Meanwhile, unaware of the laudable thoughts that he had inspired, Vin paid a quick visit to the judge and then headed for the general store. He shuffled hesitantly up to the counter.
"Can I help you, Vin?" Mrs Potter asked, smiling kindly. She had a soft spot for the shy young man and always had to fight back an urge to mother him as she knew he would be embarrassed by any overt show of affection.
"l’s wonderin’ how much blankets cost."
"That depends on the quality."
"l’s got $5. W-Would that be enough?
"You could buy a very good quality one for an amount like that," she assured him. "Let me show you some."
A short time later, a happy Vin was hurrying into Peso’s stall, a thick, blue blanket tucked under one arm and a paper bag clutched tightly in his hand. "Here ya go, mule, got ya somethin’," he announced, deftly avoiding the snapping jaws of his unruly stead, "and I even got change so’s I was able to get ya some sugar lumps and dried apples. Hey, don’t eat the bag!" he added, as Peso zeroed unerringly in on the treats.
Quickly extricating the food, Vin held out an apple and Peso snatched it greedily, scoffed it and peered at him with an expression that clearly said, "Well, hurry up, where’s the rest?" The tracker smiled. It was good to be able to spoil the animal. Ornery, bad-tempered and stubborn, to say nothing of downright dangerous at times, Peso meant so much to him. Before he had come to Four Corners, the horse had been the only friend he had, and now that he was contemplating leaving, perhaps there would be just the two of them again.
His heart seemed to contract at the thought. Once he had been content to be alone, but somehow he had become attached to the disparate bunch he had met since his arrival in Four Corners. Leaving the others was not going to be easy. He would miss Buck’s teasing, Josiah’s convoluted stories, Ezra’s futile attempts to civilize him, Nathan’s kindness and JD’s boundless enthusiasm. Then there was Larabee and that inexplicable connection he had with the man from the moment they first locked eyes. He would miss them all ... especially Larabee, and yet it was the latter who was driving him out.
Vin could not understand it. He knew Chris was mad with him, but he did not know why. He knew if anyone else had treated him like Chris was doing, he would have decked the bastard and walked away without a second thought. Yet, still he hesitated. Would it hurt more to leave Chris or to stay and be subjected to his barbed remarks Vin did not know. He suspected he was in a no win situation, but he had to make a decision, as his present state of limbo was tearing him apart.
To his dismay, tears started to well in his eyes and he scrubbed impatiently at them with a sleeve. This was a recent and unwelcome development. For some reason, it seemed to happen whenever he thought about riding on. The only saving grace was that he had managed to avoid the others noticing.
It was so ridiculous. He could not comprehend why it was happening. After all, he had not allowed himself to weep since his mother’s death, because it had soon become apparent that both the orphanage authorities and the inmates had no sympathy for boys who were weak enough to cry. No, no matter how lonely, ill or hurt one was, a boy did not cry ... only girls did such things.
‘Don’t be a damned wimp, Tanner,’ he chided himself sternly. Perhaps once he had got away from the town he would regain his old equilibrium.
‘Away from the town? Hell, I guess that means I’ve made a decision,’ he thought ruefully. ‘I’ll just stay long enough to see what the boys spend their money on and then I’ll leave. Hopefully by then Nate’s dishwater will have done the trick and I’ll be feelin’ better."
He ran his hand through Peso’s mane and the contrary beast turned its head and nuzzled his cheek. "I’s lucky to have ya, boy," he whispered. "We’ll be all right. We don’t need anybody else … we don’t!"+ + + + + + +
JD was the first to discover his new wealth.
It happened only a couple of days after the deposit had been made. Accompanied by Buck, he had decided to call into the bank to check what he had in his account, before drawing some money out to buy a present for Casey’s forthcoming birthday.
When he heard the teller say, "You’ve got $521.40," he was dumbfounded, as was Wilmington.
