the way down to his stomach and he gave a sigh of pure pleasure at the sensation.

“What happened?” His own voice sounded odd to him, like some stranger was using him to speak. “Who are you?” Buck croaked out when he didn’t get an immediate answer to his first question.

A pair of muddy boots came into his view. “I was hoping you could tell me what happened to ya, I just fished you out of the water bout an hour ago, don’t know how you came to be in it.” The owner of the boots settled himself on a larger rock across from Buck. “As for me, my name is W. C. Ellsworth. I prefer to go by just plain Ellsworth, I been panning a little on this here stream all summer. You’re damn lucky I found you, planning on packing out of here tomorrow.” The man smiled at Buck in an agreeable manner before continuing, “So young fella what do you go by?”

Silence fell, unexpected and tense. “Uh I’m…” Buck struggled to think, but it was like pushing through fog the pounding in his head cloaking every memory. A groan was the only answer he could make.

“Can’t remember your name?” Ellsworth queried softly, it was easy to see his guest was in pain. “Don’t fret too hard on it right now, I’ve seen this happen before. Fellow down in Tucson got kicked in the head by a mule, took him a week to recollect he was from Tombstone and find his way back home. Your brains is probably just scrambled up a bit from the knocks you took.”

Since his rescuer didn’t see this as a serious condition Buck just nodded weakly, finished sipping at the coffee and pulled the blanket closer around him. He didn’t notice when the other man rose and lay his only other blanket over him.

“Well stranger, I hope your luck holds. I ain’t got no ideas where you could of come from or how to get you to town if you ain’t better tomorrow.” Ellsworth threw several more branches on the fire and settled himself for a cold night.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Chris sat and watched the fire turn to embers, sleep elusive on his best nights was not going to visit him tonight. The soft step of the tracker alerted him that he was not as alone with his thoughts as he’d supposed.

“Want to talk about it, Chris?” Vin used the same voice he used to soothe Peso. “I don’t mind listenin’” He added.

Chris kept his head turned slightly away, uncomfortable with the emotions he was feeling. “Nothing to talk about.” His gruff reply made Vin smile sadly.

“Would you rather talk to ‘Siah or Ez?” Vin asked, knowing the answer to the last part already.

“Hell no, I don’t want to talk to Ezra. And I got nothing to say to Josiah either, so don’t go dragging them awake.” Chris hissed out his answer this time casting a glance to the two sleeping men. “I’m fine Tanner, got nothing to talk about with anyone!”

Vin frowned and suddenly felt a sense of empathy for Nathan. He decided to take the bull by the horns. “Guess that don’t include Bucklin.”

The look that Chris cast his way was usually reserved for men about to die at the gunslinger’s hands, but Vin forged ahead… brave or foolish he wasn’t sure which. “Seems like there might be something you’re wishing you’d said to him. Seems like you might need to talk about it to someone that ain’t gonna judge you.”

Larabee jerked to his feet as if stung and stomped away from the campfire.

With a sigh Vin rose and followed thinking, yep I was right.

Chris only made it as far as the horses picket line, Vin found him leaning against Steele murmuring softly to the grey gelding. He moved close enough to make out the angry words.

“Stupid son of a bitch. Why’d he run off like that, huh ole boy? Not like he doesn’t know we need him. Damn inconsiderate bastard.” Chris’s voice was rough with emotions, anger being only one of them.

Vin didn’t hesitate even though he knew he was taking a chance on getting his ass kicked. “Yeah it was real unfeeling of him to go off like this without saying a word of good bye.” Vin stepped back quickly when Chris swung around, no use making it easy on the gunslinger. “An it’s damn inconsiderate of him to have fallen in the riv…”

A fist lashed out and caught the tracker before he could duck. The fight was on. Chris was pummeling him on his face and chest as Vin tried to cover and defend himself. Fortune smiled on the Texan when Chris began to wind down very quickly. Pushing himself off the smaller man Chris staggered to his feet panting and wiping at his face. Vin lay on the cold ground for a moment before scrambling to his feet too.

“Glad you got that out of your system.” Vin muttered, wiping blood off his mouth. “You ready to talk yet or do I need to knock some more sense into ya?” The sarcasm was thick.

Chris stared at him in astonishment, “You wanting me to kick your ass again Tanner?”

Vin just stared back impatiently. “We ain’t got all night Larabee, I got to sleep sometime and so do you.” Vin moved up closer to the stubborn man he considered his best friend. “If you don’t get this off your chest, you ain’t goin’ to get a wink of sleep, and that means I got to stay up too. So for both our sakes tell me how you’ve managed to go this long without admitting at least to your own self that you love Buck?”

It was the longest speech Chris had ever heard the taciturn Texan make. Possibly more words strung together than Vin had ever spoken at once. “What the fuck are you talking about? I don’t …” Chris saw the way that Vin was shaking his head and stopped. “It ain’t like that Vin.”

Vin looked down at the ground as he spoke. “When I was living with the People I learned a lot of things. They live more… well natural than white folks do, more honest in a lot of ways. I had a friend, a real good friend.” Vin stopped and cleared his throat, “I reckon if he hadn’t died from the small pox I wouldn’t of left there.” He raised his head and the sorrow in his blue eyes was clear even in the moonlight. “I always wished I’d had the chance to tell him some things but I didn‘t know the right words.”

Chris just crumbled, his knees giving out on him as if all his strength and anger drained away. Vin knelt beside him, wrapped his arms around his friend and held him till the choking sobs ended.

“I can’t lose him too, Vin. He’s all I got left.” Chris whispered brokenly, “I kept thinking if I never said it, if I never told him or showed it, God wouldn’t take him.”

Vin shook his head in denial. “Chris, don’t give up. Bucklin’s strong and at least as hard headed as you are!” Vin gave Chris a rough shake, “We’ll find him come morning somewhere down river, you’ll see.” Vin needed to believe this almost as much as Chris did.

Chris leaned his head against Vin’s shoulder. “I need to do something now, Vin. I can’t just sit and wait.” The horror of arriving too late still rode him hard, the scent of cold ashes in his nose. “Not again. I can’t be too late again.” He ground out the words.

“Okay. Okay we’ll make some torches and look on this side tonight.” The sudden understanding of what Chris feared forcing Vin to come up with some way to help him.

They made their way back to the camp to find Ezra making coffee, “I thought it best to fortify ourselves for our nocturnal foray into the wilderness.” Josiah was wrapping the remains of his old poncho around a branch. Two more torches were laying ready at his feet.

Chris, pale and red-eyed felt a surge of gratitude towards his men. “Good idea, Ez.” Ezra smiled and awkwardly patted at his arm.

Josiah let a toothy grin lighten his face for a moment. “I think these will do well enough.” He looked up at the blond, “I took the liberty of soaking them with your whiskey Chris.” A snort was the only answer he received. Within a few minutes they were working out how they would pattern their search.

Chapter 3 - Snags

Author's Notes: Things are complicated.

(Ellsworth is borrowed from Deadwood, cause I love him and they killed him off too soon.)

Dawn was Ellsworth’s favorite time of day, whenever he was awake and sober enough to appreciate it. Today was one of those rare days, he looked over at the sleeping form of the young man he’d pulled out of the river’s clutches as he made another pot of coffee. He was glad to see that the shivering had stopped and the lad was breathing easier, still looked a mite bruised up and flushed but that was easier to mend. The man stirred as Ellsworth watched, “Hey there partner, you feel up to chewing something solid or you want to stick with coffee for now?”

Buck’s eyes flickered open and immediately shut again, “Ow! Damn! Could you get that pick axe out of my brain first, Mister Ellsworth?” He moaned pitifully as he cautiously eased the bloodshot blue eyes open again.

“I ain’t no Mister, just plain Ellsworth is good enough for me, son.” A gruff chuckle but a kind hand was offered in answer to Buck’s question. The gold miner helped the blanket wrapped man to sit up. Ellsworth shoved a pack behind his injured guest to help him remain sitting up. Another hand pulled the blanket up higher to cover the scraped shoulders. “You took quite a beating my friend. I ain’t got nothing for bandaging, but I do have something for pain.” He shook a nearly empty bottle of whiskey near Buck’s ear. “Want some in your coffee?”

“Oh hell yes,” was the genuinely heartfelt response. Taking the now spiked cup in shaky hands, “Thanks a lot Ellsworth. You’re a good man.” Buck sipped happily at the cup, savoring the warmth and the whiskey.

“No problem friend.” Ellsworth hesitated before asking, “Any luck rememberin’ who you are?” He cocked a worried eye at the friendly seeming man.

“I still ain‘t sure.” Buck answered, “I think that maybe my friends call me Big Dog, seems like I remember someone calling me that… that and Stud. I guess that’s a joke, huh?” He reached up and felt his upper lip. “I got a hell of mustache don’t I?” He looked down at his chest, “Uh Ellsworth? I got any clothes?”

The miner burst out laughing. “Well a course you do, Stud.” Still chuckling he moved back behind Buck some thick brush where the tan coat, pants and dark blue shirt was flapping in the breeze along with a set of faded long johns. “I peeled you outa these so you wouldn’t freeze to death. I think they’re mostly dry now, your boots are still pretty wet though.” He gathered the things and carried them back to the anxious man. “As I was planning on leaving here today, I hope your feeling up to traveling.”

He turned his back courteously so that Buck could pull on his garments. “I’ll let you ride Pickles today. It’ll take a day or two for us to get to the nearest town. I’m planning on heading up to the Dakotas, heard there are big strikes up there, around Bixby.” Hearing Buck shuffling his feet he turned around. “These are yours too.” In his hands were a gun belt and a large knife. “Didn’t see your hat and you didn’t have no guns?” There was a hint of a question in his voice.

“Huh, could I have lost them in the river?” Buck asked, equally as puzzled.

Ellsworth shrugged, “Could be, I guess. As good an explanation as any I suppose.” Seeing the genuinely confused look on his new friend’s face he smiled. “I expect your getting hungry now, ain’t you?” Buck nodded and Ellsworth set about cooking them some breakfast.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The torch lit search had proven futile as far as Chris was concerned, and now in the weak lighting of predawn they were all exhausted and cold. While they’d tried to go as quickly as possible the search had been slow so they hadn’t gotten very far. Worse, they’d found no traces of Buck so far. Ezra was staying well back behind Josiah, since Chris was close to taking his frustration out on one of his friends.

With a sigh Vin signaled a halt, “Chris, I’m sorry as hell but we’re gonna have to take a break.” Vin raised a hand to forestall Chris’s rebuke, “I can’t see a damn thing in this light, in half an hour the sun will be high enough to do us some good and we will be a little better able to go on!” He watched Chris close to see if the gunslinger was going to take another swing at him.

“He’s right, Chris. I can get a fire lit and brew us up some coffee to wake us up in that time.” Josiah offered as a way to back Vin’s words.

“Or better yet, I can make the coffee so that it remains potable.” Ezra spoke up quickly.

Vin rolled his eyes and Josiah huffed. Chris stood facing upstream for a long time, his lack of response was taken as agreement and the others hastily made a temporary camp. As soon as the coffee was brewed Vin poured a cup and started towards Chris, only to be intercepted by Josiah.

“Let me brother.” The deep voice and calm eyes won the trackers approval and Vin relinquished the cup. Josiah strode over to the preoccupied man and held out the battered enamel cup. “Here you go Chris, get some of this inside you.”

Chris took the proffered cup without a word, starting slightly when a large warm hand dropped onto his shoulder. “What?” Without his usual heat, Chris sounded old and tired.

“I know your hurting brother. I just want you to know that we’re here for you, you’re not going through this alone.” Josiah paused, “We care about Bucklin, too. We want him home safe as much as you do.”

Chris glared at Josiah, a little of his normal temperament flaring. “I wasn’t alone the last time either, ‘Siah. Buck was there for me, he loved Sarah and Adam damn near as much…” Chris stopped abruptly, staring off into the distance. Chris took a deep breath, “He has always been there, least ways it seems like it.” Raw pain shown in the hazel eyes when Chris turned back to the preacher. “I don’t know Josiah, I don’t know if I can keep going if…”

Josiah reached out and pulled the fear filled man into a loose embrace. “We will find him, Chris. We won’t stop till we get to the ocean if needs be.”

Chris just nodded and cleared his throat, not used to showing anyone so much of his pain and fear. He felt embarrassed for a moment, then he met the worried blue eyes of the grizzled man beside him and saw the same fears and pain. Drawing a deep breath he blew it out hard. “Okay then, let’s eat something fast and get going.” He turned back to the camp only to find both Ezra and Vin standing just behind him, one holding cold biscuits and the other the coffee pot and his cup.

“Ready when you are Cowboy.” Vin smiled encouragingly.

“Absolutely Mr. Larabee.” Ezra’s green eyes were kinder than Chris had ever seen them, it was almost scary.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buck was still a bit unsteady on his feet, with aching head and sore muscles, but he managed to climb into the saddle.

Ellsworth took his blanket and laid it over his new friend’s lap for extra warmth. “No need for you to get another chill, Stud.” His gravelly voice was light almost teasing, “I figure we can make it at least half way to town today. There’s no hurry, at least not on my account.” The burly miner gave Buck a worried look, “You let me know if we need to stop for a break.”

Buck nodded but refrained from speaking, already feeling like he needed to lie down again. Just the effort involved in getting dressed had started his head to pounding again and he’d felt the throb of every bruise and the sting of every scrape as he’d helped Ellsworth pack up the camp. Buck was flat out scared he’d moan from the pain if he opened his mouth.

Ellsworth didn’t wait for a reply, taking Buck’s silence as agreement. He gathered the reins of Jenny, his pack mule, and clucked to Pickles as he led them down the meandering path towards the small town. Behind them the stream rushed noisily on its way down the mountain.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Chris was running on pure determination now. Determination and fear made him climb back to his feet after he’d stumbled again on the loose rocks and mud that seemed to line this side of the river. He felt that if he stopped now he’d never be able to find Buck. And Chris could not accept that, couldn’t live with that loss. He moved one foot ahead of the other bending low to watch for any sign. A shout from ahead brought Chris’s head up, hope made energy flow through him. He fairly flew towards Josiah as the man shouted for them to join him.

Waving a wet, muddy Stetson in his hand, Josiah was casting about as if he expected to see Buck under some bush.

Chris grabbed the hat and stared hard at it. “It’s Buck’s.” His voice was strained and hushed.

When Vin reached them, he shouted to them to be still. Quickly he searched the shoreline, but no further traces showed themselves. “Okay at least we know that we’re on the right track. Buck could have climbed out on the other side.” Vin calmly tried to assure Chris. The pallor of the gunslinger’s face, the haunted look that had been growing in Larabee’s eyes since last night; Chris looked plum worn out to Vin’s eyes. “Chris we got to rest. All of us, just for a little while. The danger of missing something ‘cause we’re too damned tired to see it is just too great Cowboy.” Vin waited for Chris to explode, but it didn’t happen.

With a resigned sigh, Chris nodded his acceptance, “Right. Let’s make camp.” The slump of his shoulder’s signaled his dejection, without a word Chris began unsaddling Pony. Vin moved up beside him and waited. When Pony had been tended Chris moved to the campfire that Ezra and Josiah had built, he dropped his gear and unrolled his blankets. Still in silence Chris stripped off his guns and coat, pulled off his boots and wrapped himself in the blankets, he seemed to be asleep before his head touched the folded duster.

Vin exchanged worried looks with Josiah and Ezra. They drew away and settled on the other side of the fire, Ezra made coffee and Josiah pulled out the last of the hard tack and jerky. With softly whispered words they planned what to do next. Then after eating their share and warming themselves with the hot coffee each man stretched himself out on his bedroll and gave in to the respite of sleep.

Lying there watching the others from behind the arm he’d thrown over his face, Chris let his thoughts roam freely, too weary to rein in images that flooded his mind. Buck laughing on the other side of the campfire, telling one of his tall tales about women; Buck, tears running down his unshaven cheeks as he carefully took the swaddled bundle of newborn that Chris had passed over to him, the look of pure joy and adoration that had shown through the tears. Chris stifled a sigh. The way Buck looked when he woke up in the morning, sleep rumpled and warm. The way he looked when he was tired and cold, but still smiling at Chris with that same warmth.

That warmth Chris had felt whenever the taller man had wrapped an arm around his shoulders, too many times to number when Chris had been drunk and raging at the world. Not enough lately when Chris had yearned for that closeness, that warmth, had wanted to seek an excuse… why hadn’t he? Now it was too late. Hot wetness spilled as he lay there silently waiting for the others to go to sleep. Chris wasn’t ashamed of the tears, but he made no sound to draw the others to him, he couldn’t share this with any of them. Not even Vin, the man had already shown Chris that he understood; that he wouldn‘t make any judgments. But Chris couldn’t talk about these feelings; not yet, maybe not ever.

Ezra settled into his bedroll without complaint, he was tired and worried and more than ready for sleep. There wouldn’t be much sleep tonight for any of them, though; all three of them knew that Chris was on the raggedy edge. They would take turns watching over him until they found Buck or failed. Ezra hoped that Mr. Larabee would wait until later to make his move; the card sharp really didn’t relish trying to face down the gunslinger.

Chapter 4 - Flash Flood

Author's Notes: A turn for the worse. Chris explains something to Vin.

Ellsworth had hoped that his new friend had escaped any lasting effects from his chilly adventure, but after an hour or two of traveling he’d seen the flushed face that foretold fever. Soon enough the occasional cough had become more severe. Ellsworth shook his head, BD was probably coming down with pneumonia. The miner had no medicine, no real knowledge of how to treat the illness; just the general awareness that the patient should be kept warm and get lots of rest. None of which was going to be available until they reached a real town. Ellsworth kept them moving, the tall man making no complaints, until the late afternoon. His companion tried to make light of his illness, but the man was barely able to unsaddle Pickles. Ellsworth insisted he lie down and rest as soon as the fire was going.

“Tomorrow we should get to town, I think they got a doctor there. He’ll fix you right up, BD.” Ellsworth moved around setting things up for the night. He heard a surprising chuckle.

“Ellsworth, I ‘preciate the good thoughts, and I ain’t gonna argue with you about it.” Buck let his eyes close, “But I think maybe it don’t matter too much.” He couldn’t explain why he felt that way, but all day as they’d traveled further north the feeling of loss had grown in him.

Ellsworth frowned. “Now don’t be that way, friend. Where there is life there is always hope.” Ellsworth said sternly, “You just don’t be giving up on me now, I ain’t fond of digging graves.” He finished putting a pan of beans on to cook. “You’ll feel better after you rest a little and get something hot in your stomach,” Ellsworth continued.

Buck blinked and tried to smile, but his throat was raw, his head ached, and his heart… his heart felt hollow. As if there was a hole in it that he couldn’t fill, he was missing some essential piece of himself. As the sunset filled the sky with so many colors Buck watched through half closed eyes, he thought that the only color missing was green, and that was a shame because he really liked green. He could see a flash of green in his mind when he closed his eyes, green eyes Buck thought, filled with fire and life. He had a vague memory of those eyes filled with something else, laughter and love, but it had been so long ago.

Another wracking cough tore the air from his lungs and Buck stopped trying to remember. Exhaustion carried him into the oblivion of sleep, and then just as he sank into dreams Buck wondered where Chris was.

Ellsworth sipped at his coffee savoring the heat as much as the flavor. He’d managed to get his patient to eat some of the beans. The man clearly had no desire for food though he’d drunk two cups of coffee before sinking back into a doze. His sleep was restless, dreams as well as the coughing disturbing his rest. Even now he tossed and turned, crying out a name.

“Chris!”

There was anguish in that cry, pain and loss that Ellsworth knew well enough. He’d lost family, brother and father in the war; friends and loved ones to disease and accidents since then. Ellsworth knew about how grief could eat at a man, make him want to lose himself in drink, he’d been there himself. Never to the point of wishing for death to take him, but he’d done his share of hiding from sorrow. He wondered who Chris was and how his new friend had lost him.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Another day of tracking without any sign of Buck had filled even Josiah’s faith-filled heart with doubt. Chris was more silent than ever and Ezra wondered what the evening would bring, they’d been lucky the night before. Apparently exhaustion had rolled over the blonde and kept him soundly sleeping most of the night. By the time Larabee had stirred Vin was already up and making ready to head out. The sharpshooter knew of a town not too far off where they could get badly needed supplies without losing much time. Chris had agreed without much argument. A bad sign as far as Vin was concerned, but he could let that change his plan. They needed supplies to keep going, or for the journey back. Either way it was necessary to get to a town or spend time hunting, and he knew Chris didn’t have the patience for that.

As they made their way along the edge of the river, still looking for any sign of Buck, Josiah worried about the days ahead. He tried to reach inside himself and find that peaceful place where he could meditate. It eluded him, between his worry for Buck and the fear that Chris could snap at any time, peace would not come. Josiah stared ahead at the black clad back as Chris bent down once again to examine something on the ground. Only while they were actively searching did the gunslinger show any emotion. Now suddenly Chris straightened up.

“Hey Tanner! Come look at this!” Vin on the other side of the once again shallow stream quickly mounted and rode Peso over to join Chris.

The muddy bank where Chris had stopped was covered in foot prints and other signs of someone having been there. But it was the strange way that some of the marks had been covered, like something heavy had been dragged over them. Vin knelt down and carefully observed the story the tracks told him. He followed them up to the remains of a camp. A cold fire pit and other evidence told of a long time occupation of this spot. Then a scrap of cloth caught his attention. The familiar pattern of the scrap of faded lilac calico drew a smile to Vin’s face.

“Something heavy was pulled outta the river here. Heavy and tall.” When Vin finally spoke he was grinning. “And wearing an old lilac shirt I think I seen before!” Vin held up the fragment of cloth.

Chris jumped at it like a hungry dog after a bone. “That’s Buck’s shirt,” a small smile creeping onto his face. “Nobody else would wear such a color.” Chris rubbed the strip between his finger and thumb. “Well where did they take him?” Without warning he turned to glare around the camp, “Vin?”

The tracker was prepared for this question though. “Think it’s just one other feller,” Vin told them all. “Looks like he brought Buck back here, broke camp, and headed for that town I was telling y’all about.”

There was evidence of some of what Vin was saying. Enough to let him offer this hopeful explanation to his friends; the depth of the hoof prints showed that someone was riding, while the foot prints indicated that someone was leading the two animals. Logically that meant that the one riding was Buck since the prints were too small for the tall man. The direction that the trail led in was straight for the small town Vin knew was the only one in the area. Josiah was still examining the area around the camp, and when Vin realized what the former priest was looking for he joined him.

“I done looked around Josiah. There ain’t no fresh digging, or nothing else like that,” Vin reassured the grizzled man quietly.

Josiah glance over to see Chris getting ready to ride out again, Ezra already mounted. “You’re sure there is no grave… no body.” It was almost a whisper.

Vin shook his head and grasped Josiah’s forearm. “Buck was alive and they left here yesterday.”

At that point Chris yelled at them both to get their asses in their saddle and hurry up about it. Grinning at Vin, Josiah hurried to join the waiting men.

“We got about an hour left before it will get too dark to see the way.” Vin called as he flung himself into Peso’s saddle, the black tried to dissuade his rider to no avail. As soon

as the gelding settled down, Vin led the way, “We should be able to catch up to them by tomorrow, Chris, just one more day.” Chris nodded, his eyes holding more hope and fear than Vin wanted to see in the man. It was a little scary to see someone so strong made so vulnerable by hope.

All three of the peacekeepers were grateful to stop by the time Vin called a halt, even Chris had to admit they could go no further. In the dark they made only the most rudimentary of camps; merely a fire, bedrolls, and tended the horses. There was no need to keep watch tonight, Chris was exhausted but hopeful once again. In only a short time they all slept, some more lightly than others.

Vin hadn’t slept long when he woke to the cries of Chris having a nightmare. The gunslinger thrashed violently and cried out in his sleep. Josiah and Ezra were soon awakened as well. Vin moved closer to Chris and called the tormented man’s name.

“Chris! Wake up, Cowboy.” Vin dared to reach over and cautiously slap at Chris’s face. He quickly jerked back when Larabee snarled and grabbed for the offending hand. “Just me, Chris. You’re having a bad dream, time to wake up now.” Vin kept talking soothingly, trying to help the gunslinger recover.

Seeing the confused and anxious expression that their leader wore, Josiah joined in. “Chris, it’s all right, we’re all here. Remember we’re looking for Buck, following his trail.”

“Buck?” Chris blinked then shook his head, “He’s not far off now and he’s sick.”

“Chris, it was just a dream.” Vin said softly, trying to reason with the gunslinger.

Josiah knelt down beside the blonde gunfighter, and laid a large hand on the broad shoulders. “A dream can seem real, but it is powerless to harm us or the ones we love,”

Josiah spoke kindly, trying to comfort his friend and leader.

Chris shook the hand off. “No it was more than that. Buck needs me now, right this minute.” Chris sounded so sure, so desperate. The others exchanged silent looks that spoke loudly. “I know it was a dream, but…” Chris wasn’t used to feeling so exposed. “Buck was in the river for a long time and it was damned cold, right? It makes sense that he’d be hurt or sick.”

Josiah nodded.

“That would seem logical, Mr. Larabee. I must admit I had thought the same myself.” Ezra chimed in.

Vin shrugged, he couldn’t argue any of that. “Still there ain’t nothing we can do in the dark, Chris.” Vin stated calmly, “As soon as it’s light we’ll be ready to go, but all of us need to rest now.” Vin gathered all of them with his glance and was glad to see that Josiah and Ezra took his meaning. Both of them went back to their own bedrolls, Vin remained kneeling near Chris. “Chris, ya got to try and get some more sleep.” Vin hesitated to offer but seeing how distraught his friend still was he moved closer. “Do you want me to stay here? Just to keep you warm.” He hastened to add seeing the beginnings of a Larabee glare forming.

Chris shrugged at that offer, as if he didn’t care. “If you want to share a blanket, just to keep warm that would be all right.” Chris rolled over facing away.

Vin waited till he’d settled then went and got his bedding and lay it down right next to Larabee’s. The sharpshooter lay down and flung his blanket over them both. Pressed back to back, each man slowly began to relax, feeling safer than before with a brother at his back.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

After such a restless night it was not surprising to Ellsworth that his patient still seemed exhausted the next morning. The miner scratched at his beard, “Good morning, friend. Feeling up to continuing our journey this day? Perhaps after a fine cup of coffee and some of these biscuits, poor though they are.” Ellsworth held out his offerings hopefully. The pale face of the man in front of him smiled and accepted the tin cup and the last of the stale biscuits, but his hands shook and just the brush of Ellsworth fingertips over the other man’s knuckles told him that there his patient’s fever was higher.

Buck didn’t feel up to traveling, he didn’t even feel up to eating the dry biscuit as he tried to choke it down. The resulting coughing fit left him dizzy.

Ellsworth caught him and leaned him back, “Well, maybe we’d best bide here a little longer?” Ellsworth wasn’t sure that this fellow could survive traveling. As he watched the man struggle to catch his breath, Ellsworth wasn’t sure that he’d survive staying still either, he was badly in need of medical attention.

“No sir, you wanted to get moving on and I ain’t gonna hold you up none,” the breathy reply came. “I’ll just get my boots on and finish this fine cup of coffee.” Buck managed to down the swallow of inky fluid left in the battered cup. Tugging on his boots proved to be a more difficult task but after a brief respite he was dressed and settled onto the horse again.

Ellsworth wasn’t sure if it was the right course to take but he didn’t argue. “We’ll just take it slow and easy, pardner.” Ellsworth turned to say more but there was a strange look on the other man’s face. “What is it, pard?”

Running his fingers through his dark hair, Buck shook his head, “I don’t know exactly, Ellsworth. It was like I could hear another voice saying that, telling me to take it easy, and it just seems so… close.” A sigh, “Like if I reached out fast enough I could catch that memory.” The tired smile faded.

