Part Eleven

‘The eyes’ peered through the curtain, watching the two men below. Abruptly, five others joined the pair under inspection. ‘He’ was there. ‘He’ will provide my salvation! Earlier attempts had failed. It did not matter how long it took! I will not give up. ‘The eyes’ withdrew, the curtain blowing slightly in the breeze.

**********

J.D.’s attention was drawn to movement from a window across the street. The youth watched the curtain flutter is the slight breeze.

“J.D.?” Buck asked, noting the line of his friend’s vision.

“Nothing,” the boy muttered. “Just thought I saw someone watching us.”

“So, Mr. Tanner, what is you expert diagnosis?” Ezra asked.

Vin frowned and rose to his feet. His face was blanketed with concern.

“The wood’s old,” Nathan stated, trying to alleviate his friend‘s concerns. “There’s a good chance it just fell.”

“Or was pushed. A good kick and it would have splintered,” Tanner pointed out.

“It still doesn’t make sense. Why would anyone here be wanting to kill us?” J.D. asked.

“I think you’re just paranoid, Vin,” Buck offered good-naturedly. However, the sentiment reflected his belief.

“I agree with, Buck. Sorry, Vin. You’re just used to being suspicious,” Josiah added gently.

Tanner flicked his eyes to Ezra. Standish eyed the tracker thoughtfully. Vin had good instincts and Ezra was prepared to trust his life to them, but this time he had a feeling that Tanner’s suspicious nature was getting the better of him. “Mr. Tanner, there is no evidence to suggest that we are the recipients of a conspiracy.”

“So that’s all of you,” Vin muttered, shaking his head. “Someone’s gunning for us,” he stated firmly. There was no anger or annoyance in his voice. Vin was simply stating a fact. He replaced his handkerchief after coughing into it. “Someone with enough clout or enough money to hire people to do their dirty work for them.”

“I’m inclined to agree with Vin,” Chris stated quietly. The rest of men stared at their leader. Up until this point they knew Larabee had agreed that there was no conspiracy. “It’s too much of a coincidence. One or two maybe, but not three of us being ‘unlucky‘ enough to be attacked. There are over a hundred and fifty people in town and three of us are wearing bruises.”

Still, the others appeared skeptical.

“If I’m wrong, all we’ve lost is the time we spent searching for the bastards. If I’m right, we may just stop anyone else from being attacked,” Vin pointed out.

“Very true. For my part, I would very much like the chance to reacquaint myself with the two heathens who found it necessary to assist me with my bathing. Thus, we need to form a plan of action,” Ezra proclaimed. “May I suggest that we retire for breakfast and discuss our next move?”

“Sounds good to me. I’m hungry.”

“You’re always hungry, J.D.”

“Am not.”

“Are too.”

“For goodness sake!” Ezra cried, stepping between them.

“He started it!”

“Enough!” Standish cried. “I will not allow you to embarrass us any further through your childish antics.”

J.D. and Buck stared at the gambler. The pair glanced at each other. “Oooooooooooooooooo,” they chorused together.

“Do not push me,” Ezra growled.

**********

Sheriff Brewer entered the restaurant and paused, scanning the room and taking a mental inventory of whom was there. Brewer nodded a greeting to the waitress and then approached the men from Four Corners.

“Good morning. Mr. Larabee, how is your shoulder?”

Larabee’s head bobbed once.

“Last night, my deputies escorted our prisoners out of town. That rabble will not be returning.”

“You sound very sure,” Josiah commented.

“I am. I informed them that if they returned they would be shot on sight.”

“That’ll do it,” Buck chuckled.

Brewer turned to Chris. “Mr. Larabee, I am asking you and your men again to sign on as deputies. My men and I are tired and we need help.” The words were not easy to say. Brewer was a man who had always been able to handle things, but this time, he knew he could not do it alone. The men around the table did not look up at him, most choosing to continue with their meal.

Chris, who was sitting directly across for Vin, centered his attention on his best friend. What do you think?

Chris smiled. Only from Nathan.

Vin smirked at his companion. Next time he tries to pour laudanum down my throat I’m gonna take the bottle and shove it where the sun don’t shine.

“Mr. Larabee?”

“I’m sorry, Brewer. We aren’t wearing badges.”

“But we will help out,” Vin declared quietly.

