Series/Universe: Family Business
Disclaimers: M7 characters belong to Trilogy, et al. Original characters are all mine ... don't mind if you borrow them, just ask first, give them back intact and give credit where credit is due.
Warnings: The usual ... violence, language, and references to ugliness. Oh yeah, and the original characters. Can't forget them.
Spoilers: All twenty-one episodes, my Road to Hell trilogy, (Recovery, Reunion and Reconciliation) and the stories in my Facets series will probably be alluded to.
Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who emailed me while I was writing the Road to Hell trilogy ... I couldn't have done it without your support. Extra special thanks, as ever, to Elizabeth and Cin.
Vin was asleep again within minutes, once Chanu left. Unfortunately, his rest didn't remain peaceful for long, as nightmares plagued his sleep. Culminating in Rupert Browner killing those among the Seven who hadn't broken faith with him. First Chris, then JD ... Josiah, then Ezra. And then, finally, Adriana and Laura, along with the other ladies. One after the other. All while Vin remained chained to the infirmary bed. All dead. All because of him, Nathan and Buck kept saying. It was all his fault, he should have died in the prison camp. He never belonged among the Seven. And with those words ringing in Vin's ears, he woke with a start.
As his eyes flew open and he sat up right, it took Vin several seconds to realize it was a dream. With that established, he collapsed back on the pillows and lay very still for several moments. He looked around the room repeatedly as he struggled to bring his heart under control. As reason returned to him, he finally identified what the noises were. Rafe, talking in low tones to someone. Several someones, from the sounds of it. Vin started to relax, though he still found it hard to take a deep breath. That was as much due to his healing ribs as it was to the nightmare. He found a distraction from the images still burned into his brain by trying to figure out who was with Rafe.
It took him several more minutes to identify the owners of the voices. Two belonged to Elizabeth and Jamie Potter, obviously wanting to talk to him ... the other one belonged to Judge Travis. Aw hell, the tracker thought, pushing himself into a sitting position, ain't ready to do this. Especially after the killer nightmare he just had. Nathan and Buck had both apologized to him, but Vin still found himself doubting them both. In the beginning of the Seven, Buck had been afraid that Vin would get Chris killed. According to the nightmare, that was exactly what he done. And Nathan ... Vin still couldn't wrap his mind around that.
So, no. He wasn't ready to do this. Wasn't ready to make this kind of a decision, regardless of what he might have thought as they were coming into town. But he didn't have a choice in the matter. Judge Travis would want an answer from him. A half second after he managed to get himself into a sitting position, the door opened and Judge Travis entered the room as quietly as he could.
He looked surprised to see Vin awake and sitting upright, but smiled and said, "It seems the children and I made more noise than I thought. My apologies for waking you." Vin waved his hand, and the judge continued, his dark eyes narrowing, "It does matter, Vin. You've had a stressful journey, you're still recovering from your injuries, as well as being sick. The more rest you get, the quicker you'll heal."
"And I got me a decision to make," Vin added quietly. Judge Travis settled himself into the chair beside Vin, sighing. From the judge's expression, it was now clear to Vin that he wasn't expected to make a decision immediately. Which was nice to know. But on the other hand, something had to be done. It weren't fair to the others, twistin' in the wind like this. Vin added softly, "I ain't sure I can tell ya what ya want to hear, Judge."
"What I want to hear is that you're getting better. The decision can wait, Vin. You just got back to town today. I've never been in one of those ... places ... but I imagine it's no better than an insane asylum. And I have been inside one of those, an experience I would prefer to forget," Travis replied. Vin frowned ... when had he been there? Travis continued with a sigh, "You forget, Vin, I'm the circuit judge. I've been to the asylum outside Pordios."
Vin's throat closed up as he thought about that hell where his friend had spent six months. Judge Travis continued, "I've sent a few people to other asylums ... but I can guarantee, I would not have allowed your friend to remain there, if I had any say at the time. Nor will I allow her to be sent back. If that is weighing on your mind, then it shouldn't. She's neither sick nor crazy, and there is no legal reason for her to be there." Vin relaxed, even though he wasn't sure why
"Thanks, sir," he whispered. He leaned his head back against the bedboard, murmuring, "I'm gittin' better. Still git tired real easy. My legs still give out on me from time t' time. But I am gittin' better. Just wish other thin's were healin' up that good." Judge Travis looked away briefly, then looked back at Vin. The tracker continued, choosing not to mention his nightmare, "I know ya say ya want me to git better first, and believe me, I wanna get better. But it ain't fair to y'all, not having an answer."
"Vin, you're here. And you know what they say about possession being nine-tenths of the law. Personally, I believe you've made your decision ... both of your decisions. To remain in Four Corners, and to remain part of the Seven. I think the primary decision you have to make is, do you trust Nathan and Buck to watch your back? If not, that's fine. There are four other men who would gladly do that," Judge Travis replied.
