Vin accepted Peso's reigns with a nod and a tired smile. "Thanks Buck."
It was finally over.
When he'd looked up to nod his thanks, he had seen a look in the ladies'
man's eyes that he thought might be regret. So, Buck was sorry. That
was evident in the almost forlorn look he had and the sound of his voice
when he'd spoken Vin's name. Vin wasn't really sure what Buck was sorry
for. For doubting him, being too quick to judge Chanu, or maybe both.
It didn't really matter now. What was done was done and at least he
had found out the truth in the end. Sure had been a strange twist, but
he'd learned from past experience that people were peculiar and capable
of all sorts of 'atrocities', as Ezra would call them. Vin laughed to
himself. Ezra never thought he was listening. The gambler would be very
surprised at what all Vin actually picked up on. Unfortunately, very
little surprised the world-worn tracker anymore.
Vin had glanced at Ezra, who stood beside Buck, but the man's face
was as unreadable as always. Well, that didn't really matter either.
Nothing mattered other than getting back to town. Getting cleaned up
a little, maybe grabbing something to eat, and going to bed. God, he
was tired. When was the last time he'd really slept? Hell, he wasn't
even sure what day it was anymore. Things were getting a bit fuzzy in
his head. It had to have been at least three or four days since this
whole thing had begun.
Climbing onto Peso he headed out of the village with an almost giddy
feeling. He'd kept Chanu from hanging for a crime he hadn't really committed.
That was a task far too near and dear to his heart. But, he hadn't been
able to save Claire and her unborn child. Vin worked to swallow the lump
in his throat. That was a horrible tragedy that he would just have to
live with no matter how bad he felt about it or how it might haunt him.
Bad things happened every day. You either learned to live with them or
you let them eat away at your soul. With all he had already seen and
even some of the things he had done in his short life he would have already
been eaten away to nothing, so he'd learned early to let it go or at
least bury deep down inside.
Feeling a slight chill run through his body, Vin pulled his hide coat
closer to his body. It wasn't all that cold out, but then again he was
tired and his body tended to chill faster when he was wore out. Yep!
Wore out was a good way to describe how he felt. Rode hard and put away
wet. He might sleep through to next week. But, first he would have to
get back to town.
Buck rode just behind Vin, watching the tracker intently. He really
wanted to apologize for the way he had acted. 'Why didn't I trust Vin's
instincts?' He wondered to himself. 'Sure has saved our lives before.'
He'd been just as quick to judge Chanu guilty as most of the rest of
the town. Both Ezra and he had seen Vin's actions as being driven by
his feelings for the Indians, when in reality it had them who had been
blinded by their own prejudice. It was something he was determined to
work on, starting with letting Vin know how sorry he was for ever doubting
him. If he could just figure out when and how to approach the tracker.
Ezra was stealing glances at Vin as well. After mounting their horses
the tracker had tipped his hat to him in a gesture of thanks and now
the gambler was totally confused. What in the world would Vin be thanking
him for? For treating the man like he didn't know what he was doing?
For questioning his partiality and loyalty? For, being an all-around
ass? And, yet, the tracker seemed totally undisturbed by it all. He had
taken the offered reigns from Buck and nodded to him and even looked
at Ezra with no distaste in his eyes. Had the situation been reversed,
Ezra would have been quick to point out the others grievous lack of judgment,
but Vin just acted like it didn't matter. And, damn it, that actually
made Ezra mad. It did matter.
Even though the seven had only been together for a few months, they
had built a strong relationship of trusting each other when it came to
enforcing the law and protecting the town. They didn't always see eye
to eye on everything, especially with such varying personalities among
them. But, when push came to shove, they were one team. And yet when
Vin had tried to see justice served in this case he had been met with
suspicion and distrust from the very men he fought side by side with.
Ezra was aware that the others were still a little wary of him, but
he also knew they had good reason. He had run out of them in the beginning.
And, even though the gambler had returned, there was still that seed
of doubt in their minds. On the other hand, Vin had never done anything
of the kind. He had always been right there when needed, never judging
or showing any signs of disapproval.
Like a bolt of lightening it became resoundingly clear. Ezra had now
identified the main part of his current dilemma. And, he was certain
that if Maude had been so upset by the idea of 'her boy' belittling himself
as a peacekeeper, she would be absolutely appalled to learn that he was
now worried about the opinion of one scruffy, ex-bounty hunter. How in
the world he had ever let himself get involved in this town and these
men were still a mystery to him. A small smile graced his lips at his
next thought. 'Yet, I am most certainly glad I did.'
