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.
Nathan Jackson had a tough decision to make, and it had been gnawing at him for days, ever since Laertes Townsend was killed. It actually had nothing to do with Vin Tanner. Rather, it involved the still-estranged Wilmington siblings. In fact, now that he thought on it, the situation between the brother and sister was much like his situation with Vin. With one agonizing difference. Buck hadn't known his sister was still alive, when he left her in that place.
That was part of the decision which Nathan had to make. A very large part of it, as only one other person knew what he knew ... and she was back in Pordios, at least for the moment. At least until she could sell the store left to her by her father. Reverend Hurst had denied hearing anything, after Nathan and Aurora had dragged Laertes inside the house. Whether he was lying or not, Nathan didn't know, but the man had no reason to lie.
It was after Nathan had pushed the wagon into the middle of the gunbattle. He returned to find Aurora trying to quiet Laertes. But the man had something to say. Why he didn't say it to Buck or Adriana, Nathan didn't know. And now, he had to figure out if he should be the one to pass that final message along to the brother and sister ... or if it would shatter the tentative truce between the pair.
He was starting to speak, when there was a faint knock in the door. A half second after that, Judge Travis entered. He regarded first one man, then the other, and said quietly, "I need some answers ... I just came from the hotel, and I'm greatly disturbed." Nathan exchanged a glance with Buck. The hotel ... Vin? Had something happened to Vin? The judge continued, "Hopefully, he's sleeping right now. He had another nightmare earlier."
Oh no. Not another one. A quick glance to his side told Nathan that Buck was reacting the same ... his jaw tensing and his eyes burning. Judge Travis continued in that slow, quiet voice, "He had a nightmare that Browner wiped out the defenders at the cabin ... and that the two of you blamed him for it." Nathan closed his eyes. Would this never end, then? But the judge wasn't finished, as he went on, "The two of you have set this entire team back. Past the beginning."
"Reckon we know that, Judge. And we have tried to tell that boy that none of this was his fault, but he ain't listenin' to us. I don't know what the hell we're supposed to do to make him understand that this was our doing, not his. He didn't do nothin' to make us do that to him!" Buck retorted, raking his hand through his hair. Nathan glanced at his friend, then looked down at his feet. Why should Vin believe a word either of them said, though?
"You can try to look at this from his point of view. He can't let go of this idea that he's somehow responsible, because if he does let go ... then he has to accept that he was the victim. If he's the victim, then there was nothing he could do to prevent it. No mistake to learn from. Which means, he's vulnerable to it to happening again," Judge Travis replied. Nathan's head jerked up at that and he stared at the judge.
Travis stared back as he continued in that quiet voice, "The only mistake he made was in trusting you. In believing you would find a way to protect him and the town at the same time. Buildings can be rebuilt, gentlemen ... and you had plenty of warning. Why didn't you simply evacuate the town, and ask my daughter-in-law to take Vin with her to safety? There were other options available to you, if you had thought about it."
"That's the thing, though," Buck said wearily, "neither of us were thinkin.' We got so goddamn tired from taking care of Vin, neither one a' us could think clear. And we thought Vin was dying. Nothing we were doin' was helpin' him, he just kept gettin' sicker and sicker and sicker." The judge's dark eyes burned with rage, and belatedly, Nathan understood why. In that way that sometimes happens, everything shifted.
Before the judge could speak, Nathan said softly, "That's it, then. That's why Vin cain't understand we don't blame him. Oh, we done told him we don't but he don't believe it. 'Cause we keep talkin' about how tired we was from takin' care a' him. Like this was some how his fault, 'cause he was sick. Oh Lord, what have we done?" The healer dropped his face back into his hands, suddenly unable to breathe as he finally understood.
"Oh my God," Buck whispered, "you're right. That boy thinks we blame him for gettin' sick in the first place! Hell, ever'body gets sick from time to time! It ain't like he was bein' stupid! Hell, all he wanted to do was get outta town for a while, after he and Ez had that dustup. I ... " The argument. Of course. Nathan stared at Buck, wondering if the gunman had come to the same conclusion he had.
"What ... argument ... with ... Ezra?" Judge Travis asked, distracting the two men. Nathan looked back at the judge, remembering now that none of the others knew about this. His head was spinning.
Up until now, he hadn't allowed himself to think about what led up to Vin's illness. But maybe, just maybe, if he could work through the events, as they happened, he could find his way to the other side. Nathan said hoarsely, "Ezra resented Vin, 'cause Chris didn't say word one to him about that rifle of Stutz's, a few months back. Vin was havin' to deal with his own ... demons. He was afraid that when he was a bounty hunter, he was no better 'n an assassin."
