The Bounty byKatrina Sanders

Vin looked at the dark sky ahead of him. He and Nathan had been riding for two days in the rain, and it showed no sign of letting up.

He moved in his saddle, trying to find a comfortable position. He and Nathan had ridden to Biddle's Creek for some medical supplies Nathan was needing. They had been gone for close to a week, and Vin was anxious to get home.

"I have a feeling," Nathan said from beside him, "that it's going to be another wet day."

Vin smiled. "Couldn't because it's been raining since dawn?"

"Maybe," Nathan laughed.

The two continued on in silence for a moment. Every since Nathan had ridden with Vin to hunt down Chanu, the two seemed to have a quiet understanding. Both men had painful secrets and truths in their past and Vin felt comfortable around Nathan.

"There's smoke ahead," Nathan's voice brought Vin away from his thoughts.

Vin took out his eye glass and looked. "Looks like eight, no nine men. Lots of guns." Vin put his eye glass back in his saddle bag.

"Headed toward town?" Nathan asked.

Vin nodded. "And I'd rather get there first."

Nathan nodded his agreement, and the two kicked their horses in the direction of the small camp. The two rode closer, seeing that most of the men were just boys, maybe J.D.'s age, or younger. The oldest looking man stood about Vin's height, his black hair wet from the rain. Vin also noticed that he wore two guns about his waist. Vin laid his hand on his gun, and saw that Nathan did the same.

"We help you boys with something?" Nathan asked.

The man with the two guns walked over to their horses.

"Name's Steven Cross." he extended his hand to Nathan.

Nathan accepted it. "Nathan Jackson, this here's a friend of mine." he motioned toward Vin.

Cross turned toward Vin. "Friend, you got a name?"

"Nope, just a question. What are ya all doing here?"

Cross seemed some what dissappointed in not finding out Vin's name. He looked like someone who didn't like not knowing who he was talking to.

"We're bounty hunters." he replied, beginning to roll a cigarette.

"Long way from home?" Nathan asked in a whisper.

Cross nodded, continuing to roll his cigarette. "We been tracking this man for awhile now. Got a good line that he's in the next town, Four Corners."

Vin shot Nathan a look. "You got a poster of this fellar?" he asked.

"Yep." Cross answered, moving toward some saddlebags lying on the ground.

Vin looked at the small group in front of him. None of the boys even had their hands on their guns. They seemed to be just going about their business, not even noticing he or Nathan.

"Kids," he stated under his breath.

"Here's the poster." he handed it to Vin, who opened it up, then handed it to Nathan. "We're just now breaking camp, so we shouldn't be much longer." Cross said.

"We're heading into town now, so we might see you again." Nathan gave the poster back to him.

"Much obliged." Vin tipped his hat as he and Nathan kicked their horses in the direction of Four Corners.

After they were sure they were far enough away, Nathan said, "Cross could be a problem."

"We got bigger problems. Did I read that poster right?" Vin asked over the roar of their horses running.

"Fraid so." he answered, and the two rode their horses faster than they had in the past two days.

The restaurant in town

The five men sat at their usual table near the door. Chris had just finished the morning rounds, and he let out an exhausted sigh as he sat down.

"Long night pard?" Buck asked.

Chris nodded. "Nathan and Vin should be back today."

"About time," J.D. said, taking a drink of his milk, "We've been working hard while they've been on vacation."

Ezra smiled. "If you'll recollect the last time we believed someone to be enjoying themselves, I sincerely believe you'll remember the condition with which we found him." Ezra looked at Chris, who let out a groan.

"You needed to remind him?" Josiah asked, throwing his hand of cards down, "Fold."

A look disappointment came across Ezra's face. "How do you expect to fully ascertain the proficionse of poker if you continuely fold?"

Josiah shrugged. "Talk is cheap."

"Especially if you don't understand it." J.D. said.

Ezra glared at J.D., while the others snickered. Chris stood up, and walked over to the window.

