The saloons were relatively quiet for this time of the afternoon. Night would descend in a few hours and then things would liven up.

Brewer stood on the porch of the sheriff’s office scanning the street. He was tired, but couldn’t afford to go to bed tonight. One of his deputies was sleeping. They had to do so in shifts. Nothing had turned out as he had planned. He had been so certain that Larabee’s men would have signed on. Then they could have shared the duty, but Larabee had declined.

“Sheriff,” a man greeted, stepping up onto the porch.

“Barwick.”

“I heard some fella was almost drowned in the bathhouse this morning.”

Brewer nodded, his eyebrows drawing down. He had never liked or trusted Barwick. He had no reason to mistrust the man, but there was something about him that always seemed sly and shifty. “You know anything about it?”

“What? Hell, no! Just heard about it, that’s all. You catch whoever did it?” Brewer glared at the other man. “Just wanted to know if the maniacs had been caught. Don‘t like the idea of them running around.”

Sheriff Brewer stepped up so that his and Barwick’s faces were less then three inches apart. “Take some advice. If you know who did it, tell them to leave town. Larabee’s men are getting restless. If they find who did it, there’ll be bloodshed... and you know how I hate bloodshed.”

“I wish I could help you, Sheriff, honest!” Barwick stepped back nervously, tipped his hat and turned.

“Barwick, if I find out that you’re involved, I just might point you out to Larabee and let him deal with you.”

Doug Barwick turned, his eyes large and his face decidedly pale. “Sheriff, I had nothing to do with that fella being attacked! I swear I didn’t!”

Brewer nodded. “If you hear anything, I want to know about it.”

“Yes, Sir. I promise.” The snivelling weasel scurried out into the rain.

There was a loud shout from one of the saloons. Moments later, one of Peter’s Gap’s deputies appeared, forcing a man in front of him.

“Disturbing the peace, Sheriff,“ the deputy stated, walking passed Brewer into the jailhouse. “We better hope nothing happens while I’m here.”

Brewer frowned. The young lawman had a point. At the moment, two of the saloons were not being watched.

The deputy reappeared and yawned. “Sheriff, somehow we’ve got to find some more men to help us. If Larabee and his men won’t, then we’ll have to look elsewhere. The four of us just aren’t enough.”

“I know.”

**********

Josiah listened to the laughter coming from Buck and J.D.’s room. He was sure he could detect the unmistakable sound of Larabee chuckling amongst the frivolity. Sanchez smiled, feeling somewhat pleased with himself. Chris deserved to relax. The preacher knew his friend was concerned about finding out who or what was behind the two attacks on his men in Peter’s Gap.

Nathan and J.D. had gone down earlier and gotten a meal for the group. Night was swallowing the day, darkness overtaking the town.

Josiah stretched his back and reached for his bruised ribs. Sitting on the ground was not doing his battered body any favours. Sanchez released a long tired breath. The last few days were catching up with him also, he realized. Basically, all he wanted to do was go to bed, but he didn’t want to deny Chris the chance to unwind. Larabee had checked back several times, but Josiah had insisted that he return to the game.

Josiah glanced down at the bedroll that had been rolled and placed in the corner. Perhaps he could just lay down and rest for a while?

Vin moved uneasily on the bed. Josiah crawled across to his companion and patted the sleeping man’s arm. “Easy, brother.” Vin mumbled something, shifting restlessly. His face twitched and he muttered again.

“You’re having a hell of a dream there,” Josiah commented. Too much laudanum could have that effect, the preacher knew. “Settle, young brother.” Vin‘s shoulders lifted slightly, his left hand clutching at the blanket. Josiah frowned, picking up the tracker’s hand and squeezing it. “What on earth is going on in your head? Easy, now.” But Josiah’s words and actions were not appeasing the ill man who was involved in some distressing incident in his own mind.

Josiah placed his free hand on Vin’s brow to check to see if it was fever that was the cause, but Tanner was cool. Sanchez frowned. Perhaps he should go and get Chris? If anyone could soothe what was going on in Vin’s head, it was Larabee.

“Okay, Vin. I’ll go get, Chris,” Josiah stated, patting Vin’s arm. As he was climbing to his feet, however, Vin settled. Sanchez waited for several seconds and then crouched beside the sleeping man. “Vin?” Tanner didn’t stir, but it appeared that whatever had been plaguing his dreams had been defeated or had disappeared.

