“Hurt, angry and...” Buck muttered, stumbling on the final phrase as he searched for clarification.

“Huh?” J.D. asked.

“Go on,” Buck prompted the other man.

Buck refused to accept ‘sorry for himself.’ Hurt – yes. Yes, he’d been hurt Chris had made the decision to leave without consulting him or asking him to come along. Angry – yes, for the same reasons. Of course, a few moments after his rebuttal, he’d come to his senses and ridden out to provide the back-up needed. And he’d been needed - which had felt damn good.

Dammit! What’s wrong with me? I’m acting like some kid whose friend’s decided to go and play with someone else for the day! Buck poured himself another whiskey and tossed it back.

His narrowed stare settled on the object of his discontent. What annoyed him most was he liked Vin. Tanner was quiet, thoughtful, dependable, and he had a dry wit that tended to slip out at the most unexpected times. Despite wanting to, Buck found he couldn’t dislike Vin. With reluctance, he accepted while he and Chris were friends - good friends - he no longer held the privileged position of ‘right hand.’ Now, another sat there.

Buck sighed, overcome by a very real sense of loss. For three empty years, he’d longed for the camaraderie he’d shared with Chris, and while elements of it were there and would never change, the exclusivity… the knowledge that the position on Chris’ right was his… was gone, but at least he had lost it to someone worthy.

Buck studied the young man slouched in the chair, enveloped in the old buckskin coat. Vin was a good man, but that didn’t make it easier watching Chris walk into the saloon and select a chair next to Tanner or steer his horse up beside Vin. In the last week, Buck had seen examples of such things and it hurt -- it hurt a lot. With a certain degree of sadness, he acknowledged he’d lost something special to Tanner, but Buck knew he couldn’t and shouldn’t fight to reclaim it. It belonged to Chris and it was up to Larabee to bestow it upon whom he saw fit.

Buck chewed his bottom lip. He cared for Chris, and if Vin was able to penetrate the solid barrier Chris had constructed to keep others out, that was a good thing for all privileged to call Chris friend. After all, he’d tried to ‘reach’ Chris and failed. Tanner seemed to be having some success.

Feeling more at ease with his own emotions, Buck glanced at J.D., whose mouth seemed to have a mind of its own.

"Whoa there, boy. Now, slow down and start from the beginning."

"Again!" J.D. shook his head with disgust.

**********

The street was empty and silent. The early sun filtered through the dawn and the crispness in the air penetrated Buck’s jacket. It was too beautiful a morning to be stuck in the jailhouse guarding Lucas James, but it was his turn and Josiah would be waiting for him to take over.

Gradually, Four Corners awoke from its slumber. Buck called a greeting to Yosmite as he ambled down the street. He waved happily to Miss Milly who was assisting Mrs. Potter open her store. The young woman blushed beautifully. Buck sighed. Life was pretty good at the moment.

"Buck." The low voice seemed to come from within his own ear. Startled, and almost jumping out of his skin, he spun around to find Vin standing right beside him.

"Will you quit doin’ that! Make some sort of announcement, for God’s sake. Hey, Buck don’t worry, it’s just me, Vin. The man that don’t make no damn sound and always scares you half to death when I appear out of nowhere!"

Tanner’s ability to move noiselessly and melt into the background was something Buck found disconcerting. No man should be able to move with such ghostly ease.

Vin eyed Buck carefully, waiting for the other to finish. "We need to talk," the tracker stated in his calm, hushed voice. The same voice Buck was certain could rip the skin off a rhinoceros.

"About what, Vin?" Guilt washed over Buck. He could guess what was on Vin’s mind. Yesterday, he’d snapped at the tracker for no reason and the day before, he’d been somewhat abrupt and dismissive. The quietly confident Tanner hadn’t reacted either time, but Vin didn’t strike Buck as the type who usually accepted such treatment. "About what?" Buck repeated.

"About whatever it is I’ve done that bothers you.” Vin slipped his thumbs into his belt, his left shoulder sitting lower than the right.