Ellsworth nodded encouragingly. “Well that is a positive sign, I reckon.” He pulled Pickles reins and clucked at the mare and the mule. “Like I said, it’ll all come back to you friend, just let your mind rest easy now and hang on. Don’t you fall off now, let me know if you’re needing to stop.” Ellsworth started off once again, if they made even decent time today they’d make town by nightfall.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Vin had risen before the first crack of dawn paled the sky, even so Chris had already made coffee. The blond gunslinger looked lost in thought as Vin poured himself a cup, “Heavy thoughts?”

Chris glanced at his friend, “Yeah.” Vin saw that Larabee was fingering the scrap of shirt he’d found. Chris met Vin eyes. “Buck’s ‘bout worn this old shirt out.”

“Yeah he does favor that one.” Vin smiled, “I always figured some woman made it for him.”

Chris made a strange sound. “Yeah, yeah you’re right.”

Vin suddenly knew just before Chris went on.

“She made three.” The sorrow and love that shone in his eyes when he looked back at the tracker was almost unbearable. “One for me, one for Adam, and this one for Buck. Adam got blueberry jam all over his. I never would wear mine, such a god awful color. Buck was so proud of his. He wore it all the damn time, made Sarah real happy.” Chris’s eyes were shiny with unshed tears, when he dropped his chin Vin saw the bright drops fall.

In silence they sat together for several minutes, a loud yawn from Josiah broke the spell, “Is the coffee ready?”

“Yeah it is,” Vin answered when Chris remained silent.

The former priest sat up and poked at Ezra’s still slumbering form.

A muffled snarl of “Cease and desist” and an awkward batting at his hand were his reward. “I am sure it is not morning yet, the moon has not yet succumbed to the dawn’s advances.”

“Do you mean it ain’t sunrise yet, Ez?” Vin asked.

“Yes Mr. Tanner, that is exactly what I mean,” the gambler grumbled, still wrapped in his blankets.

Even Chris had to smile when Vin stealthily rose. With a wicked twinkle in his eye, the tracker stepped over to Ezra’s bedroll holding the now cold remains of his coffee. Before Vin could tilt the cup even a fraction of an inch, Ezra had grabbed a booted foot and yanked it out from under the prankster. A shout of laughter from all three of the other men greeted his fall, as Vin tumbled to the ground.

Chris was the first to rise still smiling and gather his gear to saddle Pony. The others took care of their morning needs and were soon following suit.

“Just you wait, Ez. What was it you told me them French folks say, Josiah?” Vin asked as he swung up onto Peso’s back.

“Revenge is a dish best served cold.” Josiah intoned solemnly.

Ezra flashed a golden tooth, “I shall await my repast Mr. Tanner.”

Vin looked at Josiah, who dutifully translated. “He’s waiting for you to make your move, Vin.”

Chris broke in. “Vin, you and Ezra can figure out who is cooking dinner later, let’s go.”

All of them nodded and set out more eagerly today than in days past. The moment of foolishness had lifted their spirits, connecting them it seemed with their missing friends. As he rode Josiah thought how much it had felt like some of Buck and JD’s bickering. With a thankful heart he realized how blessed he was to have found companions like these.

Chapter 5 – Convergence

Author's Notes: Chris and the boys catch up with Buck.

Ellsworth knew they would have to stop soon. The man he’d rescued from the cold river had been nearly delirious for the last hour. Talking to his mother and some other woman named Sarah, mostly tearful words of apology to both women for having failed them somehow. Now he was swaying in the saddle and in serious danger of falling, Ellsworth slowed their pace even more and considered tying the feverish man to the saddle. Finally when the tall man lapsed into silence Ellsworth halted and moved back to check on him. The only response he got now was an unintelligible mumble. Time to stop. Ellsworth was pulling the fever wracked man off out of his saddle when he thought he heard a shout coming from the track they’d just come down.

Looking back over his shoulder he saw a group of men riding fast towards them. With his hands now full trying to keep his patient from falling to the ground, there wasn’t much Ellsworth could do. “Looks like we got company, BD,” he muttered to the semiconscious man in his arms. Lowering the tall form to the ground as carefully as he could, Ellsworth forgot about the possible trouble coming, it seemed that he had enough trouble right here. The man he’d pulled from the river was struggling, between spells of ragged coughing, to catch his breath. Ellsworth cradled the sick man in a attempt to keep him upright.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Vin worried over the signs he found shortly after the group set out. There was evidence of two men in that there were two sets of boot prints and two spots that showed signs of bedding down for the night. All good news for them, but the fact that one set of boots hardly seemed to have moved was cause for concern. The fact that Vin was almost willing to swear that the boots that didn’t seem to move were the ones belonging to one Bucklin T. Wilmington had him chewing a thumb nail in agitation. Vin knew without looking that Chris was waiting impatiently for Vin to tell him what he had found. Josiah and Ezra flanked Chris, both watching the man in the black duster as if he were some dangerous beast. Vin’s lips quirked, well, he could understand why.

“Tanner?” A growl rumbling his name.

“Okay Larabee,” Vin sighed. “Here’s what it looks like to me, two men camped here last night. One of them gathered some wood and built them a fire, tended the horse and a mule, and set up the bedrolls.” Vin stopped and walked over to the outgoing trail. “They left about an hour or so ago, we’re real close and they ain’t moving too fast.” Vin waited, he knew the question would come.

“And the other man, what about him?” Chris voice sounded rough, gravelly.

“He didn’t move around a whole lot, settled on the bedroll closest to the fire, seems to have walked to the bushes off to the side a time or two and mounted up here.” Vin could clearly see the big boot prints in the soft dirt next to the hoof prints of the lone horse. “The other fellow, he is walking same as before, leading the mule and the horse.” Vin paused, “I think the one riding is Buck, but his boot prints are not quite the same as usual. I think the sole is busting loose on one side. Maybe cause of getting wet.” Vin ended quietly.

Larabee glared at the ground, just a jumble of scuffs and scraps to his eyes, “Can we catch them today?” he finally ground out past clenched teeth.

“Yep, we should.” Vin replied worriedly. What if he was wrong? What if one of these men wasn’t Buck? How would Chris react then?

“Mount up, Tanner. Let’s get going.” Chris was moving towards the outbound trail. As he passed Vin, Chris spoke again. “I know you’re doing your best, Vin.”

The tracker drew a deeper breath and felt some of the anxiety leave him. Chris wasn’t going to blame him if things went wrong.

Josiah leading Peso gave Vin a huge smile as he held out the black’s reins. “We are all sure of that brother. Do not worry about that.”

And Vin felt a surge of gratitude for the reassurance from the defrocked priest. Then he caught the warmth of Ezra’s emerald green eyes on him.

“Indeed. As usual Mr. Tanner, you exceed all expectations.”

Vin glanced at Josiah to be sure he was being complimented. Josiah nodded.

“You know, Ezra,” Vin grunted as he swung into Peso’s saddle, “If ya really mean that you might try callin’ me Vin.” He winked, “Sounds friendlier.” Seeing that Chris was ready to spit nails, Vin didn’t wait for Ezra’s reply he urged Peso into a trot. After winning a brief fight with the gelding Vin led the way.

“Pretty straight forward trail from here to the town, Chris. Unless they speed up a whole hell of a lot we can catch them in the next hour.”

Chris didn’t answer, the strain was showing more and more on the lean face and in the look that haunted the green eyes. The gunfighter kept Pony just behind Peso almost crowding the foul tempered gelding. Ezra and Josiah gave them both more room but followed swiftly.

Vin kept the pace as fast as he dared without losing sight of the various hoof and boot prints that led down the trail. Chris was a silent shadow for the next hour. Then ahead a sight that put Vin’s heart in his throat.

A mule and horse; two men, one mounted, one standing. Even as he watched, it seemed the man on the horse tumbled off, the other man trying to catch him.

Chris screamed and Pony shot past Peso at a full gallop.

Vin, his mouth suddenly so dry he could croak out a sound found himself with a rebellion as Peso protested his treatment. Sunfishing and kicking the gelding did his best to unseat the long haired tracker. All Vin could do was hang on.

Josiah saw the group ahead of them just after Chris took off and only seconds before Peso went wild. He cried out at the sight of a familiar tall figure slipping from the saddle towards the ground; a groan of protest from Ezra echoed Josiah’s. Then all hell broke loose and both men were hard put to get out of the gelding’s way. They went wide around the bucking bronco and headed down the trail after Chris.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Ellsworth lay a calloused hand on the flushed feverish man’s forehead. “Hold on now, pal. I can’t get you no help if you give up on me.” He watched worriedly as the group of riders approached, all except one. One poor soul was apparently at the mercy of a whirling devil of a beast. Maybe that un’s only green broke, Ellsworth thought to himself. Though why anyone in his right mind would ride an animal that wasn’t fully schooled yet was a puzzlement to the miner.

One rider, a man in dusty dark clothes was not close enough now to hear clearly, but closing with them rapidly. He was shouting something like, “Damn you Buck you hang on!”

“Guess your name’s Buck then. I sure hope these are friends of yours.” Ellsworth tucked the tan coat closer around Buck. “Reckon we’ll just wait here for them.” It was not a long wait.

The first to arrive, Chris threw himself out of Pony’s saddle. Stumbling down beside Ellsworth and Buck, he reached out to his friend, “Buck? What happened to him?” Chris’s voice demanded answers as he began pulling Buck away from the rough hands of the ginger haired man. “I’ll take him now.” Chris hadn’t even given Ellsworth time to answer. His concern for Buck was so clearly evident that Ellsworth didn’t argue, he simply released his hold on the sick man. The fair-haired man clutched anxiously at unconscious man.

As Chris settled Buck closer to him. he kept darting suspicious little glances towards Ellsworth. “So how did you find Buck? Has he been like this the whole time?” The gravelly tone was definitely unfriendly and Ellsworth felt his own temper flare to life.

“Now you just back off, hombre. I found this fellow near about drowned in the river back there. I weren’t altogether sure he was gonna live long enough to get him back to my camp, but I carried him there. No easy task I might add, drowned don’t make a man lighter.” Ellsworth watched warily as a tall grey-haired man in a truly hideous poncho and a smaller man that looked more like he belonged on a river boat rode up and dismounted, “I been carin’ for Buck as best I could since then, was tryin’ to get him to a doctor in the town just down the trail a piece.” His indignation made his voice shake a little. “I think you might tell me just who the hell you are and it wouldn’t be out of line to say a thank you Ellsworth, while you’re at it!”

“Indeed sir we are in your debt, truly.” Ezra’s smooth southern drawl slipped in before Chris could start spitting any angry words.

Josiah hastened to add, “Brother Ellsworth I do apologize for Mr. Larabee’s… tone. I trust you will understand we had feared our friend lost to us.” Josiah’s voice was sincere and soothing to Ellsworth’s ears.

“My name is Ezra Standish and these gentlemen are Josiah Sanchez and you’ve already met Mr. Larabee.” He gestured to each of his friends in turn. Josiah had knelt down beside Chris and Buck. “We found your trail yesterday evening and followed as quickly as we could.”

Ellsworth nodded. “Well Buck was talking until about oh a half an hour or so ago. He was coughing a whole hell of a lot last night and this morning and now he’s burning up with a fever. I thought he might have pneumonia at first, but I ain’t so sure now.”

Chris hadn’t said anything much to the others as he sat rocking Buck in his arms. “We got to get him to a doctor.” His tone was inflexible. Buck needed a doctor and damn it they were going to get him to one. Another fit of coughing shook Buck followed by a low moan.

Josiah shook his head, “He can’t ride, Chris. Not in the shape he’s in.”

At Chris’s name, Ellsworth had started. Now he stared hard at the fair-haired man in black. Ezra, noting every change in his expression, could almost see the gears turning in his mind. “What did Mr. Wilmington tell you about his circumstances? Did he tell you how he came to be in the river?” Ezra just couldn’t suppress his curiosity.

Ellsworth frowned. “He didn’t know, didn’t remember. Hell, I didn’t know his name ‘til this fellow, Chris, right?” He seemed to want confirmation of Chris’s name and Ezra nodded. “Well ‘til Chris rode up hollering calling him Buck, I didn’t know that was his name. The only things he remembered was someone calling him Big Dog, so I just called him BD.” Ellsworth shook his head and smiled a little. “That and Stud were the only names he seemed to really remember, except when he was dreaming.” At that point the last man rode up.

Having finally ridden Peso to a draw and gotten some cooperation from his vindictive mount, the long haired tracker was quick to join the others. “Buck?” The dry raspy whisper brought Chris’s smoky green eyes up to meet the blue ones.

“He ain’t said a word.” Chris’s voice sounded hollow. “We‘re too late.”

Ezra flinched.

“Now Cowboy, don’t you give up so easy.” Vin forced himself to sound a lot steadier than he felt. “We thought the river had got him and yet here he is. Ol’ Buck ain’t going nowhere without… his family.” Vin had been on the verge of saying ‘you’, but with this stranger listening. Besides no telling what kind of reaction he’d get from Larabee at this point.

Ezra released a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. Vin would defuse the situation, this time. He shuddered to think what would happen if Buck succumbed. Josiah spoke quietly again.

All this Ellsworth watched with interest, the slim man with long tangled hair seemed to have some deep understanding of what was going on here, at least the terrible tension that Ellsworth had felt building was now gone. For that he was relieved, from what he had guessed at about the kind of friendship that Buck and Chris shared… well he’d seen a lot worse things and he didn’t begin to try to judge folks. The tall quietly spoken man, Josiah, was saying something to him.

“Our late arrival is Vin Tanner, Mr. Ellsworth. You might want to avoid that catamount he rides. The beast is vicious on the best of days,” Josiah whispered to him.

Ellsworth smiled back. “Just plain Ellsworth if y’all don’t mind. Ain’t been Mister since, well a hell of a long time ago.”

Josiah nodded and went on. “Best thing to do is get him to a doctor, but since we can’t…” the former priest pursed his lips, “Brother Ellsworth, do you suppose that doctor would come out here or send some medicines for Buck?”

Ellsworth shrugged, almost laughed at being called brother. “I ain’t even sure there is a real doc in that town, only been there once. But on the other hand it don’t hurt to ask.” He rose scratching at his beard. “I can ride Pickles down there and back before dark.” The grizzled miner offered.

Ezra hesitated before speaking. “Unless you feel I can be of assistance here, perhaps I should go with Mr. Ellsworth.” Vin and Josiah both stared hard at the con man, just what was he up to?

“Any particular reason why?” Vin drawled at him.

Ezra flashed a smile, understanding perfectly what his friends were thinking. “I dare say that the two of us will be able to bring back enough supplies for us to camp here more comfortably. We need a shelter for Buck, more blankets not to mention food, coffee, and dare I say it more whiskey.” Pointedly he let his eyes shift to Larabee. The blond man was holding Buck close and staring off into the distance. No need to point out that Vin and Josiah needed to stay here to keep an eye on Chris and stop him from going off if Buck took a turn for he worse. Something that Ezra was ill-suited for in the extreme.

Josiah smiled at Ezra. “Good thinking brother, I am sure you will think of everything needed for Buck’s care and comfort.”

“Not to mention his own.” Vin snorted, but even he had to nod in agreement. Ezra was the perfect choice for this trip. No one would be able to get better deals than the gambler and Vin trusted Ezra to return quickly this time. Buck was far too ill for Standish to even consider pulling a fast one on them now.

“I’ll get a fire started. I think if we moved over to those trees, I can stretch a tarp and make a tent to keep the wind off of him, and those boulders will reflect the heat from the fire on one side.” Vin was more or less mumbling to himself as Ezra had already mounted and was only waiting for Ellsworth. Josiah had begun gathering more wood for the fire.

Ellsworth shook himself out of his daydream, he’d been thinking how nice it would be to have friends and family like these men. Ever since his wife and baby daughter died with a fever, he’d been a rover. Wandering from one rumor of gold to another, then there had been the horror of the cave-in in Comstock and he’d shunned most everyone in its aftermath.

“Guess we’d better get a move on, Ez.” Ellsworth saw the flicker of annoyance slip across the gambler’s face. “It ain’t all that far, but you got a lot to do while I talk the doc into coming out here.” He hid a grin at the smug look on Vin’s face as he passed him. Yep these boys was like brothers, always picking and fussing with each other. Course if you was to hurt one of them the whole crew would turn into a pit of pissed off rattlers just aching to take a bite out of you. With a soft chuckle Ellsworth climbed into Pickles’s saddle. “Come on now girl, lets get to town.” As an afterthought Ellsworth called back to the others, “Hey, if you all need anything off a that mule, feel free to get it. There’s some canvas and rope and such.” He gave Pickles a nudge with his heel and moved to catch up with the very dapper Mr. Standish.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buck was lost in a ghost world. Voices distant and then close, voices he knew and loved kept luring him farther into the cold misty place. Sometimes he thought that he could reach them if he just ran faster, but his feet felt like lead, so heavy and he was so tired. There was something about one of the voices that kept him trying to catch up; he wasn’t sure why it was so important, but it was. He reached out into the wispy nothingness. “Chris!” He moaned and struggled to capture the warmth he felt brushing past him.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Chris nearly shouted in surprise when Buck started struggling in his arms. The taller man had been so still and his breathing so labored as Chris had held him. Now the anguished voice that called his name scared him into action. “Vin! ’Siah! Get over here now!”

Vin was the first to reach them, closely followed by Josiah, between the three of them they kept Buck off the cold damp ground and wrapped in his blankets. By the time Buck had subsided all four men were sweating heavily and gasping for breath.

Josiah rose first, “Vin, we’re gonna need some sort of shelter fast. He could start struggling again any minute. Chris, you holler if he does.” Josiah went back to gathering wood.

Vin stood over Chris and Buck for a minute longer. “You all right there, Cowboy?” Vin asked softly.

Chris tried to smile but it lacked conviction, his pallor and the worry in his eyes making the curve of his lips a lie. “I’ll be all right when he is,” was the simple truth and his answer.

Vin went to work on the shelter.

Chapter 6 - Still Waters

Author's Notes: Nathan is confronted by Miz Nettie. JD jumps to a conclusion about the rest of the boys. Buck wakes up.

Nathan smiled as he held out another bite of eggs to his patient. JD was healing fast and the young man’s appetite was out stripping his ability to hold a fork. But Nathan didn’t mind helping out, not when it meant his friend was getting well. The only problem now was handling all JD’s questions about where the others were and when they would be back.

The healer had enlisted Casey as well as Miss Nettie in an effort to keep JD in the dark about Buck’s disappearance. Now however, with JD feeling better everyday it was going to be nearly impossible to keep it from him. Nathan sighed.

“Hey Nathan…” JD swallowed the half chewed bite, “how much longer do you think it will take the guys to find Chris?”

Nathan felt his eyebrows crawl upwards. “WHAT?”

“Yeah I figured it out,” JD smirked. “The way y’all was stammering around about it. Chris must have been really upset about what happened and went on a bender. I reckon it was real bad if Buck AND Vin had to go after him.” JD shook his head and continued, “I understand though, so you and Casey don’t got to hide it from me. They have to get Chris back before he gets himself into another jam, and you knew I would be all right. So I don’t mind that they ain’t here.” JD took the next bite and chewed happily.

Nathan automatically continued to feed his patient, meanwhile thinking furiously. How had JD come to this erroneous conclusion? But when he thought about it… this could make a good excuse for the others being gone for so long. Nathan hated to lie, but he definitely didn’t want JD to know that Buck had left because of what happened. That kind of emotional upheaval would surely delay the young sheriff’s recovery.

The dilemma kept the healer’s mind occupied for the rest of the meal, JD’s chatter slowing down as his energy waned. While the young sheriff was going to heal up just fine, it would still be a long time before he regained all of his former energy. Nathan let the lad run on until eventually JD ran down and started dozing again. Released from his nursing duties, Nathan took the opportunity to stretch his legs and walked down to the livery to check on Dancer and Quinn. Both horses needed a good run and Nathan debated whether he should take the time to do it or ask Tiny to get one of his stable boys to handle the chore. A familiar voice broke his train of thought.

“Hey Nathan, how is JD doing today?” Miss Nettie, feisty as always, stood her ground like it was a battlefield. Nathan had no intention of tangling with her.

“Well ma’am, JD is doing just fine.” Nathan didn’t even try to avoid her next question, the one he could see in her wise old eyes.

“And where are the others? Or do you even know?” Miss Nettie demanded curtly. She wasn’t going to be put off by Nathan’s worried eyes and concerned manner, even if she did like the man and sort of felt sorry for him.

“In all honesty, ma’am, I just ain’t sure where they might be now.” Nathan’s frankness obviously surprised her as it took the fierce little woman a few minutes to formulate her next question.

“So… they didn’t tell you where they was going… or they didn’t know themselves?” She finally puzzled out. “This about the… accident?”

Nathan sighed, “Yes ma’am, I reckon it is.” He stared at the little woman, but she out waited him, “Buck took off, blamed himself about what happened to JD. You know how Buck gets, he takes things to heart.” A shrug for the soft-hearted, soft-headed man’s tendency to take the blame for things he could not control. “He didn’t let anyone know. Just left. Soon as we knew, well you can imagine how Chris took that.”

Nettie huffed, “About like I’d take Casey running off.”

“Yes ma’am, something like that.” Nathan smiled.

“So JD doesn’t know?” Sharp eyes frowning.

“No ma’am he don’t, and he don’t need to either.” Too quickly.

“I can see that for myself, young man!” Sharp voiced.

“Yes ma’am.” Nathan wisely just agreed and didn’t try to explain. Yet.

“Well what are you telling him? He’s bound to have noticed the lack of company.” She still sounded irritated with him, so Nathan tread lightly. “Yes ma’am, he thinks they’re off looking for Chris.”

“For heaven’s sake, you couldn’t think of anything better than that!”

Nathan was surprised. “JD thought that out for himself, seemed best to let him think what he wanted. Like he’d question it less.”

Nettie made a noncommittal noise, “All right then I’ll go along with it and pass it on to Casey. She’s been driving me crazy wanting to come into town to see about him, probably went straight on up there didn’t she?”

Nathan frowned. “I didn’t see her and I just left him afore coming here.”

Nettie nodded. “I saw you, she probably just missed you. Is he awake?”

Nathan shook his head, something bothering him about this. “She’s up there now?”

“Most likely, there ain’t nothing they can get into not with him so…”

“No not that, Miss Nettie. It’s just if he asks her about the boys, well Casey might say the wrong thing. Let the cat out of the bag so to speak.” Nathan shrugged. He turned back to the horses. “Do you think Casey would mind giving them a run later?” He asked to change the subject. Nettie would have to explain to Casey, Nathan was not going to ask that girl to lie to JD, it just wouldn’t be right. He turned back wondering why the tiny little woman hadn’t replied. She was gone.

Casey was just staring at JD’s face, he still looked so pale. She wiped at her stinging eyes and stifled a sob. She could have lost him, lost him before they ever really admitted how they felt. A warm hand reached out and pulled her shaking hand away from her eyes. JD was awake. She gave him her best smile, a little watery still but genuinely happy to be looking into his beautiful brown eyes. “Hey,” she said softly.

“Hey,” he answered back. They just sat and smiled tenderly at each other, no words were needed.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buck was miserable, one minute he was freezing, the next sweltering. He tried to twist away from the confining grip on his arms. Sought a more comfortable position, but there was none, no relief, no comfort, no one to call to for help. Then just when he thought it could not possibly get worse, he would start to cough, his chest aching, his stomach burning with the foul tasting bile that kept trying to come up into his already raw throat. He cried out hoarsely for the one person he longed for. “Chris.”

Chris jerked upright from where he’d slumped down over Buck. “I’m right here, Bucklin. Ain’t going nowhere without you.”

Buck’s blue eyes stared at him for a few seconds, no recognition showed in them. Again they closed and Buck settled into a troubled sleep.

Relief warred with panic. Buck was calling for him, but didn‘t seem to know him. In one way it filled him with an indescribable joy, and in every other way it scared the shit out of him. In the hour that had passed since the last time Buck had cried out, he’d tried to make the man as comfortable as he could without letting go of him. For some reason Chris couldn’t bring himself to let go of Buck completely. He needed the physical contact to reassure himself that Buck continued to breathe, even though the loud rasping breaths were clearly, painfully audible. Alternating between shivering and sweating Buck struggled for every breath and Chris suffered right along with him.

Josiah paused in his preparations to watch Chris. It was increasingly clear to the former priest that they could not afford to wait for some unknown doctor to come to their aide, Buck needed help now. With Vin’s assistance, Josiah had gathered the herbs he knew Nathan used to help soothe his patients’ coughs. Together he and Vin had found and stripped the bark from several willow tree branches. While Vin ground up the herbs, Josiah had mashed and boiled the willow bark to making a tea that would help bring down the fever. If Buck could keep it down. Several times it had seemed that Buck was going to heave. So far he’d swallowed the sips of water that Chris had given him without too much difficulty, but they needed to get a greater amount of this tea down him and even the strong odor of the herbal poultice might be too much for the sick man. Josiah heard Vin shifting behind him. “Is it ready, Brother?” Josiah asked.

Vin brought a bowl of mashed leaves, stalks, and dried seed pods over. “Do I just pour the water over this?” Vin didn’t often participate in making medicine and he worried that he’d do something wrong. Vin Tanner didn’t scare easily, but right now he was downright scared. The way that Chris was acting, if they lost Buck they’d lose Larabee too. So Vin made sure that Josiah double checked every step he took.

The older man turned kind eyes on the sharpshooter and patiently nodded. “Yes that looks about right.”

“About right? Should I grind them up some more then?” Vin asked all his nervousness showing in the wide eyes.

“No Vin, it’s fine just like that. Now pour the boiling water over it, enough to cover it all, and let it cool enough so that you can touch it.” Josiah reassured with a hand on the leather clad arm. Vin nodded and went back to work.

Chris was gritting his teeth, every fiber of his being wanted to yell at someone. Or better yet hit someone, however he couldn’t do any of that and hold Buck close. Right now holding Buck was the most important thing Chris could do, hold his friend up so that his lungs didn’t fill, so that Buck could keep drawing one ragged breath after another. Chris stole a glance at his other friends. They were both busily working over some native remedies. Doing their best to help Buck, Chris knew that absolutely. Silently he willed them to work faster. Buck moaned, a wretched sound for Chris to bear, the man leaning against him rubbing at his face.

Then Buck whispered his name. “Chris?”

The heavy head turning against his chest, Chris found himself staring into those deep blue eyes. “I’m here Buck. Right here, pard,” Chris said softly, the blue eyes blinked. And this time it seemed Buck understood, recognized his friend, a fevered hand reached towards Larabee’s face. Chris caught it and pulled it to his cheek. “Right here, see.” With a tenderness that few had ever seen Chris brushed the heated flesh with his lips.

Buck seemed to drift back towards sleep. “A dream. Just another dream.” His eyes closed, but a smile lingered on his face as he leaned into Chris’s arms and snuggled there. “Good dream.” he sighed.

Chris curled closer around the broad shoulders, eyes only for Buck.

Unnoticed by either men Vin stood over them. He waited a few moments then cleared his throat. “Chris? Josiah says this medicine is ready.” He knelt beside the two men and held out the tin cup full of dark liquid. The smell was not very appetizing and both Chris and Vin had experience with trying to get Nathan’s foul potions down, they grimaced and looked at Buck. “We got to get it down him, Cowboy.”

Chris nodded. “Buck?” Soft voiced leaning in close to breathe warm air over Buck’s ear, Chris whispered again. “Buck come on pard, need you to take this medicine. Josiah and Vin made it just for you. Come on now.” Chris shifted so that he and Buck were sitting fully upright.

Buck grumbled and twisted turning until he had his face pressed into the warm soft curve of Chris‘s neck. “Who are you? Chris? Where are we, pard?“ A deep sigh and Buck nuzzled at the tender flesh. Chris closed his eyes, nearly paralyzed by the scrape whiskers and velvety touch of soft lips. He slowly opened his eyes and stared at Buck, then Tanner made a suspicious sound. Like a chuckle.

Vin had to hide a smile, never in his life had he imagined Chris Larabee looking so sweet, so tender, so close to being undone by a touch. Then the smoky green eyes opened. Opened with a full blown Larabee glare powering up behind that momentary tender look he’d given to Buck. “We’ll just try to get as much down him as we can.”

