|
TWO
Buck wouldn't sit still. He'd take a sip of whiskey and push back from the table. He'd head for the batwing doors and shove his way through. He'd scan the street sweeping his eyes from one end to the other, and then across to the jail and down to the livery. Nothing. And he'd push back into the saloon and flop into his chair and carry on for a couple of minutes.
"I'm gonna kill them two when they get back here. What the hell are they thinking?" The worry was plain in his voice.
Truthfully, they were all worried. Vin and JD should have been back hours ago. Ezra was shuffling those damned cards over and over. Every once in a while, his eyes would flit up to the batwing doors and then back to his cards. Nathan had long since retreated to his clinic, nervously checking and rechecking his supplies. When one of the seven was overdue, it was never good. And those two just naturally acquired injuries like a dog acquired fleas. Josiah had stared thoughtfully at the doors for a long time, before he up and disappeared without a word. Chris said nothing. He took it all in, and sipped his drink.
Finally the black-clad man stood up. "Let's go," he stated simply.
Buck was halfway out the doors, calling over his shoulder as he disappeared, "I'll get Nate."
"And I will inform our spiritual associate that we'll be attempting to locate our recalcitrant duo posthaste." Ezra was tucking his cards into his pocket as he spoke.
As he and Chris stepped out onto the boardwalk, he nearly bumped into Buck who was standing with his mouth open, watching in amazement as Nathan descended the stairs from his clinic, with his medical bag in hand. Coming toward them from the livery stable with their horses saddled was Josiah.
Chris clapped Buck and Ezra on the back. "Looks like we're going for a ride, boys."
The five mounted and headed west, the direction JD and Vin should have ridden into town from. Keeping their eyes peeled, they searched the trail and the countryside ahead of them for any sign of their youngest two.
About an hour after they left town, Nathan spied it. A riderless horse, heading their way. Vin's horse. Fear spread through the group like water from a spilled bucket. Slowly darkening their souls and chilling their hearts.
No one spoke, they all knew their friends had met up with some sort of trouble. No reason to state the obvious. Without a word they headed up the trail. Riding as quickly as they dared, they checked every tree and rock, hoping to find something, anything, that would lead to JD and Vin.
They kept riding that way, until a fork in the trail stopped them cold. Everyone's eyes looked to Chris. He nodded at them. Whatever he decided they would do, and if he decided wrong, Vin and JD would pay the price.
"We split up." Chris hated separating, but he hated the idea of heading down the wrong trail and leaving JD and Vin at the mercy of whatever had befallen them even more. "Buck and I will take the north trail, you boys take the south trail." Chris clicked his teeth and his horse cantered off. Buck followed and the others headed off down the other trail.
Chris and Buck had been riding for a ways when Chris motioned to Buck to hold up. He'd heard something. He wasn't sure what it was, or what direction it had come from. It was getting on toward dark, and Chris didn't want to risk passing Vin and JD in the gloomy twilight.
"What's up, Chris?" Buck demanded. He knew nothing would make Chris stop his search except something worth stopping for.
"I heard something. Just waiting to hear it again, so I can figure out where it's coming from," Chris informed his friend.
Chris and Buck heard a sound. A sound suspiciously like a woman's laughter and low under the laughing sound, something else. A sound of someone in pain.
"That's JD." Buck's voice was urgent.
"We leave the horses here. We'll make our way to them on foot. Wouldn't want to spoil whatever kind of party's going on." Chris's voice was as grim as his face.
The sounds of more laughter -- and more groans of pain urged them on as quickly as they could go, until they came to a small bluff. Quiet as cats, they eased down on their bellies until they could peer over the edge. Nothing could have prepared them for the sight below them.
+ + + + + + +
Vin had watched helplessly as they stripped JD. He'd struggled at the ropes binding him, but it was no use. He hadn't wanted the kid to go through what he had. The branding had been bad enough but some of the other things had been worse. He'd watched as the red -head caressed JD as the others stripped him. Vin had watched JD's eyes get wide when she reached down and grabbed his penis. Vin was frantic and struggled harder.
Vin forgot about his own pain as he watched what they were doing to JD. The red head picked up a burning stick from the fire and approached JD. Vin could see he was shaking but wouldn't take his eyes off the stick. JD was completely naked in front of her and she kept looking down and smiling. She blew out the fire and left the end smoldering a hideous red. She placed the ember against JD's chest and Vin cringed when he heard JD scream.
