Vin stretched his back and then resettled into the saddle, pulling his buckskin coat around him to keep out the morning chill. His neck was still stiff after being hit by the butt of a rifle a few days earlier, the bruising now green and purple under his shirt. The thought of the incident in the jail caused Vin’s mild nature to boil. Just as quickly, the anger died away and was replaced with deep regrets. He’d come so close to clearing his name - so close to finally being free again. Now, that was impossible. Forevermore, he would spend his days looking over his shoulder, waiting for someone to collect the bounty. Ultimately, it would happen. Vin knew the odds and they weren’t in his favour. He just hoped it was a bullet and not the hangman’s noose which would finally claim him.
Tanner reached forward and slapped Peso’s neck. The horse increased his pace, the frosty air materialising in white clouds as the animal’s warm breath was expelled. It was a beautiful morning and both rider and animal appreciated the solitude. Vin had a lot on his mind - decisions that needed making.
A couple of months earlier, the ex-bounty hunter had signed on with six strangers to protect a small town in the grips of chaos. He’d enjoyed the weeks, but all too soon his past has slithered out of the darkness and almost taken his life. Tanner still wasn’t sure how he’d allowed it to happen. Since acquiring the bounty on his head, Vin hadn’t been prepared to risk staying in one spot for more than a few days. Besides, he’d been searching day and night for Eli Joe who’d framed him for murder. It had been the one driving force in his life for two long years. For some reason, all of that had changed the day he had stopped a dark skinned healer from being lynched in a no-nothing town called Four Corners. Before Vin knew it, he had agreed to ride out to defend an Indian Village and then had signed on for a month’s work to protect a town he knew little about. If anyone had asked why he had made such crazy decisions, he wouldn’t be able to answer them because Vin honestly didn’t understand himself. He had always made sensible choices - that was why he had survived so long with a bounty on his head. It made no sense risking his life by staying in Four Corners.
Vin shook his head in bewilderment, his shoulder length hair catching the breeze and flying out behind him. He’d become so wrapped up in the people in the town that he’d let his guard down and had almost found himself swinging at the end of a rope. The only reason he was still breathing was because of Chris. Larabee had been there to save his neck and prevent his worst nightmare from becoming a harsh reality. Vin’s brow furrowed. He enjoyed Larabee’s company and it was ‘comfortable’ knowing he had someone watching his back. When he left, all of that would change and he would have to return to, not only having his horse for sole companionship, but to sleeping with one eye open.
Vin sighed. Telling Chris and the others that he was going would be difficult. Tanner wasn’t a sentimental person - he couldn’t afford to be, but he owed the six men he rode with. He owed them more than he could ever repay and that, more than anything else, was the reason he needed to move on.
**********
“What do you mean he went by himself?” Buck demanded, his moustache twitching with agitation.
J.D., who was seated behind the desk in the jailhouse, shrugged. His dark eyes flashed an apology. “He left without me.”
Buck’s face clouded with concern. He wandered to the window and surveyed the town uneasily, rubbing his clean-shaven chin thoughtfully. Vin was one man who could look after himself, there was no doubt about that, but there was no need for him to take unnecessary risks. The business with Eli Joe only a few days earlier was a recent reminder of the danger Vin faced every day. Five hundred dollars was a lot of money and bounty hunters wouldn’t think twice about pulling the trigger to get the reward.
“I’m sorry, Buck, but Vin left before dawn.”
“Not your fault, Kid. He must have wanted some time alone.” Men like Tanner needed time to themselves. Buck, better than anyone, understood that. He’d been riding with Chris Larabee long enough to learn not to interfere when Larabee decided he didn’t want any company. Vin was similar to Chris in that respect.
Wilmington’s frown deepened. Like Larabee, Tanner was a stubborn bastard who wouldn’t listen to reason. All of the others, except Chris - curiously enough, had tried to impress upon the obstinate tracker the importance of having someone accompany him every time he left town. Tanner had reacted strangely to such a suggestion. He had declared that if any bullets were heading his way, fate would see they’d find him and he didn’t want anyone getting in the way when it was his time to meet his maker. At first, it had appeared that Vin didn’t care if he lived or died, but deeper analysis of the statement had Buck deciding that his friend simply didn’t want anyone else taking a bullet meant for him. That, Wilmington could understand. He hadn’t known Vin for long, but he liked and respected the younger man. The fact that they had signed on to protect the town made them partners and Buck felt a certain amount of loyalty towards his colleague. It was more than that, though. Vin was a friend, not just an acquaintance - Buck had had a lot of the latter. True friends were people you could depend on and Buck knew they were a rarity. Genuine friendship was something that one shouldn’t take for granted. Buck had learned that the hard way.
