For the Sake of A Friend

At just on 8:45pm, a horse and rider raced into town. Lamps went on everywhere. The citizens of Four Corners had stayed up waiting for news on the condition of their young protector. J.D. and Mary hurried out into the street along with two dozen other men, women and children. The rider reined the horse up in front of J.D. and Mary.

"Chris?!" J.D. begged breathlessly.

"He’s alive and fighting like hell to stay that way. Wagon’s about three minutes behind me." Chris barely got the last part out when the an explosion of voices echoed in the street.

"He’s alive!"

"Did you hear that, Mr. Tanner is alive!"

"Thank, God."

"They’re bringing him in in a wagon."

"They’re bringing him in in my wagon. That damn gambler stole it."

Chris glanced at the people aggressively and eyed Mary.

"They’re just concerned," she assured him. "Why don’t you come in and rest?"

"No, I came to set up lamps in Nathan’s clinic ready for Vin’s arrival," Chris argued, climbing down out of the saddle and hurling his reins at J.D.

"I’ll do that, Mr. Larabee," Mr. Hindle announced, racing off to do so."

"And I’ll take care of your horse, Mr. Larabee," Joseph offered, snatching the reins from the young sheriff.

"Is there anything we can do, Mr. Larabee?"

Chris stared at these people, many of them in nightshirts and bare feet. Quite suddenly, he felt at a loss for words.

Seeing this, Mary stepped in. "Thank you, everyone. Perhaps if you could all collect over near Nathan’s clinic with your lanterns, candles and torches and provide as much light as possible for when Mr. Tanner arrives." Instantly, the people raced off to do so. Mary glanced up at Chris. "Like I said, they just want to help. They care you know."

"I know."

"Are you okay?"

"No," Chris snapped sharply, staring back up the street. Finally, he turned and looked down at her." Sorry, it’s been a long day. Vin’s holding on, but... but we just don’t know yet. Nathan says he should be dead, but you know Vin. Never does what anyone expects."

Mary smiled at him. "If there is the slightest chance, Nathan will pull him through."

The first few drops of rain began to fall. The sky was lit up by lightening.

"Here comes the storm. You’ve got him back, just in time." The sounds of riders interrupted their conversation.

"They’re here."

As the wagon ambled into town, it was greeted with a roar of cheers from the crowd that had grown to include every resident of Four Corners and many of its visitors.

Jordan watched from the door of the boarding house with interest. These people were awfully found of the ‘Magnificent Seven.’ A real hero’s welcome for the dead kid. How touching.

"Mr. Larabee said that Mr. Tanner is still alive," Jordan heard a woman say as she rushed out to be a part of the crowd. So, the drifter was alive. That wasn’t good. The boy could recognize him. I’ll have to do something about that.

**********

In only minutes, Vin had been carried up the stairs and into Nathan’s small clinic.

"Nathan, how’s he doing?" Josiah asked, watching the healer begin to fuss around Vin.

"He’s still with us. His stitches have survived, but the fever’s still gripping him. Got to try and get it down. Alright, all of you out. Except you, Chris. If he starts to thrash about again, I’m gonna need your help."

"J.D., get all those people off to bed," Chris ordered.

"Okay, Chris," J.D. agreed, still trying to peer around Buck, Josiah and Ezra to see Vin. He needed to see for himself that his friend was alive. He’d been waiting all day and now he had to know.

Noting the agonized look on the kid’s face, Chris beckoned him through the group of retreating men.

J.D. approached the cot apprehensively. "He looks so frail. Like he’d break if I touched him."

Chris patted J.D. on the back. "Go ahead, touch him. He’s a lot tougher than he looks."

J.D. crouched down and tentatively placed his hand on his friend’s arm. It was really warm. Too warm. But it was solid and real. "Vin? Vin can you hear me? It’s J.D. You get better now, you hear. Cuz you’re gonna upset a whole lot of people if you die."

"Now go on." Chris urged, pulling the boy to his feet. "Get those people to bed, sheriff."

An hour later and Four Corner’s was quiet. The only sound was coming from the saloon where five men and one woman were sitting around a table.

"He’s just so damn lucky," Buck muttered, taking another long swing from the whisky bottle he had grabbed from behind the bar.

"How do you figure that, Mr. Wilmington?" Ezra demanded, fatigue, worry and an aching rump fuelling his anger.

"How many men could survive a shot in the chest and lay in the sun for hours?”

