The group was travelling slowly, their happy chatter and laughter testament to the great relief they felt. The seven cowboys were tired and their backs and backsides sore from the hard ride earlier that day. However, the unqualified feelings of joy and luck dulled the weariness into oblivion. They had all well and truly realized just how fortunate they were to ‘all’ be enjoying the trip back to Four Corners. If not for Nathan’s skill with a knife, this would have been a very different and sombre ride.

“Can‘t believe that you... I mean... it was amazing, Nathan!” J.D repeated for the hundredth time.

Nathan Jackson smiled. He didn’t feel he could claim the praise. It had been a reflex action - one of his friends had been in danger and so he hadn’t thought, hadn’t considered, hadn’t planned. He had simply ’done’. To his and his friend’s horror, Vin Tanner had been placed on a chair, a noose around his neck... and then the unthinkable occurred. The chair was knocked out from under the injured tracker. Nathan knew that the rope holding his friend had to be severed before Vin strangled to death. Jackson had drawn his knife, thrown and quite ‘simply’ sliced the rope. True, he had been standing an impossible distance away. True, throwing a knife so accurately that it would spin at the correct angle and sever an inch thick piece of rope was a rare skill. True, it had taken a remarkably calm head and an exceptionally steady hand, but Nathan felt he had done no more or less than his companions would have done in the same situation.

Ezra glanced at Jackson. Three hours earlier, the gambler had found a new respect for his friend. Standish had always admired Nathan’s ability to heal others and he had known that with a rifle in his hand, Nathan was as dependable as any man, but after what had taken place in Purgatory, Ezra had realized that Nathan Jackson was a man of ‘concealed’ skill. The only reason Vin was alive was because of the speed with which Nathan had reacted, not to mention his dexterity with a ten-inch blade. Four Corners’ resident gambler silently gave thanks. He could not profess being a loyal believer in the great unknown, but Ezra did believe in miracles, for now he had witnessed one.

Standish shut his eyes and took a deep breath. He was still reeling from the incident. The entire scene replayed in his mind. Vin standing with a rope around his throat about to hang. The chair knocked from beneath the sharpshooter. He drawing his gun... firing!

Ezra swallowed. He had actually pulled the trigger! He had promised Larabee that if the chair was pushed he would take Vin’s life with a single shot to the head. However, no matter what he did to try and convince himself that he had acted in Tanner’s best interests, the cold reality of the situation kept rising up and trying to strangle him. If Nathan hadn’t acted the way he had, Ezra would be riding back to Four Corners now, knowing he had murdered one of his best friends. Shot him... shot him in the head.

Ezra shuddered. Without warning, his survival instincts kicked in. He couldn’t allow himself to wallow in this endless tunnel of guilt. It was time to put things into perspective. Had Nathan not been successful, Ezra knew his bullet would have killed Vin, but in doing so he would have saved the tracker from, what was in Vin’s eyes, a fate worse than death. Besides, he had given Chris his word that Vin wouldn’t hang!

“The horses are tired. We should stop and rest for a bit,” Buck stated. “And my fanny is killing me!” The others turned to their elected leader. There had never been any official discussion regarding Larabee’s promotion to ‘commanding chief’, but he was the Seven’s leader, there was no question about that.

With a grunt, Chris turned his horse toward the grove of trees to the group’s left. His men followed, J.D., Buck, Nathan and Josiah still chatting happily. Larabee, himself, had said little since leaving Purgatory. Like Ezra, he was trying to come to terms with the emotions that had accosted him during the rescue. Chris knew how close they had come to losing his best friend... of how his error in judgement had almost cost Vin his life.

As the men dismounted under the shade of the trees, Chris moved across to the travois attached to the back of Josiah’s horse. Lying on the stretcher was Vin - pale, but very much alive. Larabee crouched beside his friend and waited for him to stir, but he didn’t. Concern washed over the gunfighter’s intense green eyes. Vin was a light sleeper. Normally, the slightest movement woke him.

Nathan spotted Chris frown. The healer moved over, dropped beside Tanner and reached for his patient’s brow.

The injured man’s eyes flickered and then opened. He stared up at the two apprehensive faces above him. “Somethin’ wrong?” he asked quietly. Vin seemed disoriented. “We home?”

Chris shook his head, placing a hand of reassurance on his best friend’s arm. “We’re only about an hour out of Purgatory. The horses needed to rest. We rode them pretty hard this morning.”

