Vin woke slowly. He could hear some one else, near him. He knew he was in a room. He felt the stitch in his side and remembered that he'd been shot.
He listened and felt with his senses. He wore the lower half of his long johns, a sheet covered up to the middle of his chest. There was a wide bandage wrapped tightly around his waist. He was not in his bed; his bed was in a wagon parked off a side street. He could hear singing birds and smell fresh air. He though he heard a page turned and he opened his eyes. He was staring at a painted ceiling; he was at the boarding house where Nathan had his doctoring office. Moving his head slightly he saw Nathan sitting in a chair over next to the window. He was reading a thick black book.
He saw the dark head move, saw the boyish face turn toward him and then a wide smile came to the worried looking face. "You're awake?" He got to his feet, coming toward the bed.
Vin winced a smile as a he tried to move.
"You want to take it easy, you got a lot of stitches in your side, you dam near bled to death." Nathan stood over him. "You got to lay still fer a day or two."
Vin moved himself up in bed. He was sweating and shaky now but he was more comfortable. "How long have I been here?" He looked over at the pitcher of water. He felt stiff enough that it might have been a couple days.
Nathan saw the look and took a glass and poured some water. "Since last night." He handed Vin the water.
"How's Chris?" He took a long drink of the water.
"We moved him back to his room, he's resting. He's got a hell of a headache and the light is bothering his eyes but I kinda expected it."
"Who shot him?"
"The one you shot on the roof was a young red haired man, none of us know him. But, Josiah said there were two men on that roof. And they found a blood trail to where two horses had been stakedout."
Vin had set the glass on the table next to him and was feeling the bandages. It was a nice tight dressing. It would hold up. He lifted the sheet off his legs and swung them over the side of the bed. He saw his clothing hanging on the pegs on the wall at the head of the bed.
"Vin I really think---."
"Nathan the fellar who shot me is out there, and I don't take kindly to being ambushed." It took him the sentence to get to his feet and straightened up. He was near standing nose to nose with Nathan.
"You got to rest!" Nathan's dark eyes narrowed, his stuck his chin out and put his hands on his hips.
Vin turned his body slightly, reaching out he put a hand on Nathan's arm. He closed his right eye just a little. "I thank you for patching me up." He dropped his hand from Nathan's arm. "But who ever shot Chris and me is still out there, and the trail is getting cold."
" Buck is on the trail tracking---"
Vin gave a small shake of his head. "The only thing Buck can track is a woman..." He turned and gathered his cloths. He saw the shirt had been washed and patched. He could tell by the stitching that Nathan had done it, it probably looked exactly like the stitches in his side.
He moved back to the bed and carefully sat down. His side was hurting some.
"You lost a lot of blood, and that graze was a three inch gash." Nathan stood looking at him, knowing there was nothing short of knocking him unconscious to keep him down.
Vin remembered the bullet hitting him, there had been little pain, it had hurt but he'd been kicked a time or two and that had hurt worse then this. He got his shirt on, then pulled his jeans on. By the time he had his boots on, he felt real tuckered. But he had been watching Nathan and he knew that was what Nathan was waiting for.
Vin Tanner drew in a deep breath and stood up. He stepped back to the wall and slung his gun belt over is shoulder and took his hat from the last peg and set it on his head. He felt like a new born calf on real shaky legs but he headed to the door. "I want to talk to Chris and want to see the red haired fella."
"Your a stubborn man, Tanner." Nathan shook his head in wonderment. He could see the determination on Vin's face. He followed his comrade out the door.
A small smile touched Vin's eyes and lips. "So I been told." He made his way across the porch and down the stairs.
They knocked on Chris's door, hearing a muffled response. They entered. Josiah sat in the corner of the room, next to the window, reading from the bible. He closed it, rubbed his eyes and came to his feet. He nodded to Vin and Nathan. Noting the pensive expression on Nathan's dark face he knew Nathan had not won the argument with Vin. Vin's smooth easy mannerism was a little stiff and slow. He noted too that Vin's boyish face was drawn and pinched.
The three looked at the bed where Chris lay. There was a thick white bandage wrapped around his head. Nathan had changed the dressing before Chris had come over here to sleep. His blond hair poked around the edges of the bandage. His jaw line was unshaved and it gave him a rougher look. He lay with his head turned away from the light of the window. His bare chest rose and fell with a steady even breath.
"You been waking him every hour?" Nathan looked over at Josiah.
"Yeah and been asking him questions like you said. Takes him a few minutes but he answers me."
"Just don't let him sleep too long, he could not wake up." Nathan stepped to Chris and touching his wrist, felt for a pulse.
Vin glanced from one to the other. Not understanding what they were talking about.
