Disclaimer: All the characters from the "Magnificent Seven" T.V. series are property of Trilogy Entertainment, The Mirisch Group, MGM Worldwide.
They called it the Ranch.
It had no other name but it did not actually require one either. There are places that are simply known, branded in the psyche without ever needing to have its name uttered. People in town knew where it was even if they had never reason to visit its premises. It existed as a place of notoriety even though the more upstanding members of the community would never make a move to remove it. Men, young and old had chance to visit the establishment at one point or another, leaving the moral contingent of the community fuming in impotent dislike.
He had never been to the town but found it no different than any other that might exist in the Territory. Like the every boomtown that was emerging across the west, this one was emerged from the prosperity of the rural community. Prosperous farmers and ranchers brought with them businesses that offered opportunity abound. While it was a long way from being urbanised, there were enough buildings and people walking up and down the street to ensure that it would survive, even when times were lean.
It was just the kind of town that needed a place like the Ranch to give it some spice.
He despised such communities because the idea of being shackled to any one place was odious to a man like himself. He counted himself a man by being able to pick up and leave at a moment's notice, to be bound only to his desire to roam the plains like some untameable spirit. In his line of work it was wise to live this way for enemies were quick to exploit the weakness that came with family and friends. He had no friends to speak of, merely associates and he kept those at arm's length and used them only when necessary.
Until three days ago, he had been enjoying the excesses of wine, women and song at Eagle Bend, indulging in all the vices that made life worth living, completely aware that when it was done, he would be off again to yet another meeting with yet another client. His services were often in demand and his reputation spoken of mostly in shadows. He was very good at what he did, mostly because he moved through his assignments, taking care to maintain his anonymity. As a result, he had never failed to carry out a job and no client had ever walked away anything less than satisfied.
It took some doing to be able to maintain a record with such impeccability but when the Jack of all Spades gave his word that a thing would be done, invariably it would happen. He had never reneged on the fulfilment of a contract and his honest desire to see a job done had given potential clients the confidence they needed to seek him out. In this case however, a neatly folded note slipped under his door had summoned him. It was almost with intrigue that he studied its enigmatic message and debated whether this was not some trap set by an enterprising lawman with a penchant for theatrics.
For a day, he did nothing with the information at his disposal and the more he waited, the deeper his curiosity became until finally, he saddled his horse and left Eagle Bend bound for the destination he had been provided.
The Ranch, Willow End
It was not difficult to find the Ranch once he arrived in the town of Willow End. Everyone seemed to know it and those who were not embarrass to speak of it, gave him good directions. The ranch was located on the edge of town, situated on the periphery of the open space that punctuated the towns in the Territory, on a particularly large spread of land on top of a hill. The house reminded him of one of those grand mansions he had once seen in New Orleans. It was certainly large enough to have such prefigure. However, in a town like this, a house like that could have only come from one source of income.
The girls that greeted him as he walked up the cobble stone party to the steps leading to the wide main porch were definitely of a better standard than he had seen of most establishment like this. They were clean and well dressed, appearing not at all like ladies of ill repute but girls one might see at a Sunday church picnic. There were no garish paints or exposed pantalets, no breasts oozing out of overly tight corsets in a blatant advertisement of goods. The nearest word he could use to describe them was tasteful.
They looked like women that a man might call on to take to a dance or a stroll. He began to understand why this 'house' had the success that it did. He discovered that he had been expected when he spoke to the ladies. Not him personally but a man was expected to pay a call on the owner and proprietor of the ranch. The interior or the house was as ambiguous as the rest of the place. The front hall looked like it belonged to an exclusive girl's school not a bordello. He was shown in by a young woman who was young enough to have some client paying a fortune to bed her, to the person who had summoned him.
She awaited him in her parlour, having obviously heard of his inquiries in town and was more than prepared for him by the time he arrived. Tea sat in waiting as he was shown to a comfortable wing chair that gave a stunning view of the town and the land surrounding it from a bay window. He took the time to examine her as she asked him politely if he would like sugar with his tea.
She was not as young as the others in her charge but for a Madam, she certainly did not wear the worn look most were known to have. She was quite a beauty still. Her dark gold hair hung loose and her green eyes sparkled with hidden depth. She dressed modestly in a dress with floral prints with one pearl encrusted clip to hold some unruly strands of hair out of her face. She did not look at him as she poured the tea, nor did she make an effort to speak. The more he looked at her, the more intrigued he became.
"Your tea Sir," She said with a smile and presented the fine china cup to him.
"Thank you Miss." He returned politely.
"My name is Ella," she smiled, after taking a sip from her own cup and waiting for him to do so. "Ella Gaines and I must thank you in indulging me this audience. I am aware of how you like to maintain your privacy."
"Thank you Miss Gaines." He responded. "May I inquire as to how you came to be aware of me?"
She smiled, as if anticipating the question. "In my line of business, it is easy to pick up things. In your case, I heard nothing more than whispers I never paid much attention to. I do know that you have a most impeccable reputation for getting the job done and that you've never failed in a contract. I require that kind of efficiency. The man who used to take care of these things for me is no longer available and so I must look to other agents."
"I see." He nodded in understanding. "And how did you learn that I was in Eagle Bend?"
"I heard the name Jack of Spades mentioned in conjunction with Eagle Bend and I took a gamble that you might be there. I have contacts in that town who were able to narrow down a list of candidates, I sent invitations to all." She paused and met his gaze. "You are the only one who answered."
"I might not be him then." He remarked. "I could be anyone."
"I trust my instincts that you are the man." She said with a smile. "I rely upon them to keep myself and my girls from harm. They are seldom wrong."
