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.
"Vin? Are you awake?"
Go 'way, Vin thought silently as an insistent child's voice dragged him back to consciousness. But his small visitor was having none of that, reporting, "Mama, he was moving like he was gonna wake up. Vin?" It was then that Vin was conscious enough to recognize the child's voice. Billy Travis. Billy was here? Vin forced his eyes open and found Billy beaming down at him happily.
"Billy, why don't you go tell Chris that Vin is awake? He's out in the barn. Take Laura with you ... Miss Wilmington needs her sleep," Mary said softly, moving into Vin's line of sight. Billy pouted, obviously debating about whether or not he wanted to obey his mother's request. Mary added, "You can talk to Vin later, honey. I know you've missed him ... I have, too. Promise. And tell Chris that his prisoner will be there in the morning, dinner is almost ready."
That decided Billy. He threw his arms around Vin's neck, giving him an awkward, but heartfelt, hug, and whispered, "I'm so glad to see you, Vin! I missed you!" He pulled back and smiled at Vin, then ran from the room. Mary pulled up a chair and sat down beside the bed, her green eyes never leaving Vin's face. People said Chris Larabee could be intense ... that was nothing compared to the intensity of Mary's gaze right now.
"We all missed you, Vin. I'm so glad you're healing. I haven't been able to forgive myself for not protecting you better," Mary said quietly. What the hell? Mary continued, looking down at her hands, "I blame myself for what happened, too. If I had pushed, I could have made them ... I could have helped. They didn't have to do it alone, but I let them do it alone, because I believed they had everything under control."
"Mary ... " Vin began, then flinched. Shit, that hurt! Mary held a ladle of water to his lips, and Vin allowed the water to trickle down his throat. That felt better. His voice was still hoarse as he whispered, "Mary, ain't none of this that's yer fault. Hell, if ya hadn't tol' Chris that they was takin' me to Pordios ... I owe ya m' thanks." Mary smiled sadly, and he could tell she was still upset about what happened.
But he also understood that she had to come to terms with things in her own way. Remembering what she told Billy, he asked, "Ya tol' Billy that Drina needs her sleep ... is she okay?" Mary smiled and nodded, the tension leaving her face as he changed the subject. Vin added, "And where is ever'body? Ya said somethin' to Billy, too, 'bout tellin' Chris the prisoner would be there in the morning."
"Chris, Josiah and JD are in the barn with Daniel Neely. Buck and Julian Poplar brought him back earlier this afternoon ... you've been asleep for almost eight hours. Adriana collapsed about an hour after we got here, and she's been asleep ever since. She gave me quite a scare when she literally collapsed into my arms. Chris told me the poor girl hasn't gotten much sleep, between her memories of that place and everything else that's gone on. Nettie said we should just let her sleep ... her body will wake her up when it's time for her to eat," Mary explained.
Vin's smile could be easily described as evil when he learned that Neely had been captured. And he was glad Drina was finally resting ... he had realized over the last few days how close she was to collapse. But who in the hell was Julian Poplar? Vin searched his memories, feeling as if he should know that name, but it just wasn't registering in his still-sleep fogged brain. Maybe understanding this, Mary added, "Julian Poplar is the real name of the man you knew as Thomas Burke, the head bounty hunter in Four Corners."
"Burke ... he tried to protect me at the camp," Vin whispered, now remembering the man who had helped him down the ladder that morning. Mary nodded, and Vin looked back at her, asking, "And his name ain't really Burke? It's Poplar? He ain't related to the one who framed J'siah a few months back, is he?" Again, Mary nodded, a smile now appearing and Vin breathed, "Naw! Cain't be!"
"It is. Mr. Julian Poplar is a Pinkerton agent ... he was on his brother's trail at the time of the final murder. He's been undercover as a bounty hunter/mercenary for the last few months, ever since Jessie Quince and her people at Pordios were murdered, and Rupert Browner escaped," Mary explained. Browner? Browner was part of this? Vin had vague memories of the conversation the previous night, but he had been exhausted and in agony, and had concentrated on taking as much of his own weight as he could. Little had registered with him.
She paused, then went on, "He's confirmed most of what Adriana and Chris put together. He doesn't know who hired Browner, who broke him out of jail. Just that he's someone very wealthy with a grudge against the Seven. A long-standing one ... probably against Chris himself, but the entire team was targeted. So, when he chose his partner in crime, he chose someone with a grudge himself ... Rupert Browner. Who, in turn, hired Daniel Neely." Vin was silent, putting it all together. He knew some of this, because of his conversation with JD.