Vin tried not to smile too broadly as he gripped Buck’s chin and turned the bewhiskered face away from Chris. He lifted the tin cup to the dry lips and with Chris’s help they managed to get at least three-quarters of it inside Buck. The rest spilled all over the blanket and soaked Larabee’s lap. Buck coughed and grumbled. Chris pulled Buck back against him. The taller man’s head lolled back over the blond gunfighter’s shoulder and he settled back more comfortably.

“Well that weren’t too bad.” Vin commented as Chris’s hand snaked up to touch Buck’s cheek. The slight hesitation that stuttered his movement told Vin he’d tried controlling his urge to touch Buck. And then given in to his own need.

“You ain’t the one that got wet,” Chris grunted out. The anger sounded a little forced to Vin.

Chapter 7 - Ripples

Author's Notes: More hurt and comfort.

Ezra bit back a few choice words, as far as he could tell they would not have been understood by the shopkeeper anyway. “Very well I will take two pounds each of bacon, beans, and flour, and one pound of sugar, and coffee. Add them to these blankets and this canvas.” Ezra watched impatiently as the man laboriously added the column of numbers. He already held the total amount in his hand. “I believe that will conclude our transaction.”

The woman behind the counter accepted the coins, checking their authenticity with her strong teeth. Ezra tipped his hat and finished stuffing the bags of victuals into his saddle bag. The blankets and roll of canvas he would tie to the pack animal he’d borrowed from Ellsworth. All things considered it had been a successful visit.

Although the doctor had proven to be unwilling to ride half a day to treat Mr. Wilmington, he had provide Ezra with some medical supplies and simple instructions that even Ezra felt he could follow. So while Ezra wouldn’t want to be the venerable Dr. Madsen if Buck didn’t pull through, he did feel the man had tried to help.

The con man hastened out to his horse, Ellsworth was standing beside Chaucer waiting for him. “My dear Mr. Ellsworth, I would have thought you’d had enough of my company today?” Ezra put the question in his voice, and Ellsworth answered.

“Just wondering if you all might not need another hand? I don’t like feeling like I’m running out on Buck.” Ellsworth’s grizzled face was unhappy, Ezra found he quite liked this earthy fellow. “And I told you twice now not to call me mister.”

“Ellsworth, forgive me.” Ezra smiled with utter sincerity. “Sir, I must say it is an honor and privilege to have met someone of your caliber. I assure you we are quite capable of caring for our comrade. We esteem Buck enough to have sought him these many days past. We have no intention of allowing him to leave us just yet.” Ezra’s smile grew warmer, “Indeed I believe our Mr. Larabee would follow Mr. Wilmington into Hades itself to bring him home.”

Ellsworth finding himself blushing a bit at his thoughts looked away for a moment then straightened his shoulders and faced Ezra again. “I kind of figured that myself. Ol’ Buck kept calling for him, for Chris in his sleep.” The red haired man shuffled his foot in the dust of the street. “I known a few men were like that, seemed like good men, but it’s a risky way to live.” He grew serious now, “I just want to make sure you all are his friends, and ain’t gonna hurt him. I know you probably reckon it ain’t none of my business, but Buck seemed like a good man too.” Ellsworth couldn’t really explain the protective feeling

that Buck had raised in him, but be damned, if he was going to ignore it.

Ezra grinned at the bull chested miner. “I promise you on my sainted mother’s soul… no on my skill with cards, I swear to you that none of us are going to allow Mr. Wilmington to come to harm.”

Ellsworth stared into Ezra’s eyes a moment and then nodded. “All right then. If you should need my help just come hollering” He grinned, “Holler loud if I’m in the saloon.”

Ezra clapped the dusty shoulder and chuckled. “Indeed I shall, sir.” With that he mounted and took the pack mule’s lead from Ellsworth. “We shall return her to you in a day or two, Ellsworth. Thank you again for the loan.”

“Don’t worry about it, Ez. I’ll probably ride out to check on you all before then.” Ellsworth admitted. He pulled a bottle of whiskey out of the bag that he had over his shoulder. “You might need this too. For medicinal purposes.”

Ezra laughed, “I can’t believe I didn’t think of that. Again thank you, Ellsworth. I’ll look forward to seeing you again.” Ezra touched the brim of his hat and tugged the lead line. He had a long ride ahead of him.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Josiah and Vin finished wrapping the bandage around Buck’s chest, the heated poultice was now held firmly in place.

Not that Buck was appreciating it at the moment, once again he tried to work his fingers under the strips of Chris’s torn shirt to remove the smelly mess from his chest. The fumes made his eyes tear and his nose run, he hacked and coughed. Spitting another wad of phlegm out, Buck growled as Chris pulled his hand away from the bandaging. “Damn stuff stinks Chris.” Buck grumbled.

“You think I don’t know that?” Chris growled back, but he was smiling. Every time Buck said his name, Chris felt a little better. He was sure now that Buck knew who he was, and remembered his own name as well. The fact that he kept glancing at Josiah and Vin like he was unsure of just who they were, well it was worrying but Chris would make sure his friend found his way back to them all.

Vin sat back on his heels and watched the blond gunfighter pull the blanket up over Buck, grabbing at the stubborn hand and holding it firmly away from the bandages again.

“Well Cowboy, it’s going to be getting dark pretty soon. I got a bit of canvas and some blankets over here. I think we can get him settled in more comfortable. Let you get a break, some dinner?” The look he got in return for his good deeds was not very friendly, but Vin just shrugged it off. “You don’t got to let him go for long Chris, I ain’t trying to piss you off.” A full fledged Larabee death glare flew out at him, but Buck moved at the same moment ruining Chris’s aim. Vin escaped, chuckling, back to where Josiah was putting more wood on the fire.

“I think that we should go ahead and move Buck over here now, while he is awake,” Josiah told Vin quietly.

Vin nodded. “Sure Josiah, I was just telling Chris that.”

Josiah glanced over at the reclining figures. “They will both be more comfortable over here.” The graying head tilted to the side, “Why is Chris so pissed at you?”

Vin laughed and Larabee’s eyes narrowed further. “I can’t help it Josiah, Chris trying to cope with Bucklin’s wandering hands just tickles my funny bone.” Vin tried to stifle another chuckle, “And he gets this look on his face, it’s sort a sweet.” Josiah cocked an eyebrow and gave Vin a stern look mingled with a touch of a smile, “I know I shouldn’t laugh, but I never thought of Chris Larabee as being sweet!” Vin’s raspy voice while emphatic was not much louder than a whisper.

“Brother Vin, be careful. The man that tickles a tiger sometimes loses a hand,” Josiah calmly intoned. He finished stacking the rest of the firewood near the circle of stone before walking over to Chris and Buck.

Vin stared at the former preacher. “Tiger is one of them big cats in Africa, right?” But he got no reply as Josiah went and knelt down beside Chris. With a very quiet snicker Vin joined his friends.

“Chris, let’s get Buck and you moved over here now, while he’s a least more or less awake.” Josiah spoke quietly to Chris, the way you spoke to calm a nervous horse. Chris opened his mouth to speak but Buck spoke up first.

“Who the hell are you to tell Chris what to do?” Buck sounded more belligerent than either Vin or Josiah had ever heard.

“Hush Buck, it’s okay. That’s just Josiah, he’s a friend.” Chris answered quickly.

Buck squinted his eyes and looked from Josiah to Vin, “Don’t remember no friend named Joseph.” His eyes widened at the sight of Vin’s mare’s leg. “Sure as hell don’t know him neither. He made you mad before too.” Buck’s eyes were cold and the slight frown turned hard and mean.

Chris cupped Buck’s chin and turned him them face to face. “Buck, do you trust me?”

All the coldness disappeared. “Course I trust you pard.” Buck glanced over at Vin and Josiah. “Your words good enough for me. It’s just… you tensed up like you expected trouble.” Buck licked his dry cracked lips, “I ain’t gonna let no one worry you, Chris. Nor hurt you ever again.” He leaned forward until their foreheads touched.

“I promise you Buck, Vin’s a real pain in the ass sometimes, but he’s our friend. He ain’t gonna hurt me.” Chris spared a smile at the thought. “And Josiah’s a real good friend and hardly ever a pain in the ass…” He paused to think about it. “Well not nearly as often as you and Vin anyway.” Buck huffed at the insult and Vin laughed outright.

Josiah patiently waited for Buck to meet his eyes. “I would say that Chris is the pain in the ass, if anyone were to ask me.” Josiah winked at Buck and the sick man tried to laugh. The effort brought on another fit of coughing that left him gasping and weak, with all three of his friends now kneeling beside him trying to help.

“I guess – you do know – old Chris then.” Buck managed to wheeze out at last.

Josiah smiled and Vin nodded. “Yeah Bucklin, we know him well enough to know his bark is worse than his bite. But right now we need to get you warmed up and under some shelter.” Vin moved over to the other side of Buck and gently took his arm. Josiah mimicked his movements and Chris put his hands against Buck’s back.

Working together the three of them got Buck to his feet. Vin realized he’d never fully appreciated just how tall Buck was, while Josiah wondered if even with all three of them they’d be able to keep the wavering man on his feet. Slowly they stumbled together to the shelter that Vin had made by stretching canvas between three saplings. The way the tracker had angled it, that one piece gave passable protection from any rain and even more importantly kept the north wind from blowing straight down on them.

Even Chris had to admit that this would make Buck more comfortable. He fussed and rearranged blankets and his saddle making a veritable nest for them to lower Buck into. The lanky dark-haired man coughed and groaned as he tried to get comfortable, Josiah tried helping him to no avail. Vin just raised an eyebrow towards Larabee, who came close to swinging at the tracker.

In the end, Chris shuffled around on the other side of Buck. “Let’s try it this way, Big Dog,” he murmured to Buck as he settled beside him. Almost before he was seated on the bedroll, Buck had curled into his arms. A sigh of contentment was clearly audible, though Vin could not have sworn which of the two men uttered it.

It was not much later, the sun a glimmering streak of orange at the bottom of the sky, that hoof beats were heard coming down the trail to the town. “Hello the camp!” A familiar Southern flavor in the voice let the two men standing by the campfire relax.

Chris was softly snoring and even Ezra’s hail hadn’t awakened either of the exhausted men. Vin gestured to Ezra for quiet and went to help him unload the supply mule. Josiah, after checking to see that Buck and Chris were still sleeping joined them.

“How is our Lothario?” Ezra asked quietly as he worked to unsaddle Chaucer. “I have some medicine for him from the doctor.” Ezra looked hopefully towards the blanketed shapes under the canvas.

Vin looked puzzled, and Josiah smiled. “Buck is sleeping right now, soon as we‘ve got this unpacked we‘ll give him some of the medicine. I am assuming that the doctor refused to leave town for a stranger camped on the trail.” Ezra shrugged and nodded. “Well, his coughing seems to have eased somewhat anyway, don’t you think Vin?”

“Yeah, he’s seemed to breathe easier since that poultice made him cough all that stuff up.” Vin glared at Ezra. “Why’d you call him that name, Ez?”

Ezra flashed his gold tooth in a broad grin, “Ah Mister Tanner, allow me to broaden your horizons.” The gambler swung the saddle off his mount. “In his play, The Fair Penitent, Nicolas Rowe introduced a character that epitomizes the seducer of women, Lothario. Need I explain how this applies to Mister Wilmington?” With a chuckle from Josiah, the three of them finished removing the supplies and rubbed down the pack mule and Chaucer.

Hours later, after encouraging Buck to swallow a dose of the medicine the doctor had sent, and as they were preparing their own bedrolls and waiting for the stew that Ezra had brought back to heat, Josiah took up the subject again. “You know, I don’t think that Buck is a true Lothario. In the play Lothario betrayed his lover, I have never heard any of the ladies at the saloon complain about Buck‘s treatment of them.”

Vin snickered. “None of the other ladies in town complain about him either, unless you’re counting the worried mamas.” Ezra smirked. Josiah laughed outright.

A grumbling voice rose from the darkened depths of the canvas shelter. “What the hell’s so damned funny?” Chris sounded like a bear waking up too early from his hibernation.

“You awake now, Stud?” Another voice from the dark, hoarse and rusty but most welcome to the four other men.

“Yeah, you back among the living?” Chris’s voice had changed, the timber deeper, the tone… one that none of them had ever heard.

Vin strained his eyes to see into the deeper shadows under the canvas, but the darkness defeated even his keen eyes. Not that there was anything to see, not really. Just a contented smile settling on a face unaccustomed to such a thing, and the relaxing of one tall lean man into the comfort of a friend’s shoulder.

Josiah didn’t need to see, he heard it all in the tone of Chris’s question and the little sigh that prefaced Buck’s answer.

“Uh yeah I guess, more or less. What happened to Ellsworth?” Buck queried softly. Then as if he’d suddenly become aware of his situation. “Am I too heavy, leaning on you like this?”

“You ain’t.” Chris didn’t quite pull Buck back against him, but his arms definitely tightened a bit. Buck let his eyes fall closed, whether to hide his feelings or because he was still weary. “Ain’t no feather weight though. Scoot over that way some.” Chris groused just enough to make the others smile. He and Buck moved into a more comfortable configuration. Chris tucked Buck against his chest and Buck stretched out his full length beside him turned into the warmth of the black clad body. Only the rumble of Chris’s stomach disturbed them.

“Are you growling at me, Ol’ Dog?” Buck asked lazily, he hadn’t felt this warm and comfortable in a long time.

“Well, now that you mention it, I am a mite peckish. How about you? Do you think you could eat some of whatever they got cooking over there?” Chris’s concern evident in his voice and the look in his eyes.

“I reckon I might be able to eat a bite.” Buck answered, smiling.

“Well let me get up then before they eat it all…” Chris started to slip out from underneath Buck’s larger body, but paused when Josiah and Ezra came towards the shelter.

The two men each carried a tin plate complete with hot stew and biscuit. Vin came behind them carrying the coffee pot and two tin cups with a big grin! Chris almost told him to get the hell out of there, but the coffee smelled good. Buck wiggled next to him and Chris was glad for the darkness.

“Wait a minute there brother, let me help you sit up a bit.” Josiah pulled Buck into a more upright position and handed him a plate, allowing Chris to take his own plate from Ezra.

Chapter 8 - Eddies and Whirlpools

Author's Notes: Biscuits and misunderstandings for breakfast. More hurtin' and comforting. Thank you Darlene for all the help, mistakes are still all mine. Characters not mine, just the situation.

Chris woke to streaming sunshine and tickling breath on his neck. His nose was buried in thick dark hair and his arms were full of warm Buck Wilmington. He couldn’t remember a better morning in a long time, last night had been more satisfying than a night with Lydia. Even though he’d confined their pleasure to kissing and holding each other, Buck was still too sick for anything more. There had been the rewarding promise of what would happen sooner or later. When a stretch and loud yawn announced that Buck was waking up Chris hugged him tighter. A pleased murmur rewarded his efforts.

“Morning, Bucklin.” Chris whispered softly.

“Mmm. good morning is right.” Buck answered equally quietly, “Can’t remember ever sleeping better. I feel like an old hound dog by the fireside, so comfortable I don’t want to move.” Buck wiggled in a little deeper under the blankets and a little nearer to Chris’s throat. A brush of lips drew a little gasp from Larabee. “Problem Pard?” Buck’s lips brushing against flesh with each word.

Chris stretched his head back farther, exposing more of his throat to Buck, almost inviting the kisses that followed. “Yessss,” Chris managed to hiss just before Buck changed his point of attack.

Tracing a path upwards along the strong jaw line, over the sandpapered cheek, to find the moist open lips and all the warmth Buck had been craving. Chris didn’t hesitate. Twisting until he was lying over Buck he took great pleasure in kissing his oldest friend breathless. Appreciating that he had the chance, and then thinking how he almost hadn’t.

After Buck had caught his breath he found himself staring up into smoky green eyes, eyes filled with passion and love and… anger. “What?”

“What! You run off in the middle of the fucking night… nearly get yourself drowned… almost die from pneumonia… and you have the nerve to ask me what!” Chris punctuated each of Buck’s crimes with a quick kiss and then ended with a long hard crush of their mouths together.

“Mmm when you put it that way I guess I owe you some kind of apology.” Buck smiled, blinking heavy lidded eyes, “Is there any way I can make it up to you?” A suggestive leer told Chris exactly how Buck wanted to make things up to him.

"I’ll keep that in mind once you’re up to it; I like a man who pays his debts," Chris smiled.

“Uh ‘cuse me cowboy.”

Chris twisted around like a pissed off rattler, and just about as happy to see the smirking face of a Texas tracker staring down at them.

“No need to shoot me now, Chris. I’m just bringing y’all some coffee.” Vin held out two cups, the steam rising from them a testament to the chilly morning and the welcome heat of the drinks.

“Well that’s right nice of you Vin, but as you can see,” Buck grinned right back. “I’ve got myself pretty well situated here. Tucked in all warm and snug with my own… uff.” Buck was rudely cut off by Chris elbowing him. “Hey now Chris, I was only going to say…” One look at the lethal glare his friend was giving him brought Buck to a full stop. “Okay then, thanks for the coffee Vin.” Buck accepted the cup meekly, though his eyes still held a trace of mischief in their blue depths.

Chris held out his hand for the other cup, “Yeah, thanks Vin. Now how about some of them biscuits and bacon I smell?”

Tanner hmphed and turned his back on the pair. “I guess you worked up an appetite ‘resting’ last night.” Tanner called back over his shoulder when he was safely beyond Chris’s reach.

Chris coughed and choked on the coffee he’d just tried to swallow. Buck laughed out loud as he pounded the irate blonde’s back.

Back at the fireside, Josiah sipped contentedly from his own cup, “Sounds like Chris is awake.” Josiah observed calmly to Ezra, as Vin walked back towards them grinning like a Cheshire cat.

The gambler snickered. “That’s almost worth being awakened at the ungodly hour.”

“I have always felt that the dawn is one of the Lord’s finest achievements. The darkness driven away by the rising sun,” Josiah intoned solemnly.

Ezra rolled his eyes but refrained from comment. Vin, still chuckling, returned and made himself comfortable. He leaned against Ezra a little as he helped himself to one of the fresh biscuits on the other man’s plate. “Did you get any honey or preserves to go with these biscuits, Ez?” Smiling at Josiah, “Damn fine biscuits by the way ‘Siah.” As he bit into the deliciously warm bread.

Ezra huffed, “I believe that was MY biscuit Mr. Tanner.” Even as he pulled a still sealed jar of strawberry preserves from his nearby saddle bag and handed it to Vin. “I shall have to go back to town if you continue to stuff yourself in this manner.” The mellowness of Ezra’s smile took any sting out of the comment.

“Tastes better off your plate,” Vin said as he eagerly pried the top open and scooped some of the sweet jam out. “Don’t know why that is, I reckon it’s just my fool notion, is all.” Grinning at the smug expression on Ezra face, he licked the blade of his knife clean and smacked his lips. “Right tasty stuff Ez, thanks.”

Josiah laughed. “Well, I think one of us will need to return to town today at any rate. We need to find out if Nathan has received our wire, hopefully the wire is repaired by now and I think it would be wise to get more of the medicine the doctor sent. We’ve used a good portion of it up. I don’t want Buck to lose any ground because we run out on the way home.” Vin nodded as he finished Ezra’s second biscuit. Josiah noted that Ezra was buttering a third for the tracker already.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Chris continued sputtering for a few more minutes while Buck sought to help. Finally, the large hand rubbing soothingly between his shoulders calmed Chris enough to draw a normal breath. The hand didn’t stop and Chris found himself leaning more heavily against Buck, totally relaxed and content.

“See it’s like I was telling ol’ Vin we’ve got everything we need right here, don’t we?” Buck murmured as he nuzzled into the silky hair at the nape of Chris‘s neck.

“Mmm hm.” Chris blinked, all but purring as he felt the warm breath and the hot mouth heating his skin. He tugged at Buck’s clothing till he found smooth skin to stroke. The tender flesh in the hollow just beneath the ribs, a spot where Buck was most ticklish.

“Now Stud, that ain’t gonna get you what you really want!” Buck warned as he squirmed and tried to suppress a giggle. Then a fit of coughing stopped all their play, Chris holding Buck carefully until the wracking cough had passed.

“Josiah!”

“He’s mixing up some more of that syrupy cough medicine.” Vin appeared beside Chris’s shoulder and lay a gentle hand on Buck’s forehead. “Not much fever at least. That’s good.” He held out a battered cup of water. Chris took it and held it to Buck’s lips.

“I can hold it myself.” Buck grouched.

“Yeah.” Chris didn’t argue, but he didn’t let go of the cup either. “Little sips.”

Buck frowned and hmphed, but did as he was told, Chris watching him like a hawk, Vin watching them both with a smile. At last Josiah joined them carrying another cup. Immediately Buck made a face and started shaking his head.

“Don’t start, Buck. You need to take this medicine. It’ll ease your cough and get you well faster so we can go home.”

A pain filled gasp had Buck turning away from all of them, pulling out of Chris’s hold on him.

“Buck? Where does it hurt? Do something, Josiah?” Chris demanded of the former priest harshly.

Josiah grabbed Chris‘s shoulder and pulled him back. “Hold on there Chris. Let’s find out what’s wrong first.” Josiah moved around to the other side of Buck and carefully placed his hand underneath the lowered chin. Raising it so that he could see the tearful dark blue eyes, “Buck what’s wrong? Are you hurting?”

Buck just shook his head. Chris settled back at a look from Vin, Josiah met the tracker’s eyes and nodded. “Buck?” The former priest waited patiently for a sign. It came in the form of a shiver. “Brother if you won’t tell me I’m going to be forced to turn Ezra loose on you.” Josiah managed to sound so somber as he spoke that for a moment no one reacted. Then a snort from Vin and a hiss of protest from the gambler made Buck chuckle.

“Damn Josiah, that ain’t playing fair.” Buck whispered, but a ghost of a smile shown.

“Well all is fair in love and friendship.” Josiah countered.

Chris, whose first inclination had been to slug Josiah for making a joke, sat back and waited to see what would happen next. Vin stood up and went to stand by Ezra, whispering something to the gambler that brought a vehement shaking of Ezra’s head.

“Don’t you want to come home with us Buck?” Ezra suddenly asked.

Chris growled at the mere suggestion, but Buck just sighed.

Vin looked puzzled and Josiah nodded. “I thought as much.”

“You don’t want to come home with me? With us?” Chris sounded shocked, hurt, and more than a little angry.

“It came to me just then. It won’t never be the same now… not after…” Buck’s voice trailed away.

Chris surged towards Buck only to be blocked by Josiah’s solid body. “Move Preacher,” Chris grated out. Josiah shook his head.

“Buck, what is it that you’re thinking is going to be different?” Vin asked while giving Larabee a taste of his own glare.

“Without… him,” Buck whispered. “How can it ever be the same?”

“Who? What the fuck are you talking about Buck?” Chris demanded, pushing the others aside totally at a loss for the moment.

Buck glared at Chris. “Who?! You forget him so damn soon Chris? Did JD mean so little to you that you can just over look that I killed him?” Buck’s voice rose with anger and grief. He jerked away from Josiah’s comforting arm around his shoulder and tried to rise to his feet, but at that point the coughing started again and he was doubled over and struggling to breathe. It took several minutes and some wrestling to get the cough medicine down Buck and the still very sick man leaning back onto the pile of blankets and Chris.

Finally, when Buck was breathing easier though wearily, Chris spoke. Trying to keep his own emotions under control he simply told the truth, “Buck, JD is alive.”

Buck stared at Chris, uncertainty in his eyes. “Alive. Then why didn’t you say so before? Why’d you let me think he was gone?” Buck’s voice was hoarse from coughing, but strong enough for all of them to hear his anger.

“Brother we didn’t think that you remembered what had happened, at first you didn’t even seem to know any of us.” Josiah’s calm voice was a balm over the raw pain of Buck’s anger.

“Bucklin, you was doing so poorly when we found you,” Vin added.

“Honestly Buck,” and the irony was not lost on Ezra, “I think none of us were sure how to broach the subject. We were worried about how you would react.”

“I should have told you right away,” Chris said softly. “But I was so glad to find you. So glad you were alive…” Buck felt his anger draining away as he watched Chris’s cheeks stain with color, “Glad I hadn‘t lost you. But I should have thought about how you were worrying about JD. I’m sorry.” Chris’s long slender fingers plucked at the blanket and he avoided Buck’s eyes, Josiah’s knowing gaze, Ezra’s kind smile and worst of all Vin’s smirk. Not knowing what else to do Chris started trying to wiggle out from underneath Buck.

“Now just where do you think you’re going, Larabee?”

The honey toned voice shocked Chris into looking Buck right in those deep blue eyes. What he saw there froze him and made his mouth go dry.

“Gentlemen I think we need to tend to our mounts. Never fear Mr. Larabee, I am sure Mr. Tanner will look after Pony for you.” Ezra gave Vin an utterly transparent smirk.

Vin rolled his eyes but nodded. “Sure Larabee, I’ll just go help Ezra. Oh Josiah, don’t you worry either. I’m sure Ez will take care of Seeker for you too.” Vin grinned at the glare he received from Ezra as they walked away.

Josiah called after them, “Thank you Ezra.” Turning to the two silent men, eyes still entangled with each others, “I don’t guess you two are needing anything else right now.” He smiled, “No, I didn’t think so. Well, I will gather a bit more firewood then.”

Chris was only peripherally aware of their friends leaving. He couldn’t look away from Buck’s eyes, never before had he been able to see so deeply into them. His own eyes stinging made Chris swipe at them.

“Hey Pard, you all right?” Buck’s voice was so deep and soft.

It made Chris feel strange, his eyes felt heavy, he was warm and relaxed. Buck’s hands, one stroking his hair and the other pressing him back into their nest of blankets, Chris was helpless to resist them. “Yeah I’m fine.” Chris murmured.

“You sure are.” Buck’s warm smile washed over Chris.

Then his eyes tried to stay focused as Buck leaned in closer, he gave it up when their lips touched. Drawing back several moments later, Chris whispered against his lover’s ear, “I’m suppose to be taking care of you now, Buck. You lie back and rest.”

“Only if you’ll stay right here.” The husky whisper sent a shiver down Chris’s spine.

“I ain’t going no where without you.” Chris managed to get out before his lips were otherwise engaged.

Chapter 9

Author's Notes: Meanwhile back in Four Corners... The mistakes are the only things that really belong to me.

Josiah wandered far from the campsite, gathering enough fallen branches to keep the campfire going for the day, letting his mind wander, humming tunelessly to himself. He wasn’t aware of how much time had passed until he heard a familiar voice hailing him.

“Hey there, Josiah!” The burly figure of Buck’s rescuer rode towards Josiah. “How’s the patient?” Ellsworth stopped and dismounted to walk the rest of the way with Josiah.

“I think he’s on the mend, Ellsworth.” Josiah had to grin back at the man, his good-natured smile was contagious. “He ate quite a hearty breakfast. My friend Nathan always says that is a very good sign.”

“I’m real glad to hear that.” Ellsworth and Josiah ambled along chatting about the nearby town and the weather until they neared the camp. Ezra and Vin were sitting by the fire still involved in some friendly bickering while Vin filleting a fish.

“Greetings, Mr. Ellsworth.” Ezra called as he tumbled a coin across his knuckles.

“Hey there Ellsworth, come on and grab a seat.” Vin welcomed the prospector with a wave. “We’re having trout for lunch, caught a whole mess this morning.” He gestured where several of the fillets were already laying in a pan ready to cook.

“Yes, Mr. Tanner assures me he knows the best way to cook them.” Ezra smiled as he looked critically at his friend’s efforts.

Ellsworth laughed and poked Josiah in the side in a joking manner. “What do you think, Josiah? Will it be safe to eat?” The smile that wreathed his face and the wink he gave to Vin turned his words to a joke instead of an insult.

“I reckon we are safe enough. As long as it’s Vin doing the cooking.” Josiah grinned when Ezra bristled.

