The others were already on their way to the house as Vin tied his horse by the corral, where more expensive horses grazed."Coming, Mr. Tanner?" Ezra called.
He reluctantly followed Ezra inside the expansive house with the others. As soon as he stepped in the doorway, he was overcome by a severe feeling of claustrophobia, the fine furnishings and expensive decorations closing in on him in a whirlwind, and he quickly stepped right back out. He watched from the porch as Buck, JD, Josiah, and Ezra headed straight for the dining room table laden with food and silverware, but Vin's appetite had disappeared. He took a few deep breaths to clear his head, then decided to scout around the house instead of trying to go back inside. It never hurt to be aware of your surroundings, especially when you didn't know who you were dealing with.
He circled around the house, stopping for an instant before an open window. He heard Ella's sing song voice. "Chris, why don't you come on upstairs? I'll show you your room. Don't shoot the good doctor, Josiah, while you're on your watch."
Chris must have hesitated, because Ezra replied, "If you prefer the bunkhouse, Chris, I'll take the feather bed. That's the sort of good-hearted person I am."
Vin walked on, noticing that the outside of the house seemed recently painted. There were gaps in the paint, as if it had been done in a hurry, without taking time to sand away the old paint first. The forest around the house held a lot of hiding places, and Vin rested his hand on his mare's leg as he completed his circle of the house. The others were heading towards the bunkhouse as he came around the back porch, and he fell in behind them. Chris wasn't with them, so he must have accepted the offer of Ella's bed.
The door to the bunkhouse creaked open. Spider webs drooped from the ceiling, and bugs scattered across the floor as they entered. Vin looked the room over, then proclaimed, "I think I'll sleep under the stars."
He walked away from the dilapidated bunkhouse, heading for the forest. He turned just as he entered the tree line. He could see Chris watching him from the porch. Their eyes met for an instant, and Vin was tempted to walk to him by the look of longing he saw on Chris's face, but then Chris turned as Ella appeared at his side. They walked around the corner of the porch out of sight, and Vin stepped further back into the forest, under a heavy oak tree. He placed his bedroll at its base. He knew he was torturing himself, but when Chris needed his help, he'd know where he was. If, he thought, not when. Don't go condemning the man his happiness. He sat against the tree and pulled out his harmonica. The soft sounds carried on the wind away from the house, lost in the shadows of the forest.
The quiet of the early evening was shattered by the carriage heaving back onto the property. Vin hurried over as the doctor and Nathan carried Louis, the driver, into the house, hunched in pain. He waited by the bunkhouse as Chris talked with Ella and got that look on his face, the half-cocky smile that promised someone was gonna get whupped. Vin had seen that look before, many times, and stood by Chris' side as whoever was on the receiving end tried not to piss their pants in fear at it. Most folks thought Larabee was the hardest of the hard asses, meaner and deadlier than a rattler. Vin figured they were right. He sure as hell wasn't somebody to cross. Yet Vin had never felt afraid of him, or even threatened. Larabee, unlike a lot of mean varmints, didn't hurt people because he enjoyed it. He was protecting what was his. He didn't need a lot, but what was his, he'd kill for. Somehow that small town of theirs had fallen under Chris' skin, as had the six men he protected it with. Vin smiled slightly. He reckoned he was included in that, maybe more than others. Chris had trusted him with more than just watching his back. Vin had let his guard down, and let Chris Larabee inside where no one had ever been, and would probably never be again. It didn't particularly bother him that Chris was a man; if he could find a woman who was as tough and faithful as Chris, who could read him like the gunslinger could without words, who could make him feel silly things like hope and security, then he'd follow her around the same as he did Chris. Hell, he'd almost dragged Charlotte to Brazil, and she wasn't near as exciting as Chris. He also didn't mind letting Chris take the limelight. The man was a natural leader. He spoke and people ran to follow him. It was one of the things Vin admired most about him, that he was able to do the right thing, even after being through horrors that would destroy anybody else. Chris wasn't anywhere near perfect, and sometimes he lost battles against the darkness clawing at his soul, but he wouldn't lose the war. Vin promised him that, silently, as he watched him lean to Ella. If she was able to help Chris win against the darkness, then so be it.