Nathan remembered his conversation with Vin, months earlier, and the healer continued, "Thing is, once Vin accepted that he wasn't anythin' like Lucius Stutz, he turned the rifle over to Chris and went back to usin' his mare's leg. He never said a word to Chris, just done it. And once Ezra started healin' up from his wound, he resented that. But Judge, you gotta understand, Vin was real quiet about what was botherin' him."
"I remember," the judge said quietly. So did Nathan. While Ezra was mouthing off about how unfair it was that no one trusted him with money, Vin had quietly retreated to his wagon, trying to figure out what made him different from Lucius Stutz. That made a difference. Right or wrong, it made a difference. And maybe Nathan had been more ... aware ... of Vin's need, because he had come to know the various kinds of quiet that surrounded the young tracker and sharpshooter. There were times when Ezra running his mouth gave Nathan a headache.
"Like Nathan said, Ezra got to resenting Vin ... they argued, and Vin rode out of town. He came back sick, a few days later. Hell, he was shakin' so bad, I had to pick him up and carry him to the clinic. Hell, Nathan! That was why Ezra was so dead set against ... why he took such good care of Vin! He felt guilty ... he blamed himself for Vin gettin' sick!" Buck said, slapping his hat against his knee.
"Which brings up another question ... how did Vin get sick? Did you ever find out?" Judge Travis asked. The question brought Nathan up short. They had guessed, because Vin wasn't exactly making sense, that he was caught out in the rainstorm ... had been so angry with Ezra that he hadn't found shelter right away. But that made no sense. Even if Vin didn't take care of himself, he would always take care of his horse.
He would never take a chance with Blaze becoming ill. Nathan had known Vin to sit out in the rain, and find shelter for his horse. It made no sense. Buck said softly, "Nate, remember them burns on his wrists?" Nathan frowned thoughtfully, forcing his mind back to his initial examination of Vin, and the other man continued, "I thought at first they was from his jacket rubbing his skin raw in the rain. But what if they weren't from that at all, but from bein' tied up and left in the rain? Ya said, ya thought he got sick from a combination of that bullet wound bein' infected and bein' out in the rain."
"Wait a minute," Judge Travis said slowly, his eyes flickering from one man to the other, "what bullet wound, what are you talking about?" Nathan sighed, rubbing his hand over his eyes, and the judge continued, sounding extremely put out with both of them, "There's a lot you haven't been telling me, haven't been telling any of us, isn't there? Start with this bullet wound. Where was Vin shot? And what makes you think that Vin was so angry with Ezra, he would risk the well being of his horse as well as himself?"
"The bullet was dug out before he got back here. It was in his thigh," Nathan explained, remembering. He had been in his clinic, cleaning up after losing a patient earlier that day, when he saw Vin riding into town, slumped over the head of his horse. He wasn't the only one ... Buck was leaving the saloon after yet another failed attempt to win the lovely Inez. Wilmington had gone to Vin's horse, and Vin almost literally fell into the other man's arms.
Buck adjusted his hold on Vin and carried him to the clinic, as if Vin was just a child ... there was no time to wait for Nathan, to call out for help. It was still raining, and most of the town was inside anyhow. Vin was burning up with fever, Buck said, and he was shaking violently. As Buck eased the tracker onto the bed in Nathan's clinic, his hand came away a mess, and it was then that Nathan discovered the wound in Vin's thigh. It was infected, which was at least part of the reason for his fever.
The two friends carefully undressed Vin, trying to prevent him from suffering any more than he already had. It was then that they realized he was caught in the rain. His clothes had that dryness which came from being wet, then drying on a man. Looking back now, Nathan could remember seeing the rawness on Vin's wrists (which, it seemed, was probably due to rope binding his hands together), but on that particular day, he was paying more attention to the bullet wound, which was dirty, than to the raw skin on Vin's wrists.
Nathan cleaned the wound in Vin's thigh, then cauterized it, before finally bandaging it. As he explained what happened that day, Travis said, "And it didn't clue you in that something was wrong, that the wound was dirty? A man who has been on his own as long as Vin Tanner has?" Nathan sighed deeply, rubbing his forehead. The trouble was, while Vin would have taken care of that with clean instruments if he had them ... there was a good chance he didn't have the ability to clean his knife before he dug the bullet out.
Buck said, as if hearing what Nathan was thinking, "Ya gotta understand, Judge ... if we can, we use somethin' clean if we gotta remove the bullet ourselves. But if we don't have it, then we do what we can, with what we got. Vin is no stranger to that, we figgered that was what happened this time." Again, however, Travis shook his head, as if they had disappointed him, and Nathan didn't understand why.
