Going Nowhere

The two men rode in silence for the first time since leaving the Seminole village two hours earlier. Chris Larabee was not a happy man and this in turn made his companion, Buck Wilmington in a sour mood. The unlikely duo had been the unfortunate bearers of mercy this Thanksgiving holiday. Mary Travis had dubbed them the ones to deliver needed supplies such as blankets, food, etc. to the Indians without even consulting them before hand.

This was the reasoning behind the unrest of the protectors’ leader. He usually didn’t mind doing menial tasks to help out folks but the holidays were especially a trying time for the widower. He preferred to be alone and most definitely not in the company of Buck, the one man who had shared his most tragic setback in life. He couldn’t even bring himself to look at the man beside him.

He still loved Buck as a brother, but the memories were almost too strong for him when the ladies man was around. Chris sighed and stared at the scenery hoping to block the flow of thoughts attempting to surface yet again.

“Think the town’s still standing?” Wilmington had noticed the steady boil of his friend and wanted to change the fact they were together, in the middle of trees, alone, but he couldn’t. He had tried to convince Ms. Travis to ask Vin or one of the others to take his place but there wasn’t anyway to do it. Tanner had been called out to Ms. Nettie’s for an emergency along with JD. Ezra was in Eagle Bend visiting his mother and the other two protectors, Josiah and Nathan were at the Randall’s farm help delivering babies. Buck sighed when he realized his question had once again been ignored, so he continued his vigil of the surroundings.

They were half way home when Larabee realized something was wrong. They were going the wrong direction. He squinted his eyes to the afternoon sun and sure enough, the landmarks were different. It wasn’t that big of deal, but this terrain would be a little rougher on the empty wagon they were bringing back.

“Buck, where are we?” He only glanced briefly at the other man.

“’Bout 3 miles from town, why?” Wilmington never even looked Chris’s way as he answered.

“Cause this ain’t the way we came.” The deadpanned response caused Buck to take a closer look around.

“Damn.” He breathed heavily and started silently cursing the black-clad man’s mood. If he wasn’t such a sour puss, Wilmington would have figured this particular mistake out sooner.

“Yeah.” Chris shook his head lightly. The gunslinger started to say more but stopped short as his eyes fell on the mud ahead of them.

Buck pulled the wagon to a halt and also surveyed the obstacle ahead of them. “Think we could go around it?” He finally let his gaze rest on Larabee. He could see the different ideas running inside the blonde man’s head and waited.

“No. This riverbed runs for about 5 miles both ways.” Chris jumped from the seat and walked to the edge. “Looks to be enough water still running to allow us to cross.” He removed his duster and hat placing them in the back of the wagon. “You get the horses going and I’ll follow behind you.”

Wilmington nodded and coaxed the horses forward. The water had kept the mud liquid enough to pass through but it was still hard going, especially when the wagon hit a hole in the riverbed causing the momentum to be lost. “Shit!” Buck cursed as he felt the buckboard rock slightly then stop. He glanced back and saw the top of Chris’s head near the left side of the back wheel. “We stuck?”

Larabee surveyed the underside and saw the wheel wasn’t completely submersed in mud so it shouldn’t be a problem getting out. He raised up to lock eyes with Buck. “Get them to moving and I’ll push. Its not too bad.”

Buck once more nodded and set the horses in motion. They apparently didn’t feel like pulling any more and so just stayed where they stood. “Damn ornery mule half breeds!” The ladies man jumped to his feet and yelled at the animals but the perking of their ears was his only response.

Chris tried to hide his smile. Leave it to Buck to make him laugh, the leader’s thoughts suddenly halted and his grin vanished. “Why don’t you get in front and pull them Buck. We don’t have all day.” Larabee resumed his stance on the left side of the wagon bracing his hands against it.

Wilmington grumbled under his breath as he followed Chris’s suggestion and placed himself at the head of the horses. He grabbed their bridles and slowly began to urge them forward. It seemed to be working as the buckboard started inching ahead also. Buck pulled a little harder trying to coax the animals faster and was rewarded with the groan and jerk of the wagon coming loose. But the next sound to meet his ears caused his heart to skip a beat. A loud pop echoed around the two men followed by a lurch on the left side of the wagon.

