“And that, my friend, is gin,” Ezra announced with a beaming smile of satisfaction. Ezra Standish loved to win - no, it was more than that. Others enjoyed the simple pleasure of coming out on top, but for Four Corners’ resident gambler, it was the thrill of the contest itself. Out-thinking and out-manoeuvring his opponents gave Ezra a rush that could not be equaled by even the most thrilling circumstances. The monetary reward for being exceptional at his chosen vocation could not be forgotten and certainly played a minor, though in Ezra’s view, vulgar role.

“Damn, Ezra. How much do I owe you now?” Buck demanded, his face screwing up with distaste as he eyed his own paltry hand.

“Let’s call it an even year’s salary.” Buck Wilmington was more than fair at cards, but he couldn’t hold a candle to his fellow regulator. Over the course of the four weeks the pair had been riding together, Buck’s ’debt’ had continued to grow. Ezra had long since given up all hope of ever seeing the colour of his friend’s money.

“That much, huh? Well, I reckon I should quit while I’m still wearing my shirt,” the town scoundrel announced, rising to his feet.

Ezra scooped up the cards from the middle of the table and searched the room for another opponent. “Have you seen our good sheriff this morning?”

“He ain’t got any money, Ezra.” Buck grinned, tipped his hat and strode out of the saloon. The sun was just lifting up toward noon. Another fine winter’s day. The nights had been cold, but the days were almost perfect... not that the nights weren’t. Ladies liked to cuddle when it was chilly and if there was one thing that Buck loved; it was snuggling up on a frosty evening - or any evening for that matter!

The big man scanned the street with carefree ease. He felt happy, content and relaxed. This no-nothing town had provided the habitual wanderer with a permanent base for an entire month. Buck rarely stayed anywhere long. He had never found a reason to dwell. In Four Corners, however, he had accepted responsibilities and while Buck was an easy-going man, he did not shirk responsibility when he chose to take it.

“Mr. Wilmington,” a local acknowledged, tipping his hat as he walked by.

“George.” Buck had also earned a great deal of respect here. He was one of the seven men who had signed on to protect the town for a dollar a day plus room and board. At first, there had been some hostility and opposition from some sections of the community, but Wilmington and his companions had protected Four Corners from no end of trouble that had ridden in during their weeks as peace keepers.

The sound of a carriage approaching from out of town drew the big man’s attention. Wilmington grinned as he watched a youth in a bowler hat step off the jailhouse porch to greet it.

“Morning, Miss Nettie,” J.D. welcomed, reaching up and assisting the elderly woman from the buggy.

“Morning, J.D.”

Four Corners' sheriff glanced up at the carriage‘s other occupant. He offered his hand to Nettie‘s hight-spirited niece, but Casey swatted it out of the way and jumped down without assistance.

“You’re supposed to wait for a gentleman to help you down,” J.D. complained.

“Gentleman! You? Hah! Besides, I’m more’an capable of getting down without no help.”

Nettie gave her niece a disapproving look.

“Well, I am.” With that, the girl gave J.D. a glare and then trudged off toward the Clarion News.

“What’s ailing her this morning?” J.D. muttered. “Casey, wait up!”

Nettie smiled and then turned and headed into Potter’s Store. Young love could be problematic for those involved but downright amusing for those older and more experienced adults watching the participants lock horns. “Morning, Gloria.”

“Good morning, Nettie.”

“Nice day out.”

“Nice and quiet thanks to the Seven. This is the time of year when the miners get paid. Remember the trouble we used to have?”

“I remember,” Nettie agreed, picking up a basket and starting to fill it with the things she needed. “They still may chance their hand.”

“The Seven will be able to handle it.” This confidence was not hers alone. It echoed the sentiment of the town‘s citizens. Now if trouble rode in, it either rode out quickly, was arrested and thrown in jail, or left this world in a pine box. Swift justice.

“How are things out on your ranch?” Gloria asked. She was a kindly woman whose shop was known as the town’s information centre. Everyone who lived in or around Four Corners came to her store for supplies and thus she was usually well informed of the latest gossip.

Nettie grunted. She wasn’t one much for chat, but she had known Gloria for a number of years and owed her an answer. “Can’t complain.”