Until Travis said very quietly, "And why would he remove the bullet if he didn't have to? He, of all people, knew what kind of damage he could do to himself. He could have just as easily bandaged up the wound, and waited until he got back to Nathan to remove the bullet." That was true enough ... but the judge was assuming Vin was rational when he tried to remove the bullet. Now, of course, it was becoming evident that Vin hadn't removed the bullet.
But that was information they didn't have at the time. Buck said as much, pointing out to the judge, "We didn't know that he was thinkin' clearly, Judge. For all we knew, he mighta been sick when he got shot. We just didn't know. We sure as hell didn't know that someone was gittin' ready to ... " The man couldn't even finish his sentence, because he had no idea how to finish it. Nor did Nathan, for that matter. Things were starting to take shape, a very ugly picture, made all the uglier by Nathan's own behavior during the crisis.
As more pieces of the puzzle fell into place, it became steadily more obvious that not even Vin's illness had been a matter of chance. After the way the judge had been questioning them during the last few minutes, Nathan was starting to believe maybe the puppet master (as he had heard Josiah call their unseen opponent) was responsible for Vin's condition from the beginning. And Nathan's fury began to rise once more ... not with himself this time. Not with Chris, not with Vin. But at whoever had set this into motion.
Vin's illness had come on the heels of a child's death, Nathan once more unable to save someone. This time, it was from an illness. And so, he was determined to save Vin. The death of the child had shattered him ... that timing was suspicious as well. He had been used. Not just once, but over and over. Someone knew him. Knew how protective he was of his friends, especially Vin. And someone knew which buttons to push.
And the puppetmaster had taken particular pleasure in Nathan's betrayal of his friend. Nathan didn't fight the rage. He welcomed it, welcomed the strength it brought with it. Nathan Jackson had been a slave for his entire childhood, and part of his early manhood. He wasn't a man to his owners, but a piece of property. Just like he was a thing to this puppetmaster, a piece on a chessboard.
He had been used to destroy the Seven from the inside out. The best thing that ever happened to him, and he had been used to destroy it. Nathan looked at Buck, whose eyes mirrored Nathan's own thoughts, and the gunslinger hissed, "Sounds to me like someone has a serious death wish. By the time I find this bastard, and turn him over to Chris, there ain't gonna be enough left for Chris to kill."
"We have to find out who this 'puppetmaster' of Josiah's is first, gentlemen. And then, we will do this legally. Make sure whoever is responsible can never hurt anyone again. I want to meet with the rest of the team, except Vin, down in the jail. I'm heading to the asylum near Pordios, to find out what I can. I'll be gone for about two weeks. Vin's told me that he'll have an answer for me when I return," Travis replied.
"Who's with Vin now? We found while we was at Miss Aurora's cabin that he don't have nightmares near as bad if someone's nearby. Someone he trusts," Buck said. Nathan nodded, remembering how they made that discovery. It actually began before the fire at Laertes Townsend's ranch, when they discovered that Vin's nightmares were far worse if he was alone. Something that Laertes and Adriana noticed immediately.
"Rafe Moseley, and Mahlon Conklin is watching the room. Your sister, Mr. Wilmington, is with Mrs. Welles, Mrs. Potter, and my daughter-in-law," Judge Travis said. Buck dipped his head in acknowledgment and the judge added, "Yes, I told you that deliberately. I thought you might like to look in on her and the child." Buck smiled then, and looked at Nathan quickly, as if to ask, 'will you be all right?' It seemed as if Chris and Vin's silent communication was starting to rub off on the rest of them, because Nathan understood exactly what the ladies' man was asking of him. The healer motioned him to go ... he would be fine ... and Buck left with a quick smile, the one he saved for his sister alone.
Nathan said as the judge started to follow, "I need to talk to ya, Judge Travis. Need some advice, on how to handle somethin' with Buck." The judge stopped and turned back to regard Nathan curiously. The healer continued, "It's actually about Buck and his sister. Right 'fore Laertes Townsend died, he tol' me somethin' important 'bout Buck and his sister, and I ain't sure I oughta tell him."
"What is this something, Mr. Jackson?" Travis asked with a frown. Nathan rubbed his hand over his eyes, trying to make his thoughts settle down long enough for him to reply. He was glad, in a way, that the judge interrupted him before he brought this up with Buck. Nathan was afraid that if his friend knew what Nathan was about to tell the judge, it would hurt Buck even more ... be yet another reminder of how badly he had failed his sister.
"Well, Judge, it's like this ... ya know that Miss Adriana escaped from the insane asylum where her daddy had her put, to git his hands on her money," Nathan began. He could tell from the judge's expression that Travis knew no such thing, but he pushed ahead, "Reckon that's why no one ever tried to take her back ... she was kidnapped. Anyhow. After she escaped, Laertes found her and took care 'a her."
