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:Language, references to violence and other unpleasantness. Original characters abound (if you've read SG-7 series, the character of Dawn Jackson has been translated into Aurora Hutchins). Also, Buck and Nathan are very, very bad boys. You have been warned. Special thanks to Cin, and she knows why.
These stories are set after Serpents, so you'll probably find references to all of the episodes, at one time or another.
Continues: Road to Hell : Reunion.
Author's Note: This is the final story in the trilogy, but not the end of the storyline. It picks up in the first story of the Family Business series, tentatively titled 'Paying the Piper.' At some point, you'll meet the puppet master behind all this (nope, he's not anyone we met in the series ... someone I've totally made up), as well as witness Gideon's reckoning. Keep hands and feet inside the wagon at all times, it's gonna be a bumpy ride.
Thanks to everyone who emailed me while I was writing this, to let me know you were enjoying it. I couldn't have done it without you. Thanks as ever to Elizabeth, for her archiving and coding, to Cin, for her support and encouragement.
When would this end? When would he be strong again, when the fever finally go away, when would he be able to draw breath without pain stabbing at his chest? Vin hated being weak, he hated being sick, he hated being dependent. And Lord, how he hated putting Drina in this position. He screwed up once already, by making her leave after Eli Joe murdered Jess Kincaid. If they had stayed together, he could have protected her from that hell called an asylum.
He'd been thinking about that a lot these days. Thinking about the first time he met Drina, and the last time he saw her. The last time was the only time they'd ever kissed. It was like, since they wouldn't be travelin' together no more, Drina didn't think she had nothin' else to lose. And she kissed him passionately, fiercely. A kiss that took his breath away. And then she smiled very sadly, backing away before she swung herself onto her horse.
She wanted to tell the truth. They hadn't been ... together ... in the Biblical sense the night Jess Kincaid was killed by Eli Joe. But Vin didn't want her involved any more than she already was. At the time, she was traveling under her own name, for once, and he didn't want her reputation sullied any more than it already was. Lord, she had been furious with him because of that. He hadn't seen her that furious since the incident with the bandits. Vin smiled humorlessly. Hell, this made the second time she saved him and lost part of her soul in the bargain.
But she became angry with him when he said that, even though it was true. She always told him that he was worth it, and she would do it again. Vin sighed, turning his thoughts back to Jess Kincaid and Eli Joe. She had seen the poster just as he had, and they both agreed that the man was Eli Joe. He would take the man's body back to Tascosa and claim the money, while she took care of some family business. That was how she was free when he discovered the body belonged to Jess Kincaid, instead of Eli Joe.
It was bad enough that Vin realized he was starting to fall in love with his friend. Hell, she was the only woman around his own age, the only one he knew well, what else would happen? It was bad enough that the hunter had become the hunted. It was bad enough that he had screwed up that badly, to mistake one man for another. But he had no intention of causing more harm to come to Adriana. It was best if they separated, for both of them. And yet, when he needed help, it was she who came to his aid. Someone who should have hated him.
If Vin hadn't driven her away, she would have never been in that place. Would have never been through six months of hell. This was partly his own fault. And Vin had no idea how to make up for it. She had been a rock, ever since he awakened. The worst part of it was, he still needed her strength so desperately. Especially with Larabee and the others here now. What did Larabee want?
Vin pulled his mind back from the earlier confrontation. He was hopelessly confused. He knew he heard Nathan tell him that this was what Chris wanted, for the bounty hunters to take Vin. The healer was no longer his friend, but that didn't make the other man a liar. He had never known either man to lie to him. Which one was telling the truth? From what Laertes told him, JD set up Chris, deciding that it was time the two finally talked. So he couldn't trust JD.
Ezra? Well, that was a possibility, but Ezra went out to mediate the argument between Nathan and Laertes. Those were his exact words ... Vin fell asleep briefly, but awakened when he heard Nathan and Laertes yelling at each other. He drifted back to sleep after Ezra lightly patted his shoulder and whispered he should return to Morpheus, Ezra would go outside and mediate the current conflagration.
At least, Vin was assuming Ezra told him to go back to sleep, 'cause he never heard of this Morpheus fella. He'd have to ask Ezra about that later. The tracker moved restlessly on the bed, sighing. Maybe when Ezra came back in, he would ask him. Whether he lied to him or not, Vin no longer trusted Nathan. That left Ezra ... or Josiah? Vin knew the big preacher was around here somewhere. He saw him when the others first showed up a few days earlier, but he hadn't been around much.
Had Josiah argued against his being sent away? Did he give up on Vin? But ... even though Josiah referred to the other six as 'brother,' that didn't mean nothin.' Hell, Buck left his own sister in that hellhole! Vin had never been inside an asylum, but he heard plenty of things. Not just from various folks, but he wasn't the only one who had nightmares. Drina had her fair share of nightmares, and Vin heard more than he wanted to about what was done to his friend. Still, Josiah had left Vin alone. Hadn't tried anything. Just let him be, if that was what he wanted. And it was what Vin wanted.
"Mind if I come in, brother?" a familiar voice asked. Startled, Vin turned on his side, and discovered Josiah standing just outside the door. Not in the doorway, but just beyond. The big preacher waited patiently, saying only, "I only want to talk, son. After witnessing the dressing down Laertes gave Nathan, there's no way I want that man mad at me. And Ezra is still calming down Miss Adriana."