"Th-There must be some sort of mistake," he said. "I haven’t got that much."
"There’s no error," the teller replied.
"B-But ..."
"Hey, don’t fuss, kid," Buck interrupted, grinning broadly. "He says it’s all right. Ya just spend it quick before he changes his mind."
"Don’t be stupid, Buck. I can’t do that. It isn’t mine," the sheriff said, appalled at Buck’s audacity.
"He says it is," Buck replied complacently.
"Well, it isn’t!"
"Perhaps ya’d better see the manager about it. Although I ..."
"Good idea!" JD exclaimed, hastily cutting buck off before the scoundrel could attempt to tempt him further. He turned to the teller and asked, "Is Mr Watson in?"
"Yes, I’ll just check that he’s available," the teller said.
Moments later, the pair entered the manager’s office and were even more stunned, when Mr Watson said, "Good afternoon, gentlemen, I suppose you have come to question the additions to your bank accounts."
Our bank accounts? Ya mean I’ve got extra as well?" Buck asked excitedly.
"Yes, you have both received $500."
"But why? Who is it from?" JD demanded.
"I am afraid your benefactor does not want his name disclosed, but I can assure you it is all above board."
The pair looked at each other and then both laughed. "Hey, this is great, ain’t it, kid?" the ladies’ man enthused.
"Yeah, I can’t wait to tell Casey."
"And I want to see the boys faces when they hear that we’re rich, Buck added. "C’mon, JD, let’s go!"
A short time later, they were regaling the other five with the story of their windfall. However, to their surprise, the others had some reservations about the largesse.
"How do ya really feel about this money, Buck?" Larabee questioned.
"It’s great! I’m gonna enjoy every last dime of it and I reckon my ladies’ll enjoy helpin’ me spend it."
"It doesn’t worry ya not knowin’ where it’s come from?"
"Well, ya know me, I ain’t one to look a gift horse in the mouth, pard," the ladies man commented, grinning broadly
"Yeah, but what if someone’s settin’ you up for some reason? It could be stolen or bein’ used to look like bribe money.’
Buck sobered immediately. "Damn it, Chris, what did ya have to go and say that for?" he questioned. "Now ya’ve got me worried."
"I think we should pay a visit to the bank manager to get a few more details."
"Good idea, paid."
Thus, a few moments later, the pair was in Watson’s office.
"What can you tell me about the money that has appeared in Buck and JD’s bank accounts?" Larabee asked.
"And in your one," Watson added.
"What?" Larabee queried in surprise.
"I believe you will discover that your own account has increased, albeit by a marginally lesser sum."
"Huh’?"
"Four hundred and ninety-five dollars to be exact."
"Who the hell goes around givin’ away money like that?" Larabee demanded, while wondering the reason for the odd amount.
"I am afraid I am not at liberty to divulge the source. Your benefactor wished his identity to be kept secret."
"Maybe he did, but I’m concerned about his motives. As lawmen, I reckon, we need to be careful," Larabee said.
"Yes, I can fully appreciate that and can give you my firm assurance, in writing if you require it, that the money was the result of legal activities. Actually, I suggested to the donor, for this very reason, that he lodge the relevant documentation with Judge Travis."
"So the judge has okayed it?"
"Yes."
"If that’s so, it must be above board. I hope you won’t take it amiss if we call upon him to verify it."
"Of course not, Mr Larabee. It would be a prudent move on your behalf."
"Thank ya, Mr Watson."+ + + + + + +
Meanwhile a horrified Ezra Standish had seized Vin Tanner’s arm, bundled him up to the privacy of his rooms, and was interrogating him. "Vin, tell me you didn’t," he appealed.
"Okay, I didn’t," the tracker responded promptly.
"But you did!"
"Did what?" Vin questioned innocently.
"You know damned well what!" the gambler exclaimed, resorting to what was uncharacteristically straightforward and rough language by his lights. "You’ve given away all your money."