She continued, "Neely's out in the barn now. Chris ... I'm afraid of what Chris will do. All the time they were riding to Pordios, he ignored Buck and Nathan. Concentrated only on getting to you, Vin. There was one time when he took Nathan off his horse, but that was about it. He's had this rage in his soul for the last week, with no way to settle it. And now, Neely is within his grasp, the man who beat you when you were already down. Someone who would have hurt an innocent little girl ... who has threatened people dear to Chris."
Mary rose to her feet and began pacing about the room, saying, "We both know what Chris is like, when someone he cares for has been threatened. Only now, it's on top of the other betrayals. He let Buck go with Mr. Poplar ... he's still shutting out Nathan. And I don't know if the Seven will survive. You've forgiven Chris and JD, Josiah and Ezra, haven't you? They told me that you remembered Ezra tried to keep you safe."
It was a statement, not a question, and Vin nodded. He said softly, "It ain't right, Mary, but I just found out last night that Chris didn't agree to my bein' givin' up to them mercs. Nathan ain't givin' me a real good reason why he done what he did. I don't know, Mary. I don't know what comes next." Mary sat down in the chair beside him, her green eyes intense, but not the intensity of only a few moments earlier.
"Then don't think about it. Just let yourself heal, Vin. Let yourself heal, because that's all that really matters to any of us," she replied. He wanted to do just that. But there was one piece missing. Something which had to be done. And like his old friend, Adriana, he couldn't rest, couldn't let go, until everything was done. One more thing which needed to be done. Vin took a deep breath and looked at Mary straight on.
"I need to see Buck," he said softly. Mary looked at him uncertainly, and Vin continued, "I need to talk to him. This has to be finished. I ain't gonna do what I done yesterday, when ... with Nathan. I'm gonna stay in bed. But I gotta do this, Mary." His voice had taken on a pleading note that he didn't like, but Mary nodded slowly. She leaned forward and gently kissed his cheek, then headed outside. And Vin lay back, preparing himself for what was to come.
Buck was tired when they got to the cabin. Tired of hearing Neely whine. Tired in his bones. Tired of figuring out what came next. Tired of the accusing voices in his head. It was coming time, he knew. Time to pay up. He had been a fool, and turned over one of his best friends to die. Someone whom he cared about, someone who had watched his back more times than Buck could count. Someone whom he betrayed, someone whose heart and soul and trust he had shattered. Just as he had shattered his sister's.
In his thirty plus years of life, Buck Wilmington had never betrayed anyone in his life. He wasn't always there for people when they needed him. But until eighteen months ago, he had never betrayed anyone. Until almost a month ago, he had never betrayed anyone consciously. And he had no idea how to make that right. Not with his sister. Not with Vin. Not even with Chris and JD, though Chris had given him the opportunity to atone.
Poplar took Neely to the barn of the cabin ... which was really more like a ranch house, almost as big as the Townsend place had been, while Buck went inside to tell Chris. The man in black was outside immediately, heading for the barn, his expression stormy ... and anticipatory. Buck stayed out of his way. He had been a fool in town, letting those bastards get their hands on Vin ... but he wouldn't be a fool this time.
Nathan was by himself, as he often was these days. However, Buck noted, for the first time in recent days, that lost expression was gone. Nathan had finally accepted what Buck had, that they both done wrong by Vin. Now he was coming to terms with the knowledge he may have destroyed the family which they had created. Something Buck had accepted days ago. Next, he would start taking whatever atonement he could get.
Buck nodded to his sole companion of these last few days, and learned that both DeeDee and Vin were asleep. DeeDee had finally collapsed from sheer exhaustion, and Nettie said the bump on her head wasn't anything really serious. She hadn't been sick during the last several hours, so it wasn't likely to be a concussion. That news filled Buck with an unholy relief, as he had realized how close he came to losing his baby sister for good. No more second chances.
While Chris was outside with Neely, doing God only knew what, Buck had rested. He was shaking, from the effort it took to keep from pulling Neely off his horse and beating him to death personally. He was still in his place of the last few hours, when Mary said quietly, "Vin wants to see you, Buck." The man's eyes flew open and he looked up at the solemn, tired young woman standing at his side. She and Nettie had been taking care of all of them the last few hours.
