Chapter 4

Two hours later, Buck was trying to convince Chris, once again, to take Ella back to Eagle Bend.

"Damn it, Chris! We can't let this happen! It ain't right."

"Vin and I had a long talk last night, Buck."

"That figures. So he's turned ya ta his way a'thinkin'?" Buck shook his head and paced a few steps away. "Chris, she don't deserve to be judged this way. She's a woman from a civilized town. We need to take her back and let the Judge decide what's right for her punishment."

"She killed them, Buck. She needs to die."

"It's up to the Judge to decide that! Not us! And not these Indians!" he yelled, trying to get his point across.

"It's not that easy."

"Why not? Let's just get her and take her out of here."

"They won't let us do that! There's too many of them."

"Then I'll ride back to Stacy and get the Sheriff and some more men."

Both men turned as they heard someone walk toward them. "And what do you think those men will do when they find a white woman being strung up by these "savages" Buck?" Vin asked bitterly. "Do you really think they'll leave any part of this village standing?"

"Tanner! Figures you'd butt in here. Can't even have a private conversation with a friend."

"Not so private, Buck. Could hear ya yellin' all the way in the village. By the way, Ella says to tell you thanks."

"What the hell are you talkin' about, Tanner?" Buck said, confusion on his face.

"She can hear ya too. Says she's glad there's still a gentleman around that agrees that she should be let go. She's singing your praises, Buck. Thinks you're gonna set her free."

"I'm not gonna free her..."

"Really! The people in the village don't know that. Maybe it would be best if you left." Vin turned to look at his grieving friend, his voice going softer. "Chris, maybe you should go with him. You don't need to be here for this. Once it's over, I'll come get ya, so's ya can see that she's dead."

Larabee began to shake his head, then stopped. He and Vin stared into each other's eyes for a long minute. "I'll think about it." He started to walk back toward the village. "I think I'm gonna take a ride. Need to clear my head. Alone."

Vin nodded his understanding. Chris stopped next to Buck and put his hand on the taller man's shoulder. "Thanks, Buck. I'll think about what you said."

Wilmington watched his oldest and closest friend walk away. At least Chris wasn't pushing him away this time. He supposed he should be grateful for that.

He turned and found Tanner staring at him. "What?"

"Will ya leave?"

"So you can torture her some more? No, I don't think so. If I leave, she's going with me."

Vin shook his head, but said no more. He started to walk away, only to be stopped when Buck moved to stand in front of him.

"Still think these people shouldn't be called savages, Tanner?" he snarled. "Cuz, I think that word fits perfectly. What they're doing, it's pure savage! The more I learn about you, the less I like you."

Tanner's eyes narrowed. Then he shrugged.

"So leave if you hate it here so much. Nobody asked you to come here. But Chris brought you along, so I figured maybe he knew what he was doing, that maybe he needed your support. But you're just tearing him apart. You're forcing him to make a choice that he doesn't need to make. That he won't be allowed to make. You're killin' his family all over again."

Vin's voice was soft, but the words were hard. Harsh. And they struck Buck like a fist.

And so Buck struck back. With his fist. Tanner staggered under the blow.

"Fuck you, Tanner!" he snarled. "Fuck you and these Indians! This is uncivilized! What they are going to that woman is a wrong!"

Tanner wiped at the blood on his lip. "I'm gonna let you get away with that one, Buck, since I know how upset ya are."

"Don't do me any favors." Buck shoved the tracker, moving him back a few steps.

"Leave it be, Buck. You can't win here. Chris should have left you behind. I knew you'd pull this crap. She ain't one of your lady friends who need protectin'."

"I have every right to be here," Wilmington insisted. "I knew Sarah and Adam." With each statement he poked Vin in the chest with a finger. "You didn't. I know Chris. Probably better than you do. And I know that the only reason he's even tolerating what those people are doing to Ella, is because he's still hurtin'. He's never stopped grievin' for his family. And you're playin' right into that!"

"You poke me again and I'll forget we're friends," Tanner warned.

"Friend?! I'm not sure I want to be your friend if this is the way you treat people. I never realized you were into torture, Vin. Damn it you ain't no better than…"

Buck's words were interrupted by a fist connecting to his jaw. He went down.