"He wouldn’t have been in the sun," Ezra commented.

"Huh?"

"You found him at Ambush Rock?"

"Yeah."

"And he was shot just after noon. Well, by 12:30, that entire area is shaded as a result of those two pillars of rock," Ezra pointed out. "He would have been in the shade all day."

"I think Ez could be right. Vin didn’t have no sunburn. If he’d been laying out there for a couple of hours there would have been sunburn. And thanks to Peso, no scavengers came near him. Hoof prints showed that he’d been standing near or over Vin all day."

"Like I said, the man was damn lucky."

"Lucky, maybe. Too stubborn to die, definitely."

"Both," Buck agreed. "Ain’t no question about him being stubborn. But hell he was lucky. If Chris hadn’t been with us... "The man’s voice trailed off, he unable to even contemplate the thought, let alone voice it.

"What are you talking about, Buck?" Mary asked. It was the first thing she had said since they had retired to the saloon.

"Well, we just presumed that Vin was dead. All of us. Me, Josiah and Chris. There was so much blood and he was so pale. He really looked dead. And well, I mean when you transport a dead man you usually wrap him in a blanket and put him across his horse." Buck’s voice had become deathly quiet. Josiah patted Buck’s shoulder.

"You see, Mrs. Travis, Buck and me were about to wrap Vin up, but Chris... "

"Chris wouldn’t let go of him. He insisted that Vin ride home up in the saddle with him." Mary swallowed, tears filling her beautiful blue eyes. "Didn’t want Vin coming home like a sack of grain. Wanted to give him some dignity." Buck’s voice broke and tears began to fall down his cheeks. "If Chris hadn’t insisted, we would have... and he would have died on the way home trussed up on the back of his horse... it would have been like we killed him."

"That’s enough, Brother," Josiah scolded. "Vin held on until we got there and by God’s grace, Chris realized. That’s all we got to concentrate on."

Buck nodded and wiped his face with his sleeve. "Yeah, yeah, you’re right."

"Have any of you been able to speak to Mr. Tanner?" Mary asked, trying to change the subject.

"Yeah. He’s come around a few times."

"What did he say?" J.D. asked.

"Well actually, J.D., he had a message he wanted me to deliver to you," Buck whispered earnestly.

"He did? What was it?"

"Said to tell you that he thinks that that hat you wear is an embarrassment and that you should get yourself a decent hat like mine."

"Aw shut-up Buck. What did he really say?"

Buck grinned at J.D. "You mean you don’t believe me? You think I would lie about a thing like that?"

"I think you’d lie about whether it was day or night."

"Children, please. "

"Please tell us what he said?" Mary prompted quietly.

"Just wanted to warn Chris about them shooters and to check and make sure Chris wasn’t blaming himself for all this, Ma’am."

Mary found herself smiling. That sounded like Vin. His first concern was for others.

"And he complained about having to drink that cat pee," Josiah added, watching Mary’s face light up.

There was silence for several minutes, the men turning to the whisky, Mary’s thoughts filling with a vision of Vin’s colorless face. God he had looked so pale.

"That man shouldn’t be alive," Buck muttered, the alcohol now beginning to take effect and loosen his tongue. "Only reason he’s up there fighting is because he’s waiting to hear Chris say he don’t blame himself."

"It’s true," Ezra agreed, staring into his own whisky glass. "Clinging to life for the sake of a friend."

Mary watched them intently. "Josiah?" she pressed.

"Vin said as much. Basically said he was ready to die, but couldn’t until he knew that Chris was guilt free. We realized what was going on and used it against him. Made sure he thought that Chris was blaming himself and that the only way he could save Chris’ soul was to deal with the situation himself. Every time he regained consciousness the only thing he was interested in was trying to get Chris to say he didn’t blame himself."

"And to tell Chris he was gonna punch him in the face," Ezra added with a smile.

"What?"

"Yes, I believe Mr. Tanner’s words were, and I quote, ‘the next time I see his ugly mug I’m ‘gonna’ punch him in the face."

"You’re kidding."

"No. And he insisted that he was going to make Chris say he didn’t blame himself even if he had to... what word did he use. Yes,...thrash him to do it." Mary began to giggle. "Oh, no, Mrs. Travis. Mr. Tanner was deadly serious. He is quite upset with Mr. Larabee, not because Mr. Larabee has failed to agree where the fault for this incident should lie, but because he feels that Chris ignored him when he called out to him. Vin said he wasn’t going beg." Ezra glanced at the other men’s sceptical looks. "I am telling you the truth, my friends. I swear it. As a matter of fact, after Mr. Tanner shot those two obnoxious men who were pursuing us this evening..."