"Something wrong?" Ezra asked, dealing Josiah and himself a new hand.

"Looks like Nathan and Vin." he frowned, returning to his seat.

"You thinking they had trouble?" Buck asked.

Chris nodded.

(Outside)

"So," Nathan asked, "how do we tell them?"

Vin shrugged, as he continued on to the restaraunt. Nathan shook his head and followed.

Vin looked around the restaraunt, and saw them at a table in the corner, near the door. He started to walk over, feeling his muscles getting tenser with each step.

"Morning boys." he tipped his hat and took a seat next to J.D. He watched as Nathan took a seat next to Ezra.

"Your back early." Chris said.

Vin nodded. Nathan spoke up. "We ran into some men, a few miles out of town."

"What sort of men?" Josiah asked.

"Bounty hunters." Nathan replied.

All eyes turned to Vin. He shook his head. "They ain't come for me." he could see the relief in all of his friends face's. "They come for J.D." he said, looking at J.D. from under the brim of his hat.

J.D. wore a shocked look. Buck laughed. "What?"

"Why that is ridiculous." Ezra spoke up.

"Why would anyone be after J.D.?" Josiah had a puzzled look on his face.

Vin poured himself a drink. "Don't know. We were hoping J.D. could tell us."

"I... uh..." J.D. stammered.

Vin looked at Chris, who wore that unreadable look. But he saw something in his eyes, something that looked like pure rage.

"Who's heading the posse?" he asked.

"Fellar named Steven Cross. Had eight men with him." Vin shook his head. "Actually they're all boys."

"Steve." J.D. looked stunned. "Why would he... Oh." his voice lowered as he remembered his old friend.

"You know him?" Nathan asked.

"Yep. He was my best friend back in Boston."

"Hmph." Buck said. "Some friend."

Chris glared at Buck. "What happened?"

J.D. just looked at the group for a moment.

"Make it fast J.D., he's right on our tail." Nathan explained.

"He was my friend. Helped me out in the stables while my mom was working. She'd raised him since he was about ten. I guess she was friends with his ma." J.D. swallowed hard, and shook his head, gathering his thoughts. "He took to drinking when ma got sick. The day after she died, he got real bad, and he..." a look of horror crossed J.D.'s face, "he killed a man. The man didn't even have a gun. He just shot him."

"Oh." Vin said under his breath.

"He panicked, told me what had happened. So we decided that we would go and tell the sheriff about it the next day. Problem was, by the time I got to the sheriff, he'd already said I'd done it." his voice was barely a whisper now.

Vin looked at Chris and saw the look of rage turn into sympathy. Chris saw Vin looking and cleared his throat. "You'd best clear town, now." he said, walking toward the front door.

"C'mon." Vin stood up next to J.D. "I'll take him to the rock escarpment."

Chris nodded. Josiah and Ezra walked past Chris out hte front door. Vin and J.D. started to follow when Ezra stopped.

"I believe the back door would be more to your liking." he pointed down the street. "Especially if you enjoy your head where it is."

Vin saw the posse coming. He touched Chris' arm. "Come for us when they've gone."

"You bet." Chris moved out the door, with Nathan and Buck following him. "C'mon J.D." Vin grabbed his arm and led him to the back door.

"You trust Vin with J.D.?" Buck asked outside.

"I trust Vin with more than that." Chris replied. He saw that the posse was riding in slow, so he strode across the street to the sheriff's office. He was soon joined by the others.

The five men stood there, watching as the posse slowly rode into town. Chris laid his hand on his gun. "Ezra," he said, without taking his eyes off the approaching men, "go over to the Clarion, and help Mrs. Travis come up with a reason why she can't print J.D.'s picture in the paper. In case they ask."

Ezra shrugged and began walking down the boardwalk to see Mary Travis.

"Vin was right." Buck shook his head, "They ain't nothing but boys."

As the posse got closer, Josiah leaned over to Chris. "What's the plan?" he asked.

"I'll let you know."

"When?"

Chris turned to look at his friend. "When I come up with one."

