The dancing couples continued to glide across the floor. Ezra hurriedly started the record over as it reached the end.
Sydney Crooks took in the scene in front of him, "What's that buffoon think he's doing? Pretending to dance with a ghost? Does he really think I'll fall for such a simple ploy?" he muttered to no one in particular.
Josiah, overhearing the pompous man, just shook his head and chuckled. Some can't see beyond the nose on their face.
Once more, the song came to an end. Hilda touched Buck's cheek and gave a beautiful smile before vanishing.
"What was that all about?" Chris asked as he sauntered to the side of his long time friend.
"120 years she's waited….Hell of a long time to wait for a dance," Buck smiled, wiping the tears from his eyes. "He must have been a hell of a man….whoever it was she waited for."
"Guess she just couldn't resist that animal magnetism of yours," Chris teased.
Vin walked over and held out his hands. "Here you go Pard," Chris smiled and carefully placed the carving into Tanner's hands. Vin repositioned Pony against his chest, cradled by his left arm. Chris stayed perfectly still when Tanner's right hand came up and his fingers traced Chris' face. The boy's hand dropped back to his side and he rocked himself a moment.
"Touch him back," Josiah directed softly.
"Pard?" Chris hesitantly grasped Vin's right forearm.
Tanner immediately returned the touch, grabbing Chris' forearm in a desperate grasp creating a double bond. The shaggy head lifted and the sapphire eyes met Larabee's jade gaze.
"Cowboy? Chris?" Vin asked clearly.
"Right here, Vin. I'm right here," Chris responded.
"Lost," Vin sighed before his eyes lost focus and his hand slid free. Tanner turned, walked over to Nettie, and sat down on the rug where he began to rock. Holding Pony tightly and stroking the carved figure, Vin's rocking now had a visibly more agitated rhythm.
"Autistic, my ass," Josiah growled into the stunned silence.
Have I kept you caged by not having more men in your life? Or did it need to be these particular men? "Oh Vin," Nettie whispered, wiping tears off her face. Straightening, she turned to face Josiah. "I'll be bringing Vin to see you Dr. Sanchez. My boy needs to be led home."
"I'll be more than happy to see you both," Josiah smiled warmly.
"Are you alright, Stud?" Buck unobtrusively eased the shaken Larabee away from everyone and led him over to a window.
"It was like he was back for just a second," Chris commented shakily.
"I reckon Junior was there for a bit," Buck agreed.
"No, not Tanner: Elf. Do you remember when he'd bring me Peso to hold for him?" Chris's voice was choked with emotion.
"It's been along time since you mentioned Elf," Buck reminded hesitantly.
"Fifteen years. Why did Tanner bring the memories back? Chayton was just a baby," Chris shivered. "Damn this house."
"It's not the house. I thought of Elf as soon as I saw that wooden pony. The way Vin handed you his pony so he could dance. I can still see Elf handing you or Kester his pony to keep safe. Kid never let that thing out of his sight from the time Kester made it for him. You weren't his brother Chris; you were his daddy. Elf didn't trust James even as little as he was. He'd never let him hold Peso. The way James was drinking, I can't blame the little guy. It's time for you to remember that boy. Hell of a note to be forgotten forever," Buck chided.
"I NEVER forgot him," Chris hissed furiously. "He was my little brother."
"You never talk about him, Chris." Buck held his ground.
"I should have done something," Larabee muttered.
"It ain't your fault Chris. Your old man never tried to physically hurt the Elf or Salvia. I thought you were the one in danger. He wasn't even supposed to be in town that day," Buck growled.
"Sometimes I still hear him calling me," Chris stared out the window, avoiding Buck's sympathetic gaze.
"Nothing wrong with you hearing him, Stud. It's pretty normal. I never told you, but I found Peso. Found it after you left for basic training. When I saw Elf's pony sitting there, I knew you'd want it back eventually. It was in Kester's workshop," Buck said.
"You found the pony?" Chris turned with a stunned look.
"If you want, I'll give it to you when we go home. It and Elf's cowboy hat and boots," Buck smiled shakily.
"But I threw them away," Chris breathed in disbelief.
"I fished 'em out of the trash. I wasn't letting you throw that boy away," Buck growled. "He was my little brother too." Buck reminded tearfully. "Hell Chris, he teethed on my first little black book."
The two men stood in silence for a while, looking out at the dark garden.
"I can still see him standing there with that little jaw all thrust out. Salvia was trying not to laugh herself sick or let either of you see how amused she was. You were trying your darnedest to get that hat and boots off the boy so he could get a bath. You never intimidated him at all," Buck reminded softly.
"Yeah, he loved playing old west," Chris smiled shakily.
"Never could figure out why he didn't want to be called a cowboy though," Buck laughed, shaking his head. "Remember the time you paddled him for getting into the chocolate?" Buck sniggered.
