Disclaimer: All the characters from the "Magnificent Seven" TV series are property of Trilogy Entertainment, The Mirisch Group, MGM Worldwide.
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It could quite possibly be most uncomfortable night that Vin Tanner had ever spent anywhere.
This included the time he had been thrown into a Mexican jail in the heat of summer with two drunks who had thrown up continuously throughout the night and then spent the rest of it wallowing in their vomit while they slept. Vin remembered the foul stench that had almost made him beg for a hanging while flies buzzed around the piles of regurgitated mucus, hounding him into the night with their annoying sounds.
This had the potential to be worse than that experience.
The trip to the property had been difficult enough to endure with their constant arguments and the heavy tension of unspoken attraction that existed between them, despite Vin's refusal to acknowledge it or Alex's tenacity for self denial. The idea of spending an entire night with her, in the same room, because Agnes' cabin had no internal walls to give them privacy, both terrified and excited him at the same time. Vin Tanner did not want to be in this predicament, and he was fairly sure by now that neither did Alexandra Styles.
After they had entered the cabin and Vin had lit a lamp to illuminate the room, Alex realized just how difficult the next few hours were going to be. Although her heart well and truly belonged to Ezra Standish, she found Vin compelling in a way that had become acute in the past day. She understood the attraction was purely a physical one and refused to give it any more credence than that.
Obviously Richard Doherty's dream of gold had never matured, because the cabin was barely functional. While there was wood on the floor, the room was met at one end by a stone fireplace and a bed on the other. In between, there was enough space to house a round dining table, some chairs in front the stone hearth and a small space reserved for cooking. It was confining enough to ensure that Vin and Alex would be very aware of each other with absolutely no room for privacy.
Alex still felt a little strange using this home without knowing where Agnes was. Even though they had little choice in the matter, she had reservations about invading someone's private domain. Agnes might not appreciate the intrusion. However, no sooner had that thought crossed her mind than Alex knew she would not mind if Agnes turned up and threw them both out. At least then Alex would know that she was all right. She wanted to go looking for the old woman because she did not believe Vin's assumption that Agnes might be in Four Corners. After being the woman's physician for almost two months, Alex had obtained a sense about the lady and knew that she would not have neglected her appointment with Alex so easily without good reason.
Vin could tell Alex was uncomfortable by the way she was pacing the floor while he was trying to light a fire. Agnes had left plenty of wood in the wood box next to the fireplace and Vin was forced to come to the conclusion that her trip, if she indeed was left for Four Corners as he suspected, was a hasty one. Occasionally, he would spy the doctor glancing at him with a look in her eyes that was quite devoid of all the contempt she usually visited upon him in her high powered gaze. This time, she looked nothing like the confident, no nonsense woman that was capable of sewing up flesh like he darned his stocks. At this moment, she reminded him of a young deer, skittish and afraid of every sound. He wondered if he did not frighten her a little. Although he pretended not to notice, Vin could see her shivering in her clothes and could admit to feeling the same chill himself.
"We're going to have to get dry" Vin commented after the kindling had caught fire. The twigs quickly ignited the heavier logs resting upon them, wrapping tongues of amber flame around the bark as the fire began its work. Within minutes, he was savoring the feel of the heat that emanated from the roasting pieces of wood, deciding this moment would only be fully complete if there was coffee to accompany it, as he knew he could use a cup of the beverage about right now.
"I know" Alex replied, knowing that if they did not get out of their clothes, they were in real danger of becoming ill. Somehow on top of everything else that had taken place today, being held up here for the entire week it would take to recover from a nasty cold was not an experience she wanted to endure. She wanted to return home to Four Corners as soon as possible, away from this place, and furthermore, away from Vin Tanner. As it was, she was having difficulty with the entire concept of being trapped here in this cabin for the whole night. "We're going to catch pneumonia if we stay in these clothes much longer."
"I have some fresh clothes in my saddle bag." Vin replied. "What about you?"
"This is it." Alex frowned, gesturing to her wet clothes while feeling supremely foolish for not bringing extra garments with her. At the time, her mind had been so filled with concern over Agnes that it had not occurred to her to foresee this possibility. Despite her attempts to remain composed, she was unable to keep the embarrassment from her face.
Vin was certain she was blushing but did not press the point because the situation was awkward enough as it was. "We'll think of something later" he muttered before excusing himself to go tend to the horses.
The tracker stepped out into the porch, taking in a breath of the damp night air. Now more than ever, he wished Nathan had found someone else to escort Alexandra Styles to this place. Someone safe and reliable like Josiah or Chris, anyone but him. How was he going to manage the entire night with her? He stepped from under the porch and let the rain wet his skin, cooling the heat of his turbulent emotions. Even when he had been with Charlotte, Vin had never felt anything remotely like this. He knew what it was like to want someone, but this was the first time he had ever hungered for someone. He stood under the rain, allowing the water and the wind to sweep his mind into a calmer state of being. He let it run down his face, tasting its refreshing moisture in his throat before releasing a deep breath.
He could do this.
The barn lay in the distance and although Vin did not wish to make the walk across the muddy track, he was not prepared to leave Peso and Calliope out in the open to suffer such inhospitable weather. He led both the horses into the barn and noticed with a frown that there was no wagon in sight, or any horse to pull it. The stables appeared empty, and upon further investigation, Vin learnt that the most recent spores were a few days old. With rising anger, Vin was now almost certain that Agnes Doherty was either in Four Corners or in some other town. Wherever she was now, the old lady had traveled with her horse and wagon.
Cursing silently to himself, he retrieved his saddlebags and realized on his way back that he should probably have asked her if there was anything she wanted from her own. However, his chagrin that they may have made this journey for no good reason and were stranded here for the night decided that he really did not care. Besides, the woman had not even brought a change of clothing with her! With that in mind, it was likely that there was very little in her saddlebags that would be of any real use tonight. Since there was only one bed, Vin thought it wise to bring his bed roll with him, lest he began entertaining any notions that could get him slapped or worse.
