Disclaimer: All the characters from the "Magnificent Seven" T.V. series are property of Trilogy Entertainment, The Mirisch Group, MGM Worldwide.
The problem with knowing a truth, especially an unpleasant one, was whether or not one ought to divulge it to those who mattered or let it remain in the shadows, blissfully bathed in the dark light of ignorance. Following their insightful discovery regarding the nature of Neil Blackwood's relationship with JD Dunne, Vin Tanner and Josiah Sanchez found themselves pondering that question. At first, the decision seemed painfully clear; JD had a right to know but on further reflection, neither man were certain whether or not that he ought to be burdened with such knowledge, particularly when they knew so little about Blackwood.
Obviously Blackwood must have possessed some paternal feeling if he had come all this way to find JD and they could almost understand why he might prefer to remain silent about the relationship at this moment. No doubt, all his dealings in Four Corners at this point had only one objective in mind; to find out all he could about a son that he had never met. There were many questions still left hanging with the discovery of Blackwood's agenda and it was the lack of answers to any of these that compelled Vin and Josiah to remain silent. Josiah who next to Buck was closest to the youth had recalled the JD revealing that his father had died when he was very young and that he had almost no memories of the man. Everything he knew about his father had come from his mother and apparently she did not like to speak of the unseen Mr Dunne very much.
At the time, Josiah had assumed it was the natural reaction of a widow who had never come to terms with the loss of a husband, for many wives could not bring themselves to speak of the men they had lost, even to the children left behind. However, if they were right about Blackwood and at this time, there was still the lingering hope that they could be mistaken, then the story would seem fit with a woman trying to conceal some dark truth from her son. If that was the case and Blackwood was indeed JD's father, where had he been all this time and what was the connection between himself and the boy's mother that it could be fragile enough for the knowledge of a son to be lost to him for so long?
Enigmas like this that kept them from speaking out loud, even though the decision when reached did not alleviate their conscience in any shape or form. Moreover, Vin who had made the discovery in the first place felt something further in the presence of Neil Blackwood that inspired caution. The tracker who could spot danger a mile away claimed to feel that same ominous threat permeating from Blackwood and was convinced that whatever the man claimed to be now, he was certainly no businessman. His companion Zimmer did not look like a business associate but rather someone who was used to riding into trouble at his side.
There was far more taking place here then he knew and it concerned both Vin and Josiah greatly. Every instinct they relied upon to save their lives on a dozen occasions in the past, warned them that Blackwood was a world of trouble and allowing JD to know about their familial bonds would be placing the young man into that same world. Neither Vin nor Josiah were prepared to do that until they knew a little bit more about Neil Blackwood. Perhaps if they knew who the man actually was, their decision would be easier. Unfortunately, there was still one person they had to tell of their suspicions because even if they could justify keeping it from JD, they would not be able to do so when it came to Buck Wilmington.
JD was Buck's personal responsibility; he had taken the role that Blackwood was attempting to usurp, whether or not either man would dare to admit it. Ever since JD had joined the group of six men to become the seven, they had all done their level best to look out for the boy. However with Buck, the concern was deeper, almost paternal in its intensity. If Buck were to find out about Blackwood and then learn that Vin and Josiah were privy to it, he would never forgive him. Besides, there was wisdom in bringing Buck into this. He knew JD better than anyone and he would be able to guess with a certain amount of accuracy how the boy would react to this kind of news and right now, they needed all the forewarning that they could get.
Thus while Josiah made the ride out to the Wilmington place that afternoon, Vin found himself at the offices of the Clarion News. Fortunately, it was Chris' turn at the jailhouse minding the prisoners, having relieved Ezra of the duty for the day. He made a note to drop in at the Standish Tavern to see how the gambler was doing, feeling a wave of sympathy for the man at being caught in such an untenable situation. Having been in the same position once with Charlotte Richmond, Vin was grateful that Alex had allowed him the chance to explain before she let her temper get the better of hers as Julia had.
Mary was behind her desk in the Clarion News office, working on some copy when Vin walked into the premises. A small smile crossed the tracker's face at the sight of his best friend's lovely wife who was as dear to him as his own wife, as she wrote her views on the world over the paper before her. Next to her desk was baby Mike's basinette. The infant little more than two months old was gurgling away happily as he stared out the window on top of the table where he was placed, amusing himself with the sights and sounds that were moving past him.
"Vin," Mary looked up and broke into a smile at the sight of him. "What a nice surprise." She asked, feeling no apprehension as to his reason for being here because his expression did not give her reason for fear.
"Hello Mary," Vin said approaching the table where Mikey was and glanced into the basinette. The child reacted immediately to his arrival and heightened the sound of his gurgle, indicating that if Vin wanted to visit, the tracker could at least do it while carrying him. "Hey there pardner," Vin grinned at the small bundle and glanced at Mary for permission. "Can I?"
"Sure," Mary answered and put down her pen, amusing herself with the sight of the tough sharpshooter cradling her infant son in his arm.
"He's growing like a weed." Vin remarked, seeing more and more of Chris Larabee appearing in the child's face with each passing day.
"Yes he is," Mary said proudly but knew that Vin had not come here to discuss the baby's growth spurts. Vin was not good at small talk and once he had exhausted this particular subject of conversation, he would either grapple clumsily with another or chose to get to the point for his visit. Mary decided to spare him the trouble. "So what brings you here?"
Vin seemed grateful for the opening and did not waste the opportunity to tell her what he sought even if the entire subject made him terribly uncomfortable. He did not at all like the fact that he was privy to the knowledge they had discovered about Neil Blackwood but neither was he going to bury his head in the sand about it either. JD needed to know what kind of man might be his father before that news was dropped on him like a dead weight.
"I need your help ma'am." Vin said after a moment.
"For god sake Vin," Mary rolled her eyes. "You are godfather to my son, I think you can dispense with the ma'am."
