Disclaimer: The 'Magnificent Seven' and other characters from the series are the property of MGM, Trilogy and the Mirisch Company. I just borrowed them, played with them for a while, and then very regretfully gave them back! The original characters found in this piece are mine and should not be used without permission. Sadly, no money will be made from this work of fan fiction.
Genre: Old West — H/C, angst, drama
Main characters: Vin, Chris, Ezra.
Rating: PG13, mainly for language, plus some violence.
Thank you to my husband, Mike, for his patience and understanding whilst I sat for hours at the PC writing this, my first ever work of fan fiction. Thanks also to Heather and Sue for their constant encouragement.
As with each of my stories, the themes, convoluted ideas, original characters and writing are, in their entirety, all of my own work.
The original version of this story was posted to Lady Angel's Library website in March 2003.
This version has been revised, expanded and completely re-edited — May 2004.
Feedback and comments can be sent to susieburton999@yahoo.co.uk
There was a jaunty spring in Ezra's step as he came along the outer balcony of the clinic on his way to visit Vin Tanner. It was early evening following the tracker's celebratory revival of the previous day and, pushing open the door quietly, the gambler hastily glanced around the deserted clinic. With a deft flick of his wrist he tossed his hat onto the table, crossing to the partitioned corner where he could hear his friends' softly talking. Entering the small area, he saw Chris and Nathan sitting on opposite sides of the bed, with the tracker sitting up and looking more alert and refreshed than when the gambler had seen him earlier that morning.
Pulling up another chair next to Chris, Ezra nodded in greeting to his three friends. "I... erm, thought you might have need of some company, Vin, but it looks as if you have a surfeit of visitors at present. Nathan, I know what you are going to say and, rest assured, I won't outstay my welcome. Nor will I tire our young friend."
Nathan nodded briefly to the handsome gambler as the man sat, knowing that Ezra would be unusually restrained when talking to the slowly recuperating tracker. "I'm not counting really, Ezra, but ain't this the third time you've bin up here today?" The healer winked at Vin, who in turn grinned at the feigned doleful look on the gambler's face.
"Waal, if you honestly want to keep visitations to an absolute minimum, Nathan, then perhaps you should sell tickets. I would be most honoured to make the arrangements, but naturally any commission would have to be passed on to Mr. Tanner — if he is agreeable of course."
Ezra pulled at his cuffs as he made his sarcastic comment, raising his eyebrows eloquently at the chuckling Texan.
"That sounds good t'me, Ez! Think Chris 'ud 'ave summat t'say to that idea though!" Vin shot his black dressed friend an amused look.
"You got that damned right! I wouldn't pay out good US dollars just to see your sorry butt lounging in that bed! I'm still recovering from a sore shoulder, an' that gives me a right to be here!" Chris grinned, gently nudging Vin with the arm still held in a sling as he emphasised his point.
Nathan snorted disdainfully at the gunslinger's blithe comment. "I'll remind ya of that when I check ya over later. An' don't think I'll forget, 'cos those dressings need changing soon."
"I get the distinct impression that Nathan is enjoying hisself, don't you pard?" Chris wagged an accusing finger at the smug-looking healer.
"Hmm." Vin nodded thoughtfully, but then his face became serious as his blue eyes locked with the healer's dark gaze. "Nathan, y'know I'm real grateful for what you've done fer me since I got shot. Reckon I owe ya a helluva lot."
Nathan smiled as he leaned closer to his friend. "No ya don't, Vin. It's me that still holds a debt to you an' Chris. I'd not be here now if the pair of ya hadn't stopped that lynch mob the first time we met. Anyhow, at least I get plenty o' practice at doctorin' with you crazy bunch o' fellas around! Reckon I must be summat of an expert at treating gunshot wounds by now!"
Chris smiled thinly as he gave the grinning tracker a sidelong look. "Oh-oh! I never thought I'd end up as someone's medical experiment. Did you, Vin?"
As the younger man shook his head in jovial agreement, the four peacekeepers heard a soft knocking on the clinic door. Climbing to his feet Nathan went to investigate, returning a few minutes later with a smiling Mary Travis in tow. As the healer sat at his seat again Ezra jumped up, graciously offering his chair to the blonde woman before lounging nonchalantly against the wooden screens.
Mary had visited the clinic earlier that morning, but the Texan had been sleeping and Nathan had advised the woman to return later. Vin had been told about her actions in saving his life, and he was eager to express his gratitude to the newspaperwoman.
"Vin! I'm so pleased you're awake and looking so much better. I won't stay long, but I just wanted to stop by and say hello." The warmth in Mary's tone and her beaming smile was plain to all four men.
"Thanks, Mary. Chris told me what happened at the hotel, an' I think ya did a real brave thing. Ya saved my life, an' I'm obliged t'ya, ma'am," Vin said, gazing happily at the woman.
Mary squirmed in her chair a little self-consciously, as the four men regarded her for a minute. "Vin, I only did what anyone else would have done. There wasn't any bravery in that, you know." The woman blushed prettily, but on seeing the pleased look on Chris Larabee's face she quickly recovered her poise.
Ezra cleared his throat meaningfully as the conversation broke off, and then tapping the wooden screens behind him he gave the healer a guileless look. "Ehem. Mr. Jackson, if you have a future need for these most decorative screens then by all means keep them. However, if Mr. Tanner has become somewhat attached to said items, then I am sure Mr. Sanchez could easily devise a way to fit them into our young friend's wagon. I believe they would make an admirable adornment to what must be an otherwise austere interior!"
The gambler ran his hand lightly over the erotic pictures in an almost titillating manner, as he gazed blandly at the man in the bed.