Calming down Drina? What happened? Josiah explained, "I can't believe I'm saying this, but as Ezra would say, it seems that the individual who delivered Miss Adriana to her own version of hell looked exactly like Nathan." Vin sat up straight, ignoring the crack of pain that shot through his side. Josiah sighed, "Yeah, that was what we decided, too. After that happened, Laertes ripped into Nathan with a vengeance and told him if he ... Nathan ... ever came near you or Miss Adriana again, Laertes would kill him with his bare hands."
"Jesus!" Vin gasped, collapsing back against his pillows. Aw hell, Drina ... as if you ain't had enough to worry about? Now this? He noticed Josiah still standing in the doorway, and said, "Y'all can come in, J'siah. Thanks fer askin,' though. Doesn't seem like nobody else but you and Ez bothered to ask first." Josiah quietly slipped into the room, and Vin wondered how he did that, as big as he was.
"How are you feelin,' brother?" Josiah asked. Vin smiled humorlessly. Oh, now where did he start? His head still hurt, his ribs were sore, his legs didn't seem to want to hold him, despite the progress he had been making lately. Aside from Ezra, Laertes, and Drina, he had no idea who to trust. Oh yeah, and his damn fever was going up. Again. And he knew he had a pissy attitude, but right now, he just didn't give a damn about that. Josiah looked away for a moment, adding wryly, "I suppose that's a stupid question, son. Specially since the others told me that you were feverish again. Mind if I sit down?" Vin gestured for him to have a seat, and Josiah murmured, "We done wrong by you, Vin. Every one of us. One way or another."
Did that mean ... ? Vin knew his fever went up, but he didn't think it went up that much. Josiah continued, "Chris left everything up to Nathan. Chris made a mistake, in trusting Nathan. He done wrong by you. He may not have meant to, but he still hurt you. Just like he hurt you a few minutes ago. He understands now, that he's got to do this on your terms. That he can't tell you to forgive anyone or stop hurting."
Vin watched Josiah very carefully, lacing his fingers over his midsection. Josiah continued, "I done wrong by you. They didn't need all three of us in Eagle Bend. Chris wanted me or JD to return to Four Corners when the wires stopped coming from town. We both refused. We believed that Buck and Nathan had it under control. I was wrong. I should have come back. Because know this, Vin. I would have never allowed them bounty hunters to take you. Never."
Josiah took a deep breath, then continued, "JD done wrong by you. He took it into his own hands, deciding that you and Chris needed to talk. He's right, you do. But you gotta do it when you're ready. Not when JD decides it's time, not when Chris decides it's time. You. He knows that now. And he knows he's lost some of your trust. But when you're feeling ready, think about giving him another chance."
By now, Vin was starting to see what Josiah was doing. Buck and Nathan wouldn't be mentioned. They both knew what those two done wrong. Instead, Josiah was admitting his own faults in what happened, as well as giving Vin permission to be angry with the others. That weren't the right way to put it, but it was the best Vin could do. Josiah must have seen that in Vin's eyes, for he smiled very gently and said, "And that brings me to Ezra. He done wrong by you, too. He should have wired us immediately, just as soon as the bounty hunters showed up."
Josiah paused, then put his hand over Vin's clasped hands, saying softly, "We all done wrong by you. Buck and Nathan made the decision, but the rest of us were equally at fault. You done nothing wrong. Do you understand me, son? Nothing. You didn't deserve to be abandoned, you didn't deserve to be sent away. You've made mistakes, son. But you've atoned for those mistakes a thousand times over."
"I were angry with ya, too, J'siah. With all of ya," Vin admitted hoarsely, "couldn't figger out what I done wrong." Much to his horror and dismay, he felt his eyes burning with tears. Josiah looked down, then looked back at the bed. Vin understood immediately. Josiah wanted to know if he could sit beside Vin on the bed. The young man nodded and Josiah left his seat, his hand never leaving Vin's.
"Mind if I hold you a while, son? I've missed my young brother. I've missed the man who stood by me without question," Josiah said softly. Vin responded by turning his wrist and taking Josiah's hand. The big man leaned forward and pulled Vin into his arms. It felt good. So good. Safe. Protected. Josiah whispered, his voice thick with unshed tears, "I'm so sorry, son." And the first piece of healing fell into place for Vin Tanner.
Josiah had seen the scars on Vin's body. In the mornings, before anyone else was awake, often got out of bed and went to the window. He wore no shirt, thoroughly scandalizing JD, who thought he should be fully dressed in the company of a young lady. Josiah grinned, remembering those arguments, each and every morning when JD woke up to find Vin still without a shirt. The boy still didn't understand. But the preacher did. Josiah slept in the corner, allowing him a good view of the treeline, in case of an attack.
It also allowed him to see Vin without being seen. He saw the still-fading bruises on Vin's ribcage and abdomen and chest. Bruises which caused an unholy fury within the preacher. Holy man, nothing ... if Miss Adriana hadn't dealt with those men herself, then Josiah would have taken great pleasure in dealing with them. And maybe, just maybe, there were a few asses left for him to kick. He didn't think Miss Adriana would begrudge him that!
