Back in Chris's room, Vin kept insisting to Nathan that except for his leg, he felt fine. Certainly well enough to leave Nathan's care. Finally Nathan had had enough.
"Okay, then. Go." He watched Vin from the corner of his eye.
"That's more like it." Vin smiled. He sat up, then struggled to balance himself on one leg. He looked at Nathan with a self-satisfied grin. But not for long. The grin wiped from his face as his head began to pound and the room spun in rhythm with it. He sat down abruptly on the bed, just as Josiah walked in.
"Thought so," said Nathan. "You just get back into that bed now. I'll let you know when you can leave."
"Heard you was up," said Josiah, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Guess not."
"I was." He rubbed his eyes with one hand. "Seen Chris?"
"He's fine. Same as usual."
"Limpin'?"
"Slightly. He's gettin' better."
"You sure?" He put his bandaged forearm over his eyes. "Josiah, I think I messed up. He was almost walkin' and then I had to go and shoot my mouth off."
"Vin, we're all tryin' to help him the best we know how. 'Least you tried. He'll heal in his own way in his own time."
"But he's gotta get better. He's runnin' out of time."
"You got to heal, too. We still need you around here." Josiah gave Vin a pat on the shoulder, then stood up. "I'll leave you to rest."
Vin closed his eyes. He was not consoled. Chris needed to get better fast.
--------------------------
That afternoon was the first time in weeks that Chris was in the company of anyone–even the other Six– for any great length of time. He walked down the sidewalk, his stride still a little stiff but far better than it had been.
But what caught the attention of folks was the comely blonde woman in a sea green dress and matching bonnet. She had one arm in a sling, with her other arm looped affectionately in his.
"Uh-oh," murmured Chris, as he and his lady friend neared the hotel. Buck and JD were lounging out front.
Buck eyed the woman appreciatively, his dark blue eyes sparkling mischievously. "Well, Chris, who's your new friend? I don't believe I've had the pleasure of meeting this charming lady." He bent to gently kiss the gloved hand in the sling, gazing into her eyes, when he paused, his eyes widening.
JD was staring, too. "Ezra? What do you think you're doing?"
Ezra sighed in exasperation. "Trying to draw her out," he explained as a low voice. "She's a jealous, vindictive woman. If she thinks Chris has a new girlfriend, she's going to go after said girlfriend. But since Mr. Larabee's new companion doesn't exist, she'll have to go after him."
"I'll be at my place tonight, instead of in town," said Chris.
"In the hills?" asked Buck.
Chris nodded. "We'll wait for her to there. After dark. At least this time, we'd know where she'll strike."
"Mr. Larabee," whispered Ezra, "not only is this dress hot, but this corset is killing me. Shall we finish our promenade?"
Buck tipped his hat at Ezra, as they continued walking.
"You are so charming," Ezra said loudly, clinging closer to Chris. "Why don't we go somewhere we can be alone? Like that charming little place of yours in the hills?" He ran a finger up Chris's lapel.
"Ezra," Chris muttered under his breath, "do you have to flirt like that?"
"Do you want to catch her or not?" he whispered. "We have to make this look good." For the benefit of anyone within earshot, Ezra let out a giggle not unlike someone blowing a flute too hard. Then he dropped his voice again. "Now kiss me."
Chris stopped short. "The hell I will!"
Ezra sighed. "Oh, fine. Suit yourself." Before Chris could react, Ezra gave him a quick peck on the cheek, took his arm again, and resumed walking. "Don't think for a moment I enjoyed that," Ezra hissed. "And a few minutes with a razor in your hand wouldn't do you any harm."
Chris forced a grin as they walked by one of the local storekeepers. "You try that again," he said tightly behind the smile, "and it might do you some."
--------------------------
JD was alone outside the jailhouse, gazing down the street.
"Good afternoon, JD!"
He turned around. "Howdy, Mrs. Travis. Say, what happened to you?"
"Oh, just a little accident with the printing press. One of the table legs has gotten a little rickety and I thought it was going to tip." She smiled in embarrassment. "I don't know what got into me, but I reached out to grab it and...well, it's just a strain."
"You should see Nathan about it."
"It's not necessary. I'll be fine in a couple of days. Perhaps you might be able to fix that table for me?"
JD shifted uncomfortably. "Not today, Mrs. Travis. I'm kinda busy."
"Working on solving the mystery of the fires?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"That's good to hear you gentlemen are doing something. How is your investigation coming? Have you made any progress?"