An hour later and Josiah found himself trying to defy the sleep that was calling him insistently. Vin had not stirred during that time and appeared to be resting comfortably, which was a relief.

A voice from down the hall caused Josiah to sit up.

“Good evening, gentlemen.”

“Hi, Father. Are you looking for Josiah?”

“Yes. Could you point out his room please?”

“He’s a couple of doors down.”

“Thank you.”

Josiah rose to his feet. Father Tom glanced into the room. “Tom,” Josiah greeted uneasily.

“Josiah.” The minister glanced down at Vin. “What happened?” Father Tom strode across to the sleeping man. “He needs a doctor. I’ll go and get Dr. Holstein.” The preacher appeared genuinely concerned for Vin’s well-being.

“He’s alright. His wound got infected but it’s been cleaned now.”

“Perhaps a visit from Dr. Holstein would still be a good idea. He looks very pale.”

Josiah shook his head. “Believe me, if Nathan thought Vin needed a doctor, he would have sent for one before now.”

“Pride and fear can cloud even the strongest man’s judgment.”

“True, but not a real friend‘s. Nathan would never place his own self interests in front of Vin’s needs.”

The two men stared at each other. The imbedded message was clear to both. “We need to talk, Bear.”

Sanchez frowned. “That we do, Brute.”

Father Tom flinched at the sound of a name he had been trying to hide for the past twenty years. He glanced at down at Vin. “Not here.”

“I can’t leave him.”

“Bear... I...” Josiah continued to stare at his old friend. “Please, Josiah.“

Sanchez looked down at Vin. The tracker had been quiet for the last hour. His fever was gone and he was resting comfortably. It stood to reason that a few minutes on his own would not place him in any danger. However, Josiah was not at all comfortable at the thought of leaving his young friend. As a result of the laudanum, Vin truly was defenceless at the moment. Still, Josiah realized that his room was only a couple of doors back along the hall. If he left the door open he’d be able to hear Vin call out. Besides, anyone threatening the tracker would have to come down the hallway and pass not only Josiah’s open room, but also Buck‘s. Chris, Buck and J.D. would investigate any person who entered the corridor.

“Alright, Tom. We can go to my room. It’s only a few doors back. Five minutes.”

“Thank you.”

Josiah crouched beside Tanner. “I’ll only be gone a few minutes. Just a couple of doors down so if you need me, you holler.” The preacher was certain that Vin couldn’t hear him, but on the odd chance that he could, Josiah wanted to let his friend know that he wasn’t far.

Sanchez stood and then he and the other preacher headed back to Josiah’s room. For several seconds the two men looked at each other, both unsure of what to say.

“I owe you an apology,” Tom stated quietly. “I... I saw them attack you but...”

Josiah waited. “But? Why didn’t you come and help me?”

Tom turned away from his friend and walked to the window. He stared at the street below. There were people collected under the building overhangs and seated on the porches. “They don’t know about... I couldn’t afford for them to find out, Josiah. I belong here. They wouldn’t understand.”

“They? The people of Peter’s Gap? They wouldn’t understand that you’re a man who has made mistakes? Or is the problem you?”

Tom didn’t turn around. “I would have come out if...”

“If they’d killed me?” Josiah demanded.

At this, Tom spun around. “Your other friends appeared quickly, before I needed to.”

“My friends came immediately.”

Tom’s face shadowed with shame. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I placed my own self-interest before your needs. I... I was afraid that everything I’ve worked for would be destroyed.”

Josiah walked up to his friend and placed his hand on his shoulder. “Tom, you are a good man. Don’t let your past stop you from being who you are. Helping someone who is being beaten would not have revealed your past.”

Father Tom was nodding. “I was afraid.”

“It’s okay to be afraid, but don’t let your fear stop you from doing what you know is right.”

Tom sighed. “You have always shown me my path, Josiah.”

“No, that is God. I merely remind you of what he has laid in front of you.”

**********

Vin’s eyelids parted a quarter of an inch. There was darkness all around him. He tried to focus but the laudanum in his system made everything appear warped. He couldn’t seem to wake up. What the hell’s goin’ on? It’s night already?

