JD heard Chris moan and he gingerly moved to the man's side.

"Chris, you awake?" the young man asked. He was rewarded with a frown and a hint of green as the man opened one eye only to close it again. Finally, the gunslinger groaned and struggled to sit up. Dunne offered the man his hand, but Chris shook his head.

"I'm fine," he said. Larabee looked around the cavern and then back at JD. "Where's Tanner?"

JD shook his head. "Vin left. He's been gone 'bout three hours, now. You up to telling me what happened?" JD stood and moved to the fire. He listened as he poured some of the strong coffee that sat near the campfire.

"I ain't exactly sure. One minute he was laying there, the next he had a gun pointed at my gut."

JD frowned as he handed the man the coffee. "Why do you think he would do that, Chris?"

Larabee took a sip of the coffee and grimaced. "I don't think he knew who I was. Didn't act like it, at least."

"Must be 'cause of hitting his head. He don't remember you, but does remember that there's a bounty on his head. Maybe he thinks we're bounty hunters. That's probably why he pulled a gun on ya."

Chris nodded as he flexed his shoulder. "Makes sense. If he noticed Rankin in shackles, that would convince him." Chris sat the cup down and threw off the blanket JD had across him.

The young man stepped over and placed a hand on the uninjured shoulder. "Whatta you think you're doing?"

"I'm going after him." He looked over his shoulder at the easterner, noticing the bloodstained clothes for the first time. Chris frowned as JD threw the blanket back over his legs.

"You aren't going anywhere. I planned on tracking him just as soon as you woke up so you could keep an eye on Rankin."

"JD, where'd all that blood come from?" Chris reached over only to have the younger man move away.

Brushing at the stain, JD said, "I had to move ya nearer to the fire. Got some blood on me when I did." JD moved further away as he continued to talk. "I'm going to find Vin and see if I can get him to come back. He seemed a mite skittish, so I plan on going real easy with him. I'll get back as soon as I can. I don't think Rankin will give you much trouble, but I left your gun close, along with the rifle and ammunition. Supplies are right next to the fire and I fed the horses already and there's a small pool of water that they can drink from. If I can't find him today, I'll head back first thing tomorrow. Once I get you and Rankin to town, I can get a couple of the others to help me find Vin."

JD had gathered a few things as he spoke and now stood in front of Larabee, ready to leave. "You said in the telegram you sent Buck to expect us today. Chances are that we'll run into them on the way back."

He went to the back of the cave and retrieved his mount. Leading the animal back to the cave entrance, he turned to Larabee one more time. "Don't worry, Chris. I'll be careful. I ain't planning on pushing Vin into doing something stupid. You rest and I'll see ya tomorrow at the latest."

"JD!" Chris called out. "JD, I think we should go on to town and see if we can get some help. We can make it by tonight."

The boy was shaking his head before the man finished speaking. "Chris, I owe it to Vin to try and find him today. If he remembers who we are and what he done, he might not come back. I'm pretty sure he thinks he killed you. I can't let him go on thinking that. If he won't come back, that's one thing, but I have to make him understand that you're alive and he can come home anytime he's ready."

Chris nodded. It made sense that he wait and build up his strength while JD tried to locate the tracker. Larabee held out little hope that the young man would be able to track the other man. Vin was good at what he did and knew how to hide a trail.

JD glanced around the cave. "You should be safe in here until I get back. Keep an eye on Rankin. He's got food and water near by, so you don't have to worry about moving around to accommodate him." Tipping his hat, he led his horse outside. He studied the ground for a few minutes and then, mounting, rode off in search of Tanner.

The group of men drew their animals to a halt as the leader threw up his hand.

"Jacobs, you see anything?"

"Trail is pretty washed out after that rain, but I'm pretty sure that we're on the right track, Sam."

Rankin looked at the man with contempt. Sam Rankin was as arrogant as his brother was worthless. Sam was the younger of the two brothers, but he ran the band of outlaws, planning each robbery. He knew that Vern was the cause of the fiasco in Watsonville, but he was family and that meant that Sam was obligated to rescue the man.

Sneering, Rankin leaned onto the horn of his saddle, saying, "We better be. I want my brother back today. And I don't care how many men have to die doing it."

