PART 10
Chris buttoned the top of his duster, trying to keep out the early morning chill. It was still dark and they had stayed up all night working on a plan to save their seventh.
"Okay, Josiah, is this thing going to work?" Chris watched the preacher place a makeshift saddle on one of the livery horses. The saddle sported a wooden vertical brace.
"It'll work, brother, just have faith," Josiah assured. "We'll tie young Rosen to the post. It should hold him up without assistance and hopefully fool his father long enough to get Ezra." Josiah finished tightening the cinch and checking the bindings. He turned to see Buck and Vin carrying Bryce Rosen's body out of the jail.
"Damn, he's heavy," Buck complained.
"Just throw him over the saddle until we reach the mesa. It'll put less strain on the post," Josiah said.
Chris flashed a glaring look at the preacher.
"I said it would work. I didn't say how long," Josiah quipped. "Let's not push our luck." He helped pull Rosen's body across the saddle, tying it in place and saying a little prayer over the body, hoping the good Lord didn't give him another black mark for abusing a corpse. The ex-preacher glanced up to the heavens, 'it's for a good cause,' he thought. Pity, it took death for the young outlaw to do a good deed.
Buck stepped up to Nathan as the healer packed what little medical supplies he had into his saddlebags. "How's JD doing?"
"He had a real bad time of it during the night, Buck, but he's doin' better. He was even awake for a bit earlier." Nathan shook a brown bottle of laudanum, wishing he had more of the pain-relieving medicine.
Buck looked over his shoulder towards the clinic. "Maybe I should go and see him before I leave. I can catch up to you guys."
"I told him we were going after Ezra. Seems he got a different story from you altogether, Buck." Nathan chuckled, "He was so riled when I left that I think the ladies were 'bout to tie him to the bed!"
Buck paled and wiped a hand down his face. He hadn't meant to lie to the kid, he just didn't want him worrin'.
"And he wants a word with you when we get back." Nathan continued as he pulled himself up into his saddle.
"Better make sure he ain't got his guns, Buck." Vin smiled as he tightened his cinch.
Buck definitely had some explaining to do but decided it could wait until they had Ezra safe and sound.
"Alright, let's ride," Chris looked east. He wanted to get this done and get Ezra back. He was surprised at the fear that ate at his gut for the suave gambler. Normally, he wanted to shoot the man most days, but now he understood that Ezra was a part of them. He wanted a chance to know the cardsharp better.
M7M7M7M7
"Get up, Farley! "Rosen's voice was shrill. "What did you do with him? He better still be alive, you moron!" Rosen kicked wildly, hitting Farley repeatedly. "Where is he?"
Farely jumped to his feet, immediately reaching for his gun. He stopped short and yanked his coat over the empty holster. He turned in place, stunned that the gambler was gone. "He was near dead! He can't be far!"
Pete remained on his bedroll with an amused grin and glad his boss's anger wasn't directed toward him.
Rosen glanced over at the horses. "Well, his mount is still here so he couldn't of gotten far
"Tracks lead down off the mesa," Frank announced from a short distance away.
Farley quickly saddled his horse, grabbing the second weapon he kept with his gear. He couldn't let Rosen know the gambler had his gun.
"Tarnation!" Rosen pounded his fist against his thigh. "There's no telling how far he's gotten." Rosen saw the sun peeking over the horizon they were running out of time. He wasn't completely sure the lawmen would release his son, but he had to be ready just in case.
Rosen smacked Farley on the back of the head as he finished saddling his horse. "You find that fool gambler. Find him and shoot him."
Rosen turned to face his last two men. "Willis!" He called. "Yer about the right size. Git on the gambler's horse and grab a white shirt out of my bag and Frank give Pete the gambler's hat." Rosen pictured Willis on the horse and nodded, warming to the idea. "Keep a gun hidden and as soon as we're close to making the trade start shooting. Frank, you need to find a good place to shoot. Them lawmen won't know what's happenin' until it's too late."
M7M7M7M7
Chris raised his arm halting the group's steady progress just short of the plateau. He looked east to see the sun just a sliver on the horizon. "Let's get this contraption ready here before we get much closer. Don't want 'em to spot us."
With Buck and Vin's help, Josiah managed to secure Bryce Rosen's dead body to the saddle, which was no easy task as the body was showing signs of rigor. They tied his hands to the saddle horn and pulled his hat down low to cover his face. Josiah stepped back and scrutinized horse and rider. The whole thing reminded him of a scarecrow and he hoped that it kept the crows away today.