Tanner noted movement in his gloomy room. He tilted his head to the right to get a better look, still trying to further open his heavy lidded eyes and push the veil of laudanum away. He expected to see one of the boys, but that wasn’t who was lurking in his room!

A woman? Vin blinked. There was a woman standing in his room! She was facing the dresser, her back to him. What’s a woman doin’ in here? Where the hell is Chris?

Vin tried to sit up, but his body failed to respond. He battled against his eyelids but they refused to open any wider. Vin couldn’t see the person clearly. He summed up his strength and asked who she was, but the drug in his system allowed only a single hushed grunt to be released.

The woman turned. Again Vin tried to open his eyes further so he could see her plainly, but he could only make out an outline. The woman walked toward him. He felt her hand touch his brow. She leant down and said something to him, but Vin couldn’t make it out. Everything seemed so far away, like he was viewing it all under water.

The laudanum in the ill man’s system beckoned him back to drugged slumber. Tanner’s eyes closed but with dogged determination he forced them open. He had to find out why there was a woman in the his room and who she was! When he opened his eyes again, the woman was gone.

Once more, Vin tried to sit up. Where the hell are the boys? There should be someone here. There must be trouble. Gotta get up!

Vin struggled to draw himself up. His body felt so heavy. It simply wouldn’t respond.

“Hey, there, Vin. What are you trying to do?”

“Yeah. Now you just relax there,” Josiah ordered, gently pulling the blankets up around his friend. “You trying to get up? There isn’t any need. You want a drink of water or something?”

Tanner mumbled something that Josiah couldn’t understand.

“Sorry, brother, what was that? Vin?” Josiah patted this friend’s arm. “You just relax and get some sleep. I’m gonna sit myself down here on the ground until Chris comes back. Vin?”

Tanner couldn’t seem to focus his thoughts. He tried to but they kept wafting away in a sea of laudanum. Unconsciousness beckoned.

“Settle down now and go back to sleep. I’m right here if you need me.” Josiah watched as Vin gave one last concerted grunt in an attempt to communicate. Then the young man sank back into the bottomless cavern of unconsciousness.

**********

It was another hour before Chris returned to the room.

“How’s he doing?”

“Fever’s fine. He’s been having a lot of dreams. Bad dreams by the look of it.”

Larabee walked across to his friend. “Still pretty pale.”

“He’s still in for a few more days of it. Hell, I was sick for almost a week. Well, I’m off to bed.”

“Everything okay between you and your preacher friend?”

Josiah paused in the doorway and nodded thoughtfully. “Men are only human. Goodnight, Chris.”

**********

J.D. stood in the corridor, peering down it longingly. Shadows danced in the dull glow of the small kerosene lamps that lined the hallway. The night was still, the only sound the driving rain outside... and Josiah’s snoring.

The boy had been on watch for the past hour, but much to his disappointment, he still hadn’t seen the ghost. He had really hoped he would. Not just out of curiosity, but because he was hoping to try and communicate with her. He had a theory. He felt that Elsa might know what had happened to her boyfriend and even though she wouldn’t be able to speak, maybe she could write it down or point... or something.

All of the doors along the corridor were closed apart from the boys’. J.D. glanced in at Ezra and Nathan. Both men were sleeping soundly. Knowing that one of their own was patrolling the hallway enabled them to do so without fear of an attack.

J.D. heard Chris‘ voice. The boy wandered almost to the end of the corridor to where Larabee and Tanner’s room was.

By the look of it, Chris had been woken by Vin’s mumblings and movement again.

“Easy, Vin,” the gunfighter whispered. Tanner’s eyes opened a slither. J.D could see his ill friend trying to rouse himself.

“Relax, Cowboy. Nathan gave you a lot of laudanum. It’s giving you dreams.” Larabee waited for his friend to settle.

“He okay?” J.D. asked quietly.

“Yeah. Havin’ dreams. Laudanum can cause them, but his fever’s down.” Chris rose to his feet. “How much longer is your watch?”

“Another half an hour. Josiah’s next. I haven’t seen the ghost yet.”

A smile formed on Chris’ face.

“Chris, do you reckon dead people can talk to each other?”

“What?”

