Disclaimer: All the characters from the "Magnificent Seven" TV series are property of Trilogy Entertainment, The Mirisch Group, MGM Worldwide.
Authors Note: This story is set between One Day out West and Working Girls.
He supposed he could have lumbered Ezra with the duty of guarding Mary Travis later that evening but Chris was in no mood to hear his complaints on the subject. Josiah was simply too soft around the widow to be left alone and so Chris Larabee decided that the task for keeping watch on the lady this evening would fall to him alone. Upon returning home to Four Corners following their escort of Judge Travis' stagecoach to Eagle Bend, the three lawmen went their separate ways in order to rest up for the evening demands of taking up the watch on Mary. Since he was going to be in the company of a decent Christian woman for sometime, Chris had opted for a bath to wash the dirt off after the dusty ride. After that, he enjoyed a meal at the lodging house he had taken up residence at since arriving in town. He joined the others at the saloon briefly and learnt that Buck and Vin were still at the Clarion News.
Chris arrived at the back porch of the house not long after to hear the sounds of chatter and laughter emanating from behind the door. He tapped lightly, wondering what was going on in since Vin and Buck were supposed to be guarding the woman, not entertaining her with parlor tricks. Instinctively, he found his thoughts on Buck and came to the conclusion that the ladies man was probably doing all he could to charm the lovely widow. Once again, Chris stiffened involuntarily at the notion. He had considered what Ezra had said about calling on her and wondered how many other members of the seven thought the same. Buck definitely, Vin perhaps? Josiah was certainly a few years older than Mary but it would not be improper for him to call on the lady while JD was still unable to say much to the woman without stammering a little. He supposed he could not blame the kid for that. Extraordinarily beautiful women had that kind of effect on young men. Nathan of course was a non-issue. The tall dark ma n had enough trouble coming to terms with the fact that six white men were willing to die for him and watch his back to be able to deal with the social taboo that would be if he were to turn his eye to a white woman.
The door swung open a short time after he knocked and Mary was standing before him, still wearing a smile from the amusing conversation that she was obviously having with Buck and Vin. Upon seeing him however, that smile faded and her expression evolved into a frown. "Mr. Larabee." She said stiffly. "Come in."
Chris opened his mouth to say something in response when she turned on her heels and retreated back into the door, her skirt flouncing behind her as she did. Judging by her aloof manner it did not take much to guess that she was still smarting from their argument earlier this morning. That was her problem he thought to himself. He was too concerned with keeping her alive to have to be polite. Besides, she needed a guard and that was that. Nothing she had said this morning was going to convince him otherwise. Chris followed her through the door that emptied into the kitchen. Seated around the kitchen table was Vin, Buck and a young woman he did not recognize.
"Hey Chris." Vin greeted.
"Vin, Buck." Chris met their gaze. "What's going on?"
"Mrs. Travis was kind enough to make us some supper," Buck explained even though the dishes on the table made that rather obvious.
"The least I could do," Mary smiled warmly in their direction. "After all, guarding me is important work." She gave Chris a truly sarcastic glare as she made that statement.
A moment of awkwardness filled the room before Vin spoke up once more, dispelling the tension in the room with a necessary change of subject. "Chris this is Jenny Miller, she'll be staying with Miss Travis for awhile." He glanced at the young woman seated at his right with a little smile, taking Chris' attention away from Mary.
"Yes," Mary responded stiffly. "Jenny is Sheriff Doohan's niece."
Chris remembered Doohan briefly, having been in the company of the man long enough to see him steal someone else's horse to ride out of town when the Texans were looking to lynch Nathan. Chris supposed as far as the man was concerned, leaving town was a better alternative than staying to get gunned down by a bunch of armed drunks who did not have much respect for the law or the man wearing the badge representing it.
"Ma'am." Chris tipped his hat at the young woman politely but said nothing further than that. He was examining her closely though because he was by nature a suspicious man and there was no law written anywhere that said a pretty face was incapable of causing harm.
"Well Jenny," Mary turned to the young woman unable to believe how frosty the atmosphere in the room had suddenly become. "If you come with me, I'll show you to your room."
"Thank you Mrs. Travis," Jenny answered. Raising herself off her chair, she followed Mary out of the room but not before she cast a lingering glance at Vin from over her shoulder.
Once she was gone, Buck shoved Vin a little, almost toppling the younger man out of his chair and confirming Chris' long held suspicion that some boys never grew up, they just grew moustaches. "She definitely likes you Vin."
"No she doesn't," Vin stammered, looking slightly embarrassed by the notion that he could be the object of any female's desire. "She's just grateful for me being nice to her that's all."
"You want to fill me in?" Chris asked as he lowered himself into a vacant chair.
"Its nothing," Vin shrugged. "I just pointed her in this direction when we found out she had nowhere to go. Besides," Vin glared at Buck. "Its not her we have to worry about, its the other one."
"The other one?" Chris' brow shot up immediately.
"Yeah," Buck's tone became all business on that note. "JD and Nathan are keeping an eye on him. Came off the coach this afternoon, looking mighty suspicious. He dresses like a farmer but he ain't one, I'm sure of it."
"He's registered at the hotel under the name of Ray Waldon," Vin responded. "I told Nathan and JD to watch him. I got a feeling he ain't in town for the sights."
