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.
Maybe Burke and Browner were right after all. Returnin' to the fire, the morning after, probably wasn't the smartest thing he could have done. But he liked to see what he done. And he had been frightened off the night before when he saw the six people spilling from the burning house ... to say nothing of the three horseman galloping hell bent for leather toward the fire. So, he ran. That was smart.
Comin' back here, wasn't. But ... he couldn't resist. Browner was still waitin' on word from their boss. God only knew where Burke was. And there wasn't no fun to be had in a goddamn ghost town. So Daniel Neely had come back here. He set the fire in the little pile of wood. It was just off the kitchen ... probably to make it easy on the darkie to fetch wood. Made it easier on Neely to set the fire, too.
He couldn't decide what he should do next ... try to figure out where the hell the Seven (or, what was left of the Seven) were, or if he should just let it go. It occurred to him, for the first time, that setting the fire hadn't been one of his smartest moves. The second fire. He overheard Browner mutterin' something about how he wanted to watch Tanner die, this time. Then he got mad. Well, hell! If Browner would tell him these things ... Neely would have let Browner watch when they had their fun with Tanner in the prison camp!
As Neely crept closer to the house, he almost missed two figures moving about the burned ruins. One was tall with dark hair, and Neely immediately recognized him as Buck Wilmington. But Neely's heart went into his throat when he recognized the second man, a tall blond. Burke? What the hell was Burke doing here with Wilmington? Unless ... unless Burke switched sides? That was the only thing Neely could think of.
True, he wasn't the brightest candle in the house, but he wasn't a total moron. What he couldn't understand was, why was Burke doing this? He shook his head, trying to figure out what came next. Did he go back and tell Browner that Burke had betrayed them? Well, the trouble with that was, then Browner would find out that Neely had burned down the cabin. Bad idea. He was so lost in thought, he never even noticed the figure creeping up behind him, until he heard an icy, familiar voice ask, "Looking for me?"
Neely looked up, just as Buck Wilmington smashed a rifle butt into his face. He didn't lose consciousness, but it did knock him silly. He landed flat on his ass, and Wilmington grabbed his collar, yelling at the top of his lungs, "Hey, lookee what I found!" He dragged Neely along the ground, muttering all the while. That was when Neely really started to get afraid. Wilmington was big, in better shape ... and he was pissed off. Not a good combination.
"Well, well, well ... what do we have here? A little fire ant. Just like I thought. Now I'm real glad I convinced Mr. Larabee to send us out here. I'll see if I can find his horse, Wilmington, you make sure he doesn't go anywhere. I know Mr. Larabee is real anxious to talk to him," Burke said in a voice almost as icy as Wilmington's. That wasn't the strange thing. The strange thing was, he was talkin' like that fancy-pants gambler in Four Corners, Standish. What the hell was going on? Neely's head was spinning, he was sure Wilmington knocked a few teeth out, and that was only for starters.
"Oh, never doubt that. I'm gonna be keepin' a real close eye on this boy. Maybe even have a little fun with him myself, 'fore Chris messes him up too bad. You messed with the wrong people this time, Neely. And you shoulda never beat up Vin Tanner, much less when he was already weak from bein' so sick. That right there's gonna cost ya, and cost ya dearly," Wilmington answered with a hiss.
"Did you happen to hear when I was telling Mr. Larabee, about Neely's grudge against Mr. Tanner? How a skinny fifteen year old kid, just starting out as a buffalo hunter, kicked this bastard's ass in a fair fight, after Tanner caught him roughing up a working girl?" Burke asked. Neely was finally able to focus his eyes, and immediately wished he hadn't, as he found Buck Wilmington glowering down at him.
"Is that right? Hell, if I'd known that ... Burke, forget the horse. My mother was a working girl ... so was DeeDee's," Wilmington snarled. Oh ... shit. Neely pulled away again, kicking out at the same time. His boot caught Wilmington in the knee ... but instead of helping him to escape, it only made Wilmington even more pissed off. Neely was yanked roughly to his feet, and immediately hit his knees again when Wilmington's fist caught him low in the gut.
"That," Wilmington hissed, "was for Vin, you bastard. For beating him half to death, when he didn't have the strength to fight back. You want some more? Oh, there's plenty more where that came from. You just keep being a stupid ass ... Chris only wants you alive. He didn't say I couldn't hurt you some." Neely struggled to get his breath back. A half second after that, he was being lifted onto the horse, then his wrists were being tied to the pommel.
"You should count yourself lucky," Wilmington growled at him, "I coulda hurt you as bad as you hurt Vin, 'fore you even got to Chris. Wouldna had no problem with that at all. Thanks to you and your boss, I've lost my friend. Figure Vin's gonna be okay, but I don't know if he's ever gonna trust me again. Way I see it, I have plenty I can take out of your hide ... so you just keep right on pissing me off, asshole."
