Mary's eyebrows knitted in concern. She stood in front of the mercantile store, watching as Casey
was called to the dark stage that just rolled into town an hour ago.
+ + + + + + +
Casey looked up at the handsome man before her. All that black sure made her feel the heat in
their little desert town. She bit into her apple and smirked a little. The man in black had just called
her 'boy.' "I ain't a boy," she said watching as shock registered on his face.
The taller of the two men turned to his companion, smiled and hit him playfully on the arm. He
walked a little towards Casey. "Well, well, well. What's a lovely young lady such as yourself doin'
in this dusty old town?" he asked.
'What a stupid question,' thought Casey. "I live here," she answered. "Whereabouts are you
from?" she asked back.
"Kansas City," he replied proudly.
"Really? That's a big city," Casey said, her eyes wide with wonder.
"Well I suppose it is," the man told her, happy with himself at managing to impress her.
Suddenly JD walked up to the two. "Is there a problem here?" he asked.
"No, JD we were just talkin'," Casey replied innocently, not taking her eyes off of the taller man.
"I'll give you two bits you help me with my trunks inside," the man interjected.
JD chuckled and said, "you obviously don't know who you're talking to."
The man across of him smirked slightly. "I guess I'll find out soon enough," he said, his eyes
twinkling with something unknown. Then he turned to Casey and smiled. "Good day, young
lady," he said with a slight bow.
JD began to usher Casey away and she struggled against his grip. "Quit, JD," she said wiggling
out of his grasp.
Mary stepped off of the boardwalk and walked towards them. "JD, Casey," she greeted with a
warm smile.
"Hi Mary," Casey said sullenly.
"Ma'am," greeted JD back as he glanced at Casey in confusion.
"Who are they?" Mary asked JD.
JD dragged his eyes off of Casey and focused on the men entering the hotel. "The Nichols ma'am.
Ezra says they're a bunch of 'cut throats and reprobates,'" he explained. "Which is why, Casey,
you need to stay away from them," he instructed.
Casey glared back at him.
"But," Mary interrupted. "Wasn't that woman that departed earlier their mother?" she asked
curiously. "And they're in mourning aren't they? Why else would they be in such dress?"
JD looked back at Mary and wasn't too surprised about all her questions. "Ma'am, we're still
trying to figure some things out. And it's Chris' father-in-law that they're after," JD said as he
glanced once more at Casey.
The young woman rolled her eyes and went back to eating her apple. "I gotta go," she suddenly
announced and stalked off.
JD looked after her in shock and shook his head. He gave Mary an apologetic look and hurriedly
walked off after Casey.
The blonde widow sighed in exasperation as she watched JD walk away.
+ + + + + + +
A reporter's training would get her in trouble one day, she was sure of it. So, as Mary found
herself spying from inside the doors of the hotel as Ezra wandered off to talk to the Nichols, she
hoped that this wouldn't be one of those instances. From bits and pieces of what everyone else in
town were talking about, she found that Mrs. Nichols was in Four Corners to avenge the death of
her murdered son. A son that was murdered by Chris Larabee's father-in-law. Mary swallowed
nervously at the thought. A few moments later she saw Buck walk up and she moved away from
the door so that he wouldn't see her. She heard him greet Vin.
+ + + + + + +
Vin leaned back into the seat as Buck approached. "Buck," he said. "Where's Chris?" he asked
watching the taller man settle himself in a chair.
"He took off," Buck answered. He saw a flicker of understanding in Vin's eyes and confirmed it.
"Yeah, to his shack in the hills."
Vin nodded back. "Reckon he's none too happy that the hunt's off," he said, aware of the feeling.
+ + + + + + +
Mary glanced back at the clerk's desk behind her and was relieved to find the front desk deserted.
She tilted her head so that she could hear more of the conversation going on outside. 'Hunt?' she
thought to herself. At the sudden sound of footsteps behind her, Mary felt embarrassed as she
turned to see an elder gentleman watching her. She gulped and wondered where he had come
from. Clearing her throat lightly, she busied herself by looking through the basket in her hands.
The older man frowned disapprovingly and exited past her.
