The small lamp flickered in the darkened room. It was early evening. The sun was only just disappearing, but the curtain had been drawn to ensure privacy. The only sound was the slightly wheezed breathing from the sleeping man in the bed. The other occupant blended into the shadows, his outfit of black reflecting his mood.

Chris fingered the well-used revolver in his hand. Not his favourite piece, but he would retrieve that before the fight. Tomorrow, he would draw on Frank Gordon. It had been almost a year since he had had to draw on anyone in a true gunfight. Most people gave him a wide berth these days. If he wanted that sort of security to return, he needed to face Gordon.

Chris stared down at the cold weapon in his steadfast hands. He honestly wasn’t sure if he was faster than Gordon. The other man had been collecting quite a reputation in recent months. He had gunned down a number of renowned gunfighters. Men Chris had seen draw. Men who were damn fast.

Larabee flicked his eyes to his best friend and reflected on all they had seen and done together. Tanner would stand beside him tomorrow - so would Buck and the others. They would all be there. Unfortunately, when it came to the crunch, his friends would not be able to help. For the first time since they had met, Chris would have to face something on his own and while that didn’t scare him, it forced him to reflect on where his life had come from and where it may be going... and just how much he truly did value his own life.

**********

“Standish!”

Ezra turned toward the man who had bellowed his name. His companions did also.

The group were seated in the main gambling hall at their own table. The evening had been pleasant up until this point. The five men where deliriously happy just to be together... just to have everything back to normal. Relief, satisfaction, true happiness and security.

“Disgruntled loser?” Buck asked quietly, summing up the bellowing man with a single look. Identifying poor souls who had lost everything but the clothes on their back to Ezra at the card table was something all of the Seven could now do with apparent ease. All of these woeful individuals shared the same pop-eyed expression, a result of their anger mixed with true amazement.

“It would appear so,” the gambler agreed.

“Standish, ‘we’ want our money back.” A group of men followed the first into the room. The mob strode forward and stopped several feet from the calm gambler. There was the slightest trace of a smile of Standish‘s face. He had not been looking forward to this. Now things were different. Now things were back to the way they should be. “You owe us a great deal of money.”

“My dear friends, I owe you nothing.”

“You better give us our money or we’ll have to take it back.” This claim was backed up by several manly grunts from his companions.

“I’m afraid attempting to secure your losses would be unadvisable and detrimental to your health.“

“There are six of us and we all know you’ve only got two shots in that little pop gun you got up your sleeve.”

“Under normal circumstances I would ask you to discuss among yourselves which of you is to die, but that isn’t necessary this evening.”

“Why?”

Buck, Josiah, J.D. and Nathan rose to their feet, their hands descending to their holstered weapons. The entire room plunged into silence.

“May I introduce my associates. They are somewhat protective of me. However, if you gentlemen choose to try your hand against us, feel free. I do assure you, you will lose.”

The leader of the group swallowed. The men facing him were not gamblers. They were men who knew how to use their guns. He could tell by the way the stood and by the hard expressions on their faces.

“You got yourself some bodyguards, Standish?”

Ezra smiled.

“Whatever he’s paying you, we’ll double it,” the mob’s speaker offered.

“Go home, brothers. Your souls are not ready to leave this world.”

“And leave it they will,” Buck growled.

The five men glanced at each other nervously, tipped their hats and then made a hasty exit. Obviously, these men were not for sale.

“Why, thank you gentlemen.”

“No problem, Ez. The next round’s on you,” Buck chuckled sitting down.

J.D. was grinning from ear to ear.

“Now what is amusing you so?” Ezra demanded.

“I don’t know. Everything feels good.”

Josiah reached out and patted the boy’s shoulder. “That it does.”

“Once Vin’s okay and Chris has dealt with Gordon, everything will go back to the way it was, won’t it?”

“Yep,” Buck answered. “And you and me are gonna head to Red Fork to check out them saloon girls.”

“Mr. Wilmington, the gunfight tomorrow. Gordon has a considerable reputation.” The atmosphere at the table changed. Both Nathan and Josiah shared Ezra’s unvoiced concerns. J.D. did not. In the youth’s eyes, Chris Larabee was the best there was. No one could outdraw the Seven‘s leader!

“Don’t worry. I’ve seen a lot of men draw, but no one is as fast as Chris,” Buck claimed. It was said with complete confidence.

“How can you be so sure?” Nathan asked.

“Have any of you ever seen Chris practise?” Buck asked. The others considered the statement and then shook their heads. “It comes natural to Chris. Other men spend all day practising, but Chris has never had to. Don‘t know why, but he can draw a gun so fast you can‘t actually see it.”

“But does that mean he will always be faster than his opponents?”