Chris called out to Buck after Louis had been taken inside. He saw Vin off to the side. "Round up Ezra. We're going after Handsome Jack in Red Fork."
Ezra stepped from inside the house. "Are we partaking in a show of force?" he asked as Buck and JD came out of the bunkhouse.
"Ezra and I'll stay here and watch the house," Vin called, leaning on the bunkhouse wall. He reckoned he'd find out more here than from Handsome Jack. Ezra looked at him, surprised, but quickly recovered.
"Capital idea," he said.
Chris also looked at Vin, suspiciously, but shrugged it off. "OK, Buck and JD, let's head out. Let Handsome Jack know we're here and on the job."
Ezra joined Vin by the bunkhouse as the others saddled up and rode out. Chris didn't look back as Vin called out, "Watch yer back."
After they had gone, Vin straightened. "I'm lookin' around," he said, heading to the livery.
"Be careful, Mr. Tanner. You may find what you're looking for."
Vin turned back sharply. "What the hell does that mean?" he snapped.
Ezra shrugged. "If you find evidence of Mrs. Gaines's deception, what will you do with it?"
"Tell Chris so we can get the hell out of here."
Ezra smiled sadly. "I never expected you to be naive, Vin."
Vin turned away. "Ezra, either help me or stay the hell out of my way," he said, walking towards the livery.
Ezra watched as he disappeared into the stable. "I think you are beyond my help," he said quietly.
<<<<<<<<<<~~~~~~~~~~>>>>>>>>>>
Vin couldn't sleep. He gnawed on a dry biscuit Ezra had brought him from the house. After Chris had left for Red Fork, the fancy food disappeared, and the men had been left to scavenge around the kitchen for something to eat. Vin still refused to go in the house. He didn't want to see what was in there, all the comforts that were making Chris drift slowly away. He tried to have faith. He hoped Chris could see through all the finery to the sewage brewing beneath. A gilded cage, Ezra had said. He wasn't too sure what gilded meant, but he knew cage all right. Chris had walked right into this cage, and was pulling the door locked behind him. Vin understood; he'd never really had a home, not since his mama died long ago, but when he found the closest thing with Chris and the others in town, he didn't want to let it go. That must be what Chris was feeling. He'd had a family, a wife and son, a real home. He'd lost it, but maybe he was thinking he could have it again. Vin wondered if there was any place for him in that home, and then chastised himself. Of course there wasn't. A man didn't want a reminder of anything that wasn't family around, especially when that reminder had fucked him. He smiled wryly, wondering what Ella would think of that little tidbit, if she'd treat Vin as competition instead of a hired hand.
Chris, Buck and JD rode in early in the morning, looking tired and dusty, but successful. After hearing what Buck and JD had to say about the altercation in Red Fork, Vin left to go on watch. His attention was drawn by Chris leaving the house and approaching the corral where one of the unbroken horses tested the boundaries of his pen. The gunslinger wore a white shirt, which struck Vin as odd; then he remembered Buck telling him that Ella had given Chris some of her dead husband's clothes. Vin thought that was a bit creepy, but he'd held his tongue around Buck. Buck worried about Chris as much as he did, but he wasn't sure if he wanted his suspicions known yet, or whether Buck would tell Chris what Vin thought.
He leaned against a tree as Chris entered the corral and strode slowly to the horse, which eyed him with wild eyes. Chris raised his hands carefully, palms up to show no threat, and murmured to calm the horse's frayed nerves. He grasped the rope bridle, and the horse reared, yanking on the rope to get away.
