Three hours later the town had started to return to a semblance of normalcy. Families were reunited, damaged windows were boarded up and the streets had been cleared. The stage had arrived on time. No one got off, and after unloading a blanket wrapped bundle and four boxes for delivery, three addressed to Nathan and one for Ezra, it pulled out of town. No one could fathom what Holmes had been waiting for. The 6 men sitting in the jail cell offered no clarification, claiming ignorance of the final goal. They knew only they were to be paid when the job was done, so didn't care about details. Townsfolk stood guard over them, allowing the lawmen to wait together for news.
Buck and JD had finished picking up the mess in the saloon, and remained restless waiting for Nathan to update them. Chris sat with Mary and Inez, both still to shocked to do much else.
"That makes twice he stepped into the path of a bullet meant for me. It really is a bad habit he has." Mary sipped slowly at some sherry Chris had insisted on pouring for her. Inez had tossed back a whisky shot after Ezra had been carried away, but had not moved at all since. She now spoke for the first time.
"Meant for both of us Señora. He saved both of us. And all the others too. Estúpido!"
"Ezra? Not sure I'd call him stupid." Chris looked at Inez.
"Not him. Well, yes, him too, coming in here like that. But that – that – Bastardo! Trying to tell us Mr. Standish was a bad man. Tried to tell us about the 'real' Ezra Standish. Estúpido!" She stood abruptly, pulling the apron from her waist and wiping her face dry. "We know the real Ezra Standish, and that man, that monster was – was mierda." She stormed into the back room and began slamming pots and pans to vent her anger.
Buck allowed himself a nervous laugh. "Remind me never to make that lady mad at me."
"Think that ship has sailed Buck." JD teased.
They all went quiet when Vin came into the saloon. Saying nothing he went straight to the bar and poured a large shot of whisky, gulping it back. He spoke without turning.
"Been a long time since I seen anybody gut shot that bad. Nathan said he lost a lot of blood. Maybe too much. Chest wounds didn't help none, but those stupid pieces of leather seem to have kept it from being worse. And the only thing worse would be dead."
Chris rubbed a hand over his tired, dusty face. "What about the rest of it? Looked like he'd been hit hard by that cane."
"Arm busted. Knee looks to be more or less OK, but likely cracked some. Won't know about the head till he wakes up, but since he was awake till he got shot, probably not too bad. It'll take a few more minutes to finish up, then Josiah will sit with him for a while. Nathan wanted to know if anybody in the cells needs doctoring."
"Buck slapped on a couple of bandages on two of them. They'll live – for now. Rest are fine till the judge sentences them to hang for trying to kill a lawman."
"Sounds good to me." Vin looked over at Chris, who was clearly beating himself up. "Ain't your fault Cowboy. We got in here as fast as we could."
"He's right Chris. You had to rescue the children first. Ezra would have never forgiven himself if you'd come for him and a child got hurt instead. You know that." Mary looked at the gunslinger. "Chris, you know that, right?"
"Knowing it and liking it are two different things."
It was less than ten minutes before Nathan joined them. The stress and fatigue was evident as he all but collapsed into the first chair he reached.
"He's holding on. Think I got all the bleeding stopped, but he's damn weak. He gets a fever and it might be too much for him. Chris, we gotta get a real doctor into this town. I ain't good enough to fix you guys up when it's this bad."
"You do just fine Nathan. He's up there breathing. That's all that counts."
"Si Señor. Mr. Standish thinks you are a very good healer. He will be most thankful for what you have done." Inez place a platter of sandwiches in front of him, and headed back to bring a second for the other table. No one had much appetite, but her glare convinced them not to argue. There was silence for a few minutes while they ate, until JD's curiosity got the better of him.
"So what'd ya order Nathan?" The healer cast a puzzled look at the young man. "There's three boxes over there for you. Stage brought them in. Stuff for Ezra too."
"I've no idea. I haven't sent for anything. Why would I?" He went over to the stack of containers. "Came from Lancing Falls. I don't know anybody there."
"Well it's not a mistake. Your name is on all three, clear as day."
"Better open them. The Kid here is gonna bust them open if you don't."
Smiling, Nathan checked out all three, then pulled one of his knives from its sheath and carefully cut into the heaviest. "Books? Who'd be sending me books?"
Chris had stepped up for the unveiling. "Not just books Nathan – look at the titles."
"These are medical texts. Oh my God, look at these. Chris, this stuff is amazing." He thumbed through the first one. "Anatomy, diagrams. Do you know what this means?"
"Well, whatever it means, I'm guessing this will make it even better." Buck had opened the other two boxes, and held out a medical bag for his friend. Nathan took it in stunned silence and opened it, his eyes lighting up at the contents.
"It won't make me a doctor, but it sure moves me a few steps closer. I don't get it."
"I do." They turned to Chris. Buck had passed him an envelope that rested on top of the black bag. "This all comes from the widow of Dr. Hanson, late of Lancing Falls."
"Why would she…?"
"Seems one Ezra Standish happened on the Estate sale." He looked down at the note and read.