"Sorry," he replied with an embarrassed smile. This whole thing made him edgy; especially when Chris usually handled these things since Mary was his wife. Vin was not accustomed to asking for information from Mary in this manner and knew that his formal speech had much to do with it. "Mary, I need you to find out all you can about Neil Blackwood."
Mary's brow immediately tugged upwards. "The man that Chris suspected might have something to do with the stagecoach robberies?" She wondered why Vin was asking her for such information. Chris had said the night before that the matter was resolved, that there was no need for her to speak to the man to find out his purpose here but looking at Vin, she suspected that getting close to Blackwood was not what he was asking.
"Yeah," Vin nodded. "But he ain't got nothing to do with that. I need you to know where he comes from, he said he was from back east, Chicago I think. I need you to use your newspaper contacts and find out what he does. He says he's a businessman but I got a feeling that ain't all he is."
"I can do that," Mary answered, there was no question she would not. Vin did not make such requests lightly and if he had asked, then there was a good reason for it. "What's on your mind Vin? What do you think he's into?" The journalist in her could not resist asking.
"I don't know," Vin shook his head, giving her an honest answer because he knew she could be trusted. "But he's not here to open up 'business ventures', he's here for JD."
"JD?" Mary's jaw dropped open in shock. "Why JD?"
Vin held back the part where he suspected Blackwood to be JD's father because at this moment, there was no real proof of that, just his and Josiah's suspicion. "I can't say for sure but he's real interested in JD. People we talked to said Blackwood got it out of them just what JD's been up to the last three years since he's been here. He wasn't much interested in anything but the kid."
Mary's alarm and concern for JD showed immediately in her face and she wondered why Chris had not mentioned this to her. "Does Chris know?"
"No," Vin replied automatically. "Mary, I would rather you didn't say nothing until we know more about Blackwood. Chris has got enough to worry about at the moment without going on some wild goose chase over Blackwood if I'm wrong."
"I see," Mary nodded in understanding. "Of course Vin," she said without hesitation because Vin would not ask this of her unless it was vitally important and he was right, there was no reason to bring this up with Chris until they were certain that there was something worth bringing up. If Blackwood was exactly what he said he was, then there was no reason for Chris to be burdened with an extra point of concern when nothing came of it.
"Thank you Mary," Vin responded gratefully and replaced Mikey in his basinette once again. The babe did not seem happy to be relinquished from the tracker and expressed his disapproval in a whimper.
"Why is he after JD?" Mary found herself asking.
"I think they may be kin." Vin answered, finding it exceedingly hard to lie to the woman when she asked the question so directly. He hoped his answer was an adequate compromise without betraying himself.
"Really?" She knotted her brow, realizing now why Vin was proceeding with such caution. Such news would be undoubtedly be taken with shock by JD and she could see why the tracker was taking care to ensure that no other surprises about Blackwood emerged when the truth was finally revealed to him. "Are they related?"
"I think they may be," Vin volunteered. "There's a little bit of family resemblance but then it could also be just coincidence. I ain't sure."
"And you don't want to tell JD until you are." Mary guessed.
"It's a hell of thing to learn." He responded. "I reckon as far as he knew, we were the only family he had after his ma passed on."
"Yes, I think you are right." Mary agreed with Vin's assessment.
JD did not appear to have left any ties behind him when he departed from the East bound for the Territory. In fact, since his arrival here, there was no talk about family other than his mother. Mary did not think that they were so wrong in assuming that there were none and Blackwood was an unknown element, who had for same reason raised Vin Tanner's suspicions. After how he knew without question that it was once Laurel Chase who had kidnapped Chris shortly before Mikey was born, Mary would never again doubt that razor sharp instinct. Vin knew people and was seldom taken in without very good cause.
"No Mary," Vin said quietly, an unfathomable expression in his cobalt colored eyes. "I hope I ain't."
For JD's sake, he prayed for the fulfillment of that hope.
Almost an hour after Vin's meeting with Mary, Josiah found himself at the fence line that signaled the boundaries of the homestead occupied by Buck Wilmington and his young family. With the jailhouse filled and the seven required in town to act as peacekeepers, Buck had taken on the duty of checking up on things at the Lucky Seven ranch while Chris and Vin were needed in town. During these occasions, the horse ranching business tended to take a backseat to their primary vocation in Four Corners with one of them taking a few hours to ride out to the ranch and ensure that things were okay. It had been Buck's turn today and since the big man wished to do some chores around his home, there did not seem any need for him to come into town at all when the six others were more than capable of keeping watch on the prisoners without his participation.
Josiah rode into the boundaries of the homestead and immediately saw the improvements that Buck and Inez had done to the place since their occupation of it. When Josiah had first seen the property, it had been in a forgotten state, having been abandoned by Mary because the memories here were simply to painful for the widow to bear remaining here with her young son. Stephen Travis had died in that house and although his killers were caught and her son was no longer plagued with nightmares about the men who had murdered his father, its time as the Travis place of residence was done. Mary was more than happy to turn it over to Inez and Buck when their daughter was born, certain that despite the heartache she had suffered there, her best friend and her family would do better for themselves.
The house had been repainted since Inez first moved in and the garden the lady had been painstakingly cultivating in her earliest days here was in full bloom now, scenting the air with the fragrance of flowers. Even as Josiah rode towards it, he could feel the warmth exuding from the place and knew that it was more than just the heat of the day but an inner glow within him at the love that lived inside its walls.
Buck was at the front of the house, fixing a sheet of glass into one of the windows. There had been a particularly harsh sandstorm recently and such breakage was not uncommon following such an event. While he worked, he kept a close eye on Elena Rose who was occupying herself by crawling up and down her mother's garden, while equally mindful of where her father was. The little girl was very much her father's daughter with his dark hair covering her tiny scalp and his smile on her chubby features as she giggled and chortled at anything that captured her fancy.