Buck had watched them through half-mast eyes. It was as if Mary was taking the opportunity she was denied in town, and no one would take it away from her again. Casey was the same way ... if Vin even moaned in his sleep, Casey would report it to the other women with a worried look. The circle was widening, of those whom they had affected with their error in judgment. So when Mary told him that Vin wanted to see him ... Buck was afraid.
Not of what he would hear. By now, Buck heard all about the confrontation between Vin and Nathan. No ... no, he was fully prepared to receive the full force of Vin's rage. But it was what came next which scared him. What came next, then? After Vin told him exactly what he thought of him ... after Buck was called to account for betraying a friend's trust? What then?
However, Buck Wilmington was no coward. He rose to his feet, tipped his hat to Mary, then moved into the room where Josiah had carried Vin when the wagon arrived here. He found Vin, not standing up as he had when Nathan was called to answer for what he had done, but laying down. Buck accepted this as part of his penance, though it killed him to see Vin like this.
Vin was staring out the window, a familiar, longing expression on his face. And it occurred to Buck, for the very first time, that Chris wasn't the only one who had been keeping things locked down tightly. Vin wanted to be outside, but didn't protest when Adriana and Laertes asked that he stay inside. Where they could watch over him, where he could rest peacefully. And this sign of trust for his younger sister made Buck ashamed all over again.
"I let m' pride do the talkin' yesterday. I ain't givin' myself no more setbacks. No more collapses. This time, I let my body heal ... but it's time," Vin said quietly, still looking out the window. Buck nodded his understanding. He tried not to shift from one foot to the other, tried not to show any discomfort. At all. Finally, Vin turned his face from the window, turned to look at Buck and asked simply, "Why?"
"Because I was a fool," came the equally simple response. Buck sighed and pulled the chair a little further back from the bed. He needed to sit down, but he wasn't willing to take any more from this man than he already had. Buck took a deep breath, closing his eyes, remembering another time ... another betrayal. Another time when he sat at the bedside of an injured Vin Tanner. And Buck opened his eyes again.
"Was it somethin' I done?" was the next, equally devastating question. At first, Buck didn't understand why Vin was asking that. DeeDee told him. JD and Ez both told him. Chris told him. Nathan told him. Josiah told him. Why was he asking Buck this question? The answer came on the heels of the question. Because he needed to hear Buck say the words. Because his world had been shattered, and it was up to Buck to put what pieces he could back together.
"No," he breathed, not having the strength to speak any louder, "no, never! We was wrong, Vin, and we was stupid! I wanted to protect the ladies from what you was seeing. I didn't want to believe it was memories ... wanted to believe ... Nathan and I got wore out, tryin' to take care of you. But it was never your fault, Vin, you gotta understand that. You gotta believe that you done nothing wrong."
"Fair 'nuff," came the answer, "then tell me this, Buck. Tell me how I'm s'posed to trust ya again. Do ya really hate me that much? Hell, I thought this was taken care of, back when Chanu ... back with Chanu!" Buck again closed his eyes. Dear God, where did he start? Chris had allowed him to atone, but capturing Neely was the easy part. Answering to Vin for hurting him so badly, for betraying his trust ... this was something different.
"I could never hate you. Myself, yeah. Because I screwed up so bad," he finally answered in a husky voice. He opened his eyes to stare at Vin, whispering, "How do you trust me again? I don't have the answer to that, pard, I really don't. If I could ... God, if I could change what's happened, I would ... no questions asked, just do it. But I can't, Vin. All I can do, is try to make things up to you."
Fine words, but how did he prove them? How did he show his good faith to a man whose faith he had shattered? How could he prove to Vin that he meant what he said? That was the next step, then, assuming the young man returned with them to Four Corners.
And, Buck realized with a shock, he did believe Vin would return with them. If somehow, Buck found the words to convince his friend. For now, he watched as Vin closed his eyes, suddenly looking very tired. So breathtakingly tired. Buck continued in a low voice, "We was stupid, Vin. Nate and me. We shoulda realized that they weren't bounty hunters. And even if they were, we could have still stood and fought."
Vin opened his eyes, staring at Buck in disbelief. The ladies' man smiled sadly, saying, "You look surprised to hear me say that. We could have taken them. Even if we hadn't agreed to let Ezra contact Chris and the others, we could have taken them. Or we could have jumped them outside of town, or caught them between us and Chris and the others. But Nate was just so damn tired, he couldn't think clearly. Neither of us could."
