DISCLAIMER: The Magnificent Seven characters are the property of MGM, Trilogy, and the Mirisch Company. I have just borrowed them, and then will give them back.
RATING: PG13 — (language — violence)
NOTE: This is my first story, and it's unbeta'd.
Vin and Mary came out of the saloon to find a man of medium height up close in Chris Larabee's face an slingin his hands all round while talkin. The tracker stepped past the woman at his side to put himself between her an the man with the gunslinger. He noted Buck step up an lay a hand on the shoulder of the fella yappin at Larabee', Vin heard "Believe me mister, you don't wanna be up in this man's face like that." And he saw the lady's man extend his arm so the other man was forced to step back.
Vin got there in time to hear, "Jessie said the tracker killed Clem an I aim to see him 'em hang fer it." Vin locked gazes with the gunslinger for a moment an just dropped his head so his eyes were shaded by the brim of his hat. Knew this whole thing did not feel right an here it is gettin worse by the minute.
"Now hold a fuckin minute!" Buck could not believed what he was hearing. How the hell did this get turned around on Vin? He looked over to the younger man an thought there was no way that Vin could'a known this was gonna happen. But sure did make sense now why Vin wanted the other man outta that jail as soon as he found out he was there. Knew the tracker had good sense bout these things, even if he didn't always agree with him.
Ezra took the opportunity to break into the conversation, "Now gentlemen lets just take a look at the facts here shall we?" He looked around noting that he had captured the attention of all present. "First lets review what has thus far occurred. One. Mr. Tanner was abducted by your friend three nights ago from this very municipality. Two. Our very own dear Mrs. Travis was present while this misdeed occurred. Three. He was nearly strangled by a cruel contraption placed around his throat, shot and drug by the very man who we are housing in the jail." He cleared his throat, "Shall I continue?" Then remembering that Mr. Tanner was insisting on the immediate release of said person, stated " And although it fails me entirely as to why, Mr. Tanner does not wish to bring charges against your friend."
Vin looked at Ezra an figured he'd said bout all there was ta say.
"Well ain't that fine an dandy, but you're a forgettin one thing Mr. Fancy pants." Jim threw back at the man before 'em.
Ezra could not see where he had left anything out, "And what might that be sir?"
They all waited to see what he would say, the gunslinger fighting back the urge to bloody mayhem with this man and the one in the jail. Could finish it all right now, but for the men who stood with him and knowing the tracker was having the same thoughts. So he swallowed back his own anger and waited with the rest to see what the other man might say now.
JD just stood with his mouth open and couldn't believe that things were gettin turned around like this. He cast a worried look over to Vin to find the other man stanin there half blockin Mrs. Travis's view of what was going on an havin a hard time by the way he kept moving to stay in front of her.
As soon as this stranger opened his mouth an started spoutin the lies told by Jessie, Vin had moved his hand down to rest on his mares leg. Ready to blow this good ole boy to hell an back if he made one wrong move against any of the people here. He had to keep shiftin to stay most a ways in front of Mrs. Travis as she moved every time he did to get a better look at the stranger. Finally she gave up an placed a hand on the back of Vin's arm to hold him still as she stepped up beside him half hidden behind his back.
More than one eyebrow went up at the familiar touch, an Tanner just stood there like he was use to a woman layin hands on him in the middle of the street an in the middle of the day ta boot. Josiah grinned as he saw the looks the two were getting. Nothin funny bout this whole mess but couldn't help it, to see the look on the other men's face's. His smile dropped as his attention was jerked back with the stranger's next words.
"I ain't willin to let it go at that." He sent a hard glare at the man in buckskins an noted as well the beautiful women half hidden behind him. Must be the one that Jessie said was the tracker's women an he knew it to be true by the way she had her hand laid up against the man an pressed in close behind 'em. "Indecent" was what it was. He also remember what Jessie told him just as these men came bargin in the jail that they had a women backin the trackers story an that she'd lie fer her lover. Now he could see it was true an that made him all the madder.
Had Mary or Vin had any idea of the thoughts going through more than one mind, they would have separated immediately. Mary was always proper but understood Vin's need to shield her and only put her hand on the back of his arm first to hold him in place and to reassure him she was alright. She felt comfortable with Vin, spending an hour or so with him most night's for the last several weeks.
Vin thought only to protect her from any violence that might erupt here, knowin Larabee as he did an knowin that Mary was not gonna just leave when there might be a story. He did not give any thought to the other's stare's as his eyes was focused entirely on the stranger before them.
Ezra stepped up once again, "Why ever not, Mr.?..." Allowing the man time enough to answer.
"Jim."
