*** Part 12

Vin emptied a pan of dirty water into the dust. He saw Nathan stretched out by the fire and hoped the healer was getting some sleep. He didn't think Nathan could last much longer the way he was going. They had only arrived this morning, but it felt like an eternity. Death had a way of slowing time, of making people's suffering eternal. Vin looked over at the small tent where he knew Buck was still holding vigil over JD. Lord, if that boy died, it would destroy the devoted cowboy. Hell, it might destroy all of them. Vin had seen Josiah heading up to the top of the hill, maybe to pray probably to curse. They were doing everything they could, which wasn't much, and they all felt useless. They could only try to make the sick ones as comfortable as possible, and give the ones who past a decent burial. One brave did recover, and that gave everyone some measure of hope until a child succumbed. Every day someone fell ill and it was getting hard for Nathan to keep up. The soft red glow of a cheroot drew the tracker's attention to a partially built fence.

"What'cha thinkin, cowboy?" Vin quietly asked as he sidled up next to the blond leader. Chris had collected firewood and water all day, remaining reclusive with his thoughts.

"Something's happened to him," Chris quietly replied. The thought had crossed his mind that Ezra might have run out on them again, but that thought was quickly squelched. He had learned a lot about the conman, probably more than Ezra would have believed or felt comfortable with.

Vin looked out onto the dark as if he could pierce its inky covered secrets. It had taken awhile for Chris to finally consider the urbane southerner a part of their eclectic family. Ezra seemed to go out of his way not to fit in, and keep everyone at a distance. He seemed to take special delight in provoking murderous intentions in Larabee. Vin supposed it was Ezra's way; he'd been taught to trust in only himself and no one else. He didn't know how to handle being surrounded by people who cared about him. Vin believed that the enigmatic cardsharp had been hurt one too many times. The six regulators had caught glimpses beneath Ezra's portrayal of self-interest and unconcern. Ezra would be shocked at this discovery, or would he? Maybe unconsciously Ezra was allowing these men an insight into his soul. No one wanted to be alone forever.

Nathan stepped up to the two gunslingers, stretching out weary muscles. He breathed in deep the coolness of the night. It was quiet in the village, which wasn't a good thing. "If we don't get that medicine soon..." Nathan paused and clasped callused hands together, draping them over a rail. "We're going to lose most of these people by the end of the week." He glanced over at the small tent that housed JD. When they had come to the village, they hadn't known the extent of the sickness. A soldier had come to the village and informed Nathan about the epidemic at the Fort and the fact that they had given the Indians several blankets earlier in the week. The soldier also said that medicine was enroute to Four Corners. Nathan was mildly surprised by the admission, but his view of the world had changed in recent months, he was a little less jaded. Six men had made him realize that not everyone was out to kill anyone who was different.

"What about JD?" Vin quietly asked.

Nathan released an audible breath, grateful for the dark to hide sudden watery eyes. He choked on his response, "I don't think he'll make it without the medicine."

Silence descended upon the three men, cloaking their sorrow. The loss of JD would be the loss of their innocence. Nate knew he didn't have to tell his friends that Josiah was sick and just ignoring the fact the man looked liked walking death.

"Nate, we need to go look for Ez," Chris said

Nathan scrutinized the dark shapes of the gunslingers. "If'n you don't show any symptoms by mornin', I guess it'll be alright, just don't get near anyone or go into any towns." He really didn't know why some got the disease and others didn't. He did realize that it seemed mostly young, old and fragile people who seem to succumb to the fever more than healthy individuals.

Nathan had been angry at first, when he found out that Ezra was delivering the medicine. But when he thought about it, he knew that Ezra would not run out on them and especially not at the expense of children. Ezra may be a greedy pain in his ass but he was dependable, although the rogue conman would probably deny it. Nathan had been surprised when Vin told him that Ezra had volunteered, and grinned when Josiah puffed out his chest like a proud papa.

Nathan looked out into the night, knowing the desert could be merciless. "Find him and bring him home," Nathan said, his voice giving away his belief that Ezra was dead.

Chris dropped his cheroot on the ground snuffing it out with his boot heel.

tbc