DISCLAIMER: The characters of the MAGNIFICENT SEVEN belong to MGM, Trilogy, CBS, and TNN. No profit is made from this fan fic in any way, shape, or form except fun. However, I do not want my original characters borrowed or used without my knowledge or consent. If you are unsure if a character is canon or an original, please click here on original characters for an extensive list of my characters and when they were first introduced in my fan fiction.
Breakfast Christmas morning consisted of eggs, biscuits, and gravy. It was much better than the quick one Fletcher had eaten before he and the carriage with the judge and his wife had been hijacked. It was even better than the hardtack Roscoe and his new gang had eaten while waiting to put his plans into motion. At this moment he was watching the town come alive. Sending two men in to scout around he was waiting for information. The twins, however, were unaware of this and wanted toast and jam and hot chocolate, but Vin was quick to point out that they could get that back at the hotel right after they checked to see what Santa had brought them. Thinking it over, they decided if eggs and biscuits were good enough for their men, they were good enough for them.
Vin was resigned to having his ear chewed on by all of his friends plus his aunt and her husband as well as Nettie and Mary. He was also resigned to having to perform like a trained dog in a circus in a piss ant shooting contest. Why on earth he had to shoot at some target against someone else was a mystery to him. Vin had learned long ago that a gun was not a form of entertainment. It was a weapon to be used for survival. You did not look at a gun like a toy, especially if you were an adult.
Vin had learned long ago that his survival depended on whether or not he could hit what he aimed at without wasting bullets. He had learned that when you picked up a gun, someone or something usually died. He killed for food, for self-defense, and while he hunted buffalo, he killed to live. Never once had he picked up a gun as a toy. Shooting to survive and hitting what you aimed at quickly and efficiently was one thing. Shooting to entertain was a sheer waste of bullets and time to him. Besides, as a bounty hunter, you didn't want someone pointing you out to some man you were hunting because they had seen you win a sharp shooting contest. Also, when he was a wanted man, he had not wanted to draw any attention to himself.
He was scowling at the dishes as he cleaned up Nettie's kitchen knowing she was going to fuss that he had left it dirty and messy even though it looked practically spotless to him. Women, they were trouble when they were little, and the trouble just got bigger as they got older. Someone interrupted his thoughts as two little arms wrapped around his knees.
"Ours, that was the bestest eggses I have ever had!" Lisha was looking up adoringly at him. Vin wasn't fooled for a minute.
"You got a napkin to wipe your mouth an' hands. Quit using me instead." He was grinning despite the words and Lisha started giggling because Lison had been heading over to do the same thing to Chris. He scowled and held out his napkin. Lison grinned and looked over at Nathan and then Buck. They both held out their napkins to her grinning when a hand snaked out and grabbed her from behind. Vin had a clean towel that he wiped her mouth with and then her hands. She was giggling as he held her under one arm and walked with Lisha standing on his left boot. He dumped his clean charge on Chris's lap, and then grabbed a squealing Lisha to do the same to her. She ended being tossed to Buck who caught her and swung her around once. Twice might get her breakfast to come up, so Buck set her on his shoulder where she sat looking down on everyone.
Buck had decided that Vin was in need of Buck's comments to liven things up just a bit. "You know, darlin's. Your cousin is gonna make some woman a real good wi. . . ." Vin wasn't having any of Buck's teasing today.
"Bucklin, you remember that trouble you had with Polly, or was it Molly? You like bein' locked in a storeroom in your birthday suit?" He grinned at Buck, and the big man narrowed his eyes looking at the tracker. "Didn't me an' Chris have to save you from singin' soprano?" Vin snorted, "She was mad 'nuff at you to put a bullet some place you're real fond of."
"You're going to have be more specific, Vin. I have to save your," Chris looked at the two interested young ladies and cleared his throat, "your assets, Buck's mostly, at least once a week."
"Yeah, well get ready 'cause someone's gonna need his assets saved he don't be quiet."
Nathan started laughing as did Chris and Vin. Buck eventually gave in. The twins were laughing just because the men were. They had no idea about what they were talking. "Don't look at me. I ain't diggin' no bullets outa either one of ya on Christmas Day." Nathan was still grinning when Buck turned a wicked grin on Vin.
"All right, I won't say it, but you know I'm right." With that he plucked Lisha up, tucked her under his other arm, and moved quickly out of harm's way from a snapping towel all the while using the twins as shields.
"Come back here, Bucklin, an' quit using my twins to protect ya!" Vin was laughing as Chris and Nathan folded the blankets they had used. All three picked up their bedrolls, finished up inside, and went out to a beautiful Christmas morning. Buck had the twins perched on the front porch swing Vin had built for Nettie. He had two of the horses saddled and was working on the third when the others appeared. Vin was waved off as Buck finished his horse for him, so Vin joined Chris in saddling Buck's horse.
"It sure is a beautiful day, ain't it?" Buck had quickly forgotten Vin's ribbing about when Polly had left him naked in the storeroom. Fortunately, the tracker and Chris had seen where the angry woman had dropped his clothes and had brought them back to the ladies' man. Of course they had taken their sweet time and alerted the rest of the seven as to their compatriot's problems. They all gathered round to offer comments as Buck had threatened, then begged for his clothes. That storeroom was a might drafty any time of year.
The four men and the twins finally left Nettie's and rode off in the direction of Chris's shack, so Nathan could meet up with Josiah and the others who were taking supplies to the reservation. They had taken the other supplies of food and presents to the Seminole village the day before. They happened across one part of Roscoe Faver's plan through sheer luck. The twins had wanted to see their fishing hole while they were there, and since they had plenty of time, they swung off to the east. That kept their group from having any contact with the six men Roscoe sent ahead to meet the carriage his men had hijacked from Sweetwater. His plan was to leave the Judge's wife at the shack under guard while the Judge was brought to him. They were not to arrive before two in the afternoon. By then the hustle and bustle of folks coming into town would camouflage whatever Faver had planned. He would position his men in town right as the big dinner celebration was to begin. When all the folks had gone inside to eat, that was when his men would surround them and he would bring the Judge in. It would be simple.
The seven peacekeepers would throw down their guns to keep them from killing the Judge. Then, the town and all it offered would be his to distribute for his men's pleasure after they got rid of the Judge and his peacekeepers. He had never hanged a territorial judge and seven peacekeepers at one time. That alone would make his name a legend. Roscoe thought he might like to spend some quality time with both the blonde and brunette he had seen in Sweetwater before he gave what was left of them to his men. Whether his men at the shack killed the Judge's wife or used her made no difference to Roscoe. She was of little importance to him with the exception of keeping the Judge in line.
Roscoe returned to the porch of the farm he and his men were situated at three miles south of town with a bottle of whiskey and a huge slab of cheese he and his men had liberated from the larder. He had helped clean out the larder and found enough eggs and bread and canned goods that when joined by the family's chickens and milk cow would feed his men for now. They could feast later in town. The couple had already gone into town when he and his men had stumbled across it. Roscoe decided they would be less conspicuous if his fifteen men would stay out of sight for now. He had a total of twenty-four men, but he had split them sending nine off to take care of the judge. A few more had joined him right before they had left Purgatorio. He decided to enjoy himself while they waited for their chance to strike. He vetoed one man's suggestion that they hit the town now while most of the seven were gone, but Roscoe wanted the seven's dead bodies hanging where everyone could see his victory. He had decided the less people milling about before the mass entrance into town would be better for his element of surprise. Sending his men out to the shack to carry out his orders, he unknowingly split his forces and set up their own destruction.