'Well, I will just have to find a way to make up my less than stellar
behavior to Mr. Tanner.' He pondered. 'Maybe I'll even let him keep some
of his money the next time we partake in a game of chance and I'll buy
the man a drink or two.' With that solution to his problem settled, Ezra
turned his thoughts into a less disconcerting direction. The gambler
was certainly looking forward to getting back to town. A nice hot bath
and a change of clothes could do wonders for a man's demeanor. Then he
could set about finding some nice unsuspecting souls to garner into a
card game.
Chris glanced back at his best friend. He couldn't help the slight
grin that graced his lips. He was proud of Vin. The tracker had stuck
by his convictions, his instincts, and once again helped to bring a more
peaceable end to a potentially volatile situation. Chris had also watched
with some amusement the way Buck and Ezra had stood near Vin, as if now
trying to show their support. He'd noticed the look of remorse on Buck's
face, and figured the gambler, though showing nothing, felt the same
way. Maybe he wouldn't need to talk to them after all.
Making a note of the way Vin was riding, slouched down a bit more
than usual, he remembered their talk outside of the tracker's wagon before
he had left to track down Chanu again. Chris had been a bit worried that
Vin wasn't up to the task. After being choked into unconsciousness, and
not getting a lot of rest during the whole ordeal, the gunslinger knew
that Vin had to be exhausted. Not only physically, but mentally. Even
Nathan himself looked a bit weary.
Chris started to hold back so that Vin could catch up with him. See
if he needed to rest for a bit before continuing to town. More than likely
he'd say no, but Chris could always say the horses or Nathan needed to
rest. The tracker was much more prone to look out for others before himself.
But, seeing Buck ride up beside Vin, Chris decided to wait. Buck looked
like a man on a mission.
Setting his shoulders and moving his horse up beside Vin, Buck Wilmington
prepared himself to eat some crow. He'd faced many an angry husband in
his day and Vin didn't seem to be the type to hold a grudge. Besides
the tracker had almost grinned earlier when Buck, in a gesture of friendship,
had handed him the reins to his horse.
Vin didn't even seem to notice as Buck rode up, but the ladies' man
felt it best to just forge ahead. The ever vigilant tracker was aware
of everything around him, even when he didn't appear to be. It had obviously
served him well in the past and now with a price on his head was doubly
important.
"Vin, well, I . . . " Buck faltered momentarily. Talking to a woman
came so naturally to him. Why was it so hard just to apologize to Vin?
Taking a deep breath, he continued. "I just want you to know that I'm
sorry for ever doubting you about this thing with Chanu. Seems like you
were the only one thinking with a clear head."
Vin had sensed someone ride up beside him, but kept his head down.
He really wasn't feeling too well. Maybe he would skip the bath and the
meal and just go to bed. He could always take care of the other needs
after he got some rest. Then he heard Buck start talking, but he sounded
further away than Vin's peripheral vision told him he was. Not to mention
the fact that Vin was only catching a word or two that Buck even said.
Shifting slightly in the saddle, the tracker winced a little when he
felt the material of his shirt pull. 'Damn!' He'd almost forgotten about
that little thing.
Buck was oblivious to the fact that the audience of his speech was
a bit preoccupied. "I guess when I saw that girl and she looked so scared,
I just . . . " The ladies' man glanced over to try and gauge Vin's reaction
to his heartfelt appeal. What he saw made his blood run cold. Vin's face
was scrunched up in a grimace, as if in pain. And, even with his face
shaded by his hat, Buck was certain the tracker was a paler than he should
be.
Vin felt like things were suddenly closing in on him, his stomach
was doing flips, and his body began to tingle all over. He knew the signs
and looked up toward Buck, but not in time.
Buck saw Vin look up at him just as the tracker's eyes rolled back
in his head.
"Vin?!" Buck grabbed for the tracker even as he slumped forward.
Ezra who had been watching the exchange, curious to see and hear just
how Buck was going to make amends, was not prepared when he saw Vin suddenly
pitch forward. Recovering quickly he yelled ahead. "Nathan!"
Nathan heard Ezra yell for him and his natural instincts told him
that something was definitely wrong. Something that once again required
his special attention. Oh how he wished these men weren't so all fired
willing to help him hone his skills as a healer. Just a week or two without
one or more of them either bleeding or sick would be nice. Quickly reining
in his mount he turned just as a black blur rode back past him. It looked
like Buck was trying to hold Vin on his horse. He should have known it
was Vin. The man just didn't know when to quit.
The ladies' man was struggling to keep the tracker from hitting the
ground when two dark clad arms reached up to help.
Chris had heard Buck yell Vin's name and the tone brought him about
immediately. As if in slow motion, he watched as Vin fell toward Buck.
