Vin’s face creased with an amused smile. He was standing in the hallway outside of Chris’ room. It was almost 9:30 am and Tanner was due to ride out. The judge had requested that one of the boys ride shotgun with the stage each week. There had never been any trouble, but the judge didn’t want to tempt fate.

“Larabee, I’m leavin’,” Vin called for a second time. Again, he received a growl. “Does that mean ya heard me, you cranky cuss?”

The door opened. Chris stood filling the doorway in only his pants. His hair was dishevelled and his feet bare. “I heard”

Vin smiled. “It was a good night.”

Chris leaned against the doorframe and grinned. “A gut full of regrets. The others?”

“Haven’t surfaced, but Maude gave Ezra a right rollicking last night and Buck was still singin’ at 1:00.”

“I know, I heard him. Early afternoon?” Larabee asked, wanting to know what time Vin felt he would be back in town.

“If the stage is runnin’ on time. Last time I just got in before dark.”

Chris grunted.

“A couple of fellas rode in this mornin’. They’ve been quiet. They’re sitting on the porch of the saloon.”

“I’ll keep an eye on them.” Vin turned to go. “Watch your back,” Chris called.

Tanner tipped his hat and headed for the livery. He was looking forward to getting out of town. Vin longed for the open plains. He had been cooped up in town for almost a week because of rain. Thankfully, the deluge had stopped yesterday morning, although Vin expected there may be some flooding. He hoped Eagle River wasn’t up. If it was, the stage wouldn’t be able to get through.

**********

Vin gave Peso his head. The huge black horse broke into a gallop stretching out across the open land. The animal was used to daily rides and having been tied up in the livery due to the weather had left him with energy to burn.

Vin felt the tension between his shoulders ease. He reflected on the fact that it had been too long since he had left the confines of civilization. Every time he rode out of town, he questioned the fact that he chose to stay. This was his world and when he returned to it briefly, he found himself wondering why he ever left.

Peso slowed. Vin reached down and rubbed the panting horse’s neck. “Eagle Bend, fella. We’re ridin’ shotgun.”

As thoughts of the stage filled his mind, Tanner found himself grinning. The first time it had been his turn to escort the carriage, a row had broken out. His six companions did not believe it would be ‘safe’ for him to ride alone considering the bounty on his head. Vin was taken back by their concern and desire to protect him. He had tried to convince his friends that their alarm was unwarranted but they had ignored him and continued to discuss whether someone should ride with the tracker or if he should even be allocated a day to ride shotgun.

Amused, Vin had quietly slipped from the room to ride to Eagle Bend. The only person to notice his departure was Larabee. The gunfighter’s head bobbed once. Chris wasn’t happy about Vin’s decision to ride alone, but he respected the tracker’s ability to look after himself. Vin appreciated that.

Tanner scanned the area around him. A week earlier, the land had been yellow, the sun burning the grass. The rain had rejuvenated the earth. Wild flowers were covering some areas like a carpet. In a few days, they would die and the dry weather would return, but at least the underwater basins would have been filled.

The air felt warm, but comfortable and Vin found himself reflecting on the night before. Again, he smiled. It had been a good night. Ezra had certainly mellowed. Vin had seen the genuine happiness in the gambler’s eyes when his mother had appeared on the stage unexpectedly. She said it had been ‘convenient‘, but the truth of the matter was, Maude had come to spend Christmas with her son.

Christmas. Vin’s brow furrowed. He couldn’t actually remember what he had done last Christmas Day. It had just been another day spent looking over his shoulder. Before the bounty, it had just been another day spent working, or sleeping or drinking.

This year, things felt different. He couldn’t really explain it. There was a lightness about the atmosphere and there was laughter on everyone’s lips. He had seen it all before, of course, but he had never felt the Christmas spirit ... not since he was a child and he really didn’t remember that. He had actually prepared some Christmas gifts this year. He’d never done that before. Just a little something for each of his friends. J.D. had been dropping hints as subtly as a stampede and so his companions had pooled some money and bought the bridle he had his eye on.

Vin grinned. He was looking forward to seeing the look on the kid’s face when they gave it to him.

A muffled gunshot interrupted the rider’s thoughts. Vin looked off to the west. His jaw set with concern. There was a second shot. The gunfire was coming from the Moffit’s ranch!

**********

“Ohhhh, God,” J.D. murmured, stepping out into the street. The young man stood squinting. His head was hammering, his eyes glazed and his stomach lurching. “Never again.”

