Follows If You Can't Find 'em, Leave 'em Be
Chris opened his eyes slowly and coughed the dirt from his lungs. The night sky was just turning black and he could see the campfire below him. He was inside a cave of some kind, he could feel the cool air rushing up his back and he shivered. "Hope you last till we get there, sure are losing a lot of blood." A cloth was pressed roughly against the side of his head and he winced. He tried to shove his hands forward and grab the man's throat, but they were tied behind him."Guess you'll just have to deal with her wrath if I die."
"It'll be worth it, trust me." He kicked Chris in the side and laughed.
"What did I ever do to you?"
"We were gonna be married, but she kept talking about this Larabee fella. Said he hurt her and that she'd be so much happier if he she could take care of him. Took it upon myself to bring you back."
"Why not just kill me now and get it over with?" Chris groaned as the man jerked him up to his feet.
"Don't temp me." He shoved and the blond man tumbled down the hill. "Anyone coming in will think you're dead. They investigate, I shoot."
"Am I your only victim these days?"
The man chewed a dried piece of meat. "Whatcha mean?"
"You kill anyone lately because of me?"
"Why would I tell you if I did Larabee?" He kicked Chris hard then put his boot on the side of Chris' neck and pressed, just enough to knock the man out.
+ + + + + + +
"You okay?"
Ezra shifted in his saddle. "Yes, I shall survive."
"Sorry, just a bit needy last night."
"I noticed."
Buck laughed and tipped his hat as his horse began to gallop.
+ + + + + + +
Chris woke with the taste of blood in his mouth and he spit long strands onto the sandy ground. His side ached, his head hurt and when he opened his eyes a buzzard was a few feet away, flapping its wings. "Get." The bird flew away as his captor stepped close.
"Still alive?"
The gun cocked and Chris scooted away. "I thought Ella wanted me alive."
"Changed my mind. Too many 'ghosts' walk these hills."
"Ghosts? What the hell are you talking about?"
"Never mind. Just know I'm doing this for Ella." He cocked the gun and pointed it right at Chris. "Nighty nite."
The man froze as if he'd be struck by something and a single shot was squeezed from his gun. Chris flinched but the bullet missed and the gun in his hand faltered and fell to the ground. A moment later Chris fought to breathe as the large man collapsed on top of him. He could see the tomahawk sticking from the man's back and could have sworn he saw Vin just as he passed out
When he woke this time he felt a cool breeze and wet cloth on his forehead. He reached up and pulled the cloth away. "Leave it."
"Vin?"
"Hey." Vin gently wiped the wound on Chris' head. "He nicked ya good. Sorry about that, should have caught up to ya sooner."
Chris grabbed him and brought his face close, pressing his lips tight against the struggling man's. "I thought you were dead." He said as Vin pushed him back to the ground.
"All part of the plan, pard."
"What?"
"I'll explain later, time to get you back to town. No use risking everyone."
"But..."
"I know where he was headed Chris. I'm gonna take care of it."
"Not without me, you're not." Chris stood up and swayed. Vin was there, his arm around Chris' waist and Chris held onto him. "You're not going anywhere without me again."
Vin smiled briefly. "I owe that bitch fer what she done to you. Let me finish this, then we can talk."
"Not alone."
"Chris!"
"Vin!" He leaned forward and half hugged, half leaned against Vin and whispered in his ear. "When you left, I thought I'd go mad." Vin pushed him back and looked into his eyes.
"We need to talk, Chris."
"I don't like the sound of that." Chris stood back and looked at Vin, who was staring at the ground. "What's going on?" Vin shrugged and he swallowed hard. "You know, I came out here, half expecting to find your body, or bones. What kept me going was the hope that we could be together again."
"Chris..."
"Don't."
"I knew she was after you. Knew if I could lead you out, she'd make a move. I figured you'd come looking fer me, after what I did and all."
"What you did?"
"The way I acted, forcing myself on ya like that. I just figured it was the one way I knew you'd be sure to come after me." Vin twisted the rope in his hands. "I'm sorry Chris. I never meant to do that to you."
"What are you talking about?" Chris frowned. "Did you think I'd come after you to hurt you?" Vin shrugged and he gripped his arms and shook him gently. "I came looking for you to bring you back with me..." Vin jumped as a horse whinnied outside the cave. Chris swore as Vin moved away from him.
