Magnificent Young Riders
Chapter 6: Orphans Preferred
"Them orphan boys ain't worth nothing to nobody." A masked rider hollered.
"There ain't no orphans here while I'm around," Nettie called out the shattered window aiming her rifle at the speaker.
"What happened?" Chris demanded, trying to come up with a plan before the shooting started.
"JD got attacked by the Renegades." Josiah joined him.
"Well, it ain't no Indians knocking at our door," Vin drawled softly.
"We need help," Nathan spoke up from his patient's side.
"Let me finish my ride," JD pushed himself up from the table.
"Kid, you can't even stand." Buck pushed him back down.
"I need to warn the Army. It's not the Indians. A lot of innocent people are gonna be killed!"
"Including the present company," Ezra offered, "I'll go."
"Don't you run out on me," Chris grabbed the younger boy by the arm.
"I assure you, Mr. Larabee, on the grave of my sainted mother."
"I thought you said your ma was alive," Nathan accused.
"A figure of speech." Two pairs of green eyes met, "Chris let me do this."
"Go," Chris gave his blessing just as the shooting started. Nettie and the riders shot back covering Ezra as he slipped out the back door. He quickly mounted his readied horse and took off on a different ride than he had earlier been anticipating. He ducked low along his horse's neck relying on lady luck to ensure he wouldn't get an arrow or lead in the back. His little express mount quickly outpaced any possible pursuers. The sound of gunfire was long out of hearing before he slowed to a less breakneck speed.
He had made it; he was still alive and whole. He had just enough funds to get him a ticket out of this miserable part of the country and go find his mother. He wouldn't need to work any more menial labor, go on dangerous rides, and associate with uncouth heathens all for pennies. He was free.
He would just give the sheriff the details of the marauders at the station and be on his way out of town on the next stage by nightfall.
His ride into town caught the local law enforcement's attention without him having to unmount and locate him. Quickly he informed the town of the raiders' true identity. He watched the townsfolk form a posse from his saddle. His duty and obligation were complete, wouldn't his mother have a fit. He needed to go purchase a stage ticket.
"Not now," Ezra muttered as the world began to tilt. Vertigo overcame him as he fell from his mount. The turning world before his eyes went dark.
The bandits had closed ranks after Ezra slithered through their defenses. The men that had given chase had yet to return. The station was being overrun. Its defenders were running low on ammo. When the outlaws weren't shooting into the station they were raiding the property of anything of value. One man even stole clothes off of the clothesline.
"Ezra should have made it to town by now," J.D. gritted his teeth in pain as he tried once again to sit up.
"Damn, I knew we couldn't trust that cheat," Nathan huffed, as he pushed his patient down once more.
"He could have run into trouble," Buck spoke without looking away from his target.
"His pursuers would have returned if they'd managed to stop him," Josiah briefly closed his eyes and sent up a prayer of protection; he couldn't live with the thought of one of his boys being dead.
Vin cocked his head as he heard a loud noise, "Sounds like they blew the pass."
"That means helps gonna have to go around," Nettie said matter of factly. Time was not on their side. Nettie had settled in this wild country many years ago, she had quickly learned that it had no mercy on who lived and who died. The strong had a better chance of survival but it was no guarantee. Her boys were strong and they'd give one helluva a fight. She intended to fight beside them. To the death if necessary.
"That'll take time," Chris reloaded as he took in the enemy positions. They were in trouble and it was about to get worse. "Vin!" Chris called out. The young sharpshooter took out the threat before the man could light the fuse. The dynamite fell harmlessly to the ground from the cold dead fingers.
"I got it," Buck ran out the door before anyone could say anything. The station occupants rushed to cover the ducking and weaving figure.
J.D. left unattended pushed himself up and hobbled to join the action, grabbing an extra firearm.
"Buck!" J.D. shouted in warning, spotting a new threat appear on Buck's left. The outlaw was bringing up his gun as J.D. took careful aim and squeezed the trigger of his borrowed gun. J.D. slid down the wall in relief and fatigue as Buck barreled back through the door. "It ain't how quick you draw," J.D. muttered.
Buck carried him back to the table, "It's how deadly you shoot," They finished together.
