For the Sake of A Friend

"Okay. Okay, easy. Easy. Keep him level."

Together the men worked to get Vin up onto the wagon without jeopardizing his survival. Ezra leaped up and guided the stretcher forward and then felt for Vin’s pulse. It was there - weak but there.

"You keep breathing, Mr. Tanner. I didn’t ride all the way out here and bruise my tender derrière on that God awful seat for nothing you know," the gambler whispered into his friend’s ear.

Abruptly, Nathan appeared beside him. "He wake up?"

"I don’t believe so, Mr. Jackson." Nathan glanced at Ezra curiously. "Just a few words of encouragement," the gambler explained, before climbing down out of the way.

Nathan smiled. Ezra Standish was a good man, no matter how much he tried to convince himself he wasn’t.

"Buck, how long is it gonna take for you to go and fetch our horses?" Chris demanded.

At this, a huge smile crossed the big man’s lips. He turned and whistled loudly. The other men stared at him.

"You don’t figure that they’re gonna come running to you just because you whistled?" Again Buck smiled and whistled.

"Buck ,we haven’t got time for this. We’ve got to get Vin back."

"They’re coming, Chris!" Josiah cried, hearing the sound of the horses coming down the incline.

"Mr. Wilmington, I would like to know how you have pulled off this piece of magic?"

"Well, I’ve seen Vin whistle and Peso come to him."

"Yes, I have witnessed that also, but... " At that moment, the horses appeared out of the darkness. Sire, Scout and Bandit were all tied to Peso who was out in front leading the other horses into the clearing.

"Good thinking, Brother."

"I ain’t just a pretty face, you know."

"No, you certainly are not a pretty face," Ezra agreed.

"Shut up, Ezra."

"Now, now children."

"Okay, mount up. Ezra, you’re driving the wagon. Nathan’s riding with Vin." All men were surprised that Larabee hadn’t insisted on being next to his injured friend, but the reason soon became evident. "Buck, I want you up front scouting ahead. Josiah, ride next to the horses drawing the wagon. If they get spooked I want someone right there to pull them into line. I’ll cover us from the rear."

"It sounds like you might be expecting some kind of an attack, Mr. Larabee."

"If you were after someone and you knew that he was going be riding into town, at night, with a wounded man in a wagon... what would you do?"

"Good point, Mr. Larabee. But don’t we have the two men?"

"Vin said that there were three."

"Oh."

"Buck, if we’re attacked, you me and Josiah will lead them away from the wagon. If they’ve got any brains at all, they’ll target the wagon because it’s so slow."

"Don’t worry, Chris," Buck assured his leader and reined his horse around to scout ahead. A flash of lightening cracked across the sky several miles away.

"Alright, move out. And Ezra, take it easy."

"I fully intend to, Mr. Larabee. My derriere’s killing me."

As the wagon jolted off on its journey, Vin groaned.

Chris rode up next to Nathan and waited.

"He’s okay, Chris, but this is gonna be a painful journey."

Larabee winced. "I want to know if... if his condition changes."

Nathan nodded. Thank God for Ezra. Nathan never thought he would ever be thanking God for the likes of Ezra Standish, but here he was doing it. Half an hour ago, Chris Larabee was useless to Vin. Too busy wallowing in his own self blame. But Ezra had turned him around. Ezra had snapped their leader into action by pointing out that Vin needed him more now than he ever had before... and it had worked. Chris Larabee was leading from the front, which was exactly where they all needed him, particularly in light of the fact that there was a third mystery man out there somewhere.

Vin groaned again.

"Easy there, Vin. I know it hurts, but we ain’t got any choice."

"Chris?"

"He’s watching our back. We’re taking you home."

"Yeah, I reckon he does."

"Now, you stop with all this crazy talk, Vin. You’re gonna make it. We’re on our way home. Won’t be long and then I’ll have you back in my clinic and everything will be okay."

"I wish I could Vin, but you know what a dang stubborn man he is. Only one person on this planet who’s gonna be able to convince him this ain’t his fault and that’s you. Sorry pard."

"No, you done enough talking for now. Rest."

"That’s enough, Cowboy. Nathan said you were to be quiet."

Nathan glanced up at Chris. He wasn’t sure how long his leader had been riding right beside the wagon listening.

"Got to go, Cowboy. You be quiet there and listen to Nathan." With that, Chris dragged himself away from this friend’s side.

"Chris? CHRIS! Don’t... walk...away from me....Come...back...here...damn.......you."

Nathan watched as anguish washed over his patient’s face. Agony that was mirrored in Chris Larabee’s. The healer knew that Larabee had done some difficult things in his life, but riding away to the cries of his friend begging him to stay had to be one of the hardest things the gunslinger had ever done.

"You need to settle down, Vin. You can talk to Chris as soon as we get you to my clinic. I promise."