Larabee knew the moment the buckboard had loosened so he let his grip loose also but the sudden weight of the wagon coming toward him caught him off guard. He tried to turn and run but the mud had him rooted. So he could only watch in horror and disbelief as the wagon fell on top of him.

Buck had a tight rein on the horses but his concentration was distracted as he saw the buckboard tip and fall sideways onto the leader. “CHRIS!!” Wilmington let his grip go and instantly regretted it as he felt one of the horses ram into his side knocking him down. He tried to roll away as he saw the hooves heading toward him, but he only managed to avoid the full blows. He fought the blackness long enough to watch the horses and the rigging disappear, then he let go.

+ + + + + + +

Vin was tired and hungry. Finding a place to sleep and eat was the only thing on his mind as he walked Bounty into the stable. JD followed behind him silently which told the tracker he wasn’t the only one exhausted. They had fought a barn fire, not to mention spent the better part of the day rounding up loose stock and now they were ready for a nice quiet night with the boys.

But the looks on the three gunmens’ faces as they entered the livery made them rethink the plan.

“Ez, when did you get back?” Dunne stopped himself and his mount beside the sharpshooter taking in the solemn looks on Josiah, Nathan and Ezra.

“I arrived about half an hour ago Mr. Dunne and it wasn’t to pleasant news.” The slight catch in the southern drawl caught both new comers off guard.

“Whats going on?” Tanner turned to Sanchez for the answer.

“A couple of horses and rigging for a wagon wandered into to town about an hour ago. We didn’t know who it belonged too until Yosemite told us they were the ones that was leading Buck and Chris’s wagon.” The ex-preacher paused.

“Any sign of Buck or Chris?” JD hadn’t gotten the full implication of the situation.

“No JD. Thats the problem. We went to look for tracks, figuring which way they would come back, but we didn’t find nothing.” Jackson stepped up and placed a hand on the youth’s shoulder.

“You didn’t find anything?” Tanner was lost in thought, trying to map out what other ways they could have taken from the village.

“Just the tracks leading from town, none coming back. We were on our way back out again.” Josiah motioned to Ezra’s saddled mount.

“Alright. JD, go grab us some supplies and I’ll water the horses.”

+ + + + + + +

“Buck?” The soft moan was washed away with the sudden blowing of the wind. Chris licked his dry lips and concentrated harder. He needed to know where the hell was Buck? “Buck?!” The shout became a yelp as the wagon shifted slightly adding pressure on his lower body. As the pounding in his ears became a dull throb he heard it.

“Chris...” The whisper was music to Larabee’s ears.

“Buck, you okay?” The leader tried to turn his head but was afraid of causing the buckboard to move again so waited patiently for the other man to answer once more.

“You want the long or short version?” Wilmington attemtped to rise from his prone position on the ground but his body protested so he stayed put.

“Short for now.”

“No.” Buck raised his right arm slowly to check for damage and was relieved to find it unbroken. He proceeded to do the same with the left. It was slower to react and swollen some but still felt to be in one piece. Not so for the gunslinger’s ribs as he took a deep breath and then doubled over in fits of agony. “Oh God...” Even breaths, Buck, come on... Nathan’s calm voice invaded his brain thankfully. His breaths became normal again and he heard his name being called once more.

“Buck, Buck....” Chris had raised his head not giving a damn about the wagon.

“Its okay, I just breathed too hard.” His words still sounded breathless but strong.

Larabee let his head drop to the ground and sighed.

“You okay?” Wilmington suddenly remembered the horror before the blackness and gave his full attention to the other man. What he saw made his ache even more. Over half of Chris’s body was covered with the buckboard and the top half showing was slowly being sucked under by mud and water. “Damn Chris hang on, I’m on my way.” Buck didn’t give a shit about his own condition now, the life of his oldest friend was at stake.

“Don’t worry, I ain’t going nowhere.” Larabee started to chuckle at the predicament but thought better of it as mud seeped into his partially opened mouth.