"Dern it, Preacher! That body don't look the least bit natural!" Buck was worried. He felt Ezra was close now and one wrong move would tear the man from them forever.
"We can't let them get too close," Josiah reminded, ignoring Buck's skepticism. The ex-preacher double-checked the bindings of his make-shift brace. Chris looked east watching the sunrise enough to highlight the rocks and cliffs with an amber hue.
Chris's eyes narrowed as two shapes gradually appeared in the distance. "Here they come." Chris mounted his horse, shucking out of his duster and draping it over the pommel, giving him unobstructed access to his peacemaker. "As soon as I'm close to Ez, start shooting and cover us."
"Not a problem, pard," Vin replied clutching his rifle. The four gunslingers got into position and watched as Larabee started to ride out leading Bryce's dead body. Vin and Josiah searched for the best vantage points to cover their leader.
Vin laid his long rifle within the crook of a tree and extended his spyglass to watch the exchange. He first looked at James Rosen who was leading Ezra's horse, the rider hunched over slightly. Vin's eyes narrowed as he looked at the plain white shirt and black crown hat that was pulled down low the head bobbing in unison with the horse's walk. "How does Ez look," Nathan asked.
Vin shook his head and lifted his rifle to his eye as Larabee and Rosen drew closer, something didn't feel right.
Chris approached slowly, hoping to prevent his deceased burden from suddenly revealing his lie by toppling over. Rosen was smart, having him ride into the rising sun. The gunslinger's eyes watered trying to make out the two riders, his gun hand resting on his thigh. Just a little closer…
Suddenly, Chris pulled his gun and shot the man in the white shirt square in the chest. Twisting his horse around and digging in his heels to jump-start the animal back the way they came.
"NO!" Buck yelled, scrambling to his feet. Vin lunged sideways and wrapped his arms around Buck throwing him to the ground. Buck fought wildly not understanding what had just happened. Josiah and Nathan started firing as Chris rode hard towards them.
"It ain't him, Buck!" Vin managed to pin the lanky cowboy beneath him long enough to make him listen. "That weren't Ezra!"
Buck stared at Vin trying to comprehend what had just transpired but Vin didn't wait. He leaped off his friend and grabbed his gun, firing almost before he took aim. The horse that Bryce was tied had bolted to escape the chaos. Bryce's body falling sideways, hanging limp from the saddle causing the horse greater distress. The alarmed animal began to buck and Josiah's contrivance quickly collapsed under the strain. The post snapped off the saddle and Bryce Rosen's body tumbled unceremoniously to the ground.
James Rosen saw his son's stiff body hit the ground and knew he was dead. He headed back towards Frank who was giving him cover fire.
Chris jerked forward in his saddle and nearly lost his perch as he closed the distance to his friends. "He's hit!" Vin yelled. It was an extremely long and very precise shot. "They got a sharpshooter!"
"Well do somethin' 'bout it!" Buck yelled as he returned fire.
Vin smiled and brought his rifle up to his shoulder. He could just make out the sharpshooter's position. He steadied his weapon, held his breath, and seemed to go into a trance. He slowly applied pressure to the trigger.
Rosen made it to the protection of the rocks and returned fire, although his heart wasn't in it. Bryce was dead he was both saddened and relieved. He looked over in time to see Frank lurch back a bullet slicing through his chest. McClure stood a moment in disbelief then tumbled forward to sprawl upon a large rock that would become his final resting place.
Chris reached his friends and jumped from his horse. Nathan immediately tying a bandana tightly around his bloody sleeve.
"Where is he?" Chris gasped as Nathan yanked the makeshift bandage tight. "Did anyone see Ezra?"
The others heard his question but no one had an answer. Vin held his position the tip of his rifle moving at a slow angle to the east following a man escaping on horseback. He watched as James Rosen rode out of sight.
"Rosen's gone," Vin remarked lowering his rifle. Rosen didn't know how lucky he was, but if they didn't find Ezra alive his luck would run out.
Chris nodded and gripped his upper arm looking around at his men. None of them wanting to believe that the only reason for Rosen's ruse was that Ezra was dead too. It was ironic really.
"Ezra has got to be somewhere," Buck said. He glanced at the faces of his friends looking for any doubt that Ezra was still with them. He didn't see it.
"Let's split up and circle around." The five lawmen gathered their weapons. As they mounted their horses a single shot rang out, echoing off the rocks. No one spoke as they rode quickly towards the sound.
TBC