"Alright," he conceded the point, deciding that she had summoned him here for a reason and in matters of such business, he preferred to have the negotiations concluded as quickly as possible. "You have called me and I am here. This is how it will go. You have told me you have need of my services, I will hear the details and then I will give you a price. There will be no negotiation and you will pay me half first and the rest on completion. Is that clear?"
"It is clear." She answered.
"Now," he eased back into the wing chair. "What do you wish me to do?"
"Only after you hear my demands." She said firmly, leaning forward in her chair and penetrating his gaze with her icy coloured eyes. Her entire persona disappeared at that moment to be replaced by something darker. He had seen killers with kinder eyes than her at that instant. Despite his ability to maintain his own rock solid demeanour, the change caused an involuntary shudder down his spine.
"I am waiting." He said coolly.
"First of all, there are two target and I want them both taken care of. There is no negotiation on this point. You will kill them before the date I will provide you and you will see to it that before the targets are eliminated, I am to be present. They must know why they are dying. I want the pleasure of telling them."
He had no difficulty with that request. It was not unusual although the vehemence in her voice begged the question of what wrong had this woman suffered that there should be so much venom in her veins? "That can be arranged. Will I encounter any opposition?"
"Yes," she answered automatically. "The targets are protected by seven men. They are devoted and very good at what they do. They will rather die than let the two be killed. There is one among them named Chris Larabee." She met his eyes again. "Under no circumstances is any harm to come to him, is that clear."
"Chris Larabee, the gunslinger?" He asked, recognising the name.
"You know him?" She responded, uncertainty entering her features at the possibility that this man might know Chris and perhaps the reputation he held as one of the most formidable gunslingers and now lawmen in the Territory. She wanted the best and this man by reputation alone was enough to send shivers down the spines of those who were aware of his existence. Now that Cletus Fowler was gone, she needed someone with his level of expertise. Ella would not be satisfied with anyone else. To kill Mary Travis, there could be no mistakes.
"I know of him." He replied, recalling the stories he heard. There were always stories flying about the West about men with fast draws, who robbed, killed and lived a whole plethora of adventures that kept people talking forever. "He's supposed to be very, very good. I may have to factor this in to my price." He added.
"He is very good." Ella Gaines agreed. "But you are still not to harm him. You may kill anyone else you wish but not him. The others will protect him with the same loyalty but I gather you can do something to expedite matters."
"I have my ways." He said quietly, ruminating on what those methods might actually be. Chris Larabee's reputation was one of the most consistent in the Territory. He knew the gunslinger had dropped out for a time and had only since reclaimed his fearsome notoriety in the past three years. Larabee was known to have a soft side so he also had his share of supporters as well as enemies. Once again, the man known as the Jack of Spades was curious over Ella Gaine's connection to Chris Larabee.
On that note, he looked at Ella again after the momentary lapse. "Now you will name the target."
"The targets are nothing extraordinary," she remarked stiffly, almost as if she disliked speaking of them or describing them in any detail. He did not care. If she wanted his services than he insisted on full disclosure of any information at her disposal.
"Her name is Mary Travis." Ella finally revealed. "She is in residence at a town called Four Corners, it's on the New Mexico border. It is also where you will find Chris Larabee and his six protectors. She will be relatively easy to find. The woman is the editor of the local newspaper. I want her and her son removed."
He looked up at her. "Son?"
"Yes," Ella replied, feeling a wave of hatred towards Mary Travis at that moment who was trying to steal her Chris with her brat. What did it take for Chris to learn that children were simply ruses utilised by their husbandless mothers to snare men like him? Ella had thought that the lesson he had learnt after she was forced to kill Sarah and Adam Larabee would be enough to steer him away from such circumstances again. However, Ella loved Chris enough to know that he was not the most intelligent of men and she had to make allowances for the weakness. After all, was that not what love was about?
"The boy is eight years old. I want them both killed."
The intensity of her words as she made that statement explained great many things to him as he understood at last what Ella Gaines was all about. He had come across jealous wives before and thus this woman was nothing different, however, wanting to take the life of the helpless child involved in the triangle, took true malevolence. He wondered if Larabee had any idea of what he had provoked by rejecting this woman as he surely must have to engender such cold hatred.
"They are to be married in less than a week." Ella continued, further confirming his suspicions of what her reasoning was in taking out this contract on the lives of Mary Travis and her son. "I want her killed before the wedding. She will not walk down the aisle with Chris Larabee, I want you to see to that Sir." She glared at him so that he would understand just how determined she was on this point.
"If that is what you wish and if we come to an agreement upon the price for my services, I assure you that is how it will be." He returned.
"Good," she said calming down slightly, as if embarrassed by the display of emotions. "I am sure we can come to an equitable conclusion."
"Might I offer a word of advice?" He found himself saying, not knowing why he was interfering or why he even cared. Perhaps because in all the jobs that he had taken to end someone's life abruptly, this was the one that had the least justifiable reason and perhaps, this woman and her anger could be reasoned with.
"If you like." Ella sipped her tea and regarded him with mild surprise.
"If Larabee finds out that you are responsible for this crime and I think he might if you stand to gain most by it, do you think that he could forgive such a trespass or shift his affections to you?"
"He loves me Sir," she smiled, with a gleam in her eyes that caused him to shudder again. "He loves me more than anything in the world and he will forgive me as he always has. For sure, he'll be angry for awhile but in the end, he'll know I did it all for him. As I have always done for him."
He fell silent then almost feeling some measure of pity for Chris Larabee because he knew now with absolute certainty that Ella Gaines and her uncontrollable passion for the gunslinger, was insane.
Billy Travis stared at his mother.
He listened to her explain after Chris and the others had left the house, how she would soon be marrying the gunslinger. For a moment, the boy did not know how to take the news. Sure, he liked Chris very much and loved him as he had loved no other since his father had died but Billy was uncertain whether or not he wanted Chris to replace him. Chris was his friend and they did things together that not even his father had time to do with him. Billy had not been so young that he had forgotten all the lonely dinners where it was just him and his ma, because his father had not the time. His father was a busy man and Billy assumed by natural extension that all fathers were like that. If Chris became his stepfather, would not Chris be like that as well?
