It was nearly midnight before the two exhausted men finally made it back to the boardinghouse. Vin and Chris both were swaying on their feet by the time they had seen to their horses, and it was with a sense of great relief that they limped into the kitchen and collapsed at the table.
The others had heard them ride into the yard, and Josiah and Nathan were waiting with a bottle of whiskey and four glasses.
Chris glanced at the liquor and then quirked his brows questioningly at Josiah.
The preacher grinned as he poured the amber liquid. "Our dear Mrs. Stokes keeps it purely for medicinal purposes and generously prescribed a dose or two for us."
The other three men chuckled before downing their shots, sighing in unison as the soothing warmth burned its way down their throats.
"Get everything settled?" Josiah asked.
Chris nodded. "Sheriff did some blusterin' at first about bringin' the murderers of the town's leading citizen to justice, but he changed his tune damned quick once Katherine told 'im that if there was a trial, she'd hire the best lawyers she could find to investigate Delacourte's past, especially his involvement in her father's death. Apparently the Sheriff was workin' for Delacourte even back then, an' he wasn't any too anxious to have that whole mess dug up. He finally decided we'd acted in self-defense an' said there'd be no charges filed against us."
"And Ezra's father and Amanda?"
Vin sipped at his whiskey as he answered. "Miz Katherine took care of that, too. Got the undertaker t' bring the bones back t' his place for the night, an' first thing tomorrow, they're gonna take her father back t' the cemetery an' put 'im t' rest." He glanced regretfully at Nathan. "Don't know what they're gonna do 'bout the girl though. Undertaker says blacks ain't allowed t' be buried in the town plot."
Nathan nodded. "An' prob'ly after all this time, it'd be near impossible t' find any of her family."
"Miz Katherine said she'd have her buried on their farm if we can't locate any of her kin t' take her."
"She's a strong woman to be able to handle all that after what happened today. I'm surprised she didn't insist on comin' back here with you," Josiah commented.
Chris yawned and stretched tiredly. "She wanted to, but we convinced her that Ezra would probably be too out of it to even know she was here. An' since it would've meant leavin' her grandmother alone out at their place for the night, she finally agreed to let us take her home."
"Jus' as well that she don't spend too much time with 'im anyway. You know Ezra an' his need t' keep his pain t' hisself. If Miz Katherine was in there with 'im, he'd be workin' even harder at hidin' it, an' he sure don't need that added stress put on 'im."
Vin held his glass out for another 'dose' and looked worriedly at Nathan. "How they doin'?"
Nathan leaned back in his chair and wearily rubbed his hands over his eyes before answering. "Buck's not doin' too bad. He took four hits of the whip, but only one was deep enough t' need stitches. Other than that, he's jus' got a few sore ribs, some bruises an' cuts, an' a slight concussion from a blow t' the head that he got when Delacourte's men grabbed him. Long as I can keep any infection from settin' in, he should recover pretty quickly."
Chris saw the healer's frown and knew things weren't going as well for their gambler. "Ezra?"
Nathan sighed and stared into his empty glass. "Not so good. Accordin' t' what Buck's told us, Delacourte used him t' get t' Ezra. Every time Ezra showed any reaction t' the beatin' he was gettin'... a moan, a twitch... anything, Buck would get the whip instead."
Josiah shook his head sadly. "And you know Brother Ezra would do anything it took to protect Buck, so...."
"So Ezra prob'ly stood there an' took everything that bastard threw at 'im," Vin finished angrily.
Nathan nodded slowly. "Buck said Delacourte jus' kept gettin' madder an' madder when he couldn't get Ezra t' break an' finally jus' started whalin' on 'im. The only thing that saved Ezra, an' 'bout the only reason he's still alive, is that once Delacourte went crazy like that, the lashes got wilder an' he wasn't puttin' as much power behind 'em. There ain't hardly a spot anywhere on Ezra's back and legs that ain't got at least some damage from that damned whip. Hell, he's even got a few slices on his arms an' one on his jaw where the tip musta curled up over his shoulder an' nailed 'im. A lot of 'em barely broke the skin, but they burn near as bad as the deeper ones."