“The place must be getting difficult for you and Casey to look after?”

“Ain’t nothing changed in fifteen years, Gloria. Why would I suddenly be having trouble?”

“Come on, Nettie. You aren’t getting any younger. Perhaps you should consider selling and moving into town?”

“Selling? To who? The likes of Guy Royal?! Over my dead body!”

Gloria sensed she had pushed too far and changed the subject. The issue was a raw one and she realized she should have known better than to raise it. It was only recently Nettie had almost lost her home to the cattle baron, but the Seven had prevented that from happening. Over the course of the incident, the hard old lady had found a soft spot for one of the peacekeepers. Gloria wasn’t sure why, but Vin Tanner appeared to welcome Nettie’s friendship. Of the Seven, it was Tanner who presented as the loner - almost an enigma. The sharpshooter was always well mannered and friendly, but still aloof - unlike several of the others who were happy to give freely of themselves. Then again, Vin Tanner had struck up an immediate friendship with the Seven’s dark leader.

Through her window, Gloria could see the black clad figure striding down the street briskly. The citizens of Four Corners gave him a wide berth, but that wasn’t surprising. Chris Larabee was a gunfighter of considerable skill, though very few words. Gloria had long decided that the basis of Tanner and Larabee’s friendship was the fact that they were both guarded when it came to others. She had watched in amazement the day the pair had taken on a trail herd from Texas to save the town’s healer. She had also watched with pained relief when they had dragged Lucus James back into town to face trial after he had murdered her husband.

“Any soap?” Nettie asked.

“Yes, up the front, Nettie.”

The bell above the door rang and a man dressed in a buckskin coat ambled in. “Mornin’, Mrs. Potter.” He smirked at Nettie. “Casey and J.D. are causing a hell of a racket over at Mary’s.”

“Do I look surprised?” Nettie spat back. Her face was serious, but her eyes lit up with true welcome.

“Ya need feed for the chickens? I’ll load it on for you,” Vin offered casually.

“Casey mentioned something about needing feed,” the elderly woman agreed.

Vin nodded, tipped his hat to the two ladies and disappeared out of the store.

Nettie Wells found herself smiling. She had an insight into Vin Tanner that she knew few others were privy to. Most of the town respected the tracker and sharpshooter. Some even feared him and with good reason. Tanner was a dangerous person to upset. There was no doubt he was a hard man... or perhaps simply a man who had experienced a hard life. Either way, he was not someone to be crossed lightly. However, Vin never went looking for trouble. He was inherently quiet, reflective and wary. He didn’t trust easily and was not the type of person who neither showed his emotions nor easily accepted the affection of others. The same could be said of Nettie. Both she and the young sharpshooter were stubborn and hardened by the hand life had dealt them. Out of this similarity, a closeness had developed between them.

Nettie had been puzzled why the likes of a tough ex-bounty hunter would bother with an ‘old dame’ like her. The answer hadn’t been easy for Vin to explain. He had lost his mother young and in Nettie he saw something he missed. The old lady’s heart, which had been closed to everyone bar her niece for over twenty years, opened that day. She had developed a soft spot for him that equaled the one he had for her.

As a result, without invitation or discussion, Vin had started riding out to the old lady’s ranch three times a week. Fence mending, roof repairing and tending to some of the livestock had been jobs he had taken on without prompting. Tanner, to Nettie’s surprise, had a wicked and youthful sense of humour that matched her own. They shared some decent arguments that usually stemmed from him trying to protect her from nothing and her wanting him to ‘keep warm’, ‘eat more’ or ‘sleep more’. It was an almost volatile relationship, but one that was close and full of deep affection.

**********

“Damned if I can understand her,” J.D. grumbled, stopping and leaning against a porch post.

Chris Larabee looked up. He was seated on the veranda of the saloon enjoying the peaceful morning.

“She’s all riled up at me for some reason,” J.D. continued. “Don’t reckon I’ll ever understand her.”

Larabee smiled.

Seeing this, J.D. shrugged. “Not that it’s important or anything.”

The smile on the older man’s face matured.

“All I did was offer to help her out of the carriage! I mean, what was I supposed to do? Help Nettie down and just ignore her?”