Chris and his party were nearing the shack when Vin, who was riding ahead spotted something that caused him to stop. Puzzled he slowed his horse to a walk and pulled out his spyglass. Suddenly, Vin held his hand up and stopped right before they got to the top of the hill. He looked around at the tracks on the ground and where they led. Even the twins knew something serious was up when without words Vin handed Lisha to Nathan. Then, they heard what had made Vin stop to listen. It was a faint shout from a voice they all knew very well. Vin dismounted quickly taking his rifle and his spyglass with him. Sure enough, the carriage was sitting out in front of Chris's. Tossing the spyglass to Chris he allowed the man in black to get a look. Without words, they took off to take the trail that would bring them to the shack from a protected area with plenty of cover.
They were nearing the rise that looked down on the shack when Vin abruptly stopped again. Buck tossed his reins to Nathan, who now had both girls on his lap. Nathan took the reins and moved with the horses and the twins towards the trees Chris had pointed to. There. Nathan would safeguard the twins while the others investigated. Buck watched him take the twins while he checked his rifle's ammunition. Satisfied, he hugged the ground on the other side of Vin who had dropped his spyglass in order to use his rifle. Already he was targeting something or someone within his sights.
Buck took a look through the spy glass and then a quick an intake of breath when he recognized the man the others were getting ready to hang from the one tree Chris had left standing near his shack. Judge Travis and his wife were standing to the side with at least two guns trained on them. It was the judge who had shouted in outrage at the intended lynching of young Fletcher Talmidge. Buck responded to Chris when he quietly told Buck to take his rifle and stay with Vin while Chris moved in closer. Then, Chris slid a little way down the slope and motioned he needed Nathan to come with him. They would use Vin and Buck firing at anyone who moved as a distraction as they went in to try and get the judge and his wife. Both twins solemnly promised Chris and Nathan that they would not move until Ours came for them. Sitting astride Vin's big horse they waited impatiently, little ears straining to hear what was going on.
Curiosity was going to kill them if the men didn't hurry, but they were not moving until Ours told them they could. Our Chris had that same look in his eye their daddy got when the word was given that no opposition would be tolerated. The twins were full of mischief not stupidity. Then, all their attention was drawn to Ours as he made ready to take a shot. Our Buck was right next to him his rifle trained on something neither little girl could see. They weren't sure if they wanted to see knowing somehow that someone was in deep trouble. They watched as Chris and Nathan disappeared into the trees and brush, when suddenly Vin and Buck started shooting.
The man who had been tightening the noose around Fletch's neck dropped the rope and his arms flew out to his sides as a huge red hole exploded from his chest and his blood spattered onto Fletch. That was when Fletch heard the first rifle bark. Nine outlaws started ducking and training their weapons looking for targets. The man who had started to slap Fletch's horse on the rump in order to leave him hanging also went down clutching his shoulder. His foot caught in his stirrup and his horse shot out dragging him yelling and screaming behind it. The noise didn't last long. Fletch's horse stomped nervously and then started forward despite Fletch's attempts to hold him steady with his knees. He knew the rescue had come too late for him as the horse reared and then took off running. Fletch closed his eyes waiting for the rope to snap his neck, but the feeling never came. Instead the pressure on his neck was instantly released, and he hit the ground with a thud as he finally heard the bark of the rifle. Back on the hill Buck whooped in glee as Tanner's shot severed the rope that would have killed Fletch.
"Wooeee, I told that boy you were the best!" Vin never turned, but the grin on his face told Buck he heard his praise. He kept shooting as Buck took another shot taking out the man training his weapon on the Travises, and the horses in the corral made even more noise as they tried to escape the noise of the gunfight. The bandits never heard Larabee and Jackson approach until they were caught in a crossfire.
Whoever that man was, Fletch thought as he rolled to his feet and charged the man taking aim at the judge, he was going to buy him the biggest whiskey he could afford. Hell, he'd buy him the whole bottle. Already shaken from his fall and twenty pounds lighter than the man aiming at the judge who had shoved his wife inside the shack and was trying to slam the door closed with his body, Fletch literally bounced off of the big guy. Fletch's weight did force the man's aim to waver as the bullet burned into the wood of the door instead of taking the judge's head off. The man turned and clubbed Fletch on the shoulder knocking the young man down with the butt of his rifle as a bullet slammed into his back, and he fell right on top of Fletcher. That forced the air from Fletch's lungs, so he never saw another bandit fall to the ground from the knife thrown by Nathan Jackson.
The outlaw had been ready to fire point blank into the window at Judge Travis. He was trying to keep the door shut with his body while protecting his wife at the same time. Nathan looked on as another round of shots from the hill pinned two more of the outlaws down. Nathan heard something snap behind him and ducked as Chris stood up from his cover and took out the man who had come from the corral to shoot Nathan. The remaining outlaws were effectively pinned down as Chris and Nathan joined in helping Vin and Buck shoot rapidly at them. There was no escape as one outlaw took a chance. Four bullets converged on him spinning his lifeless body around once before he fell lifeless to the ground.
The other three outlaws were looking for a place to run when more gunfire came from another direction. Josiah and Ezra rode in guns blazing, killing one outright and fatally wounding the next to the last man. The shooting stopped as the remaining outlaw threw his rifle out and yelled that he had valuable information. Chris nodded to Nathan that he had things under control as the healer slipped inside the shack to check out the judge and his wife.
"Glad you could make it." Chris grinned looking up at Josiah and Ezra.
"Glad we could, too." Josiah grinned back at Larabee and grabbed hold of the prisoner's collar as he dismounted. "What was this about valuable information?"
"You let me go, an' I'll tell you how to save your town, but you got to let me go."
"That would a miscarriage of justice. I say we just shoot him now. Anything he tells us would be marred by mendacity. What do you think, Mr. Sanchez?"
Chris grinned as he stood and surveyed the scene. Nathan emerged from the shack with the judge and his wife. Both looked rumpled and dusty but otherwise unharmed. Ezra strolled over to stand on the other side of the judge and his wife. Buck rode up with Vin and the twins just at that moment. They were hatless as both men had put their hats over the twins' heads despite their protests.
"Can we look, yet?" Lisha tested the waters. Nearly nine voices yelled no to them. They fell silent knowing that if they peaked at the grisly scene their seven would take turns paddling them.
"Well, you're probably right, but I don't think the judge would let us shoot a man for lying. Besides, it's Christmas. A man who lies on Christmas goes straight to the fires of hell." Josiah was nearly holding the outlaw off the ground as he finally answered Ezra's question.
Vin looked over his shoulder and waved the wagon behind them into the area. JD was driving with Big Foot seated next to him. Darcy and Simmons were seated in the back and Darcy's son was leading JD's horse. Josiah and Ezra had been riding with them heading for their meeting with Nathan at the shack when they heard the gunfire. Josiah and Ezra had ridden ahead as JD took the wagon up the same route that Vin had taken the others earlier, so they could remain hidden until Josiah or Ezra gave them the word it was clear or indicated they were needed. Running into Vin and Buck had been the seven's second Christmas gift that day.
Tanner got down and was joined by Buck. Mrs. Travis took the twins inside the shack to keep them from looking at the bodies. The twins were dying to see the grisly scene, but the adults were firmly of the belief that the twins should be shielded. The judge turned to the men he had hired so long ago.