Chris' gaze shifted towards the path Mary had taken out of the room. "I'll keep an eye on her tonight. You boys take off and get some rest. Come find me a few hours once you're done getting some sleep."
"You're going to stay here?" Vin stared at him.
"Yeah," Chris asked puzzled. "Why?"
"Oh no reason," Buck remarked exchanging an anxious glance with Vin. "It's just that you and Mrs. Travis don't exactly get along."
"I'm going to be seeing to it that no one comes in to shoot her," Chris retorted abruptly. "I don't have to get along with her for that."
"You know Chris," Buck sighed. "If you'd just be a little nicer maybe it might pass the time a little smoother."
"I don't need to be nice," Chris returned. "I just have to keep my eyes open. Besides, she'll be going to bed soon and it makes it better that she's got another woman in the house. Keep things respectable."
"Was there ever any danger that it wouldn't be?" Buck looked at him in question. "The lady don't like you too much if you didn't notice. I doubt she'd be sweet on you for any reason."
"There are a lot of things I don't need right now Buck," Chris threw him a sharp look. "A woman being sweet on me would be somewhere on top of the list."
"I don't know," Buck muttered sarcastically. "Seems to me you could use a little loosening up."
"You got something on your mind Buck?" Chris glared at Buck in challenge.
"Okay," Vin spoke up before the situation deteriorated any more than it was already threatening to do. "That's enough. Buck," he glanced at the ladies man. "Let's get going. Chris, we're gonna leave you to it."
Without waiting for a response, Vin grabbed Buck by the arm and stood up. Both Chris and Buck were still staring at each other with hostility and Vin knew that there was a time when they would have to air out all the issues that was between them. However, that time was not now. "Come on."
Buck broke away from Chris' gaze and reached for his hat. Placing it on his head, he did not meet his old friend's eye as he responded. "Fine with me."
The two men left the room with Vin pausing long enough to tell Chris that they would be back later. For a few seconds after they had gone Chris found himself alone in Mary Travis' kitchen wondering what it was that Buck had intended to say to him until Vin's timely intervention. Buck was so angry at him and had been ever since that day at the barber shop and as much as Chris like to think that he did not care about Buck's bruised feelings, the fact was he did care and he felt badly at being the cause of it. Buck had not deserved his reaction after all it was Mary who had asked the question. Buck was being his usual self trying to help a lady in need.
"Are you sure I can't..." Mary started to say as she stepped into her kitchen and stopped short when she saw Buck and Vin were no longer there. "Oh did Mr. Wilmington and Mr. Tanner leave?"
"Yeah," Chris nodded. "I thought it would be a waste of resources if they hung around while I was here."
Mary gave him a venomous look but did not bite at that remark. Instead she began clearing the dishes from the table, trying not to look at him as she did. Chris remained seated, wanting to say something to dispel the tension but nothing seemed to come to mind. From beneath the brim of his hat, he caught her stealing glimpses at him, pretending as if he did not bother her at all. Chris watched her work and found himself studying the line of her jaw, the silk of her lips, the tendrils of golden hair curling beneath her ear. Ezra was correct; she was a very beautiful woman but there was also determination in her eyes, a quiet reserve of strength that did not surface unless needed.
"What?" She asked sharply, putting down the plates against the table when she unable to bear his deep scrutiny any longer.
"Nothing." Chris responded dropping his gaze and feeling somewhat foolish for being caught staring.
There was another pause when she shifted her eyes towards him again and asked quietly, "have you eaten? I've got some more of this stew and dumplings left if you're hungry."
"Thanks," he replied injecting a good deal more warmth in his voice then he normally reserved for her. "But I got something at the lodging house."
"Will you be here all night?" She met his eyes, still very much intimidated by him.
"Most of it." Chris answered. "At least until one of the boys comes to take my place."
"Shall I make up the extra room?" She inquired.
"No," Chris shook his head. "I don't plan on sleeping. I'll be fine right here. I got a book."
"Really?" She raised her brow in surprise.
"Really." Chris noted her surprise and wondered did she think him a complete barbarian who did not read anything unless it was a wanted poster. "Sun Tzu."
"Sun Tzu?" She stared at him in wide-eyed astonishment. He might as well have been standing on his head for the reaction he received.
"Yes," he nodded. "The Art of War. I do read you know."
"I'm sorry," she apologized immediately, staring at the floor in embarrassment at her presumption. "I didn't mean to infer that you were uneducated. It's just that you don't strike me as...."
"Being that civilized?" He accused.
"Of course not!" Mary's cheeks flushed with color and he realized that she look inordinately pretty when they were. "I don't know what I mean." She picked up the plates and hurried away, dropping them into the steel basin on the countertop for washing. "You make things do difficult sometimes."
"I don't mean to," Chris found himself saying and wondering where this admission was coming from. "I just like being left alone."
"That's very odd considering you surround yourself with six men." Mary pointed out as she started rolling up her sleeves in order to wash the dishes.
"I don't surround myself, I just ride with them." Chris returned, careful to stress the difference to her.
"Mr. Larabee," she asked after a moment. "Do you really think I'm in danger?"
Chris paused a moment and noticed that she had turned around and was staring at him, waiting for an answer. "Please, I need to know." Her eyes pleaded with him for the truth and Chris could not find it in himself to refuse her.
