ON YOUR HORSES, BOYS

Part 25

Chris wiped a hand across his eyes when he felt the ground tilt beneath him. "Damn," he muttered, grateful he was already off his feet. "Here, Chris," he heard Nathan say just before the open mouth of a canteen touched his bottom lip. A canteen?

Nathan saw the query in his face and pointed to the wagon nearby. "Archie had some drinking water aboard," he answered, taking the gun from his slack fingers and handing it over to Vin.

Chris reached to take it back but Buck took him by the wrist and pushed his arm down. "Alright, pard, take it easy."

"No time," he grunted.

"You ain't told us yet how you know where the Nichols are," Buck said calmly.

"His gun…"

"Yeah, Chris, we can see its Ezra's gun. He probably dropped it when those boys cornered him. Somebody most likely found it after that and traded it for somethin' at the General Store. Hobson's always swappin' stuff with folks. He recognized it, since he was the one who ordered those fancy grips for it and sent it to the clinic knowin' we'd get it back to Ezra."

"No, Buck," Nathan corrected. "I seen the Nichols take that gun off him, he didn't drop it."

"Well then maybe someone found it at the hotel."

"N-no," Larabee said as determinedly as he could, considering his teeth were trying to chatter. He was beginning to feel cold. "I saw it…"

"You saw it? Where?"

"The old lady… tried to shoot me with it… while I was cuttin' Ezra down." He paused for breath. "The last time I saw that thing… she was shovin' it in her pocket." He stopped again to swallow. "S-she had… Ezra's gun."

"So you think they're hidin' out at the General Store and Hobson smuggled us the gun to let us know," Vin said putting the pieces together. "Makes sense."

"But we've been in an out of the General Store several times the past couple o' days. We ain't seen hide nor hair of that family there."

Vin saw Chris' frustration. "Hold on, Buck, the Hobson's have rooms over the store. It'd be real easy for folks to hide up there without bein' seen."

"Not to mention," Nathan added, "they'd be able to see a large part of town from that angle."

"Damn," Buck exclaimed, "you mean they've been watchin' our every move?"

Chris nudged Wilmington's arm. "Probably still are, so move closer. I don't want 'em to see what's goin' on. Vin," he called, "when you were at the store, did you see anything… wrong?"

"Wrong? No. Hobson was pretty much as he's always been. Although now that I think about it, he was a little jumpy, he fell off his ladder when I walked in. He said he was just nervous about the Nichols shootin' up the town."

"Did you see his wife?"

"No, I asked about her. I think he said she was working in the back room."

"Has anybody seen her since?"

Vin looked at the others and they all agreed they hadn't.

"I'm bettin' they're holdin' her upstairs so they can keep Hobson in line." Chris felt a cough climb his chest but resisted the urge and lay as still as possible. "We gotta get over there before they start workin' on Ezra again."

"Hold on, Chris," Vin replied, "we can't just go rushin' in and hope to get Ezra out in one piece."

"Not to mention the Hobsons. We gotta be careful not to get them killed," Buck added.

"We aren't gonna rush in. The Nichols probably believe I'm dead, or near to it, so they might be rethinking their plans. That could buy us a little time to catch them, but it also gives them more time to hurt Ezra. I want Vin to go in and check the store out. Try to talk to Hobson, see if he'll give us any more clues as to what they're up to." Chris, quickly running out of steam, closed his eyes and laid back.

Buck watched worriedly. "How're ya doin', pard?"

"I'm… good."

"Sure you are. You look like hell."

"I'd say he looks worse than that," Vin said. "He looks about dead, don't he, Nathan?"

Jackson saw the tracker motion discreetly towards the General Store. He leaned over Chris, put an ear to his chest and pulled back with a look of sorrow on his face. "You're right, as dead as a man can be." He moved to the gunfighter's head, put a hand to his brow and winked before he closed Chris' fearful eyes.

Vin sidled nearer and whispered, "Just lie still, Chris, 'til we can get you outta here. We have to make it look good." He gently patted the motionless body before he turned to put an arm across Buck's shoulder. "We need to move him outta sight. Carry him like you're goin' to the undertakers but don't go in, circle back. Hank's body is still there and I don't want him to see it. Bring him to the jail; Nathan has a few supplies there so he can patch him up. I'll go ahead and tell JD and Josiah what's goin' on."

Buck hated to even pretend Chris was dead but knew it was the best way to keep him alive. He leaned down, gathered him once again in his arms, and hefted him off the sidewalk. The gunfighter sucked in a sharp breath and tensed before he finally went limp. "Hang on, buddy," Wilmington mumbled, genuinely upset. "I'll get ya some place safe… then we're goin' after Ezra."