"Don't," Vin hissed, "don't try to make me feel sorry for him. For either a' ya. I don't got the strength to spare." His eyes remained closed as he spoke, but they didn't need to be open. His disgust was apparent in every word. Buck nodded, though Vin couldn't see him. He looked down at his hands, not looking up when Vin whispered, "I don't know how to trust ya again. Oh, ya both say yer real sorry, and it ain't never gonna happen ... but why should I trust either a' ya again? Why should I go back to Four Corners?"
Buck had been waiting for that question, though he was surprised he was the one who was asked. The ladies man raised his head to look at Vin and replied, "Because they need you, pard. Mrs. Potter. Her two young'uns. Mary. Billy. Miss Nettie. Casey. Mr. Watson. Judge Travis. Yosemite. Inez. Hell, the only 'un in town who would speak to us, was Judge Travis, and he ain't real happy with us neither!"
As soon as the words were out, he realized it. That was, Buck knew, Vin's Achilles' heel. He was a protector. He took care of people, it was who he was. Even as a bounty hunter, he had taken care of people. He knew it. Vin knew it. Vin knew he knew. The young tracker hissed, his eyes opening, "Damn you, Buck." A corner of Buck's mouth lifted. That was stating the obvious. After a moment, Vin whispered, "Even if I do go back ... even if I can drink with ya again. Even if I can ever stop seein' that ... place, every time I look at ya ... I don't know that I can ever trust ya again. I sure as hell don't trust Nate when I'm hurt."
"Then we'll live with that. For the rest of our lives, Vin, if necessary. It's no less than what we deserve. I've prided myself, all my life, on bein' there for the people who trust me. Just don't make the rest of town pay for what we done wrong. Sure, Conklin is still the idiot he's always been ... but there are more people in that town than Conklin. A lot of people who woulda taken up arms to fight for you. If you can't come back for Chris, for Mary, for Nettie ... then do it for them," Buck replied.
"Reckon I'll think on it," Vin replied tiredly, "and it ain't 'cause a' that. I don't go back, Browner and whoever holds his leash wins. I want a chance at him, too. Both of 'em." Buck nodded in acknowledgment. Yes, he knew that. Knew that would play a part in Vin's choice. Months earlier, Buck heard Dickie O'Shea swearing he never gave up. It sickened him to draw any comparisons between that man and his friend, but he knew there was no quit in Vin, either.
Buck asked softly, "There's one thing I wanna know. Through all this ... you've left DeeDee out of it. Why? Why didn't you bring up me leavin' her in that place?" Vin folded his hands over his still bruised midsection, his blue eyes returning once more to the outside. A familiar yearning expression appeared on the equally bruised face, and with a breathtaking insight, Buck suddenly understood what he could do to gain back Vin's trust.
It would take a long time, yes ... but with a man like Vin Tanner, actions were far more important than words, and it would take one action at a time to make things right. Vin said softly, "Got no call to throw that in yer face, Buck. I'm just as to blame fer what happened to Drina as ya." Buck stared at the young man in shock and horror. What???? Where would he get that idea? Vin continued, looking back at him, "If I hadn't made her go, after Eli Joe set me up, she woulda never ended up there."
The words struck the ladies' man hard. Jesus. Vin really believed that. He believed he could have protected DeeDee forever. From Eli Joe, from posses lookin' to take his hide. From the mercenaries sent by their father to reclaim his child's inheritance. Buck leaned forward, his voice dropping as he said, "If you hadn't made her go, Vin, she woulda died. You know my sister. She woulda thrown herself in front of a bullet to save you."
An anguished sound that could have passed for a laugh broke from the still-healing man, as Vin replied, "Oh, she done that and more. That was why I sent her away. I was afraid she'd do it again ... afraid she would sacrifice a part of her soul to save me. And I ain't worth her life. I ain't never been worth it ... not her life and not her soul. Do ya know what she done once, to save me? She dropped her disguise, so some bandits who was beatin' me half to death would realize she was a girl."
Buck didn't understand at first. And then a picture jumped into his head, from where he wasn't sure. A young bounty hunter crumpled between two men while a third pummeled him. A young girl removing her hat, allowing her dark hair to fall lightly to her shoulders. Buck groaned, dropping his face into his hands as he understood exactly what his sister had done. He could almost see her looking at them defiantly. Had she unbuttoned her blouse, to tempt them further?
