DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters. "The Magnificent Seven" belong to MGM and Trilogy Entertainment. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I’d be a happy woman if Vin belonged to me.....but no such luck. I have not made any profit out of writing this, so please don’t sue me. It would not be worth your while.

"Hey, Vin," Josiah called from the top of the church steps. The young tracker tipped his hat and continued on his way.

Josiah stepped around Gloria Potter and her two children who were making their way into God’s house ready to listen to Josiah’s weekly sermon.

"Vin," the preacher called, leaping down the steps.

The tracker stopped and waited for Josiah. "Your congregation is growin’," Vin muttered, inclining his head toward the men, women and children all decked out in their finest gear and making their way into the church.

"Yeah, it is." It had been a gradual process, but slowly the citizens of Four Corners were turning back to the Lord’s House. "Look," Josiah licked his lips. "I was wondering if you might like to come to the service this morning?"

Vin’s right eyebrow arched and then he shook his head. "Thanks Josiah, but..."

"Now, don’t say that you’re busy, ‘cause I know you just got back from a patrol."

Vin grinned. "Weren’t gonna say that, Josiah."

"So what excuse were you going to use?"

"No excuse." Josiah eyed his young friend and decided that Vin Tanner was not the type of man who employed excuses to explain his actions or decisions. In the two months the pair had known each other, the preacher had to admit that Vin pretty much spoke his mind most of the time. "I was just gonna tell you that ole Peter and I got a real good understandin’."

"Peter? What do you mean?"

At this, Vin’s face flushed with embarrassment, but there was a soft smile flashing from the young man’s blue eyes.

"Vin?"

"It’s a long story and you ain’t got time. You’ll be late for your own service."

"I’ve always got time for a friend, Vin." Josiah watched his young companion’s face carefully. He honestly wished that he could read Tanner the way Chris could because at that moment, he wasn’t sure if he should push this or back off. Vin didn’t like to be crowded and he only ever gave as much as he was comfortable with.

"Well," and Vin grinned again. "When I was just a little fella, my Ma used to take me to church every Sunday. I useta sit at the very front and stare up at the stained glass window. It was of this fella wearing a dress and with long hair. I thought it was a woman, but my Ma told me it was Jesus."

Josiah smiled.

Vin paused and shook his head, appearing to become self-conscious. "Look, Josiah..."

"Please, I want to hear," the preacher coaxed gently.

Vin sighed and then shrugged. "Well, one night I was prayin’ before goin’ to bed and I always finished it the same way. ‘Thank you for listening, Peter, Amen’." Josiah’s brow creased with intrigue. "Anyway, my Ma came in and asked me who Peter was." Vin began to blush, but his face lit up with true happiness as he recalled the memory. "I can remember sayin’, what on earth is wrong with you Mama? Peter. You know, God." Vin chuckled. "My Ma still looked shocked so I explained to her that Peter was God’s first name." The smile on Vin’s face was coming from his soul. "Every Sunday in church I used listen to the older people prayin’ and they used to finish with Thanks... Peter... God, so I just assumed that Peter musta been the big fella’s name and since I was prayin’ to him, we should be on first name basis."

Josiah continued to stare at Vin. "They used to say, Thanks Peter?"

Vin smiled. "Nope, but that’s what it sounded like. Anyways, me and ole Peter have this understandin’. I don’t interfere in his business unless I have to and he don’t interfere in mine. Besides, I reckon he’s got his hands full listenin’ to everyone elses problems without adding mine to the list... and if I remember, God don’t care where I am if I want to have a yarn to him." Vin tipped his hat and walked off.

Josiah climbed the stairs reflecting on the final profound statement his friend had made. Taking up his position at the front of the church, Josiah found himself still trying to comprehend what Vin had said.

"Brother and Sisters, today we collect here to give thanks and to remind one another that God listens to us when ever and where ever we decide to stop and talk to him. I was reminded of this fact..." Josiah stopped. His eyes widened as realization descended and hit him smack bang in the middle of the face. Without warning, Josiah threw his head back and began to laugh. Not just a chuckle, a full throated, echoing laugh that filled the silent room and bounced off the walls with resounding brilliance. The congregation watched their preacher with both fascination and concern.

"You will have to excuse me...that goes for you too, Peter," the preacher whispered glancing heavenwards. "Thanks Peter God," Josiah muttered smiling, a vision of a very young Vin Tanner explaining to his mother that he and God were on first name basis, filling the big man’s mind. "Thanks Peter God." Or perhaps, thanks be to God.

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© October 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 MGM and Trilogy Entertainment and 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.