"And...what...if...I don’t...make...it. You...consider...that?!"

"Well, I reckon you’re the only one who can do anything about that."

"Well, I reckon you got a better chance of surviving if you’re either worried about Chris, or angry at him. So which is it?"

"Then I reckon you’re gonna need all your strength. Close your eyes and rest, Vin." Nathan watched the young man’s eyes close, a grimace of pain replacing the frown as he returned to limbo to continue his battle to keep death’s door closed.

Moments later, Chris rode up.

"He alright?"

"Yeah. But he ain’t very happy with you."

"Oh?"

"Called ya ugly and a stubborn bastard. Reckons he’s gonna punch you in the face the next time he sees you. And he reckons he’s gonna get you to admit that this ain’t your fault even if he’s got to thrash you to do it."

Chris smiled at Nathan and then down at the pale tracker. "Reckon he’ll try too."

Nathan smiled. "Reckon he will. He ain’t’ worried about you any more. He’s just real mad at you. Anger is a powerful emotion. I’ve seen anger give men strength when nothing else could."

"Will it be enough?" Chris whispered.

Nathan found somewhere else to look. "I don’t know, Chris. He’s lost so much blood. But he’s the most stubborn man I’ve ever met. And the most determined. If anyone can pull this off, it’s him. Shit, there’s no way he should have lasted this long, but the man just doesn’t know when to give up. He’s fightin' like hell at the moment. Wish I could say something more positive than that."

***************

"What’s taking them so long," Mary muttered, pacing back and forth in the sheriff’s office. She had decided to stay with J.D. She didn’t feel comfortable leaving him alone. If the truth be known, she couldn’t stand the thought of waiting alone herself.

"They’ll be another hour at least, Mrs Travis."

"I know. I know. I just... how did I ever let myself become involved with you men?"

J.D. stared at her with wide eyes. "Huh?"

Mary blushed having realized what she had said. "I meant allowing myself to care about you. Every day at least one of you gets shot at. It’s amazing we haven’t buried one of you already."

This bought a smile to J.D.’s face. "Reckon that’s because Mr. Larabee is such a good leader. And because Ezra confuses our enemies with all his fancy talk. And cuz Buck is such a good fighter. And Nathan is such a good healer. An cuz Josiah’s got God watching us. And cuz Vin is such a good tracker. And because I... well, because I was just lucky enough that they decided to include me."

Mary smiled and her thoughts turned to a broody man who had captured her heart the very first moment she had met him. What was it about Chris Larabee that intrigued her so much? She knew what it was. She knew it was because she had briefly seen what lay behind the tough exterior. She’d seen it so many times when Chris played with Billy. Underneath the thick hide, there was a kind and sensitive man. It was that man that Mary had found herself unashamedly falling in love with. The only problem was, that sensitive man only appeared on rare occasions, but Mary was prepared to wait. I’m not giving up on you Chris Larabee.

Thoughts of Vin entered her mind. At first, she had thought that he was a silent, untrusting loner. It didn’t take long for her to realize that the young tracker was simply quiet. He was so weary of people. She knew now that that was because he had a bounty on his head. She had overheard he and Chris talking about it one night, but never let them know that she knew. None of that, however, could obscure the fact that the quietly spoken, unpretentious tracker was a sensitive and gentle man. A good man. He was quick to go to the aid of anyone or anything in need. That had been clearly evident the day he had taken on a cemetery full of hooligans to stop Nathan being lynched. And Vin Tanner was a gentleman. He treated all women like ladies. Mary smiled as a vision of those blue eyes flashed through her mind. I’ll bet those baby blue’s have broken some hearts in their day. He was so unassuming, but Vin was also deadly. Of the Seven, he was the sharpshooter. Mary had seen Vin make shots from the top of Potter’s store that were just down right impossible. She knew that they were impossible because the other men had said they were. All of the Seven were good with their guns, but Vin Tanner didn’t ever miss. Chris was definitely the fastest on the draw and Ezra could hit the wings on a fly with his derringer, but when it came to hitting what you were aiming at, whether on horse back, running through the street, or perched on top of Potter’s store, Vin Tanner was your man.

Come home to us Vin. For my sake. And for Billy’s sake. And for Four Corner’s sake. And for J.D.’s sake. And for Buck’s, Josiah’s, Nathan’s and Ezra’s sake. But more importantly, for Chris’ sake. Because if you don’t come home, the man I love will disappear for ever. I know that as sure as I know that the sun will rise and set tomorrow.

*************

Buck slowed his mount. Had he heard something? Or was it just his gut gnawing at him. There were no animal sounds. No insects. Silence. Hell!

"AMBUSH!!" the big man screamed, wheeling his horse around and galloping back toward the wagon. It took several seconds before the shocked men hiding in the bushes ahead realized what was happening and began to give chase.

