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.
The man peered across the street at the hardware store.
The sun had set over the horizon and the coming of the night signaled an official end to the trading day in Four Corners. The owner of the establishment was going through the motions of locking up, shifting wares that had been left outside the doorway to entice customers into the premises, back into the store for the night. The secret observer watched the proceedings at the Watson Hardware store for the better part of the day, ever since he and his companions had ridden into town looking for a speedy way to finance their trip over the border. The last town he had come through town, Four Corners had been easy pickings for such endeavors. Despite the presence of a sheriff, there was little reason to fear because the former peacekeeper of Four Corners was more concerned with preserving his life than he was with law and order.
Murdock had ridden into town on this occasion and found that things had changed considerably since his last visit to town. For starters, the notorious gunslinger Chris Larabee had taken up residence in town and with him six men who were acting as the law were as equally formidable. Although Larabee did not frighten him, Murdock was by no means a foolish man. Seven against four was almost double the odds and was in no hurry to risk his life when it was simpler to wait until dark and then converge upon his target. Murdock had no reputation to speak off so when he and his men rode into Four Corners, the peacekeepers merely acknowledge their presence, nothing more. The tracker had kept a close eye upon them for most of the day which was part of the reason why Murdock had carried out his surveillance of the store through the door of the saloon situated directly opposite it. After a few hours, the tracker seemed satisfied that Murdock was in town merely as a stopover on his journey elsewhere and had gone about his own business.
The hardware store had been doing brisk business all day. Murdock had spied a steady stream of customers flowing in and out of the place, purchasing all manner of goods from garden tools to gunpowder. He had not seen Watson leaving the store so he assumed that the monies from the sale would still be on the premises. When the outlaw saw the lights within the store start to dim, he nodded slightly towards his friends across the table they shared within the saloon and rose to his feet slowly. Hardly anyone paid attention to him as he made his way out of the saloon. The room was already filled with customers who were wither drinking, gambling or carousing with accommodating saloon girls. Murdock saw no sign of the peacekeepers as he exited the room, pleased that he was able to fool the tracker who had been so observant earlier on into thinking that his intentions in Four Corners was entirely innocent.
He stepped out into the night air and saw the silhouette of Mr. Watson through the window of his store, no doubt going about his business in preparing to close up shop for the day. In a short time, his friends would be taking up position, if they were not already. Murdock ambled forward across the street, appearing no more suspicious than any one else in town. With the sun's descent into the horizon, most of the crowd of the day had evaporated. No doubt they were probably at home, sitting down to supper or something of the like. It worked out rather well for Murdock because the less people on the street the better. He had no wish to draw attention .By the time the alarm sounded, he had planned to be on his way out of Four Corners.
Murdock unfastened the flap on his holster after he was hidden beneath the cover of the awning that ran along the front of the building. He let his eyes search the length and breath of the boardwalk and saw no one of interest before proceeding. The doors of the hardware store were still open even though the establishment was clearly on the verge of closing for the night. He could hear Watson within the premises and took that as all the prompting he needed to put his plan into motion.
Entering the door, he heard the anticipated sound of a bell clanging overhead. Murdock had expected this and did not react much to it except maybe to close the door behind him quietly even though it seemed a redundant gesture. He saw Watson in the centre of the room, pushing a broom across the floor. The hardware store owner paused immediately and raised his head, meeting Murdock's gaze
"Store's closed Mister." Watson said politely.
"You got time for one more," Murdock returned.
Watson's shoulders tensed, showing his realization that trouble had just come through his door. The man's face hardened like Murdock's own. "I don't think so," Watson replied, inching towards the counter.
Murdock could guess what for and drew his gun. "Stay where you are old man," he warned, cocking his gun for good measure. "I don't want to cause a ruckus by killing you but I will if I have to.'
Watson swallowed revealing enough fear in his eyes to show that he was mindful that Murdock would kill him but not so much that he was willing to give up yet. The old man had a lot of spirit, Murdock gave him that, but in this instance it would serve him no good except perhaps to get him killed.
"What do you want?" Watson demanded.
"Everything in your till."
Watson's expression reacted immediately and the look on his face was one of outrage. Murdock could see him restraining himself from balking at the idea mostly because it would have been a fatal mistake if he had. However, his response though calm was no less yielding. "There ain't that much in it." Watson returned. "It's been a slow day." He insisted.
"Nice try," Murdock retorted, almost laughing at the attempt to deter his interest. "But I've been watching you all day old man and you got a good lot of people coming and going into this place. I reckon you got a nice day's earnings in that till and I plan on helping myself to it. You just stay put and everything will work itself out."
Watson glared back at him skeptically but did nothing further to exacerbate the situation he was in. The old man stepped aside and allowed Murdock a clear path to the counter where the till was awaiting the outlaw.
"Smart man," Murdock commented as he made his way to the counter, his eyes never leaving Watson as he moved. His gun was aimed directly at the shopkeeper but his free hand was already inching towards the metal till. "You stay smart and cool and you'll live through this."
"Just take what you want and get out!" Watson said harshly, not about to let the man think that this was a friendly transaction when what it was, was a robbery, plain and simple.
"You settle down old man," Murdock shot him a venomous glare that silenced Watson in his tracks. "I ain't got no patience with old coots who don't know how to shut up when it's good for them. I'm taking your money, just accept it and keep a cool head and I won't decide to kill you. Keep testing me and I'll show you how wrong that can be."
