Completed 30 January 2002
This is an Old West story which directly follows Sins of the Past
Spoilers: Sins of the Past, Once Day Out West, Witness
Vin Tanner watched the wagon pull away, carrying the body of Eli Joe. His antagonist was dead, shot by Chris Larabee, in order to save Vin's life. And along with the corpse went Vin's best hope for vindication, lost in the dust left behind. When he'd heard that shot on the roof and felt Eli Joe stiffen from the bullet's strike, his mind took a moment to grasp the consequences. It wasn't until Eli Joe toppled back and fell to the boardwalk below that the full impact of that one shot struck the tracker and he'd sagged against the wood beside him.
Glancing around him, he saw Larabee standing at the door of the saloon. Chris hesitated, looking back at Vin. He briefly closed his eyes and lowered his head before pushing his way through the batwing doors into the dark interior. Vin sighed and rubbed his eyes. He knew that Chris felt bad about killing Eli Joe. But Tanner couldn't fault him, since the gunslinger had fired to save Vin. Taking one last glance at the buckboard carrying Eli Joe, the tracker turned and started toward the saloon. He needed a drink and was positive that his friend would share a bottle of whiskey with him.
Vin sat down next to Chris, who pushed a full shot glass toward him. Tanner picked it up and downed the fiery liquid.
"Sorry, Cowboy," Chris said softly.
"For what, saving my life?"
"I know you were counting on him to help clear your name."
"Jest have to find another way." He shrugged and poured another drink from the almost full bottle in front of him.
"Mary said the judge will be here day after tomorrow to try the rest of his gang." Vin nodded and that was all the conversation the two men needed for the moment. Buck and Ezra soon joined them and the foursome played a half-hearted game of poker.
JD found them all later in the hotel having dinner and let Chris know he'd wired authorities in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico about Eli Joe's death. All three states had wanted posters on the man and the Four Corners peacekeepers needed to know if they would have to haul the dead man's body somewhere for verification of his demise. Hopefully, the towns would be satisfied with the Sheriff's word that the man was dead and not force them to cart a corpse around just for someone to look at him and say "Yep, that's Eli Joe."
After dinner, the men walked outside. Vin headed for the livery to get his horse, since he'd promised Buck he'd take his night patrol. He'd spoken even less than usual at their shared meal. And he just waved at them as he walked away.
"Maybe I should go with him," Buck suggested to Chris. The gunslinger lit a cheroot before he answered.
"No, Buck, leave 'im be. He needs some time alone right now. His last chance to clear his name is gone, by my hand. He needs to come to terms with that. He always does that best alone. He'll be okay."
"Yeah, I reckon you're right. All the same, I think I'll keep a watch out in town tonight, just in case."
Chris placed his hand on Buck's shoulder and gave it a small squeeze. "You're a good man, Buck. Thanks." He started to walk away.
"Hey, pard," Buck called. Chris turned around, but didn't meet Buck's gaze. "This wasn't your fault. You do know that, don't you? Anyone of us would have done the same thing in your spot, including Vin."
Chris looked at his oldest friend. "That's what everyone keeps telling me ... including Vin," he chuckled. "But it's still hard to look him in the eye and know that my actions could one day cause him to hang."
"He don't blame you."
"I blame myself, Buck."
"Chris, if need be, I'll go to Tascosa with you to fix this. I hope you know that."
Larabee smiled. "I know. I just wish I knew how to fix it." He stood there for a few more seconds without speaking. "I'll be in the saloon," he finally said.
Buck just nodded and watched his friend walk away. He felt sad at the turn of events. Just a few hours ago, all seven men were optimistic that they would find and capture the fugitive, giving Tanner a chance to take the man to Tuscosa and hopefully prove that Eli Joe actually killed that farmer. They'd been elated to be able to help their friend try to rectify a huge mistake.
God, for Vin to be free of that albatross, to be able to live his life without constantly looking over his shoulder; Buck would give anything to have been able to help his friend gain that freedom. Damnit! The man had been through enough shit in his life. Losing his ma so young and having to make do on his own. Losing his second family when the Army dragged him away from the Indian tribe that had taken him in. It was enough bad things for one lifetime.