Horses moved nervously as their riders squirmed in their saddles. Rankin eyed each of the six riders with him. Jerking the reins, he unknowingly rode toward the cave that Chris and Vern Rankin occupied.

Chris grunted as he shifted positions. It had been two to three hours since JD left in search Tanner. The man in black could only wonder about how the two were faring. He didn't like the idea of Dunne hunting Tanner, but he couldn't go and that left it to the kid. Larabee trusted the young man, but doubted his ability to track the ex-bounty hunter.

He glanced over at Rankin. The man had not said a word since Chris had come to. Chris almost wished he would start mouthing again. Blood loss was making him a little woozy and a distraction would help keep his mind sharp.

Chris paused in reaching for the coffee pot when he heard a horse whinny outside the cave. His brow knitted as he struggled to stand. He could not imagine that JD was returning already. Gaining his feet, he supported his right arm and shuffled over to the entrance.

Larabee leaned heavily on the wall and stole a look out the cave mouth. He quickly drew back at the sight of the armed men approaching the cave.

"Damn" he muttered. Moving back into the cave, he staggered over to the fire and grabbed his gun. Hearing a chuckle, he turned on the chained man sitting on the other side of the cavern. "I'll save one shot for you." A cold look of loathing was the man's only response. Chris moved back to the narrow entrance. He waited for the men to come closer and make the first move.

He didn't have to wait long. Sam Rankin looked at the black mouth of the cave and dismounted. The six men with him followed suite. They tied the horses and started toward the cave.

"There's one set of tracks leaving the cave so the others have to still be in there." Jacobs pointed to JD's trail as he spoke.

Rankin nodded. He looked at the cave and then at his men. Gesturing, he had the men spread out across the front of the cave. Once he was satisfied with their placement, he took a stance in front of the entrance.

"In the cave! All I want is my brother. Send him out and we'll leave."

Chris glanced over at Rankin. The man was smiling. "Sorry, I can't do that. He has a judge to see." the gunslinger yelled back.

Sam shook his head and said softly, "I didn't think so." He turned his back and nodded. "Get 'em out for me, boys." He stepped out of the line of fire.

Jacobs pulled his pistol and fired a shot into the opening.

Chris moved back and flinched as the bullet chipped the rock face near his ear. "Okay, if that's the way you want it." He smiled a feral smile and returned fire.

Josiah pulled up on the reins. "Hold up a minute." The others halted and waited. He heard it again. The others nodded.

"That was a pistol shot." Nathan said.

Another shot echoed across the mountain. "That was a peacemaker. Chris."

There was a moment's hesitation and then the four horses jumped into action.

Chris kept his head back as bullets assaulted the mouth of the cave. Rankin's men were hard pressed to get any of the shots to actually enter the cave. Most of them struck the surrounding rock face. But enough made it through to prevent Chris getting too many shots off. He knew his position was secure as long as he could protect the only way in.

He had seen at least five men riding in before ducking back inside. Larabee knew he would have a hard time actually hitting anyone he fired at. Picking his shots, he knew he hit someone as the sound of a scream echoed around the cave.

Checking his belt, he figured he would last one, maybe two, hours if he picked his shots carefully, before he ran out of ammo. He thought about JD and Vin. If the kid could find Tanner, would they come back together? Could Dunne even persuade the man to listen to him? Would he still be alive when they got back?

A ricochet tore into the dirt at Larabee's feet and drew his attention back to the men outside. He hazarded another glance and smiled at what he saw. Buck and Josiah were sneaking in from the back of the men off to the left. Chris figured that meant that Nathan and Ezra were doing the same to the men on the right. He waited and listened.

Buck looked at see that the other three men were in place. Josiah and Nathan both nodded while Ezra touched his hat. Buck pushed his hat off and peeked around the tree. He saw four shooters for sure. Glancing over at Nathan, Wilmington saw him indicate he could see five men from where he stood. Buck figured that meant seven to nine men between their two vantage points. He nodded and took a deep breath.

"You boys got a bear cornered in there? Sure are throwing a lot of lead at them rocks."

He ducked behind the tree as men dove for cover and started firing at him. The others joined in. The bandits soon found themselves in the middle of a crossfire between Larabee and the others.