Buck manuvered himself into a sitting situation and fought the blackness once more. He couldn’t afford to pass out now, not if he wanted to keep his friend. Wilmington ignored the pain from his badly bruised arms and legs, ignored the piercing pain in his side, ignored the spots dancing menacingly before his eyes and began crawling to the submerged form of Chris. He roughly dropped to the sodden ground.

“You...think.....any...things....broken?” The heavy gasps made the gunslinger angry. He didn’t need to worry Larabee anymore than necessary.

“Nothing feels like its punctured through my skin, but thats the best I can give you.” Larabee shut his eyes tight against a sudden wave of pain. The mud and water were slowly pushing the wagon over top of the leader.

Buck stared at the situation before him and felt panic grow in his stomach. There was no way he could raise that buckboard alone, even if he wasn’t injured and from the looks of it, that was the only way to get Chris out of this. “You just take it easy and ole Buck’ll have you outta here in no time.” He patted his friend’s shoulder, wincing as the movement caused his own agony.

Larabee couldn’t stop the chuckle then. “Your full of shit, Buck. You can’t lift this damn thing alone.”

“What?” Wilmington gave the other man an incredilous look. “You doubt me?”

“No, I don’t doubt you’ll try, just that you’ll succeed.” Chris didn’t know what had come over him but he suddenly looked up and saw Buck in a whole new light. After three years of pain and continuous memories, he realized that all hadn’t been lost. Wilmington felt the scrutiny as he looked around for heavy branches to use as levers. He glanced to Larabee and was shocked at the blantant expression now adorning the man’s face. Forgiveness.

Buck didn’t know how he knew that was what the other man was feeling but he knew and it made him light headed. He hadn’t understood until just then how much guilt he had been carrying around, waiting for this moment to release it. He let his eyes roam back to the hazel ones and returned the feeling. The two men stared at one another in renewed friendship and love.

“I guess I should be getting us outta here.” Wilmington didn’t stop the grin from creasing his face as he pushed his battered body into a standing position. “I’m gonna go look for some branches, think you can keep yourself out of trouble till I get back?”

Larabee slit his eyes in response. “I wasn’t the one to get us in the ‘trouble’.”

Buck laughed. “Its your word against mine, pard.” He winked and hobbled away feeling lighter with each step as the leader’s soft chuckles followed him.

+ + + + + + +

“We gonna find ‘em before this rain gets any worse?” JD rode beside Vin watching intently as the tracker gave each rock a hard look.

“I hope to hell so, JD. If they’re in trouble, and I’m pretty sure they are, then this rain ain’t gonna help.” Tanner paused as he caught sight of a huge chunk of wood about 100 yards ahead of them. “Look over there. Looks like something stuck in the riverbed.” Vin squinted his eyes to block out the misty rain and felt his breath catch as he brought the scene in focus.

Buck was sitting beside the wagon looking to be holding something up and there was no sign of Chris. “Its them, lets go.” Tanner didn’t feel like pointing out he only saw one as he started talking his heart into beating again.

+ + + + + + +

“You listen to me, Chris Larabee. You just keep on breathing and I won’t have to tell JD about the time me and you was in Gulch’s Pass with them two little ladies.” Wilmington swiftly wiped what he hoped was rain drops from his eyes as he continued to support Chris’s head above the water and mud.

The wagon had shifted until it was covering three fourths of Larabee’s body and pushing the man into the muck. He had tried to lever the buckboard up and away from the gunslinger but his injuries and the weight of the wagon was too much for just himself.

“Plus, you can’t go anywhere. Who’s gonna keep Vin in line when your gone. That boy goes and gets in more trouble than any man I ever seen.” Buck got the desired effect from his little speech when he heard the small gasps of laughter.

“Your so full of shit, Buck.” Larabee opened his eyes to look at his friend. He had figured in the last few months that when he died it would be with Vin by his side, but he should have known better. Buck had stuck by him and been with him through more heartache and battles then either thought possible, so it was only fitting that Wilmington be the one with him when he died. “Buck, promise me something.”

The ladies man felt the lump spring to his chest and his eyes grow moister. “Anything pard.”