It was time for things to start getting better for him. Buck's gaze fell on the jail, where the fake Marshall and his cohorts were locked up. Buck looked forward to their trial for almost killing Vin. He couldn't wait for Judge Travis to arrive and dole out a little justice on the group. Buck grinned at that thought and went to join JD.
Vin Tanner was in the jail taking his turn on duty while Chris and the others had lunch with Judge Travis. The judge had arrived on the morning stage and had wanted to talk to all the men about the events during that week. Vin had opted out, knowing that the others would give the judge a fair accounting. He knew he'd have to speak with Travis eventually, but just didn't feel up to doing it that morning.
"Hey, Tanner."
"What do you want, Yates?" Vin asked without turning around and looking at the man who had almost hung him while impersonating a US Marshall.
"How does it feel to know you'll never be able to clear your name now?" the man smirked. Tanner just ignored him, going back to cleaning his Mare's Leg. He'd spent most of the last two days thinking about how he could clear his name now that Eli Joe was dead. He hadn't been able to sleep and just wanted to forget it for a while, although he knew that wouldn't be possible.
"C'mon, Tanner, how does it feel to know that someday you're gonna hang?"
"Why don't you tell us, Yates," Chris Larabee said as he walked in the door, followed by the Judge and Buck Wilmington. "Seeing how that's what you're facing. And a whole lot sooner than Tanner."
"Maybe. But at least when I hang it'll be for crimes I actually committed." The outlaw's laughter was cut short when Chris slammed his hand against the bars of the cell.
"What do you know about it, Yates?" he growled.
"Eli Joe told me all about setting up Tanner. It was a stroke of genius. Actually, it didn't work out quite like he planned. He figured Tanner would just take the body in and get his money. Not only would Tanner quit dogging Eli Joe, but so would every other bounty hunter, since word would get 'round that he was dead."
"I guess he didn't count on the sheriff recognizing Jess Kincaid," Vin said quietly.
"Yeah, but when he heard you'd been arrested and that the judge planned to hang you, he decided to stick around to celebrate your neck-stretching." Yates laughed at the tracker. "He wanted a front row seat, so's he could laugh as you twitched at the end of the rope."
Larabee reached for the cell keys, his purpose to get into the cell and wrap his hands around the throat of the man who was gloating at the expense of his friend.
"Chris, hold on." Larabee turned to face Travis, who was approaching the cell. He addressed the man behind the bars. "Young man, were you with this Eli Joe when he killed that man?"
"What's it to you, old man?"
"Answer the damn question," Larabee snarled, moving up behind the Judge and laying a hand on the butt of his gun. His eyes bore into the man like a predator on prey. Buck and Vin exchanged slight grins when Yates took a step back from the deadly glare.
"He ... he told me about it. I wasn't there. I didn't start riding with him until six months ago." Yates eyes darted back to the Judge and he swallowed. "I swear, I didn't have anything to do with him killing that man. But Eli Joe liked to brag about how he got a bounty put on the head of the bounty hunter. He always said that Tanner was the best bounty hunter he'd ever seen; the only one that ever got close to catching him. That's why he decided to get him out of the way."
"Now, that don't surprise me," Wilmington said. "The outlaws usually know who the best lawmen are. Knowing the men that's chasing 'em is the best way to stay alive."
Chris nodded. "And we all know what kinda tracker Vin is. I'm not surprised Eli Joe would go to such extremes to get free of him."
"Any of you others ever hear this story?" Travis asked the other men in the cells.
"Hell most of us have," another man spoke up from the other cell. "Eli Joe was real proud of what he did to Tanner. I'm guessing the only ones who didn't know that Tanner didn't kill that man are the stupid lawmen who posted the bounty." He started to smile until Larabee looked at him. A grimace replaced the smile as his gaze dropped to the floor.
The judge nodded his head, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Buck, could you go get the others?" Wilmington didn't question the judge's politely requested order, just turned and strode out of the jail, intent on rounding up his fellow peacekeepers.
"Judge, what's going on?" Chris asked quietly.
Travis looked at him and grinned. "Chris, Vin, I could use a drink. And I'm buying. Join me?"
"What about the prisoners?"
"They'll keep, Vin. Come on, there's something I want to talk to you all about." The gunslinger and the tracker exchanged puzzled looks, then shrugged and followed the Judge toward the door.
"Don't go away boys," Chris teased the prisoners before he closed and locked the door behind him.