Vin felt his stomach turn at the thought of the intense, bone-deep pain Ezra had to be suffering. "He gonna make it?"
Nathan's dark brown eyes stared sadly back at him. "I jus' can't say for sure. He lost a lot of blood an' the fever's already settin' in." He shook his head in frustration. "He's still run down from those damned nightmares an' headaches... I jus' don't know if he's got the strength left t' fight now."
"Fuck!" Chris slammed his glass down on the table, and then sat with his eyes closed and fists clenched trying to work through the rage that washed through him. He just wanted another chance at Delacourte... to string him up and make him suffer the way Ezra was suffering now. As far as Chris was concerned, he'd let the bastard die too damned easily.
Vin knew exactly what his friend was thinking. "Ya did what ya had t', Chris."
Chris opened his eyes and stared hard at the tracker. "I know I did, an' I'll be regrettin' it the rest of my goddamned life." He stood and had to grab the back of the chair as a rush of dizziness hit him.
Nathan jumped up to help him, wincing as the sudden movement pulled on the still-healing bullet wound in his leg. "You're goin' t' bed, an' I don't want no argument outta ya. Ya ain't over that concussion yet, an' ya need t' be gettin' some rest." Turning his scowl on the tracker, he added, "An' that goes for you, too."
Neither man resisted as they were herded up the stairs... the idea of crawling into bed just sounded too good right at that moment. They did insist on looking in on Ezra and Buck first though, needing to reassure themselves that both of their friends were still with them.
Nathan didn't argue, just led them up to the room he and Josiah had been sharing. Since the room had twin beds, it was decided that it would be easier for those caring for the two men, and easier on Buck and Ezra themselves, to put them in there. Nathan knew that, at least for now, they needed to be near each other. Buck had told them that they'd almost lost Ezra, and the healer was sure that the only thing that had kept the gambler with them was the fragile connection he'd made with Buck during the beating. And Nathan knew that Ezra was going to need that hold his friend had on him if he was going to have any chance at all of pulling through now.
When they entered the room, JD was perched carefully on the edge of Buck's bed... one hand resting lightly on the older man's shoulder, his worried gaze switching back and forth between his two friends. He barely glanced up when the others walked in, as if he were afraid they would slip away if he weren't keeping watch.
Abigail sat on a chair that had been placed in the small gap between the two beds and was wiping Ezra's flushed face gently with a dampened cloth. She quickly moved to make way for them, handing Nathan the cloth as she squeezed past him on her way to the door.
She looked worriedly at Chris and Vin. "Would you boys like something to eat before you go to bed? It would only take me a minute to warm up the leftovers from supper."
They both shook their heads and politely refused her offer, too tired to even think about food at that point.
Standing at the foot of the beds, they looked sadly down at their friends. Buck lay partially on his side, his face buried in the plump down pillow as he snored softly. Nathan told them that Buck had fought with everything he had left against the sleep he needed so badly, refusing to close his eyes until they'd gotten all of Ezra's wounds cleaned and bandaged again. After that, Nathan was finally able to convince him that the gambler probably wouldn't regain consciousness for awhile, and only then did the exhausted gunfighter close his eyes and allow sleep to claim him.
After they'd layered extra padding over the two or three cuts on Ezra's chest and stomach, he'd been settled face down in the bed, stretched out flat to keep any strain off of the numerous lash marks that lined his back and legs.
Chris nodded at Ezra's still form. "He wake up at all, Nathan?"
After checking on Buck, Nathan wearily lowered himself onto the chair that Abigail had vacated. Rinsing off the cloth he held in the basin of cool water sitting on the night table, he began dabbing at the sweat that lightly coated Ezra's bruised features before answering.
"He stirred an' cried out some when I was stitchin' 'im up, but other than that, he ain't showed any signs of comin' to." Nathan glanced worriedly up at their leader. "That bastard hurt 'im bad, Chris... real bad. Hell, I seen slaves die from beatin's that weren't nowhere's near as bad as the one Ezra took today." He brushed unashamedly at the tears that filled his eyes as he looked back down at the man lying in the bed. "I still ain't sure how he survived it, but I'm gonna do my damnedest t' help 'im keep fightin'."