The seconds they had sat stunned had already given the advantage back to the their intended prey and that was exactly why Chris had sent Buck up front. Buck Wilmington was not Vin Tanner. He was not as attuned to nature as the tracker, but in the eight weeks the men had been together, Vin had taught them all a hell of a lot about reading the signs of the outdoors. One of the things Vin had impressed upon them was that mother nature was never silent. Quiet, yes, but never, ever silent.

On Buck’s warning, Ezra had turned the wagon sharply to the left yelling... "Hang on to him, Mr. Jackson, I’m afraid we are going to have to take a detour."

Josiah and Chris raced up to meet Buck and together they attacked the nine men riding at them.

"Make every bullet count!" Chris yelled. He snapped off four deadly shots and four men fell. Josiah’s rifle roared twice and another man fell. Buck’s gun echoed three times and another two men died in their saddles. The remaining two attackers had passed them during the confusion and were wearing down on the wagon that was rattling across the uneven ground.

"Ezra, they’re gaining," Nathan screamed, trying desperately to hold on to Vin as the two of them bounced around inside the wagon."

"I’m afraid we are at top speed now, Mr. Jackson. Are you able to return fire?" Ezra screamed calmly. Nathan had never heard someone scream calmly, but then, Ezra did everything calmly. Despite the fact that there were two men chasing them down intent on killing them, despite the fact that those two men were peppering the wagon with bullets, despite the fact that Chris and the others were nowhere to be seen, Ezra kept his emotions in check.

"If I let go of Vin, he’ll bounce clear out of the wagon."

"Slow the Wagon!"

“Vin?” Nathan stared down at the man in his arms who had snapped the order with such authority.

"Give me a rifle.”

"Vin... " The tracker’s eyes were wide open, his face contorted with pain, but he was very awake and attempting to pull himself up into a sitting position. "Get down there. You ain’t in no condition to..."

The two rider were approaching fast, both smiling as their quarry came into view. Vin took a deep arduous breath, steadied the rifle, blinked several times and then fired twice. The recoil threw him back, a scream of agony echoing above the deafening sound of the horses hoofs. In the distance...

"My God, that was Vin!" Buck yelled.

Ahead, Ezra finally pulled the wagon to a stop. His face was white with fatigue and worry. Two riderless horses raced passed the wagon. Vin Tanner never missed.

"NATHAN!" the gambler demanded.

"Get back here, Ezra. He’s opened the stitches. Got to stop this bleeding." The sound of approaching horses sent Ezra grabbing for his gun, but to his relief, the three shapes that appeared out of the darkness were familiar ones.

"NATHAN?!"

Why is it they all scream my name? What the hell do they want from me? I ain’t a doctor and I sure as hell ain’t God! "I’m trying to stop the bleeding. Ezra get over here."

The other three men leaped from their horses and crowded around the outside of the wagon.

"God! How did he rip his wound open like that?! Weren’t you hanging on to him, Nathan?!"

"Shut up, Buck!!" Nathan roared. "It wasn’t the wagon, it was the recoil from the rifle."

"What?!" the other three men exclaimed together. The two dead men they had passed a couple of metres back! It had been Vin?!

"You mean you let Vin fire a rifle!" Chris thundered." What the hell were you two thinking?!!"

"We didn’t have a lot of choice, Mr. Larabee. I had my hands full up front and Mr. Jackson was trying to stop Mr. Tanner from being thrown from the wagon. Mr. Tanner regained consciousness and suggested... ordered that we slow down enough for him to get a couple of steady shots off. Which he did, and thanks to him we all survived the ride."

"Why the hell didn’t you take the shots?" Chris demanded of Nathan.

"Because I might have missed and then we’d all be dead."

"Calm down, Chris. I don’t imagine that Vin gave them much choice in the matter."

Chris glared at Buck and then stared down at the ashen face of his deathly quiet friend. This was the last thing Vin needed. He’d been clinging to life so precariously for the past six hours. Darkly, Chris considered how carefully Nathan had insisted they be with Vin when they were carrying the stretcher... and now this.

"Nathan?"

"I’ve stopped the bleeding, but this certainly hasn’t helped him. Fever is rising, I can feel it. Come on, let’s get moving again. The sooner we get him home, the better off he’ll be. Wish I could get some cat pee into him. Damn him! Now I’m calling it that."

Chris lingered for a moment and then turned to his men. "Ezra, turn this wagon around and start back for town. Josiah, stay up front with those horses. Buck lets go and see if we can recognize any of our attackers."

Nathan watched Buck and Chris remount and disappear. "Take it easy, Ezra. I mean, real easy."