The others joined them as they reached the saloon doors and made their way to the back of the room. The table had quickly become the unofficial property of the seven men and whenever they entered, anyone sitting there was 'encouraged' to find a chair elsewhere. The Judge asked Inez to bring over a bottle of her finest whiskey and eight glasses. He poured a drink for everyone, then set the bottle back on the table. He took a sip while the others exchanged confused glances. He smiled at them and gestured at them to drink up.
"Okay, Judge, I'm intrigued. What was that all about?" Chris asked.
Travis put down his glass and wiped his hand across his lips. He leaned forward and looked around at the men sitting with him. "Yates said that Eli Joe told all of his men how he set Vin up. I want to find out how much those men in the jail know about the killing of that farmer, what was his name?"
"Jess Kincaid," Tanner supplied.
"Kincaid, yes. You, young sheriff," he said, addressing JD Dunne, "I want you to send a wire to Tascosa for me, find out who the circuit judge is that covers that area. And ask what the sheriff's name is. In the meantime, I want the rest of you boys, except you Vin, to question those men in the jail. Take them out, one at a time, away from the jail. Ask them what this Eli Joe told them. Get as much detail as you can. Take notes on what they tell you. See if any of them were riding with Eli Joe when all this happened."
"Judge, I don't understand. What good will that do?" Buck asked.
"If everything goes as I hope, it may help establish Vin's innocence."
Tanner had been silent, leaning back in his chair, rolling his glass between his fingers. It had riled him that those men in the jail had started laughing about what that murderer had done to him. But he sat up at the Judge's statement. He glanced first at the Judge than at Larabee. What was Travis saying? Was there really a chance to clear his name and get this bounty off his head? He shook his head. No, it wouldn't pay to get his hopes up. With Eli Joe dead, how the hell would they be able to prove who'd killed Kincaid? No judge would take the word of a man who'd run from the law.
The others had started to laugh and hit each other on the back anticipating an end to Tanner's long ordeal, until Larabee looked at the tracker.
"Vin, why the look of gloom?" Chris asked. "This is great news! What's wrong?" The others halted their premature celebration, their smiles and laughter sliding away at the look on Tanner's face.
"Nothing ... it's just ... Judge, do you really think that what those men say will matter to the judge and sheriff in Tascosa? I mean, those guys in the jail, they're not really upstandin' citizens. What if the judge don't believe 'em? What if he don't believe me?" Tanner didn't dare get his hopes up, fearing he'd still wind up at the end of a rope when all was said and done. He'd carried this burden with him for several years already and would do it for several more if it kept him from swingin' from a hangman's noose.
"That's why I want them to be questioned separately. I want to see how their stories match up. And while the boys are talking to them, you and I are going to sit here and go over everything you remember about this incident. I don't want you to hear their stories, and I don't want them to hear what each other has to say beforehand. Somehow we need to keep them from talking to each other until we've had the chance to question them all."
"You let us handle that, Judge," Chris told him. "We'll find a way, won't we boys?" He smiled at the others, a feral grin matched by each of his friends.
Tanner looked around at the men around the table. He had trusted these men with his life on several occasions since they'd come together to save the Seminole village. And Judge Travis was willing to believe that he was innocent. Had believed it even before hearing what Yates had to say. This man, a tough, well-respected judge, who had spent years separating truth from lies, believed that Vin Tanner was innocent. He believed that Tanner didn't kill Jess Kincaid, without even seeing any evidence for or against.
It humbled Vin, knowing that these men supported his quest to clear his name. Men that he respected, that he would willingly die for, men who would do the same for him. He saw the hope in the faces around him and knew that he would take this chance. He would let these men help him. He allowed himself to hope along with them.
He locked eyes with Larabee, reading in them the vow to stick by him and see this thing through to the end. He saw the promise that Chris would not let him hang, no matter what the gunslinger had to do to prevent it. Chris would not let his friend die that way.
A smile appeared on Larabee's lips. Vin returned it. They nodded at each other, then Chris picked up the bottle and refilled everyone's glass. He lifted his and looked at Tanner.
"To justice," he said.
"Justice," the others echoed and downed their drinks.
"Right, let's get started." Chris slammed his glass onto the table and stood up, followed by the others. "We'll get what you need, Cowboy," he told Tanner. "Count on it." He nodded and walked out the door.