Chris quickly grabbed Buck's arm, preventing him from running down the side of the bluff.
"Wait!" he hissed, glaring at his old friend. "We can't just charge in. There's too many of 'em."
Buck wanted nothing more than to charge down there - get JD away from those sadistic bitches. But he knew Chris was right. He met the gunslinger's steely gaze and nodded his head. Chris released his grip.
Before Chris could open his mouth, Buck gave him a plan.
"I'll get my horse, ride in and distract 'em. You come from the other side and shoot every last one of 'em," he said.
Chris, seeing no other alternative, especially knowing that the other three were at least a two-hour ride in the other direction, assented. Buck got up quickly and made his way back to the horses. Chris eased his way around the bluff, toward the opposite side of the camp. He heard more cries of pain coming from both JD and Vin this time and cringed. He cursed his inability to do anything. He'd have to wait for Buck to make his move, otherwise it would be just plain suicidal and the two youngest members of his team wouldn't be any better off.
+ + + + + + +
Vin couldn't believe how loud the kid's scream was. Then, he realized it wasn't JD but him. He shut his mouth and looked at the leader. She was staring right at him with a smile on her face. Vin realized that was what she wanted and decided not to make a sound. He watched in horror as she took out that wickedly sharp knife she had used on him. She started by the hollow in JD's neck and slowly dragged the knife down to his navel. JD cried out but Vin remained silent. When she didn't get a reaction to that from Vin, she moved the knife to JD's inner thighs and made a line down to his ankles. JD whimpered but she got nothing from Vin. She turned to look and could see why. Vin had closed his eyes so he wouldn't have to watch. It was taking all of his concentration not to react to what she was doing to JD.
"Why you aren't paying attention?" said a female voice close to his head.
He felt a burning sensation on the palm of his hands and his eyes flew open. One of the other women, a blonde, had placed a hot coal in his hand and left it there, Vin realized even as he opened his hand and shook the coal to the ground. When she saw him open his eyes and drop the coal, she came closer to him. She leaned against Vin with a smile and kissed him.
When she pulled away Vin could see a necklace. It was like nothing he had ever seen before. It was a star inside a circle. She ran her hands down his side and over his abdomen and then caressed his penis. He tried not to react but again his body betrayed him and she laughed. The red head barked out a command in a language he didn't know and she moved away from him. Vin tried to keep from screaming as they started to torture JD again. He just hoped the others were looking for them and that they would get here soon.
Vin struggled against his bonds again, the ropes digging in and reopening the wounds he'd gotten earlier. All of the women were gathered around JD now, but they left an opening in their circle. Enough of a gap that he'd be able to watch what they did. He turned his head away, dizziness threatening to make him sick. He wondered for a minute if he was starting to lose it when he began seeing shadows moving on the bluff around them. He wanted to focus on one of them, sensing a familiarity to it. He looked quickly at the women, not wanting them to see what he was seeing, or not seeing. He still wasn't sure. But then, there it was! The outline of that black hat could not be mistaken for anything or anyone else. He closed his eyes and sighed in relief, knowing that the end was near.
While he was waiting for Buck to show up, Chris picked out his targets. He knew Vin had seen him and hoped the tracker wouldn't give his position away, but when that bitch put that piece of coal in his hand, Vin looked his way and the woman saw it.
Buck tried to keep calm. Tried to control his anger. Tried to concentrate on the meager plan. But all he could do as he rode was tremble in fear as the images of JD's bloody body and the sound of his screams echoed in his mind. His anger boiled through the images and sounds, its fire intensified until all he could do as he approached the camp, his horse at a full gallop, was let out a primal scream.
Chris had to duck quickly to avoid being seen. And that took him out of position. So when Buck finally made his grand entrance, Chris was too far away. The woman nearest Vin immediately stabbed him. Chris remembered his own raging scream, equaling Buck's, as he yelled at the woman, running into the camp with his guns firing. That woman was the first he took out, with a clean shot to the forehead. His eyes searched for the redhead next. He didn't see her at first, but kept taking aim at anyone female until they were all dead.
Buck had no recollection of drawing his gun. No idea how he aimed or chose his targets. All he knew was that everyone in that evil group was going to die. He fired his weapon six times, emptying it. He was in the process of turning around and reloading when he heard Chris's calming voice.
