Vin had always appreciated the sunrise, had made it an integral part of his day to wake each morning and appreciate the changing hues of the landscape. To a man that often considered that each one he rose to could very well be his last, he made sure he took the time to appreciate each new dawn as a gift. Looking at the world this way, tended to give a man a respect for all living things.
It was easy, living here in Four Corners as he had been for nearly a year now, to forget that outside the security that this town and his friends afforded him, there was a price on his head that tempted many a man to seek its reward. Not only the monetary reward, but the reputation and fame that the bounty collector would receive as the man who brought Vin Tanner to "justice".
As he sat on the roof of the general store now, looking out across the stretches of golden land, the mist rising faintly and dissipating into the light, he thought back to a time when he had been truly happy. When fear and survival had never played a part in his innocent life. It was a long journey back. The memory of his mother had been valiantly preserved in his heart and soul, giving comfort through the bad times in his life, of which there had been many.
He reminded himself, as he sat cross-legged, quietly contemplating and paying homage to the mother that he still so missed, that life was a great journey. He was blessed to see the world through his own eyes, blessed to hear the sounds of life waking now to this fresh new dawn, to be a part of everything living. It was a moment of peace that had been too absent of late and he was so grateful that he had once again found it amidst the bustle of the town.
"Vin!"
Vin looked down and saw JD across the street, his own face almost serene, still lingering in his recent thoughts. He didn't reply immediately, seeing Chris was next to the young sheriff and smiling across at both of them.
Chris noticed the peaceful expression on Vin's face and smiled in return. He envied Vin that self-acheived solace, but was happy that his best friend had been able to find it on this day. This was the anniversary of the day he had been sentenced to hang for murder. This day reminded all of them how mortal they were and how connected they were to the outside world.
When Vin let it, the feeling of being hunted crept up on him and overpowered his thoughts. He could almost see it filtering into the town with it's promising gloom, snaking down the streets in a curling haze of mist, to infiltrate into his daily life and remind him that there was a force beyond his reckoning... and it wished him ill. Well it wouldn't find him, not this day. Not with the protection of the sunlight making its way to dominate the sky.
Right now, embracing the dawn, seeing his friends moving closer still, dark thoughts were far away. These men kept him here. One man in particular kept him here. Chris Larabee provided the stabilising force that guided him to his peace these days. The idea that a gunslinger, so famous for his deeds across the land, would turn out to be the closest person in Vin's life, surpassing the mortal bounds of brotherhood, was not something he imagined his mother would have liked. He knew though, that if she had met Chris Larabee, she would have embraced the man as he had. A better friend he could not hope to meet . . .
"Vin get that scrawny ass of yours down here we got a job to do today!" Chris yelled from below, his first words of the day to his friend.
Vin smiled, coming out of his reverie and swinging his legs over the edge of the roof.
"Mornin' to you too, Larabee, JD," he nodded to the young sheriff.
"Mornin' Vin! Watchya doin' up there?"
"Wool gatherin', so get down here and lets go Cowboy." Chris added, smirking up at the long-haired Texan.
Vin smiled back, happy to banter on this fine morning. He knew Chris was out to distract him from any negative thoughts today and he appreciated that. Standing up, he dusted off the seat of his pants and then swung down off the roof in a graceful, practiced move.
Chris watched his friend jump down and smiled. He no longer panicked when he saw Vin do that, he was well used to it now. He figured if he ever did fall from the daring move, it wouldn't be because of his clumsiness. Vin moved with a natural grace that defied the vessel of the human body. So many felt unatural in their own skin, trying to adapt it to another fit, but Vin was a man totally at one with his physical self, in tune with all around him, a part of it. He moved as if he -was- a part of nature, acknowledging everything in it and working with it as one.
As Vin landed he turned to walk away.
"Back in a second, gotta grab m'jacket," he said.
Chris and JD watched after him for a second and then Chris bent down to pick up a sheet of paper that was lying on the ground, trying to decipher the familiar messy scrawl as he read it to himself.
"Gone is the darkness, the last lingering shadows now trapped in time,
I watch the birthing light touch the land and wait for her caressing fingers to find me
Up here I am an easy target for her healing warmth.
From my skin I feel the creeping hand pushed back,
And smile at the wading snake of doubt as it floats away with the rising mist.
Today I am one with the climbing spirit, basking in the goodness of this life."Further down the page Chris saw more scribbled lines.
"With me I hold my brothers so that they too, may bask in this glory,
The strong arm beckons me as I walk gladly to join the bond of harmony,
The journey begins again with the day and I embrace it in delight."Chris looked down the street after his friends retreating back, his familiar stride heading towards his wagon. He was never surprised by the depth of feeling his friend had, but was often humbled by it.
The End