The first thing he noticed upon returning to the cabin was the wonderful smell of piping hot coffee. He could smell the aroma wafting through his lungs, filling every corner of the cabin when he came through the door. The next thing he noticed after that initial enchantment was that Alex was making it and that she had done so wearing nothing but a blanket over her wet undergarments. Her clothes were hanging neatly from a chair in front of the fire and Vin could only stare as he saw the enticing sheen of her wet hair against her bronzed shoulders.
She caught the expression on his face and the unmistakable look in his eyes. Alex felt her cheeks flush at the unexpected reaction before she responded. "Would you like some coffee?" she asked, trying to propel him past the moment.
"Yeah" he said quickly, trying to hide what had been so apparent in his face. "It might just make up for all the hell you've put me through today," he said sarcastically as he came forward and accepted a cup of the hot beverage from her. Alex had taken up position next to the fire, kneeling close enough to it that her face was bathed with an amber glow.
She looked at him with an annoyed frown. "You are never going to let me live this down are you?"
"No, especially since it does look like Agnes has up and gone away" he said downing a mouthful of coffee and allowing it to warm him inside on its way to his belly.
"What do you mean?" she looked at him hard, hating the hint of triumph in his voice.
"I mean her wagon and horse are gone" he exclaimed, visibly annoyed that he was placed in such an untenable predicament for no good reason at all.
"I'm sorry to inconvenience you" Alex replied, rising to her feet with great dignity while clutching the blanket around her as if it were protecting more than just her virtue. "I thought she was in trouble."
"You thought wrong" he grumbled.
"Look," she glared at him, really angry now, "I didn't need you to come out with me."
"I didn't need me to come out with you either" he rose to his full height and stared at her. "But it wouldn't be so bad if you could just admit this was a bad idea." He glared at her, wondering if she had any idea what kind of position she had placed him in with her impulsiveness. He did not want to be in this place alone with her, where her very presence taunted him with such desire he could barely think, and yet were he to succumb to it, he would only find himself betraying a friend.
"Never" she said firmly, her eyes blazing. This was a bad idea, and Alex knew it, but she was not about to tell Vin or let him know she felt the same way. He was unbearable enough knowing that she had dragged them into this mess, but to admit defeat before him as well, that was even worse. Thanks to her, they were now trapped in this cabin until morning at least, far away from home and about to vivisect each other. She was prepared to admit responsibility. She just was not prepared to do it to him.
Somehow through the course of their heated exchange, Alex suddenly became aware that he was standing only inches away from her. She could smell the musk of his wet buckskins and the scent of his skin taunted her. She stared into the depths of his dark eyes and saw the same hunger that had been teasing her with its presence during the day. This was wrong and she knew it but he smelled so damn good that by the time she took a step back, it was too late.
She felt his hand encircling her shoulder and pulling her to him, with little time to protest before her mouth met his. A secret growl of pleasure escaped him when her confusion gave way to consent and her mouth parted for him like a sensuous flower. With hungry pleasure, she savored his tongue probing past her lips, caressing the inside her mouth as he tasted her like she was something wonderful and exotic. She closed her eyes, feeling the yearning for him grow as her cheek caressed the fine stubble of his face while his lips took from her everything they wanted.
Vin moved his hand across hers, sliding over her fingers before coaxing them gently to release the blanket she was holding between them like a shield. When she relaxed her grip upon it and let the coarse fabric slip to the ground, Vin almost pulled the thin straps that held her camisole over her body. His mouth was still on hers when he swept the lace away and revealed her perfectly formed breasts. He broke away from her sensuous mouth long enough to admire her exposed chest, bare and ready to the touch. It almost undid his control. Kissing her again, his palms engulfed her nipples with hard caresses.
"Oh God, Alex" Vin mumbled in her ear as his fingers enclosed their softness and felt the distinct nub of erect flesh that made him groan with satisfaction.
"Vin" she whispered but the words died in her throat as his mouth slid down her neck.
Vin was holding her shoulders carefully as he worked his way down her neck so she would not squirm away. His own anticipation had risen at the feel of her erect nipples rubbing against his shirt. Vin's mind was so far away at the moment, he could scarcely believe this urge to take her was coming from inside him. Even with Charlotte, there had been some measure of control, some restraint that held him centered on what he was doing. However with Alex, his desire was all consuming, his passion was like a force of nature sweeping him away. All of her was much better than he imagined. Her scent, her taste and her touch brought out in him a raw craving for her he never dreamed existed. As his mouth took one hard rosebud nipple in his teeth, Vin heard her moan slowly. It was a sated groan that sneaked past her throat as she arched further into his mouth. God, he wanted to her so much.....
Suddenly, she shoved him away violently and ran out the door before he knew what was happening.
It took a moment for Vin to get past the throbbing haze of raw desire to realize that she had run from him. The door was wide open as he stumbled outside after her, trying to ignore the physical discomfort he felt at the abrupt end of his intense arousal. Alex had not gone very far, she was only a few feet away from the door, letting the rain soak into her skin.
He knew she was crying even before she turned around and looked him in the eye.
She stood upright, covering herself as best she could with her arms, an expression of intense shame etched in her face. The sight of it drove a stab of pain through Vin's heart when he finally understood without her having to speak, why she had pulled away.
"I'm sorry Vin," she whispered. "I want you so much it hurts, but I am in love with Ezra and it is wrong to use you this way. I won't do it!"
Vin tried to hide the anguish in his face and thought he did quite an admirable job of it considering. Of course she was right. He valued Ezra's friendship too much to throw it away like he almost certainly would if he had made love to her. Vin was not willing to take another man's love again. He had learnt that much from Charlotte.
"Come inside" he said trying not to show how much this hurt him but understanding that he had brought this partly on himself. He had made the first move. "I promise, I won't do anything."