“You fellas haven’t seen Chris in a gunfight. I have. I’m yet to see another man actually get his gun clear of the holster. That’s how fast Chris is. Don’t worry. Larabee can handle Gordon.”

Josiah, Nathan and Ezra exchanged concerned glances. They didn’t share Buck’s confidence. They all knew Chris was fast, but from they had heard, Gordon was too.

**********

Larabee’s fingers curled around his gun. His eyes lifted to the door. Sounds. Men approaching.

“Shhhh.”

“Quiet.”

“Don’t wake Vin. Chris’ll kill us.”

“You’re the one making all the noise, Buck with your, ‘shhhhh’.”

“SHHHHH!!”

Chris relaxed. The door opened a slither and Buck’s face appeared. He raised his finger to his mouth so that Chris could see that he understood he had to be quiet. One by one the other men crept into the room. It wasn’t quite 8:30pm, but they had decided they should get an early night considering the upcoming event in the morning.

“Look out!”

“Shhh.”

“You’ve got my bedroll.”

“Does it matter?”

“Shhh.”

“I like my blanket.”

“Here!”

“Oww. That was my foot.”

“Well, get it out of the way.”

“There ain’t gonna be enough room.”

“I can’t see a damn thing!”

“Shhhh.”

Chris watched them and couldn’t help but grin.

“Hey, I’m not laying next to Josiah. He kicks in his sleep.”

“I’ll sleep next to Josiah. Here, you take my place.”

“Thanks, Nathan.”

“Owww. Watch it you uncoordinated oaf.”

“Shut-up, Ezra.”

“I’ll have you know that I am paying good money for this room and as such, I feel it my privilege to commandeer the most comfortable part of the floor without being accosted by hapless boors...”

“Blab, blab, bab!”

“Shhh!”

“I refuse to sleep with your feet in my face, Mr. Jackson.”

“What are you complaining about, I had Josiah’s socks in my face last night! Buck, move over.”

“I’m against the wall as it is!”

Every word being uttered by the group was whispered. Half of them were still on their hands and knees trying to make themselves comfortable in the dark. Chris continued to watch them with true amusement.

“I can‘t see a damn thing!”

“Buck, move over!”

“Where the hell do you want me to go, out on the balcony?!”

“Yes,” three voices chorused at once.

“Stuff all of you.”

“Of all the inconceivable...”

“Shut up, Ezra.”

“Shhhh!”

“How, pray tell, do you expect me to sleep with your knee in my back and his feet in my face? Someone is going to have to shift,” with that Ezra shoved J.D. hard.

“Hey!”

“Watch it!”

“It ain’t my fault, Ezra pushed me.”

“What the hell is this?”

“That’s my arm.”

“Well, shift it.”

“I have to put it somewhere.”

“Shhhh. You’ll wake, Vin.”

“I heard you fellas when you started up the stairs,” the tracker chuckled, opening his eyes.

“WHAT?!”

“Why didn’t you say something?”

“Was enjoyin’ the entertainment.”

“Sonofabitch!”

“Turn up the lantern so we can see! The bastard’s awake.”

Nathan did so and carried the light across to Vin. “How you feeling?”

“Okay.”

Nathan frowned. “You’re still pale. I never should have suggested that we bring you along.”

“I’m just tired, Nathan. I’ll be fine in the mornin‘.”

The healer reached for his patient’s brow. Chris Larabee watched from the chair with a deep set frown. He was going to be forced to make a difficult decision tomorrow. Clearly, Nathan didn’t feel that Vin was well enough to join them when they faced Gordon and his mob, but how could Larabee, in good conscience, leave his best friend here?

“Hell, Nathan. I’m fine.”

“How’s the pain, and don’t lie to me.”

Vin shrugged. “I’m just a bit achy.”

“When was the last time you had some water?”

“Don’t know.”

Nathan turned and fussed in the corner before returning with a mug of water. The other men had finally settled and were trying their best not to take any notice of what was going on. Vin wasn‘t well and that was a concern to all of them. Taking an ill man into battle was out of the question, but then, leaving Vin here was also.

“I want you to drink all of it,” Nathan ordered.

Vin nodded and downed the liquid without argument. The frown on Larabee‘s face deepened. No argument?

“Hell, that’s bad. Water’s stale.”

“Drink all of it.”

“Tastes like swamp water.” Chris smirked. There it was. As long as Vin kept grumbling he was okay.

“It’s wet, that’s what counts. Now, you get some rest.”

“I’m going with yas in the mornin’,” Vin growled softly.

“We’ll see,” Nathan answered with authority.

“No, Nathan. I’m goin’. Ain’t nothing you can do to stop me.”