From the young woman's narrative, he learned that Vin spent most of his time shackled to the bed in the infirmary. He was helpless when the guards beat him. What had they used on him, when they beat him? Did they unshackle him, with one guard holding him while the other pummeled him? Did they use clubs? What happened? Oh, they knew Vin was beaten, but there was still so much they didn't know. Including who was behind this. Josiah remembered what Judge Travis told him in the last wire, when he brought up the stirrings back in town.
Mary found some information about the prison camp. Oh, the judge didn't say it, not like that, but that was the idea. She knew something, and she was coming to tell them herself. Mary didn't trust people right now ... not the telegrapher, not the majority of the town. Josiah couldn't blame her. The bounty hunters had warned ... wait a minute. That didn't sound right! If it was bounty hunters who arrived in town in the first place, why didn't they simply take him?
Why threaten to burn down the town, if there was no need? All this time, there was a missing piece in the puzzle, and they didn't even know it. Because they were too caught up with everything else that was going on, they never bothered to look at the whole picture. Josiah cursed himself for not seeing it earlier, even as he held Vin tightly. Not too tightly. The boy's ribs were still healing. But tightly enough for him to understand that Josiah wouldn't let him go. Would never let him go, just as Vin wouldn't let go of him.
After several moments, he gently lay Vin back and said, "I'm sorry, son, but I need some answers. Too many things don't add up. Hell, the only thing that does add up is Miss Adriana and Laertes, and what they done for you. The prison camp don't add up, the bounty hunters comin' for you the way they done don't add up. I need you to tell me what you remember. Do you remember how much time passed?"
Josiah didn't worry about the tendency Adriana had to confuse the asylum with the prison camp. They were both prisons, just of different kinds. He didn't think it was a sign that she was unstable, confused, or insane. He noticed Laertes referring to the prison camp as Bedlam, another name for insane asylums. It seemed likely that the inside of the barracks reminded her of the asylum, and Laertes picked up on it. He turned his attention back to Vin.
"Uh ... I ain't rightly sure. I 'member them two talkin' about what had to be done. Ez kept sayin' they could find another way. I 'member him with me in the clinic, swearin' he would find another way to safeguard the town and me. Didn't understand what he meant, 'cause I was sure I was dyin.' What difference did it make ... then them two came into the clinic and carried me downstairs. I 'member that clearly. Them tellin' me that they didn't have no other choice, they had to choose 'tween me and the town, and they was paid to protect the town," Vin replied.
He swallowed hard, muttering, "I heard Mary yellin' at 'em, sayin' they couldn't just give me to the bounty hunters. She was so mad, J'siah. I 'member that real clear. Her tellin' 'em that I was a member of the comm-u-nity, and that they's s'pose to protect me, too. Then I was bein' tied to the horse ... couldn't even hold my head up. Just lay against the horse. I ... turned my head. Looked at Mary ... Billy was cryin,' hitting them two, yellin' not to let them bad men take me away. But it didn't do no good."
Josiah blinked back tears of his own as Vin spoke, but he listened carefully. Vin closed his eyes, sighing deeply. Josiah didn't interrupt him. He needed answers, but he didn't need 'em that badly. Vin continued after a moment, "Next thin' I 'member, I'm fallin' off m' horse, and one of the bounty hunters ... Burke, I think he was called ... said that we was stoppin' at this prison camp. They was s'posed to meet somebody, sometime."
Josiah kept his hands on Vin's forearms, quietly willing his strength to the young man, and the tracker continued after a moment, "I was lyin' on the ground, couldn't make no sense outta none 'a it. Then ... one a' the others. Think Burke called him 'Neely,' but couldn't swear to it. He came over and kicked me in the gut. Burke yelled at him, tol' him they didn't have time for that. Called him a goddamn moron, then came over and picked me up. Carried me up to the room where Drina found me. Don't 'member much after that."
Josiah nodded, mentally processing that. Vin said softly, "There's just somethin' that don't make no sense to me, J'siah. Bounty hunters are lone wolves. I rode with Drina, 'cause I was tryin' to protect her. Them bounty hunters ... they didn't act like bounty hunters. They ... they was almost like a team. And I don't 'member seein' Neely and Burke again." Bingo. That was what Josiah needed.
He said softly, "Son, there's a few things you need to know. First, you were right when you told Miss Adriana that fire wasn't her fault. The fire at the prison camp was no accident. It was set on purpose. Remember when we rescued Chris from Jericho, how they were destroying evidence? Same thing happened. I don't know what they were trying to destroy, but rags soaked in alcohol is a pretty good indication of a deliberate fire."
Vin's face went white, but Josiah wasn't finished yet. He said, "There's more. None of this has been an accident. The medicine you got to bring down your fever ... the bounty hunters, or more likely mercenaries, who came to town ... the fire. It's starting to look like small parts of a grander scheme. One to destroy us. We've been puttin' our heads together, trying to figure out if this was aimed at the town, or at us."
"It were aimed at us. This is personal, J'siah," Vin answered, his blue eyes thoughtful. He looked back at the preacher, adding, "That don't mean I'm gonna forgive ... or trust ... them two. Hope ya understand that, preacher. They didn't have to let them ... what did you call 'em? Mercenaries? Didn't have to let them win. I cain't trust them no more, J'siah. I'm afraid even to trust ya." Josiah patted a thin shoulder reassuringly. He wasn't offended by the statement. In fact, he understood how Vin felt. Understood all too well.