She nodded slowly, fearing nothing of the sort from him because he was an honorable man and no matter what she might tell herself later on, she knew that what he had engendered inside her was like nothing she had ever experienced with Ezra Standish.
Alex doubted she ever would.
The following morning saw not the rising of the sun but the continuing fall of rain. The Territory was accustomed to enduring worse weather than this in its time, so a hard autumn rain was considered little more than a staple of the season. Normally, it would be tolerated with little more than a shrug by its inhabitants as one of those things that came with living in the Territory, except this time with everything taking place around him, Chris Larabee really wished it would clear up. Although Chris was confident that Vin Tanner could handle almost anything thrown at him, he was unable to deny the concern he felt at the prolonged absence of the tracker. Despite the fact that he was reaching the point where he would soon be unable to simply shrug the situation off in his belief that Vin could handle things, Chris knew that moment had not arrived.
With the attempted murder of Julia Pemberton the night before, it was obvious the threat he perceived was not a product of his imagination. He had believed the attempt was inevitable even if he had not expected it to arrive so soon. The young lady had spent the night at Mary's but it was soon apparent that it left a great deal to be desired as a hiding place. Most people knew Mary's connection to the seven, not to mention to him personally, it would not take a great leap of faith to deduce that Julia would take refuge in her home. Fortunately, it was Mary herself, who finally produced a solution by offering the use of the old Travis place. Since the fire that almost killed Chris and Billy when the discovery of her husband's killer had come to light, Mary had conducted enough repairs to ensure it was habitable, even though she had no intention of ever living there again. The memories were too vivid.
While Julia did not appreciate the idea of being moved so far out of town, she understood the serious threat her life was in after the night before. Much of her annoyance was due to her desire to get started on rebuilding her Emporium. However, Chris had been adamant about her remaining under protective custody since she was her only link to the murderers.
Besides, he never really liked that Emporium anyway.
"It's not much." Mary confessed as the two women arrived at the property that afternoon escorted by Chris, Josiah and Ezra. Buck and JD were making the rounds through town, trying all their contacts again, now that they were armed with new information about one of the men that they were hunting. Obviously, the killer must have known that Julia would be taken to Four Corners but Chris was surprised that he would risk coming into town so soon after the robbery and murders. It indicated to Chris that there was some importance attached to his not being identifiable, beyond the obvious fear of capture. If he had been desperate enough to come into town, then it may be that he was desperate enough to make a mistake. In either case, Chris was leaving no stone unturned.
"It will do Mrs. Travis." Julia remarked politely, even though the place did look rather primitive. She supposed this sort of rustic dwelling was typical of country homes. Considering that it was a good idea to keep in the woman's good graces, Julia resisted the urge to tell her how she really felt.
"I have tried to keep the place up since the fire," Mary explained as they pulled their cloaks tighter as they prepared to make the dash from the wagon to the front porch to avoid the rain. "But I really must confess that I have personal reasons for not coming here more often" she admitted after she and Julia trudged over the muddy ground, raising their skirts high enough to avoid getting them dirty before arriving on the porch.
"Why don't you sell it?" Julia inquired as she reached for her bag in back of the wagon under the hood of canvas protecting it from the rain.
"I thought about it" Mary replied. "However, I thought I would keep it for my son Billy. This is his home too and while I find it difficult to be here, he may not." Mary let her gaze sweep across the spread and felt a tinge of grief when she remembered how Steven had felt about this place. They had ridden across the area, searching for the perfect home to raise their family when they came across this patch of earth with its trees and green grass, falling in love with it at once.
"I'm sorry" Julia said automatically, detecting the note of sadness in the widow's eyes. "I appreciate your accompanying me here" she remarked, realizing now how difficult it must be for Mary Travis to be here. She was starting to understand Ezra's sentiment towards these people, even if he seemed in every way the rogue and scoundrel. It was somewhat of a revelation when she discovered that it was not the security of a home or his precious Alexandra that kept Ezra bound to Four Corners, it was the camaraderie of the people around him.
To get him, she would have reach them first.
"Well it can't be a good endorsement of Four Corners to be caught in such awful circumstances," Mary continued speaking, oblivious to the content of Julia's thoughts at this moment. "Here you are choosing to invest in the local area and have all this happen to you. It was the least I could do."
"Well thank you," she replied genuinely touched as Chris and Josiah emerged from the house.
"Is everything alright?" Mary asked the gunslinger. The lawmen had made a quick inspection of the place, making certain that it was fit for Julia's use of it.
"Seems to be" Chris said shortly. "We've made sure that there's plenty of firewood and supplies for the next two days. We'll be taking turns keeping watch on you."
"Including Buck?" Mary could not resist teasing him on this point, even Julia had to chuckle slightly.
Chris gave Mary a look and shook his head. "No," he replied. Buck would be too distracted by Miss Pemberton's charms to be an effective watchdog. The men who robbed the stage did not believe in taking prisoners as all their previous actions had thus proved. As much as he thought about Buck, sometimes the man had no sense when it came to women. Buck's attention was prone to wander in the presence of a pretty face and Chris was not allowing him in a position to get his head blown off, as well as the person he was charged to protect. "I need him to go to Purgatory, maybe see if anyone matching Miss Pemberton's description of the robber has blown in since Vin turned up."
"I wonder how Vin's doing" Josiah said in that deep voice of his while peering over the porch to take note of the rain that showed no signs of abating. The wind was picking up again and around them the trees were swaying back and forth from the rising gale. It only brought home to them the missing friends who should have been home by now.
"Considering he and Alex are together, probably not well" Mary laughed and then turned to Julia to explain the joke. "They don't exactly get along."
"That's putting it mildly" Josiah retorted. "If he were shot to pieces, bleeding to death and strung by his toe nails, he would still rather have Nathan fix him up instead of the fine Miss Styles."
