Vin felt his face burning as he headed up the street. Of all the people in the world he'd never want to see again. Tom was at the top and bottom of the list. Go back to Texas? That was a fool notion if ever Vin heard one. With Eli Joe dead, all Texas would get him was a short rope and a deep grave. He'd have to find a way of avoiding Tom until the old man got tired of trying and left town. Then maybe he'd have to think about moving on.
He didn't want to have to move on. Hell, he was always moving on from somewhere. Not always to escape Tom, but Tom always found him anyway. Hell, he even found Vin out on that Indian reservation six winters ago, and if it hadn't been for Sofia back at home, Vin was pretty sure Tom woulda made off with the Chief's old maid sister.
Vin tried not to think about Sofia, tried not to think about home. Though he did miss her cooking something fierce every now and again, and Vin could see her setting that extra plate out every night. She would do that. He wasn't hers, but she sure loved him like he was. She was a homely sort too, like the Chief's sister. Well, she was until Tom courted her and married her and she became the most beautiful woman Vin thought he had ever seen.
Tom had a way of doing that, Vin thought unwillingly, he had a way of making the best out of the worst.
Still, even he couldn't bring anything good out of Eli Joe being dead and that noose squeezing tighter around Vin's neck. Even Tom wasn't that good.
Vin headed into the saloon and straight to the bar. He needed a whiskey.
"Vin?"
"What?" Vin asked, a little too snappish before he realized it was Chris. He relaxed his tone. "What?"
Chris gave him an appraising look but didn't comment on what he saw. "Mary's got a package over in Eagle Bend. I told her I'd pick it up for her. I could take the company if you wanted to go."
"Sure." Vin said immediately. Then, "No." He looked around the saloon and drank his whiskey down in one swallow. "Since when did you become an errand boy?" That remark was still kinda snappish. Chris didn't seem to mind.
"Since I decided I needed a slow afternoon with nothing to do but get somewhere and get back."
"It's nothing Chris. He's nothing."
"He's enough to get your riled." Chris said.
"I ain't riled – I'm homesick." Having said that, Vin paid for his whiskey and left the saloon. He walked back to the livery. Yosemite was outside.
"He in there?" Vin asked.
"Nope, he left right after you did."
"Thanks." He went in to his horse. If Chris didn't show up soon, he'd leave without him. Maybe he'd leave anyway. He didn't want to have to explain that homesick remark to Chris. He didn't want to explain it to himself.
But - true as that spray of water out in the desert, Larabee came into the livery and walked right up to Vin. Other people, Vin noticed, Chris stood a good arm's length away. With him, it was usually only a hands-breadth.
"Homesick?" Chris asked. His voice held understanding and patience. He wanted to know.
"He's from Texas."
"And he seems willing and ready to take you back with him."
"He ain't a bounty hunter." Vin said. "He was a lawman, but that was a long time ago."
"Can he help us clear your name?"
That question surprised Vin, 'us'. He only said, "Ain't no help with Eli Joe gone." and turned to his horse. "He'll likely try though."
"What's he to you?" Chris asked.
"He's nothing to me."
"You sure seem to be something to him."
Vin shot him a look but bent down to grab his gear. "We headin' outta here or not?"
"Yeah."