A Race against Time
By: Ruby Sparrow
Chapter One:
A Deal, a Fan, and a Fever
Chris was in no mood for this right now, he had ridding portal the night before during which three beginners bank robbers thought it would be great fun to rob the bank of Four Corners. Then he'd gotten to get up early to see off Vin and Nathan who were escorting the robber that made it through the night to Eagle Bend, the other two had gotten gunned down by Buck when they decided to forget the other six peacekeepers and just go after JD. Now he had this…whatever it was to deal with.
"Suppose they're any good?" Buck asked walking behind him.
"Well Brother Buck if they make their costumes like they make their wagons, it'll be a colorful show." Josiah answered; he had been making jokes since the group road into town.
"Good or not, they better behave while they're in town."
Buck and Josiah just nodded at the statement; the last performing group that came through had had to cut their days short after the Seven had locked up most of their performers for picking a fight in the saloon, with Chris and Vin no less. They stood off to the side by the church waiting for the wagons to stop moving.
"Well gentlemen, I see we haven't missed the fun." Ezra and JD had finally joined the three, as well as half of the town, who were staying a distance away to what the peacekeepers did. "What could be so funny if I may inquiry Mr. Wilmington?" The cardsharp asked as the womanizer started laughing.
"Oh just a joke that Josiah told before you fellas got here."
"It would seem that it was made at my expense," Ezra eyed the preacher waiting for an answer.
"I just said that those wagons were as bright as some of your clothes." A grin spread across Josiah's face as he patted Ezra on the back.
"I would never wear since attire."
"Actually I think those wagons are brighter then the things Ez wears."
"Thank you Mr. Dunne."
JD nodded at the gambler before his eyes started looking over the wagons, watching the props and outfits that was being pulled out of them. One wagon had caught his attention as well as Buck's.
"Hey Ez, are there fairies in this play?" Buck asked.
"Why no Mr. Wilmington, why do you asked?"
"I must be seeing things then." The womanizer pointed to a wagon made of a rose colored fabric, being draw by two paints. Working around it, and unloading its boxes were five women. Each one was wearing an outfit that looked like it was made out of flowers and leaves. Two of them had something that looked like gold dust on their skin and a third one had wings on her back.
"Please allow me to explain," the man that had been leading the wagon line was now walking towards them. "We just finished doing 'A Midsummer's Night Dream' in a town to the East of here this morning. We didn't have time to put everything back into their boxes before leaving the area." He answered giving a huge grin to the men, "So which one of you fine gentlemen is the deputy?"
"Why do you want to know?" Buck asked not looking away from the fairies.
"And why not ask for the sheriff?" Chris asked eyeing the man standing before them.
He looked Chris over from head to toe, "I'm sorry sir, I thought that we saw the sheriff of the town when we past those two fellas and their prisoners. Name's Master Francisco, nice to meet you all and I'm asking 'cause we hear the same thing everywhere we go. So I'm ready Mr….?" Francisco trailed off holding his hand out to Chris.
Chris just eyed the hand in front of him. "Not the sheriff. There's no badge in town but we're paid to keep the peace."
"I see…well you'll have no worries about me and my people, truth be told we mainly keep to ourselves and like I said we hear it in every town."
"Hmm…" Chris only nodded looking back over to the wagons; he looked quickly at the four behind him and started towards the saloon.
"Not much of a talker I see." Francisco grinned at them.
"What gave it away?" Buck started.
"Never seen see a Shakespeare play before," JD said eyeing the giant wagon.
"Well then young sir you're in luck, you're all in luck." The rest of the town had started moving closer once Chris had left as if that was the okay sign from the blonde. "Lucky indeed, starting tonight, you'll be able to find myself and one of my comrade in that lovely saloon over yonder selling tickets to our wonderful show. Oh and what a show it is! You won't believe your eyes, it's so good I promise that you'll come back for the next show."
By now some of the other performers had pulled out some swords and were doing fencing back and forward by the wagon. The wagon of fairies had gotten out guitars and fiddles to start up a dance the others. There was another group setting up a tent with a sign announcing 'Fortune Telling'. As more things started going on behind him, Francisco just kept on talking.