"Thank you, ...Jim. The way I see it, your friend tried to kill Mr. Tanner placing Mrs. Travis in dire jeopardy at the same time, and Mr. Tanner is willing to be ever so accommodating as to not bring charges against your... Friend. These other gentlemen, myself included were present at the unfortunate demise of one Mr. Clem Whitt, but might I point out, prior to his departing, he gave the exact location of Mr. Tanner and one Jesse."
He went on without interruption, "A finial thought from Mr. Whitt also expressed his concern for Mr. Tanners continued good health in Jesse's hands." He stopped and sent a raised eyebrow to the other man inviting any question he might have.
Jim was startin to doubt now what Jessie said, but if he lied then why were they so willin to let 'em go an just who the hell killed Clem then? "Jessie said that there women of the trackers was lie'n fer 'em." Threw out as a last minute challenge to all he'd heard here.
Mary Travis was so shocked that she took a step back from Vin before she could fully process the fact that she did so. A full blush bloomed on her checks "Excuse me" is all she said as she turned toward the news paper office.
Vin cast a look behind him feelin Mrs. Travis leave, an then looked back at the men in front of him. Raised one eyebrow at them an shifted his attention back to Jim to see what he was gonna be spouten out next. His shoulder was hurtin an his back startin to pain 'em some an had no time fer this nonsense. Knew the other peacekeepers had ta know bullshit fer bullshit, so he didn't respond.
Chris was tired of this an just what the hell did he mean bout Vin and Mary? He shook that uncomfortable thought off and took control of the situation. "I'm going in there to open that cell, cause I can't talk Tanner into anything else. I suggest you want that friend of yers to keep on breathin then take his ass out of this town real quick." Wasting no more words he headed to the jail with JD on his heals.
Vin turned back toward the clinic didn't need to see that other fella be let lose. He'd give 'em time enough to get out of town for he went huntin. Had considered jus lettin things be until he heard the bullshit that stranger was spewin out here. Knew that sooner or later he was gonna hafta come face to face with Jesse or spend some time wounderin if he'd come back to finish the job. Worried him some bout Mary too, couldn't let her spend time bein 'fraid, his job to see that god fearin women like her had no cause to be so.
He was goin back to let Nathan check on his shoulder, then he would get dressed out fer the hunt. Only thing was keepin the boy's out a it. Knew he could get round all but Larabee, like a dog with a bone an he'd not missed the look in the other man's eyes. Knew too that Larabee knew dam well what he was plain on doin. Didn't sit well with him to have so many people able to track his moves. "Life in town" he thought was the main reason they'd been able to pick up on how he thought things out. Dam shame that he'd hafta think bout leavin soon. Had the bounty to take care of an sure as hell didn't feel right draggin low life's off ta jail when all the other men knew "Innocent or Not" that somebody was gonna put 'em there some day. Nothin they'd be able to do within the law an that was the main reason he couldn't stay, didn't want to see any of them with a rope round their necks fer his sake.
Chris was not at all gentle as he opened the cell, reached in an grabbed the man inside by the front of his shirt. Slammed him back against the wall with such force the other man grunted and closed his eyes in pain. "Get the fuck out of Four Corners you wanna keep breathing." Hissed through teeth clenched tight with anger fighting the urge to put a bullet between his eyes and take care of this once an for all.
JD watched as Chris slung the younger man past him back through the cell doors an right into his friend Jim. The other man caught the younger one an helped straiten him up. "Lets get you out of here." He heard as they passed him by. He turned to see the gunslinger sitting on the cot in the cell with his head in his hands an flinched when the other man looked up, seein the green eyes practically glow with rage. "Creepy" he thought to himself an very glad at this moment that he could call Chris Larabee a friend.
"Chris?" JD started an was startled into stopping mid question when the gunslinger jumped up suddenly with an exclamation of "Shit" an moved past him in a blur of motion. All JD could do was follow along to find out what this new development was.
Chris headed straight for the Trackers wagon. He was intercepted by Buck as JD scurried along to catch up. "Chris, he's with Nate." Offered the lady's man knowin where he was headed.
"But not fer long I'll bet." Threw over his shoulder as the gunslinger moved past.
Buck stopped mid-stride and put a hand out to the young sheriff to keep him from following any further. "Don't JD."
"What'd ya mean Buck?" The kid asked
Buck moved with JD back toward the boardwalk, "Don't get between them two right now, liable to get bloody for it's done."
Still not understanding fully what Buck was talkin bout he moved along with him an started to ask another question when he saw the gambler step out to intercept them.
"And where is our illustrious leader going in such a hurry might I inquire?" Ezra directed his question at the lady's man. JD turned as well to find out what was going on now that he didn't understand.
Buck looked at the two of them. Almost forgot for a moment that neither were born an raised in the west an didn't figure the kinda thinkin an doin it took to stay alive out here came natural to them. He took a deep breath to try to explain an then sent a smile the gamblers way. "Why Ezra I'd be happy to explain that very thing, but ya see I'm a mite parched right now." He cleared his throat to get the point across.