Billy had become accustomed to his ma telling him that he was the man of the house. At school, he knew he had to behave well because that is how she told him to behave. The man of the house had to be responsible and so he had done all these things for her because she was his ma and he loved her. Billy had wanted to be the man of the house so that he could take care of her some day. All this time, he had assumed Chris was taking care of her until the day when he grew up and he could do it himself. He never for a moment imagined that there was more going on that just that. It now appeared to the young boy that his best friend had betrayed him.
"Billy say something." Mary pleaded as she looked across him at the dining table. The expression on his face was one of dismay and she felt her heart pounding in her chest because she had never assumed that there would be a problem. Billy had always had nothing but adoration for Chris and she had believed he would love having Chris on a permanent basis as she did.
"You said I was the man of the house." He said in a small voice, his eyes screaming fear in every word that left his quivering lips.
"Of course you are," Mary exclaimed, feeling her heart sink as she started to realise the extent of the problem.
"No I'm not!" He shouted. "If you marry Chris, then he's the man of the house and he won't be my friend any more and you won't be just my ma! You'll be his wife!"
"Billy please!" Mary said mortified, watching a bad situation quickly descending into a terrible one. How could she have made such a mistake on his feelings? She had assumed... .
That was her mistake.
She had just assumed. She had never sat the boy down and actually had this conversation with him. Mary felt herself reeling from despair as she saw the tears starting to run down his pink cheeks, knowing that it was her foolishness that had made her son cry. The sight of his tear stained face felt like a thousand knives stabbing at her heart. It almost forced the breath from her and brought her to the verge of tears herself.
"I hate him and I hate you!" He cried out again, screaming out in anger as only a child could, oblivious to everything except the pain that was weighing him down and making him feel like the end of the world was one word.
Wedding.
Without saying anything further, he darted out of the room. Mary collected herself enough to go after him, almost knocking a chair over as she ran past the dining table but not quite quick enough to catch an eight year old that had no intention of being reasoned with. She had no more reached the hallway when she heard the sharp slam of the front door and his small footsteps, drawing further and further away across the gravel in street outside.
Mary swung open the door in pursuit but by the time her eyes scanned the faces on the street, going steadily about their business, horses moving up and down the street on their way from one place to another, she saw no sign of her son. "Billy!" Mary called out in desperation, hoping that perhaps he might answer her. People glanced at her in curiosity but that was as much response as she received until she saw Chris coming out of the saloon. He looked towards the direction of the Clarion, their eyes meeting instantly and conveying the message that something was wrong.
"Mary, what's happened?" He asked, unable to imagine what could have transpired in the ten minutes since he had left the house to join the rest of the seven at the saloon for a drink. He could see that she was overwrought and knew something awful had taken place.
"Its Billy!" She wailed. "Oh Chris, he is so angry with me! It never occurred to me that he might have a problem with the wedding!"
Chris started to understand and immediately took her hand so that they could carry on this conversation outside. This was not something that needed to be discussed with the town in attendance. Besides, she was too distraught to think clearly with so much activity-taking place around them. They returned to the dining room where only moment ago, Billy Travis had made such an abrupt departure. Mary sat heavily in the chair, shock still clearly etched in her lovely face.
"Tell me." Chris urged, hating to think that they might have a problem with Billy.
Mary wiped her eyes and composed herself, trying not to cry like some foolish woman even though she felt like one. "He said that I wouldn't be his ma any more if I married you. I'd be your wife. Chris, he thinks he's losing both of us if we get married."
Chris let out a deep sigh and eased back into the chair, trying to think a way out of this particular situation. In truth, he was slightly annoyed that Mary had not told Billy about them sooner, so that the kid could at least get used to the idea instead of having it sprung on him a few days before the wedding was to take place. However, he had kept silent knowing that in the end, Billy was Mary's son and Chris had no right to tell her what to do when it came to his upbringing. However, this was not the moment for I told you so. "Do you want to call it off?" He asked quietly.
Mary met his gaze and saw that he was serious. "Of course not!" She exclaimed and was somewhat surprised that she was able to be so absolute about that. "We've waited long enough for this Chris. I want to marry you," she took his face in her hands. "I just don't know what to do about my son."
"Mary, he's young." Chris responded, kissing her palm gently. "It has also been you and him for a long time. It hard for a kid Billy's age to understand that things have to change and a lot of what's going on in his mind is not clear, in the way we know it. We just gotta talk to him and try and understand what he thinks is going to happen."
Mary nodded, wondering if it was truly as simple as all that. "You think that will do it?" She asked, hoping that he was right because Mary could not even think of that terrible exchange between herself and Billy only a short time ago. She loved her son but she could also loved Chris and it was time for them to get married and as much as Billy might not like the idea now, she knew that he loved Chris too. He was just afraid.
"I don't know." Chris confessed making no promises. "We'll try and explain to him, try and convince him that nothing will change. Billy is a smart kid. He'll figure it out eventually, we just have to give him time."
Mary swallowed, wiping the fresh tears that had formed in her eyes. "How did you get to be such an authority on child rearing?"
Chris looked and her and merely have to reply. "After all these years riding with Buck? Where do you think?" He grinned, trying to coax a smile out of her face.
It succeeded and she laughed softly, feeling a little better although not much. She knew she would not feel better about anything until this situation was resolved. Mary was feeling incredibly short sighted for not foreseeing this problem earlier and now that it had presented itself, hope things would transpire as smoothly as Chris was alluding it would.