"You know," Julia found herself commenting, "there's a fine line between love and hate." From an outsider's point of view it was very apparent that there was something happening between Alexandra Styles and Vin Tanner that Ezra had no idea about. The gambler at this moment was riding along the perimeter of the property, ensuring no one had seen them arrive with Miss Pemberton. Chris did not want to risk any word reaching the killers about her present location.
"I hope it's not that fine." Chris frowned, hoping that her observation was wrong.
Vin had a history of reaching for unattainable women. Charlotte came to mind most prominently. Even though the relationship had disaster written all across it from the very beginning, Vin had plunged in head first, completely oblivious to the consequences to himself and to Charlotte. Of course the others were perfectly aware that Charlotte was using the tracker. Her unhappiness with her husband made Vin's sensitivity an attraction she did not deny herself, and it still angered Chris to know the hurt she had caused Vin when it finally ended. While Vin had never confessed to having any feelings for Alex Styles, not that he would to Chris anyway, the gunslinger was forced to admit that he did get very vocal around her. Watching Vin and Alex battle it out was sometimes reminiscent of his arguments with Mary. God, he hoped it was not that reminiscent because like Charlotte, Alex belonged to someone else.
Josiah, thinking the same thing that was running through Chris' mind, remarked quite simply. "Amen to that."
Mary did not want to remain at the property for too long and she and Chris returned to Four Corners while Josiah and Ezra remained on first watch. The two men immediately began playing cards, an enterprise that only bored Julia to no end. She walked through the house, being driven mad by the incessant fall of rain that had dogged her arrival in Four Corners. She wanted to be in town where she could begin work on her Emporium and make a start on the new life she had fled Philadelphia to find.
Despite herself, the solitude and quiet allowed Julia time to consider her actions. She wondered how her father was and how he was managing, now that he was no doubt inundated by the tales of her upstart manner from the relatives. They had always detested her because of her beauty and her singular place in her father's heart. It did not help that she had revenged herself on their jealousy by using the very thing they abhorred so much about her. There was not a man she had been unable to charm, not a man that was able to say no to her. She thought about Roderick Packard and immediately felt her skin crawl at the thought of marriage to him.
What had her father been thinking?
"You seem awfully quiet my dear" Ezra remarked, noticing her pace the floor like a caged cat. Somehow the analogy suited her. Despite the fact that he appeared completely fixed on the hand before him, Ezra had been watching her move across the floor. When she was quiet and not making all sorts of innuendo, Ezra was able to see the beauty that placed so many men under enchantment. There was strength about her, the existence of which he did not think even she believed in. He wondered why she had fled from her past life. Although she had confessed no such thing, he knew she was running. She had the look of someone who did not want to look behind her.
"I am just thinking about your robberies" she lied.
"It's a bad business" Josiah commented. "They've killed women and children, old and young. There doesn't seem to be any set pattern."
"Yes," she nodded, unafraid of speaking about such grisly business. She had seen the deaths up close and knew that very little she heard from either man could shock her. "It seems extremely random. Almost like overkill."
Ezra turned to her sharply, as if she had said something important but for the life of him he could not understand why. For a few seconds, he said nothing as the thought moved around his head, trying to find substance. After a moment, it slipped away completely and whatever it left was only an uncomfortable taste in his mouth he could not quite fathom.
"So, where are you from Miss Pemberton?" Josiah asked, since the silence in the room was making the atmosphere somewhat awkward.
Ezra watched her for reaction because that was the one thing that Julia seemed very restrained about, her origins before her arrival at Four Corners. Suddenly, almost as if it were a dress she was donning, a new mask slipped into place over her features. It was almost entertaining watching the change slip by so flawlessly as she produced a persona that could handle Josiah's inquiry convincingly.
"I am from Pennsylvania" Julia replied, approaching the men and pulling a chair so she could sit down and observe their card game for the want of something to do.
"You came out here all on your own?" Josiah probed, because she was really a young woman, despite her looks. It did not seem proper for a young lady of her breeding to come to such a frontier place as the Territory.
"I had to" Julia answered. "My father had this odd idea that I should be married." She saw no reason to hide that much of her past. As long as they had no names to connect with a face, her privacy was ensured. Besides, she liked the calm of the preacher for some reason. In a strange way, Josiah reminded her of her father and she found it easy to trust him.
"Really?" Ezra found himself asking with more interest than he should have felt.
"Yes." Julia brightened by his concern. Was he jealous? She did so hope he was. "He had arranged a marriage for me to this most odious man. Of course he was rich, but truly unredeemable in any shape or form. I loathed him from the moment I laid eyes on him."
"I gather you told your father you weren't going to marry this man" the preacher ventured a guess.
"Eventually" Julia allowed herself a satisfied smile remembering the look on her father's face when she had made her announcement to depart. She would have almost risked telling Packard to his face just to see his reaction. "He did not understand and decided to disown me." Julia continued weaving her lie to engender a more sympathetic response from not only Josiah but Ezra as well.
"That is unfortunate" Ezra stared at her with an expression that told her without doubt that he did not believe one word she was saying, although he would not expose her to Josiah. "However did you manage?"
"I had a rich aunt, who refused to see me ruined," Julia glared at him with a well-hidden scowl. "She had left a sizeable trust at my disposal and I had heard about all the opportunities to be had in the new West so I came here."
"The new West is somewhat overrated," Josiah pointed out as he finally showed Ezra his hand. "Too many folks come out this way expecting to find streets paved with gold and then learn otherwise. I do hope your situation turns out better than those poor unfortunates."
"I don't want to find streets of gold," she replied, knowing that his words were only out of concern. Julia found herself warming to the preacher and felt it necessary to justify her actions. It was quite something to earn this man's respect and for some reason Julia wanted to. "I just want to build something of my own that does not require me marrying well or having some man to look after me forever. I'm done with relying on the opposite sex for assistance." Then with a sweet smile, she added. "After this situation is resolved however."
"It's nice to be appreciated." Ezra retorted sarcastically.