+ + + + + + +
Buck paused a bit, acknowledging that Vin probably knew all too well what Chris was going
through, what with Eli Joe and all.
"Well," Buck started, "he spent a long while looking for Sarah's killer. Reckon it'll take him a little
time to adjust," he said.
Vin nodded slightly and looked back at Buck. "I just don't understand why he won't help his own
kin," Vin asked him.
Buck was a little surprised at the seriousness of Vin's gaze and pulled off his hat. He looked past
Vin and at the street. Raising his eyes, he fixed the tracker with a sincere look. "Hank thought
Sarah was the sweetest flower on the prairie. She was," Buck nodded with a slight smile. "And he
thought Chris was a no-good, hot-headed, beer guzzlin', carouser," he explained. "Of course he
was right," Buck said with an even bigger smile, lightly chuckling. Vin couldn't help but smile too.
And then Buck's look softened again. "But there was something special between Sarah and Chris.
I mean," he paused as if editing his thoughts. "You could see it. She changed him. When they
were together, I've never seen two people -- happier in my life. Old Hank, he never saw the good
in Chris. When they got hitched, he never spoke to either one of them again," Buck said, his voice
dropping low as he studied his hat. "Not until today," he finished looking at Vin.
+ + + + + + +
Mary moved aside to let another man enter and reached out to grab hold of the doorknob,
stopping it from fully closing.
"Mrs. Travis?" the desk clerk finally asked. "Did you need something?" he asked suspiciously.
Mary turned watery eyes back to the clerk and shook her head, a light blush colored her cheeks.
He seemed taken aback by her appearance.
"No, I'm fine," she said as she quickly disappeared through the door. Once outside she paused,
taking a deep breath. She was about to move off when Vin called to her.
"Mary?" Vin said as he stood and walked over to her. She noticed that Buck was no longer with
him.
"Vin," she said softly, averting his gaze. Realizing she had no right to eavesdrop on his earlier
conversation with Buck, she felt enormously guilty and ashamed. She started to fidget and willed
herself to not blush any harder.
"Ma'am, you okay?" Vin asked curiously watching her.
"Yes," she answered almost too quickly. "Is there a problem Vin? I -- I mean I've heard of our
visitors, the Nichols," she said. "Is -- well, is everyone all right?" Mary finally asked.
Vin's concerned look at her odd behavior suddenly turned into mild amusement. "Reckon you
heard bout' Chris' father-in-law?" he asked studying her face.
Mary nodded, feeling the sudden heat rise in her cheeks. She'd definitely 'heard.' She once again
avoided his intense gaze and turned to see that the Nichols brothers had gathered once more in
the main street.
Vin apparently saw them too and gently placed a hand at Mary's elbow to guide her away and
back to her offices. "Mary, best stay out of the way," he said softly.
Mary was suddenly offended and pulled free. "Of course, Vin!" she said. But realizing her
reaction, Mary looked at him apologetically. "I'm sorry," she said quickly.
He nodded slightly, a little surprised. "Best if you just lay low ma'am," he suggested as they finally
reached her office door. "May be safer for you and Billy," he added as he reached out to open the
door for her.
"Yes," Mary reluctantly agreed as she looked out across the main street. "Lay low," she said once
more as she looked to Vin, studying his blue eyes. The bounty hunter smiled slightly.
Sudden shouts from the direction of the church erupted and the Nichols brothers took off towards
it. Vin looked to Mary and practically pushed her inside. She'd just regained her footing and
managed to close the door as she saw Vin run off after the Nichols. It wasn't till she saw Chris
ride past in the opposite direction with a man hanging on for dear life behind him that she let go of
the breath she'd been holding.
+ + + + + + +
A few hours later, unable to help feeling like a caged animal, Mary went for a walk down to the
restaurant. When she saw a Nichols brother 'guarding' the door to Owen Miller's shop she felt
immediate alarm and hurried to find one of the remaining six men. "Ezra," she said breathlessly as
she caught up to the gambler a few feet away. "Over at the Miller's shop, something's happening,"
she explained quickly.