Nathan saw the questioned look. "I'll tell ya downstairs." Nathan headed for the door.
Vin stood there for a long minute looking at Chris' still form and then nodded to Josiah and followed Nathan out of the room and down the hall. They left the hotel and went to the saloon.
Vin was ready to sit still for a few minutes. He eased himself into a chair and tried to find a position that was easy on his side.
"AH...Mr. Tanner... I see you are back among the living..." Ezra came walking down the steps from the rooms above the saloon. He stopped at the edge of the bar, lifting three mugs and the coffee pot he sauntered over to the table. Setting the mugs down, he flashed a smile. "Please allow me to play mother"
Nathan being an x-slave understood what Ezra meant. He smiled at the thought.
Vin slid him a sideways glance under the brim of his hat. "You ain't gonna sing are ya?" He moved a little in the chair, trying to find a comfortable spot.
"No, it means I'll pour the coffee." He gave Vin a look of quiet patience at his lack of knowledge of the gentler ways.
Nathan pulled a steaming cup of coffee to him, pushing the other one toward Vin who nodded his thanks.
Ezra put the coffee pot back on the bar and then joined the others. When he had tasted the coffee he looked from Vin to Nathan. "I take it your persuasive powers did not work?" He brushed some lint from his jacket; he wore a dark waist coat today, knowing he would be riding with Vin.
"He's stubborn, hard headed."
"You said that already!" Vin narrowed his eyes at Nathan. His voice was a raspy growl. He sipped at the coffee, liking the burning that went down his throat. "This red haired feller, he have any papers on him."
"No but he had two twenty dollar gold pieces on him." Ezra set the mug down. "JD's got them locked up over in the jail."
"What about the Sharps rifle...?"
"Other man must of took it with him." Nathan was watching the color drain from Vin's cheeks.
Vin knew Nathan was keeping an eagle eye on him, he straightened and very carefully leaned forward, using his elbows to prop himself up on the table. It seemed to take the strain off his side.
"Where were their horses tied at?" Vin didn't allow anything to register across his face.
Nathan moved closer. "Josiah said they were stakedout about a hundred yards behind the building." Nathan just knew Vin was going to pass out.
Vin looked at the coffee for a minute and then picked the mug up and downed the hot brew. "Well, day lights a burning…" He used his arms to get to his feet.
"I will be riding with you." Ezra got to his feet.
Nathan watched as Vin came to his feet and walked out of the Saloon. He saw Ezra look at him and he shrugged a shoulder. "Keep an eye on him. I can't believe he's still standing!" His voice carried the wonderment he felt. He'd almost bet Ezra that Vin wouldn't even get out of bed, and he'd have more then lost that bet.
Ezra strolled after Vin, noting that the other was walking much slower then he normally did. "The deceased is at the undertakers." He watched as Vin stepped down off the boardwalk and headed down the street. With three quick steps he was next to him and matching his stride. They were headed for the undertakers place. "I have our horses already saddled and waiting at the stable Mr. Tanner."
Vin heard Nathan following them, he looked over at Ezra. "You ain't going Ezra; you'll just slow me down."
Nathan's voice came from behind them. "Oh yeah! He's going!"
Vin gave him a sideways glance. He didn't move his head, just his eyes. "You saddled my horse?"
"Yes, and I placed provisions in both our saddle bags and brought your bed roll and ground tarp from your wagon. I also purchased extra rounds of cartridges for all our weapons." He stepped up onto the undertakers walk, stopped and turned and faced Vin.
Vin gave Ezra a sideways glance, then looked at Nathan. He knew he would have to let him win this one. He could see by the look in Nathan's dark brown eyes that if he argued with him, he'd loose. Vin straightened and let a breath out. "Well then let's get going."
He walked into the undertakers; saw the body of a red haired boy of about nineteen or twenty. The boy was dressed in home spun clothes and farmers clogs. He did not recognize him.
Vin headed out of the room hearing the undertaker ask if he could bury the body now. "Yeah." He set his focus on the stable. He'd get his horse and then start on the trail. He could hear Nathan giving instructions to Ezra as they followed him down the board walk. He could hear Ezra's soft southern accent saying the words I will with every other step.
They walked into the barn and there were two horses saddled. Vin's stripped face black, Peso and Ezra's bay. Both horses ears pricked up, as their riders came toward them.
"I saddled them when I saw you going to Mr. Larabee's room, figured you'd want to get on the trail." His southern accent was soft. He could tell by the way Vin was moving that he wasn't feeling all that good, but he also knew Vin was a determined man. He knew he had saved Vin a lot of energy by having everything ready to ride.