"I told you not to call them names!" Vin snarled. "They're people, just like you and me. They have feelings. The love, they hate, just like white folk. They grieve. I won't have you disrespecting them in their own home."

"Fuck you, Tanner," Buck said, getting to his feet. "I won't stand for this. I'm taking her out of here."

"You'll have to go through me."

"If that's how it has to be!" Buck yelled as he lunged for the normally soft-spoken ex-bounty hunter. Wrapping his arms around Vin's waist, he dragged him to the ground. His larger body landed on Tanner, bringing a grunt from the smaller man, but not taking him out of the fight.

Vin brought an elbow up and smashed it against Buck's left ear, causing the big man to loosen his hold slightly. Vin moved backward and stumbled to his feet, only to be brought down again when Wilmington grabbed an ankle and pulled.

Tanner kicked out with his free leg, catching Buck in the chest. Wilmington fell back, his head bouncing off the hard ground.

"Stop!"

Both men looked up to find Kanahe standing there, anger and sorrow fighting for dominance on his face.

"You will stop this or you will both be asked to leave our village."

"Kanahe..."

"No, Silent One. My people do not need to hear you argue. They are already upset that I have allowed white men into the village during this time. If you continue to argue, I will ask you all to leave."

"The woman..." Buck began.

"The woman is going to die here, in this village. If you feel that this is wrong, than you can leave. But it is our custom and while you are in our village you will abide by our customs! I do not go into your towns and tell you what you do is wrong. If you cannot respect our ways, then leave."

"I can't leave the woman here to suffer like that," Buck insisted

"She is paying for her crime," Kanahe said simply. "You will not be allowed to interfere." With that statement Kanahe turned and walked away leaving the two men staring after him.

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Buck and Vin were sitting on opposite sides of the fire when Chris returned from his ride later that afternoon. He saw the evidence of their dispute in the marks on their faces and knuckles. He shook his head.

Damn Ella Gaines. She continued to bring trouble, if only by her presence. He settled down by the fire himself, glancing back and forth between the two men. After several minutes of silence he spoke up.

"One of you want to tell me what's going on? Or do I want to know?"

Wilmington looked up, anger still evident on his face, glaring at the tracker across the flames.

"Your buddy over there," he began, gesturing with the cup of coffee in his hand. "He's bound and determined to let this thing happen. He's willing to let them just kill her. It ain't right."

Vin didn't say a word, didn't look Buck's direction, didn't indicate in any way that he heard Wilmington's remarks. But Chris saw the tightening of his jaw and knew the man was clenching his teeth, fighting the urge to respond.

Larabee looked around, unable to ignore the glares he was receiving from some of the village's residents. Seems like things had gotten decidedly worse since he'd gone on his ride.

"Maybe we should leave," he commented. That brought a response from Tanner, if only the raising of an eyebrow.

Buck's response was more verbal. "Now you're talking!" the big man "I'll get the horses ready, while you go get Ella." He stood and tossed the remainder of his coffee on the fire.

Before he could walk away, Chris grabbed his wrist. "We don't want to start something here that we can't stop, Buck."

"What are you saying, Chris? You don't intend to leave her here do you?"

Although Larabee wasn't looking at Tanner, he could feel the younger man's eyes boring into his back. He had to step lightly here, not wanting to lose either of his friends.

"Sit down, Buck. The three of us need to talk."

"As far as I'm concerned, there ain't nothin' to talk about, Chris," Buck snarled, jerking his arm from Chris' grip. "We can't let them dole out justice like this. I can't believe you're willing to let this happen. You ain't the man I thought I knew."

Chris' face darkened. "You're right. I'm not the man you knew. I'm not the same man I was three years ago. I haven't been the same since the night my family was murdered. And that woman over there is the one responsible for that." His voice was soft, but his tone was hard…harsh and angry. "I won't ever again be the man you knew back then."

Buck's expression softened and he slid down to sit next to his long-time friend. He ran his hand down his face.

"Shit! Chris, I know how tough it's been for you. Hell, you know how I felt about those two. But, God help me, I can't condone what's happening here! I wasn't raised that way. It ain't right!"

"If we take her back and she's sentenced to hang, will you intervene then?" Chris asked quietly.

