A Test of Friendship--4
Dawn was breaking on a new day as three exhausted men continued to watch over the sharpshooter. Jackson warned both men that Vin Tanner might not make it through the day. That the wound in his side, coupled with the raging fever, and the head wound could easily gain the upper hand and take the sharpshooter away from them.
The silence of the night was interrupted by the painful sound issuing from the injured man's mouth. Jackson was by his side in an instant, turning him on his side as his stomach once more lost its meagre contents.
"Easy, Vin."
Tanner heard the familiar voice and forced his eyes to open. The two figures holding him finally joined to become one and he smiled weakly. "N...Nathan."
The healer returned the smile as Sanchez and Wilmington knelt next to him. "How're you feelin', Vin?" Jackson asked.
"Feels like s...someone w...wailed into me. W...what happened?"
"That's what we'd like to know," Wilmington muttered.
"W...where's C...Chris?" Tanner asked as he searched for his friend.
"He's sleeping," Sanchez answered as he turned his head towards the prone figure of the gunslinger.
"H...he Ok?" the tracker asked as he grabbed his side, crying out as the pain built to a steady crescendo of agony.
"Easy, Vin," Jackson ordered. "Josiah, get me the laudanum."
"H...hurts, N...Nate," the fevered man cried as he struggled to breathe past the pain in his side. "S...sick," he hissed as Jackson once more turned him. The healer slowly rubbed the younger man's back as he continued to make retching noises.
"Here, Brother," Sanchez passed the bottle to the healer and helped him hold the sharpshooter as he fed the liquid into him.
Jackson followed it with water, praying the injured man could hold it down long enough for the laudanum to take affect. He eased the young man back to the blankets and looked into the deep blue eyes so filled with pain and fever. "That should help, Vin," he soothed. His eyes roaming over the fever ravaged face and the white bandage surrounded by the hideously colourful bruise. "Try to rest. We're gonna see about getting you back to town."
The head nodded slowly as the face once more showed the pain he was suffering. "C...Chris," he called as his eyes slid shut and he slipped into a drug induced sleep.
"Nathan, is he going to be alright?"
"He will be if we can keep the wound from getting infected again and keep him from moving around too much," Jackson answered as he turned his attention to the unmoving gunslinger across the fire. "Buck, have you checked on Chris?"
"I was just about to, Nathan. I didn't want to wake him until I had to. He looked pretty exhausted last night."
"I think it had more to do with him feeling responsible for what happened to brother Vin."
"If Chris really shot him you might be right, Josiah," Wilmington shook his head as he looked from the injured man to the gunslinger. He stood up and moved to check on his oldest friend, afraid of what the shooting would do to the man. He already blamed himself for the deaths of his wife and son and the ladies man wondered if he could handle another black mark on his soul. "Chris?" he called as he knelt behind the gunslinger.
Larabee knew if he answered the voice he'd have to face the men with the knowledge he'd shot his best friend. He kept his eyes closed hoping Buck Wilmington would think he was sleeping and leave him to face his demons alone. He didn't deserve the friendship these men bestowed on him, he'd shattered everything when the sound of his gunshot had shattered the world he lived in. All he wanted was to be alone again. On his own away from the people he'd grown to care about. Away from the pain caused by hurting people he was close too. 'Never again,' he vowed as he felt the heat rising in his own body.
"Chris, come on, Pard, it's time to wake up," the ladies man repeated as he reached out and touched the left shoulder.
Larabee couldn't hold back the cry that escaped his dry lips as he felt the light touch on his wounded shoulder. "L...leave me the hell alone!" he hissed.
"Chris, what's wrong?" Wilmington hadn't missed the sharp intake of breath as his hand came in contact with the blond's arm.
"Nothing, Buck, j...just tired," the gunslinger muttered as he fought the churning in his stomach.
"Chris I know better than that. What's wrong with your shoulder?"
"Buck?"
"Nathan, I think you need to look at Chris," the ladies man called.
"Buck, just get away from me and leave me the hell alone," the blond hissed as he struggled to a sitting position, his vision blurring as he fought the waves of nausea, and finally made it to his feet.
"Sit down before you fall down," Wilmington ordered.
"Chris, where are you hurt?" Jackson asked, ignoring the gunslinger's orders to be left alone.
"Nathan, j...just look after V...Vin," Larabee snarled as he moved away from the fire.
"Where are you going, Brother," Sanchez asked as he moved in behind the swaying man, catching him as his legs gave out.