Neely really wasn't very bright, but he did know when to quit. He had no doubt that if he didn't do exactly what he was told, Wilmington would yank him right back off his horse, then beat the living hell out of him. Seeing Neely's understanding, Wilmington smiled without humor, then said, "Okay, let's head on back. You know where we're headed?" This was addressed to Burke, who was himself mounting his horse.
"Yeah, I do. Right before we left, I was waved down by the ladies ... uhm ... I think the girl called the older lady 'Aunt Nettie.' They told me where we're going," Burke answered. Wilmington passed him the reins to Neely's horse, while Wilmington himself mounted up. Burke paused, then continued, "I didn't think to ask where we would be doing the interrogation. Don't imagine it matters that much, least of all to Larabee."
Burke smiled at him nastily, adding, "After all, everybody knows that Tanner is Larabee's best friend. He ain't gonna be real pleasant to the piece of shit who beat up Tanner. Nope. Not a pleasant experience at all."
"Nope," agreed Wilmington, "he's just gonna be happy to find have someone he can beat on. All the time we were coming from Four Corners, he just ignored us. Guess it was either that, or kill us, and Josiah reminded him that there was Vin to think about. So, ol' Chris ain't in a very good mood." If the idea was to scare Neely ... it was working. Wilmington continued, "Vin may want a few swings at him, too ... just don't know if he's up to it.
"Hell, Wilmington, you talk as if the kid's got one foot in the grave! He's up to it. After what Neely put him through, you bet he's up to it ... for that matter, so is your sister. Maybe your sister even more. I know I would be," Burke continued. Neely swallowed hard. Chris Larabee. Vin Tanner. And that little bitch in town, the one who scared him. Maybe he would get lucky and die before he got there?
Chris had a lot to think about as they traveled to Aurora's cabin outside of town. Several quick glances toward the wagon told him that Vin was either asleep or unconscious. Adriana looked tired, but she remained alert. Before this was all over, Chris had a nasty feeling she would end up collapsing from exhaustion. With the revelation the night before that all of the inmates escaped the prison camp, a burden was lifted from her shoulders.
But there was still the matter of her own memories. Chris knew that kept her from getting any real rest ... at the same time, she seemed to sleep well the night before, if only for that hour. Why? What was different? Chris made it a point to find out, so he could see to it that his little sister finally started catching up on her sleep. In the meantime, Chris turned his attention to his companions. Nettie and Casey had gone on ahead with Laertes, to get the cabin ready.
Laura was settled against Chris, still not saying much. Although, after what she told him about what she saw in the prison camp, there was little more to say. Chris knew about the rescue. He knew about the mercenaries originally arriving in town. There wasn't much more he needed to know. There was one thing ... once he dealt with Neely and Browner, he needed to now that Vin would make a full recovery.
However, for the moment, he simply kept an eye on his group ... Nathan brought up the rear. That was up to him. Billy rode with Josiah, in front of the big preacher, while Mary rode to one side. JD sat in the front of the wagon, glancing back to make sure his driving didn't cause Vin any more pain, even as he absently answered Billy's questions about the last few days. Chris smiled to himself, remembering another time when JD was a driver. The stagecoach back east, after his accidental shooting of Annie. The kid done good. He done real good. And he was doing just as good, keeping his patience now.
Chris smiled once more, this time as he glanced over at Mary. She was watching Vin carefully. He knew her well enough to realize if Vin even looked like he was in pain, she would do whatever she could to alleviate it. She probably didn't even realize she was doing it. But Chris noticed, and he noticed the anxiety slowly easing from her.
Not for the first time, Chris wondered how Mary and Nettie would get along with Adriana. He loved his little sister, but she could be prickly. And the last few years had taught her not to trust 'respectable' people. Mary would have a hard time, gaining Adriana's trust. While Chris didn't doubt she wouldn't balk at Mary spending time with Vin, since things had been done on his terms, it would be another thing to give her trust.
Nettie was another question. She had claimed Vin Tanner as her own, after he helped her with Guy Royal. It wasn't jealousy which concerned Chris ... rather, it was how these two strong-willed women would react to each other. Nettie Welles on a tear was bad enough. Nettie Welles and Adriana Wilmington going 'round and 'round fell into the category of ladies who scared Chris.
On the other hand, Nettie was a smart lady, as well as tough. She had realized that she reminded Vin of his long-dead mother, using very few clues from the tracker. Maybe he wasn't giving her enough credit, in fearing that she wouldn't see through the hard shell protecting the vulnerable young girl inside. The young girl who continued to live inside Adriana's heart, despite everything that had happened.