Buck laughed. "This is turning into one hell of a morning."

Josiah and Nathan both chuckled, and Chris allowed himself a quick smile before looking up to see the face of Steve Cross.

"Can we help you?" he asked.

"Yep." he answered, dismounting his horse. "You the law?" he continued to walk closer to Chris.

"That's right." Nathan replied from his seat behind Chris.

A look on confusion passed over Cross' face. "Didn't I see you this morning?"

"Small world." Nathan's voice was cold.

Chris cleared his throat. "Like I said, can we help you?"

Cross looked at Chris and narrowed his eyes. He reached inside his coat pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. "We're looking for this man." he unfolded it and showed the picture to Chris and the others. "He's wanted for murder back in Boston."

"You sure he did it?" Buck could feel the anger rising in him.

Cross gave a quick smile. "Yes. Now have you seen him?"

"Yep." Josiah answered.

"Where?"

"Oh on a horse, leaving town." Nathan replied.

A wicked smile touched Cross' lips. "So, your friends of J.D.'s."

"That's right." Chris turned away from him and started to walk down the boardwalk. Nathan started after him and just as Buck and Josiah were following Steve stopped them.

"You know he's more than just a murderer. He's also a horse thief."

Buck could feel his anger rising. "That's enough." he replied between clenched teeth.

"He's also a coward. Run's and hides behind his friends, cause he is a yellow belly coward." Cross spat the last words out.

Buck stalked over to Steve and looked him square in the face. "Boy, you need a good ass whooping. But I wouldn't waste my time." he turned and started to walk away.

Josiah looked at Buck, then back to Steve. "I would though." and punched Cross square on the right side of his face. Steve went flying backwards, and his men drew their guns, but not before Chris and the others had done the same.

Joiah knelt down beside Steve. "It's easy to call one a coward whey you're a coward."

When Josiah walked toward the other's he noticed Ezra had rejoined them.

Chris stared at the sight. He let out a small laugh. "I thought I told you to play nice?"

Josiah smiled. "We were nice the last time. This is a new approach."

The four of them walked away, leaving a confused Ezra to ponder what had just happened. Ezra shook his head and started to follow them, saying under his breath, "I need new friends."

Outside of town

Vin looked over the land. He and J.D. had a good view of the prairie so they could see if anyone was coming. Vin hooked his thumbs in his gunbelt, and leaned against the rocks behind him. J.D. hadn't said much, except to complain about the rain. Vin looked up at the sky. The dark clouds rolled overhead, but thankfully, the rain had stopped. He let out a low sigh and walked back to the small camp he and J.D. had made. J.D. sat by the fire, poking at it with a stick.

Vin sat down across from him, leaning against a rock. He was glad to be outside, not cooped up some place indoors.

"See anything?" J.D. broke the silence.

"No." Vin replied, pulling his harmonica out of his saddlebags.

J.D. continued poking at the fire. Vin wanted to say something, to put his friend at ease. But he didn't know what he could say. He knew in a way how J.D. felt. He himself had a bounty on his head. But a friend didn't help put it there.

Vin shook his head, and started playing a tune on his harmonica.

J.D. got an annoyed look on his face. "Could you not do that." he snapped.

Vin stopped, and stared at him across the flames. J.D. opened his mouth to say something, but Vin stopped him. "Listen," he hesitated for a moment, "I know what it's like to be hunted. And I know you can get cranky."

J.D. ducked his head down.

"Sorry." he whispered.

"And rude." Vin continued.

"Vin," J.D. started.

"And stubborn."

"Alright, I'm sorry." J.D. said.

Vin smiled. "It'll be alright J.D. You got friends helping you."

J.D. smiled. "Play something?" he asked.

Vin smiled again and began to play his harmonica.

Town

Buck stood outside the sheriff's office. The town had been quiet this evening. He looked over and saw Nathan walking up to him.

"I looked for him, and I can't find him." he told Buck.

"Damn. Where is he?"