"What two men?" Mary and J.D. cried out simultaneously.

"Oh, we were ambushed by nine men. Josiah, Chris and I took out seven but two got through and went after the wagon."

"Yes. Mr. Tanner regained consciousness in the nick of time and shot the two hapless individuals."

"Vin regained consciousness, and shot two people from a moving wagon. In his condition?!!"

"Yes, sheriff. Mr. Tanner is a most unpredictable man. As I was saying, after he shot the two men, busted his stitches, collapsed, lost consciousness again and was attacked by the fever..."Ezra watched as both Mary and J.D.’s eyes continued to enlarge with the addition of each incident..."well, he regained consciousness briefly, cursed Mr. Larabee and then attempted to punch him in the face. It was only a light tap, but the intention was certainly there."

"Ezra?"

"It is the truth, Mr. Wilmington, I swear on my mother’s grave."

"Your mother is alive."

"Yes, I know. Alright, I swear as God is my witness."

"I’m not so sure that you believe in God, Ezra."

"Alright, I give you my word as a..."

"Don’t you dare say gentleman, cuz that ain’t gonna help."

"Then I swear on our friendship." The others paused before refuting that one. Their friendship was the one thing that they knew Ezra held dear. "Mr. Tanner is not a happy man and Mr. Jackson and Mr. Larabee are feeding his anger at the moment because they feel it will assist in his recovery."

"Vin could never really hate or be angry at Chris," J.D. claimed.

"Hate him, no. But temporarily angry - definitely."

**********

Henry Jordan slipped into the sheriff’s office and closed the door behind him. The room was in total darkness. After the earlier excitement, everyone had headed to bed. Except the ‘Magnificent Seven.’ One was in the dark skninned man's room with the healer and injured drifter and the other men were in the saloon downing their sorrows.

Jordan squinted around the tiny office. He was going to need some light, but couldn’t afford too much. Amid the gloom, he spotted a small lamp on the desk to one side. Silently, he crossed the room, lit it and turned it down low.

"Tom?" Movement from the back of the cell.

"Henry?"

"Yeah."

"Where the hell have you been? I’ve been sitting in here for hours. Ed’s dead."

"I know."

"That kid is alive."

"Not for long. Where did they put the keys?"

"In the top drawer of the desk." Jordan retrieved them and then moved over to the cell. "Mr Harris ain’t gonna be happy about all of this," Tom muttered.

"He ain’t.

"I’ll go straight out there and explain everything to Hicks."

Jordan said nothing. Noiselessly, he moved over to the cell. Tom stepped up to the bars anxiously watching his partner insert the keys in the lock. He just wanted to get out of there. He had the distinct feeling that if the kid did die his six friends would wish to extract some revenge. Ed was dead and so that left only him. Besides, the guy in the red jacket had said that he would see to it that Tom would die real slow and painfully. As the incarcerated man moved forward to be inches from the bars that were preventing his freedom, he felt a burning flash in his stomach. Jordan grinned at him evilly.

"Sorry friend. Can’t afford to let you live." Tom looked down as Jordan withdrew the long hunting knife from his abdomen. The short man tried to speak, but his world was already spinning uncontrollably. The last thing Tom Cox heard as he walked through death’s door was the sound of Henry Jordan’s spurs jingling softly.

**********

"Chris, he’s settled. Why don’t you go and get some sleep," Nathan suggested. "I’ll call you if I need you."

"No. I’ll sit with him. Like you said, he’s settled. Better if you get some rest now. If the fever gets worse, he’s gonna need you."

Nathan stood for a moment and then nodded. "He’s strong, Chris. And he’s trying."

"I know. But he’s tired. And... "

"And he’ll never give up without one hell of a fight. You keep that in mind."

The minutes ticked by slowly. Nathan had fallen into a restless sleep on the cot on the other side of the room. Chris was sitting in a chair beside Vin’s bed sponging him down. The gunfighter’s arms were aching, but he was only vaguely aware of the discomfort. What he was aware of was the fact that Vin’s fever wasn’t coming down. If anything, it was getting worse, but there was a fine line between trying to keep the injured man cool and wetting him down and causing a chill.

Vin moved uneasily on the bed.