“Tell your men to sleep when they need to. Just let us know when and we’ll cover it,” Buck stated.

Brewer continued to frown. Not one of them were looking at him. “I am willing to pay you.”

Chris glanced up at the other man for the first time. “We aren’t wearing badges.”

“Surely you do in your own town!” Brewer felt so frustrated!

“Sheriff, and I’m saying this in the nicest possible way, what we do and how we do it is not your concern.”

“I may be forced to make it my concern.” It was a threat he hadn’t meant to make. His authority had been attacked and he had reacted instinctively. Unfortunately, the Seven did the same. Larabee and his men rose to their feet, their stances threatening. Clearly, they weren’t impressed. Brewer found himself facing off against Four Corners’ peacekeepers, which was the last thing in the world he wanted to be doing.

“Brother, it would not be advisable for you to pressure us.”

“We don’t force easy,” J.D. growled.

Ezra raised his hands for calm. “Gentlemen, gentlemen. Let us not get carried away. Sheriff, I do not believe you want to make enemies of us.”

“No,” Brewer agreed quickly.

“And we, in turn, do not want to be on bad terms with you.”

“However, we are more than prepared to ride out of here should the atmosphere become uncomfortable,” Nathan growled.

“And while retaliation would not be our first choice, we will do what we have to, to defend ourselves,” Josiah rumbled.

“If that means tackling the law in town head on, then so be it,” Buck added harshly.

Brewer swallowed. He was being warned and he knew it.

“Believe me, you don’t want to tackle us head on,” Tanner whispered in a voice that caused the hair to stand up on the back of the sheriff’s neck.

Chris Larabee said nothing. He didn’t need to. The infamous Larabee glare communicated his feelings better than any words.

“All that being said, let us clarify our position,” Ezra stated calmly. “We are visitors in this town like everyone else and while we agree to back up the local law like any law-abiding citizens, we have no intention of pinning a target to our chests. We have offered our help. You may choose to accept it, or reject it. You may choose to have us work beside or you may choose to confront us - I fear the latter would be a mistake. Now, if you‘ll excuse us, we have things to do.”

Ezra tipped his hat and then strode off. The rest of the team followed, each man maintaining eye contact with Brewer until they had passed him. Only Larabee remained. Brewer felt the colour drain from his face. For several seconds the gunfighter lingered and then he walked forward. It was clear that he had no intention of walking around Brewer as his men had. The sheriff of Peter’s Gap stepped to the side and allowed the gunfighter free passage.

When Larabee disappeared through the door, Sheriff Brewer started breathing again. He had made a huge mistake trying to force the Larabee Gang’s hand and knew he was lucky to have survived the confrontation.

**********

The Seven collected on the porch. Buck was huffing and puffing, his blood at boiling point.

“Calm down, Bucklin,” Vin muttered. “Like Ezra said, we don’t want no trouble with Brewer.”

Larabee acknowledged Ezra with an appreciative nod. The gambler had controlled the situation expertly and his diplomatic action had prevented a war. Right now, the last thing the boys wanted was a war with the local badge.

“Alright, let’s break up into groups and see if we can track down the drunk that spilled his drink on Ezra,” Josiah suggested calmly. “Chris, you and Vin didn’t see him, so you better pair off with someone else.”

Nathan glanced at his patient. Tanner had eaten little. He’d been up for two hours, so it was about time the tracker returned to bed.

Vin recognised the look and sighed. “I’m gonna have to go and lie down, fellas. Sorry.” All of his friends’ faces shadowed with understanding.

“Vin?” J.D. asked.

“Feel like shit, Kid,” Vin admitted.

“Which is to be expected. I’ll stay with him,” Nathan offered.

Vin and Chris’ eyes met.

“Call if you need me. I mean it.”

“We will,” Chris claimed. It was obvious that he had no intention of doing so.

“I’ve just got the flu, Chris.”

“Don’t suppose getting slashed by that bottle a few days ago helped either.”

“Alright boys. Let’s go,” Chris ordered. “Josiah, Buck and J.D., you stay together and take the left side of town. Ezra and I will handle the right side. Any problems, three shots in the air. Understood?“

The men nodded. As Larabee moved by Tanner he brushed his friend’s shoulder. Vin was frustrated. Chris could see it. Take it easy. We’ll find the drunk.