“Do you think that dead people can talk to each other? You see, if they can, then Elsa and James would have spoken after they died and he would have told her who killed him and then she could tell me... if I see her.”

Chris couldn’t help laughing.

“What?”

“Kid, first of all, we don’t know that James was murdered. From what you’ve told me, he may just have taken off. Second, I didn’t think this ghost of yours could talk. And finally, this all happened forty years ago.”

“Yeah, I know that, but his bones will still be there and I thought that maybe Elsa could point them out or something.”

Chris smirked at the younger man, shook his head, turned and moved back to his bedroll.

“So do you reckon dead people can talk to each other?”

“Good night, J.D.”

The rest of the Seven’s second night in Peter’s Gap passed uneventfully, outside of Vin’s disturbing dreams. Larabee calmed his friend more than ten times throughout the evening. Each time, Tanner never truly awoke, but Larabee’s words of support and comfort seemed to chase away the demons attacking Vin from within.

**********

Consciousness returned slowly. Vin groaned loudly, his eyes flickering several times before opening. When they did, a large smiling face filled his blurred vision.

“Howdy, pard. How you feelin’?”

Vin raised his hand sluggishly and tried to push his companion back. “Buck.”

“So you really are awake this time?”

Vin blinked several more times trying to clear his head.

“Now Nathan gave me a whole list of things I had to get you to do. First one was to get you to drink some water.”

Vin snorted. The fog of the drug still clung to him. His chest felt congested and his nasal passages blocked. Buck lifted the tracker’s head and tipped the water to his lips. After a few swallows, Vin pushed the glass away and Buck lowered his head back down onto the pillow.

“How are you feelin’?

Vin mumbled something as his eyes closed.

“Vin? You awake? Vin?” Wilmington smiled, replaced the glass and then returned to sitting on the chair Ezra had ‘borrowed’ from one of the saloons. The scoundrel opened the Peter’s Gap newspaper and scanned the articles without any real interest.

Thirty minutes later, Vin stirred again.

“Howdy, Vin.”

Tanner glanced across at Buck.

“Hey, those eyes of yours look open this time. How do you feel?”

“Damn laudanum.”

A huge grin lit up Buck’s features. “Yep, you’re awake.”

Vin raised his hand and began to rub his eyes. He coughed several times. Now it was a true lung bark. Vin still felt sluggish, but for the first time he was truly awake.

“I’m supposed to get you to drink some water.”

“That‘s a surprise.”

Wilmington lifted Vin’s head and helped him to sip from the glass.

“Enough.”

Buck replaced the glass and smiled down at his friend. “How are you feelin’, Sleeping Beauty?”

Tanner scowled.

“You hungry? Nathan said when you woke up to get you to eat that,” he informed Vin, inclining his head toward a plate of food on the dresser.

Vin nodded and struggled to draw himself up.

“Whooh, there, pard. Let me help.” Buck stepped up to his friend, bodily lifted him, and deposited him against the wall.

“Buck!”

“Oh, be quiet and stop your complainin’. Your side okay?” Wilmington asked, placing the pillow behind Vin’s back.

“Stop fussin’,“ Tanner growled, settling himself.

Buck handed him the plate of food. Vin eyed it and then looked back at his friend.

“I have no idea what it is,” Buck chuckled.

Vin lowered his head and sniffed it. “Smells alright,” he admitted, accepting a spoon from his companion. “Tastes okay too,” he added after a mouthful. “So what time is it?”

“Must be after five.”

“Five? The next day?”

“Yep, it’s Thursday. You’ve been sleepin’ over twenty-five hours. Was gettin’ to the stage that I didn’t think you’d ever wake up.”

“Damn laudanum... damn Nathan.”

“Reckon so, but you’re looking better for it. How‘s the head?”

“Just a dull ache.” The tracker coughed again.

“You sound pretty congested. Nathan put some stuff in a bowl, poured hot water over it and made me breathe in the steam. It helped. I’ll see if I can get some for you after you’ve finished eating.”

“I miss anythin’?”

At this, Buck threw his arms up in the air and rolled his eyes. “Hell, Vin where do I start? J.D.’s been bone hunting all day!”

“Must have been excitin’,” Tanner chuckled.