“My rump is killing me, Vin,” J.D. called, rubbing his backside vigorously to stimulate the blood flow.

“What the hell are you doing there, boy? Have you got worms or something?!“

“Shut up, Buck. Look, Josiah’s rubbing his butt too.“

“That I am, Brother. We’ve basically been in the saddle for over week, what with escorting the wagon train and rescuing Judge Travis.”

“You want some water?” Nathan asked his patient.

Tanner shook his head, took a deep breath and let his eyelids fall over his fatigue ladened eyes.

Larabee’s brow furrowed further. Nathan patted Chris’ arm and inclined his head. The pair rose to their feet and moved out of Tanner’s earshot.

Chris glared at Nathan, though there was no true anger there - just overwhelming worry.

“Relax, Chris. He’s just tired. Exhausted.”

Larabee shook his head in disagreement. “It isn’t like him.”

A soft smile claimed Nathan’s face. “Chris, just stop and think about what the hell has happened. Not just today, but over the last few days. Josiah‘s right. We‘ve basically been in the saddle for more than a week and with all that he‘s been through, I think he deserves some sleep.”

Larabee frowned, his mind dancing back as he tried to remember how and when this had all started. He could trace it back more than a week. First, he and the other six had escorted a wagon train through inhospitable country. When the regulators had returned, wanting nothing more than a bath and the chance to sleep, Mary had informed the group that the Macray Brothers had kidnapped Judge Travis. Without even dismounting, the group set off, depending on Vin’s tracking skills to save their employer‘s life. However, it was Tanner’s instincts, more than his tracking ability, which had allowed the group to locate the judge, but rescuing their companion had looked like an impossibility. It had taken three ‘thurmatagical’ shots from the team’s sharpshooter to save Travis. Successful, jubilant, but exhausted, the group had returned home triumphant.

They had all slept fitfully on their return - Vin almost twelve hours. Before the tracker resurfaced the next day, there was a request for the regulators to investigate some claim jumping - another cry for help. Leaving Tanner to sleep and J.D. to keep an eye on the town, Chris and the boys had gone to investigate the situation. The ‘situation’ turned out to be deadly, with Chris, Buck, Josiah, Nathan and Ezra ambushed, overpowered and tied to enough dynamite to blast them into the next world.

Chris glanced at J.D., who was jumping around with sufficient energy to cause Ezra to curse him passionately. J.D. had proved himself a man that day... yesterday. At the time, Chris had been relieved but not particularly surprised when the burning wick leading to the murderous dynamite was shot out and extinguished. He had assumed that the bullet had been Vin‘s - another ’hell ‘ova’ shot from the team’s sharpshooter. Larabee had been mistaken. J.D. had been forced to make the shot of his life because Vin had been injured before he was able to rescue his companions. J.D. Dunne had shot the wick. The feat had both amazed his companions and earned their respect. It wasn’t so much the shot itself, but the fact that J.D. had reacted with a calm head. That demonstrated maturity.

The youth’s actions had saved not only those tied to the dynamite, but Vin as well. By the time Nathan reached the wounded sharpshooter, Tanner had lost a considerable amount of blood from the two gunshot wounds he had sustained. One bullet had grazed his temple and a second had become buried in his side. After primitive, but essential surgery to remove the slug, Vin was placed on a stretcher and the boys had headed for home.

For Vin, it hadn’t been the loss of blood that was a concern. The bullet graze to his skull had left his vision blurry. That was terrifying for the young man whose entire existence depended on his eyes. Nathan had assured everyone that Vin’s sight would return over the next few days, but the declarations had done little to appease Tanner’s concerns. That had happened only yesterday, Chris realized with fury and self-reproach.

The gunfighter led his horse to the stream and allowed the animal to drink. Only yesterday. Only yesterday Vin had been shot trying to save his companions. Today, he had been dragged from his sick bed, weak, unable to see and unable to fight back. The rage Chris felt was not abating, it was growing.