"Gone." Chris and Josiah came from across the street. "We talked to the boy at the livery. He say's Cross and his men rode out of town a few hours ago." Josiah said.

"You think they know where Vin and J.D. are at?" Nathan asked.

"Maybe," Chris answered, "Or it could be a setup to get us to lead them to them."

Buck started walking toward the saloon. "I'll get Ezra and let him know we got trouble."

Chris nodded. Lord, I hope they're alright, he thought to himself.

Outside of town

"Don't argue with me J.D. Get on the horse!" Vin yelled.

"But," J.D. began to protest.

"J.D. I can stall them until you get back with the others." Vin looked at him with those piercing blue eyes. "Go now." J.D. grabbed ahold of his horses reins and mounted.

"I'll bring the others." he said.

Vin nodded and J.D. kicked his horse into a gallop.

Vin watched him ride off into the darkness before turning his attention back to the approaching riders.

"How the hell did they find us?" he asked himself.

He walked over to stand near the camp fire. He saw Cross had brought all of his men. "9 to 1, this should be interesting." he laughed to himself.

Cross stopped his horse in front of Vin and dismounted.

"I'll give you boy's credit." Vin said, hooking his thumbs in his gunbelt, "I didn't expect you to find us until tomorrow." he let a light smile tought his lips.

"Where is he?" Steve asked, pulling his gun out and pointing it at Vin.

"Don't know." Vin answered.

"You think I won't kill you?" Steve pulled the hammer back on his gun.

"You'd kill me for telling the truth?" Vin asked.

"Nope. For helping him though, I'd reconsider." and with that he pulled back on the trigger.

Vin never had time to reach for his gun when he felt the pain shoot throught his chest. He felt his head starting to spin, and he fell to the ground.

J.D. heard the shot. He turned and looked back at the enscarpment. Vin would be mad if he knew he came back for him. But J.D. would rather have him mad then dead.

Town

Chris leaned against the post outside the saloon. Ezra stood beside him, playing with his cards. The others were out walking the streets looking for any sign that Cross and his boys had come back into town. Chris saw Josiah walking toward them, but he just shook his head as he approached.

"Damn." Chris said.

"Might I suggest we ride to rescue our compatriots?" Ezra asked.

Chris looked at him. "We leave in the morning." Ezra grinned.

"We may not have to wait til morning." Josiah pointed down the street. "Isn't that J.D.?" he asked.

Chris stared down the street and sure enough, he saw J.D. riding on his horse. He also saw that J.D. was leading another horse, one that had a man slung over it.

"Tanner." Ezra breathed, and the three of them ran to J.D.

"What happened?" Chris asked as he and Ezra pulled Vin off the horse. Chris saw that the bullet hit him a few marks from his heart, but he'd already lost a lot of blood.

"Cross. He shot him. Vin saw them coming, told me to leave, but I went back." J.D. paused. "He didn't even have his gun drawn." Chris could hear the anger in J.D.'s voice, and felt his own anger rising.

"Let's get him to Nathan's. Josiah, got get him and Buck." Chris wrapped one of Vin's arms over his shoulder and Ezra did the same. The two dragged him upstairs to Nathan's clinic. J.D. stood back in the corner, as Chris removed Vin's coat and shirt.

"Did the bullet go through?" Ezra asked.

Gently, Chris rolled Vin on his side. "Looks like it. We need to get the bleeding stopped." He didn't like the looks of Vin. His face was pale, and he didn't move. The only sign that he was still alive was his breathing.

The door burst open and Nathan ran to the side of the bed. "Okay everyone out, except Chris. I'll need your help." Chris nodded and went to the other side of the bed. The others slowly walked out, each taking a last look at the deathly pale Vin.

None of them said a word. Buck stood by the door, and Ezra was pacing back and forth. J.D. and Josiah stood near the railing, looking out over the street. They heard the door open and they all turned to look at a weary Nathan. He shut the door behind him.

"How is he?" J.D. asked.

