If he didn't know better Chris would swear that time had stood still inside the church. When he walked in Josiah was still in his place next to Ezra, with Nathan sitting in a pew a few feet away. The only noticeable difference was the absence of Abram and Jacob. The plan to return them home in the early hours had gone off perfectly. Chris figured it was about time something went their way. He hoped the plans for the rest of the day would be equally successful.
As he moved closer he realized something else had changed overnight. While he wouldn't have imagined it was possible, Ezra looked even worse. His breathing was strained, and he was soaked in sweat. He barely moved at all, but the tension on his face showed that he was clearly in pain.
"I take it he hasn't woken up at all?"
Josiah's expression gave all the answer that was needed, but Nathan answered anyway. "Drifting in and out, but not waking up. Fever spiked up, and he's hurting. Been trying to get some herbs in him to fight the fever, but not having much luck with that."
Chris looked down at Ezra and his mind went back to the letter that had been left for him. If he'd read it sooner, or better yet let the man have is say before judging him, there was no real doubt in his mind this wouldn't have happened. Whatever the outcome was now, he didn't know if he was going to be able to completely forgive himself for that.
"I've already told Buck that McHenry's stage is due in this afternoon." Josiah nodded, but didn't stop his efforts to cool Ezra down.
"Vin's waiting outside of town where we agreed." Still no movement.
"Josiah…"
"Yes, I know. It's time. I know it was my plan, but I can't say as I want to leave him on his own right now."
Nathan leaned forward. "Not on his own Josiah. I'm not going anywhere."
Stress and fatigue lowered his ability to curb his frustration. "Pretty sure he'd be better of with someone who actually gave a damn and had a bit of compassion for him."
"That's not fair Josiah."
"No Chris, it's alright. I get it." Nathan waited a moment for the silence to become oppressive enough for Josiah to look up. "I ain't denying that I never bothered to hide the way I felt about how Ezra lived his life, and I'm not about to pretend that we were good friends, or even that we ever might be. But I will admit I was wrong to judge him without hearing his side. I hope I get the chance to tell him that."
Josiah reached up and rubbed his hands over his face in a futile effort to rouse himself from his mood. "I know you'll take care of him." He leaned closer to Ezra. "I've got to go for a bit Ezra, but you best still be here when I get back. You don't want me being mad at you."
His effort to stand was slowed by combination of reluctance and aching muscles. "OK Chris. Let's go get these bastards."
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Buck was waiting impatiently at the breakfast table for Clarice. He tapped a spoon rhythmically on against his coffee cup, oblivious to the irritation it was causing for the other patrons.
She was late. Normally, he found her little quirks like that one to be appealing, but this morning it was frustrating. He wanted to share the news with her. Let her know that they would be able to leave here tomorrow to start things over. He hadn't expected he'd be leaving Four Corners, let alone leaving under these circumstances.
Chris had been brusque with him this morning. None of the camaraderie they had shared in the past was in any way evident as he was briefed on the plans for the day. The level of tension between the two of them was as high as it had ever been, and given some of the things they'd been through, that was a pretty significant level. He regretted that things were ending like this, but damn it, it wasn't his fault.
None of this was his fault. Try as he might, he couldn't fathom why the others weren't happy for him. Hell, he'd been thrilled when Chris had found Sarah. Love did good things to a man, and it had mellowed Chris more than he'd have imagined possible for his friend. The fact that it turned out so tragically just made it all the more poignant in his mind.
Before his thoughts became too melancholy, they were interrupted by Clarice's arrival. He could feel most of his tension fade away the moment she joined him.
"Good morning darling. I'm sorry to keep you waiting, but it does take some time for a lady to make herself look presentable."
"Don't believe that. You're just as pretty as a speckled pup."
She stared at him for a few seconds before deciding that was intended as a compliment, so smiled warmly as she took her seat.
"I have good news. We can leave tomorrow. That job Larabee wants me for will be done this afternoon, and I'll be back in time for dinner with you. Then tomorrow we can get the stage."
Thank God! She was almost done with this town, and the charade. It would be wonderful to getting back to being herself and give up this prissy sham. This whole experience hadn't been nearly as much fun as she'd hoped. She was shocked to discover that Buck was too much of a gentleman to take advantage of her alleged purity, and after the disclosure of the supposed attack he was even more solicitous in her presence. Given what she'd heard of his rumoured prowess, she had been looking forward to at least one night with him, but that never played out.
She thought last night might have done the trick. He was so relieved to have her return safely after her ride that she was certain she could maneuver him into her chamber, and she was sure she was getting close to her goal. Then Larabee hunted him down to say they needed to talk in the morning and the spell was broken.
"Really? You're certain it will happen today?"
"Yup. That's what he wanted to talk about. We ride out after lunch and meet this McHenry fellow at the pass around 2. Couple of hours ride to get him to the bank in Eagle Bend and it's done."
"The pass?" Details mattered in this.
"Kinstone Pass. Bit better than an hour's ride east of here. We meet him on this end of the gully, then a few hours later it will all be over."
Yes, it will. How magnificent.
"That is wonderful." She put her napkin back on the table, standing quickly. "I must start to get things ready. I can start packing and should send some letters and telegrams. Oh Buck, I can't believe this is really happening!"
He was thrilled she was so excited. "Slow down there. No need to rush like that. Have your breakfast and we'll take care of the rest later."
"No, the eastern stage is due through soon, and I want to make sure my letters to family get posted. Oh Buck, I can't wait to tell them. We can work out our plans at dinner tonight!" She bent down and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, giggling as she did. "So wonderful!"