"Thanks, kid," Buck patted his shoulder before taking the dynamite over to Chris to plan their next move.
"Vin I need you up high," Chris ordered.
The long-haired teen nodded before making his way up the stairs. Checking for any direct threat, he braced his sore ribs. He trusted Chris to watch his back as he made his way out the window and onto the roof. Panting at the twinge in his mostly healed chest, he winced but shook his head and got into position. He started taking down gunmen. He ducked down as the lead started flying his way. The others made their way quickly and quietly out of the building spreading out and taking position around the yard.
Vin was just taking down a man gunning for Josiah when he felt a bullet tear a chunk out of his arm. Lowering his rifle from the shock of the pain, he fought to stay on the roof. Tightening his grip on the gunstock he ignored the blood running down his arm. He searched for a new target.
Nathan was in trouble as a man snuck up behind him, kicking him to the ground with a gun thrust into his back. The former slave was ready to meet his maker when an unexpected savior shot the gun out of his attacker's hand.
"Nice shot Pard," Vin called, relieved Ezra had come back.
"Dreadful, I was aiming for his head," Ezra called back as he helped Nathan up and into a safer position next to Chris.
"You should have stayed in town," Chris looked him up and down. The younger boy's face was pale and pinched in pain. Yet here he was, back in one piece. Back in danger. He thought for sure Ezra would save his own skin whatever the cost.
Ezra grinned, he would never admit that he was worried about them, "I had to come back and retrieve my belongings."
"Buck," Chris ordered, with a nod, giving the go ahead to unleash the dynamite upon their enemies.
"Just don't blow up the son of a bitch who's wearing my coat." Ezra's clothes were on the clothesline the bandits raided.
The dark-haired boy grinned with a jaunty salute; lit the fuse and threw the explosive. As the smoke cleared a bugle could be heard. All the outlaws left standing ran. The Army gave chase without a second glance at the still-standing Pony Express Station.
Its defenders were left alone on the field of victory. They'd fought to defend their own and had won. Buck shook his head trying to clear the ringing in his ears as he helped Chris and Josiah deal with the dead and wounded raiders. Nathan had to be the one to help Ezra into a standing position. One look at his drawn face and swaying body had made the Southern a patient sitting next to the prone J.D. as the healer worked his magic.
"How do you fare after the treatment of that miscreant?" Ezra inquired of Nathan's health, concerned about the way the other boy hissed when he knelt down to check the younger boy's sore head.
"Jist bruised," Nathan's smile was as soft as his touch.
Ezra closed his eyes, content that all his fellow riders seemed to be in one piece. He heard Nettie offer to get some more water heated up and couldn't help a small smile of his own. Even the wizened old crone was safe. He would meet up with his mother, as soon as he healed up and secured more funds.
Nettie looked over her property. Between a smoking crater, dead bodies, and damage done by bullets and men it would take some work to fix things up. Good thing she had seven strong young men to put to work. As if summoning help she watched Vin descend from the roof and make his way over to help her with her bucket of well water.
"Yer bleeding," Nettie spoke gruffly trying to hide her concern for the soaked bandanna tied around the skinny arm.
"Jist a scratch," Vin's lifted his chin in a stubborn set.
Knowing the Texan well enough not to push instead she decided to lead him to Nathan's care and let him think it was his idea. She just nodded and reached for the bucket. Vin grabbed it with his good hand but offered the same arm to her. She took it and he leads her back towards her home.
"I ain't used to gentlemanly behavior," Nettie commented.
"Aw, hell, I ain't no gentleman, ma 'am. I just think a woman of your courage deserves an escort." Vin shrugged self-consciously, wincing slightly as he jostled his hurt arm.
"Ain't courage. It's my dander that's got up."
"Most folks don't like their homes being attacked," Vin stumbled slightly.
"I protect what's mine," Nettie spoke looking into Vin's blue eyes, not at the building she lived in. All seven of these boys were her's, but especially this shy, long-haired, blue-eyed, wild one. She intended to take care of him whether he wanted it or not.
Vin swallowed receiving her message loud and clear, "Yes Ma'am." He followed her into the Pony Express Station.