“Enough,” Chris interrupted. “Let’s get some rest.”

Chris, I’m coming! Vin’s eyes were determined, but tinged with just a hint of concern.

Larabee rose to his feet and patted his friend’s arm as he moved off to lay his own bedroll out. Relax, Cowboy.

**********

Movement from the bed brought Chris Larabee to his feet. Nathan appeared on the other side. Vin was moving around uncomfortably. Larabee reached for his friend’s shoulder to calm him, while Nathan laidhis hand on the agitated tracker’s brow.

“Easy, Vin.”

Tanner struggled to wake fully. “Damn you, Nathan, you drugged me!” The young man continued to blink as he fought against the powerful narcotic blanketing his system.

“Just try to relax. I wanted to make sure you slept.”

“I’m comin’ tomorrow. Ya hear me, Larabee? You ain‘t leavin‘ me behind!”

“Relax,” Nathan repeated, watching as Vin waged war on the drug.

“Chris?!”

“Nobody is leaving you. I need you to take the high ground. We can’t go into battle without you covering us, so shut-up and get some rest,” Larabee growled softly.

Vin stopped his struggles against the drug. “Chris?”

“You have my word, Cowboy.”

“That’s good enough for me.” Vin Tanner drifted off into a contented, if not drugged, slumber.

“He isn’t in any condition to...”

“He’s coming. Even if we have to put him on a litter.”

“Is that wise, Chris?” Buck asked quietly. All of the men were awake.

“I gave him my word,” Larabee stated without emotion. “He comes. Anyone got a problem with that?” It wasn’t a threat. It was a serious inquiry.

“I think we would all feel more comfortable knowing that Mr. Tanner is covering us,” Ezra stated. “Just so long as he is able to do so.”

“He can and he will,” Larabee stated. Vin knew they needed him. He would find the strength to do what was needed - even if it killed him.

**********

By the time Chris became aware that something was amiss, Vin was already out of bed and standing at the door listening.

“Vin?”

Tanner raised his hand for silence. The room was in almost complete darkness, except for a thin beam of moonlight that was cutting across the space as a result of a crack in the drawn curtains. The young tracker had awoken feeling thirsty. The drug that had assisted him to get the rest his body desperately needed had finally started to wear off. It had been as Vin was reaching for the mug of water that Nathan had left next to the bed beside him, that Vin had first heard... sensed, something was wrong.

“We got company,” the tracker announced quietly.

“Boys,” Chris called in a hushed tone. His men awoke instantly, but no one moved. All lay listening. “Vin?”

“Two, maybe three in the hallway,” Tanner whispered.

His companions reached for their weapons. “Ezra’s disgruntled fans?” Buck suggested.

“Maybe,” Vin muttered.

Just as Larabee’s men rose to their feet, a barrage of rifle fire hit the room from three sides.

“GET DOWN!”

The Seven hit the floor. “Here!” Chris shouted. The others responded to their leader’s voice instantly. Crawling close to the ground as the room was peppered with bullets, the men collected on their stomachs, their heads together.

“How many?” Buck yelled.

“Shut up!” Tanner commanded. The men did so for several very long seconds as the wood of the walls splintered around them and began to resemble a sieve. “Three in the hallway. Eight, maybe ten outside on the street!”

“We need to return fire.”

“We wait,” Chris yelled.

“Wait! If we wait much longer we aren’t going to have any walls to hide behind,” J.D. screeched. The wood was disintegrating around them.

“Easy, Kid,” Buck soothed. “Have to wait until they’re reloading.”

“We need to get Vin out onto that balcony,” Josiah stated. They all knew that Vin would have the best chance of taking out the shooters on the street.

“Can you handle it?” Chris asked. Tanner still looked a little groggy.

“Have to...” Vin paused as the volley of shoots increased in intensity. “Have to sight each flare as they fire before I can target them. It’s still dark out there.”

“Sunrise must be close.”

“We’ll cover you, my friend.”

“Two will be better than one,” Vin stated.

“Buck,” Chris ordered. Wilmington was the next best sharpshooter.

“When we...” The gunfire petered and then stopped. Larabee’s men moved. Tanner and Wilmington shot out onto the balcony, four of their colleagues crowding in the opening to cover them. Basically there was no cover for any of them. Josiah moved to the door and began firing through it into the hallway.

The men below spotted their quarry and began to pepper them. Vin and Buck, who were crouched on the small balcony, each sighted an illumination from a rifle. Both men fired... both found their mark. Behind them, their colleagues tried to provide them with some element of cover. Another couple of shots from below - Vin fired. Buck waited. He couldn’t find one of the other men. A shot. A flare. Wilmington depressed the trigger. Vin’s eyes narrowed. The glow of the sun was starting to filter into town. The men’s eyes were beginning adjust to the gloom of dawn. Ezra, J.D., Chris and Nathan continued to fire, keeping up enough of a stream to force many of their enemy to keep their heads down. It meant they were failing to aim and were simply firing wildly. That gave Vin and Buck the advantage.

