"Eah…I 'member you…" He stood just a hair over five feet. A full head of white hair that stood out like the wind had blown it away from his head. He had hazel green eyes in a face that had miles of wrinkles. He was slight built, like if a hard breeze came up he might have to hang onto something to keep from being blown away. He looked frail in the oversized shirt he wore, but the hand that grasp Vin's arm and helped him up onto the table was neither frail nor weak.
He looked at the other two companions and then back at Vin. "Bounty Hunter..."it wasn't a question, his eyes narrowed slightly… "Brought me a wounded man once, had me patch him up..."
"Yeah…They shot the kid and left him for me to take care of…He wasn't wanted." Vin looked at the Doc and then to Ezra and Buck. "Ol Doc here fixed him right up…"
Doc had lifted Vin's blood stained shirt and looked at the bandages. "How old are these?" He looked at the redness above the bandage line.
Ezra shuffled. "About five hours." He glared at Vin. "Mr. Tanner here insisted on ripping the stitches out, the wound was half healed."
Doc went ahead and helped Vin pull his shirt all the way off. He then reached over and took a pair of scissors and cut the bandages away from Vin's waist. He carefully pealed the bandages from the wound.
Vin felt the flesh on his side erupt in a fire. The room swam and suddenly he was lying down, looking up at the ceiling. Doc had eased him down on the table.
"Well gentlemen…I do believe he's going to be here for awhile…" Doc looked at Buck and Ezra. Doc put Vin's legs up on the table.
"I'll stay…" Ezra turned toward Buck
"I'll stable the horses; see if anybody recognizes the sorrel." Buck turned toward the door. "I'll take a look in the cantinas and see what's new." He opened the door and headed out.
X7X7X7 X7X7X7X7 X7X7X7
She was a dark haired beauty with big dark eyes. Her hair spilled down her back to her waist. Maria wore the blouse down off her shoulders. Her dark skin was smooth. She had come out of the back of the cantina and was going to go home, business was very slow tonight. It was after sun down. She heard a white woman talking and she stepped into the deep shadows of the building and waited.
They walked by, a reddish haired woman and a man. Maria didn't know the woman but she thought she recognized the man. He had bandages around his eyes, but the blond hair, the build…She knew him…it was Senor Chris…He had visited her on a couple occasions. The first time, it had been just to have her go out and seek information…The next time he had been drinking a lot, had gotten into a contest and won and she had brought him back to her place. He had money and he was very free with it…And then two friends of his had showed up and taken him away…Maria listened to the woman, she was talking like there was a river and they were walking along it as she was leading Senor Chris around and then as they got closer, she saw the blood and the scratches on his face. She waited in the dark. When they had walked farther, she stepped out and slowly followed them. She was very cautious, and several times she heard the woman talking and realized that she was either drunk or crazy. She never heard Senor Chris speak or reply to the woman and she noticed how stiff and awkward he walked. She remembered him as being lithe and fluid in his motion and very, very viral…Now he looked like a walking doll…and the woman gave him commands…
Maria saw the casa they went to. She knew it had been purchased quite awhile ago. She turned around and headed back for the closest Cantina. There were four in this town. She would go there and see if anyone knew who the red haired woman was.
Maria had no luck in the first two cantinas. She was discreet in asking her questions. She knew how fast someone asking question, could spread around in this town. This was a 'no questions asked' town. It was wide open, no law, just the fastest gun or the meanest hombre. Maria went into the third cantina and was heading toward the Ricardo the Cantina owner when she saw the cowboy standing at the bar. He turned toward her and smiled and she remembered him, he was one of the friends of Senor Chris. She smiled back at him and walked toward him, she thought she saw recognition in his eyes. "Hola, Cowboy…you buy me a drink."
Buck smiled at her. "Sure…" He signaled to the barkeep and turned back to her.
Maria looked at him. "You are friend of Senor Chris..si?"
"Why yes I am Darlin...I'm Buck Wilmington." Buck smiled at her. " And what's your lovely name?"
"I am Maria." She moved her head slightly tossing her hair over her shoulders. She leaned herself against the bar, showing her smooth soft shoulders, she was a natural flirt. "He is hurt…no?" She fixed her wide dark eyes on his.
The smile went from Bucks face. He was distracted for a moment as he paid for the drinks. "How…How on earth did you know that?" He glanced around the room, seeing if there was anyone in the room he might know.
