Four Corners’ healer had remained vertical for as long as his legs could hold him, but he had lost the battle some minutes earlier. The headache had been almost unbearable but he had dealt with it. However, the weakness that had sapped his strength was a different matter. No amount of determination had been able to see him remain standing. His body had succumbed without his consent.

Nathan glanced up from his cot. Filling the doorway was Vin. Slung across his strong shoulders was the Seven’s leader.

Tanner nodded to Nathan. “Bastard just kept fighting it until he dropped. Josiah down?”

“Yeah. A few minutes ago.”

Vin searched for an empty cot.

“You passed it. It’s right next to the door.“

Vin turned, strode back to it and lowered Chris onto the bed carefully. “Don’t you be scowlin’ at me like that you thankless bastard. You were almost fallin’ out of the chair,” Vin grumbled, yanking the gunfighter’s boots off.

“I could have walked,” Chris growled.

“Yeah, I could’ve joined that ballet company that passed through Eagle Bend last week, too.”

Again Chris found himself smiling. He felt sicker than he could remember and yet, Vin had a way of making him relax.

“Alright, let’s get your hat off.”

“Leave my guns.”

“They have to come off, Chris. I’ll put' em beside you.”

Mary walked up to the pair. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah. I’m gonna have to undress him, so you better go hide your eyes, Ma’am.”

“Tanner!” Chris growled.

“Hey, that was supposed to be a compliment you cantankerous cuss.” Vin winked at Mary who was blushing the colour of strawberries. “Might be best if you go, Ma’am.” The woman nodded and moved off.

“You’re gonna pay for that, Tanner.”

“Reckon so, but I wouldn’t have missed it for the all the tea in China. How’s your head?”

“Feels like it’s exploding.”

“Yep. I’m almost done.” Moments later, Vin helped Chris to lay back and then he crouched beside his best friend. “You rest now and don’t be worryin’ about nothin’. I gotta go and help with the others. Looks like the vomiting has started.”

“Watch your back.” The pair stared at each other for several seconds. Vin patted Chris’ shoulder, rose and moved off between the cots.

**********

“Well?” Royal demanded.

“Four Corners is deserted, Sir. It was eerie.” The foremen shuddered.

“Did anyone see you?”

“I don’t think so, Mr. Royal. There wasn’t any sign of life.”

“The Seven?”

“Didn’t see any of them. What the hell is going on? There was a sign warning people to turn back because of some sickness in town.”

“I need to know if those Seven guns rode out or if they stayed. I need to know if they’re sick. Send a scout to sneak into town.”

“Yes, Sir.”

**********

Vin paused and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. There was moaning and whimpering filling the overcrowded room. Blocking out the sounds of misery around him, he reassured the young woman he had been assisting, rose to his feet and made his way to the pit at the back of the saloon. The smell was putrid, but Chris and Josiah had dug it far enough away to keep the stench away from the building.

Jane Tinkler appeared beside him, her own bowl full. Vin nodded politely.

“More than half of them have started the vomiting. How are we going to keep up once they all start?”

“First half should be finished by then.” Vin’s voice didn’t sound as assured as he would have liked.

“Won’t be long until dark.”

“I’ll light the lanterns.”

“It’s going to be a long night.”

“Yes, Ma’am, it is.” The pair exchanged a wry smile and then returned to the hospital ward.

In the middle of the large open room a voice of frustration rang out. “Mr. Standish, you’ve got to let me help you!”

“Ezra?” Vin asked, making his way to the bed.

“He won’t let me help. He wants to hold the bowl himself but he‘s too weak to do so. Now he‘s covered in vomit.”

“Leave him to me,” Vin ordered. The woman sighed and moved off to assist someone else. “Ezra?” Vin coaxed, reaching behind his friend’s shoulders and lifting him.

The gambler started to struggle.

“Ezra, it’s me, Vin.”

“Vin?” Ezra stared around emptily with large red eyes.

“Right here, pard. Come on. Drink some water for me.”

“Vin?” Ezra’s eyes settled on the man holding him.

“Yeah, relax.”