"Reckon Mary would, too," Vin admitted shyly and the judge smiled, nodding his agreement. Vin continued, "I ain't told no one this yet, Judge. But it ain't just ... what happened. They lied to me, Judge. Tol' me that Chris wanted 'em to turn me over to them outlaws. An' I couldn't figger out what I done wrong, why Chris would say that." Vin heard his voice crack, and hated himself for the weakness. Ever since he woke up in Laertes' ranch, it seemed like he was all tangled up inside, and he couldn't figure out how to work out the knots.
"Nothing, son. I know you've been told this before, but you need to hear it again. You did nothing wrong. I stay out of the relationships between you men, because you're all adults, and you don't need me to tell you how to behave, how to treat each other. But in this case, Nathan and Buck were just plain wrong. They know that. And you need to know that. Oh, I know that you know on some level. But you need to know that you didn't deserve what happened," Judge Travis replied.
He paused, then continued, "I'll be staying in town for a few days. Billy's growing so fast, I want to spend as much time with him as possible. In three days, I'm leaving for Pordios. I think it's time I checked into that asylum. Even ignoring Ms Wilmington's incarceration there, too many things don't sound right, especially concerning Dr. Wallace Powell. I'll be gone for two weeks. Do you think you can give me a solid answer by the time I return?"
Vin quickly added that up in his mind. Seventeen days. He looked back up at the judge and nodded, a quick bob of his head. Judge Travis smiled and patted his shoulder, saying softly, "Good. Get some sleep, son. You need it." He patted Vin's ankle, then left the room. He stopped at the door and turned, saying softly, "You know, son ... Mary told me that the nightmares left you alone if someone was with you. Would you like me to track down one of the others?" Nightmares ... aw hell!
Travis smiled at Vin's expression, adding, "There's no reason for you to apologize, Vin. Chris had nightmares for months after you boys released him from Jericho. I'm sure he still has nightmares. And I can only imagine the nightmares which your friend has. There's no need for you to be ashamed or embarrassed. You're human. You don't have to be human. Remember that." Travis tipped his hat and left the room without another word.
Vin stared at the door. Travis knew. He knew about the nightmare. Who else? This wasn't just about Vin's pride, though that certainly played into it. But Vin was uneasy about anyone being near him when he was asleep. He was all right with Chris, Ezra, Josiah, and JD being nearby. He was okay with Miss Nettie, Mary, Adriana, and Casey being around him. Hell, after the last month, he damn well better be okay with Adriana being around him while he was asleep! And he didn't have a problem with Laura and Billy watching over him while he slept.
It was what Ezra would call, 'the unknown quantity' which bothered him. Of course, Rafe was sitting guard outside, but that was something else. Did he really want Rafe to hear his nightmares? When the kid had his own nightmares about his sister dying all those months ago?
He had an answer to his question sooner than he expected. A half second after Travis left, the door opened once more, admitting Rafe this time. The young man explained, before Vin could ask, "Judge Travis and me, we heard your nightmare. He told me that when he left, he wanted me to sit with you, while he found someone else to guard the room. Jamie and Elizabeth went with him. I think they went to get Dunne. But don't you worry about that. You go on back to sleep, Vin. I've got your back."
Vin didn't want Rafe to stay. He was a grown man, for God's sake, not some little kid who needed his ma. But Rafe said softly, gently, "You need to get some sleep, Vin. Just like you need to stop thinking that this is your fault. It ain't, and if I gotta keep tellin' ya that, I will!" Vin tried to argue with the former troublemaker, but he was too tired. He closed his eyes, and Rafe continued, "I'll talk to hear myself talk for a little while, Vin. Don't you worry none about listening to me. That ain't the point."
And sure enough, as Rafe chattered on, Vin felt his breathing even out, until finally, he fell asleep. This time, the dreams were of the happier kind. Memories, really. But this time around, Vin's sleep was peaceful. This time, he dreamed in color, not in blood. And somewhere in a part of his soul, he kept hearing Rafe's voice. Things had gotten off to a bad start between them, but somewhere along the way, Rafe turned into a good man.
They sat there for what seemed like forever. It was unbelievable to Buck, that nothing in the clinic had been touched by anything other than a coating of dust. It was as if the people in town who would have vandalized Nathan's clinic for betraying a white man, decided that Nathan wasn't worth the time or the bother. Sure, they both knew that Chanu and Rafe had helped to patrol the town, but even if they were of a mind to, they couldn't be around all the time.
As Nathan finally gave way to his grief, Buck mentally catalogued the possibilities. What would happen next? He overheard Ezra say that he believed Vin already made his decision, about whether he would remain with the Seven, though the gambler didn't specify what that decision was. Not that Ezra would have told him. In the last few weeks, an amazing transition had taken place within Ezra Standish.