Chris held on. "Whoa, whoa, easy boy," he said softly, easing closer. The black slowly started to calm, but was still wary as Chris moved further up the rope. He got close enough to the quarter horse to stroke its sweaty neck, still calmly comforting the frightened animal with his voice. He tossed a saddle one-handed over the horse's back. "Whoa, easy," he said, quickly tightening the cinches and climbing on. Then all hell broke loose as the horse tried to toss him off. Chris held on as the horse's front hooves pawed the air and it bucked wildly around the corral, Chris's body jerking and his hands rubbed raw clutching the rope. The horse lunged straight for the fence, trying to dislodge the invader on its back, but turned sharply just before ramming into the corral. "Whoa, easy," Chris repeated; soon the animal trusted that the man on his back wasn't a threat, and slowed its bucking, prancing around the corral with Chris on its back. The smile on Chris's face as he tamed the animal reached to his eyes. Ella watched proudly from the porch as the dust kicked up by the horse's fight settled around him.
Vin shook his head and stepped back to where he was watching for Handsome Jack, amazed at the command Chris had shown over the horse, the same determination that he showed in a gunfight. But breaking horses didn't end up with someone dead, he thought. Maybe this was the life that Chris was meant for. Vin realized he'd seen a glimpse of the man Chris was before the murder of his family. Who was Vin Tanner to deny him that? The bad feeling still gnawed at him though. What if this was all an illusion, and Chris didn't want to see it? He wanted a home so badly that he allowed himself to be tricked. Wanting to be held, he allowed himself to be led. Vin shook his head at the direction of his thoughts. Sounds a lot like you, Tanner. Ever wonder how you ended up following him around? You may think you were helping him, but you were helping yourself too. He don't need your help anymore, so you need to accept it's about time to move on. Chris can take care of himself. If you're wrong, then he won't want you to be underfoot. If you're right, then maybe he'll catch up to you before you reach Tascosa. Vin leaned his head back against the tree. Hell, people were more trouble than they were worth. Things were a shitload simpler with no one for you to worry about and no one to worry about you.
Ezra relieved him on watch a few hours later. He brought out a deck of cards and started to shuffle one-handed. "Ah, my favorite activity - watching nothing. Would you care to relieve the boredom with a game of chance?" he asked.
Vin shook his head. "Nope, gonna head back to the house. Try and talk ta Chris."
"About what?"
"Somethin' ain't right here."
Ezra stopped shuffling. "I believe Mr. Larabee is otherwise engaged at the moment, and would be deftly displeased at any interruption."
"He's got ta hear it sometime, Ezra."
Ezra sighed and pocketed the cards. "Mr. Tanner, he wouldn't hear you if you were shouting."
Vin turned away and headed to the house. He knew Ezra was right, but he was right too. When he reached the house, he paused before stepping up to the door. Chris and Ella were inside. He glanced at the now docile horse munching on hay in the corral, then shook his head and stepped back off the porch.
Ezra hurried in soon after. "We're about to have visitors," he called out. The others ran to their places in the yard to await Handsome Jack's arrival. Vin knelt behind a wagon as Jack's men rode in like they owned the place, not even stopping to look for an ambush.
"Let her know we're here, boys," Jack yelled, accompanied by gunfire aimed at the sky. "Ella Gaines, time's up. Come for your answer." There was only silence. "Probably putting her make-up on, boys. Wants to look her best for me."
Vin stood, cocking his gun. "Not likely," he drawled. The others followed suit, emerging from their hiding places with guns aimed at Jack's men.
Chris stepped out the front door, a cocky almost-grin on his face, and leaned on a post. "It's up to you, Jack," he said.
One of Jack's gang got trigger happy, and Vin shot him in the arm.
Jack didn't put up much of a fight after that. "Put 'em down boys. Next moron goes for his weapon, I'll shoot you myself," he said.
"Now, you ride out of here. Tell that mining company forget about this land," Chris said. Ella stepped onto the porch, ducking under Chris's arm.
"Gonna miss you, Ella," Jack said. Vin stole a glance at her. She was dwarfed as she tucked herself under Chris's arm.
"You're a big boy. You'll get over it," she said.