“I’ll have you know I am an excellent cook. When I am so inclined.” Ezra added the last with a sniff.

“When pigs fly.” Vin laughed. “Ezra will deign to grace us with his culinary skills.” The look of surprise that slipped through Ezra’s usual poker face set all of them laughing.

“Culinary skills? Why Mr. Tanner, you surprise me, I must admit.” Ezra’s eyes gleamed with interest and Vin looked far too pleased with himself. Both Ellsworth and Josiah snorted in good humor.

“I believe Vin has been holding his cards a bit closer than we thought.” Josiah chuckled.

“What is all this racket? A sick man can’t even get a decent nap.” Buck walked up to the campfire leaning only slightly against Chris.

“Not that you’d know anything about decent Buck.” Chris snorted as he tried to wrap one of the blankets about Buck’s shoulders. “Here now. Keep this on, no reason for you to take a chill again.” Buck just grinned and let Chris fuss with the blanket as he got settled.

“Good to see you feeling so much better, Buck.” Ellsworth watched the man he’d pulled from the river. He was genuinely happy to see that the younger man was on the mend. It was easy to see that his newfound friend was much better and just as easy to see that the other men were greatly relieved. “Guess you’ll be heading back to your home sooner than I thought.” Ellsworth sounded a little wistful as he spoke.

“You’d be welcome to come with us when we go, Ellsworth.” Chris said, drawing a look of surprise from Ezra. “We owe you a lot for taking care of Buck like you did.”

Vin and Josiah exchanged pleased looks and nodded. Ezra stared at Chris.

“You sure would Ellsworth.” Buck added. “I sure do owe you and I think you’d like Four Corners, it’s a right pretty little town and we got us a saloon keeper that’s the prettiest in the territory.”

“Now that sure does sound tempting, Buck.” Ellsworth sighed. “But you know, I been meaning to try my luck up at that new strike in the Black Hill. I hear they’re finding a lot of color up there around French Creek.” He shrugged. “Guess I’m hoping to find my big strike.”

“Well, if you get tired of panning you know where to come looking for a friendly welcome,” Chris said quietly, Buck and the others all smiled and made gestures of agreement.

Vin had been busily tending to the trout, turning them in the sizzling pan until they were golden brown.

Ezra, who had kept a close watch on his friend, now spoke up. “Mr. Tanner, I venture to say those fish are done to perfection.” He hastened to hold out the tin camp plate.

“Why thank you, Ezra,” Vin smirked. “Course with you breathin’ over my shoulder I couldn’t hardly go wrong.”

“Merely keeping an eye on my lunch,” Ezra answered. “I seldom get to enjoy fresh trout.”

Chris laughed, “I don’t suppose I have to ask who caught these?”

“Well it sure as hell weren’t Ezra!” Buck barked out a little too enthusiastically, bringing more coughs loose in the next moment. That brought Chris quickly moving closer and laying his hand on Buck’s back, pulling the blanket tighter around the broad shoulders.

Josiah rose and gathered the saddle bag along with the means to mix more of the cough medicine that Ezra had gotten in town.

Ellsworth watched the jovial exchanges as well as the evidence of the loyal friendships closely. “I think maybe you boys done struck it rich.”

Vin may have been the only one that heard the low murmur over Chris fussing at Buck. He met Ellsworth’s eyes and smiled. “I think so too, Ellsworth.”

The little look the scruffy tracker cast toward the dandified green-eyed gambler made Ellsworth chuckle as much as the grumpy way Buck argued against going back to his bed until Chris agreed to keep him company.

Josiah gathered plates for them and followed the slow paced retreat to the canvas covered nest. Once Buck and Chris were ensconced in their haven with food and drink in easy reach, Josiah returned to the campfire where Ellsworth, Vin and Ezra were finishing their meal.

“Hope you saved me some?” Josiah grunted as he sat down and leaned back against his saddle.

“Indeed Mister Sanchez, what kind of friends would we be to deprive you of your share of this feast?” Ezra handed over a covered plate, still warm from proximity to the fire.

“A sore one after I was done with you.” Josiah answered drolly.

“I told them that too,” Vin remarked as he wiped his hands.

Ellsworth nodded. “That he did. My fear of retribution was all that saved yours for you.” But his laughing eyes told a different story.

Josiah huffed. “Just as I expect from these two, but et tu, Ellsworth?” Three of them laughed while Vin demanded an explanation.

Before the sun had crept too low in the sky Ellsworth and Josiah had saddled horses and started back to the town, Ellsworth to make final preparations for his trip north to the new gold strikes, Josiah to see if the wire to Nathan had been sent yet.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Nathan yawned. It had been a long day, one he was glad to see the end of, at last. First, he’d been rousted from his warm cot in the wee hours of the night by Mr. Jenkins. The local farmer anxiously wringing his hands and apologizing, his wife’s labor had started nearly a month early and the midwife wanted Nathan on hand just in case. Of course the healer could not refuse, so he’d ridden the long road to the Jenkins’s farm and then back before mid-morning.

His day off to a happy start with the birth of little Geraldine Jenkins, Nathan had grabbed some breakfast and gone to check on JD. The young sheriff was well on his way to a full recovery, and except for his fear that Buck would never come back, he was in good spirits. Nathan had checked the bandages, dry and clean, the wound, pinkish skin already forming under the scabs. All good signs, best of all no fever for the second day in a row, relieving the worry that Nathan had experienced over the fever JD had suddenly come down with after doing so well. Nathan would be thankful when he heard from Chris, that was his only real concern now. JD was doing so well, but he would be devastated if Buck didn’t come back.

“You keep eating like this JD, you’re going to need bigger britches.” Nathan teased the pale young man lying on the spare cot in his room.

“Or maybe it’ll go to my legs and make me taller!” JD groused. He was feeling kind of guilty about just laying in bed when the others were out there looking for Chris, and Nathan was taking care of him and the town all by himself. JD watched Nathan as the healer puttered about the room setting things back in place. To JD’s worried eyes Nathan looked thinner and more tired than he could ever remember.

“I think I’m feeling good enough to get out of bed now, Nate.” JD tried to sound casual, but his eyes gave him away.

“Now John Daniel, let’s not get ahead of ourselves.” Nathan stalled. “You had a little set back with that fever, gave me a scare. I think you’re gonna stay in bed for at least another day or two.” He gave JD a smile, “Besides I think Casey likes taking care of you, son. You best enjoy that while you can, she’ll be back to racing you soon as she thinks you’re all healed up.” With a wider grin the healer added, “And she’ll be winning, too.”

JD scowled as Nathan went out to check on the rest of the town.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Inez was trying to listen for Nathan’s voice from the back room of the saloon. She had finally given up trying to keep the dozen drunken trail hands in line and left the barkeeping in Pete’s capable hands. The older man was calm and amiable, though he did tend to nip a bit too much by the end of the evening. Best of all he had no ambition to run or own a saloon and he was happy with the way things were, so he came close to being totally trustworthy. Inez had been grateful that the man was willing to come in when she’d sent young Miguel for him.

These cowboys, all with pockets full of money and no apparent sense to speak of, were making life fairly miserable for all the ladies that worked the saloon, but they had taken real delight in tormenting the working girls. Inez knew she could handle them just fine with the right back up, Senors Wilmington, Tanner, or Standish would have been perfect. With Senors Larabee and Sanchez she always worried that the level of violence might escalate until someone was dead, and with Senor Jackson there was the danger of racism rearing its ugly head. But she was now on the verge of sending little Miguel to get the healer/peacekeeper. She heard Blossom cry out again in pain. That was the last time she wanted to hear that particular sound. Inez waved the boy out the door.

“Bring Senor Jackson now, Miguel. Hurry!” Inez slipped the small pistol that Senor Standish had given her into her apron pocket. She strode into the front room of the saloon with her head high and fire in her eyes. “Enough! You boys will leave now. Go and do your drinking in one of the other saloons or better yet go and sleep some of this off.” She used the glare that often worked so effectively for her, black eyes flashing, brow raised, lips pursed angrily. They laughed.

One that was in Inez’s mind a poor watered down version of Senor Wilmington tried to leer seductively at her across the bar. He had none of the roguish charm or humor in his smile, it was as if he were stripping her with his eyes and Inez felt a shiver of fear. There were too many of them for her to handle. Where was Nathan? A rough hand grabbed her wrist and yanked her half over the bar. Inez bit back a cry of pain and fear. If they knew she was afraid she would never manage to hold them off.

Pete put one hand on her shoulder and the other on the drover’s hand, pulling it away. “Now Mister, that’s enough. Miss Inez told y’all to git. Best you go now.” He was soft spoken and the man huffed out another laugh.

“Old man, you best be glad I’m so easy going. ‘cause I’d sure beat the shit out of you otherwise.” He turned to his friends and they all laughed. One of the others grabbed at Sally Anne, dragging her out of the arms of his friend and onto his lap. The little blond squealed but she didn’t argue, the other man grumbled and started eyeing Blossom, who had moved out of reach after the last stinging slap on her bottom. Inez was rubbing her wrist and on the verge of pulling out her pistol when Nathan walked into the saloon.

“Evening Miss Inez, Pete, ladies.” A tip of his hat and Nathan made sure his guns and knives showed. “Everything all right in here?” The strong deep voice had never sounded so welcome to the ladies in the saloon. Sally hastened to scramble off the lap of the drunken cowboy, Blossom and the other two girls crowded close to the bar near Inez and Pete.

“Mister Jackson, these boys are just on their way out I think.” Pete pulled the old shotgun out from under the counter and lay it on top.

“Yes they were.” Inez lay her pistol on the counter top as well, but she kept her hand resting on it.

The oldest of the group of tail herders rose unsteadily to his feet, “Come on, boys. Our money’ll spend somewhere else just as good.” Some of his surly friends seemed inclined to argue.

“I’m just getting acquainted with this here gal, Matthew! Why ‘n hell would I leave ‘cause this here colored boy is trying to run me off?” He lurched to his feet and tried to grab Sally’s arm, but his way was suddenly blocked by a shotgun that seemed to have materialized out of thin air.

“I got both barrels loaded and I don’t intend to stand by while you bully these girls.” Nettie Wells poked the double barrels hard into the most tender area of the drunken young man’s anatomy. He yelped loudly and stumbled back into a heap on the floor.

“You damned old biddy!” The red-faced trail herder got braver now that he was back amongst his buddies. He lurched back to his feet with willing assistance from the others. Only to find himself surrounded, the petite senorita from behind the bar, along with the old auntie, the old bar tender, and the now very angry looking black man.

Gun drawn and a fierce scowl on his face Nathan Jackson looked nothing like the gentle healer Inez usually thought him to be. Right now with that expression, Inez was almost afraid of the man she’d thought she knew. However, she was wise enough to understand that what they needed was a warrior not a healer. The herder shuffled back into the crowded security of his friends, the older man started tugging one after another towards the door. Nathan, Inez, and Nettie followed every slow, staggering step. At last, all the trail herders had staggered out into the street, the rasping voice of Miz Nettie gave a final warning.

“You boys just keep on going ‘til you get to Eagle Bend. You ain’t welcome in Four Corners no more.” Miz Nettie stood in the saloon doorway beside Inez and Nathan, her shotgun was steadily pointed in the direction of the cowhands.

“We’re going, Lady, we’re goin.” The obvious leader was already gathering his reins and preparing to mount when he spoke. “The boys was just havin’ a little fun was all, no need to get your drawers in a twist.” Now that he was outside, he was getting a little mouthy. Nathan stepped out into the street and motioned Inez and Nettie to find cover, just in case any of the group got brave enough to draw and fire.

Fortune smiled on Nathan and his temporary deputies, one by one the other shop keepers stepped from their doorways, all armed and looking dead serious about defending their town. With little more than some sour looks the trail hands rode out, looking for friendlier surroundings. Nathan breathed a sigh of real relief that was echoed by the others standing at his back.

“Nathan?” Mary Travis strode down the boardwalk, still carrying the shotgun she’d grabbed the moment she’d seen there was trouble. “What happened? Is everyone all right?” Her eyes raking over the working girls hovering in the saloon’s batwing door way.

“Everything is fine, Mrs. Travis.” Nathan didn’t bother to try explaining what had happened, “Those cow hands just needed to move on.”

Turning back to the shopkeepers still warily watching the road out of town Nathan let them know he’d appreciated the back up. “Thank you all! I think they’re gone now, let’s all get on back to our lives.” There was some grumbling from Conklin and one of his cronies.

“When them other regulators gonna get back? We shouldn’t have to risk our lives keeping the peace, that is what Judge Travis pays them for!” Conklin’s yammering was enough to sour milk.

Inez clutched at his arm, “Senor Jackson, I appreciate everything you have done for us.” Her sincerity shone from her dark eyes and soothed Nathan’s irritation. “I don’t like to think what this town would do without you.”

“Amen to that.” Nettie Wells, still looking ready for a fight, nodded her head emphatically. “Fools like Hiram Conklin forget real fast what it was like before you and the rest of you boys came here.” She patted Nathan’s arm, in a more motherly gesture than Inez’s. In some way the gestures were even more comforting to Nathan than the kind words, he welcomed them with a huge smile that lit his face for what felt like the first time in days.

“Have you heard any more from Mr. Standish?” Mary Travis asked before Nathan could slip away. He’d been dreading the question he knew was coming sooner or later. “Just that one telegram saying they found Buck and that he was sick.” The lack of specific details had caused Nathan more than one sleepless night.

“How is JD doing?” Nettie asking quickly, noting how tired the healer still looked. “He still running a fever?”

“No ma’am, he’s doing much better today. He‘s eating again and hasn‘t had any fever in a day or two.” Nathan was very happy to change the topic. Since Ezra’s telegram nearly a week ago there had been no word from the other peacekeepers, not even a reply to the telegram that Nathan had sent in answer to their message. “I believe JD is well enough to sit outside for a little while today, if Casey were to come and keep him company.” He wasn’t sure if Miz Nettie welcomed his suggestion or not, but she didn’t openly object.

“Fine, then I’ll know where to find her later.” Nettie nodded her goodbye to them and walked towards Potter’s store, Inez also went towards the store. Mary seemed undecided about whether to follow.

Nathan used Mary’s momentary distraction to head back to his patient. Tending JD was an excellent way to escape the woman’s questions regarding the rest of the peacekeepers. Nathan decided he’d send another wire to them today. Maybe this time they’d answer.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Chapter 10 - Shoals

Author's Notes: An unexpected complication and a plan.

Chris sipped at his coffee, the frown that wrinkled his brow the clearest evidence of how worried he was. Vin made sure to shuffle his feet in the soft dirt just to let Larabee know he was approaching. It was never a good idea to surprise someone as fast as Chris was.

“He’s getting better, Chris.” Vin started in straight away, blew on his own coffee and took a sip, “It’s just gonna take some time to get his strength up now.”

“We ain’t got no time left, it’s colder every day and soon we’re gonna be up to our asses in snow.” Chris scuffed a foot over the remaining frost that covered the twigs and grass at his feet. “We got to decide. We either take him into that town down there or start for home.” Chris repeated the choices they had been faced with since finding Buck. There were good arguments for and against both choices, and they’d delayed in the hopes that Buck would make a fast recovery and alleviate the need to go into the nearest town.

Josiah had gone back into the town with Ellsworth, never suspecting that there was any trouble waiting for them.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“So you’ve traveled all over learning about different kinds of folks and their beliefs,” Ellsworth sighed. “Sounds like a real interesting life. Bet you’ve seen some wondrous sights.”

“Ah Brother Ellsworth, there are no wonders that compare with the sight of home.” Josiah said wearily. “That and the smile on a beautiful woman are the most welcoming sights I know.”

Ellsworth cocked his head. “There a special lady waiting for you back in that little town?”

“No, I have not been so blessed.” Josiah grinned, “But where there is life there is hope.”

“Amen brother, amen.” Ellsworth laughingly agreed. They rode companionably into the mining town and parted at the livery with kind words and shaking of hands.

Josiah crossed the street from the livery to the boardwalk and headed for the neat sign that proclaimed the doctor’s clinic. As he strolled along he noticed several groups of miners and other town folk huddled together talking in low voices. Their posture told Josiah they were anxious about something. He opened the doctor’s office door and was surprised at the number of people sitting in the outer office. Mother’s rocking children, grown folks, young and old all of them looking as if they should be in bed instead of sitting there. From beyond the curtained doorway Josiah could hear the sounds of coughing and crying. He was struck most by the muted quality of the voices, there were soft murmurs as well as a few whimpers, but all so subdued. The former priest knew death’s odor and that was in the air as well, Josiah had never wanted to run away from a place as badly in his life.

“Can I help you?” A middle aged woman looked up from her seat behind a scarred oak table, she had several papers spread out in front of her, lists of names and from the glimpse Josiah caught of medicines. “Have you seen Dr. Mills before?” She looked Josiah over measuringly.

“No ma’am, but I’m not here for myself. My friend has pneumonia and Dr. Mills sent him some medicine earlier this week, I’ve come to get more.” Josiah replied, deciding that giving this woman all the information he had would be the best way to get out of here as soon as possible.

She frowned. “You need more of the fever medicine or the coughing syrup?”

“Well he’s not running much fever, but we have to travel so…” Josiah saw the worry in her eyes and wondered just how bad things were here. “We definitely need more of the cough medicine and anything for fever you can spare.” He hoped he was wrong but from the way she flinched he feared the worse.

“I’ll see what the Doc says.” She pushed back her chair, stood, and limped into the hallway leading to the examination room.

Josiah turned back and found several pairs of eyes on him. He nodded and received some answering gestures but not many. Most of these folks were so engrossed in their own troubles to pay him any heed. Josiah’s keen eyes noted details and symptoms as he stood there. Almost all of the people that were ill had an obvious fever, the glazed eyes and flushed faces told Josiah that their temperature was fairly high. A few had a reddish rash around their mouths. From the smell he guessed several had been vomiting or had other symptoms of distress. Cautiously, Josiah edged further away from the nearest patient.

The woman Josiah had spoken to returned with a packet, her grim face didn’t lighten as she accepted the money he held out. “This is all the fever medicine we can spare you, but there‘s plenty of the cough syrup mix.” She glanced at the people waiting and lowered her voice, “Doc says not to come back into town if you all can help it.”

Josiah met her eyes for a long moment. “Pox?” He asked softly. She nodded. Josiah tipped his hat and slipped out the door.

He resisted the impulse to head straight back to the camp and his friends. Ellsworth deserved some warning. It took Josiah only a moment of thought to figure out where the miner would be. Fortunately there were only two saloons in this town.

As Josiah entered the second saloon he spotted the broad shouldered man with the graying ginger hair. “Brother Ellsworth!” He called.

Ellsworth turned away from the bar and waved his shot glass, “Josiah! Come on and let me buy you a drink.” He motioned to the bar tender for another round. “I thought you were getting your supplies and heading straight back?”

Josiah strode over to the burly man and accepted the whiskey, he needed it. “That was my plan, Brother. But there’s something I needed to pass along to you first.” Even though they were almost alone in the saloon, Josiah lowered his voice. “Ellsworth, you need to stay away from everyone in this town and get out right away.”

“Is there a problem?” Ellsworth kept his face carefully blank.

“Pox.” Josiah whispered. He saw the shock flit over the other man’s face before he could clamp down on his emotions.

“Guess we drink up and get out,” Ellsworth murmured, then he tossed back his shot and set the glass down calmly. “Good knowing you Josiah.” They nodded to each other once and walked outside. “You take care now.” Ellsworth said as he held out his hand.

Josiah grasped the other man’s hand in a firm grip, “Glad to have met you, Ellsworth. You be careful too.” Each man carefully went to their waiting mounts. Josiah turned back once as he rode back towards his friends. He watched Ellsworth riding away to the north and hoped this good man would be all right.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Taking him back to Four Corners is going to be a long cold ride,” Vin said softly, “but going into that plague town… well there ain’t no way I’d risk that. Bad enough Ezra and Josiah was there.” Both men had made light of their exposure but they had both avoided contact with Buck and the others since discovering there was small pox in the town.

“If we kept him away from everyone, stayed on the outskirts…” Chris wanted to find a sure way to keep Buck safe, stubbornly he refused to accept that there wasn’t one.

“We’d be just as cold as here and I ain’t all that sure how far away ya got to stay from sick folks to keep from catching it.” Vin had thought about this almost as much as Chris and he thought he had a figured out a way to help Chris make this decision. “I been thinking on it some, I got an idea about how to get Buck home fast. Well, faster anyhow. I can ride ahead starting today.”

“How is that going to get Buck back home faster? The road is still just as long,” Chris snapped, his concern for Buck overriding his always limited patience.

“Just hear me out Chris,” Vin spoke quickly. “I won’t stay on the trail. I’ll cut cross country. Mark the fastest trail straight back and you all can follow my markers. I’ll be able to go faster than y’all so even if I have to back track y’all won’t have to wait on me. See, I can find the straightest, fastest path, and we can make is as easy on him as possible.”

“Won’t the road be the easiest?” Chris argued.

“It would be if you had a wagon, but not with just horses. I can cut at least a day off, probably more.” Vin sounded certain and Chris had always trusted the tracker in these matters.

“You think you can find a path he can ride?” Chris asked softly, Buck’s lack of endurance being one of the things that most worried Chris. “He can’t take too much rough handling yet.”

“Well now, Stud. That may be more information than I needed.” Vin snickered and stepped back.

Chris turned on him so fast that Vin hopped back again. “Vin! You know damned well that ain’t what I was talking about.” Chris hissed out. “I’m serious now, do you think you can find a path cross country that won’t jostle him to death?”

Vin let out a huff of breath, “You think I’d even suggest this if I didn’t think we could get him home safe?” Vin looked Chris right in the eyes, just like that first day in another life time. And just like that day there was a wordless communication.

“No, I reckon not,” Chris spoke with an air of relief. “Guess it’ll be up to me and the others to not get let him get too wore out.”

“I reckon you can handle that.” Vin didn’t hesitate to reassure his friend. “Let Buck ride double with you or Ezra so he don’t get too tired,” Vin added.

Chris nodded. “Yeah that would work, trade off on the horses carrying double.”

“Right, that’ll save them. You start early, take a little siesta at noon and get in a few more miles in the afternoon, if he’s up to it.” Vin pursed his lips in thought. “Josiah could come with me, but I’d rather he stay with y‘all, just in case.”

“All right then,” Chris stretched and released a great deal of the tension he’d been holding onto for the last two days. “Let’s go see what they think of your plan.”

Vin knew neither Josiah nor Ezra were likely to argue against this, and Buck wouldn’t argue with anything that would get him home sooner. The tall gunfighter had wanted to start back the next day after finding out that JD had survived. The tracker strolled back into the camp behind Larabee, trying not to look smug. He’d bet Ezra he could get Chris to make a decision today, looked like he’d be collecting on that right soon.

Josiah was leaning back against his saddle reading one of those books about the old Greeks. Ezra was playing with himself, one of those complicated games of solitaire that no one else understood. Buck was wrapped up in his nest of blankets, right where Larabee had left him, a soft snoring issued from his direction. Chris slowed his stride, not quite smiling but there was a definite warmth in his green eyes.

Ezra looked up at the two returning peacekeepers, “Well gentlemen, may we take it that you have reached a resolution to our quandary?” Despite the snide manner of speaking there was no doubt of the genuineness of his concern.

“Yeah, we might have a plan. But it is Vin’s idea, so I’ll let him tell y’all about it,” Chris elbowed Vin unceremoniously.

Vin hit Chris back and sent his version of a death glare Larabee’s way, but he cleared his throat and began explaining. “I thought I could start out today and find us a quicker route back. You’ll leave tomorrow and you just follow the trail I mark for you.” Vin finished and waited to see what his friends would make of it. He wondered what Ezra was frowning about; it didn’t take long to find out.

“You will be going alone into an unfamiliar territory? I hardly think that’s wise, Mr. Tanner. The winter weather thus far has been unusually mild, but we cannot count on that to continue.” Ezra’s frown deepened. “No I think we have to plan on just the opposite, the weather will soon worsen, if you were to be hit by a blizzard…”

“Ezra, we ain’t far enough north for a blizzard this early in the winter. I’ll give you snow and freezing weather, but there ain’t gonna be any blizzard!” Vin argued.

“Perhaps my example was a bit farfetched, but the concern is well founded!” Ezra snapped, his voice loud enough to disturb their patient’s rest.

Coughing could be heard coming from the pile of blankets. Chris shot Ezra with a glare and hurried to Buck’s side.

Modulating his voice to a hoarse whisper Ezra continued angrily. “If you run into any kind of problems you’d be in trouble with no one to back you up.”

Josiah watched with interest the play of emotions that chased across the faces of his friends. Very interesting, but back to the problem at hand. “What if I went with Vin? It would still leave you to help Chris with Buck.” Josiah asked Ezra, curious to see how the gambler would answer.

Ezra frowned and opened his mouth to speak when Vin cut him off.

“Nope, you need to stay with them too, Josiah. You understand more about mixing the medicine.” Ezra interrupted the rest of what Vin was going to say.

Ezra nodded, “I agree. I know next to nothing about the preparation of that tonic. It only makes sense that I accompany Mr. Tanner.” Ezra’s jaw was set and he looked ready for a fight.

Josiah smiled.

Vin ignored the warning signs and went ahead with his explanation, “Chris and me ain’t sure how much Buck will able to ride on his own, so he’ll need to ride double with Chris and you too, Ezra, to spell the horses.”

“He could ride just as easily with Josiah!” Ezra argued voice rising again.

Josiah huffed.

“Ezra, what horse is gonna be able to carry two men the size of Buck and Josiah for any kind of distance! Even over a good flat road it’d kill em before they went five miles, not to mention what would happen on the kind of trail we’re gonna be takin’!” Vin nearly shouted.

“Both of you shut the hell up!” Chris cut in, Buck was standing beside the very irritated blond, or more accurately leaning on him. Chris’s glare was spread equally between the tracker and the gambler.

Josiah held his hands up indicating he had no problem complying, but his eyes watched avidly as the sparks continued to fly from blue eyes to clear green ones.

Ezra didn’t back down as easily. “Mr. Larabee, I must voice my objections to this ill conceived proposal! Mr. Tanner will be at the mercy of the weather and unknown rough terrain all alone!”

“And we’ll be following less than one day behind him,” Chris snapped back.

Buck shook his head. “I got to agree with Ez on this one Chris. This country is too damn dangerous for a man to go off on his own.” He was totally unaware of how ironic this was coming from him. All three of his friends stared at him in varying degrees of disbelief.

“You! You’re saying this to ME!” Chris shouted so loudly the horses started, snorting and pulling at their leads. Vin actually stepped away from Chris’s side, and Ezra’s eyebrows reached new heights. Josiah shook his head and said a silent prayer.

Buck just stared back, innocent puzzlement clearly written on his face. “I didn’t leave the road on purpose Chris. I got swept away at the ford.”

Like that made it better, Chris thought in exasperation. “Buck, if you hadn’t gone running off like you did none of us would be here! And we wouldn‘t need to risk Vin going ahead by himself.”

Buck didn’t take this criticism well. “I never asked you to come after me, Larabee! Never thought that you gave a damn whether I stayed or left, you never did before!” Buck’s words seemed to hang in the air. No one else spoke for long moments.

Josiah cleared his throat and received a Larabee glare for his trouble, but he went ahead and spoke his piece. “Buck, you are just gonna have to get used to the fact that things have changed in your life. You may have thought that Chris didn’t care, but if I’m not mistaken it was Chris looking for you that led him to Four Corners in the first place…” A growl from Chris made Josiah pause. The black clad gunslinger looked decidedly uncomfortable now, but Josiah went on anyway. “I think it is safe to say that Chris cares whether you come or go and he always did.”

Josiah stood up and gave Chris a hard look of his own, “Now both of you stop being foolish, this isn’t the time for it. Vin, I think your plan is a good one. As good as we are going to come up with at any rate before winter sets in for real. Now let’s get you packed up and on your way.”

With that decisive tone brooking no argument Ezra and Vin followed the former priest to the horses, leaving Buck and Chris trying not to look at each other.

