***********

"I’m looking for the sheriff."

J.D glanced up from the paper work he was trying to finish. Not that he’d had that much work lately. It seemed that rogue bands and fiesty miners now gave Four Corners a miss. That was a good thing of course, it just made life somewhat dull. J.D. liked the excitement of the odd gunfight. That was why he had come West and for two and a half months he’d met the west head on. But the past week had been quieter than a cow chewing its cud. The others were getting restless too. Particularly Chris. What J.D. would do for a band of rowdy cow hands to ride in, or some bank robbers or maybe the army? The soldier had appeared without announcement.

"Howdy," the youth welcomed, standing up and offering his hand. The weather-beaten Sargent stared at him aggressively and pointedly ignored the offered greeting.

"The sheriff," the big man demanded.

J.D. eyed the Sargent cautiously. "That would be me. What can I do for you?"

Surprise flashed across the older man’s face. Hell, J.D. hated that. Why was it so hard to believe that he was the sheriff? He was a damn good sheriff. Okay, so he was only twenty one and he’d only been in the West for just over three months, but Buck and the others had taught him a lot in that time.

"State your business, Sargent. As you can see, I’ve got work that needs to be done."

"Boy, I’m looking for the seven guns hired to protect this town by Judge Travis."

Again J.D. studied the man in front of him, this time with suspicion. What would the army want with he and the guys? "And you are?"

"Sargent Gilroy. I’m from the Lennox Fort. Colonel Borne sent me with a message for the seven guns that work here."

J.D. nodded. The soldier was a big man and painfully overweight. His face was harsh - ugly. Like Buck, J.D. didn’t like ugly. "What sort of message?"

"Ain’t got nothin’ to do with you boy. This message is for them."

"I’m one of the Seven."

Again Gilroy’s face shadowed, but this time with annoyed amusement. "Don’t make me laugh, shit for brains."

J.D. pulled himself up to his full height and suppressed the urge to shoot this man where he stood. He was mad enough too, but Ezra had taught him to milk an opponent before taking him on.

"Sergeant, the fact that you ain’t got any manners is your problem. Now, either you tell me what you want or you can leave and let me get back to my work."

"Why you..." Gilroy stepped forward, his huge hand reaching out to clip J.D’s ears.

"That wouldn’t be real sensible!" a voice thundered from the doorway, freezing the soldier’s hand before it reached its intended target.

"Buck!" J.D. exclaimed with real relief. There was no question that the young sheriff could handle the situation. It was just nice to know that one of the others were there to back him up. J.D. grinned at the huge scoundrel who stood, filling the doorway, his pistol in his hand, his moustache twitching with irritation.

"Now, you leave that gun right where it is, Sargent," Buck ordered, noting the other’s movement in that direction. "Everything alright, J.D.?"

"I’m looking for the seven guns hired by this town and this boy here was claiming that he’s one of them."

"That he is," Buck growled, firmly. "And so am I. What do you want?"

"I want to hire you. Two weeks work. $5 a day each."

Buck stared at the soldier and then lowered his gun. "You’ll be wanting to speak to Chris."

Gilroy surveyed the saloon carefully, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the gloom. He noted that his guides where leading him toward a table in the back corner of the room. There was only one occupant. A man dressed completely in black. Chris Larabee, Gilroy realized. He had heard a great deal about Larabee since arriving in town only an hour earlier. According to the locals, this was a person not to be messed with.

"Chris?" Buck asked. The scoundrel had stopped a few feet from the table. It wasn’t wise to invite yourself to Chris’ table. A man had to wait to be asked. Even the likes of Buck. Larabee glanced at his friend. His eyes flicked to Gilroy and then back to Buck. There was the slightest of nods. A signal that the group may approach.

"Chris, this is Sargent Gilroy from Lennox Fort," J.D. explained. "He wants to hire us."

Larabee eyed Gilroy with cold, emotionless eyes. "We’ve already got a job." The voice was a deathly whisper and Gilroy found himself believing every one of the stories he had heard about this man.

"I’m offering you and your men $5 a day each, for two weeks," the Sargent explained.

Larabee’s face failed to show any discernable emotion. Finally, the enigma nodded and Buck and J.D. took seats, Gilroy following suit.

"Why so much?" Chris inquired.