"L...let me go, J...Josiah."
"I don't think so, Brother. Where do you want him, Nate?"
"Put him back on his bedroll. Chris where are you hurt?" the healer repeated.
"I'm not hurt, just tired," the blond protested as he was lowered back to the blankets.
Jackson felt the blond's forehead and turned immediately to his two companions. "Buck, get my bag and some of that hot water. Josiah help me get his coat off. Godammit, Chris, why didn't you say something?" he snapped as he felt what could only be dried blood on the left shoulder of the gunslinger's duster.
"It's n...nothing, Nate. Just leave it be."
"Nothing? It's always nothing with you guys. You're burning up, maybe not as hot as Vin but you're sporting one helluva fever and that means there's an infection somewhere. Josiah, lift him up."
Chris gasped as the ex-preacher leaned him forward and the healer pried the black duster and the equally black shirt from his body.
"When are you fools gonna listen to me," Jackson snapped as he used Larabee's shirt to stop the blood coming from the wound once more.
"J...just a graze," Larabee hissed sharply.
"Sure it is and so is the one in Vin's side."
Jackson missed the look that washed over the gunslinger's face at the mention of the tracker, but it didn't go totally undetected. Josiah Sanchez knew this went deeper than it looked. They all knew Larabee claimed to be the one who'd shot Vin but the how and why of it was still unknown.
"I...is Vin gonna be a...alright?" the blond asked.
"Here' ya go, Nathan," Wilmington placed the water and the bag beside the healer and shook his head at the swollen, inflamed bullet wound.
"Chris, I gotta clean this out," Jackson explained. "Here drink this and I'll get it over with."
"Save it," Larabee muttered as the tiny medicine spoon was held out to him.
"Now, Brother, you're gonna need a little help with Brother Nathan working on your shoulder."
"Don't want it," Larabee said. "Just do it, Nate, so I can get out of here."
"And just where do you plan on going, Stud?" Wilmington asked as the gunslinger closed his eyes and ignored the Laudanum.
"None of your business, Buck, just get me on my feet."
Jackson poured the liquid back in the bottle and began cleaning the wound.
Larabee felt the whiskey-covered cloth as it covered the wound and he tried to move away. His efforts to escape doubled when Jackson began probing the deep wound.
"Steady, Brother, Nathan'll be done in a minute or two," Sanchez said as he held the blond down.
"C...Chris!"
The pain filled scream reached the ears of the three men and all eyes turned to see the tracker standing on rubbery legs.
"I got him, Nate," Wilmington said as he hurried towards the younger man. "Why don't you lie down, Vin?" he asked as he stepped in front of the wavering figure.
"W...where's Chris ya sons of a bitches! W...what have y...ya d...done ta him," Tanner cried as he reached for the three figures before him.
"Vin, what's the matter with you?" Wilmington asked worriedly. The fever bright eyes shifted left and right as the younger man tried to attack him.
"Ya k...killed him d...didn't ya. Ya bastards killed him and I'm g...gonna kill ya'all!"
The raspy voice sounded weak to Wilmington but it carried more strength than he thought possible. He reached out and grasped the swinging arms and pulled the trembling body close just as the sharpshooter's eyes rolled back in his head.
"Nathan, I need you!"
"Go!" Larabee hissed. He'd fought the ex-preacher and the healer in an effort to get to the younger man. His guilt taking a back seat to his worry over his friend's health.
"Josiah, make him stay where he is," Jackson ordered as he stood up and hurried to help the ladies man. "What happened?" Jackson asked as he helped lower the injured man to the bedroll.
"He didn't know me. Kept calling for Chris..."
"I heard that part, Buck, I mean what happened after that?"
"H...his eyes rolled up in his head and he passed out. He is alright isn't he, Nate?" Wilmington asked as he watched the healer examine the unconscious man.
"He's still with us," Jackson answered as he checked the bullet wound. "Buck, I left my bag over by Chris..."
"I got it."
"Josiah, take some of the bandages and cover Chris's shoulder with it."
"I will, Brother," Sanchez called as he smiled at the gunslinger.
"Here, Nate," the ladies man said as he returned with the bag.
"Thanks, Buck, I need ya to put these herbs in the cups and pour hot water over em. Give one to Josiah so's he can give it to Chris. The other one you can bring to me."