Chris took a couple of deep breaths before he tried to speak. “Take care of the boys for me. I never thought I would have another family after Sara and Adam.” He paused as the emotions swept over his exhausted and pain-filled body. “You all need one another.” Larabee could feel the darkness washing over him and knew he couldn’t fight it this time.

“I promise.” Buck’s words quivered slightly. He watched the blonde gunman’s eyes begin to shut and almost jumped out of his skin when he heard a voice say..... “Mr. Larabee, am I to take this as your way of getting out spending the Thanksgiving holiday with me?”

Wilmington jerked his face upward and almost shouted with joy as Ezra Standish’s drenched form met his gaze. “Damnit to hell, Ez, your the sorriest looking sight for sore eyes.” His grinned widened as he saw the other four of the seven pick up the discarded branches and bring more into view.

“Why would you think I wanted to spend Thanksgiving with you in the first place?” Chris’s eyes slowly opened and took in the sight around him. They were here, all of them, together as they should be. His eyes panned the men’s faces until they stopped on the tired, anguished one of his best friend. “What the hell took ya so long, cowboy?”

Vin turned briefly to cast a Tanner slow smile at the leader. “I found the tracks of a herd of turkey. I had to stop off and kill a couple for dinner tomorrow.” He flashed an evil grin to the man before resuming the task of lifting the wagon. “Okay boys, on three.” They had placed the branches at strategic points along the sunken side of the buckboard and was ready to lift it.

“If you will excuse me Mr. Wilmington, I will take your position and pull our illustrious leader from his peril when they remove this obstacle.” Standish pushed the injured gunslinger aside carefully and took Chris’s shoulders and chest into his embrace. “I am ready when you are gentlemen.”

The four exchanged nods of affirmatives and then the countdown started. One.....two.....three. As one they lifted the sodden wagon enough for the gambler to slide the black-clad man out. Once they saw he was out of the way, they let it fall and rushed to his side.

Nathan took in the mud caked body and shook his head. Couldn’t they ever do anything the easy way. “Where you hurtin’ Chris?” Jackson roamed his healing hands over the leader’s form.

Larabee started to laugh.

The six men stared at him in concern. “Did you hit your head, cowboy?” Tanner had came to kneel beside Larabee and Standish, who still held the leader.

“Nope.” He started to say more but chuckles hit him again.

Wilmington couldn’t figure out what could be causing the fits until his brain took in the sight before him and Nathan’s words. He too began laughing but that quickly turned into a grimace as his ribs became aggrevated.

JD had been sqautting near the ladies man and looked to Jackson with worry when his best friend also began laughing. “Nate, whats wrong with them?” Dunne grabbed Wilmington by the arm as he started teetering to the side in pain. “Buck, whats wrong?” It was then JD saw the numreous bruises outlining the man’s arms that was exposed. The youth took the arms in his hands and slowly crossed them over the other man’s chest as he gently pushed him into a reclining position against the boy’s chest. “Take it easy Buck, just rest.”

Josiah looked from one stricken face to another, then back to Nathan. “Are they okay, brother?” Sanchez waited, hoping the prognosis would be good and from the relaxed face of the healer that met his, his wish was answered.

“Buck’s got some broke ribs and bruised up pretty bad and luckily Chris ain’t got nothing broken but he won’t be moving around for a couple of days.” The five men sighed in relief.

“Then I guess we should get out of here and head for home.” Vin stood up feeling the day’s events weighing down on his shoulders.

“Only one problem with that cowboy...” Chris felt himself get giddy again.

“And what may that be, Mr. Larabee?” Ezra glanced into the face still held against his chest.

It was Buck’s voice that answered. “Did anybody bring a wagon?”

The two injured men broke into laughter and grimaces as the other five felt their faces break into grins at the statement. They exchanged questioning glances then looked to the broken buckboard.

“We could always break it into little pieces and have Thanksgiving dinner here, brothers.” Josiah threw his head back and laughed harder as the rain opened up and poured on the seven chuckling gunmen, there in a riverbed the day before Thanksgiving.

The End