“Do you want me to ride out after him?” J.D. offered.
Buck continued to stare out the window, watching as the citizens of Four Corners went about their daily business. No one had questioned the Seven when they had announced that Vin’s arrest by a marshal had been one of mistaken identity. Most had agreed there was no way Vin Tanner - a man who had risked his life for the town for a dollar a day - could be a wanted man. Everything had settled quickly and less than a week later, the incident had been forgotten by everyone - except Vin and his companions.
“Buck?” J.D. repeated.
“Huh?” Wilmington turned.
J.D. rose to his feet. “I think I might ride out after him.”
Buck shook his head. “No, Kid. It’s too late. Vin’ll be half way there by now.”
“I guess. He’s just got to drop off those documents for Judge Travis. He should be home long before dark,” J.D. pointed out. “Not a lot of time to run into any trouble.”
“Yeah. It’s just that after what happened the other day, there may be talk around. If he’s here, we can keep an eye out for bounty hunters. Ain’t so easy if he’s out of town… and on his own.”
**********
Vin stared into the slow moving creek. The sun was approaching mid-day but there was no true heat in it. The ride had been comfortable and would have been enjoyable if not for the emotion weighing him down. Tanner had made his mind up during the six-hour journey. He would move on tomorrow. It was time. The boys wouldn’t like it, but they’d understand.
Tanner turned back to his horse, which was grazing a few feet away. It was only a thirty-minute ride to Miner’s Gully. Once he had delivered the documents he’d return here for lunch before heading back to Four Corners for the last time.
**********
The slight breeze wafting down the middle of the dusty street found Chris enjoying the early afternoon sitting on the edge of the boardwalk in the sun. Building clouds to the east signalled the rain Vin had said was coming, but that was at least a couple of hours away.
All was quiet, which meant Larabee was earning his keep, but it also meant he had little to do. Boredom had become a constant companion for most of the boys in the last few days, though Chris had been occupied with his own thoughts. Problematic visitors appeared to be giving Four Corners a wide berth as a result of the Seven’s reputation which had begun to spread well beyond the town. This was good for Four Corners, but it left the Seven at a loose end. True, Chris believed that this calm probably wouldn’t last long and so he was trying to enjoy the peace while it lasted.
Larabee glanced up from his whittling and watched curiously as Ezra strode toward the church, a true spring in his step. Moments later, Josiah appeared with Ezra half a pace behind, the well-dressed gambler’s mouth opening and closing at a million miles an hour. Chris smiled and returned to his whittling. If there was one thing he liked about Ezra, it was the fact that he was predictable. According to J.D. - and J.D. knew just about everything anyone wanted to know; Ezra had received a letter from his mother and for a paltry four hundred dollars he could join her in joint ownership of a saloon in San Francisco. By the look of it, Ezra was trying to raise the cash.
“... so, your investment would be returned to you at least five fold. Perhaps even as high as ten fold,” Ezra insisted. Chris raised his eyes. Josiah was striding toward the saloon, Ezra trotting to keep up.
“You don’t seem to understand the English language, Ezra. No. The answer is, and will always be, no.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Sanchez, but I can not allow you to pass up such a golden opportunity. It is my responsibility as a friend to ensure you understand the benefits you would miss out on.”
Josiah’s gaze met Chris’ and the huge preacher rolled his eyes. Larabee’s grin matured into a full smile as his partners disappeared into the saloon, a new flood of reasoning pouring from Standish.
At the other end of town, Buck exited the jailhouse and strolled toward Chris, his mouth drawn in an absorbed frown. Larabee rose to his feet. “Problem?”
Buck inhaled deeply. “Probably not. You know Vin went to Miner's Gully on his own this morning?”
Chris sank down onto the boardwalk and returned to his whittling. “He often goes on his own.” The statement lacked emotion.
Buck leaned against the nearest post and removed his hat, fingering the brim thoughtfully. “Just think it would be wise if he keeps a low profile for the next couple of weeks.” Buck hadn’t known of the bounty on Vin’s head until he and the boys had ridden out to save Chris a few weeks earlier. Only Chris had been privy to the charges and five hundred dollar reward.