Chris knew there was no way he could have known that the remaining Macray brother would come seeking revenge for the death of his siblings. It was still no excuse in Larabee’s eyes. He had allowed Macray to lure the boys on a wild goose chase, leaving Vin defenceless. Tanner hadn’t had a chance. Thankfully, Mary had overheard where Vin was being taken and the peacekeepers had arrived in Purgatory before Vin had been hung. That, however, didn’t ease the guilt that Chris felt. He should have been there to protect his best friend! Vin had been so vulnerable. Chris knew how exposed his companion had felt. The gunfighter had assured his friend that he would protect him until the tracker’s eyesight fully returned. I never should have been left in town without protection! Chris continued to curse under his breath. That error in judgement had almost cost Tanner his life and Chris his soul.

Nathan could read the turmoil on Larabee’s face. The healer strode across and placed his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Chris, what happened isn’t your fault. Vin’s fine. Just exhausted.”

Chris continued to stare at the slowly moving stream. He knew Vin was tired. Considering the blood loss and concussion, it was any wonder. Yet, Tanner had seemed full of energy before leaving Purgatory only an hour earlier.

“Something’s not right.”

“With Vin?” Nathan asked.

“It’s not like him,” Larabee muttered, moving back from the water’s edge.

Nathan stepped in front of the other man. “Chris, the fact that he’s laying there resting is a tribute to you. You do know that, don’t you?”

Larabee stared into Nathan’s concerned eyes without any discernable emotion on his face.

“Chris, he’s sleeping now because he knows he can. Because he knows you’re watching his back. That’s a hell of a compliment. I doubt Vin has ever trusted anyone like that before. A month ago, Vin wouldn‘t have laid there and slept, even if he had two broken legs, two broken arms and six bullets in his chest,” the healer claimed.

“He seemed okay when we left Purgatory,” Chris muttered, still concerned.

Nathan smiled. “He was fired up on adrenaline. That’s passed now. As soon as he stopped moving and calmed down, he had to fall. He’s fine, at the moment. Maybe a little bit of shock setting in after all that‘s happened. It‘s to be expected. I‘ll watch him, carefully. If I think there‘s a problem, I‘ll let you know.”

Larabee flicked his eyes to Vin and then back to the healer. “Thanks, Nathan.”

“We should be thanking our lucky stars he‘s being co-operative. Let’s face it, his past record isn’t a glowing one.”

Larabee’s head bobbed once before he walked over to his best friend and crouched beside him.

Tanner’s eyes opened. Larabee said nothing. Vin’s brow furrowed. “Aww, hell, Chris. Stop it! This ain’t your fault. How the hell were you supposed to know the Macrays had a brother, let alone he’d come after us?!” Vin waited for some sign of acceptance from Chris. The gunfighter’s face remained blank. “Listen to me, you dumb cuss, every dumb, stupid thing that happens to the rest of us ain’t your fault. Don’t worry, the moment it is, I’ll tell ya! I’ll take great pleasure in tellin’ ya, you sorry bastard, but until then, stop taking credit for it!”

Chris found a grin leak onto his face.

Vin snorted. “What do you find so damn amusing? I’m laying here ass-draggin’ on a litter and you know how much I hate that. What sort of a sorry bastard of a friend are you?!”

Larabee’s grin matured into a full smile.

“In your ass, Chris!” Chris reached for Vin’s shoulder and squeezed it. Tanner shook his head and closed his eyes muttering under his breath.

“You’re sounding stronger.”

“I feel like shit,” Vin claimed.

“You look like it, too.”

“Go to hell, Chris.”

“Yep,” Larabee agreed, rising to his feet. The guilt had passed, but then, that wasn’t surprising. Vin had a way of leading Larabee back into the light when his demons rose up and tried to consume him. “Alright, boys. Let’s get going. I’d like to be back in Four Corners by dark.”

“How ya doing, Vin?” Buck called.

There were some mumbled curses from the travois but nothing comprehendible.

“Good to hear, Pard,” Buck laughed.

**********

“See, I told you it was him!” Alan Thorpe insisted, thrusting the wanted poster at his partner. The other bounty hunter studied the drawing. It certainly looked like the stranger who had been on the stretcher. The pair had ridden into Purgatory just as the group from Four Corners was leaving. “I knew I’d seen him before. I just knew it. It’s definitely him!”

“Vin Tanner,” Jacob Manning, murmured. “Five hundred dollars. Not bad.”

The two men exchanged a thoughtful glance. “He’s got six friends with him.”

“So? That’s never stopped us before. We can take six easily.”

Alan smiled. “He’s ours.”

The pair returned to their horses. They were about an hour behind Tanner. It had taken that long for them to find the poster and confirm that they had actually seen a bounty worth going after. “They won’t be hard tracking, not with pulling that stretcher.”