Leaping from his own mount as he rode up, Chris ran to catch Vin before
he hit the ground. Putting his hands up under Vin's arms, the gunslinger
slowly eased the tracker's limp form to the ground. Looking up to echo
Ezra's cry for the healer, Chris found himself face to face with Nathan's
worried visage.
Nathan started at the paleness of Vin's complexion. Guilt assailed
him as he thought over the last few days. Had he missed something? What
could be wrong with Vin? He'd seemed okay on the trail. A little wore
around the edges, but this whole thing had them all edgy and tired. Vin
could run on pure stubbornness though, he'd seen it before. But, also
before he'd caught the signs in time. Had made Vin stop to eat and rest.
Just as Nathan began to check the patient, Vin was suddenly awake
and fighting against the hands that held him. "Whoa there Vin!" Nathan
tried to reassure the tracker. "Just take it easy."
Chris was surprised by Vin's sudden show of strength and knew it to
be the young man's survival instincts kicking in. A man didn't live long
on his own out here in the west without it. Sky blue eyes stared about
wildly, not really seeing anything. "Vin, lay still."
Vin had awakened frighteningly aware of hands on him and the fact
that he was lying down. Fear born of experience told him to fight long
before his muddled brain could catch up with what had actually happened.
Familiar voices were heard. They reminded him of something good, something
safe. His actions calmed even though his racing heart didn't. Slowly
the faces above him came into focus and at the same time so did his mind
"Aw hell." Vin attempted to push himself off of the ground.
"Now just stay where ya is!" Nathan was still attempting to keep the
tracker from getting up. Some color had returned to the younger man's
face, but not much.
Vin's embarrassment at his current situation was overriding any other
thoughts. "Jist let me up. I'm fine."
"We can see that. Most men that fall off of their horses are 'jist
fine'." Chris's mocking tone was accompanied by his best sarcastic glare.
"Didn't fall off ma horse," the tracker pouted.
"That's only cause Buck caught your stubborn backside before it could
hit the ground." Nathan fussed. "Just sit still for a minute."
Vin glanced up to see the rest of his friends staring down at him.
He felt like one of the animals he'd seen on display in some of the bigger
towns. And it made his skin crawl. Pushing Chris and Nathan back he scrambled
out of reach and quickly climbed to his feet, all the while professing
his good health.
"I'm fine. Just a bit tired."
But, as he gained his feet, his body betrayed his words as the color
once again left his face and the ground beneath him tilted. Buck was
fast once again, quickly grabbing the badly swaying tracker before his
knees completely buckled.
"Whoa there stud." Buck decided to try and just keep Vin on his feet,
not wanting a replay of the last scene. He'd seen the fear in Vin's eyes
when he'd come to and then the unease as he backed away from those who
only wanted to help him. Vin often shied away from being touched, not
to mention that the self-sufficient young man was proud and needed to
be strong. Life out west on his own had quickly taught him the hard lesson
that showing any weakness only got you hurt or worse.
Slipping an arm around the slight man's waist, Buck put Vin's other
arm around his shoulder. Vin swayed again, fighting against the nausea
and vertigo that was assaulting him. He hadn't realized just how bad
he felt until now.
"Why don't we just go sit down in the shade over there pard?" The
others had held back knowing how important Vin's independence was to
him and not wanting to crowd him again. Nathan would let him get settled
before he approached again.
Chris watched the whole thing with trepidation. He wanted to help,
but also recognized Buck's need to do something for Vin. His oldest friend
was still feeling guilty. Not that he wouldn't have wanted to help Vin
anyway, but right now it was almost a necessity for him. Chris would
wait, for now, and let Buck handle the mule-headed tracker.
Tightening his grip around Vin's waist, Buck readied to help Vin over
to a group of trees nearby. A loud gasp of pain escaped from Vin's lips
causing the ladies' man to nearly let go.
Vin's mind was jarringly brought back to reality as a fiery pain shot
through his left side. Gasping he tried to pull away from the hands that
supported him.
The other five men instinctively lunged forward as Vin's knees gave
way.
Buck was a genuinely kindhearted soul and he really wanted to help
Vin. But his worry and temper got the best of him. 'To hell with your
stubborn pride you crazy young fool.' Unceremoniously, the ladies' man
put one arm around Vin's shoulders while he put the other under the man's
knees lifting him easily off the ground and into his arms.
"Where you want ‘im, Nate?"
Vin was too busy trying to get his breathing under control and fighting
the newly ignited fire in his side to put up a fight, too afraid to open
his mouth lest an undignified sound of pain escape.