“Mr. Tanner, I feel dreadful.”

“Yep, you look it, too. Come on, drink.” Vin lifted the glass to his friend’s lips.

Ezra brushed it away. “There is little sense. I will simple expel it post haste.”

“Exactly. We’ve got to put something in there so you can vomit.”

“That defies logic.”

“Nathan said it was important.”

Ezra conceded and took a few halting swallows of water. Vin eased the weak man back down onto the bed. The tracker dipped a cloth into a clean bowl of water and began to clean his friend’s face and chest. “You’ve made a hell of a mess.”

“Fantastic. Criticism from someone who dresses like a troll.”

Vin grinned. “Keep that up and I’ll call for one of the ladies to bathe ya.”

Ezra’s right eyebrow danced skyward. “And why would I find that unpleasant?”

Vin raised his head. “Miss Tin...”

“VIN!” Ezra cried. Tanner smiled. “That is cruel considering how ill I am.”

“Okay, you’re all cleaned up. Next time, let someone help you.” Standish shut his eyes and sighed. Vin reached out and squeezed the ill man’s shoulder. He understood that Ezra had difficulty accepting the assistance of others. It was one thing that he and the gambler had in common. “Ya call for me, if you feel like you’re gonna be sick again.”

Ezra nodded, but didn’t open his eyes. Vin paused a few more seconds and then moved off to see whom else he could help.

On dark, Vin left the saloon briefly to light the torches in town and then returned to assist the five ladies take care of the entire population of Four Corners.

The hours continued to pass. They were long and arduous, the job particularly unpleasant. The six people remaining on their feet were practically running to keep up with the job required of them. All were beginning to show signs of the illness themselves. As Vin had predicted, none had received a dose resembling the one that had wiped out those who had never contracted the illness, but all had headaches and were feeling weary.

Of the patients, Ezra proved the most difficult. He simply would not accept the help of anyone except Vin and even Tanner had trouble. Each time Vin reappeared after a short absence to help others, the gambler would struggle until he recognized that the hands holding him were in fact those of a man he trusted.

As for Chris, none of the women even attempted to assist the gunfighter. Whether it was fear or simple respect, the five ladies left ministering to Larabee to his best friend.

“Any sign of trouble?” Chris panted as Vin lowered him back down onto the bed and began to wipe his mouth. Larabee was so weak that he had given up trying to support his own weight. He had never relinquished his independence to anyone before, but he trusted Vin more than he had trusted anyone in his life. Strangely, for the first time in three years, Chris Larabee felt safe. Despite his throbbing head, raging fever and frailty, Chris had no fear. He felt ill, but he also felt calm and secure.

“I’ve told you not to worry about that. Time to drink some more water.”

“I’m fine.”

“Yeah I noticed that the fifth time you threw your guts up.” Vin gently lifted Chris’ head and forced him to swallow some cooling liquid. “Okay?”

“Enough.”

Tanner eased his best friend back.

“How are the others?”

“Sick.”

“How are you?”

Vin grinned. “Reckon if I had the choice of being here or freezing my ass off in the middle of a blizzard while fighting off a bear, with sixteen bullets in my chest, I’d probably choose to be here, though it would be a pretty close competition.”

Chris closed his eyes smiling. “What time is it?”

“About four thirty in the morning. Will be dawn shortly.”

“You had a chance to get any sleep?”

“You think you’re gonna be sick again?” Chris shook his head. “Good. That should see the end of the vomiting. Most people stopped an hour ago. Reckon I should go and fill in the pit.”

Larabee nodded.

“You gonna be okay?”

Larabee opened his eyes. “Yeah. How’s Buck doing?”

“About the same as the others. Ezra’s been a handful.”

“Ezra always is.”

Vin smiled. “Yep. Be back later to check on ya.”

**********

Mary basically fell into one of the chairs beside her fellow nurses. The room was all but quiet. All of the patients had finished vomiting and most were sleeping. Vin had explained that they would be dead to the world for about ten hours before the dream sickness set in. Then there would be eighteen to twenty-four hours of hell to contend with. After that, the men and women would experience weakness for almost two days. Two days when even the simple act of lifting their head from the pillow would be like climbing the tallest mountain in the world.