Upon reaching the cash register, the outlaw immediately opened the till where he was presented with an assortment of bills that were appealing in their abundance rather than their state. He managed to stuff the bills into the pocket of his large coat without ever removing his eyes from Watson, whose face had turned a deeper shade out of anger at the outrage he was force to endure. Murdock did not think the man would make any move to stop him but the outlaw was seasoned enough to know that anger could make people do the most foolish things and Watson had just enough spirit in him to be trouble. If it were not for the fact that Murdock was attempting to make a discreet exit out of town with his booty, he would have already shot Watson and ended the threat of him.
When he had completely emptied out the register, Watson found his voice once more. "You got what you want. Take it and go."
Murdock sneered menacingly. "You've mighty accommodating Virgil," he replied slamming the till back in with a loud clang of steel meeting steel. "I might come back and see you some time, maybe take advantage of your hospitality." His lips curled into a little smile of promise that only serve to turn Watson another shade red. Outside, he heard the approach of horses and knew that it was time to go.
"I wouldn't go running to the law either old man," Murdock warned as he made his way to the door. "If they come after me, they had better kill me or else I'll come back here and I'll kill you. Make no mistake on that." His eyes narrowed with conviction and saw Watson shuddering a little because the old man knew that the threat was real.
Murdock turned his back on Watson then and hurried out the door into the cool night air. Two of his men were outside keeping watch on things while the other two had retrieved the horses that were now halted at the hitching post in front of the store. Murdock sucked in a breath of satisfaction of how well the job had gone. Of course, it was never wise to be too optimistic about such things, especially when they were yet to leave town. However, he was pleased to see Perkins and Collins emerge from their hiding places where they had been keeping watch that none of the town's peacekeepers had stumbled onto their activities this evening.
"Let's go," Murdock declared, pausing at the doorway as Perkins and Collins reached him at flanking positions.
"Ain't no sign of any of them lawmen," Perkins, a short stout men with a balding head and a huge moustache stated upon joining his leader.
"I told you that tracker wouldn't give us trouble," Murdock said confidently.
"I wouldn't say that," a new too soft voice entered the mix from behind them.
Murdock started to turn but the cocking of a rifle froze him in his steps as did his two companions whose first instinct was to go for their guns.
What stopped them was the appearance of Chris Larabee, stepping out of the shadows as if he had always been there and perhaps ever since Murdock had chosen to embark upon this job. Larabee's gun had already been drawn and through the darkness, they could see the glint of metal from the peacemaker he carried and used with such ruthless efficiency.
The two riders on horseback waiting for Murdock and the others to join him were not so easily appeased and immediately drew upon Chris and began firing. The gunslinger retreated into the shadows to take cover from the bullets whizzing in his direction while Murdock, Collins and Perkins took advantage of the confusion to escape the aim of the Winchester behind them. He leapt out of the path of the weapon as the trigger was pulled and felt his ears ring with the loud boom that came with its discharge. No sooner than that roar had impacted upon his consciousness did he hear something as equally piercing and identified it quickly as a scream.
It came from Perkins who had taken the blast from the rifle meant for him. The short man had staggered back, his face a rictus of pain as he regarded the crimson spread across his chest with transfixed horror. The tracker wasted no time in priming the weapon once more, taking aim this time at Collins who was shocked by the death of his comrade into swinging his gun at the lawman. Unfortunately, the tracker was all to fast for him and unlike before where he had allowed confusion to let the situation become reduced to this; there was no hint of distraction as he took aim and fired. This time however, the tracker's shot was not fatal but rather incapacitating and the Collins cried out as the bullet shattered his knee cap and drove him to the floor. Murdock felt himself swelling with rage as he saw another friend go down. Forgetting that he was trying to save his own skin, he ran straight for the tracker, barreling into him with enough force to send them both sprawling.
Vin knew the instant he lost his gun. He felt it tumble from his hand, followed by the heavy sound of metal striking wood. Unfortunately as he saw Murdock above him, it appeared that his opponent still had his own Remington revolver still in his hands. As they hit the floor hard, he saw Watson emerging from his place of safety long enough to pick up the rifle. However, Vin's most immediate problem was to keep Murdock from getting aim at him and as he saw the man preparing to do just that, Vin slammed his fist into the man's wrist, causing enough pain to force Murdock's hand away from Vin. The gun came lose in his grip and tumbled away.
Murdock reacted quickly and threw a fist at Vin's jaw, snapping his head back against the hard floor. For a few seconds, Vin felt his head swim with everything becoming momentarily dizzy. Another fist connected with his jaw, further disorientating him. However, the pain forced a surge of adrenaline through him and Vin recouped enough to block the next strike that came at him. Bringing his knee up, he slammed against the centre of the man's back, throwing Murdock forward. The outlaw grunted in pain as Vin threw him off his straddling position. No sooner than he had dislodged his opponent, Vin was on his feet again. This time, Vin took advantage of Murdock's efforts to get upright by throwing a kick that connected with the underside of his jaw.