“That’s Vin’s decision, not ours,” Chris pointed out quietly. Buck glanced down at his oldest friend and a smile of triumph settled on his lips. So Chris had tried to convince Vin of the dangers, too. The small creases around the gunfighter’s eyes revealed Larabee’s hidden anxiety.
“He didn’t listen to you either, huh?”
Chris’ whittling knife stilled. “He pointed out it was his life and he’ll live it the way he sees fit.”
Buck shrugged, his attention directed across the street to a couple of strangers entering town. “I’ll check them out.”
Chris nodded and watched as his oldest friend set off to uncover who the strangers were and what their business in Four Corners was. There was a chance they were bounty hunters who had heard what had happened in town a few days earlier. If they were after Vin, they would be convinced to leave empty handed. Failure to comply would see them leave in a pine box!
**********
Miner's Gully was the largest town in the area. It was a bustling metropolis in comparison to Four Corners. Judge Travis had an office in the centre of town and it was there that Vin often delivered papers for him. Tanner rode up the busy street, avoiding eye-contact with anyone, dismounted and lashed his horse to the rail outside of the rented office. He scanned the area carefully, checking to see if anyone was taking undue notice of his arrival, and then he stepped onto the low boardwalk and tried the door. It was locked and there was a piece of paper tacked to it, but the neat squiggles on it meant nothing to the young man who had never attended school. Tanner cursed softly. He couldn’t afford to stay in town waiting around, but he needed to deliver the documents. The office had always been open in the past.
Impatiently, Tanner turned and studied the buildings across the road and decided the best place to get some answers was the general store. If the owner was anything like Gloria Potter, he’d know everyone else’s business.
Tanner crossed the street, weaving between carriages and wagons and entered one of the largest buildings in town. There were a dozen people shopping inside, none taking any notice of the newcomer.
Tanner made his way to the counter and tipped his hat to the proprietor. “I’m lookin’ for the lady who works in Judge Travis’ office. I’ve got some documents to deliver.”
“She closes up for lunch these days. Won’t be back until one o’clock. I could take them for you and give them to her,” the kindly man offered. “I often collect things for her when the office is closed.”
Vin thought about it and nodded, handing the envelope over. Instinct was telling him to get out of town as soon as possible. The recent ruckus with Eli Joe may be on people‘s lips - mistaken identity. That had been Ezra’s idea. Such a ruse would only work with people who weren’t bounty hunters. Real bounty hunters would recognise his name and come looking. “Thanks. Tell her they’re from Four Corners. She’s expectin‘ them.”
Vin shook the other man’s hand, turned around and froze. Just entering the room were two men in long dusters. Vin blinked. His past had caught up with him again. Tanner knew this pair who made their living trading in human misery. Vin had once shared their occupation.
The men’s eyes widened as they adjusted to the light and spotted the buckskin-clad man a few feet in front of them. “Tanner!” they cried together. Both reached for their weapons. Vin charged them. He shouldered one to the side and went straight over the top of the second.
The moment Vin’s boots hit the ground outside he raced toward his horse. Did he make his stand here in Miner's Gully or ride out and try to get home?
Behind him he heard a shout. “Peter!”
Vin recognized that the cry must be to a third partner and so he looked around wildly for someone drawing a gun. The shot came from his right. The bullet caught him just above the hip, his side lighting up with pain, an involuntary yelp of surprise forced from him. Tanner stumbled and fell onto one knee, his strength momentarily sapped by the unexpected agony. At the same time, however, he whipped his mare’s leg up and fired in the direction the bullet had come from. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw people racing for cover. Vin struggled to his feet and ran to his horse, pulled himself into the saddle and dug his spurs in, firing toward the general store and sending two of the bounty hunters retreating.
Bullets rained around him like hail as the bounty hunters returned fire, desperately trying to bring him out of the saddle. Peso shot down between the buildings and then into the open area leading out of town.
**********
Chris stared down at the carving of a horse he had been working on, though his mind was elsewhere. Like Buck, he was worried about Vin’s safety - all of the boys were. They had seen exactly what could happen if the law came after their partner. Chris had been prepared to do what it took to rescue his friend, but next time, they may not be so fortunate. Of greatest concern was the fact that they had been able to keep the bounty from Travis, but following the events just past, that may not be possible any longer. Larabee couldn’t be sure what Travis’ reaction would be. Whatever it was, it was likely to cause friction.