As Jack and his men rode off, Vin uncocked his gun. The big confrontation that they had been expecting hadn't been more than a fizzle, and that worried him. He almost felt like he'd been part of a show. He joined the others as they gathered around Chris, his arm wrapped around Ella. Ezra was right. Chris wouldn't hear him if he was shouting.
"We riled that kid and his bunch right out of here, huh?" JD said, still pumped from the altercation.
"You scared them off just like I knew you would," Ella said.
Vin voiced one of his concerns. "I ain't convinced. He knew we was here, yet he rode straight into a trap."
"Well, all of Jack's courage is in his mouth," Ella said. "He won't be back. And I can't thank you enough for that."
"Maybe, but we better keep our lookouts," Chris answered.
Vin knew he wasn't going to find any answers here. "All the same to you, I'll ride over ta Red Fork later. See if he's still around," he said.
Chris paused, looking down. "All right. You should all know, after this job's finished, I'll be staying on here," he said, dropping an arm around Ella shoulders. She smiled and moved closer to him.
Vin felt like he'd been kicked in the gut. He'd known it was coming, but didn't expect such a dismissal. He squashed the feeling of loss. He'd had a good time for a while; hell, maybe he'd find it again.
"Good luck to ya," he said, waiting until they'd stepped away, then walked away shaking his head before he said something he'd regret. He headed straight to the livery and saddled his horse to head for Red Fork. Ezra followed him, but wisely didn't say anything when he saw Vin's expression. He continued watching from the doorway as Vin rode away without a glance back, then walked to the house. Winning at poker was going to be the only good to come out of this whole mess.
Vin rode fast and hard to Red Fork. He knew he was probably pushing his horse, but it felt good to get away from that place, and when he was riding hard, he wasn't thinking. The last thing he wanted to do was any more thinking. It had done him nothing but harm. His instincts were what had kept him alive for so long, and he had ignored them, second-guessed himself by thinking too much. He had let himself get attached, to a place and to a person, and it was the biggest mistake he'd made since he brought Jess Kincaid's body back to Tascosa. He had stopped hunting Eli Joe to stay in that damn town, and when he'd finally had the bastard within his grasp, Chris had shot him dead. He had been devastated, but not completely, because he'd believed he'd have Chris watching his back, and that had made him feel safe. Stupid, stupid, stupid, he chided himself. Deserve what you got, and now it's time to move on. Find out what's really going on here, tell Chris the truth, then move on. Unless Chris actually believed him. He laughed at the glimmer of hope still in him. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
He arrived at Red Fork just as dusk was settling. He stabled his horse, wincing at its sweaty flanks, and walked down the street of the small town, eyes alert for any face he recognized from Jack's gang. He'd gotten a good look at all of them when they rode on to Ella's property, and most of them looked to him like riff-raff you could pick up in any saloon, so that's where he headed. He passed an alley beside the saloon, and saw a figure hunched over by the wall, losing a day's worth of drinking on his own shoes. The man groaned and leaned against the wall. Vin looked at his face. His skin was a bit greener, but he was one of Jack's gang all right. Vin stepped up to him and placed a hand around his throat.
"Tell me what's goin' on out at Ella Gaines' place," he said quietly. The man gasped in surprise but didn't try to fight. He looked like he was about to puke again. Vin tightened his hold. "Swallow it," he said. The man did. "Tell me, or I'll gut ya where ya stand."
"Don't know the particulars," the man said. "Jack paid us $10 to ride out there with him, but he said don't do any damage. Just aim for the sky and put on a good show."
"Why?"
"I don't know." Vin's grip tightened. "Jack said something once, after he'd had a bit to drink. It was right after that Larabee fellow hit him. He said, 'The bitch ain't paying me enough to take a punch.'"
"Ya mean Ella?"
"He didn't say, and I didn't ask. I still ain't been paid in full yet." Vin let the man go, and he rubbed his neck.
"If'n yer smart, you'll forget the money and get out of town," Vin said. The man nodded and disappeared out the back of the alley. A suspicion had grown in Vin's mind, but he wanted proof. He headed to the county clerk's office.