“Yep. So, was it dead or alive?”

Jacob checked the poster. “Yep. Dead’s easier.”

“You’ve got no argument from me.”

The bounty hunters spurred their horses after their five hundred dollars.

**********

Within minutes, the group of regulators was back on the trail. Chris glanced down at Tanner. Vin had slipped off to sleep almost immediately. The injured tracker’s bravado and curses were for his friend’s sake, Larabee realized. Tanner knew that if he kept complaining it would reassure his companions, but Chris could see through the act. Vin was exhausted.

“I wonder why they didn’t hang Vin as soon as they arrived in Purgatory?” J.D. mused aloud.

“I believe we should simply give thanks to God that they didn’t.”

“Still, they must have had a reason. I mean, Vin must have arrived a good...” J.D. swallowed. Larabee’s eyes had narrowed and the look of hell itself radiated from his face. “I was just curious,” the boy stated meekly.

“I am sure Mr. Tanner will tell us in his own good time,” Ezra claimed.

Silence blanketed the group for several minutes as each entertained his own thoughts. Five weeks earlier they had defended an Indian village for the thrill of it. Now, they defended the weak because it was their duty.

The strained silence was relieved when Buck Wilmington took out a sling shot and a small pebble and hit Ezra’s hat, knocking it from his head.

Standish pulled his horse to a stop, glared at Buck, dismounted and collected his hat while being serenaded by the both Wilmington’s and Dunne’s giggles.

“Your childish sense of humour is grating, Mr. Wilmington,” Ezra stated with tired acceptance.

“Can I have a look, Buck?”

The older man handed the small sling shot to J.D. “Now, that isn’t a normal slingshot, kid. That is a masterpiece made by a true craftsman.”

“Really? Who made it?”

“I did,” Buck shot back.

J.D. grinned. “I thought you said it was a masterpiece?”

“And it is,” Buck claimed.

“Of greatest concern is the fact that he views himself as a ‘true craftsman’,” Ezra murmured, climbing back up onto his horse.

“I’ll have you know that I developed that design.”

“Looks like a normal slingshot to me,” J.D. commented.

“Ahhh, but it isn’t. The secret is in... why should I tell you?” Buck asked, snatching the sling shot back.

“When did you make it?” J.D. asked.

“When we were watering the horses earlier. It takes real skill to fire one of these.”

“Rubbish,” Ezra argued. “Small children do it every day. It is a child’s toy. Then again, it is in the hands of man who has the mental age of a five-year-old.”

Buck fired another pebble at Ezra’s hat, but this time the gambler was prepared and caught it as it fell.

“Mr. Wilmington, I am warning you...”

Ahead, the men spotted a huge, dark storm cloud massing.

“Looks bad,” Nathan muttered. Chris stared up at the sky, his eyes narrowing as he judged the distance.

“The rate it’s moving, it’ll be on us in half an hour,” Buck agreed. “Don’t look like the sort of storm a man would want to be out in.”

“It would appear we have a choice. Either we can return to Purgatory, which is just over an hour behind us, or we can continue on to Four Corners, which is at least two hours,” Ezra pointed out.

“We’re not going back to Purgatory,” Chris stated in a hushed voice.

“We aren’t going to make it to Four Corners. And I don’t want him getting wet,” the healer muttered, glancing down at Vin. “He was only shot yesterday. There’s no sign of infection yet, but I don’t want to tempt fate.”

“Vin said there were some caves around here,” J.D. claimed. The others all eyed him curiously. “We were talking the other day. I’m pretty sure he meant this area.”

Chris pursed his lips thoughtfully. Finally, he pulled his horse to a halt, his companions following his lead. The Seven’s leader moved around to the back of Josiah’s horse and crouched beside the travois. The others watched as Chris reached for Vin’s shoulder. Instantly, the sleeping man opened his eyes. It was a calm awakening, which tended to be unusual for Vin. Over the weeks the seven had known each other, they had all noted how ’abruptly’ their companion returned from the world of nod. Tanner was not a man who ever truly reached deep sleep and when his light slumber was interrupted, he awoke brusquely, seizing his mare’s leg that was always within easy reach. Such reflexes had saved Vin’s life too many times for him to count. Anyone sneaking up on Vin Tanner did so at his own risk!

