The afternoon was quiet and clear. A handful of people were walking to and from on the streets. Ever since they had returned, the city had been almost eerily calm. It was if the inhabitants had sensed the turmoil going on between their seven law men and were careful not to get caught in the middle. Still healing from his gun shot wound, the tall blond spent most of his time in the saloon or just sitting outside, seemingly lost in his own thoughts. Every once in a while some of the others would join him, Buck finding himself by Chris' side most of the times.
The sun was aiming for the mountains, awash in a fog of red and golden colours. The first blue drape of dark was in the air.
For now it was just the two of them, sitting alone on the boardwalk, partially shielded from view. Vin had rode out of town the same morning, giving a cryptical message of 'needing some space', JD was on patrol, Nathan in his clinic while Josiah had taken off to practice his golf game, bringing Ezra with him under the notion of teaching the younger man to duck.
"You ever think about how it could have been?"
The question almost startled Buck, the two of them having sat in comfortable silence for a while.
"What do you mean?" he replied.
"If things had happened differently... I mean, life's nothing but a lotta coincidences, right? If I'd never met..." Chris stopped, unable to say the name. "Nevermind. I just have too much time on my hands to think about stuff, not a good thing."
Studying the dying light, Buck nodded. "I know. There's so much that could have been done differently. That should have been done differently." Becoming lost in his own memories, he didn't see the way Chris was looking at him.
"I heard about Hilda. I'm sorry."
Buck didn't look up. "Yeah. Me too. She died for me, and all I could do was to try and get away from her. I couldn't see her for what she really was, just because I was so stuck on the way she looked. And you know what really gets me? She knew that, she'd dealt with it all her life. And she was still so...I don't know."
Playing with the fringes on the slight blanket around his shoulders, Chris looked down as well. "Nathan told me about what you did after she got shot. It was a nice thing to do."
"She wouldn't have been shot in the first place if it wasn't for me," Buck corrected him.
"You don't know that. They were all expendables on the ranch, they never knew what that bitch was planning to do." Brushing his palm over the blanket, Chris turned to his friend again. "I think we both learnt our lessons... Beauty ain't neccessary on the inside as well as the outside. What's on the inside can be real ugly even if it comes with a pretty face."
"Isn't that the truth."
The simple statement was the last that was spoken between them, hazel eyes locked in blue ones conveyed the emotions and what they both wanted to say but didn't quite dare, easily. The rest of the world filtered to slow, faint background noises, the very air seeming to bend around them in a small shelter keeping just the two of them on the inside, away from anyone and everything else.
They were sitting close together, so close that it was easy for Buck to lean forward just a little and for Chris to tilt his head slightly so that the first brush of their lips against each others was unhindered, encouraged.
No more words were needed even as they broke apart, it was the most natural thing in the world as Chris rested his head against Buck's shoulder, the darkhaired man's arm coming up to circle broad shoulders. Feeling the soft, short hair tickle his chin Buck reached for Chris' hand, their fingers entwining in a sure grip.
Thundering hooves sounded against the road, jolting them out of the dream-like state. JD was sliding off his horse before it had stopped completely, already hollering for Nathan. Racing past the two men on the boardwalk he attempted to explain before moving on.
"Accident...playing golf, 'Siah's taking Ez to the clinic...gotta run." All was deliereved in one breath, then JD was gone as well.
"We better see what all the commotion's about," Buck softly said, hand in still in Chris', shielded from view underneath the blanket. He was feeling a little shy all of a sudden, the feeling obviously mirrored by the man beside him as the other didn't meet his eyes, just studied their linked hands with great interest.
"Yeah, I guess." Neither made a move to get up. Fnally Chris looked up to meet Buck's eyes, a small smile forming on his face. Carefully Buck raised his hand and placed it on the smaller man's cheek, fingers curling in a gentle caress. The touch made Chris' smile grow and he moved his head into Buck's hand just a fraction more. It was still so new between them, Buck felt like holding his breath while his heart was racing like a herd of wild horses in the mountains.