The kick was not quite fatal but more than enough to bring down Murdock without further difficulty. He fell down on the floor once again, his head making a fair whack, as it knocked hard against the wooden boards. Vin took a deep breath and wiped the rivulet of blood that ran down the corner of his lip before he turning to Watson who was still holding his gun. The shopkeeper had the gun in firing position and had been attempting to get a clear shot of Murdock as he and Vin wrestled. Fortunately, Vin was able to extricate himself before Watson was force to make that shot. The sound of gunfire reminded Vin promptly that the danger was far from being over.
"Find yourself a shady spot Virgil," Vin advised the older man as he retrieved his gun.
"I think I'll do that." Watson remarked, more than happy to comply with that request.
Vin nodded slightly in gratitude for that and hurried out the door, mindful of the bullets that were being fired from the two men. Thanks to Murdock's surveillance, it was not easy to get any more than himself and Chris into position in order to smoke out the man and his accomplices. Vin had been certain that Murdock was up to no good but he was uncertain whether or not his four companions were similarly inclined as he to rob the hardware store. He emerged to see the two riders being hemmed in by gunfire coming from a window. Through the curtains, he could tell that Buck was ensuring that the two men did not get away. Their horses were bucking anxiously, trapped by the bits in their mouth from moving too far despite their instincts to flee.
Vin's arrival turned one of their attentions to him and as the man proceeded to fire, Vin jumped out of the way, landing on the boardwalk before he scrambled behind the nearby column. The distraction was enough to allow Chris a clear shot and it seemed to rise about the sound of all other gunfire when the leader of the seven pulled the trigger. His target cried out in pain as blood sputtered out of his chest following the penetration of the bullet. He toppled from his horse to the ground in quick succession, creating a cloud of dust as he landed. The other shooter realised that he was suddenly alone and Chris noticed a shudder in his expression that might allow them to end this without further bloodshed.
"Drop your gun now and no one else has to die!" Chris shouted during the pause.
"How do I know you'll keep your word?" The man cried out, clearly afraid of the consequences if he did not.
Chris knew it would not take much to get him to capitulate and chose his words carefully. "You don't," he answered after a moment of contemplation. "But keep in mind that you're dead if you try to fight your way out of her and if you put your gun down, you might walk away from this alive. Choice is up to you."
The man did not answer even though his gun was held ready to fire. An eternity of seconds passed by where the streets were deadly silent, save for their own breathing. Chris could tell that the man wanted to surrender badly but sometimes, fear could make a person do strange things and so Chris could not give him the benefit of anything until more significant action was taken on his part. Chris glanced sidelong at Vin who was meeting his gaze from where he was. Vin's expression mirrored his own thoughts and once again, Chris marveled at the tracker's ability to know exactly what he was thinking because their minds were so much alike. Vin had no more idea than he did how this was going to play.
After what felt like an interminable amount of time, the man lowered his gun with defeat etched in his eyes. "I give up." He called out into the darkness at the faces he could not quite make out and the voices that were prepared to kill him if he did not yield.
"Drop the gun." Chris retorted sharply.
There was another brief pause before the gun felt form his hands, falling onto the ground impotently. From the shadows, the hulking form of Josiah Sanchez appeared on the street. His Schoefield was aimed straight ahead and his eyes did not waver from the enemy as he collected the gun that the outlaw had dropped on the dirt. Only when Josiah had the weapon in hand, did Chris let out a breath that their night's activities were over. He sheathed his gun and started toward the injured man at the doorway of the store, not to mention Murdock who was still unconscious.
"You okay?" He asked Vin as he strode towards the tracker, noting the weeping sliver of blood at the corner of his lip.
"Yeah," Vin nodded slightly. "Didn't break nothing that wouldn't heal."
"Guess you were right about him," Chris remarked glancing at Murdock who lying on the floor of the hardware house unmoving.
"I need help here!" Collins wailed as he held onto his bleeding knee. "You can't leave me to bleed to death!"
"Now that's a tempting thought," Chris gave him a look of indifference.
"I reckon we ought to help him," Vin remarked with a playful expression in his eyes. "I mean we don't want him to die or nothing and skip having to spend the next couple of years in jail."
"That's what I like about you Vin," Chris grinned with no small of sadism in his eyes. "You always know how to put things in perspective."
Once the streets had been cleared, with Collins being dispatched to Nathan's care while Murdock continued the rest of his stay in Four Corners from inside the jailhouse, Chris and Vin decided to look in on Mary. He wished that the situation with James and the threat on Mary's life could be handle with as much ease as they had dealt with Murdock and his gang. However, as of yet, nothing had transpired in that regard that would give any indication to Chris or the rest of the seven that the danger to Mary had passed. The strange quiet that followed James' last trip to Four Corners continued, making everyone nervous from the waiting. Although Ray Waldon appeared suspect, the man did nothing to reveal himself a threat to Mary and the identity of the intruder that had invaded her home remained a mystery.
Chris hated the waiting more than he hated anything else.
He wanted something to happen so he could return to keeping his distance between the lady and himself. Even though they had come to an understanding of sorts, there was something about Mary that made Chris extremely uncomfortable. He knew the reason why was obvious but it was something he dared not give credence to under any circumstances. Each night he closed his eyes and saw that his wife and son were gone and that his life had been destroyed because of it. He drank to forget and sometimes he did but with the morning and sobriety, came the memory of them again and it hurt twice as much remembering them after being oblivious, even after a night. Being with Mary forced him to face that hurt and not even Chris Larabee was brave enough to endure that for too long. When it came to Sarah and Adam's death, he preferred to remain a coward.