Vin placed a reassuring hand on the healer's shoulder. "We know you'll do your best for 'im, Nathan, ya always do. An' at least he ain't fightin' alone... he's got all of us here fightin' right along with 'im."
Nathan nodded gratefully at the tracker's words, and then stood and began herding them all toward the door. "But before ya can help 'im, y'all need to get yourselves some rest. I want every one of ya t' go get in those damned beds an' get some sleep." He scowled as he saw that JD was still sitting beside Buck. "I'm talkin' t' you too, JD. Get yourself outta here an' go t' bed. Ya ain't gonna do Buck no good if ya collapse from exhaustion."
When JD resisted Nathan's orders, Josiah gently took his arm and forced him off the bed. "Come on now, son, you know Nathan's right. An' you know Buck an' Ezra wouldn't want ya wearin' yourself out like this."
JD finally relented and, after one more worried look at his two sleeping friends, followed the older men out of the room.
Josiah paused in the doorway and looked back at their healer. "Ya sure you don't want me to stay an' help?"
Nathan shook his head as he eased himself down onto the narrow bed beside Ezra. "Abigail's gonna stay up with me for a bit. Go ahead an' get some sleep, an' I'll wake ya in a couple of hours t' spell me."
Josiah nodded agreeably at his friend and then stepped back out of the way as Abigail came up the stairs balancing two cups of tea in her hands.
She frowned slightly at Josiah as she moved past him into the room. "Aren't you supposed to be in bed?"
"I was just leavin'," the gentle preacher assured Abigail before he hurried down the hall to Ezra and Buck's former room, a small amused smile tugging at his lips as he entered and closed the door. Just as he'd turned away, he'd seen Nathan's brows shoot up at how easily he'd capitulated to their hostess's demands. He wondered how long it would be before Nathan started begging Miz Abigail to accompany them back to Four Corners.
As he undressed and climbed into bed, Josiah started thinking about how much they all would miss their newfound friend when they left and realized that the idea of her going home with them actually had some merit. It was obvious she was lonely here, and there was no question that Nathan was often overworked, especially given how frequently their three youngest members managed to find trouble.
Then Josiah thought about how, even after only the short time they'd known Abigail, she just felt like part of their family. Maybe their coming together was just meant to be.
After finally deciding that he would bring the subject up with the others in the morning, Josiah settled back against the pillows and quickly fell asleep.
Abigail sat sipping her tea, watching Nathan as he checked Ezra's wounds and then carefully pulled the sheet back up over him. The smaller man moaned and shifted restlessly in the bed.
Nathan pressed down lightly on Ezra's shoulder with one hand, while he slowly ran the cool cloth soothingly over his feverish brow with the other. "Easy now. You're all right." Ezra immediately stilled at the first sounds of the healer's deep voice and the gentle touch of his large, dark hands. Once he felt the gambler relax and heard his breathing even out, Nathan wet the soft piece of flannel again and draped it across the back of Ezra's neck.
"You're very good at what you do, Nathan," Abigail remarked quietly. "Have you had any formal training?"
Nathan blushed slightly at the compliment and then shook his head. "No, ma'am, jus' what I picked up durin' the war."
"Have you ever considered going to medical school?"
Nathan nodded. "Used t' think on it all the time. Miz Travis... she's a friend of ours back home... she tried t' get me t' go. Said she'd do everything she could t' help me." Nathan paused to wipe away the sweat that had gathered on Ezra's face again before continuing. "But that was 'fore I signed on t' help protect Four Corners. Sure never pictured myself workin' for the law, no more'n Ezra here prob'ly did, but it's turned out a whole lot better'n I ever thought it would. It's given me a chance t' help people with somethin' 'sides jus' my healin', an' it's given me a bit of respect in the town."
Abigail glanced at the two men sleeping in the beds. "And it's given you a family."