"Yeah I think you are," Chris replied with brutal honesty. "I think that he'll come after you because he can't get to anyone else."
Mary sucked in her breath. "I didn't expect you to be quite so honest."
"I'm sorry," he broke away from her dove colored eyes. "You asked."
"How long will you have to keep protecting me?" She asked softly.
"For as long as it takes." He retorted. "Until he stops being mad."
"That could take years." She swallowed. "You cannot protect me for all that time."
"Why?" He asked, wishing to bring a smile to her face, "don't tell me you're getting tired of my company already."
Mary chuckled, " I treasure the moments." Her lips pursed into a little smile. "This would be so much simpler if Stephen were here."
"Would it?" Chris looked back at him. "Seems to me the only thing that would change is that James would have three targets instead of one. You, your boy and your husband."
"I didn't mean that Mr. Larabee," she returned sadly. "I miss Stephen not being here and the little things that reminded me of how much he meant to my life. You know what I miss most? " Her eyes drifted away to a place only she could see and for a moment, Chris did not think that she was talking to him as much as she was talking to herself. "I miss making him coffee. I used to be able to judge my day by when I made him coffee. I always knew the day was starting when I made him coffee for breakfast and that it was ending when I made coffee after dinner. He used to drink it before he went to bed. Lord knows how since its supposed to keep you awake, but he used to sit in his chair in the parlor reading whatever book he happened to order from Eagle Bend, drinking his coffee. I can't seem to get used to the fact that I don't make it for him any more. Of all the things I won't ever be able to do for him, that's the one I miss that the most. Bizarre isn't it?"
Chris closed his eyes, unable to dispel this ache that came from appreciating all to well what she was feeling at this moment. It was so intense that Chris found that he could not disregard the ache demanding expression within him and almost against his will, he found himself speaking.
"Dumplings on Sunday." He whispered.
"I beg your pardon?" She asked, her brow furrowing in puzzlement.
"I miss dumplings on Sunday," he answered. "She used to make them every Sunday, no matter what. Never on any other day of the week, just Sunday, she never told me why and I never asked, I thought there would be plenty of time."
Mary did not need any clarification on who 'she' was. However she was encouraged that he had opened up enough to show his empathy. It could not be easy for him, not if the sorrow in his eyes was any indication at how deep the well of his grief ran.
"I didn't mean to intrude Mr. Larabee when I asked Mr. Wilmington about your past," Mary remarked, seeing the pain in his eyes and knowing oh so well, just how he felt. "I guess I thought it might be nice to talk to someone who understood what it was like, who knew what I was going through. I keep hearing people with all this good advice and not one of them understands what it's like to lose someone you planned on spending a lifetime. I am sorry if I intruded upon you. It was not my intention."
"You're forgiven," Chris relented and accepted her apology because he could see she was attempting to make amends for causing the rift between himself and Buck that had yet to mend. "I can't talk about it Mary," Chris met her eyes. "I'm not ready for that. I appreciate that you want to help but I'm a long ways from dealing with any of it."
"When you are ready," Mary responded. "I'd like to hear more about your wife. I think I would have liked her."
Chris swallowed and felt a rush of emotion for the woman before him he had no business feeling. "I think you are probably right."
Chris and Mary looked at each other for a few seconds, aware that they had reached a turning point in their relationship and though she knew that it was still bound to be filled with a great deal of consternation at least now they understood each other a little.
After following their quarry from his hotel to a repast at the local restaurant and finally to the saloon where the seven would be congregating unless they had the duty of guarding Mrs. Travis, JD Dunne had come to the conclusion that he had no patience for surveillance work. Fortunately, Mr. Waldon had done nothing out of the usual beyond what a person would do after a long coach ride and arriving at a new town. He revealed nothing in his movements that would indicate any disposition to the owner of the Clarion News and JD began to question whether or not Buck and Vin were right about this man's intentions in town.
"I don't know Nathan," JD retorted trying not to look in Waldon's direction from their table. "He don't look to me like no killer."
Nathan had to agree that at this moment, Waldon who was entertaining a curvaceous saloon girl on his laps did not appear to be interested in anything beyond the night's entertainment. "He don't look right," Nathan declared. "Sure as hell ain't no farmer that's for sure."
"Patience Mr. Dunne," Ezra remarked as he was shuffled a pack of cards in his hands. "Mr. Jackson is correct in his observation but we cannot play our hand too soon."
"Is everything a gambling metaphor with you?" Josiah asked with a little smile.
"Absolutely Josiah," Ezra grinned. "Its always good to stick to the themes one is accustomed to."
"Well I can tell you," Buck retorted as he leaned towards his glass for a sip. "He ain't going anywhere tonight. Not by the way he's pawing the lovely Miss Lucille."
"Are you sure?" JD asked, cocking his head slightly at the sight of how the man was running his hands over the lady's curves. JD swallowed, feeling a little embarrassed by the display, especially when he was so inexperienced in the matters dealing with the opposite sex.
"Trust me," Buck met his confused expression with a wolfish smile, "that boy's got only one lady in mind and I guarantee he don't intend to kill her."
"A simple yes would have sufficed Mr. Wilmington." Ezra quipped. "However, I do believe you are correct. I see no reason why myself and Mr. Sanchez cannot handle keeping an eye on our amorous friends."
