It wasn’t until Nathan had finished stitching Vin’s head that he discovered the black and blue bruising across his patient’s back.

"Reckon we can keep that between us?" Vin asked seriously.

Nathan smiled. "Alright, but only if you promise to take it easy in the next couple of days."

"You’ve got my word, Doc."

Vin exited the clinic and made his way over to where Chris was lounging on the veranda of the saloon.

"How do you feel?"

"Sore."

Larabee scrutinized the other man’s face and watched as Vin eased himself into the other seat. The tracker held his breath as he did so and then released it once he was settled.

Chris returned his attention to studying the town, but his mind would not rest. For several seconds there was silence - not the relaxed, comfortable silence that Chris and Vin had become accustomed to.

"I would have gone with you." A statement that lacked the emotion the gunfighter felt.

"I know." Equally indifferent.

"You could have told me. Hell, you should have told me." Larabee kept his voice calm and even.

"Reckon I know that too." Vin could sense his new friend’s anger.

"You got a reason for not trusting us?" The ‘us’ actually meant ‘me’ and Vin knew it.

Don’t be stupid. Actually, it was stupid. It wouldn’t have been ten days ago, because then Vin hadn’t trusted anyone. "I ain’t never trusted anyone before. It’s kinda new to me. Reckon it’ll take some gettin’ used to."

Chris eyed the young man beside him and then nodded his very real understanding. "I meant what I said," the gunfighter added. Vin’s eyes narrowed with curiosity. "If you pull a fool stunt like that again, I’ll beat you senseless."

The young sharpshooter didn’t smile but his eyes flashed with mischief. "Reckon that sounds fair, Cowboy."

Chris glared at his companion. Vin enjoyed using that term. He knew that it pissed his older friend off. "Cowboy?"

"Yeah," Vin grinned. "Cowboy."

Chris couldn’t help but smile. Smartass sonofabitch!

The two relaxed, the silence that swallowed them calm and contented.

Out of nowhere, Gloria Potter and several other citizens of the town appeared and approached the pair. Chris rose to his feet and tipped his hat. Vin started to struggle to his, but Larabee gently forced him down before he could rise.

"Please don’t get up, Mr. Tanner," Mrs. Potter stated quickly.

"We heard that you were attacked by that bastard," John added.

"We just want to thank you for what you did today."

Vin nodded, but the people weren’t finished. They continued to heap praise on the sharpshooter, the crowd growing by the second. Chris realized Vin didn’t like crowds - particularly when he was the center of their attention. Someone else may not have noticed Vin’s intense discomfort for it did not present on his face, but Chris could sense it and see it in his best friend’s eyes.

"Ladies and gentlemen, if you’ll excuse us," Chris announced firmly. "We have some things that we need to discuss." The citizens of Four Corners dispersed without argument.

"Thanks."

"You don’t like crowds."

"Nope." With that, Vin pushed himself to his feet.

"You going somewhere?"

"Need to get out of town for a bit," Vin explained. He was feeling hemmed in. He needed to free himself of the confines of the town.

"How long?" Chris’s eyes were lit with amusement.

"Couple of hours."

"Want some company?"

Vin shrugged, but he was smiling. "Reckon I should have said yes last time."

"Reckon you should," Chris agreed.

**********

Out of the corner of his eye, Chris watched Vin struggle with his saddle, but the gunfighter knew better than to offer assistance. Vin Tanner was fiercely independent and such an offer would only spark a heated confrontation. Looked like Collins had really worked Vin over.

"Ready?" Chris asked casually.

Vin grunted as he finally hefted the saddle on to Peso and began buckling it into place. Then the tracker paused and took a deep breath. With effort he lifted his foot into the stirrup. As he mounted, strong hands supported his back and assisted him into the saddle. Vin glanced down. Chris captured his friend’s eyes momentarily and then moved off and climbed into his own saddle.

"You mention to Nathan that..."

"He knows," Vin snapped.

"You up to riding?"

"Stop fussin’, Chris."

Larabee snorted. Stubborn bastard.

As the two men guided their horses out of the livery, Ezra came rushing up to the pair, an ecstatic smile plastered on his exhilarated face.

"Mr. Tanner, I have wonderful news."

Vin glanced at Chris and raised an eyebrow.

"I have just been informed that there is a similar shooting competition in Eagle Bend next month. Isn’t that the most fortuitous news that you have ever heard?!!

Vin sighed, shook his head with humor and coaxed his horse on.

"Mr. Tanner? Mr. Tanner, wait! We could make a killing!"

"Forget it, Ezra," Chris called back.

"But, Mr. Larabee, I could buy the marker and Vin could take it. We could all bet on it and make a fortune."

"No," Vin stated.

Ezra trotted up so that he was jogging between the two men. "But why? We have no obligation or conflict of interest in Eagle Bend."

"I ain’t interested, Ezra."

"But the money!"

"Don’t need no money."

"For goodness sake don’t be so selfish." Chris eyed Ezra with amusement. "Think about the rest of us," the gambler pleaded.

Vin and Chris exchanged a glance and then both spurred their horses toward the open wilderness that was just beyond the town.

"Mr. Tanner, at least consider the proposal. Mr. Tanner!!!"

Buck, Josiah, Nathan and J.D. wandered out to join their companion who was standing in a cloud of dust watching the retreating back of his latest goldmine.

"Well?" Buck inquired. "Did he agree?"

Ezra turned and smiled at his new mine investors. "A very definite maybe, my friends. A very definite maybe."

Return to "The Marker" index

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© November 2000 Aussie Lass. : This relates only to the creative property in this story. The distinctive way the story unfolds, the specific dialogue and unique situations are mine. I acknowledge that some of the characters and settings belong to the owners of “The Magnificent Seven” and I thank them sincerely for turning a blind eye so I can borrow them. (g) No infrigement of copyright was intended and no profit has been made from this story... so, please don't sue me. It wouldn't be worth your while.