He swallowed hard ... here came the ugly part. He was glad Buck wasn't in the room, because things would have gotten even uglier. Nathan said very softly, "Miss Adriana never knew this, but Laertes tried ta contact Buck 'bout six months ago, a few months after her escape. He heard Buck was in Four Corners, and sent a telegraph here. It ... it was while Marshal Bryce was here, Judge."
All the color drained from the judge's face at this announcement as he said, "Buck never got that telegraph. Chris was out of town, trying to get information on the killers of his family." Nathan nodded grimly ... and at the time, Vin couldn't read. Judge Travis muttered, "Bryce, you fool! Are you sure Bryce was still alive at the time? Is it possible that the wire was sent after he was killed, before Chris and Vin got back to town?"
"It's real possible, Judge, I ain't sure when it was sent 'xactly. And I ain't sure what I oughta do about this. If I tell Buck ... well, it's gonna break his heart. That he could have found out a lot sooner than his sister was really alive, and spared 'em both a lot of pain," Nathan said with a sigh. The healer took a deep breath, adding, "If I don't tell him ... he'll find out eventually, and it's still gonna be ugly."
"You let me deal with that. I'll tell him myself, after I get back from the asylum at Pordios. But there's one other thing I need to know, Mr. Jackson. An answer which I need from you," Judge Travis asked. Nathan looked at him inquiringly, and the judge continued, "Why you lied to Vin when he was taken by the bounty ... by the mercenaries. Why did you tell him that Chris agreed to this?"
Nathan eased himself back onto the bed, knowing that this question would come eventually. He would have to explain this to Vin, when he was willing to listen ... in the meantime, maybe he should start by explaining it to Judge Travis?
That might be the best idea. The healer said slowly, almost reluctantly, "It was gettin' ugly, Judge. Mary and Billy. Mrs. Potter and her young'uns. Mr. Watson. There were all them outlaws, and the people of the town who wanted to stand up to 'em. And Vin was weak as a kitten, but still strugglin.' I ... I knew if I didn't get him settled down, something ugly would happen. I remembered somethin' I was told durin' the war, while I was helpin' a doctor."
Judge Travis frowned, and Nathan explained, "He tol' me to tell 'em whatever I had to, to settle 'em down and git 'em to do what I needed 'em to do. Tell 'em that their wife was on her way, tell 'em whatever I had to. It just ... it was there, in my mind. And tellin' Vin that Chris ... agreed to it, was the only thin' I could think of." Nathan swallowed hard, remembering how Vin just went limp in his and Buck's arms as they put him on one of the horses.
Nathan brought himself back to the present, wincing, and said, "I didn't think of it as lyin,' Judge. Not even when all the fire died from his eyes, all the life. I was just doin' what had to be done, to keep things from gittin' ugly. 'Course, that failed, too." Looking back now, Nathan could see everything so clearly. The question which remained now was, even after he explained this to Vin ... would it be enough? Or had he shattered Vin's trust for good?
Buck originally planned to check on his sister, before heading over to the jail for the meeting, but he remembered seeing Ezra go into the saloon earlier, after the confrontation with Conklin out in the street. And remembering the conversation which he and Nathan just held with Judge Travis, Buck instead headed into the saloon. He wanted to talk to Ezra. Get a few things straightened out.
He found Ezra at his usual table, shuffling through his cards and looking at nothing in particular. It occurred to him that just as Vin's harmonica came out when he needed to think, Ezra's cards came out as well. And on the heels of that came another discovery. None of them had heard Vin play his harmonica once in the last few weeks. Not once, which worried Buck, as troubled as Vin was after DeeDee and Laertes rescued him.
Did he even still have the damn thing? Yes, because it was left in town when he was taken, and Ezra took the harmonica with him when they journeyed to Pordios. Hell, he would give anything to hear the damn thing right now, even if Vin only seemed to know a few tunes. Buck shook his head and approached the table, saying without preamble (he had been hanging around Chris too much), "Judge wants to see us in the jail soon as possible. He's getting ready to leave town for two weeks, and there are some things which are bothering him. I'm on my way to check on DeeDee, but I wanted to talk to you first."
"Is that right? And what, pray tell, would you like to discuss, Mr. Wilmington? Mr. Tanner's health? Your sister's months in that unholy place?" Ezra asked, never looking up from the cards. The words were designed to hurt, and they did. Buck felt his jaw tightening, and Ezra continued, "I've noticed that your sister has slowly lowered her defenses with you, somewhat at least. But I'm curious. Even if she forgives you for your betrayal of her ... will she forgive your betrayal of Mr. Tanner?"