"I’ll do my best, Mr. Jackson." Ezra paused a moment, staring down at the man who had just saved his life. "How did he do it Mr Jackson? The man is half dead. How did he regain consciousness, find the strength to sit up, the presence of mind to aim and shoot and...?"

"I don’t know, Ezra. So far today, he’s defied very piece of medical logic I know. Why should the last ten minutes be any different?"

At that moment, Vin began to groan and move around.

"Easy, Vin. All the excitement is over. Rest and lay still." But Nathan could see that words were not going work this time. Panic and fever were mixing together to produce a strength that the injured man simply shouldn’t have. Nathan knew what that meant. "Ezra, get back here. Now!!"

For the second time, Ezra leaped into the back to provide whatever assistance he could. "Hold him down, Ezra. Hold him." But Vin Tanner was not about to be held down. He began to fight back. "Relax Vin, you’re gonna bust them stitches. Ezra hold him." No good. The tracker moaned. The fever was taking him. The young man began to thrash.

"Easy, Vin," Ezra pleaded... and there was absolutely nothing calm about his voice.

"Come on Vin, lay still. It’s me, Nathan. Please, calm down!"

Josiah rode back, took one look and knew who was needed. He raised his rifle into the air and fired once. Seconds later, Chris and Buck stormed up to the wagon, their guns drawn, their faces masks of concern.

"Chris, get in here," Nathan screamed as he tried desperately to hold his patient still. Perhaps Vin would recognize Chris’ voice and listen to his pleas for calm.

"Vin. Vin, it’s Chris. You’re okay. We’re all okay." At the sound of Chris’ voice, the tracker became still almost instantly. Nathan glanced up at Chris, his mouth opening and closing in amazement. He had hoped that Chris would be able to get through the haze of Vin’s fever but he had not expected it to happen so quickly.

"You have a remarkable effect on him, Mr. Larabee," Ezra murmured, shaking his head in disbelief.

"I wish he were conscious. Got to get some medicine into him. His fever is too high. We’ll loose him if we don’t get it down," Nathan muttered, using water from the canteen to sponge Vin’s glowing face.

Chris Larabee’s uncharacteristically emotional eyes clouded with fear. Then he dropped his head down so that his mouth was only inches from Vin’s ear. "Vin. Vin, I know you can hear me. I want you to drink something for Nathan. I know you don’t like it, but we’ve got to get your fever down. You hear me Vin?"

There was a moan.

Nathan stared at Chris. There was no way that Vin Tanner was conscious. Chris pointed to the medicine and with Ezra’s help he and Nathan gently lifted the fevered man’s head and poured the medicine into his mouth. All three men could feel the heat radiating from the young man’s body.

"Swallow." Nathan begged.

"Come on, Cowboy, you’re doing real well. Swallow some more."

To Nathan’s utter disbelief, his fevered patient took two halting swallows and then groaned as pain coursed through his body.

"That’s enough," Nathan nodded to the other two men who then gently they lowered their burden back onto the blankets in the wagon. "Most incredible thing I’ve ever seen," Nathan murmured. Vin Tanner was unconscious and yet somehow, some way, Chris had dragged him back long enough to drink the medicine that could help to save his life.

"Now, I want you to rest," Chris whispered into Vin’s ear. "But we may need you again if we’re attacked, so I’m putting your rifle next to your right hand so you can get it if you have to. Understand, Cowboy?" A soft moan. "Easy, Vin."

Ezra Standish watched Chris brush Vin’s hair off his fevered brow with all the affection a brother might afford a brother. Ezra Standish smiled.

"You know, Mr Larabee, I misjudged you. You bluff beautifully. Even I believed you for a moment. About needing him to use his rifle again, I mean."

Chris winked at Ezra and looked down at Vin. "Vin places the welfare of everyone else in front of his own. If he thinks that we might need him, he won’t go anywhere. Not even to meet his maker." Chris leaned down close to Vin. "Rest now, Cowboy. I’ll call you if I need you." To Chris’ surprise, he received a groan in reply. The pale eyelids fluttered.

"Hey, what are you doing awake? You close them eyes and rest."

"And what was that all about?" Josiah asked.

"I think, he just tried to punch you in your ugly face," Nathan informed Chris laughing.

"I think you’re right," Chris agreed smiling. "He didn’t look real happy with me did he."

"Now that you mention it, Mr Larabee, he appeared somewhat acrimonious."

"Let’s hope he stays that way. Between worrying about everyone else and being angry with Chris, and not withstanding any more ambushes, we just might get this boy back to Four Corner’s alive." But even as he said it, Nathan could feel his patient’s fever rising again. "Damn, he’s burning up. Chris, get me some water."

"Nathan?" Ezra asked.

"I’m doing everything I can. And so is he. He’s fighting like hell. Has been right from the very beginning. If he weren’t fighting, the blood loss or the fever would have taken him by now."

**********

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