"This is gonna be fun!" Buck cackled and chased after him. "Chris, wait up. I got this great idea!"
"Well, I reckon we best join them. Don't want those two to have all the fun," Josiah said. He slapped Vin on the shoulder and followed them out, Nathan on his heels.
"We'll keep you informed," the healer said as he walked out.
"Well, Mr. Dunne," Ezra said as he stood and adjusted his vest and coat. "I do believe we should join our comrades if we wish to partake in the merriment that our hirsute friend has in store for those poor incarcerated souls. Mr. Tanner, Judge Travis, I daresay, I look forward to this bit of subterfuge and am honored to be a part of the imminent release of Mr. Tanner from his unfortunate status as a wanted man. Gentleman." He turned and walked away.
"Ah, what he said," JD muttered before departing the saloon.
"Well, Vin, it's just you and me now. Let me get paper and pencil and we'll get started."
Chris and Buck escorted one of the gang through the door of the building, then pulled off the blindfold that had covered his eyes..
"What are we doing here? I thought you just wanted to asked me some questions."
"Oh, we do, we do," Buck assured him. "But you see, we have a few others things to do as well, so we thought we'd question you while we do them."
The man looked around him at the small office. Buck was looking in the drawers of the desk along the back wall. The man turned and saw Chris Larabee leaning against the wall near the door.
He licked his lips when he saw Larabee remove his firearm from his holster. Chris pulled a rag from his pocket and wiped the dust off the barrel, stroking it slowly. He looked up and smiled at the man, whose hands were tied in front of him making it difficult for him to wipe off the sweat that had gathered on his forehead. Chris chuckled lightly, before twirling the pistol once and returning it to its holster.
"Hah, found it!" Buck exclaimed, making the man jump. Wilmington walked back over and slapped the man on the back. "Now we can get started. Chris, why don't you start."
"What's your name?" the gunfighter asked quietly.
"M ... my name?"
"I guess you're starting out with too tough a question," Buck suggested with a laugh, slapping the man on the back. "How about this one — how tall are you?"
"Tall?" the man asked, confused.
"Oh, never mind, we'll just check it ourselves." Buck flipped his wrist and a measuring tape unrolled toward the floor. "Stand straight, now, we don't want you to be cramped in the hereafter." Buck moved behind the man.
"Answer my question," Larabee said, lightly a cheroot. The man's attention was split between Chris' deathly quiet voice and Buck's frantic moves around him. Wilmington pulled the measuring tape along the man's shoulders. Then he jotted something down on a piece of paper he'd pulled from his pocket.
"Your name?" Chris asked again.
"Ah, Granger. Matthew Granger. What the hell are you doing?" he asked Buck.
"Oh, just ignore me. Earl's at lunch, so I thought I'd just help him out and get your measurements."
"When did you start riding with Eli Joe?"
"About two months ago," Granger said while twisting and turning, trying to keep Wilmington in his sight.
"What did he tell you about the day he killed Jess Kincaid?"
"Who?"
"Jess Kincaid. The farmer he killed in order to set up Vin Tanner."
"Oh, that. Look, it was no big deal. He knew Tanner was coming after him. He stopped to hide out for a bit. He said this Kincaid fella tried to stop him from stealing a horse. After he killed him, he noticed that the dead guy looked a bit like him. So he changed clothes with him, left all his horse and all his stuff behind, and took off."
Larabee gestured for him to continue.
"Nothing else to say really. He said he left his saddlebags, even changed boots with the guy, cuz he knew Tanner was smart enough to notice things like that."
Buck wrapped the measuring tape around Granger's chest.
"Hey, back off! What are you doing?" The man pushed Wilmington away from him. Buck just smiled at him and walked into a back room. "Look, I don't know what y'all want from me?"
"Earl needed your measurements," Buck said as he carried a wood box into the room and set it on the floor.
"Who's Earl?"
"The undertaker."
"Why would he need my ... ?" Granger looked around at the coffin. Fear caused his flight toward the front door. "Let me out of here!" he yelled as Larabee grabbed his arm and dragged him back to the center of the room. "Look, I'll answer anything you want, just let me out of here," he pleaded. "I promise I'll tell you anything you wanna know, anything."
Wilmington had again gone into the back room and brought out another coffin, this one on a table with wheels.