He had become responsible ... maybe not respectable. But he had taken care of the desperately ill Vin, calming him and soothing him with his voice and his stories. And when Buck and Nathan failed their friend, Ezra Standish ... the man who ran out on them during their first battle ... the man had conceived of scams and get-rich-quick schemes ... had risen to the occasion. No, he wasn't able to prevent Buck and Nathan from turning Vin over to the outlaws, but he had fought for his friend. For their friend.
Buck and Ezra had been partners in crime so many times over the last year. Making up pranks and carrying them out. They both loved women, both wanted to protect women. And they both made up their mind that Chanu was guilty of abducting and attempting to rape Claire Moseley. Both of them had made up their minds that Vin was the enemy. Buck, because of the way Chris believed in him so completely, in a way he never believed in Buck, and because Vin wanted to hear Chanu's side of the story. Hell, it was obvious what happened.
Except ... Buck was a lawman once upon a time. He should have known that things which seem obvious, rarely are. What had Ezra said to Mary, when she observed that they hadn't heard Chanu's side of the story? Something along the lines of a savage and a lovely young white woman ... a reasonable guess could have been made. A guess which turned out to be wrong. And as Buck remembered the week which nearly tore the Seven apart, he remembered something Vin had told him.
It was after Vin was able to talk more or less normally, and Buck wanted to know how Vin had known to question Reverend Moseley's interpretation of events. The young tracker admitted that a few things seemed wrong. First, if Chanu ... meant to have his way with Claire, he would have just done it. Secondly ... why wasn't she happier to see them? Sure, she was exhausted, but not even a wan smile?
There were just too many things which didn't add up to Vin. Then the fight in the jail occurred, Vin and Nathan found Claire's body ... and everything the former bounty hunter believed about Chanu went up in smoke. At least, until the second fight, when everything finally came together. When Buck questioned what he meant, Vin explained that he and Nathan were with Moseley when Claire's body was 'discovered.'
Before they came upon the burial mound Chanu intended for his wife, Vin had found a campfire, which he mentioned during the confrontation. Lightning had struck the tree ... which had felt wrong to Vin. Buck questioned what he meant, and the tracker answered that that Chanu wouldn't have used wood from a tree struck by lightning. Then there was injury which Vin had inflicted on Chanu in the jail. Things just didn't add up.
Listening to the tracker put the pieces together, Buck had seen what Vin meant. He had to put pieces together now, though of a different kind. Vin had started forgiving him, once Buck apologized to him for his part in that mess ... but Nathan was still on the outside. The exact opposite of those days of the Moseley situation, when the healer was firmly at Vin's side. Nowhere else, perhaps because Nathan knew what it was like to be threatened with a hanging, whether you were guilty or not. So much had changed since then. Buck had to build a bridge between his friends, and he didn't know how to do that.
How, exactly, did you put the shattered remains of a friendship back together again? Buck had more practice than Nathan. But always before ... it was different. Misunderstandings or outright immaturity had caused the problems. But never a betrayal. Not like this. So, while Buck was used to mending fences with people he hurt, he was out of his depth on this one. In the back of his mind, he heard a beloved voice with wise advice.
"When you're out of your depth, son, that's when you start swimming. Only this time, you won't just be swimming for yourself ... you'll be pulling Nathan with you. You're strong enough, son. Just don't let go of Nathan, and don't take your eyes off your friends." His mother's voice was so strong, he could almost believe she was in the room with him, could almost smell her perfume. He wondered what he would do about DeeDee ... then realized that would take care of itself, as she slowly lowered her guard with him.
All right. Then it was time to start swimming. Nathan was silent now, just staring down at the floor with a disconsolate expression. Buck squeezed his shoulder, bringing Nathan's eyes back to him, and the ladies' man said with quiet determination, "We've been drowning long enough, Nathan. Now we start swimming. We start by dusting this place, cleaning up. And then we start making a new place for ourselves. Here, in town ... and in the Seven."
Nathan just stared at him for a moment, then slowly, the healer began to smile. Buck smiled back and slapped Nathan's knee. He didn't have a plan yet, but by God, they were getting there. The healer asked hoarsely, "So, after we clean up, what do we do then?" Buck glared at him ... one problem at a time, dammit! Nathan started laughing, a rusty sound, as he had forgotten how to laugh. And with that, another step was taken toward healing.
Judge Orrin W Travis, circuit judge of the New Mexico Territories, was not a happy man. He was, to be quite coarse about it, severely pissed off. His bad mood started when Arthur Conklin, who liked to call himself a businessman, confronted a still-recovering Vin Tanner while Chris Larabee and young Rafe Moseley were aiding the tracker to his hotel room. Actually, that wasn't entirely true. Conklin had confronted Chris, ignoring Vin.