Later, after Murdock and his men had been dealt with, Chris and Vin made their way to Mary's to take over Ezra's watch. Even though neither man said it out loud, they knew they could not keep watch on the widow indefinitely. Mary was right. It was waste of resources to have one of them guard her day in and day out, not to mention the fact that it was imposing on her security that she needed a constant reminder that someone was attempting to kill her. Unfortunately, Chris could see no way out of the situation, not until James made a move or Mary's mysterious intruder chose to make an encore.
As they walked to Mary's, Chris noted that Vin's pace was brisk in comparison to the stealthy and laconic manner he usually employed. A little smile stole across his features as he guessed why Vin was so anxious to get where they were going. Jenny Miller was still residing at Mary's and Chris had a feeling that both women enjoyed each other's company so much that it seemed quite a pleasant arrangement that neither had any inclination of changing any time soon. It certainly made guarding Mary a good deal easier with a second female presence in the house. When Chris had first met Vin, he had guessed the younger man's experience with women to be minimal. Seeing him around Jenny seemed to confirm the fact. It was a mystery to him how one of the most confident and bravest men he had ever known could seem almost school boyish when it came to the opposite sex.
In retrospect, he supposed he should not be surprised at Vin's reaction to the young woman who seemed to take a rather pointed interest in him. Their relationship at this time were little more than stolen moments of wistful stares and the stuff that teenagers cut their teeth on to understand a mature relationship when it finally came along. It amused Chris to no end to think that Vin could be so naive in the matters of love but he was shy enough to make the older man believe that his contact with women was limited and anything closely resembling a relationship, even more so. A part of Chris wanted to warn Vin to take it slow because he was so inexperienced but another part of him did not wish to tell another man how he ought to be feeling about a woman.
Perhaps someone like Josiah was capable of giving Vin some advice. He supposed if there was any one who could give good advice about women it was Buck but Chris could not bring himself to inflict his over enthusiastic old friend on Vin who was painfully shy about discussing such things. Knowing Buck, who had about as much subtlety as he had restraint, he would probably overwhelm Vin with good advice, the result of which could only be homicide. Definitely not a good idea, Chris told himself.
Sooner than he would have liked, they arrived at Mary Travis' home. Chris felt his nerve leave him as Vin knocked on the door and wished he had let Vin take care of this alone. After all, it hardly needed both of them to keep an eye on the widow. The only reason he had accompanied Vin because the tracker was easily distracted by Jenny and Chris did not want anyone getting hurt because their defenses were down. In most things, he could rely on Vin without question but never where a woman was concerned because in this, the tracker's behavior was an unknown.
The door swung open and Chris faced the second unknown in his life. He found his breath catch at the sight of her and needed a moment to compose himself as he stood by the doorway, trying hard not to gawk. It was not as if she were naked or anything. She had merely freed herself of the tight coiffeur she wore all the time to let her hair flow loosely around her shoulders. There was no trace of the proper newspaper editor or community leader. Chris could only see the woman. And being woman, she was naturally oblivious to his gawking, which was just as well because he could not imagine the embarrassment that would ensue if she noticed.
"Evening ma'am." Vin greeted, snapping Chris out of his reverie.
"Is it time for the changing of the guard already?" Mary asked, her brow cocked over one eye in amusement.
"Something like that," Vin remarked with a smile.
"Well you best come in." Mary responded, turning on her heels and retreating back through the doorway, unaware that the flounce of her golden hair had drew another involuntary sigh from Chris.
Crushing the feelings that had suddenly emerged within him in regards to Mrs. Travis' hair, Chris followed Vin and Mary into the house via the kitchen. It always felt more appropriate to him that they entered the home that way. Even though nothing improper was taking place, Chris did not wish to start tongues wagging on innuendo alone. Mary was one of their most ardent supporters in town (Lord only knew why) and that support was strengthened by her role as a community leader. Upon entering the kitchen, they saw Ezra at the kitchen table once more, playing a game of solitaire. The gambler was almost done with the game and appeared to be getting weary of the whole duty of guarding the lady. A twinge of jealousy coursed through Chris as he wondered whether or not Ezra was taking the time to familiarize himself with Mary. After all, he had expressed an interest in her and he would be a fool not to.
"Vin!" Jenny suddenly emerged from the adjoining room. Her face etched in worry. "I heard shooting. Are you alright?" She asked.
Chris stifled a smile as he saw Vin retreating into the personality of the shy young man completely overcome by the attentions of the opposite sex. He was actually struggling to respond to Jenny's concern.
"He'll live." Chris spoke up deciding to rescue his friend.
This seemed to satisfy Jenny somewhat and she let out of a sigh of relief as she stared at Vin with clear adoration in her eyes.
"I'm fine," Vin shrugged. "I got into a tussle with Murdock but it didn't hurt much." He met her gaze with a little smile, pleased at her concerned but still uncertain about how to regard it all.
"I take it you came through the altercation without any lasting effects even without my help?" Ezra retorted, somewhat irritated that he had been force to remain here and play babysitter. When he had heard the gunfire, it had taken every ounce of discipline not to run out and help. However, Ezra had followed Chris Larabee's lead long enough to know that the gunslinger would not appreciate it if he had left Mary's side.