Didn't matter. Vin's hoarse, anguished voice went on, "They raped her, Buck. Soon 's they saw she was a girl, not a boy, they raped her. I don't 'member much of it. But they raped her, lettin' me be. And then she killed 'em. All three of 'em. Found out later, there weren't much for the buzzards. She killed them, then got me back to town. I realized what she done, when I woke up. She shouldna done it, I tol' her, and she got madder 'n a wet hen. Said I got no right to be tellin' her that ... she decided I was worth it, and I wasn't gonna say otherwise."
Buck's ears were ringing with the blood coursing to his head. Yes, he could see that clearly. Vin whispered, "She gave up two pieces a' her soul that day for me, Buck. Two pieces too many. An' I was afraid she would do it again, to keep me from bein' hung. 'Cept, instead a' protectin' her, I sent her straight to hell! I sent her straight to hell ... she escaped ... and went right back in t' rescue me! She gave up another piece a' her soul that night, Buck." By now, Vin was crying, tears rolling down his cheeks, tears he didn't seem to notice.
"No," Buck said hoarsely, shaking his head. He looked at the young man, his eyes blurred with tears he couldn't shed, but he could still see Vin's tears. He wished he couldn't. It was like reality had finally punched him in the gut. Buck shook his head, almost laughing or crying, he couldn't figure out which, and said, "Just goes to show who got the brains and strength in our family. My baby sister gave everything she's got has to save a friend and I can't even figure out why I threw away one of my best friends ... part of my family without even thinkin'"
Buck rose to his feet, pacing, as he said, "So many mistakes. Bad decisions. So many innocents paying the price for those mistakes. You. DeeDee. JD. God, I've missed JD so much. He's turned against me ... can't forgive me for what I done to you. I've missed DeeDee. I've missed you, too. Missed hearing you call me 'Bucklin.' And I thought I really had gone to hell when we found out about the fire, and I realized I had the blood of a friend on my hands."
Buck paused, rubbing his hands on his pants as he remembered that day when Chris had told them about the fire. Remembering the empty feeling inside, when he realized he truly had sent Vin to his death. Until then, Buck had believed just the opposite of Nathan, that somehow, Vin would get away from the bounty hunters. That everything would be all right, or at least better. Until the wire came from Pordios about the fire, and Buck's world turned to ash.
The big man whispered, "Nathan believed you would be dead by the time you got to Tascosa. We believed you were dying anyhow. You were right about that, Vin. It would have been kinder to leave you out in the woods. But the thing is, it seemed like nothin' he was doin' was helpin' you. Seemed like all either of us were doin' was killin' ya. We shoulda taken ya to Chanu's people. Chanu. Hell, I thought Chanu was gonna kill Nathan, just for giving them the bad medicine. When he found out the rest of it, it took both me and Yosemite to pull him off Nathan. But that was no worse than what Nathan was doin' to himself."
"So why didn't ya? Take me to Chanu's, since y'all thought I was too much trouble to deal with? Even 'fore the bounty hunters got there, if y'all thought I wasn't worth savin,' ya coulda took me to Chanu and Koje. Yer hands woulda been clean thataway," Vin asked, the bitterness returning to his voice. Buck rubbed the back of his neck, trying to find the words he needed. The trouble was, they weren't there.
He had been asking himself that very question, ever since they found out about the fire. He had several answers, and none. Pride? Not good enough. It just hadn't occurred to them? Vin would never believe that. And then, the question was taken out of his hands, because Vin said quietly, dropping back against the pillows, "Don't rightly matter. Ya tol' me what I needed to know. I'm tired."
Buck heard the dismissal for what it was. He also knew it for the truth. But he wasn't finished. There was one thing left to say. He said softly, "There's one thing I do need to tell you. You've always been worth saving. This was never about you. This was about our ... weakness. It's just that, you were the one who paid the price. Just as DeeDee paid the price for our son of bitch father's greed. And because of my stupidity and Chris being in his own world of hurt and down deep in a bottle, we weren't there when she needed us. And, damn I should have been." Buck's voice dropped to just above a whisper with the last six words.