Next, there was Conklin's oft-repeated assertion that Vin wasn't needed or wanted in Four Corners, that they had been doing just fine before the Seven had been hired. Riiiight. That was why a man was nearly lynched because he couldn't save a dying man, whom not even a doctor could save. That was why Stuart James and Guy Royal thought they could run roughshod over people like Nettie Welles and so many others.
Four Corners, aside from a small group, didn't deserve the protectors they had. But Orrin was a judge, who believed in justice, in law. And two people whom he loved very much lived in this town. His son had died here, been buried here. And he couldn't allow the narrow-mindedness of men like Arthur Conklin and so many others make Stephen's death meaningless. Nor could he leave his daughter in law and grandson alone in a town without protection.
And so he defended Vin Tanner and Chris Larabee with all the passion and conviction he had once demonstrated in the courtroom as a young lawyer. For every point which Arthur Conklin raised, Orrin Travis had three in the defense of the protectors. And as he so often did, Conklin fell back on his 'they're trouble' speech. When would that old fool learn that despite his dark appearance, Chris Larabee was neither a devil nor a monster? That Vin Tanner was far more civilized, in the true sense of the word, that Arthur Conklin could ever hope to be? Never, of course. Never.
When would he look at the men, instead of their appearance? At what they had accomplished? When Orrin came here for the first time after Stephen's death, the town was in shambles. It had been falling apart even before Stephen's murder, but it had grown steadily worse. And in the midst of all of it was Mary, his beautiful daughter, holding onto Stephen's dream with both hands, with a desperation borne of rage and sorrow.
And now ... the town was thriving. Instead of gunfights (which still happened), the most common sound was that of children laughing as they played in the streets and off the alley ways. Billy had moved back, to live with his mother. A school was being built. And all of this was possible because of the seven men whom he had hired, more than a year ago. Why would Conklin never see that? What did he gain by remaining blind?
Already angered from his confrontation with the old fool (never mind that Conklin was actually a few years younger than himself), Orrin's mood grew darker when he went into the hotel to speak with Rafe Moseley ... and heard Vin Tanner's nightmare. Orrin wasn't sure how much of the nightmare itself Vin would remember, but Orrin would never forget the sound of that young man, crying out in pain and terror and fury.
And even now ... even now! That boy still thought he had done something wrong, done something to deserve the abandonment and betrayal. Even now, he searched his mind, trying to figure out what he could have done to deserve that. Why couldn't he accept the truth? That this wasn't his fault, that he had been the victim in this circumstance, not the villain? And that was what did it, for Orrin W. Travis.
That one word. Victim. Vin Tanner was no victim. Not someone to sit idly by, and let something happen ... to himself or to anyone else. No matter what else had happened to him in his life, he never allowed himself to think of himself as a victim, because that route was a quick way to self-destruction. Instead, he stepped up, took responsibility, whether it was his to take or not. Unless his life was directly threatened, as it had been in Tascosa, Vin Tanner didn't run from trouble. He met it head on.
Orrin stopped, taking several breaths as he leaned against the hitch rail. The revelation had knocked the wind out of him, because he should have seen it a long time ago. Yes, that was the key. Vin couldn't allow himself to think of himself as a victim, that was why he was still believing that he was at fault somehow. And because if it was his fault, in one way or another, then he could learn from his mistakes. But if this wasn't his fault, then there was nothing he could learn, and Vin would be vulnerable to something similar happening again.
Of course. While Orrin didn't know the young fugitive as well as he had come to know Chris, the judge found himself looking upon the tracker as a son. That wasn't why Orrin chose to look the other way, when he realized that Vin Tanner, a wanted man in Tascosa, Texas, was one of the men who came to his aid. And he knew, from the moment he laid eyes on the young man, from the moment Vin Tanner observed quietly, "Hardly seems fair," whom he was. He had seen the wanted posters, he recognized the young man ... though Vin Tanner seemed much younger in the flesh than he did in his poster.
But Vin had chosen to remain in town, to help someone who was defenseless. Had risked his life to bring Lucas James back for justice. He could have kept riding that day, when the judge was shot. But instead, he and Chris Larabee had intervened ... again ... and saved Orrin's life. That was not the action of a murderer. At the same time he hired the former bounty hunter, Orrin began making discreet inquiries about what really happened to Jess Kincaid.
His wires to Tascosa were ignored, not that he would tell them where to find Vin, especially not after the debacle with Eli Joe and Yates. Not just to protect Vin, though that played into it. No, he had to protect the town as well, and he knew Vin would never forgive himself if someone died because of him. Something else which Orrin remembered, when he heard Vin's nightmare.