Chris couldn’t help thinking the predicament Vin found himself in was partially his fault. It had been his bullet which had ended Eli Joe’s life. For some reason, that moment kept replaying in Chris‘ mind. It had been an instinctive shot more than anything else. He’d seen the knife arc toward his friend, his emotions had exploded and he’d fired. The gunfighter couldn’t explain his reaction. Adrenaline was one thing - emotion something else altogether. Larabee knew the difference. It had been raw emotion that had flooded his body and emotion of any kind was not something Chris had felt for a long time. After the death of his family, he had made the conscious decision to shut the world out - even Buck. Emotion was too hard and too painful to deal with. He didn’t want the responsibility, or the agony that came with it.
In Vin, Chris had found a kindred spirit. A man who had also shut the world out. Tanner made no demands and had no expectations for their friendship. He enjoyed Larabee’s company and his loyalty was unquestioned. Unlike Buck, who had needed more than these two things, Vin required nothing in return except a drinking partner and reliable gun when trouble raised its ugly head. He didn’t interfere in Larabee’s business and didn’t see it as any of his concern if Chris chose to ride out of town for a week without explanation. That made him the perfect friend in Chris’ eyes. Emotion didn’t come into it. However, Larabee understood that in shooting Eli Joe he had effectively destroyed any chance Vin had of ever clearing his name. Thus, the gunfighter had made the young tracker a solemn vow. Larabee’s mind drifted back to that moment, four days earlier, when he and Vin had been sitting at Simpson Bluff watching the sun set.
Since that day though, Vin had been unusually quiet and had sought his own company. Larabee had respected that as had the others. Tanner had a lot to come to terms with.
Chris, too, had been unsettled since the incident. He found himself reflecting over and over again on his own reaction to the shooting. He felt confused and just a little apprehensive, but most of all, he was concerned by the intensity of his reaction. Emotion had a habit of getting men like him killed. He needed to understand the source so he could eliminate it in future.
Larabee’s thoughts were interrupted by a strange but all-consuming feeling of anxiety. The Seven’s leader rose to his feet and scanned the town. Everything appeared tranquil. Chris stepped off the boardwalk and strode down the street slowly, listening and looking for signs of trouble. None were presented and yet, the feeling in the pit of Chris’ stomach hadn’t eased. Instinct was telling him something was wrong and his instincts were rarely mistaken.
**********
Vin didn’t need to press Peso. The horse appeared to understand the urgency and galloped at full speed along the trail that led to Four Corners. Vin shot a look back over his shoulder. His hat blew off his head and flew out behind him, held by the chin strap around his neck. There was no sign of the bounty hunters yet, but they would follow.
Tanner reached down to his side and withdrew his hand. He was bleeding, but he couldn’t be certain how badly. He needed to bandage it and stop the blood loss, but he couldn’t afford to stop. Again, Vin glanced back. This time, he spotted a dust cloud following. He’d never make it back to Four Corners ahead of them. Already he was starting to feel weak from pain and loss of blood.
Tanner’s mind raced. He needed to find somewhere to hide. He knew this area, but so did Neil Walker and Jim Ringo. The latter was a good tracker. Part Mexican, part Indian and part Chinese. Ringo was an outcast but he had taken to bounty hunting like a duck to water. With his brother-in-law, Walker, he made a reasonable living. Vin had met them some years earlier when he had just turned to chasing men down for money. They had tracked a bounty together after agreeing to split the reward and it was then that Vin had been confronted with the reality of bounty hunting. Ringo and Walker didn’t just chase men, they stalked them and then took great pleasure in listening to them beg for their lives before killing them. Tanner had been stunned by their brutality. The man they had been chasing was wanted dead or alive, but Vin had been told in no uncertain terms that the only way to ensure a capture was to kill ‘it’. They had actually kept referring to the bounty as ‘it‘. There was no compassion or mercy for the victim.
Vin had parted company with the men at that point. There were times when he had found he had to take a bounty in dead, but they were rare occasions. It was for judges to decide if a man should die for his crimes, not a bounty hunter.
Vin’s mind returned to the present. He knew they’d kill him. Tanner jerked Peso’s reins and sent him off the trail and headed for the thick scrubland to his right. There, Vin would be able to hide long enough to deal with his side and hopefully sneak out the other side and back on the trail to Four Corners without his pursuers’ notice.