And that brought his attention right back to Neely and Browner. Laura's question haunted him. Exactly what would he do to Neely? Would he kill him? He wanted to. Oh, how he wanted to. But Chris Larabee was no longer a man who killed because he wanted to ... if, indeed, he was ever really that man. Chris wasn't so sure of that any more. Yes, Sarah's husband and Adam's father was gone, but the enraged demon who took his place was gone.
Chris was still getting to know this new version of himself. If Neely made it necessary, then yes, he would kill him. He would kill him before he allowed him to hurt anyone else. At the same time, Laura's soft assertion earlier, that he needed to smile more often, melted his reserve. That she believed he was a good man. From any other six year old child, except maybe Billy Travis, it wouldn't have meant as much.
But from a little girl who saw the depths of evil while she was at those prison camps, it meant something. It meant everything. Chris asked quietly, "Mind if I ask you another question, Laura?" The head against his chest rolled from side to side, indicating a 'no,' and Chris continued, "Why didn't you leave with Adriana before that night? She wanted to take you with her before then, you know."
"Laura couldn't leave, Mr. Chris. They needed Laura to take care of them," came the answer. Chris looked down at the little girl in front of him, and Laura continued, "But ... promise not to tell no one?" Chris swiftly gave his word, gave it easily, and the little girl continued reluctantly, "Laura was glad about the fire. Glad to leave."
"I bet you were, honey," Chris answered softly, "I bet you were." Laura relaxed into his arms again, and Chris said, still very softly, "Do you have nightmares, too, Laura? About the prison camp, and about the fire?" Now, the head bobbed, indicating 'yes.' Chris continued, "Sometimes, the nightmares aren't as scary, if you aren't alone. Do you ever climb into Adriana's bed when you have a scary nightmare."
"Laura's a big girl," came the defiant reply. Chris couldn't help smiling to himself, but he was glad Laura couldn't see it. She sounded just like another defiant young girl. Somewhat older than Laura, yes, but still defiant and still determined to prove she was just as good as the other girls her own age. She wasn't as pretty, she knew that, but she could be smart. She would prove herself, she would be just as good as anyone!
"I know that, honey, but my little boy Adam used to climb into bed with his mother and me after a nightmare," Chris replied. Strangely enough, the memory didn't sear his soul like it did once. Billy had helped to heal that wound. Chris continued, "And I'll tell you a little secret. There are times when grownups wish they could do that. There's nothing wrong with being afraid, Laura ... it's what you do about that fear, that's what's important."
There was another long silence from the small body in front of him, then Laura asked, "Like how Adriana helped Vin, even though she was scared? Laertes told Laura about that bad place. Where Adriana's brother left her. Laura doesn't like Adriana's brother, Mr. Chris. He hurted her." There was no bitterness in her voice ... just a simple statement of fact. The child added after a moment, "You said Vin was like your little brother. Is it different, having a little brother from a little sister? Is it okay to hurt your little sister?"
The innocent question served to drive the air from Chris. After a moment, he managed to get enough breath to reply, "No. No, it's not okay to hurt your little sister. Adriana's my little sister, too, and I'd never hurt her." Bad move, Larabee, he realized after a moment, because you left her in that hellhole, too. He continued after a moment, "Sometimes, Laura, we hurt our little brothers and little sisters, by accident ... but that doesn't make it right."
"Adriana's your little sister? How's come you call her 'little princess,' Mr. Chris?" Laura wanted to know next. Chris felt the pressure inside his chest easing at the question. Now she was sounding more like a child, and less like a small adult. Although, he still found it strange that she referred to herself in the third person ... saying 'Laura' instead of 'I.' He had never come across that in a child, but he didn't want to draw attention to it.
"Well, she's my little princess and my little sister. When I call her 'little princess,' that's my way of telling her, really, that no matter how old she is, she'll always be my little sister," Chris answered. That was the simplest, and the most honest, way of answering her. Laura fell silent again, relaxing against his chest, and Chris took that precious time to recoup his own energy. He glanced over at the wagon, to find Adriana very close to dozing off. Stop fighting it, little princess, he thought, you need to rest.
And, he was grateful to see, she seemed to be doing just that. For now.
"Mr. Chris?" Laura asked in a very small voice. Chris looked down at the little girl, who continued, "Laura was bad. Laura did go to Adriana after a bad dream. It made the bad dream stay away. She made Laura feel safe." Chris was on the point of asking why she thought she had been bad, when he realized he might have thought she was lying to him, when she said otherwise earlier. Not having the words to reassure her, he instead kissed the top of her head, holding her tightly. And once more, she relaxed.