"Dear Mr. Jackson:
While I do not know you, I feel you must be a remarkable man to have someone such as Mr. Standish taking such an interest in your healing practices. I only spoke with him far to briefly, but is was evident he thinks highly of you by his reaction to his opportunity to purchase these items for you. I say purchase, as he went against my wishes and left more than sufficient fund to pay for the few items (books and bag) that he selected. Because of this, and because I am sure my late husband would approve, I have taken the liberty to send along a few extra items that I trust you will be able to use.
I should return the $200 that was left for me, as he paid me $20 separately for his other purchases. However, I fear to do so would offend the southern gentlemen he shows himself to be, not to mention the caring soul he tries so hard to hide. I have no idea who he purchased his other items for, but they were clearly selected for people he cares about. They, and you, are lucky to have such a friend.
I hope you are able to put all of this to good use.
Sincerely, Rebecca Hanson."
There were several moments of silence in the room. Vin was finally the first to speak.
"Said he paid out $750 for me. The $220, that musta been before he knew the game was a set up. Left himself short anyway."
"He was risking his buy-in to the game of a lifetime to get this stuff? For me?"
"Reckon he'll argue it was for us. Getting better supplies for you helps all of us. But yeah – it's 'cause he has the faith in you." Buck smiled. "We all do." Nathan merely nodded, afraid his voice would fail if he tried to speak.
Chris smiled as he watched JD eyeing the remaining items in the corner. "Go ahead kid."
"What?"
"Open them. We all want to know, so might as well."
"Chris," Vin cautioned, "that ain't your call."
"You really think he'd mind? Go ahead JD."
The box was opened before Chris could have a chance to change his mind. Two items sat cushioned by clean rags. JD pulled out the larger of the two and tried to figure it out while the others sat and watched. Suddenly his face lit up.
"It's for me, isn't it? For my hat!" He removed the bowler and placed it with pride on the hat stand. "Well ain't that the neatest thing. That'll keep in nice and clean." He sobered suddenly. "Why'd he do that? It's not my birthday or anything. Getting Nathan the books and stuff, that makes sense. Why'd he do this?" He looked at them, expecting an answer.
"If I had to guess, it was the look on your face when you asked if he was coming back. Don't think he's had a lot of people care about him enough to ask in the past."
Mary had been standing quietly in the doorway, not wanting to intrude. She'd come to let them know that there was a crowd waiting outside for word on Ezra, and to ask Nathan to come ease their minds if he could. As she listened to Buck's answer to JD, she thought back on Ezra's comments to Holmes. "No," she thought, "likely his mother never showed as much concern as JD had with that one simple sentence."
She watched as Vin reached in and unwrapped a small photo frame. Nathan looked over at it. "Who would he get that for?" Mary knew instantly, and it took Chris only a few seconds longer to make the connection. He gently took if from Vin, while reaching for the billfold in his duster. Ezra had a good eye. The picture slid perfectly into the opening. "Damn fool thing for him to be wasting his money on," Chris mumbled, with no anger to match the words.
"Might as well unwrap the other." JD reached for it, but stopped as Josiah walked in. Nathan leapt to he feet but slowed as Josiah offered a faint smile. "Nothing wrong. No change. Mrs. Potter came up to look in on him. Seems half the town is waiting to hear how he's doing. She's sitting with him; I just came down to get some coffee. Going right back. What's all this?"
Mary slipped past, telling him she'd get his drink, while JD filled him in on the boxes. "Our gambler does have a hidden sentimental streak to him, doesn't he?" Josiah grinned. "Shows you how he really feels when you least expect it."
"Josiah," Chris spoke softly. "You need to read this." He'd unwrapped the bundle to reveal the bookstand, with a short note tucked into it. Josiah took it and read aloud.
"Dear Mr. Standish.
I should admonish you for excessive generosity, but I won't. As I said when you left, you do your mother proud. She raised a fine son.
A blind woman could have known how desperately you wished to share this table with someone who obviously is very important to you. You will honour me by passing this along to that person. You are correct. It will look striking in a church with the Good Book resting on it.
With affection, Rebecca Hanson"
His voice cracked as he read the signature, and he slowly rubbed his hand over the gift. "I don't deserve this kind of consideration."
"Right now I don't think any of us feel worthy." Buck acknowledged.
"How come he didn't get you anything." JD asked, before realizing how that sounded. "I mean, well, you-"
"Relax kid, I know what you mean. I don't think he was setting out to buy anybody anything. Think this is just how it worked out. Saw stuff that made him think of you, and he wanted to share it. Wanted you all to have something special, and he was in a position to get if for you." Buck paused, hearing exactly what he was saying. He thought back to the previous night. Had that really only been last night? He thought about the look on his lovely companion had given the bartender while Buck whispered his proposition in here ear. He smiled and shook his head. "Besides kid. I'm pretty sure Ezra came up with a way to get me something I wanted too."
"But he wasn't in a position to give us this stuff. He needed that money for the game."
"Guess he thought this was more important – we were more important. Ain't that right Vin?" Chris looked at his quiet friend.
"He give you something too?" JD asked.
"Nothing special," was the soft reply. "Just my life. Wish I could do the same,"
TBC
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