Vin spotted one of the shooters as he tried to break cover and take careful aim. It was the last thing the man ever did. Buck spotted another rifle. The shooter was well hidden but obviously had a clear view of his quarry from his spot of concealment. The rifle barked. Buck moved. He hit Vin with the full force of his body. Tanner was thrown to the ground, his larger friend landing on him. The sharpshooter’s tender chest screamed. Buck yelped unconsciously.

“Buck?” The scoundrel grunted... a grunt full of pain. “Shit! Buck’s hit!” Tanner yelled, pushing his wounded companion off him. With determination he started to drag his injured friend back toward his friends. Larabee and Nathan grabbed Buck’s shoulders while Ezra and J.D. stepped out onto the balcony. They had to cover Buck and that meant drawing the fire of the men below. The pair fired with a speed that would have rivaled Larabee. The men below ducked behind cover. Vin Tanner leaped to his feet. He had established where each of their enemy was hiding now.

“Get back,” Tanner shouted to Ezra and J.D. His companions backed toward the door. Movement below - Vin fired. Another man lifted his head to shoot and ended up kissing a bullet. The remaining two decided that cutting and running was their best option. Vin’s bullet found one and Ezra’s the other.

Inside, Josiah shot out into the hallway. He had already taken down one of the three gutless assassins, but the other two were retreating and if they got to their horses, they could get a warning to Gordon. There was no doubt in any of the group’s mind that the ambush was Gordon’s work. They hadn’t discussed it but it stood to reason that the other gunfighter would prefer not to face Chris.

“Buck?” Vin demanded, as he entered the room. The wounded man was on the bed with his friends fluttering around him.

“I’m fine, Vin. Just had the wind knocked out of me,” Wilmington grimaced.

“So what the hell is all of that blood?”

“Graze,” Nathan stated. “It’s deep, but nothing a few stitches won’t fix. J.D., my bag.”

Vin stepped up to his friend and offered his hand. Buck accepted it. “The bullet was mine to take,” Vin whispered. “Thanks.”

“Anytime, Vin. Ahhhh! Hell, Nathan, that hurts!”

“I’ve got to clean it.”

“Well, be a little more gentle about it.” Chris relaxed. Buck was okay. The gunfighter moved back to the balcony and surveyed the street. “Gordon doesn’t want to face me.”

“Don’t hold that against him. It means he’s a discerning judge of his opponents,” Ezra stated, stepping up beside his leader. The two men studied the bodies littering the street.

“They‘re not Gordon‘s men,” Larabee muttered.

“Hired thugs.”

Larabee nodded. His blood was boiling. This was between he and Gordon alone. The other gunfighter had no reason to draw others into the confrontation.

“Clearly, Buck is going to need a few hours to recover before we can leave. If Gordon doesn’t receive word of your demise, he is likely to put another plan in motion,” Ezra mused out aloud.

“Go on.”

“I suggest we try and find a couple of his miscreants and convince them that their plan worked. That will provide Buck with time to catch his breath and...” Ezra inclined his head toward Vin who had slumped down into the seat, “ and Vin time to wake up.”

Chris glanced at his best friend. He nodded to Ezra. “Do it.” With that, the gunfighter moved to his best friend’s side.

“I’m fine,” the exhausted tracker claimed quickly, forcing his eyes open.

“Like hell you are,” Chris snarled, picking up a blanket and draping it over his pale friend. The adrenaline rush had been too much, sapping what little energy Vin had. It had been a struggle the last few days just to remain upright. Taking on Gordon’s men in the middle of the night had been more than he was physically able to deal with at this stage of his recovery.

“Chris...”

“I’m not going to leave without you. Ezra is off to buy us some time. Now relax and get some rest.” Vin stared up into his best friend’s green eyes. Chris looked concerned and angry. Tanner reached up and placed his hand on the older man’s arm.

Chris nodded. He understood the message. “Get some sleep. Haxby Spread is about three hours ride. I’d like to be there just after lunch. That gives you and Buck a couple of hours.”

“He saved my life.”

“Buck has a habit of being in the right place at the right time,” Chris murmured.

“Owww. Nathan, you ain’t got a nice bedside manner.”

“Shut up, Buck and stop squirming!”

“Sounds like he’s okay,” Vin chuckled with relief.

Chris grinned. “Get some rest. I’ll wake you when I need you.”