"This guy talks more then Ezra," Buck whispered to JD.
"Yeah but at least I can understand him." JD couldn't stop the laugh that came out at the look Ezra gave them.
"We are nothing alike," the cardsharp snapped trying not to get mad at his fellow peacekeepers.
Francisco had finally stopped talking, and was also watching the events going on about them, a big smile on his face. The town people had left at this time to see what they could of all the different things that were being set up.
"I see it's not only Shakespeare plays that you perform." Ezra noticed a group of men at a wagon which was built with a drop down side that formed a counter for a booth, they were setting up milk bottles.
Francisco only nodded. "The profit from the main show is split between the performers, while whatever money they make on their own, they keep. If that's alright with you…gentlemen?"
"Like Chris said, as long there's no trouble," Buck answered.
Francisco thought back trying to remember someone saying that but he only nodded not wanting to make any trouble. "Well, like I said before, I present trouble free entertainment and if anyone should set a toe out of place. I won't stand in the way of law, Mr…?"
"Wilmington, Buck Wilmington. These are my colleagues Ezra Standish, Josiah Sanchez, and John Dunne."
"Friends call me JD," he jumped in shacking Fransico's hand.
"And that fine representative of our lovely town you made the acquaintance of before was one Mr. Chris Larabee," Ezra stated as he eyed the many new people he might offer a game of chance to.
"Larabee? The Chris Larabee? Why Jeff didn't say we were going to Four Corners, the home of The Magnificent Seven!"
"Didn't think we were that famous," JD said, a slight blush spreading his cheeks.
"Guess more people read Steel's books then we thought." Josiah spoke up for the first.
"Yep, Jeff's a big fan of that man and you fellas. Don't be surprise if he comes 'round looking for autographs."
"Who's Jeff?" Josiah asked.
"Why he's my map master. He plans the routes we take, the towns we stop at, and where to get our supplies. If you need to know anything about a town or a route you just ask Jeff."
"Sounds like Vin…"
"I'm not as good as Mr. Tanner but I hope to be someday."
The four lawmen turn to see a boy that barely risk JD's waist looking about nine or ten years of age. He was wearing a pair of black boots, brown pants and a white shirt. Over the shirt he wore a red vest and on top of that a buck skin jacket that looked like a smaller vision of Vin's. About his waist was a belt with a throwing dagger and around his neck was a red scarf and a cross on a strip of leather. The boy had light green eyes hiding under shoulder length curly blonde hair. Finally to top it all off was a blower hat just like JD's only much too big for his head.
The boy stood frozen in his spot, staring at the four with a look of pure ah in his eyes. In one arm he held a stack of maps and in the other was a book. A dime novel and none of them had to asked which one it was, just one look at the cover gave them their answer, judging by the fold lines it had, the book had been read a few times.
"Now Jeff, don't go scaring away our guests," Francisco said walking around Buck to the boy. "Gentlemen, I like you to meet Jeffery Jones, my Maps Master or Keeper of the Maps."
"Friends just call me Jeff."
Jeff threw his hand out to shake dropping the maps everywhere, before he could move JD was already picking them. "Here you go." Buck started laughing as JD handed the maps over, Jeff's face turned bright red.
"Thank you Mr. Dunne," Jeffery nodded taking the maps. "I can't believe it, I knew that Mr. Steel wrote about real people and events but I didn't think…"
The boy's voice caught in his throat and he started breathing faster. Buck patted him on the back, "Easy prad, don't go passing out on us, Nat ain't here at the moment."
"He ain't!" Jeff yelled causing all five men to jump as maps once again meet the ground, this time joined by Steal's dime novel. "That's one of the reasons why I planned this town as ours next stop."
"Now Jeff, you have four of the seven right here. Thought you be happ-…"
"I'm happy all right but Mr. Jackson is the town healer and I was thinking that he could have a look at Shelley."
"Shelley?" JD asked while the others gave looks of confusing.