**********
Larabee settled back on the low boardwalk. He’d walked the town, ensuring his presence was felt. According to Ezra, nothing was a greater deterrent to those who were considering disturbing the peace. Larabee was a foreboding figure with cheroot sitting between his teeth, his black duster floating out behind him and his hand resting on his pearl handled gun. An angel of death waiting to find a victim, Ezra had stated once. The citizens of Four Corners had greeted the gunfighter warily and visitors to the town had watched him cautiously but trouble had failed to announce itself.
Before retiring to the boardwalk, the Seven’s leader had sent a message to each of his men warning them to keep their eyes peeled. Something was prickling Chris’ anxiety. It was a peculiar feeling. Much more than suspicion. It was an intense feeling more like… Larabee really couldn’t explain. More like he knew something was wrong. Yet, life in Four Corners was peaceful and there was no sign of strife.
Larabee’s brow furrowed. Was he looking for trouble when it wasn’t there?
**********
Vin guided Peso between the trees. Despite his size, Peso was nimble and skirted through the dense shrubs, trusting his rider’s navigational ability. Behind him, Vin heard a shot. The bounty hunters were letting him know they were there. It was the way Walker and Ringo operated. They enjoyed the chase and revelled in the terror they created.
Tanner needed to put some distance between he and the group so he could take care of his bleeding side. If he left it much longer, the blood loss would bring him down. Already, it may be too late, he realized. His head was feeling woolly and his ability to remain focused was becoming strained. Vin dug his spurs in, imploring Peso to increase his speed despite the terrain.
The forest surrounded the pair, if you could call it a forest. The foliage wasn’t green, but rather yellow and brown - burnt by the relentless sun. However, the shrubbery was thick and the trees grew close together making it difficult to see more than a few feet in front. Peso weaved through the vegetation under Vin’s expert direction.
Tanner ducked under a branch and gasped. The ache in his side sent waves of agony throbbing through his body. Pain clouded his mind. Tanner grabbed at the wound instinctively and tried to support it as he ducked under another branch, but a third darted out, connected with his tender hip and almost knocked him from the horse‘s back. Vin cried out and his consciousness wavered. The momentary distraction caused him to lose his bearings, searing agony and impending darkness blurring his judgement. Panic attacked mercilessly and when Vin righted himself in the saddle a branch swished into his face. He swiped it away, staring around wildly in an effort to orient himself. Tanner’s blue eyes, usually so calm, were wide and his skin flushed in the dappled light under the trees. Lines of distress were etched into his tanned features as he searched for safety. Vin forced Peso to continue. Branches snagged his coat and hair as he yanked Peso one way and then another, the horse protesting with a loud snort. With each step, Vin was jostled by trees, bushes and branches that appeared to be closing in around him with calculated precision.
Another shot echoed behind the frenzied tracker but it had the opposite effect to that intended. Peso pulled up as Vin yanked on the reins in reaction to the sound. Immediately, the blur around Vin took shape. His racing heart slowed a little and his hazy mind cleared. Another shot. Tanner’s thoughts crystallized - he needed to find cover. Instinct took control once again and Vin was able to push the pain aside. The experienced woodsman urged his horse to the left. Peso reacted immediately and zigzagged through the dense scrubland. All the while, Vin listened intently for signs of his pursuers.
While his head was pounding and his side burning, Vin’s mind was relatively alert again. He needed to remain calm and not allow the pain or fear to get to him. The tracker knew where he was now and he had a plan. There was a thicket ahead where he could hide for a few minutes. Minutes were all he would have… minutes should be all he would need.
**********
The frown on Larabee’s face was coming from deep within him. He was chewing on a cheroot, crushing it between his teeth like it was the source of his misgivings when he spotted Nathan appear on the landing above the livery and start down the steps. Ezra was right behind him.
“... so, your investment would be returned to you at least five fold. Perhaps even as high as ten fold.”
“I can‘t afford it, Ezra,” Nathan claimed with pronounced patience.
“You can’t afford to let this opportunity slip away from you, my friend.“ Standish was making flourishes with his arms, his gold tooth flashing in the sunlight.
Nathan stopped and confronted Ezra. “Where the hell am I supposed to get that sort of money? And even if I did have it, I wouldn’t be giving it to you.“
Ezra’s face flushed with apparent shock, his hand clutching at his heart. “I am deeply wounded by that, Mr. Jackson. I only have your best interests at heart.”