Vin helped Nathan get to his feet as Buck walked away with Chris. He caught a glimpse of Larabee's face and wondered anxiously if Chris was faking death or if he'd passed out. He had a feeling it was the latter. "Take care of him, Nathan. He may not be dead now, but I got a feelin' he's gonna push it pretty close. Maybe you can come up with a way to keep him at the jail while Buck and I go after the Nichols."

"I already tried keepin' him off his feet," Jackson said, "and it just made things worse."

"Don't go blamin' yourself. I think even Chris realizes he forced you into that."

"I reckon. I'll see what I can do to slow him down some," the healer said, sparing only a glance for his burning clinic.

"I'm sorry, Nate."

"Me too," he sighed. "But right now there's no time to think on it. We need to figure a way of gettin' Ezra back with us, once and for all."

Vin gently turned Nathan towards the street. "Let's go then."

M7M7M7M7M7M7M7

Madeline Hobson sat on her bed and watched Mrs. Nichols stare out the window of the room she normally shared with her husband. "Oh, Joseph, where are you?" she wondered with concern. She hadn't seen him since she'd passed him the small gun she sneaked away from the old woman and was worried he may have been caught with it. Mrs. Nichols hadn't appeared to miss the weapon after claiming it belonged to Ezra Standish and that its one and only shot had been used in an attempt to kill his fellow lawman and friend, but it was hard to tell for sure. She was a conniving person, frighteningly deceptive by nature, and that made her more dangerous than her sons could ever hope to be, despite their clear disregard for life and penchant for evil doing. Still, she hadn't heard anyone mention the gambler's gun and prayed Joseph was keeping himself safe.

"Well now," Mrs. Nichols said, obviously pleased by something happening in the street below, "isn't that a sight to behold."

"Ma'am?" Madeline asked timidly.

"It appears the devil will need to make room tonight."

"What?"

"Your town's guardian angels have failed to protect their leader and are removing his body from the street."

"Mr. Larabee is dead?"

"Yes, and by all that's Holy, not a moment too soon."

"Oh no," Madeline whispered softly, "that poor man."

Mrs. Nichols stared out the window, savoring the sight of the lifeless form with its dangling limbs as it was carried slowly out of sight. "At last," she said, "it is as it should be -- both men responsible for the deaths of my children are dead themselves." She placed a hand over her heart and sighed.

"Ma!" her son Mark called from the hallway.

"Come in," she answered the rapid knocking.

Shoving the door open, Mark hurried into the room with a whirl of excitement. "Ma, you have to come downstairs!"

"Why? Is something wrong? Has something happened to one of your brothers?"

"No, Ma, Peter has a surprise for you!"

She gestured towards the window. "I already know about Chris Larabee."

"That ain't it! Just go downstairs and you'll see what I mean."

"Alright, alright, Mark, calm yourself." She walked to the door, curious as to what had him so wound up.

"What about her?" he asked about the woman still seated on the bed.

"Bring her along," she answered with a wave of her hand and marched towards the stairs. She descended the narrow steps quickly, but was careful to enter the main shop only after she made sure the windows were covered and the closed sign was in place. Mark came trotting along behind her, pulling Madeline by the arm. "Well what is it I'm supposed to be seein'?"

"Here, Ma," Peter called from the far side of the room. He sat on top of the main counter, leaning forward onto his hands so he could see the door to the back room. Joseph Hobson stood behind him, wringing his hands. "Okay, Luke, let's show Ma what we found."

The large brother entered carrying a bundle over his shoulder wrapped in what appeared to be a bed sheet. The old woman couldn't figure what her sons were up to but waited patiently for them to reveal their surprise. "You're very pleased with yourself, Peter," she said, and watched a huge smile cross his face.

"Yes, ma'am," he answered and jumped down from the counter. "Okay, Luke."

Luke grinned at his mother and dropped the bundle from his shoulder to the floor. It landed hard and spilled awkwardly when it hit. Mrs. Nichols moved forward and moved the sheet with her foot. She smiled. "Well I have to say, you boys have done me proud."

Madeline sought her husband's face and wondered if he knew what was going on. When she finally found his eyes, she knew he did. Hesitating only a moment, she leaned around the old woman and took a look for herself… then she screamed at what she saw. It was the broken body of Ezra Standish.

TBC

A/N: Thanks to all who reviewed! It was such a treat to be able to say hello to so many new readers!