JD hesitated. Mary Travis had turned a friendly conversation into a reporter's interview. "You'd have to ask Chris."
"Don't you know?"
"Well, he's kind of in charge."
"I see. Do you know where I can find Mr. Larabee at this moment?"
"At this moment? No, ma'am." It was sort of true.
Mary smiled. "Thank you, JD," she said coolly. "You've been a big help."
They both knew he hadn't been any help at all, and for that JD was relieved.
--------------------------
Still keeping up their ruse, Chris and his "lady friend" rode out to the shack. The woman seemed to have a bit of trouble managing her skirts on a horse, but she arrived otherwise intact. It was almost sunset.
Once inside, Ezra changed into clothes more suited to his taste and gender. Then he began to deal a deck of cards as he and Chris sat down to wait.
It was getting dark and there was a hint of a chill in the air as Buck, Josiah, and JD reached Chris's shack. They dismounted and went inside.
"Evenin', boys!" grinned Buck.
"You're unusually gleeful under the circumstances, Mr. Wilmington," said Ezra.
"Because all's right with the world. One of the Bartholomew twins left this in my saddlebag just before leavin' town." He held up a bottle of whiskey and a note. "Note says it's a peace offering from SB. Knew them Bartholomew twins couldn't stay mad at me for long. Them's charming ladies. And then there's my animal magnetism."
"Which lady's it from?" asked JD.
Buck's face clouded over a moment, then he grinned again. "Hell, I don't know. Both, I suppose." He opened the bottle. "Gonna be a chilly night. What say we have one gutwarmer to quiet them jumpy nerves and protect us from the chill?"
"No thanks," said Chris. "Maybe later."
"Thank you, Buck," said Ezra. "But I'm partial to my own brand."
"Say, guys," said JD. "I ran into Mrs. Travis in town. She got hurt a little; her arm's in a sling and she needs a little help. Maybe one of us could give her a hand tomorrow?"
Chris looked at him. "You didn't say anything about tonight, did you, JD?"
"Not a word, Chris."
Buck had poured drinks for himself, JD, and Josiah. "Here's to stoppin' Ella Gaines once and for all."
"Amen, Brother," said Josiah. He set the glass down with a satisfied sigh. "Ready?"
--------------------------
Buck, JD, and Josiah had made a show of riding away from the shack in case anyone was watching. Then they doubled back and took positions surrounding the shack. They were now hidden in the brush, watching. And waiting.
Inside, Chris was losing another hand to Ezra.
"Chris? There is no sport in playing a game of skill when winning is this easy."
Chris pushed his cards toward Ezra, picked up a book and lay down on the bed.
Ezra sighed gently and began to deal out a hand of solitaire. The shack grew quiet, as each man was absorbed in his own thoughts.
Ezra took a swig from his flask. He was having difficulty concentrating on the cards himself. At first he dismissed it as just nerves, but it still bothered him because a lack of concentration with cards was so against his nature. But there was something else he couldn't quite peg. Something JD had said earlier. About Mary. A sling? His scalp prickled as he looked at his own injured arm. Then suddenly it hit him. He looked at Chris in alarm.
"Mary! She's wearing a sling! If our plan worked, Ella Gaines saw you with a blonde woman...with a hurt arm in a sling!"
"And if Ella mistakes Mary for our mystery woman--" Chris rose from his chair and reached for his jacket. "Let's get the others."
--------------------------
Chris and Ezra split up outside to round up JD, Josiah and Buck.
Chris peered into the darkness but couldn't see any of them. "Buck?" he whispered. There was no reply. It was quiet enough for him to hear his pulse quicken. Instinctively, he pulled his Colt and crouched low as he crept into the underbrush.
He almost tripped over Buck. The big Irishman lay face down in the tall grass. At first he looked lifeless. Upon closer inspection though, he wasn't dead, only dead to the world. Chris tried to rouse him, but to no avail. He hurried back to the shack and met up with Ezra.
"Buck's asleep."
"So are JD and Josiah. Drugged, I fear."
Chris nodded. "What do you want to bet that whiskey didn't come from the Bartholomew twins."
"I never play against odds like that. It appears, then, that it's just you and me."
Chris holstered his gun. "Let's head for Mary's then."
--------------------------
"Mary!" Chris's knocking had given way to pounding.