Buck had been wondering the very same thing, which was why he said brusquely, "That's between me and DeeDee. On the other hand, your argument with Vin just before he got so sick just became a matter for all of us." Ezra's hands stilled and for the first time, the gambler looked up at Buck. The gunslinger continued, "See, we've been puttin' things together, the last coupla hours. And we know now that you did what you did, 'cause you felt guilty about that argument."
"Ridiculous. I did nothing to cause Mr. Tanner's illness," came Ezra's response. His green eyes flickered away, and Buck knew he was right. Ezra did feel guilty about his argument with Vin, before the tracker left town that day. The gambler continued, his voice dropping considerably, "And even if I did feel guilty for my argument with him, that's no concern of yours. I made up for my mistake."
"Then you admit it," Buck said, leaning forward, "you do feel guilty. You feel like you drove Vin outta town that day, 'cause you were so jealous of him. Because you resented him for being what you ain't." Ezra just glowered at him, the rage burning brightly in his eyes. But Buck wasn't about to stop now. Not when he was so close, not when he could knock a hole through Ezra's wall. He continued, "Where were you when I carried him up those stairs to Nathan's clinic, Ezra? You didn't show up until two days later. Where were you?"
Ezra slammed his cards down on the table and leaned forward, hissing, "I was in mah room, Mistah Wilmington, gettin' stinkin' drunk! What I should have done when I first realized that Mistah Larabee was right not to trust me with that blood money of Govanah Hopewell's. I was gettin' drunk so I could face mahself in the mirrah. Because when I shoulda been earnin' Mistah Larabee's trust, I was whinin' about how y'all didn't trust me ... and resentin' Mistah Tannah for havin' that trust."
This wasn't quite what Buck had been expecting, but it was too late to turn back now. Ezra hissed, his eyes burning with rage, "For nearly two months, Mistah Wilmington, I have tried to forget that argument. Have tried to forget the look in Vin's eyes when I lashed out at him. And do you know why we got into that argument? Because he was tryin' to help me, tryin' to be mah friend, and I didn't deserve it!"
Ezra slumped back in his chair, muttering, "I am responsible for Vin gettin' so sick. I hurt him, Buck. A man who only treated me with kindness and respect, save for the one time when I teased him about somethin' I had no business teasin' him about. I threw back all his gestures of kindness, all his gestures of friendship, right back in his face. Not because of anythin' he had done, but because when he makes a mistake, he makes it for the best reason of all. And he left town, so he wouldn't have to explain to Mr. Larabee why he had beaten the livin' hell outta me."
"It wasn't your fault, Ezra," Buck said softly, when he was sure Ezra had nothing more to say. The gambler shook his head, and Buck continued, "Vin getting sick wasn't a fluke. It was part of the setup by Browner's boss." Ezra's head jerked up at that, and Buck explained the sequence of events. The gunshot wound to Vin's thigh, which became infected, the rawness around his wrists ... how unlikely that he would leave his horse out in the rain, instead of finding shelter for the animal.
And as he spoke, he witnessed storm clouds gathering in Standish's eyes. When Buck finished, Ezra growled, "He's a dead man." Just that one sentence, that one simple statement of fact. It wasn't a boast. It was a fact. Whoever hired Browner was a dead man. Because if Chris didn't kill him, one of the others would. Buck simply nodded. Yes. He was dead. There was silence between the two men for several moments, then Ezra asked, "Did Browner know about this? Was this part of his plan?"
"I don't know. I don't think so ... if it was, then Poplar didn't know about it. If he hadn't forced Casey to kill him, we could have beaten the truth out of Browner, but that's not an option," Buck admitted. Ezra nodded and again, silence fell between the two men. After several moments, Buck raised his eyes and asked softly, "Are we gonna be okay, Ezra?" The other man sighed very deeply.
"I wish I knew the answer to that question. There was a time when I believed that Vin Tanner was the one person whom Nathan Jackson would never hurt. Never cause any harm. And I resented him for that, among other things. But now ... when Nathan, when you and Nathan, turned Vin over to those miscreants, a stable force in my life was removed. Something I believed in, something I thought I could depend upon ... was gone," Ezra replied.
He was silent for several moments, then said very softly, "I would give anything to have that certainty back now, Buck. To have the certainty of divided feelings toward Vin Tanner, to both resent him and admire him at the same time. Only now, I wouldn't resent him at all. If nothing else, the last few weeks have taught me that Vin Tanner isn't responsible for my weakness. His illness and subsequent betrayal at the hands of those he trusted most forced me to move past my own weakness, and be strong for him. As he's been strong for us."
Buck said nothing, understanding that Ezra wasn't finished talking. He was proven correctly only a moment later, as the gambler said slowly, "And yet ... I find myself starting to forgive you and Mr. Jackson for your perfidy. Oh, it will take some time before I can trust you again, but this experience is also teaching me that giving second chances are as important as receiving them. And I find, it's teaching me even greater respect for Mr. Larabee."