Chapter 11 - White Water

Author's Notes: Thanks to my friend, the bestest Pard in the world, Darlene. All the mistakes are mine. Feedback is very welcome.

“I still think it was foolish to let Mr. Tanner go ahead on his own.” Ezra grumbled to Josiah. The former preacher rolled his eyes heavenward, this was at least the fifth time that Ezra had told him exactly what he thought of Vin’s idea. Sooner or later Chris was going to hear him and then well then things were likely to get loud. So Josiah just hummed a kind of agreeing sound and leaned back to get what little rest he could.

Tomorrow Chris wanted them to set out bright and early following Vin’s markers. Once they were on that trail, Josiah reckoned they’d not get much time to relax. Chris would want to push them as fast as Buck could stand it, and he’d be right about that too. Just as he was right to take this calculated risk with Vin going ahead to mark their path. In his heart Ezra probably knew that, but his heart was too busy feeling other things for the con artist to realize it. At least that was what Josiah privately thought.

“No changing that now, Ezra.” Josiah intoned solemnly. “A man must sow before he can reap.” And with that enigmatic statement Josiah closed his eyes, adjusted his hat to shade them, and with a sigh proceeded to take a nap.

Ezra stared at Josiah in annoyance, why would no one listen to him. Did they not care that Vin was out there alone in the wilderness? The fact that Vin regularly went alone out into that wilderness was not lost on Ezra, but this just seemed different to him. Ever since Tanner had ridden out this afternoon, Ezra had felt decidedly unsettled. He’d fidgeted, helped pack up most of the camp, complained to Josiah, and groomed all the horses. Now he was reduced to sullenly staring into the fire and thinking evil thoughts about Chris Larabee.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Vin had ridden as fast towards Four Corners in as straight a line as the rugged mountain terrain would allow. Always keeping in mind that Buck wasn’t up to much jostling, he’d made some hard choices and marked the trail for his friends to follow. Now in the full dark of night, he was resting; waiting for the moon rise to light his path again. Vin chewed on the jerky that Ezra had packed for him and smiled as he looked over the other things the gambler had put in his packs. Besides the well spiced beef jerky that Ezra knew Vin loved, there was hard rock candy wrapped in a waxed paper, two cans of peaches, as well as the biscuits that had been left over from breakfast this morning already buttered and wrapped in more of the waxed paper to keep them as fresh as possible. Ezra had gone to a hell of a lot of trouble, and Vin surely appreciated the kind thoughts. He was having some kind thoughts about the gambler right now himself. Vin closed his eyes and imaged that devilish smile, the glint of gold, and clear green eyes staring into his.

Vin’s hand moved down to his lacings as he swallowed the last bite of his supper. A cold camp was no great hardship when he had such warm thoughts to keep him company. With no need to stifle himself he didn’t even try to contain the moans and grunts. Peso started and stamped when Vin shouted out his climax.

The tracker laughed and wrapped his blanket around his sweating body. This should keep him warm enough to sleep. By the time the cold woke him the moon would have risen.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Nathan was not a happy man. He’d finally gotten an answer from the telegraph operator, but it wasn’t the one he wanted, not word from his friends. Mr. Stravos had apologized repeatedly for the long delay and the less than satisfactory explanation. Now standing outside with the wind blowing a spray from the falling rain in under the awnings, Nathan wanted only to get inside and drink something warm. He was thoroughly sick of this wet weather.

“My dear Mr. Jackson,” He’d said in his thickly accented English, “I am beside myself prostrate with sorrow that I did not know sooner of these difficulties.” He bowed again and again to Nathan, which of course made the healer feel uncomfortable.

“Now Mr. Stravos, it ain’t your fault the lines is down.” That was only the honest truth as Nathan saw it. “With all this rain we been having floods and mudslides was bound to happen up in them mountains they’s in. They ain’t nothing you can about all that.” He caught the smaller man’s hand and shook it hoping that would release them both from this prolonged and disheartening conversation.

“It is good of you to say Mr. Jackson.” The little Russian man gripped the healer’s hand a moment longer. “I assure you that all messages will be delivered as soon as they arrive. As long as the weather continues so poorly I cannot say when that will be.” Nathan was aware of this fact all ready and that the wire has been repaired once but further slides seem to have brought it down again. Finally Stravos seemed to have wound down, he let go of Nathan’s hand and bowed once again as he backed away.

JD, standing close behind Nathan, his overlong hair was damp from the windblown rain, though he was well wrapped in an oversized wool coat that Mrs. Travis had forced on him yesterday. “They can’t get word to us, but don’t you think they’ll have to wait for better weather to try and get Buck home?” JD didn’t look like himself with that frown marring his pleasant features, “I mean with it raining cats and dogs and Buck havin’ pneumonia. They won’t try to ride down the mountain will they Nate?” The young gunslinger waited anxiously for Nathan to reassure him.

Nathan wished there was someone to tell him that everything would be all right. “I don’t think so JD, but we don’t really know how bad the weather is up there. All these storms may not have climbed up that high.” He shrugged, “Ain’t no way of knowing. They may want to try and beat the snow.” Nathan was wondering what else he could say to wipe the anxious look from JD’s dark eyes when Inez stuck her head out the saloon doors.

“Ah Senor Jackson, JD, I was hoping to find you.” The bright smile that lit her pretty face was pretty convincing evidence that there was no trouble. “I have just finished making a new recipe for empanadas, I thought you might be willing to be my taste testers. Yes?” Her dark eyes entreated the two peacekeepers into nodding. Not that they needed much begging, Inez was well-known as a good cook.

“What’s empandas?” JD asked. Nathan was just as curious, though more than willing to take a chance on Inez’s cooking.

“Empanadas,” Inez pronounced. “They are, how do you say, a kind of little fried pie. These are made with the last peaches from Mrs. Potter. I have never used peaches before, but I think they will be good.” Again her white teeth flashed brightly at them, but her eyes stayed on JD. Nathan didn’t mind, he understood that Inez still felt guilty about letting the truth slip out in front of the young man the very first day he‘d been let out of bed.

Her worry over Buck was impossible to explain away once JD heard her asking if Nathan had heard anymore about the ladies’ man. No one had yet explained to JD that it was guilt and grief over JD that had driven the lanky lothario away from town. He seemed to think it was some fight between Buck and Chris that had caused him to leave. The rest of the story had been explained, including why no one had told JD the truth. He was a forgiving sort, so his anger with Nate and Casey had not lasted more than a few minutes. Though in that time he’d managed to make Miz Nettie angry enough to whap him in the back of the head.

The two peacekeepers followed Inez inside and settled themselves at Ezra’s favorite table. It seemed that the patrons of the saloon were still saving it for their favorite gambler. Nathan smiled, Ezra would be pleased. The feisty little Mexican woman returned to them within moments carrying a plate piled high with small golden brown fried pies that steamed in the cooler air. The aroma was enticing and both men were grinning in happy anticipation as they reached for their first empanada.

“Careful, they are hot!” Inez warned as she tried to maneuver the plate past their reaching hands. “You will burn your fingers and your mouths!” She was more than half laughing at the sight of their eager faces. “There are plenty for both of you.”

JD’s smile faltered, plenty for both of them because there was no Buck trying to sneak JD’s share away from him. The young peacekeeper tried to hide the hurt that thought caused him, but in the next instant he saw the same thoughts reflected on both Inez’s and Nathan’s faces.

Quick thinking Inez suddenly laughed, “I will have to make a double recipe the next time, if you think Senor Buck would like them. He would steal away all of yours, JD.”

Nathan chuckled, “Yeah I reckon old Buck will like these real well Miss Inez. You’ll have to make some special just for him when he gets home.”

“And some of those spicy chicken enchiladas he likes too.” JD added with a genuine smile this time.

“Oh I know Mrs. Potter would bake one of her beautiful cakes for Senor Buck if you asked her to, JD.” Inez speculated.

“And Nettie would probably be real happy to cook something special up for Vin too.” Nathan added.

“It’ll be like a welcome home party for all of them!” JD was growing enthusiastic at the ideas. “I bet lots of folks would be glad to have them back home again.”

“I reckon you’re right, JD. Maybe you and Miss Inez and Casey can plan something with Mrs. Travis.” Nathan winked at Inez and the woman beamed at him. JD would have something to occupy his thoughts in a positive way now. That would keep everyone feeling better.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buck stretched his arm up carefully, moving it away from Chris’s side. He was snuggled as close to the lean gunslinger as he could be and stay inside his own skin and that suited Buck through and through. But the tingling that signaled his arm was losing feeling where it lay pressed between them was not as welcome. He didn’t want to risk waking his companion, but he wasn’t sure where to put his arm.

Even after settling their argument and the sweet words Chris had spoken, Buck wasn’t sure how long this could last. Chris Larabee was a volatile man, his temper often running ahead of his heart. So Buck planned to store as many memories of this time as he could. The feel of Larabee pressed close and tight, arms wrapped around one another, the stir of that warm breath against his throat. Buck didn’t think he would ever grow tired of any of these sensations.

Chris grumbled and reached when Buck’s movements disturbed his slumber. He turned over and wiggled into a more comfortable position, reached out to pull Buck back against his back, even though the man couldn’t get any closer. Chris felt around until he seized Buck’s arm and pulled it firmly around his chest and held it there. Chris felt the warmth of Buck’s arm against his chest and relaxed. Buck was right where he belonged.

Buck smiled and sighed with contentment, buried his nose in silky blond hair, and breathed deeply. Life just didn’t get any better than this.

Chapter 12 - Rain

Author's Notes: A little is good, too much is bad.

The rain coming down in sheets had Four Corners shrouded in its gray twisting clutches. JD pulled the coat Mary Travis had given him tighter, turned the collar up, and tugged his hat down further, all in an effort to keep out the cold wetness. He’d never seen winter coming in with such a deluge.

The way the cold and damp was creeping into his half-healed wound made him wish he’d done what Nathan had suggested and asked Inez‘s cousin to ride the patrol around town tonight. Miguel wouldn’t have minded, and surely there’d be no trouble in this weather except, of course, the weather itself.

Too late for that now, JD thought as he crossed the planking between the boardwalk and the sheriff’s office. He’d be in here just about long enough to get dried off before it was time to go back out on another patrol. At least the stove in the office gave off welcome heat as he opened the door, someone had been in and stoked it for him. Miguel maybe, or maybe Tiny had stopped on his way going home from the saloon. Whoever it was JD was glad to find the room so warm, he stripped off his coat and hung it on a chair near the stove.

Grabbing the coffee pot from on top of the stove with his gloved hand he poured himself a cup of coffee. After stirring in plenty of sugar, he took a careful sip. He could feel the heat trailing all the way down into his stomach. JD rounded his desk and sat in the creaking wooden chair. He tilted back on two legs and took another sip of his coffee. Buck was always nagging at him about this or that JD thought, as he relaxed rocking back and forth in the chair. Carefully setting the chair back on the ground, JD sighed, he missed his long-legged, boisterous mother hen.

The feeling had been growing inside him that there was something wrong, something more than just his friends being gone so long and Buck being sick. Nathan had enough worries, so JD hadn’t said anything to the healer, but he couldn’t shake the feeling. Even while he’d chattered excitedly about the welcome home festivities with Inez earlier this evening, JD had felt like something was sneaking up on him.

JD swallowed down another larger sip of coffee and savored the warmth. The only thing better would have been hot cocoa, and he didn’t have any of that cocoa powder left. It had been really generous of Mary Travis to let Billy give him half of what the Judge had brought him. Nathan said he didn’t know if it had any true medicinal value, though Mrs. Potter said she drank some everyday for her heart. JD just plain loved how it tasted. He wondered if Buck had ever tried it, and that set him to worrying about his friend again.

The door banged open and a soaking wet figure rushed inside. Mr. Stravos, the telegraph operator, didn’t go running around at night without a very good reason. JD was across the room and beside the dripping little figure before a puddle formed on the floor.

“Mr. Stravos?” JD stepped back a pace when the man’s shivering sprayed water all around. “What’s happened?”

“Mr. Dunne, I have received a partial message in reply to the ones Mr. Jackson had sent.” Stravos spoke in his apologetic tones almost bowing to JD.

“Partial?” JD was happy about any news but puzzled about why the man hadn’t waited until he had the complete message.

“I fear the line has once again been destroyed by the storms. Mr. Dunne.” Stravos shook his head worriedly. “But here is what I did receive.” He reached inside his coat and pulled the damp envelope out, offering it to JD.

Carefully JD opened it up and scanned the contents. “Buck doing better. Stop. We are -” JD frowned, “What? We are what?” He met the worried eyes of the still dripping Stravos, “Well, at least we know that Buck is better. That’s good ain’t it?”

“I believe it must be so considered Mr. Dunne.” Stravos nodded emphatically.

“Okay then, we’ll just have to wait to hear more.” JD thought for a moment. “Will the operator at the other end know we didn’t get the whole message, maybe be able to let the guys know?”

“They will know we didn’t get the complete message, since I didn’t send the received signal through, but they won’t know how much or little we received.” A shrug accompanied this information.

“I see, thank you very much Mr. Stravos, I really do appreciate your coming out in this weather to bring me this.” JD was sincere, knowing that Buck was getting better was a big relief.

“I am aware of how concerned you and others have been for Mr. Wilmington, I trust you will share this information with all.” JD nodded. Stravos gave his funny little bow again and left.

JD was too wound up now to just sit and wait, he decided to give the whole office a good cleaning. The floor could use a scrubbing and since parts of it were already wet it seemed like a good idea. Maybe it would wear him out enough so that he’d be able to get some sleep after Nathan came and relieved him.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

They’d been riding all day switching off who rode double with Buck between Ezra and Chris. It was definitely a happier Larabee when it was his turn to share with Buck, but like so many things their arrangement had some drawbacks.

Chris grunted in pain, “Watch out Buck.” He reared his head back to avoid getting his nose smashed again as Buck jerked awake.

“Sorry Chris, guess I dozed off.” Buck turned sheepish eyes to stare at Larabee, he reached up and stroked long slender fingers lightly over the abused face. “Want me to kiss it and make it better?” Waggling his eyebrows along with the teasing words made Chris snort with laughter, which was exactly what Buck was hoping. He much preferred a happy Larabee, though he’d take whatever he could get when it came to Chris.

“You just hold that thought,” Chris grinned. “We’ll be stopping soon for the night.” Even as he spoke Josiah called from just ahead.

“Chris!” With a wave the tall man pointed out a set of three rocks stacked one atop the other. “Vin’s marked a possible camp site here.”

“Finally!” Ezra groaned. The gambler had acted as if he were exhausted for the last hour, ever since Buck had started dozing off in the saddle in front of Chris.

Buck huffed. “You ready to stop for the night, Ez?” Buck chuckled. “Maybe you’re getting too old for these kinds of outings.”

“Watch it, Brother Buck.” Josiah replied, his toothy grin firmly in place.

“Now Siah, you know I don’t even think of you as being older than me,” Buck soothed. “You’re young as feel, right Stud?” Buck let his head fall back against the strong shoulder behind him.

“And don’t you forget it.” Chris muttered. He couldn’t work up a proper anger at the moment, what with Buck’s firm ass pressing rhythmically against his aching cock with every step Pony took. He sighed and turned his head to brush lips against Buck’s cheek.

“That’s real nice. I think you like me riding with you.” Buck whispered softly enough to ensure Ezra didn’t hear.

“Yeah, I think I do.” Chris muttered softly and pulled Buck’s mouth in reach. Chris had to admit he could get used to this. Tender kisses growing warmer, sweeter each time they did this. “At least till we get back home, then I got some other plans.” He grinned wolfishly as he added, “Think you can put up with me till then?”

Buck let Chris guide these kisses, not wanting to push too hard for what he’d been wanting for so long. “I reckon I can do that, Stud.” Buck breathed then slipped back for more. They stopped long enough to dismount but when Buck stumbled slightly Chris caught him and pulled him close. Buck laughed. “You fall for that every time.” Then his lips were otherwise engaged.

A few more minutes passed in pleasant touching and kissing before Chris pulled back, “Today was a long ride for you, Big Dog, I think we better get some rest now.” He began pulling the bed rolls off of Pony and handing them to Buck. “Go on now. Stretch out on that and rest while we set up camp.”

Buck reluctantly obeyed, only because he really was tired and knew that Chris knew. “I wish you’d let me decide what I need to do.”

Buck’s irritation was mild enough that Chris didn’t stop what he was doing. Before long the fire was blazing and the coffee pot was started, blankets and saddles were positioned for sleeping and even Ezra looked content. Buck was well wrapped in a couple of blankets and Chris’s arms, and found he really didn’t want to complain. They ate heated beans and cold biscuits along with their coffee and all settled down for the night.

“Good night, Bucklin,” Chris whispered as he tucked his own blanket around them both and stretched his legs.

Immediately Buck moved so that his longer legs wrapped over Chris’s. “Don’t see why you can’t get under these with me?” Buck muttered as he fought to get his arm free enough to hold Chris.

“You need to keep warm, Buck. I may have to get up and I don’t want you to get a chill,” Chris explained for the fifth time.

“Be warmer with you in here too, and you know it!” Buck argued. “You afraid you won’t be able to resist my animal magnetism if there ain’t a blanket between us?”

“I’ve resisted your magnetism so far.” Chris chuckled, though it had been a close call a couple of times. He wasn’t sure if Buck knew that or not and he wasn’t about to tell him.

“I was sick then.”

“You’re still sick, Buck,” Chris huffed in exasperation. “Just go to sleep now.”

“Can’t,” Buck admitted.

“Why? You hurting?” Chris sat up, concerned now.

Buck shook his head. “Not exactly hurting, just uncomfortable.”

Chris glared at Buck, “You’re not just trying to get me under the covers with you are you, Bucklin?”

“Now Chris, I’m being honest with you here.” Buck shrugged and lay back down. “But I’ll try to sleep, all right?” He turned onto his side and squeezed his eyes shut.

Chris stared down at Buck for a long moment his glare slowly fading into something else. He chewed his lower lip then gave a huge sigh that startled Buck’s eyes open. “All right Buck, we’ll do this your way.” Chris pulled the blankets off Buck and piled them at the taller man’s feet.

Buck got up and rearranged the bedrolls. He moved the padding to make sure they overlapped. Then he lay down again and smiled up at Chris. “You come on now and let’s get comfy and warm.”

Buck’s eyes sparkled in the early stars’ light and Chris felt a tightening in his throat. He practically threw himself down beside Buck, who quickly pulled up the blankets up to cover both of them. Chris felt Buck twitch and tug at the bedding till he had it settled just so. With long arms and legs wrapped around him Chris was snug and warm, he just hoped that Buck was too.

Chris gradually relaxed. He had to admit, just to himself, that this was a much more comfortable arrangement. Having Buck close, feeling the rise and fall of his chest, the warmth of his hand sliding up under Chris’s shirt, the press of his hips where they rubbed against his…

“Buck stop that!” Chris growled, wondering exactly when his shirt had come unbuttoned and how he was going to calm his traitorous body down now that Buck had aroused him.

Buck just nuzzled into his lover’s silky hair. Busy enjoying the feel of lean muscles under his hands, he could feel Chris starting to move with him. Then Chris’s lips found his and Buck rolled them over so that he covered his lover. Buck started working his way down the column of Chris’s throat, kissing and sucking at the salty skin until Chris was moaning underneath him. Buck reached the juncture of throat and shoulder, first he rubbed his bristled chin against the tender flesh making Chris gasp, then he latched on to it, sucking hard, to bring the heated blood to the surface. Chris’s hands gripped at Buck shirt so hard Buck thought the man was going to tear it off him.

“Buck, you got to stop. Please!” Chris sounded a bit desperate and Buck smiled to himself, the way Larabee was writhing and gasping didn’t really seem like stopping now was going to make him happy, but Buck was a cooperative man. He’d do just as Chris asked, for now.

“Okay Pard, I didn’t mean to get all carried away.” Buck pulled away from Chris, stopped stroking his thumb over the hard nubs of Chris‘s nipples, stopped rocking his hips to rub against the bulge in Chris’s tight pants.

“BUCK!” Chris was grabbing at the dark haired man and trying to pull him back into his arms. “What the hell are you doing?” Chris’s eyes were like dark green flames in the flickering light from the campfire.

“You told me to stop, Chris.” Buck teasingly leaned close and Chris stretched up to meet him. “I always respect my lover’s wishes.” The tip of Buck’s tongue glided over his lips just as he pulled away.

Chris snarled. “Get back here, damn it!” Buck let himself be dragged back down, let Chris’s hands slip his shirt off, let them unbutton the fly on his pants and free his aching cock.

“Oh yeah, Stud. That’s it.” Buck hissed out as he thrust into the calloused hands.

When Chris stroked him just right, Buck eagerly moved to copy these actions. Soon enough they were both glistening with sweat and other fluids that they’d spilled between them. Chris, having screamed out his rapture, bravely dared to raise his head and look over on the other side of the fire where Josiah and Ezra had laid their gear. Josiah’s broad back was turned to them, wrapped in his blankets, hat tipped over his head, hopefully he was asleep. Ezra on the other hand was watching, bright eyed and grinning, from his own nest of blankets. Chris wanted to be pissed, but then Buck moved against him again and his mind couldn’t hold onto the anger. He just felt too good for that right now. Maybe later.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Ezra chuckled and lay back against his saddle, he wished he had a certain long haired tracker here to assuage the achingly hard erection he’d gotten from listening to Chris and Buck. Not that he begrudged them their pleasure, not at all. If anything he thought it was long overdue, and Ezra was relieved that they’d admitted their feelings. He didn’t see it doing anything but helping his situation with Vin.

Ezra quickly found his own release, silently. With a final chuckle at the thought of Chris Larabee being such a vocal lover, Ezra closed his eyes. What he’d heard had made him wonder a great deal about Vin. After all the tracker and their leader were remarkably alike in some ways. Ezra fell asleep with a broad smile lighting his face, contemplating how best to elicit such cries from Vin.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Vin was a little worried. The weather wasn’t going to hold much longer and the ground he was sitting on was already soaked. Every foot or hoof print filled with water the minute it was made, by morning there’d be frost hardening them. With a sigh, he admitted that there was nothing more he could do but keep heading down the mountain. It was still the best plan he could think of to get Buck home before the first major snows came down. He’d just have to take these changing conditions into consideration and watch the ground more cautiously. At least the camp site he’d marked for Chris and the boys was above this soggy ground, they’d be fairly comfortable tonight. In the morning they might have a dusting of snow, but nothing worse than that.

Vin worked some flat rocks closer together and settled his saddle on them it was the best he could do to raise himself up out of the mud for tonight. It was a cold hard perch, with the smell of rain still on the wind. He sighed and turned his thoughts to more pleasant things. With a snort he admitted he’d rather think about Ezra and that arrogant smirk than any of the warm soft beds he‘d ever slept in. It made him feel warmer. Happier too, when he considered the care Ezra had taken over packing his saddle bags. Vin pulled his blanket up and pulled his hat down. Shifting from hoof to hoof and snorting grouchily, Peso finally settled himself. His cantankerous mount would stand guard better than most dogs.

Chapter 13 - Thunder

Author's Notes: The guys are nearly home. Can it be that easy? Of course not!

Rising before the sun wasn’t something Ezra enjoyed. Adding the facts that he had to shake snow off his blankets, his toes were already numb from the cold, and there was no coffee ready – Ezra Standish was not a happy man at all. Somehow the sight of Buck tugging Chris Larabee back into their blankets for a good morning kiss made up for a lot of these inconveniences. Ezra would never have admitted that to a soul of course.

“Why isn’t there any coffee?” Chris finally escaped Buck’s arms. The smile in his green eyes mitigated his tone and drew an answering smile from his men.

Josiah didn’t bother to hide his grin. “Because no one made any, I suppose?”

Chris really wanted to snap at the former priest, but he noticed Buck was getting up. Watching the lanky man trying to get his shirt untangled from their blankets reminded Chris about how nice it had been tangling them up in the first place. Chris smiled for a moment before he noticed something else. Josiah was still grinning at him like someone that had smoked loco weed and now Ezra was smirking at him too!

Buck shuffled and wiggled and finally managed to get his shirt on over his union suit. “Damn it’s colder than a witch’s tit!” Buck groused stomping to get his boots firmly on. He made his way to the fire and threw another branch on it. “What say we build this puppy up some?” Josiah was silently shaking with laughter at Buck’s previous choice of words and Ezra was pouring the last of the coffee into the pot. Buck tried to stifle a cough.

At the first sign of coughing, Chris appeared just behind the taller man with his coat. He pointedly held it out to Buck until his lover took it and put it on, “We been lucky so far. You’re fever’s stayed down. Let’s not tempt things.” Chris draped a blanket over his shoulders. “You keep this on, it’s too cold for you to be traipsing around half dressed.”

“Yes Momma.” Buck snickered, the warmth of having Chris take care of him doing a lot more than the wool and flannel to make him feel better.

“That ain’t what you called me last night.” Chris muttered, causing Buck to snort with laughter. Chris waited for another bout of coughing but none came to his relief.

“This ain’t what you were doing with me last night, neither,” Buck pointed out.

Josiah rolled his eyes and continued making Buck’s medicine, and Ezra chuckled. Chris felt the blood rush to his cheeks and decided to let Buck win this one.

Soon enough all four men had their battered tin cups filled with steaming hot coffee, and their stomachs filled with the hot bacon Josiah had fried up. Sandwiched between the hard tack it was filling and fairly tasty. No one complained that the coffee was weak or the hard tack too dry, but they were all ready for home and comfort and warmth. Buck even swallowed the bitter dose of medicine that Josiah handed him without a fuss.

As soon as the horses were ready, they doused the fire with dirt. Josiah stirred the last embers carefully even though everything was fairly saturated or frozen. Chris mounted Smokey and held his hand out for Buck.

“Let me ride behind you today,” Buck suggested.

“Why?” Chris was immediately suspicious.

“Just thought it would be a nice change for you,” Buck tried for a wide eyed innocent look, he didn’t succeed.

“Hah! I believe you have some ulterior motive, Mr. Wilmington.” Ezra’s retort must have had some merit because Buck just grinned in reply.

“Get up here, Buck, and behave yourself.” Chris growled at his lover.

Buck clambered into the seat still grinning happily. “I am behaving like myself, Chris.” There really wasn’t much anyone could say to that. Buck wiggled into his seat, pressing himself comfortably against Larabee’s lap.

Chris didn’t complain, he simply grasped Smokey’s reins firmly, wrapped his free arm around Buck’s waist and tugged him a little closer. “Ready, gentlemen?” Ezra and Josiah, both already in their saddles, nodded. “Let’s go find our way home.” This was something they all agreed on, smiles on all their faces they rode out following the trail that Vin had left for them.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Vin had spent a miserable night that had only gotten worse when the rain became mixed with ice. Everything was encased in a layer of ice now, the footing of the trail treacherously slick.

“Ain’t no way around it Peso. We just got to persevere.” Using an ‘Ezra’ word made him feel a little better and Vin chewed the spicy jerky he’d pulled out of his pack with his crooked little smile on his face.

Peso snorted his displeasure, but Vin was used to his mount’s efforts to unseat him and never gave it a thought. “Best get started, ya hardheaded mule, the sooner we get going the sooner we’ll be home.” Home with Nathan to take care of Buck, JD trying to tell them everything at once, and a plate piled high with Inez’s good tamales if they were lucky. Home with a hot bath, a bottle of the good stuff from under the bar, and Ezra’s dimpled smile across the room. Yeah, Vin thought he was ready to get home.

There wasn’t much choice about the path to take here, but Vin marked it carefully for the others anyway. He let Peso pick his way down one ridge and up the next, there he paused long enough to use his spyglass to help him make the best decision. Ah, there was what he wanted, a game trail the local critters would always know the best way over a local obstacle. Another marker for Chris and the others, then Vin was moving again. Slogging up and down the muddy ridges that separated him from Four Corners.