"I can saddle my own horse Ezra!" There was anger in Vin's voice as he untied the reins from the post where his horse stood, turned and walked back past a confused Ezra. Ezra looked to Nathan who shrugged his shoulders and followed Vin out of the stable.
Ezra stood there a moment looking at Vin as he walked out of the stable.
He knew Vin was a little funny about taking care of his own horse.
X7X7X7 X7X7X7X7 X7X7X7
Chris Larabee woke to a darkened room. Moonlight shone in through the window. His head hurt still and there was a strange sensation running from the middle of his forehead around to the right side and behind his eyes. He lay still and listened to the room. There was someone over in the corner, sleeping. They were slouched in a chair and their head was tilted back and soft snoring sounds were filling the room.
It felt late.
He slowly started to stretch and move his muscles. Gently at first, tensing and then letting them relax. He worked his arms first and then his shoulders, that made his head hurt a little more but not bad. He worked his way down to his feet. He had been tensing and relaxing and then he started all over again. This time working them a little harder, all except his shoulders and neck. He could tolerate the headache right now and he had also seen that the bottle of laudanum was over on his dresser.
When he was ready he pulled the covers from him and sat up in the bed. The snoring hesitated, then started again and Chris thought he saw JD but the room seemed hazy in the moonlight. Chris remained still and the snoring started again.
Chris sat still for several minutes. Letting the headache and the spinning of the darkness ease, he waited before he tried to move again. He wore his jeans. Taking a deep breath, he got to his bare feet. The headache and the dizziness increased. He sat back down. A pounding in his head made the sweat pop out on his forehead, he felt a roll of nausea.
He felt his stomach kind of lurch. There was a blinding flash of pain in his head and he felt himself falling. He heard a cry of pain and then everything was still.
JD leaped to his feet, there had been a thud and an outcry. He had relieved Josiah just after Vin had left, sitting there with nothing to do he had quickly fallen asleep. He blinked at the sunlight streaming through the window. Chris was not in the bed. He heard a moan and moved a couple steps and saw Chris's crumpled body on the other side of the bed on the floor.
"Damn..!" He saw Chris trying to get up. JD took three quick steps and was at his side. "Easy Chris..." Reaching down he helped Chris back up onto the bed. "Easy...lay back...easy." He cradled the back of Chris's head in his hand and gently laid his head back on the pillow.
Chris's face was pale; his lips were as pale as his face. JD saw his green eyes blink several times.
"Light the lamp JD...I can't see anything..." Chris put his hands to his head. His head was pounding, it felt like lightening bolts going off inside his brain.
JD straightened; his expressive brown eyes showed the shock he felt. JD opened his mouth to say something, but shut it. He saw the panic grow across Chris's face as Chris passed a hand in front of his eyes. "Let me get Nathan…"
JD leaped for the door, Nathan and Josiah had taken the room across from Chris. JD threw open the door and stepped across the hall, pounding on the door.
Nathan opened the door. He was shocked by the flushed face and the wide frightened brown eyes.
JD grabbed him by the arm and started pulling him across the hallway.
"He's blind..." he whispered it. "Chris is blind, says he can't see."
X7X7X7 X7X7X7X7 X7X7X7
Vin had followed both sets of tracks. Those that led from the building and Buck's grey. He had looked at Buck's horses tracks enough that he knew it was the grey horse that was parallel the other's tracks. Vin was grateful that Buck had sense enough not to ride right over the tracks. About an hour out, the tracks went over some hard rock and Vin pulled his black up and stepped out of the saddle. He didn't say anything; he had not spoken since they had left the town. He knew Ezra was there to bring him back when he went down. Well he was a Tanner and he wasn't going to do that. He had been chewing on some jerked elk since they had left and he knew the dried meat would help strengthen his blood. He followed the tracks with the off-set step. Buck's grey walked flat, over stepping his front tracks with his hind by half a shoe. The other horse they followed stepped short, leaving two distinct prints, front and back.
He gave Buck credit; he had followed the trail well up to this point. But over the hard rock the double shoe prints suddenly vanished. But Vin knew what had happened. Who ever was riding the other horse was smart, he had stopped, covered the iron on his horse's feet and turned and gone at a right angle.
Vin didn't mount, he walked for a ways. He did it for two reasons. His side hurt like hell and his vision was a little fuzzy and he wanted to be sure he saw the scuff marks where the horse had stepped with his covered feet.
"Buck went the other way?" Ezra had left Vin to his silence, but seeing the tracks going the other way he was curious.
"The other feller went this way." Vin was surprised how much effort it took to talk. He walked on another quarter mile, leading the black. He found a scuff mark where the shoe was starting to wear through. He turned and stepped to his horse and mounted. Swallowing the pain, he rode on.
Ezra looked at the buckskin clad man. Suddenly glad that Vin wasn't on his trail. They rode on into the day.