"Gentlemen, my thanks for your timely arrival. That young man they were going to hang?" The judge looked around as Vin walked over and shoved the big man off of Fletch. He helped the young man to stand and nodded to the judge that he was shaken but unharmed. "If what these thieves and killers have boasted about is true, we have a world of trouble coming our way."
Chris walked up to the outlaw Josiah was tying up. He just stared at the man until he saw his eyes grow wider in fear. Then, Chris just smiled.
"Vin, what was it you said the Kiowa taught you about getting' the truth out of any man?"
"Now, Mr. Larabee, I must protest. You always allow Mr. Tanner to have all of the fun. Now, I knew this Creole woman in Natchez who could make a man talk just by tying a stick of dynamite between his, well I suppose that would not be too gentlemanly a thing to discuss with Mrs. Travis and our delightful young ladies within hearing distance. Carry on, Mr. Tanner." The outlaw's eyes got bigger as he started looking around in terror for help from anyone.
"Well, I'd really like to see this dynamite thing, but iffen it'll get him to talkin', I'll be happy to drive the lady and the little gals back to town." Big Foot was sitting atop the wagon grinning down at the outlaw.
Blurting out what he thought might keep him alive, the man said the same thing as the judge at the same time. "Faver is going to attack the town while everyone's at the big dinner."
That got everyone's attention. "How many men?" The man looked into Larabee's icy green eyes and would have told him boot sizes if that was what the man in black wanted.
"He's got fifteen left for sure, maybe ten more comin' in from Purgatorio tonight."
"Where's Roscoe Faver?"
"At this farm we found 'bout three miles from town. We're all supposed to go in with all the other folks comin' in for the dinner."
"Judge?"
"We can ride if this young man can drive."
Big Foot looked over at bodies. "Iffen you boys like, me and these men can take the supplies to the village an' then take care of the bodies here."
"Leave them for now. I need you to get back to town as quick as you can."
"Can you boys get to the reservation on your own?" Nathan looked concerned.
"I can, the chief knows me." Nodding in relief, Nathan left Big Foot with the job of delivering the food and supplies. Big Foot reassured Vin that they would be all right. "I'll tell him we'll collect the wagon tomorrow. Darcy, you an' your boy get us some horses we can get back quick on. Want to get back to town 'fore that Faver takes a mind to try and cut us off."
Ezra joined Vin inside picking the twins up and carrying them to the horses. Instead of hats, they had their carriers' hands over their hands that covered their eyes.
"We promised not to peak."
"Of course you did my dears. However, you are related to Mr. Tanner, and he has a bad habit of seeing things even when he isn't supposed to. Let's just say Ours and I are being cautious and saving you from what you just can't help yourselves from doing?"
"What?"
"Peakin'. We ain't lettin' you peak."
"Aw, Vin." Lisha rarely used his name in a whine unless she really wanted him to know she wasn't happy with his decision.
"No. I ain't havin' your ma chew on me and the boys cause you two wanted to see dead bodies."
"Told ya," Lison had warned Lisha of this.
"Twins!" Larabee's voice stopped any further discussion or attempts at peaking. Seeing the girls mounted with Vin and Ezra and everyone else mounted and ready, he issued orders that went into effect immediately. "Talmidge, Judge, I want you two and Mrs. Travis in the middle hidden." Josiah took off his big coat and wrapped it around Mrs. Travis. Buck gave his hat to her and she took hers off and put his on. The judge handed his hat to Buck and traded coats with Ezra. JD pulled a hat off the ground and gave it to Fletch. The outlaw would be taken with Big Foot along with the bodies and the carriage to the reservation where they could count on Chanu to keep him under guard until this was all over. The area was combed for any signs that might let Faver know that his plan had failed. If he was in a hurry, any man could see there was no carriage or anyone or anything at the shack. Faver and his men might be left thinking that something had happened and the carriage had never made it to the shack. Hopefully, they would not alert Faver in any way that they had discovered Faver's surprise attack. Finally satisfied with their efforts, Chris issued a curt command.
"Let's ride!"
The townspeople had elected to wait to open gifts until after the big dinner. Many were still in the hotel lobby decorating the biggest tree many had ever seen. It had strings of popcorn and berries, cut out paper ornaments decorated by the children, but the prettiest ornament was the hand made angel with lacewings and a flowing white gown. Vin Tanner did not know it, but his mother had made the angel two years before his birth. It had been her special gift to her little sister. Alexandra Terrell carried it with her all over the country and never once had she missed a Christmas without her sister's angel perched somewhere in sight. One day, she hoped to give it to a great niece when and if her nephew ever decided to settle down. Alexandra figured it would be a while yet. Those wild and woolly ones guarded their independence zealously, but one day a young lady was going to come along and knock wild and woolly on his butt. When that happened, Alexandra wanted to be there to gloat.
She arranged the last of the presents she had brought for each child in town as she heard the pounding of hooves outside. This Christmas was going to be one of the best she had ever had for she was spending her first Christmas with her nephew. Some unforeseen business with bounty hunters had prevented their celebrating together last year. This year was different, and no one could spoil it for her. She had even developed a novel idea that when arranged with Mrs. Potter, allowed each family the ability to purchase a certain amount from Mrs. Potter's store. The gift certificates, as Mrs. Potter called them, were used by some of the poorer families to purchase some much-needed clothing. These people had almost refused until John Terrell pointed out that his wife had told him that Mrs. Watson had brought Vin Tanner soup when he had a bad cold once. Mr. Green had loaned Vin Tanner a horse when his pulled up lame. Mr. and Mrs. Compton had insisted that both Tanner and Dunne stay at their home until fully recovered from wounds they had suffered fighting off cattle rustlers. He made all the town folk realize that his wife was just so thankful the people of Four Corners had done all of these things for her nephew that she wanted to thank all of them. When put that way, it would rude not to accept.
The seven entered the hotel with the their extra guests. Alexandra hugged her twins and then her nephew, but when he returned it fiercely and she looked up into his eyes she felt a stab of fear. Then, she heard Mary Travis gasp in surprise. One of the men with them turned out to be Mary's mother-in-law, Mrs. Travis. The Judge was with her as well as Fletcher Talmidge, but there was no carriage in sight.
"Dear God, what trouble have you gotten yourselves into now?" Mary and John looked at one another with raised eyebrows as Vin Tanner took exception to his aunt's tone of voice.
"Me and the twins ain't caused nuthin." The hunter's look in his eye let her know that there was a fight brewing even though his mask of innocent affront would have made any Shakespearean actor proud. "It's all Fletch's fault. Sharp shooters are a bad influence on Larabee." The twins cut off any reply.
"Mommy, Ours shot the rope they was gonna hang Fletch with, an' then him an' Our Buck started shootin' bad guys an' Our Chris an' Our Nathan snuck up on the bad guys an' filled 'em full of lead an' Our Josiah an' Our Ezra rode up lickety split an' shot the rest of the bad guys an' JD stayed with us to keep us safe!" Lisha had to stop to take a deep breath.
"They thought we wasn't watchin' but you could see everything through Ours' scope an' me an' Lisha took turns watchin' from the hill behind the trees! You should a seen it, Mommy. Ours didnent even blink when he shot that rope in two an' you gotta see Our Nathan throw a knife!"
The seven were all looking at one another. They had done everything they could to prevent the two little girls from witnessing the scene, but the twins had not only witnessed it, they were now telling their parents everything in minute detail.
