Kiss of Death----18
Ezra had seen the newcomer's arrival, but before he could join them he'd noticed movement between the hotel and the building next door. He'd stayed back in the shadows even after hearing the gunshots and knew the shape was that of a woman. He followed until she reached the livery and entered to find her hastily trying to saddle a horse.
"I do not think that a hasty exit is in the cards today, Miss Tate," Standish warned as he released the mechanism that allowed the small gun to rest easily in his hand.
"Who the hell are you?" Tate asked as she sought out the figure bathed in darkness.
"My moniker would not be familiar to you, but suffice it to say I am extremely appalled at your treatment of my friends."
"Friends?"
"Correct. Mr. Larabee and Mr. Wilmington to be precise. Now kindly step away from the horse and place your hands over your head!" Standish warned.
"You have no right!"
"I beg to differ, Miss Tate…"
"My name is Mrs. Angela Wilmington and you have no right to stop me!"
"Wrong, Miss Tate. You gained that name through blackmail amongst other things and therefore you do not deserve the true worth of the Wilmington name. Now, I do not wish to argue further and beside, your incarceration in the Midfield jail is something I wish to witness."
"You won't get away with this!"
"Watch me," the gambler said with a grin as he motioned the woman ahead of him. They stepped into the street to find several people still milling about and Sheriff Rawlings explaining what was happening. He led her towards the gathered throng and smiled as the lawman moved towards them.
"Where did you find her?"
"Miss Tate was about to make a hasty exit, but I persuaded her she should stay and face the consequences of her actions."
"I did nothing wrong," the woman protested and turned to the people she lived amongst. "You all know me and you know I'd never hurt anyone."
"Sorry, Angela, but no one is going to believe that after seeing Chris Larabee."
"Buck's friend? You found him?" Tate asked as if she truly cared about the man's welfare.
"Yes, Buck's friends are here and they followed Turner…"
"I'll kill that sonofabitch!" she cursed and realized she'd spoken aloud.
"Sheriff, I'd like to check on Mr. Larabee's condition," Standish said in disgust.
"You go ahead, Ezra. I'll lock this one up and she can take care of her friend while she's in there," Rawlings explained.
"What happened to Rosie?" Tate asked worriedly.
"She was shot while trying to make you a widow. Ezra, doc's house is at the end of town," Rawlings said as he grabbed the woman's arm and dragged her towards the jail.
Ezra turned away and headed towards the house in question as people mulled about still trying to make sense of what had happened. He pushed open the gate and hurried up to the partially open door.
"Hello."
"Ezra, we're in here!" Tanner called and nodded to the gambler as he entered.
"Mr. Wilmington, I wished to inform you of Angela Tate's incarceration."
"You found her?" Wilmington asked, watching as the physician finished draining bloodied discharge from Larabee's side.
"Indeed. She was trying to leave, but I followed her and turned her over to Sheriff Rawlings," Standish explained.
"Thank God," the gentle rogue said and sagged as the laudanum laced drink he'd been given worked its magic and he lost consciousness.
"About time. Put him in the bed by the window!" Morton ordered. He watched as Sanchez and Standish lifted the big man between them and carried him to the bed. Shaking his head at the stubbornness exhibited by the injured man and wondered at the bond of friendship he was witnessing.
"Doc, will he be all right?" Tanner asked.
"He'll be fine. Josiah cleaned the wound and I'll take a closer look as soon as I finish with Chris," the physician answered.
"What about Chris?" the Texan asked.
"I'll do all I can for him, but you need to know he's in bad shape. Aside from the bullet wounds he has a broken arm and more bruises than I can count. I know he's had one blow to the head and God only knows what kind of damage that caused."
"Chris is just as stubborn as Buck," Sanchez observed as he straightened the blanket over the mustached man.
"Then he's got that going for him." Morton finished placing a new bandage over Larabee's side and turned his attention to the wound in his right thigh. Again he drained and cleaned the wound before placing a new bandage over it.
"What about his fever?" Tanner asked.
"Gerald should be here anytime with the ice!" Morton answered. "We'll also keep wiping him down and hopefully keeping his wounds clean will also help bring the fever down. I'll need all of you to help make sure he's kept cool and make sure he's drinking when he does wake up. I'll have several different teas brewing and they'll help with pain and fever! I'll also talk with Miss Collins about making broth for him."
"Thanks, Doc," Sanchez said as the door opened and several men walked in carrying buckets.