Buck sorted through what had just been said, and realized that in a roundabout way, Ezra had said that they weren't okay ... but they would be. The gambler said, "It will take me time, Buck. But now that I understand Mr. Larabee's assertion that if Mr. Dunne had been perfect, he wouldn't be one of us ... now I can forgive you. Both of you." Buck smiled and Ezra continued, almost tentatively, "You mentioned you wished to see about your sister, before our meeting in the jail. Would you be adverse to having company?"
"Reckon I'd like that ... 'long as ya think you can keep your mouth shut, instead of jabberin' away. DeeDee needs her rest," Buck said with a smile. Ezra returned the smile, his gold tooth flashing, and both men rose to their feet. Buck said as they sauntered from the saloon together, "Seems to me that you think an awful lot of my little sister, Ez. Do I need to worry about ya?" Ezra threw back his head and laughed.
"No, Buck ... you have nothing to worry about. Your sister is a fine young woman, but I assure you, my affection for her is strictly of the fraternal variety," Ezra replied. Buck looked at him, trying to make sure he said what he thought he said. Ezra added with a smile, "I look on her as my own little sister, and most certainly don't consider myself a proper suitor for such a remarkable young lady."
"Remarkable, huh? Ain't that what you called yer ma?" Buck teased, feeling some of the old camaraderie returning. Ezra gave him a horrified look, muttering something under his breath about how he had thought that Buck loved his sister. How could he even think about comparing Adriana to Maude! Buck just laughed again, a weight lifting from his shoulders as he realized that there was still hope for the Seven.
Unbeknownst to certain members of the Seven, they were being observed. David McIntosh had been watching and listening to the conversations within the saloon, watching and listening to the conversations which Ezra Standish had been having with his victims. He was glad now that his horse pulled up lame just outside of town. He had cursed his luck at the time, since it meant he had to return to town ... but now, it looked like his bad luck would work in his favor.
He was glad Pa wasn't here to see him. For forgetting the gold mine of information which was the saloon, Pa would have blistered his hide but good. First lesson while learning the family business. When gathering information on your enemy, the first place you wanted to go was to the saloon. It was the best place to find information, albeit somewhat biased. That wasn't important, though, not for David's purpose.
In addition to other tricks of his trade, David learned how to sift through information he received ... learned what were good, reliable sources of information. And what were not. He learned that while it had taken time for people in town to appreciate the Seven (aside from the Travis widow and Gloria Potter), they had found even more support among the people whom they protected after returning from Pordios with Tanner.
He further learned that after more than a year in town, Standish was starting to become respectable, at least tolerated. Especially after the way he took care of Tanner, before the tracker was taken by the outlaws whom David's employer originally hired. He also learned that Standish was popular with the children ... and his beautiful mother Maude was popular with the men. At least until she won money off them. But even then, the chagrin was always tinged with admiration and more than a little respect. There was a time when Standish would have made the perfect accomplice for David.
He was, from what David heard, highly intelligent and sophisticated. Men like that always thought higher of themselves, as if they were too good to associate with common people. When inside, they knew they were really no better ... and they fiercely resented anyone who saw through them. People like Vin Tanner or Nathan Jackson (though he was currently at the top of several shit lists, from David's understanding) or Chris Larabee.
But with Tanner's illness, Standish had changed. Oh, David had no doubt that the man would try to run a con or two. But most of the information which David received told him that Standish blamed himself for Tanner's illness, and was among those who fought hardest to keep the ex-bounty hunter in town. There was nothing sadder to David than a man who found his conscience ... or losing a potentially valuable ally.
However, that was something beyond his control, and there were other things which he had learned. For instance, he learned that the boy sheriff had a girl, a tomboy named Casey Welles. He also learned that the little brunette with the brat was the younger sister of one of the peacekeepers, one of the traitors. Buck Wilmington. She was also important to Larabee. He definitely didn't want to mess with her, then. No one with any sense, and who knew about Chris Larabee's reputation would go after a woman who meant something to Larabee. That was a real good way to get yourself killed.
Which meant Mary Travis was off-limits, twice over. Not only was she the daughter-in-law of a federal judge, but she was also important to Larabee. Nope, those two would be left alone. Nettie Welles, the aunt of the sheriff's girl, was an old crone who was important to Tanner, but she was old ... David couldn't run the risk that her heart would give out. Then the Seven would blame him for her death, and give them a common enemy. Nope, that wouldn't work, neither.
He considered using the barmaid, Inez, for his plans until he saw the way Standish acted toward her, and heard that Wilmington had a thing for her. Nope, not a good idea to go after her, neither. The healer had a girl in the Indian village, the Seminole village not far from here, but David had no desire to have a pack of savages after him, and that was exactly what would happen if he went after her.