The booming voice of the ex-preacher made them move apart again, with matching, blushing smiles on their faces. Buck leaned back in his chair, his arm casually draped over the back of Chris' chair, a warm, assuring touch along the blond's back.
"Hey, Josiah!" he called "What's going on?"
The large man was looking a bit flustered, and not just a little shameful as he guided the smaller form of their resident gambler onto the walk. He had a safe grip on the other's arm as Ezra was veering a little to the side before Josiah reigned him in again. The usually clear green eyes were for the moment glazed with held-back hurt and the unfocused, dizzy feeling from no doubt a concussion. The obvious sinner was a sizable bump and gash on the Southerner's forehead, blood still generously dripping into his eyes. He raised a hand to rub the offending liquid away only to have his hand stopped by Josiah.
"Don't touch it, son, Nate'll be here in a moment."
"What happened?" Chris was seriously starting to doubt that they were able to do as much as anything without one or more of them winding up injured.
"I didn't duck," Ezra answered seriously, nodding before the movement made him grimace and reach for his head again.
Again Josiah batted the hand away. "I didn't know he was there! One moment he's all asleep underneath a big, ole oak, then he's all of a sudden right in front of me! Or the golf ball, more correctly..."
"So you hit him in the head with a golf ball." Buck was trying very hard not to smile. "Geez, Josiah..."
"I didn't do it on purpose!"
"Buck knows that," Chris took pity on him, "he's just teasing you." He elbowed Buck in the ribs. "Be nice, Buck." Amusement was glittering in his eyes. "It's not polite to tease people about their poor aim..." The darker man gave a snort of laughter and quickly hid his face against Chris' shoulder to hide his grin.
"Yeah, yeah... Very funny." Josiah was straightening the Southerner back up after he'd started tilting precariously to one side following the blanket that was in the process of sliding down of Chris' left shoulder. He wasn't going to say it but on the inside he was more than pleased to see his two friends smile again, some of the gloom left over them after what had taken place with that monstrous woman had lifted. At least the healing could start, for all of them. Further musing was interrupted by Nathan quickly approaching.
"What happened?" the healer immediately asked, taking Ezra's face between his hands to examine the wound. Serious green eyes gazed up at him.
"Josiah."
"What?"
"Josiah happened."
"He... What?" Nathan was frowning. "What are you talking about? Josiah did this?"
"I didn't duck," Ezra informed him.
"I see." Nathan was prodding the gash, ignoring the smaller man's squirming. "And you were supposed to do that...duck?"
"When Josiah's playing golf, you oughta," Buck commented, receiving another slap in the arm from Chris who wasn't fairing much better in hiding his amusement. They both knew the little Southerner would be alright again and wasn't about to let the opportunity to tease the preacher pass them by.
"He got in the way of one of the balls," Chris explained. Then he thought a little before clarifying. "Golf balls." He thought some more. "At least he didn't whack him with the club." By now Buck was half buried in the blanket, desperately trying to keep from laughing.
After sending them both a doubting look Nathan straightened. "Let's get him up to my clinic. I don't think I need to stitch it, but I want to get it cleaned properly...." He was distracted by the sound of someone moving towards them, hurriedly pushing people out of the way. Surprised he recognized the buckskin clad figure, before he was unceremoniously pushed out of the way too.
Vin aimed straight for Ezra, cupping the shorter man's face in his hand similar to Nathan's touch, yet very different.
"Jesus, Ez, what happened to you? Are you ok?" Not noticing the round of raised eyebrows he carefully examined the wound. "Nathan better have a look at this."
The black healer raised a finger, opening his mouth to speak, then he resigned. After hearing Ezra declare yet again his failure to duck, which caused even Josiah to smile by now, he tapped Vin's shoulder. He was completely ignored as Vin swiveled around to face Josiah.
"You did this!?" Sky blue eyes were dark and held a menacing look. "You hurt him?"