None of the men had seen this reaction from Vin in quite some time, though. The only person who presumed to disturb Vin was Chris and Tanner and Larabee had a ‘connection’ that left their companions shaking their heads in wonder. Hence, whenever Vin’s slumber had to be disturbed, it was Chris that did the disturbing. Somehow, Vin knew instinctively when it was Larabee. No one else ever undertook the task. Memories of watching Buck’s unwise attempt some months earlier were still extremely vivid in their minds. Wilmington was fortunate he had not lost his life that day. Tanner had apologized profusely and with some embarrassment, but his companions could understand his reaction. The five hundred dollar bounty on their young friend’s head had been a merciless teacher and Vin had suffered before at the hands of those he had made the mistake of trusting. Now, he admitted to trusting no one, but Larabee had shattered his lack of faith in one single look. The rest of the boys, too, had earned the tracker’s faith, but none were eager to try their hand at surprising Vin. Tanner had learned to shoot first and regret it later!

Chris waited a moment before speaking.

Vin blinked, orienting himself. “Problem, Cowboy?”

“There’s a storm coming. We’re just over an hour out of Purgatory. We need some shelter.”

Vin nodded and then reached for his best friend’s arm. With Larabee’s help, the injured man pulled himself up enough to study his surroundings. He grimaced as he did so, the stitches in his side protesting vigorously. For several seconds, the tracker scanned the area silently. Finally, he grunted. “There are some caves about forty minutes from here.”

The other men looked relieved. “You point us in the right direction, Vin.” They had complete faith in him. Vin had an affinity with nature that was uncanny and he knew this area of the country like the back of his hand.

“Head east. You can’t miss the range. I’ll show you where when we get closer.”

“Told you,” J.D. claimed.

“Will we make it before that hits?” Buck asked, studying the storm with trepidation.

Vin shrugged wearily, and indicated that he wanted to lay back. Chris lowered him down and watched as his friend’s eyes closed.

“Collect some wood. We’ll need some dry stuff for a fire,” the experienced woodsman mumbled. “We can stay in the caves for as long as we need. I once camped there for two weeks in the wet season.”

Chris glanced at Buck and nodded. Once Wilmington had collected and lashed a bundle of wood to his horse, the men headed east.

**********

Jacob studied the tracks. “They stopped here for a while.”

“Probably to water the horses.”

“Probably. So, you know anything about Tanner?”

Alan pursed his lips thoughtfully. He had been a lawman a long time ago... a lifetime ago. Thorpe had never been interested in justice, however. He liked the power a badge brought. It allowed him to play God. However, after he had tried bounty hunting, he realized that being a sheriff didn’t hold a candle to the thrill of tracking down a wanted man. He enjoyed his quarry’s fear. It was exhilarating. Watching as the wanted man ran like a scared animal. Cornering him. Listening to his pathetic pleas for mercy... and then finally pulling the trigger. The very thought of what was to come made Alan Thorpe smile.

Thorpe had met Manning when they had both been going after the same bounty. The pair had decided to work together and had been doing so ever since.

“Never heard of Tanner. Just another low-life who deserves a bullet.”

“I’ve got one for him.”

“Only if you can beat me, pard!”

“You’re on. Ten dollars?”

The two men exchanged an adrenaline-fuelled grin. Now it was a competition to see which of them shot Tanner first. They often did this. It made things more interesting!

**********

It was about 5:30 when the first spits of rain glided from the sky. For forty minutes, the regulators had been riding as hard as the travois would allow them to go.

Finally, Tanner called instructions from the stretcher, sending the convoy toward the base of Simpson Range.

“How much further?” Ezra shouted. The gambler assessed that the billowing black cloud above was ready to drop its load and Standish did not like the proposition of being soaked to the skin.

“Not far,” Vin replied, simply. Moments later, Tanner signalled for the men to stop. His cautious blue eyes searched the base of the mountain they were now along side.

“We can tie the horses in there. It will protect them from the rain,” Vin stated, pointing to the cave. The other men coaxed their mounts into the cave. As soon as Josiah’s horse came to a stop, Vin attempted to sit up. He groaned loudly, his attempt failing. Josiah was the first to reach him.

“I think you should stay there, brother.”

Vin frowned.

“Good idea,“ Nathan agreed, reaching for his patient’s brow. Vin was feeling a little warm. Nothing to worry about, yet, but it could be a forewarning of fever. “Ain’t no need to be shifting.”