“Exciting!” Buck cried, flopping down into the chair. “I’m exhausted from just watching him. He borrowed money from Ezra to buy a pick and a shovel.”

Tanner’s right eyebrow arched.

“Yeah, a pick and a shovel so he can dig up the ghost’s boyfriend who he thinks is buried somewhere in town.”

Vin grinned. “You’re kiddin’?”

“Now, Vin, you know that boy.”

“You’re not kiddin’,” Tanner decided.

“He’s spent all day in the livery digging it up. Paid the livery hand to let him do it.”

Vin burst out laughing, gripping his side as he did so. The plate started to tip, but Buck grabbed it before the contents ended up all over the tracker.

“Yeah, I know, Vin. I know. J.D.’s got it set in his mind that when James returned he was knocked off in livery and buried there. I guess it’s logical... in a J.D. type of way.”

Vin regained control and began shaking his head. “Buck, there’s no way the bones could be in the livery.”

“Why? It’s pretty logical... God, now he’s got me believing that fella was murdered!”

“Buck, it happened forty years ago.”

“So?”

“So, that livery ain’t forty years old.”

“Huh?”

“The wood’s new. Couldn’t be more than a couple of years old.”

Buck stared at Vin and then threw his head back and burst out laughing. “You mean he’s... and there’s no way....” Buck’s whole body quaked. “I can’t wait to tell him. You gotta let me tell him.”

Vin simply grinned. “So, how’s Ezra?” he asked.

It took several seconds for Buck to answer. The big man was wiping tears out of his eyes. “Yeah, Ez. is fine. Went to bed early last night. Still has a headache, but Nathan says that’s to be expected.”

“No more attacks?”

“Not on us, but there have been others. Brewer says it always happens. We’ve been sticking together.”

Vin nodded thoughtfully. “It may force their hand.”

Buck frowned. “Vin, a lot of people have been attacked. You still think that someone planned the attacks on Josiah and Ezra.”

Tanner nodded, passing his plate to Buck. He’d eaten less than a third of it, but Buck understood. The scoundrel hadn’t felt like eating either when he‘d been suffering the flu two weeks earlier.

“Well, looks like we’ve scared them off.”

“For the moment.”

Buck shook his head smiling. “Vin Tanner, you are the most suspicious man I know.”

“Stay alive longer that way.” The tracker pulled the blankets down.

“What are you doing?”

“Need to go to the privy. Can you get my boots?” Buck eyed Vin carefully. “I gotta go, Buck!” Wilmington collected Vin’s boots and assisted his grumbling friend to put them on.

Moments later Buck eased Vin to his feet. “Okay?”

“Damn laudanum. Still feel foggy.”

“You gonna fall?” Buck asked, studying his swaying friend.

“Naww. Pass me my coat.“ Once Buck had helped him into it, Vin urged, “Come on. Nathan keeps fillin’ me up with water. If I don’t go, I’m gonna burst.”

Buck watched his companion like a hawk as they made their way down the stairs and then out to the outhouse.

Once Vin was done, the pair moved back to the building, trying to dodge the rain. Buck shook himself off and glanced at Tanner. “How wet did you get?”

“Buckskin kept me dry. Where are the boys?”

“Whisky Cask, but I think maybe you should go back to bed. You shouldn‘t be out in this weather.”

“I’m fine,” Vin insisted, starting for the front door.

Buck stepped to block his path. “I ain’t J.D.”

Vin’s eyes hardened. “Neither am I.”

“Look, another hour and that laudanum will wear off.”

“Another hour in that room and I’ll shoot myself... and you as well,” Vin growled. “Look, you’re gonna be with me. I’m just gonna sit and watch what’s goin’ on for a while. Better than staring at them damn walls. I‘ll go back to bed as soon as I feel sick again.”

Still Buck stood.

“I ain’t askin’ for your damn permission, Buck! I’m tellin’ ya that’s what I’m gonna do.”

“You sure you’re up to it?”

“You‘ll catch me if I fall,” Tanner whispered with complete confidence, stepping around his friend and heading for the saloon. Buck caught up and the pair went together. Vin’s response had surprised him. The tracker had come a long way in the weeks they had known one another.

When Buck and Vin entered the saloon, they spotted Nathan and Chris at what had become ‘their’ table.