"Hey Josiah." Buck grinned as he saw Josiah ride up to the front of the home. He immediately rose to his feet, setting aside his tools some place high and safe out of reach from his inquisitive young daughter and went out to meet the preacher whose horse had come to a stop at the hitching post beyond the wooden gates of the house.
"Buck." Josiah tipped his hat at the man as Buck wiped the sweat from his brow. It seemed rather pointless when most of his torso was similarly afflicted and through the course the day and his toil, Buck had found it expedient to discard the sweat soaked shirt plastered to his skin.
"What brings you out here?" Buck asked as Josiah dismounted the horse.
"Let's talk inside." Josiah responded, knowing his words sounded ominous.
Buck's happy go lucky demeanor changed immediately and he stared at the preacher. "Is someone hurt?" Inez was still in Four Corners, working at the saloon today and suddenly, he felt a hint of fear that something might have happened to her that required Josiah coming out all the way here to tell him.
"No nothing like that," Josiah said smoothly. "Just something we need to talk about in private away from the others."
Buck's curiosity was piqued and his relief just as evident. "Alright then, come on inside. I was just about to brew some coffee." As he retreated towards the house with Josiah following closely, Buck sought out his daughter who was in the process of deflowering one of her mother's flower bushes when Buck found her.
"Oh no you don't Rose," Buck said with an edge to his voice that reeked of disapproval. The little girl looked up at him with his own eyes and pouted slightly at earning his father's disapproval. "Your mama spent the whole summer trying get those to grow."
Josiah smiled inwardly as Buck proceeded to sweep his daughter into his arms before carrying her into the house. He remembered a time when Buck had reservations about what kind of father he would make when he had been faced with fatherhood and been completely unprepared for it. Josiah had advised him as best he could and was glad that Buck finally took the chance to find out. One only had to see him with Elena Rose to know just how good he was with her.
After Buck had placed Elena Rose into her playpen, both men retired to the kitchen where Buck made coffee and they both sat down at the table to discuss what Josiah had made this trip to accomplish in the first place. Josiah's manner gave Buck reason for concern because the preacher often wore a look of deep reflection in his eyes that was common place to the rest of the seven. However, on this occasion, it seemed even more potent if such a thing was possible. Whatever Josiah had on his mind may not be necessary life threatening in the manner which was befitting the adventures the seven seem to fall into but rather something just as equally important.
"Okay, you got my attention Josiah. What's on your mind?"
"Its Neil Blackwood." Josiah said after taking a sip of his coffee and allowing the warm liquid to warm his insides.
"Blackwood?" Buck exclaimed taken back at this being the subject of the discussion Josiah had come all this way to speak of. He had anticipated something important in relation to the seven, possibly Ezra with all his recent troubles with Miss Belladonna.
"Yeah." Josiah nodded, appreciating why Buck was astonished. "Have you met the man?"
"No," Buck shook his head. "Only reason I know he is in town is because JD ran into him yesterday."
"Well the kid came to me today," Josiah began. "He seemed a little trouble over his meeting with Blackwood yesterday."
"I noticed that," Buck confessed, recalling he had noticed that JD seemed a little distracted when the young man had reported to Chris his encounter with Blackwood. "I tried asking him about it but he said it was nothing. I thought he might have had a little quarrel with Casey. You know how those two are."
"I surely do," Josiah nodded in understanding. "Buck, he said Blackwood mentioned some things that unsettled him."
"Why the hell didn't he tell me?" Buck demanded with more than a touch of protective ire.
"Because you would be just the way you are right now and I don't think he wanted a big thing made of this." Josiah said automatically and stifled Buck's annoyance abruptly.
"Oh yeah," Buck allowed a sheepish smile to escape his features. He could not help being protective of JD. He loved the boy as any man could have loved the son he never had or could have had, depending on how one looked at it. So much of JD reminded Buck about himself that the man had been determined that nothing hurt JD the way he had been hurt in his life. "I see your point."
The preacher smiled himself and continued speaking once Buck had allowed him the freedom to do so again. "Seems Mr Blackwood was very interested in JD's life in Four Corners. He asked questions that shook JD up a little and we both know that the kid ain't easy to shake up."
Buck conceded that readily. JD may be hot headed, impulsive and in possession of more bravery then sense at times but one thing he was not, and that was easily shaken. Buck had seen him face odds that would make others his own age turn tail and run without spending too much time debating the issue. Riding with six men who were seasoned professionals in what they did had taught JD a great deal and he had driven himself hard to measure up. Yes, Josiah was right; JD did not scare easily.
"So bearing this in mind," Josiah spoke again and Buck turned his attention back to his narrative of events. "Me and Vin got into our heads to see if there was some truth to what JD was saying about Blackwood being interested in him. We asked around town, spoke to the men and women whom Blackwood had approached about doing business with in Four Corners."
"Did you find anything?" Buck asked and knew that Josiah would not have come out here if the answer had been anything but yes.
"He made a lot of overtures but nothing has actually be signed on paper." Josiah recounted what he had been told by the good folk of Four Corners. "Most of the time, he was just interested in talking about what it was like living in town and in almost every instance, the subject eventually got around to JD. He found out just about everything there was to know about JD without anyone being aware that it was what he was interested in all along. Whatever he does for a living, the man ain't no fool. That much is certain."
"So he wants to know about JD," Buck mused, still assuming that there was something Josiah had yet to tell him because he could feel its weight in the air, like a pregnant drop of water waiting to fall. "Why?"
"We couldn't figure it out either." Josiah admitted. "As far as we knew, JD said he ain't never met the man before. Then we saw him." With that Josiah felt silent as if he had to reach inside himself and extract what he needed to tell Buck the rest of it.
"You've seen that picture of JD's mother haven't you?" Josiah asked and suddenly Buck started to feel this dark foreboding rising from deep inside of him, like the stench of dank water from dark place within.