Buck and Josiah untied the stretcher and lowered it to the ground, gently.

“Just hang on a minute, Vin. We have to unsaddle the horses and then we‘ll make you more comfortable.”

The wounded man shut his eyes. He really was feeling weary, now. The ordeal in Purgatory was truly starting to take its toll, but he wouldn’t go down without a fight.

The cave the men had taken shelter in was huge, extending back into darkness. Tanner’s companions were surprised to find several stakes in the ground with metal rings attached for tying their horses.

“Looks like we aren’t the first pilgrims to seek shelter here,” Josiah commented.

The group tied their animals and pulled their saddles and bedrolls free.

“My favourite kind of accommodation - subterranean,” Ezra muttered cringing.

“At least we’re out of the weather,“ Nathan pointed out.

“True, but the stench of having to share lodgings with our horses is numbing my nasal passages, not to mention, turning my delicate stomach.”

“We’re lucky Vin knew about this cave. I wouldn’t like to be out there when the storm hits,“ J.D. commented, stepping up to the mouth of the cave. Outside, the day was becoming darker by the second. The spits had become drops, the fresh smell of rain filling the air.

“We need to move further up,” Vin stated quietly, from the travois.

“Why?” Chris asked, dropping beside Tanner.

“There’s a better place for us to stay,” Vin whispered. Hell, he felt tired.

“Where?”

“A little ways along,” Vin stated. He grinned when he realized how severely Chris was frowning. Larabee was worried about him and while he didn’t like to see his friend concerned, he couldn’t deny he liked the idea that Chris cared. I’m okay, Chris. Just a bit tired. “About hundred feet from here is the cave where I’ve stayed.”

Larabee nodded and glanced up at the others who were standing quietly. They, too, were concerned about their wounded friend.

“Looks like we aren’t sharing with the horses,” Buck chirped, trying to ease the tension.

“For which I am very grateful,” Ezra stated, hauling his saddle onto his shoulder. “While our horses probably resemble some of your companions, Mr. Wilmington, and thus sharing accommodation with them may not be out of the ordinary for some of you, I...”

“Shut up, Ezra. None of us have had to sleep with our horses before,” Buck cried.

“I have,” Josiah offered.

“So have I, come to think of it,” Buck chuckled.

“I rest my case. I, on the other hand,...” Ezra continued to burble as the group trudged out into the light rain, Chris and Josiah carrying the stretcher.

“There,“ Vin called. The men strode toward the small opening in the base of the mountain range. This cave was much smaller and shallower than the first, but like it, there was evidence of previous occupation.

“Well, this is right homely,” Josiah claimed as he and Chris lowered Vin to the ground.

Ezra lingered in the opening, scanning the cave with a devastated expression on his face.

“Come on, Ezra. It’s better than nothing.”

“I beg to differ. I have always envisaged ‘nothing’ as something clean and empty, not... well, not dark and damp and over-run with goodness knows what disgusting creatures.”

A clap of thunder echoed outside.

“Get your ass in here, Ezra!”

“Oh, leave him out there. If we’re lucky, he’ll be struck by lightning.”

“I beg your pardon?! Mr. Wilmington, I’ll have you know that...” A second clap of thunder drowned out Ezra’s retort and sent him striding swiftly into the cave.

“We made it just in time,” Josiah stated, glancing outside and then moving to his saddle.

“You reckon the horses will be okay?” J.D. asked as he deposited his own saddle on the ground and began unpacking his bedroll.

“They will be thankful to be dry, just as we are,” Nathan muttered, kneeling beside Vin. “You okay?”

Tanner’s head bobbed but his eyes closed and a long deep breath echoed out of him that at some stage became a moan. The rest of the men paused. J.D. was on his hands and knees; Ezra was standing at the opening of the cave; Buck and Josiah were crouched beside their saddles and Chris was at the back of the cave investigating the depth. They all froze and looked toward their companion.

Nathan reached for Vin’s brow while at the same time, examining the bandage around the pale man’s head.

“Stop fussin’, Nathan,” Vin grumbled, but his eyes remained closed.

“You hurtin’?”

“Nope.”

Nathan began shaking his head. He couldn’t help if Vin didn’t tell him what was wrong. “Vin?”

“Just a bit tired, doc. It’s been a long day.” Tanner’s voice was soft and full of fatigue.