Vin watched with irritation as his companions moved off. “I’m gettin’ sick of this. Hell, I only got up two hours ago!”

“The influenza just has to take its course, Vin. Give it time,” Nathan encouraged. “You’re doing a hell of a lot better than a lot of people. Rest when you need to and you’ll be back to yourself in a couple of days.”

Tanner grumbled something under his breath as he and Nathan set off for the boarding house.

“Your side aching?”

“You try to force any laudanum into me and I’ll shoot you, Nathan. I swear it!”

“Calm down. I’ve been giving you laudanum for your own good.” Vin sighed long and deep. He knew that.

Nathan lifted his hand to Vin’s shoulder. Tanner didn’t flinch. Three months earlier he would have. He probably would have sidestepped the genuine sign of affection. Nathan smiled, as the thought struck him. Vin Tanner now fully trusted him.

“Give it another three days, Vin. With regular rest and some food, that‘s all it will take. And you have got to start eating again.” Again the tracker began mumbling under his breath.

The pair entered Tanner’s room and Vin sat down on the edge of the bed, his body tired and achy. Nathan checked his patient for fever. Tanner was a little warm. Without discussion, Nathan pulled his weary friend’s boots off, helped him out of the coat and then assisted him down onto the bed.

“Wake me if there‘s trouble.”

“Don’t worry, I will.”

“Until I met you fellas I hadn’t had a sick day in my life.”

“Must have been saving it up until you had someone to look after you,” Nathan chuckled, tucking the blankets around his friend.

A grateful smile melted onto Vin’s face. “Thanks, Nathan. For everythin‘.”

Nathan patted Vin‘s arm. “Get some rest. I’ll be right here.” The dark skinned healer moved across to the chair in the corner and took a seat. Despite the uneasiness eating away at him in light of the apparent attacks on the Seven, Nathan found himself feeling very content. It felt good to be appreciated and trusted - particularly by his friends.

**********

Josiah, Buck and J.D. wandered into the grain exchange. The three men separated and causally moved around the building searching for the drunk that Vin was certain had set Ezra up.

An elderly lady walked up to J.D. and smiled. “Can I help you, young man?”

J.D. shook his head. “I’m just filling in time, Ma ‘am.”

The woman moved to the window. “There doesn’t seem to be any end to this rain, does there?”

“A friend of mine said it could last up to three weeks,” J.D. claimed, moving across to the window and staring outside at the driving rain.

“I’ve known it to last longer.”

J.D. realized he had a chance to do some clue hunting while he was here. “Have you been in Peter’s Gap long?” the youth asked, noting the woman’s German accent.

“My family was one of the original settlers,” the lady stated proudly.

“Mrs. Von Otter told me that most of the original settlers moved away.”

“Most did. My husband and I chose to stay.”

“Did you know Elsa?” J.D. waited for the reaction. He had seen so many. Some greeted the question with enthusiasm, some with suspicion and others with annoyance.

The old lady’s eyes narrowed, the welcome expression replaced by a curt look. “I don’t like to speak of the dead.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.” J.D. flashed woman a look dripping with innocence.

“You must the be boy who was speaking to my husband yesterday?”

“That’s right. I’m J.D., Mrs. Schultz.” Bridget Schultz still eyed him with suspicion. “I was talking to your husband about what happened to James.”

“James? Oh, the boy Elsa involved himself with. Most people are interested in the ghost.”

J.D. shrugged. “I guess it’s all connected. Mrs. Von Otter gave me bit of an explanation.”

Bridget smiled, her face relaxing. “Mrs. Von Otter is a storyteller, young man. You will find very little truth there.”

J.D. realized that if he played his cards right he just might get another version of the story. “Really? She told me that Elsa was an angel on earth.”

“Ha,” the elderly woman snorted. “Elsa wasn’t the innocent little thing that the older people thought she was.”

“You didn’t like her?”

Bridget looked shocked. “It wasn’t that I didn’t like her. Elsa was... she...” Mrs. Schultz struggled to find the right words. “She was seeing several boys at the same time. That isn’t right, not for a Christian person. Then that James came to town. Elsa fell for him. That always surprised me. He just wasn’t her type.”

“What do you mean?”

“Elsa had always gone for the boys who were quiet and steady, if you know what I mean. James was loud and coarse and unpredictable.” The old lady lowered her voice. “She was pregnant you know.”