Billy Travis kicked a rock that came across his path. It skittered across the gravel ground and disappeared out of his line of vision. The young boy did not know where he was going, only that he wanted to keep walking until this hurt inside him went away. He felt bad that he had yelled at his ma but he had been unable to help himself. He just felt so angry that he had not known what to do. He did not want Chris to stop being his friend and he wanted his ma to be his always, even though he knew Chris liked his ma very much.
Once he had stopped running, he found himself in front of the new Emporium. Despite his melancholic state, he was quite pleased that he was able to read the lengthy word and wondered what an Emporium was. As he ascended the steps into the front entrance, he saw that it was just a big store. Not knowing where else to go because Four Corners was an alien place to him since he had left for Eagle Bend, Billy wandered past the door, away from the heat of the afternoon sun.
The inside of the Emporium was almost as large as one of the bigger stores that he had seen in Eagle Bend when grandma took him shopping. There were many people, both men and women moving up and down the aisles, perusing the wares in the store. He saw shopgirls behind the counters, serving customers and wrapping things up. Billy was grateful to lose himself in the crowd, unhappy already because he had shouted at his ma and wanting nothing but to be forgotten by everyone because at the moment that was how he felt.
He found himself in an aisle with hair products took note of the silver handled brushes and ornate clips that were on display. He reached into his pocket and examined how much money grandpa had given him for the journey here. The collection of the coins in his hand did not seem like very much and Billy frowned, thinking that he probably could not even by his ma a present after the mean things he had said to her.
"Good afternoon Master Travis." An unfamiliar voice greeted him.
He looked up to find himself staring at a most pretty lady with red hair and sparkling green eyes. Billy did not recognise her but obviously she knew him. "I'm not suppose to talk to strangers." He said meekly.
"This is my store," Julia Pemberton said with a smile, having seen the boy wandering earlier. She had seen Billy Travis before but never had the occasion for a face to face meeting. Judging by his manner, he did not at all seem happy and considering how euphoric Mary had been about his arrival today, Julia found she ought to at least investigate. "You have to talk to me or leave."
"Do you know my ma?" He asked, suddenly aware that she must have been a friend of his mother's if she knew him.
"Yes I do," Julia nodded. "I'm surprised you're not with her. She's been talking about nothing but you coming home the last few weeks."
"I yelled at her." His gaze dropped to the floor, in an expression of shame that involuntarily tugged at Julia's heartstrings where she thought nothing so sentimental could ever effect.
"I see." Julia nodded and started to draw away. "Come on." She motioned the boy to follow her.
He paused a minute, still uncertain whether or not he ought to be following her because she was a stranger but if she knew his ma, that made it all right, didn't it? He followed her deeper into the store, past the shopping area to the other side of the building, where there appeared to be something of a small diner and to his surprise, an ice creamery. He knew that Eagle Bend had one but he did not think such treats were available in a place like Four Corners.
"Take a seat." Julia remarked, taking a table nearest the window. The view outside was of Four Corners going about its business. He could see the saloon in the distance as well as his house where the newspaper was situated. Billy wondered if his ma was worried about him and then decided begrudgingly that she would miss him at all now that Chris was there to comfort her. He slid into the booth and saw Julia seating herself across the table from him.
"What kind of ice cream do you like?" Julia inquired.
"Strawberry." He said after a moment's thought.
Julia called over one of the waitresses and promptly put in the order. Billy guessed she really must owned the store because they were very nice to her and went away quickly to do what she had asked, after she had told them what she wanted. He observed her closely, noting that she was very different from his ma. She looked fancier somehow and he could not imagine her skipping rocks in the creek or even wading in with him, barefoot like his ma sometimes did. That was not to say that he did not like her though. She just looked different.
"I haven't been very polite," Julia stuck out her hand across the table. "I'm Julia Pemberton. You can call me Julia if you like."
Billy shook her hand and stared at her, uncertain if he was allowed to do that. Ma was very specific about him minding his manners. "I don't know if I'm supposed to."
"It will be our secret." Julia replied automatically. "I don't get much of a chance to try the ice cream here. Ezra just hates it. You know what these southerners are like, they're just not good with new things and you can't really eat ice cream alone, you know? Besides, I think he's a little too stuffy for ice cream."
Billy merely listened, unable to comment on that because he had no idea what stuffy meant.
"Of course, its different when they're boys," Julia continued, not expecting an answer but aware that he was listening most intently. " Everything is different when they're boys All the important things seem to become silly and all the silly things become important."
"I don't understand." He finally dared to say.
Julia waited until the ice cream was served and Billy had his first taste of strawberry before she continued. "Well, it just seems like when you're younger, things that change seem a lot worse than they really are. When I was a child, I thought I knew everything about anything. It didn't matter that I was only little and I had a great deal of growing to do, I knew it all. Of course, when things happened, it just felt so terrible until my father would explain that change is good. It needs to happen or nothing gets better."
"Why does it have to change?" He asked.
"Because that's the way it is." Julia said firmly, deciding that it was useless to lie to the child when what he needed to hear was the truth, not as he believed it to be or might wish it so but the way it actually was. "Let me tell you something Master William," she leaned closer to him. "Life isn't fair and it doesn't always work out the way you want it either. You can want things to stay the same forever but that takes the fun out of it. Do you like reading the same book over and over again?" She inquired.
"No," he shook his head. "Its stupid. You know what happens and it's boring."
"That's right." Julia nodded. "Change is like a new book, you don't know what happens but its fun to find out."
He could see a little bit of what she was saying. "I yelled at my ma cause I didn't want things to change." He confessed guiltily, putting down his spoon as he made that declaration.
"Your mother won't be mad at you for being upset over change William." Julia said gently. "She loves you and nothing you ever did could ever make her stop loving you. Right now, I'll bet she is going out of her mind wondering what happened to you."