"You ready?" Vin asked Alex as he peered through the cabin door.
"Yes" she nodded, allowing her gaze to sweep past the rustic home that had been the scene of so much turmoil the night before. The rest of the night had gone by quite innocently as Vin had honored his word to keep his distance, as she believed he would. The atmosphere now hung with an uneasy silence that neither was willing to break.
As she walked out, Alex pulled the door closed behind her, hoping that it would not only keep away intruders but also trap the secrets within. Vin had said very little to her throughout the remainder of the night. However, Alex had no doubt that she was in his thoughts, since he was most certainly in hers. She had no idea how she had allowed things to progress as far as they had, and now gravitated between trying to understand it and denying it completely. Alex could not ignore how he had made her feel. She'd had only one other lover in her life, and that experience had been uncomfortable and awkward, with her curiosity being the only thing that was satisfied.
She forced all these thoughts away when she joined him outside, unable to hide from the knowledge that things between them could never be the same again, not if she wanted Ezra in her life. She pulled the hood over her cloak and saw that he had already mounted Peso and was waiting patiently for her to do the same. Neither could meet the other's gaze because the memory was too fresh. Alex hurried past him, saying nothing as she climbed onto Calliope, so eager to begin this journey back to Four Corners that she barely noticed the rain on her skin.
Right now, the most important thing in her mind was to return to Ezra and never think of what happened last night again. In time, she might actually let go of the guilt that would follow her whenever she looked at Vin Tanner and remember what almost was.
The effects of the terrible weather did not abate with their departure and only seemed to increase the atmosphere of unresolved tension between them as they descended down the steep hills. The wind howled its protest as the horses moved slowly down the sharp incline, trying to navigate the ground of shale and rock. In some places the shale had been washed away so completely that the soil lay exposed, until the rain invariably turned the ground into mud. As they continued down the main track, Vin was very conscious of the trees whose branches had been twisted so viciously by the gale that they hung precariously over the path, threatening to fall at the slightest gust.
After a while, the path had deteriorated badly, with a few trees having been uprooted and now lying stretched across the muddy track. It concerned him enough to force away thoughts of the night before and bring forward a greater problem. He knew that it was for personal reasons that they both wanted to return to Four Corners, and for the most part, Vin was the first to admit that it was safer that they be around their friends instead of alone. However, he was starting to see the danger in continuing. The storm was quickly turning into a calamity that could cause serious injury to them if they continued.
"Alex," he looked over his shoulder and saw her wiping wet strands of hair from her eyes as she tried to focus through the rain pounding at her relentlessly. "We can't keep going."
Alex nodded, half expecting this because she was not blind to the weather. It did seem treacherous out here, and the clouds overhead showed no signs of dissipating. The storm had dug its heels in and did not appear as if it would yield for some time. While she was fearful of what else might occur between them, she would not gamble with their lives again. Had she listened to him earlier on, they would not have found themselves in the present situation.
"Is it safe to turn back?" she asked. It had been a struggle trying to reach this far. Although she did not have the expertise with the land that he had, she knew that the road had deteriorated into a slick, muddy mess in some places.
Vin considered the possibility of danger in trying to back track. He would have preferred to find shelter somewhere and wait until the worst of it passed by, but the weather was too harsh for anything other than the shelter provided at Agnes Doherty's farm. They were almost half way down the hill by now and if they persevered just a little more, perhaps they could make it down to more solid ground. At least then they would not be in danger of taking a bad tumble if the horses missed their footing.
"We'll keep going until we get to the bottom of the hill" he decided.
"Are you sure that's wise?" she persisted. "It's been pretty bad so far."
"We're almost half way down." he retorted as he nudged Peso forward. "We'll take shelter once we get down this hill."
"If you say so" Alex answered skeptically, feeling a little uneasy with the whole situation as it stood. She was afraid that Calliope might slip, and she was not a good enough rider to keep the horse under control should that happen. Alex was aware of the terrible injuries that could result from falling off a horse.
"Mr. Tanner," she nudged Calliope alongside Peso. They had been avoiding any conversation for some time now, and she was of the opinion they needed to speak of it or else this would develop into something that would have repercussions when they returned to Four Corners. "We need to talk."
Vin glanced sideways and then said simply. "I think you can call me Vin now."
She gave him a look. "I wish you would not make this so hard."
Vin returned her gaze with some irritation. "I ain't making anything hard. Looks to me like we said everything we needed to last night."
Well she could not fault him on that brilliant deduction. "I realize that, but I don't want you to think I do this sort of thing all the time. I love Ezra."
Vin flinched slightly at her saying those words. How many times was she going to rub that in his face? He was aware of how things were. While he might not like it, Vin had accepted that was how it was to be. "Look," he glared at her feeling a little more hostility then he intended, "you and Ezra are together. I know that. I always knew that. You don't need to explain anything or justify what happened. I reckon it's best if we just leave it be."
"Fine" she whispered softly, realizing how pointless it was to feel any guilt towards him. Alex had not wanted to think that she might have led him on in any way and wished to apologize if she had unwittingly done so. Digging her heels into Calliope, she sent the horse trotting forward, leaving him behind because she did not want to be anywhere near him at this point.
Vin Tanner could go to hell as far as Alexandra Styles was concerned.
"Alex!" Vin called out before she got too far ahead of him. The track was unsafe as it was, without her trying to traverse it on her own. She may be an excellent doctor, but she was unskilled at reading the land or seeing the danger in the tracks.
No sooner had he spoken those words than Vin watched in horror as the ground beneath her fell away in a loud rumble. The weight of animal and rider had loosened the last clumps of earth holding the track together and the soil tumbled free in a wall of mud. She barely managed to utter a scream as both Calliope and Alex disappeared into the wake of the landslide. The horse struggled to drag itself back to the top of the peak frantically before its weight dragged it down with the rest of the mudslide. Alex on the other hand, had already been swept downward. She disappeared in sea of mud and earth.