"Nope," Vin replied complacently.
Ezra sighed in relief. "So you had enough sense to retain some of it.
"Yep, I kept $5 ... but I’ve spent it!" he added triumphantly, delighting in Standish’s look of horror.
The gambler was almost beside himself with exasperation. "How can you stand there and calmly tell me you have given away $2,495?’ he demanded.
"’Cos ya asked me to."
"I beg your pardon?" Standish asked in bemusement.
"Ya wanted to know iffen I had, and I’s told ya, so now ya know."
Ezra carelessly ran his hands through his normally flawless coiffure in exasperation. "You know on the not infrequent occasions that our fearless leader has threatened to shoot you in the past, I have tended to sympathize with your plight, but I am starting to consider that he was fully justified. You are the most exasperating, infuriating …"
"Don’t ya like me no more, Ez?" the tracker asked, pleased to have managed to shake the gambler from his usual sang-froid for once.
To his surprise, the gambler reached out and clasped his shoulder briefly. "Doubtless my mother would be appalled at the sentiment, but I will confess, since there are no witnesses and nobody would believe you were you to repeat my words, that you would have to be the finest man I have been privileged to meet."
"Aw, Ez, don’t say thin’s like that," Vin protested, blushing beet red.
And the most stupid," Standish added, his eyes twinkling.
Vin grinned. "That sounds more like ya, Ez."
"May I inquire which of our compatriots has received the lesser amount?"
"Larabee of course!"
That further stunned Standish. "Mr Larabee? I would have thought that you would have been likely to give him a more substantial amount than anyone."
Vin looked a bit awkward. He was not prepared to criticize Chris to anyone. "I-I had my reasons, Ez. Would ya mind iffen we went downstairs now?"
Realizing that the tracker did not desire to elucidate, and unwilling to press him further, Ezra acquiesced. "I could do with a drink," he said.
"So could I, Ez, iffen yer buyin’. I ain’t got no money."
Standish shook his head resignedly. "Things do not change, do they? It is my treat, Mr Tanner."+ + + + + + +
Chris and Buck’s visit to Judge Travis both reassured them and added to their bemusement. Their qualms over the money were allayed, but when he said, "I assume you will also reassure your colleagues on this matter", they learnt that the others had also apparently been given money by their unknown benefactor.
Meeting Nate and Josiah in the street, they advised the pair to check their accounts, and then having collected JD from the sheriff’s office en route, all five repaired to the saloon to discuss the matter.
As they entered they saw Vin and Ezra sitting at a back table deep in conversation. Standish was busily explaining to Vin all the improvements that he intended to make once the saloon was safely back in his hands. Of course, their conversation was inaudible to the new arrivals.
Larabee’s eyes narrowed as he spied the disparate pair with their heads together. He did not know what they were plotting or why the sight of them together so annoyed him, but he knew he did not like it.
"Hey, boys, join us!" Buck called jovially. "We’ve got more news!"
Ezra stood up. "Thank you, Mr Wilmington, I will accept your kind invitation, but I believe I am already conversant with your news." He slipped into his usual chair and added in an undertone, "I trust you gentlemen will not bruit it abroad, but because of this most fortuitous increase in my funds, I am in the process of reacquiring this fine establishment. I trust my esteemed parent will be a becoming shade of puce when she learns the identity of the purchaser."
"Wow! That’s great!" JD enthused.
"Yeah, I expect ya’lI be offerin’ free drinks to all yer loyal customers," Buck added.
"Of course, anyone who chose not to deal with my beloved mother will be most welcome here," Ezra replied smoothly. Buck looked most put out and everyone laughed. "Anyway, I believe you will all have difficulty pleading poverty for a while," the gambler added, "although I expect the young women of this fair town will soon have Mr Wilmington parted from his share." That sally elicited more laughter.
"Any money I spend on the ladies is money well spent," Buck protested. "I consider it a sound investment in my future happiness and well-being."