"I know, son, and I don't trust them, either. But, I sure bet they feel real stupid right now, letting someone trick them like that. Lettin' themselves be used like that," the preacher replied. Vin nodded, though Josiah saw there was precious little sympathy in the blue eyes. That was all right though. They had to take this a bit at a time. And he was still surprised that he had been allowed in to see Vin. Josiah continued, "Miss Mary has been doing some digging, and she'll be here day after tomorrow with the information she's found. Think you're up to seeing her, and Billy, Miss Nettie, and Casey?"
Vin smiled, his eyes lighting up, and he whispered, "Reckon so. I've missed them, J'siah. Ya think Nettie'll like Drina? Been thinkin' on that ... Drina can get a mite like a mama bear, and she don't always mean to. Reckon I'm a bit afraid she and Nettie will tangle. Don't like the idea of that one bit!" Josiah just smiled at the young man warmly. He could understand Vin's concerns, but he didn't think he had anything to worry about. He spent little time around the young woman, but that made little difference in this situation.
"Vin, I have a feeling the only thing Nettie will care about is that Miss Adriana came for you. I know that's all that counts with me. If she wants to be a mama bear with you and Miss Laura, I imagine she has every right. I ain't gonna take it personally," the preacher replied. Vin just smiled, relaxing, and Josiah squeezed his shoulder, adding, "Get some sleep, son. Just rest. Nobody's ever gonna take you from us again."
Thomas Burke slipped from the office which Rupert Browner claimed for his own. God, he would be so glad when this was all over! He just needed a little more time, then he would have everything he needed. If only the Larabee gang hadn't interfered ... not that Burke could really blame them there. Larabee's best friend and second in command was taken, it was only a matter of time before Larabee came after them.
And really, Burke was shocked when the ladies' man and the healer agreed to turn Tanner over to them. According to the information he had received, Tanner saved the darkie's life. Hell, he wouldn't blame the kid at all if he never trusted that darkie again. Though Burke thought he was kinda foolish in the first place, trustin' Jackson. Didn't that boy know better than to trust a darkie? On the other hand, it was a darkie who took the kid from the prison compound.
The 'mercenary/bounty hunter' was actually neither. His name wasn't even Thomas Burke. His name was Julian Poplar, he was a Pinkerton agent, just like his older brother had been. And at the time of Cyrus' death a few months earlier, Julian was on his older brother's trail for the murder of several professional women. Not working girls, but ladies who worked. Cyrus was ultimately caught in Four Corners, where he killed himself.
The men responsible for his capture were the Magnificent Seven, specifically the preacher and the tracker. His brother tried to frame the preacher, and in the process of applying his motivation for the murders to the preacher, revealed himself as the killer. It made Julian's heart hurt. They were the sons of a working girl, born of different men. Julian believed it was Cyrus who actually killed their mother, who died when Julian was seventeen. Julian owed the Seven for helping to stop his brother. And now, he found himself opposing them, if only in pretense.
Three months earlier, Rupert Browner was sent to the prison camp outside Pordios, to await his hanging. The previous month, he escaped ... and in the escape, several officials were killed. Julian went undercover to find out what Browner was up to, and who helped him to escape. Instead, he learned that most of the escapes during the last year were due to a young woman named Adriana Wilmington and her darkie guardian, Laertes Townsend. The very same woman who rescued Vin Tanner almost two weeks earlier.
It wasn't actually Neely who bungled the fire ... well, he had. But Julian threw the timing off, to give himself more time to search the administrative office, to see if Browner left a paper trail for him to follow. Of course, Neely screwed it up. Julian didn't have time to search the office, much less rescue Vin Tanner from the infirmary. Then the Wilmington girl showed up, and Julian made a last minute change to the plan. Instead, Julian helped the little girl Laura to start freeing the other inmates.
She only knew about half the men freed, before he told her to go, find Tanner. He heard the gun shots being fired, upstairs around the infirmary, and he knew someone was rescuing Tanner. He also knew that Laura's best chance for survival would be with them. He was one of the few who paid attention to the little girl, at least among the staff. To the inmates, she was the only bright spot in their lives. Julian felt the same way. But Laura didn't belong here. And neither did Julian.
During his months undercover, the young Pinkerton detective learned that this was another prison work camp set up by Jessie Quince. Originally, there was the prison at Jericho, the one which held Chris Larabee for, ironically, almost the same amount of time as Pordios held his best friend. After the death of her son, Jessie Quince mysteriously disappeared, only to reappear in Pordios, where the whole cycle started all over again.
The escapes began almost immediately, as Mrs. Quince didn't have the money to pay more than one or two guards. It was only after Browner escaped that there was more than one guard, all of whom carried weapons. Still, like its predecessor, nearly all of the men here were innocent of any wrongdoing, and Julian took great pleasure in freeing every last one of them. The little girl Laura helped him with half of them, while the Wilmington girl and the darkie freed Tanner. Still, that left him with no way of finding who was pulling Browner's strings.