X7X7X7 X7X7X7X7 X7X7X7
"SIT STILL!" Nathan raised his voice again. Dealing with an injured Chris was one thing, but a blind Chris was past his patience. "You got to let me look..."
Chris swept an arm in front of him and felt it brush against Nathan. "Get away from me!" Anger vibrated from his very being. He tried to come off the chair he had been placed in.
Josiah placed his hands once more on top of Chris shoulders and pushed him back down into the chair. This time he did not remove them. He leaned down and spoke close to Chris ear. "If you persist I will tie you to the chair." He felt Chris flex his shoulders as if to move and Josiah clamped his hands down in a tight squeeze. He felt the shoulders muscles tighten again, as if testing and then he relaxed.
Josiah nodded to Nathan.
Nathan sighed. "Ok…I'm gonna shine the miner's lamp at you eyes..." He bent down close to Chris's face and drew the bright lamp with the reflector toward Chris's eyes. He saw Chris flinch and the pupils reacted slowly.
"It's blurry, I can't make out anything." There was anger and bitterness in his voice.
"But you can see a little light?" Nathan felt hope.
"Yeah but it's like I'm looking through a window that's real dirty or smoked." He moved slightly, feeling Josiah's strong hands tighten down. Rage flashed through his mind, he capped it.
"Well I ain't positive but I think you getting up and trying to move has caused the problem."
Chris listened to the voice as it moved away from in front of him; he knew Nathan had moved back.
"I've got some salve and I'm gonna cover your eyes in it and put a bandage over them. Gonna have to be real still for a few days and then I'll check your sight again."
"I'll get my sight back?" Chris turned his head slightly, listening for any noise in the room. The silence near drove him to the breaking point.
"I think so---"
"YOU THI---" He tired to come out of the chair, rage driving him on. He felt two very strong arms wrap around his body pinning his arms to his sides, lifting him off the floor, moving him away from the chair.
That deep, confident, strong voice spoke near his ear again. "Nathan's doing the best he can." Josiah held Chris for a long minute, until the other was through fighting.
"Chris..." Nathan motioned for Josiah to put Chris back down. "The more you struggle and get angry the more chances you have of doing permanent damage. I think that you getting up and moving this soon cause some swelling to occur and that's why you can't see. Just gonna have to lay still and be real quiet."
Chris heard the words but the anger and rage was still there. He was blind. Blind. He felt himself placed back in the chair.
"I'm gonna put the salve on and bandage your eyes. I don't want you taking the bandages off and no bright light, were gonna keep the shades down and the room dark. And you will lay still and keep quiet!" He watched the emotions range over Chris's face as he spoke. He didn't like what he saw, but Chris remained still and cooperative.
Nathan took the salve that JD had gone and fetched from his doctoring room and he dipped his hand into the jar. "Ok...This is gonna be cool and might even feel good." He felt Chris jerk as he touched his face, and then he was still.
Nathan placed cloth pads over both of Chris's eyes and then placed a bandage around his eyes and head. He looked at his handiwork. Chris had a bandage around his forehead and one around his eyes. "Now I want you to get back in bed and you are going to stay there until I tell you, you need to be still."
He reached down and placed a hand on the bare shoulder, feeling Chris startle at the touch. "I think you got a good chance of getting your sight back, but you've got to be real quiet and no moving around for a couple days." He straightened and nodded for Josiah to let Chris up.
Chris came to his feet, anger in every fiber of his being. He stood there wanting to strike out, wanting to rip something apart.
"Chris..." Nathan's voice came from in front of his. "I want you to drink some of this. It will help with the headache." Nathan lied. It would put Chris to sleep. "Put your hand out and I will hand the glass to you."
"I don't want anything." Chris tried to move forward and felt Josiah's hands go to his shoulder. "Chris..." his voice was soft. "Drink it and get some rest. The sooner you get well, the faster the bandages come off."
Chris stood between the two men. He felt totally helpless, he was blind. He put his hand out and felt the glass placed in his palm. He closed his hand around the glass and brought it to his face. It took him a second but he got the glass to his lips and drank the liquid down in one swallow. He thrust his hand out and felt the glass taken from him. He turned toward where he thought the bed was and felt a guiding hand touch his elbow. He jerked his elbow away and just about fell over his own feet. He felt hands grab and steady him. He allowed them to help him to the bed. He lay down and stewed in the silence that followed.
Josiah left the room, stepping outside he was met by JD and Mary Travis; there was worry in both their eyes.
"Nathan thinks it's temporary."
"Can I see him?" Mary's blue green eyes were a real watery blue.
"Nathan gave him something to sleep, maybe later..."
They turned and headed down the hall way.