"Easy, Vin. It’s okay." At the sound of Chris’ voice the young man calmed. Such blind trust. What did I ever do to deserve trust like that, Vin? But then, I guess I trust you in the same way. Don’t know why. Don’t claim to even begin to understand. But I do trust you. And I need you. I need to see those damn haunting eyes of yours staring at me defiantly. Need to hear those two notes you play... play! You don’t play that harmonica, you strangle it. Come on, Vin. I need you to keep fighting. I need you to ride beside me. I need you to back me in a fight. Hell, I just need you.

A soft moan echoed out of the injured man.

"Easy, Vin. It’s okay. Rest."

"....Chris?"

"Yeah."

"Wagon?"

"Clinic."

"Others?"

"Safe." Chris smiled. They never seemed to need many words to communicate.

"You?"

"Okay. Listen, I want you to drink some water for me. Reckon you can do that?"

"Enough?"

"Yeah. I’m hot."

"You’ve got a fever."

"Bad?"

"Ain’t good."

"How long since I was shot?"

"About twelve hours."

"Any major damage?"

"Nathan reckons God must have been smiling on you. Nicked your left lung and busted two ribs, but missed everything else." Vin nodded and closed his eyes.

"Hush now and rest."

"Don’t you go getting yourself all worked up. You’ve got to rest."

"Shhh. Rest." Chris watched as his friend struggled to remain conscious for a few more seconds and then he lost the battle. "Just rest, Cowboy. You can punch me in the face later."

"How’s his fever?" Nathan called.

"It isn’t any better, Nathan."

The healer climbed off the cot and padded across the room. Placing a hand on Vin’s brow, he frowned. "Go on. You go over to that cot and lay down for a few hours. I’ll take over here."

"No, I..."

"It wasn’t a request, Chris. I’m gonna have to work on this fever. Can’t do it with you in the way. Now go on. Just like you told me, he’s quiet now, but if the fever gets worse and he starts thrashing around, you’re the only one who is going to be able to keep him quiet. You won’t be able to do that if you’ve collapsed from lack of food or sleep. I want you to go across to the saloon and get Mrs. Travis to get you some grub. And then I want you back over here in half an hour to get some sleep. I ain’t suggesting. For Vin’s sake, I’m ordering you. Now git." Chris looked at Nathan, glanced at Vin and then looked back at Nathan.

"You’ll call me if... "

"You know I will. Now go on and let me work in peace."

**********

Henry Jordan slipped into the shadows and watched Larabee make his way across to the saloon. Perfect. That meant that the healer and the kid were alone.

**********

"Now, Vin, it’s time for this fever to come down, cuz if it doesn’t you ain’t gonna get a chance to knock Chris off his feet. And Chris is gonna spend the rest of his days blaming himself." Nathan knew his patient was unconscious - beyond hearing him, but talking made him feel more comfortable. Then again, by some magic that Nathan just couldn’t understand, Vin seemed to be able hear Chris, so just maybe there was a chance that the scruffy tracker may pick up on some of the things the healer was saying.

"It would be real helpful if you would wake up and drink some medicine for me. You know, the cat pee. I just want you to know that I ain’t real happy with you. Got even me calling it that now."

Nathan heard movement on the stairs. Angrily he shook his head.

"Listen to that will you? He’s back already. Only just left." Nathan walked over to the table in the corner and began wetting the cloth. He heard the door open. Heard the sound of spurs. Chris wore spurs, but they didn’t sound like his. The coloured man began to turn to investigate, when something smashed down on the side of his head. Who’ll protect Vin? Nathan thought horrified as he sank to the floor unconscious.

**********

"Chris!" All of the men jumped to their feet at the sight of the exhausted man entering the saloon. His face was dark and lined with worry. His clothes were still caked with dust from the day’s riding. His hair was damp and stuck to his head. Chris stared at all of them and allowed a small grin to creep onto his face. They were dishevelled, and dirty and looked like they’d been riding for days without a break. Even Ezra, who always seem to look cool, appeared ruffled.

"If I look half as bad as all of you, I must look a sight."

"Come and sit down," Mary urged. "How’s Vin?"

For a moment, Chris didn’t reply. "Not good. Fever won’t come down. Nathan’s doing what he can."

"I heard that he’s wanting to punch you in the face, Mr. Larabee," J.D. commented mischievously. Chris glanced at J.D. and smiled. Vin’s feeble attempts to do so brought laughter to his lips. The others, relieved to see some of the fatigue leave their leader’s face, laughed right along with him. Buck slapped J.D. on the back, but the whisky fuelled his strength and he knocked the boy backwards out of his seat. This sent the men into further fits of laughter. J.D. dragged himself up off the ground and joined in.