Rain fell in soaking sheets of grey that lashed at his eyes and slipped under his coat. Vin had to wipe the spyglass before every attempt to see the terrain. He went forward slowly until noon, leaving more marks for his friends. During his brief rest break the clouds started to thin and the rain slowed to a drizzle. The ground was soggy under Peso’s hooves and twice Vin stopped to check the feel of a hill before attempting to go down it.

Finally late in the afternoon the rain stopped completely and the sun peeked pale and watery from out of the clouds. The wind had died and it seemed a little warmer now. They were so close to town at this point that Vin could see the line of trees that marked the north road without his glass. Though the town remained hidden behind a line of gentle hills, by nightfall all of them could be back in Four Corners, if all went well.

He was wondering if he should wait here for the others or go on into town and get Nathan started organizing what he’d need for Buck, when he heard the dreaded rumbling from back up the way he’d come. Too late he realized that Chris and the others might have needed more warning about what to watch for under these conditions. Turning Peso around, he made his way back as swiftly as he could.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Another rainy day JD thought as he made his way down the board walk. He was thoroughly sick and tired of the grey weather. And the cold. And the ache in his side and chest from his wound. And worrying about Buck and the rest of the guys! JD tried to set all that aside as he entered the saloon to get a mug of the milk that Inez kept just for him.

Nathan and Inez were talking quietly at the corner of the counter when JD entered the saloon. He saw their reaction to his entrance and knew that they were hiding something from him. Treating him like a kid, again. It really burned him up when his supposed friends didn’t think enough of him to trust him with whatever problem was worrying them. The fact that he was still recovering from a serious injury, and already worrying himself to a frazzle over Buck and the others made no difference to JD. He was a man, and he was the sheriff, and it was about time that these folks remembered that!

“Good morning, JD. Would you like some milk?” Inez asked him with a bright and cheery smile.

“Coffee. I want a cup of coffee same as Nathan,” JD answered truculently.

Nathan raised his eyebrows. “You feeling all right, JD?”

“Yeah I’m fine. I just want a cup of coffee. Is there anything wrong with that?” JD glared hard at Nathan, but after surviving years of Chris Larabee’s version, the healer was fairly immune. Nathan stared right back at JD until the younger man’s ears were bright red. “I ain’t a kid, Nathan!” JD couldn’t contain his anger and frustration. “I wish you all would quit treating me like one!”

“Senor Dunne!” Inez lay a calming hand on his arm.

It was more than he could take and he jerked away from her and ran out of the saloon. Nathan called after him, but JD was too out of control to listen. He didn’t consciously decide to go to the livery but that was where he found himself. Dancer was dozing in his stall and JD didn’t have the heart to wake his mount. Climbing into the hay loft, JD gave vent to his frustrations by stabbing the bales repeatedly with the pitch fork that Tiny kept up there.

“You about finished killing that hay?” JD whipped around to find Casey staring at him from the ladder. “I wouldn’t want to get stuck by mistake.” Her sarcasm made JD feel better for some reason.

“Well, I think I’ve whipped it into submission.” Being friends with Ezra had some benefits and JD had impressed Casey with his choice of words before. “I reckon you’re safe now.”

“Oh, I feel so much better knowing you’re on the job, Sheriff Dunne.” Casey fluttered her eyelashes outrageously and they both burst out laughing.

JD went to her and took her hand, with only a slight pull of his hand brought her right into his arms. A long sweet hug and JD was feeling much more like himself again. He huffed when he found Casey watching him with worried eyes.

“I’m okay now, Case.” He looked down at the tangles of hay around his feet. “I just – I felt like they were keeping something from me. Something about Buck or the town or – I don’t know something I would need to know.” JD met Casey’s understanding smile with chagrin. “I felt like they were trying to protect me. Again!”

“I understand, JD. Really I do!” She moved back into his arms and hugged him tightly. “I get so angry with Aunt Nettie when she acts like I’m just a child. I’m a grown woman now.”

JD smiled down into Casey’s eyes. “I don’t think you have to tell me that, Casey.” Leaning down just a little brought his lips to hers. It was their first real kiss, soft, sweet, and tender. Casey leaned against JD for a moment after he broke the kiss, then a little shiver ran through her.

“JD…” was all she said, but her tone was so different than her usual that JD didn’t even notice the lack of words.

“Yes,” He answered, entranced by the feelings that tumbled through him. “Casey.”

“Casey! Where are you girl?” Miz Nettie’s strident voice interrupted the young couple’s tender moment.

Hearts pounding, trying to hold absolutely still lest she find them, JD and Casey barely breathed until they heard her greeting Mrs. Travis outside the livery. They broke apart and hurried down the ladder, Casey slipped out the side door under the stairs and JD waited till he’d counted to one hundred before he dared go out the back.

Mr. Smith sat in his tiny office and laughed till tears ran down his creased face and into his well groomed beard. He’d been the unwilling keeper of many secrets for years, but never in his life had he seen any two young lovers so scared. But then again Miz Nettie had never been involved in the situation before. That was one feisty little woman.

The morning passed with alternating drizzle and downpour, and the ever present rumbling of distant thunder. It was late afternoon before the sun finally broke through but it was still a welcome sight to everyone. Many of the ladies who had been avoiding going out in the rain began collecting in front of Mrs. Potter’s store to visit.

Mary Travis and Nettie Wells were there to witness the arrival of the afternoon stage. As the weary travelers disembarked, a familiar voice was raised in admonishment.

“Gently with my luggage, if you please sir,” Maude Standish descended from the stage in her usual regal manner.

Mary’s eyes met Nettie’s. They both knew trouble when they saw it.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Ezra and Buck were following Chris, with Josiah bringing up the rear leading Smokey. They’d taken a short break at noon but the constant rain made it impossible to really rest. Before long even Ezra was willing to admit that riding on was a better prospect than sitting in the downpour. The only good fortune they’d had was the ease in finding Vin’s trail markers and following the path he’d left them. Since the ice had melted with the beginning of the rain there was only the wet and the mud to contend with – much better than slip sliding in the ice and snow.

The monotony of the trail was wearying. Buck had enjoyed the comfort of Chris’s arm around him and the strength of his lover’s body cradling him during the morning. The fact that he had also been slowly driving Chris crazy by rhythmically grinding his ass against Chris’s imprisoned rock hard cock had been the icing on the cake. But after the break he’d had to ride with Ezra and that was much less enjoyable.

The break had been interesting for Buck in more ways than one. Chris had gone to great lengths to point out that Buck was recuperating. He’d told Buck that they had already done more than Nathan would have ever approved of and certainly Josiah thought they’d done too much last night. All the while gasping and groping in the meager shelter of a stand of trees until both of them had climaxed. Buck had then proceeded to kiss Chris till the lean gunfighter was close to passing out. He’d been really satisfied with a his handiwork, until Chris had announced that Buck was riding with Ezra for the rest of the day. Neither, Ezra nor Buck had been thrilled.

Now Buck held himself a little more carefully, he was tired and cold and he really didn’t want to listen to Ezra bitch about how much he weighed. Since the rain had stopped Buck thought it was getting colder, and he knew the wind had picked up. Chris was leading the way now which at least gave Buck the opportunity to watch him. That was why Buck noticed when Pony slipped. At least he thought Pony had slipped, within seconds Buck understood what was happening, the ground was sliding out from under them.

Chapter 14 - Lightning

Vin reached the edge of the slide area and pulled Peso up abruptly. It was like nothing Vin had ever seen. The destruction was appalling, the entire surface of the tall hill facing him looked as if it had been scraped clean. Bare rock gleamed wetly from the heights to about two thirds of the way down, below that was a jumbled mass of mud and debris. Vin felt his heart sink at the thought that his friends might be buried in that morass.

Riding around the perimeter of the slide, Vin tried to see any sign that the others had been trapped in the mud, there was nothing. No sign of horses, or men. Vin didn’t know whether to be grateful or not. He dismounted leaving Peso ground tied and climbed cautiously to the top of the ridge staying on the bedrock and newly cleared areas as much as possible. This was the highest of the hills he’d gone over today and from the top he had a good view of his own back trail. Using his spyglass, Vin searched again for a sign of his friends.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Chris tried to warn the Ezra and Josiah, but it was already too late. The rocky ridge’s thin covering of top soil mixed with rocks was slipping. The way their path had kept to the higher ridges meant that the worst of the slide was diagonal to them, but Chaucer was caught in a shallow stream of mud up to his hocks almost immediately.

Seeker, being further back on the trail, had avoided the slide completely.

Pony being closer to the bottom of the small hill managed to stay upright. The black sat down on his rear haunches and rode down with Chris clinging to his neck until finally gaining solid ground on the edge of the trail and avoiding the majority of the mud slide. At the bottom of the ridge horse and rider were able to stand again, and once they’d gotten clear of the loosened rocks and debris turned back to see what was happening to the rest of the group.

Josiah had been lucky, he’d managed to get Seeker onto an area of firmer bedrock that scarred the surface beside the trail, but he could only stop his mount and wait there for the slide to end.

Ezra, leading his horse, was not so fortunate. While the chestnut gelding fought valiantly to keep his footing, he was already tired from having carried two men for most of the day. As Chaucer twisted and began to fall to his left, Ezra saw their peril and took action instantly. The gambler tried to pull Buck completely off of the gelding, but the ground was slipping away beneath him. He shouted, “Buck! We’re going down! Get free!” Ezra tried to get away from the floundering animal but was unable to gain any purchase himself. Chaucer fell, pinning Ezra beneath his mount, as they slid further down the hill with the rest of the flotsam. A stone the size of his fist cracked against his head and Ezra saw stars before the darkness took him.

To Buck there were several minutes of nothing but chaos, a jumble of images and sensations: grey sky, Ezra’s hand pulling at him, Chaucer stumbling, kicking his feet free of the stirrups, skimming his leg over the chestnut’s shoulder, trying not to fall under the struggling horse’s hooves, rocks bouncing and rolling ahead of them, mud splattering up in his face, fingers clawing for a hold. He grabbed the pommel and held on; fearing what would happen if he ended up under Chaucer‘s hooves. When they jolted to a sudden stop, Buck looked down at Ezra trapped beneath the horse. He wasn‘t moving, and now Buck could see blood mixing with the mud on his forehead. Buck scrambled over the side of the floundering horse trying to pull Ezra free and shouting for help. Buck looked wildly for his lover and was relieved to catch sight of Chris farther down the trail and free of the worst of the mud. The muck and debris had finally stopped moving.

“Chris!” There was fear in Buck’s voice. Chaucer’s hindquarters were covered in mud, Ezra still wasn‘t moving, and Buck could feel the ground trembling beneath him. At any moment it could shift again.

“I’m here, Buck! “ Chris was frantically searching for a way back toward his friends over the dangerous rubble.

“Hang on, Buck! I’m coming!” Josiah’s deep voice rang out over the dying rumble of the slide. The former preacher was pulling a coil of rope from his saddle bags and dismounting to tie it fast on a granite outcropping of bedrock. “Hold on!” Josiah plunged into the muck; he slogged his way through the mud and rocks to a pile of brush and roots. Grabbing hold of the splintered wood the big man worked his way over the debris until he was near his friends. “Give me your hand, Buck!” Josiah leaned down, hand outstretched to grasp Buck‘s.

“I can’t leave Ezra like this!” Buck shouted back. Ezra’s pale face was splattered with mud there was a trickle of blood running down his brow, but at least now Buck could tell he was breathing. Buck was holding his shoulders with one hand and his other was supporting Ezra’s head keeping him out of the worst of the mud

“Damn!” Josiah grunted as he swung his legs down. “Okay, here’s what we’ll do; I’ll get behind Chaucer and scrape some of this muck off of him. You keep him calmed down, then we’ll see if you can rock him up on his chest. I’ll get hold of Ezra and see if I can pull him free.” Josiah was already moving off his precarious perch to come and assist them.

“Won’t rolling Chaucer up on his chest crush Ezra’s leg?” Buck worried.

“Might, but we got to get him out of there Buck. A busted leg’s better than being buried in this muck if the rest of this hill comes down on us.”

There wasn’t much Buck could say to that. “Whoa boy, easy now.” Buck tried to soothe the terrified horse.

Chaucer snorted, eyes rolling wildly and tried to surge up. The heavy slipperiness of the mud keeping his back legs from finding enough purchase to rise terrified him. There was a rumble of thunder and a light rain started falling again. This frightened the gelding even more and Buck had to lie over the horse’s neck to keep him still. Josiah spoke soothingly, stroking the trembling flank and letting Chaucer realize it was a familiar person touching him before he began digging the accumulation of mud off of his hind quarters. Still the urge to kick was there and Josiah didn't waste time trying to uncover more of the gelding than was strictly necessary.

Josiah cautiously worked his way down beside the unconscious man. “Ezra, can you hear me? I’m going to try to get you clear of Chaucer. I know it’s going to hurt, Brother, but we have to get you out of here.” Josiah had one arm under Ezra’s side now and he tried to position his legs so that he could pull the smaller man free. “Now, Buck. See if you can get him to lift up a little.” Josiah slipped a hand under Ezra’s arm on each side and nodded to signal he was ready.

Buck knelt in the oozing mud and gently spoke to the frightened animal, “All right, Chaucer. Easy now boy, that’s right slow now, good boy.” All his thoughts centering on getting the gelding up enough so that Josiah could pull Ezra free, Buck didn’t see Chris clambering over debris to get to him. He jerked back when a hand clamped down on his shoulder.

“Buck, you okay?”

Chris’s face was smeared with mud and sweat, his black garments liberally coated in the stuff, but to Buck he was a beautiful sight. Chris’s hand swept the dark hair back from Buck’s forehead and his thumb caressed the whisker shadowed cheek down to the outrageous mustache. The look in Chris’s eyes said all the words that the blond gunslinger couldn’t quite say aloud yet. Buck had to fight off the urge to throw his arms around Chris and just hang on tightly.

“Yeah, I’m all right, but Ezra’s in trouble. We got to get Chaucer off of him now.” Buck didn’t take his hands off the gelding, but he leaned into the rough caress and let his eyes answer all the unspoken questions.

“Right! Let me see if I can dig him out a little.” Chris reluctantly let go of Buck and moved further around to lift Chaucer‘s neck. “Unbuckle his saddle.” Chris suggested and Buck’s agile fingers made quick work of releasing the cinch. With a little effort the two men managed to get the horse’s front legs folded so that he could get them under him.

“All right, on three we pull together,” Chris said quietly.

“On three,” Buck agreed.

Josiah, who had been listening, nodded, “On three, Brothers.”

“One, two, THREE!” Chris and Buck pulled with all their might; they rolled Chaucer up onto his chest. Watching for the sharp shod hooves, Buck and Chris moved almost in unison urging the trapped beast over and up, with a snort and kick the horse surged up to his feet and bounded free of their hold. They let him go without a fight.

At the same time, Josiah had been struggling to pull Ezra out from under his mount. The suddenness with which the weight holding his friend was removed caused the preacher to fall back dragging Ezra with him. There was a distinct snapping sound and Josiah gave a shocked bellow of pain.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Vin wasn’t sure what he should do and his nerves were screaming at him to do something NOW! He could see no sign of his friends even from this vantage point. There were two smaller hills blocking his view, the nearer of those looked undisturbed but he couldn’t see much of the farther one. Vin decided he would have to go back to be sure Chris, Ezra, Buck, and Josiah were all right. His gaze scanned the broken ground looking for a better route back until his sharp eyes spied a game run that looked passable.

Climbing back down, Vin didn’t waste time trying to placate Peso, and for once his rowdy mount seemed inclined to cooperate. Vin led Peso through the worst of the brush and brambles, between rocky outcroppings and eventually reached the trail. It was hardly more than a trace of less overgrown, smoother ground, but Vin was able to ride Peso on it. He kept his spy glass hanging over the pommel of his saddle and every time he climbed another rise he’d sweep the ground ahead for the best path. It made for slow going when his heart seemed to be trying to pound its way out of his chest and a voice in his head kept screaming at him to hurry. Then just as he reached the crest of the first hill he heard the echo of voices.

Vin’s abrupt pull on the reins was enough to make Peso jerk to a stop. At the bottom of the next hill darkened by shadow of this one, Vin could see Chris and Buck. Chaucer was standing not far from them obviously in trouble. He couldn’t see Ezra and it appeared that Josiah was lying in the mud. A spike of fear ran through him and Vin knew that he needed to get down there quickly. A single glance at the area told him that he couldn’t just ride straight down to them, there were numerous cracks showing in the ground where it was already beginning to slip. Descending from the rocky ridge meant leading Peso at a snail’s pace and risking getting caught in a slide himself, but it was the best he could do. Vin slid off his mount and began the treacherous climb down keeping to visible stony ground as much as possible.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Chris had torn his undershirt in half and was tying it around Josiah’s leg trying to stop the bleeding. A branch had snapped off and slashed open Josiah’s right thigh. It wasn‘t a life threatening injury, but it was both painful and bloody and actually it was the least of his injuries. When Josiah had fallen back his left leg had been trapped. From its angle now, Chris was sure Josiah had broken his leg. Though he wasn’t complaining, the way he was cursing told Chris a lot about how the former preacher was feeling.

Buck was anxiously bent over Ezra. “Come on, Ez. Say some of them ten dollar words for me,” the big man pleaded as he lightly slapped at the unconscious gambler. “Chris, he ain’t coming round.” Buck shifted to catch Larabee’s eyes asking for ideas.

“Is he breathing okay?” Chris asked, more to give himself a moment to think.

“Yeah,” Buck gently felt at Ezra’s chest. “His breathing is okay and his heart is going strong too, but shouldn’t he be…” Buck gestured helplessly.

“As long as he’s breathing and his heart’s beating, Buck, there ain’t anything I know to do.” Chris sounded as worried as Buck looked, but when their eyes met something settled in both of them.

Josiah saw it and breathed a sigh of relief for them all. Panic would not have helped anyone. Now at least they would be able to concentrate on what they could do.

“Get the blankets and wrap him up. See if you can get a fire started. We need to keep all of y’all warm.” Chris was back in command and while Buck wasn’t smiling he looked more like himself.

“Sorry I can’t be much help to you, Brothers,” Josiah gritted out between the sharp twinges of pain shooting from both legs.

“Not like you meant to break your leg, ‘siah.” Chris had done the best he could with the stab wound. Now he hovered over the twisted left leg. “This is gonna hurt like a son of a bitch, but I gotta straighten it.”

“Do what you’ve got to do, Chris. I promise not to kick.” The toothy grin only accented how pale Josiah was.

Chris nodded and went to work. Carefully he cleared the area beside Josiah as much as possible so that once he had begun to move the injured limb he wouldn’t be delayed in laying it straight again.

“Okay, Pard. Here we go,” he warned Josiah as he grasped his left ankle.

“Ready Brother,” Josiah replied.

Chris had decided on his course. He moved the leg as gently as he could, but he knew it was painful to his friend. In just a few minutes the leg was laying in a more normal position and both men were drenched in sweat.

Buck drew near and wiped Chris’s brow with his bandana. “Ezra’s as comfortable as I know how to make him. I got a fire going and put a bedroll down for Josiah, too.” He let his thumb stroke Chris’s cheek before moving to Josiah. “Here Pard, reckon a sip of this might help.” Buck held out Ezra’s flask of good whiskey with a grin.

“God will bless you for your kind heart, Buck,” Josiah solemnly intoned before swallowing a small sip. He coughed a little, but didn’t pass the bottle on to the other two yet. A second swallow and the big man was able to smile.

“Let’s save the rest of that for later.” Chris relived Josiah of the bottle and handed it to Buck for safe keeping.

Buck re-corked it and stowed it away in the saddle bag he carried over one shoulder.

“We need to splint this leg and move you to the fire. Got any ideas on how best to do that?” His question was posed to either man and Buck rose immediately to go and get the other blanket from Pony.

“We can shift him over onto this and then kind of carry him over there.” Buck offered with a hopeful smile.

“Not sure you two boys can carry me.” Josiah frowned, “Maybe you can drag me.”

“We’ll manage, don’t fret on it, Josiah.” Buck knelt down beside the bigger man. “Me and ol’ Chris have some experience in this sort of thing.”

“Experience moving an injured man that was bigger than you?” Josiah raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah, we got experience,” Buck said, all the while watching Chris carefully.

“In the war.” Chris offered no further explanation and Josiah didn’t ask for more.

Together, Buck and Chris managed to move Josiah over onto the blanket, quicker and less painfully than the injured man would have thought possible. Using the blanket as a stretcher they got him up out of the muck and onto the somewhat dryer ground next to Ezra. When both their friends were as comfortable as Buck and Chris knew how to make them, Chris started trying to check Buck over for new injuries.

“Sit still, Bucklin. Try to stay covered up some. That wind is blowing and you’re sweaty and muddy. I don‘t want you taking another chill,” Chris grumbled as he tried to get a pot of coffee going, at least that would warm up their insides.

“I’m okay, Chris. Quit nagging.” But Buck was grinning as he spoke, “Ezra’s starting to come round I think.”

The gambler was indeed making some groaning sounds and there were some movements in his hands and face. Mostly flinching and twitches, but still signs of the return of consciousness. A relief to all of them.

“You think Vin made it through all this okay?” Josiah suddenly asked.

Chris looked grim at the idea. “I’ll go and take a look ahead as soon as I get this going.” Chris looked at Buck worriedly. “You stay here and do what you can for Ezra and Josiah. If I have to go all the way to Four Corners for help, it’s going to be tomorrow before we can get them out of here.” He hated the idea of leaving them so helpless, but what else could he do?

“We’ll be fine. I’m gonna see about getting something to splint ‘Siah’s leg, that’ll make him more comfortable and then get something cooking. I reckon we got enough beans and bacon if nothing else.” Buck tried to appear optimistic for Chris’s sake if no other.

Chris’s hunched shoulders told Buck his friend wasn’t buying into his cheery vision.

“Come on, Chris. There ain’t nothing else that you can do. Ya got to go and find Vin and get us some more help.” Buck rubbed the tense shoulders and leaned in closer. “I’ll be right here waiting for you to get back.”

Chris managed a smile at that statement and leaned into Buck’s tender touch. He welcomed the feeling of having someone at side now. It was nice not to feel like he was on his own in this. Not that he’d been alone before, but sometimes Chris felt as if he were even in the middle of a crowd.

“Yeah, well I don’t have to like it though.” He was glad for the lingering warmth of Buck’s hand on his shoulder and the little squeeze brought another kind of warmth into the pit of his stomach and lower. “You know I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

Buck rubbed lower and rumbled a laugh. “I’m counting on it, Stud.”

“You should probably get started soon, Chris,” Josiah suggested with a smile. He was truly glad to see how things were developing for his friends. It was easier for him to see now that this was something that both of them had needed.

“Yeah,” Chris dropped his head. “Come help me with the horses,” Chris suggested. He wanted a more private good bye than this.

“Sure, Chris,” Buck gave Josiah a reassuring smile. “I’ll be right back Preacher man.”

Josiah lay back and closed his eyes, “Take your time my Friend, I’m not going anywhere.”

Chris and Buck walked over to where Pony was nosing at a clump of grass, Smokey was standing close by, and Seeker was just beyond them. Only Chaucer had gone very far from the rest and even the chestnut was gradually meandering back towards them now, the Seven’s horses were accustomed to being together and seemed to consider themselves a herd of sorts.

Chris steered Buck over between Pony and Smokey, “I want you to be careful, don’t do anything to hurt yourself while I’m gone.” Buck just grinned at him. “I mean it Buck, you’re still not well yourself.” Buck moved closer and Chris sighed, but he let himself be pulled tightly against the bigger body.

“I hear you Chris, now you listen to me,” Buck ducked his head down to meet Chris’s eyes, “you take care too. I want you back in one piece.” Buck brushed his lips against Chris’s. “I kind of like how these pieces fit together.”

The sultry whisper brought a blush to Chris’s cheeks. “Yeah?” he asked, then throwing caution to the winds Chris moved in for a real kiss, “Me too.” He breathed the words into Buck’s mouth just before Buck took over the kiss. They were both breathing harder when they broke apart, but they were both smiling too.

“I’ll be back.” Chris stroked a finger over Buck’s mustache.

“I’ll be here.” Buck snuck one more nuzzle in.

Chris was climbing into the saddle when they heard a shout. Turning awkwardly, Chris was relieved to see Vin riding towards them. “It’s Vin!”

“Thank God.” Buck acknowledged his relief. “Hey Josiah, it’s Vin!” he called over to his injured friend.

“Well that is a blessing.” Josiah was relieved as well. Lying there he’d had little to do except think about the dire possibilities of Vin’s being caught alone in one of the slides. He watched as the tracker rode up and dismounted, saw the way Vin headed straight for Ezra’s still unconscious body.

“Ezra?” Vin dropped to his knees. “Damn, what happened to him?” Vin looked at Josiah registering the blood and pallor of on his older friend’s face. “What happened to you two?”

“Got caught in the slide,” Chris answered. “Ezra hit his head pretty hard, Josiah broke his leg. You and me are going to have to go and get us some help.” He was still mounted.

“We can’t just leave him here like this,” Vin snarled. “You wouldn’t leave Buck like this.”

Chris was ready to snap right back but Buck intervened.

“Just wait a minute now Vin! There ain’t a whole lot we can do for either Josiah or Ezra out here, and I don’t think we should move him too much. The best thing is to go and get help.”

Vin looked as if he wanted to argue, but his common sense told him that Buck was right.

“Yeah.” A heavy sigh. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.” Vin bit his lip. He wanted to stay right here beside the gambler, but the sooner they started out the sooner they’d be back with help. “All right let’s get going then.” He paused only long enough to brush back a strand of reddish brown hair that lay on the pale brow. “We’ll be back soon as possible, I promise.”

“Don’t be taking any crazy chances, Vin.” Buck warned, knowing that Chris would trust Vin and follow where ever the tracker led. “We need y’all back here soon, but mostly we need y’all back safe.”

Vin understood and ducked his head. “I hear you, Bucklin.” He strode back to Peso and was gone before Buck thought to say good luck.

Chapter 15 - The River Keeps Flowing

Maude had a bad feeling and that was unusual enough to make her seek out the company she might otherwise have avoided. Mrs. Potter was not the sort of person that Maude Devereaux Standish Wilson Morrison Hill Macintyre usually cultivated. She was neither wealthy nor powerful and was not someone that Maude would ever be able to manipulate. She was however a very devoted mother, and she had only good things to say about all of the seven men who protected this dusty little town. Including Ezra.

This morning Maude wanted to hear someone honestly singing her only child’s praises. Mrs. Potter didn’t let her down.

“Oh that Mr. Standish, such a well turned out young man!” Mrs. Potter started right in. “Such lovely manners; I only hope my boy be half as polite when he is grown. And he is so knowledgeable about style and fashions. He always appreciates it so when I get in something like soap from Paris or those silk ascots.” The matronly woman smiled kindly. “He is always so neat and clean, makes a real nice change to some of these rougher folks. Let’s my boy see what a gentleman should look like.”

Maude beamed at the compliments. “Yes indeed, Ezra was always such a good boy. So sweet and well behaved, not that he couldn’t get himself into little scraps. You know how boys are, I’m sure?”

“Oh my yes, they will get up to things.” Mrs. Potter sighed. “I miss him. Well, I miss all of them, that rascal Mr. Wilmington and Mr. Tanner too, both of those boys are just as sweet as they can be. Not so cultured and well read as Mr. Standish of course, but sweet-tempered men.” She deliberately left out Mr. Larabee, not that she didn’t appreciate his efforts to keep the town safe and she did credit him along with the other six for bringing in the murderer of her husband, but Mrs. Potter was nobody’s fool. She could see the edge of madness in Mr. Larabee and was wise enough to know he was a very dangerous sort of man. As for Mr. Sanchez, Mrs. Potter just wasn’t sure what kind of preacher he was, some of his actions were – well, surprising, for such a godly man.

Maude felt a little better as she finished her purchase, there was something very satisfying in hearing Ezra’s praises being sung by someone so respectable. Still a certain anxiousness making her frown. Not an attractive expression and certainly not one she wished to cultivate. She strolled over to the busy café for her breakfast; the service was mediocre but the food was excellent.