Ezra looked over and nodded. "Mary, heed our warnings. As no doubt Vin had explained to you
earlier, take shelter," he advised as he rushed off to stop the Nichols from manhandling Miller.
Mary stood there dumbfounded. Again she'd been told to stay out of the way and she knew why.
She just didn't agree with it, because if it had been Billy, there was no telling what pains she
would go through either.
+ + + + + + +
She was yelling. Mary knew there couldn't have been anyone in town who didn't hear that woman
at that moment. Ma Nichols was directing her sons to bring Chris' father-in-law back nearly dead
so that she could watch him take his last breath. Mary shuddered in fear of the woman's anger and
in fear for Chris. She waited till the Nichols 'gang' had ridden off before running to the hotel
where she saw Ezra enter moments before. As she reached for the door, Vin and Buck exited.
"Vin, Buck?" Mary asked with a worried frown. "What's happening?"
"No time now Mary," Buck answered quickly.
"We're going to warn Chris," Vin explained as he hurried past her.
Mary watched as they mounted their horses and rode off before turning to enter the hotel.
"Now I said go easy on that stuff," Nathan said again as Ezra took another sip from the flask in
his hands.
"What's going on?" Mary asked as she interrupted Nathan's admonishing of Ezra. She found them
seated side by side.
"Ezra sent them on a wild goose chase," Nathan said referring to the Nichols as he gestured
towards Ezra. "Vin and Buck'll get to Chris and Hank in time ma'am, then they'll head back here."
"What will happen if they don't?" Mary asked.
"Oh don't doubt Vin and Buck, Mary, they'll be fine," Ezra added as he took another sip and
grinned at Nathan.
"Yes," Mary replied distracted with worry. She looked from Nathan to Ezra, "I suppose you're
right Ezra," she said, gathering herself. "Should I wire the Judge?" she asked as an afterthought.
"Best wait till Chris gets back Ma'am," Nathan replied. "How bout' you go back to your offices,
it'll be safer there," the healer suggested.
"Nathan," Mary said, suddenly agitated. "That is the third time," she began, looking pointedly at
Ezra, "that someone has told me to 'go back to my offices' where it's safer. I don't appreciate
being treated like a child who needs to be sent to her room, or a woman who worries needlessly
either."
"Hold on now Miz Travis," Nathan began to reason. "We just don't want to see you or Billy hurt."
"I agree," supplied Ezra. "Ms. Nichols and her brood are after revenge for the death of one of
their own. Now Mary, I know you understand well her consternation." He looked to Nathan
before continuing. "Seeing how you have a son of your own, imagine how we would feel should
something befall you or Billy?" he asked, emphasizing the 'we.' "We have after all, have started to
take roots here and have each come to value, various aspects of Four Corners. Uh, including its
citizens," said Ezra in his slow southern drawl.
Mary sighed audibly and crossed her arms in front of her torso. "Are you trying to placate me
Ezra?" she asked challengingly, her blue eyes flashing.
"Not at all," Ezra replied, his eyes darting to Nathan for help.
The healer stood and approached Mary, "Ma'am, we're all worried and tense right now. Ezra and
me gotta be able to lend a hand to the others. We just think it's better if we knew you were safe,"
he reiterated.
"Fine," Mary replied curtly as she spun on her heel. But once she reached the doors, she stopped
and turned towards the two men. "I'm sorry," she said taking a deep breath, relenting. "You're
right Nathan. I am worried. For all of you, for Chris' father-in-law, for Billy, for the Nichols and
for that poor woman who can see this as the only way to make up for the child she lost."
+ + + + + + +
The next day, Mary stood peeking through the curtains of the Clarion offices. Her skin tingled
with a premonition that completely unsettled her. She turned towards her desk to make sure Billy
was okay. Mary smiled. She had somehow managed to get him to doodle quietly on blank pieces
of paper and it comforted her to know that he was with her. It was then that she saw Casey
headed towards her and she stepped out to greet the younger woman. "Casey?" she asked.
"Mary," Casey said with a slight smile.
"Everything all right?" Mary asked.
"Oh yeah," said the younger woman. "I was just wonderin', what it means to be a 'complicated
woman,'" she asked.