"Yeah, I've seen it." Buck nodded recollecting the time that JD had shown him the one faded photograph he had of himself and his mother. It was taken when JD was still a child of no more than ten and while the seven knew of its existence, only Buck and Casey had ever seen the keepsake. Buck had the impression that JD himself did not look at the picture, for doing so would only remind him she was gone and resurface all the pain he buried deep inside at her loss. Buck who knew perfectly well what it was like to be loved by a mother who had been his whole world, appreciated JD's need not to speak too much about her.
Josiah had not brought up the subject of JD's mother arbitrarily. There was purpose behind his question and although it was slowly nudging Buck towards a conclusion he did not wish to hear, he could not keep from pursuing it nonetheless. "Let's put it this way, he is his mother's boy. Almost all his looks are hers, except maybe the eyes."
Josiah sucked in his breath at the remark and Buck saw the preacher's eyes slowly meeting his. He did not want to hear this and put down his cup on the table. Buck pushed himself away from the table almost in reflex, like a man trying to run from some uncomfortable truth and not being able to move because he was not enough of a coward to flee from it. In the eternity of seconds before Josiah opened his mouth to say what Buck now knew to be inevitable, Buck's thoughts were adrift. He was not worried that JD had found a part of himself thought lost for so long or that there was family to lay claim to the boy. All he could think of and it shamed him to the core, was that something was being stolen away from him.
"That may because he gets them from Blackwood." Josiah uttered the axe that had been poised to drop. The impact of the words slammed into Buck like something tangible that left shock waves after its escape from the preacher's lip.
"You can't be sure....." Buck started to say, unable to stand the thought of it and loathing himself for his own selfishness.
"No we can't," Josiah had to concede that point. "By when he looked at us, both me and Vin thought the same thing and that can't be purely coincidence."
"You can't tell him." Buck whirled around and faced Josiah. "He's spent his whole life being told that his pa died in the war. Hell, he's proud of that! That's the only way he can accept why he had to grow up without one. If we tell him that not only is his pa alive but has only now suddenly remembered that he is even alive, that'll destroy him! I won't let you do it!"
"Buck," the preacher spoke quickly to alleviate Buck's fears and to soothe his rising anger. "No one had any intention of doing that but if Blackwood decides to do it himself, there ain't much any of us can do."
"Shit!" Buck swore loudly out of sheer helplessness. "What gives this man the right to simply turn up after 20 years? It ain't right!" He declared indignantly.
"You got no argument on that from me but JD knows something is up." Josiah responded. "Buck, he's not stupid and after what we saw, I think JD recognized it on some level too which is why he's been so uneasy ever since meeting Blackwood."
Buck's expression became ashen with horror. Right now, it was all he could do from riding into town and telling Blackwood to go away and never come back. He would have done anything to spare JD the turmoil that would come if the boy learnt the truth. "You think he knows?" He asked somewhat aghast.
"Not that Blackwood could be his father but perhaps there's some connection between them." Josiah answered.
Buck started pacing once again. "So why doesn't he just go and tell JD? Why all this pussy footing around?" The big man was clearly tormented by this situation and it was ironic in Josiah's opinion because it was only the prelude to what JD's reaction would be when he was told. As much as Josiah, Vin and Buck may wish it concealed, they knew that it was an inevitability that JD would find out, if not from them, then from Blackwood himself.
"I don't know," Josiah eased back into his chair while rubbing his chin thoughtfully, he was a contrasting sight to Buck's frantic pacing. "I think he may be trying to decide whether or not he ought to tell JD but I'm telling you Buck, the man smells dirty."
Buck stopped immediately and stared at Josiah with an expression of ice. "What do you mean?" His voice was almost a low whisper.
Josiah shook his head, searching for a better description. "You know the feeling you get when you stick your hand under a rock in the desert and pray there ain't rattler under there to bite you? Well I get the same feeling from Mr Blackwood."
"Oh well ain't that just dandy?" Buck threw up his hands in exasperation. "So aside from the fact that this guy could be JD's long lost pa, you're telling me you think he's dangerous too?"
"Its just one of those days Buck," Josiah answered with a shrug of the shoulders. "Some days you get the bear and some day the bear gets you."
Buck laughed a little at the remark and sat down on his chair once again. For a brief instance both men shared the joke and savored it for the momentary respite it was before Buck's smile withered from his face and that sober expression returned to his face "You know what scares me about all this?"
"What?" Josiah asked, sensing something deeply personal was about to be disclosed.
"I'm more afraid of Blackwood taking him away from me than anything else." Buck confessed softly. "I mean for the last three years, he's been the closest thing I've had to a son and he's more than just that Josiah, he's also my friend and I've been so proud seeing him go from hot headed greenhorn to the man's he's become. The idea that Blackwood could just walk in and stake claim to him scares me. My family is not just Inez and Rose there," he glanced briefly at the child in her playpen, oblivious to the conversation taking place around her. "Its JD too."
"Look," Josiah responded, not at all surprised by any of Buck's revelations because every member of the seven already knew the man's feelings towards JD even though none had said it out loud. It was the way they all felt even though they seldom said it out loud and were not emotionally entangled as Buck was. "At the moment, we ain't sure of nothing yet. Blackwood may have a whole other reason for being so interested in JD. Have faith brother, it may all work out."
It could Buck thought silently, but somehow he did not think that it would.
They had been in town for the last twenty-four hours, having swept in from parts unknown, making themselves known to no one by their nondescript and generally anonymous manner. These days, it was easy to enter Four Corners without being noticed if the intent was there. With the railroad opening up close by and the influx of new faces, seeking to prosper in new frontiers, theirs were faces were one of many that were either coming in, passing through or leaving town. Their primary objective until the task they were required to complete was done, was to remain unnoticed. There were six of them, of different racial types and creeds but their cause was united.