"Figured ya'd need this stuff chipped off," Carlton said as he placed a bucket beside the bed.
"Thanks, Gerald, this is perfect. Vin, Josiah, I need you two to start putting some ice in the towels and pack them around Chris. Ezra, bring me a basin of clean water while I check on Buck!"
"Certainly, doctor," Standish said and hurried to carry out the physician's orders.
Morton removed the bandage from Wilmington's arm and winced at the raw wound underneath. It would take several stitches to close it and the man would need a sling for a few days, but he should regain total use of his arm if he took care of it. He turned to see Sanchez and Tanner placing the towels around Larabee's body and hoped this action would help bring down the fever.
M7M7M7M7M7M7M7
Through the long night the men continued to care for the injured men, changing the towels and putting fresh ice in them as Larabee's fever raged. Wilmington continued to sleep through the activity as the draught he'd been given continued to hold him in a deep sleep. Morton had retired for the night once he knew the three men would care for their friends.
Josiah knew they had to get a message back to Four Corners and let Nathan and JD know what was happening. He turned towards the door as it opened and the sheriff entered the room.
"How are they?" Rawlings asked.
"Buck's still sleeping, but he should be waking up anytime," the ex-preacher answered.
"Chris?"
"No change. Fever's still sappin' his strength!" Tanner answered from where he sat beside the injured blond.
"I had Lottie at the hotel contact Judge Travis about the prisoners. Told her one of you boys might be over later to send a message to Four Corners," the sheriff explained.
"Thanks, Evan," Sanchez said.
"You boys should hear Turner."
"What's he up ta?" the Texan asked.
"He's tellin' everyone what those two did and says he's willing to tell the Judge as soon as he gets here."
"When will Travis get here?"
"He's in Eagle Bend this week so I'm expecting him to get back to me later today. Hopefully he'll be able to clear his slate and get here by the end of the week or beginning of next. I'd rather get this over with as quickly as possible."
"Sounds like a plan," the ex-preacher told him as a sound escaped from the blond.
"Easy, Cowboy, just lie still," Tanner warned as he held the blond's hand. Even with the ice the fever still had a tight grip on the injured man.
"H…hap…happened?"
"You got yerself hurt, but doc says ya'll be fine if'n we can keep ya drinkin'," the Texan explained.
"H…horse p…piss," Larabee groaned.
"Pro'bly," Tanner said with a grin as Richard Morton entered the room.
"Well, it's good to see you awake, Chris. How are you feeling?"
"Hot…cold…not sure," the blond answered tiredly.
"That's probably because of the fever and the ice. Vin, did you get him something to drink?"
"Josiah's getting it now," Tanner said as the ex-preacher returned to the bed.
"Bring him some water too," the physician ordered as the Texan lifted Larabee's head and he fed him the Willow Bark tea. They managed to get the patient to drink most of the tea and some of the broth sent over by Martha Collins.
Chris knew they were trying to help him, but he was in too much pain to acknowledge them for now. He felt himself losing touch with reality as he sipped the small amount of water in the cup. Energy spent, Chris closed his eyes and slept once more.
M7M7M7M7M7M7M7
Josiah straightened his back as he made his way towards the hotel. He needed to send a telegram to Four Corners and let Nathan and JD know what was happening. Buck was still sleeping, due to exhaustion more than anything else. Chris had awakened several times during the long night, but never seemed to be fully with them. He pushed open the door and spotted a matronly woman standing behind the desk.
"Miss Lottie?"
"That would be me. Is there something I can help you with?"
"I'd like to send a telegram to Four Corners," Sanchez answered.
"Very well. What do you want it to say?"
"Chris and Buck found. Chris hurt bad. Town doc says he should be okay. Sanchez."
"Very good. I'll send it now and let you know when I hear back from them," Lottie told him.
"Thank you, Ma'am," the ex-preacher said, tipping his hat before heading back towards the physician's residence. He nodded to several townspeople that he recognized and answered their queries about Buck Wilmington and Chris Larabee. As he pushed open the doctor's door he heard the familiar voice of their resident ladies' man.
"Vin, I said I'm fine!"
"Doc says ya need ta rest!"
"I will…"
"Good, glad that's settled!"
"No, it's not! Damn it!"
"Is there a problem?" Sanchez asked as he looked at the two men.
"No!"
"Yes," Tanner corrected.
"What's wrong?"