"Well, Buck?"
"Now, Chris, you know that Ezra is betting on how long these boys last. We can't let this one quit early. The others all lasted at least twice as long. Hell, that second guy didn't crack until we put the lid on the coffin he was trying out. How about it, there, Granger? Don't you want to beat out your buddies?" While Buck was talking he was loosening the lid on the coffin.
"They ain't my buddies, I just ride with them, to get some money. Look, I never killed anyone. I robbed a couple wagons, but never killed no one." Buck grabbed his arm and pulled him over to the coffin on the table. Granger resisted, trying to pull out of Buck's grasp only to bump into Larabee who had moved to stand behind him.
"I think this one will work, Chris," Buck said. "Let's see if he'll fit." Wilmington flipped the lid back at the same time Larabee pushed Granger closer to the coffin, forcing him to stumble against the table. The outlaw put out his hands to stop his forward motion. His palms rested against the edge of the wooden box and his eyes naturally looked inside.
He screamed and backed away. "No! Let me out of here! Oh, God!" Granger fell to the ground and scampered away until he backed into the wall and couldn't go any further.
Buck and Chris looked at the frightened man then into the already occupied coffin. "Oops, guess we can't use this one. Looks like Eli Joe has prior claim to it," Buck declared. "But, don't worry, Granger, we'll be sure Earl gets you one just as nice."
"Anything, I'll tell you anything," Granger was muttering. "Just get me out of here."
Just then the door opened up. JD and Ezra walked in. Standish pulled out his pocket watch. "Pitiful, just pitiful. Seven minutes. That's the shortest one yet. Either criminals are getting weaker or you gentleman have perfected your craft even more than I had anticipated. Shall we take this whimpering mass of humanity off your hands?"
"Buck, you want to help JD with tough guy there," Chris said.
"Sure. C'mon boy," he said as he and the sheriff lifted the man from the floor. "Let's get you somewhere where you don't ruin the floor when you wet your britches."
After the three men left, Chris walked out with Ezra.
"Have you learned anything more?" Standish asked.
"More of the same really. Nathan and Josiah finished with Yates yet?"
"I believe they were in the final stages of the interrogation."
"I'll head over there and see what they found out."
Ezra touched the bill of his hat and followed Buck and JD down the street toward the boarding house. They would finish questioning Granger in Chris' room.
" ... and this one is used to probe. Ya see, I stick this in the wound and find the bullet, then after I find it, I take this instrument and yank that bullet right out." Chris could hear Nathan explaining the extraction procedure as he walked up the stairs.
He walked up to find Yates sitting in a chair by the window, his hands tied behind him, his back to the door. Nathan sat in a chair across from him, a small table between them. On the table sat Nathan's surgical instruments. Probes and tweezers and scalpels spread across a clean white cloth. Behind Yates stood Josiah, the scraping sound of his large hunting knife scraping against a whetstone punctuating Nathan's commentary.
"Look, I already told you what Eli Joe told me about that day. I don't know what else you want from me."
Larabee crossed the room quietly and picked up one of the scalpels. "Hmm, I do like a man who keeps his equipment in perfect working condition. What do you think, Josiah?"
"I believe you are correct, Brother," Josiah replied as he took his own knife and placed along the side of Yates' throat. "Shall we compare edges?"
Chris lay the scalpel along the other side. Yates froze, afraid to move either way. His Adam's apple bobbed up and down as he swallowed. Chris leaned over and smiled at Yates, their faces only inches apart.
"Well, what's your opinion, 'Marshal', is one blade sharper than the other?" When the man didn't respond, Larabee continued. "You know, I've seen Nathan's work miracles with this blade. He's saved the lives of all my men at least once. Of course, he has other knives that are used in less 'medicinal' ways. He has this one blade that could slice through a man's neck in one fell swoop." As he said that, Chris pulled the scalpel away from Yates' neck and quickly swiped it in front of his face, causing the man to gasp and pulled away from him. Josiah had to pull his blade away to avoid cutting the man's neck.
Larabee moved the scalpel back towards Yates' face, the tip of the blade almost touching his eyeball. "Don't move, now. We wouldn't want you to poke your eye out. Don't want you to trip up the steps to the gallows cuz ya can't see to walk, now do we?"
Yates began to tremble, his body shaking so hard that the chair began to move.