“Morning, J.D.,” Buck bellowed, slapping the youth on the back. “Rain’s gone and the sun’s shining!”

J.D. turned his slitted eyes toward Buck. “How do you do that?”

“Do what?” Buck asked cheerfully, drawing in a lung full of air and waving to a group of ladies across the street.

“Drink as much as you do and not suffer?”

“Well, son, it’s no secret that some men are blessed with...”

“Cast iron guts,” Nathan put in, walking up to the pair. Like J.D., Nathan was suffering the hangover from hell.

“Hey, Nathan,” J.D. greeted. Instantly, he lowered his voice. Talking was painful. “You got anything for a headache?”

“Yep. And something to settle your stomach. Come on. I was just heading over to the church to offer Josiah something to ease his ailments.”

“He got a headache, too?”

“I haven’t seen him this morning, but considering the amount he drank last night, I’m guessing he’s going to need something.” Nathan winked at the other two men.

“Boy, he put it away didn’t he?” Buck chuckled.

“When a man drinks like that, he’s usually got a reason to,” Nathan reflected.

“Yeah?” J.D. asked, curiously.

“Yeah. He did the same thing last Christmas.”

“He doesn’t like Christmas, huh?” Buck asked.

Nathan shrugged. “Doesn’t act like it.”

“How can anyone not like Christmas?” J.D. asked, massaging his throbbing temples.

Nathan and Buck exchanged a look of experience. “Christmas can be hard when you’re away from family,” Nathan whispered.

“I guess. This will be my first Christmas without my ma.” The youth’s voice was filled with emotion.

Nathan patted J.D.’s shoulder and then inclined his head. “Let’s go and see if Josiah is alive and breathing.” The pair started down the street.

“Either of you seen the others?” Buck called after them.

“Vin’s probably already gone. He’s riding shotgun. Chris is probably in the jail. And as for Ezra... last I heard, his mother was explaining the evils of drink to him,” Jackson laughed.

**********

Ahead, Vin could see the house set in a break in the trees. Gunfire was echoing in the small clearing. There were two shooters hidden in the stable and one inside the house. Tanner rode around the back of both buildings and, using them as cover, raised his mare’s leg and fired three times in the air.

“Throw your weapons down!” Tanner shouted.

For a moment there was a pause in the battle.

“That’s the fella from last night!” a voice from the stable shouted.

“He’s probably not alone! Let’s get out of here!” Tanner spotted the Wilson brothers racing toward some think bushes behind the livery.

“Stop!” Vin cried, firing into the air, again.

The pair disappeared. Moments later, Vin heard the sound of horses crashing up the hill.

The door of the ranch house opened.

“Everyone okay?” Vin called, urging Peso toward the front of the dwelling.

“They shot my cowhand, Hank!” Douglas Moffit shouted. “He’s dead! Those bastards!“

“What happened?“

“They came and demanded money and when I refused they drew guns. Hank caught it in the chest. My boy, Max, grabbed my rifle for me. God only knows what would have happened if you hadn‘t arrived when you did, Vin. What am I going to tell Hank’s wife? They’ve got a new baby... and just before Christmas!” the distraught man cried.

“I’ll bring them in, Doug,” Tanner promised, his face setting like stone. The hired peacekeeper reined Peso around and gave chase. He’d had a feeling about the two men when they had first ridden into Four Corners. Now, those suspicions had been proved. Unfortunately, an innocent man had lost his life and that didn’t sit well with Vin Tanner. If the Wilsons were desperate for cash, they would try again, and Nettie’s ranch wasn’t far.

Adrenaline flooded the regulator’s system. He had once been a bounty hunter. It wasn’t something he was particularly proud of - hunting men... living off the freedom of others. Now, he understood what it was like to be walking the path of a man with a price on his head. However, Vin had also captured a number of animals who killed innocent people without thought, reason or regret. Men like the Wilsons.

Tanner had not been a bounty hunter for long, but he had been very, very good at it. He could track a man across sheer rock, through deserts and to hell and back if that was needed. These two murderers would not escape him!

**********

“Well, howdy, Chris,” Buck boomed as he entered the jailhouse. Larabee, who was seated at the desk, studying some new wanted posters that had been delivered by a couple of deputies from West Springs, glanced up and shook his head with disgust.