His fear that everyone who had remained true to him was dead. That Nathan and Buck blamed him. Nathan and Buck. What the hell were those two thinking? Never mind that the bounty hunters were really outlaws ... they, of all people, should have known that by yielding to the newcomers, they shattered the credibility of the Seven. Up until that happened, the Larabee gang had a formidable reputation.
In the beginning, they said they were protecting the town. A town could be rebuilt. They knew of a threat, they could evacuate the town. How could they have been so stupid? Orrin eyed the young girl now talking to Chris Larabee, then looked at the clinic. At the same time, he observed young Mahlon Conklin sneaking out of the alley beside the hotel. A second glance toward Chris and Casey told him that they weren't alone. Chanu was with him.
And Orrin Travis smiled. He'd leave Casey alone. She was still working through her own actions, taking Rupert Browner's life. No, he was sure Mahlon would want this job instead. He beckoned the boy, and to his gratitude, Orrin saw Mahlon look both ways for any horses or coaches, before sprinting across the street. Orrin said softly, "I'm a very bad old man, son, but how would you like the chance to annoy your uncle?"
Mahlon's eyes lit up. Very few twelve year old boys could resist that lure ... Stephen and Gerard never could ... and a twelve year old boy who had been neglected by his uncle from the time he first arrived here? Orrin decided he wouldn't think about Gerard, as the boy had greatly disappointed him. Chris had reported on that as well, when they returned from escorting the wagon train. For now, he smiled as Mahlon asked eagerly, "What do you want me to do, Judge Travis?" Orrin's smile widened. More than anything, Mahlon reminded him of Stephen when his only child was a boy ... and of the youngster which Billy was becoming.
"I want you to go over to the hotel, and keep watch outside Mr. Tanner's room. It's room two seventeen. The people who tried to kill him may still be around, and we want to make sure they don't get him. I don't think anything will happen, as I've not noticed anyone new in town. It's just a safety precaution, and if someone goes after Mr. Tanner, get help immediately. Rafe is inside, he can protect him from intruders. It'll only be for a few hours, until Mr. Larabee and Chanu finish their business. Don't worry about your uncle ... I'll deal with him," Orrin promised. He was rewarded with a big grin and a quick bob of the blond head.
As soon as the words were out, Mahlon dashed back over to the hotel ... not as careful this time, but he was lucky. There was no traffic on this sleepy day. Orrin's smile lasted a few minutes more as he watched the boy tear into the hotel. He would make sure the child wasn't escorted from the hotel ... no, he had gone into the other entrance. Trust a child to know all the entrances and exits to a building.
Orrin's smile died as he looked at the clinic. It was time he got some answers from Buck Wilmington and Nathan Jackson. And then, he had one other person he needed to talk to. But his daughter in law was seeing to her, as were Nettie Welles and Gloria Potter. As Orrin headed toward the clinic, he smiled again. If Arthur Conklin even tried to get past Mary, Gloria, and Nettie ... that would be quite a battle!
Ezra Standish sat down with a sigh, smiling wanly as Inez brought him the finest in the house. The Mexican beauty was obviously happy that the Seven were home ... she always had a soft spot for Vin, after his aid during the Don Paulo situation. She seemed to be walking on air as she returned to her place behind the bar, and a smile was plastered to her lovely face. Now, if Ezra could feel some of her happiness.
The Seven were back in town, and Vin was on the road to recovery. He got stronger every day, though he still tired easily. But Ezra didn't know if the Seven would remain intact. He didn't want to press Vin ... that wasn't fair, and Ezra had already failed his friend once. Funny. How all the jealousy, all the resentment, he had ever felt for Vin Tanner turned to ash when the barely conscious tracker was turned over to those miscreants.
Along with the jealousy, Ezra's desire to get rich quick, using anyone else, turned to ash as well. It simply wasn't worth it. Vin Tanner was worth far more to Ezra Standish than a pittance of five hundred dollars. And whatever money Adriana Wilmington had inherited from her mother ... her own life had been turned to ash when her father sold her, to get his hands on that money. It just wasn't worth it. Ezra was still a gambler, he hadn't given up dreams of his own place. But never again would he run a scam or any such thing.
There were other ways to accomplish his dreams. Hell, at least he had dreams, hopes for the future! But now, he recognized that other people had hopes and dreams of their own, and his behavior in the past with his mother's scams had destroyed some of those dreams. Those people had seen a way to make their dreams come true, and Ezra and his mother had turned those dreams to ash. It wasn't easy to change yourself, after more than thirty years of believing one thing, acting one way. Yet another reason he was jealous of Vin Tanner.
And yes, he had been jealous of Vin. God, he had been so jealous. Especially after the debacle involving the blood money, as Josiah had taken to calling it. But in those dark days before Chris, JD, and Josiah returned, Ezra had a lot of time to think. How many times in the year the Seven had been together, had he pulled a scam, had he proved that he could not be trusted with money? More times than he could count.