‘You’ll be worn out before your time," Nathan said, "but don’t worry, the clinic will be much improved by the time I’ve finished with it, so I’ll be able to care for you in your decrepit state."
"And if you decide to repent your sins, you will be able to do so in a church with a brand new roof," Josiah added. "No more endless patching for me!" he added with considerable satisfaction.
"What are you going to do with your share, Chris?" Buck asked, endeavouring to turn the attention of the others elsewhere.
"There’s lots of things need doing round my place," Chris replied. "That homestead would soak up as much cash as I’d like to pour into it."
"But it’s a good investment for the future," Josiah pointed out.
"True, if I do end up settlin’ down here. What about you, JD?"
"I’m going to buy some new clothes and a new saddle and a fancy gun rig and those boots I saw in Eagle Bend and something for Casey and ... and …"
"And then ya’Il be outta money for sure," Buck opined.
"No, I won’t! I’m not stupid, Buck. I’m leaving some in the bank. I bet I’ve got more than you have left in a month’s time."
"Prob’ly will, kid," Buck agreed good-naturedly, "’Cos I aim to enjoy myself." He turned to the tracker. "What are ya goin’ to buy, Vin?"
Vin gulped nervously. ‘Stupid,’ he silently berated himself. He should have realized that the others would expect him to also have received money. "I-I b-bought Peso a new blanket," he stammered.
Vin was uncomfortably aware of a pair of cool, green eyes looking speculatively upon him.
Larabee said nothing, but his mind was whirling. He had seen the tracker scurrying to the livery with that blanket a couple of days earlier and had idly wondered how he had got the money to buy it, deciding that the doting Mrs Potter must have given Vin credit. Now he knew differently. So Vin had known about the money at least two days before, but had said nothing. And, come to think of it, Standish must also have known earlier, to already have embarked upon the repurchase of the saloon. But why had neither said anything? There was definitely something going on between the pair and Larabee did not like it. He did not like it one bit.
The group stayed in the saloon all evening, celebrating their good fortune and discussing future spending. Buck, Josiah, Nathan and JD enjoyed themselves greatly, but Larabee did not. He kept noticing glances passing between the tracker and the gambler. The pair seemed to be in some kind of dual alliance, gaining secret amusement from the whole situation and to be silently communicating with each other.
Larabee got more and more angry. From the moment they first met, he and Vin had always enjoyed an almost uncanny ability to communicate without words, and he had enjoyed that closeness. Since the deaths of his wife and son, Larabee had been determined to give no more hostages to fortune, for to care too much was to lay oneself open to hurt, but Vin had effortlessly wormed his way past all Larabee’s carefully constructed defenses to make a special place for himself. Although the gunslinger had never said as much, indeed had never even really recognized the fact himself, one unkempt tracker had somehow become the point around which Larabee’s world revolved. And now that world was tilting dangerously on its axis because Vin seemed to be deliberately shutting him out.
Finally Nate stood up and said he would call it a night. Josiah and JD followed suit, but Buck winked and said there was a certain pretty lady expecting him. Larabee strolled to the door intending to leave as well, but as he went to step outside, there was a sudden lull of general conversation in the saloon. In the unusual silence he overheard the gambler say, "Would you care to join me in a nightcap in my room, Mr Tanner."
That was it. He had had enough. He was going to settle things one way or another once and for all. He turned on his heel and stalked back to the table. "I want to see ya about somethin’, Vin. I’ll see ya in my room in ten minutes," he announced.
"But, Chris, I …" Vin started, trying to explain that Ezra had the prior claim by virtue of his earlier invitation.
However, Larabee, just said, "Ten minutes," in a voice that brooked no dissension and walked out.
Vin turned to Ezra. "I’s sorry, Ez, but …." he started.
However, Standish, who had been uncomfortably aware of Larabee’s disapproving regard all evening, interrupted, "I think you had better go to him, Vin. In the mood he is in tonight, I suspect, we will both be sorry if you do not."