Mary smiled. "JD?" she ventured.
Casey shook her head.
"No? Oh, Casey. One of the Nichols brothers?" Mary asked.
"Yeah," Casey answered guiltily. "It's a good thing, right?"
"Well, yes," Mary replied. "But why were you talking to him again?" the older woman asked.
Casey frowned a little. "Not you too Mary," she said.
Mary pursed her lips. "It's just, I know they seem nice Casey, but you need to be careful. They're
here for a reason, they're here to hurt people to get what they want," Mary explained as she
unexpectedly felt a shiver.
"But I'm fine," Casey stated.
"I know honey," Mary reassured her. "But aren't you being a little hard on JD?" she asked.
The younger woman studied her hands a bit before grabbing the folds of her skirt. "I suppose, but
--" Casey stopped as she looked up at Mary. The blonde woman had paled considerably. "Mary?
Mary, what's wrong?" Casey asked frantically.
Mary was looking over the younger woman's shoulder at the sight of JD walking slowly to the
Saloon. He was limping and walking painfully slow, something seemed very wrong and she
realized that his jacket was overly ruffled, torn and dusty.
Casey turned to look in the direction Mary had been staring and gasped, watching as JD slowly
disappeared through the bat-wing doors. "JD?" she asked in confusion.
Mary grabbed the young woman by the shoulders. "Casey, it'll be all right," Mary reassured her.
"But JD! I gotta go, I gotta," Casey said struggling against Mary's grip.
The blonde woman looked past the girl in her arms once again and saw a few of the Nichols
brothers positioning themselves outside of the Saloon. Ma Nichols had suddenly appeared outside
of the Hotel and began walking towards the main street. She saw that the Nichols black carriage
was also being readied and Mary suddenly felt her heart drop.
"Let me go Mary!" Casey screamed, bringing Mary's attention back to her. The young woman
suddenly broke free and ran towards the Saloon.
"Casey!" Mary yelled in desperation.
"Momma?" Billy asked as he stood in the open office door behind Mary.
"Billy! Sweetheart," Mary said spinning around. She swept the little boy up in her arms. "Let's get
inside," she said.
"What's happening?" Billy asked.
"Shh honey," Mary soothed as she brought Billy to her farthest room.
Seconds later, gunfire blared nonstop for what seemed an eternity and Mary found herself praying
for the safety of the men fighting outside as well as Casey and Ma Nichols. She sat so frozen in
worry that it took some time before she realized that she was holding Billy too tight and that the
gunfight had stopped.
"Momma," Billy suddenly insisted. "I can't breath."
Mary let out a small gasp. "I'm sorry Billy," she said finally letting go and standing. "Are you all
right honey?" The boy nodded back. "I'm going to take you over to Mrs. Potter's, okay? And then
I'll go see if Mr. Jackson needs help," she explained.
Billy nodded once more. "Do you think they're all right momma?" he asked innocently.
Mary forced a smile. "I hope so honey," she replied.
+ + + + + + +
Buck, Mary realized, weighed a ton when he was hurting. She'd managed to help him into
Nathan's tiny quarters while Casey dragged JD in a minute later. By what Buck was saying,
Nathan and Josiah were still working on Ma Nichols and her surviving sons, so Mary and Casey
began cleaning and preparing bandages for Buck and JD.
The sound of footsteps could be heard making their way up Nathan's stairs and as the door
opened, all four of the room's occupants turned to find Chris supporting Josiah. The ex-preacher
grinned slightly at the filled room and let Chris help him to a chair. "This would be what Ezra
would call a 'full-house,'" Josiah said.
He was met with pained chuckles from both JD and Buck while Casey and Mary just looked on in
worry. The widow looked to the black-clad gunslinger.
"I came for Nathan's bag," Chris explained briefly. "Everyone all right?" he asked glancing at each
person. At their silent nods, he couldn't help but give Mary a surprised look, realizing that it had
been a few days since he'd last seen her.
"I thought I'd help," Mary explained out of nowhere. "Are you all right?"
Chris nodded back and smiled slightly. "Thank you," he said as he quickly disappeared out the
door.
The End