Ezra was no body's fool but curiosity got the better of him, so he stepped back and threw an inviting arm out tipped his head and said "By all means, Mr. Willmington, we can not have you literally die of thirst upon our hollowed streets when this humble abode before us is more than equipped to satisfy all our needs."
"Why thank you Ezra." And he proceeded to head into the saloon.
JD followed along casting a look to Ezra that clearly was confused. Never could tell what all that man was sayin with those five dollar words an throwin out a sentence so long a fella could take a nap by the time it came to an end. But he was damed sure gonna pay attention to what Buck said, didn't feel like this was over yet.
Vin came down the steps of the clinic, gonna check on Peso an then get his rifle out from the wagon an make sure it was clean. His shoulder hurt somethin fierce after Nathan cleaned the cauterized wound but he would work round that if he had to.
He knew Larabee was there fore the other man moved from the shadow's outa the back ally of the boarding house. "Ain't gonna need a keeper Larabee." He said without turnin round.
It was now the middle of the day an Chris didn't feel like arguing with his friend, so he just spit it out plain and simple. "Can't Do it Alone, Vin. You think I don't know that yer planning on going after that man?
The gunslinger stood there fighting the urge to slug the buckskin clad man in front of him. Stubborn son of a bitch that he was. "I just gotta ask one thing, Vin?" and he waited for the other man to look over at him. "When did this become your fight? Seems to me that they were after me." He waited again for that to sink in before he let lose what he hoped was going to set the tracker off.
"Since they was after me, then I reckon I got the right's here to go after him." So saying he walked off ignoring the other's mans voice.
"Dammit Larabee. This ain't no pissin contest, come back here." Vin started after the gunslinger an then stopped as he realized just what the other man was doin. That's what Chris wanted was for Vin to to trail after him, keep 'em from trouble like he always tried to do or watch his back fer 'em an that would put him right under the gunslinger's nose. "Well ain't gonna fuckin work this time." He thought to himself.
Chris moved off toward Digger Dave's saloon figurin Vin'd be along soon or if he missed his guess he'd be riding out after him. Bypassed the Standish Tavern knowin some of the other men were in there an not wantin to drag anybody else inta this. He'd take care of this by himself or he'd be on Vin's ass the whole time. Figured he had bout 20 minutes to get a drink an a bottle for the road.
Buck threw back his shot of whiskey an chased it down with a cool beer. Sat back an tucked his hand down the front of his pants, let out a belch "'scuse me." For the sake of the ever so refined gambler he thought.
Ezra was getting mildly annoyed at the man sitting so causally in front of him, drinking his fine whiskey and for all the world looked like he was ready to take a siesta. "Mr. Willmington, shall I removed the refreshments or are you going to enlighten us regarding the ever mysterious behavior of Vin Tanner and Chris Larabee?" Reaching for the bottle at the same time the Lady's man did.
"Now, Now Ezra, don't be so impatient, I'ma getting to it, just give me minute to settle in." He successfully retrieved the bottle from the other man an poured himself an the Kid another drink. Offered it back to the gambler. Picked the shot glass up between his thumb an forefinger held it out to the other two men in toast an downed it in one quick swallow.
"Mmmm"
"Well what you boy's... men" corrected at the raised eyebrow of the gambler "don't understand is the law of the land out here. It's kill or be killed most times." He sat back as if that explained it all.
JD spoke up "I don't get it Buck, we got that guy dead to rights with witnesses 'n all. Sure I understand bout the bounty on Vin but still don't make no sense. Ain't like Vin to let somebody like that walk."
Buck and Ezra exchanged looks as the gambler had already surmised that the tracker was going after the other man to make sure he was not left lose to hurt someone else. He looked at Buck wanting to ask how the other man felt about what might be viewed as an act of cold blood by most, when they had the weapon of justice so firmly in their hands.
Buck understood what the gambler was saying with that look, an turned back to JD. Poor Kid was learnin too fast out here the sad truth of things.
"Vin must feel like he ain't got no choice in this JD, you think he don't feel bad bout that Jesse getting lose? You know the kind of man he is! Think bout it, if it got to trial an the bounty came out then Vin'd be behind bars an Jesse'd be lose no matter how you looked at it." He took another long drink of his now warm beer. "The way things stand now, Vin can go after Jesse an make dam sure he don't bother nobody again."
JD sat back in silence as he pondered on what buck had just said. Knew deep down that Vin was a good man, knew with the same kind a feelin that Jesse wasn't. He was havin a hard time wrappin his mind round Vin taken after that man with the intent to kill. Didn't go with the image he had of the tracker. He looked to Buck knowin that he was givin away again how young he was around then all. Sometimes overwhelmed with what it meant to live in the west an not sure he could make the same kind of choices the others seemed to face day to day. Men like Chris and Vin, Hell even Buck, and then he looked over to the gambler to find his knowing eyes an sympathy in 'em.
