It has been three months with hardly any problems for the kids.
Travis was dealing with the business of putting them in a more permanent home but in the mean time Nettie's was their playground.
The boys eagerly showed off their riding skills to Chris who watched them on the fence.
He still wasn't ready to get back on the horse as it was called and preferred to watch the others instead.
Vin rode over on his horse, Peso, to where Chris was perched.
"Come on and join us, cowboy!"
Chris's eyebrow twitched at the nickname, "I think I'll wait a few more days before doing any riding."
"But there are more horses in the stable for you to ride. I can go with you to look at them. I even know all their names."
Chris looked down at the ground. He hadn't been up long on the fence and the thought of getting down already sounded exhausting, but he didn't spend as much time with Vin or really with any of the boys, so he nodded and slipped off the fence and began making his way to the stable with Vin riding beside him.
Chris rested his head against the stall door of a black gelding that had a white star on her head.
The horse had walked over to him and nuzzled her head against his. He limply stroked her nose.
"You like her? That's Pony. She's seven years old. She has a fiery spirit and can outrun many of the other horses on the ranch." Vin said as he put Peso away.
"Vin."
"Hm?"
"I'm sorry I haven't been acting myself."
"It's ok, I know you probably have a lot on your mind and you're probably trying to adjust to Nettie and Travis."
"It's not that."
Vin frowned and got a little closer to his friend.
"What's the matter?"
Chris pulled out a crumpled envelope from his back pocket and handed it to Vin.
Vin took it and looked over the return address. There wasn't one.
"Is this one of yours?" he asked, looking up from the envelope.
"Read it."
Vin opened the envelope and pulled out a letter. The handwriting was feminine, that he knew, but he wasn't good at reading and he cursed himself for skipping school for so long. Chris had given him the letter expecting him to read it and he couldn't do that.
"Can you just summarize it for me?" he asked after trying for two minutes.
Chris let out a sigh, "It basically says this,"
Dear Chris,
It's been awhile since we've seen each other, and I can see that you're miserable
I can make that all go away. Everything and everyone that feed you these lies that they love you. I know who they are. I know their names and their past. I can make them all go away so it will be just the two of us. We can run away together and go where ever you want. Make no mistake in thinking that I will let you love anyone besides me. Anyone who tries to get between us will be squashed. I'm a one guy kinda girl and I expect the same in return.
Love your's,
E.L.
Vin shivered, "E.L.?"
"Ella Gaines. I think she figured out my last name, or at least the beginning letter and put it as her last name"
"How does she know where we live?"
"I don't know, but it's like I can feel a chill run down my spine as if she's watching me even now."
"Have you told Nettie or even Travis?"
Chris shook his head, "You're the only one I've told. Until now I've been keeping to myself."
"When did this letter come?"
"This one came about a week ago."
"There's more!"
"Three."
"Chris, you got to tell someone. I mean I'm glad you finally told me, but Travis needs to know."
"No!" Chris snapped, "He's busy already with trying to get the papers all signed so we can all live together. I can handle this by myself."
"Don't push us away again, cowboy." Vin frowned as he delivered the nickname.
"This girl is crazy, and the last thing I need is any of you in trouble because of it. It could've gotten Ezra killed."
"And it nearly killed you."
Chris pushed himself away from the stall, "I got myself into this and I'll find a way to get out of it." he stormed out of the stable and back into the house.
Vin huffed and patted Pony on the nose.
Josiah and Nathan were playing a game of chess when Chris stormed into the house and went into his room.
"What's his problem?" frowned Nathan.
"Not sure. He's been acting strange lately, I mean more than usual. He keeps isolating himself and just stares out over the ranch as if he's trying to find something." Josiah shrugged.
"You don't think he's thinking about leaving do you?"
"I don't know, brother."
Just then Ezra walked in from the back of the house and yawned. He had slept that morning. The flu had hit him after he was released from the hospital and was still groggy.
"Morning sleepy head, or should I say afternoon. You're lucky it's summer." laughed Nathan.
"Not too loud, Nathan. My body has yet to awake and I prefer not to be startled up."
"Did Chris wake you?" Josiah smiled.
Ezra sat down on the couch and rubbed his eyes. His hair was uncharastically messy and his clothes were slightly shifted so that the front of his pants were on his side.
"That he did. One minute I was dreaming of a poker game where I held three kings with a stack of hundreds waiting for me to pick them up and then next thing I know I'm almost smothered awake by Chris dropping a pillow over my face."
"Your nose still stuffed up?" asked Nathan.
"So much so I think that I'm relying on breathing through my mouth which will only result in a sore throat." Ezra coughed.
"I wonder why you get sick easier than the rest of us." Nathan frowned.
Ezra didn't answer as he blew his nose.
"Maybe because he isn't used to doing anything so his body isn't used to moving as much." Josiah rose an eyebrow.
"It could be that he's anemic."
"Beg your pardon but I'm healthy. I just got a cold is all."
"Ez, you get sicker than any of us and you always stay indoors if possible. Your vitamin D is probably non-existent. That and your immune system is down."
"Isn't it usually when you're sick." Ezra sniffed and coughed as a result.