"I see him." She saw his sudden uneasiness. She turned toward him, concern in her eyes.
"You saw Chris?" He stepped closer to her.
She looked up into his brown eyes. "Si…"
He very carefully touched her arm, lowering his voice. "Where?"
With a toss of her long hair she motioned behind her. "I see him walking with the lady…"
"With the lady?" He looked at her with puzzlement written across his face, he smiled, Maria had to have Chris mixed up with someone else. "What Lady?" His tone was soft and gentle.
"The lady who was leading him around like a dog…" She glanced away and then looked back at him. She realized, she was angry because he could have come to her, she would have helped him…
Buck laughed. "You've got him mixed up with someone else…Chris is in Four Corners…" He turned back toward the bar and started to take his drink in hand.
Maria's lips pulled down in a gesture of pout, her body straightened. She knew who she had seen, she knew Chris. She put her hands on her hips, her eyes narrowed and in a hiss. "If, Senor Chris wants walk around with a crazy red haired woman who talks to herself, fine… I ---."
"What color hair?" To Buck the words red hair and crazy stuck a cord of fear. The drink forgotten he turned back toward her.
"Red… I know Senor Chris he---."
Very carefully Buck again reached out and touched her on the arm. "Where…? Where are they…?" He had to check it out... he had to know
X7X7X7 X7X7X7X7 X7X7X7
Chris lay stretched across the bed. His head hurt. The thought took it's time to weave in and around the drug but it made his caged mind happy.
Pain.
Pain, he could feel pain. He realized that he could feel his breathing, could feel the air going in and out of his lungs. There was a dull throb going on behind his eyes. He could smell the scent of candles.
And then he felt her touch his bare chest. He stilled his reaction, or he prayed that he did. He thought the drug was wearing off faster and faster. 'don't let her know!' His caged mind screamed it at him. He felt her kiss him and then felt her arms slide over his body and she was on top of him.
"Oh I've missed this body, the way you feel against my hands, the way your muscles tense." …" Ella pulled herself up his body using his shoulders for leverage. She came up even with his chest. She gently played her hands across his chest, she ran her tongue up the center of his breast bone.. She looked up toward his slack face. "I miss not looking into those green eyes of yours…the way they change colors with your moods." She moved up just slightly using one arm to prop herself up on his chest. Her fingers played with the bandages over his eyes. "I just have to see those eyes, see the love that you have for me." She started pulling the bandage up, off his eyes, slowly sliding it up to his forehead. One of the eye pads stayed, the other went up with the bandage material.
"Oh… what's this mess…" Taking the eye pad from his right eye she carefully wiped away the salve that had been put there. "You know I have always loved you, and I am not ever going to let anything ever come between us again my dear…you'll see.." She wiped his eyes clean.
"Open your eyes…That's it darlin…"
Chris blinked his eyes and saw nothing…everything a dark blur…he shut off the screaming in his caged mind, he let it go, let it slip away along with any hope of seeing…He let the drug seep into the last vestige of hope
"There now Lover…" Ella's hand reached over to the small table beside the bed she laid the bandages there and she took the small shot glass that she had set there and poured more of her potion between his lips…He belonged to her now and forever.
Slowly taking her time, she made love to him.
X7X7X7 X7X7X7X7 X7X7X7
Maria moved back from the window, making room for Buck to look in.
Bucked stepped back from the window and taking Maria gently by the arm, led her a few feet to the next alley. "You know where the doc's office is…?"
"Si" She whispered.
"My friends are there, tell Ezra and bring him here…"
Maria turned and hurried off, heading for the Doc's office.
Buck moved back toward the window. It was old and fly-specked stained but he could see enough to know. It was Ella and she had Chris…He also knew she was a deadly cunning woman. He didn't understand why Chris wasn't putting up a fight. He was just lying there, unmoving. He knew something had to be wrong with him. He stepped closer to the window, was Chris even alive? He moved back. Ella's head turned toward the window. The glancing look Buck had seen in her eyes ran a chill down his spine, she was crazy. He moved back into the shadows, away from the light of the window. He stood there waiting to see her shadow, but it didn't come. Buck decided to move toward the other window, on the opposite side of the door. As he walked by the door he saw light coming from under the door jam. He saw a shadow cross it. He froze where he stood, waiting, nothing happened.
