Chapter 3
Seated on their steeds, Buck Wilmington and his young friend rode patrol out around the town.
"I can't figure it out," JD groused urging his horse to keep pace with Buck's.
"Can't figure what out, JD?"
"It's already March, Buck, and I have no more clue what to git Vin for his birthday than I did in February." The young man shook his head sadly. "I want it to be special," JD continued. "I want it to be something he'll like and that will mean something to him."
"I know what you mean, pard." I've been wracking my brain around this and haven't been able to come up with anything either. I guess I could always send Miss Abby to Vin's wagon…" He smiled at the thought.
JD's jaw dropped. "Buck! You wouldn't!"
"Don't get your pistols in a twist," Buck said with a grin. "He'd be so embarrassed; he'd never leave his wagon. Not ta say that would be a bad thing as long as Miss Abby was there with him. Lord knows he certainly could use some feminine affection."
JD couldn't deny that observation. "There's got to be somethin', somethin' special. What is it that Vin values above all else?" JD mused.
"His guns?"
"Oh, Buck, he's has enough firepower."
"Friendship."
"True, Vin's certainly does appreciate his friends. He doesn't take anythin' or anyone for granted."
"Loyalty." Buck continued.
"He certainly doesn't take that lightly."
Buck's mouth spread broad beneath his mustache. "I think I know exactly what we can do. C'mon, JD, let's ride, we have some planning to do."
+++M7+++
"Headin' out?" Chris questioned his friend just outside the livery. The sun was bright and the spring air light and refreshing.
Vin swung his leg up over Peso's back and seated himself comfortably in the saddle. "Goin' up ta Nettie's. She needs some work done around her place. Thought I'd stay fer supper then head back."
Chris looked up at the tracker, the gunslinger's squinted due to the bright sun. "Doesn't Nettie do her baking today?"
"Well I may be going up ta help her out, but I'm stayin' fer her cobbler. After all it is Baking Day." Vin grinned, tapped his hat with two figures, and urged Peso into a trot. "See ya later, cowboy."
With a chuckle Chris turned back down the street and noticed Ezra walking toward him.
"Mr. Larabee, I have a dilemma," Ezra said when he got nearer the man in black.
"You have a dilemma? I find that hard to believe, Ezra," Chris replied sardonically.
"I know that may be difficult to fathom, but I'm hopeful you will be able to resolve my quandary."
Chris leaned back casually against an empty hitching post and lit a cheroot.
Ezra waited until Larabee had exhaled a cloud of smoke before he continued. "As I'm sure you are aware, April the twenty-first is rapidly approaching. Six weeks doesn't seem of sufficient duration. I have a problem regarding the impending celebration which I am hopeful you might be able to rectify."
Chris focused his attention on the citizens walking along the opposite side of the street, as he replied. "What seems to be your problem, Ezra?"
"Yes, well. I assume I can trust you not to divulge what I'm about to tell you to a certain sharpshooter?"
Chris slid his green eyes to his left slowly and pierced the gambler with his trademark Larabee stare before once again turning his attention to across the street.
"Er, right," Ezra cleared his throat nervously, deciding on not telling the man in black the entire truth. "You see, I am planning to turn one of Mr. Tanner's poems into a work of art in honor of his birthday. While I would love to credit the poem with our tracker's proper name, I do realize that it might not be prudent to Mr. Tanner's health if certain individuals were to see it."
"That could be a problem."
"I thought perhaps you could suggest some resolution to my predicament, sir?" Ezra endured the gunslinger's silence to a point when he even wondered he'd reply at all. The conman prepared to turn away when Chris spoke.
"I may be able to help you."
"Yes?"
"It will require you to maintain your own silence. For if I find you've repeated what I'm about to tell you…"
"I understand completely, Mr. Larabee," Ezra assured him and tugged on his collar which all of a sudden seemed too restricting.
Chris dropped his voice so low Ezra had to step closer to the intimidating man in order to hear him clearly.
"I have recently made contacts with past er…associates. I have given certain relevant information to Judge Travis. He is currently working with authorities in Texas regarding Vin's legal situation. It appears that the outcome will be favorable, of course there are no guarantees."
Ezra was nothing if not shocked. "That's excellent news. What are the odds…"
"Odds, Ezra? We are taking about a man's life, not a horse race!" Chris snapped turning his head sharply to look at his fellow regulator.
"Of course, Mr. Larabee, it was a mere slip of the tongue. Let me rephrase. Do you have any idea when you might receive more definitive information regarding the outcome of this state of affairs?"
The gunslinger turned his head back again away from Ezra. "I am hoping I'll be hearing from the Judge by the middle of next week."
"I would be greatly appreciative if you would inform me of the decision post haste."
Chris nodded and pushed away from the hitching post.
That'll be approximately four weeks from the time of the news to the celebration, Ezra thought. It his luck held - and it usually did - it should allow just enough time.
TBC