Nathan reached for Vin’s shoulder. “Get some sleep, Vin.“ ‘A long day,‘ Nathan thought sarcastically. That didn’t even come close. Tanner had been dragged from his bed that morning and bashed before being dumped on a horse and forced to ride four hours to Purgatory so he could be hung. Then there had been the ‘fun’ activities that had taken place in the town, which included Tanner falling and smashing his head against the ground, before an hour and a half on a travois. Jackson couldn’t help feeling angry. His patient hadn’t deserved any of the happenings of the past twelve hours. Vin had lost a considerable amount of blood the day before. Hell, he’d been shot! Nathan had dug a bullet out of him on the side of a hill! The fact that Tanner was awake was a miracle!

Ezra moved to Vin’s bedroll and began laying it out in case Nathan decided to shift Vin onto it. Josiah collected a canteen and handed it to Nathan, assuming that the healer would insist on Vin re-hydrating. J.D. picked up Nathan’s bag and took it across to the healer. Buck retrieved a blanket from his own bedroll and moved over to stand above Tanner.

Chris crouched beside his best friend.

Vin’s eyes opened. He watched the others rallying around him - trying to help. Finally, Tanner nodded. It was time to surrender his control to these men he trusted. He felt so tired and drained he didn’t have the energy to argue anyway.

“Do you want him to stay on the stretcher?” Chris asked Nathan.

The healer’s brow furrowed and he shook his head. “The blanket’s damp. I think we should put him on his own bedroll.”

Together, Nathan and Chris eased Vin up, the tracker’s face reflecting his discomfort. Josiah and Buck stepped forward and together the four men moved Vin to the blanket Ezra had prepared. J.D. passed the gunfighter a second blanket.

“Shouldn’t he take off his coat? It’s wet,” Ezra pointed out.

“Yeah, I’m feelin’ hot,” Vin muttered.

Nathan frowned and once again reached for his patient’s brow. “It isn’t hot in here, Vin. You shouldn‘t be hot.”

“Well, I am,” Tanner grunted as Chris helped him to sit and remove the damp buckskin. Vin started to lay back, his hand reaching for his side unconsciously - his face again reflecting his side’s tenderness. Chris grabbed his shoulders and supported him down.

“Hang on. I want you to drink some water for me,” Nathan ordered, uncapping the canteen Josiah has passed him.

“I just laid down,” Tanner argued, irritably.

“You’re an impossible patient.”

“I ain’t your patient, Nathan. Only sick people can be patients. I ain’t sick. I’m just tired and sore” Chris Larabee’s face creased with a half smile. “Shut up, Larabee,” Vin grumbled as Chris and Nathan supported him as he drank from the canteen the healer had thrust under his nose.

Nathan sighed. After having ridden with Vin for several weeks, he was beginning to understand his friend’s somewhat unusual and very stubborn behaviour. Vin was fiercely independent and it was obvious that, at the moment, he was battling for his independence. The young man would fight against his failing body, Nathan had no doubt about that. The healer predicted that Vin would not take the simple and perhaps sensible option of allowing others to assist him - not until he physically couldn’t stop them, or Larabee stepped in.

The healer glanced at the group’s leader. Chris was watching Vin with real concern, as were the others. Nathan realized that they would look to him to ensure Vin’s well-being. It was a responsibility Nathan had never asked for, but one he had learned to shoulder easily. In this case, his task was to monitor Tanner’s condition and support his friend as much as he could without crowding his patient or making him feel self-conscious and uncomfortable. If Nathan had learned one thing about his Texas companion, it was Vin hated being the centre of attention almost as much as he hated being fussed over. Neither situation, though, came close to the desperation Tanner obviously felt as his self-reliance and independence slipped away from him. The tracker was loathed to relinquish his autonomy to anyone, that was blatantly obvious. However, Nathan hoped that after all that the group had been through in the last five weeks, Vin would trust the other six enough to let them care for him.

Vin passed the canteen back to the healer. Chris and Nathan eased Vin back down onto the blanket, both watching with sympathy as Vin reached for his side and groaned as he was gently lowered to the ground. Nathan lifted the tracker’s head and placed his own blanket under it.

“Thanks,“ Vin whispered. For several seconds, Tanner’s companions continued to stare at him and then they returned to their various activities conscious of their friend’s hatred for being the centre of attention.