Wilmington took the herbs and poured them into the cups, smiling as he handed one to Sanchez. "I'm glad it's you and not me, Stud," he didn't miss the green eyed glare turned his way as the blond head was lifted from the bedroll.
"Buck, I need your help here," Jackson called as he removed the blood-covered bandage from Tanner's abdomen. "Hold this," he ordered as he opened his bag and took out the needle and thread.
"Thought you already put the stitches in, Nate?"
"I did but he's pulled some of em out. Now just hold him still," Jackson ordered.
"S...stop," Vin cried as he felt the sharp bite of the needle enter his flesh. "P...lease stop. C...Chris, h...help me. M...make em s...stop."
"Josiah, let me go!"
"Now, Brother, Nathan and Buck are handling him."
"You don't understand. He's c...calling me."
"Dammit, Buck, hold him down," Jackson swore as Tanner's body arched up off the bedroll.
"He's stronger than he looks, Nate."
"Josiah, we need you!"
"Coming. Chris, you stay put!" Sanchez ordered as he climbed to his feet and hurried to the struggling figures.
"Vin, lie still," Jackson hissed as the ex-preacher joined the ladies man in an effort to hold the tracker down.
"C...Chris, h...help...C...Chris. P...please s...stop."
"I'm here, Vin."
"Thought I told you to stay put," Sanchez snapped as he continued to hold the younger man tightly.
Chris Larabee ignored those around him. His eyes going to the pain filled face of his friend. He slid sideways until he was able to lift his friend's head onto his lap and gently pushed back the sweat soaked long hair. "I'm here, Pard," he soothed as he took the wet cloth that was handed to him. He washed the glistening beads of moisture from the fevered brow and fought to keep his own raging emotions under control.
"C...Chris, Oh, God, C...Chris it hurts."
"I know it does, V...Vin. Nathan's gonna fix you up."
"Oh, Jesus, C...Chris, make em stop. They're k...killing me," Tanner hissed as a thousand burning insects took up residence in his side. He fought against the hands holding him down but to no avail as he felt the billowing blanket of darkness descending once more. "W...why, C...Chris...promised to w...watch my b...back."
"My fault, Vin," Larabee clenched his eyes as the whispered words bit deep into his heart. "M...my fault."
"Come on, Brother," Sanchez said as Jackson finished replacing the last of the stitches. "Let's get you back to your own bed."
"No! I'm fine where I am," Larabee hissed as he held the injured man's head in his lap.
"Chris, I want you lying down now!" the healer said, turning to the pale gunslinger in his anger. "I don't have time to argue with you on this. Vin's in bad shape and I damn well don't need you gettin' any worse than ya already are. Now go drink the tea and get some rest. I'm through arguin' with ya. Josiah, get him outta here," Jackson told the ex-preacher as he lifted Tanner's head from Larabee's lap.
"Let's go, Chris," Sanchez helped the younger man to his feet and walked beside him when his offer of help was declined. "You'd better drink this."
Larabee sank heavily to the ground, his eyes constantly on the trio across the fire. He felt the cup placed in his hand and sipped the warm, bitter brew.
"What happened, Chris?"
Larabee swallowed deeply as he forced his eyes away from the scene being played out before him. His shoulder throbbed in rhythm with his head as he looked into the caring eyes of the older man. "I...I shot him, Josiah."
"Are you ready to tell me how?"
"Not much to tell. I pointed my gun and I shot my best friend."
"There's more to it than that, Chris."
Larabee groaned as he placed the cup on the ground beside him. He lifted his right hand and held his left arm close to his body. "There's more, Josiah, but it doesn't matter. I s...shot Vin Tanner, and I may have k...killed him."
"Don't talk like that, Chris," Sanchez snapped at the vacant stare he received. "Vin's a strong man but he's still gonna need you to help him through this."
"No he don't, Preacher! He don't need me anywhere near him! I'll just end up killing him like I do everything good in my life," Larabee snarled as he let anger overtake him. He stood up and headed away from the encampment as his stomach churned violently.
"Chris, get back here," Jackson yelled at the retreating form.
"Nate, I think you'd best just leave him alone for a few minutes. I've seen Chris deal with this type of demons before and he's gotta work it out for himself," Wilmington declared.
Jackson nodded his head and turned his attention back to the fevered young man before him. "We need to get them both out of this heat."
"Miss Nettie's place is only half a day's ride from here."
"Josiah, could you hook up the travois so we can get moving?"
"Sure thing, Brother," Sanchez agreed as he moved towards the horses.
TBC