Sanchez, the preacher in town, didn't have a lady, though he heard reports that the big man was attracted to both Maude Standish and a singer whom David once heard, Emma Dubonet. Why he would be in love with that horsey-faced woman, who couldn't sing worth anything, David had no idea. He unconsciously rubbed the locket which had his wife's portrait inside. And even if Sanchez had a woman, going after her would have been about as stupid as going after Wilmington's sister or the Travis widow.
The rumors he heard about town were that Sanchez had killed a lot of men, though no more information was given. Even so, with a man that size, it was wise to avoid trouble if it was at all possible. From the looks of him, Sanchez could probably snap David in half, and David was not a small man. Not like Ezra Standish or JD Dunne (who weren't really short, they just seemed that way to the six foot plus David).
So ... by process of elimination (and ignoring Mrs. Potter, since she wasn't associated with anyone important), that left the tomboy, Casey. It really would make his life a little easier ... all right, a lot easier ... if she wasn't a tomboy. Or if she was younger ... if she had been the younger sister of the boy sheriff, instead of his girl. But she was what she was, and David would deal with it. Besides. How much trouble could one young girl make?
Ever since the funeral, JD hadn't stopped thinking about what Vin said ... about making things right with Buck. It wasn't a matter of him forgiving Buck, so much, as ... well, he just didn't have the energy to stay angry with him. Vin was recovering, and regardless of his decision, JD knew that Vin would remain his friend. Stay or go to Tascosa, it didn't matter. JD would be at his side. The young sheriff felt as if he had grown up even more since this nightmare began.
It also made him painfully aware of how much growing up he still had to do. He looked back at the boy who tumbled from that stagecoach, more than a year earlier, and shook his head in disbelief. He understood a lot of things now. Why Chris hadn't wanted him to join them in the beginning. While he was only twenty years old, JD couldn't say that he would do anything differently than the leader had, all those months earlier, if he was in that position.
Though brusque, Chris had intended to protect JD from what could happen out in the West. What changed his mind? JD's persistence? The battles at the Seminole village? JD didn't know. He just knew that he was so glad he had been persistent. That whatever happened next, the last year of his life had been worth it. He didn't know if he could ever forgive Nathan for what he had done, but he was glad he had been here for this time.
As JD left Mrs. Potter's store, he noticed Chris and Casey talking to Chanu, and headed for them. He quietly informed Chris that Judge Travis wanted them to meet in the jail ... the judge would be collecting Buck and Nathan, but JD was to tell the others. Vin was still asleep. Or rather, asleep again, but JD didn't tell Chris about Vin's earlier nightmare. It would serve no purpose, and besides, Judge Travis asked him to keep it to himself.
Chris walked with JD to the jail, matching his longer strides to JD's shorter. In a way, the young sheriff appreciated not having to keep up with Chris. On the other hand, he hated the reminder that he was so much shorter than the leader. As they walked, JD explained that he had seen Ezra in the saloon, alone as he often was these days. The two were on the verge of retrieving the gambler, when they saw Buck go into the saloon. It didn't take much to figure out he was going to talk to Ezra, not to get a drink. He looked too determined to be relaxing. Nothing was said, and the two peacekeepers continued on their way to the jail.
The jail. JD shuddered. This was where it all began, nearly a month earlier, when he, Josiah, and Chris returned from Eagle Bend to find the Seven shattered. While they were slowly putting the pieces back together, JD had come to understand that nothing would be as it was before. He looked around, hearing ghosts of that day, seeing them as they were. Chris said softly, "Seems like things have come full circle, sort of."
JD nodded, barely able to speak, and Chris went on, "You know, I keep thinking back to that day ... and the day we found out about the fire. Tryin' to figure what we could have done differently, and ... I can't figure it out. The only thing I can think of is ... maybe I should have insisted one of you come home." JD wondered if Chris realized he had referred to Four Corners as home, then decided it didn't matter.
When Sheriff Stains and his men had arrived from Eagle Bend for the trial, JD had heard Chris refer to Four Corners as 'our town.' Our town. That meant something. It meant home, didn't it? Chris went on, oblivious to JD's thoughts, "That's the bitch of it, JD. This happened because I trusted Buck and Nathan. For all our arguments and disappointments, I always thought I could trust Buck. And Nathan ... I thought Nathan would walk through fire for Vin."
The bewilderment in his friend's voice brought JD's attention fully to Chris. The man shook his head, whispering, "How could I have been so wrong?" JD swallowed hard, not knowing what to say. Chris lifted his eyes to meet JD's and asked, "What about you? Can you forgive them? Can you trust them again?" It wasn't a challenge. Chris was looking to him for answers. Answers which JD didn't have.
