Follows Nothing Like Lonesome
The winter hung on that year. It was more than a month before I was able to head out after Vin. Two mares foaled while I waited, two strong buckskin fillies. I smiled that day, but it faded fast. I missed Vin, missed our old lives, crazy as that sounded. I hadn't realized, until he swept back into my life and left me again. I remember the day he left Four Corners, the day I let him go.I was cold, even though the blanket was tight around my shoulders. Vin came back with words about Ella Gaines, no sign of her. I read the letter Mary gave me and swore I'd have my revenge. I balled up the paper and stood up shakily. Vin was there, holding me up and ushering me up to my room. The gentle hands pulled the blanket over me and even wiped the hair from my eyes. I didn't see it for what it was then, I didn't see Vin, I only saw my own misery and hate. Missed opportunities, but we can't go back, can't make up for what we did, or didn't do. Only thing to do was go forward. Vin sat with me, talked to me, watched over me for a couple of weeks, then he started getting anxious. Each time I'd asked, he'd just say 'nothing's wrong', it's your imagination. The town was wild, the band falling apart, the outlaws were taking advantage. Buck and Ezra did what they could to hold the town together and it seemed to calm a bit. One night, late, I heard the door to my room open and in the pale moonlight I saw Vin slip inside. He closed the door as quiet as he could, he didn't know I was awake. He sat down beside me and I kept my face in the shadows, just so I could see him, but he couldn't' see me watching. "I gotta go pard, you take care. Mary'll watch after ya." I'd been right, their had been a tear in his eye. "I'll see you again, sometime when you least expect it. Don't forget me." His soft hand clamped mine for a moment, and then he was gone. Out the window and into the night. It took me a long time to fall asleep after that.Next morning Nathan was there early. "Where's Vin?"
"He's gone, Chris."
"Where?"
"Didn't say, but I don't imagine it much matters, long as he got away. New law in town, with a new set of posters. Don't think it'll be long before he was found out." Nathan checked my wounds. "I think you're healthy enough to be up and about. Ready to face the world?"
"Not really." I missed Vin already. "But I don't guess I have a choice."
"Nope, Marshall's called a town meeting, wants us all there."
It was the end of what we had grown to know. The seven had parted ways. JD had taken Casey to be his wife and together they helped Mary run the print office. Nathan had been offered an intern ship in return for his services as a medic. Josiah's church flourished, but somehow it always seemed he wanted more. Buck and Ezra had grown closer, how much closer I can't say, but if I were to hazard a guess. I'd say they were happy in each other's company as well as each other's arms. Funny, I never considered a relationship with a man to be fulfilling. That was until Vin's brief visit.
I made my way into town, nothing much had changed. Marshall Neil Bennett was still in charge; the town was together and flourishing. Mary greeted me as I got down, rushing to my side and wrapping her long, thin arms around my neck. "Chris." I heard the small voice and smiled. Billy, now almost ten, came running up and I hugged him. My surrogate family smiled at me, but I just nodded.
"What brings you to town?" Mary said pulling me toward the print office.
"Business," I nodded toward the two horses. "Seen Buck?"
"Saloon with Uncle Ezra, as always." Billy stated bluntly.
I laughed as Mary blushed. "It's been hard on them, they seem to find comfort in each other's company." She made a funny face and I started to ask what she meant, but she grasped my hand. "Will you be staying, have dinner with us tonight."
"Sure, if nothing comes up." She nodded and gave me that knowing face. Something always came up, more times than not.
The gambling hall had grown a bit, more tables, nicer surroundings. Must have been the influence of its new owner. The Standish Tavern was alive with people, music and drink. And when I stepped through the door, the feeling of home washed over me.
"Well, well, looked what the cat dragged in." Buck greeted me with a hug that would have suffocated most people.
"Easy there Buck, folks'll talk."
"They already do." He smiled. "And you know what, it's all true." His mouth hung open as he whisked me toward the back room. Ezra sat at a poker table, with one other man and only nodded as he saw me. Wouldn't do for him to lose his poker face at a time like this, the pot on the table seemed quite large.
"I'll take two." The other gambler mumbled and Ezra dealt him two cards.
"Dealer takes one."
Ezra's face never changed, even when he held a great hand. His success was evident from his surroundings. The other man tossed a coin in the center and Ezra just tilted his head a bit. "I'll see your dollar and raise you fifty." The man counted his money and growled. "If you can't cover the bet, I'm sure there's something you have that I might want." The other man hesitated, checked his hand again and reached inside his vest pocket.
"Worth ten times that, but…" He laid the paper down and Ezra picked it up.
"I'm not in need of a farm sir."
"Bet's on the table."
Ezra drew out his wad and laid five one hundred dollar bills on the table. "Call."
The man laid three fives down and smiled at Ezra. Ezra laid his hand down and slowly drew the cards apart, displaying three nines. The man just melted in his chair. At least until Ezra pushed the paper back toward him. "I lost."