"Reckon yer right, Ez," Vin conceded. "I just wish I knew why he’s so mad with me. P’raps he’ll tell me now."
Vin tapped on the door of Chris’ room in some trepidation. He had only been in there once before. He had stayed there for three nights, a couple of months previously, when he was ill and Nathan had run out of room in his clinic. He had not wanted to deprive Chris of his bed, but Larabee had insisted that Vin’s waggon was too cold. He had no idea where Larabee slept, or even if he had. All he knew was that every time he had woken from his feverish sleep, the gunslinger had been there to sponge his hot body or to make him drink one of Nate’s nauseating concoctions. Vin had protested bitterly, but really had appreciated the gunslinger’s efforts. Indeed, all his current troubles stemmed from that time, as he had fallen hopelessly in love with the man who nursed him so tenderly, showing to him a side carefully hidden from the rest of the world. And now, for some unknown reason, Larabee had asked him back to the room.
The gunslinger opened the door, signalled for him to enter and then ominously locked it behind him.
Vin started at the sound of the key and turned back to face Larabee, his eyes wide and questioning.
Larabee wasted no time. "Well, hurry up! Get yer clothes off!" he ordered. It was not how he had planned to start things, but somehow the sight of Vin drove all good intentions from his mind.
Vin stared at him, his eyes huge. Whatever he had expected it was not that. He was sure he must have misheard. "Wh-what?" he stammered.
"Ya heard me! Strip!" Larabee snapped.
"B-But, Chris, I don’t … I don’t …" He was at a loss for words. How could something he had longed for so much suddenly seem so frightening?
"Shut up and do as yer told."
He made a rapid decision. He was not going to let Chris do this to him. He wasn’t. His eyes blazed blue fire and he looked defiantly at the gunslinger. "No!"
"What do ya mean ‘no’?" There was a dangerous edge to the gunslinger’s voice.
However, Vin Tanner was not easily frightened. "What’s there about the word ‘no’ ya don’t understand? I ain’t yer whore Larabee."
"Why not? Ya’ll spread yer legs for a stranger, so why not for me?"
Vin looked at him in confusion. "Wh-What the hell do ya mean?" he asked.
"Eagle Bend! A few weeks back. I saw ya with that cowboy."
Vin’s heart sunk. "Ya saw me?"
"Ya heard me."
"Ya were followin’ me?" Vin asked incredulously.
"Yeah. I saw ya leaving the saloon with that man and I was worried in case he was a bounty hunter so I followed to see what was goin’ on. Believe me, I saw more than I wanted to when I looked down that alley."
"Chris, it wasn’t ‘xactly what it looked like."
"Shit, Tanner, what do ya take me for. I know a knee trembler when I see it."
"Yeah, but I didn’t … Chris, that’s not what … Please, Chris, let me explain."
"It’s all I want to know. I saw enough."
"No, ya didn’t! Please let me explain. Please."
"If ya must," Larabee growled, with an air of long suffering.
Vin paused. He was not sure how best to explain things. The gunslinger was already angry and the tracker did not want to enrage him further. Finally he asked, "What do ya remember about him?"
"The bastard fucked ya against that wall."
Vin blushed hotly at the description. "No, I-I mean what he looked like."
"Tall. Blond. Dressed in …." He hesitated as a thought hit him, but dismissed it immediately as fanciful rubbish.
"Dressed in?" Vin prompted.
"Dressed in black."
"What the hell are ya tryin’ to tell me, Tanner?" the gunslinger demanded, glaring at him.
Vin hung his head. He could not bring himself to continue along that line in the face of such obvious hostility. Words never came easily to him and this was the worst explanation he’d ever been forced to give. He tried a new tack. Running his tongue over his dry lips somehow he managed to give a halting account of events. "I-I don’t … I don’t make a habit o’ thin’s like that. I hadn’t … Hell, I hadn’t ever let anyone … let anyone … um … take me. And it ain’t like I ain’t been asked. Hell, a coupla times I’s come near to bein’ raped, but I fought them off." He broke off as the nightmarish visions assailed him.