"He wasn't much more than two," Chris' lips twitched. "How in hell he climbed on top of the overhead cabinets I never did figure out. Scared the bejesus out of me."
"When he stuck out his tongue and called you a cowboy . . . like it was some kind of obscenity . . ." Buck laughed at the memory.
"Salvia warmed his behind big time for that," Chris chuckled. "She was easy going, but wouldn't stand for any disrespect."
"Good thing too, 'cause we'd have let him get away with it," Buck admitted.
"It was the only time I ever spanked Chayton," Chris huffed. "Salvia gave me a talking to over it later."
"Salvia? What in the world for? She was always after us to make Elf mind," Buck demanded.
"Said I should have put the chocolate on the honor system instead of hiding it," Chris said sheepishly.
"Damnedest little kid! Young as he was, if he promised to leave it alone, you could have left it on the coffee table," Buck wiped away a few tears that threatened to fall.
"I wish . . ." Chris sighed tiredly.
"Yeah, I sure miss the little shit. He'd be about JD's age now, wouldn't he?" Buck asked.
"Guess maybe so," Chris sighed.
77777777777
"I'm going to check the equipment," Bruce muttered. "It's kind of obvious Professor Crooks isn't going too."
"I'll get the readouts from over by the windows," Casey offered. "After all, this is why we came."
"Do what ever you want. I have no intention of playing 'Ghost Buster'," Cedric sniffed.
"Then why did you come, Kilkenny?" Tony Delga demanded shortly.
"For extra class credit," Cedric smirked.
"To get out of Denver until his Daddy calms down," Angel muttered.
"Another paternity suit," Bruce explained to Casey.
"The tramp should have gotten an abortion like I told her," Cedric snorted unrepentantly.
7777777
"Casey, where's Vin?" Nettie asked sharply, returning from the bathroom.
"He's right over there by Mary . . .," Casey stared at the empty spot in dismay. "He was playing with Pony, Aunt Nettie. He was calm as can be."
"Let's be finding that boy. Casey, you know that child can disappear in a heartbeat if he takes a mind to. Don't fret on it now," Nettie comforted her niece as the pair started to search.
"I'll go with you." JD grabbed a rope and several flashlights. "Ms. Travis said the electric wasn't dependable."
"Thank you, son, I wasn't thinking clear," Nettie smiled shakily, taking the offered flashlight.
"Slow down. Buck, go with Casey and JD. I'll go with Nettie," Chris ordered.
"I'll help look," Tony grabbed up a light. "Where should I search, Mr. Larabee?"
"I'm going with you." Angel straightened determinedly.
"That's a good idea; Vin isn't comfortable around me," Tony agreed.
"I'll go with Tony and Angel," Josiah picked up a rope and flashlight.
"I shall go as well," Ezra sighed with a look of exasperation. "The sooner young Mr. Tanner is located, the sooner I can have some peace and quiet."
"We can make another search party," Nathan agreed, grabbing up a few more lights and a third rope.
"I'll go with the Doc and Standish," Bruce walked over to the pair.
"Chris, I'm with you," Mary moved over to join Nettie and Chris.
Crooks huffed and settled onto one of the couches. "Like any stray, he'll return at mealtime," he commented to no one in particular.
"I'm not wandering around looking for the dummy," Cedric sniffed, turning his back to the assembled teams.
"Get real," Ivy snapped and began investigating the snacks Nettie had set out earlier.
"Fine! Buck, your group can search the east wing. Josiah, you take the south wing. Nathan, Ezra, and Bruce have the west wing. We'll take the kitchen and the servant's quarters. Nobody goes upstairs or outside. If you find evidence that Vin's done either, whistle. If we don't find him we all meet back at the main staircase and go up from there," Chris handed out assignments.
"Does everyone have someone on their team that can whistle?" Nettie demanded.
"Nettie?"
"I can whistle, so can Casey." Nettie said distractedly, looking into the great hall.
"I can whistle," JD said.
"If you can whistle, raise your hand," Chris ordered.
Bruce and Nathan raised their hands as well as Buck.
"Never could whistle," Josiah admitted.
"Me neither," Tony shrugged.
"Ok, time to rearrange groups," Chris muttered.
A sharp whistle rang out, startling everyone.
Angel pulled the two fingers out of her mouth. "I didn't know if I still could," she admitted sheepishly.
"No need to rearrange things. I think they can hear that in Denver." Chris nodded at the noticeably more self-assured young woman while tugging on his ear.
The four groups set off in search of the missing Tanner.
7777777
"It is highly improbable that Mr. Tanner will respond to our vociferation. I would propose that we search each room meticulously," Ezra said.
"Standish, cut out the big words, alright. You don't have to impress us," Nathan huffed.