"What do you want from me?"
"Tell me what Eli Joe told you about Vin Tanner?"
"Said he was a bounty hunter that had been after Eli for a couple years. Came close to catching him once or twice."
"And?"
"And what?"
Chris just raised an eyebrow and pressed a little harder on the blade.
"Awright, awright! He was tired of Tanner dogging 'im. He said when they got near Tascosa he was just looking to get a fresh horse so he could make it into Mexico."
"And he found one?" Josiah asked from the other side.
"Yeah. He said his horse had gone lame so he was walking him. He heard someone coming up behind him. Turns out it was that Kincaid guy. He killed him and took his horse."
"What else?" Chris asked. Kincaid looked up at him then and shuddered at the almost maniacal gleam in Larabee's eyes. He swallowed hard, feeling the blades against his throat.
"Don't know what you mean," he said, his voice squeaking. He tried to lick his lips but his mouth was so dry he had no spit.
"Chris asked you a question, Mr. Yates," Nathan said. "What aren't you telling us?"
"Nothing, I swear! Eli said he fought the guy. He ended up shooting him, then took his clothes and his horse and lit out for Mexico. That's all I know!"
Chris nodded and handed the scalpel back to Nathan. "Keep talking to him. I want to see how Vin's doing." Nathan nodded. Chris gestured for Josiah to follow him to the door.
"What is it, Chris?"
"Find out if he knows anyone who was riding with Eli Joe during the time Kincaid was killed. And get details about what Eli Joe told him what went down that day."
"Alright." Josiah watched the gunslinger leave, then returned to the interrogation.
"Now, then Mr. Yates, finish your story. Tell us everything that Eli Joe told you ... .."
Three days later, four of the peacekeepers were on their way to Tascosa, along with Judge Travis, Yates, and Granger. The other prisoners were scheduled to be picked up by the prison wagon and transported to Yuma Territorial prison after a jury found them guilty of the charges in Four Corners.
Josiah, Nathan and JD would stay in Four Corners. None of them were happy about it, but someone had to watch the town and there was no way Chris would stay behind when Vin was facing trial for murder. And Larabee thought that Ezra and Buck would be most helpful in talking to townsfolk in Tascosa.
Travis planned to act as Vin's counsel and it was his idea to bring the two prisoners along as witnesses. Even though they had the men's statements, he thought it best to have them personally tell the jury what Eli Joe had told them. He only hoped it didn't backfire on Vin. It was a risk depending on outlaws to tell the truth. And it was a risk that a jury might not believe men who were known to lie, steal and kill for a living.
They knew it would be several days ride to Tascosa. The circuit judge was due in town the next week, which would give the men a few days to get their bearings and try to ferret out witnesses who were in town during the incident. Before they'd left, Judge Travis had deputized Chris, Buck and Ezra, hoping that the people of Tascosa would talk to lawmen easier than not.
According to Tanner, Ezekial Butler had been sheriff when Jess Kincaid had been killed. But apparently he was no longer there. Nobody knew what that meant for Vin's case. But Tanner was ready to have it over with. He was tired of constantly looking over his shoulder and being leery of every stranger who crossed his path. And this time, he not only had the support of his friends, but the expertise of a judge. He knew it might still end with his death, but he had no doubt that these men would do everything they could to prove his innocence. This was his best shot at proving his innocence.
Chris Larabee rode up next to Vin, who had been quiet all morning. Well, quieter than usual.
"You doing okay, Cowboy?" Tanner glanced over at this friend and gave him a small smile.
"Yeah. A little nervous, but I want it done."
"I can understand that. The Judge thinks you got a pretty good chance. And he knows Judge Fuller's reputation. Says he's tough, but fair. He'll listen to all the evidence before he makes a decision."
"Yeah. I wonder about this Sheriff Michaels though. He wasn't there before. Sheriff Butler was the one who arrested me."
"That could be a good thing. You almost got lynched last time. Hopefully this sheriff has a better handle on things. And if Butler knew Kincaid he probably wasn't real anxious to see you go to trial just to be found innocent."
"Yeah, he didn't seem real inclined to get in the way of those folks wantin' to string me up."
"Vin, just remember, you're not alone this time. If we have to, Buck, Ezra and I will guard the jail ourselves."