"Well, ya left out the part where that bandit nearly took Fletch's head off 'fore Chris shot him." The sarcasm in Vin's voice made Alexandra turn her head. She still wasn't sure if she should be horrified at what was spilling from the mouths of her innocent babies or laugh at the look of guilt etched on every one of the seven's faces. Her husband winked at her and she remembered a time when she had been forced to shoot two bandits trying to get to her to hold her and the children hostage to force her husband to sell his fledging railroad. The twins had been four, and Alexandra had been certain they were too young to remember any of it. They had disabused her of that notion very quickly when last year they had proceeded to tell Vin and Ezra the tale with amazing recall. Why should now be any different? She frowned at her husband, but refrained from pointing out that the children got that from his side of the family.
"And do not forget to explain to your parents how effective the blindfolds were we had on you to protect your very innocent eyes from witnessing all that destruction." Ezra's disgusted comment did make her turn and share a rueful grin with Mary who had been listening to her mother-in-law. From the shake of Mary's head she knew that this tale was just the beginning.
"When will they get here and what do we need to do?" Chris looked at Mary and the warm approval in his eyes made her heart do a flip while just a hint of color tinted her cheeks.
"They're planning on waiting until everyone is in here for the big dinner, but as soon as Faver finds out the judge never made it to the shack, he might attack sooner. He's got at least fifteen men now with more expected later."
The telegraph operator came in right then a worried look on his face. "Mr. Larabee, the marshal asked me to wait for a wire for him this morning, but the lines are all dead."
"He might have done that before we got here, Chris. All that bad ice and sleet we had could have weakened a few lines making 'em snap early." Buck no more believed in coincidence than any of the others did.
"We'll plan like he knows. Boys, let's take care of getting' ready while the judge an' I tell everyone what's goin' on." Five men took off in five different directions, each one leaving the hotel at different intervals from different exits. Chris and Vin were the last to leave. "We'll meet at the jail in an hour to pick our spots. You go high. I want Buck high, too. Take Fletch with you if you can use him, or send him to me. I want to know where everyone is."
"I'll check back with ya in an hour. Then I'm goin' high to lookout. You take care of the contest?"
"If Fletch ain't seen, he can't compete, can he?" Larabee's face got a look on it that made Fletch nervous. He'd never shot a man before, but he knew they needed all the guns available.
Vin ruffled the twin's hair as he knelt in front of them. "You girls do whatever your pa tells ya. I got to go help, an' I ain't got time to worry about ya goin' off and getting' into trouble."
The twins looked at everyone's serious faces and then at one another. Listening to what had happened and pretending they had seen it all just to tease their adults was one thing. Distracting them could get somebody hurt, and the little girls were old enough to know that.
"You don't got to worry 'bout us." Lisha was the first to promise, as she tended to be the dominant twin.
"You best not get shot or Mommy's gonna be real mad." Lison was always the practical one.
Vin hugged his twins and left them to their mother's care. Billy and Jamie came running in right as Vin was leaving. Billy spotted Chris first as Jamie looked up at Vin.
"JD said we needed to come here right now?"
Vin stopped and said something to the boys before they headed over to Chris and the other adults. Fletch followed Vin out of the door.
"I didn't get a chance to thank you for savin' my life."
"Ever shot anyone?" Fletch had not been expecting a question instead of an answer. He didn't answer immediately. Instead Fletch toyed with the hat JD had insisted he keep wearing in case any of Faver's men were watching. "I take that as a no. You got any problems shootin' to kill?" Vin stopped at the alley and turned to look Fletch in the eyes. "We're gonna be shit deep in trouble in just a little while, son. We need all the men we can get who can shoot and shoot straight. What I want from you, what I need from you is knowin' I can count, we can count on you. Can we?"
Fletch looked into eyes just slightly older than his and suddenly realized what Vin had meant when he told him he knew he could hit what he aimed at. For the first time Fletcher understood why Vin Tanner would never be caught in a sharp shooting contest. This man who was only five maybe six years older than him had killed men before. He didn't appear to enjoy it, but the steel determination in his eyes said it louder than words ever would. Vin Tanner would fight the devil himself in order to save the twins and their family, his family, and the men he called friends. Fletcher shared those same sentiments. Taking a deep breath, Fletcher stuck his hand out and offered Vin the only thing he could under the circumstances.
"Y'all can count on me. I'll do what I gotta to protect these people. You just tell me what ta do."
He was rewarded with a firm handshake and a grin. "Weren't a problem."
"What?"
"Savin' your ass." Vin flashed a grin that helped that nervous coil of fear grinding in Fletch's stomach settle. His next comment, full of confidence and swagger, drew a snort of laughter from the nervous kid. "Like lickin' butter off a knife. C'mon, we got work to do."
Four hectic hours later the townspeople were trying their best to go about their usual business. They had all been warned. Any stranger was marked and if not identified by one of the citizens, that person was quickly and quietly taken out. Big Foot had returned along with Darcy, Simmons, and TJ. All was well at the reservation. The carriage had been hidden, the bodies buried, and the prisoner under guard. Marshall Newcombe and his deputies had been placed at the entrance of the hotel along with Big Foot and Bull Sampson. The later two men had been living in Four Corners long enough to know stranger from citizen. JD was with Darcy, one of the Bridger boys, and Simmons at the back entrance. John Terrell was at the top of the stairs in charge of five men who could shoot and had their wives and children in the biggest room with Terrell's family. These men could offer firepower at the front windows as well as guarding the women and children from anyone who got past the men at the front and back doors. There was only one door in or out from the room where the children were placed with their mothers.
Nathan and Josiah were in the kitchen where Nettie was overseeing a huge kettle boiling surgical instruments and bandages. Mary and Alexandra had pitched in to help Mrs. B and Glory get the last dishes prepared. Like Nettie had said earlier that it didn't matter what the outcome was, people were going to have to eat. She preferred to think it would be a celebration that their town had survived another would be catastrophe. She had grabbed Vin Tanner at one point and chewed on his ear for several seconds. He had grinned at her, tipped his hat, and gone on about his business laughing. When asked later what she had said, Vin had just laughed again. He finally told Chris and Ezra that she told him the next time he didn't want to participate in a shooting contest, all he had to do was open his mouth and say no instead of inviting every bandit in the territory to come to supper. A full hour before the contest was to begin Vin Tanner spotted a stranger in the saloon. The stranger was trying to remain aloof while straining to hear what Buck Wilmington was so frustrated about.
Buck was in the saloon griping that the Talmidge boy was going to cost him money. Where the hell the carriage was he was driving the judge and his wife to town in no one knew. His voice grew steadily louder as his fellow and equally disgruntled companion agreed with him. Ezra Standish commiserated with Wilmington muttering that they would have to go patrolling on Christmas Day just to find where the telegraph wire had been downed by the weather. Just as the man left the saloon walking quickly to his horse, Vin walked by and winked at his two friends. As he walked outside to see the man ride out of town in the direction the four men bound and gagged in the hotel cellar had told them Faver would be coming from, Ezra and Buck mounted and road out on patrol.
They got as far as the hill opposite the town when they pulled out the different colored coats, switched hats, and Buck rubbed some dirt over several different patches on his gray gelding's coat turning him into a paint. Ezra slouched on his horse and forced the spirited animal into a slow gait pulling on the bit forcing the animal to act skittishly where once it was the picture of the docile and faithful steed. They separated from one another right on the outskirts of town, Buck riding in with a late arriving family to explain things, and Ezra to take up his position in Mrs. Potter's store with several of Darcy's ranch hands. Chris would be in the saloon with Yosemite and the remaining townsmen as Buck climbed the roof above. Vin joined Fletcher Talmidge on the church roof. Twenty minutes later he whistled. Faver and his gang had been spotted.