"Of course not! After she's been tried and convicted, it's a whole new story. But she hasn't a trial, Chris."

"Yes, she has," Vin said from across the fire. "Just not one you're willing to understand."

"Don't you start again, Tanner," Wilmington said, his finger pointing in accusation. "I've had about enough of you and your way of doing things."

"Buck…" Chris began, stopping when Vin stood up.

"I'll think I'll go check on my horse," Tanner said. Chris nodded and watched his friend walk away.

"That was uncalled for, Buck."

"Fuck that, Larabee! Ever since you met him you've…." He stopped and looked away.

"I've what, Buck. Go ahead, finish what you were gonna say."

Chris wasn't angry. He was too tired and too emotionally drained to put any effort into being angry. The last couple of days had been extremely hard on him. And when Buck looked at him again, it was obvious that he could see that. It drained any lingering anger at Vin Tanner right out of him.

"Sorry, Chris. I know this is tough on you. I just…well, before you met Vin, there's no way you would have allowed these Indians to keep her here. You would have dragged her out of here yourself. You've changed."

"Yeah, Buck. I have changed. But not all of it has to do with Vin. Most of the changes have been because I lost them. I lost my wife and son. And I know how you felt about them, Buck. Truly I do. But you can't know the pain of losing a child until it happens to you. I hope, I pray, that you never, ever feel that kind of pain. It goes right down into your soul, Buck. It hurts so bad that you don't think it will ever stop hurting. I don't ever want you to feel that kind of pain."

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, feeling the strength of his friend through the hand Buck placed on his shoulder. When he opened his eyes, he could see the tears glistening in Buck's eyes.

"I understand how you feel about Ella, Buck. And maybe, three years ago, I might have felt the same way. Hell, three months ago, I might have felt the same way. But now, every time I think about her, all I can see is my family, how they were the last time we saw them, when we buried them. And I know that she is responsible for that. I just want to see her pay for what she did, Buck, and at this point, I really don't care who the executioner is, as long as in the end she's dead and buried."

Chris looked around again, watching the children play across the village.

He continued, his voice softer now. "I'm glad she's suffering. I'm glad she's feeling pain. I hope she's scared. I hope she's more frightened then she's ever been in her life. And, God forgive me, but I want to see the life leave her eyes. I want to be sure that she's dead. I want to hear her beg for her life, like I'm sure Sarah and Adam did."

"Chris…"

"I dream about that night, Buck. I can hear them calling for me. I can hear them begging for mercy." His voice was a mere whisper, as if talking louder would awaken those spirits again.

"Chris, don't do this to yourself." Buck moved his hand from Chris' shoulder to the back of his neck. "You're right, I can't know what it's like and I hope to God I never have to find out. I'm sorry I've made this more difficult for ya. I just…it just ain't in me to let a woman suffer like that…"

Chris nodded his head. He reached over and squeezed Buck's knee. "I know it's hard for you. I know you don't like to see women hurtin'. And I hate to see what it's doing to you and Vin. It's just one more thing that Ella is destroying."

"Aw, hell, Chris. Don't you worry none about me and that scruffy Texan. We'll work out our differences." Buck glanced in the direction Vin had gone. He wasn't really sure it was possible to fix things with Tanner, but he didn't want his old friend to worry about it right now.

Buck sat with Chris for another thirty minutes, leaving when Kanahe came to sit by the fire. The Chief watched the tall man walk away.

"Your friend is troubled."

"Yes," Chris replied. "He finds it difficult to see the woman being hurt."

Kanahe nodded. "The Silent One is upset that your friend is angry with him. He thinks it would be best if you all left."

Larabee looked up. "And you. What do you think would be best?"

Kanahe sighed. "I think that my people would be more at ease if you left."

"I don't want to cause your people any more pain then they've already been through."

"My people would be more at ease if you left, but sometimes the easy way is not the best way."

The two men stared at each other for a long moment.

"You want us to stay?" Chris asked.

"If I could spare my people pain by asking you to leave, I would. I threatened to do that earlier with Silent One and your tall friend."

Chris nodded.

"But what I want is not important. The Spirits have decided that you should be here. I do not argue with the Spirits. They are more powerful than I. They are more powerful than us all. They have decided that you should be here. We each have our own paths to follow and the Spirits can only show us those paths and try to nudge us in the right direction. But it is up to us to decide if we follow or not."