Buck let the breath out he'd been holding. He checked the bottom of the door again looking for any kind of movement. He saw nothing. Moving to the other window, very carefully, he looked inside. Chris was still splayed out across the bed, still on his back. Buck could see his chest raise and fall, Chris was alive. Buck couldn't see Ella from this position. He moved back, stepping away from the window.
"Buck?" Ella's soft voice came from behind him.
Buck spun around, he saw two things, Ella was standing there naked as the day she was born and she held Chris' Colt.
Ella pulled the trigger on the colt and it shot flame out. She saw the shock on Bucks face. He had expected her to talk to, to say something more to him. Her lips turned up in a twisted smile as he fell backwards. She turned and stepped back into the house, quietly closing the door. She went to her clothes and quickly dressed. Her mind racing, how did they find her? If Buck was here, where were the others…? Foot steps did she hear…? She stepped to the bed, looking down at Chris…Yes, she heard footsteps…the others were here…Ella knew she couldn't move fast enough with Chris to get away.
She stood for one long moment, looking down at him; she bent and kissed him. Turning, heading for the other door she fled into the night. There would be another day…another time…
Maria had knocked on the Doc's door and stepped in. Sitting in a chair at Doc's desk she saw a well dressed man with chestnut colored hair and green eyes, he had a deck of cards in his hand.
Doc, his white hair standing out from his head as usual, was over at one of his examining tables and was wrapping a bandage around the waist of a man she had seen occasionally in Purgatory, although he usually didn't look as pale. He had been a hunter, both of man and beast. Maria also knew he was a wanted man and he was a friend of Senor Chris'. She saw all three sets of eyes on her, but she looked at the man on the table. "Ezra?" She could see that his blue eyes were a little glassy, she saw the bottle of Laudanum.
Ezra stilled the deck in his hands and looked at the woman. "Yes?" He saw her look from Vin to him, seeing the slight surprise in her large dark eyes.
"I am Maria, Senor Buck…He ask me to bring you to him."
"Why?" Vin's soft raspy voice spoke the question Ezra was starting to form.
She looked back at Vin. "Senor Chris needs help…"
"Chris is here?" Vin put a protective arm around his ribs and moved away from the doc and off the table to stand on wobbly legs. "Why would Chris be here."
A shot rang out.
Vin's hand gathered up the sawed off Winchester 73. "Take us to him!" He moved toward Maria, "Doc…You best come along…Might rip these new stitches out."
They followed Maria out the door.
Vin made it about half way across town to where Maria was leading them. He had been trying to keep up at the trot they were moving at but he stumbled and all most fell. Ezra's strong arm kept him from going down.
They all stopped.
Vin bent over, his arm to his side, trying to breath enough air in to keep from passing out. "Go…on… I'll follow ya…" His voice was breathy and strained.
Ezra didn't hesitate. He nodded, turned and, with Maria leading, disappeared around a building.
Vin saw the doc was going to stay with him. He straightened as best he could and started walking in the direction that Ezra and the woman had gone off in.
Maria led Ezra to the alleyway just before the house. She came to a stop, her voice a whisper. "The Casa...is here…" She pointed, indicating around the corner. "I left Senor Buck right here…"
Ezra pulled one on his Remington's from his shoulder holster. He stepped to the edge of the building and looked around the corner where Maria had pointed. There was an adobe house. The windows showed light. He could make out the frame of a door. Very carefully he slid around the corner, hugging the wall. He looked quickly back over shoulder and saw Maria was looking at him. Ezra came off the wall and headed into the alleyway. He was trying to keep an eye on both the windows and the door. He was about half way when he heard a low moan. He stepped closer to where the sound came from and, peering into the darkness, saw a figure on the ground in the shadows, almost beneath the window.
Ezra stepped to the window, looking at the figure on the ground. He quickly glanced in through the window and then looked again. Chris Larabee was lying on his back in a big bed. There were candles all around. The silk sheet came to just about his hip bones, he was bare chested. His eyes were open, but unblinking.
There was a moan again.
Ezra bent down closer, letting his eyes adjust to the deep darkness. It was Buck.Ezra reached down and touched Bucks chest, feeling something warm and sticky he straightened back up and looked at his hand in the light, it was bloody. Ezra took another look inside the window and turned and headed for the door. He carefully tried the latch, it opened. He stepped into the door way, sweeping the room with his eyes and his gun.