"You just want to hang around here and get someone into a game of cards," Vin gave Ezra a knowing look.
"I cannot tell a lie but since it is likely that Miss Lucille will be entertaining Mr. Waldon there on this premises, it would be a good idea for us to remain here to ensure that he is exactly where he is."
"You just want to stay so you can take someone for all their money," Nathan snorted derisively.
Ezra pretended he did not hear that remark and ignored it. "Gentlemen I think I need a refill. Excuse me." With that he rose to his feet and went to the bar, leaving the others at the table.
Vin waited until Ezra was out of earshot, which in a room bar room filled with people was not far, before he turned to the healer. "Nathan, that's enough." His tone was hard enough to belong to Chris Larabee's and had everyone's undivided attention. None of them had ever seen Vin raising his voice and though he was far from yelling, his tone indicated he was not happy. "Do you hear me, that is enough."
"What do you mean?" Nathan stared at the tracker, astonished by the genuine anger in his eyes.
"Everyone deserves a chance," Vin said firmly. "Even Ezra. None of us at this table can call ourselves respectable and hell knows Ezra the least of all but I'm not coming down on him for trying to be better. He didn't have to come back for us Nathan. If he were as bad as you make him out to be, he would have kept going and we would all be dead. The fact is he came back, he came back and he's putting up with everyone of us not giving him any credit for fighting everything that he is to ride with us."
"You heard him when he first met up with us..." Nathan started to say.
"Yeah I did," Vin cut him off because it was an old argument and one that had been disproved time and time again the last few weeks. "I heard him and I didn't like it much either but has he done or said anything like it since we've came from the Seminole village has he?"
"No," Nathan swallowed thickly. "He hadn't."
"Now you're always saying white people judge colored folk without even knowing them," Vin stared at him hard and wanted everyone to know that it was not just Nathan that he was talking to but all of them. "I think you ought to get to know Ezra a little before you start judging him."
The conversation came to an abrupt end when Ezra returned with his drink and noted an awkward silence around the table.
"Is it me or is this table surprisingly morose?" He looked at the faces before him.
Nathan rose to his feet. "I'm going to get some rest," he muttered, unable to look at Vin or Ezra as he departed.
Vin looked at Nathan wishing he could understand that the words he had spoken were not out of anger but a genuine desire on his part to see Ezra get the same chance that he would ask for himself if the roles were reversed. The tall man hurried away from the table, disappearing out of the bar a second later.
"I think I might join him," Josiah added a second later, thinking that Nathan might need some company after being dressed down like that. Josiah did not think it was undeserved because it took an injustice for Vin Tanner to make himself heard so prolifically and Josiah himself could not deny that Nathan was hard on Ezra.
"What is something I said?" Ezra asked when the preacher departed.
"Nathan!" Josiah Sanchez called after the healer as he strode out of the saloon in the direction of his infirmary.
The tall black man paused long enough to see who had called after him, his face a dark storm as his eyes met Josiah's before he resumed walking once more. Josiah let out a sigh realizing that he was not going to talk to Nathan unless he caught up with the healer. Hastening his pace, he was able to close the gap between them before Nathan reached the foot of the stairs that led up to the set of rooms above the hardware store that made up Nathan's clinic.
"Nathan stop!" Josiah called out.
"You're gonna tell me I'm being too hard on him too?" Nathan spat back.
"No, I'm not." Josiah responded. "Because you are."
Nathan froze in his steps and turned around to face Josiah. "Do you know what he and his kind have put me and my people through? Do you?"
"No," the preacher shook his head. "I don't and I never will. I pray to God and I thank him for that but Vin's right."
"He wouldn't even ride with me before!" Nathan exploded. "He's a liar and a cheat and all he cares about is money!"
"If he was all that, then what is he doing here?" Josiah challenged. "He's trying to be different Nathan and in this place, we're getting a second chance to be what we could never be anywhere else. A few weeks ago, the best that I could hope for is to die. I wanted it Nathan. I wanted it to end just so the hurting would stop but the good Lord send me a message in the six of you that I had a lot to live for and when you get messages like that, you tend to think on them a bit. We've never fit in anywhere because we're misfits in one way or another but somehow, here, we fit. Don't you think Ezra deserves that chance?"
"He'll turn on us," Nathan declared.
"You don't know that," Josiah returned. "And if you don't mind saying so you're the probably the only one that could keep that from happening."
"What?" Nathan stared at him in astonishment. "Me?"
"Because of all of us, you're the one who can show him that he can be something better than he ever was," Josiah replied. "He's never said a word to you after that first time about you being colored. Since we got back from the Seminole village, he's ridden by you, fought with you, watched your back and trusted you enough to put him together. What do you think that means Nathan?"
Nathan closed his eyes and sucked in his breath. "God," he let out a soft exclamation. "I swore I was never gonna be like those people who looked at me and saw a black man. I swore that I would never judge a man the way I was judged because it was wrong and here I am doing it to Ezra."
"Can't you see when a man is trying to earn your respect Nathan?" Josiah asked. "If he wants you respect that much he's willing to forget his prejudices, he might forget other things too. Be his friend Nathan because you can make a difference to him."
"I don't know if I can," Nathan confessed. There was just so much anger inside of him to dispel. What Josiah asked was difficult but Ezra had shown that he was making an effort to see him as a friend, so Nathan could not in good conscience deny him that same courtesy. "But I'll try."