"He'll be fine. Bullet missed the heart. He's just gonna need some rest." The four men all let out sigh's relief.

"I never should have left him." J.D. said.

"J.D., it's because you went back for him that he's alive. He'd have bled to death if you hadn't." Nathan reassured the young man.

"Well I won't let this go unanswered." J.D. started walking down the stairs.

"Where are you going?" Buck asked.

"To end this." J.D. said.

Buck looked at the others. "He wouldn't?"

"Wouldn't what?" Chris asked, stepping out of the room.

"J.D.'s gonna call out Cross." Josiah answered.

"Well let's gee how he does." Chris started to follow J.D.'s steps.

"You ain't gonna stop him?" Buck asked, surprised by Chris' calmness.

"We can't hold his hand forever."

Buck started to protest when Josiah held up his hand. "It's in the Lord's hands now."

Buck knew he was right. He shook his head and followed the other's down to the street. J.D. went and stopped in front of the saloon. He stood in the middle of the street and started yelling out Cross' name.

"Steven Cross! Get out here and face me!"

Chris and the other men positioned themselved on one side of the street. They all looked at the saloon as Steven walked out, his men following behind him.

"Well J.D." He started walking toward him, "It's good to see ya."

"I wish I could say the same." J.D. held up his hand. "You're real brave against unarmed men, let's see how you do against an armed one." he pulled his coat back, revealing both of his guns.

"Don't be stupid J.D." Cross laid his hand on his own gun.

J.D. felt the anger rising in him. He remembered seeing Vin lying motionless on the ground. Vin was his friend, and he wasn't going to let Steve get away with it.

"Just tell me one thing first." he stood up straighter. "Why did you set me up in Boston? We both know you killed that man."

Cross pursed his lips together. "Because you were always Ma's favorite son."

"I was her only son." both of drew at the same time. But J.D.'s bullet hit first, catching Steve right in the middle of his chest. His bullet strayed and J.D. could feel the air from it as it passed his ear. "Whew." he said, and walked over to Steven.

Nathan and the others joined him, as did Cross' men. Nathan checked his pulse, but shook his head.

Chris looked up at Cross' men. "Go home." he said.

The men took one last look at Cross and slowly headed toward their horses. Buck put his hand on J.D.'s shoulder. "You did good pard." J.D. looked at the others, all of who were nodding their heads. "Real good." Buck finished.

Nathan's clinic

Vin stood leaning against the wall of Nathan's clinic. It was the first time in about a week that he'd been able to go outside. Nathan and the other's had been keeping a close eye on him, making sure he wasn't overduing it. He smiled at the thought of six hired guns watching over him like he was a kid.

Vin glanced over at J.D., who was looking down at the town. Chris and Josiah had told him what J.D. had done. Coming back and saving him, then calling Cross out.

"J.D." Vin said. The young man turned to look at him.

"You did good." Vin smiled.

J.D. frowned. "Yeah, real good, you almost got killed cause of me."

"No." Vin pushed himself away from the wall. He winced a little bit, but continued walking toward J.D. "I got shot because I wasn't more careful. But you saved me. And I won't forget that."

"I should have stayed with you." J.D. whispered.

"It's because you did what you were told that you'll probably outlive the rest of us."

J.D. saw the admiration on Vin's face. "Thanks." he said, walking down the stairs, he passed Chris, who nodded.

"Vin, you better?" Chris wore concern on his face.

"Some." Vin looked down at the main road.

"Something on your mind?" Chris came to stand beside him.

"Thinking about Tuscosa, and my own bounty."

"Don't worry," Chris said, "One day we'll clear your name."

Vin turned to look at Chris. "How?"

Chris thought for a moment. "Find Eli Joe."

Vin's face went white. "He's dead." his voice sounded distant.

Chris got a confused look on his face. Vin explained, "He died of fever a few months back."

Chris didn't know what to say. He just stood by Vin, both of them watching the road. "We'll find a way." Chris said hoarsely.

Vin only nodded.

END