Vin pulled himself upright, as he focussed on the painted screens behind the gambler, and his eyes widened in amazement when he saw the lurid artwork. He hadn't really taken much notice of the painted tableau on the wooden panels, and realised that even a few hours ago he had been unable to clearly see the brightly painted scenes. His pleasure at being able to distinguish more objects around him was outweighed now by his rising discomfiture at his friend's rather licentious activity in front of Mary.
"Aw, Ezra! Don't do that! Mary'll be upset, an'... an'... Ezra, stop doin' that! Chris, gimme yer gun! I'll make 'im behave, ma'am!" Vin's face had gone pink as he watched the lewd actions of the gambler, and he sunk a little lower in his bed to try and hide his embarrassment.
Ezra had continued to suggestively stroke the smooth surface, his hand eventually coming to a rest on the bare buttock of one of the naked cherubs. He leaned indolently against the colourful screen, arching an eyebrow in feigned contrition at the man squirming self-consciously in the bed.
"I am very sorry, Mr. Tanner. It was not my intention to cause you any distress. This is fine art, and I am ashamed to say that I got caught up in the opulent splendour of such a wondrous masterpiece. However, I do believe that Miz Travis is a lady with similar tastes for such outstanding artwork, is that not so, ma'am?" Ezra smiled smoothly at the woman, who was trying very hard to keep a straight face.
"Yes. I think it's quite lovely, Ezra. A very... erm... unusual piece of work." Mary couldn't stop the chuckle that escaped her lips as she answered the gambler.
Chris tapped Vin's arm lightly. "Calm down, pard. I can't think why you're getting all excited at Ezra, 'cos you've already had a real good feel around those painted ladies!" The gunslinger grinned, his white teeth gleaming as he teased his friend.
The tracker stared in total horror at the older man. "W... what... d'ya... m... mean?" he stammered.
"Waal, the first time you got outta bed, you had your hands right about... here. Ain't that right, Nathan?" Chris stood up briefly, and pointed to the voluptuous naked breasts of one of the scantily clad Venetian women, who was provocatively holding a bunch of grapes to her rosebud red lips.
Giving a strangled cry, Vin's face turned a deeper shade of red as he blushed to the roots of his hair. "Aw, hell! Chris! Mary... I... I ain't ever seen 'em afore, an'... I couldn't see nuthin', an'... Nathan, help me... Oh, Lord!"
As Vin pulled the cover completely over his head his four friends burst out laughing, unable to contain themselves any longer.
Listening to the riotous laughter the tracker poked his head out once more, blue eyes twinkling as he too saw the funny side of the others' teasing exchange.
"Huh! You bunch jes' get worse 'n' worse! Picking on a man in his sick-bed!" the tracker growled, his amused gaze resting on each of his friends as they still giggled uncontrollably. "An' I reckon ya should know better, Mary! Y'had me believing ya fer a minute, Chris," he scowled, glaring angrily at the gunslinger.
Nathan chuckled as he got to his feet, pushing his chair well away from the bedside. "No, Vin. Chris was tellin' ya the truth but, don't ya fret, we'll keep yer secret. None of the other fellas'll get t'find out that you've got a hankerin' fer such a fine lookin' gal!"
As he finished speaking the healer began re-arranging the covers over his flustered patient. "Now, let's get ya comfy, eh? Vin, ya need t'rest, or I'll never get ya well enough t'leave this bed. An' I don't think my nerves can stand much more — you pair are enough t'put a fella off doctorin' forever!"
Seeing that Nathan wanted to get his patient settled, Mary got to her feet. Hooking her hand on Ezra's gallantly proffered arm, she smiled and nodded to the man in the bed. Giving a final airy wave at the three remaining men, the pair quietly left the clinic.
Satisfied that the tracker was comfortable, Nathan extinguished the lamp on the small bedside table. Looking intently at the gunslinger, the healer cocked his head at the older man. "Chris, go an' sit on one of the cots outside — I'm gonna check ya over an' change those bandages. By the way, that ain't a request, it's an order!"
Listening to the healer's adamant instructions, Vin chortled loudly at the mildly irritated look on Chris' face and couldn't resist a retaliatory dig at his friend.
"You'd best do as the man says, Chris. Else he may borra some handcuffs from JD, an' chain ya to the bedpost! Y'know how huffy Nate gets if ya don't do as yer told. Then if yer a really good boy, he might not force ya t'drink any o' that hosses piss that he calls medicine." Vin's blue eyes twinkled with mirth, and he grinned impishly at the healer before luxuriating in a huge yawn.
Pointing a finger at his rapidly tiring patient, Nathan pursed his lips in mock annoyance. "You — git them eyes closed and sleep! Before I decide to dose ya with some of that fresh, herbal tea that I made earlier." Crooking his finger at Chris, he indicated the outer room. "You — git out there an' sit quiet 'til I'm ready for ya!"
As the healer paused momentarily to collect dirty cups from the bedside table, Chris and Vin exchanged amused looks.
"Yes, Nathan," the pair said almost in unison, causing the healer to shake his head in resigned bemusement.
A peaceful hush descended on the clinic once again and, for the first time in nearly a week, Nathan felt fully relaxed and content. The peacekeepers had managed to come through the recent traumas, although the emotional scars would be with them all for a long time. The close friendship they all shared had withstood the harshest of tests and, whilst they had not emerged completely unscathed, at least the seven men were once more wholly united as one.
FINIS
Author's footnote: When I originally archived this story in 2003, I wasn't really happy with its grammatical 'flow' — lol, it was my first piece of creative writing since leaving school nearly thirty years ago! So, having recently lost my angsty 'muse' for my current 'work in progress' story, I decided to revise, expand and completely re-edit this piece. I hope you enjoyed reading the finished product. If you did, then check out my other Magnificent Seven titles. Susie Burton, May 2004.
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