"Bring 'im on over to the shade where you's headed," the healer instructed,
yelling out more orders. "JD, get my bag. Josiah, bring over some fresh
water. And Ezra, get Vin's bedroll down and over here." Nathan didn't
have to look to know the others would do as he said. Chris may have been
the leader of the group, but when it came to the health of one of their
own, the burden naturally passed to him.
Buck glanced down at Vin's face seeing a fine sheen of sweat on the
younger man's brow. Even through the hide coat he felt a little warmer
than Buck thought he should. "Nate, I think he's running a fever."
Ezra was back with the bedroll even before Buck could get Vin to the
spot Nathan had designated. "Allow me, Mr. Wilmington." Rolling out Vin's
bedroll, the con man quickly smoothed out the lumps.
Had he not been so worried, Chris would have laughed at the eagerness
of the southerner to help. Oh, yeah! Ezra was definitely feeling as guilty
as Buck. He'd let them fuss over Vin a bit, partly to assuage their consciences
and partly for pure evil amusement.
Buck felt Vin shifting in his arms. "Put me down, Bucklin!"
"Now just hush up, you stubborn cuss." Buck couldn't help but grin
a little. "Ezra's fluffin' your pillow."
Ezra's green eyes narrowed to slits as he shot a look up at his soon
to be late friend. But, he held his tongue for once. He'd get Buck for
that smart remark. Right now he was too worried about Mr. Tanner. And,
the realization that he was concerned was just something else to worry
about. 'Good Lord!' He thought. 'What in the world is happening to me.
Surely I'm not acquiring a conscience.'
With the bedding fixed, Buck lay his burden down before it could leap
from his arms and couldn't help but feel like he'd been holding a wild
animal. One that would bolt at the first chance it got. With that thought
in mind, the larger man positioned himself between the tracker and the
horses. Vin wasn't going anywhere until Nathan found out what was wrong
with him. Not if Buck Wilmington could help it.
Nathan knelt down next to his patient, while Chris took up a position
just behind Vin's head. The healer noticed Vin's now flushed cheeks and
instinctively put the back of his hand to the young man's forehead. Chris
watched Nathan's movements and face to get a better idea of his best
friends condition.
"Vin, you feeling sick?" The healer began to check over his patient
even as he spoke.
"I'm jist tired. Jist wanna get back to town and sleep for a week."
Vin grumbled.
Buck remembered. "He acted like his left side was bothering him."
Vin remembered, too. "Aw hell. It's jist a scratch."
Chris's eyes flew to Nathan's and the healer met his gaze with a knowing
look. 'Jist a graze', could be translated by the tracker into anything
from a broken bone to a gaping bullet hole.
Nathan quickly pushed the hide coat aside on the left side and saw
nothing, but as Chris put his arms under Vin's shoulders to help roll
him over some, the darkened material of the tracker's shirt became visible
on the far left back side.
Knowing he might as well tell them Vin admitted defeat. "It's just
a little cut I got when I's wrestlin' with Chanu's brother. Twern't nothin'.
I'd forgot about it."
Chris voiced his frustration. "Damn it, Vin!"
"My first name ain't damn it!" Vin was tired, hurting, and ornery.
It wasn't but a scratch and they's fussin' like he's knockin' on death's
door.
"Shit!" Vin pushed Nathan's hands away as the healer pulled at the
thoroughly stuck material. "Doc, you mind leavin' some hide there."
"Well, your 'scratch' has bled all over that shirt of yourn and dried.
And, you're running a fever too so it's likely infected." The healer
sounded a little too smug to Vin. The 'I told you so' apparent in his
tone.
Why couldn't he have just made it back to town so he could crawl into
his bed and pass out? At least then if he died, he could have died in
peace. From the looks of his friends, a mixture of concern and frustration,
he knew he wasn't getting out of this easy. That's when he also was startled
by the fact that they were genuinely concerned for him. It was a new
and strangely comforting feeling. Sighing loudly he resigned himself
to their care.
Chris saw more than heard the change in Vin and nodded to Nathan to
proceed. Going about his ministrations, the healer tried to put Vin more
at ease. "I'll just get this cleaned up and get some tea in you before
we head back to town."
Josiah knew before Nathan could even ask. "JD son, why don't you and
I get a little fire started."
JD had kept unnaturally quiet during the entire thing. Seeing Vin
looking vulnerable was a strange experience for him. But, as he stood
by the edge of the fire watching, he couldn't help voicing his concern.
"Is he going to be okay?"