J.D. wasn’t expecting any answers from the Seven’s leader. Chris Larabee was not a man who conversed. He spoke only when he had to.

“You seen Buck?”

“Blacksmith’s.”

“Thanks, Chris.”

Larabee watched the youngest member of the Seven head toward the small shed at the end of the street. Buck spotted the youth coming and began to tease him about his ‘success’ with the fair Casey. Wilmington and Dunne had become close. A strange combination, Chris reflected, but J.D. was eager to learn and Buck was willing to pass on his knowledge drawn through experience - both with guns and women.

Larabee flicked his eyes to the feed stall where Vin was loading Nettie’s wagon. Chris waited. Vin paused. The younger man scanned the street with wary eyes, his hand descending instinctively to his holstered mare’s leg. When Vin’s gaze fell on the seated gunfighter, he relaxed - for two reasons. The feeling he was being watched had been correct, except it was only Chris and if Chris was watching his back, he had no need to worry.

Larabee tipped his hat and Vin nodded.

You going to be long?

No words were necessary. Chris and Vin didn’t seem to need them. Telepathy it wasn’t. Chris didn’t believe in such things. However, the Seven’s leader and sharpshooter had such a complete understanding of one another that they seemed to be able to predict what the other was thinking in most situations.

Chris pursed his lips thoughtfully. He trusted Vin. This fact continued to astonish him. For three very long dark years, Chris had trusted no one - not another living soul and yet, he had trusted Vin Tanner from the very moment their eyes had met. There had been an instant affinity the likes of which Larabee had never felt before - not since he and Sarah...

A dark cloud of guilt and grief washed over the gunfighter. Thinking of his lost wife was still painful. The day he had returned to find his family dead, murdered by some faceless enemy, Chris Larabee had stopped feeling. His ability to trust or enjoy the company of anyone had died with his wife and son. Chris had literally shut the world out, welcoming only the companionship of whiskey and his guns. He’d even repelled Buck’s attempts to help him. The two men had been friends for years but that only served to strengthen Larabee’s resolve to shut his friend out. Fortunately, Buck was a loyal friend who had never given up on him.

Chris sighed. He was damn lucky he had someone like Buck who gave a damn and who was prepared to support him despite his efforts to destroy their friendship.

Larabee leant back further in his chair, his mind returning to the present. He and Vin had to ride into Eagle Bend to pick up some prisoners. Once Vin had seen Nettie off, they would make the four-hour journey. Chris was looking forward to it. He enjoyed Tanner’s company and the thought of getting out of town for a few hours appealed to him.

The subject of Larabee’s thoughts glanced back over his shoulder, his eyes directed to the track leading into Four Corners. Chris rose to his feet and followed Tanner’s gaze. He could see and hear nothing out of the ordinary, yet the look on Vin’s face showed evidence of concern.

Tanner moved around the small buggy, his eyes narrowing. The sharpshooter whistled loudly. Buck and J.D. rushed into the street. Ezra Standish jogged from the saloon, his revolver already drawn. Josiah and Nathan stepped from the church.

“Something wrong?” Josiah called, attempting to identify whatever it was that had captured his companion’s attention.

“Could be trouble comin‘. More than eight riders in a hell of a hurry,” Vin called. The other men began to spread out around the town.

Tanner’s uncanny instincts were accepted by his fellow regulators without question, despite the fact that they couldn’t see any sign of the riders Vin seemed to think were imminent. Experience had taught them the folly of ignoring Vin’s warnings.

Moments later, a cloud of dust emerged out of the trees signaling the approach of a dozen riders. Larabee’s brow furrowed. He recognized them as Guy Royal’s boys. Since the trouble with Royal two weeks earlier, they hadn’t set foot in Four Corners.

The rowdy party pulled up outside the saloon and began to dismount. Chris watched them carefully. Royal’s foreman stepped away from the group to address Larabee.

“We just want a drink in the saloon. Mr. Royal is coming on behind us. Should be here in about ten minutes. We’re gonna have a drink, collect some supplies and we’ll be out of here. We don’t want no trouble with you.”