However, her words stayed with him. Vin never had a second nightmare if Adriana, or someone, remained nearby. Laura never had a second nightmare after cuddling with Adriana. And the night before, she was leaning against him while she slept. Was that the key? Just to have someone nearby while she slept ... someone she trusted? Someone ... someone whom she knew would watch her back? It seemed so simple ... and yet, it wasn't simple at all. Could it be?
Mary Travis used the ride from town to Aurora's cabin to take stock. Her mind hadn't stopped spinning since she arrived in town. There was a lot to take in. Chris already knew about the connection between Rupert Browner and the prison camp at Pordios, a link which she found while going through her past issues of the paper. Actually, Mary herself hadn't found it. Instead, once she realized Browner was among the few enemies of the Seven who were still alive, she took it to her father-in-law.
Her father-in-law took it rather personally, that someone had attacked his men in such a way. He wasn't happy with Buck and Nathan, if only because their actions so severely damaged the credibility of the Seven as peacekeepers. However, there was nothing to be done about that now. Orrin's own investigations revealed that Browner was at Pordios, awaiting his hanging. Except ... something happened. The hanging never took place.
Just when Mary thought the pieces of the puzzle might be falling into place, more pieces were revealed ... throwing the picture off yet again. While Mary admitted, much to her shame, that she wasn't always the most open-minded of people ... Lydia and Nora, and the other working girls from Wickestown came immediately to mind ... she hoped she would never treat anyone the way Adriana Wilmington was treated by the people of Pordios.
Especially after she risked her own life to save children in town. Mary had learned of these incidents from Aurora Hutchins, among others. And yet, she was considered a demon, because she escaped from the asylum. Truthfully, Mary thought it was just an attempt by many to cover their own hypocrisy. And their guilt, for being unable to protect their own children. There were many other reasons for the prevalent attitude ... but chief would always be simple fear.
She had seen the same thing with Chanu, when he was accused first of kidnapping Claire Moseley, then of killing her. Chanu. He had come to the newspaper office before she left with Nettie, Casey and Billy. Somehow, he found out that she wanted to hear his side of the story when he was accused of kidnapping Claire. That was why he showed up at the Clarion. That, and to make a promise to her ... that he would look after Vin Tanner's town until his friend returned. Despite her own reassurances to those in town, Mary wasn't sure if Vin would ever return. Chanu, however, had no such doubt.
This is his place, Mary Travis, Chanu had told her, this is his place, and when he is stronger, he will know that. I will remind him of it, if need be. Because he is needed here. His people need him here, and so do mine. Mary had learned a great deal about Vin from her tutoring of him over the last few months, and she told Chanu that Vin still had regrets about Claire's death. Chanu had frowned at this revelation.
Regrets? He was not the one who strangled Claire to death ... he was not the one who killed their unborn child. There was nothing which Vin Tanner could have done to prevent the death of Chanu's beloved. The young brave couldn't say the same thing. Perhaps Claire would still be alive if Chanu had simply trusted the former bounty hunter ... if he had trusted his instincts, instead of his pride. No, Chanu would not allow Vin to absolve the true murderer by taking the blame onto his own shoulders. Any of the blame.
Mary sighed and turned her attention to Joel, the boy now leading them to Aurora's cabin. Joel was, as she thought, twelve years old. About the same age as Mr. Conklin's nephew, Mahlon, who was visiting from the East. Mary had learned before their departure, while she was retrieving the necessary supplies from Aurora Hutchins, that Joel was the son of the minister in town. A man more unlike Owen Moseley, she couldn't imagine.
That was also how Joel knew about the prison camp, and about Adriana rescuing Vin. Joel's father ministered to those inside the prison camp, and he learned that a young woman matching Adriana's description made a series of successful raids against the prison camp. It was a secret he gladly kept, for reasons Mary didn't know at the moment. However, she did know how Joel's father knew about the rescue itself.
The night before Laertes and Adriana went into the camp, the night before the fire, Laertes went to Joel's house, asking to see the boy's father. He was getting ready to do something terribly risky, but something which had to be done. Legal or not, it was the right thing to do, and Laertes wanted to speak with a clergyman. By this time, Laertes had concluded that Joel's father was a true man of God, and thus, felt he could trust him.
Joel's father did even more than what he asked. After praying with Laertes, Reverend Hurst loaned him an extra pistol. It had belonged to his oldest son, who died in the war. If he had lived, he would have been twenty-six ... only a year older than Vin Tanner. Robert Hurst added that if something similar befell his son, he hoped someone would do something similar for his boy. God's law and man's law didn't always coincide. When Joel repeated that part of the conversation which he overheard, Josiah was heard to mutter, 'Amen, my son.'
Mary looked over at Vin again. She and Nettie had a lot of work to do, if they wanted Vin back in Four Corners. In the town, Inez, Gloria Potter, and Orrin were reminding Conklin and the others of all the good Vin had done in the last year. That wasn't good enough for Conklin, of course, who insisted things were better 'before.' Mary barely smothered a most unladylike snort at the thought of that. Better? How?
