DISCLAIMER: I do not own nor do I profit in any way from the characters of THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN. They belong to Trilogy, MGM, Mirisch, CBS and now TNN. However I would like to state that I do not wish my original characters borrowed without my knowledge or consent. If you are not certain a character is canon or mine, I will be happy to let you know. Just ask or look at my list of original characters.
RATING: PG
The suspenders hung from the waist of his unbuttoned pants. He'd just finished his bath and had pulled his pants up, but that was all. It was still hot by the river, and his shirt and socks were still damp. That was okay. He was content to sit in the shade on the rocks in the late afternoon sun. The water spray from the falls kept him cool. He felt the water droplets from his long, clean hair make little paths down his smooth, tanned back. Some water droplets traveled over his shoulders, down his chest and disappeared below the waistband of his pants. His boots were standing on one of the rocks next to his draped shirt and socks. He shifted his weight in order to recline more and dipped his feet back into the cool water. It was times like these that he wished he never had to go back into civilization again. It was just so peaceful out here. The only sounds he could hear were the waterfall and the different birds that were beginning to stir in the lazy heat. The sun was beginning to creep through leaves of the tree making little flashes of light that played across his face. It would only take him a half-hour to get to town. He knew the others would be wondering what had taken him so long, but he just couldn't get the energy to get up off his perch. His horse whinnied a greeting. He jerked his head around to see who was approaching. Seeing who it was made him smile. He was in no hurry to greet them. It was just too comfortable where he was.
One man was silent while the other was talking about anything and everything. The man in black had a resigned look on his face as if he knew nothing he would say would shut the other man up. Vin grinned at what the talkative man was saying.
"If that don't beat all. Would ya look at that? Me an' Ezra been wonderin' how he could look so cool in this heat an' not smell like a pig. Boy's got his own private bathin' spot at the river."
The man in black flashed white teeth as he swung off his horse and walked over to his other best friend. "Feel as good as it looks?"
"Better. Why don't ya try it, cowboy?"
Both men felt a rush of air as Buck ran past them wearing only his shirt and pants. His boots and gun belt were sitting next to Vin's on the rocks. The splash from his dive into the river splattered both men. Vin laughed deep in his throat, and Chris shook his head with a rueful smile on his face.
"Smartest thing he's done all day."
"I'll get your horses comfortable while you go join him." Vin stood up and pulled his suspenders up over his shoulders. He didn't bother to button his pants. He felt too good like he was, and there was no hurry as he walked over and relieved the horses of their saddles. Two shirts slapped onto the rocks next to his drying one. He was just getting ready to return to his perch after turning the horses loose to graze beside his when he heard the pounding of hooves. He reached for his mare's leg as four more men rode up. He needn't have bothered. Ezra tipped his hat as Vin took the reins of his and JD's horses.
Nathan and Josiah helped remove the saddles of the latest arrivals before they joined the four men in the water. JD and Buck were seriously trying to drown each other, and Ezra was floating lazily on his back. Chris threw his pants up on the rocks Vin had vacated and was swimming toward the waterfall with a bar of soap in his hands. Vin looked to where he had placed his bar of soap. It was missing. He shook his head, and proceeded to put Larabee's pants across the rocks in the sun so they would dry. He resumed his perch, keeping his mare's leg handy. He lazily kept watch while his six friends cavorted and bathed in the water. He found he didn't mind sharing with them, and he was still cool. There was no need to move from his perch for a while and bother with putting on the rest of his clothes. Every once in a while someone would swim by and splash water all over him. He was too content to retaliate. The most they could get out of him was a smile. His eyes appeared to close. Soon, he was joined on the rocks by Chris. Like Vin, he'd pulled his pants up but hadn't bothered with the buttons either. Larabee snapped one of the suspenders lightly.
"You awake, pard?"
"You think I can sleep with six whales throwin' water everywhere?"
"What do you know about whales?"
"Man I knew once buffalo huntin' said he'd sailed around the world huntin' whales. Said they liked to play in the water, too." Vin grinned at Chris and fell silent again.
Larabee smiled and watched the other men in the water. Just when he thought Vin couldn't surprise him any more the quiet tracker surprised him with something new. "Nice spot for whales."
FINI
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