"A young lady that travels with the group, she and her mother. She came down with a fever in the last town and the doctor wouldn't even look at her."
"What kind of a physician wouldn't care for a child?" Ezra asked, his poker face almost slipping.
"The kind that don't like Chinese." Jeffery stated before Francisco could answer. The four eyed each other knowing that kind all too well.
"I'm sure Nathan will help your friend and he should be back in a few days." JD tried offering some comfort as he laid a hand on the boy's shoulder. Jeffery didn't say anything as his eyes just got bigger at the contart.
"Well that's good news! Why don't you go tell Widow Chang?" Francisco helped picked up the maps as Jeffery grabbed his book. The boy nodded as he took off towards the wagons. He stopped about half way to the wagons to look back to the four friends. He gave a smile, glanced at the dime novel in his hand and started off again, yelling for Widow Chang. "Mr. Dunne I believe you just made that boy's day."
"I really didn't think we were so well known."
"I think Jeff might just be your biggest fan."
"Thinkin' Billy might have competition," Buck said a grin spreading across his face.
"Yes indeed Jeff is some boy and don't you be letting his age fool ya. Now if one of you fellas could be so kind as to introduce me to the owner of that saloon over there?"
"Why do you want to meet the owner?" Buck asked.
"Why to let him know that by allowing us to sell tickets at his establishment, he too will be given a cut."
"Miss Rocios is the owner of the saloon," Josiah corrected Francisco, placing a hand on Buck.
"Miss Rocios? I've never done business with a lady before."
"Then I shall have the honor of warning you that she is a fine businesswoman and a expert haggler. She not one to be taking lightly when it comes to her saloon." Ezra stated, once again kicking himself and silently cursing his mother from taking the saloon from him.
"Can't wait to meet her."
"I'll take you to her," JD jumped in, only too happy to help.
"Think I'll come with you." Buck stared at the man as if daring him to try something with Inez, his dark eyes sending a warning as they started towards the saloon.
Josiah fell behind, going unnoticed by the other three as he saw that Ezra had not followed. "Dollar for you thoughts," the preacher joked as his eyes followed the gambler's line of view.
Ezra was staring back towards where Jeffery had run off to. He was standing at the back of the wagon with the fairies, the wagon was now surrounded by a group of men. Jeffery was talking to an woman leaning out of the back and at once Josiah had a feeling that he knew where Ezra's thoughts were.
The lady was Chinese and a small thing at that; her black hair was pulled back in a braid that reached to about her waist. From what Josiah could see, she too was wearing a fairy outfit, her arms bear showing how pale she was. Josiah had to squint as the sun rays shined off of the powder covering her hair, the same as the gold dust on the other girls but silver instead. He wasn't sure but as she listened to Jeffery, he thought he saw a smile.
The preacher looked from the woman to Ezra. The gambler had a far off look on his face, letting the normal mask of his fall. Josiah could see that his green eyes were the darker shade that they get whenever Ezra was upset about something.
Josiah sighed, Ezra didn't even acknowledge the word dollar. "I wonder what Li Pong is doing?"
"Most likely helping her mother take care of the family," Ezra answered not even looking to the man beside him.
"Mm…hm."
Ezra finally looked at Josiah wondering what was going through the preacher's head. He had finally put an end to Nathan and Buck teasing him about the sweet Li Pong and was hoping that Josiah wouldn't start it all over again.
"Nathan left me the key to his clinic, we could go ask if they would like to move the young girl to a bed."
Faster then he could draw his gun, Josiah watched as Ezra's mask was back in place and a golden smile back on his face. "That is a excellent idea Mr. Sanchez, we shall indeed."
Josiah noticed Jeffery's eyes getting wider as he saw Ezra walking over to them, looking as if his thoughts had never wondered.
The preacher could only shake his head at the young man's ability to hide everything going on inside of him from everyone in the outside world.
Josiah watched Ezra tipping his hat to the Widow Cain and Jeffery, as he stated thinking how Ezra wasn't so different from Francisco and his troop of actors.
"Actors," he sighed as he also started over to join the group.