Ezra heard noise and looked back over his shoulder. A horse was racing toward him and a Banshee was riding it. A guttural growl that was escalating into a high pitched scream was issuing from a mouth that was opened with the lips pulled back, showing all her teeth in a feral snarl. Ella was wearing a white duster with a cowl over her head and as she came streaking between the house and the next wall her hand leveled downward, in front of her as she took aim at the figure in the light..
Ezra saw the gun and started to raise his own.
The boom of a Winchester going off echoed in the night air.
The gun in Ella's hand exploded. There was a scream and then she was past the house and around the next wall, the horse never missing stride.
Ezra stood framed in the door, the candlelight behind him, looking at Vin as he stepped away from the wall, stepping into the light that shined from the doorway. His face was turned in the direction that Ella had vanished into.
Ezra saw the Doc come around the corner of the wall, with Maria behind him. "Buck's been shot…" He gestured toward the darkened corner under the window. "Chris is in here." He gestured back over his shoulder.
Ezra went to Buck with the Doc, Vin and Maria went into the room to Chris.
Ezra and the Doc lifted a half conscious Buck to his feet and half-walked-, half-dragged him into the house. They placed him on the big oak table that was in the side room.
Vin stood looking down at Chris. His green eyes were blank. He was breathing. The deep scratches on the right side of his face stood out angry and reddened. Vin moved his arm from protecting his ribs and touch Chris' wrist, feeling for a pulse. "Blink damn you…" He growled it under his breath.
Chris blinked.
Vin saw the blink. "Blink your eyes." He said it a little louder.
Chris blinked his eyes. "What the hell---."
Maria had stepped to the other side of the bed. She saw the bandages and the shot glass. She picked the glass up and sniffed the slightly amber colored contents. Then taking a little finger she touched the liquid and touched it to her tongue. Making a face, she looked at Vin. "It is Coca with Anis and the demon berry…"
"Vin looked over at her. "What?"
'Is a very bad thing." Maria gave him a long look, not knowing how to explain what the mixture was or what it did. "He will do what you tell him, he is… how you say…andar quando muerta."
"Walking dead?" Vin knew a little Spanish. He looked back at Chris.
"Permisso Senor…" Maria took a step closer to Chris.
"Senor Chris…sit up!" her voice was a command.
Vin dropped Chris' wrist as he moved to sit up in bed.
"He has been drugged…" Maria moved to stand next to him. "I have seen this before; it takes your soul…" She reached out and lovingly touched Chris on the shoulder. Her big dark eyes showed tears. "He will be very sick…"
Doc walked out of the other room. "Your friend wants to see you…It's a shoulder wound, went straight through… What have we got here?"
Vin saw Maria turn to the old Doc and in Spanish explained what was going on. Vin walked into the room with the big table and saw Ezra, helping Buck put his shirt on. Vin had a feeling that Buck looked as peaked as he did. Vin gave a half smile.
Ezra's eyes went to Vin. "Mr. Wilmington says that it was Ella Gains."
Vin had not seen the woman's face, as she had streaked by so fast. Vin still protecting his side looked down at the floor and then at Buck and Ezra.
Buck winced as he got the shirt pulled on. "Ezra said you shot the gun out of her hand?"
Vin's face flushed, he looked back down at the floor, then looked back at Buck and Ezra… anger at himself in his blue eyes. "Pain and that stuff the Doc gave me got's my aim off… I was aiming for the body…" He looked down again, not wanting to see their eyes.
Ezra broke the silence. "Well Mr. Tanner, if it hadn't been for you, she'd have shot me for sure… So Thank You." Ezra saw him look up at him, but the pain didn't go out of his eyes. They all wanted that woman dead for what she had done to Chris. "How's Chris?" Ezra changed the subject.
Vin looked over his shoulder. "Maria says he's been drugged, something about Coca, Anis and demon berry---"
"That Bitch!"
Vin stepped back, startled by Ezra's out burst.
Both Vin and Buck stared at him.
Ezra recovered himself. "I have never used it, but I have seen its affects… I saw it used on an Oriental woman once, a few years ago, in Carver Bay. It makes you mindless, you will do anything you are told to do…it's very poisonous. Do we know how much he has been give?"
