Part 10

Chris ran out after him but he was nowhere in sight. "Vin!" he shouted. No answer.

Judge Travis came out of the saloon,"I'm sorry Chris. I should have warned you."

Michael Tanner came out behind the Judge. "I'm sorry Mr Larabee. Rebecca was a lovely woman but after Vin died she changed. She was convinced that someone had stolen him from her. If I could help that boy I would."

"I have to find him," Chris said. He headed for the livery stable but Peso was still there so Vin had not left town. He called to the others and got them to search. They couldn't find him anywhere. "He must be somewhere," Chris said.

A wagon came up the street. Nettie was driving. "I thought I was bringing Vin to town today," she said to Chris. Chris explained what had happened. "Poor Vin," she said. "Have you no idea where he went?"

"None. Peso is still in the livery so he can't have left town. We'll search again."

They all set off. Ezra called to JD. "I have an idea where Vin is but I don't want to say anything. Cover for me while I check."

"Okay," JD said.

Ezra went into the boarding house and ran upstairs. Soon he was climbing onto the roof. Vin was curled up over by the back of the sign. "Vin, Chris is looking for you."

"I don't care, let him look."

"He's worried as are we all. Vin…"

"Stop calling me that. It's not my name. Didn't you hear?"

"I heard. It doesn't matter, Vin is still your name."

"How could she lie to me like that?"

Ezra knew how much Vin had loved his Mama and had always tried to live up to her name. "She loved you." Tears trickled down his cheek.

"No she didn't. She was just trying to replace the son she had lost. No wonder we kept moving. She must have been worried Michael would find her."

Ezra handed him his handkerchief. "Maybe but the stories you've told me about her tell me she loved you."

"But who am I? Maybe she stole me from someone. I could have a family out there." Ezra nodded. That thought had occurred to him as well.

"The Judge is helping Chris, maybe he can help you. If she stole you from someone then there will be a report of a missing child."

"I suppose."

"But you can't ask him if you're up here."

"You're right." Vin got up and climbed down. He headed for the saloon. Ezra called to JD to get the others as he had found Vin.

The Judge was sitting across from Chris when Vin asked if he could look into any reports of a missing child. He agreed. "I'm going to Fort Garland," Chris said. "I need to find out if Harry Preston is Adam."

"I'll go with you," Buck said.

"No Buck, I need to do this on my own."

"Okay." Buck wasn't happy about Chris going on his own or leaving Vin behind.

"I need to know the town is being looked after properly. I trust you to do that Buck."

"What about Vin?"

"Look after him for me."

Vin overheard what they were saying and answered Chris. "Don't need anyone to look out for me. I'se fine. I've never had a father why should it bother me if he aint my Pa?"

Buck looked at Vin sadly. The boy had been let down so many times. The door of the saloon swung open. Nettie stood in the doorway. "Vin would you come and eat with me?"

"Sure Miz Nettie."

They went over to the small café that had opened not long ago. "They have good food here and it's not too expensive," Nettie said to Vin

They ordered and soon their food was ready. Vin told Nettie all about Michael Tanner. "Why'd she lie to me?" Vin asked.

"I don't know son. But from what you've told me about her she loved you."

"I know she did. I just hope she didn't take me from someone and they've been looking for me all those years. Look how Chris is about Adam. Imagine being like that for 15 years."

"What is Chris going to do now?" she asked.

"He's going to Fort Garland to see if this soldier is Adam."

"Won't be easy for him if it is Adam or if it isn't. I'm sure he could use a friend with him."

"He don't want anyone. You know what Chris is like."

"You still not speaking to him?"

Vin put his head down. "I ain't too happy with him."

"I think a friend could put it behind him and go with him."

"I suppose."

"I know you'll do what's right."

Vin spent the night thinking about what Nettie had said. She was right. He should go with Chris. He got up early and packed his saddlebags. He went down to the livery, Pony was gone. He saddled Peso and set out.

He rode along the trail keeping a good distance behind Chris. He didn't want to let Chris know he was there until it was too late to send him back. About a week later Chris was nearly at Fort Garland. He was tired and wanted a bath and shave. He rode down towards the Fort. Just as he was about to head down he caught the glint of a telescope on the ridge above him. Vin he thought. He should have known.

He set off down the path until he came to a sharp bend in the road. He pulled in behind a clump of trees and waited. Five minutes later he heard a horse coming down the trail. He pulled out and the rider just managed to pull his horse up. "Want to explain why you are following me?" Chris asked.

"I didn't think you should be on your own."

"Thought you weren't too happy with me."

"Didn't say I was but you'd do this for me."

"Let's go." They set off down the road. "We can talk about you leaving town after we've had a bath. If this is Adam I don't want to meet him smelling like a skunk."

TBC