From the money which was being used, first at the prison camp, now in this abandoned town, it was someone wealthy. Before going undercover, Julian did a fair amount of research, and he was relatively sure that it was neither Guy Royal nor Stuart James. They were both wealthy men, yes, but not this wealthy. And this had taken a great deal of planning. More time was required to plan this than just the year the Seven had been in Four Corners. No. No, this went back further. And it could be someone from the past of any member of the Seven.
Julian could go to Larabee. Tell him everything, outline the entire plan, as it was outlined to him by Browner. There was one problem. Even if Larabee wasn't listening to Wilmington, the ladies' man and Jackson could still identify him as one of the 'bounty hunters' who took Tanner from Four Corners. Julian felt sick when he thought about that part of his charade.
It was his idea to threaten to burn down the town, hoping that would clue in the so-called Magnificent Seven into realizing they weren't dealing with bounty hunters. Apparently, he wasn't dealing with the most intelligent members, because they handed Tanner over without a fight. True, the darkie was wore out from looking out for Tanner, after Powell mixed up that medicine for Browner. But you would have thought that Standish or Wilmington would know better.
Then again, Julian's information told him that Standish wasn't trusted. It was ironic, really. That the member of the Seven who was supposedly the least trustworthy was the only one who would stand up for Tanner. He and the blonde woman. Mary Travis, who almost fell victim to his brother as well. Julian shook his head in disgust. It was beyond contempt, that a gambler and a widow were the only able-bodied people in the entire town willing to do what was right. If the town really wanted to, they could have taken the bounty hunters, but instead, they gave up an innocent man. Larabee should rethink his employment as a protector of that town.
Oh, Julian knew about the bounty on Tanner's head. But he also knew Tanner was innocent, though evidently, word hadn't spread through the territory. His research since the night of the fire also told him that Adriana Wilmington was wanted. Her father sold her to white slavers some ten years earlier. Julian had no interest in returning the girl to her father, or to the asylum from which she escaped. Only in taking down Rupert Browner.
For now, he was on his own. For now, he still had to watch his own back. But that was okay, because he was doing it all along. Only now, he was the only one he had to look out for. Up until the night of the fire, Julian had been looking out for himself and Laura, and trying to keep an eye on Tanner as well. He missed Laura, but he was grateful she got out with Tanner, that she finally had a real family.
As Julian continued down the corridor toward his own quarters, he mentally ran through all his leads. Laura told him a little, with her hand motions. He learned a little more from the wrongfully imprisoned inmates of the prison camp, and Julian hoped all of them were happily reunited with their families. He learned from them that Jessie Quince died in one of the isolation pits of the prison compound, before Julian ever got there. Isolation pits meant snakes. Julian knew that from his research into Jericho, and Julian hated snakes.
I need a little more information before I go to Larabee, Julian thought, and when I do, I'll direct him to Neely. A cold smile appeared on the Pinkerton agent's face. Neely thought he didn't know about the nightly raids into the infirmary. Oh, he knew. He knew. The stupid jackass would answer to Chris Larabee for the bruises on Tanner's body. He would answer to the members of the Seven who didn't sell out their friend.
But for now, it was time for Julian Poplar to return to hiding, and allow Thomas Burke to come back out. He consoled himself that it would all be over soon. One way or another. Julian was now off to the asylum ... since the doctor had been killed at the time of the fire, Browner wanted someone else to take his place. And since Bedlam had yielded Dr. Powell, it only made sense to return to that place. At least, it made sense to Browner, but Julian had his own ideas about what he would be doing.
While he was there, he would find out what he could about Powell. Powell hadn't really been hired by Browner, but rather, assigned to him. By their mysterious boss. Maybe, if he did some digging into Powell's background, he could find that boss. It was a place to start, at least, and Julian had the uneasy sense that time was running out. With the Larabee gang in town, Browner would be moving against them soon, especially now when they were still divided. And when he did, Julian knew he would have to make a choice.
The rest of the day settled into a quiet rhythm. Once Adriana was calmer, she returned to her chores, though she was aware of Ezra Standish watching her with concern. She checked on Vin once, to find him cradled in the arms of the big preacher, Josiah Sanchez. Adriana almost went into the bedroom ... until she saw that Vin was holding onto the other man for dear life, and she chose not to interrupt.
Another bridge had been built between Vin and his friends. Sanchez and Ezra were regaining Vin's trust, while JD Dunne took two steps back. Or maybe a step and a half, Adriana didn't know. Yes, she was upset with him for pushing Vin, when Vin wasn't ready to talk to Chris ... but his heart was in the right place. He knew Chris didn't agree to give Vin up to the bounty hunters, and he didn't like the tension between the leader and the second in command.
Besides. He was young. And when you were that age ... even when you weren't ... foolish things were done. He was learning, that was the important thing. But until Vin was ready to talk to him once more, the boy already agreed to keep his distance. JD didn't understand at first, he admitted as much to Adriana. His conversation with Josiah enlightened him ... he began to understand that Vin lost all control over his life, over his fate, when he was turned over to the bounty hunters. And JD did the same thing. That wasn't his intention, but it was what he did.
Her brother and Jackson remained another matter. Adriana shuddered. She never heard Gideon's last name, not that she could recall at least. But with that kind of resemblance, there had to be a blood tie of some kind. And Ezra had informed her that Laertes warned Jackson to keep away from both her and Vin. Knowing his temper as she did, Adriana could just about imagine how that confrontation went.