Chris and Ezra drew their guns and entered cautiously. They walked slowly through the rooms. There was no sign of Mary, but her bed was unmade. There was no sign of Billy, either. Chris touched the sheets.
"Still a little bit warm. She was here a little while ago." He began to feel an icy sense of dread. Ella had proven it didn't bother her to kill a mother and child.
A tiny movement in a shadowy corner of the room caught Chris's eye. Ezra saw him stiffen and turned to see where Chris was looking. A pair of eyes glittered in the darkness from behind a chair. Someone was watching them.
Billy was huddled in the corner. Chris crouched low and moved toward the frightened boy slowly. When he was within arm's length, Billy suddenly threw himself at Chris, hugging him tightly. He buried his face against Chris's shoulder, whimpering something unintelligible.
Chris gently stroked the boy's hair. "Tell me again. Slow. What happened? Where's your mama?"
Billy took a step back, his face streaked with tears. "A lady took her. She scared me and I hid. She had a gun. The lady took her and Ma ain't come back!"
Chris held him, feeling the child tremble in his arms. "It's all right," he soothed. "We'll find her." He turned to Ezra. "Take him to Nathan. He can keep Vin company while we look for Mary."
"I'll meet you at the paper?"
"Seems like a good place to start."
Ezra smiled at Billy. "Ready?"
Billy nodded, wiping his eyes with one hand. Chris got down on one knee and wiped the boy's face with his handkerchief. "Billy, you're the man of the house. Your mama is counting on you to be brave. We'll get her back. She's gonna be fine." He hoped Billy believed that. He hoped he believed it himself.
Ezra knelt, his back to Billy. "Shall we?"
Billy hesitated, turning to look at Chris. Chris nodded reassuringly. Finally Billy climbed onto Ezra's back and rode out the door, with Chris following them.
--------------------------
Chris rode hard toward town. His anger was boiling through his veins. Ella Gaines had destroyed too many lives and families. This time she had to be stopped. For good.
--------------------------
Nathan was awakened by a light knock on the door. He looked up from his cot as Ezra opened the door and guided Billy into the room. He looked at Ezra questioningly.
"We need somewhere he'll be safe," Ezra explained. "We believe Ella Gaines has taken Mary."
"Ella has Mary?" Vin was wide awake now. "Where's the others?"
"Drugged, it appears."
Nathan nodded. He now knew what had happened to his sleeping draught. Vin started to get up.
"Oh no, you ain't," said Nathan.
Vin ignored him as he struggled to balance on one foot. He made a movement toward his gun hanging on the bedpost at the end of the bed. Nathan got there quicker and scooped it up.
"Gimme my gun," Vin demanded quietly.
"Not a chance. You ain't gonna do nobody no good on that leg."
"Dammit, Nathan, give me my gun!"
"Mr. Tanner," said Ezra. "In your present condition, you're more likely to get yourself shot than to provide assistance. Nathan can go."
"You know what that woman's like. She's worse'n a rattlesnake. And I can't let her get away again," he added bitterly. "I owe it to Chris."
Nathan's eyes softened with understanding. "Is that what this is about? You didn't let her get away. Nobody did. But you keep jawin' like this, and you will."
"And besides, someone had to stay with this young man to look after his interests," added Ezra.
Vin looked over at Billy. The boy still looked scared. At last Vin sighed and sat down on the bed. "Billy, looks like you an' me are gonna wait right here for your ma, okay?"
Satisfied, Nathan left Vin's gun rig hanging from a bedpost and he and Ezra hurried out the door, leaving Billy in Vin's care. Vin stretched out on the bed and turned onto his side, propping himself up on one elbow. With his other hand, he reached out and gently rumpled the boy's hair. "I'll look after you. And they'll look after your Ma," he said softly, with more confidence than he felt.
Time was running out.
--------------------------
Chris neared the Clarion, looking for Ezra and Nathan. They had not yet arrived. There was a light inside the building. Through the window, he could see Mary tied to a chair near the desk and she seemed to be in some pain. Her hands were tied behind her, a position that didn't help her strained arm. A lamp was burning on the desk, casting the room in an eerie glow.
And there at last was Ella, pacing around her like a lioness. She looked a little thinner and tired than when he'd last seen her. And she certainly didn't look like the wealthy widow she had once been.
Chris struggled to control his emotions. When she resurfaced into his life after so many years, he thought he loved her. Then he had been devastated and angry when she proudly told him how she had robbed the Larabee family of their future together. She had abducted and tortured him, leaving him with wounds no one could see. And now here she was, about to harm someone else. One innocent mother and child had already suffered because of her. Chris could not let it happen it again.