“What?!” J.D. was stunned. It was the last thing he expected the woman to say.

Mrs. Von Otter nodded. “She was carrying James’ baby. I wouldn’t have liked to be in her place when her father found out. He was very strict.”

“J.D.,” Buck called from the doorway. The scoundrel inclined his head impatiently. He and Josiah had thoroughly searched the building and were ready to move on.

J.D. excused himself and jogged across to his companions. “Josiah! Josiah, guess what?! Elsa was pregnant with James’ child.”

“I didn’t think they were married,” Buck mused.

“They weren’t!” J.D.’s mind was zapping at a million miles an hour. “Maybe Elsa’s father did kill James. I mean he was supposed to be very strict. Imagine what he would have done to James if he found out that he had gotten Elsa pregnant!”

Buck rolled his eyes. “Come on, Kid. We’re supposed to be searching for that drunk.”

**********

Ezra noted Chris reaching for his shoulder. No doubt it was aching but Larabee would never admit to anything.

The pair had searched the entire side of street with no luck. One man watched the pair carefully. His eyes narrowed.

**********

Tanner slept for almost an hour and a half. When he awoke, he claimed he felt refreshed and within moments was attempting to pull his boots on.

“An hour out of bed and then back here. Let’s see if you can stomach something to eat. How’s the side?”

“A bit stiff,” Vin admitted, coughing.

“Head?”

Vin simply grunted.

“Do you want... now don’t give me that look. If you’re side’s hurting, the laudanum will take the edge off it.”

“Yeah, and it might take the edge off my aim, too.”

***********

Ezra and Chris stopped outside the general store. “No sign of him,” Standish remarked. “Perhaps the others had more luck.”

Before Chris could reply, a voice behind him bellowed... “CHRIS LARABEE!”

**********

“Vin, you aren’t going to be aiming well if you’re in pain, either. How about you just have...” From the street below, Vin and Nathan heard Chris’ name roared over the sound of the driving rain. Both men rushed to the window.

**********

Larabee’s processing ability increased 100 per cent. The world around him appeared to slow. He spun to the left, trying to locate the person who had shouted his name, at the same time shoving Ezra to the right and out of the line of fire. Standing twenty feet from Chris was a gunfighter. The other man’s revolver had already cleared his holster. Larabee twisted his body, reaching for his gun as he did so.

**********

Buck, J.D. and Josiah dashed out of telegraph office, their eyes wide. Vin and Nathan reached the window. Two guns fired simultaneously. Chris fell.

“CHRIS!” six voices cried as one. Vin couldn’t believe his eyes. His heart launched into his throat. Before he knew it, he was running. This couldn’t have happened! Chris was down!

Ezra dropped beside his companion. “Oh, God, Chris!”

People poured out of every building, the sound of gunfire promising some form of entertainment to their monotonous day. Vin and Nathan bolted out of the boarding house. Buck, Josiah and J.D. sprinted across the street.

“CHRIS!” Buck shrieked as he fell to his knees beside his fallen friend.

“Ezra?!” Josiah demanded frantically as he and the others collected around their companion. Vin shoved people out of his way in his desperation to reach Chris. He could hear nothing but the roaring of his own heart. Josiah stepped back to allow him in, the preacher’s hand grabbing Vin’s shoulder in support. Tanner’s terrified eyes fell on his best friend. To the tracker’s astonishment, Larabee was sitting up rubbing his shoulder.

“I’m alright, boys,” Larabee stated calmly. “Jarred my shoulder as I hit the ground.”

“Are you hit?!” J.D. demanded breathlessly, his eyes running up and down Larabee’s body in search of blood.

“No, I‘m fine. ” Chris had dived. He had known the other man would get a shot off. The cheating bastard had drawn his gun before he had shouted Larabee’s name. Chris knew that if he wanted

to survive today, he had to get out of the way of the bullet. The decision to dive and roll had saved his life.

“This fella’s dead,” Josiah called. Once the preacher had seen that his friend was safe he had jogged across to examine the body of the other gunfighter.

Ezra and Buck pulled Chris to his feet. Nathan stepped forward.

“It’s okay,” Chris repeated. There was anger in his voice. His men parted to allow him through. Now was not the time to question their companion. Larabee’s face set like stone, his eyes reflecting hell itself.