"Well enough," Chris replied. "Their whole plan hinged on us not knowing what they were up to but thanks to Vin, that didn't happen."
"Is Virgil alright?" Mary inquired after the shopkeeper who was one of her friends in town.
"He's fine ma'am," Vin answered automatically. "He knew how to hold his own with someone like Murdock."
"You're hurt," Jenny noted the redness around his lip. "You need something on that."
"I have some ointment...." Mary started to say.
"Vin and I will find it," Jenny beamed and took the tracker by his hand and led him out of the room before Mary could say anything further.
Chris forced himself to stifle the laugh than crossed the helplessly bewildered look that crossed Vin's face, as he was lead away like a calf to the slaughter. When they were gone, Chris raised his eyes to Mary and added with a little smirk. "I don't think I've ever seen him that scared."
"Well she is very taken with him," Mary chuckled, perfectly aware of what he was talking about. She knew how shy Vin was around women and having Jenny in her company the past few days had made the newspaperwoman privy to the girl's affection regarding the tracker. "I think they could make each other happy."
"I just hope it doesn't get him shot," Chris could not help sighing.
"You're a cynic," Mary retorted. "Besides. They're young only once."
To that Chris could not disagree but before he could respond, he noted the look on Ezra's face was not at the usual mercurial mask set in stone. In fact, he looked after the departed couple with an expression that could only be described as trouble. Chris had learnt one thing about Ezra Standish since they had started riding together and that was the fact that Ezra did not like to show his true emotions to anyone. He buried his feeling behind a fortress of illusion and the facade of the perfectly bred southern gentlemen. Chris found it hard to trust him because he could never figure out what was going on behind those sea colored eyes. However, at this moment, none of those fortifications were in place and the anxiety Chris saw in his eyes was real and from the heart.
"Ezra," Chris spoke up and brought the gambler's attention straight back to him.
"Yes," Ezra shook his head of the distraction and of the thoughts he would not speak to anyone unless Chris shook it out of him.
"I think Vin will be able to handle things around here for awhile," Chris remarked.
"I would not mind remaining," Ezra giving Chris his complete attention now. "After all, Mrs. Travis here is such polite company."
"Flatterer," Mary replied with smile. "But I think you would prefer to play something other than solitaire and I am not in the position to accommodate you."
"In more ways than one," Chris pointed out.
"Mr. Larabee!" Mary stared at him in shock. "Mr. Standish has been a perfect gentlemen!"
"I didn't mean it that way," Chris quickly interjected. "I meant I don't think you want to be playing poker with him."
"I hope so," Mary turned her nose up and started out the room. "I'll see you both later then. I have things to attend to."
Ezra looked at Chris blankly attempting to ascertain what that exchange had been about when the widow left them alone in the room. "Mr. Larabee, are you alluding that I have immoral intentions towards Mr. Travis?"
Chris rolled his eyes. "Christ, that's the last time I make a joke around you."
"Well you do it so rarely, one is taken off guard when you do." Ezra shot back smoothly.
"Funny," Chris growled. "Actually I was more interested in knowing what's wrong with you."
"With me?" Ezra's eyes widened at the question. "I am perfectly well. There is nothing wrong with me."
"Oh?" Chris returned just as sharply. "You look like you swallowed something bad a minute ago when Vin and Jenny left the room? You got eyes for her?"
Ezra's jaw dropped. "Mr. Larabee, I realize that I am not exactly the most trusted member of our cadre which is understandable considering my actions during our first adventure together, however, I am not so low as to lust after the objects of my associates' affections. I have no interest in either Mrs. Travis or Miss Miller, rest assured."
"I couldn't care less if you had any interest in Mrs. Travis," Chris said defensively but had to concede that he owed Ezra an apology, especially when the gambler looked genuinely outraged at the suggestion. "But if that ain't what you're after with Jenny, then I want to know what's got you so worried. I saw how you looked at them when they left here."
Ezra shrugged, his polished manner appearing decidedly uneasy. "It is nothing."
"It don't look like nothing to me." Chris insisted.
"I could be wrong." Ezra repeated himself, still resisting Chris' demand to be told.
"I don't care if you are, I just want to know." Chris retorted, his patience dwindling rapidly.
"I do not wish to hurt Mr. Tanner when all I have is a suspicion. It would serve nothing but to hurt Mr. Tanner if I am wrong and I have no wish to do that. I....." Ezra stumbled on the word, unable to say it out loud and hating the fact that he was in this position where there was no choice but to do so.
"Ezra," Chris sucked in his breath, wondering what it was that Ezra could not say. "I don't want him hurt either and I know you don't but I need to know."
"If I tell you what I think then I run the risk of alienating the one person in our group who thinks me worthy of knowing. I will not risk that on a suspicion." Ezra replied in a voice Chris had never heard him use before. It was devoid of all his exaggerated refinement and polish. If anything it was so earnest that Chris had difficulty believing that it was coming from the same man who had turn tail and ran out on them at the Seminole village.
But he was not the same man anymore was he?
Even though he was a complainer and a general pain in the ass, Ezra had done everything that Chris had asked ever since he was allowed back into the fold following their instatement as Four Corner' peacekeepers. He had never given Chris any reason to think that he might attempt a repeat performance of what had happened at the Seminole village. It shamed Chris inwardly to think that Ezra felt that the only person who trusted him among the seven was Vin, that no one else considered him a friend or worth caring about. He had every reason to believe that of course. Chris was barely able to trust him and Nathan could hardly tolerate his presence altogether. JD had thrown him into jail and what Josiah and Buck's thoughts on the gambler was anyone's guess but Vin did trust him because that was who Vin was.