“Good,” Chris growled, the volume a single decibel above a whisper. Larabee’s voice was always hushed. It was one of the many reasons why he scared the living shit out of anyone who met him.

The Seven’s leader flicked his eyes to his men and nodded. Buck and J.D. turned and disappeared back into the blacksmith’s shed. Josiah and Nathan returned to the church. Ezra watched the town’s unwanted guests move by him into the saloon. Chris glanced at the gambler, the latter nodding before following the ranch hands into the building. Standish would keep an eye on the potential troublemakers.

Chris sank down into his chair and watched Vin return to loading Nettie’s carriage. Tanner and Royal didn’t like each other. It had become personal last time. There was no doubt in Larabee’s mind that if Royal started anything, this time, Vin would finish it once and for all.

After hefting the last bag of feed into the buggy, Vin called something into Potter’s store and then strode across to the saloon and climbed the stairs. “I ain’t aimin’ on causin’ no trouble, Chris,” he assured his friend.

“Good.”

“Looks like they’ve come meanin’ business, though. You see ‘em?“

“Yeah. I know all three.“

“They gonna be a problem?“

“Guess we’ll find out soon enough.“

“Guess so. Neittie’ll only be a few more minutes. I’ll feel a lot happier once she’s out of town. “

Chris nodded his agreement. Vin peered over the batwing doors.

“Ezra’s watching them,” Larabee informed the concerned sharpshooter.

“Yep. He’s also got five of them playing cards with him.” Vin turned to Chris and smirked. “Reckon I should warn them?”

Chris returned his best friend’s smile. “Why spoil Ezra’s fun?”

Casey jogged across to the two men. Her stride slowed as she drew closer. The teenager felt nervous around Chris. He had always been friendly, but he was Chris Larabee and in these parts, that meant something. Tanner, on the other hand, had become a regular visitor to her Aunt’s ranch. Casey really liked Vin. She had seen his genuine affection for her aunt and she had watched Vin lead the charge to ensure Nettie retained her land. For that, Casey would always be grateful.

“Vin, one of the horses was pulling up a little lame on the way here. Nettie asked if you’d take a look at her?”

“Watch you back, “Chris whispered.

“I‘ll be ready, Cowboy,” Vin agreed, before turning and following the girl back over to the carriage.

Across the street, J.D.’s eyes grew intense.

Buck burst out laughing. “My lord, son, you’ve got it bad haven’t you? Vin ain’t interested in a little thing like Casey.”

“Shut-up, Buck!”

“Look, why don’t you go on over there and talk to her?”

“What and get sand kicked in my face in front of Vin?! Forget it.”

“Alrighty, but...” Buck’s attention was drawn to the single rider cantering into town. “Here we go,” the scoundrel muttered, watching as Royal pulled his horse up in front of the draper‘s shop. Word was, Royal wanted a rematch with the Seven. It looked like today was the day.

Vin, who was fifteen feet away from the newcomer, glanced up briefly and then apparently unconcerned, went back to examining the carriage pony.

Royal dismounted and watched Tanner for several seconds before lashing his horse to the hitching post and heading for Potter‘s. At the same moment, Nettie Wells exited the general store. The two came face to face.

Royal smiled sweetly. “Mrs. Wells. And how are you this fine day?”

“Feeling sick to my stomach looking at you, Guy Royal” Nettie growled. A shadow fell across the pair. Both turned to find Vin Tanner standing half a pace behind Royal.

“This fella botherin’ you, Nettie?” The words were firm but held no aggression.

“I don’t think Mr. Royal will ever bother me again,” Nettie stated with confidence, stepping around the arrogant property baron and taking Vin’s arm.

“You get everything you need, Ma’am?”

“Yes. Casey ask you about the horse?”

“Stone in her shoe. She should be right now. Just take it easy on her on the way back.”

Royal watched them walk toward the carriage, anger boiling in the pit of his stomach. Tanner had just dismissed him as if he didn’t warrant attention. That, more than anything else, caused Royal to seethe. He was aware of the growing crowd that was gathering in the doorways of the buildings lining the street. Everyone was waiting for the confrontation that had to take place. Royal grinned with satisfaction. This was just perfect - just as he had planned.