Peso reared on his hind legs as he staggered backward in fright, completely aware of what he had seen. Vin managed to stay on the horse, but he lost sight of Alex disappearing down the hill. "Alex!" he roared, his voice almost a scream as he leapt off Peso and ran down the track, hoping that she was riding the crest of the landslide and not buried under a ton of soil. If that happened, there was no way he could reach her before she suffocated.
Vin skid down the muddy incline, calling out her name but seeing nothing but ragged holes against the hill where constant erosion and water seepage had collapsed its insides. The sudden landslide had been soundless, except for a low rumble that died almost as quickly as it began. In the aftermath of the radical shift of earth, the hills returned to the sounds of wind blowing through the trees, rustling leaves and water falling pitter-patter against the ground. His heart was pounding as he felt the mud give way beneath him, adding speed to his rapid descent.
For a moment, blind panic gripped the tracker when he could not see her. The idea that she might be buried so far beneath the soil that he could not reach her terrified him to the core. There was only one thing worse than knowing she would never be his, and at this moment Vin knew perfectly well what that was.
It was knowing that she was dead.
"Alex!" he called out, feeling a cold fist tightening around his heart as he landed on the mound of wet soil that had piled in the wake of the collapse. Vin saw Calliope lying on her side. The mare was covered in mud and raised her head weakly as she tried desperately to rise to her feet. As Vin scrambled over the mud towards the animal, he knew Calliope would not be able to stand ever again. The break in her leg was evident from where he was. He paused as he came to the animal, running his hand over her cool flank, hoping that the touch would soothe her fear. He could see Calliope's nostrils flaring as she struggled to rise, followed by the plaintive nicker of despair when she could not. It stabbed at Vin's heart to see the animal in such pain, and he knew that his course was clear.
Sliding next to Calliope's head, he ran his hands over her, trying to calm her down and keep her from making another attempt to stand. She breathed easier at the feel of human contact, unaware that even as Vin was trying to soothe her fears, he was reaching for the gun in his holster. He kept the weapon out of the animal's sight, moving it gently into position so that Calliope would die without realizing the fear that came before the end.
"Its okay girl," he said quietly. "No more pain."
With that, he pulled the trigger. The sound exploded in the air, cutting through the fabric of all other noises with the overwhelming capacity that was exclusive only to guns. Birds flew out of the trees overhead, frightened into the rain by a sound that was almost as loud as a thunderclap but not quite as comforting as all things in nature tended to be, no matter how violent. Calliope's eyes glazed over as her head dropped back into the earth, a thick rivulet of blood exuding from the entry wound as Vin drew away from the carcass.
Suddenly, he heard another sound and remembered Alex.
"Help" he heard a weak voice.
Vin saw an irregular shape of mud and earth heave, not too far from him. Jamming his gun back into his holster, Vin pushed himself down the slope, allowing the mud to carry him down toward the moving shape that had been jarred into consciousness by the sound of the gunshot. He reached her as her head lifted into view, followed by an arm that was trying hard to breaking free of the mud.
"Alex!" Vin grabbed the exposed arm and immediately began digging the soil around her. She was not buried deeply at all, but the weight of mud and soil against the cloak she had been wearing was making mobility difficult. Vin sank his fingers into its woolen fabric and yanked hard backward, splattering himself with mud as he swung it aside. Pulling her gently by the arm, Alex rolled out of the earth, coughing hard as she tried to expel the dirt in her throat. She was completely covered with dirt and her hair was struck to her scalp in thick, grainy strands, but Vin thought she had never looked more beautiful because she was alive.
"Are you hurt?" he asked as he rolled her onto his lap.
It took a moment for her to answer as she stirred from the dark nightmare that had just enveloped her in its folds of sand and mud. She was trembling as he held her, but Vin saw no signs of broken bones yet and could not detect any blood. However, she was so covered in dirt it was difficult to tell.
"No," she coughed, expelling more earth from her mouth. "Not really. My leg hurts like hell. Am I moving my ankle?" she inquired as she made an exploratory flex of the particular limb.
"Yeah." Vin nodded worriedly, seeing her foot move. "It's moving."
"Then it's just a bad sprain" she muttered as she decided to lie perfectly still in his arms for a moment. Her head was swimming and she felt the sharp sting of cuts and lacerations across her arms and chest. "What happened? Did I slip?"
"No," Vin shook his head, brushing a smear of mud from her face. The raindrops were washing some of it off her face but not enough. "Landslide."
"Oh," she nodded still quite dazed, her eyes closed still. "I thought I got shot for a minute there. I thought I heard a gunshot."
"You did." Vin said somberly. "Calliope was hurt really bad."
Her eyes opened at the realization of what he was trying to tell her. "My horse......."
"I'm sorry Alex," he started apologizing, hating to tell her such news after such a terrifying experience. "Her leg was broken. It wasn't right to leave her in so much pain."
Alex looked away, trying to hide the tears that filled her eyes at the new of the mare's death. True, she was not the best rider in the world, and horses in general tended to frighten her a bit, but Calliope had been the first horse Alex had ever bought herself. She remembered how she, Mary and Inez had gone to the Roberts Stud in Bitter Creek to buy the animal. It was also the first time she had seen any horse breeder got the better of by a Mexican bartender with the bartering skills of a voracious wolverine. Alex remembered running her hands over the smooth sheen of the animal's flank and knowing with some unexplainable instinct that she could get along with the mare.
"Was it quick?" She managed to ask after awhile.
"I made sure it was." Vin reassured her, able to see how the loss of the mare was affecting her. He'd had Peso longer than he could remember, and considered the horse not just his main form of transport but a trusted companion. Peso had shared his life with him when there were no others in his life to share anything. He would feel just as devastated by the loss of that devoted animal.
"Thank you." Alex whispered and lay on his lap for a moment before struggling to sit up.