"No, doc's looking at him now…" Vin waited until Buck got off the table with Ezra's help and they walked into the other room.
Vin looked at his two companions. "We need to get out of here and get some place safe…She ain't dead, she might be back…"
The three of them walked out to see Maria sitting on the bed behind Chris, she was supporting him. The Doc was looking into Chris' eyes. They saw that Chris had been dressed. Black trousers, a white shirt.
"He has eye trouble?" The little man did not look around; he was closely examining Chris eyes."
It was Ezra that spoke. "Yes, he was shot there in the temple…He had sight but it was blurry and then he had no sight…"
The Doc finished his exam. He helped Maria lay him back on the bed and nodded to Maria. "We will have to watch him carefully…he is going to be very, very sick…We will try to wean him…smaller and smaller amounts, but it will help little…The body craves the drink…"
Vin shuffled his feet, his side was aching. "We're gonna need some place to hole up…Some place---"
"You come to my Casa…it is safe." Maria moved a little from the bed. "Come you see… it is big…"
Vin saw the Doc nod and look at them. "She is correct…You will not be bothered there…"
Ezra looked to Vin. Vin looked at Buck. Buck looked at Maria. "Is it far?" He wanted to find some place close, he wanted to sit or lie down.
"It is not far." Maria turned to Doc. "Come we take Senor Chris." She moved back to the bed and touched Chris on the arm. "Senor Chris, get up, stand."
Three hardened men felt their stomachs knot as they saw their friend do as he was commanded.
Chris felt for the edge of the bed and rolled to his feet. He stood there, lifeless, his face slack.
Maria reached out and took him by the hand and started to walk off, leading him. He followed quietly.
Doc stepped to the table next to the bed and looked around. "You go with Maria…I look for drug…" He turned and looked at the three men, seeing their pain for the comrade. "I do not have these ingredients…we will need them… and need them soon."
Maria led them all out into the alleyway. She went carefully, making sure there were no spying eyes. She went along the adobe wall and then turned toward the next alley and they followed it for quite awhile to the east end of the town. From there, she moved toward a large adobe wall. It was a large Hacienda. There was a large carved wooden gate, there she stopped. She unlatched the gate and pushed it open.
Vin, Ezra and Buck stood looking at her. Surprise on both Buck and Vin's face, Ezra had dollar signs in his eyes.
"My…My…Will wonders never cease…" He smiled at Maria as he walked into the large patio area. The house was dark, but its magnificence could still be seen even in the moonlight. "You are definitely a woman of mystery… and surprise."
Maria's eyes were even larger and darker in the moonlight, she flashed a smile that showed white teeth. "Senor...sees what he thinks he sees…" She shut and latched the gate. "It is no mine…. Belongs to a friend…"
Vin looked the place over in the dark… under his breath he mumbled. "Some friend." Vin saw her double latch the gate. Then she took Chris by the hand and led him into the dark recesses of the entry way.
They all heard a key rattling in the door latch and then there was the smell of stale air.
"Senor Chris, stand here…"
They heard her skirts swishing and a light was struck and a lantern lit. They saw Chris standing half way in the door, his hand still held out like she was holding it, his face blank.
Vin looked down, shuffling his feet. Ezra looked away. Buck batted tears back and all three promised to kill Ella Gains.
Rooms were selected on the second floor. Buck and Ezra took rooms on either side of the one Vin installed Chris in. Maria came back up stairs with a woman about the same age, she looked like she had been sleeping. They all gathered in Vin and Chris's room.
"This is Consuelo, she and her esposo, her husband, take care of this place, he is Manuel. She will bring fresh water up for each of you and towels. You will be safe…" She nodded to Consuelo and the woman hurried off.
She lit a couple more lanterns that she had brought and set them in the alcoves around the room. It was a large room. There was a table, four wood and leather chairs, a massive dressing cabinet, two low dressers with multiple drawers and all of it was ornately carved oak wood. The bed was a huge four poster made out of the same wood and the carvings on the posts were serpents, twining their way up the posts.
Chris moved for the first time, on his own, without being commanded. His arm twitched.
Maria stepped over to him and touched his forehead. Her eyes went to Vin. "He is hot…it begins."