She returned to work in the kitchen, only somewhat startled when there was a knock on the door. She frowned and moved to open it, and oddly enough, her visitor was JD. He asked, "Can ... can I talk to you? Josiah's still with Vin, and I overheard something that kinda bugged me. I was hoping you could explain something, since you were sort of a bounty hunter once."
Adriana didn't know about that, but she would answer whatever questions she could. She motioned the young man to have a seat at the table, then sat down opposite of him. JD said, "I was actually coming in to ask you something else, but that's not as important right now. I heard Vin say something about how bounty hunters don't usually work together ... much less in such a large group. Is that true?"
"It is," Adriana affirmed, "in the first place, it makes no sense to even have a partner when you're a bounty hunter, because the money gets split. You don't make that much money for bringing in bounties, unless you're good. Vin has always been good." JD nodded his understanding and Adriana continued, "Mind you, the bounty on Eli Joe was pretty good. Two hundred dollars. But there was just the two of us, and Vin always insisted on splitting the bounties because I helped him. Don't ask how, it's not something you want to know."
JD gulped, and the young woman continued, "I don't know how many were in this posse of bounty hunters that I've been hearing about, but I do know this. Someone else was pulling their stringers, because to have more than two bounty hunters working together is asking for trouble. I learned a good bit about the darker side of life when I was in Mexico ... and I'd say there's a pretty good chance that those bounty hunters were really mercenaries."
Seeing the boy's confused look, Adriana explained, "Mercenaries are hired soldiers. They go to whoever pays them the most. When my former owners sent men after me, back when I first met Vin, they were almost always mercenaries. Now, I haven't heard the entire story about what happened in town, but I woulda been real suspicious about this posse of bounty hunters." JD was nodding with a thoughtful frown.
"Josiah said they didn't act like bounty hunters. I know, I shouldn't have been listening outside the door, but I was worried about Vin. I heard his fever was going up again, and I wanted to make sure I didn't make him sick. So, you don't think bounty hunters would have formed a posse, much less threatened to burn down the town?" the boy asked. Say again? She couldn't have heard what she thought she heard.
"The supposed bounty hunters who came to town after Vin said they would burn down the town if you didn't hand Vin over?" she asked, and JD nodded. Adriana was on her feet immediately, swearing in disgust. Unbelievable. Those two morons had been riding with Vin for a year, and they hadn't learned the first thing! When she could trust herself to speak coherently, Adriana said, "JD ... a bounty hunter woulda never done that. Burning down a town is a real good way to end up in Vin's position, bein' the hunted instead of the hunter! They were outlaws, JD. Outlaws pretending to be bounty hunters, and my dear brother never even ... aghhhhhh!"
"Then they really were mercenaries," JD whispered and Adriana nodded. Oh yeah. Yeah, that was a given at this point. JD continued, "You would think that someone who has ridden with an ex-bounty hunter would know that. I mean, I didn't, but it makes sense. So ... there's someone else behind this. Someone who is paying the mercenaries. But who did we make that mad, that's that wealthy? Especially since Josiah thinks Vin was given that peyote-laced medicine deliberately," JD replied.
"JD, I want you to tell me as much as you know about this situation. You tell me everything, no matter how unimportant it sounds. The more I know, the better I can protect Vin," Adriana said. She frowned, then asked, "You said something about another question you wanted to ask. Go ahead and ask it, it may be more important than you think." JD flushed and looked away.
"Well ... I was ... it's just ... Vin's said something about us givin' him up to the bounty hunters, 'cause we were ashamed of him. And I heard you say the same thing a few days back, when we first got here. And ... was that the only time you said that around Vin?" JD asked. Adriana thought back, trying to remember what she said, and JD added, "It's only ... I mean ... I ain't judging you. I just ... I thought Vin oughta know that we aren't."
"No, JD ... and Vin was unconscious when I made that statement, I think. No, I'd never knowingly say that in his hearing ... he's suffering enough, he doesn't need me to undermine his healing or his recovery," Adriana replied. JD frowned, and Adriana asked, "Do you think he heard me anyhow?" She didn't want to think about that possibility, but she couldn't ignore it. If she did or said something to hurt Vin, she had to know about it, so she could be more careful.
JD shook his head, muttering, "I heard Chris ranting before I came in here. About how Vin thinks if we think he's so worthless, we should have left him to die, and how Chris can't figure out how Vin could think that we're embarrassed by him or ashamed of him." Adriana shook her head, although she could easily believe Vin would rather die free than live even briefly in captivity. She had only to remember the shackles on his ankles and wrists to know that.
"No, JD ... the only thing I can think of is, Vin was more awake than I realized, when I let it slip that my brother left me where I was because he was ashamed of me, and I thought you did the same to him," Adriana replied. Then she processed what she and JD had been talking about, and she looked up at the boy, asking, "Do you think one of the mercenaries said something? I know Vin was beaten, and more than once ... "
"That could be. It just bugged me. We gotta convince him that it ain't true ... and I don't know how to do that," JD sighed, rubbing his hand over his eyes. Adriana wished she knew what to say. But she didn't. JD looked up and added, "You know, I think I'm gonna have a little talk with Nathan." Adriana tilted her head to look at him, and the boy added, "See how he reacts when I repeat what Vin said about leaving him to die. Love to see how he reacts."
