Magnificent Young Riders

Chapter 3: Not Over 18

The new riders had just finished their first week on the job. Most of the boys were heading into town to celebrate and maybe spend all of their first official pay. Chris and Nate were both on rides but the other three had talked Vin into joining them going into town. They lost Ezra as soon as he spotted the saloon. JD veered off quickly after as his eyes glazed over in wonder at all the treasures offered at the General Store. His pocket would soon empty while Ezra's grew. The two boys shared an amused grin as they headed back towards the saloon after walking the length of the town.

"The renegades are getting bolder," Buck commented as they passed a wagon shot full of arrows.

"I don't think it's renegades," Vin spoke quietly a step behind him.

"What are you talking about boy? Of course, it's renegades. I saw them," Buck blustered, speaking of his first ride where out of nowhere he almost got an arrow to the back.

"It's not how they do it."

"And how do you know for sure?"

"I lived with them. I know how they think."

"Maybe you're just seeing what you want to see then."

"Maybe you are," Vin mounted up and rode out of town.

For the first time, Buck noticed the looks the townspeople gave the other boy as he rode away. Distrustful and full of hate. He shuddered almost glad Tanner had left town and was away from these people. Damn renegade Indians were making life hard on everyone, especially Vin. He spotted two young ladies giggling outside the General Store. It was about time he went and checked to make sure JD still had his shirt; his money was already a lost cause.

He stopped to greet the ladies because his mother raised a gentleman.

JD exited the shop with an arm full of treasures. He stopped, waiting for Buck to be done talking to some girls. He watched in awe as the older boy had the girls practically eating out of his hands. They giggled flirtatiously before agreeing to meet him behind the livery stable later. JD stood there gaping as they left.

"Shut your mouth boy, you're gonna catch flies," Buck teased as he started walking towards the saloon.

"Buck? How?" J.D. ran to catch up.

"You see I read about it in some magazine. I got this thing called animal magnetism. The ladies can't seem to resist it or Ol' Buck."

"Buck?"

"Yeah J.D.?"

"You are full of crap," J.D. said in disbelief before pushing through the batwing doors.

Buck laughed as he followed after the younger boy, "You're just figuring that out now?"

The bartender gave them an appraising look, "What ill' it be boys?"

"I'll have a beer. He'll have milk."

"Buck I can handle myself. I can get a beer too."

"Nope, not till you can grow some actual hair on that lip."

"Your's ain't much better. That peach fuzz looks like you got dirt on your face."

Buck knocked J.D.'s hat off his head. The younger boy tried to push the older boy away but lacked the mass to move him. The two ended up wrestling into an occupied table. When the table's familiar occupant's cleared his throat the boys froze with arms still wrapped around each other. The young gambler looked up from his scattered game of solitaire with a huff.

Ezra gave them an unimpressed look, "Did you gentlemen care to participate in a game of chance?"

"Naw, I'm out of money," J.D. answered sheepishly.

"I have some little fillies that would be heartbroken if I left them waiting much longer."

"Please spare me the details, Mr. Wilmington. Where has Mr. Tanner prowled off to?"

"Went back to the station."

"Why would he just leave without us?" J.D. asked disappointingly.

Buck shrugged, "Vin doesn't think it's Indians attacking people."

"And praytell who does he think is doing it?"

"He didn't say."

J.D. gazed out the window looking torn. He wanted everyone together, getting along, and having a good time.

"Should we go after him? Make sure he's okay? What if he gets attacked by the Renegades!" J.D. rambled getting more worked up.

Buck took him by the shoulders giving him a shake to stop his spewing words. "He's fine. He can handle himself. He's a big boy. "

"Yes, Mr. Tanner is quite capable."

"Yeah, I guess so." J.D. deflated, "I guess I'll ride on home then too."

"Wait you can't ride home by yourself." Buck prohibited; worried about the younger boy.

"Why? Vin did. Besides I ride by myself all the time. It's my job!"

"But, Renegades," Buck tried to appease to the boy's common sense. He wanted to keep him safe in a group when he could.

"Well, I'm all out of money. And I'm not gonna wait for you to finish swindling people out of their money," J.D. pointed at Ezra then Buck, "Or for you to finish having a roll in the hay with twins."

The two older boys were left standing in silenced shock as they watched J.D. stalk out of the saloon, mount his horse and ride off.

"I do not need to swindle anyone when I have a God-given talent that they, unfortunately, do not possess," Ezra muttered going back to his game.

Buck stood rooted next to the table. He wondered if he should go after J.D.? What about Vin? Did he do the right thing letting the younger riders go back alone?

Ezra ignored Buck's stewing and gave a small smile as he won his game against himself. He began to set up another game when he noticed a large group of cowhands enter the building. Ezra's grin turned sharkish as his gold tooth glinted in the poor saloon lighting.

"If you would be so kind Mr. Wilmington to either take a seat or clear the area," Ezra drawled lazily eyeing the potential players.

Buck shook off the negative thoughts before turning to the other boy. The cowhands looked big, dumb, and mean. Buck sure hoped that Ezra knew what he was doing when he welcomed them to his table to play some poker. He sent Ezra a warning look before he shook his head in exasperation. These younger boys would be the death of him.

Good thing he knew how to live a little. With a smile of his own, he headed towards the livery stable. He knew just the thing to help him forget about his worries. He'd let the boys worry about themselves for now. They'd be fine. What trouble could they get into?

J.D. spotted Vin's black horse tied a little way off the road. There was no reason for Vin to pull off there; unless he'd spotted something interesting. The dark-haired boy hurriedly dismounted to find his friend, not wanting to miss anything. Making his way through the brush, J.D. froze as he heard unfamiliar angry voices. Straining his ears he could make out the sound of a struggle. Sneaking closer he saw a mob of men wearing bandanas around their faces.

"Damn Indian lover," A masked man hissed before kicking a downed figure.

It was Vin. J.D. panicked. He wanted to ride back into town and get Buck and Ezra. He didn't know what to do. He needed help. He turned, rushing back through the brush when a thought occurred to him. What if he was too late. What if they killed his friend while he ran away like a coward. Mind made up he pulled out his revolver and rushed back to where the mob was.

The clearing was empty save for one still form laying on the ground.

"Vin!" J.D. cried kneeling next to his hurt friend.

Vin moaned cracking his eyes open, "Hell, what horse kicked me?"

"It wasn't a horse, it was a gang of outlaws!" J.D. started rambling excitedly making Vin's throbbing head, ache even more.

It wasn't outlaws that attacked him it was just small-minded townsfolk. Vin recognized some of the horses from town. He shouldn't have stopped to help the downed rider but he did and got kicked in the gut for trying to help. They ambushed him then ran away yellow when they'd heard J.D. The kid was starting to look more and more worried the longer he stayed on the ground.

"Just help me up," Vin clenched his teeth and brushed off the helping hands as soon as he was vertical.

He made his way slowly and painfully to his horse and then back to the station.

Josiah looked between the boys, gaping silently. Noticing J.D. huge collection of junk and not a penny to his name, Buck's rumbled half-dressed appearance with what seemed to be buckshot holes in his shirttails, and Ezra and Vin looked like they'd both taken quite a beating.

"I think it's best if you boys don't go to town for a while."