He thought about trying to shoot Ella from where he was, but she was holding a pistol and she was too close to Mary for him to risk it. If he missed, it would take only a moment for Ella to make Billy an orphan. From his vantage point, he could hear them talking.
Ella smiled. "With all this paper in here, this place should go up like tinder, don't you think?" She looked at Mary appraisingly, using the barrel of her gun to push Mary's hair back from her face. "I don't know what he could see in you." She leaned closer, so Chris had to strain to hear her. "You're just not his type."
"Who? Who are you talking about?"
"You're the woman who Chris was with this afternoon. Hanging all over him like a saloon girl. I thought you were above that, but I guess not."
"Mr. Larabee? He wasn't with--"
Ella cut her off with a stinging slap across the face. "Don't lie to me! I saw you!" Almost immediately, she regained her composure.
Chris had seen enough. He would have to face her and hope that Ezra and Nathan arrived soon.
When she heard the door open, Ella pressed the gun against Mary's temple.
"Evening, Chris." She didn't look surprised to see him. "I'll take your gun, if you please. Slowly. That's right. Now, kick it over here."
Chris did as he was told. The gun slid under Mary's chair.
--------------------------
Unknown to anyone inside the building, Ezra and Nathan had also arrived at the Clarion. They peered in to see Chris surrendering his gun.
"What's Chris doing?" said Nathan. "Has he lost his mind?"
"I suspect Mr. Larabee is buying time."
"What do we do now? We go in there, somebody's gonna get shot. And it might be Mary."
"You mean a plan? I fear we're going to have to improvise, Mr. Jackson."
"I was afraid you might say somethin' like that."
--------------------------
"Let her go, Ella. I'm the one you want," said Chris.
"No. You're not. Not any more. You had your chances. You chose to leave me for this town, for your friends, and for...her. Why you'd choose a little jerkwater place like this and those scruffy criminal friends of yours, I can't imagine. It wouldn't surprise me if every one of them was wanted somewhere."
"You couldn't understand."
Ella traced the gun along Mary's throat. "Perhaps not. But what I really don't understand is what you see in her." With the other hand, she gave Mary's hair a vicious yank. "She's not your style, Chris. She doesn't deserve you."
"Let her go. Give it up, Ella. You try to leave and you won't make it out alive."
"Maybe I don't want to."
Chris felt his blood run cold at the realization that Ella had nothing left to lose.
She smiled at Chris. "Just remember how much I always loved you." With one hand, she pushed over the lamp. It crashed to the floor, splattering burning oil along the wooden floorboards. The fire quickly advanced across the floor and hit the stacks of newspapers, sending flames toward the ceiling.
Everything seemed to happen in an instant. Ezra and Nathan crashed though the door. Ella turned and aimed at them, but Chris lunged for her before she could fire. She fell backward onto the floor near the printing press.
From the doorway, Nathan threw his knife, releasing it just before Ella jerked the trigger again. Her shot hit Nathan in his gun arm. His knife landed near her feet, effectively pinning her skirt to the floor.
At the same time, Ezra was struggling to pull Mary back from the flames and free her, but his injured shoulder hampered him. The fire was beginning to surround the chair. Nathan hurried over to help. Chris quickly retrieved his gun. He spun around, but lost his balance and fell. From his sitting position on the floor, he began firing back at Ella, blindly. He had tried to shoot her once before and couldn't. Even now all but one of his bullets was missing their mark. In her murderous fury, though, Ella hardly seemed to notice.
Ella tugged at her skirts, but the knife was embedded securely in the wood. Furiously, she tried to scramble to her feet. Her foot shot out, inadvertently striking the table leg of the press. The leg collapsed, and the table pitched sharply toward Ella. The last image she ever saw was the heavy printing press sliding toward her head. It struck her squarely, crushing her skull.
Chris was still firing, automatically, long after the chamber was empty. Ezra placed a hand on Chris's gun. "It's empty," he said quietly.
It was a moment before the words reached Chris and he lowered the gun. He could scarcely believe that, at last, it was finally over. They could hear shouts outside of people who had arrived to help put out the fire.
Nathan was holding his wounded arm. "Ezra, get Mary out of here," he cried. Ezra didn't need to be told. He was already propelling Mary out the door. Then he turned to Chris. "Chris, we got to go!"