Nathan followed her gaze and felt his heart warm at the word 'family' as he looked at his two brothers. "Yes, ma'am, I reckon that is how we think of ourselves. An' I jus' don't think I could leave all that behind now an' still be happy... not even for a chance at medical school." His eyes stayed on Ezra for a moment, and then he looked up and grinned. "'Sides, the way these fools attract trouble, someone's gotta be their t' patch 'em up."
Abigail finished her tea and stood slowly, feeling every bit her age after the day they'd all had. "Well, I'm sure they appreciate all you do for them, Nathan."
Nathan snorted softly in amusement. "Yeah, I know in their hearts they do. An' that's all that keeps me from kickin' their sorry butts outta my clinic when they start actin' like two year olds."
"And I don't suppose they might be thinkin' the same thing when the tables are turned and they have to take care of you?"
He nodded and grinned up at her. "Yes, ma'am, I reckon that might be possible. But I jus' look at it as my chance t' give 'em a taste of their own medicine."
Abigail laughed and shook her head at him. "Well, that just proves it... you're definitely brothers." She gave him a pat on the shoulder and moved slowly out into the hall. "Goodnight, Nathan. You be sure and call me if you need anything."
"I will, ma'am. Night."
Nathan had been grateful for the brief distraction from their troubles, but now his thoughts turned back to his two injured friends, and he settled in for what he knew was going to be a long and worrisome night.
Nathan's chin bobbed once... twice... toward his chest before he jerked himself upright in the chair, shaking his head to try and clear away the tendrils of sleep that were trying to drag him under. Pushing himself to his feet, the exhausted healer stretched long and hard to ease the stiffness in his back before checking on his patients.
Buck still lay curled up on his side, sleeping peacefully. A touch to his cheek revealed a slight fever... normal for his injuries and nothing to be overly concerned about. Nathan tugged the covers up over his shoulder and then moved over to Ezra.
He didn't even have to touch the Southerner to check his temperature, the heat was radiating off of him in waves. Lines of frustration and worry creased Nathan's face as he sat on the bed beside Ezra. The fever had taken a vicious hold on him and was building a lot faster than he'd expected, and Nathan knew it was slowly burning away what little bit of strength Ezra had left.
Nathan lowered the sheet to Ezra's waist and began slowly bathing the younger man's overheated skin with the tepid water. The basin was going to need to be refilled soon, but he hated to leave the two men long enough to do it. Nathan heard the clock in the front hall chime three times and sighed. He'd wanted to let Josiah sleep at least until sunup, but it looked like he was going to be forced to rouse him sooner. He'd just decided to go ahead and wake the preacher, when Ezra gasped and then let out a low, pain-filled moan.
When Ezra finally began emerging from the darkness he'd taken refuge in, the first thing he became aware of was the quiet. Uncle Matthew's insane cries, the crack of the whip, Buck's pleading voice... all of it was gone, and now there was nothing but a blissful silence.
And then the pain hit... a burning, breath-stealing, mind-numbing pain that seemed to wrap itself around him until Ezra felt as though he were drowning in it. He struggled against the urge to scream, terrified that his uncle was there... watching him... just waiting for the chance to signal another round of torture for Buck. But the pain was just too much for him to bear, and to Ezra's horror, a soft moan finally worked its way past his lips.
Nathan immediately placed a comforting hand on the gambler's shoulder, and was startled when he cried out and jerked away as if he'd been struck.
Ezra felt the hand come down on his shoulder and knew he'd been right... Matthew had been just waiting for him to react to the pain. "Oh God... Buck... don't hurt him... please. I'm... s-sorry... so sorry... "
"Damn...." Realizing the high fever had the Southerner thinking he was still trapped at his uncle's, Nathan quickly knelt beside the bed and began trying to bring Ezra out of his delirium.
"It's okay, Ezra. You're safe now," Nathan spoke quietly to the younger man as he gently stroked his face to try and calm him. "It's Nathan, Ezra... can ya hear me?"
Ezra's forehead wrinkled in confusion at the gentle touch and familiar voice. Nathan? What was Nathan doing at his uncle's?