When he stepped back out fifteen minutes later, he wasn't happy with what he'd found out. He knew Chris wasn't going to be happy either, but he had to be told. He hoped to God Larabee wouldn't shoot the messenger.
<<<<<<<<<<~~~~~~~~~~>>>>>>>>>>
Vin made the trip back faster than it had taken to get there. Night had fallen but Ella's house was lit up like a saloon. A party was in full swing when Vin arrived. He hopped off his horse and hurried up the stairs, pausing inside the doorway. He was filthy, sweaty, bone-tired, and wanted to be anywhere except walking into this lavish house, but he kept going. As he walked in, he saw Chris pouring himself a stiff drink, wearing a fancy suit. The rough gunslinger looked instead like he'd been born to this type of life. And here Vin was, about to try and take it away.
Chris looked up as Vin entered the room. Vin couldn't feel that connection between them at all. It was as if the Chris he knew was gone, replaced by this stranger in a fancy suit and with cold eyes. Vin had wondered what Chris was like when he had a family before; if this had been it, then he was glad he didn't know him then, but he suspected that wasn't the case. Ella had done this to him, and he had to tell him the truth.
"Where you been?" Chris asked.
Vin sighed, thinking of how to say what needed to be said. He just plowed ahead. "Ain't no way ta make this sound good, so I'll just spill it. Ella owns Culpepper Minin'."
"Where'd you get that?" Chris asked.
"County clerk over in Red Fork. Which means Handsome Jack works for her," Vin said.
Chris's look grew colder. "Who told you to go digging into her business?"
Vin tried to explain it to him, to get him to see. "She lied to you up and down the line. The woman's no good, Chris."
"I'm gonna forget you said that."
Vin knew he'd gone too far. He knew better than to tell a man his woman's no good. He hadn't listened when Chris warned him about Charlotte, but this was different; this woman had lied and tricked them, to get Chris to stay. Of course, Vin realized, Charlotte hadn't exactly been forthright with him either. Maybe it was different only because Chris was the one leaving. But since Chris had made his choice, Vin Tanner wasn't about to stay where he wasn't wanted. "Come sunrise then, I'll be goin'," he said, tipping his hat as he walked away. He glanced once at the woman who had ruined everything he'd cherished, but strangely he didn't hate her. He understood. Hell, he'd been swept into the same tornado that she had, wanting to be close to Chris's raw energy and power. He reckoned that made him just as pathetic as her, although he wouldn't trick him just to keep him.
He walked out of the house without looking back. He was too close, had allowed himself to want and hope and need, and it'd bitten him in the ass. He thought he'd been smart, trusting someone to watch his back, but he was wrong. He'd been soft. The one good thing to come out of it was he hadn't been caught staying too long in one place, and he wasn't going to make the same mistake again. Mexico was probably the best place for him. Brazil even, he thought wryly. At least he wouldn't be saddled with a woman when he went down there. Alone was best. He didn't have to worry about anyone else, so he could move faster, without those pesky bouts of conscience that came from living in some damn town.
He arrived at his small camp in the forest. The party was still going on, unaffected by the torment he was going through, and the light from inside the house spilled over him as he leaned against the tree. He closed his eyes, but then opened them again. For the first time in a long time he felt he had to sleep with one eye open. He pulled out his harmonica, but the sound didn't carry over the waltz music coming from the house, so he thrust it back in his pocket and waited wide-eyed and alert for sunrise. It couldn't come soon enough.
He must have dozed; he jolted awake after hearing a twig snap. His gun was in his hand instantly, cocked and ready to fire the second the intruder showed himself. Vin relaxed when he heard a soft drawl through the trees.
"Really, Mr. Tanner, only you could find the most inhospitable place to sleep on this vast property," Ezra said as he neared. "This makes that despicable excuse for a bunkhouse seem like a five-star hotel."
"It's cleaner out here," Vin answered, moving over so Ezra could sit next to him on the bedroll.
The conman placed a handkerchief down before sitting on it. Vin grinned.
"What ya got there, Ez?" he asked, nodding at the wrapped bundle Ezra carried.