"Are you feeling sad or depressed at all?" asked Nathan.
"Ok!" Ezra said loudly and sat up, "You guys were talking about Chris before I got here. Why don't you continue that conversation and not worry about my personal health."
Josiah shrugged, "Not much left to say about it. Chris is just acting strange and likes to be alone. He doesn't even talk to Vin as much."
Ezra frowned, "I've noticed that he goes off every now and then. Several times I caught him reading something. A note."
"From what?"asked Nathan, forgetting their game.
"Not sure from what. Nettie gives him letters from the mail, maybe that was what he was reading."
"Is he writing the girl from Purgatory?"
"No, he knows the number and would just call her."
"Then what is he reading and who could be sending them?" frowned Josiah.
Buck ran into the house after putting up his horse. He was on his way to the bathroom and ran past Chris sitting on the floor of his room that he shared with Vin and Ezra.
Buck stopped, "You ok there, old dog?"
Chris mumbled an affirmative before he got up and laid on his bed with a flop.
"You aren't catching Ezra's cold are you?"
"No."
"Then what's eating at you?" Buck came into the room and sat close to where Chris's head was resting.
"You ever felt stuck, like you're cornered and can't do anything to prevent what's about to happen."
Buck frowned, "Something bothering you?"
Chris turned his head to the wall, "I don't want to lose everything again."
Buck put an encouraging hand on his friend's shoulder before retreating to the bathroom.
He wondered what Chris was talking about losing everything again. He wasn't sure if he was talking about his family or not, but if he was then he was going to make sure that didn't to him. Chris needed a little happiness in his life after all that has happened to him and whatever is still happening to him.
As soon as Travis arrived tomorrow, he would go and talk to him.
JD sat on his little horse and went around in the fenced in area for him to ride in. He wondered if he should go in with the others but didn't' feel like getting off yet. By the time he was about ready to get up, Casey came out on her horse.
JD sat straighter as she trotted over to him.
"Hey JD!"
"Hi." he said while studying her. He didn't understand why she kept acting like a boy and before he knew it, she began to occupy most of his thoughts.
"Wanna go on a ride with me?" she asked cheerfully.
"Why so you can brag about how good of a rider you are?" he asked suspiciously.
"No, I just wanted to spend time with you."
"Well I don't want to. You're already too complicated for me to understand and it's annoying."
He kicked his horse and rode off to the stables, leaving a dejected Casey.
Vin was coming out of the stables when JD entered, "Hey, I thought Casey was going to ask you to go on a ride."
"She did but I ain't going." said JD as he slipped off his horse and began removing the saddle.
"Why?" frowned Vin.
"She's confusing. She likes to get in my head and then acts all innocent about it."
JD quickly finished in the stable and walked back to the house.
Vin shook his head and rubbed JD's horse down, not quite ready to go back in yet.
Casey came back in with her horse following behind her.
"You okay?" asked VIn a little worried.
A few minutes ago the girl was excitedly saddling her horse and telling him about her plans to ride with JD. Now she was walking slowly and sighed.
"I don't know what I did wrong for him to hate me. Is it me, Vin?"
Vin flustered and tried to think of an answer. Lucky for him Ezra walked in at that exact moment and he deflected the question on the other boy, "Hey Ez, why do you think JD acts the way he does to Casey?"
Ezra looked up in surprise at being addressed and he frowned at the question.
"I beg your pardon."
"I think JD hates me, what do you think?" asked Casey, turning her attention onto him.
Ezra looked over her shoulder and saw Vin sneaking out the back.
He sighed, "I'm pretty sure he doesn't hate you. I think you're like an 1000 piece puzzle to JD and he's just not good with figuring them out."
"JD's clever!"
"He is, that's why he's probably struggling to figure you out and at the same time comes off as doesn't mean it."
Casey nodded, "So can you help me. You know, figure out the puzzle pieces."
"I do believe Buck is more suited for that job."
"Ok." she handed her reins to Ezra and dashed off to the house.
Vin peeked back into the stable, "Well done Ezra."
Ezra looked at the reins and then up at Vin confused, "What just happened?"
Ella sat down in at a little table across from the long haired boy who was eyeing her suspiciously.
"Why did you want me here?" he snarled.
Ella didn't rush but took a sip of her coffee and sat it down. She dug into her purse and produced a small stack of photos and spread them on the table for him to see.
"Anyone look familiar?" she asked.
The boy looked at the photos. They were all of the same person but from different angles and different times of the day.
The boy picked up the one that was pretty close up and was taking from the side.
The person in the pictures had long brown hair to his shoulders and was smiling at something.
"Where did you get this?" he asked.
"I took them myself. From where he is staying currently. I can tell you, but it will cost you something in return for the information."
The boy grinned and took the picture of Vin and slipped it into his pocket, "Name your price."
A/N: So who could this mysterious boy be? I guess you'll already know. There's only one other person I haven't mentioned from the series. Well, we're starting in on the last book! What do you think so far? It's going to be less sprinting and more of a marathon. I tried to play a little with the Killer Ladies episode with Vin, Ezra and Casey :)