"You're cruel," Adriana said, and JD responded with what could easily be described as a shit-eating grin. She added after a moment, "Be careful. You're a good kid. Got a big mouth, but a good kid. And he's just big." A shadow passed over JD's face, and Adriana asked, "What's wrong?" JD ran his fingers through his black hair, as if struggling with something he wanted to say, and wasn't sure how to put it.
"Miss Adriana ... I heard what Laertes said to Nathan. About you. I know Nathan looks like the ... well, as Ezra would say, like that creature ... the one who delivered you to those white slavers. And I don't trust him no more. But he won't hurt me," JD replied.
She looked away, and JD added hastily, "I ain't blamin' ya for believing the worst of him. He's a traitor, Miss Adriana, and he don't deserve our trust. But he ain't a killer." Adriana looked back at him. Not a killer. What exactly did that mean? Had he killed? There were so many ways of killing someone, not the least of which was a beating, or a stabbing, or a shooting. But there was also turning over a man who was desperately ill, to outlaws.
JD must have realized that immediately, for he sighed, "Look, I'll go before I put my foot any further into my mouth. Just ... don't worry about me, okay? Look after Vin. After Josiah leaves, I mean." Adriana nodded, accepting the hand he offered to her. The boy put his hat back on his head, tipped it to her, then left the kitchen. A moment later, she saw him outside her kitchen window. And then, she returned to work. The chores wouldn't get done themselves, after all.
JD's first order of business, after leaving the ranch house, was to find Chris. His mind was awhirl with what he had heard from Josiah, and what he learned from Adriana. And the sooner he told Chris, the better things would be. The more he thought about it, the more JD thought things were even uglier than they originally knew. And that was ugly enough. But mercenaries? Who the hell had enough money to hire mercenaries?
Chris was in the corral with the horses, and JD stopped, watching his hero with the animals. He looked up as JD approached, his eyes tracking JD's trail from the house, and asked, "You been in to see Vin?" He looked surprised when JD shook his head, and the young gunfighter couldn't really blame the leader of the Seven for being suspicious. After the stunt JD pulled earlier ... well, it would be a while before anyone would trust him.
"I wanted to check on Vin ... I overheard something. So I went in to talk to Adriana instead," JD replied. Chris gave the small mare which Adriana rode earlier one last pat, then ducked under the fence to rejoin JD. The young man explained, "Josiah thinks that those bounty hunters who came to town weren't bounty hunters at all, but mercenaries. Adriana agrees. She's had run-ins with mercenaries in the past. And, she said that them threatening to burn down the town sounded more like outlaws."
"Mercenaries ... damn, I should have thought of that sooner. Bounty hunters catch their prey by blending into the landscape. There's no way they'd stand out like that, it would draw too much attention. Damn! I never even thought about that. And there's no way so many bounty hunters would be working together, not for a five hundred dollar bounty!" Chris growled in irritation. JD nodded. Yeah, he had been so focused on getting Vin back, he lost sight of how they lost their friend in the first place.
After a moment, Chris said, "Okay. Mary is supposed to be arriving in town tomorrow morning. I want you to meet the stagecoach ... she'll be with Casey, Billy, and Miss Nettie. According to the judge, she found out something. Get with her, find out what she knows. I want her and the others to stay in town tomorrow night, give Vin two more days to recuperate before they descend on him."
JD grinned, understanding exactly what Chris meant. The man in black continued, "The day after tomorrow, bring them here. I'll send Josiah and Ezra into town to help you, so they have an escort here. I'll stay with Laertes and Adriana. Make sure the other two don't take it into their heads to go somewhere they ain't supposed to be." Again, JD understood exactly what his friend meant ... and he was glad.
"Should we set out in the morning, or in the afternoon?" JD asked. His own feeling was morning, since it would take a few hours to get to the ranch house. However, JD now had to assume that they could only trust their own little circle. No one in town, because they didn't know if anyone in town could be trusted. Except Miss Aurora, and Chris wanted her kept out of it. Chris looked into the distance, frowning.
"Wait until night. Say, around sunset. And see if Miss Aurora will come with you. I got a bad feeling about the way this is about to turn, and I don't want her getting hurt because she's been helping us. If anyone asks you, tell 'em that Adriana isn't well," Chris replied. JD nodded. Yeah, that would make sense. Chris sighed, "Damn, kid, you don't know how much I wish we were all back in town when this happened. How much I wish it never happened."
"Me, too, Chris ... me, too. Do you want me to tell you what I heard, when I went into the house?" JD asked, and Chris nodded. The young man began explaining what he heard, including Vin's scattered memories of being taken. Mary. Billy. The arrival at the prison. The green eyes narrowed when JD got to the part about Vin being kicked, and the boy knew Chris Larabee well enough to know if that man was still alive, he wouldn't be after Chris was finished with him.
JD just hoped Chris saved some for him, because JD wanted to hurt someone. Instead, he continued with what he learned from Adriana, including the piece of information he still considered unimportant. Chris was silent for several moments, then said, "Okay. I'm writing everything I know down, and I want you to give it to Mary when you see her. I still have to figure out what I can do for Vin."