The cattle baron shot a look across the road to where his boys were piling out of the saloon and flooding the street. He signaled them with a nod. The group began to break up and scatter. Immediately, doors closed and windows were bolted in anticipation of the impending skirmish. Mary Travis was the only person, beside the Seven, who remained outside of her shop. She refused to be intimidated by the likes of Royal.

The smirk on Guy Royal’s face grew. Up until now, the cattle baron had wanted to avoid any further clashes with the Seven, but the talk around town had forced him to act. People were calling him a coward, and Royal couldn’t allow that to continue. Thus, he had planned today with pinpoint accuracy. He knew Nettie Wells came into Four Corners on a Tuesday morning and he knew Vin Tanner would be hanging around to help the old lady.

Royal waited while his men moved into position. They outnumbered the Seven two to one and the ranch owner had made three pleasing additions that he felt gave him the advantage. Gilmore, Davis and Sharp were guns for hire and each man had a reputation that should justify the price he had paid.

Ezra wandered out of the saloon and stopped beside Chris. Josiah and Nathan reappeared on the top of the church steps. J.D. and Buck separated and moved slowly to opposite ends of town. There was a tenseness creeping over the street as the two camps watched the situation unfold.

“At least we’ve got a nice day for it,“ Standish muttered. “Royal appears to have planned this. There are a couple of guns with his men. Three, I believe.”

Chris grunted. Larabee’s slitted eyes made contact with each of his men. They understood and set about carrying out their leader’s silent order.

Royal knew he had centre stage. Time to put Nettie Wells and the scruffy tracker in their place. They would not get away with disrespecting him ever again. “I was just trying to be polite. You can‘t threaten me just because you think you’re the law in this town, Tanner.”

“I’ve told you before, Royal,” Vin called back without turning around, “stay way from Mrs. Wells.” Still Tanner’s voice held no visible hostility.

“I was just making polite conversation!” Royal couldn’t believe Tanner was prepared to ignore his obvious attempts to rile him!

“You wouldn’t know what polite was!” Casey snapped, in essence, jumping to Vin’s defence. “You’re nothing more than a bully who isn’t game to do nothing now because you know the Seven will ... “

“Cassandra Eloise Wells! That is enough out of you!” Nettie scolded. The older woman knew what was going on. Royal was trying to pick a fight. It was obvious to Nettie that Vin was keeping himself in check to protect them and Casey riling everyone up wasn’t going to help matters.

Royal’s face twitched with rage. He had never accepted such abuse from anyone! Up until fourteen days ago, he had been well respected - or more correctly, feared. Now, he could see the smirks of amusement on the faces pressed up against the closed windows. These were the same people who had cowered away from him or run to do his bidding in the past.

“But it’s true, Aunt Nettie, Casey argued. “He only picks on people he knows he’s bigger than.”

Vin took Casey by the arm and bundled her into the carriage. “Now, why don’t you two head on home. Mr. Royal, his ranch hands and them three guns he’s hired, ain’t gonna be causing you or anyone else no bother.” Tanner turned, his and Royal’s eyes meeting. He could see the surprise on the cattle baron’s face. “Once Mr. Royal has what he‘s come for, I’m sure he’ll be leaving Four Corners... one way or another.” Vin turned back to Nettie and Casey. “Go on now.”

Nettie stared from Royal, to his men and then back to Vin. “Be careful.”

“Don’t you worry none. Go on.” Vin slapped one of the ponies on the rump, sending the carriage and its occupants on their way to safety. Tanner watched the buggy until it was out of town, then turned. Hands descended to weapons. Breaths were drawn in and held. The first move belonged to Tanner.

Vin walked straight back past Royal without acknowledging the other man’s presence. His eyes brushed Larabee’s and then he disappeared into the alley that housed his wagon.

Guy Royal was so shocked by Tanner’s actions that his jaw actually dropped open. He had been certain the regulator would retaliate the moment Wells was gone. The cattle baron was about shout an accusation of cowardice, when he realized he was the topic of inspection. Chris Larabee’s eyes were attacking him from across the street. Royal glanced at his three hired guns. They were all watching Larabee and yet, the gunfighter didn’t seem interested in them. Perhaps he hadn’t realized. Royal dismissed the thought. Of course Larabee had recognized what they were. If Tanner had, Larabee certainly would have.