“You’ve got someone’s best interests in mind, I’m just not so certain they’re mine.“
“ Mr. Jackson!“
“Look, I heard about the letter from your mother, Ezra and if I had the money to help you out, I would. But I don’t, so let it go.“ Nathan started to turn, but Ezra leaped down onto the step below and cut off the healer’s escape.
“I am sorry, Mr. Jackson, I can’t let it go, to coin your refreshing turn of phrase. And I want to point out that while your investment would certainly assist me to achieve my goal, your well being is in the forefront of my mind.”
Nathan sighed and shook his head. It was like talking to a brick wall. “Sorry, Ezra. The answer’s no,“ Nathan repeated, stepping around his unrelenting friend and heading for the street below.
“And I appreciate that you know your own mind, but I can not allow you to pass up such a lucrative opportunity. It is my responsibility as a friend to ensure you understand the benefits you would miss out on.”
Despite the concern nagging at Larabee, he couldn’t help smiling. You certainly had to give Ezra full marks for persistence.
**********
Vin slid from the saddle, clenching his jaw when his body jarred on impact with the ground. For a few moments he stood frozen as the burning in his side caused his legs to tremble.
Tanner stroked Peso, aware of the animal’s strained breathing after giving his all. Ahead of them, the bushes were thick. With supreme effort, Vin pulled some of the vegetation to the side and led Peso into a small thicket that was almost invisible from beyond it. Tanner had once tracked a bounty to this very spot which was why he knew of its existence. He prayed Ringo wouldn’t find it immediately.
Without a word, the woodsman wrapped his right arm around his horse’s neck, twisted the animal’s head gently and then coaxed Peso onto his side. He couldn’t afford for the horse to move around or be spotted. The animal dropped immediately, unperturbed. It wasn’t the first time his rider had done this painless manoeuvre. These two had learned to depend on one another for survival.
Vin gasped and fell to his knees, riding out the wave of pain reverberating through his side. With eyes squeezed shut, he took a few seconds to gain control over the agony before drawing in his breath and listening for signs of his pursuers. Rustling leaves, insects and chirps from birds were the only sounds to greet him.
Tanner opened his eyes and silently gave thanks. It wouldn’t be long before the bounty hunters entered this area, though the thicket should hide him well enough to do what he needed to. Supporting his side with one hand, Vin reached over Peso and withdrew a kerchief from his saddlebags. Tanner rocked back on his haunches and then collapsed onto his backside with a wheeze of pain.
Peso lifted his head. “It’s okay, boy. I won’t be long,” Vin panted. His voice sounded loud and echoed in his own ears. Again, the tracker paused to listen. Still, all was quiet around the thicket. Only once he was sure the bounty hunters hadn’t yet narrowed the gap did Vin pull his coat back so he could see the bloodied wound. The blood loss was considerable... more than he had expected. The injured man reached down and fingered the mangled flesh. Black and red blotches rose up in front of his eyes, but he’d found out what he needed to. The bullet was still in there and blood was still surging from the injury.
Tanner tried to slow his rapid breathing as he struggled to decide whether to dig the bullet out or leave it. Realising that the angle would make the task awkward, if not impossible, Vin made the only decision he could. He needed to seal the wound or he would bleed to death.
Ignoring his trembling hands and racing heart, Vin fished some matches and the small sack of gunpowder he kept for emergencies from his saddle bags. He had never imagined he’d need to use the gunpowder for this purpose. Undoing the string that tied the top of the bag was impossible with his hands quaking so badly and so Vin took out his knife and cut it. For a moment he paused, considering what he was about to do. He’d need something to bite down on and so glanced around and spotting a stick, he crawled across to collect it. The effort of moving his weary and weakened frame left him feeling dizzy, but also more determined. He needed to seal the wound quickly. Each second wasted was allowing precious, life-saving blood to escape.
Tanner sat back on his backside, placed the stick between his teeth and picked up the small bag of gunpowder. He pinched some between his fingers, bit down on the stick and then pushed the powder into the wound. A muffled curse escaped his thin, paled lips, but he took more and added it to the torn flesh. Any colour that had been left in his face was now gone, drained away by the all conquering pain.
Vin reached for the matches, but dropped them, his hands failing to follow his instructions. He successfully held them on the third attempt, lit the match, drew in his shaking breath, clenched the stick between his teeth and moved the flame to the wound. The gunpowder ignited. There was a crackling sound and then Vin’s world lit up in a blaze of agony. His muffled scream echoed in the small thicket and he collapsed onto his side, his vision blurring and his consciousness obscured by endless caverns of darkness.