Vin didn't answer, and Buck quietly left the room. Outside, he took several minutes, trying to bring his raging emotions under control. Vin's story about DeeDee sacrificing a part of her soul to save his life had broken Buck's heart. Would she do the same for him? For Chris? His old friend had told him about how DeeDee told him that she was trying to prove something to herself. Prove that she was better than their father. Prove that she didn't deserve to be left. Was she trying to prove to herself that she was nothing like Buck himself?
Oh, baby girl, Buck thought, heartsick, don't you know that? Don't you know that you could never betray the people you love most? Don't you know that? Of course she didn't. She shared his blood, and the blood of their father, just as she shared the blood of her mother. And blood will tell. They heard that a thousand times as children, because they were the children of working girls.
Blood will tell. Blood would help to soothe the rage he felt now. Toward himself, toward his father, toward Chris. Toward Rupert Browner, and yes, even toward Nathan. He wanted to shoot Browner, he wanted to squeeze the life out of his father. He would get none of those. And barring the desire of his heart, he would gladly accept watching Chris Larabee beat Daniel Neely to a pulp for his part in this ugly mess. And Buck did hate ugly.
JD rather liked the tack which Chris was using with their prisoner. Daniel Neely was in his mid-thirties, around Ezra's age. A husky man. Tall. And JD cringed every time he thought of a sick, helpless Vin in the hands of this man. When he thought about tiny Laura being threatened. And Chris, a silent shadow in black, green eyes burning, just stared at Neely. Never spoke. Simply stalked back and forth in front of the prisoner, glaring at him all the while.
Neely had held out for about an hour, after being tied up in the barn. An hour of Chris Larabee just staring at him, as if he was a bug and not a person. After the first hour, he started whining about how he was treated, and Mr. Browner wouldn't let him get away with this. Chris had just smiled at that ... a very unpleasant smile that, if it had been directed at him, would have scared the hell out of JD.
During the third hour, Neely's whining turned to taunts. About how Vin had begged for mercy. Lies. Laura told them the truth about that, and JD was sure even if he had the breath to beg for mercy ... which he didn't ... it would have taken someone other than Daniel Neely to bring him to that point. They knew that. But Neely kept up with his taunts, about what he had done to Vin, about what he would do to Adriana and Laura. And still, Chris stared at him with a contempt which couldn't be expressed in words.
They were heading into the fourth hour when Josiah knocked lightly on the door of the barn, telling them that Billy was with him, and Miss Mary said dinner would soon be ready. The prisoner would be there in the morning. And Chris smiled, told JD that he had heard the man. JD pushed off the wall, inspected Neely's bonds one last time, then together, the pair headed into the house ... though not until after they gagged Neely.
Dinner was quiet, as it was just the six men. Vin was asleep again after his confrontation with Buck. Adriana was still asleep, and probably would remain asleep until the following morning. Sensing that her surrogate mother needed her rest, Laura was very quiet, and Billy took his cue from his new friend. And Buck just kept staring into space, as if he was trying to figure something out.
As always, JD ignored Nathan, but for the first time, Nathan didn't seem to mind. Not that JD cared. In a back part of his mind, JD wondered why his fury was still so strong. Fury, bordering on hate. Until he remembered his first glimpse of Vin, five days ago. So very pale, and barely able to stand upright. Until he remembered the bruises on his friend's body. And JD's resolve hardened once more.
They all went to bed, except Josiah and Laertes, who would watch the property and the prisoner. They would not make the same mistake twice. The following morning, JD was awakened by a gentle shake of his shoulder, to find Chris at his side. It was time to deal with Neely, was he ready? Was he ever! The boy dressed quickly, not eating on purpose, then headed out to the barn with Chris.
He wondered what would happen this morning. Most of the house was still asleep. And then, JD was stunned to find Buck guarding the prisoner. What was even more shocking was the cold expression on the man's face. He was staring at Neely as if he was evil incarnate. He rose to his feet as Chris and JD entered the barn, saying, "Josiah was out a few minutes ago. Said he was gonna make some coffee. Didn't want you startin' the party without him."
Chris nodded and said quietly, "Cut him loose. I'm gonna give him more of a chance to defend himself than he gave Vin." Buck just nodded. No protests. Just quietly moved to the chair holding Daniel Neely, and cut him free with two quick flicks of his wrist ... first the prisoner's wrists, then his feet, while standing beside the chair. To avoid getting kicked. As an afterthought, he yanked the gag away from Neely's mouth.