“Larabee’s going to face off against Royal!“ a voice cried from cattle baron‘s left.

Guy Royal’s face paled. Chris Larabee moved to the top of the stairs, his intense gaze never leaving the middle of the rancher’s face.

Royal swallowed. He glanced at his men and then back at Larabee. Perhaps his boys had the Seven’s measure but clearly Larabee’s first bullet was reserved for him.

Deciding that his life was more important to him than his reputation, Royal signaled his foreman.

The large man left his place of partial concealment and jogged across to his boss. “Sir?”

“Hallow, I’m leaving now.”

“But didn’t you want us to...?”

“Shut-up. Yes, but I’ve decided I don’t want to be here when it happens. Wait until I’m gone and then... you know what to do.”

“Yes, Sir, but you said you wanted to take down Tanner personally in front of everyone in Four Corners.”

Royal glanced across at Larabee and swallowed. The gunfighter’s harsh green eyes were cutting him to the quick. “Tanner’s disappeared.“

“But, Sir...“

“Just do what I tell you!”

Royal mounted his steed and rocketed out of town, unable to dismiss the feeling that Larabee’s eyes were boring a hole right through the back of his head.

Hallow moved to the side of the street. “Boys,“ he called. At first no one moved. Tentatively, the men left their places of selected cover and collected around him.

“What the hell‘s going on?” one man demanded, watching the Seven warily.

“Change of plan. The boss wants us to wait for a while.”

“Wait! Why? We‘re ready now. This is exactly what he planned.”

“Them three can take Larabee and the rest of us can handle the others. They‘re one man down anyway.”

One of the professional gunfighters shook his head. “No, they‘re not.“ He inclined his head to the roof of Potter’s store. There, standing in full view, was Vin Tanner, his rifle hanging at his side. The Seven owned the high ground and in any battle that was essential. “I’ve heard he’s good.”

“So have I,” Davis agreed. He had asked around before coming here and he’d been told that getting to Larabee would mean going through all of the Seven - each of them equal to five other men. “If we’re still going to do this, we need to wait until he comes down and they aren‘t so organized.”

“Organized?”

Four Corners’ peacekeepers had moved to surround the group. There had been no detectable signal to do so, but clearly there had to have been one.

“They’re good alright,” Sharp muttered. “This isn’t going to be as easy as Royal made out.”

“What the hell should we do?”

Davis glanced up at Tanner and assessed the situation. “There isn’t anything we can do,” he muttered.

“You boys need to be leaving,” a voice behind them called. The mob turned to find themselves facing Larabee and five of his men who had organized themselves into a line beside their leader. Larabee’s gun was still holstered, but his men had theirs drawn and aimed at the unwanted visitors.

“And if we decide we want to stay?” Gilmore challenged, stepping forward, his hand coming to rest on his holster.

There was a click from above. Vin Tanner had the speaker in his sights. Gilmore turned back to Larabee. “He always fight your battles for you?”

“Blow his God damn head off, Vin!” Buck called, taking offence on Larabee’s behalf. Chris wouldn’t provoke a gunfight nor be drawn into one by empty insults.

“You boys should be leaving now,” Chris repeated, his face displaying no discernable emotion.

Vin Tanner’s ice blue eyes roved the men below.

Sharp saw his chance. Everyone’s attention was on Gilmore and Larabee. The hired gun moved himself into position. Taking down Larabee would be a useful feather in his cap. Sharp’s hand started its downward motion toward his holster.

“You still haven’t answered me,” Gilmore prompted.

There was a shot. Sharp spun sideways, a rifle bullet ripping though his arm. The sound of the shot led a number of men to reach for their weapons, but they thought better of drawing them. Larabee’s men still had them covered. Gilmore too drew, but the pearl handled revolver was blown out of his hand before it cleared the holster.

Larabee replaced his gun, his attention drawn to the only gunfighter Royal had hired who had not allowed his ego to force him into battle against the Seven. This man was dangerous. He was a thinker who would not be swayed by emotion.

Davis smiled. He had used the skirmish as an opportunity to watch Larabee in action. Chris Larabee and his gang of gunfighters were every bit as good as all of the rumours.