Vin reached for the tabletop as he lowered himself down onto the seat, Buck’s hand taking his arm and steadying him. Tanner sighed. It was pointless growling about Buck’s fussing. It’s was Buck’s way. Vin supported his side as he settled in the hard chair.

“Okay?” the scoundrel checked.

“Yeah.”

“Fever?” Nathan asked assessing Vin’s face.

“Gone. I feel okay, considerin’ how much laudanum you poured down my throat.”

Tanner and Larabee’s eyes brushed.

Feel groggy because of the damn laudanum! Chris smiled.

“All that sleep you got is why you’re feeling better. I checked your wound this morning. It’s healing nicely. As long as you rest and keep it dry, we shouldn’t have any more problems with it.”

Tanner scanned the room. He was beginning to recognize faces. The same group of cowhands was sitting at the bar drinking. James’ boys were at their table playing cards. Vin’s eyes settled on Ezra. His friend was in the middle of a game. The gambler flicked his eyes to his companion and nodded. Vin returned the greeting.

“He won anything yet?”

“Not yet. He reckons that every time he’s about to take the pot, he has to leave the game. Happened three times today,” Nathan explained with amusement.

“Boys, if you’ll excuse me. I have to share some very bad news with J.D.,” Buck stated chuckling.

“What’s got into Buck?”

“J.D’s diggin’ up a livery that’s only been there a few years. That appeals to Buck’s sense of humour, “ Vin explained, watching Wilmington leave with a true spring in his step. “Three times?” he asked, covering his mouth with his handkerchief as he coughed.

“Couple of disturbances, “ Chris clarified. “We helped to quell them. Jail’s full.”

“Thought that may become a problem.”

“Any ideas?” Chris asked.

“Only one. Stick them on their horses and send them out of town.”

Chris nodded. He had suggested just that to Brewer.

“Have you eaten?” Nathan inquired.

“A little... and I had some water.”

The healer grinned. “You’re getting to know me well.”

Vin grunted. Chris smiled. His friend still looked pale and his eyes were distinctively heavy-lidded, but he was certainly sounding and looking stronger.

“James’ boys?”

“Have been quiet.”

“Went out of their way to come and tell us that they didn’t intend causing any trouble,” Nathan added.

“They could be behind the attacks,” Vin mused.

“If they were planned attacks,” Nathan pointed out. "There's been quite a few muggings."

“Found anything?”

“You mean relating to the attack on Ezra? Nothing. Chris walked the town, but...” Nathan shrugged.

“Didn’t see them well enough,” Larabee explained. “Could have been more than a hundred people I saw today.”

The sound of Buck’s laughing reached their ears. Seconds later, Buck, J.D. and Josiah appeared. It had been the preacher’s job to mind J.D.’s back for the past couple of hours while the youth searched for the bones he was so certain were there.

“Shut-up, Buck.”

The trio joined their companions, Buck teasing J.D. shamelessly. For almost an hour the group enjoyed each other’s company. Ezra’s game grew more intense during that time and so they each took turns to watch his back. It meant tuning the conversation at the table out and focusing on the men surrounding the gambler’s table.

“Wow. Now that is nice. That’s really, really nice, “ Buck cried, pointing out one of the saloon girls. “Boys, I do believe I’ll take my leave.” The big man bounced his eyebrows and started to rise to his feet.

“Not on your own,” Chris stated.

Buck sighed. “Come on, J.D. Maybe you’ll learn something from watching the master at work.”

Josiah noted Vin staring at the girl intently. “Vin? You know her?” Buck and J.D. paused.

Tanner’s brow furrowed and then he turned to his companions. “There was woman in the room last night.”

“Huh?” Buck asked.

Vin frowned as he tried to remember. “There was a woman in my room last night. Who was she?”

The rest of the boys glanced at each other, puzzled.

“There was no woman,” Chris stated quietly. Vin stared at his friend. “You were having a lot of dreams last night, Vin.”

“This weren’t no dream. There was a woman in the room.”

J.D.’s eyes enlarged to twice their normal size.

“Vin, there was always one of us with you,” Nathan pointed out.

“Like Chris said, the laudanum was causing you some powerful dreams, Vin,” Josiah added.