"Well, sneaking up on a man and scaring a year off his life is a start," Buck stated, grinning. He hoped that would be enough, but the look on Vin’s face told him otherwise. "Look, Vin, you ain’t done nothin’. It’s just me, okay? Sometimes I act like an asshole and..." Buck paused.

Vin’s face was hard and unyielding. "I need to know what’s wrong, Buck." Tanner only used enough words to get his point across. He was one of the few people Buck knew who didn’t speak for the sake of it.

"Yeah, okay. I reckon I owe you an apology for the way I’ve been actin’.” Apologies were never easy, but apologizing for behavior Buck deplored and was embarrassed by in the first place was harder than he’d imagined. “Just put it down to stupidity, okay?"

Tanner’s head moved ever so slightly from side to side. "You’re a lot of things, Buck, but stupid ain’t one of them.” The younger man’s eyes never left Buck’s. The intensity was so pure Buck found himself flinching. “You do things for reasons. What’s wrong?"

Buck swallowed. "Vin, I... look... it’s just..."

Tanner waited.

Wilmington wilted under the scrutiny of the most intense gaze he’d ever encountered. It wasn’t a glare, but Vin was looking straight passed all elements of Buck’s exterior. Buck drew in a deep breath and admitted quietly, "Chris and I used to ride together. Then three years ago, his wife and son were killed."

Vin’s chin bobbed as he leaned against the wall of Potter’s store, taking out his harmonica and rolling it in his hands. "He told me."

"Yeah, well, we split up after that. I didn’t want to, but Chris was all knotted up inside and the more I tried to help, the worse he got." Before Buck knew it, he was rambling…about how he and Chris used to play ‘merry hell’… how they used to get drunk together… how he’d been there when Adam was born… how he’d worked on Chris’s ranch.

Vin listened without comment or discernable reaction.

"And when Chris appeared in town two weeks back and asked if I’d help out with the Indian village, it felt real good to be riding with him again. I was hoping things would go back to the way they were." Buck stopped as his mind caught up with his mouth. He hadn’t meant to say so much. Uncomfortable, he redirected his gaze to some point across the street.

"You and Larabee’ve been friends a long time?"

"Yeah, a real long time." Buck returned his attention to Vin, praying Tanner hadn’t interpreted his blather and realized that the ‘problem’ was his jealousy. In that moment, Buck consciously recognized the root of his behavior. He was jealous?

Vin continued to stare, his brow furrowed and his eyes narrowed. Finally, he nodded, rose off the wall and set off down the street, pocketing his harmonica.

"Vin..." Tanner glanced back, tipped his hat and continued in the opposite direction.

Buck could feel his face flushing red with embarrassment. He hadn’t actually said anything specific. He’d talked a lot -- shared a bit of his and Chris’ history --simply said he was pleased he and Chris were riding together again. Tanner wouldn’t recognize what was behind his ranting and unusual behavior… would he? No.

Relieved he hadn’t made a complete fool of himself, Buck headed for the jailhouse, contemplating his feelings. Jealous? No, not jealous. Hurt, put out and disappointed, but not jealous, he convinced himself.

**********

Later that afternoon, from a table in the saloon, Buck eyed the rabble assembled. He frowned. Trouble was brewing. He could feel it.

Larabee entered, pausing in the doorway, his all-seeing gaze settling on Buck. Chris weaved passed Ezra, who was about to part some fool from his money, took a bottle of whiskey and a couple of glasses from the bar, with the approval of the keep, and joined Buck.

"Pard."

"Buck."

Something warm spread across Buck’s chest. It has been too long since he and Chris had shared a drink like this… since Chris had joined him for a drink.

"Reckon they’ll cause any more trouble?" Buck asked, inclining his head toward the two opposing groups the regulators had separated the day before.

Chris shrugged. "Guess we’ll have to wait and see."

"J.D.’s come up with a plan to keep Lucas alive long enough to hang."

Larabee nodded. "Yeah, he told me. Ezra still wants to run a poker game on the day – hangings draw a crowd."

"He sure don’t give up easily," Buck muttered.

Chris smirked. "One of Ezra’s many endearing qualities."

Buck smiled.

Chris pushed the whisky bottle and one glass across the table.