And how many times had Vin fallen? Once. And looking back now, after almost losing the man for good, Ezra found it very hard to blame his friend for his actions. Vin had been wrong, yes. But no one was perfect, and Vin Tanner never claimed he was. So, when Vin faced his own demons, in the form of that rifle ... he had the strength to get to the other side. While Ezra ... did not. At least, not until he saw the face of the man who was hired to kill Mary Travis. Should Ezra, then, blame Vin for his own weakness? Should he blame Vin for the lack of faith from the others? Was Vin responsible for Ezra's inability to look at himself in the mirror?
Of course not, although, if he knew Vin Tanner, Ezra was sure Vin would try to take responsibility for those things. That was part of whom he was. There was one other difference. Once he faced his demon, Vin had turned the rifle over to Chris. He knew what he had to know. He had killed, but he was not a murderer. Ezra, on the other hand, was still hiding from himself. And he hated Vin for that. Hated him for his strength, strength which Ezra lacked. And then he hated himself, because he realized that in his own way, Ezra was lashing out at someone who didn't deserve it.
This, then, was not about trust. Where money was concerned, he had given Chris no reason to trust him. And, he had learned in a conversation with Adriana, in order to receive trust, you not only had to earn it ... you had to give it. When had he ever allowed himself to trust the others? Just once. And young JD had shattered that when he put Ezra in jail, after Judge Travis recognized him. Yes, he had joined Buck in many pranks, but had he ever allowed himself to trust anyone other than JD, the callow boy from the East?
Adriana. Now there was an intriguing young woman. He still didn't know quite what to make of her. Half lady, half wild child, she seemed to choose which rules of society she would follow. She had accepted the consequences of her decision ... seemed, in fact, to revel in the consequences. Being an outcast, even demonized by the lesser people in these towns, as she had been in Pordios, and it was likely to happen again in Four Corners ... though to a lesser degree. Conklin and his kind would likely demonize her, but the supporters of the Seven would give her a chance. What truly intrigued him was the strange relationship which had begun developing between the young hellcat (as Chris had called her more than once) and Mary Travis.
When you looked at it a certain way, they were two women who were total and complete opposites. Mary was the beautiful blonde daughter of wealth and privilege, a young matron of society. Adriana was the child of a working girl, a young woman outside society. Partly because of an accident of birth, and partly by her choice. And partly because after her father sold to the white slavers when Adriana was still a girl, he ruined any chance she might have to be accepted into polite society. Ezra almost hoped the man returned, so Ezra could dispense a little Southern justice to that particular miscreant for selling his own child.
While Mary was very a much a lady (despite her outspoken habits), Adriana was anything but, according to herself. She was as comfortable in trousers as she was in a dress. Ezra snickered, thinking of what would happen the first time Adriana appeared out in public in trousers. He remembered the times she wore trousers while they were at Aurora's cabin ... and here, Ezra's fingers stilled, thinking of the lovely mulatto who had sheltered them. What kind of a price had she paid for her loyalty?
He knew she planned to leave Pordios and close her store for good. It hadn't been home for her for a long time, not since her father died. She never did tell him where she grew up. Ezra shook his head, a faint smile playing about his lips as he thought about her. He wondered if he would ever see Aurora again. Then, before he could experience that curious longing he felt when Li Pong left for San Francisco and her family, Ezra turned his attention back to the question of the two very different women, totally different in background, in appearance, in temperament. They were, in many ways, exact opposites.
And yet, Mary had decided that Adriana was part of her circle now, and as such, she would defend the young brunette with her last breath. Ezra had encountered that ferocity in the past ... first, when Chanu had been wrongly accused of kidnapping and murdering Claire Moseley, then when the false marshals came to Four Corners for Vin. And shortly after his arrival in town, he heard about how she tried to stop the Texas cowboys from lynching Nathan.
Later, while the trials were in progress, Ezra initially feared that Mary had fallen under his mother's sway. He knew that Maude liked the feisty young widow. Perhaps his mother saw what a daughter could have been like, when she looked at the newspaper editor, or Maude herself, if her own life had gone differently. And when his mother was in jail for stealing Preston Wingo's cufflinks, Mary had helped to make Maude a little more comfortable.
He should have realized that Mary was doing what she did best. She was a journalist, after all ... dedicated to learning the truth. And she had learned that subtlety worked far better with Maude, than a frontal assault. While Mary was helping his mother, she was trying to learn the truth. Not to put in the paper, but because Mary didn't like being used. The woman could be sneaky ... though, as the mother of a seven year old boy, Ezra supposed that was necessary.