Then again, Conklin was an idiot even before the Seven got to town. But he had never totally forgiven a young sheriff for not turning Lucas James over to them, and he most certainly had not forgiven Vin Tanner for backing up JD ... much less for making a fool out of him in front of the whole town. Gloria, who made this observation, added with an evil grin, "Not that he really needed Vin's help to make a fool out of himself. He was doing that quite well on his own!"
His nephew, on the other hand, seemed like a sweet boy, if a little prone to romanticize the bad element. Mahlon arrived the day after Mary received the wire that Vin was still alive, and much to the dismay of his uncle, spent hours at the feet of the judge, listening to stories about the Magnificent Seven. Mary smiled, remembering how Mahlon's eyes widened when Orrin told him about the first time Chris and Vin met.
Orrin himself heard that story for the first time after they returned from escorting the wagon train ... heard it from Chris. The leader of the Seven was still shaken by almost losing Vin twice. At that time, Vin was resting in Nathan's clinic, after falling off his horse earlier. Orrin reminded Chris that while Vin was in some ways the most stable member of the Seven, the quiet and steady one ... he was still a very young man. Especially to a sixty-five year old judge who had already buried a son ... he was very young indeed.
And, while he didn't know Vin that well, Orrin did know him well enough to say that Vin would spend the rest of his life, trying to make things right. Orrin didn't know many facts about Vin, but that was dead-on. As for Charlotte ... she was happy again. In addition to the wire she received when Charlotte returned to their previous town for a visit, Mary received a letter from the young woman a few months earlier.
In it, Charlotte asked Mary to forgive her for hurting Vin, because she knew Vin meant a great deal to all of them. She didn't love him, the way he deserved to be loved, and it was only at the end that she realized she had used him ... but she did care for him deeply. She had no doubt he would make some lucky lady very, very happy ... and if someone ever hurt him, they would have to answer to Charlotte. It was bad enough that she hurt him. It would be a long time before she forgave herself for that, for using him without meaning to.
She wouldn't tolerate anyone else hurting him. For any reason. It touched Mary, the protectiveness Charlotte demonstrated toward Vin, in the wake of her choice. And it amused her, because she felt the same protectiveness, though hers was more of a sisterly variety. Vin had that effect on women ... Nettie Welles, young Casey, Mary herself, Charlotte, Adriana Wilmington. Adriana Wilmington. Mary looked back over at the wagon. She hadn't formally met Buck's younger sister as yet.
They had all been busy with the preparations to leave. The fewer people who knew about the Seven being in town, the better ... the more time they had to prepare for the coming battle. Chris told her only that they were starting to formulate a plan to take the fight to Browner, since they now knew he was involved. After retrieving supplies, Mary had gone to the telegraph office, to send a wire to Orrin. It only said, 'Suspicions confirmed.'
Orrin understood at once, and sent back a surprising reply, 'Rafe and Chanu looking out for town.' Mary had to read that sentence twice. Rafe Moseley ... and Chanu. Looking out for the town. Together. She shook her head, reminding herself to tell Chris at her first opportunity. She had no doubt he would find it as mind-boggling as she did herself. And then, there was no more time for thought, for Joel called out, "Hello the house!" They were at their destination.
Stand down. Unexpected complications.
Rupert Browner's world spun out of control with those four, simple words. Stand down. He had all of the Seven in one place, where he could crush them, once and for all, and his boss wanted him to stand down??? What kind of complications could ... agh, never mind, it didn't matter! For a brief moment, Browner thought about disobeying the orders ... until he remembered his previous meeting with his employer.
The last person who disobeyed his employer wound up at the insane asylum. Where he really did go mad. Before he was taken out and given to the prison camp as a doctor. Browner still didn't know what Powell had done, to incur his employer's wrath ... but he had seen the end result. By the time the Wilmington girl killed him at the time of Tanner's escape, Powell was a broken old man at the age of forty-five.
No ... no, he didn't want to anger his employer. Which meant, he had to wait. He didn't know how long he had to wait, but he had to wait. And while he waited, Vin Tanner was gaining back his strength. And his spies in town told him that Larabee was still stone cold sober. Things were not going well, not in the least. Jackson and Wilmington were still hanging around the others, so he had to view them as a threat as well.
Rupert Browner was a lot of things, but stupid wasn't one of them. Or at least, he wasn't stupid enough to underestimate the Seven a second time. Even if Wilmington and Jackson were still on the outs with the others, they would be feeling guilty about their part in this little drama. That would translate in severe agitation ... and even worse pain for Browner, if either man ever got their hands on him.