"I know." Ezra gathered the rest of the money and slid it into a satchel at his side. "I have guests, would you excuse me." The man took the paper and headed toward the door. "My my, Chris Larabee, you are a sight for sore eyes, even if you do look like hell."
"Good to see you too, Ezra." I accepted the embrace, and then he pulled back.
"You grace us with your presence. But what, prey' tell brings you down from your lofty piece of heaven?"
"Vin." Ezra's face fell and I knew something was right. "You seen 'em?" Ezra cleared his throat and turned away from me. "Ezra?"
"Chris, we need to talk."
Couldn't be good news. Buck took my arm and led me out the back door. In the bright afternoon light I almost missed it, but there in the corral was Vin's horse. "Where is he, Buck?"
"We don't know."
"What?"
"The horse came back to town, with his stuff, covered in blood, no Vin."
"Did you look for him?"
"Course we did, for two weeks, but there was no sign. We looked everywhere, Chris. Man couldn't lose that much blood and survive. Maybe even became dinner to one of those mountain cats."
"When?"
"Almost a month now."
"Why didn't you come and get me?"
"You've had enough sorrow in your life. The trail was cold, Vin's gone or he just plain don't want to be found. I'm sorry, Chris."
"You just didn't look hard enough." The grip on my arm was tight. "Let go."
"There's more." The fear welled up inside me, I didn't want to know what else Buck had to say and it would have to wait. The Marshall stepped inside the saloon and walked straight for us.
"You're Larabee."
"I know who I am." I gave him the coldest look I could muster, I just lost Vin, and I didn't want to know what he had to say.
"Marshall Bennett. I'd like to ask you some questions."
"About?"
"Vin Tanner."
I wanted to hit him, just flat out hit him, but Buck held my elbow. "I just found out."
"My office, please."
He gestured with his arm and Buck let me go. I nodded and walked straight out the front door. Buck followed and I turned back toward him. "Buck, put the horses in the corral for me. Tell Digger I'll be down to deal with him in a bit."
"Sure thing, Chris."
"You breed horses?"
"Yes." I stepped inside the office and felt a twinge of regret as the images of our past lives flashed before me. Josiah in jail for murder, Vin on the floor, out from Chanu's escape, Buck in jail for taking a leak on the street. I had to smile at that one.
"Have a seat Mr. Larabee. I've had a chance to speak with the rest of your 'friends' about this. You have eluded me."
"I don't live here."
"I see, well it seems the town still considers this your home."
"I live in the mountains, keep to myself, don't cause any trouble."
"I see."
"What is it that you want?"
"Vin Tanner." My heart skipped a beat as he said his name. "I know he was a friend of yours."
"He is."
"Don't you mean was?"
"Not until I see for myself."
"That's kinda why I wanted to have this talk."
"What exactly do you want?"
"I'd like you to help me find out what happened to Mr. Tanner."
"So you can collect the reward." I shifted in my seat and saw his hand twitch toward his gun. "I don't think so."
"I know what you men have done for this town. I can assure you, I'm not interested in the false bounty. I believe Mr.Tanner was the victim of foul play."
"Then why aren't you out there doing your job?"
"I'd like to, but the town needs me. I haven't been able to recruit any help. I was hoping maybe I could hire you…"
"Not a chance." The chair went tumbling as I stood, but I didn't care. "I won't work for you or this town, ever again."
"If you'd let me finish. I'd like to hire you to discover what happened to Mr. Tanner." He stood up then. "He was your friend, yes?"
"Yes, he was," I swore to myself. "Is."
"Wouldn't you like to see justice done, Mr. Larabee? I mean if he is dead, don't you want to see his murderer punished?"
"You'll never convince me it's not the reward you're after." I forced my legs to carry me toward the door. "If he was murdered, I'll find who did it and I'll take care of it. But I'm not doing it cause you asked, I'm doing it, cause he was my friend. And I owe him."
"Well either way, you'll bring this unfortunate incident to a close."
"I don't think you heard me. I won't bring you evidence nor will I tell you if I find the body. As far as you're concerned, we never met." His eye twitched, but he nodded. I slammed the door and headed to the livery. Buck was there waiting.
"I'll give you fifty for them." The small man said as he looked over the two horses I had brought with me.
"Apiece." The man grumbled something about them being green. "Broke 'em myself to saddle." He nodded and counted out one hundred dollars. I stuffed the money into my shirt pocket and turned toward Buck.
"Have a nice talk with the Marshall?"
"I want to know everything Buck, every detail you remember. From the last time you heard from him, till you found his horse."
Four hours later, as dusk settled on the town, I headed toward the mountain pass where Vin was last seen. His horse tied to mine, loaded with supplies, his gun on my side. I caressed the cold metal, its presence a constant reminder of Vin's supposed fate. Man with no horse and no gun, the odds weren't good. Something happened after he left me and I have to know what. I refuse to believe he's dead, not until I see his bones.
End
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Continues in If You Can't Find 'em, Leave 'em Be