"I brought you some of the fine cuisine left over from the soiree," he said, untying it.
"No thanks," Vin replied. "Ain't hungry."
"You should leave lying to the professionals, sir. Now I know you would rather consume your own fingers than any of Mrs. Gaines's food, but surely you can see the wisdom in keeping your strength up." He set out some cheese, sirloin, bread, dessert, and a canteen of coffee.
"What the hell is that?" Vin asked.
"It's called a truffle. It's a delicacy."
Vin sat back stubbornly. Ezra sighed. "Vin, I know you are a strong and able fighter, but I dare say that if I set my mind to it, I could shove this food down your stubborn throat."
"Wanna bet?" Vin said, but he took a roll and a sip of coffee anyway. "What else ya got?" he asked in between bites.
Ezra unwrapped a napkin, revealing a bunch of purple grapes. "I thought it symbolically fitting," he said, popping a grape into his mouth.
Vin ate in silence, watching the house. Most of the lights were off, except one upstairs. Ezra turned to follow his line of sight, when the light went out.
"You may find this difficult if not impossible to believe, Vin, but I am a good listener."
Vin looked at him sharply, but saw only sincerity on the gambler's face. Still, he was unsure how much to reveal. He shrugged. "He's up there with her. I told him that she lied to him and tricked him, and he's up there with her. Can't figure it out."
"Love is blind, as the saying goes."
"Ya think he loves her?"
Ezra ate another grape while he considered. "I think Mr. Larabee has stopped thinking straight. He is very much the leader of our little band of peacekeepers, and is always in control of both his actions and those of others around him. Maybe he is tired of that responsibility, and sees this offer of Mrs. Gaines's as a respite from it. As an added bonus, he gets a home and family, the two things he has been missing for a long while."
"He didn't have ta always be in control," Vin replied. "He just had ta say he wanted a break, and we'd of backed off."
Ezra raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
Vin shrugged.
"Perhaps he didn't know he was tired until Mrs. Gaines arrived. Mr. Larabee is both an able leader and a valuable compatriot, but he does live in the past. If he can't have his family back, then he'll have another ideal from long ago."
"So what do I... I mean, what do we do?" Vin asked.
"That I can't answer. I fear only Chris will be able to do anything to remedy the situation, and that he apparently doesn't want to do." Ezra paused. "Vin, when you leave, which I suspect will be very soon, would you like some company? I certainly don't have Mr. Larabee's acumen with a Colt, but I would back you up to the best of my abilities."
"I know ya would, Ez, but I need ta be on my own again. You understand?"
Ezra nodded. "All too well." He stood and brushed off his pants. "I shall return to the hovel with the others before the mosquitoes drain me dry. Good night, Mr. Tanner."
"Good-bye, Ezra," Vin replied. Ezra smiled sadly and walked away. Vin finished the grapes Ezra had left, and the coffee. He'd meant to ask Ezra what gilded meant, but it didn't matter. He reckoned after seeing Chris in that fancy suit, he got the idea.
Vin was already saddled and on his horse as the first rays of sun shone over the treetops. The place was quiet, only the neighing of the horses breaking the silence of the dawn. He headed out, stopping to look back at the dark still house. "Watch yer back, cowboy," he said, and turned his horse up the road.
He hadn't gone far when he heard horses coming toward him. He quickly led his horse behind some trees, and peered out to watch as Handsome Jack and his men rode past. "Damn," he muttered, and followed them discretely back to Ella's. He didn't know what they were up to, since Ella had gotten what she wanted, but he knew it wasn't good.
He heard the first shots as he neared the house, and Jack yell, "They're in the bunkhouse, boys!" A barrage of gunfire perforated the bunkhouse, and Vin said a quick prayer that the men inside were able to find cover before he started firing.
"Get that rider coming in," Jack yelled, and one of his men ran to shoot at Vin.
"I got him, Jack," the man answered, then was felled by one of Vin's bullets.