The leader was like many others who had joined the cause, a soldier in the past now looking for a new war to fight. He ensured that the six entered town as separates, showing no affiliation towards one another. There was no need for collaboration because all discussion regarding what they had to do had been conducted prior to their arrival here with the understanding that none of them would approach each other until the day itself. He took a room at a lodging house, remembering the instructions given by his leader and ensuring that he stayed out of the notice of those who mattered.
The others were similarly scattered throughout town, taking great pains to avoid one another and giving no one the suspicion that they might be known to one another before that day. The element of surprise was crucial, the master had said and so he, who was presently leader among the group, obeyed his orders explicitly. As a soldier in a cause, he could nothing else. The day crept past slowly and though their brethren languished inside the local jailhouse, nothing much seemed to have taken place.
The sun was high in the afternoon sky when the appointed hour came. The leader stepped out of the saloon, checked the gun in his holster discreetly and crossed the street. Seated on the bench outside the bank was the Indian. He seemed mostly harmless, hidden underneath the Mexican poncho he was wearing, appearing as if he was merely enjoying the sun. Some of the others were already in the building while some scattered even further out. To an outsider, the plan might seem erratic but in truth it was part of an orchestrated symphony about to make its debut appearance.
He did not look at the Indian as he walked past the bench. It was not noon and thought the streets were busy in the sense that the community was functioning as one should, there was nothing out of the ordinary that gave him reason for deviation from his set course. He entered the bank and noted that there were two tellers behind the counter, serving two customers before it with three others in line. The tellers looked like any other with their clean shirts and waist coats, their smooth, plump fingers accustomed to counting money after a lifetime of avoiding hard labour. One customer was the German proprietor of the hotel, bringing in his weekly earnings for today was a Friday. The other, a heavyset woman in her forties, lines in her face from working hard to earn her bread. He believed she ran the local general store. No danger there.
Two men stood in line, one in a suit of tweed, with a growth of hair above his lip that as struggling to become a moustache, twitched nervously as he clung tightly to the leather pouch in his hands. Judging from the size of it, its contents were bulky enough to warrant his anxiety. His watery gray eyes seemed to dart across the faces in the room, trying not let his apprehension show. The woman next to him with her titian colored hair and sparkling emerald eyes was clearly distracted and noticed nothing of the people in the room with her. Her gaze went straight past her immediate surroundings and culminated in a place only she was privy to.
The last man was tall. His clothes indicated that he was a man who rode the trail a great deal as was evidenced by the dust that covered every inch of fabric on his person, from his hat right down to his boots. The gun in his holster was also a weapon used often for the wooden grip of the handle was smoothed from a period of use. The leader watched him closely as he took up position next to him at the line. He looked up at the clock on the wall and saw the hour hand moving into position. No one was speaking except those with business behind the counter and even their voices were hushed. A persons finances were no one's business but their own.
His gaze met the man in tweeds who swallowed again anxiously, his palm sweating as he tightened his grip around the pouch even though his turn at the counter was approaching quickly. The leader's hand drop to his gun ever so gently and pop the button that freed the flap of his holster.
"Thank you Henry." Gloria Potter thanked the bank teller as she concluded her business. As she turned around and made her way out, she glanced at Julia Pemberton's direction. "I'll see you later Julia."
"Like wise Gloria," Julia smiled faintly as Gloria moved past the retinue of customers and exited the premises a second later. When she faced front again, she saw the man in tweed step up to the counter for his turn.
The man in tweed took the place of Gloria Potter at Henry O'Brien's window.
"What can I do for you Sir?" Henry asked, his voice thick with the Irish accent he had never been able to shed even though he had lived in America for most of his life.
The man in tweed said nothing for a few seconds as he proceeded to open the leather pouch in front of him. It was old and worn and Henry wondered if this man might have a small fortune hidden within its confines. Although nervous, the man reached into the pouch and pulled out something that was not at all what Henry O'Brien had expected.
"This is a hold up Mister." The man pointed the gun at the center of Henry's chest and declared. All traces of his nervous twittering had disappeared. The eyes that stared at Henry from the other side of the weapon were ice cold and in complete control of his faculties.
"Oh my god!" Julia exclaimed and the trail rider behind her took a step forward, going for his gun as he advanced upon the gunmen and his victim. He did not get two steps ahead when he froze.
"Move one more step and it will be the last thing you do in this life." The voice that ordered him still was like grated glass.
Slowly, the second gunmen reached into the man's holster and removed the gun carefully as panic began to ripple through the customers and tellers alike. He had succeeded in emptying the weapon of all his bullets when suddenly the leader saw the hands of the teller dealing with the German disappear under the counter. What happened then moved with the speed of lightning. He shoved the trail herder out of the way as he aimed and fired before the teller could fire the shotgun he had produced from under the counter. The sound was like an explosion contained inside the room and almost masked entirely the death cry of the teller who caught the bullet in the center of his forehead. The bullet blew out the back of his skull, with brain matter splattering everywhere, even through the bars where some landed on the German who immediately howled in horror as he felt the wet slick of flesh on his cheek.
"Mein Gott!" He squealed like stuck pig as he attempted to wipe the residue from his face.
Julia screamed as she saw the teller whom she knew to be Samuel Wardle collapsed to the floor. Her hitch pitched voice coupled with the sound of gunfire more or less ensured that the bank robbers would soon be having company. The leader returned his attention to the trail herder and motioned him towards the other two customers in the bank.
"Over there!" He waves his gun to the wall.
The trail herder rose to his feet, not at all accustomed to being the victim and was about to act when Julia took a pre-emptive action herself. "No!" She grabbed the man's thick arm and pulled him to join her and the German. "He'll kill you!"
The trail herder met her gaze, his jaw tightened and he glared at the leader once more before realising the odds were not in their favour for such an act of retaliation. Nodding unhappily, he allowed himself to be led her to where the robbers wanted them to be, conceding begrudgingly that for the moment he would simply have to let things go on their course.