Buck moved into the shadows, his dark blue eyes never leaving Neely, even as Josiah slipped back into the barn. Chris looked at the prisoner, explaining, "I had all night to think about how I wanted to deal with you. I went in this morning, to check on Vin, make sure he didn't have any more nightmares. And I looked at what you done to him. Every bruise. Every mark. And I knew what had to be done."
JD stepped back as well, taking up position beside Josiah, as Chris continued, "See, we heard all about why you hate Vin. About how a skinny fifteen year old kid kicked your sorry ass in a fair fight, when you had been roughing up a working girl. And I thought ... what the hell."
JD looked at Josiah, who just smiled serenely before turning his attention back to Chris. The gunslinger went on, "I decided I would give you the same chance Vin gave you ten years ago. The chance you didn't give him to defend yourself. What goes around, comes around. A fair fight. You and me. And we'll see if you're as tough as you make yourself out to be. Hell, it don't take much cojones to mess with a women, or with a sick man."
Ouch. Chris added, his smile widening, "Then again, I don't imagine you got cojones of any kind, Neely. Tryin' to burn six people while they slept." His voice hardened, and JD knew he was thinking about the deaths of his wife and son, more than three years earlier. Chris shrugged, then added, "Don't rightly matter. You ain't worth killing. I may do it anyhow ... but you ain't worth the bullet. Or the gunpowder."
That did it. Neely gave a short growl of fury, and charged Chris. The gunslinger sidestepped him, and kicked him in the butt. JD flinched. Not that it hurt, but the contempt Chris showed Neely would only serve to piss off the man even further. And that, JD understood, was the point. Chris wanted him pissed off, because the man was like a raging bull. He was one of those who didn't think when he fought. Like ... like Tophat Bob Spikes.
Neely came up roaring, and Chris was more than ready for him. For the next five minutes, Neely took one blow after another as Chris unleashed the full force of his rage. The leader of the Seven fulfilled his promise. Neely wasn't being held by anyone ... was fully healthy. But he never stood a chance against Chris Larabee. Neely had harmed one of the Seven, and worse than that, he harmed Vin. Chris Larabee's fury and guilt knew no bounds.
JD was vaguely aware of the door opening and a body slipping inside, but he was too focused on the fight in front of him to notice anything else. Chris was showing no mercy, his face a mask of fury ... and guilt ... and grief. Finally, Neely just slumped to the ground, moaning and begging for mercy. Chris stood over him, his green eyes almost killing instruments, his hands clenched into fists at his sides, his blond hair disheveled.
Chris dropped to one knee and grabbed the back of Neely's neck, lifting his head from the straw. He growled, "You get to live, little man. Like I said. You ain't worth the bullet or the gunpowder it would take to kill you. You get to live ... at a price. You go back to your boss, and you tell Rupert Browner that we're comin' for him. You tell him that Vin Tanner is gonna be just fine. He ... failed."
With that, Chris let Neely's head drop once more. He told JD, "Get him on his horse and out of here. I can't stand to look at him." JD nodded, his eyes more on Chris as he headed toward the newcomer, who stepped into the light. Chris rasped, "Little princess, what are you doin' here? Is Vin all right?" JD turned his attention back to Neely ... just in time to get a fist in his jaw. Neely slammed him into the wall, and JD felt him tugging the gun free.
Then Neely turned back around, facing in the direction that Chris had gone. Adriana was saying something about Laura being missing when she woke up, and she thought Laura might be in here. And she was. She had seen the entire fight.
When JD's vision cleared, he saw Neely pointing the gun at Adriana's back as she eased Laura down from her hiding place. JD tried to scream a warning, but it wasn't necessary. Buck saw the threat to his sister ... screamed, "NO!" He grabbed Adriana and Laura both, turning his own back to the bullet. A gun fired. But instead of a red spot blossoming on the back of Buck's shirt ... there was nothing.
Until Neely dropped JD's gun and fell to his knees. And for the first time, JD saw Chris, his own gun out and smoking, face like granite. Then Neely fell face first into the straw. The danger was past, but Buck wasn't letting go of his sister or Laura. JD pushed himself to his feet, whispering, "I'm sorry" to Chris, then walked on shaking legs to Neely. He kicked the gun away from the man, then turned him over. One bullet. Right between his eyes.