“How are you doing, Mary?” Jenny Marks asked, massaging her own temples.

“My back is killing me.”

“From all the leaning over? I know what you mean. My head feels like it’s exploding.“

“Mine too,“ Kate whispered.

“At least all is quiet.”

“It won’t be once the hallucinations start.” The group became silent. Mary swallowed unconsciously. She had experienced dream sickness when she was a teenager. Even thinking about it caused her to shudder. At least Billy was safe thanks to the quick thinking of Four Corners’ seven peacekeepers.

“I don’t know about any of you, but I’m hungry,” Allison stated.

“Where is Mr. Tanner?”

“Filling in the pit.”

“We’ve certainly seen a different side of him today,” Jane commented.

Mary smiled at the young woman who blushed immediately. “Mr. Tanner is an amazing man.”

“Cute too,” Allision laughed. The owner of the draper’s store was in her early fifties but as spritely as those a third of her age. “Where was he when I was young?!”

Vin reappeared and the conversation ceased abruptly. Tanner eyed the women suspiciously, the group breaking out into guilty giggles. “You all should have something to eat and try to get some sleep. I’m going to haul some clean water in here and then I’ll take a look around.”

“Are you expecting trouble?”

“No, but it pays to play it safe.”

“What about you? Shouldn’t you be getting some rest too?” Mary pointed out.

“There’ll be time for that when this is all over, Ma’am. I’ve gone without sleep for days. I’ll be fine. I could use something to eat though.”

“I’ll get you something,” Jane offered quickly.

Vin tipped his hat and disappeared out in the shadowy street.

“Now that is one fine specimen of man flesh,” Allision insisted. The group of five exhausted women broke into laughter.

**********

Vin distinguished the torches, his eyes lifting to the sunrise. The next few hours would be relatively peaceful with the patients all sleeping. It would give him time to burn all of the cloths used and restock the hospital with clean water and other articles.

The tracker took a long deep breath. He felt tired. His head had been hurting before the illness had set in and now it felt worse... if that was possible. The thought caused him to grin and sent him off toward the church to check on the trail into Four Corners.

Tanner squinted out to the west. He raised his eyeglass and caught sight of a horse and rider retreating. Vin frowned. If he didn’t have a suspicious mind he would believe that the visitor had simply read the sign and turned around. Why didn’t he believe that?

**********

“Sir, Thompson is back.”

Guy Royal looked up and then strode quickly out of the house to meet his spy. “Well?”

The cowhand dismounted. “The town is completely empty. No sign of life except for the saloon. I could see some figures moving around in there.”

“The seven hired guns?”

“Only one I saw was the tracker. He was filling in some pit behind the saloon.”

“You actually went into town?”

“No, Sir. I rode around it and used my spyglass to see what was happening.”

Guy Royal frowned. “We still don’t know about the rest of the Seven.”

“If they were there, they would have been on the streets, wouldn’t they, Sir?”

“Perhaps. We’ll wait.” Royal disappeared back into the ranch house.

“Wait? What’s he planning?”

“He wants to attack the town again.”

“But what about them gunfighters?!”

“You just said you only saw one of them. Relax. One ain’t gonna worry us.”

**********

Mary heard the sound of a carriage rolling into town. The young woman moved to the door and spotted Nettie Wells pulling up outside.

“Nettie! What are you doing here?! Didn’t you see the signs?”

Wells glanced up at Mary as she stepped down from her carriage. “I saw them. Thought I had better come on in and see if you were all alright.”

“Nettie.” It was a low growl. Vin jogged up to the elderly woman shaking his head with frustration. “Get back into that carriage and get out of here.”

“Hush now, boy. I had this illness before you were born.”

Vin tilted his head to the side trying to decide if he believed her.

“So how is everyone?” Nettie repeated, turning back to Mary.

The newspaperwoman sighed. “It’s terrible. The whole town has gone down with it.”

“I figured as much. I’ve got Casey down with it at the moment.”