"It's Buck and Ezra."
Ezra slid down from his horse and smiled. "Well, you look fine for a dead man."
"Sorry fellas, this guys been following me, looking for Chris. I had to take care of it."
"Chris?" Buck helped him down from the cave and sat him down. "Nathan should take a look at this."
Chris hissed as Buck pressed the cloth against his head. "Haul that man back to town, we'll be back in a bit."
"Getting dark, we better camp here for the night." Ezra said unpacking his saddlebag.
"Fine, but I'll get this guy wrapped up, no use in having to smell him." Buck used the man's horse blanket to wrap the body, then tied it tight and plopped it near the horses for morning. "Someone want to fill me in on what's going on?"
Vin explained how he had set the trap in motion when he visited Chris. The man had been seen in several towns, asking about the cowboy in black, so he had set it up as Chris friend, so the man would follow. Follow he did, all the way to Chris' place. But the snow helped Vin get there a day ahead, so the man never found Chris' cabin. Vin led him off after that one night.
"The only way to get ahead of him was to lure to Chris out, see if he had the nerve to actually try and get him."
"Looks like your plan worked." Buck said, teasing Chris. "Any closer and he'd have to get all that hair shaved off." "Any closer and I'd be in a pine box."
"I was on the hill, heading down. If I hurried, he would have done worse." Vin said as he handed Chris a plate of food. "I'm sorry."
"You saved me, the second time."
"All's forgiven Vin." Buck said, slapping him hard on the back.
Vin watched Chris talk with Buck and Ezra and he slipped off into the night. Ella wasn't far away, the papers on the man proved it. Now all he had to do was sneak off, find her and bring her to Chris. Nice, wrapped package. He was about to mount when someone grabbed him.
"Where ya going?"
The voice was low and full of anger, but Vin turned in the arms that surrounded him and looked into Chris' eyes. "After Ella."
"I told you, not without me."
"You're hurt, you need to go back to town, get fixed up. I'll send word where I end up."
"I don't think so, this is my fight and you should have told me from the beginning of this."
"I couldn't."
"Why not?"
"I thought you'd settle in town, maybe hook up with Mary. I never dreamed you'd take off like that."
"What does that mean?"
"Look, it's late and with that wound you should be resting. How about we talk on this some more in the morning."
"You sleep near me." Vin nodded and walked back toward camp.
Chris fell into a restless sleep, his blanket only inches from Vin's. If Vin moved he'd know it. But it was the dreams that bothered him, not Vin.
~"Why couldn't you tell me Vin?"
Ella stepped out into the moonlight and smiled. "He was under orders." She toyed with Vin's hair.
"NO!" Chris screamed. ~
"Chris!" Vin knelt beside him. "You okay?"
"What the..."
"You were dreaming, called out. Do you remember it?" Vin saw the look in Chris' eyes and nodded. "It's okay, let me get you a drink." He sat down beside the gunman and handed him a flask. "Wanna talk about it?" Chris shook his head. "Okay." He took the flask and sipped the liquor. "It might help."
"When I went to the Indian Village, the Chief told me to stop looking for you." Vin nodded.
"He didn't know what I was doing. I'll have to stop in, tell him I'm okay."
"What were you doing Vin? You came to me, we slept together, then you're gone, everyone thinks you're dead. I just don't..." Chris hung his head and Vin scooted close.
Vin reached out and hugged Chris close. "I didn't want to do it that way, Chris. I wish it could have been different."
"I don't." Chris looked up, their lips only a breath apart and he broached the distance, taking Vin's mouth with his own. Vin didn't move away, didn't push back, just clung to him, kissing him back and moaned as Chris began exploring with his hands. Chris pulled back. "I want this. I want this between us."
"Chris..."
"No. I'm telling you. I want you. I love you, Vin." Vin looked down and Chris felt his heart breaking. "Tell me you feel..."
"Course I do. I think I always have, but things are complicated."
"They don't have to be."
"Don't they? I mean look at us. We spend three years in that town and never approached each other. It took almost losing you to Ella to make me realize what I felt was real. But I knew you'd never feel the same."
"You're wrong, I just didn't realize it at the time. I do love you."
"I love you too." Vin leaned into the kiss this time, pushing Chris flat. He hovered over the other man. "I don't wanna hurt you."