"N... Na-than?" Ezra's breathy whisper was so weak it was barely audible.
"Right here, Ezra." Nathan's heart nearly broke when he saw the gambler start to shake as tears formed on his long, thick lashes and then trickled slowly across his face to dampen the sheet beneath his cheek.
"Help 'im... Nathan. Help... Buck. Gonna hurt... him," Ezra begged as his hand slid weakly across the bed in search of the healer's.
Nathan wrapped his fingers around the gambler's hand and held it securely in his own as he tried again to convince him that he and Buck were all right.
"Hush now. No one's gonna hurt either one of ya... you're both safe, Ezra."
"Nooo... you don't... understand... I d-dis... disobeyed... now he's goin'... t' hurt Buck. Matthew... he's goin' t'... whip 'im again." Ezra sobbed brokenly as he pushed at Nathan's hand in frustration. "Please... Nathan... you've got t'... help... Buck."
"I promise ya, Ezra... no one's gonna hurt Buck. Your uncle's gone, Ezra. You an' Chris took care of 'im, remember?" Nathan could see he still wasn't getting through to the Southerner. Lightly patting Ezra's cheek, he tried again. "Ezra? I want ya t' open your eyes for me. You're not at your uncle's anymore, you're back at Miz Abigail's, an' Buck's right here with ya... jus' open your eyes an' ya can see for yourself."
"M-Matthew's... he's... gone?" Ezra was trembling and clinging to Nathan's hand as he tried to make sense of the healer's words. "Buck's... safe?"
"That's right, Ezra. You're both safe now." Nathan tugged lightly on the smaller man's hand. "Come on now... open your eyes an' look at me. Jus' for a few minutes."
Nathan waited anxiously until Ezra's eyes fluttered twice and then slowly opened. The gambler didn't speak, just stared dazedly at him, blinking slowly as he tried to orient himself.
"B-Buck?" Ezra whispered anxiously.
Nathan shifted to the side so Ezra could see past him to the other bed. "Right over there, Ezra." The healer heard someone walk into the room and glanced over his shoulder to see Josiah standing near the door. He nodded at him and then turned his attention back to the gambler who was staring worriedly at Buck. "Take it easy now... he's jus' sleepin'. He's gonna be fine... you both are."
Ezra sighed as his eyes finally focused and he was able to see that Nathan spoke the truth... Buck was here and safe. Relief flooded through the gambler as he slowly began to slip back into the darkness. Vague memories of someone telling him he had to stay... that he was needed... whispered through his fevered mind, but he was just too tired to try and figure out what it meant. He just hoped Buck and the others would understand and forgive him.
Nathan smiled as he saw the fear leave Ezra's eyes just before they closed, and felt the fierce grip the Southerner had on his hand relax slightly as the tension drained out of him. He marveled at how just one look at Buck sleeping safe and sound beside him seemed to have erased all the pain and distress from Ezra's face, replacing it with a calm and peaceful expression instead.
Nathan was startled when Josiah suddenly pushed past him, roughly shoving him aside as he crouched down in front of the gambler and blocked Ezra's view of Buck.
"Josiah... what the hell do ya think y—" Nathan grabbed the preacher's shoulder to pull him away, but was immediately shrugged off.
"Damn it, Nathan... can't you see what's happening?! He's giving up again! Remember what Buck told us? Once we'd arrived at Delacourte's and Ezra knew Buck was safe, he quit fighting!" Josiah never took his eyes off of Ezra's face as he hurriedly growled an explanation at the bewildered healer.
Nathan quickly looked again at the peaceful expression on Ezra's face and was horrified to realize that Josiah was right. By showing Ezra that Buck was safe, he'd inadvertently taken away the one thing that had been keeping the gambler alive... the need for him to protect Buck.
"Ezra! Come on, son, open your eyes for me!" Josiah gripped Ezra's hand and spoke firmly to the younger man, trying desperately to get him to respond.
Buck was pulled out of sleep by the sound of Josiah's voice and slowly opened his eyes to see the older man, who was kneeling by the other bed, begin lightly slapping Ezra's face.