They waited until Faver came in with his remaining men riding into town in groups of two or three. They left their horses tied at different spots and converged slowly on the hotel as Chris sent Hal and Jefferson across the street laughing and warning Faver's men they had better hurry up or else miss out on the food. Faver signaled his men to let the two men alone. He didn't want to tip off the people inside, and he could hear the noise of a large number of people and see them situated in front of the windows. The two men ducked inside just as Chris Larabee walked outside. Faver and his men were together right out in the open now. Time to take them down before anyone got hurt.
Vin put his rifle to his shoulder and picked his man. Very quietly, as only he could he told Talmidge to do the same. "An' don't fergit to tell me who you got marked. That way we won't waste bullets getting' the same man."
Fletcher gulped and nodded not trusting his voice. He couldn't believe Chris Larabee was going to confront eleven men alone.
"Faver! Roscoe Faver! You're surrounded! Drop your guns, now!"
Eleven men stopped dead in their tracks. Faver turned slowly around and gaped. How the hell had this happened? He figured that the men he sent to get the judge had just run out on him or else stolen what the judge had and killed him and his wife. The carriage they were traveling in alone was worth a small fortune if you knew where to sell it without someone asking where you got it from. He had chalked it up to a loss that was acceptable when you considered it was small next to what Faver would get from the bank in town. Now, he knew that somehow Larabee and his men had stumbled onto his plans. He slowly turned around and spotted the guns pointed at him from the hotel, the saloon, the store next to it, and the man stationed on the roof above him. He hadn't noticed Vin or Talmidge yet because the setting sun was in his eyes. It didn't matter. Faver had already decided that he was not going to prison and he would rather die by a bullet than by a rope. He drew his gun determined to at least take Larabee with him. He never cleared leather as he felt the burning sensation in his shoulder. The burning pain forced him to his knees and all hell broke loose as the desperate men with him tried to escape.
Vin took one man out and barked out, "Man, left, saloon."
Fletcher took aim and pulled the trigger wondering how Tanner could be so efficiently ruthless and so on the mark despite the tension. He took his shot and prayed it didn't kill one of the good guys by mistake. A bullet burned past his ear hitting the church bell. He heard Tanner grunt, but the man kept up a steady barrage. Fletch's voice shook as he watched his bullet hit home. "Mmmann in the ddoorr of the sstore."
"NO! He's one of ours. The two men running for their horses! Get the one on your side!"
Fletch didn't bother to answer but took aim and shot the man in the leg. His scream of pain shattered the air. Talmidge thought he could hear the man screaming over all of the bullets and sounds of breaking glass. One outlaw flew into the hotel dining room window with his gun up and emptying it into the shadows he had seen there not caring if they were men or women or children. He dropped his empty gun to the floor his mouth open in surprise. The shadows he had seen of men and women were dummies. No one was in this room but several armed and determined men safely positioned behind him. He put his hands up indicating he was finished. Whoever these seven men were, they were mean sons of bitches.
The shooting died down as the outlaws dropped one by one. Some threw down their guns and put up their hands indicating they gave up. Others died shooting and running for their horses taken out by the men on the roof. Soon all shooting ceased, and there was nothing but an eerie silence that mingled with the moans of the wounded, the sounds of frightened horses, the opening of doors, and the smell of gunpowder. Chris Larabee walked among the wounded as four of the seven joined him. Vin stayed on the roof but motioned Talmidge to go down and help.
"You done good, kid." Fletcher felt light-headed, but strangely exhilarated. He practically slid down the ladder Vin had pulled up on the roof after them. Vin kept his rifle trained on the ground below covering his friends. He ignored the burning pain in his arm as the blood trickled down. It wasn't his gun arm, so he ignored it, but he knew he was going to need help down because he had felt the bone midway between elbow and wrist snap when a bullet ricocheting off the church bell slammed into his left arm. The only good thing was that the bullet only had enough force to snap the bone and tear its way its way through his flesh for just a few inches. Nathan would not have to dig the bullet out, but Nettie and Alexandra were both gonna be pissed at him. He wished they would hurry up because now that the adrenaline wasn't coursing through his veins, his arm was beginning to hurt like hell. He assumed Buck hadn't joined them because he was covering the others like he was. He didn't know Buck could not get down without help either. Vin was just beginning to look for Buck when he heard the shout.
"Where's Faver?" Chris Larabee had seen him fall, but he was no where to be seen. Others poured out to help him look for Faver as the light slowly waned. JD said the back and interior of the hotel had never been breached. No one had seen Faver crawl into the alley and climb in a window that led into the cellar. He managed to free the one man he actually knew. The others had failed him and could rot for all he cared. He only needed one man to help him get away. As they were exiting though the same window in which Faver had entered they heard a door bang open.
"I'm gonna go watch Chris lock up the bad guys, Ma!"
"Billy! No, don't go out there!"
Billy Travis was running to Chris when a hand shot out and grabbed the boy before his mother could stop him. Mary Travis stopped dead still looking in horror as Faver clutched the boy to him with his gun rammed under the boy's chin. Blood soaked his clothing as his shoulder wound bled from the entry and exit wound. He easily lifted the little boy in his good arm with his gun tucked securely under his chin.
"C'mere or I'll kill him."
Mary had no choice as she walked forward. A hand snaked out and grabbed her holding a knife to her throat. The foul smelling man nearly made her vomit as he roughly searched her for a weapon. "Leave the kid. This is Larabee's woman. I heard folks talk." Hawkins had no desire to harm a child. That could get you killed quicker than anything could.
Faver let Billy go, but before he did, he told the little boy what he needed to do.
"Go tell Larabee I want two horses or your ma dies. You understand, boy?"
Mary nodded for Billy to go. If she got out of this alive she was going to put her son on a leash. Better yet, she would let Chris Larabee put the fear of God into the boy. One glare, no two, should do it. She was roughly pulled into the open as Hawkins forced her from the alley into the street with Faver right behind him.
Larabee had given Billy to his grandfather, and Ezra was bringing up two horses.
"Back off, Larabee. You breathe wrong and Hawkins here will slit her throat."
Larabee ignored Faver and turned his full attention on Hawkins sizing the man up. Then, he grinned at the man.
"You so much as part her hair or wrinkle her dress and I'll make you beg for death." The hand holding the knife wavered a fraction. "Either way, you die. Let her go; it's the only chance you got to live."
Hawkins might not have much of a conscience, but he was not a fool either. So far they had nothing on him except he was a stranger in town. If he let the woman go, he just might get out of this alive. He knew for certain that he would die if he tried to leave with the woman. The knife wavered again, and Faver shouted in rage. "Let her go an' I'll kill you!"
"It would appear that this man is under duress, Mr. Larabee. Maybe if he was willing to help us the judge might look favorably on him for saving his daughter-in-law?" Ezra was moving to the other side of Faver so he would not impede Vin or Buck from taking a shot.
"So far the only thing we have on him is that he is a stranger in town. Faver here has the gun on him." Josiah's voice boomed loudly in the quiet. He moved into position. Mary never took her eyes off of Chris. He kept his attention all on Hawkins leaving Faver to Standish. Ezra moved until he had almost separated Faver from Mary and Hawkins by the horse he allowed to move about at will. It was nervous and was only adding to Faver's agitation. Ezra and Josiah waited as Chris moved closer to Mary.