"Good choice," the leader said with a sneer and went to the woman. She was very beautiful indeed and although she recoiled at his touch, did not say a word to stop him when he took hold of her chin and enjoyed a lung full of her scent before shoving her into the arms of the trail herder. The man glared at him hatefully and the woman simply shrugged of the incident as something distasteful she had to endure until this incident had ended.
"Now you've seen what happened to your friend down there!" The leader shouted at the remaining teller who was staring down the gun barrel being aimed at him by the man in tweed. "You fill up that pouch with all the money you can and we will not put a bullet between your eyes. Give me any trouble and we'll kill you and everyone else in the room." Just to make the potency of his words felt, he shifted his aim slightly and pulled the trigger.
"Bastard!" Julia screamed in horror and anger as she saw the trail herder slam into the wall they were standing against. She did not see where he was shot but could tell by the line of red following his gradual descent that he was dead before he had even touched the wooden floorboards. Julia scrambled to the man's side, trying to help, wishing that Alex was here because the doctor would know what to do and then recanting because she would not wish this kind of danger upon anybody.
"Do we understand each other?" The leader looked at Henry.
"Yes," Henry nodded, feeling the anger bubble inside of him but helpless to do anything but obey. "Yes, I understand."
"Good," the leader nodded. "Now you can either get the money or you can pick the next person to die."
Henry went to open the safe.
The instant the first gunshot was heard, the lawmen of Four Corners was immediately mobilized to seek out the source and the cause. The scream that followed shortly after allowed them to pinpoint immediately where the trouble had originated, even if they did not recognize who had uttered it. Vin Tanner had been in the jailhouse keeping Chris Larabee company when they heard the shot. Both men exchanged glances for a split second before they were out of their chairs and running out the door, paying little attention to the prisoners inside the jailhouse and confident that unless they could eat through bar, they would be there when the lawmen returned.
Chris and Vin broke into a run as they advanced towards the bank, certain by this point that was the place that was now epicenter to whomever had opened fire. They turned the corner into the street where the bank was when they heard another gunshot. A single discharge that immediately chilled their blood for it had all the characteristics of shot fired for the purposes of execution and though they did not say it out loud, it was fairly evident to both of them that someone had died.
The shooting had driven everyone who feared for their lives off the boardwalks, which meant that the street was more or less deserted as people went to for cover in their safety of their homes. As Chris let his gaze sweep across the street, he knew without question they were being watched by the citizens of Four Corners. They were almost half way across the street towards the bank when suddenly; another gunshot shattered the stillness of the air. This one was so close that Chris felt it whiz past him before finding an abrupt end in the ground next to him. A cloud of dust was created as the bullet dug into the earth and both men ran for cover as another bullet followed and another in quick succession.
Barely making it to the shelter of Gloria Potter store, the two men hurried inside the building, fleeing the range of the shooter whom they were certain was making his shots from some place high. Inside the store, Mrs Potter and her customers had wisely hidden themselves in the backroom as Chris and Vin flanked both sides of the doorway and peered outside once again.
"He's up high." Vin replied, his gaze skimming the top of the buildings in the immediate vicinity, trying to locate where their would be killer was positioned. It did not take him long to find the shape he sought, hiding behind the signboard of Schaeffer's apothecary. The barrel of a rifle preceded him and ensured that no one could approach him from across the street without his having the advantage and being able to cut down anyone before they even made it half the way.
"I see him." Chris agreed, finding the man just as quickly.
Fortunately, the enemy's position up high meant they had an advantage of their own in that he could not see what they were doing or have as clear view of the street as he would like. As Chris looked out, he could see Ezra, JD and Nathan appearing. The gambler and the youth were so far unseen and could make their entry into the bank unhindered but without knowing what odds were waiting for them inside and with the chances of there being hostages as well, Chris signaled them to hold position.
"Look," Vin spoke up and pointed at Nathan who was also unseen at this time and trying a more stealthy approach towards the gunmen aloft.
The healer paused as he reached the steps that went up the side of the building at the far end of the row. Chris surfaced past the doorway long enough for Nathan to see him as they caught sight of each other gestured to Chris what he was doing. Chris nodded in approval, forming a plan of his own to allow Nathan the breathing space he needed to reach the man without being cut down the minute he poked his head onto the roof of the building. Once he reached there, he would be in a direct line of sight with the gunmen and it would be a matter of who could draw the fastest. Chris intended for that contest to never happen.
"Nathan's going up." Chris answered as he retreated back into the doorway and looked at Ezra and JD across the street, signaling them to remain where they were for the moment.
"He's gonna need a distraction." Vin responded automatically, aware of the risks even before Chris needed to voice it. The buildings above were evenly heightened and anyone climbing onto one roof was going to be immediately seen by another who was already there.
"Yeah," Chris agreed without question. He met Vin's gaze who automatically knew what he intended to do. Chris smiled, never more grateful by their ability to communicate without speaking a word then at moments like this. The gunslinger moved out of the doorway quickly and stepped just far enough from beneath the awning to take a shot at the sniper. There was no chance of really hitting him but that was not the purpose of the exercise. The man recoiled behind the safety of the signboard as the bullet impacted and emerged long enough to fire again.
Vin was soon at his side, trading the same futile shots. The sniper continued to return fire and in the meantime, Chris and Vin noted that Nathan was no longer on the stairs leading up to the roof of the building he was attempting to scale in order to reach the gunmen. Chris and Vin continued to fire while JD and Ezra continued their advanced towards the main doors of the bank. The barrage continued for a number of minutes with all three pausing to reload at intervals.
Nathan Jackson continued his stealthy approach as best he could, considering there was little or no obstruction that would give him adequate cover. The gunfire being sent in the direction of the sniper by Chris and Vin thought not in optimum position to actually hit the man was keeping him plenty distracted and he did not look in Nathan's direction as he continued to advance. His gun had already been drawn and remained in the healer's hand, primed and ready to fire. When the time came, there would be literally a second left to him to act, a second which seemed like an eternity of time when it was the deciding factor on whether or not he lived to fight another day or die where he stood. It was a sobering thought.