"Josiah? What the-"
Nathan saw Buck try to push himself up off of the bed and hurried over to stop him. "Easy, Buck, jus' lie still now for ya go hurtin' yourself again."
Buck put his head back down and squeezed his eyes shut for a few moments as a wave of dizziness hit him. Once the world had righted itself, he opened them again and stared worriedly at Ezra. "Jesus, Nathan... what the hell is Josiah doin'? Is Ezra all right?!"
"I don't know, Buck." Nathan sat on the bed beside the mustached gunman and placed a firm hand on his shoulder to keep him still. "He woke up confused an' scared, thinkin' y'all were still back at Delacourte's, so I got 'im t' look at ya t' let 'im know ya were both back here an' safe. But Josiah..." Nathan felt tears burning at the back of his eyes as he looked guiltily over at Ezra... God, he should have realized.... "Josiah's afraid Ezra's givin' up again now that he knows you're gonna be okay."
Buck struggled against Nathan's restraining hands and tried again to get out of the bed. "Let me go, Nathan! He needs me! I have t' get 'im back!"
"Quiet down an' listen t' me." Nathan easily pinned the weakened gunman down and held him still. "Ya ain't gonna help 'im none by lettin' 'im see ya up an' around. We're gonna have t' try an' make 'im believe you're life's still in danger, an' that ya need 'im. That's the only way we're gonna get 'im t' start fightin' again."
Buck collapsed back onto his side and stared helplessly at Ezra. An icy fear had settled in his chest, making it hard to breathe, and his words were choked with emotion when he spoke. "He can't die now, Nathan... not after everything he's been through. He fought so damned... hard for... me...." Buck looked pleadingly up at the healer. "I can't just lie here an' do nothin'... I've gotta help 'im, Nathan."
Nathan felt a lump form in his throat when he heard the pain in his friend's voice. "I know, Buck, but right now the best thing ya can do for Ezra is t' stay quiet an' let Josiah take care of 'im."
Once he got Buck calmed down, Nathan had him drink some water then forced the worried gunfighter to lie still so he could check his bandages over. While he worked, Nathan listened to Josiah speaking softly to the gambler and sent up a silent prayer that the preacher would be able to reach Ezra and bring him back.
"Come on now, Ezra... Buck needs you." Josiah grabbed the piece of flannel that Nathan had been using, sopped up what water was left in the basin, and began bathing the smaller man's head and neck with it. As he'd hoped, the water trickling through Ezra's hair and down the side of his face drew a response from him. It was only a feeble groan and a very slight shifting of the gambler's head as he tried to move away from Josiah's hand, but at least it was something.
Josiah glanced back at the two men behind him and whispered urgently, "Nathan... more water, the colder the better. Buck, I want you to make some noise, make him think you're in pain. Call out for him... tell him you need his help."
Nathan instantly moved to follow Josiah's orders, grabbing the basin and hurrying out the door. But Buck just stared at the older man and shook his head... he knew what it would do to Ezra to think he was still in danger because of him. He couldn't hurt him that way... he just couldn't.
"Josiah, no... please... I can't. You don't know what that'll do to 'im...."
Josiah's expression softened with sympathy. He knew that Buck would rather die himself than to cause Ezra any kind of pain, but they had no choice. Reaching across the narrow space between the beds, the preacher grabbed Buck's arm and gave it a hard shake.
"Damn it, Buck! We're gonna lose 'im if you can't give 'im a reason to stay! Now do as I said!
Buck closed his eyes for a second and swallowed hard. Josiah was right, but dear God, he hated what he was about to do. Opening his eyes again, he gave the preacher a quick nod, and after a couple of halting attempts, forced out a loud moan of pain and called out Ezra's name.
Josiah had turned back toward Ezra and was watching him closely... nothing. "Again, Buck... louder!"
"Ezra, help me!" Buck lifted a shaky hand and swiped at the rush of tears that filled his eyes as he heard Ezra whimper and weakly cry out for him. If Nathan hadn't returned at that very moment and stopped him, he would have rushed to Ezra's side and told him the truth.
