ON YOUR HORSES, BOYS

Part 20

"I don't believe it," Buck complained. "How the hell did they get away with settin' a fire in broad daylight?"

Nathan watched through the window as Vin quickly descended the stairs and took off up the street. "I got no idea, but they seem to be takin' bigger risks."

"Maybe Vin and Josiah'll come up with something."

"Maybe, come on we need to see to Chris right now." With Larabee asleep, Nathan could finally get a look at the bullet wound in his side without protest. Every effort he'd made to treat the gunfighter's injury since his surgery had been met with colorful language and hands pushing him away. Unless he planned to keep Chris drugged until he was well, this would be his one and only chance to get his hands on the man.

Buck brought an extra lantern to the side of the cot where Nathan was kneeling. "You know he ain't gonna be real happy with you for puttin' him to sleep."

"I'll worry about that when he wakes up. Right now, I'm more concerned about this wound." Jackson felt the bandage resist its removal. "Hand me a wet rag, will ya?"

Wilmington did as he was asked, then lowered himself to the floor next to the cot. He watched the healer lightly moisten the bandage before he tried to pull it away again. A minute or so later the blood-caked cloth let go and Nathan set about cleaning Chris up.

"How's it look?" Buck asked.

"Not good. He's torn it open and set it to bleedin'. It's also infected. Dang it, I thought I had it cleaned out."

"You did the best you could but that bullet passed through several things, including Ezra, before it ever hit him. Not to mention he hid it from us for several hours with a dirty rag."

Jackson rocked back on his heals. "I'm gonna get some soapy water to wash this again then mix up some carbolic acid to work into the bullet hole. I'll sew it up when I'm done. That stuff I gave him ain't gonna keep him out long so I best get to work. As soon as he wakes up, I'll make some more tea to help with that fever of his. I just wish I could get more of it down Ezra."

"He'll come around again and I'll see to it he gets some. Right now I'll get that water for you."

"Thanks," Nathan replied as Buck left the room. It was hard to understand all that had happened in the past few days, but the healer was the first to appreciate the toll it had taken on his friends. Chris was running himself into the ground and Ezra, well, he had no idea how the gambler was doing really and wouldn't know until he could talk to him without the interference of a raging fever, unbearable pain and well-meaning friends.

His thoughts were interrupted when Chris began to moan and shiver. He knew what he'd given the gunfighter wouldn't keep him out long, but it should have put him under enough to stop him feeling pain. He felt as if he had failed again. He had planned to stop his friend from killing himself, but it looked like all he'd done was slow him down. He leaned closer and mumbled softly, "I'm sorry, Chris. I'm so damned sorry."

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Vin skidded to a stop in front of the newspaper office. "Mary!" he shouted when he spotted her rounding the corner from the bathhouse lugging a large bucket of water. He took the heavy pail from her and pulled her into the street. "Mary, are you alright?"

The fear in the young woman's blue eyes became clear the instant she brushed the disheveled hair from her face. "Yes, I'm fine. I just… I…"

He took her by the elbows when she faltered and moved her further away from the fire. "Take a deep breath," he instructed her gently.

"No really, I'm alright. It's just the Clarion, we've got to get this fire out before it's destroyed."

"Josiah and I will help put out the fire. You need to get away from here."

"No, I'm not leaving." She wiped her face with the back of her hand. "Archie and some of the others have started a waterline from the bathhouse, we need every hand we can get to keep it moving."

"Archie," Vin said shaking his head, remembering the man present and accounted for at every fire the Nichols had set. "We should really make him Fire Chief."

Mary didn't hear him. "Why, Vin, why the Clarion? Why are they attacking so many people who've done them no harm?"

"I think it was random in the beginning but you, Mary, I think they probably chose the newspaper because you helped us."

"Helped you? I don't understand."

"You brought food to the clinic and the jail and they saw it," he answered. Then he turned to look over his shoulder. "Which means they were watching from some place between here and Nathan's."

"They were watching me?"

"More like they were watching us."

"Then they're probably still watching," she replied, her eyes following his.

"That'd be my guess."

Josiah ran past him carrying two large buckets and took a place at the head of the waterline. He spread the water with a sweep of his large arms then reached back to grab the next load brought his way.

"Come on," said Vin, "let's put this fire out."

"What about the Nichols?"

"When I'm done here, I'll find them. I swear to ya, if I have to take this town apart board by board, I will find 'em. Are you sure you're alright?"

"Yes," she answered, lightly patting the hand still holding her elbow.

He nodded sharply, let her go and ran towards the bathhouse. Mary followed, more determined than ever.