“But she left town before that fella came,” Vin muttered.

“No, Casey was in town early yesterday. She only rode out just before you found the stranger,” Mary corrected.

A look a true concern filled Vin’s eyes. He couldn’t help but wonder how many other people had left town infected.

Nettie patted Vin’s arm. “You can’t protect every settler from here to Texas, son.” The ranch owner raised her eyes to Mary. “Casey’s sleeping at the moment. Now if my memory serves me right, she should sleep a good twelve hours before the dreams start.”

“According to Vin.”

“I didn’t realize it had hit the town until I saw the sign. I was coming to warn you to get the children to safety.“

“We already have. The Bolson place,“ Tanner explained.

“Good thinking. She was a nurse. So, is there anything I can do to help?”

“No, we’ve got everything under control,” Vin claimed, taking the elderly woman by the arm and leading back toward her carriage.

“Stop manhandling me, boy. I can walk!” Mary watched them with amusement.

“You need to be getting back to Casey,” Vin insisted.

“If I didn’t know better I’d think you were trying to get rid of me, boy.” The old woman came to a stop and studied Vin’s face. “You’re lookin’ a bit pale.”

“Just got a touch of it.”

Nettie flicked her eyes to Mary. “He look pale to you?”

“Well, now that you mention it...”

Vin shot Mary a beseeching look. “I’m fine.”

“You don’t look it,” Nettie argued.

“He’s probably still got a concussion,” Allision pointed out, joining Mary on the porch.

“Oh?” Nettie asked, the single syllable an accusation.

“Weren’t nothin’. Just hit my head. I really think you should be gettin’ back to Casey.”

“Just hit your head! You were trampled by the stagecoach!” Allison cried.

“What?” Alarm resounded in the elderly woman’s voice.

“He saved Gloria’s life,” Mary put in quickly. “Nathan said he was fine, just so long as he took it easy.” The look of thanks Vin gave Mary was more one of a drowning man spying a branch to cling to than anything else.

“And I suppose I’m supposed to believe that you’ve been taking it easy?”

“As easy as I can. Come on, Ma’am. You need to be getting back to Casey.”

“Alright.” Nettie looked over to the two women on the porch. “Don’t listen to a word he says. The fool doesn’t know when to stop. He’ll likely collapse and you’ll find him in a heap somewhere.”

Vin shook his head with disgust as he lifted Nettie into her buggy. “You take it easy on the way back. I’ll be here if you need me.”

“It’s a two way street, Vin Tanner and don’t you forget that.” Nettie snapped the reins briskly and disappeared on the trail out of town.

Vin started muttering under his breath.

“She cares about you,” Mary claimed quietly.

Vin looked over at the blond woman and nodded. “Reckon she does.”

“She’s right about you looking pale, though. I think you should try to get a few hours sleep.”

“So do I,” Allison agreed.

“Reckon I’d like something to eat first.”

“Jane and Kate are preparing something for all of us.”

“Everyone still sleeping?”

“Most of them.”

“Alright. I just want to water the horses and I’ll be in for some breakfast.”

**********

The tantalizing aroma of food wafted out to Vin as he made his way back toward the saloon. He hadn’t realized how hungry he felt. As he entered the room, he discovered the ladies had set up an eating area in the centre aisle. Six mugs of coffee were sitting on an upturned box that had a simple tablecloth draped over it. Vin removed his hat and approached the group of women who were all seated on the ground waiting for him.

“Sorry. I thought I had better look after the horses.”

“That’s fine, Mr. Tanner,” Kate stated, offering him a plate piled high with freshly cut beef and slabs of bread.

“That looks mighty good, Ma’am.” Twenty year old Kate beamed.

Unconsciously, Vin did a head count. Someone was missing.

“Allison had a few things she wanted to do,” Mary whispered.

Vin nodded and settled himself on the ground as far away from the women as he dared without being rude. The young man bit into the beef and found his stomach announcing how long it had been empty. Just as he was about to scoop up another helping there was movement from the middle of the room. Vin put his plate down and started to climb to his feet.