"I appreciate that more than you could ever know." Chris nodded and the men rode on in silence.
A few days later, the group stopped on a hill overlooking Tascosa.
"It's grown a bit since I was here," Vin remarked. He sighed and gestured at the prisoners. "I guess we should get these two into town."
"Actually, I think it might be best if we wait 'til morning," Chris said. "I thought we might let Ezra go on in tonight, separately, see what he can picked up before we arrive. If folks don't know we're together, they might tell him things they wouldn't tell us. We'll head into town tomorrow morning."
"I concur, Mr. Larabee," Standish agreed. "I do not relish spending another night sleeping in the dirt. I shall procure a room in the local hotel, get a hot bath and good meal, then venture to the saloon and ... "
" ... and entice the locals into a game of chance in an effort to lighten their wallets and loosen their tongues," Chris finished for him, with a smirk. "I thought you'd like that Ezra. Just be sure to be up when we arrive in the morning. It'll be early."
"Hell, if I know Ezra, he won't have made it to bed yet," Buck said.
"On the contrary, Mr. Wilmington. I will endeavor to turn in early, so that I may be witness to your arrival. Mr. Tanner, I won't have much contact with you over the next few days. I wish you good luck. And rest assured that even though I won't be with you, I will be nearby to assist Mr. Larabee and Mr. Wilmington if any of the citizens of this dusty metropolis should deemed to see harm come to you."
"Thanks, Ezra. It means a lot that y'all are willing to do this for me." He reached out a hand and grasped Ezra's forearm, a gesture he usually reserved only for Chris Larabee. Ezra knew the significance of the move and accepted the emotions behind it.
"Mr. Tanner..Vin..I know that you would do the same for me. That's what friends do for one another." He released Vin's arm. "Gentleman, I will be in touch."
"Watch your back, Ezra," Chris reminded him.
"Always, Mr. Larabee. Always. And I'll watch yours as well." He touched the brim of his hat and started off down the hill.
"Let's make camp," Chris said.
"Judge, can I ask you a question?"
"Of course, Vin." The two men and Chris were sitting around the campfire drinking coffee. Dinner was over and Buck had volunteered to take first watch. He'd tied the prisoners to a tree and settled himself down where he could watch both them and the surrounding area.
"Why are you doing this? I mean, don't get me wrong, I 'preciate it. I just wonder why you'd go to all this trouble for me."
Travis was surprised at the question. He glanced over a Larabee, who just shrugged, a little curious himself that Travis would travel all the way to Tascosa with them. The judge finished his coffee before answering the tracker.
"There are a couple reasons, Vin. First and foremost, I truly believe that you are innocent. Although, if I'd known that you were a wanted man when I first hired you, I probably would have thrown you in jail. But I didn't find out until a few months later."
"I 'm kinda glad about that," Tanner said with a small smile.
"Me too. Anyway, I found out about the bounty on you when Mary mentioned it one day in passing." At the look on Vin's face, the judge was quick to defend his daughter-in-law. "Now, don't blame Mary. She thought I already knew about it. When she learned that I didn't, she begged me to think before I did anything rash. She pointed out everything you'd done for the town. And reminded me, specifically, how you'd helped bring my son's murderers to justice. I decided to give you the benefit of the doubt."
"Thank you. But couldn't you lose your job if someone had found out that you knew I was wanted and didn't arrest me?"
"Yes, there was that chance. But I trust Mary's judgment, always have. She saw something in you and I realized that I'd seen it too, when you helped Chris and the others go after Lucas James The more I got to know you, the more I began to doubt that you could have killed that man just for a bounty. If you wanted money that badly, you wouldn't have stuck around Four Corners for just a dollar a day."
Chris snorted. "Plus room and board," he reminded the judge. "It's the food that keeps him in town, Judge." Vin shook his head at his friend's joke.
"Vin, suffice it to say, I believe you are innocent. Just about everyone that I've spoken to in Four Corners has nothing but good things to say about you. Actually, I was rather surprised that so many people knew about the bounty and just didn't care. They knew that it had to be a mistake, that you just couldn't murder a man in cold blood. Kill in defense of your life or someone else's? Yes, faster that a rattlesnake can strike. But kill an unarmed man for a bounty? No one believes that. Not me, or Mary, or Mrs. Potter, or Nettie Wells. And when that young niece of hers, Casey, heard Nettie and I talking about it, I thought that I was going to be tarred and feather for even speaking such blasphemy! She's very fond of you, as are many of the townsfolk."