"Good," Josiah said with an approving smile, never doubting Nathan in that respect. Nathan was an honorable man but living with a lifetime of pain left scars that no amount of good intention could erase. After all, who healed the healer when he was hurt? "Vin can sure make himself heard when he wants to, huh?"
"Yeah," Nathan cracked a corresponding smile of agreement. "Boy's got the damnedest sense of nobility I've ever seen. Its kind of nice to know that he'd fight for anyone of us if he has to. I hope Ezra appreciates it."
Josiah hoped so too and he had a feeling that from no one if he did not, Nathan would remind him.
The departure of the rainy season brought upon the town of Four Corners, a balmy, humid night where the air was heavy with warm moisture. Mary lay in her bed, feeling most uncomfortable as she felt the sheet plastered to her skin where exposed. She felt a film of moisture beneath her hair that was damned near maddening. Tossing and turning, she stared at the moon hanging in its fullness in the night sky and wondered if the rest of the guests in her house were having as much trouble sleeping. Jenny had turned in early and considering the journey the young lady had taken, Mary was not surprised that she would be worn out.
Under normal circumstances, Mary would be hard pressed to offer a stranger her home as she had but the poor child had no one and she knew what it was like to be a woman in the west and alone. Any manner of misfortune might befall a decent woman if she did not have some assistance. Besides, the girl had claimed to be a seamstress and since the last woman to call herself that had left town for some place safer, it was good to have that void filled. Mary supposed it would not be for long and it was good to have company, especially when there was a possibility that Stuart James might have hired an assassin for her disposal.
On that note, Mary wondered if Chris Larabee was still downstairs in the parlor keeping a watch on things. She rolled onto her side towards the window, allowing the faint whiff of cool breeze to sweep in through the opening and wash all over her. Knowing that he was down there made her feel better even though he still made her feel very uncomfortable. However, their relationship had improved a little with their earlier discussion. She wondered what he must have been like when he was married. She could not quite picture him as a man with a family, especially a wife and son. Yet he must have love them so much because the pain in his eyes was beyond description and she knew that even though she had lost Stephen at least she had Billy to give her hope and strength to persevere. If she had come home and found that both of them had been lost to her that night, she would probably feel as devastated as Chris still did.
She closed her eyes trying to sleep because she had much to do tomorrow and because thoughts of Chris Larabee would only drive her insane. Letting out a deep breath, she forced herself to relax when suddenly, she felt a hand cup over her mouth. Mary opened her eyes wide and found herself staring into a face masked with a scarf below the eyes and a wide brim hat. She struggled to move when something cold and sharp, pricked her skin near the belly, bringing an abrupt end to her attempts. Her breath froze in her lungs and she wanted to scream for Chris but she knew that would have fatal consequences.
"Your time is up Mary," the voice low and menacing whispered. "We're gonna string you up, the way the Judge saw Lucas James strung up. We'll dangle you at the end of a rope and ask him how it feels to let one of his own get hung without being able to do anything about it. You'll hang with no way or no one to turn to for mercy. Start counting your day's Mary, you've got a death sentence hanging over you and the end of it, a hangman's noose."
With that, the hand disappeared from her mouth and the figure slipped out of the window like a gust of wind that had blown into her room earlier. Mary sat up immediately after he had gone, breathing hard as she clambered out of bed. Running out of the room, she hurried down the stairs still clad in her nightdress but not daring to stop incase her intruder were allowed to escape in the useless expenditure of time retrieving something more appropriate. Her footsteps were heavy against the floorboards and immediately brought Chris to her.
Chris stopped short as he saw Mary bounding down the staircase, clad only in a flimsy nightgown with flowing blond hair bouncing off her shoulders. She looked at that moment, like some wild untamed creature and the sight of her made his breath catch. However the distraction was brief because he saw fear in her eyes. "What is it?" He demanded as soon as she had sighed him.
"Some one was in my room!" She exclaimed out of breath. "He went out the window."
Chris' jaw tightened and he bolted towards the front door because any intruder making an exit from the lady's bedroom would have to come down in front of the Clarion News offices. Unsheathing his gun from his holster, Chris went for the door, with Mary following closely behind. He raced through the quiet office and exited through the front entrance, bursting into the night air in anticipation of trouble. However upon bursting outside, Chris was confronted by the silence of a street in the small hours of the morning. His eyes swept across the street and saw no one about. He stepped away from the Clarion and paused in the middle of the street facing the building, in particular the window that would lead into Mary's room. There were neither signs of life nor any evidence of forced entrance. Not even the saloon was open at this hour.
"Do you see him?" Mary asked as she came up alongside of him.
"No," Chris said tautly and searched the street once more. "There's no one out here Mary."
She looked at him in dismay. "There has to be! He was in my room! He put his hands on me and told me I was going to be strung up the way Lucas was hung!"
"Did you see how he got in?" Chris asked because he had not been asleep when he had heard Mary coming down the stairs. In fact, nothing had stirred in the house so he could not understand how someone could have entered the place without his having seen them.
"No," she shook her head looking around. "I was facing the window so I know he did not come in that way. He came from behind me."
"Mary, no one came past me." He replied meeting her gaze.
"But that's not possible." Mary exclaimed. "He came into my room! I saw him leave Mr. Larabee!"