“I need to have a look at your wound, Vin. I want to check for infection,” Nathan explained, lifting Vin’s shirt.

“Do what ya have to, doc. I ain‘t goin‘ nowhere.” His voice was soft. Chris placed his hand on his friend’s arm as Nathan conducted his examination.

The healer decided not to remove the bandage, but simply pulled it up so he could see under it. There was considerable bruising coming out, but there was no renewed bleeding. “Looks okay. It‘s dry at least. I redressed it just before we left Purgatory. The wound‘s holding together considering all you‘ve been through.”

Vin grunted. “Ya stitched me up good, yesterday, Nathan. It’s just a bit touchy.”

Chris covered Vin with a third blanket. “How are you feeling? The truth.”

“I reckon me and a dead horse have a lot in common right about now.”

Again Larabee grinned. Vin could certainly turn a phrase. “That bad, huh?”

Tanner grinned and closed his eyes. “Reckon I’ll speak to you some time tomorrow, Cowboy... or maybe the day after that.”

Chris patted Vin’s shoulder and rose to his feet. The Seven’s leader glanced at the anxious healer, his eyes demanding an assessment of his best friend’s condition.

Nathan led Chris toward the back of the cave. “He was shot yesterday,” Nathan growled, quietly. Chris frowned. Jackson was upset and Nathan usually only got irritated when he was worried. “He shouldn’t even be out of his sickbed and yet he’s...”

“We all know what’s happened, Nathan.” Larabee patted the other man’s arm, trying to pacify him. Less than an hour earlier, Jackson had been assuring Larabee that Vin was fine. Chris wanted to know what had changed the healer’s opinion.

Seeing the true concern on his leader’s face, Nathan forced his anger away. “He’s okay, considering all that’s happened. I’m going to have to watch the wound, though. If he’s feeling hot, he may be headed for infection. I’ll monitor it. Right now, he needs to rest. He lost a lot of blood yesterday. We’ll need to watch for shock. We need to get some food into him to help build his strength.”

“We may be here a day or so,” Chris stated, the inflection in his voice showing his disquiet.

“I’ve got everything I need, Chris, as long the wound doesn’t become badly infected. He‘ll be okay. I just... I get annoyed when I can‘t look after someone the way they deserve. I mean, look where we are! He should be in a comfortable bed, not laying on the cold ground in a cave in the middle of nowhere.”

The lines of anxiety eased around Larabee’s eyes. “We’re lucky we’ve got you, Nathan.“

Jackson smiled. “I’m not so sure Vin agrees with you.“

Chris winked at the healer. “He appreciates it. He’s just a stubborn bastard who doesn’t know when to collapse in a heap.”

“I think you’ve got him pegged,” Nathan chuckled.

“Yep.“ Chris strode to the mouth of the cave. The thunder was still rumbling, but the rain was yet to fall in earnest.

“I’m hungry,” J.D. stated.

“We haven’t eaten all day,” Ezra agreed, stepping up beside Larabee. “We are going to have to brave the elements if we’re to appease our hunger.”

“We should probably go now,” Buck suggested. “You can still see out there and the rain is holding off.”

“You volunteering?” Chris asked.

Wilmington grinned. “I guess so.”

“I’ll go with you,” J.D. offered, leaping to his feet. Both Nathan and Josiah had to smile. Neither knew where J.D. found the energy but somehow they both found it reassuring. Things were returning to normal. Everyone as acting as they should.

“Good, because I was going to volunteer you anyway,” Buck claimed, flashing J.D. a mischievous smile.

“Be careful out there and don’t go far. If it hits, you’ll want to be close,” Larabee muttered.

“Don’t worry, ol’ Pard. This is Buck you’re talking to.” Chris, Ezra, Josiah, J.D. and Nathan stopped, turned and stared at the big man.

“We are well aware of that, hence our trepidation.”

“You’ll be laughing on the other side of your face when we return with a feast,” Buck proclaimed, picking up his rifle.

“We don’t need a feast, Buck. Just be quick and don’t take any chances. We’ve got one wounded man as it is. We don’t need another.”

“Come on, J.D. We’ll show them.”

“On second thoughts, I think it might be safer if I stay here,” J.D. giggled.

“Get out there!” Buck shouted, shoving the younger man out into the rain. The pair moved off together, their playful arguing filtering back to their companions as they disappeared into the drizzle.