"We got ourselves some prisoners that need to be picked up and transported to Vetton prison. But with the discontent with the Indians on the reserve lately, we simply cant spare the men." The lie rolled off his tongue easily. "Them prisoners still need to be picked up, so we thought it would be sensible to hire someone with experience to do the job for us." Gilroy paused, gauging the men’s reactions. He had been paid a great deal of money to set the Seven up. His idiot colonel and lieutenant had jumped at the chance to palm this job off. Of course, they didn’t know what Gilroy knew. They were just concerned about some stupid threats one of the prisioners had been making. Fools. Why was it he always had to work under fools? "Seven of you to escort three prisoners is fair. And it’s not as if you lot can’t handle yourselves."

Larabee sat staring, assessing the proposal. "Why two weeks?"

"The prisoners are being held in Milton," Gilroy explained.

"Texas?" Buck asked.

"That a problem?" the Sargent inquired, seeing the flash of concern on the sheriff’s and scoundrel’s faces.

"Maybe," Chris muttered.

Gilroy watched as the gunfighter glanced toward the bar. He appeared to be looking at a slight man with his back to the group. Without warning, the object of inspection turned and scanned the room. His eyes stopped when they came to rest on Larabee. The Seven’s leader inclined his head slightly and the other man made his way over.

"The Sargent here wants to hire us. Two weeks work," Chris murmured to the newcomer as he took a seat.

"All of us?" Vin asked, his left eyebrow peaking. Vin often worked for the army doing the odd tracking job, but that usually only involved him and only for a day at a time. Chris nodded to the initial question. Vin’s eyebrows drew down in concentration. "That leaves Four Corners unprotected."

"I’m willing to leave six men here for the period you are away. Six soldiers with orders to do whatever is necessary to keep the citizens of this town safe. And if we need them for any reason, well, they’re only two days ride away. How does that sound?" Gilroy proposed.

"Sounds almighty generous for the army," the tracker muttered, skeptically. "What are we supposed to do?"

"Escort three prisoners."

"Who are they?" Vin asked, his voice laced with even deeper suspicion. Chris glanced from Vin to the Sargent. Tanner was not a trusting man. Maybe that was one of the reasons that he and the Seven’s leader got along so well.

"Just a couple of bandits. So what do you say?"

"They’re being held in Milton," Chris murmured, quietly. Larabee always spoke in a hushed voice. It was one of things about him that scared the living shit out of other people.

Gilroy waited for a reaction from the newest member of the group, but the young man’s face was blank.

"You know it?" Larabee pressed.

"Yep."

"It going to be a problem?"

Tanner glanced at his leader. Shouldn’t be.

If it is, we don’t go. The fact of the matter was, Texas was not a place Vin was particularly welcome. He was worth $500 in Tascosa. A bounty for a murder he didn’t commit.

J.D. and Buck exchanged a grin. They knew that Chris and Vin were having a wordless conversation. Ezra had once described it as telepathy, but it wasn’t. Just an uncanny understanding of one another.

Buck watched Vin smile and Chris scowl.

"I’ll let you know," Chris growled softly at the Sargent.

Gilroy nodded. "My men and I will be taking a room for the night. We leave in the morning. Give me your answer then."

Vin watched the Sargent go and then smiled as Buck dragged J.D. to his feet.

"Come on, Sheriff. We have somewhere else we need to be."

"Huh?" J.D. asked, completely missing the fact that Chris obviously would want to speak to Vin alone.

"Subtle as a brick," Buck muttered in apology.

Once the two men were gone, the tracker glanced at his leader. "$5 a day is a lot of money."

"Yep. This Texas business?" Chris pressed. He couldn’t help feeling that Vin had dismissed it just a little too quickly.

Vin shrugged. "There are bounty hunters everywhere. Don’t reckon Texas will be any different." Chris scowled at his friend. Damn Vin was stubborn.

"But they are likely to recognize you more easily in Texas."

"Probably," Vin conceded.

Chris picked up his glass and downed the contents. "Then we don’t go."

Vin eyed his leader and then shook his head. "The boys have gone stale. They need a change of scene."

"The price is just a little too high."

Vin snorted. "I don’t intend spending the rest of my life rotting in Four Corners, Chris."

Larabee glared across at the tracker. "You in a hurry to get your neck stretched?"

"No, but I ain’t gonna stop living just because someone might recognize me."

Chris sighed. He could understand that. Vin was a free spirit. He didn’t just ‘prefer’ being free, like most men. He needed to be free. It was a part of him. Trap him in a cage, or a town for that matter, and Vin Tanner would literally lose the will to live.

"So you reckon we should go?" the older man pressed.

"Don’t trust the Sargent. And I don’t like the idea of leaving Four Corners unprotected."

