Cowboys

Second story in the Fantastic Dreams collection.

Author's Note: In this story the opening scene has LB Vin and JD as their usual ages, but in the scenes following it, they are in their late teens (until the closing scene, when they are young boys again.)

Chris Larabee picked up the television's remote control from where it rested on the floor next to the two slumbering boys. Buck walked into the room and picked up JD to take him to bed. Chris carried Vin to the boy's bedroom then went into the kitchen to wash some cups.

"This next trick, ladies and gentlemen, is called Aces High..." began Ezra Standish looking around at his audience.

JD Dunne looked bored, Ezra noted, so perhaps he should make this the last trick.

Ezra started to continue his trick, but before he could get much further, a bullet flew straight toward him and hit him in the chest. The red-jacketed man put his hand to the wound and fell to the ground unconscious.

JD Dunne rushed away guiltily; Vin Tanner (JD's Cousin) failed to notice the slightly younger cowboy leaving.

Vin called for someone to go and fetch Nathan, then held a handkerchief over Ezra's wound just like he'd seen Uncle Nathan do to bullet wounds in the past.

JD Dunne hurried away and, rounding a corner, bumped straight into Chris Larabee.

"What's your hurry, kid?" asked the cowboy dressed completely in black.

"Uncle Ezra's been shot in the chest and I was just going to get Uncle Nathan," he lied convincingly. He had really been on his way to borrow a horse so he could get away. He didn't mean to hurt his uncle; his aim had been at the card really.

"Where is Uncle Ezra?" asked Chris, concerned.

"Saloon," replied JD.

"I'll get Uncle Nathan - you go back and stay with Uncle Ezra."

JD nodded and headed back in the direction of the town's saloon. Once Larabee had turned away to get Nathan from his clinic, JD turned back toward the livery to get a horse.

"Vin, tell your dad, I'm sorry. I should've been more diligent and seen that bullet coming for me," said Ezra weakly, life slipping away from him.

"Don't go, Uncle Ezra," said Vin, tears threatening to surface.

"I have to, Vin. It's my penance for not making this place more secure for my nephews to grow up in."

"Nooo!" screamed Vin.

"Cowboy?" asked Chris.

"Don't die Uncle Ezra, please," said Vin with his eyes still shut.

"Cowboy, your uncle's not going to die," reassured Chris.

"I'll get the man responsible," promised Vin.

"Vin, wake up - you're dreaming."

Vin opened his eyes and found that he was back at the ranch, in his own bed. "Is everyone okay?" he asked.

"Yes, everyone's fine, Vin," answered Chris.

Vin breathed a sigh of relief.

"Come on! You gotta go faster!" urged JD, kicking his legs out.

"What?" asked Buck, worried by his son's outburst.

"It was an accident - I didn't mean to kill him - I was aiming for the card."

"Kill who?" asked Buck.

"I'm so sorry, Da. I'll have to leave and never see you again."

"You're not going anywhere, little one," said Buck gently shaking JD.

JD opened his eyes and sighed; it had all been a dream, but it had seemed so real.

"Killed who?" asked Buck, knowing that his son hadn't really killed anyone.

"I dreamt we were all cowboys and I shot Uncle Ezra by accident," said JD.

"As long as you didn't mean to," said Buck.

"My aim was off, Da."

"Don't worry, Son - it was only a dream and you didn't really hurt anyone."

JD sat up and hugged Buck - that was such a scary dream.

In both boy's rooms, Buck and Chris simultaneously vowed not to let the boys watch those cowboy shows again until they were quite a bit older.

The End
Next story: The Magician