“I’ll get it,” Jenny offered quickly. “You sit and have something to eat. You haven‘t stopped all night.”

Vin nodded politely, but didn’t recollect his plate. Instead he watched the young woman as she made her way toward the man who was awake. Despite her efforts, Josiah seemed upset.

“What’s up there, preacher?” Vin asked appearing at his friend’s side.

Jenny looked worried. “He‘s panicking.”

Josiah blinked up at Vin, his movements calming. “Any sign of trouble?”

“Hell, you’re as bad as Larabee. Everyone’s sleepin’ and all’s quiet.” Vin crouched beside the huge regulator and patted his arm. “Ya need to relax if yer gonna get well.”

“It’s morning?”

“Yep.”

“How’s everyone else?”

“Sleepin’, which is what you should be doin’.” Vin smiled down at his pale friend. “Ya hungry?”

Josiah shook his head, the thought of food causing his tender stomach to turn. “I don’t think I’ll ever eat again.”

“I’ll remind you, you said that next time Mrs. Potter bakes one of them berry pies.” Vin winked at Jenny.

Josiah grinned and closed his eyes. “I suppose I could make an exception for one of Mrs. Potter’s pies.”

“Yeah, thought you might. Get some sleep.” Tanner rose to his feet and offered his hand to the young woman kneeling beside him.

“Thank you, Mr. Tanner.” Her cheeks went crimson, but Vin was too busy tucking the blanket around Josiah to notice.

Mary watched from afar, her eyes sweeping to the faces of the other two young ‘unmarried’ women. Both were glaring at Jenny. Mary couldn’t help but smile. They were competing for Vin’s attentions. No doubt Vin would realize soon enough, though the young man’s mind was completely occupied with the task he had to perform. Vin Tanner was seeing nothing except his need to protect the town and see the citizens through the crisis that had arrived on their doorstep unannounced.

As Vin and Jenny started back for their meals, both noticed Ezra trying to sit up. “You go on, I’ll deal with him.” The tracker moved up beside the cot, took Ezra’s shoulders and eased him back onto the bed. “Where the hell do you think you’re goin’, Ezra?”

“Vin? Everything is so quiet. I thought something must have been wrong.” The young man’s face was grey, his lips white.

“Nope. Everyone’s sleepin’.”

“Any sign of trouble?”

Vin shook his head. “You close them eyes and rest.”

Standish studied Vin’s face for a few more seconds and then complied. Vin patted Ezra’s arm and rose to his feet.

“If you need assistance, you need only call, my friend. I may not be able to stand, but if you prop me up at a window, I’m sure I could still hit what I’m aiming at.”

“I‘ll remember that, Ezra. You rest now.” Vin waited until he was certain Standish was settled and then he turned and headed back to his beef and bread.

Sighing, he squatted down and picked up his plate. His stomach growled in anticipation. “I reckon we’ll have to prepare some broth. Some of them may wake up hungry.”

“I’ll do that for you!” Jane cried.

Vin blinked with surprise. He hadn‘t been expecting such an enthusiastic response. “The rest of you should try and get some sleep. We’ve probably got about ten hours until the dreams start.”

“You are going to get some rest too, aren’t you, Vin?” Mary asked with concern.

Tanner opened his mouth to reply, but his head snapped to the door before he could do so. In one movement he was on his feet, his mare’s leg drawn. “We’ve got company. Three men on horseback. Lock this door behind me and no matter what happens stay quiet. Chris’ gun is there if you need to defend yourselves.” It was all said quickly and calmly as Vin strode out onto the porch. The regulator moved down into the centre of the street and waited for the three riders who were ambling toward him.

“Mornin’” One of the men called. Vin nodded. “Town’s awfully quiet.”

“Didn’t you see the sign?” Tanner’s voice was soft and lacked any emotion.

“The one about some sickness?” The three men burst out laughing as they brought their horses to a halt several feet from Tanner.

“Mister, it wouldn’t be the first time a town put up a sign like that to keep people out.”

Vin’s ice blue eyes assessed the abilities of the trio in front of him. Their dress told him they were miners. Their arrogance told him they were stupid, but they still held guns.