"Mary, are you sure?" Chris stared at her. "Could it have been a dream?"
"It wasn't a dream!" She burst out. "I am not deranged. I saw a man in my room and he threatened me!"
"Okay, okay," he placed his hand on her shoulder and made her calm down a little because she was becoming extremely agitated. "I believe you."
It was at this point that he noticed what she was wearing and that she was out in the open. He could see her slender form beneath the sheer fabric and the curves it barely contained. Swallowing thickly, he tried to hide that she affected him by removing his black duster from around his shoulders and placing it on hers. "I think you need to wear this."
"Oh," she blushed realizing that she had rushed out of her room without even the benefit if a shawl. "I didn't think...."
"It's alright," he said gently. "You had a little scare."
"I'm not crazy Mr. Larabee," she repeated herself as she draped the duster around her shoulders. "I did see him. He was wearing a hat and he spoke in low voice, like a hiss. His face was covered with a scarf or something. I'm not sure. I know I wasn't dreaming because I couldn't sleep."
"Mary," Chris said once more hoping his reiteration would the matter to rest. "I believe what you said. I believe you saw exactly what you did."
"Is something wrong?" Jenny asked emerging from the door of the Clarion offices. The younger woman was wearing a heavy cloak as she came towards them looking puzzled. "I heard noises."
"Everything is fine," Mary went to Jenny. "It appears I may have had an intruder."
"How awful!" She exclaimed. "Are you alright? He didn't do anything?"
"No, no," Mary shook her head and reassured her guest as to her wellbeing. "I don't suppose you heard anything outside your window?"
"I though I heard something moving outside," Jenny glanced at Chris anxiously. "I thought it was a bird or something. It wasn't very loud."
"You heard it too!" Mary cried out. "Then I was right!"
"I told you I believed you," Chris looked at her.
"I know but it makes me feel better knowing that someone else heard something and that I'm not crazy. I'm a journalist Mr. Larabee, corroborating sources is part of my trade." She said officiously.
"I'm sure it is."
"Chris!" Vin called out as he appeared out of the shadows. The tracker was fully dressed and appeared as if he had been on his way to take over the duty of guarding Mrs. Travis.
"Vin," Chris strode towards the tracker. "You seen anyone around?"
"No," Vin shook his head in answer. "Why? What happened?"
"Someone was in Mary's room." Chris answered grimly, disappointed that Vin had not seen anyone and this intruder whomever he was had managed to slip by all their noses like a ghost.
"You alright ma'am?" Vin turned to her automatically and asked.
"I'm fine." Mary sighed and placed an arm over Jenny's shoulders. "We both are as a matter of fact. Whoever it was also went past Jenny's window."
Vin immediately shifted his gaze to Jenny whose lips curled into a welcoming smile when he looked at her. "Is it your turn to look after Mrs. Travis now, Mr. Tanner?" She asked softly.
"I guess so," Vin answered shyly. He was no good around women and he felt self-conscious thanks to Buck's innuendo that Jenny might be sweet on him. Vin was not entirely certain how to react to that. It had been so long since he had been romantically attached to a woman and that situation was so different from this one that he still felt somewhat over his head trying to deal with it. He liked Jenny. She was sweet and her smile tugged at his heart whenever she deigned to show it, which only seemed to be when he was around.
Chris ignored the moment between the two young people and gave Mary a look of resignation that she was able to understand because she was just as jaded as he about young love. "You've done enough tonight Mr. Larabee," she said gratefully. Strange how she had dreaded it when Buck had told her that Chris would be taking the nocturnal shift of her protection. After their exchange earlier this morning, she was certain that the outcome could only end with someone being murdered horribly. It was to her pleasant surprise that the man had bent enough for her to get to know him a little better and make the session somewhat tolerable. "Thank you for keeping an eye on us."
Chris met her eyes and found himself thinking the same things that Mary was at that instant, that they had far more in common that he would like to admit and that she possessed the same dry wit as he and knew how to share a joke. Especially when Vin and some pretty young filly were giving each other a severe case of mooneyes. "You weren't as much trouble as I thought you were going to be. I'm kind shocked."
"I won't disappoint you next time," Mary looked at him sarcastically.
"I don't know whether I ought to be leaving you Vin," Chris remarked. "I mean this guy could be still around."
"I wouldn't mind the company," Vin confessed. "But I reckon you need the rest. So I'll be fine. If I'm lonely, I'll go find Ezra."
"What about Buck?" Chris asked since they had been sort of paired together since the delegation of duties had begun.
"You honestly think that he'll be alone when I find him?" Vin met Chris' eyes with a raised brow. Ever since his arrival in Four Corners, Vin was certain that Buck Wilmington rarely spent his nights alone. He was almost always in the company of a saloon girl. Most of the time he did not even have to pay for their company. Vin could not imagine how that could be since with very few exceptions, most of his sexual encounters had been paid ventures. Buck claimed that it had to do with knowing how to please a lady.
"Good point," Chris nodded in agreement. "Find Ezra."
Fortunately, the rest of the night passed without incident although Chris still puzzled at how an intruder could enter the house and then leave it without being seen. Chris considered himself a rather observant person and he knew at no point during the night had he fallen asleep or lapsed in his duty as Mary's sentinel. However, he must have been lacking at some point because he could think of no other way that someone could sleep into the widow's bedroom unseen. The only other possibility other than his complete lack of awareness at anything was that she had been dreaming but since Jenny had heard noises outside her window, that was more or less a moot point.