Chris strode down the street, gasps following him. It appeared that every person residing in Peter’s Gap and moved outside onto verandas and under porches to watch. They were hushed and wide-eyed.

Chris Larabee stopped above the man who had made the mistake to drawing on him.

“You know him, Chris?” Josiah asked. Larabee shook his head. Sheriff Brewer approached tentatively. “Sheriff,” Josiah prompted.

Brewer also shook his head. “I’ve never seen him before.” Peter’s Gap’s sheriff was one person who had actually seen the whole thing. He had just stepped out of the jailhouse when the other gunfighter had bellowed Larabee’s name. In all his years he had never seen anyone as fast as Chris Larabee. “You had your back to him,” Brewer muttered. And still Larabee had outdrawn the other man! “I suppose this happens to you a lot. People just drawing on you.”

Larabee didn’t grace that with an answer. Instead, he turned to address the crowd. “Anyone know him?” There was very little volume and yet everyone heard the hushed voice over the sound of the thundering rain. No one spoke, their eyes riveted to a man they had heard so much about - a man who had just proved he was every bit as fast as his reputation. “Who was he seen with?”

One of the barmen stepped forward. “I saw him drinking with two other men, Mr. Larabee. I don’t know them. They rode in with the rain.”

“Describe them,” Josiah prompted.

“I don’t really know. I didn’t take much notice of them.”

“Would you recognize them again?”

The barman shrugged. “I might. I don’t really know.”

The rest of the Seven approached their leader. Chris was frowning. Again, they had been attacked and again they had nothing to go on.

“We need to find out who he is,” Ezra growled. It was strange to hear Standish growl. He was not someone who showed the world his anger, but today Ezra was angry. He was more than angry. Chris had dropped right before his eyes. There wasn‘t a thing he could do to help his friend. It had all happened so quickly. For the second time in so many days, Ezra had felt helpless and such feelings did not sit well with the gambler.

Josiah went though the dead man’s pockets but found nothing to identify him.

“He was a professional,” Larabee muttered. It wasn’t hard to tell. The other man’s dress and his revolver advertised the fact.

“A professional for hire or just someone who recognized you and decided to challenge you?” J.D. asked.

“I don‘t know.”

The men became quiet. They watched the crowd disperse. The sheriff had the body removed to the undertakers, Brewer nodding to the Seven before disappearing into the jailhouse.

“He simply may have recognized you, Mr. Larabee,“ Ezra offered.

“Maybe.“

“Another part of the puzzle that doesn‘t fit,” Josiah muttered. Finally, the men began to relax. The adrenaline pumping through their systems eased.

Abruptly, Buck found himself feeling overwhelmed as his mind went over what had happened. The scoundrel shut his eyes briefly. “Hell, Chris. When I saw you go down I...” Buck couldn’t finish the thought. Larabee patted his oldest friend’s shoulder.

The Seven’s leader flicked his eyes around the group. “Where’s Vin?”

“Huh?” The group glanced around. There was no sign of the tracker!

Instantly, the claws of panic gripped Chris. “VIN?!” The word bounced off the walls of the buildings around the gunfighter. Those still outside stared across at him. The regulators searched the sidewalk frantically.

“FIND HIM!” Chris roared. The group scattered. Chris remained where he was, his eyes scanning the street systematically. Where had Vin gone? Most of the town’s population had come outside to investigate the shooting. Had Vin been attacked and dragged off while the rest of the Seven had been preoccupied? Perhaps by a bounty hunter? Maybe by the person who had been orchestrating the attacks against the Seven?... if such a person actually existed.

Inside the general store, Buck dashed around the room, calling his missing friend’s name. Ezra was doing the same thing next door in the draper’s. Josiah had rushed into the grain exchange, J.D. the jailhouse and Nathan the closest saloon. One by one they reappeared, desperately shaking their heads.

The churning in Larabee’s stomach intensified as his companions dashed to other buildings. “VIN!“ Tanner was ill and he was hurt. Maybe he hadn’t been able to fight back! A decent blow to his wounded side would have been enough. “VIN?!” Again Larabee’s voice echoed down the street.

A shot shattered the air. Chris drew, his eyes darting skyward. He was under attack again!

**********

‘The eyes’ watched intrigued. Those below were scurrying, searching for someone... for something. Just like me.