“So, everyone else is sick, huh?” One of the men asked, scanning the empty street.

Vin remained motionless, his mare’s leg hanging by his leg. The young man in the buckskin coat looked relaxed to the untrained eye... the trained eyes saw something altogether different.

The three miners glanced at each other. The group’s self-elected spokesman turned back to the man he unwisely assumed was little more than a pile of dusty rags. “Looks like it’s a nice little town. Probably got some nice things in them buildings. You wouldn’t mind if we helped ourselves, would you?”

“You best stay on your horses and ride out of here, otherwise you’ll get the illness.”

“Is that right?” the leader asked sarcastically. His two companions began snickering. “You know what, I reckon I believe you... about everyone bein’ sick. So that means there’s just you and I reckon we could take you.”

Tanner’s face hardened. His eyes narrowed. Abruptly, there was a click behind the three men. The trio turned to find themselves being covered by an elderly lady holding a rifle.

“Might be better if you listen to what he says. This here Spencer Carbine has quite a number of notches on it,” Nettie growled.

“He asked you to leave!” Allison Archer called from the veranda of her draper’s store, a rifle lifted and aimed at the three men.

“Well, well. You hiding behind the skirts of women, mister?”

Vin didn’t flinch. He sensed movement. He saw the fourth man step out of the alley. Tanner didn’t move a muscle. A shot pierced the air. The three men on horseback looked back over Vin’s shoulder. Standing in the doorway of the saloon was a bare chested man with a smoking revolver in his hand.

“Reckon it’d be a good idea if you fellas just done rode out of here,” Vin growled. “And take yer friend with you. Don’t look like he’s dead.”

The leader of the group flicked his eyes from Vin to Larabee to Mrs. Archer and then back over his shoulder to Nettie. With raw anger in his eyes, he returned his attention to Vin.

Tanner raised his mare’s leg. “I ain’t askin’ again.”

Mumbling hate-filled curses, the miner nodded to his companions. The trio turned their horses around, collected their companion and rode out of town in a clamouring of hoofs.

Vin watched them until they were consumed by dust. The sharpshooter looked back toward the saloon. He tipped his hat and then shook his head with disgust. “Get back to bed you crazy fool.”

Chris lowered his revolver and reached for the doorframe. His legs started to buckle, but Mary, Jenny and Kate grabbed him and together the three women steered him back inside.

Abruptly Vin spun around. With short sharp strides that echoed the rage he felt, he strode toward Nettie.

“Now, don’t you be giving me that look, boy. I was just looking after my interests. Where the hell else am I going to get a ranch hand who’ll work for free?”

“You could have been hurt.“

“So could you.“

Vin cursed in exasperation. He knew there wasn’t a thing he could say that would see him win this argument. Nettie smiled, reached up, laid her hand on his cheek for the briefest of moments and then turned briskly.

“Well, come on. Help me back up into my carriage. I have to be gettin‘ back to Casey. Saw them fellas riding this way and thought they looked no good.”

Vin took the elderly woman’s rifle and helped her back up into the buggy. “You be careful headin’ back.“

“I can look after myself, son.“ Nettie smiled again. “Stop lookin’ so worried. I’ll see you in a few days.“

Vin nodded and watched as the high-spirited sixty-year old headed home.

With Nettie safely on her way, Vin turned to address Allison Archer. The draper spotted him coming and immediately began fussing on the veranda of her shop.

“Ma’am, I appreciate your help, but next time let me handle it. I don’t want you getting hurt.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Mr. Tanner. I was just coming out to change the sign.” With that, she raised the rifle above her head and used it to flip the hanging sign over so it read, ‘closed’. Allison smiled and then waddled back indoors. Vin shook his head. He couldn’t help thinking that Chris wouldn’t have had this much trouble keeping control of the town’s ladies... Buck certainly wouldn’t!

**********

Dennison lowered his spyglass. His boss would be interested in this information. The ranch hand spurred his horse toward home. Guy Royal would probably reward him handsomely for this good news.

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