"I got mad because she's marrying Chris." Billy looked at her, certain that she would not understand either but then she had understood about change and she had explained it to him a little. So maybe he could talk to her.
"I thought you liked Chris." Julia said slightly confused. From what Ezra had told her, Billy adored Chris and spent most of his time with the gunslinger whenever he had returned from school.
"He's my friend but if he marries my ma, he won't be any more." Billy stated as if it was something everyone should have guessed by now.
"Why do you think that?" She asked, truly concerned about his dilemma.
"Because my pa wasn't my friend, he was my pa. We never did what Chris and I do, going fishing and hunting. He was always working and if Chris marries ma, then he becomes like pa and we won't do stuff together any more."
It made sense, Julia had to admit. If one was a child and knew nothing better, it might seem that way to him. The boy had after all been without a father for quite some time and if he thought that was how fathers were meant to behave from his limited experience, it was conceivable that he should come to such reasoning. Julia wondered if Mary was even aware of how neglected her son must have felt with his father to believe that ignoring a child was the way things were supposed to be.
"That doesn't happen all the time William," Julia tried to point out tactfully, aware of the level of trust she had gained for him to have admitted this to her. "There are many different kinds of fathers. Mine was wonderful. We did things together all the time and you know Doctor Styles?"
"Yes." Billy nodded, knowing the lady doctor that was one of his ma's friends.
"Her father was a doctor too and they went everywhere together. He took her travelling across the world. I'll bet if you asked your mother, she can tell you stories about her father. I'm sure when Chris and your mother marry he won't change. You'll still do all those things together. Chris loves you, you know."
"That's sappy." Billy declared, reminding her that he was still male with that one remark.
Julia smiled herself and then changed tact. "Sorry, it's a girl thing." She replied. "You know about Chris' family don't you?"
Billy nodded sombrely, having heard the talk around town he was not supposed to listen to but inevitably did anyway.
"Chris lost his family a long time ago and you remind him a lot of his son." Julia explained. "Don't you see, he thought he never have a child again and then you came and suddenly it doesn't hurt him so much any more because he has you. He'd never forget you, William."
Billy was not ready to quite believe her yet but he did feel a little better and he decided that he liked Julia a great deal. Not as much as he liked his ma or grandparents but he liked sitting here with her, eating ice cream and having her talk to him like he was not a little kid who did not know anything. Maybe some day, when he was bigger, he could marry her too. Like Chris was marrying his ma.
"I'd like buy ma something." He responded with a smile after a long silence.
"This is the place to buy." She replied, feeling a great deal of satisfaction being able to coax a smile from his cherubic face. Strange how one could get so much pleasure from one simple act.
"I have this much money." He reached into the pocket and showed her all his change, allowing it to clatter noisily on the table.
Julia regarded the dollar in coins before her. "It's not a lot," she said honestly. "But I think we can manage to find Mary something nice and if not, I'm going to teach you a very important phrase that will carry you through life without any trouble."
He leaned closer deciding that it must be important if it was coming from an adult.
"It's called charge it to my father or mother." Julia grinned.
Vin Tanner rode into Four Corners the next morning completely relaxed and wondered if it showed what he had been doing the past few days. Of course, his friends were not completely stupid and he expected to be bear the brunt of much teasing when he finally did see them but Vin was beyond caring. He was happier than he had been at any point of his life and nothing could spoil it. He and Alex had spent two great days away from Four Corners, where no one knew them and she could shake the persona of the respectable doctor. He had left Alex who was spending the night in Sweet Water and was due home sometime tomorrow. He looked forward to seeing her and hated being apart even for a night.
Still after that business with Nicholas Serfonteine, he understood why she had to be somewhat guarded with their familiarity towards each other. It was just as well that she was out of town today because he had an errand to run and he did not want her to know about it since it was going to be a surprise. Chris had allowed him the time to track and capture a man name Wayne, who had a reward of $100 on his head. Vin had tracked the man for four days across the Badlands and brought him in, allowing Chris to collect the bounty at Bitter Creek for him. Despite Vin's willingness to share the reward money, Chris had refused knowing what Vin had wanted the cash for in the first place.
He had been engaged to Alex for some weeks now but had given her nothing that would formalise that understanding. Although she had said she required no such token to prove that she was his, Vin still did not like the idea of any fiancee of his, not wearing so much as a ring, even if there were no plans for a wedding any time soon. Still, he knew he was a novice at this and as much as he hated to admit it, he was going to have to get help in selecting a ring.
Instead of heading straight for the livery to stable Peso, Vin rode straight to the saloon. It was late morning so he knew that at least Ezra and Buck would be present and Vin needed the help of the polished gambler if he intended on buying Alex a ring. Chris was probably still hiding out at this shack, far away from the wedding preparations for the day that was looming closer and closer. Vin made a mental note to tell Alex that if they ever did get married, Inez was not doing the planning.
He dismounted the animal before the familiar surroundings of the saloon and made his way into dimly lit establishment, his eyes searching the table his friends and comrades normally occupied. He saw Ezra, Buck, JD and to his surprise Chris, who now that he thought of it, must have come into town for Billy Travis' homecoming.
"Well look what the cat dragged in." Buck exclaimed as Vin reached the table and pulled himself a seat.
"Hey Vin." JD greeted enthusiastically and made a space for Vin to take his place at the table.
"Howdy." Vin drawled, perfectly aware of the gleaming innuendo in the man's eyes. Obviously, he was fooling no one as to where he had been the past two days.
"I trust your time away was well spent." Ezra replied as he toyed with the deck of cards in his hands. A faint smile was crossing the gambler's face as he made that statement. "You seemed refreshed."
"Extremely refreshed." Buck responded with a straight face even though he was trying not to laugh. "The wilderness can really refresh a man."
Vin rolled his eyes and was about to respond when suddenly, Chris spoke up.