"Relax," came from Chris, his voice steady and authorative. "It was an accident, Vin. Why don't you get Ez up to Nathan's place so he can fix him up?" The younger man complied after another dark look at their preacher before he was leading Ezra away, keeping very close to the still dazed man.
"Now that was interesting," Buck commented casually after a few seconds of silence. "Never seen junior get in such a state over someone getting hurt before."
"Indeed," Josiah agreed, watching the two being followed by Nathan who was still shaking his head, not even sure if Vin had ever noticed that the healer was standing right next to him and was now following them to the clinic. JD passed the little equipage and sent them a wondering look then he shrugged, joining Josiah, Chris and Buck on the sidewalk.
Again peace settled over the quiet street. JD and Josiah were soon engaged in conversation, the younger man occasionally chuckling over the taller man's bad luck with the game of golf. Buck was tenderly arranging the blanket better around Chris' shoulder, their hands finding each other again underneath the woven fabric. A shared glance and smile later and they were resting quietly and comfortably in each other's company.
Neither of them paid much attention to the ragged looking cowboy walking from the alley nearby towards the livery to get his horse. A moment later he was in the saddle and on his way out of town.
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Gary Joelson wasn't a young man, and what little wealth he had possessed in this world had been traded for liquor in whatever saloon in whichever town he happened to be in. So when the beautiful, darkhaired lady had approached him one night when all he was doing was nursing a beer and contemplating the general unfairness of his life, he'd thought his luck finally was in. All he had to do was ride into Four Corners, do a little looking around and then come back and tell her what he'd found out. Piece of cake.
The lady, he'd never gotten to know her name, was undoubtedly pretty, but there was a certain gleam in her eyes and an almost hungry sheen over her face that made him uneasy, bringing back an apostate catholic's urge to cross himself. Yet, the money was good, and the spirits behind the bar already beckoning.
So here he was, trailing through the barren lands leading to the foot of the mountains to a large, well equipped house seeming very out of place in the bleak surroundings. A few people were moving about, keeping their attention on their chores and an eye on the incoming rider. One of them had to have alerted the lady of the house as she was coming out to meet him. Dressed in a flowing, expensively cut burgundy dress her eyes were locked on his face as the aim of a gun.
"Well?"
Twisting his hat in hands, Gary squinted at her, wondering why he was feeling so afraid of a simple woman. "Didn't see no fairhaired lady near him, miz, no ladies at all. All I saw was the other law men, but..."
Her body was taut as a bow string, perched like a snake ready for strike. Hands fisting then opening again, she kept her eyes at him, the gaze almost solid heat in its intensity. "But what? Speak up, or you won't be receiving so much as a penny."
Gary swallowed audibly, taking a step forward as if that alone would secure the promise of money. "Your fella ain't got no lady friend, miz. He seemed awfully cozy with some tall, darkhaired guy..." He stopped, eyes downcast in shame over having to delay such unnatural activities to a lady. His gaze snapped up again as he heard a chuckle. The dark woman was smiling.
"Of course... No woman will ever be enough for him after me..." She seemed to have forgotten about the man in front of her. "Dear Buck always did seem a bit apprehensive around me, now I know why..." The smile stayed on her face as she fell silent.
When she moved again Gary almost jumped. In a flutter of skirts, lace and perfume she walked down the stairs to him and placed a small bundle of bills in his outstretched hand.
"I might need your services again, old man. You did well." Her steel blue eyes narrowed. "But if I find that you have told anyone about this, you won't live to see the next day, am I clear?"
"Yes." He nodded vigorously. "I won't tell anybody. I swear." Backing away, he stumbled moving for his horse. Embarrased Gary looked back only to find that the woman had forgotten all about him again. Swinging into the saddle he rode away, trying to ignore the feeling of relief as the house was lost in the distance.
Gaze hovering over the scattered trees surrounding the small trail leading down from the hills and into the town, Ella Gaines smiled slowly. Fate had played right into her hands again, her beloved would soon be back where he belonged, at her side. And this time she would have the perfect bate for him as well. Spinning around she walked briskly back into the house. She had a lot of planning to do.
The End