"Casey's a good kid. I look at her like my little sister."
"When we walked in the jail the other day and heard what Yates said, I knew it was the best chance we might get to clear up this whole mess."
"The judge and I talked all during lunch about what happened with Eli Joe," Chris interjected. "He'd already agreed to help, even before Yates' little statement."
Vin closed his eyes, then so quietly that Chris could hear him only because he was sitting next to him, he said, "It's good to have so many friends." Chris nodded his agreement.
The next morning, the group rode into town and up to the front of the jail. Buck and Chris helped the prisoners dismount, since they had there hands tied to their saddles. As they stepped onto the boardwalk a man exited the jailhouse. He was tall, with a stocky build and slight limp. His dark hair was cut short and he mustache neatly trimmed. He wore his handgun with confidence rather than arrogance. And he wore a star on his shirt.
"Morning. I'm Sheriff Michaels. Can I help you fellas?"
Vin stepped up to the lawman. He'd removed his weapons and given them to Larabee before they'd entered town, not wanting to relinquish them to a stranger. "Can we talk inside, Sheriff?"
Michaels looked at the others, seeing that two of them had their wrists tied, and gestured for them to follow him back into his office. Buck closed the door after they were all in.
"Okay, now, how can I help you?"
The tracker took a deep breath. "My name is Vin Tanner. You have a wanted poster on me for a murder that was committed here a couple of years ago."
Michaels narrowed his eyes and lay a hand on his sidearm, but didn't draw it from the holster. "You turning yourself in?"
"That's what he's doing, Sheriff," Chris said. "Any chance we could put these other two in the cell there while we talk?"
"Who are you?"
"My name is Chris Larabee."
"Larabee? I know you, or at least your reputation. Is he one of your prisoners?"
"No, he's a friend."
"I see. And the rest of your friends?"
"Buck Wilmington and Judge Orin Travis," Chris introduced the others.
Michaels raised an eyebrow in the Judge's direction, but Travis didn't say anything.
"And these two?"
"Yates and Granger here are our prisoners. They're here for Tanner's trial."
"But Tanner ain't your prisoner?" The Sheriff was confused to say the least. Buck laughed, causing everyone to look his way.
"Maybe we should get these boys locked up, then sit down and explain everything to the good Sheriff here."
"Good idea. May we?" Chris asked.
"Sure." Chris and Buck walked the two prisoners over toward cells. "Tanner, too."
"Now, wait a minute ... "
"Chris, it's okay," Vin said, raising a hand to stop Larabee from advancing on the lawman. "I expected this. That's why I gave you my guns and knife. It's okay. You, Buck and the Judge can tell the story to the Sheriff and if he has any questions I'll be happy to answer them for him." Vin turned back to Michaels. "You need to search me, Sheriff?"
Michaels looked Tanner in the eye for a long moment before shaking his head. "No, son, you go on."
Yates and Granger were put in the back cell, the one without a window. Vin walked into the other one and Chris closed the door behind him, noticing the slight flinch when the lock clicked.
"Vin ... "
"Don't, Chris. I'll be all right. I am glad we slept outside last night though."
"We won't be long."
"Let's go to the hotel," Michaels suggested. "It has the best coffee in town." He grabbed the keys to the cells and put them in his pocket as he opened the door.
"If it's all the same to the rest of ya, I think I'll stay her and keep Vin company," Buck said. "That is, if Vin don't mind."
"That'd be nice. Thanks, Buck. Although I don't think I'll be very good company right now."
"That's okay, pard. I'll do all the talking. Did I ever tell you about Miss Rosalita?" Wilmington settled himself in the chair behind the desk.
"Chris, just shoot me now," Tanner pleaded, grabbing the bars and shaking them. "I'm not sure I can handle any of Buck's stories. Please."
"Sorry, Cowboy, you're on your own," Chris said with a wink.
As Chris pulled the door closed behind him, he threw a grateful look at Buck. He knew that the big man had offered to stay behind in an effort to get Tanner's mind off being locked up by regaling him with his outlandish stories. Wilmington nodded and began his tale.
"As I was saying. There I was, in El Paso ... "
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