"Keep your eyes on your prisoner next time, JD," Chris said quietly. That was all he said, but JD bowed his head, accepting the censure. Chris went on, "Josiah, help JD with the body. Then get Julian out here ... we're gonna still have Mr. Neely deliver a message to Browner. Little princess, are you okay?" JD looked up as Adriana nodded, still shocked. Still held protectively in Buck's arms, and from the big man's expression, it didn't look like he would let her go any time soon. At least, not until Chris said, "Think you can let her go now, big fella. He's dead."
Buck released his sister, who stumbled a little. She took a few steps and turned, staring at her brother as if she had never seen him before. She looked confused ... scared. Like something she believed true, no longer was. Adriana whispered, "I ... " She stopped, as if she didn't know what to say. She looked first at Buck, then at Chris, her lips working. JD just watched her, his heart breaking for her obvious confusion.
Chris understood and smiled, answering, "You're welcome. From both of us." Adriana smiled and nodded. She looked at Buck one last time, and slipped from the barn, still clutching Laura tightly. And JD knew that little girl was the only secure thing for her. Buck started to go after her, but Chris said quietly, "Leave her, Buck. She needs to be alone right now. She needs to sort some things out. Just leave her alone." Buck gave one last, longing glance toward his sister, then nodded. He followed Josiah to the house, leaving only Chris and JD in the barn. While there was still the matter of Browner ... one part of this nightmare was over.
Go.
Just as his world had been thrown into chaos with a wire, two weeks earlier, that one word served to set Rupert Browner's world to rights again. Go.
It was time for him to take his final revenge on the so-called Magnificent Seven. During the last two weeks, ever since he found Neely's dead body in the middle of the street of the ghost town, ever since he realized that Thomas Burke was a traitor, Browner had begun rebuilding his small army. Neely had been shot once in the head, and a note attached to his vest. It read simply, 'Browner. We're coming for you. CL.'
Larabee knew, then. And Browner's instincts about Burke were right. He had also learned in the last two weeks that Burke's real name was Julian Poplar ... a Pinkerton detective who had been working undercover to take Browner down. Which meant Browner had to find more men and a new second in command. It wasn't hard in Pordios. There were a lot of unemployed miners with grudges against the world.
Those miners were his eyes and ears in Pordios. He learned that Vin Tanner's recovery was almost complete. He hadn't been seen in town, but Reverend Hurst often journeyed to the cabin of the darkie girl, who was another ally of the Seven in Pordios. Vin Tanner was almost fully recovered. He had started taking steps toward reconciling with all of the Seven except Nathan Jackson ... not that Browner could blame him for that.
He did find it interesting, however, that even Wilmington was making inroads with Tanner, when Jackson was not. What had Wilmington done or said that Jackson didn't? Not that Browner really cared. He was simply curious about this situation ... more than willing to take advantage of it. Any division within the Seven, he would use to his advantage. But there was still the matter of Reverend Hurst, this unexpected ally.
In the last two weeks, he had declared himself firmly an ally of the Seven and Adriana Wilmington. With that, he incurred the wrath of the town fathers, according to the miners. The men took great pleasure in retelling this conversation to Browner, who derived equal pleasure from hearing it. Didn't he know that the Wilmington girl escaped from that ... place, outside of town? Demons lived there, and only a demon could escape.
Rubbish, Reverend Hurst had replied, would a demon have rescued their children? Would a demon be able to set foot in church? Adriana Wilmington was just a woman, a human woman, like everyone else. She wasn't a demon, she wasn't a witch. And while she would only go into a church with a rescued child, she was more of a Christian than most people in town. According to the miners, that hit hard. As it was meant to.
Reverend Hurst knew the truth ... and so did the town fathers. But so long as they believed Adriana Wilmington was a witch or a demon, they were not responsible for the way they treated her. Browner just loved the hypocrisy of respectable people. It made things so much easier for him. So, more and more, Reverend Hurst and his family were ostracized by the rest of town. But Hurst wouldn't give up.
He didn't seem to understand that the town fathers wanted to hate Adriana Wilmington. Wanted her as their scapegoat, so they could feel superior to someone. He didn't understand they were small men. Which made them easily manipulated.
Still, that wasn't the issue. Browner had to get the attention of the Seven. Had to take the fight to them, had to put them at a disadvantage. Nothing wrong with stacking the odds in his favor. And ... he thought he might have a way. A cold smile appeared on Rupert Browner's face. He couldn't do anything about Vin Tanner for right now ... but there was something he could do about Reverend Hurst ... and it would bring the Seven back under his control.
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