No, he had to regard the entire unit as a threat. Which meant he had to rely on Burke even more. Neely was an incompetent fool, whom he should have never hired. He wasn't just an incompetent fool, he was barely a brainless thug. He had no subtlety whatsoever, no grace. Burke was smarter. Browner just wished he could be sure he could trust Burke. The man came out of nowhere, offered his services as a bounty hunter.
Told him the best way to deal with Four Corners was to threaten the town itself. You threaten the town, while most of the peacekeepers were away, and the citizens would just cave. And they had ... but so did the remaining peacekeepers, except that irritating gambler. Wasn't that funny ... the sanctimonious healer couldn't turn Tanner over to them fast enough. Thanks in part to Powell's little concoction.
Powell hated Jackson. Hated him for being everything Powell wasn't. And after Tanner was turned over to him, he hated him even more, because Powell expected better of him. There were times when Browner swore Powell should have been an inmate at the loony bin, rather than a doctor ... even though being a doctor was what eventually drove him over the edge. From all accounts, there was a time when Powell was a compassionate doctor, one who tried to alleviate pain.
The war, followed by his five years at the asylum, changed all that. According to their mutual employer, being unable to help any of those unfortunates had driven Powell himself insane, to the point that he equated causing pain ... prolonged suffering ... with healing. That was why the peyote went into the medication for Vin Tanner. For him to ... now, how was it that Powell put it? Force Tanner to accept the more horrifying memories that a man such as himself had. Only then could he truly heal, once he accepted his past.
By the same token, it was probably the same philosophy which he used on the Wilmington girl while she was in the asylum. A technique which ultimately cost him his life. Not that Browner particularly cared about Powell, as his usefulness was over at that point. But Browner learned from his own mistakes, as well as the mistakes of others. Powell's mistake was ever touching that girl.
Or, in not killing her when he had the chance. Put her out of her misery, once and for all. Put her out of Browner's misery as well ... the little bitch interfered with his plans. Well, there was no help for it now. He just wished he knew why his employer was calling a halt, now, when they were so close to achieving their goal. It made no sense! Didn't the man understand they were only giving their enemy a chance to heal?
With an effort, Browner turned his attention to other matters. He had been intrigued by his experience with the prison camp, and with the idea of using other social outcasts, such as prison inmates, as workers. It was a brilliant idea, on the part of the Quince family and the warden of the prison camp in Jericho. But their mistake was in using innocent men ... whatever innocent meant, because it was Rupert Browner's experience that everyone was guilty of something. It was just a question of what.
No, they should use men who wouldn't be missed. Prisoners ... fugitives. Like Tanner.
Browner growled. Why was it, that even when the man was barely conscious and weak as a kitten, he could still throw Browner's plans into disarray? Barely alive or on his own two feet, it didn't seem to matter, because Vin Tanner had this unerring gift to make his life a living hell. And just where the hell was Neely? He sent Burke to the asylum the previous night, after sending his telegraph to the boss, to see about a replacement for Powell ... and Burke usually didn't get back from his errands until at least noon of the following day.
Neely, on the other hand ... was just stupid enough to go off on his own and try to take out Tanner by himself. Browner groaned and dropped his head into his hands. Of course. Why hadn't he seen it before? He knew, when he hired the man, that he had a grudge against Tanner. Ten years earlier, when Tanner was just a boy, Neely had been roughing up a working girl in the middle of town. Tanner stepped in ... and proceeded beat the hell out of Neely.
The thug had never forgotten that humiliation. He stopped going to church when the minister remarried, after the death of his wife in childbirth. The minister's second wife was Cissy, the working girl whom Tanner had defended, or so Browner had been told. Imagine that. A former working girl, married to a minister. Raising his motherless son ... hell, the boy Joel considered Cissy to be his mother.
Although, that brought another idea to mind ... if a former working girl could marry a minister, become a pillar of the community ... why couldn't a former railroad boss do the same? Hell, his job had at least been respectable ... just because some people didn't approve of his methods. He got the job done. Okay, so he had to kill a few people ... or rather, had a few people killed. They were just Chinese, who cared?
Chris Larabee and Vin Tanner, obviously. Really, Rupert Browner expected better from Larabee, given his reputation. Hell, how many people did he kill? Why was everyone getting so bent out of shape over a few slant-eyes? The railroad was going through, wasn't it? And wasn't that the important thing? So, he was getting rich, big deal! That was the point, wasn't it? To get rich? Larabee's righteous indignation made him ill.
He would enjoy destroying them both. Tanner and Larabee. But Tanner went down first. He went down first, because he induced one of Browner's own men to turn on him. He went down first, because, while Larabee was the leader, Tanner was the glue which held them all together. Without Tanner, the others would disintegrate. In the months since his own capture, Browner learned as much as he could about Tanner.