Vin watched it all holding Hawkins in his sights as the man wavered in indecision. Sweat poured down his face as the pain in his arm made it hard to concentrate, but he could not afford to stop and take care of his arm. Mary's life was at stake. He whispered his frustration aloud, "C'mon, Larabee. Do it now!" Suddenly, he saw Chris take his chance. He prepared for his shot as Larabee acted.
"Now!" Chris's voice rang out, and Mary brought her foot up and stomped on Hawkins foot with her pointed heel and dug it in all the while moving as far from him as she could get. The sudden yell and the blinding pain that accompanied her well-placed heel brought a howl of pain from Hawkins and a shout of rage from Faver. Hawkins' hand that held the knife dropped; his hold on Mary was forgotten as she struggled free. Chris pulled her towards him turning and shielding her with his body and he pulled her to the ground under him. Vin's shot rang clearly in the air as he took Hawkins out with a shot to his knee. The man was useless to Faver and no threat to anyone right now. He screamed in agony as Faver tried to get a shot off at Larabee or his woman. Ezra's derringer shot out and three shots rang out simultaneously. Vin, Buck, and Ezra all found their mark as the bullets tore into Faver killing him instantly. Mary was pulled shakily to her feet and into Larabee's arms as he held her close.
"Are you all right?" She looked up into eyes that held nothing but concern for her. She nodded yes and then watched as his eyes filled with anger. "What the hell were you doing?" She actually smiled at him stopping whatever words were about to singe her ears. Placing both hands on his chest, she spoke softly to him.
"I was thinking that you wouldn't let anything happen to me, but if you would like to scare some sense into Billy, I won't stop you."
At that moment, Billy came flying through the front door wrapping his arms around his mother as she dropped down to grab him. Chris understood what had happened as the little boy alternately apologized and cried in his mother's arms.
Chris knelt beside them and Mary let him have her son as he drew her to her feet and held Billy tight against him. "It's okay, son. Your ma is fine, but you and me got to have a talk later. You up to that?" Billy looked up and nodded at Chris. He pulled Mary under his other arm as he walked them both inside the hotel. He paused long enough to turn and look up at the roofs.
"You two gonna stay up there all night?" When there was no answer, he asked again. "Vin? Buck? You both okay?"
"Hell no, I got a hole in my leg! I need some help up here!" Josiah's laughter boomed as he headed toward the back in order to get Buck down. Two of Darcy's hands offered their help as the wounded outlaws were herded off to jail. Since they were all suffering from minor wounds, Newcombe and his deputies told Nathan to take care of his own. They could bandage a wound just as well as anyone else. All they needed was some carbolic and some bandages.
Mary and Chris were still waiting for Vin to respond. Nettie and Alexandra had appeared with John Terrell.
"Vin Tanner?" Nettie Wells knew what silence usually meant.
A voice, a bit weaker than they were expecting finally answered. "Well, you don't got to dig a bullet out."
"Aw hell. Vin? What did you do?" Nathan was standing in the middle of the street. Now, he didn't know which man to go to first. "Can you get down by yourself?"
"Not with a broken arm."
Fletcher Talmidge dropped his rifle in the dirt. "When'd you break your arm?" He never even heard Vin make a noise except to help him out and steady him.
"That shot that nearly took your ear off and hit the bell? It ricocheted and hit my arm. Just a little break."
"Little break my assets," Nathan weakly finished off seeing a group of children all listening attentively to the conversation. Some of the townspeople were already grinning. They were thinking exactly what Nathan was thinking. Nathan shook his head in disgust. "How bad is little?" Buck waved at Nathan as he was carried into the hotel. He winked at Chris and Mary as he heard the conversation with Tanner. By that time Terrell and Talmidge had gotten to Tanner on the roof.
Terrell peered over the side to look down at Nathan. "It's bent a bit awkwardly between his wrist and elbow and there is a fair amount of skin where the bullet gouged a path through his skin. Enough to hurt like hell and keep him out of trouble for a spell."
Nathan gave a long-suffering sigh. "Bring him on down. I'll take care of both of 'em with Doc Connors' help. Don't let him move his arm too much."
"You want to tell me what to do. I didn't get shot in the ears, ya know."
"You'd best be quiet, boy, or I'll have him dose you with enough laudanum you won't wake up until tomorrow." Nettie's face looked relieved.
"I ain't missin' Christmas dinner!"
"Then, quit jawin' and get you carcass down here, boy."
"I'm comin'! If you'd tell your husband to stop laughing and help I'd get there quicker, Alexandra!"
A giggle of relief threatened to burst forth, but Alexandra controlled herself just long enough to shout up at her husband. "Dinner's getting cold. Could you get down here before we have to listen to him whine he didn't get any Christmas dinner?"
"I don't whine!" The voice disappeared as they descended from the roof. Vin was walking on his own holding his arm tightly against him. Alexandra intercepted Lisha and John grabbed Lison as twins would have run to their hero.
"Let's let Nathan and Uncle fix his arm before you pounce on him." Daddy had that look on his face as everyone started filtering into the hotel. The women set about their jobs in returning the festive atmosphere as their men had done their jobs in protecting them. Only Tanner and Wilmington were among the defenders' wounded. The undertaker and his helpers left only long enough to gather the bodies, and Mrs. B suggested the children open their presents while the food was brought out to the tables. With the resilience of people who had forged a new life in the West despite drought, Indian attacks, attacks by bandits, ranchers, disease, and any other life-threatening act of nature and man, they set about making this Christmas a memorable one. As if anyone would not remember this Christmas as one of the liveliest they could ever remember, Fletcher Talmidge just knew he would never forget it. He started as Josiah Sanchez put a big hand on his shoulder. JD was beside him.
"That Tanner, he don't need to win no contest does he?"
"No, son, anyone that matters to him knows how good he is, and he don't feel the need to prove it to no one else."
JD grinned at Fletcher. "You should have seen him an' Chris the day they saved Nathan from a lynchin'. Buck says there isn't much Vin can't hit an' Chris says it's because Vin has eyes like an eagle. He don't miss a thing."
Talmidge nodded in agreement. "I can't believe he never once mentioned he got his arm broke. It had to hurt like hell every time he took a shot, an' that last one? Damn that was some fine shootin'."
"You didn't do too bad yourself, Fletch. Now go on inside and enjoy the meal. Me an' Josiah are gonna go check on the Marshall and see if they need any help."
"I'll go with ya?"
Josiah laughed and patted Fletcher on the back. JD was telling Fletcher some of the adventures he had been on and the shots he'd seen his six friends make. Josiah smiled as he looked up and whispered his prayer of gratitude. "Thank you, Lord for this day and for saving all us sinners." His long strides brought him closer to the two young men and he put his huge but gentle hands on both of their shoulders. "Boys, I ever tell you the one about a bright star shining in the sky and the birth of someone truly remarkable?" Some might have thought it strange to hear the story of the birth of Jesus only a short time after a fierce gun battle, but it wasn't strange to anyone present. By now, most of the folks in town were all saying their thankful prayers that the seven had been sent to protect them in their town. Sometimes miracles came in the strangest packages and you weren't even sure you witnessed one until you realized that once again your life had been spared because there were men like the seven willing to protect you and yours.