"Let's take this outside," Chris ordered.
"I will not change my mind," Ezra said defiantly.
"Now." Chris repeated himself and saw Ezra swallowing at the insistence in his voice.
Without saying another word, both men left the house and emerged onto the street where they could talk freely without interruption.
"Ezra, I'm done arguing with you about this. Tell me." Chris declared firmly. Frankly, he worried about what Ezra might suspect mostly because Ezra was one of the sharpest minds he knew and anything he felt about so strongly would have to be pretty convincing for Ezra to be so anxious about it. He liked it even less that whatever it was involved Vin.
"I want your word that you will keep this confidential." Ezra stated, not about to yield anything to the gunslinger without having some insurance. Men like Chris Larabee did not give their word easily and would not break it once it was given.
Chris rolled his eyes and nodded in impatience, "I give you my word. Now what is it?" He asked gruffly.
Ezra let out a sigh that revealed his dislike in having to reveal his suspicions before responding, "I do this under protest."
"Ezra...." Chris began to wonder if shooting him in the kneecap might provide faster progress on this subject.
"I do no trust Miss Miller." He finally revealed. "I do not think her feelings for Mr. Tanner are entirely genuine."
Hell.
Of all the things he could have said, that was the one Chris least wanted to hear. "What makes you think that?" He asked, feeling the strain of a great weight suddenly resting on his shoulder with those words.
"I cannot give you specifics," Ezra replied. "I made my living being able to read people and my instincts tell me that she is false, that she is using him."
"For what?" Chris asked, feeling anger coursing through him at the thought of someone playing with Vin's affections like that.
"I do not know," Ezra confessed. "Perhaps she is working for James but if the intended target was Mary, she has had plenty of opportunity to do great harm to the lady and as of yet she has not."
Chris' mind whirled back to the night the intruder entered Mary's house. Part of what made him so furious was the fact that the stranger had managed to enter the home without Chris seeing it. Now that Ezra had made his suspicions known, Chris wondered if perhaps the reason he had seen no one break into the house to inflict their threats upon Mary was because they had been in the house to begin with. However, Ezra was right, if it was Jenny then what was her purpose? It was not James' style to play mind games with the widow. If vengeance was all he wanted, Jenny would have had plenty of opportunity to kill Mary by now and what about Vin? What was the purpose in playing with Vin's affections?
"If she was up to no good, then why is she taking such an interest in Vin?" Chris mused.
"I do not know," Ezra responded, revealing just how troubled he was about this. "I only know that I have in my time seen a great many performances and this is one of them."
"We can't tell him," Chris said quickly, coming to the same conclusion that Ezra had been wrestling with. "We don't know for sure and until we know, we can't tell him."
"Then you understand my dilemma." Ezra stated with relief. "He cares about her a great deal."
"I know," Chris sighed. "He's young. You could probably count the women he's had with one hand by the way he's reacting to her."
Ezra nodded in agreement. He had considered all these points earlier and he was no closer to a solution than Chris was. It did feel good to tell someone about his suspicions just so he could have them tell him if he was crazy or not "Judging from her behavior the moment she arrived in town, her object has been to ensnare Mr. Tanner. It is possible she may have chosen him because of his inexperience with the opposite sex."
"That would mean an agenda we don't know about," Chris pointed out. "Something that may have nothing to do with James at all and might just be coincidence."
"He does have price on his head," Ezra reminded. "Five hundred dollars might be reason enough to do go to the trouble of gaining his trust."
"That's not enough," Chris shook his head in disagreement. "If she's a bounty hunter or some kind, she'd never be able to get him past us and Vin's not that stupid. He'd never let someone get the drop on him even with a woman."
Ezra was not so certain about that. Chris had a great deal more faith in Vin because his opinion was decidedly clouded. While Ezra thought highly of the tracker, he was more objective about Vin's ability to see an attack coming if it was shrouded by Miss Miller's presence. "The question is, what do we do about it now that we suspect?"
"Nothing," Chris said firmly. "There isn't anything to do but keep a close eye on her. Unfortunately, we can't accuse her of anything on the basis of a feeling."
"I dislike being so helpless," Ezra grumbled.
Chris could not disagree with him on that point. He wanted to tell Vin what he suspected but like Ezra, he feared how the tracker would take any aspersions cast on Jenny, especially in the absence of any real proof. Vin was also extremely sensitive about his privacy in this aspect of his life and any question on his dalliances had better be prepared to hold up under scrutiny. Unfortunately, their alliance was too new to be tested in such a manner and Chris knew that Vin still had reservations about remaining in one place too long. Something like this could tear the seven apart and to his surprise, Chris found that he did not want that to happen. He had thought their joining was a mistake but the more and more time past, the more comfortable he became with it and with Vin. It was good to have someone at his side with whom words were not needed. The simple companionship that came with knowing they could say nothing and yet understand each other completely was something Chris was not ready to give up.
"I know the feeling," he confessed softly.
Unfortunately, until opportunity allowed, there was nothing they could do but hold back and hope that Vin did not get too hurt when they could tell him the truth.