"I don't know," the young sheriff admitted, "I don't know. Because it's like Ezra said. And I never thought I would agree with him, about anything. But if Nathan could do that to Vin, then none of us are safe. And Buck ... he left his sister in an insane asylum! Did you hear what she said, right before we left Miss Aurora's? When Buck said 'sanitarium,' instead of 'asylum,' did you hear what she answered?"
Chris shook his head and JD knew he would never forget. The Easterner said, "She said, the sanitariums are for people who have people to care about them, and the asylums are for people who don't. He left his sister, Chris. His little sister! He couldn't have known about what their father did to her, about the white slavery thing, but he left her in that place! Do you know what those places are like?"
JD couldn't stop himself now, fuming, "I heard stories, back East. When Mama was dying. The people she worked for had a deaf daughter. They were rich, and the fact that she was deaf, that she wasn't perfect like their other children ... it was an embarrassment to them. So they put her away, Chris, in an asylum! They hid her away, as if she was some kind of criminal! As if she committed some crime by being deaf! And Buck is no better than they are!"
"Buck thought Adriana was dead, kid. I'm not makin' excuses for him, 'cause God knows I've never forgiven him for just leaving her there. But he thought she was dead. Because their father told those people to lie to him. It's not the same thing, JD," Chris said softly.
But JD had locked this rage away in his soul for two weeks. Sure, he had taken potshots at Buck and Nathan before, especially during the ride to Pordios, but this ... this was a festering wound which had never been lanced. JD shook his head and whispered, "You don't understand, Chris. Buck turned Vin over to them mercenaries without a second thought. He left his baby sister in a place where no baby brother or sister oughta be left, alive or dead."
And now, the truth came out ... the final great truth which had been tormenting JD Dunne, the truth which he couldn't acknowledge. In a voice barely above a whisper, JD asked hoarsely, "If he could do that to his own baby sister, to the girl he was supposed to love and protect, if he could do that to the man who has always watched his back, without question, without qualm ... what's to stop him from doing it to me, or to you?"
JD watched the expressions play over his friend's face as Chris processed his words. And then a familiar expression appeared in the green eyes as Chris Larabee said softly, "Because we won't let him, kid. No one will ever be left again. You got my word on that." To the best of JD's knowledge, Chris Larabee's word was never broken. The man was brusque, could be a mean drunk, and had a peculiar enjoyment for tormenting his men at times.
But he wasn't a liar. And he wasn't a braggart. JD said hoarsely, "That's good enough for me. Chris ... how do we keep Vin from leaving?" It came out sounding strangely like a whine, and JD had thought he was past whining. Chris put his hands on JD's shoulders, sighing deeply as the blond head dropped. After a moment, the leader looked back up and looked intently into JD's hazel eyes.
"We don't," Chris said simply. JD started to protest, and the man continued, "First, we can't make Vin do anything he doesn't want to do. He's a grown man, not a child. And he's a man who has been on his own a very long time. He knows his limits, and right now, he's not going anywhere. Besides ... do you remember the story Josiah told you once, about a caged hawk?" JD remembered. Vin couldn't be caged. Not even to keep him safe.
Chris continued, "And there's something else. Chanu believes Vin's already made the decision to stay." JD frowned. How did he figure that? The leader continued, "From Chanu's point of view, when Vin agreed to return with us to Four Corners, he made his decision. He just hasn't admitted it to himself. You know Vin, you know how stubborn he is. Chanu knows that too. So, until he's ready to admit his decision ... we leave him alone."
"I just don't want anyone to ever hurt him again, Chris. I mean, he calls me 'kid,' but it's different coming from him, you know? It ain't like he's talking down to me, ain't like he thinks he's better than me. I ... he's just statin' a fact. I don't want us to lose him," JD told the man in black earnestly. Chris nodded with a sigh as he settled himself on the desk. The young sheriff wondered fleetingly where the others were.
"I don't, either, JD. Just be patient. And be strong for him," the leader replied, and JD nodded. He didn't know if he could be strong for Vin. He could try. But he remembered the last time he thought he was helping Vin.
Well, not quite the last time, though lying to Chris and telling him that Vin was ready to talk to him wasn't one of his smarter moves. No, JD meant when the phony marshal Yates, who was with Eli Joe's gang, came to take Vin from Four Corners. That. He could have gotten himself killed, and Vin would have blamed himself. Oh, JD would defend his friend, but the last few months had taught him that he had to be smart.
JD was on the point of expressing his doubts to Chris when the door opened, admitting the Honorable Orrin W Travis. Seeing the judge's expression, JD had the sudden, terrible feeling that this meeting would not be something that would help to heal the Seven. If anything, it would end up driving them further apart.
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