Upon entering, Maude was surprised to see the young sheriff rising from his table and pulling a chair out for her. He was a sweet boy but not usually given to such chivalry, at least not successfully. He generally tripped over his own feet whenever he endeavored something in the way of suavity. She smiled, it might be amusing to dine with the lad.

“Good morning Mrs. Standish.” JD offered with a smile and a blush, “Would you care to join me for breakfast?” There wasn’t even the trace of a tremble in his voice he was proud to note.

“Why thank you, JD. I would be delighted.” Maude gracefully lowered herself into the chair, JD scooted it in with only a minor scraping across the floor. “That’s fine, dear.” Maude assured him.

JD hurriedly moved back to his own seat, “Miss Mable, some coffee for Mrs. Standish, please?” The red-haired waitress smiled brightly and brought a fresh pot right away.

“What will you be having Ma’am?” Mable asked as she poured.

“Thank you, dear. I believe I would enjoy a poached egg and some toast this morning.” Maude accepted the cup and carefully added one teaspoon of sugar and a dollop of cream.

Sitting back and finishing his own glass of milk, JD wondered what he should talk about next. “The weather seems to be turning colder.” He thought it a safe enough topic to start with.

“Yes, I think we shall have snow in the next fortnight.” Maude nodded sagely.

“Yes ma’am, you could be right.” JD realized he needed another topic, somehow he hadn’t thought that would happen quite so soon. Nothing suitable came to mind and he felt himself beginning to sweat.

Maude saw the young peacekeeper fidgeting and took pity on him. “I do hope Ezra and the others will return before the weather worsens. Though the rain has been a hindrance, ice or snow would be much worse, don’t you think?”

“Oh no doubt about that Ma’am. But you know that Vin has a lot of experience with living in the wild.” Maude didn’t look terribly impressed. “Well, Buck and Chris are with them too.” JD thought that surely that would reassure even a lady like Ezra’s mother.

“Yes, I’m sure if anything needs shooting they will be only to happy to comply.” Maude sighed unhappily then raised sharp eyes to JD. “Mr. Sanchez is also in their party, is he not?”

JD translated the unfamiliar order of the words, then nodded. “Oh yeah, ‘siah with them too.”

“Well, he is a most capable and level headed individual. I’m sure he will keep them out of trouble, if possible.” Maude gave a small smile as she shook her head. “It is most unfortunate that he doesn’t apply that great intellect to acquiring more tangible assets.”

JD just nodded in agreement. He wasn’t quite sure what Mrs. Standish meant, but it didn’t hurt him to be polite. The young man finished his breakfast much relieved that Ezra’s mother made small talk in which his answer of “Yes Ma’am” or “No Ma’am” were sufficient.

Holding her chair for her as she rose, JD bid a polite, “Good day Ma’am.” And he was free. Until he started to follow her out the door and Mrs. Davies informed him that Maude hadn’t paid. JD counted out enough coins to pay for the extra breakfast shaking his head, it was just the kind of thing that Ezra would’ve done too.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Nathan was just riding back into town from sitting all night with old Mrs. Martin. Bill Martin had come for him late last night begging him to come and attend to his ailing mother. At her age Nathan hadn’t been too surprised to find that the constant damp weather of late had gotten a hold in her lungs. Pneumonia was a hard battle on the young and healthy, but with an 80 year-old lady with rheumatism and a weak heart. It had only surprised Nathan how long she had hung on. It had been an exhausting and heartbreaking night, all Nathan wanted was to crawl into bed and sleep for a week. He didn’t want to hear his name being called from the board walk, no matter how sweetly Maude made it sound.

“Doctor Jackson!” Maude waved a delicate lace handkerchief. “I wonder if I might have a moment of your time?”

“Of course, Ma’am.” He tried to resist the urge to yawn and failed. “Sorry ma’am, it was a long night, Old Mrs. Martin passed just an hour ago,” he explained.

“Oh my, I am so sorry to hear that. I can see you are exhausted Doctor Jackson, and I promise to be brief.” Maude smiled and it seemed genuine enough.

Nathan smiled back. “Whatever you need ma’am. How can I help you?”

“I merely wanted to know to whom you had addressed your enquires when you sent your wires. I want to be sure that Ezra will receive my message.” Some of her anxiety must have shown because Nathan reached out and patted her hand gently.

“They’s all right Miz Standish, don’t fret on Ezra. I’m sure they’ll be home any day now, maybe even today.” Nathan saw the stubborn gleam in her eyes, “You know they sent word that they was on their way soon, they probably ain’t still in that camp?” Maude smiled again and nodded, but there was steel in her eyes that told Nathan she wasn’t going to take this for an answer. “I always sent them to Chris, Mr. Larabee.” He gave in to her determination.

“Thank you, Doctor Jackson, I appreciate your assistance.” Maude turned away and

strode purposefully to the telegraph office.

Nathan watched her go and shrugged, “Glad I ain’t tween her and what she wants,” he muttered to himself thoughtfully. Dealing with Maude explained so many things about Ezra.

Maude had tried to send her wire. The fact that the operator had told her the lines were still down and would be until some indefinite time in the future didn’t deter her at all. When the lines were up the message would be sent. She was returning to the sanctuary of her hotel room, in the hope of refortifying herself. Then Maude planned on venturing out to seek a few willing participants for a little friendly game. It would take her mind off of Ezra if nothing else.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Chris was relieved to see the muddy main street of town, he and Vin had ridden or walked most of the night. Chris was grey faced with fatigue, his body aching from the strain of overtaxed muscles. Only in the War, when stopping would have meant death had he driven himself so hard. Vin didn’t look much better.

“I’ll get Nathan and check on JD.” Chris’s voice was so hoarse that Vin raised an eyebrow.

“You need to sit down and get something to drink Cowboy,” Vin smirked, “’fore you fall down.”

“I’m fine, throats just dry.” Chris reached for his canteen and then remembered he left it with Buck and the others. Vin held his out and Chris took a swallow. The water was cool and wet but that was about all it had that recommended it.

“I’ll go and see Yosemite about getting a wagon ready.” Vin offered as Chris nudged Pony towards Nathan’s room. Vin following in the same direction looked around the town to see if there was anyone else around that might be able to help. “You think I should try to get us some more…” A shout interrupted him.

“CHRIS! VIN!” JD came running towards them from the jailhouse, a wide grin split his face. “Where’s Buck?” Clearly delighted with the thought of reunion with his chief tormentor and friend, JD didn’t see anything except that two of his friends were home and the rest must be close.

From the opposite side of the street another cry of recognition, “Mr. Larabee?” Mary Travis’s sharper wits had seen the peacekeepers’ condition and knew something was wrong. “Where are the others?” Her voice was anxious.

“Whoa slow down, JD,” Vin kindly deflected the kid just before Chris would have snarled at him. “We ran into some trouble a ways back. Need a wagon to get Josiah and Ezra home. Can you round up Yosemite and get one hitched up for us?”

JD seemed to suddenly take in Vin’s red eyes and the drying mud covering Chris, who was glaring at him. “What happened? How bad are they hurt? Is Buck all right?” JD would have rattled off more but Chris made a sound, it wasn’t quite a word, that indicated he was nearly ready to pull his weapon.

“We need to get moving, JD,” Vin urged. “I’ll get the supplies we need and explain to Mrs. Travis.”

Mary had stepped back when Chris had glared at her too. “Yes, I’ll help you.” She could see that Mr. Larabee was in no mood for an interview.

“Let’s get to it then.” Chris managed from between gritted teeth. By now he’d reached the hitching rail, dismounting he couldn’t suppress a groan. His left leg didn’t seem to want to hold his weight but after a moment leaning against his mount he managed to limp towards the stairs that led to Nate.

Mary watched for a moment then turned back to Vin, “What’s happened?”

“Mud slide, everybody got out,” he hastened to add at the horrified expression that crossed Mary’s face. “But Josiah broke his leg pulling Ezra out from under his horse,” Vin sighed tiredly, “and Ezra… Ezra hit his head on a rock, he has a lump the size of Buck’s fist and still hadn’t woke up when we left.” Vin’s face went still.

Mary knew he was hiding something from her but she couldn’t push him just now. The man was barely keeping his calm already, if she pushed him there was no telling what he’d do. Mary wasn’t afraid of Vin, but she’d seen him snap back at Chris a time or two. It was enough to give her second thoughts, wisely she kept silent.

Mrs. Potter had been watching their approach apprehensively. “Vin, what on earth happened to you, son?” When she was worried, Mrs. Potter tended to treat all of the seven like they were her own children.

“We ran into some trouble ma’am, Ezra and Josiah got hurt. We’re gonna need a few things…” Vin didn’t get to finish.

“You just tell me what you need.”

“Well, I was thinking of them burlap bags you got stacked up. We’re gonna need something to pad the wagon with for them to lay on,” Vin started again.

“No that won’t do at all, some blankets and pillows, and they probably haven’t eaten a thing. Let us get what you need Vin.” Mrs. Potter waved aside his protest and she and Mary began gathering things. Vin just leaned against the counter and watched in awe.

“With a broken leg he’s probably in pain, not that he’d admit to it.” Mrs. Potter muttered after Mary had filled her in on the injuries. “And Buck’s still recuperating, too.” She added two feather pillows to the half a dozen blankets stacked on top of the counter. “Some warm dry clothes wouldn’t go amiss either.”

“Whoa now ma’am, let’s not get carried away. We got enough to keep them warm ‘til we get back, and then they got plenty of clothes of their own.” Vin felt bad about how much Mrs. Potter and Mary had already stacked up for them. Besides the blankets and pillows, they’d gathered a bag of apples, a dozen biscuits baked this morning, a pot of red currant jam, some fresh ground coffee, sugar, some beans, half a slab of bacon, and a bag of the little butterscotch candies Ezra liked so much. “I don’t think we really need all of this, actually.”

“Now you never know.” Mrs. Potter patted his arm. “You’re going to take a wagon back, aren’t you? Well then this can all be packed in it easily enough.”

“Better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. That’s what my father always said,” Mary nodded sagely.

Vin gave in, he knew when to pick his battles and when to concede gracefully.

“Have you informed Mrs. Standish of her son’s injuries?” Mrs. Potter asked thoughtfully.

“Maude is here?” Vin felt a prickling of alarm.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you. She’s been waiting for several days.” Now Mary told him.

“I guess I best let her know, unless…” Vin looked hopefully at Mary, big blue eyes full on pleading.

“All right Vin, I’ll break the news to Mrs. Standish.” Mary rolled her eyes - Men!

Chris had made his way to Nathan’s door before he had to stop. He managed to knock as he stood swaying, in only a few moments he heard the sounds of someone stirring. Chris let his weary body lean against the door frame as he called out, “Nate! It’s me, Chris. Open up!”

A thump and a rattle and the door opened to show him a sleepy Nathan, as soon as the healer recognized the bedraggled Larabee, he smiled. “Chris! Y’all are back. I’ll come check Buck over, did you send him on to his room?”

“Buck’s not here yet, Nate. We ran into some trouble.” Chris didn’t really want to have to explain everything, he was so tired, but Nathan would need to know in order to bring the supplies he was bound to need. “There was…”

Nathan reached out and grabbed Chris’s arm stopping him. “Come in and sit down, Chris. You look like you’re about to fall over.” Seeing the stubborn look Larabee was throwing at him, Nathan compromised. “You can tell me while I dress.” Chris began nodding and was limping only a little as he entered the darkened room.

“You hurt?” Nathan dared to ask.

“I’m fine.” Chris saw the tightening of Nathan’s lips and added, “I’m just sore from riding straight through.”

“Fool thing to do,” Nathan muttered before demanding, “tell me what happened.” He was pulling clean clothes on as he listened.

“There was a mud slide, we got out pretty lucky actually.” Chris sat down and leaned his head back. “Ezra hit his head on something though, he was still out.”

Nathan started moving faster.

“His breathing was good, heartbeat seemed strong and he was moving and groaning like he might be coming ‘round when I last saw him. I didn’t know what else to do for him, we got him wrapped up warm and Buck’s keeping an eye on him and Josiah.”

“What happened to Josiah?” Nathan now dressed was gathering some extra bandages and some vials and pots of medicine to add to his bag of emergency supplies. “You didn’t say he was hurt too.”

“Josiah got hurt getting Ezra out from under Chaucer, broke leg and some deep cuts. He was hurtin’ some, but talking to Buck when I left. We straightened his leg and splinted it, but I know you’re going to need to clean them cuts better than we could and maybe stitch them up.” Chris sighed and let his eyes close, just for a minute he thought.

Nathan didn’t say anything just gathered more supplies. He was pretty tired himself, but Chris looked half dead. The man needed to sleep and probably to eat something. Nathan heard a soft snoring sound and smiled, he might pay for this later but he’d take that chance. No way did he want four patients instead of three.

He eased out the door and headed down to Inez’s. Breakfast for himself and Chris was the least he could do for the stubborn leader of their little family.

Inez hadn’t seen the two men ride in, but she recognized the horses that JD was leading to the livery. When Nathan came in, the lovely senorita was on the verge of coming out to seek answers.

“Senor Jackson, where are Ezra, Buck, and Josiah? What has happened now?” Her accent was much thicker and Nathan had to listen carefully to understand her.

“Now easy there, Miss Inez. They had some trouble with a mud slide, and Josiah’s got a broke leg so we need to take a wagon to get them the rest of the way home.” Nathan held up his hand to stop the torrent of Spanish, “I can’t understand all that, Ma’am. What I need is some breakfast for us before we head out. Chris, and Vin too probably, are wore out from riding so hard to get here.”

Immediately the small woman turned on her heel and headed for her kitchen. “I will have eggs and bacon with tortillas ready in a few minutes, if you want biscuits it will take longer.” She called back over her shoulder.

“Tortillas is fine, ma’am,” Nathan called back. “I’ll be back in a few minutes to get them, just want to check on their horses.” He knew that JD would check the horses out, but as tired as Chris was… well Pony had to be hurting too.

JD ran his hands over Pony’s leg, they felt hot and the muscles twitched under his hands. Yosemite watching shook his head.

“He needs more than just cooling down, JD,” the big man frowned. “Best Mr. Larabee not take him back out today.” He motioned for Tommy, the stable boy, to come and take the halter. “You just walk him slow for at least twenty minutes, so he don’t go lame.”

JD stood and watched Tommy walk away with Pony. The other boy Sam was already walking Peso slowly around in the far corral. “Well, we can borrow Belle and Jewel for the wagon and Chris and Vin can ride in that.” Yosemite snorted. “Yeah, that ain’t gonna happen is it?”

“Not likely.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buck had gathered some more wood for the fire, the coffee would be weak but at least it was hot. He carried his latest load back to the warm glow; the sun was breaking over the eastern horizon and Buck was sure that Vin and Chris would soon be bringing help.

The night had been hard on Buck, and he was pretty worn out. Ezra had slipped in and out of consciousness most of the night; his moaning and fretting worrying Buck until the last hour. Josiah, unable to move freely, had offered advice but it was up to Buck to do the best he could for all three of them. Now Josiah was drowsing beside Ezra, who finally seemed to be awake and coherent.

Buck quietly set the firewood down; he fed a few pieces to the fire, and settled himself down on his share of blanket. “You doing all right, Ez?”

“I’ve been better, but all things considered I am well.”

“Glad to hear it.” Buck tried to suppress a yawn and failed. “Wish this here coffee was ready.”

“I believe you need sleep more than coffee, Mr. Wilmington,” Ezra stated firmly. “You lie down and rest. I can keep watch for a while.”

Buck was hesitant, but realized the necessity. “I guess I might ought to do that. You holler if you see something or if you start to nod off, okay?”

“You have my solemn oath,” Ezra assured him with a smile.

Buck yawned again. “All right then. Just for a little while.” He was asleep almost before his head touched his saddle.

Ezra watched as the sky lightened, his head was pounding but if he lay still he didn’t suffer too badly. With a soft sigh, Ezra resigned himself to a long wait. Josiah’s stomach rumbled but he didn’t wake. Buck began snoring, Ezra smiled, ah a musical interlude.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The enticing smell of bacon and coffee woke Chris’s stomach before it woke him. The aching rumble from his insides didn’t take long to drive the point home to him. With what might be best described as a growl, Chris Larabee stretched and rubbed at his still bleary eyes.

“Come on now Chris, time to wake up. I got you some of Inez’s good hot coffee and some eggs and bacon to go with it.” Nathan settled the tray onto the table by Chris’s side.

“Nathan?” Chris blinked and rubbed at his eyes some more. They felt like he’d been in a sandstorm, gritty, dry, and burning. “What – did you let me sleep?” Chris was up on his feet and in Nathan’s face in the next instant. “Have you lost your mind? They are waiting out there for us to come and get them! Buck shouldn’t be out in this cold and God knows what’s happening with Ezra!”

“Now Chris, you didn’t sleep but a few minutes, less than an hour. And I needed that time to gather what all I’d need to take care of Josiah and Ezra anyway.” Then Nathan really got wound up. “Better you should get a little rest and eat something now than you fall out on the way back and I have to tend to you too!” Nathan’s glare wasn’t the most frightening of the Seven, but when he put some effort into it he managed a fairly close second to Larabee’s.

“You’re…” Chris drew in a deep breath and blew it out. “You’re right. Sorry Nathan.”

“That’s all right, now sit down and eat this meal Inez fixed for you.” Nathan wasn’t any easier to placate than Chris either, especially not when it came to caring for the health of the Seven.

Chris gave in to the inevitable. Sitting back down, he began to wolf down the good food. “How long till we’re ready to go?”

“Not too long, I think they got the wagon over by Mrs. Potter’s store and are loading it up for the trip.” Nathan scolded. “Don’t just swallow it whole, you got to chew your food or you’ll be hurting later.”

Chris scowled, but he slowed down a little. “Did you make Vin eat too?”

“Ole Vin’s got better sense, he’s eating something Miz Potter fix up for him, and letting Yosemite and JD load the wagon.” Nathan’s smirk didn’t make Chris feel any better, but it did make him think.

“Pony and Peso probably aren’t going to be up to the ride back.” Chris was thinking out loud, “We’ll need to borrow some horses from the livery. I better go and see Yosemite.”

“I think him and JD already got that covered.” Nathan pressed Chris back into his seat. “You finish all those eggs, you’re going to need a full meal to keep you going today, Chris, you’re about on your last legs now.” The healer waved off any protest, “You been going hard for the past few days and ain’t had enough rest to make a real difference.”

“All right, all right, quite your fussing Nathan.” Chris made use of his fork again.

“That’s better,” Nathan headed for the door. “I’ll go and see how they are coming.”

Vin was finishing up the pancakes that Mrs. Potter had cooked for him while they waited for the horses to be hitched up. “These sure are good Ma’am.” He sopped up the last of the maple syrup with his bacon with a smile.

“Would you like some more, Mr. Tanner? It’ll only take a minute to make you another stack.” The widow smiled at his compliment, she enjoyed cooking for such an appreciative audience.

“No ma’am, I reckon we best get a move on. With a little luck we have Ezra, Buck, and Josiah back here by midnight.” Vin had tried to wait patiently for all the preparations to be finished, but he felt like ants were crawling over his skin. The urge to move, to get back to Ezra and the others. The need to bring them home safe was eating at Vin worse than anything he’d ever felt in his life. A deep breath in and out kept him from shouting at Yosemite and JD. Even Chris seemed to be moving too slowly.

“Where’s Chris?” Vin asked Mrs. Travis when she stepped up on the boardwalk beside him.

“I really don’t know where Mr. Larabee might be, I haven’t seen him since you rode in.” Vin could tell Mary was still a bit miffed with Chris.

“He was dog tired, Mary. This whole thing with JD getting hurt and Buck running off really had him worried.” Vin hoped that Mary would understand that Chris hadn’t been at his best, and would never treat her with deliberate disrespect. “Give him a chance to catch his breath and I’m sure he’ll tell you the whole story.”

Mary Travis looked at Vin speculatively. “I’m sure it has been a difficult time for all of you. Tell Chris I’ll be expecting to see him is rested after everyone is home safely.” She turned and walked away with her chin high and back straight. There was nothing soft about Mary Travis when she was on her self-appointed duty of seeing to the town.

JD wiped the sweat from his brow. “I think that’s it. Is everything set the way you want it Vin?” Even in this chilly weather he’d managed to work up a sweat.

Vin looked at the way they’d arranged the pillow, blankets, and supplies. “Yep, it looks good JD. Are you gonna drive or is Nathan?”

JD looked away. “Don’t suppose you and Chris might be willing to?”

Vin looked surprised.

“It’s just that Pony and Peso aren’t going to be able the trip back today. So, I thought maybe you and Chris could drive the wagon?” JD paused, took a deep breath and went on. “Maybe you could get some rest between here and where the guys are?”

Vin’s immediate reaction was a howl of laughter. “Ah, JD you do know you’re talking about Chris Larabee here?” JD scowled at him, “It’s not a bad idea, JD. But I don’t think Chris would go for it, and I have to watch for where we turn off the road.” Vin patted the younger man’s shoulder. “I know you are trying to take care of us, JD, and I do appreciate it, really I do.” A snort from behind them made both men turn.

“You’d better concentrate on takin’ care of yourself, JD.” Chris settled his hat, pulled out a cheroot, and gave JD one of his mocking smiles. “I think Vin and me can take care of ourselves just fine.”

“Not so’s I’d notice,” Nathan grumbled. “Vin, did you get any rest at all? Riding all night, not eating, on top of all the worrying – well that’s a sure recipe for making yourself sick! Ain‘t neither one of y‘all fun to take care of when you‘re sick.” Nathan knew what he was talking about from previous experience. He was just winding up for a proper lecture to all three of his companions when he was interrupted by an angry feminine voice.

“Mr. Tanner!” Maude Standish was heading towards the group at an unusually brisk pace. “I demand to know why you did not come to me immediately with information about my son! It was most impolite to send Mrs. Travis as the bearer of such news when she had such limited information.” Maude had reached them by the time she finished and Vin was backing away from her. JD had wisely moved behind Chris.

“Senora Standish, what do you want Senor Tanner to tell you?” Surprisingly it was Inez who came to the rescue. “That Senor Standish is hurt? That he is in a hurry to go back to bring your son home? You know these things already.” Inez gestured to the wagon, her voice became gentler. “You delay them from leaving with these accusations. I understand that you are afraid Senora, truly I do. I fear for them too.” She put her arm around Maude’s shoulders and cautiously pulled her away. “Let us go and have a cup of coffee. We can wait together.”

For just a moment Maude’s mask slipped, in its place was a worried mother. “Can we fortify our coffee with something a bit stronger,” she smiled, “to steady our nerves.”

Inez nodded. “A good idea, I think a little brandy would not harm us.”

“Indeed, it would be most welcome.” Maude had collected herself, turning back to the men watching. “Gentlemen, why ever are you loitering? Go and bring my son home to me.” With a regal nod she dismissed them.

“Guess we got our marching orders,” Vin muttered.

“Guess we do,” Chris agreed. “JD, I’ll ride your horse, you ride in the wagon. Nate you‘re driving.”

There was no further discussion, Vin mounted Quinn as Nathan climbed onto the wagon’s bench. JD looked longingly at Dancer but didn’t complain when Chris climbed into the saddle. Within minutes they were on their way. Mrs. Potter and Mary waved to them as they drove out of town. The wind was picking up and flakes of snow rode on its cold wings.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Josiah slapped at something that kept tickling his nose, it annoyed him that he couldn’t catch whatever it was. More of them flicked against his eyelids, and finally he was forced to open his eyes. Snow drifted down, dusting the blanket and his face. Josiah sighed. It could be worse he supposed, at least it wasn’t sleet. A quiet chuckle from his left made him smile.

“Ezra, how are you doing there, brother?”

“Other than a truly abominable headache, I seem to be all right.” The gambler reassured his friend. “Our keeper Mr. Wilmington succumbed to Morpheus’s embrace only a few moments ago. He had been up most of the night, but seems no worse for wear. And you, Mr. Sanchez?”

“Cold.” Josiah replied in a low rumble. By lifting his head as far as he could he was able to just see Buck’s partially shielded face. The snow was catching on the brim of his hat in a tiny drift.

“Ah then, I would venture to say you might like some of this coffee.” Ezra slowly eased himself into a more upright position, careful not to jar his throbbing head. “I fear it is a bit on the bitter side by now.”

“Never fear, Brother. As long as it is hot, it will be welcome.” Josiah answered softly.

“Well it is that.” Ezra poured the coffee into the tin cup Buck had used earlier. “I’m afraid we must share this cup. Our departed compatriots neglected to leave any others.”

“I’m sure they didn’t mean to slight us, Ezra.”

“No, as a matter of fact I’m positive it was merely an oversight due to their haste.”

“At least they left us the pot.” Buck snuffled and sat up. “Oooh whee it sure is getting colder, ain’t it? That wind could cut right through you.” He immediately added more wood to the fire.

“I’m sorry we woke you, Brother Buck.” Josiah tried to apologize, but Buck waved it away.

“Nah, the wind found its way down the back of my neck. Weren’t none of your doing.” Buck’s eyes crinkled as he smiled. “Guess I better see what I can do to get us under some cover.”

“Unless you have some hidden talents, Mr. Wilmington, I fear there is nothing you can do.” Ezra had leaned back on his saddle and was trying to ignore the bite of the wind.

Buck stood and shivered. “I’ll have you know I got a few tricks up my sleeves, Ezra.” Buck dug through the pile of supplies that Vin and Chris had dumped from their mounts. Mostly personal items, clothing, shaving gear, and the canvas Vin had scavenged from their campsite near the mining town.

“What is he going to do with that? I don’t think he can pitch a tent here. We don‘t have tent poles or stakes.” Ezra sounded curious.

Josiah shrugged and winced as his movement pulled at the scabbed over gash on his leg. “Ah. I have no idea Ezra, we will just have to wait for enlightenment.”

Ezra made a sound that could have been a cough. “Enlightenment from our Mr. Wilmington, how unexpected.”

Buck spread out the canvas to see how much he had to work with, “This is gonna be a little cramped but I think I can make it work.” He grinned at the two injured men. They both found themselves smiling back.

Working with only his knife and some odds and ends of rope he’d found, Buck fashioned a sloping wind break by staking the canvas down on one side and securing it over a rope he tied above them. It didn’t cover them entirely, but it did keep a good bit of the wind off of them and with its help held in more of the heat from the fire. Buck was sweating and pale by the time he’d finished. Worse, for the last half an hour he’d begun to cough again.

“Buck, please come and sit down. Have the rest of the coffee and get warmed up.” Josiah urged.

“Yes, take a break Buck.” Ezra was also concerned.

Buck grinned. “Yeah, guess I best sit a spell. Don’t know how much good that’ll do us, but it’s better than nothing. In a minute I‘ll go and get us some more firewood. We’re going to need plenty tonight.”

“I should think that Vin and Chris will be back by this afternoon.” Josiah assured himself and the others.

“Hope so too, ‘siah. But there ain’t a lot of dry wood left around here, and I don’t want them to miss us in the dark.”

“I don’t think it is wise for you to wander too far afield, Buck,” Ezra said.

“I have to agree,” Josiah added.

Buck just shrugged and poured the last cup of coffee into the cup. “We need more with this weather turning, and that’s all there is to it.”

“Then I shall assist you.” Ezra made as if to rise, but the motion was too much for him, one minute he was close to his usual self the next he was on his knees retching.

“Ez!” Buck dumped his coffee as he jumped to aid the gambler.

Josiah watched, angry at his own helplessness. “Buck, don’t lay him on his back,” was the only advice he could think to offer as Buck carefully held Ezra until the nausea had passed and then moved him back into the nest of blankets the gambler had left.

Buck nodded to acknowledge Josiah’s words and urged Ezra onto his side. “He’s right, Ezra, just turn onto your side a little more. Let me get you tucked in here, that’s right. Now you just stay still.” Buck sat back on his heels and looked over at Josiah. The two men were equally worried, but neither voiced his concerns. They didn’t have to.