“We’ll give you one minute to get on your horses and ride out of here. Otherwise we see how well you dodge bullets,” the Seven’s leader growled.

Royal’s men glanced at each other and then raced for their mounts. None of them were prepared to chance their hand after having seen the Seven in battle. As Gilmore rode back past the regulators, he snarled, “This isn’t over, Larabee.”

“Ooooo. Chris’ shakin’ in his boots,” J.D. called back.

Davis drew his horse level with the Seven’s leader and nodded his head. Larabee returned the nod - a sign of respect between two men who understood the finer points of their profession. Chris watched Davis and the rest of Royal’s men leave. The leader of the seven glanced skyward and tipped his hat. Vin lowered his rifle.

“Vin’s a dangerous man when he’s up there,” Nathan chuckled.

“Gives us the advantage, “ Josiah agreed.

“Mr. Tanner’s accuracy is something that should be put to financial use. I do believe he and I need to have a business discussion.”

“Should be a short conversation,” Josiah laughed.

“Gilmore wasn’t as fast as I’d heard,” J.D. reflected.

“He was fast, son,” Buck disagreed. “Chris just makes the poor bastards look slow.”

**********

“Pay you?! Get off my property!” Guy Royal was not a happy man. His plan had failed and by all reports, his men had made a dismal showing against the Seven. Royal continued to explode with rage. Most of his anger was directed at the three gunfighters he had been assured could deal with the problem.

“If we had stuck to the plan, we could have taken them!” Gilmore argued.

“Look, I say we go and get the old dame that fella was so worried about. Once we’ve got her, they’ll come to us,” Sharp growled.

“Oh, that’s just brilliant! We enrage them and then invite them over here!” Royal exploded. “The last thing I want is to have them out for my blood!”

Davis smirked at the arguing group, shook his head and turned to go.

Royal studied him with interest. Henry Davis had come very highly recommended. He was far more than just a fast gun. Davis was a highly intelligent man who had been engaged by some of Royal’s peers to rid themselves of complex and varied problems.

“Davis, my men tell me you didn’t lift a finger.”

The gunfighter continued walking. “I’m not in the habit of attempting suicide.”

“Wait.”

Davis stopped and turned slowly.

Royal continued to stare at him. “Mark Henderson told me that you were the best ’exterminator’ he had ever come across. I’m interested in your view. Where did I go wrong? We had them outnumbered and I had three professional gunfighters to take care of Larabee.”

Davis pursed his lips thoughtfully.

“What the hell am I supposed to do to rid myself of those seven men?!”

“Mr. Royal, you’re going about this the wrong way. You’re trying to fight fire with fire. Only trouble is, they’re a raging inferno and they‘ll just consume any other flames.”

“Don’t speak in riddles.”

Davis smiled. People like Royal amused him. They were basically dull individuals who had money and therefore power, but no common sense. “You’ve waited too long. They aren’t just seven hired guns anymore.“ Davis reflected on what he had witnessed that afternoon. “I’ve seen a lot of men in my days, but I’ve never come across anything like them. There was no discussion. They were reading each other, not just predicting one another’s movements.“

“Go on,“ Royal prompted.

“Those seven men thought, acted and moved as one. Changes to plan and problems encountered are responded to instantly and without any formal or visible communication.” Davis flicked his eyes to Gilmore and Sharp who where both nursing wounds. “Anyone with half a brain should have realized that once the sharpshooter was in position, the Larabee gang was undefeatable.” Which was exactly why Davis had not participated in any attack. The moment Vin Tanner had appeared above, the fight was over.

“So you’re saying we’ve got to take the sharpshooter out?”

Davis shook his head. “It isn’t that simple. These men look like they’d be able to compensate the loss.”

“So, that’s it then. They can’t be beaten?”

Davis smiled, turned and mounted his horse. “No, Mr. Royal, that’s not what I’m saying. No one is unbeatable. If you want to defeat the Larabee gang you’ve got to stop fighting fire with fire and start fighting fire with water.” Davis dipped the peak of his hat and then urged his horse out through the gates.

“Fire with water,” Royal muttered.

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