"Don’t mind if I do," Wilmington chirped, pouring a shot and glancing at Chris who was leaning back in the chair. "Been a long time since I’ve seen you this relaxed."

Larabee nodded. "Reckon you’re right."

The two fell silent. Again, the slightest twinge of envy pulled at Buck’s emotions. He sensed Larabee’s comfortable mood was a direct result of his new friendship with Vin.

"If Vin had turned the Judge down and wanted to ride to Tascosa, would you have gone with him?"

"Yes." No hesitation.

"Why?"

Chris eyed Buck thoughtfully. "Because I said I would." Again silence.

"You don’t know much about him," Buck stated carefully, tossing the shot down. How much did any of them know about the earnest tracker who moved like a ghost?

"I know enough." Chris sat forward, scrutinizing Buck "You warning me to be careful, old friend? I know I can trust him."

"Why?"

**

Chris pursed his lips thoughtfully. "I just do." He and Vin had exchanged a single glance and in that split second, Larabee had read Tanner’s soul - and he understood the reciprocal had happened. There were times when the gunfighter looked at the mild, young man in the buckskin coat and felt like he was staring into a mirror. Vin’s easy-going nature and quiet voice hid an uncomfortable past and his fair share of painful memories. Vin had said little, but Larabee could sense it. Strangely, he and Vin did a lot of that - just sensing what the other was thinking without understanding why. Chris didn’t know Vin Tanner and yet he had such a complete understanding of the other man that knowledge mattered little.

**

Chris nodded to his friend, acknowledging Buck’s concern with a nod and quiet, "Thanks.”

Buck smiled again. It was still there. He’d been afraid he’d lost the unquestioned trust and the easy friendship to Tanner. “Who woulda thought we’d end up protecting a town for a lousy dollar a day," Buck chuckled.

Larabee winked. "We’ve done worse for less."

Wilmington burst out laughing. "That we have. Do you remember the time we agreed to escort those three fine ladies from Montville to Bronton?"

Chris nodded, his eyes flashing with devilish mirth. "I remember."

Buck’s breath caught in his throat. Where the hell had that come from? That look was one straight out of the past -- one that hadn’t crossed Larabee’s face for three long years. Buck fought to maintain a settled expression.

"By the way, those fine ladies weren’t ladies at all,” Chris added, bouncing his eyebrows.

"Not my fault. Of course, I must say it was an unforgettable trip. You ended up quite the hero, ‘Dr. Larabee’!" the scoundrel laughed.

"If I remember correctly, it was your idea to go swimming."

"How was I supposed to know the creek was full of leeches? Anyway, you made out all right. ‘It’s okay ladies, I’m a Doctor.’"

Larabee shook his head hardly believing his life had ever been so frivolous. His face became more serious, but still light. "It was just after that we met Sarah. I was tellin’ Vin about that day last night. I’ve never seen a woman slap you so hard, Buck."

Buck froze, not sure if he should speak or remain silent. Chris appeared aware of his friend’s uneasiness and without warning, reached out, patted Buck’s arm and then rose to his feet. The shutters protecting his inner being slammed into place and the relaxed element that had been there was crushed. "I want to talk to Ezra about this game he’s organizing. Vin heard rumors of a really large bet being placed on one of the players."

Buck nodded and watched dumbfounded as Larabee left in search of Standish, who’d exited the saloon some moment before.

Buck’s eyes closed. He’d been wrong… about a lot of things. Vin Tanner hadn’t simply penetrated the dark barrier Chris surrounded himself with, he was drawing Chris out… the real Chris… not the vengeful gunfighter he’d become.

How?

Buck didn’t know.

Why?

Buck honestly didn’t care. The man with the mischievous smile Buck just seen across from him was the Larabee he remembered. It had been a fleeting moment and the discussion had been short, but Buck had just seen Chris.

Buck swallowed self-consciously.

He’d been hurt and put out by Vin’s presence.

He’d resented Vin for stepping in and replacing him as Chris’ right hand, but Vin hadn’t. In some juvenile way, he’d even been angered Vin had taken Chris from him, which wasn’t the case.