He's Indian, Nathan thought as he saw the man clearly for the first time. Even though he was crouched behind the awning, taking cover behind the signboard as he fired at Chris and Vin, Nathan could tell that he was tall and in his early thirties. There were markings on his face that indicated he was not from Seminole village or the Indian reservation nearby where Chano and Kojay resided, which made Nathan wondered where the man had come from. There were tribes in the Territory but they tended to keep to their own. As it was, they had enough enmity for the white man for claiming this land for their own without associating with them in this manner.
Nathan did not know what instinct had prompted the man to glance sideways but the action none the less took place and when it did, time seemed to freeze on the moment. He saw the Indian's eyes widening in realisation, saw the barrel swing at his direction and though he knew in reality it was all taking place with lightning fast speed, it felt much slower to Nathan. The healer saw the weapon being aimed at him and reacted instinctively, raising his own gun to fire. Both men met each other's gazes for a brief seconds before they closed their eyes and pulled the trigger on both their weapons. The explosion of sound felt far away, like the rumble of distant thunder and Nathan saw the ejection of gasses at the bullet emerged from the sniper's barrel. He wondered if the Indian saw the same thing from his gun.
Whatever the man saw died with him as Nathan's bullet met his mark. It coincided with a flaring of sudden pain in his left shoulder as he felt flesh tearing and something that was red hot, moving through muscle and bone. Nathan let out a small cry of pain as he staggered backwards, regaining enough coherence to see that his own bullet had penetrated flesh. The Indian clutched his throat as the projectile tore through his neck and kept going, shredding everything on its way out. Nathan hit the floor on his uninjured side (thankfully) and saw the enemy drop to his knees, clutching the throat that was gushing blood in all direction. It ran down his hands in thick rivulets of crimson, down his forearms and stained the poncho he was wearing. The man tried to scream but could only express his fear at the dying to come by a few raspy gurgles as his voice box started to fill with blood.
It continued for a few seconds more until finally he joined Nathan on the floor of the roof, his blood forming a puddle beneath him. Nathan groaned slightly as he felt the pain of his own injuries and shifted slightly in order to examine the wound. He could not see much through the torn fabric and blood but he knew that though his shoulder was badly damaged, it was not as irrevocable as the Indian's wound. Nathan would survive his injuries. His enemy would not.
Closing his eyes, Nathan decided to stop moving, taking the advice he had given to so many others in the past regarding what to do after being shot. Biting down as he controlled the pain, he knew that they would soon come for him when the fighting was done.
All he had to was wait.
"Can you see him?" Vin asked.
"No," Chris shook his head. "I can't see the shooter or Nathan." The gunslinger's features tensed because he knew what had happened before this overwhelming silence had fallen over their gun battle. "I think he's hit." Chris responded tautly after a moment.
It was hard to tell whether or not they were being watched but Chris had to risk it. There were still men in the bank itself and while their guard was killed, they were no less dangerous with a bank full of hostages to prove just how much damage they could inflict, should they chose to make a fight of it. As much as the thought left a sour taste in his mouth just thinking, Chris knew that they might have to resort to negotiation with the bank robbers to ensure the safety of those in their power.
"Vin," Chris turned to the tracker and spoke quietly. The bank had no windows and Chris was fairly confident that they would not being observed now that the sniper had been dispatched. "Get through the back of the store and get to the roof." He ordered quietly. "Chances are if they get in a bind, they'll try to ride out of here with hostages. That ain't happening."
Vin responded with a slight nod before he withdrew into the store once again. Chris waited for a few seconds until after the tracker had gone and then looked forward at Ezra and JD who were poised at either side of the door. Chris emerged from his hiding place and crossed the street in a number of quick strides. In seconds, he was standing next JD.
"Hear anything?" Chris asked.
"Nothing," JD shook his head. "I hear them telling Henry to fill bags and the hostages to keep quiet but other than that, they ain't saying much else."
Chris thought quickly for a few seconds and then looked up. "JD, stay behind me."
"But...." JD started to protest but Chris silenced him with a steely glare and the young man complied without further complaint.
"What are your plans Mr Larabee?" Ezra asked in a low whisper.
"No plans," Chris answered. "Just going to talk."
"A novel approach." The gambler remarked with typical cynicism.
Chris gave him a dirty look and then took a deep breath. "We killed your man on the outside!" Chris shouted through the door. "We know you got hostages and we're willing to talk. There ain't gotta be any more killing today!"
He met Ezra's gaze and saw the man wearing an expression of skepticism and waited. He tried to hear how his message had been received but there was little tell tale sound that could give him any clue. After what seemed an eternity, an answer was finally received.
"Step away from the door or we'll kill her." A male voice responded with no hint of emotion.
"You don't have to kill anyone!" Chris returned. "Put down your guns and you can walk out of here alive. Try to get out of here with a hostage and you're going to die."
"No you don't understand!" The response came swiftly this time. "I've got one your women here! Pretty thing with nice red hair. Less you want the rest of her to end up the same, you're gonna let me and my partner walk out of here!"
Ezra's eyes widened. Red hair.
"Julia!" He found the word escaping his mouth before he thought enough to stop himself.
"Ezra!" Came her terrified response.
"Ezra!" Chris voice came soon after as he saw the gambler's calm features disintegrate into panic. "Calm down! You ain't no good to her any other way." The gunslinger reminded sharply.
"Chris will think of something Ezra," JD said trying to lend his support to Chris' order for Ezra to stay calm.
Ezra recovered from the momentary lapse quickly enough and swallowed away his rising fear because Chris was right. If he let the fear overwhelm him, then he would be of little use to Julia. He tipped his hat slightly at Chris, an indication for the gunslinger to continue with his plan as concocted prior to their learning that one of the hostages was Julia Pemberton. Chris gave Ezra an expression of gratitude at allowing him to handle this, knowing that it had to be difficult for the man because in his place, Chris was uncertain whether or not he would be that restrained.