"Mr. Wilmington wishes to pay a visit to the woman who claims to be his beloved wife, while Mr. Tanner insists that he should wait!" Ezra explained from his position next to Larabee's bed. He was leaning back on the chair with his legs stretched out and resting on the windowsill. A soft breeze wafted through the partially open window and he smiled at the newcomer.
"Buck, you sure you're up to seeing Angela?" Sanchez asked.
"I'm sure, Josiah. I need to do this!"
"All right, but I'll come along and make sure…"
"I don't need protection!"
"I know you don't, but can you guarantee that you won't strangle her if you get the chance?" the older man asked.
"No…no I can't," Wilmington told them as he ran his fingers through disheveled hair. He turned his gaze on the unconscious gunslinger and marked in his mind each and every wound on the man's body. If given the chance he knew he could easily strangle the woman who had professed to love him and would die a happy man having done so.
"I guess that mean you need an escort," Sanchez said and saw the quick nod of the dark head. He watched as Wilmington made his way to Larabee's bed and placed his hand on the blonds' right shoulder. The heat he felt emanating from the injured man scared him and he knew they would continue to pack the ice around him in an effort to get the fever under control. "Hang on, Pard, 'cause I ain't gonna let her away with what they did to you."
Sanchez heard the softly spoken vow and waited for the gentle rogue to join him. Together they walked out of the doctor's office and down the street to the jail. The sun had gone behind a cloud, but the heat was still rising with the approach of noon. He pushed open the door and allowed Wilmington to enter before him and nodded a greeting to the sheriff.
"How are you feeling, Buck?" Rawlings asked.
"Better. Came to see Angela."
"Are you sure about that, Buck?" Rawlings asked and knew his long time friend was indeed serious about going to see his wife.
"Yeah, I need to make sure she knows how much I ha…hate her," the ladies' man spat venomously.
"I'll stay with him, Evan," Sanchez assured the lawman.
"All right," Rawlings agreed and threw the keys to the older man. He watched as Wilmington waited anxiously for the door to open and knew his friend was tormented by what had happened.
Buck slipped inside before the door was fully open and locked gazes with the woman who was legally his wife. He walked the short distance to the bars and stood for several long seconds before finally speaking to her.
"I thought I knew you, Angela."
"You did, Buck. I love you."
"Love? No, I don't think you even know the meaning of the word."
"How can you say that, Buck? Didn't you feel anything when I touched you? When I kissed you?"
"Yes, I did. I felt dead Angela! You made me betray who I am and your kiss was a kiss of death. It killed everything I ever felt for you!"
"Buck, please, I did it for you…for us…"
"There is no us…never was, Angela. You killed it…"
"NO! Don't you say that! I love you, Buck!"
"Funny way of showing it," Wilmington said as Rosemary Clark opened her eyes and stared at him.
"She isn't to blame, Buck. She loves you more than you'll ever know and this is how you repay her!"
"Oh, Lady, you ain't seen nothing yet!" Wilmington vowed as he grabbed the bars. "I'm going to watch the two of you hang for murder and attempted murder!"
"You can't prove anything!" Angela screamed.
"I can prove what I saw you do and that you ordered Turner to break Chris' arm and guess what? Turner will back me up on that!"
"Turner's a weasel!" Clark spat.
"That may be, but with mine and Chris' testimony neither one of you will be able to talk your way out of it! Judge Travis should be here sometime next week and I'm going to stand there and watch them take you away!" Wilmington smiled as he glanced from one woman to the other.
"You bastard, Buck!" Angela cried as she ran at the bars and reached through them before the man could react.
Wilmington felt her nails rake across his cheek and grabbed her wrists in a vice like grip. He smiled and used her hand to wipe away the blood and then shoved her roughly backwards. She stumbled and would have fallen if not for Rosemary Clark's quick reaction. He smiled, but there was no humor in it as he stared at the two women.
"You reap what you sow, Angela," Wilmington said and turned away from the women. "Let's go, Josiah. The smell in here is turning my stomach."
"As you wish, Buck," Sanchez said, holding the door and closing it behind them as Angela Tate screamed in outrage.
"Everything okay?" Rawlings asked as Sanchez threw the keys to him.
"Everything's just fucking fine!" Wilmington spat. "Josiah, I need a drink!"
"Come on, Buck, I'll buy you a steak dinner and you can buy me a drink!" Sanchez nodded to the sheriff before following the ladies' man through the door. A stiff breeze had picked up, but it did little to dispel the heat of the day.
TBC