“What?” Buck asked, feigning innocence. “It isn’t my fault that whisky doesn’t affect me the next morning.” A beaming smile spread across his face.

“It isn’t normal,” Larabee growled. Chris passed two posters across to Buck.

The smile fell. “The two fellas who we ran off last night?”

“Yeah. Wanted for armed robbery and murder.”

“Good thing we ran them out.”

Larabee didn’t seem particularly pleased. He shook his head. “We should have listened to him.”

“Who?”

“Vin wanted to lock them up.”

“Ya can’t go locking innocent men up just because Vin doesn’t like the look of them, Chris. Hell, Vin don‘t like the look of half the people who ride into town!”

Larabee glanced up and Buck. “They weren’t innocent.”

“Yeah, but we didn’t know that.” Buck shrugged. “So, you want to organize a search party and we can go out and get them?”

“When Vin gets back. He’ll be able to track them.”

“Not sure what the boys will think about that,” Buck chuckled. “I just saw J.D. and Nathan and they didn’t look like they had riding in mind for today.”

Chris smirked at his oldest friend. “And Josiah?”

“Nathan and J.D. were headed over there to see if he’s survived.”

**********

Peso closed the distance between Tanner and his quarry. Ahead, Vin could see that the trail was underwater. As he had feared, Eagle River had burst its banks and the track to Eagle Bend was impassable.

The Wilson brothers were forced to head to the right and up the side of the range. It was their only option. A very dangerous option.

“Stop! The track’s worn away after the rain!” Tanner warned.

The Wilson’s continued to climb. Vin paused at the bottom. The trail would be slippery and loose because of the week‘s deluge. Even from the bottom, Vin could see there had been some small landslides that were blocking parts of the track making it narrower than usual.

Was capturing these two men worth breaking his neck? Vin’s mind filled with an image of Hank Carlson’s wife and baby. Tanner cursed and then urged Peso on with angry determination. He would bring these men in!

Peso was nimble footed and strong which were two of the reasons why Vin had selected him. The horse had navigated worse tracks than this.

“Come on, boy,” Tanner encouraged. Ahead, the Wilsons’ horses were struggling for every step. Here, the trail was so narrow that there was only room for one horse. Vin knew that the trail widened and evened out ahead. There was also a warren of caves etched into the side of the mountain all the way along. Some were deep, some narrow and some connected to others. Vin knew many of them well. He had chased bounties into this area in the past. He had also hidden here himself when being pursued.

If the Wilsons reached the main set of caverns, Vin felt confident he’d still find them, but it would take a long time. “Come on, boy!” Vin urged.

“He’s gaining!” Tanner heard one of the men shout.

“Stop runnin’! Ya ain’t got nowhere to go!” Vin called.

There was a shout of dismay as the lead horse stumbled. The other rider came to a halt. “COME ON!”

“That’ll be far enough, boys,” Vin stated, calmly. The pause had been all he needed to close the gap. Ted and Mark Wilson both looked back over their shoulder. Tanner was standing up in his saddle, his mare’s leg aimed at them. “Okay, throw them rifles over the edge.”

Ted glanced forward to Mark and swallowed. Vin lifted his rifle and sighted the back man.

“Okay! Okay!” Both men discarded their weapons.

“And your revolvers,” Vin ordered. Beaten, the Wilsons did so.

“What are you going to do?” Ted asked, slumping in his saddle.

“Take you back to Four Corners.”

“We’re innocent!”

“Save it for the judge,” Vin growled. “Now, ride on. The track gets wider ahead. We can turn the horses around there.

“I’m tellin’ you, we haven’t done anything wrong! You’ve got no cause to be draggin’ us back to jail.”

“Move!”

The trio made their way forward, Vin keeping both men in his sights. As the track broadened, Vin watched his quarry carefully. He knew they’d try to make a run for it.

“Don’t be thinkin’ on runnin’. The track only stays wide for a hundred feet and then gets narrow again.” After a couple more steps, Vin brought Peso to a halt and ordered his prisoners to dismount. “Okay, walk back toward the wall and sit down.”

After an exchanged glance, Ted and Mark complied. Vin watched the pair sit and then dismounted. He wanted to search his prisoners for any concealed weapons.

“What are you going to do?” Ted asked, wide eyed.

Before Vin could reply there was movement above. Tanner’s eyes shot skyward. The side of the mountain was moving. “Landslide!”

Part 3 of 8

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