Mary would employ both her natural outspoken ways, and the more subtle sneakiness she had learned as a mother, to defend Adriana Wilmington. Ezra didn't know why Mary had chosen Adriana, though he suspected it had something to do with Adriana's rescue of Vin. Perhaps she admired Adriana's courage (though that young lady said repeatedly that she wasn't courageous, Ezra begged to differ. One did not face one's worst nightmares in order to rescue another, without courage. It simply didn't happen).
Deciding to put the mystery of that particular relationship to one side, Ezra chose to concentrate on other changes within the Seven. Over the last few weeks, Josiah had become even more protective of Vin. True, he already had been protective of the tracker, after Vin's staunch defense of him against Poplar. And speaking of the late and unlamented Pinkerton man (to be distinguished from his younger brother) ... why had Josiah allowed Vin to help him, when he would accept help from no one else?
That, of course, played into Ezra's jealousy of Vin. Why did Josiah allow Vin to help him, and would accept no help from Ezra or anyone else? Because, a voice inside his head, Vin wouldn't take 'no' for an answer. Just as he stood steadfastly at Buck's side when Buck was defending Inez, at JD's side when Conklin and the other fools in town tried to break Lucas James out of jail. He had been there for Nathan a thousand times, from their first meeting, and was at Larabee's side without question. Vin Tanner backed his friends because that was what he did.
And what of the wagon train? Everyone was entitled to at least one mistake. Vin's judgment was skewed by his feelings for a lonely, hurting woman. Ezra had only to remember some of the foolish mistakes he made when he was powerfully attracted to a woman. None of them were immune to that particular brand of foolishness, and once the shock wore off, Ezra found himself actually relieved to find that Vin Tanner was just another human being.
Just another human being. Maybe now that they all knew none of the others were perfect, even the ones who seemed closest to perfect, whether in backing their friends or in morality, maybe the Seven could become a unit again. It would be a long road back. Ezra remembered what Chris had said about JD. "If he was perfect, he wouldn't be one of us." Remembering that, Ezra took the first slow steps toward forgiving Buck and Nathan.
They were both asleep. Mary Travis gently covered both Adriana and Laura with the blanket, then turned back to Gloria and Nettie. The three women quietly left the room at the very back of Gloria's store, Mary closing the door behind her. As she did, she said quietly, "Even with the Seven as her champions, it will be a long time before most of the town accepts her, if they ever do. We can't make them."
"But we can make it clear that we stand with her," Nettie replied softly as the trio headed away from the room, and Mary nodded. Nettie continued, "Lord, that girl makes me tired. All tense. No wonder she can't sleep half the time, she won't relax." Mary looked at the old lady, who added with a sigh, "Not that I can blame her. Lord have mercy, Mary ... how could a man do that to his child?"
Gloria, who knew none of the story, looked at them. Sighing, Mary explained everything except the bit about Katrien being a working girl. By the time the sordid tale was told, Gloria's face was wet with tears, and her eyes ablaze with fury. Mary remembered that expression. She had seen it when Gloria told her of the confrontation in the street, when Arthur Conklin and a small group of men had tried to free the murderer of Gloria's husband. She had seen it again, the morning Vin Tanner was taken by Rupert Browner's hired guns.
However, all Gloria would say was, "There are some people who have no right to be parents." The three were silent, then Gloria went on, "Speaking of which, I should see to mine. The last I saw of Jamie and Elizabeth, they were headed over to the hotel to talk to Vin." As soon as the words were out, the door to the store opened and both children flew to their mother. Mary was horrified to see tears streaming down Elizabeth's face.
But it was Jamie who exclaimed, "I ain't never gonna forgive neither of 'em!" No one questioned which two the boy meant, but what Mary didn't understand was what Nathan and Buck had done this time. Jamie continued after a moment, his eyes blazing with hate, "Me 'n Elizabeth, we went to the hotel, to talk to Vin. He was havin' a nightmare, Ma, and it's all their fault!" The boy wouldn't even speak their names.
Gloria looked at Mary and Nettie, and it was the older lady who explained with a sigh, "Vin's been havin' nightmares, ever since Adriana rescued him from the prison camp in the first place. That boy went through hell, and he's still there, if only in his dreams." Gloria looked at them helplessly, and Nettie continued, looking at the two youngsters, "Who else was with ya, children? Who was at the hotel with m' boy Vin?"
"Judge Travis, Miz Nettie, and he was real mad. He tol' us that he wanted to check on Vin, make sure he's all right, and that we was to find JD or one of the others. But we couldn't find JD, and Mr. Larabee is talkin' to Chanu and Casey," Elizabeth answered, sniffing at her mother's skirts. Mary exchanged a glance with Nettie, knowing the little girl was a little afraid of Chanu.
It didn't surprise the newspaper editor that her father in law was with Vin. Orrin would want to know what Vin was thinking. Whether he would go or stay. Mary didn't know if Orrin was willing to give Vin the time he needed to make that decision, didn't even know how long Orrin would be staying this time around. She glanced back toward the room where Adriana and Laura slept, and it was then that Elizabeth asked, "Ma, who was that pretty lady with Mr. Tanner, the one with the little girl?"