In any case, Chris woke up the next morning getting very little sleep because he had thought about how this could be and came to no answer. When he joined the others in the saloon for breakfast the next morning, he was no closer to an answer. Vin and Ezra were absent from the table when he joined the others owing to the fact that the duo was probably still at the Travis house with Mary. Chris made a mental note to drop in on the place after he had spoken to the others. He wanted to know what Mr. Waldon was doing when Mary's intruder had paid a call on her the night before.
"There's no way Chris." Buck stated firmly. "I have it on good authority that he was with Miss Lucille all night."
"That can't be," Chris insisted. "Someone was in the house last night. Mary saw him and that Jenny girl heard him outside the window."
"Chris I was next door with Annabelle," Buck retorted. "He was there all night."
"Let me guess," Josiah rolled his eyes. "Cause you were there all night?"
"Well its rude to run out on a lady after being in her company," Buck said hotly as if it were a rule set in stone that ought to have been common knowledge for everyone.
"JD," Chris regarded the youngest of their group, deciding he did not wish to hear another one of Buck's tales of conquest over the opposite sex. "You were keeping watch on him. Did he leave?"
"Not unless he went through the window," JD said confidently. He took the tasks that Chris Larabee delegated him very seriously indeed. Unlike his older mentor who should have been getting some rest instead of locking lips with the latest in a long line of women, JD had taken point at the saloon. He had kept an eye out for the man all night to ensure that he did not leave the premises without JD knowing about it.
"Is it possible it may not be Waldon?" Nathan suggested the only other alternative.
"Its possible," Chris scowled, disliking the idea that they had no inkling as to who had slipped into Mary's room last night. There was something comforting about having at least one suspect because it gave them some idea of what course of action to take. "I mean someone else could have sneaked into town without us knowing but why waste all that effort?"
"What do you mean?" Josiah asked Chris.
"Well Mary said her 'guest' last night threatened to string her up the way Lucas was strung up." Chris explained.
"Nice," Buck frowned, hating the idea that any woman was treated that way.
"He came into her room, not making a sound and threatened her," Chris chronicled the events as he saw them so that he could make his point all the more clearer. "Then he left. Why?"
"Why?" JD exclaimed. "Isn't it good he left, instead of hurting her?"
"Yeah it is," Chris responded, aware that JD often spoke without thinking and had not the experience to see the puzzle he did. "But he could have killed her there and then. Why tip their hand like that. I mean we all know James is behind this but we can't prove it but we'd still take steps to protect her."
"Pretty sure of themselves," Josiah commented.
"Yeah," Chris agreed, having reached that same conclusion. "Why are they so sure of themselves? After making a threat like that, they got to know that we'd be watching her like a hawk and yet they take off as if its going to be so easy to get to her again when the time comes for them to do it right."
"I don't like it Chris," Buck shifted in his chair and sat upright, a gesture which often indicated that he was through talking and wanted action taken immediately. "I say we ride down to James' ranch and make him call off whomever it is that's trying to hurt Mary."
"Somehow, I don't think that's going to work," Josiah spoke up, ever the voice of reason. "We've got nothing to prove that he's set this up."
"I know," Chris nodded unhappily. Even the nature of the threat delivered to Mary did not implicate James specifically in any way even though it could come from no one else. "But I think we should let him know that we'd be going after him if anything happens to her. What we need is a little show of force to make him reconsider."
"He could also get really pissed off and decide to make things worse," Nathan pointed out.
"That's true," Chris could see that possibility as well. However it was not without its merits. "But if he were to do something rash, it could give us something to work with."
"That's a big gamble you're taking with Mary's life," Buck retorted, disapproving of any plan that would see the woman placed in any danger. Even though he had no romantic aspirations where Mary was concerned, she was a fine woman and a staunch ally of the seven ever since they arrived in town. Even though she could be rather straight laced at times, it was clear that she believed that their presence in Four Corners was a benefit to the town and fought to ensure their continued tenure as its peacekeepers.
"I don't gamble Buck," Chris said coldly, somewhat annoyed that Buck would think him taking careless risks with Mary's life. "However, if drawing out James is necessary to keep her safe, then I'm willing to give it a shot."
"I hope it's a good shot," Buck retorted, not about to blind himself or anyone else to the consequences if they failed. "Because if we're wrong then she's as good as dead."
"Madam you spoil me with this hearty selection," Ezra Standish remarked charmingly as he and Vin were treated to a sumptuous breakfast at the table of Mrs. Travis. Although the rest of the night had ambled along without incident, Vin and Ezra had remained throughout its length nonetheless, passing their time playing cards. Now the same table that had been the venue of their gambling was laden with a breakfast that tempted even Ezra who often forgo the morning meal fall prey to the delightful aromas of sizzling bacon and eggs and freshly brewed coffee.
"Well that's the least I can do for you Mr. Standish," Mary smiled. "I was able to sleep much easier knowing that the two of you were down here."
"It was our pleasure ma'am," Vin answered, pausing long enough to make that statement before digging into the food once more.