Larabee’s harsh tones interrupted his wayward thoughts. "So? What made ya change yer mind this time? He offer ya more money?" Larabee asked nastily.
"I told ya I ain’t no whore," Vin protested.
"Yeah, so ya told me," Larabee said, his tone making his disbelief clear.
"I’m not!" Vin insisted. "I-I j-just wondered what it would be like to be with a man. I needed to know."
"Why?"
"I just did." How could he say that he had accepted the man’s proposition because he bore more than a passing resemblance to his interrogator?
He had listened to Larabee arranging to spend the night with a redheaded saloon girl and something had snapped. Sure he had been aware of Chris occasionally slaking his lust on one of the Four Corners’ whores, but Larabee was always quite circumspect about such things lest his clandestine activities come to the attention of Mary Travis. However, away from home, and with the example and encouragement of Buck Wilmington, the gunslinger had openly flirted with and propositioned the girl.
Vin had felt a hot wave of jealousy and hurt wash over him. He knew it was ridiculous. Larabee had never given him the slightest encouragement and was never likely to do so. Desperately trying to persuade himself that what he was feeling for the gunslinger was lust not love, he had been exceptionally vulnerable when the stranger had approached him. In his upset, he had drunk far more than was his wont, and was not thinking too clearly. Throwing aside his normal caution when dealing with a stranger, all he had seen was a chance to free himself from his infatuation. He could find out what it was like to have sex with a male. If he did not like it, it would hopefully banish his desire for Larabee, and if he did perhaps he could convince himself that any man would do to satisfy his sexual urges. That he might like it and still want Larabee did not play a part in his hazy reasoning. He ignored the fact that it was the man’s passing resemblance to Chris that was so important in his agreement.
He had not realized that Larabee had seen him leave the saloon, and concerned as ever for Vin’s safety, lest the man should prove to be a bounty hunter had followed. Apparently Larabee had observed the man’s attempt to take him in the alley, but had not stayed long enough to find that the man’s attempt to penetrate him had failed. Vin had been too tight and tense, and with spit as the only available lubricant, the pain had caused the tracker to pull away. The only saving grace of the whole stupid incident had been that the man had unexpectedly been quite reasonable about it and had accepted the hand job Vin offered instead.
He pushed the embarrassing memories aside, as he heard Chris say, "I suppose ya wanted to know so ya could decide whether to give yerself to that damned gambler?"
"Wh-What?" Vin was certain he must have heard wrong.
"Ya heard me."
"Ez and I ain’t … we ain’t … hell, ya know what he’s like. He wouldn’t let me near those fancy silk sheets of his lessen I got them dirty."
"Then how do ya know they’re silk?" Larabee demanded.
"Don’t ya remember how he boasted about them when he got them from that fancy mail order firm. Bucklin was quite keen to get some too since he thought the ladies’d like them."
Larabee did remember, but he was not so easily appeased and so asked, "Did ya persuade Standish to give us that money to hide the fact he was givin’ some to ya or was it his idea?"
The sudden unrelated question caught the tracker off-guard. He hesitated, running a nervous tongue across his lips, and then said truthfully, "Ez didn’t give anyone any money."
"He must’ve done. Hell, if he’s buying the saloon back he must really be in funds and it ain’t in his character to share. I’ve seen the two of ya with yer damned heads together. Yer as thick as thieves. So how much did the bastard give ya?"
"I told ya he didn’t give me anythin’," Vin protested. His hackles rising at the unjust criticism of Ezra.
"I suppose because what’s his is now yers," Larabee said nastily. "I didn’t think ya’d come across for money or I’d … I’d …" He broke off abruptly aware that, in his fury, he had nearly said more than he intended.