Mary grinned, wishing Adriana was awake. She didn't think the brunette would believe her when she repeated this part of the conversation to her ... and Mary had to repeat this to her. Adriana didn't think she was pretty. She had a bad habit of comparing herself to others. In a way, Mary felt much older than Adriana, though , only three years separated them. But on the other hand, like Vin, Adriana learned the lessons she needed in order to survive, making her seem older than she was. She was starting to catch up on the other pieces of her education now.
Nettie replied, "That's Adriana, Elizabeth, and her little girl, Laura. They helped to get Vin out of the place he was bein' kept." Mary looked at the older lady, wondering if Nettie would tell them that she was also Buck's younger sister. It wasn't something they could hide from the children, especially not when Jamie, Billy, and Elizabeth were all masters at getting information out of people. Nettie continued, giving the child what Nettie probably considered more pertinent information, "She and Vin have been friends a long time, and she's been taking care of him. But ya gotta be real quiet now, 'cause she's asleep, and she don't sleep real good."
"Why not?" Elizabeth asked. Good question, Mary thought, and an even better question is, how do we answer you? You're only eight years old, Elizabeth, way too young to be hearing about white slavers, and fathers who try to destroy the lives of their daughters, in order to get their hands on their money. You lost your father, and some of your innocence. We don't want you to lose more, but we may not have a choice.
"Because, little lady, she's got a lot of bad memories, and when she rescued ... she remembered more bad things. So be real quiet, okay?" JD Dunne asked softly. He smiled and added, "Judge Travis found me after he left Vin's room. He's on his way to talk to Nathan and Buck, then he wants a meeting with all of us in the jail. I just came over here to make sure Adriana and Laura were okay. I gotta tell Chris next, and I know he'll want to know."
"They're both fine, JD, sleepin' right now. You go tend to the business of the town. We'll look after Miss Adriana," Nettie promised. The young sheriff smiled and tipped his hat, then left once more. Orrin was calling a meeting for the peacekeepers in the jail, after he talked with Buck and Nathan. Mary felt a hand gripping her chest, making it very hard for her to breathe. What was happening now?
Elizabeth asked, unconsciously echoing Mary's question, "Ma, what's goin' on?" Gloria put her arm around the child, but Mary knew Elizabeth had picked up on the unease felt by the three women when JD explained about the meeting in the jail of the peacekeepers. A part of her wanted to go to the jail and listen to the conversation from the outside. But she had other responsibilities. Billy had been playing with his friend Robert once Chris and Rafe headed to the hotel with Vin. She wanted to check on her son, and then return to the Clarion.
She had been gone a long time, and had a lot of work to do. She would not write about Vin, in his captivity. She didn't know the whole story, Vin wasn't ready to talk about it, and she knew the town didn't want to hear it. Instead, she would tell about her weeks in Pordios, the journey from Four Corners, and the final shoot out with Rupert Browner. While Chris Larabee didn't control what she wrote, she remembered the first piece she ever wrote about him with painful clarity. Not a mistake she intended to repeat.
And she wanted to make sure she was fair to the participants in that gun battle. She had notes to write down, had observations to record, before she started writing the stories. Mary said her good-byes to Nettie and Gloria, knowing that they would take care of both Adriana and Laura. As she left the store, she noticed Chris talking with Casey and Chanu at the end of the street. Hmm. That reminded her of something ...
Chris would be heading to the jail for the meeting, so Mary would invite Casey to the Clarion. Casey had expressed an interest in her work, while they were heading to Pordios, and this would be an ideal time to show Casey how things worked in the Clarion. She was growing up so fast, and was so bright. Mary knew there would be times when she needed to see to Billy, whether because he was sick ... or just growing up. She was starting to need help in the Clarion. Casey would be ideal, because she often did odd jobs about the town. Sweeping the boardwalk, whatever needed to be done.
And that in turn, reminded her of something else. What would Adriana do, now that she was living in Four Corners? While she was in Pordios, she didn't need to worry about shelter, because Laertes looked after her. But what about now? Casey could help in some ways, and Mary would ask Adriana if she would be interested in helping her out as well, in return for lodging. Mary had an extra room ... and it would be nice to have someone her own age, another woman, nearby.
Maybe, as time passed, Adriana would accept that she could trust Mary. It would take time, the editor knew. But she was willing to bet money that the time, effort, and patience would be worth it in the end. Mary's eyes strayed once more to Chris, Casey, and Chanu. She really wished she could be a fly on the wall when her father in law met with the peacekeepers in the jail. She wanted to know what she had to do next, to keep her men safe, to keep her town safe.
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