Several hours later and after conferring with the judge, Chris and Josiah had a talk with the three men who had been arrested before Faver's entrance into town. Since neither the judge or Marshall Newcombe recognized any of them as having any outstanding warrants on them, they were set free. It was their job to make certain that the men who were joining Faver after he took control of the town learn that Faver was dead and the townspeople armed and waiting for them. Scared witless by Larabee's persuasive glare and Josiah's impressive size, no further trouble was had that Christmas night. Well, there was a bit of trouble, but it wasn't any threat to the citizens. Nathan Jackson had been heard at one point telling one of the men in the jail that if he didn't want Vin Tanner to finish the job he started by shooting the man in the other leg, he would cooperate with the tired healer. No more disturbances occurred that night.
Nathan had enough trouble on his hands making certain that Tanner and Wilmington followed doctors' orders. They had flatly refused any laudanum or chloroform for the pain before Nathan even offered it. He had then surprised both men by pulling out a bottle of whiskey and pouring each one a rather large shot of whiskey. Doctor Neil Connors nodded his head and dropped three small drops of laudanum into each glass. It was just enough to take the edge off of the pain of both men, but not render them sleepy or disoriented, at least not too much. Not wanting to deny Nathan the right to practice what they would claim to be their kind of medicine, Vin and Buck both tossed the whiskey down without a second thought.
After cleaning the wound and stitching it up Nathan distracted Vin by turning to Buck and asking how he got shot in the leg when he'd been behind that huge sign that Maude had ordered for the saloon before she left town the last time she had visited. Tanner turned his curious attention on Buck just as Nathan snapped the cracked bone into place. His string of curses made the dark healer duck his head to hide the laughter.
"Damn, Nathan! That was downright sneaky! I ain't never trustin' you again!"
"Aw shut up. I got it fixed, an' it didn't hurt that much, did it? You was just surprised is all."
"How 'bout you get your arm snapped an' let me set it?"
"Quit yer whinin', 'fore I call Nettie in here to hold ya hand. Better yet, I'll call Alexandra an' the twins in here to hold ya down."
"I ain't whinin', an' iffen you call Nettie or my family in here I'm gonna tell Rain how happy the Widow Gentry is ta see you when ya check on her every Friday."
"Widow Gentry's fifty years old if she's a day an' she's got a heart condition."
"Rain don't know that." Vin grinned at Nathan, and the man shook his head in disgust.
Buck was laughing as he was starting to feel really good and watched as Nathan and Doc Connors worked to put the splint on Vin's arm, immobilizing it as much as possible. "Too bad that ricochet didn't get him in the mouth. You notice how Vin talks more when he's been shot?" That crack earned him a pillow to the head and an evil grin telling Buck he was next.
"Iffen there was justice in this world, that bullet woulda got him in the ass." Jackson started laughing when Tanner merely snorted at him. Neil Connors merely winked at his great-nephew. He found the word play between the members of this motley crew most entertaining, and he was really quite fond of all of them. He had thought his retirement would be long and boring, but since he had found his missing nephew, he had found himself doing things he'd never thought he would do again. His medical skills had actually gotten better as he taught Nathan Jackson everything he knew. Of course it helped when the pupil was incredibly gifted. His nephew and his six friends presented him with new perspectives that gave the retired doctor a renewed feeling that his skills were still very much in need.
Vin returned his wink with a grin. Had someone like Chris or Josiah asked, Vin might have admitted that he was very fond of his great-uncle, but more often he showed his affection by actually seeking the older man's company. They had enjoyed several good silences together, but mostly Connors gave Vin the gift that his mother had truly been the extra-ordinary woman he remembered. A good man who did not judge men by appearances or color, Connors had made several trips with Vin and Nathan to the reservation to help provide medical assistance. Vin would sit with Chanu and each would shake their heads at the number of debates the chief would have with Doctor Connors while Nathan sat back and enjoyed the peace and quiet. More often or not, Connors would come up with ideas that made Vin proud to claim him as kin. His uncle moved over just a tad to let Vin see what was going on.
Vin watched carefully as Nathan probed the wound on the lower fleshy part of Buck's leg. Nathan looked up and his scowl sent Tanner grumbling back to his chair. Connors saw him holding his hand against his chest and gave him another small shot of whiskey. Vin never noticed the minuscule drop of liquid his uncle dropped in the whiskey, but Nathan had. Pretty soon Vin was sitting back and grinning at Buck who wasn't feeling all that perky right at that moment. That really good feeling Buck had been experiencing now turned to pain as Nathan delicately inserted the probe into the wound. It was an odd place to be shot when one was lying flat on one's stomach behind a huge sign up and away from the action. A ricochet would explain the facts that the bullet got him in the leg at that angle and that it had not torn through the flesh causing more tissue damage than it had. Connors felt a breath on his shoulder.
Turning around Neil caught his nephew. Tanner was back, and this time the younger man grinned ear to ear at Nathan's scowl and even bigger when Buck yelped as Nathan probed for the bullet. His grin got even more devilish as the ladies' man started swearing.
"You best watch that mouth, Buck. I hear Molly or Polly don't like cussin' much."
"Who don't like cussin'?" Larabee was lounging against the door with Ezra behind him. Josiah and JD were looking in from the other side vying for who would get through the door first.
"Molly, or is it Polly? Can't never remember that girl's name."
"It's Pauline O'Malley. Damn, Nathan! Ain't like it's a big space with a lot of bone an' stuff! Ain't you found that damn bullet, yet?"
Vin looked back at his friends and grinned evilly. "If some people would pay attention to where they perch, they might notice that big iron ring hanging on that sign over the saloon."
"How'd you know I perched there?" Buck was indignant. He had been so careful making certain JD checked out where his spot was for anything that could go wrong, and here Vin was telling everyone that Buck forgot to watch out for metal that could cause a bullet to ricochet and hit you when you weren't paying attention. His eyes narrowed in Vin's direction and he glared at the sharp shooter. As glares went, Chris would have to give Buck credit. Even the others agreed that it was indeed worthy of a Larabee glare, but Vin was as impressed with one of Buck's glares as he was with Chris's. At that moment Nathan found the bullet and moved the probe in order to latch onto it and pull it out the same path. Buck bit back the retort he was going to favor Vin with and sweat glistened on his forehead. Just when he thought he was going to yell or jerk his leg or hit Nathan, no Vin, the probe and bullet exited the last barrier and was free of his body. Nathan dropped the bullet in the pan and took the carbolic from Doc Connors pouring it directly onto the wound.
"Damn! Son of a bitch! Did you have to pour that right onto it?" Buck's voice sounded strangled as he forced the words out through clenched teeth. His face was ringing wet, and his leg felt like it was on fire. He saw JD toss Vin something white and then a warm, wet cloth was pressed into his hand. He managed a weak nod to Vin and JD as he gratefully wiped the sweat from his forehead and face. Nathan didn't say a word knowing just how carbolic on an open wound burned like the very devil, but it was better than losing a leg to infection. He carefully packed the wound with gauze soaked in carbolic, and then he washed his hands as Connors expertly wrapped the bandage around the wound.
He turned to scowl at Vin. "You should be sitting down with your arm elevated. You want that bone to set right, don't ya?"
"I wanta go eat."
That earned a few grins and raised eyebrows and comments like, "It figures."
"Man would eat on his death bed."
"Peaches, someone made him a peach cobbler. Don't matter if the peaches were canned and not fresh."
"Sure hope there's some food left or all we're gonna hear is them two whine all night how hungry they are."
