Chris scanned the room.  All was quiet... well, relativity quiet for this time of night. 

New Year’s Eve.  Another year had disappeared.  Another year without...

Chris lowered his gaze to his drink, the weight in his chest unbearable.  On New Year’s Eve, he and Sarah had always listed their regrets and their blessings for the year passed, and their hopes for the year to come. 

Then, his blessings had always outweighed his regrets seven fold.  Now...

Chris drained his glass and poured another. 

He regretted drinking so much this year – one.

He regretted killing... how many men in the last 12 months? Chris shook his head.  Sarah would be appalled by what he’d become.

Chris stared hard into the amber liquid in his glass.  He regretted not visiting his wife and son’s resting place more – three regrets.  

He regretted not being there that night – four.

He regretted not dying with them – five.

“Sir, I have no need to resort to cheating when playing men of such inferior skill.” 

Chris glanced over at Ezra, watching as Buck untangled himself from the woman he’d been wrapped around to check on the escalating trouble.

Chris regretted walking away from Buck and not accepting his friend’s help when offered or being there when Buck needed him for Buck had lost Sarah and Adam too –six.

“Son, it would be best if you just walked away while the good Lord has made it possible.”

Chris snorted at the sound Josiah’s calm baritone.  He regretted not going to church on Christmas Day with some of the others –seven. Seven regrets so far.

One of Ezra’s opponents rose slowly, his hands out to the side as if ready to draw on Ezra.

Vin shouldered into the room, his mare’s leg across his chest.  J.D. stood at the bar.  Nathan walked across to stand behind Ezra.  Josiah’s hand descended to his hip. Buck took a step closer.

Chris smirked.  The boys had it down pat.

The noisy saloon became silent.  The disgruntled loser excused himself, leaving a puddle on the floor. No need for Chris to intervene.

Chris eyed the men he now rode with.

J.D. gave Buck a wide grin.  Chris felt lucky he could help guide young J.D. – blessing number one.

Buck glanced at Chris and winked. Chris knew he was blessed to have a friend like Buck – two.

Ezra raked in the pot.  “Well, that was an unfortunate scene.  Another hand, gentlemen? No? I wonder what has come over them? Nathan and Josiah... Buck and J.D., please join me. It appears my opponents have other pressing matters to deal with. The drinks are on me.”

Chris watched his companions.  He was blessed to be riding with men like them.  All were accomplished in a fight and all gave a damn... rare these days.  Sarah would insist on a blessing for each of them... so that meant seven blessings.

Chris sighed.  This year, just maybe his regrets were balanced by his blessings.

“Hey, Cowboy.  Join ya?”

Chris looked up and smiled.  “One day I’m going to shoot you for that, Tanner.” 

Vin smiled easily.  “They left.  Made sure they got on their horses and rode out. I’ll tail Ezra back to his room to be certain.”  Vin picked up Chris’ drink and drained it. 

Chris sat back, staring at his friend of a few months.  If another man... any man... presumed to help himself to Chris’ whisky he’d be dead before he got the glass to his lips, but this was Vin.  Why did that make a difference?  His friendship with Vin was one that perplexed him. Why did he feel so comfortable with this man he barely knew and yet knew so completely on a level he’d never experienced before?  The amazing thing about Vin was he made no demands on their friendship.  Any other friend Chris had had in the past, had.  Friends had certain expectations.  Vin expected nothing.  Vin was happy with very little from Chris and yet, it was enough.  More than enough. Anything Vin had was Chris’ if he wanted it. Even his life, if Chris asked for it.  It wasn’t something they’d discussed but Chris knew it as surely as the sun would rise the next day.  And if Vin asked for his life, Chris would give it. 

Hell, they were both crackers. 

Vin tilted his head to the side.  “I got something stuck to my face?”

“Huh?”

“You’re grinnin’ like a fool at me.  Mrs. Potter made a peach pie for all of us for tomorrow but I ate it already.”  Vin grinned, rubbed his stomach and winked.

Chris looked down at his drink to hide his smile.  “I reckon I should shoot you for that.”

“Nahh. You don’t like peach.  Saved the apple one for you.  The rest of the boys can share the three berry and two apricot ones.”

Chris looked up into the eyes of brilliant blue staring back at him. “Thanks, Vin.”

Vin’s smile faded.  “For what?”

“For... nothing,” Chris responded awkwardly.  How did he thank Vin for being himself? A man of such integrity and honesty.

Vin’s face shadowed and Chris watched the layers Vin protected himself with fall away for a few brief seconds. Behind the exterior Vin showed the world was a young man searching for the same thing Chris was.

“Cheating?  Mr. Jackson, I take offense at that heinous accusation.”

“I saw you, Ezra.”

“Shut up, Nathan. Just deal.  Hello there darlin’. Want to come and sit with ole’ Buck?”

“Buck, we’re playing cards.  Hey, I have a joke to tell you.”

“Son, the Lord blessed some with the ability to tell jokes.  Sadly, you weren’t one of them.

Vin smirked at his friends. “Reckon we both got a lot to be thankful for, Cowboy.” 

Vin’s hand snaked out to the nearest table, grabbing an empty glass.  Then he poured two whiskies, pushing once across to Chris.  “This year didn’t end so bad.  Let’s hope next year is the same.”  He raised his glass.

Chris blinked.  The word ‘hope’ leapt out at him.  Hopes for the future?  He hadn’t thought about the future since the day he’d buried his life in two graves.  Until recently, his future was a dark tunnel that was only taking him to one place. 

Chris’ chest tightened.  Maybe the tunnel wasn’t so dark anymore and the path it was taking him wasn’t set, for he found himself hoping that this time next year he was sitting across from Vin sharing a drink just as they were tonight... with the boys playing cards nearby.

Chris picked up his glass and toasted his friend, realizing that this year, for the first time since heʼd lost his family, his blessings outweighed his regrets sevenfold, and the future wasnʼt necessarily a dark place that ended with his death.  He had hopes again thanks to an old friend whoʼd never given up on him, a gambler with a huge heart, a kid cursed with eternal optimism, a defrocked priest with the faith of a lion, a healer better than any doctor and a dusty enigma whose friendship was now the rock that kept him on an even keel.

"To next year," Chris toasted.  "And all of the ones after.”

---

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© December 2008 Aussie Lass. : This relates only to the creative property in this story. The distinctive way the story unfolds, the specific dialogue and unique situations are mine. I acknowledge that some of the characters and settings belong to MGM and Trilogy Entertainment and thank them sincerely for turning a blind eye so I can borrow them. (g) No infrigement of copyright was intended and no profit has been made from this story... so, please don't sue me. It wouldn't be worth your while.