Both Mary and Ezra exchanged amused glances at each other as Vin ploughed into the food, once more reminding everyone who might forget just how young he was and that he had an appetite to match. "I'm just glad we didn't have any more trouble."
"I still wish I knew how that man managed to get into my house without Mr. Larabee seeing him." Mary sighed as she sat down to the table and poured herself some coffee. "He does not strike me as the type to let anyone get past him."
"He ain't," Vin spoke through a mouthful of pancake.
"Mr. Tanner," Ezra winced at the lack of table manners being exhibited from the tracker, "perhaps you'd let me to do the verbalizing while you're still enjoying your gastronomical experience."
Vin glared at him through narrowed eyes and continued to chew.
"You are correct about Mr. Larabee's powers of observation. I am somewhat curious as to how an interloper might have entered your premises with seemingly wraith like prowess." Ezra declared as he took a sip of his coffee.
"I wish I knew." Mary replied. "But he did come from inside the house. I was facing the window at the time."
"Good morning," Jenny announced her arrival into the room with a rather understated greeting.
Mary noticed that about her when she was around people she did not know and supposed the girl's background did not allow for her to be comfortable in large groups of people. With everything that had transpired in the past day, the widow felt somewhat guilty that she and her guest had not had the chance to talk about her background. "Good morning Jenny, this is Mr. Ezra Standish, one of the town's peacekeepers."
"Hello Mr. Standish." She glanced at Ezra briefly and waved a little but her attention was solely fixed on Vin. "Hello Mr. Tanner."
"Hey Jenny," Vin had managed to swallow (half a side of bacon mind you) and not choke so that he could respond to her greeting.
It was beyond Ezra's comprehension how a man as self-assured at Vin Tanner could be so awkward around women at times. Buck had filled Ezra in on the meeting between the tracker and the latest unattached female to arrive in Four Corners. At first Ezra had been certain that Buck was exaggerating just how shy Vin was around the woman because Buck could never tell a story without embellishing it a little, particularly when it came to matters of amore. However now that he saw the two in the same room together, he could appreciate why Buck had found it so amusing. Ezra made a mental note to give Vin a little talk about handling women. Besides, if he did not do it, Buck would and Lord only knew what sort of advice the ladies man would give Vin, probably the kind that would get him slapped Ezra was certain.
Ezra turned his attention to the young lady who was so obviously smitten by Vin and it seemed that her sweet and unassumingly manner had bewitched the tracker a little as well. On face value, they were a perfect match. Both were people who did not like to be noticed, who tended to fade into the background. Jenny could never be considered a great beauty as Mary was considered such but she was lovely in her own way. As she approached the table, she did not look directly at Ezra and kept her eyes lowered in position that reeked of subservience. Here was a woman used to talking orders all her life and did not feel herself worthy in the company of others, even though there was no reason for her to feel that way. In that sense, she and Vin had a great deal in common.
"So Jenny, what do you plan to do today?" Mary inquired as she handed the girl a plate so that she could partake in the breakfast prepared.
"I've got a little money saved," she offered meekly. "I thought I might find a little place to rent."
"Well that's a number of places around town," Mary said helpfully. "I'm sure I could help you find something."
"I also think I'll need to get a horse of my own," she added. "But I'm not sure how to get one." Raising her eyes shyly, she gazed at Vin with a long meaningful stare. "I wondered if you would help me pick one Mr. Tanner. You seem to know all about horses."
Ezra found himself observing the interplay between the two with great interest. At first it was merely to see whether or not Buck's description of Vin's behavior to be accurate or not. However, the more he saw Vin and his lady fair together, the more Ezra felt something gnawing at him uncomfortably. Even though by all rights, what was transpiring between Vin and Miss Jenny Miller seemed completely innocent, Ezra could not help feeling that something felt out of place. At first he thought it might be due to his inability to imagine Vin in any kind of romantic situation but the more he watched, the more anxious and certain he became that he was right.
Ezra found himself remaining silent for the rest of breakfast, offering obligatory statements when it was required of him but mostly maintaining his scrutiny of the fledgling couple. He soon realized that Jenny caused the nagging feeling taunting him at the back of his mind, the one that had been honed to razor sharp accuracy thanks to his observation and exploitation of the human condition. There was something not quite right about her. After watching them together or more precisely watching her, Ezra was noticing cracks in her persona that were cause for concern.
He was not one to cast aspersions on the reputation of a lady. He was still too much of the southern gentleman for that. However, he was also a gambler and a con man and in his time he had known deception in all its forms and no one was able to practice the art with as much expertise and skill as the female of the species. Using womanly charms as a means of manipulation was as old as the battle of the sexes. Even the most benign of women employed it at one point or another.
As Jenny was doing now.
Ezra knew a performance when he saw one and he was almost certain that Jenny playing a role, specifically for Vin Tanner. Unfortunately, there was nothing the gambler could do about it. He had no proof of her duplicity other than his suspicions and with Vin liking the girl, Ezra was not about to accuse her without evidence. Despite his shyness, Ezra could tell that much for certain. Vin liked her and that affection was growing. However if Ezra was wrong, he would do irrevocable harm to the tracker's blooming relationship with the girl, not to mention lose the friendship of the one person in the cadre of seven who saw him as more than just a cheat and a con man.
And yet if he were to do nothing, there was no guarantee that Vin's heart would not end up broken anyway.