"Ya’d what? Finish it, Larabee," Vin demanded coldly.
Larabee glared at him. "I’d’ve damn well paid ya myself."
Vin’s mouth fell open. He felt suddenly dizzy. He sat down hurriedly on the bed. Could it be … it couldn’t, could it? "C-Cowboy?" he whispered questioningly.
"What?"
"I d-don’t understand. Are ya … Are ya mad ‘cos I went with a man … or ‘cos he wasn’t you?"
"Are ya stupid or somethin’, Tanner? Ya must know I … that I … that I thought we …Oh, to hell with it, it doesn’t matter now anyway."
"It does. Please tell me," Vin implored, his beautiful, blue eyes pleading.
Chris hesitated, but it was not in his nature to sidestep an issue. "Okay, but remember ya asked for it. I hoped if ya ever went with a man that … that it would be me."
"When did ya … I-I mean how long have ya felt like that, cowboy?"
"I realized it that time ya had the fever. Ya were lying there in my bed burning up. Yer hair had gone into tight ringlets with the sweat. I was spongin’ ya down and all I could think of was how beautiful ya were. There ya were naked, helpless and so sick and I wanted to take ya and make ya mine. I felt so damned guilty for thinkin’ like that. I was determined that I would hide it from ya. I was so scared that ya would leave if ya knew that I wanted ya and ..." He broke off suddenly at the look on Vin’s face at his revelations. "It ain’t no damned laughin’ matter, Tanner. What’s so funny?" he demanded.
"I’s just thinkin’ how stupid we both are."
"Huh?"
"I fell in love with ya at ‘xactly the same time as ya did with me. Shit! Lovin’ each other all these months and doin’ nothin’ about it. Wastin’ time! We’re both so damned stupid." He held out a hand.
Larabee reached for it tentatively and then suddenly threw caution to the wind and yanked the tracker hard against him. Vin gasped and Larabee seized the chance to plunder his mouth, while crushing the slender body against him.
"Finally they both broke apart gasping. "Vin, that was … that was …"
"Yeah, cowboy, it was," Vin smiled.
There was no need for more. Their old link was back and no words were needed between them. Larabee lowered Vin onto the bed and began to unbutton his shirt justly confident that that was what they both wanted.+ + + + + + +
Morning found Chris Larabee cradling Vin Tanner in his arms. The tracker was lying on his stomach, his head resting on Chris’ chest. Larabee gently ran his hands down the lithe body to cup Tanner’s buttocks. Vin stirred, snuggled against him and murmured, "Ain’t ya had enough yet, cowboy?"
"I don’t think I’ll ever have enough of ya."
"Mmmm, sounds good, cowboy, but I want to talk to ya about somethin’ first. I want to tell ya about that money."
"Ya don’t have to, Vin."
"I know, but I don’t want to have any secrets comin’ between us." He proceeded to explain about the lottery.
Larabee listened in silence until Vin had explained what he did at the bank and then said, in a rather stunned voice, "Ya mean ya gave away a whole $5,000?"
"Not quite. I punished a rather grumpy gunslinger by docking him $5 so as I could buy Peso a new blanket," Vin explained grinning. "Anyway ya shoulda seen Ez’s face when he heard what I’d done with the money. It was so funny. I ain’t never seen someone so stunned. I reckon it was worth givin’ it away just to see that face."
Larabee shook his head in exasperation. "Ya still should have kept some, Vin."
"I didn’t need it. Ya prob’ly know the sayin’ ‘the luck of the draw’. I reckon it’s much truer than all those thin’s Ez’s friend Bart says."
"Huh?" Larabee was totally confused.
"Well, ya see ‘cos of being lucky and winnin’ that lottery, I’ve ended up with what I wanted most … iffen ya still want me that is."
"No doubt about that, Vin," Larabee replied, kissing him tenderly.
The End
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