“How are you feeling Josiah?” Buck asked after a few minutes of listening to Ezra’s panting.

“Leg hurts, and I wish I could do something to help you and Ezra.” Josiah shrugged. “Cold and a little hungry to be honest. Other than that, I’m fine.”

“Well I can do something about the hungry and if we’re smart we can maybe do more about the cold too,” Buck said decisively. He set about cooking up the last of the beans and bacon and poured more water from his canteen into the coffee pot. “Gonna reuse these grounds, it’ll be weaker than dish water…”

“But it will be hot,” Josiah finished for him and smiled. “It will do just fine, Brother.”

Buck nodded. A frown of concentration gathered on his face, “If we move our bedrolls right up tight to one another and overlap our blankets we can share body heat better.”

“Yes, that will work, and your wind break is helping too.” Josiah motioned to the semi-circle of brush that Buck had worked so hard to put around them.

“It’s gonna have to do, I’m afraid.” Buck finished cooking and served the results to Josiah. “Ezra, you up to eating this?”

“Not at the present time, Buck,” Ezra answered simply, he’d kept his head down and his eyes closed. “I believe I shall wait for the earth to stop spinning quite so violently.”

“Yeah, that might be best.” Buck stood over the two incapacitated men and looked at the arrangement of bedrolls. “I think I’m gonna have to move you a bit though, Ez. I’m sorry.”

“Do as you think best, Buck. I fully understand the necessity,” Ezra answered.

“Okay then, soonest started is soonest done.” Buck stepped over Ezra and bent to grasp the bedding. “Just hold on for a minute.”

“I can help somewhat, Brother.” Josiah reached out and grabbed the saddle that Ezra was leaning on.

“Good ‘siah. We’ll just slide it all over flush with yours then.” Buck suggested.

“Would it be better if I removed myself from my bed?”

“I think we can do this with you, then you only get moved around once,” Buck answered. “Okay, on three.”

“On three.”

“One, two… three.” Buck and Josiah both tugged and pulled. The saddle and bedding shuddered and slid roughly over the few inches needed. Ezra clenched his jaws tight and held on. It was over in an instant.

“Ez, you okay?” Buck rubbed at the tense shoulders and back and gradually Ezra was able to relax his clenched jaws with out fear of more retching.

“Yes Buck, I’m all right.” Ezra was pale and sweating, very obviously not fine at all, but neither Buck nor Josiah questioned him further.

Buck removed the blankets and carefully replaced them in a manner so that they were overlapping. Ezra leaned into Josiah’s side, not quite snuggling.

Buck smiled. “Better?”

“Yes, it is warmer this way,” Josiah answered. “Now get yourself over here too.”

“I’m just gonna get me some dinner too.” Buck explained as he scooped up a few spoonfuls of beans and some of the bacon. The smell had awakened his appetite, and though he was careful to leave plenty for Ezra, Buck ate heartily before dragging his own blankets and bed roll over against Ezra’s. He added more wood to the fire, building it as high as he dared and then crawled into his side of their mutual bed. Once he’d settled himself he added his blankets to the others. Adjusting his hat to keep the snow from hitting him in the face Buck wrapped a long arm over Ezra. “Now this is right cozy, ain’t it?” he purred.

“As long as Mr. Larabee doesn’t take offense,” Ezra quipped.

“Ezra!” Josiah chastised him.

Buck just laughed. “I think ole Chris will understand the circumstances. He’d rather I cozy up to you than freeze anything off.”

“I can appreciate that,” Ezra answered drowsily.

“Don’t go drifting off on us again Ezra.” Josiah nudged him.

“I shall endeavor to persevere.” Ezra opened his eyes and attempted to look wide awake.

“Buck, you get some more rest. I’ll keep watch and wake you when the fire needs more fuel,” Josiah added. “Ezra will keep me company.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Buck mumbled, already feeling like his eyes were weighted with lead. “Y’all wake me if you need anything.”

Ezra patted the fine boned hand lying across him. “We shall.”

The wind died as the temperature dropped; the snow continued to come silently drifting down. Cocooned in their nest of blankets, sharing each other’s body heat and listening to the whisper of the snow it was difficult to stay awake. Soon both Josiah and Ezra had joined Buck in slumber. The horses shifted and moved to gather closer to the familiar scent of their people. The sun climbed higher and the pile of wood grew smaller.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Nathan kept one eye on the road and one on Chris and Vin. The two men riding ahead of the wagon were not usually talkative, but there was a tension in them now had an intensity that Nathan didn’t understand or like.

JD turned his collar up and tucked his hands into his sleeves, even with his winter coat and gloves he was cold. They’d been on the road for only an hour and he couldn’t imagine what it would be like to be hurt or sick waiting for hours in this icy wind. “Nate, you think they’ll be all right?” JD tried to keep his voice level.

Nathan knew JD too well, he heard the underlying fear in his young friend’s voice and answered the unanswered question. “Buck should be fine as long as he stays dry and wrapped up. From what Chris told me his cough was a lot better. They have blankets and a fire too.” It was all the comfort Nathan had to offer.

JD nodded and let out a wistful sigh. “I wish we were there already.”

“Me too, JD.” Nathan reached out and clapped his arm around JD’s shoulders, giving him a squeeze. “I’m sure Vin and Chris are going to get us there as fast as they can.”

JD knew that in his heart, but it was good to hear Nathan’s kind voice telling him that everything would be all right. Even if it might not be the truth.

Chris rode inside a dark cloud, at least that was how it felt to him. He knew that the decision to come and get help had been the right one, the only one possible to make. But he was trapped in the memory of coming back too late to save his family. His gut twisted with the sure knowledge that there were no guarantees it wouldn’t happen again, that it wasn’t happening now. There were so many things that could happen, another slide could bury them all, a pack of wolves could attack, Buck could relapse and die from pneumonia, or any of the hundred other scenarios that kept playing through his mind. His teeth were clenched so tightly his jaw ached and his eyes swam. He damn near jumped out of his saddle when Vin spoke.

“Ain’t no use getting yourself so worked up over there, Chris,” the soft raspy voice barely carried to him. “We’ll get there as fast as we can and they’ll all be fine.” Vin sounded so sure, so confident that Chris wanted to smack him.

“You can’t know that, not for certain,” Chris snapped. His voice carried to the wagon and brought JD’s puppy dog eyes to bear on him. Chris flinched when he glanced back and saw that hurt look on the younger man’s face. “You know shit can happen,” his voice much softer but no less angry.

“Yeah it does, but worrying yourself sick and snapping at your friends ain’t never kept it from happening before, and sure as hell won’t stop it this time either.” Vin still sounded calm.

Chris felt even angrier if that were possible. “I know that.” The hoarse whisper was laced with acid. “I’ve known that for years!”

“What will keep it from happening this time is Buck being smart, and Josiah knowing all kinds of shit, and Ezra being able to cheat the devil himself.” Vin smiled at that last bit, like it was something to be proud of.

Chris shook his head. “You’re plum crazy, you know that Tanner?”

“I’m telling you what I know, Chris. They are together and they’re gonna take care of each other. So there ain’t no use in making Nathan twitch, and JD more scared than he already is. Now settle down, think about what you and Buck are gonna be getting up to next week out at your cabin. That should give you something better to think on.” And with that final piece of advice Vin Tanner, his friend, turned off the road and started the painstaking process of leading them overland to their waiting friends.

Chris didn’t know whether to shoot Tanner now or wait it till later – a more opportune time. Though seriously, Chris didn’t think that there would be a better time than now. How dare the man say that to him, he’d seen the way Vin had been making eyes at Ezra. Not to mention how Ezra was looking back! Chris hadn’t really noticed it till Buck had pointed it out, but then Buck always saw things that Chris missed. It made him smile to think of how Buck used his observations, finding ways to the folks he cared about happy.

Folks like Sarah, Buck had always found little ways to tease Sarah into smiling and laughing. Things like wild honey dripping from the comb, and the first crocuses of spring; things Chris sometimes missed in his earnest resolve to make a good life for his family. Buck had never overstepped his boundaries either, knew when it was time for him to give them some privacy. He’d even taken Adam on expeditions when the boy got old enough.

Adam had thought that Uncle Bucklin hung the moon and lassoed the stars in the sky. Stray puppies and kittens, fishing trips, and snowmen just the right size for a 5-year-old to help dress up, for a little boy with no children nearby to play with Buck had been the perfect companion. Never cross, or too busy, and Chris had blessed him out for wasting time more than once.

Never again though, if Buck thought that it was time to go barefoot in the mud or look for squirrels’ nests, then that is what they’d be doing. Chris had learned to appreciate the simpler joys once before, maybe it was time to do so again. And there were other joys he’d thought to put aside, it was definitely time to relearn those pleasures.

As he’d thought about these things, a change had come over Chris – he was smiling. True it was faint, still it was better than the glare he’d bestowed on his companions as they’d set out from town. JD watched him and seeing that little smile made the young man feel better than all of the reassuring words in the world would have. Nathan noticed it and breathed his own sigh of relief. He’d been waiting for the explosion that he was sure would have to come to release all that tension. If they could just skip the angry scene this one time, Nathan would count it a good day.

Vin, turning back in his saddle to signal the others, stopped and winked when Chris met his eyes. “Reckon you found something better to think on.”

“Reckon I did.” Chris smiled back. “Reckon I can guess what it is you’re thinking on too. Or rather who it is.” He laughed when Vin flushed red. “Nothing to worry about from me, Pard. You know I ain’t one to throw stones.”

“Not when they might hit home,” Vin smirked, his embarrassment evaporating.

“Wonder what’s got them in such a good mood?” JD muttered.

“No telling, son. And don’t you be asking them neither!” Nathan replied. He was just relieved that the tension seemed to be evaporating.

“You think they’d tell me to mind my own business?”

“No. I think they might answer you, and it ain’t none of our business at all.” Nathan drew back on the reins as they drew even with Chris and Vin. “How much further do you reckon it is?”

“Couple of hours if we’re lucky,” Vin answered. “’Til nightfall if we ain’t.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buck knew he was dreaming. The warm calloused fingers stroking his cheek and brushing over his eyelids couldn’t be real, but when he blinked to clear his blurry vision there was Chris.

“Wake up, Stud. We’re here to rescue you.” Chris was smiling down at him, the warmth in his eyes unmistakable.

“My hero,” Buck laughed. He was actually rather warm and comfy right where he was, Ezra’s head was resting on his shoulder with his arms wrapped around Buck’s waist.

“You want to explain this?” Vin was smirking over Chris’s shoulder. “You making moves on Ezra while he is in no condition to decline them.”

“I believe I could have rebuffed Mr. Wilmington at any time if it had been necessary. What you see here, however, is merely a justifiably sensible precaution to stave off hypothermia.” Ezra stretched and blinked owlishly at the hovering members of the rescue party.

“Wise of y’all to do that,” Nathan rumbled as he knelt down beside Josiah. “Let’s have a look at that leg Josiah. Then we’ll get you into the wagon and head back to town.”

“You think we can get back to the road before dark?” JD asked Vin. It was the first time Buck had heard his voice since the shooting.

“JD!” Buck whooped. “Come here and let me look at you.” He was clambering over Chris and Vin in his hurry to reach the young peacekeeper. “Damn Kid, you are a sight for sore eyes!” Only the utter sincerity of Buck’s voice kept JD from complaining about being called kid.

“You too, Buck. Even though you look like ten miles of bad road,” JD teased back as he was engulfed in a Bucklin bear hug.

“Now you know it just ain’t possible for me to look bad,” Buck gave his stock answer, much to the amusement of all Seven.

JD hugged Buck back. “I’m real glad to see you Buck, no matter how you look.” They both laughed.

“Well much as I hate to break this reunion up, we got to get a move on if we are gonna make it back to the road in time.” Vin was talking to JD and Buck but his eyes were still on Ezra. The smile he wore was just for the gambler too and it was returned.

Chris was already putting out the fire. “Come on, you two make yourselves useful. Gather up the blankets and carry them to the wagon. What do you think Nathan, put Josiah and Ezra in the back and let Buck ride shot gun?”

“Probably for the best.” Nathan was frowning in concentration, still poking at Josiah’s leg injuries. “This is gonna need stitches when we get back, but I want to clean it out better right now.”

Josiah grimaced but understood that Nathan was only motivated by his desire to avoid complications. “As you wish, Brother. I am at your disposal.”

“Only ‘cause you can’t run away,” Vin threw in as he helped Ezra to his feet. “How you doing there Ez?”

“Excuse me? Were you talking to me, Alvin?” Ezra queried.

“Alvin?” JD perked up.

“Alvin?” Buck asked.

“It was my grandfather’s name, and there ain’t nothing wrong with it!” Vin retorted. “And is Buck even your real name?”

“All right, all right! That’s enough both of you stop fooling around.” Nathan snapped.

Chris leaned in close to Buck. “Don’t worry Stud, your secret is safe with me,” he whispered, his lips brushing against Buck’s neck along with his warm breath.

Buck shivered and grinned. “Glad you got my back, Pard.” He leaned back and rubbed his back against Chris’s chest. “Course it’d be better with fewer clothes and a bed.”

Chris snorted. “Incorrigible.” But he was still smiling. “Let’s get these bedrolls laid out in the wagon. He picked up Buck’s and handed it to his lover before easing Ezra’s bedroll away from where Nathan was treating Josiah’s wounds.

Vin was helping JD fold up the blankets, which Ezra was then holding for them. Not without complaint.

“Mr. Tanner, I don’t believe you folded this one correctly, it’s all lumpy,” Ezra huffed, as he tried to dump the latest addition from the top of the pile.

“Ezra, you’re gonna be all lumpy if you drop them blankets,” Vin warned.

JD shook out the last of the blankets and started folding it neatly. “I’ll put this one on the wagon bench for you, Buck.”

“For me?”

“You’re riding in the wagon, no arguments, Buck,” Chris told him.

Buck bowed up for just a moment as if to deny his lover’s words, but then his shoulders slumped and he gave in to the inevitable. “All right, I guess that makes sense.”

Chris looked surprised. “Well good, I’m glad you’re seeing things my way.”

“Don’t push it, Cowboy.” Vin warned. “I think you’re gonna be wanting him to see things your way a lot more.”

Buck howled with laughter, JD looked puzzled, and Ezra turned away wisely hiding

his smirk.

Chris raised his chin and looked straight into Vin’s eyes. “So how are you and Ezra gonna decide, drawing cards?”

Now JD looked truly confused. “Decide what?”

Vin was turning an interesting shade of red, Ezra was picking lint off his coat, and Buck was still howling.

Chris smiled that evil little smile of his and nodded. “Guess you’re not so mouthy now, huh?”

Vin huffed. “You sure you want to talk about mouthy, Chris?”

“All right now gentlemen, enough of that. I for one want to reach the warm environs of my humble abode before midnight.” Ezra caught Vin’s eyes and gave him a look that spoke volumes.

“Yeah Ezra, you don’t want to make your Mother wait up late worrying about you, do you?” JD interrupted.

Ezra stopped in his tracks. “What do you mean by that remark JD?”

“Maude is in town, she’s been there for a couple of days,” Nathan answered for JD.

“Maude is in town?” Ezra didn’t look thrilled. “What reason did she give for her unannounced visit?”

“Said she was worried about you.” JD was looking over the campsite to make sure they hadn’t left anything.

Buck clapped a hand on Ezra’s shoulder, “No worries, Ez. Vin will protect you.” He waggled his eyebrows at the gambler meaningfully.

“I think not.” Ezra said coldly. “I would not want to impose on Mr. Tanner.”

“Ezra.” Vin was right beside the gambler. “I’m not worried about Maude.”

“You should be.”

“I think you’re mistaken, Ezra,” Nathan said suddenly. “She seemed genuinely upset about your being injured. I think you are not giving her enough credit, she cares about you.”

“She has a damned strange way of showing it.” Vin was usually not so vocal in his disapproval.

Josiah was in quite a bit of discomfort but he spoke up. “Never underestimate a woman’s heart and its ability to surprise you.”

“Never underestimate Maude Standish period!” Ezra replied.

“Oh, ungrateful child, thy tongue is sharp.” Josiah intoned.

“With reason, Preacher. Many reasons.”

“Just give her a chance, see what she does.”

“I have no plans to avoid her. In a town the size of Four Corners it would hardly be possible,” Ezra sighed. “But I will allow her the first move.”

“That’s good enough I think,” Nathan said decisively. “Now I think we’re ready to move Josiah. Ezra you get up in the wagon and keep them horses steady. Vin, Buck, you get on his good side. Me and Chris will get him on this side and JD you just jump in if we need you.” When Nathan was caring for them he was very commanding and no one thought to question him.

Together the six of them moved their injured friend into the well-padded wagon. It went fairly smoothly, but they were all relieved when the big preacher was lying safely in the back of the wagon.

With pillows supporting his injured leg and blankets tucked in to keep him warm, Josiah gave a reassuring grin to them. “Ready when you are Brothers.”

“Good, now if I may,” Ezra handed the reins to JD and climbed into the back to make himself comfortable.

“You want to tuck him in?” Buck whispered into Vin’s ear, earning him a cuff on the back of his head from Chris.

“Enough of that, Bucklin. You climb up there with JD and behave yourself,” Chris ordered. “I’ll be keeping an eye on you.”

“As will I.” Ezra snickered. “Payback my friend is a dish best served cold, as the French say.”

“Now Ez, you take all the fun out of things,” Buck joked, but he climbed up and sat on the folded blanket beside JD. “Nice to have a little cushioning.” He wiggled a little to demonstrate.

“Here, you cover up some too.” Nathan handed him another blanket. “Or do I need Chris to come to keep you warm?” he muttered quietly, making Buck burst out laughing.

“Ain’t no secrets around here I guess.”

“Not like you all were exactly subtle,” Josiah said with a chuckle.

Chris shrugged. “Got nothing to hide from any of y’all.”

“You got that right, Old Dog.” Buck agreed.

Chris, Vin, and Nathan went to gather the other horses as JD turned the wagon back onto the trace of a trail they’d used to get here.

“It’s gonna be a little bumpy,” JD warned.

“Just as long as we get where we’re going in the end,” Josiah assured.

“In one piece would be nice,” Ezra grumpily added as the first jolting motion of the long ride shook him.

“I’ll do the best I can Ezra,” JD answered.

“I’ll keep him going right,” Buck promised.

“As if!” JD snorted. “Vin is the one scouted out this trail, I think I’ll be following his directions.”

“Works for me. You just let Junior lead the way.”

“This is going to be a long trip.”

“Indubitably.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It was well past dark when the rattle and jingle of harness announced the arrival of a wagon in front of the boarding house. Immediately three feminine figures converged on the boardwalk, lanterns were held high and sighs of relief were released.

“Thank heavens you’re home safe.”

“We were afraid you had run into further problems.”

“Madre Dios, at last you are here.”

Inez, Mary, and Maude swarmed around the wagon and riders offering smiles and warm words. Buck soaked up the smile from Mary and the little pats that Inez kept giving him on the arm. Ezra remained wary of Maude’s hug and Mary’s smiles, Inez gave the gambler quick hug too which he accepted graciously. Poor Josiah was feeling a bit left out until Mary asked how he came to be injured.

“Ole Josiah saved Ezra from getting crushed under his horse,” Buck answered before the preacher could speak.

“What?!” Maude sounded appalled. “Ezra, are you sure you’re all right?”

“Yes Mother, I am fine. It was Mr. Sanchez who sustained considerable injuries in assisting me,” Ezra assured her. His head was pounding but he didn’t want her fussing over him too much. So far Maude had seemed honestly glad to see him, and so far there was no hint of any nefarious plans. But he’d only been home about five minutes, so it was early even for Maude.

“I suppose I owe you a great debt Mr. Sanchez.” Maude gave Josiah a sultry smile.

“There is no debt between friends.”

“Well that will do for you and Ezra, but for myself… I think I must pay my debt,” Maude smiled again.

“That will be different.” Ezra mumbled.

“Did you say something, Darling Boy?”

“No Mother. I am too weary to contemplate any further conversation.”

“Yes, there are baths waiting for you and then something hot to eat and bed for all of you,” Mary agreed. She waved across the road to the eldest son of the bathhouse proprietor. The youth waved back. “Everything is ready for you.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Chris said.

“Sounds like heaven,” Ezra agreed.

“Guess I can stay awake long enough for that,” Buck nodded.

“Well, first we got to get Josiah taken up to the clinic,” Nathan reminded.

“Don’t worry, Nathan. Our plans included Josiah,” Mary beamed. “You will find that Yosemite and some of his helpers are waiting for you, they’ll help get Josiah upstairs and there is plenty of hot water ready and waiting for both of you there too.”

“And I will bring you something to eat as soon as you are ready for it. Miguel will come tell me,” Inez added.

“I like the way you ladies think.” Vin was impressed.

“I keep telling you the ladies are smarter than us.” Buck planted a kiss on Inez’s cheek and she allowed it, this time. With a pat on his cheek the sassy Inez went to see to the dinner arrangements.

Chris bumped his shoulder into Buck’s. “Let’s get to them baths and dinner, Big Dog. I don’t know about you but I’m about ready for bed.”

“Oh yeah, me too,” Buck hastened to agree. Chris found Vin smirking knowingly and bumped shoulders with him.

“I reckon ole Ezra is about tired out too, and I know he’s been yammering about a real bath for days.” Chris rubbed at his whiskered jaw. “I’d like a shave myself.”

“I think I’d like one too.” Buck grinned. He stroked over the dark stubble, it gave him a dangerous look, disreputable and devilish.

“I told you that you looked like hell,” JD laughed.

“I kind of like it,” Chris whispered soft enough that only Vin heard.

The tracker choked back a laugh. “Ladies, if you will excuse us. We’ll be back shortly, and have that dinner you promised us.” He tipped his hat and stalked off towards the bathhouse across the road.

“Ezra, are you sure you can manage on your own?” Maude was gently stroking the bruise on his forehead. “I’m not sure you should, you could have internal injuries.”

“Mother, I rode all the way in without passing out. I think I am capable of bathing on my own.” Ezra was mortified by Maude’s sudden maternal behavior.

“Well if you are sure, then I will go and see if Dr. Jackson needs any assistance.” Maude nodded towards the three remaining peacekeepers. Buck was suddenly overtaken by a fit of coughing, and Chris kept his face averted. “I suppose your friends will be there to take care of you should you need them.”

JD stepped up immediately. “Of course, Mrs. Standish. If Ezra gets dizzy or anything I’ll help him, don’t you worry.”

Ezra was torn between relief that Vin had walked away and the absurdity that it was JD who’d come to his rescue. Well perhaps it wasn’t so absurd, JD was certainly sincere and that was something even Maude couldn’t doubt.

“Thank you, JD dear.” Maude waved a hand towards where the others were now entering the steamy rooms of the bathhouse. “Go on then and I’ll attend to Mr. Sanchez.”

“Yes Mother.” Ezra didn’t try to dissuade her, it was kind of nice to think that his mother might actually want to take care of him. And then there was the thought that Vin was probably getting undressed even now. Ezra crossed the street quickly, followed closely by JD.

Buck was still snickering as Chris thumped him lightly on the back of his head. “Enough Big Dog, get them clothes off and get into this tub.”

“You in a hurry to get my clothes off, Stud?”

Chris smiled, looked Buck right in the eyes, and licked his lips. “Yeah I am. You smell worse than a polecat.”

“You can’t smell any worse than that, Buck,” Vin laughed, as JD and Ezra entered the curtained off section.

“Yeah Buck,” JD agreed. He was so happy to have all his friends back safe he felt almost giddy.

“Just you wait, JD. What was that thing about revenge that the French say?” Buck asked Ezra as he sat down to pull off his boots.

“That it is best served cold,” Ezra gleefully informed him.

“Right!” Buck winked at JD.

“What’s that mean?” JD wasn’t sure he understood Buck’s threat.

“So when you’re least expecting it, Kid, Buck is gonna get you back.” Vin explained.

“Oh the Kid ain’t the onliest one on my list,” Buck crowed.

“Oh yeah? Well the day you can catch me cold Buck will be the day…” Vin began.

“You change that ratty hide coat for something that doesn’t resemble dead animals,” Ezra joined in. Vin opened his mouth to defend his coat but Chris beat him to it.

“Coats are for keeping you warm, and baths are best taken hot!” Chris trying to head off another round of insults. He climbed into his tub of steaming hot water and sank down with a sigh of pure pleasure. “Damn but this does feel good.”

“Indeed, I think we are in full agreement on this Mr. Larabee.” Ezra was carefully undoing cufflinks and slipping them into his jacket pocket. His tie loosened and vest undone, Ezra moved to a nearby chair and sat. It just happened to be next to where Vin was slipping into his bath.

JD waited a minute before asking, “Ezra you need any help?” Vin’s surprised look made Buck and Chris both snort.

“No JD, not at this time, however,” Ezra paused as though considering, “if you would be so kind as to go to my room at the boarding house, you will find in the top drawer an unopened bottle of brandy. I am quite sure we would all be feeling better after a drink.”

“Okay, no problem.” JD trotted out, eager to help as ever.

“JD looking after you now Ezra?” Vin asked archly.

“Only at my mother’s insistence,” Ezra assured.

Buck dropped the remainder of his clothing onto the chair and shook his head. “Ezra, your mother loves you. She’s worried.”

“She has been acting strangely,” Ezra seemed off balance at the thought.

“Get in the water Buck, and stop parading around like that. You’ll make yourself sick again.” Chris huffed.

“All right, Big Dog. Wouldn‘t want to do that,” Buck laughed and settled into his own tub. No leisurely soak for Buck, he lathered up and started scrubbing enthusiastically.

JD came back with the brandy and five glasses just in time to find the others in varying stages of drying off and getting dressed. “Dang, you guys must be starved!”

“Absolutely,” Ezra agreed. “Starving and this will be the perfect aperitif,” he proclaimed, taking the brandy and dropping it into the pocket of his clean suit coat.

“Dinner’s waiting, Chris, you coming.”

“Not yet,” Chris said softly. He adjusted himself again and considered getting some new britches that weren’t quite so snug. But then he saw the way Buck was looking at him, felt the heat of those dark blue eyes and decided it was worth a little discomfort. “Buck, you wrap up good. I’m serious I don’t want you taken a chill.”

“Nathan would have our hide if you did that,” Vin added.

Buck was grinning like a lunatic, Vin smirking and Ezra had dropped his poker face to smile openly at his friends, gold tooth gleaming even in this dimly lit room.

“Gentlemen, our repast awaits. If you are ready?”

“Yep.”

“I reckon so.”

“’Bout damned time,” Vin pretended to grumble.

“Okay,” JD held the door.

Dinner was a selection of all their favorite foods, Inez and Mrs. Potter having done most of the cooking. Interestingly, Maude had offered to stay with Josiah while Nathan got some rest, much to Ezra’s confusion and the other’s delight.

“Wonder if there is something Josiah’s been keeping from us?” Chris ventured.

“You know him and Maude did seem to be cozy the last time she was here,” Buck added.

“He’s a grown man and she’s a grown woman and y’all need to mind your own business,” Vin finally said when it became obvious that Ezra didn’t know what to make of his mother’s actions.

“I don’t know what y’all are going on about. I had breakfast with Mrs. Standish this morning, she’s real nice company,” JD defended the lady honestly.

That silenced everyone for a moment. Ezra recovered first and pulled out the brandy bottle. “I think now would be an appropriate time to propose a toast.” He opened the bottle and poured a measure into everyone’s glass.

Chris sniffed. “Good stuff, Ezra. Nice of you to share.”

“I am feeling magnanimous. Enjoy it while you may.”

“Thank you kindly, Ezra.” Buck said lifting his glass, “What shall we drink to?”

“Your mother?” JD offered.

“Your hard head!” Chris teased.

“Your friends,” Buck said quietly.

“Perfect, Mr. Wilmington,” Ezra rose, lifting his glass. “Gentlemen, to good friends, both present and absent.” He gestured in the direction of Nathan’s clinic.

“To good friends.” And they all drank.

THE END