"What begins?" Vin stepped closer to the bed, looking down at his friend. There was a fine sheen of moisture showing across his brow. His face was beginning to look flushed.
Maria looked at all of them and then back at Chris. "He…He is …" She looked to Ezra.
His green eyes blinked. "As the drug wears off, it will begin to make the body react, making the body a living hell. If the person does not continue to take it, the reaction could get so bad that he could die."
Vin headed for the door. "I'll go see if I can help the Doc look---."
Ezra stepped forward, toward the door leading to the hallway. "I'll go…I am the only one not---"
"You're the only one who can shoot straight." Vin gave him a hard glare, slanting a glance at Buck, who was white as a sheet. His blue eyes came back to look at Ezra. He saw Ezra ponder the dilemma.
"Well I deduce this is quandary…A bit between the proverbially rock and a hard spot." He glanced at Buck, knowing that if Chris started to get worse, Maria would not be able to hold him down and Buck looked like he needed to sit down before he fell down. "Mr. Tanner, I concur. It would be in our best interest to let you find the good Doc."
Vin nodded and headed for the door.
Maria turned toward him. "Let me show you the side door. It is easier and hidden…" She went with him.
Buck stood in the middle of the room watching everything that was happening. It was a bit like he was standing over in a corner watching everything that was going on, he could see himself. He saw Ezra walk over to him and say something. He saw his head turn toward Ezra.
Ezra reached out and took Buck by the arm, seeing the washed out look cross his face. His face, if possible, seemed to go paler. "Mr. Wilmington I suggest you lay down before you fall down." Ezra headed Buck into the other bedroom. He moved him to the bed, and got him stretched out and somewhat comfortable looking. He saw him take a deep breath.
"Thanks Ez…" Buck's eyes closed as he spoke.
Ezra didn't bother to correct him. He turned and headed into the master bedroom.
He moved to the large bed. Looking down at Chris, he saw a tremble in his hand. There was a fine bead of sweat popping up on his upper lip, and across his brow the sweat was running down the side of his face. Ezra saw a towel had been placed on the edge of the bed. He picked it up and gently wiped the sweat away. He heard footsteps and glanced over his shoulder to see Maria coming back into the room with two basins. One she set to the side, the other she filled with water from the pitcher and brought over to Ezra.
Maria looked down at Chris, seeing the tremors starting to grow worse. She glanced at Ezra. "I have heard that some men loose their minds…some do not remember… some become addicted to the drug and die."
Ezra drew in a deep breath and looked over at Maria. "He is an incredible strong man. He's been through Hell before and come out on the other side, he can do it again."
Maria looked from Ezra to Chris, saying a silent prayer. She looked back at Ezra. "Senor Ezra…Are you hungry…I can have Consuelo make some food."
Ezra looked over the basin at her. "Thank you, but no..."
"Perhaps some coffee…or drink…There is a fine wine cellar and good whiskeys."
Ezra thought a moment. "Coffee would be good." He saw Maria nod and saw that Consuelo had been standing just outside the door. He saw her swiftly leave.
Vin made his way back through the alleys. He moved carefully for two reasons. First was that what ever the Doc had given him was making him a little fuzzy and second, it still hurt to move.
He was almost at the alleyway across from where Chris had been held when he heard the voice. He smiled.
"I'm telling you, we're their friends and we want to know where they are!" It was JD's voice and it had just gone up an octave, which meant he was getting frustrated.
Vin eased around the corner. The back door to the house was open, the light from inside framed three men talking to the Doc who stood in the doorway. He was surprised at the relief he felt in seeing the others.
"Hey boys…" Vin stepped away from the wall and the shadows and into the moonlight. "Good to see you." He saw three surprised faces turn toward him, Josiah, Nathan and JD. Vin saw that the Doc had a couple bottles in his hands. He stepped up closer to the foursome. He looked to Doc. "You found what ya needed Doc?" He saw the man nod. "Boys, walk with me and I'll explain what's happened. Doc here needs to get what he's holding in his hands to Chris…" He turned and led the group back the way he had come. He explained everything he knew and had their explanation on how she had gotten Chris spirited away.
As they entered in through the hidden side entrance Vin sent the others on into the house, telling them where to find Chris.