Buck saw Josiah motion for him to keep going, and with a very real pain in his voice this time, he groaned out another plea for help from Ezra. He looked up gratefully at Nathan as he sat on the bed beside him and gave his arm a supportive squeeze, but then both men's attention was drawn quickly back to the other bed by the heart-wrenching sound of Ezra's gentle weeping.
"Buck?! No... please... not again...." Ezra sobbed tiredly when he heard Buck's cry for help. He'd been almost there... almost delivered from this world of misery and pain he'd been living in for what seemed like forever.
But Buck was calling him back again. Back to the pain. Back to the fight.
Ezra began to cry quietly as he watched the darkness drift away once more. He wanted it so badly... freedom from the unrelenting pain... peace for his battered soul....
Footsteps sounded in the hall, and Nathan jumped up to intercept the others as they rushed into the room. Forcing them back out the door, he closed it behind him and quickly explained the situation and how they were handling it.
"Jesus, Nathan! There's gotta be another way to get through to Ezra. Using Buck against him like that is gonna tear them both apart!" Chris argued angrily while Vin, JD, and Abigail looked on in silence, their faces reflecting the same doubts that the blond was so vehemently expressing.
"Damn it, Chris, he'd given up! We didn't have time t' come up with an easier way!" Nathan took several deep breaths to try and calm down, reminding himself that it was just Chris's worry for his friends talking. "Ya gotta understand... Ezra's sufferin' through some powerful hurt an' is jus' plain wore out. If we don't give 'im a damn good reason t' hang on, he's jus' gonna quit on us."
Chris's anger drained away when he heard the pain and frustration that tinged Nathan's words. "Ah Hell, Nathan... I—"
The blond gunfighter's apology was cut off by an anguished cry from behind the closed door.
Nathan grimaced and headed for the stairs. "If y'all wanna help Ezra and Buck, you'll get your butts in there an' do jus' what Josiah tells ya to." He stopped to glare at Chris. "An' if ya don't think ya can do that, then jus' stay the hell away."
Chris's eyes narrowed as he stared back at the healer, but seeing the unflinching determination in Nathan's dark eyes, he finally gave a curt nod and turned to enter the room, followed closely by Vin and a very nervous JD.
As soon as the door closed behind the three men, Abigail walked over to Nathan who still stood at the head of the stairs with his head bowed and his eyes closed as he sadly listened to Ezra's muted cries of pain.
Laying a hand lightly on his arm, the elderly woman drew his attention back to her. "What do you need me to do, Nathan?"
Nathan smiled gratefully at her and patted her hand before continuing on down the stairs. "Thanks, Miz Abigail." Forcing his thoughts away from Buck and Ezra, Nathan quietly began listing off all that needed to be done.
"Don't leave me, Ezra... I need you."
Ezra heard the pain in Buck's voice and struggled to open his eyes. He couldn't understand what was happening. Nathan had told him Uncle Matthew was gone... that Buck was safe now. He'd seen him there in the room with them... hadn't he? Or had he only dreamed it. Ezra tried to push himself up off the bed and immediately let out a strangled scream as a blazing burst of agony ripped through his tortured body.
The others stepped into the room and found Buck struggling to get out of one bed while Josiah fought to keep Ezra still in the other one. The gambler sobbed and gasped for breath, writhing helplessly under the preacher's restraining hands as he tried to escape the pain.
JD hurried to Buck's side, easily pushing the weakened gunfighter back against the pillows, as Vin and Chris moved quickly to help Josiah with Ezra.
Buck pleaded with JD to let him go. It broke the youth's heart to have to deny his friend, but he knew he had to for Ezra's sake. "Nathan told us what happened. You gotta let the others take care of 'im this time, Buck." JD could have cried at the look of anguish he saw in the older man's blue eyes as he turned away to stare forlornly over at Ezra.
JD watched the others working to help the Southerner as he ran a comforting hand back and forth over Buck's arm. "Don't worry, Buck, I know he'll make it. Ezra won't give up... we won't let 'im."