Nathan couldn't help but smile, knowing that JD had unknowingly asked
the one question that all of the others had been holding on to. "He'll
be just fine. As long as he listens to me and takes it easy for at least
a week." Glaring down at his patient as he spoke. He was somewhat surprised
at the lack of protest.
Vin's quietness bothered one black clad gunslinger even more. "Vin?"
Vin had been thinking. He hated the fact that he needed help, but
the fact that he had worried his friends bothered him even more. He didn't
like being a bother. And, if he was anything it was honest and direct.
"I'm sorry for worryin' ya'll. I really didn't think it was that bad.
It was up to me to find Chanu. Find out what was going on 'fore someone
else died."
Buck felt the old pang of guilt. Maybe if he'd listened to Vin to
start with... "I'm sorry Vin."
Vin looked up at Buck confused. "Ain't your fault I didn't get outta
the way fast enough, Bucklin."
"Maybe not, but I should have listened to ya. Should have trusted
ya. And for that, well, I just want to apologize."
"Just buy me a drink and we'll call it even." Buck grinned in genuine
relief, still somewhat awed by the ease that Vin let things go. Buck
dared a glance at Ezra who he knew was just as guilty.
Ezra kept up his indifferent facade, even if on the inside he was
beginning to feel quite ill. He had to quickly assure himself that this
conscience thing could surely be overcome in time like any other affliction.
But, for now, he decided he should succumb to the side of good manners
and friendship.
"I too believe I owe you a drink or two, Mr. Tanner." Ezra put on
his best smile. "It's the least I can do for my rather hasty judgment."
Vin's mischievous side decided to rear its head. "And here I's hopin'
you'd fluff my pillow for me some more Ez."
"I'll have you know..."
Ezra's chance to reply was drowned out by the howls of laughter from
his so-called friends. 'Oh hell,' the gambler told himself. 'If you can't
beat 'em...' he chuckled as he saw the bemused grin on the tracker's
face, but more than that was the easy dismissal of the whole thing that
he read in Vin's eyes. Just like Buck, Ezra had been let off of the proverbial
hook.
Nathan had finished bandaging the cut, glad it wasn't too deep, and
only in need of a few stitches when they got back to town. Vin tried
to argue that he could ride back on his own horse, but after the tea
and the dose of laudanum Nathan had slipped into it, the tracker was
too drowsy to put up much of a fight. Josiah and Buck put him up to ride
back with Chris. Buck and Ezra had flanked the gunslinger just in case
any assistance was needed.
A few days had passed when Chris found Vin sitting out on the boardwalk
looking to the untrained eye as if he were taking an afternoon nap. Sitting
down in the next chair he stretched out his long legs.
"Nathan know you're out?"
"Yeah! Practically threw me out. Said I was 'annoying'. Think he's
been hangin' around Ezra too long."
The comfortable silence stretched out for a while, but without even
looking Vin could tell that something was gnawing at the gunslinger.
"Somethin' on your mind?"
"Let 'em off pretty easy, didn't ya?"
Vin had to think a while on this one. He wasn't a man for flowery
talk like Ezra, or grand speeches like Josiah, and he certainly couldn't
spread it on like Buck. Chris knew that the silence meant either Vin
didn't want to say or was working his way up to it. He could wait. Vin
didn't say a lot, but by damn what he did say carried a lot of weight
and a lot of thought.
Most people looked at the scruffy ex-bounty hunter and dismissed him
as an ruffian with likely little education, a hard worldly edge, and
no manners. Which was just fine with Vin since it kept people at a distance,
which was safer. But, anyone who took the time to get to know the tracker
a little was surprised. Chris had known from the first look that there
was definitely more to Vin Tanner than met the eye. Yet, even he had
to admit that the young man never ceased to amaze him.
Vin might not be well educated, but his mind was sharp and missed
very little. He could read people easier than most people read a book.
And, beneath those dusty clothes and that rough and rugged exterior lay
a heart of gold with a sense of honor and loyalty that drew others to
him like a beacon of light.
That's what Vin was. A light in the darkness. No, Tanner was certainly
no saint. Who in this forsaken wilderness was? But, he tried and made
the others around him want to try harder too.
Chris waited and listened.
"I've seen a lot of people quick to judge somethin' or someone they're
afraid of or don't understand. I've even been that someone a time or
two. And, I'd be a fool to think that I've got any more right to pass
judgment on them as they did on Chanu. Some people learn from their mistakes
and some don't."
A moment of silence passed before the tracker added.
"Besides, I reckon they's my friends. Can't say as I've had many of
them. And friends take the good with the bad."
Blue eyes met green with a deep mutual understanding. No matter what.
Friends they were and friends they would stay. Through the good and the
bad.
The End
