The large man sat on the ground and took a deep breath. Anyone close to him could see the hurt in his eyes or how he was distant from everyone and everything.
"The pain is real, I know it is . Because I hurt so bad inside . I don't know if it is from the shame, guilt or the loss of you."
"I know one thing is for sure, buddy, I miss ya and nobody knows how much but me . The nights are so lonley and the days are sad. But when I want to die the most, on comes another day. I want you back here with me, kid
. . . this is where you belong . Them angels up there can wait a little longer to have you."
Why didn't you listen to me when I told you to stay behide? You just had to follow . Just like when we fought at the indian village. Ya never could stay away could ya?" The large man slid his thumb across his eyes to wipe a single tear that fell. " Man, I feel so empty inside. People are saying you are a hero. Well you
are a hero, but in them damn dime store novels. heroes live forever ."
"I want you to know that we went after that gang and we killed every last one of them. Ya remember when Chris told ya
you don't shoot nobody in the back? Well, kid, Chris came face to face with the sorry ass man that shot you in the back
and Chris killed him the same way. I think a little more of Chris died today."
The large man bowed his head. " That ole gang thought they were going to get the best of us. Nathan and Josiah have been working over time. Poor Ezra never really had a chance. He was stuck between getting killed or Chris dying
. . . Well, the son a bitch stepped in front of a bullet meant for Chris and now he is in Nathan's clinic fighting for his life along with Tanner."
Buck wiped at the stream of tears from his eyes. " Ya won't be alone kid, I promise ya that. Dammit, kid, you are my little brother
. . . How am I going to go through life without ya, huh?" Buck looked back to the street where he saw Josiah going into the church furious.
"Well, there goes Josiah. Another one of us has died . Ya know Josiah is pissed at
God for taking you away from us . I don't think God meant to take you, though. I never really got to say my goodbyes
. . . I don't want to say goodbye . I want to see ya back in the saloon playing poker badly, with Ezra."
Buck turned back to see Chris walking into the telegraph office. "Well, Chris is prob'ly sending a telegram to Maude. Ezra was hurt pretty bad . He was derlious. Kept saying something about having to break a promise to
Chris. I think Chris knew what he was talking about, but who knows anything
about Chris?
Kid, I gotta go and see to Tanner and Ezra . I promise I will be back soon. If Vin and Ezra are there with you, I want you all to know we will be there in time and all of ya watch over the remaining members of the
Magnificent Seven."
Buck woke with a bead of sweat running down his face and tears in his eyes.
"What the . . ." He looked over at the clock that read 3:20am. "Must've been a bad dream, but of the
Old West?"
He stood up and walked out of the room . He slowly opened the door to JD's
room and saw JD lying curled up into a ball on the bed. "Yep, kid, right where ya should be. Damn, I am
never eating Ezra's cooking before I go to bed again.'
He shut the door and walked back to his room, shaking his head the whole time.
"THE OLD WEST? WHAT THE HELL!"
The End