The young peacekeeper refused to allow even a trace of doubt to enter his voice. Buck needed him to be strong right now. Besides, they were a family of seven, and JD knew in his heart that every one of them was prepared to do whatever it took to keep it that way.
Vin and Chris gingerly grabbed onto Ezra, flinching at the heat that poured off of him, and held him as still as they could while Josiah settled on the mattress beside the gambler's head and attempted to get him calmed down.
"Easy, Ezra, we're right here with you. You're gonna be okay."
"... J'siah?" Ezra gasped out, still struggling against the fiery tendrils of pain that burned across almost every inch of his skin. "Buck...."
Josiah ran his long fingers soothingly through the chestnut curls clinging damply to the gambler's scalp and began talking softly to him. "Shh... JD's with him. Now I want you to look at me and just concentrate on the sound of my voice. Let me help you, Ezra."
Ezra's whole body trembled as he tried to do as Josiah said. After several faltering attempts, green eyes glittering with pain and fever finally opened and stared wildly back at the preacher. "Buck... w-where... " Ezra inhaled sharply, hands grasping and twisting in the bedding as the room tipped and spun dizzily around him.
"B-Buck!" Ezra sobbed out the gunfighter's name as he felt everything slowly slipping away from him. The pain was relentless... throbbing, burning... pushing him closer and closer toward that peaceful oblivion that he longed for. But he couldn't let it take him yet... he had to know about Buck... had to be sure he was going to be all right.
Josiah glanced quickly at Buck, motioning for him not to respond this time, and then turned back to Ezra.
Buck groped blindly for the comfort of JD's hand as, with tears streaming down his face, he forced himself to keep silent and ignore the anguished cries coming from the other bed... and prayed that Ezra would be able to forgive him.
Abigail stood by the stove watching Nathan as he added two mugs of the herbal tea he'd prepared to the large tray that was already piled high with a fresh supply of bandages and soft squares of flannel.
She looked down at the small brown bottle she held and then back at the healer. "Are you sure you don't want to use this laudanum, Nathan? I know it isn't much, but I can get more from Dr. Mason tomorrow."
Nathan shook his head as he carefully lifted the tray and turned toward the stairs. "Thanks anyway, Miz Abigail, but it wouldn't do no good for me t' take it. Ezra... well, he... um... he can't use it... an' knowin' Buck, he ain't gonna want t' be drugged up jus' in case Ezra needs 'im." He nodded at the two steaming cups balanced on the edge of the tray. "This here tea'll hopefully take the edge off the pain an' at least help the two of 'em get some rest."
Abigail noticed Nathan's hesitation when he mentioned Ezra, but politely refrained from asking any questions. "Well, it'll be right here in this drawer if you decide you need it." She began bustling around the kitchen, pulling skillets and plates out of the cupboards. "I'm goin' to go ahead and get breakfast started, so if you'll just send someone down with the tray later, I'll—"
"Now ya don't need t' be goin' t' all that trouble, ma'am. You should get yourself on back t' bed. We can manage jus' fine," Nathan protested as he paused in the doorway.
"You just hush. Y'all are exhausted and still nursing your own injuries, and you need to get some good hearty food in your stomachs to keep up your strength." Abigail gave him a stern look and a dismissive wave of her hand. "Now you just get back to takin' care of those poor boys, and I'll let you know when breakfast is ready."
Nathan took one look at her face and wisely refrained from arguing further. Instead, he offered her a quiet thank you and continued on up the stairs, smiling as he started thinking about how handy it would be if he could only have her working back home in the clinic with him. All she'd have to do is give the others that 'look' she'd just used on him, and even Chris would turn into an ideal patient.
Nathan chuckled and shook his head at the idea of any of them ever being even the least bit cooperative when they were hurt. His thoughts suddenly turned to his two wounded friends, and his smile disappeared. Nathan's heart was heavy as he approached their room. The hell with ideal patients... right now he'd give anything just to have Buck and Ezra well enough to be up and arguing with him. Anything at all.