"Buck! Buck, it's over," the gunslinger called, grabbing onto Buck's arm.
Buck saw the truth in Chris's eyes and put away his weapon. He practically jumped over Chris as he dismounted, anxious to get to JD's side, now that he knew the bad guys, or women as the case may be, were taken care of.
Chris headed to Vin and knelt next to the injured tracker. The first thing he did was take out his knife and cut the ropes that bound his friend.
"Vin?" he called, placing his hand on the man's forehead, wiping the blood, dirt and tears from his face.
When Vin didn't respond, Chris cursed himself. He looked down at the bloody mass that was his friend and almost cried. He looked around and found Vin's clothing. He tore it up and began bandaging the bleeding wounds, starting with the stab wound to his shoulder. The one he'd seen happen. As he held the bandage in place he searched for other wounds.
He recoiled in sickness and anger at the knife slices, leading down to the fresh brand on the tracker's abdomen.
"Oh, God, Vin," he gasped. "What did they do to you?"
"Chris?" a weak whispered voice rasped.
"It's alright, Vin. I'm here," he replied, cupping a hand on the younger man's cheek.
"JD?" Vin called, the one word begging Chris to tell him the boy was alright.
"Buck's with him," Chris replied, hoping that that alone would be good enough. "But, I'll be right back," he added, needing to find out for sure for himself and for Vin.
The gunslinger reluctantly left Vin's side and moved over to where JD lay, Buck on his knees at the boy's side.
"How is he?" Chris asked quietly.
Buck looked up at his old friend, tears in his eyes.
"Look what they done to him," he cried. "I swear, if he dies, I'm gonna ride to Hell after them bitches just to kill 'em again!"
Chris put his hand on Buck's shoulder and gave it a squeeze, saying, "And I'll be riding right next to ya. But right now we need Nate. Your horse is here, go find him. I'll take care of them 'til you get back," he added.
Buck nodded and got back to his horse. He looked around at the campsite and swore unending hatred and vengeance on the five women lying on the ground around him.
Buck rode his horse harder than he'd ever ridden in his life. JD and Vin needed Nate desperately. Damn! Why the hell had they split up? Buck spotted the trio and pulled his horse up. Dismounting, he quickly gave his horse a drink, while he waited for the others. They spurred their horses, sensing the urgency in Buck's hurried movements.
Buck had already remounted by the time Ezra, Nathan, and Josiah got to him. "We found 'em. They're hurt bad."
Buck didn't have to say another word. He turned his horse around, trusting the others to follow, and headed back to the badly injured friends he'd left behind with only Chris to care for them. Chris, who would nurse them and watch over them. Chris, who would keep them alive by sheer willpower if necessary.
Chris wished Buck would hurry. JD was in terrible shape. It didn't seem like there was any part of the kid's body not cut or bruised. He'd been asleep since Buck and Chris had laid him gently beside the fire. Chris let his eyes travel to the other injured man. Vin. He was hanging on by a thread and Chris knew it. So much blood, so many injuries. Vin cried out in his sleep and Chris laid a gentle hand on his forehead. "Shhhhh. It's OK, Vin. It's over. Nate's gonna be here real soon." Chris's voice broke and he found himself staring at the heavens and offering up a desperate prayer to a God he hadn't prayed to since he'd ridden into hell four years ago. "Please, don't let them die. Please."
Nathan rode along with the others, urging his horse ahead, trying to keep up with Buck. He'd seen the look in Buck's eyes, heard the tremor in his voice. Buck was afraid. JD and Vin must be pretty bad off for Buck to be showing his fear so openly. Josiah and Ezra had tried to get Buck to tell them what had happened, what kind of trouble the two youngest had gotten into. But Buck just kept riding. Up ahead near a thick of trees, Nathan caught sight of the campfire. He tried to ready himself, thinking up the possible injuries the pair may have had - gunshots, concussions, broken bones - and what treatments he'd be able to give out here, in the wilds.
Buck flew off his horse, not caring what happened to the animal. His only focus was JD. He looked quickly to Chris, needing to know if the boy was still with them. Chris, acknowledged the arrival of his old friend by giving him the reassuring nod he needed. JD was indeed still with them, if only barely.
Send us abundant praise or flames