Mary Travis was in her office working on the latest edition of the Clarion News the next morning with Chris Larabee once again in her company. Having him so close to her was especially distracting and what was even worse was the fact that he was completely oblivious to the effect his presence was having on her. Even as she attempted to edit the article she was working on, Mary could not help but look up occasionally at the gunslinger who was stretched out on the chair opposite her desk, his nose firmly planted in the book he was reading. She noted that it was not Sun Tzu and wondered what had captured his attention this time around. She found herself watching him for a moment as his eyes scanned the page, wondering just how literary he was or for that matter how much of his intelligence was masked beneath the gruff exterior of the notorious gunslinger.
"Mr. Larabee," Mary looked up impatiently after a few minutes, coming to the conclusion that she would get nothing done if she kept gawking at him. "I don't think I'm in any immediate danger at this moment. You don't have to stay here and nursemaid me. I'm sure I'll be fine."
Chris lowered his book and regarded her like a parent trying to impart something of importance to an errant child. "We've been through this before. Until we know what James is up to, you need to be protected."
"I realize that," Mary groaned. "But I don't think that he will be making any attempts on my life at this moment."
"We don't know that," Chris retorted. "In fact, we have no idea what's he up to which kind of makes things worse since we can't prepare for it."
"What makes you think its me he'll go after?" Mary asked with exasperation seeping into her voice. "He has made no attempt to harm me in almost a week and you have been guarding me day and night. Maybe he's given up."
"He won't give up," Chris said firmly. "As far as he's concerned we're entirely responsible for what's happened to Lucas. He wants revenge and if he's done nothing about it yet its only because he hasn't figured out how."
Mary exhaled loudly, resigning herself to his protection since nothing she said was going to convince him otherwise. "You are an exceedingly stubborn man,' she declared with a frown.
"Yes, I am," Chris was not about to dispute that fact but neither was he about to let her talk him into anything as foolish as leaving her unguarded.
Mary eased back into her seat and decided to go back to work since it would avail her nothing to continue harassing him on an issue that would not change since she could not convince him to leave her alone. Turning to the pages on her desk, she noted that he was doing the same with his book and decided that she would just have to live with things as they stood, no matter how uncomfortable it was. Chris allowed himself a little smile as he returned to his book, wondering what it was about him that made her so uncomfortable and finding a great deal of pleasure in knowing that he could sometimes affect the prim and proper persona worn by Mrs. Travis. He no more than glanced at the pages on his book when suddenly, he heard a sharp cry. Both of them met each other's eyes at the same time as Chris sprung to his feet.
"Its' coming from upstairs!" Mary exclaimed but Chris was already running into the hallway that joined her office to the rest of the house.
Chris did not answer as he bolted up the stairs, continuing to hear the frightened cries he knew to be that of Jenny Miller. The young woman had returned home some time ago and had announced that she was taking a little siesta in her room. Chris bounded up the stairs and heard the scuffling of feet that was more than just one person. He immediately unsheathed his gun and wondered if a stealthy approach was the best way to proceed when he heard another terrified cry that force that notion away entirely.
Reaching the top of the stairs, he saw Jenny wrestling with a man in the middle of the hallway. He was taller than Jenny and wore a scarf over his face. He could have been Waldon but Chris was not sure. The hallway was not well lit and with the window directly behind him, his features were hard to make out. Upon seeing Chris, the man directed the gun that was aimed at her head towards him.
"Drop your gun or I'll kill her!" The man hissed.
"Please Mr. Larabee!" Jenny cried out, tugging frantically at the grip around her throat.
"I won't let him hurt you," Chris said reassuringly as he tried to decide what he ought to do. "Let her go. I don't want to kill you but I will."
"You forget whose holding who Larabee!" The man sneered.
"Don't assume that I can't kill you just because you have a hostage." Chris returned sharply. It was not entirely a bluff and he could rise to the occasion if necessary but if all possible, he wanted to avoid the situation coming to that.
The man's eyes narrowed with anger at Chris' threat and his arm tightened around Jenny's throat, forcing a cough from her lips. Her eyes stared at Chris in wide-eyed terror and he hoped Mary was sensible enough to go get the others when he had come up here. "Please help me!" She begged.
"Yeah Larabee," the man taunted him. "Help her by putting down your gun."
Chris took aim and answered coldly, "that's not going to happen."
"Then kiss this little girl goodbye," he retorted.
"I don't think so." Chris returned and pulled the trigger once. The bullet slammed into the shoulder connected to the arm holding the gun. Jenny screamed loudly at the discharge of Chris' gun.
The shooter let out a cry as severed nerves immediately forced the relinquishing of his gun. It tumbled to the floor as Jenny continued to scream. As Chris advanced upon him, the man immediately came to his senses through the pain of his injury and shoved Jenny forwards with his good arm. She stumbled into Chris' arm, driving them both to the ground in an ungainly tangle. Once Chris was momentarily dispatched, Jenny's assailant turned tail and ran. There was nowhere to go and he headed towards the window. Chris managed to get to his feet just in time to see him smashed through the window. Racing forward, leaving Jenny on the floor to tend to herself, he followed the sound of shattering glass to open window.