"Alright," Chris addressed the bank robbers again. "You made your point. What do you want from us?"
"Step away from the door!" The unseen gunmen demanded. "Step away I send this pretty lady out with big holes in her!"
Chris looked at Ezra and JD, giving his instructions as a slight nod as they withdrew from the doorway. He looked up at the skyline of buildings and immediately saw Vin at point. The tracker had allowed himself to be seen long enough for Chris to know where he was before disappearing out of sight again. Ezra caught sight of the tracker and let out a sigh of relief knowing that Chris indeed had some form of plan in mind.
The lawmen retreated from the door and once they were a suitable distance enough to be prove to the gunmen that they were true to their word, Chris called out once more. "It's done."
There was a stretch of seconds when nothing happened. Chris, JD and Ezra waited with abated breath for the door to open while Vin in his hiding place overhead, prepared his rifle to fire at the target when it was eventually acquired. Finally after what seemed like forever, the heavy oak door of the bank swung open and a shuffle of feet followed the creak that sounded at its opening. It was less than a fraction of second later that they heard the rustle of cloth against the floor as Julia was forced out first. Her eyes immediately fell on Ezra who was fighting every instinct to act as he saw the gun pressed against her temple by the man who held her captive. His free hand had coiled around her throat, pushing so hard against her windpipe; Ezra could see the redness in her cheeks signaling her strained breathing.
"Stay back!" The bank robber warned as he pulled his arm tighter against Julia's throat.
Behind him, his companion also made his exit, holding Henry O'Brien captive in almost the same manner.
"Sir, is it quite so necessary for you to handle the lady that way?" Ezra asked feigning atypical charm but Chris and JD were perfectly aware of how worried hie was.
"She yours?" The man sneered.
"I have a lease with an option to buy." Ezra returned smoothly and saw Julia giving him a dark look. He had no doubt that if she survived this, he would be paying for that remark later on.
JD who was standing farthest to the man realised what he was going to do as he saw his hand close in around the trigger. With a sudden flash of insight, JD had some idea of how these men planned to make their escape, now that they knew what Julia meant to Ezra. There was no reason for the gunmen to inquire as to the nature of the southerner's relationship with the lady unless he planned to kill her and escape during the emotional horror that followed. There was still ample distance between them and the gunmen for this to become a reality and with an insight that surfaced from some place deep inside him, JD found himself acting.
"Stop!" He pulled out both his guns and fired one bullet in a shot that he never thought himself capable of firing. The angle of his weapon sent the bullet through the man's shoulder, slicing through the nerves that would have allowed him to pull the trigger of his gun. In reflex, the gunmen's hand released his weapon and they saw it tumble to the ground. Julia broke free almost immediately and ran towards Ezra, who caught her in his arms mid way. Chris merely needed to look in the direction of Vin Tanner for the sawn off Winchester to begin its deadly barrage.
The leader's chest exploded as the formidable shell of a sawn off Winchester rifle tore through his body. Vin emptied his entire store of bullets into the man's torso and watched dispassionately as he jerked about spasmodically in the final dance of his life. The villain crumpled to the floor, frothing blood from his mouth and his chest became a tangle of pulpish crimson matter. His blood splattered on the ground as he fell and forced Julia's face to become firmly entrenched in the safety of Ezra's shoulder.
The second gunmen clad in tweed forgot all about Henry and turned to the youth that had sent this entire escape to hell. Pushing the bank teller aside, he aimed his gun at JD at the same time Chris's peacemaker had him marked. Both men fired at the same time. Chris' bullet struck the man in his chest but the projectile he sent at JD was nowhere that accurate, none the less it tore through the fleshy part of the younger man's thigh and forced a cry from his lips. The air seemed to have been punched out of him as JD felt his leg give way and he hit the dirt.
Chris did not have to shoot twice because his first shot had cleaved JD's would be killer's heart into two. The man was dead before he even knew that he was had been hit and Chris turned his back on the dead thief with confidence that he had left nothing undone when he went to tend to JD. JD was clutching his bleeding leg, trying not to show that it had really hurt him in front of Chris who always seemed to have a straight face no matter how bad he was hit.
"JD!" Chris was at his side in seconds and swore inwardly because when Buck found out, none of the seven was going to get a minute's peace. Buck could be extremely vocal about their ability to keep the boy from harm whenever incidents like this took place. Chris just hoped they did not have to resort to violence.
"I'm alright," JD assured him quickly. "It stings but I'm okay."
Chris could see that it was doing a little bit more than that but he respected JD's need to keep a stiff upper lip. "Well, you saved the day." Chris offered him a smile and glanced in the direction of Ezra and Julia who were still clenched together in a grateful embrace. "I think you're allowed to complain a little."
"I'm alive Chris," JD returned. "I'm just happy for that."
"Thank you Mr Larabee," Henry O'Brien said gratefully. "Didn't think I was going to walk out of there alive."
Chris responded to the man's gratitude with a slight nod, which was exactly what the folk of Four Corners were accustomed to. Fortunately, Henry knew JD was a little more receptive to thanks and immediately went to assist Chris with helping the injured youth get to a doctor.
In the meantime, Julia Pemberton had pulled away from Ezra's embrace and looked at the gambler with a haughty expression on her face. "I have decided," she said as she straightened her dress and fixed her disheveled hair. "That after due reflection on the matter that I have decided to forgive you."
After Vin had killed the man who had almost taken Julia's life, he had sought and found Nathan Jackson who though injured was still alive. Like JD, his wounds though serious were not fatal and the two members of the seven were immediately brought to Alex's clinic. However, when Chris returned to the jailhouse, he discovered that Kitson and the rest of the prisoners in the cells were gone.