He considered heading down to Tascosa with Tanner ... let them deal with him, in their own way ... but an unexpected revelation prevented that plan. No matter ... he couldn't derive nearly as much satisfaction that way. And wasn't that part of the joy of revenge? Not just the act itself, but seeing its effects on those who incurred his wrath. No. No, he wanted to be there when Tanner died ... and he wanted Larabee to be there as well.
So maybe this interlude was a good thing after all. Especially if the rift between Tanner and Larabee healed.
Browner was sure there was still a rift ... after all, Burke told him about Jackson's lie to Tanner, that Larabee agreed to turn him over to the 'bounty hunters' led by Burke. So ... yes. Yes, let this rift heal ... let his employer sort out whatever needed sorting out. Let Larabee and Tanner resume their previous close friendship ... and then, it would be all the more gratifying to watch Larabee's horror when his best friend died in front of his very eyes.
She couldn't relax. No matter what she did, she just couldn't seem to relax. Not enough to fall asleep. Even if she wasn't taking baby steps toward reconciling with Chris, even if she didn't trust JD or Ezra, she wasn't alone any more. Vin's reaction when he heard Mary Travis and Nettie Welles were in town told her that these two women, he trusted without question. Which meant she could finally rest.
Only ... she couldn't. Her body refused to allow her that sanctuary. It wasn't just the dreams any longer, the nightmares, the memories. Her body simply wouldn't relax. And so, Adriana just kept moving forward, putting one foot in front of the other. She helped Laura from the saddle after Chris dismounted to help Josiah pull Vin from the wagon ... keeping a cautious eye on Nathan Jackson all the while.
Laertes was getting to return to town, since Nettie Welles had almost everything up and running. He stopped just long enough to make sure she was all right, and to inspect the bump on her head. Adriana still didn't know what fell and hit her, but she knew it had sharp edges. That much she felt before losing consciousness. Most likely, it was the shelf Laertes had just put over Laura's bed, where she planned to put the dolls she wanted to get for Laura.
So far, Adriana had managed to keep from thinking about the material things lost in the fire. Kept reminding herself that they were all alive, and that was the only thing that mattered. She had few material possessions, and she hadn't allowed herself to get attached to anything specifically. But thinking of that shelf above Laura's bed, and the potential there, the plans Adriana made, of things to give this unexpected daughter. Things she never had herself. Adriana shook herself. There was work to be done, and she was still taking a mental head count of those who had gone to the cabin, and those who stayed in town.
Ezra Standish had remained in town, to gather intelligence. Adriana didn't know why Jackson was still here ... Chris told her at one point, while Vin was sleeping, that he sent Buck with Julian Poplar, in case Daniel Neely returned to the site of the burned out cabin. They had orders to bring him back here. Aurora's cabin had a barn, where Chris and the others would question him. That still didn't explain why Jackson was here.
No matter. So long as he stayed away from Vin, she didn't much care what he did. Stayed away from Vin, and stayed away from her. He wasn't Gideon, but she couldn't stop herself from shuddering every time she looked at him. The memories were too close to the surface, even without the additional burden caused by his betrayal of Vin. Adriana averted her eyes and carried Laura into the house.
There, Laura quickly made friends with Billy Travis, the small son of the newspaper editor. She was actually a little shy at first, but apparently, Billy had chosen to accept this new person, this new competitor for Chris Larabee's attention, instead of being jealous of her. Further, Josiah Sanchez had told him that Laura didn't have a mama or a papa, or a family of any kind while she was growing up ... leading the little boy to become very protective of her. Maybe that was why Billy wasn't jealous of Laura ... because he did have a family, and he had parents who loved him ... and he wanted to take care of this little girl who had neither for so long.
So now, as Adriana helped to prepare the remaining bedrooms for the others, Laura and Billy played outside, chasing each other around the plot of land. Adriana barely paid attention to the noise around her, hearing instead the ringing in her own ears. God, why was she so tired all of a sudden? While she only got an hour of sleep the night before ... or rather, this morning, after arriving in town, it was more restful. She should feel better, not worse.
She shook her head with a sigh, almost running full tilt into the young girl who accompanied Nettie Welles and Mary Travis. The girl dropped what she was carrying and reached out to steady Adriana. The girl gasped, "I'm so sorry, ma'am, are you all right?" Adriana blinked at her owlishly ... 'ma'am.' Did she just call me 'ma'am,' or did I imagine that? No one ever called her 'ma'am.'
"I'm fine ... I apologize for not looking where I was going," Adriana answered hoarsely, and cringed at the sound of her own voice. She sounded awful. The girl ... Cathy? Cassie? Katie? No ... no, it was Casey. Casey was her name. Casey looked at her in concern, and Adriana said with a shrug, "I inhaled some smoke last night, before Chris found me. I'll be fine, survived worse."