Sam Rankin stood off to the side and watched as the battle raged. 'That fool Jacobs is going to get killed. All of them are.' But Sam had no intention of getting caught or killed. He moved silently away from the action. He was reaching for the reins when he felt the warm barrel of a gun press against his neck.

"I don't mean to be accusatory, but I believe that it is extremely rude to leave the party when you sent out the invitation, sir. Your compatriots are sure to miss your fine company."

Rankin put his hands up, releasing the reins as he did. He turned to see a dandy, his clothes more appropriate for a New Orleans riverboat than a small town in the west. Rankin smiled. "How right you are, sir. But then, I don't remember sending you and your friends an invitation." He lunged forward and knocked Standish to the ground. The two men wrestled, rolling under the hoofs of the large animals that stood near by. Rankin grabbed Ezra by the collar and rolled, pushing the man toward the panicking animals.

Ezra hit the chest of one animal and curled into a ball as hooves pounded the ground around him. He inched away as the animal pulled away. Rising, he caught a glimpse of the robber mounting a skittish roan. He jumped to his feet and launched himself up. Already nervous, the animal reared and tossed the man off his back. Then he bolted off, leaving his rider groaning on the ground. Ezra scooped up his fallen gun and leveled it at the robber.

"I am really fighting my baser urges to not discharge my pistol into your troublesome person, but I promise you, I will not hesitate if you offer any more resistance. Am I making myself clear?"

Rankin nodded. Ezra gestured with the pistol. The man rose and the two began their trek back to the others. They arrived to find Buck and Josiah checking the men that lay on the ground. Of the seven men who attacked Chris, four lay dead and two were injured. Sam Rankin was the only one of the outlaws that escaped unscathed.

Nathan had met Larabee just outside the cave entrance. The blond smiled as the others appeared out of the trees.

"Let's get you inside and checked out, Chris." Nathan turned the man back around. Ezra and Sam Rankin followed them in. Standish didn't miss the look of disgust on the man's face when his brother called out.

"Hey, Sam, you come to get me out of here? Where are the others?"

Standish shackled one brother next to the other. "You gentlemen enjoy your family reunion." He turned and walked away, but could still hear the two men conversing.

"Sam, how we gonna get out of here?"

"Shut up, Vern. Why I came after you is beyond me."

Ezra chuckled as he moved to join Chris and Nathan. Buck and Josiah had tied up the two injured thieves. The three gathered around as Nathan examined Chris' shoulder. Ezra noticed Buck looking around. Chris caught the movement also.

"Buck, the kid's not here."

"Not here? Where the hell is he, Chris? For that matter, where's Vin?"

"JD's gone after him." Chris flinched as Nathan worked at removing the bandages over the wound.

Ezra looked around, frowning. "Chris, how did you manage to dress your wound in the middle of this mélé?"

"I didn't. JD did."

"Who shot you, brother?"

"Vin." As much as he hurt, Chris almost laughed at the expressions on the men around him. He took a breath and told them the story. "When the storm hit last night, Vin's mount tossed him into a tree. When I brought him in, he was out cold. He woke up this morning and pulled his gun on me."

Chris looked at Nathan as he continued. "He acted confused, like he didn't know me. He was grabbing up his clothes when JD came back in. He swung around and I jumped between them. That's when he fired. I don't know what happened next. I came to and JD was there. He'd cleaned my wound and bandaged it. Said he's going after Vin and he'd be back in the morning."

"You let him go after Tanner after he shot you? Dammit, Chris, are you loco?" Buck stood with his hands propped on his hips.

"Vin won't hurt JD, Buck. I doubt JD can even find him. Tanner had a three hour head start."

"Don't think he'll hurt JD? Chris, if he shot you, ain't nobody safe."

"It was an accident, Buck. Where do you think you're going?"

"I'm going after the kid." Buck had turned and headed out. Ezra's voice slowed his departure.

"Mr. Wilmington, do you mind if I accompany you?" he called out. He smiled as Buck turned and nodded. Touching his hat, he looked at Chris. "I will endeavor to keep our friend composed and in control of his excessively protective nature toward our youngest member." With a touch of his hat, the southerner quickly followed Wilmington out the cave entrance.