In the street below, the man had landed badly and was hobbling towards a horse that was hitched to a post not far from where he had had landed. Obviously he had anticipated making such a hasty exit and was now staggering to his horse at rapid pace. People on the street made no mood to interfere with the clearly dangerous man and Chris watched long enough to realize that if he did not move soon, Jenny's attacker would escape. He bolted up the way he came, pausing long enough to ensure Jenny was all right before he was racing down the stairs again. Mary was nowhere to be found as he raced through her kitchen, attempting to reach the man before he took off. Her absence reinforced his belief that she had most likely left to summon the rest of the seven.
Chris emerged from the kitchen door and saw the intruder had already mounted his horse. Cursing under his breath, Chris continued running in order to get a decent shot of the man before he could get away. Unfortunately, time was against him and when Chris paused to take aim, he found himself facing the man's back as he started riding away. It would have been so easy to put a bullet in his back and end his retreat once and for all but Chris could not bring himself to shoot another human being in the back. He had been on the receiving end of such a bullet once and he would not consciously do that to another person. Instead he aimed at the horses rump, hoping to deliver a sharp sting that would halt the animals' progress without killing it.
Pulling the trigger gently after taking a careful aim, the bullet escaped the barrel of his gun and nicked the horse on its side. The animal reared up violently in pain and shook its rider from the saddle. Jenny's attacker, already burdened by a useless arm could not prevent himself from falling to the ground. Chris swore again as he saw how the man was falling and knew that perhaps shooting him in the back was not all that bad in comparison with what was about to happen. The intruder landed on his head and the large squelch that followed impact was nothing less than bones snapping. He lay on the ground after that, a small cloud of settling dust around him as his neck remained twisted at that chilling angle that could only mean a broken neck.
"Damn!" Chris cursed loudly as he reached the body and saw his worst fears confirmed.
A small crowd had started to gather as Chris lowered himself onto one knee to ascertain the identity of the intruder.
"Chris!" Buck Wilmington broke through the bystanders watching the proceedings. "You okay?"
"Yeah," Chris nodded. "I think I did him more harm than he did me." The gunslinger frowned. "I thought by shooting him off his horse it would keep me from having to put a bullet in his back. Seems that plan wasn't all that bright."
"Some things can help but happen the way they do," Buck commented as he lowered himself next to Chris who was examining the dead man with more scrutiny. "Any idea who he was?"
Chris removed the scarf won around the man's face and did not recognise him as anyone they had encountered recently or in the company of Stuart James. "Not a one."
He had thought this might be Ray Waldon but now it appeared that their surveillance of Waldon had merely distracted their attention from the presence of this man in town, whomever he might have been.
"What the hell is going on here?" Buck voiced Chris' frustration most succinctly. "I was sure that Waldon was our man."
"So was I," Chris empathized with Buck's feelings on the matter. "Guess we wrong."
"I didn't think we were," Buck sighed out loud. Like Chris, he was certain that Waldon was in someway connected with the possible reprisals on Mary Travis. Walloon's behavior in town certainly gave them good cause to. "Someone's playing with us Chris," Buck said after moment. "I'm sure of it."
Buck was right on that point. Someone was playing with them but what was their game? Everyone that Chris suspected was now proven innocent. Waldon was not the threat they had perceived him to be even though every instinct that Chris had said that he was a danger to Mary. Now even Ezra's suspicions about Jenny had proven false because of the dead man before him. Was James playing them all with some deeper agenda in mind or was someone else in the equation? The answer eluded him and it was galling.
"Did this varmint hurt Jenny?" Buck asked.
"No," Chris shook his head. "Scared her some though. He was going to kill her."
"Why?" Buck looked at him confused. "She's got nothing to do with the James'. Hell she wasn't even in town."
Before Chris could answer, he saw Vin and Ezra coming towards them. No doubt having been summoned there the same way Buck was. Vin's expression was stony and Chris could hardly blame him. Jenny intruder was better of dead then facing the brunt of the wrath Chris saw in Vin's eyes at that moment. Chris supposed that in his position he would feel no differently.
"Is that him?" Vin asked tautly upon arrival.
"Yeah," Chris nodded. "Broke his neck when he fell of his horse." He explained gloomily, dearly wishing the man was alive so that he could provide them with some answers as to what James' plan was.
"Just as well," Vin retorted.
"How is Jenny?" Buck asked the younger man, hoping to diffuse a little of his anger by directing his thoughts elsewhere.
"She's okay," Vin said softening a little now that he was reminded of her state when he had left her with Mary and Nathan. "She's just a little shaken up."
"Did she say what happened?" Chris inquired. "I got there and found her in a tussle with this son of a bitch."
"Miss Miller informed us that she heard a noise coming from Mrs. Travis' room and that upon investigation, she ran into her assailant." Ezra explained.
"Wrong place at the wrong time huh?" Buck sighed shaking his head. "Good thing that Chris was around. It could have gotten ugly."
"Yeah," Vin met his friend's gaze. "Thanks Chris."
"Well its safe to say that we ain't delusional about Mary needing protecting," the gunslinger sighed. "We're going to have to keep a closer eye on her."
"You would think that Jams would get better help," Buck stated as Chris and the others turned back to Mary's house.
"What do you mean?" Vin stared at the man in question.
"Well coming after Mary in broad daylight, not even watching her to make sure she's alone. I guess good help is hard to find these days." The ladies men mused.
"Yes," Ezra Standish said with an unfathomable expression in his eyes. "Very hard to find."