"Well ... 'long as you're okay. Aunt Nettie would be real upset with me, if I hurt you. You saved Vin's life, and ... well ... we both put a lot of store by him," the girl said. She smiled then, which transformed her face, and said, "By the way, my name is 'Casey.' I shoulda introduced myself earlier, but I was too happy about Vin being alive, and okay. I was too happy to see him, to think 'bout anything else."
Adriana just smiled very faintly and observed, "You love him very much." Casey looked away for a moment, then back up again. She nodded soberly, and Adriana continued, "He's like a big brother to you. And you're like his little sister. He told me a little about you and your aunt while we were on our way here. When the pain subsided enough for him to talk without hurting too much. You're very important to him, you and your aunt."
"If I could have had a big brother, I woulda wanted him to be just like Vin," Casey said.
Adriana just nodded and Casey continued, "C'mon, Aunt Nettie wants to meet you." She put the linens on the bed, adding, "Mr. Larabee told Aunt Nettie that Buck and that other man are going after the one who beat Vin. Aunt Nettie says we should be ready with bandages, and if she's gotta, she'll give Miss Aurora some of her own. Mr. Larabee's gonna hurt that man. Hurt him real bad." The girl nodded, dark eyes flashing.
Adriana didn't know what to say to that, so she kept silent. Besides, she was reaching the end of her body's endurance level. The nights she spent watching over Vin, and the nights when she was tormented by her own memories, were finally taking their toll. But she still had too much to do, and she couldn't rest until she accomplished everything. Casey had taken her arm and led her through the house.
"Casey ... oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize you weren't alone. We haven't been formally introduced ... I'm Mary Travis. And you're Adriana Wilmington. Thank you for saving Vin's life," a blonde-haired young woman said. She was about three or four years older than Adriana. This was the woman who had been teaching Vin to read and write ... this was the woman whom he trusted enough to show his poetry.
After they had been traveling together for about a year, Vin let down his guard, just enough to compose some poetry aloud. He had composed a few for her, an apology for being unable to protect her once. A thank you for sacrificing a part of herself, a part of her soul, to save his life. There were so many things being said, in those simple words ... but chief among them was 'I'm so sorry I couldn't protect you,' and 'thank you.'
Adriana smiled unsteadily, smiling at the blonde woman ... now, why were there two blonde women? Adriana blinked, and then there was the one again. She smiled and answered, "Just balancing the scales, Mrs. Travis ... Vin has saved my life more times than I can count, beginning with the first time I met him." She didn't say any more, knowing this lovely blonde woman to be 'respectable.'
But Mary Travis nodded her understanding, green eyes filled with sorrow. Adriana understood a moment later, when the blonde widow explained, "My father-in-law told me something of ... what your father did to you. I'm so sorry you had to go through that." Sympathy ... no ... compassion was the last thing Adriana was expecting. She looked away, and Mary Travis added, "In case you're wondering, Vin has been settled."
Vin has been settled. Laura was playing with Billy. Was there nothing left for her to do? Adriana searched her sleep-deprived brain, vaguely aware that she shouldn't be this tired. She had one good hour of sleep the night before, and she had dozed on and off before and after the fire. But with more and more people in the picture, there was less and less she had to do. Up until five days earlier, it was just her, Laertes, and Laura taking care of Vin.
Now ... now, there were so many! Nettie Welles, Mary Travis, those among the Seven who never broke faith with Vin. Laertes would be returning to town with Joel, to make sure the boy was all right. Joel. There was something important about Joel ... what was it?
She looked up at Mary Travis, asking softly, "Joel? How did Joel know about us?" Yes, that was it. Joel's father, Reverend Hurst, had always been kind to her, during the few times she was in town. That was one reason she always took the town children who had been missing to the church, instead of their homes. Cissy Hurst would often be at the church, and she was someone who never judged Adriana.
"He saw all of you this morning, when he was doing his chores in the livery," Mary explained. Adriana frowned. Chores? Oh, that was right. Now she remembered. The previous year, Joel had gotten into some mischief and as part of his punishment, his father had him helping out at the livery. He had learned he liked being around horses, and continued with it. Mary continued, "Besides, his father told him to look out for you when you were in town."
Adriana nodded slowly. Vin was settled. Laura was playing with Billy. Laertes was accompanying Joel back to town, to make sure he got there safely. And she had an ally she didn't know about. Adriana realized with a start there was nothing left to do ... except get to bed, and let her body rest. However, it seemed she had pushed her body too far ... because she found herself falling into a deep black pit. She felt herself falling, and the last thing she knew before her exhausted body shut down was hands catching her, and Mary Travis crying out, "Chris!"
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