"Okay, that's enough." The gunslinger retorted that Vin had bigger problems to deal with to not require any of this juvenile ribbing. At the moment, Vin had no idea what calamity was coming at him and he needed to be told while there was still time for him to get out of town, Chris could not resist thinking and the shadowy smile that stole across his face was almost reflex. "Leave the man alone. He's got trouble enough."
Vin looked at Chris blankly. "What?"
"Maybe it isn't that much of a problem." Buck spoke up, hoping that Vin had better sense in his head than to throw away what he had with Alexandra Styles. Buck had seen how he had been the last months and knew that the tracker had never been happier.
"What?" Vin turned to the tall man across the table from him.
"Perhaps we are reading more into this then we should," Ezra added in his two bits worth. "After all, it may be just a chance encounter."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Vin demanded, shifting his eyes across the faces at the table one by one.
"Charlotte Richmond is in town!" JD blurted out, unable to stand the suspense any more than Vin was able. The three older men turned to him in reproach that lasted only for a second before they returned their gaze back to Vin's astonished face.
Vin blinked.
"Charlotte?" He stammered, thinking he had heard wrong for a moment. Of course, the others would not have brought it up unless it had been the same Charlotte for which he had almost abandoned everything.
"She arrived yesterday Vin." Chris said quietly. "She was looking for you."
This was just getting better by the moment. Vin had no idea what to do and was almost grateful when Buck poured him a drink and slid the glass over to him. The tracker did not have to think twice before downing the contents in one sharp tilt of his head.
"Another." He said shoving the glass back to Buck who promptly filled it so Vin could swallow its contents again.
"When is Alex due back, pard?" Chris asked, knowing how explosive a situation Vin now found himself embroiled within. There was not a man in the world that was brave enough to get caught in the crosshairs of two women who had both staked a claim on him.
"Tomorrow." Vin said almost in a small voice. "I was going to buy her a ring." He mused because he could not quite think clearly. "I was going to get Ezra to pick it."
"I think that's the best thing you can do," Buck agreed robustly. "Go buy that gal of yours a ring. Charlotte's in the past Vin. She's old news. This doesn't have anything to do with you now or Alex."
"But she came all this way to find me... ." Vin met his gaze. "There has to be a reason."
"There may be a reason," Ezra added his voice. "It may even be a good one but that does not change anything. You have made commitments to Alexandra, Mr Tanner."
"I don't know need anyone to tell me that." Vin snapped with uncharacteristic annoyance.
His normally unflappable demeanour was shaken to the core in light of this situation. Of all the things that could have happened to him today, this was the one he had least expected. He remembered Charlotte and the memory of that love still lingered inside of him, no matter how much time had passed by. For all he knew, she could be just visiting and wanted to look him up but somehow, he knew that was not it. After their parting the last time, what they had said to each other was very final and for her to seek him out like this meant something that changed significantly.
"Then deal with this situation quickly." Ezra declared just as sharply and then turned to the others. "You know as well as I do, why she is in town. We all saw it and we know it was not because she happened to be here. She is here because of you Mr Tanner and unless you want the situation to escalate into something that is going to harm everyone involved, in particular Alexandra, you will end this quickly and make Mrs Richmond understand. She still travels under that name so I am assuming that Mr Richmond is still in the equation."
"This is none of your business Ezra," Vin warned with enough menace in his voice to tell Chris this was starting to become ugly. "Just because you cheated on Alex, don't mean I will!"
Ezra jumped to his feet and Vin rose to meet the gambler's anger in kind. Chris immediately grabbed Vin's arm as warning for restraint while Buck and JD did the same thing, keeping Ezra from doing anything they might all regret.
Chris who had kept counsel to himself at this point finally found himself stating firmly. "This is no one business but Vin's." He aimed that remark not only at Ezra but also at Buck and to a lesser degree JD. "Now the both of you settle down." Chris put enough threat in his voice to make certain he was obeyed.
"I apologise Mr Tanner," Ezra said first, reluctantly realising that perhaps he had pushed Vin into reacting due to some past guilt of his own behaviour. "I did not mean to impose myself upon you."
"Its okay," Vin conceded, accepting that the subject of Charlotte had always made him crazy. The thick atmosphere of tension evaporated as Buck quickly poured both Vin and Ezra a drink after they had all sat down once again.
"Drink up." Buck ordered. "It will keep you both from saying anything stupid."
"Do you still need assistance with that ring?" Ezra asked quietly, knowing that Vin needed to do this before Charlotte got to him and made him start questioning his motives for such a purchase. The seven had learnt one thing about Vin Tanner when it came to the subject of Charlotte Richmond and that was the fact that the woman could make Vin behave with extreme unpredictability. Until that point, Vin had been the reliable member of the team that one could always count on. However, Charlotte had robbed him of all good sense and Ezra and Chris who could read people well, in particular Vin, knew that time and separation had changed nothing.
Vin thought a moment, realising what Ezra was asking. He loved Alex, there was no question of that. Neither was there any question that he wanted to marry her and that she had made him happier than he had ever been in his life during the past few months. Charlotte's arrival in town was awkward but not devastating. It had ended between them when he had left her with her husband. As far as he was concerned, that was all there was to the matter.
"Yeah." He nodded firmly, coming to the decision that Charlotte was past and Alex was his future. "I do. I'd be obliged if you could give me a hand buying it Ezra."
"I'd be honoured, Mr Tanner." Ezra said graciously.
However, Chris Larabee who could read Vin better than anyone at the table, knew the situation was far from over.