Vin moved to a spot where he could sit to wait and listen. As he sat down, he drew the hog-leg out and laid it across his lap. He felt small in the chair. It was over sized, two people could have sat in it. The evening was cooling off. The heat of day had opened up the flowers that covered the veranda and their scent was still sweet and light. Somewhere off over against the far wall something scratched at the ground for a minute, lay still, then scurried off. Off in the distance, a dog barked, echoing into the night. His side was a dull, throbbing ache that just didn't want to stop hurting, no mater how still he sat or how shallow he breathed. He sat there quietly for some time. He was leery about Ella coming back; she seemed to turn up at the most unusual times. He kept a watchful eye.
Vin heard footsteps and saw a round-bodied man come shuffling around the corner of the house. He wore a white shirt and almost white colored pants. In the moonlight that was cresting over the house, Vin could see the man wore Sapata's, an open toed sandal, on his feet. As he got nearer, he suddenly stopped and froze.
Vin was still well hidden in the darkness. He heard the sniffing of air, like a hound the man's head tilted up slightly. A small smile touched his lips. Vin saw no weapons, but he knew the man was not weaponless. .
"Names Tanner, Vin Tanner and I'm with the men inside." He saw the slow relax of the man's right shoulder. "You are Manuel?
"See Senor Tanner…" Manuel still did not move. "Maria asked me to find you. There was a slight movement of the hand, just a flash of metal.
Vin didn't move as Manuel tucked the hidden blade back into it's hiding place. "A knife?"
"Si Senor Tanner, a very thin knife." He chuckled.
Vin came to his feet, stepping into the moonlight, the hog leg held across his body.
Manuel's eyes widened a little "A magnificent gun Senor…"
"She'll do…" Vin tipped his head slightly and winked. He stepped past Manuel and around to the door. "She'll do…"
X7X7X7 X7X7X7X7 X7X7X7
Chris Larabee had thought he had felt pain before, but never like this. His whole body screamed. There was not one place on his skin that did not feel as if some one had placed a burning cold branding iron against it and was still holding it there. He fought the pain, He fought the hands that tried to calm him, the hands that tried to hold him and then the wonderful liquid would come and all the pain washed away. He would feel it slip into his mouth between cold, burning lips. The lips would warm, his tongue, throat, stomach would feel the warmth wash though it and it would spread through his body. And as it spread, a new fire would come, only this was a fire that did not hurt. It spread a warm numbness, unfeeling and he would slip into the nothingness.
Sometimes he dreamed. Images shifted in and out, some images he wanted to see, some he didn't. There was no pain, no hurt, just numbness. It was where he wanted to stay, but the cold pain seemed to be coming back faster and faster and the numbness shorter. He accepted the respite from the cold pain and allowed his mind to go numb.
JD was watching Buck, who was feverish. Nathan, after attending to Buck, had gotten with Doc and discussed what this strange Coco leaf was and what it did, especially mixed with the other drugs. Josiah was sitting in one of the over sized chairs and napping. It would be about another hour before Chris would waken and the struggle would begin. Ezra had retired to his room.
Vin stepped into the room. His eyes first going to the bed, seeing Chris laying in the middle of the large framed bed. There were dark circles under his eyes, his eyes were closed, his face relaxed. There was no bandage around his head and the bullet wound was stark against his forehead, a dark furrow just above his left eye. The long scratches along his cheek. Vin saw Josiah slouched in the chair.
Josiah's head was leaning against the ornately carved corner of the chair. Soft snoring sounds issued from him. Suddenly the sound changed, his eyes opened and he straightened and looked at Vin, looked over at Chris' still form and then lowered his head back into the corner and went back to sleep.
Vin saw Nathan and Doc standing in the corner, Nathan inspecting something that looked like dried leaves.
"Senor Vin?" Maria's soft voice spoke from the hallway.
Vin turned to see her standing there with a shirt and a pair of tan pants. She beckoned to him.
Vin took one more look at Chris, he was still asleep. He looked over toward Nathan. Nathan's dark brown eyes looked at him and he saw the dark head nod. He turned and headed out of the room, toward Maria.
"I think Senor that these will fit…" She held them out. "I had Consuelo lay hot water and towels out for you… If you leave your shirt and pants, Consuelo will try and get the blood out"
Vin took the clothing. He glanced back into the room and at Chris.