Tanner shook his head. “I remember the dreams. This wasn’t one of them. There was a woman in the room.”

“Maybe she fancied you, Vin,” Buck chuckled. Tanner shot his companion a look that could rip the skin off a rhinoceros. “Relax, Vin. It was just a joke. Look, you probably dreamt it.”

Chris raised his hand to Buck. It was obvious that Vin honestly believed he had seen someone. “What did she look like?”

Vin’s face reflected his difficulty in remembering. “I couldn’t see her clearly.”

J.D.’s mouth began opening and closing with excitement but no sound was coming out.

“It was just a blur, really. But it was a woman. She said something to me but...”

“But you couldn’t hear her?” J.D. asked breathlessly.

“So much laudanum in me I couldn’t make it out.

J.D. swallowed. “Vin, you saw her! You saw Elsa!” It had to be. J.D. was so excited he started to giggle. Finally! So there really was a ghost and Vin had seen it. Now he could get some answers from someone he trusted.

Tanner rolled his eyes and turned to his other companions. “I was all filled up with laudanum, but there was definitely a woman in the room... and she weren’t no ghost. She touched me on the head. Like she was checking for fever or somethin‘.”

The men stared around at each other, perplexed - all accept J.D. who was now more convinced than ever that Vin had seen the ghost.

“It had to be a dream, Vin. One of us was with you the entire time.”

“Actually,” Josiah stated quietly. “I went to my room with Father Tom for a few minutes when...”

“WHAT?” Chris thundered.

“Calm down, Chris. It was only a few minutes and I left the door open so I could hear if Vin needed me. And as for anyone sneaking in there, they had to come down the corridor and one of us would have seen her.” It was clear that while Larabee agreed with everything Josiah had said, he wasn’t impressed.

Vin scanned the sceptical looks on his friends’ faces. “There was a woman in the room.”

“Can’t you fellas see? It was the ghost! She was checking to see if you were okay!” J.D. cried. “Josiah and I spoke to Mrs. Von Otter again today and she said that Elsa wanted to be a nurse! It makes sense.”

Vin shook his head impatiently. “This weren’t no ghost, J.D.”

“Vin, when I was a stretcher-bearer, I had men swear black and blue that they had seen things that been caused by laudanum. Large doses can cause hallucinations.”

Tanner frowned. “It was a woman,” he repeated stubbornly.

“Obviously, she didn’t do any harm so let’s just leave it,” Josiah suggested, noting that Vin was becoming unsettled.

“So, you don’t reckon it could have been the ghost?” J.D. asked, retaking his seat.

“J.D.,” Buck growled, nudging his young friend.

“I just...”

“Sir, I assure you that would be a very unwise move!” Ezra claimed, his voice wafting across the room.

The boys’ heads snapped in that direction. One of Ezra’s opponents was standing, his hand on his holster.

Chris nodded to Buck and J.D., who rose to their feet quietly and moved across the room. The Seven’s leader flicked his eyes to Nathan and Josiah. The pair quickly moved into position, effectively surrounding the confrontation.

“You’ve been cheatin’! Ain’t no one got that sort of luck!” Ezra’s disgruntled opponent claimed.

“I assure you, Sir, it was neither slight of hand nor good fortune. You play cards very badly, and defeating you is hardly a skill.”

It took several seconds for the unhappy loser to realize that he was being insulted. “Draw, fancy fella.”

Ezra had noted that his companions had moved into place and thus there was little need for him to draw on this deluded fool. “Again, I warn you that such an action would not be in your interests.”

“That’s right, pard,” Buck stated from the bar. The man staring at Ezra flicked his eyes to the scoundrel who was polishing his revolver.

“What’s this got to do with you?”

“We know his mother,” Josiah claimed from opposite Buck. “And I don’t fancy telling her that her boy was shot in a saloon.”

“Would be best if you just walked away,” Nathan suggested from the left.

The man standing across from Ezra swallowed. He was surrounded. “I ain’t got no quarrel with you fellas.”

“Then, brother, walk out of here.”

“While you still can,” J.D. growled.

The cowhand licked his lips nervously. As he backed away from Ezra, he took one final look at the four men around him and then rushed from the room. Standish nodded to his companions and then smiled at his remaining opponents. “Where were we before we were so rudely interrupted?”