Chris sat there, still staring unseeingly at Ella's dead body. Nathan squatted facing him, placing himself between Chris and the body on the floor.
"We got to go," he repeated evenly and helped Chris to his feet. Intense flames now framed the door to the street. "We're gonna hafta make a run for it." Nathan was thinking of Chris's leg. After all Chris had been through, would he be able to run?
Chris nodded. "Go! I'll be right behind you!"
Nathan covered his face with his arms and plunged through the fire and into the street. He turned to look back at the blaze.
Chris wasn't there.
Nathan heard his heart pounding in his ears. Damn! He should have dragged Chris with him instead of leaving him on his own. Nathan let out a breath of relief when, seconds later, a dark shape emerged from the flames, coughing.
Chris looked around him. Everyone appeared to have escaped pretty much intact. Mary still looked shaken up. She looked at them frantically.
"Oh, my God, Billy!" she cried suddenly.
"It's all right! He's safe," said Ezra.
"He's with Vin, in my room," added Chris.
She turned to go, still in her nightdress.
"Mary!" Chris pulled off his coat and slipped it over her shoulders. She accepted it gratefully and ran down the street.
--------------------------
From where he lay on the bed, Vin could hear the commotion outside and knew it was another fire. His whole body tensed and he felt the bile rise in his throat. Despite the efforts of the Seven, she had struck again. And he wondered if Mary or any of them was hurt or dead. Had to be, if Ella Gaines had succeeded in starting another fire.
He looked at Billy sadly. The boy was asleep beside him, tiredness winning out over worry. Vin gently touched his hair. Bad thing for a kid to be an orphan, especially in a place like this.
Vin listened keenly. Someone with light footsteps was at the door. Maybe Ella had found out where Billy was and was coming to finish off both of them. He sat up, careful not to wake the boy. Whoever it was, he wanted to be ready without warning.
When Vin agreed to watch Billy, Nathan had left Vin's gun hanging at the end of the bed.He slowly eased it out of its holster and pointed it toward the door. The door flew open and Vin lowered his gun with a sigh of relief. It was Mary.
Billy woke up and scrambled off the bed to hug her. "Ma!"
Vin watched the two of them, a mother and her child in a joyous reunion.
"It's over," she said to Vin in a soft voice. "She's dead."
"Is everyone--?"
She nodded, hugging Billy again.
Vin sighed in heartfelt relief. So it really was over.
--------------------------
A bright and clear morning followed what had been a busy night for everyone. Earlier, Ezra had escorted Mary and Billy safely home. Chris had returned to his shack to check on Buck, Josiah, and JD. The three had awakened just before dawn to find themselves in Chris's shack none the worse for the wear and remarkably well-rested. All but Chris had now gathered in Chris's room in town.
Josiah had helped bandage Nathan's wounded arm. Vin was sitting up in bed with his leg propped on a pillow, when Chris came to see him. Vin was pleased to see Chris walking normally. Only a sharp eye could spot the trace of stiffness that still lingered.
"I'm off to the jailhouse," said JD. "Buck, you want to come with me?"
"No, thanks. If that wasn't a peace offering from the Bartholomew twins, I still got to charm my way back in their good graces."
Josiah smiled at Ezra and Nathan. "This room is a mite too crowded for so many people. Let me buy you two a drink." He looked at Ezra. "House liquor."
Ezra grinned. "I think I can manage."
At last only Chris and Vin remained. He eased himself into a chair by the bed. "Guess you heard all about it."
Vin nodded. There was a long silence.
"She's dead, Vin," said Chris in a hollow voice.
"I can't say I'm sorry."
"I know. I didn't expect you to."
"After what she done to you, to all of us–-" He trailed off. He could see that Chris was finally healing and Vin was afraid to spoil it again by saying the wrong thing.
Chris shifted uncomfortably. "Vin...Back then? At Ella's? I know you did the best you could for me... Saved my life...I want you to know...I'm grateful."
Vin knew how hard this was for Chris. "It's all right."
"No. It's not." Chris avoided looking at him. "I couldn't tell you before. Just wanted all the memories to go away, I guess."
"You were still tryin' to heal. We know that."
Chris shook his head. "No, I wasn't. Not then."
"And now?"
Chris grinned. "Gettin' there."
Vin grinned back. "Well, we'll still be here along the way."
"I'm countin' on that."
The healing had finally begun for all of them.
FIN