"No, you sit still for a minute" he said, resting a hand on her shoulder to keep her where she was. "Just catch your breath while I figure out what we're going to do next."
"Okay," she nodded, grateful that he was here with her. "Vin," she said after a moment.
"Yeah?" he asked distractedly as his eyes surveyed the terrain for an alternate route down the hill. He no longer wanted to take the main track because it had been cleared of trees and lay open to the elements. Such factors allowed the rain to seep through the soil and create the disaster that had almost killed Alex a moment ago. He was not risking her life like that again. He was the best damn tracker in the Territory and if there was a safe way down this mountain, Vin Tanner was going to find it.
"Do you think horses go somewhere when they die?" She asked quietly, needing to believe that modern Christian dogma was wrong, that animals did have a soul and there was a paradise waiting for them at the end of their lives.
Vin looked down at her in surprise, thinking how far removed she seemed from the efficient doctor who was used to giving him orders and going off to tend all kinds of ills without fear of God and heaven. He wondered if Ezra had ever seen the vulnerable side of her that Vin was often fortunate enough to glimpse. The gambler never seemed to be around for those occasions because he always needed tending in some way, and it occurred to Vin that she was probably so strong for that very reason.
"I think so" Vin answered softly. "I think there's a place for everything that lives and breathes. Just cause we don't know about it doesn't mean it ain't there. We don't know where heaven or hell are meant to be either, but we still believe."
"I called her Calliope after a Muse" she said suddenly. "I can't even remember where I read it but it was such a pretty name and she was such a beautiful horse."
"It's a pretty name" he agreed.
"Vin?" she asked again, this time looking at him directly. "Is that short for Vincent?"
Vin stared at her because it had never occurred to him before. Before his mother died, she had imparted upon him that he was a Tanner, specifically Vin Tanner. He was too young to remember much else about his life with her, except that she sort of reminded him of Nettie Wells. There were no records or papers to make any contradiction to that claim and he went through his life needing no proof to know that he was a Tanner. "I don't know" he said, genuinely perplexed.
She smiled at him. "It's a nice name too."
By the time the sun set that day, Chris Larabee knew one thing, he was going to find Vin Tanner and Alex Styles.
He could not explain the instinct that insisted that they were in trouble, but he had learnt never to question it during the past years. True, the Doherty place was some almost a full day's ride from Four Corners, but he knew Vin, and that knowledge told him that even with the rain, the tracker should have had no trouble returning to town as scheduled by now. With the outlaws responsible for the stage robberies and murders still at large, Chris was painfully aware how much danger Vin and Alex could find themselves in if they were to encounter these men.
With Nathan and JD taking up watch at the Travis place, the rest of the seven were gathered in the saloon around their usual table. As usual, Buck was disappointed that he had not been assigned guard duty over the fair Miss Pemberton and had the strangest feeling that Chris did not quite trust him. Nevertheless, it had given Buck the opportunity to make the trip to Purgatory where he was able to meet some willing female company as well as stumble across an important lead on the outlaws.
"I'm telling you, Chris," Buck said with smile as he leaned across the bar, waiting for Inez to bring his drink, "I was cooking today. By the way, Lydia says hello."
Chris frowned at the mention of the working girl he had visited a few times in the past. He had not been anywhere near her since he and Mary had started their relationship, and felt a little uncomfortable at the mention of her name. He knew Buck was just throwing that at him in payment for keeping him away from Julia Pemberton. "Get on with it" he growled, slapping a card onto the table as a discard. He was not in the mood to be friendly, what with Vin and Alex yet to return.
"Right," Buck continued, taking some satisfaction in his annoyance and feeling suitably vindicated. "Anyway, I met this girl and I'm telling you she had the best...."
"About the robberies Buck!" Chris glared at him. "Jesus!"
"Okay, okay," Buck winced, trying to pacify Chris when he realized just how black a mood his friend was in. By the looks of Ezra and Josiah, the condition seemed to be catching. "You know there was a time when this used to be such a happy group."
"Maybe," Inez announced, finding time to serve his drink now, "if you just tell them what they want to know and stop flapping your lips about your many conquests, they might be happier."
"Jealous darling?" He gave her one of his suggestive smiles. "All you got to do is say the word."
Inez rolled her eyes in disbelief, slamming his glass down in front of him, spilling most of it on the table, before sweeping away to deal with the rest of the customers. Buck sighed, knowing that it was just a matter of time before she succumbed to him, but wishing that the wait was not so arduous.
"Mr. Wilmington." Ezra finally spoke, exuding calm even though he wanted to know like the rest of them what Buck had learnt in Purgatory. He was in the same frame of mind as Chris Larabee, although he had better patience than the leader of the seven. "It would be a great help to us all if you just told us what you have discovered?"
"Sure." Buck sighed, deciding that there was definitely no room for levity with this group tonight. "As I said, I was cooking tonight" he picked up his drink and came to the table. He flinched a moment at the wet around the glass and wiped his hand on his coat after setting it down again. "I ran into this working girl Elisa after I said hello to Lydia. She keeps her ears open for information while she's with her customers, tries to make money off what she can sell, so Lydia tells me."
"The throes of passion can loosen the tongue." Josiah remarked and then added. "Figuratively."
"Exactly," Buck nodded. "I had to pay her a couple of dollars but I managed to find out that she knows this horse dealer who supplied horses to five men each time they went out on a job. He wouldn't say much except that he knows they're up to no good because they're always after fresh horses and paying him in cash. That's why he can afford to come see her as often as he does."
It was not much of a lead, but Chris had to admit it was something. One of the reasons why it was so difficult to track these men was because they were never riding the same animals. It was quite clever actually, changing mounts after each robbery. He knew how distinctive some animals could be, making it easy to identify the owner. Everyone in Four Corners knew his black gelding on sight, as well as Vin's horse Peso. "Does he have a name?"