Gradually, the laughter faded away and Chris sighed long and deep as his thoughts returned to Vin. The tired looking man glanced at Mary.

"Mary, I hate to impose, but I was wondering if you could find me something to eat. Nathan’s orders. He wants me back up there in half an hour, but only after I’ve eaten."

"Of course, Chris. What about the rest of you? I don’t suppose any of you have eaten."

"No Ma’am. Not since breakfast."

"Alright. Wait here and I’ll be back in a few minutes." She started for the door, but Chris laid his hand on her arm as she passed.

"Mary, thanks." Mary smiled very aware of the fact that her cheeks were blushing scarlet. "For everything." Despite his overwhelming worry for Vin, he had noticed her. There. Always there. Stable as a rock. An angle in hell. Looking after J.D. He’d seen it and he was grateful.

"I won’t be long," she whispered.

Once the woman had disappeared Ezra leaned forward.

"Mr. Larabee, I have been thinking. Mr. Tanner saw three men."

"That’s right."

Ezra was nodding, his mind zapping at the speed of light. Perhaps it was the whisky, or perhaps it was simply the first time since this whole mess had started that Ezra had had time to actually reflect on the incident itself without being a part of it. Time to try and put everything into perspective. "A third man. Conceivably then, the gentleman we have in the jail can enlighten us as to the identity of the missing suspect."

Chris nodded and climbed to his feet.

"What did he say?" J.D whispered to Buck.

"Damned if I know. I understood the word ‘gentleman’ and ‘jail’ and it looks like that’s where we’re headed, Kid."

The men got half way across the street, when Mary reappeared with a tray of food.

"Go on. All of you. Go and get something to eat."

"I ate dinner earlier, Chris," J.D. insisted.

"Yes, and I ate a hearty lunch, Mr. Larabee. Perhaps you and the others should go and eat and Mr. Dunne and I will requisition some answers from our guest."

"No, I want to talk to him. Personally." Every word was laced with hate. "Josiah, Buck, go and eat. Mrs. Travis looks like she’s gone to a lot of trouble. Tell her we’ll be over in a few minutes," Chris ordered. There was no room for argument. Not when Chris was in this sort of mood.

Shit I’d hate to be in that poor bastards shoes at the moment, Buck thought considering the prisoner.

**********

J.D. lit the lantern and moved over to the cell.

"OH SHIT!!" Even in the soft glow, they could see that Tom Cox was dead.

"Damn!" Chris roared, swinging the door open and thrusting his hand down on the side of the man’s neck.

"Obviously his friend had the same idea we did, Mr Larabee. But he got here first."

"Damn. We should have realized."

"I’m afraid we all had our minds on other things."

"Someone should have been here."

"I’m sorry, Chris," J.D. whispered. "It’s my fault. I should have been here."

"Yes you &*%@ing should have been," Chris grilled.

J.D.’s shoulders slumped. "I just wanted to see Vin and... " Chris rose and pushed passed the boy, but as he did so he squeezed the young man’s shoulder. J.D. turned and watched his leader head for the door.

"He understands," Ezra whispered to the youth. "Mr Larabee?"

"What?"

"This creature’s body is still warm. Now, while this could have happened any time since were returned earlier this evening, it is my opinion that it only happened in the last hour."

Chris’ eyes narrowed. "Which means that the killer may still be in town. J.D. go to the livery and stay there. I want to know if anyone tries to leave town."

"Yes, Sir, Mr. Larabee."

Chris stood in the doorway staring up the dark street. The third man was out there somewhere.

"Well, it would seem that our missing suspect does not wish his identity to be known. He’s just killed the only man who can identify him," Ezra stated walking up to stand next to Chris. Even as the words came out of his mouth he knew he was wrong… and so did Chris.

For a split second, the two men stared at each other shocked and then they exploded off the porch and into the street. There was one other man who could identify the assassin - Vin Tanner. If the killer had broken into the jail to kill one man who could identify him, then there was no doubt that Vin was next on the list.

"Get the others!" Chris screamed. God he had left Vin and Nathan unprotected! What the hell had he been thinking?! That was just the point. He hadn’t been thinking. He’d just been reacting. Dear God, don’t let me be too late!!

---

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