Alexandra Styles returned to Four Corners at almost the same time as Vin Tanner had made his arrival a day earlier. She had spent the day before at Sweet Water, doing some shopping, buying some medical supplies and basically taking a day for herself that did not involve doctoring or consulting patients. While she had to admit it was not at all as exciting as the two days she had spent with Vin locked in a hotel room having passionate and steamy sex, it did give a little time to familiarise herself with the professional persona of Doctor Styles. She did so love being with Vin because he saw her as a woman and nothing else. He did so without being patronising and typically male although like the rest of the gender he had his moments. Still, it pleased her inordinately to know that their future together was assured in their recent engagement.
She spent the first few hours after her return home getting rested after her journey, doing some laundry after her sordid interlude and also unpacking from her shopping spree in Sweet Water. Strange, how such menial things could take up so much time and could be oddly relaxing. She supposed everything was, if one did not consider it work. Once she had taken care of her responsibilities at home, Alex stepped out of her house and went to let Vin know she was back. She felt a little guilty for leaving it so long, knowing that he would have wanted to know the moment she had hit town.
She headed towards the saloon first, knowing that was the most likely place he would be if not the jailhouse, which would be her second choice if he were not there. As she continued down the boardwalk, familiar faces, some friends, and some patients greeted her. Alex wondered how Inez was going with the wedding preparations for Chris and Mary's wedding, aware that the lady bartender was turning it into the biggest event since someone told Michaelangelo to get on his back and paint that ceiling. The wedding had evolved into Frankenstein's monsters that had Chris Larabee hiding out in his shack out of town and Mary running for cover. As it was, Alex did not know how much longer she could side step Inez's efforts to get her involved.
Alex hated nothing more than to become embroiled in such things, preferring to lose her sanity working then trying to decide which china patterns went with what napkins. She was passing Gloria Potter's store when suddenly she heard a voice call out.
"Alex!"
Damn, Alex swore under her breath as she heard Inez's voice sail out of the shop and ensnare her with no avenue of escape. Freezing in place, Alex decided she could no longer avoid the terrible fate in store for her as she turned around and waved at Inez who was emerging from the general store. "Hi Inez," Alex greeted politely. "How goes the preparations?" It was best to get these things over and done with.
"Well now that you ask," Inez smiled sweetly, linking her arm through Alex's because she was perfectly aware that the doctor had been in hiding to avoid being recruited in her wedding preparations. "You know that I am maid of honour." She declared.
"Yes," Alex nodded. "And you're doing a terrific job at it, so terrific in fact that I'm sure you don't need me at all." She disengaged herself from Inez and tried to sneak away on her tiptoes.
"Hold it right there Doc." Inez said sternly, not at all fooled for one minute. "Mrs Rosillos did not raise an idiot. You will help me and you will help me with a smile on your face, like this." She demonstrated by smiling brightly for Alex and then said in a more menacing tone. "Si?"
"Si," Alex frowned, knowing that Inez had finally snapped. "What do you need me to do?" She asked, finally submitting to her fate like someone being marched to the block.
"Now that's the spirit," Inez grinned almost maniacally. "Now we decided to have the bridal shower early, mostly because Mary thinks it would be too much bother to have it the day before what with the preparations and all. I have too much to do and so I need someone else to do it."
"You want me to organise a bridal shower?" Alex exclaimed. "What about Julia?"
"She's busy helping me." Inez folded her arms, a stance Alex knew to mean that she was not taking no for an answer.
A bridal shower? What exactly happened at those things? She knew that cucumber sandwiches and tea were involved with gifts being exchanged, lots of matronly women sitting about talking of how young brides' first night would be, droning on about the pitfalls of marriage. Even thinking about it sounded extremely dull to Alex, to say nothing of organising such an affair.
"But its boring Inez." Alex whined. "All these women sitting around talking about marriage and preserves and making jam. Who enjoys these things?"
Inez rolled her eyes and looked at Alex as if she were an unlearned child. "Since when were you such a traditionalist? Be creative? Do something different! I mean think of something fun."
"In a town this straight? Are you kidding?" Alex said exasperated. "Are you forgetting that this is the place that almost had a stroke when that theatrical troop tried to put on Midsummer Nights Dream this summer?"
"Well you had to admit that it could be forgiven that someone might mistake that Puck fellow's name for something else." Inez responded with a completely straight face.
"Inez, I don't know how to organise a bridal shower." Alex implored. "Can you throw something together yourself? You're resourceful and smart, a terrific organiser. You can do this thing with your eyes closed."
"Flattery will get you nowhere Senora Styles." Inez said reverting to Spanish which meant she was starting to get mad. When the colourful Mexican expletives began flying, even Buck had the sense to get out of the line of fire. "Bridal shower."
Alex let out a visible groan before nodding in compliance, deciding that she was no match for Inez on this matter. Alex made a mental note to tell Vin that if they ever did get married, Inez was not doing the planning.
"So now that we have that all cleared up," Inez said brightly moving on, realising that she was not going to get any further arguments from Alex on this matter. "How was your trip?"
"Fine." Alex said cautiously.
"Just fine?" Inez looked at her with a raised brow.
"Okay," Alex could not help allowing a little smile steal across her features. "A little better than fine."
Alex knew that she could confide in Inez, who was not judgemental about the intimate relationships of her friends. "It was nice being able to wake up with him for once," she said quietly since the rest of the town need not know her private business. "No sneaking around in the middle of the night, in or out of bed. I'd love to do that all the time," she sighed, remembering how nice it had been to wake up with Vin holding her.
"Then perhaps you should get married."
"Oh no you don't," Alex looked at her. "Do I have to get myself a crucifix to protect myself from you? You're turning into some blood sucking creature that thrives on weddings!"
They had almost reached the saloon when Alex saw Vin emerging onto the street, She was about to wave at him when suddenly she heard a voice calling out across the street.
"Vin!"