"Senor Chris, he is very strong, he will get well…" Maria's voice was soft, just above a whisper. "I pray he will be ok…You will see…"
Vin turned and looked at her, he studied her for a long minute. He knew Chris had come down here a couple times to blow off steam with her. He had said she had a good soul. Vin didn't think it had been her soul Chris had been interested in. He gave her nod and headed down the hallway to the room she had assigned to him, realizing suddenly how stiff and scratchy his clothing felt against his aching side.
There were several candles lit and two lanterns. He walked over to the bed, slightly smaller than the one Chris was lying in, and dropped the clean clothing on it. He walked over to the stand with the washbasin on it and reached out and touched the water pitcher. It was warm to the touch. He looked at himself in the round oval mirror behind the stand. He was surprised at the reflection. He looked tired, a little rough around the edges. His whole right side from the middle of his waist down was stained in dark ribbons. Taking the pitcher, he poured the warm water into the bowl. Stripping out of his shirt, he felt a pull at his side. Looking in the mirror at his side he saw the bandages wrapped around his waist, there was no fresh bloom of red. Taking a small towel he wetted it and cleaned the area around his bandages.
There was a knock on the door.
"Permiso… Senor Vin…" Maria's head came past the door, her long hair framing a face with large dark eyes and a pleasing smile. "Would you like something to eat? Consuelo is cooking." Her eyes widened as she saw the bandages around Vin's waist.
Vin thought a moment. "I could use something to eat, thank you ma'am"
He saw her face brighten with a smile.
"Do you need help Senor?"
"No, I got it…Thank you though." He saw her disappear, shutting the door. Vin turned back to cleaning himself up.
X7X7X7 X7X7X7X7 X7X7X7
Chris Larabee stood before a magnificent black Stallion. His coat was so black it almost looked blue. The mane and tale were long and flowing. The only white on the stallion was the blaze that ran down his face. It started just below his forelock, widened over both eyes, washed over the bridge of his face on the right side and then narrowed to come up and curl over his nostrils and narrow to a point at his upper lip. He was well muscled and lithe, quick at a cat. He moved back and forth nervously, fearfully in the round pen, prancing, rearing and shaking his head. Sending his mane tossing, he came to a halt, snorting loudly, his neck and shoulders quivered. His black eyes fixed on Chris. There was fear in those eyes.
Chris moved forward. He didn't look the horse in the eyes, but looked at his quivering shoulder. He knew the horse was afraid of something. There was something that was causing this magnificent animal to tremble He approached the horse, seeing the toss of the head and striking of hoof against earth as the horse dug at the ground. "Easy son…. Easy now…" he reached out and touched the stallion on the shoulder, feeling the soft hair and sweat against his hand, he stepped back, still looking at his hand and there was blood there.
Ella was suddenly standing in front of him. "It's your fault; their death is because I loved you…You gave me no choice… I loved you…! She reached out toward him.
" No…..!" Chris bolted up right, swinging at the figure in front of him.
Nathan ducked the round house and moved back from the bed with a leap. He heard Josiah come out of the chair behind him and, if he hadn't been there, he would have fallen.
They both stood there looking at Chris. Their heads turned as one as Vin suddenly appeared in the doorway, they had been here three days now, and the last day Chris had been quiet, sleeping.
Vin moved on into the room, JD, Buck and Ezra following him in.
They spread out around the room and the bed.
Chris was still sitting up in bed. His hands had gone to his head. He covered his eyes with his palms and had shoved his fingers into his hair. "Damn…did I tie one on? He pressed the heel of his palms to his eyes. "What a hang over…"
He dropped his hands and looked around the room. He saw the smiles start to show as he looked at each of the men gathered around him. He felt he had been sleeping too long. He looked around the room, not knowing where the hell he was. He looked back at Vin. "What the hell happened to you?" He saw a smile touch those blue eyes. He looked over at Buck, now seeing the sling he had his arm in. "And what the hell happened to you?" He looked around the room confused "What the hell is going on here?" He looked at the grinning faces.
It was Vin's soft Texas accent that broke into laughter. "Glad to see you too!" He chuckled.
There was a collected sigh of relief. There were looks passed back and forth, as the men gathered in closer to an even more confused Chris, as Chris saw Maria step into the room.
Chris carefully shook head in bewilderment. "I got to slow down… I'm getting too old for this…"
Vin smiled again. "It ain't the age cowboy…It's the mileage."
---Fin---