At this, Chris grinned. "You don’t trust anyone, so I won’t hold that against Gilroy. And it isn’t as if we’d be abandoning Four Corners. Gilroy’s offered to leave six fully armed and trained soldiers. The town will be in safe hands."

Vin wrinkled his nose, thoughtfully. "Still don’t like it."

"You’re the one that just said the boys need a change of scene. Of course, you can stay, if you want."

"Go to hell, Larabee."

**********

Two men. One with a thick bushy beard. One with a black patch over the cavity that once held his eye. Both with hearts that knew no mercy. Both with one goal in mind.

"Are you sure it’s him?" the bearded man demanded of his callous companion as he rode up. They had camped not two miles outside of Four Corners. Here they would stay until they knew their prey’s daily movementsand then they could move in for the kill. But there had been a change of plan. Their little rabbit appeared to be preparing for a trip.

"I saw him clearly."

"And he’s going out on the trail?"

"Heard him talking to some men. Out in the open countryside, no one will see us take him. It’ll make things easier for us."

"But he’ll be with them six others he’s ridin’ with."

"I know, but we’ll follow and bide our time. Wait for the right moment and then…."

The bearded man’s cruel eyes lit up with satisfaction. "And then pay day!"

**********

Mary hugged her arms more tightly around herself. She could feel her sense of security deserting her as she watched Four Corners’ guardian angels make final preparations for their journey. Chris had asked her if she would be okay and naturally she had smiled and pulled on that confident air she insisted on showing him. Larabee was not the sort of person to be impressed with a weak, lame duck. And yes, she realized, it was important to her to impress him. Unfortunately, as she watched the Seven’s leader and his men checking their mounts, she found her resolve crumbling.

Mary flicked her eyes to the Sargent and his six men who would be filling in while the Seven were away. There was a time when she would have given her right arm for the army to station some men in town. But now? Now, they were a very poor second best. Besides, she had not taken to Gilroy. She knew that Vin hadn’t either. If there was one thing she believed of Vin Tanner, it was the fact that he was an excellent judge of character.

"Another fine day. A good omen my friends," Ezra announced, happily. He was in a particularly good mood. Something that Nathan found interesting, considering what was ahead.

"If I didn’t know better, I’d say that you have something planned," the healer commented.

"Oh, I do, Mr. Jackson. According to my map, there are some two dozen towns between here and Milton and I haven’t visited any of them. Two dozen saloons with two dozen tables of gambling opponents who have never met me. I foresee a very lucrative trip." Ezra watched as a huge smile danced onto Nathan’s face. "What?" the gambler asked suspiciously. Nathan only smiled like that when he knew something that the Ezra didn’t. Something that he knew Four Corners’ resident con man wouldn’t like.

"Ezra, I’ve got really bad news."

"Enlighten me." Nathan continued to grin. "What?!" Ezra demanded, with more force than he intended.

"We ain’t going through any of the towns."

"What! But that isn’t possible. You mean we are going overland. Where will we sleep?"

"On the ground, Brother," Josiah grinned.

"The ground!" Ezra exclaimed, almost as if the very thought was a moral sin. "But….but…what about culinary satisfaction? We’ve barely packed enough for today."

"We’ll eat off the trail."

Ezra Standish’s face screwed up distastefully. "My good Sirs, I have tried such an experiment and believe me, all of that wholesome air and sleeping under the stars rubbish, is greatly overrated. And as for securing enough cuisine to satisfy the needs of one’s body - well let’s just say that it is my experience that birds and animals go out of their way to avoid winding up as someone’s dinner."

"When did you ever sleep under the stars?"

Ezra snorted and adjusted his horse’s bridle. "Several years ago I was visiting a town up north. A lovely community. However, there were a number of the locals who, for some reason I can not fathom, took offence when their losing streak filled my pockets beautifully. I was forced to make a hasty exit and found myself in the wilds for one night. A most unpleasant experience. So why in God’s name are we going to bypass the comforts of a decent meal, a roof over our heads and the chance of monetary compensation?"

Josiah inclined his head toward Vin. "Because the more places we go, the more likely someone may recognize him."

Ezra glanced at the tracker, who was adjusting his saddle. "I see." As unappealing as living off the trail was, endangering Vin was simply out of the question. "Then would it not be sensible for Mr. Tanner to remain here?"

Nathan shrugged. "Chris tried to talk him out of it, but you know Vin."