JD started to ask what he meant, but the blond man continued in a low voice, "I've been thinking a lot on the last year. All the things that went on between me and Vin. Eli Joe. No, JD. I know what you're gonna say. I couldn't let him kill Vin, I wouldn't change that. But when Eli Joe fell off that roof, it hurt Vin, and you can't say it didn't." JD shook his head. He would never forget Vin's expression when he looked up at his friend. The sheer devastation when Vin closed his eyes. Chris continued, "The thing with Charlotte ... and then Ella. Always in the past, we could get past it. At least, I thought we had. Until this, and I found out Vin believed we would give him to those bounty hunters ... those mercenaries, 'cause a' what happened with Charlotte. Damn Buck, and damn Nathan!"
JD couldn't help himself. He asked, realizing just how young and stupid he sounded, "What are you gonna do, Chris?" The green eyes narrowed even further, and the lips became a thin white line. After a moment, Chris turned to him ... and smiled. It wasn't a pleasant smile, however. It reminded JD of a predator about to pounce on its prey. But JD wasn't afraid, because he knew that smile wasn't for him.
"Well, I can't kill Buck or Nathan, as tempting as that may be. So, instead, I'm gonna talk to Ezra. It's possible that Vin picked that crap about us being embarrassed by him from Adriana, but there are other possibilities. Like, the prison camp ... or town. Vin was burning up with fever, he may have overheard something ... a conversation between Buck and Nathan ... and misunderstood what was said," Chris replied.
Personally, JD didn't think he misunderstood anything, if that was the case, but he didn't say so. Instead, he gave a quick nod, and said, "I'm gonna see if Vin will talk to me. I just want to apologize to him." Chris nodded, gently squeezing JD's shoulder, and the boy headed back to the house. He didn't know what he would say ... didn't know what Chris was planning to say to Ezra, or even ask him.
He just knew, after causing Vin such distress, that it had to be done. Manfully, he marched up the steps and quietly reentered the house. Ezra was still sitting in the front room, shuffling through his cards absently. He said softly, "I overheard your conversation with the lady of the house ... I take it you relayed that discussion to Chris?" JD nodded, and Ezra continued, "I thought as much ... so, I imagine Mr. Larabee will be wishing to speak with me shortly?"
How did he do that? But JD asked, because he didn't think he wanted to know. He was still reeling from what Adriana said about the darker side of life. Instead, he nodded once more. Ezra continued, "Very good. I have a few things which he needs to hear. It didn't occur to me, until earlier this afternoon. I can provide Mr. Larabee with descriptions of each of the miscreants who took Mr. Tanner. Among with ... other details." It took JD a moment to understand what Ezra was saying, then he felt his jaw become unhinged.
Ezra simply nodded, his green eyes cool and mysterious. He looked like ... ohhh, best to not even think that. However, it was clear that he wasn't pleased about whatever he knew. And any hope JD might have had of learning what Ezra remembered was dashed by the gambler's next words, "I believe, if you wish to speak with Mr. Tanner, it would be wise if you received permission from him to enter first. Mr. Sanchez enjoyed success when he left it up to Mr. Tanner, rather than taking it upon himself."
Ezra's point wasn't lost on JD. The young man nodded and approached the door to Vin's room with more than a little trepidation. He found Josiah sitting at Vin's bedside. JD thought at first that Vin was asleep, as Josiah was just sitting beside him. He took a half step backward, and that was when he saw Vin was awake, as the tracker turned his head in JD's direction. Just because it was the he was taught, JD knocked lightly on the door. He said, "I came to apologize. For ... well, for tricking you and Chris earlier." Vin looked back at Josiah, who gave an encouraging nod, and Vin beckoned JD into the room.
The words exploded from JD, as if a dam had burst. He blurted out, "I am so sorry, Vin! I know I shouldna tricked you, I know I shoulda let you and Chris talk things out when you were ready! It's just ... it hurt! Knowing that you thought you done something wrong, and you didn't! And I knew that Chris didn't say it was okay for them to give you to them bounty hunters. I just wanted you and Chris to get back to normal, 'cause nothin' else is."
"I ain't ready, kid. I'm sorry, but I ain't," Vin replied. He looked very tired. Tired and sick, and sick of being tired and sick. JD understood how that felt. The boy looked down at his feet, and Vin continued, "I don't know how to make y'all understand. I hear ya sayin' that Chris didn't agree to give me up to them bounty hunters or mercenaries, or whatever the hell they were. But I cain't make myself believe it. Not yet. I have a hard 'nough time, knowin' that J'siah woulda never let this happen."
"It takes time, son ... like I said, we all hurt you, we all betrayed your trust in varying ways. All I ask is that when you find you have the strength, you take that leap of faith. Because I can tell you ... I will be there to catch you. So will JD ... so will Ezra. And that young hellcat would never let you fall. That decision to protect her, instead a' turning her into those miserable bastards ... that was probably the best decision you ever made," Josiah said quietly.
Vin smiled wearily and nodded, and Josiah added, "Get some rest, son. Ezra's still right outside the door, if you need him." Vin closed his eyes, and JD quietly backed out of the room, to find Adriana watching them with concern. Josiah tipped his hat to the girl, saying, "He's sleepin' now, ma'am ... but I'd be obliged if you listened to what we know so far." Adriana nodded warily, her hazel eyes never leaving Josiah as she led them into the kitchen.
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