"I don't want to wait."
"Bed would be nice."
"Yeah, but right now. I just need to feel you." He pulled Vin down and kissed him hard.
+ + + + + + +
Ezra gasped as Buck pushed into him. They lay on their sides and watched as Vin and Chris kissed and snuggled together. "They're beautiful together."
"Yeah." Buck thrust again and bit Ezra on the shoulder lightly. "So they are." He sped up as the gasps from down below grew. Vin called out Chris' name and Buck came. Ezra followed, his hand covering Buck's on his cock.
Chris slid his hand up the wilting cock and shuddered as his own release spilled forth, covering Vin's hand. A cold cloth touched his cock and he jumped. Then Vin curled down against his chest. "You ain't gonna be gone come morning, are ya?"
"Not unless you want me to be."
"I want you to be right here, in my arms, where you belong." Vin kissed him quick and smiled. "What?"
"Didn't know what a big softie you were."
"Not soft." He pushed Vin down again and kissed the top of his head. "Just know what I want, that's all."
"Took us long enough." Vin kissed the smooth nipple and ran his fingers over Chris' chest and down his stomach and tickled his ribs. "You've lost weight."
"Worrying 'll do that to a man."
"I'm sorry, Chris. Only way I knew to draw him out."
"Promise me something."
"If I can."
"You won't walk away this time."
"Chris..." He was squeezed.
"Please, promise me."
"I won't walk away, unless you ask me to."
"I won't."
"You might."
Chris shifted and swore as he did, but he managed to maneuver enough to get on top of Vin. "I need you, I need you in my life and at my side. Wherever we go, we go together. Whatever demons you're running from. We fight 'em together, get it?" Vin nodded and wrapped his arms around Chris' neck. "Buffalo hunter." He played with the silky strands of Vin's hair and nuzzled his throat.
"Cowboy." They both grinned, and then Chris' face went dark. "What?"
"We can put it all behind us now. Start a new life."
"I'm still on a poster somewhere."
"Then we'll go somewhere else."
"I hear Montana's nice."
"Still some buffalo up there."
"I think so, yeah."
"Then it's decided."
"I don't' think so." The two lovers froze at the voice in the darkness. Ezra and Buck both drew their guns. "Vin Tanner, I have a poster here, says you're wanted for murder." Chris started to move, but the barrels of a double shotgun nudged his neck. "Just stay where you are and let me get this." The man removed Chris' gun belt, which was lying near the fire. "You two, toss out your guns, I'm only after Tanner, but if you fight me, I'll take you all down."
"Who are you?" Chris asked flattening himself on Vin once more.
"Randall."
"Bounty hunter?"
"Yep and I know you're reputation Mr. Larabee, I think it's best if you just move aside. Let me do my job."
"Vin's innocent, those charges..."
"I know the charges, bounty hunter turned murderer."
"I didn't kill him."
"You," He nudged Chris. "Move." Chris moved off Vin and the other man fixed his clothes. "Up."
"NO!" The mule's leg was cocked a second time and pointed right at Chris. Vin stepped in front of the gun and gripped Chris' chest.
"Don't Chris, it's time to clear this up."
"They won't ask, they'll just hang you."
"If that's how it ends."
Chris shook his head and grabbed Vin's face. "It can't end here, not like this."
"I'm taking him Larabee, don't get in my way."
"Who's paying ya? I'll pay more."
Josh Randall scratched his head and then shook it. Now he wasn't beyond taking a bribe and looking the other way, but... He was going to be paid to do a job and if he let this one slip away, his reputation would be shot. "Sorry, I have my orders. Bring him in, dead or alive." He motioned with the gun and Vin pulled out of Chris' arms.
"Who's paying ya?"
"Sheriff, Four Corners. Funny." Josh rubbed his chin. "He told me right where I'd find you."
Buck grabbed Chris' arm as Randall put cuffs on Vin's wrists. "Easy, pard."
"I can't let 'em take him, Buck."
"Can't help him, if this guy shoots you too." He pressed the cloth against Chris' head again to wipe away the fresh blood. "Besides, we need to get you back to town, stop this." "You don't' get it, Buck. If he dies, I don't wanna live."
The trio watched as the bounty hunter on the big black horse, lead Vin away, into the night.
End
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