Yes, Ezra knew Vin. Until Larabee had met Tanner, the gambler was certain that Chris had thought himself stubborn. In Vin, he had more than met his match. "Perhaps if the lovely Mrs Travis were to ask him. Mr. Tanner is a sucker for a damsel in distress."

"Chris already tried that too."

"Oh." Ezra glanced across at Mary and his uncanny ability to read body language informed him that Mary Travis was more than a little distressed. Handing the reins of his horse to Josiah, Ezra strode across to the young woman.

"Mrs. Travis, is there anything that you would like me to pick up on my travels?"

Mary smiled at the gambler. Ezra was a good man blessed with a kinder heart than he wanted. She knew that he was offering help, if she cared to voice her concerns.

"No, I’m sure we have everything we need," the woman stated, glancing at the soldiers.

Ezra followed her gaze. "They appear more than capable."

"Yes."

"And do not worry. We will only be gone about twelve days. Unfortunately, I have just learned that we will not be taking the sensible route through the various towns, so you will be unable to wire us on our journey. However, if there is any tribulation, you can wire Milton. I will check the telegraph office the moment we arrive."

Again, Mary tried to smile, but failed miserably. "Thank you, Ezra." She was watching Chris, the gambler noted.

"Don’t worry Ma’am. I promise I’ll keep an eye on our illustrious leader."

"I’m sure I don’t know what you mean," Mary stated, quickly.

"My dear, Mrs. Travis. He may not know what I mean, but you and I, and the rest of our friends do." The fact that Mary ‘liked’ Chris was certainly no secret. The fact that Chris had more than ‘noticed’ Mary was only a secret from the man himself. Mary felt her cheeks blush. Ezra grinned at her. "Absence is said to make the heart grow fonder. Perhaps a few days away may jolt him out of his complacency."

Moments later, the Seven men mounted and turned their horses toward the south. As each passed Mary Travis, they tipped their hats. Vin glanced at Chris. The older man shrugged. Tanner was still experiencing misgivings about leaving Four Corners in the hands of Gilroy. He found it difficult to trust the army. Chris had tried to talk sense into his young friend, but nothing he had said appeared to have eased Vin’s uneasiness. The tracker paused briefly in front of Mary, doing battle with his emotions. Was Chris right? Was he just over reacting to a baseless dislike of Gilroy? Or was it something more? Vin had learned through experience not to ignore his instincts. They had saved him more times than he cared to count. Unconsciously, the troubled tracker flicked his eyes to the soldiers and then let them settle on the young woman.

"If there’s trouble, wire the Peters brother’s in Eagle Bend. They can be here in a couple of hours."

"Dan and Micheal are out droving at the moment," Mary informed Vin quietly. At this, the tracker brought his horse to a dead stop. "Vin stop worrying. We have the army here. I’m sure they can maintain peace for a few days," Mary stated, trying to sound flippant. "Besides, things have been very quiet lately. The bad element has learned to stay away."

Vin Tanner nodded, but climbed off his horse quite unexpectedly. The rest of the Seven, who by this stage had reached the top of town, reined their horses to a stop.

"What’s he doing?" J.D. asked Buck.

"Ensuring that the soldiers understand exactly what is expected of them," Chris replied, turning his horse around and heading back toward the blue coats. There was the slightest trace of a smile on his lips. For someone who was determined to belong nowhere, Vin was sure acting very possessive of Four Corners.

The serious tracker walked directly up Gilroy and stopped only a foot from him. The two men stared at each other. At first, it appeared to be a clash of iron wills, but Gilroy felt the ice blue eyes across from him slicing right through him. The Sargent swallowed and conceded the battle. There was something altogether unnerving about this quietly spoken tracker. Not to mention the man in black who was providing none too subtle backup. Larabee brought his horse to a stop directly behind Vin. His piercing green eyes were slitted and Gilroy contemplated the fact that just maybe this had not been such a good idea. Double crossing the Larabee gang could prove costly. He had no intention of leaving any men in Four Corners and if they ever found out he had set them up....

"We ain’t gonna be happy if anything happens while we’re gone," the young man in the buckskin coat grilled softly. With those dozen words, and a final few uncomfortable seconds of scrutiny, Vin turned, pulled himself up onto his horse, dipped his hat to Mary and then urged Peso on to join the rest of the Seven.

Chris eyed him with amusement. Everything okay?

"And let you lot get lost on the way to Milton?" Vin snapped.

Mary watched Four Corners’ Seven disappear in a cloud of dust. Why did she feel that her hopes and the safety of the town she held so dear, were disappearing with them? Baseless fears? Or an unnerving premonition?