Kanahe smiled. He reminded Chris so much of Kojay, with his cryptic statements and the look in his eyes that told you he knew the answer to the question, even when you couldn't be sure what the question was.

Chris shook his head. "It sure will be an interesting couple of days."

"Ah, yes. Interesting. This is good, yes?" Kanahe asked.

"Well, I don't know about good. But it won't be boring, that's for sure."

The two men became quiet after that, content to sit back and relax, both somehow knowing it would be the last chance they would have to relax for a while.

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Buck Wilmington wandered around the village for the next hour. He returned just before supper. He settled in next to Chris who was talking to Kanahe. Both men were eating from bowls of food. As Buck sat down, one of the women handed him a bowl also. When he looked up to say thank you, his smile died on his face at the looked of anger on hers.

He nodded at her and she quickly walked away.

"I guess I ain't made any friends here," he muttered.

"They are still upset with you for arguing with Silent One," Kanahe told him. "My people are fond of him and don't wish to see him hurt."

Buck took a bite of the food, rabbit he thought. "I don't want to see him hurt either, Kanahe. But he and I have a difference of opinion. I'm...well, I tend to yell a lot when I'm trying to get my point across. I never meant for anyone to hear our argument. Where is he, by the way?"

"Out doing some hunting," Chris said. "Said not to expect him back for a few hours. Maybe not 'til morning. I offered to join him, but he said he needed some time alone."

"Silent One spends much time alone, even when he is in the village," Kanahe remarked.

"He's the same way in town," Chris said. "Can't seem to stay for more than a few days at a time before he starts to get antsy and has to ride out for a while."

"Silent One was born of the wilderness." For several minutes, the three men ate and talked quietly.

"Speak of the devil…" Buck said and gestured to his right.

They turned to see Tanner leading his horse into the village. A large deer was draped over the horse's flanks. He stopped and helped some of the women remove the animal and they dragged it to a large clearing just outside the village. One of the younger boys took Vin's horse and led it off toward the river. Vin turned and headed toward the fire, stopping only to accept the bowl and cup offered to him by another of the tribe's women, who smiled and patted his arm.

He joined Chris, Buck and Kanahe, as well as several other men around the fire.

"It was a good hunt I see," Kanahe stated.

"Yes. Silver Wolf had said that I would find deer there. There were many. If I'd had more horses, I could have brought back more."

"I'd be glad to join you if you want to go out again tomorrow, Vin," Chris offered.

"The people can always use fresh meat," Tanner responded.

"In the morning then. Buck, you want to join us?"

Wilmington and Tanner exchanged glances. As usual, it was hard for Buck to read the younger man and wasn't sure of his welcome.

"Ah, sure. I guess I'll go with ya."

Tanner just nodded and turned his attention to his meal.

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Two Days Later

Vin wandered over to check on Little Dove and Tonti. He wasn't surprised to see Chris sitting on a boulder, watching Ella. Little Dove had stopped flogging her, but the welts and cuts on her back were still angry and inflamed.

"Hey, Cowboy," he said quietly, moving to lean against the same boulder. Chris just nodded in return. Neither man spoke for the next several minutes. Instead they listened as Ella first taunted Little Dove, then begged to be released, offering money and horses. Her voice was ragged and soft, even when she tried to yell.

"She's getting weak," Chris commented.

"Yeah. 'nother day or two I think."

Chris nodded. He sighed and rubbed his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Chris. I never meant for this to be so hard for ya."

"Not your fault. I needed to be here. I don't think I would have accepted it otherwise. I'd keep looking over my shoulder waiting for her to show up again. Can't live like that."

"I know that feeling."

Chris finally turned to look at his friend. "Yeah, I know you do. Once this is over we should take care of that problem."

"It'll wait. It's waited this long already. A few more days won't matter."

"Yeah," Chris replied, turning his attention back to Ella. "It'll wait. But not too long. And then, my friend, you and I will take a nice long trip, get away from all this shit and do some fishing."

"Sounds like a plan."

They became silent then, watching day turn into night, hearing the nocturnal creatures come alive, their calls interrupted periodically by a soft voice begging for her life.

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