"No." Buck frowned, wondering if that omission by Elisa had been intentional or not. She claimed she had not known, but he had the feeling she had been trying to coax him into paying more for the information. "However, she did say he was coming back tomorrow."
"That's the first real evidence we've had since this began." Josiah looked at Chris who had to agree with the preacher.
"Buck," Chris looked at him, "you go back to Purgatory and wait this guy out" Chris said, fingering his cards with no attention being paid to the game at all since his mind was singularly focussed on how they would deal with this potential lead. "When you get him, I want you to make it very clear that if he doesn't tell us everything he knows, we'll take him in as an accessory to the fact."
"Can we do that?" Buck stared at him Chris.
"I don't think this town is going to take to kindly to the man who supplies these bastards with their horses so they can do their killing." Chris looked at the other two men who nodded their agreement at his sinister intent. "You tell him we'll haul his ass into town and let a lynch mob deal with him."
"You're a vicious man" Buck grinned.
"But he does have an excellent feel for strategy" Ezra replied with a slight tip of his hat to Chris in admiration, which the gunslinger returned in kind.
"In the meantime," Chris said putting his cards down. He was unable to concentrate on the game, there were too many other concerns on his mind at the moment that needed addressing first. "You mind taking a ride with me Preacher?" Chris glanced at Josiah.
"Where are we going?" Josiah inquired, still looking at his own hand.
"I want to take a ride to the Doherty place" Chris confessed. "Vin and Alex should have been back by now."
"I'll come with you" Ezra suggested, glad someone was thinking along those lines other than him. He did not want to sound like the worried suitor, but with another night having descended upon them and no sign of either Alexandra or Vin, Ezra could not help being concerned.
"No, I need you to stay with Julia." Chris said automatically, knowing how distracted a man worrying about a woman could be on the trail. "Besides, Nathan may need to get back to town to tend to his yellow fever cases, and JD need someone to ride shotgun with him."
"I could do it" Buck offered enthusiastically.
"No, you can just go to Purgatory" Chris said without even looking back at the man. "You got a job to do there."
"But Chris..." he protested, sounding like a little boy at that moment.
"I don't want to hear it, Buck" Chris repeated with enough of an edge to his voice to make it count.
Buck knew that tone well enough to know that it was pointless trying to change his mind. "You are really starting to cramp my style" he grumbled.
"You'll survive" Josiah remarked with a hint of a smile. "Besides, I get the feeling that she's not interested in you, cowboy."
"What do you mean?" Buck demanded, horrified by the notion that someone may have already obtained the young lady's affection during all his absences. Even Chris stared at Josiah in surprise, while Ezra said nothing and seemed more glacial than ever.
"I think she has a taste for something Southern" Josiah glanced in Ezra's direction.
"That is your imagination talking Mr. Sanchez" Ezra offered something of a protest, but knew he did not sound very convincing. Josiah was correct of course, Julia wanted him and only him. While it did something to the ego to know that, considering that Alexandra was out there braving God only knew what, it made Ezra feel terribly guilty to think that some other woman was vying for his attention.
"Is it?" Chris looked at him, with one of those shadowy smiles of his. "She did ask for you specifically to guard her."
Ezra shifted in his seat. "That is not my fault." The gambler threw down his cards, disliking the tone of this conversation immensely. He was having enough difficulty on the subject of Julia Pemberton without it becoming a matter of public debate. Mr. Larabee, I feel that you should omit me from guard detail."
"Can't" Chris said simply, not allowing Ezra to squirm out of it that easily. "With Vin gone and Nathan needed in town for doctoring since Alex is not here, we're pretty short handed."
"What is it with you?" Buck declared, glaring at Ezra with an accusatory eye. "You're always getting the best ones!"
"I am not getting anything!" Ezra protested with uncharacteristic emotion. "I am not the least bit interested in the charms, or anything else for that matter, of the fair Miss Pemberton, no matter how many times she offered me her attentions during the night!" It took a second for Ezra to realize what he had said before noticing the amused expressions on Josiah and Chris, not to mention the angry glowering on Buck's face.
"She asked you to sleep with her?" Buck said slowly.
"I have nothing further to say." The gambler rose to his feet. "I shall ride there now and perform the task you have set for me, Mr. Larabee. Would you please find Alexandra." With that, Ezra stormed out of the room, leaving an air of astonishment behind.
"I knew it" Buck grumbled after he left. "This is all your fault Chris."
Chris turned to him. "How so?" The gunslinger demanded with annoyance.
"If you didn't insist on keeping her away from me, she wouldn't have fallen into Ezra's arms. Its bad enough he's got that pretty doctor to himself and now Miss Pemberton too? You know Chris, you ought to pay more mind to those of us who haven't found the loves of our lives. After all, you've got Mary now, so you can't appreciate the problems the rest of us have to go through." Buck was rambling but he was genuinely disappointed to think that once again, another beautiful woman had slipped out of his reach.
"Buck, just get riding to Purgatory" Chris sighed wearily, suddenly feeling that he was the warden in an insane asylum.
"Fine," Buck stood up from the table, "send me away like I'm some wayward kid."
"It would help if you stopped acting like one" the gunslinger pointed out.
"I know when I'm not wanted." Buck huffed with offence and took the same route that Ezra had just done, storming out of the saloon with Josiah and Chris staring after him. Their gazes were still fixed on the bat wing doors after the tall man had left. For a moment, neither said anything for their minds were still trying to accept the sequence of events that had just taken place like some heavy wind that had blown through the room.
"You know something, Josiah?" Chris remarked still staring out the door as if he could see through the wood at Buck saddling his horse and preparing for his journey to Purgatory once again.
"What?" Josiah replied just as dazed.
"Thank you."
Now Josiah did turn to the gunslinger, feeling some confusion in the gratitude since he had no idea why it was offered. "Thank you?"
"Yeah," Chris nodded, picking up his glass because he really needed a drink now, "for being the only one other than me that is older than 12."
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