"He's upset, haven't you noticed Mr. Standish gets more verbose when he's off balance," Bruce looked over at Nathan in surprise.
"Verbose? The man's a walking dictionary," Nathan huffed. The kid's right, Standish uses words like a smokescreen.
"This can wait, let's find Vin," Ezra scowled.
"Why yes, Mr. Standish, let us proceed with all due haste," Nathan teased gently.
7777777
"Stay together and remember Vin won't answer us. He could even actively hide," Josiah reminded his team as they fastened their rope to the newel post on the main staircase.
7777777
"Listen for him, we should be able to hear him walking around," JD cocked his head.
"JD, Vin's awful soft footed. He barely makes a noise when he moves," Casey answered.
"I can't 'feel' him at all. Damn if I know how he does that," Buck muttered.
"Can you ask the walls where he went or something?" Casey asked JD hopefully.
"I can try." JD reached out to touch the door knob as they entered the first room.
7777777
"We'll find him, Ms. Nettie," Chris said with determination as he led Mary and the worried woman in search of the missing Vin.
"Only if he wants to be found," Nettie chewed her lip nervously.
"He does this often?" Chris asked in concern, remembering the difficulty of keeping track of one small boy so many years ago.
"No, only when I'm taking him to the doctor, and he never leaves the house," Nettie answered shakily.
7777777
"Standish, what do you think you're doing?" Nathan muttered, righting himself after nearly walking into the now motionless man.
"We seem to have acquired a guide," Ezra announced softly. "Should we trust him?"
"A ghost?" Bruce demanded nervously.
"A rather distinguished Native American gentleman. He greets us with hostility," Ezra smiled faintly.
"He's angry?" Bruce squeaked.
"It seems to be intended as humor," Ezra's smile widened. "Mr. Tanner is in this direction."
"Following ghosts in a haunted house. What would my momma say? She raised me to be a good Baptist," Nathan muttered as he trailed Ezra, Bruce and what appeared to be a bluish glow.
"Vin!" Ezra breathed a sigh of relief after spotting the slender youngster seated on the floor of the game room. A huge mahogany billiard table was positioned at one end of the comfortable looking room. Several card tables and a liquor cabinet were at the other end. Comfortable chairs were scattered in front of the fireplace where a fire burned cheerily.
"Vin, why did you wander off?" Ezra knelt down by the oblivious Tanner. "It's time to go back to Nettie," Ezra gently lifted Vin to his feet. Tanner's soft humming ceased abruptly. "No! We need to find the rest of our group," Ezra held onto Vin's elbow as the boy tried to sit once more.
"He's fixated on a new friend," Nathan called softly from the doorway.
"What?" Ezra asked just as softly.
"He was playing with that dragon," Bruce agreed, pointing at the two foot long cast iron dragon.
"You want the dragon, Vin?" Ezra tried to connect with Vin.
"Buck seemed to reach him by doing that finger peeking thing," Nathan reminded.
Ezra raised a hand before Vin's face and spread his fingers.
"Dragon," Vin said clearly before pushing Ezra's hand down.
"Don't think Larabee will mind, we'll just take it with us," Nathan walked over and picked up the dragon with a grunt. "Couldn't have picked something light, could you?"
"Mr. Babcock, would you be so kind as to alert the others?" Ezra requested.
Bruce immediately stepped into the hallway and whistled shrilly.
"It would appear he has lost none of his attachment to Pony, despite finding a new friend." Ezra noted as Vin clutched the wooden toy to his chest.
"Back to the drawing room." Bruce began gathering in the rope. Ezra led Vin as Nathan brought up the rear, carrying the heavy dragon.
Nettie stood tapping her toe angrily as Vin and crew arrived.
"Vin Tanner!" she snapped.
Vin pulled free from Ezra and reached for Nettie.
"Oh Vin, what am I going to do with you?" Nettie asked tearfully as she grasped the offered hand.
"Mr. Tanner's walkabout may have been fortuitous. His wanderings led to a cozier room which is significantly warmer than the one we currently inhabit," Ezra revealed to the growing crowd as the search groups returned.
"Still plenty big, but it's warmer than in here," Nathan agreed.
"You heard them, let's move," Chris ordered.
7777777
Despite Sydney Crooks complaints, the intrepid ghost hunters moved to the game room.
"It would be best to set a watch on the door so Vin doesn't go exploring again," Chris growled. How'd he get by everyone in the first place?
Vin sat watching the gas log with Pony on his lap, using both hands to pet the dragon. Lost once more to the world around him, Tanner began humming an unfamiliar tune.
Vin tilted his head back and smiled when Mary stroked his hair for a moment before getting waylaid by Sydney Crooks. Only Ezra seemed to take note of the ghostly guardian across the room, silently watching the young man. Vin seems to have acquired a powerful protector. From what does he require protecting? First Hilda and now Kojae.