Ezra did not delude himself into thinking that life out here would be any less hazardous for him. His livelihood by its very nature was a hazard, and now with the added responsibility of being one of the seven regulators in this town the odds just doubled. He harbored no illusions where the other men were concerned and was not prepared to criticize the choices that they made, but of a certain had no such qualms in questioning if it indeed warranted it. At first not understanding what on earth would poses Mr. Tanner to forsake the right of judicial law, it did not take long to see why the younger man was so intent on not brining Judge Travis into this issue. What occurred earlier today outside the jail was a sample of what could occur, and Mr. Tanner having no such concern for himself Ezra understood by his past actions, was taking the only alternative he felt entitled to. Going after the other man to confront him was not the way that he himself would have handled things. "But" with a mental shrug "who was he really to try to stop a grown man from making his own decisions?"
"Well then if that's the way of it, I'm goin with Vin. Sombody's gotta watch his back.!" JD jumped up from the chair startlin the lady's man into spillin his drink.
"Damit JD!" Buck scooted back an the beer missed hittin his lap by just a little bit. "Settle down there, What do you think Chris is gonna be doin? Ain't neither one of them likely to let you get within spittin distance of them." He moved his chair a little further around the table until he was sittin right 'side the gambler.
"Well then..." and the young Sheriff walked out of the saloon turnin toward the Church.
Buck and Ezra looked at each other then and at the same time realized they were the only ones at the table and siting almost elbow to elbow, both grabbed their chairs and scooted in opposite directions. Then realizing what they were doing started to laugh.
It was the sound of laughter that the gunslinger heard as he passed in front of the saloon crossing the dusty street at the same time to head untoward the livery. Needed to get his own horse ready to go.
He spotted JD pacing out in front of the Church but decided not to try to figure out what was going through his head right now. He had bigger game to hunt an what might be considered a smile passed his lips as he caught a flash of buckskin an fringe. Well he guessed he knew where Vin stood.
So he moved in an passed the tracker as he readied his horse an didn't say a word as went to the back stall to take out his own mount.
Vin was not happy to see the gunslinger in the livery an made him just a bit nervous that Larabee went on past 'em without so much as lookin in his direction. Well he guessed he knew were Chris stood.
The healer an the preacher came up from the other end of town having watched Jesse ride out that direction, neither felt that was the last they'd see of him. Both were approaching the Cigar shop when they saw Chris head to the livery.
Josiah started in that direction as well an then stopped when he saw Jim going into Digger Dave's, so he changed direction and the healer followed along.
The preacher came into the saloon and found the man he was looking for leaning up against the bar. "Brother Jim, how is it I see you still in town?'
Jim turned at the voice and then turned back without answering.
The two men moved up, one on each side of him and the preacher spoke again, " I just saw Jessie ride out of town and surely thought I'd see you at his heals."
Jim turned to study the man beside him, did not see anythin in the other man's face to feel threatened by, "I just don't know what to think anymore, Clem was a good man once an a friend. I just want to know who killed 'em" He picked up his beer and took a long drink.
Nathan looked around the man to his friend an shrugged, "Best you be askin that man just rode outta here. We found yer friend with his throat cut an then found Jessie a while latter draggin our friend threw the creek bed. Took off when we got there but not 'fore he put a bullet into Vin." He felt the other man's eyes on him. "Vin had done been shot once a few days 'fore, had a piece of leather round his neck chockin the life outta him and his writs are cut deep where he was tied." He took a breath, "You know'd that Jesse long nough to say he ain't the one that done all this?"
They could see the doubt in the other man's eyes, they answered his direct star with one of their own as Nathan moved to the preachers side. "You say that but none of it make any sense to me. If'n Jesse did those things then why is the tracker so willin to see him set lose? Tell me that an I might believe ya."
Neither willing to break Vin's trust so they just moved past him out of the bar, an came outside in time to see Vin ride past on Peso an Chris hot on his heals. "Damit Vin" The healer yelled, knowin Vin was still hurtin. Didn't take long for him to catch up with the preacher as he headed down to the Standish Tavern to get the other men, also noticed JD comin from the direction of the livery already horsed.
Josiah stepped out in front to the young Sheriff, placed a big hand to the halter of the horse just in case he needed to stop 'em. "JD where ya headed to in such a hurry?" Already knowin the answer.
JD looked down on the big man with impatience, "Gotta go Josiah before they get away." Started to move past but the big hand closed tight around the bridle.
"JD get down off there and let's get Buck an Ezra, we ain't lettin them get by without us." Nathan said as he moved on past to alert the other two men that time was wastin an even though there was a fair tracker ot two among them, if they let Vin get to far out they might as well just stay in town.
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