Vin hurried off his horse and ran for cover. He took up position behind a wagon and started aiming for Jack's men. Then he saw something that made his heart stop. Chris emerged from the front door, shirtless, barefoot, rifle clutched and aimed at Handsome Jack. He didn't even try to take cover, just walked towards Jack's men, firing and hitting them.
The others darted from the trees, and the gun battle intensified. Chris continued walking forward, not flinching as bullets landed around him. When the bullets in the rifle ran out, he grabbed a pistol from the waist of his pants and fired with that. Vin saw him standing out in the open, and broke cover, jumping over the porch to crouch behind him.
"Get down, Larabee!" Vin shouted as Jack's men turned and fired at the lone figure out in the open. Chris kept firing. Vin stood behind him, trying to shoot anyone who might be able to hit Chris.
Ella emerged on a horse from behind the house, draped in a black cape.
"Chris!" she cried. Chris turned and aimed his gun at her, his hand shaking as he tried to pull the trigger. Jack fired as Chris hesitated, and the gunfighter fell to the ground. After Chris was hit, Vin couldn't see clearly, like he was watching it through a fog. From far away, he heard his voice yell, "No!" and he saw his arm raise to fire at Handsome Jack, knocking him dead. Then Vin was running towards where Chris lay writhing on the ground. Ella spurred the horse, and Vin aimed at her and fired, but she kept riding, as dirt kicked up behind her where the bullet hit.
"Did you get her?" Chris asked.
"Nope. Missed her," Vin said, grabbing Chris's arms and pressing against the wound. He still wasn't sure what was wrong with him; he felt dizzy and slow, but there was no way he was going to let Chris die, not at that bitch's hands.
"Nathan! Nathan!" he yelled, grabbing Chris tighter and hoping some his strength transferred to him. He glanced up and saw Ella, high on a ridge, stop and look back down at them, then she was gone, like a snake slithering into the high weeds after striking.
Chris lay back on the dirt as Nathan rushed over and knelt beside him, breathing hard as Nathan probed the wound. He clutched Vin's hand, and closed his eyes.
"Bullet went through," Nathan said. "I'll need to patch him up, but if it doesn't get infected, he should be OK. Help me get him inside."
"No!" Chris said. "Nobody goes inside."
"Chris, I need to get you in the house where it's cleaner. You'll get infected out here in the dirt."
"No!" Chris repeated. He looked at Vin, and Vin nodded.
"How 'bout over on that wagon, then? Leastways he's out of the dirt."
Nathan nodded grimly, and they lifted him to the wagon. Chris tensed but didn't cry out. Vin stayed by his side as Nathan cleaned and bandaged the wound, Chris clutching his hand as the pain got too great. Nathan gave him a bit of laudanum, and he slowly relaxed.
"Leave...now," he said quietly. Nathan shook his head.
"You ain't moving," he said.
Chris's eyes closed and he drifted to sleep. Vin looked around at the remnants of the battle, bodies lying on the ground, smoldering piles of wood and rubble. The others gathered around the wagon.
"He gonna make it?" Buck asked.
"Looks like it," Nathan replied.
"Let's get these bodies gathered up, " Vin said. "Nathan, you, me and Ezra'll head back to town with Chris, while the rest of ya'll deal with the sheriff in Red Fork."
"Now wait a minute. He's in no shape to..." Nathan's
protests were cut off by the look Vin gave him.
"We leave now," he said. "The further we get away from this place, the better Chris'll be."
<<<<<<<<<<~~~~~~~~~~>>>>>>>>>>
Vin walked quickly from the livery to where Chris sat on the boardwalk. He was wrapped in a blanket, his eyes empty as he clutched a letter in his hand. Vin strode up to him.
"Chris," he said. "She leaked out of the landscape. We covered every town 'tween here and Red Fork. Sorry ya didn't shoot her when ya had the chance." I'm sorry I missed, he added silently.
Chris wasn't looking at him. Vin didn't think he was even talking to him when he answered.
"Next time," he said.
Vin nodded. This wasn't over.
Continues in Silent and Calm
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