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"So what d'ya think?" Buck asked, looking over Nathan's shoulder.

Nathan leaned back from the cot, holding his bloody hands open on either side of Chris' wound. "I think I've done just about all I can. I had to cut into him to clean deep enough, but he should heal better now. Good Lord willin', I got to all the infection."

"You did a fine job there, Nate. I'm not sure I'd've had the nerve."

"I set him up for this by not doin' a better job when I took that bullet out."

"You kind of had your hands full before."

Jackson sighed. "That ain't a good excuse. It's gonna take him a lot longer now to get back on his feet."

Buck clapped him gently on the back. "You know Chris; he'll be up and around before he has a right to. I ain't seen a fever yet that can keep him down long."

Larabee moaned and tossed his head restlessly.

"See, he's at it already."

The healer moved to Chris' head and raised an eyelid. "Dang it, how in the world is he doin' that?"

"Doing what?"

"Fightin' the medicine I gave him. He should be out cold. Instead he's actin' like he's comin' round."

Buck eyed the open wound in his friend's belly with worry. "We'd better get a move on then and stitch him up. Is there anything I can help ya with?"

"Yeah, I'm gonna need more bandages. Grab that package Vin brought from Hobson's store and let's see what he got."

Chris groaned again, louder this time, and Buck hustled to the bedside table.

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"Hurry, Vin!" Josiah shouted above the many raised voices around him. "We've gotta get a handle on this before the flames take out any more of the office!"

No less than twelve people had been working for nearly half an hour to slow the fire down, but the consumption of paper and ink had kept it burning despite their best efforts.

Vin squinted against the smoke and tried to see the direction of the blaze. "We need to get behind it! I can see several bundles of paper back near the presses. If the flames reach them, we'll lose control and there'll be no getting' it back."

"Any suggestions how to do that?"

The tracker eyed the bucket of water in Josiah's hands. "Only one."

Sanchez glanced at the bucket himself and asked, "Are you sure?"

Vin spread his arms. "I'm sure. We gotta do something quick or Mary's gonna lose her paper."

Josiah hefted the water and quickly doused his friend. Then he lifted another container over his own head and soaked himself as well. "Work your way through on this side," he yelled, pointing to the wall nearest the bathhouse. "I'll move the line to the window and bring the water to ya! And keep an eye on the ceiling. You've already had one experience with fire overhead."

Vin felt the tug of burned skin on his back and agreed to be careful. He then grabbed more water and headed into the burning building.

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Buck sat on the edge of Ezra's bed as he cut the cord tied around the package of medical supplies. He was about to unwrap the brown paper when he noticed the gambler silently staring at him. "Hey, you're awake," he said softly.

Ezra didn't move.

"Can you hear me?"

He didn't answer.

"Ezra?"

He simply stared, making absolutely no effort to acknowledge there was anyone with him.

Despite the lazy gaze of open green eyes, Buck saw clearly that Ezra wasn't awake. In fact, the stare was so unnerving he called Nathan over and gestured nervously towards the gambler. "What's the matter with him, Nate?"

The healer knelt down and ran a dark hand along the side of the blank face. "Ezra?"

Nothing.

"Ezra, it's Nathan, can you look at me?"

Obviously he couldn't. Weary eyes fluttered closed, effectively ending the brief opportunity to reach his conscious mind. His head lolled deeper into the pillow and he was out.

Buck drew back in wonder. "What the devil was that?"

"I'm not sure. Some part of him might have felt you were near and he needed to see for himself. He doesn't have the strength to talk to us, but I do think this could be a good sign."

Wilmington rubbed Ezra's arm. "I sure hope so. I can't stand seein' him like this."

"I know. Let's just let him rest." Nathan got to his feet. "So, what did Vin get us to work with?"

Buck looked down at the package he held and pulled open the paper. "Looks like we got bandages, some makings for those awful teas of yours and..." Something heavy slid from the parcel and fell to the ground. He bent over to gather the fallen item and stared in disbelief as he hefted it in his hand. "What the hell? How did this get here?"

"What?"

"This." He raised his hand but Nathan never got a chance to see what he was talking about. A large explosionsounded from the street and both men ran out the door and onto the landing. "Damn," Buck cried. "What was that?"

A second explosion resonated through the street.

Jackson ran back inside the clinic and grabbed Buck's sidearm and rifle. He came out shoving the weapons at his friend and shouting, "I don't know what's goin' on but you'd better get down there and give the others a hand."

"But…"

"Go, Buck, I can handle things here!"

He didn't have to repeat himself. Buck ran down, taking the stairs two at time, and headed towards the chaos at the center of town.

TBC