Watching her leave, he smiled. She was right. This was what they wanted. Something he never imagined would happen to him. Maybe that was why there was a niggling sense of unease that had been taunting him for the last 24 hours. Small enough that he could ignore it most of the time, but there, nevertheless. He was sure it was simply because things were happening so fast. Whatever the reason he wasn't about to let it ruin his day, or his life.
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Chris was mounted up and ready to go by the time Buck got to the stables after lunch.
"Just take me a couple minutes to get ready. Just going to be the two of us?"
Chris nodded. "Josiah's still feeling poorly. Nathan needs to stay to keep his eye on his patients, and JD will stay in town to keep watch. This shouldn't be anything to worry about. Not like anybody knows McHenry is coming or carrying cash."
"Not unless he was stupid enough to tell folks. That's the kind of news you're best to keep to yourself."
"Guess so. I'm going to make sure JD is set. Meet you in a couple minutes."
He'd come to a decision mid-morning, and it was time to implement it. He rode over to the jail, where JD sat forlornly on the wooden chair out front. The kid had been feeling lower than rock bottom, and Chris was beginning to worry what might come of it.
Before Chris could speak, the young man was up out of his seat and voicing the source of his latest unhappiness. "Don't see why I get stuck here in town."
"Someone needs to stay, and besides, I didn't think you wanted to ride with Buck right now."
That much was true. JD had barely been on speaking terms with his former best friend after Ezra left, and the suspicions over the gambler's death had finished driving the wedge between them.
Not getting an answer, he went back to the reason he had come over. "JD, I need you to do something for me after we leave."
Trying to muster a small degree of enthusiasm and professionalism, and almost succeeding, JD looked up at him. "Sure Chris. Whatever you need."
"Need you to go check in on Nathan. See if he needs anything. I already told him you'd be coming by to lend a hand."
"Shouldn't that be up to him? I mean, if folks are sick…"
"This one is my call. Just do what I say JD. Trust me."
Trust may have been a commodity in short supply lately, but he certainly wasn't going to defy Chris. "Sure. I'll head over once you guys leave."
That moment came almost immediately as Buck rode out of the livery. He started toward Chris until he realized who else was in the conversation, and then steered away and started slowly out of town. Shaking his head sadly, Chris followed wondering what was going to happen when the truth came out.
JD watched them leave, torn between wanting to be with them and being glad avoid any contact with Buck. He still hadn't been able to sort out how he felt about everything that had happened in the past few months versus the last few days. It made his head spin to think about how much had changed and gone wrong so quickly.
Starting to return to his chair to watch the world go by he remembered the job Chris had left him with. Reluctantly, he switched direction and walked toward the church. Surely Chris wouldn't be sending him there if there was a chance he'd get sick. They were shorthanded enough as it was, without cutting their numbers down again. With that moderate boost to his confidence, he knocked on the door as warning, then cracked it open.
"Nathan – it's JD. Chris sent me over. Said I was supposed to ask if you needed anything." From where he stood at the door, he could see Nathan leaning over a patient, but they were too far, and too dark inside for him to be sure who it was.
"You alone?"
"Of course."
"OK JD. Come on in."
Hesitantly, JD took a couple of steps forward. "Are you sure? I mean, it wouldn't be good for me to get sick now with everybody out of town."
"Don't worry. I guarantee this isn't something you can catch."
Puzzled, yet reassured knowing Nathan wouldn't lie about something like that, JD came closer. "Sure hope you're right. I really hate being – what the hell?"
He froze when he saw the patient. "But – Vin said – I mean how – what the hell? Vin said he was dead!"
"Damn close to being right about that."
"Nathan, what the hell is going on?"
"Better sit down JD. It's a bit complicated."
Despite the suggestion, JD didn't move. He was too focused on Ezra. "Is he – will he be ok?" He couldn't imagine there would be a positive response to that.
"I'm beginning to think just maybe there's a chance he will be. It's still bad, but just the fact he's hanging on like this is encouraging. I think the fever is down a bit from where he was this morning, but there's an awful lot of hurt that needs to heal up."
Not entirely sure he wanted an answer, JD summoned the nerve to ask anyway. "He been able to say who did this to him?"
"No, but don't worry JD. We know it wasn't Buck." The young man a but drooped with relief. "Hopefully in a couple of hours the folks responsible are going to be in our jailhouse. Come on – sit down and I'll fill you in."
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The silence was driving Buck crazy. Not that Chris was exactly the most talkative travelling companion at the best of times, but the chill that was between them made the taciturn nature so much more evident. If a dozen words had been spoken over the last hour, that was it. They were nearing the west end of the pass when he simply couldn't take it anymore.
"So is this how it's all gonna end? Everything we went through together? The war? Sarah and Adam? All that history just gone?"
"You're the one leaving, not me."
"Ain't the leaving I'm talking about, and you know it."
"What do you want me to say Buck? You've known this woman for two weeks and because of her you've blown this team apart."
Buck reined Lady to a stop. "I've blown it apart? You don't think maybe what Standish did was to blame? Or maybe that Vin and Josiah – hell, even JD, took his side on that?"
"Accused of doing. Her word only. And obviously his denial wasn't enough for you."
Buck snorted. "Would a man's denial be enough for you?"
Now it was Chris's turn to stop riding. He looked back and locked eyes with his long-time friend. "It was enough for me when you denied killing Ezra. You didn't take to kindly to others accusing you because Vin said you did it, did you?"
The comparison hadn't even crossed his mind. "Shit Chris. Them's two totally different things."
"Are they? Accused with no proof, and no one willing to hear you out. How is that different?"
"Cause you know me. Know you can trust me. Last time you trusted Standish we all damn near got killed."
"He'd proven himself since then. May not have been a saint, but all we have is her word that he was that much of a sinner." He was about to spur Pony forward when they heard shots in the distance.
"Son of a bitch – someone's after the stage!"
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tbc