"I wager, however, they will be inundated by the fair damsels of our community if Mr. Tanner appears without his shirt and Mr. Wilmington without his pants at dinner."
Vin grabbed his discarded shirt and tried to shrug back into it blood and all. He was having too much trouble with it, though. Turning he noticed Chris hanging onto the collar of it, thus preventing him from getting his broken arm in it. "Give it here." His voice was low and menacing, but just as certain glares did nothing to alarm him, his growl did little to phase Larabee. Grinning at him Chris tossed the ruined one to Ezra who threw it onto the fire.
"Hey, that was a good shirt. I coulda washed an' mended it." Ezra just grinned like Larabee and held up a dark red shirt with his other hand. It was new, it was flannel, and it was a gift from his aunt. Larabee's grin got bigger as Vin held out his good hand demanding the shirt.
Larabee sighed in resignation, "Turn around, Vin, and let us help. If ya don't we're gonna end up fighting over the crumbs, if there are any left."
"Mrs. B promised to save me a big ole plate a food. After all, I got all busted up savin' yer sorry asses."
"The illustrious Mrs. B is far too refined to say ass, Mr. Tanner. You must have been suffering from delusions of grandeur."
"Delusions of what?"
"He's sayin' your head is swellin' from the sin of pride, Brother. Now, if you would kindly move out of the way, I believe I have a pair of pants for Brother Buck. Some of us would like to get downstairs to the feast since we were forced to do without this holy day in order to do good deeds."
Buck was helped up and pointed to a big chair with heavy wooden handles protruding from both the front and back. "What the hell is that?"
"It's you chair. Yosemite nailed on the handles so we can carry you downstairs to the feast." When Buck raised a very skeptical eyebrow to Nathan, Chris left Vin to Ezra and stepped in.
"I could shoot you in the other leg, or you can sit and do what Nathan says."
A snort from Tanner's direction earned him six glares. He held up the sling and made a show of putting it over his shoulder. Ezra held the sling steady as he slid his arm in it. They would never hear him admit it, but Vin was rather glad he had a sling to rest his arm in. Holding it down made it throb to the point of making him nauseous. Once it was securely held up against his body, the throbbing ceased, as did the nausea. He followed JD out of the door of the room and down the stairs. His aunt was waiting for him at the entrance to the lobby. As Buck joined him, being carried in the chair like a king by Nathan, Josiah, Ezra, and Chris, Alexandra threw open the doors to the dining room and everyone stood as one and applauded their seven peacekeepers.
Chris glared at Alexandra and whispered as he walked by.
"I've never shot a woman before." Alexandra smiled at him as Yosemite and several other men came up and relieved the four men of Buck and finished carrying him to the seven's usual table near the fireplace. It had another table added to it increasing the size to accommodate all of the people who were assigned to it.
Mary clamped onto Chris's gun hand as John Terrell just grinned at the discomfiture the applause had caused for the seven men. He was just about to rescue his wife from the semi-irate gunman when Vin Tanner spoke up.
"Well, you ain't gonna start with her. Now go on in, cowboy an' behave." Instead of looking as nervous as that much attention from a crowd would normally cause him, Vin was grinning at Larabee. Come to think about it, Vin had been awfully talkative and witty this evening. In fact, Vin was more talkative and friendlier than usual. If he didn't know any better, he would think his friend had been drinking too much whiskey. Chris turned a questioning eye on Nathan. The healer's grin was huge.
"I gave him just enough a dose of laudanum in a glass a whiskey to relax him." Nathan looked at the surprised faces and winked at Doc Connors. "We even gave one to Buck. Who'd a thought it would make either one of 'em so cooperative?"
"Cooperative, hell, Nathan. I think you created a monster. Look at him. He's almost acting like, well like, Ezra."
"He is being quite charming in a rustic sort of way, is he not, Mr. Larabee?"
Maude Standish had appeared next to Nathan and positively beamed at Vin Tanner when he turned to see why the others were not joining Buck at the table. Buck looked up from his adoring female followers to wave happily at his friends beckoning them to join him. Maude took Vin's good arm in hers and practically purred at him. "Mr. Tanner, do you have any idea how much money you could earn traveling about the country exhibiting your skills as a marksman?"
Ezra had seen his mother pounce on Tanner like a fat cat on an unsuspecting mouse, and he did the only thing a friend could do for another. "Mother dear, that wealthy Mr. Thomas, the bank owner, was inquiring about your marital status just a moment ago."
Vin was released so quickly he almost stumbled as Maude made a beeline for the portly but wealthy banker. Vin didn't know what was in that shot of whiskey Nathan had given him, but it made him feel warm and fuzzy, almost like he was drunk, but it had only been a small glass. Someone grabbed his good elbow and propelled him toward the table. Fletcher pulled out Vin's chair as Chris guided him to it. Mary laughed as Chris pointed Vin in the direction of one Emmaline Simmons who favored them with a big wave before turning her attention back to TJ Darcy to hear what he knew first hand of the battle this morning.
Alexandra leaned over to hug Vin while he was still being so cooperative. She winked at Nathan when Vin actually kissed her on the cheek. Then she took her seat and waved at her children who had taken their places with all the other children present at one big table while the younger babies stayed with their mothers. Belle was pulling Buck's mustache as she sat in her high chair between her mother and the ladies' man who were both directly across from where John Terrell would be. Mrs. Travis was seated to the left of Mary who was next to Chris. Josiah and Nathan sat across from Vin next to where the judge would be sitting. JD was situated between Casey Wells with Ezra on the other side of Casey. A spot was set for Nettie next to the fancy gambler. Lison and Lisha waved at Vin who stood up and waved back. Chris and Alexandra pulled him back down while Buck was flirting with Inez who looked like she wanted to muzzle him. Maude left the banker with a promise to share desert with him later and took pity on Inez trading places with her to sit beside the scoundrel. She had always liked scoundrels.
Five other tables were packed in the room with people sitting as soon as their dishes of holiday foods were brought out and placed down the middle of all the tables. There were big bowls of potatoes and yams and green beans and peas and corn and dishes many had learned from their parents in the old country whether it was Germany or France or England. It made no difference whether they were new to the country or had moved from other states devastated after the war looking for a new start or followed the call of gold and silver or free land if they were strong and brave enough to take it and hold it. This day had been a day where they all had planned to come and celebrate with their friends and family and neighbors and had ended up fighting for their town along with the seven men who had made it safe for them. The prospect of having the wealthy Terrell family building in their community thus ensuring the railroad would be an integral part of their growth made them all dream of the possibilities the future held. Today they were more than just a town with the people loosely connected to one another. They were a community that could and would defend itself from anyone trying to take it from them.
As soon as everyone else found their seats Mrs. B and Glory Bridger each wheeled out two huge platters on which were seated two of the biggest roasted turkeys anyone had ever seen. John Terrell and Judge Travis were the designated turkey carvers, and they took their places while Mrs. Potter and Nettie Wells each appeared carrying two huge hams as well. Their heavy burdens were taken by the gallant Bull Samson and Charles Big Foot Lowery and placed on opposite ends of the table. Everyone grew quiet as Josiah Sanchez stood and faced the people of Four Corners.
"If you would like to join me in giving thanks for these bountiful blessings and for the Lord's aid in our time of need on one of the most blessed days of the year, please reach out and hold onto the hand of your neighbor, your friend, your family member and join with me in praising. . . ."
Fini
I hope your holiday was as full of love and good cheer as it could possibly be. Happy New Year!
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