Vin Tanner heard her call and turned around just in time to see Charlotte Richmond hurrying across the street with unbridled happiness on her face. She looked just as beautiful as he last remembered her, with dark auburn hair and eyes that seemed to reach into his soul and tear out his heart. She lifted her skirts as she ran towards him, letting it drop to the ground once more when she was near enough to throw her arms around him and pull him to her in a kiss of passion. There was such hunger and need in that kiss that it was almost impossible not to respond to it even slightly.
"Charlotte." He said breathlessly as he broke the kiss, unable to decide what he should say. It was at this point that he saw Alex staring at him.
Oh hell.
Her eyes were fixed on him and the look he saw in her eyes was devoid of any expression. She walked forward slowly, with Inez at her side closing in on Vin and Charlotte.
"What is it honey?" Charlotte asked, seeing the strained expression on his face and the eyes that were staring at a completely different direction. Vin broke away from her and strode towards Alex, hoping to explain before the situation got out of control as Ezra had predicted.
"Alex, this is not what it looks like." Vin said swallowing hard, feeling as if he was already tried, convicted and sentenced by the intensity of her gaze.
"Explain it to me then." She said in a cool measured voice. Alex was telling herself repeatedly to give Vin the chance to explain because she loved him and she knew he would not intentionally hurt her.
Inez had made a discreet exit, hurrying into the saloon because she could think of doing nothing but getting Chris out here. The gunslinger seemed to be able to pacify such situations and Inez had a terrible feeling that this situation needed pacifying badly.
Charlotte neared Vin, aware now that there was something between her former lover and this dazzlingly beautiful woman before them that looked as mad as hell. Suddenly, it occurred to her that Vin had not languished in the months since they had parted. He had actually picked up the pieces of his broken heart and given it to someone else. The realisation brought anguish inside Charlotte so sharply it almost felt like the dank stench that rose from the bottom of a deep well.
"This is Charlotte." Vin introduced. Charlotte was a subject that he had never discussed with her because as far as Vin had been concerned, there had been no reason to bring it up. After all, she was no longer a part of his life and it did not appear would ever be again.
Alex did not need to have heard it from Vin to know who Charlotte was because she had known about it long before they had first made love. Mary had told him about the illicit love affair Vin had shared with one of the married women on a wagon train being escorted out west. She saw in his eyes, the desperation to be believed and suddenly her anger faded somewhat. He did love her and he was terrified that she would not believe him. Knowing that dampened the fire of her rage significantly because this was Vin who would not hurt her for anything.
If she had faith in nothing else, Alex had faith in that.
"And the kiss?" She asked, hoping there was a reasonable explanation for that too.
"She was kissing me darlin', not the other way around. I swear to you." He walk to her and held her hands in his, making her look into his eyes so he would understand that there could be no one else because he loved her only.
"I believe you." Alex said finally and allowed her gaze to shift to Charlotte who was staring at them both, with pain at the realisation that Vin's heart was no longer hers. Vin seemed to remember her at that point too and he turned back to his former love.
"Its good to see you Charlotte." He stepped away from Alex and took a step forward.
"You said you were going to love me forever." She said defiantly, feeling like a child who was lost. She had left everything for this man! What was she to do now? Her panic was real and palpable, it constricted in her throat and made it difficult to breathe.
"Charlotte it's been almost a year." Vin tried to make her understand that he had no wish to hurt her. "I moved on!"
"I left my husband!" She wailed, tears running down her cheeks. "I left my life for you and you're telling me you've moved on? How could you promise me that?"
Alex saw the conflict in Vin's eyes and wished there were something she could say to take the guilt she saw entering his face. A part of her was furious at this woman who would just expect Vin to be waiting for her after all this time. Another part of Alex, the doctor who felt compassion towards all, no matter what the crime, pitied Charlotte Richmond for the mistake she had made.
"I thought you were going to try and make it work with your husband," Vin said helplessly. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Chris, Buck and Inez emerge from the saloon. "We said goodbye... ."
"You said you would love me forever." Charlotte repeated, becoming more distraught by the moment. "Was that a lie?"
"No it wasn't." He stammered, trying to explain that things changed. He did love her and he had loved her for a very long time. There was not a day that went by during those first few months, after she had gone that Vin had not dreamt about riding out to the land she and her husband had settled to spirit her away. To go to Brazil like they had talked about. However, even he had understood that it was not meant to be. She belonged with her husband. He had seen that in the wake of Dicky O'Shea's attack on the wagon train when her husband had almost been killed. Vin had believed then that Charlotte loved him because he reminded her of the man she had married, not for himself.
"But I had to move on Charlotte. I couldn't live my life waiting for you."
"Well I found out I could not live my life without you and I left my husband to come here now." Charlotte returned, the resentment in her voice starting to surface now. She glared not at Vin in hatred and scorn but at Alex, who held the heart she had let go almost a year ago. "What am I going to do now Vin? I've lost everything."
"Charlotte," Vin took a step forward and then realised that if he were to go to her aid, he would be making the biggest mistake of his life, thus he held firm and tried to reason with her. "I'm sorry and I'll help anyway I can but it can't be like it was... "
"I won't let you go Vin." She said defiantly, wiping the tears from her eyes as she regarded Alex as her hated rival. "You loved me once and I don't think you've stopped. I won't let you go. Not ever."
"We're engaged to be married." Alex found herself saying because she could not endure another moment of this tirade. It was cutting Vin to ribbons just hearing it. She could see the lashes in his heart each time Charlotte spoke.
"You're not married yet." Charlotte said viciously. "And I'm back now. Things change."
Alex did not know what to say to that as Vin came to her side and responded, not without some anger. He could tolerate Charlotte's rage at him but he would not endure it aimed at Alex who was the innocent in all this. "Not that much Charlotte. Not that much."
"Your eyes tell me different Vin," Charlotte said quietly, her eyes softening when she met his. "I know that you still love me and until you stop, nothing is over."
With that she hurried away, leaving destruction in her wake.