As a matter of fact, he couldn’t have been more wrong. Vin was giving Chris back by rescuing him from the bottomless pit of hate he’d been residing in since the death of his wife and child. Somehow, someway, Vin had found a path in and Chris was following him out.

Buck released a long, deep breath. He owed Vin. He owed Vin Tanner more than he’d ever be able to repay.

**********

Nathan entered the saloon about an hour later. Buck glanced up from the young lady he was whispering sweet nothings to. The healer surveyed the room, obviously looking for someone in particular.

Spotting Buck, Jackson strode over. "You seen, Chris?"

"Said he wanted to talk to Ezra.” Buck pulled further away from the young woman whose arms were entwined around him. “Something wrong?"

"You could say that," Nathan muttered.

Buck nodded to the saloon girl, who smiled and slipped way. "What is it?"

Nathan lowered his voice. "It’s Vin. He’s leavin’."

"WHAT?" Buck rose to his feet slowly. “Leaving? What do you mean, leaving?

"Just saw him in the livery. Don’t know what’s got into him. Just said he was moving on. I was hoping Chris might be able to convince him to stay."

Buck’s chest constricted and he cursed passionately. If Vin left, Chris would too… either on his horse or emotionally, for Buck knew Larabee would slip back and stay in that dark place he was only just beginning to rise from. "I’ll talk to him."

"No offence, Buck, but Vin’s a real stubborn man and I reckon about the only person who has a chance in hell of changing Vin’s mind is Larabee."

"Nathan, please. Let me try first." The desperation on Buck’s face was real.

"Buck?" Nathan asked suspiciously.

"Don’t ask. If I can’t convince Vin to stay, I’ll find Chris myself, okay?"

Nathan nodded slowly.

Buck Wilmington shot out the door, raced down the street and entered the livery. The tracker glanced up when he heard Buck approaching. He nodded a simple greeting and returned to the task at hand.

"Vin, what the hell are you doing?"

"What’s it look like, Bucklin?" Vin responded calmly.

Wilmington stopped a few feet from the younger man, his arms flailing around his huge frame. "Vin, tell me you aren’t leavin’."

Tanner shrugged. "I never made no secret of the fact I got me some things need doing."

"But you said they could wait."

"Made a mistake," Vin stated simply as he lifted one of Peso’s hoofs and checked it.

"Dammit, Vin, will you stop that!” Buck cried, stepping closer.

"Gotta do it, Buck. Don’t want him to go lame on me." As Vin started scraping the shoe, Buck grabbed and stilled his arm. Tanner glared at the hand restraining him and raised his eyes to Wilmington. Vin Tanner didn’t like people getting so close.

Instantly, Buck released Vin’s arm, the intense message on Tanner’s face as clear as if it had be shouted. "Vin, I know why you’re doin’ this and you don’t have to."

“Don’t know what you’re talkin’ about. I got some things…”

“Bull. You signed on to protect this town. You don’t strike me as the type to turn his back on people in need.”

Vin smirked with amusement. “Reckon the six of you can provide this little town with all the protection it needs.”

Buck threw his arms up in exasperation. “Vin! Damnit. What do you want me to say? That I’m sorry?”

Vin’s eyebrows drew down.

Buck started pacing. “I’ve made a mess of this.”

Vin reached for another of Peso’s hoofs.”

“Look, just hold on a minute and let me explain."

Vin eyed Buck with those thoughtful blue pools others called eyes, and leaned against his horse. “You and Chris have been friends a long time. I’m just passin’ through. Don’t want to be the cause of ill feeling between the two of you.”

Buck swallowed. "I... look you’re right. I did think somehow you’d come between me and Chris, which is stupid, but more than anything else, it’s wrong. Dead wrong.” They stared at each other. Buck lowered his voice. “I don’t know why Chris feels comfortable talkin’ to you, but he does. And yeah, I won’t lie - that hurt. I used to be the one he’d confide in, but he hasn’t done that for three years. Not since the fire. But he’s started talkin’ to me again now and… and I think that’s because of you.”

Vin looked away.

“He told you about what happened to Sarah and Adam, right?"

Vin returned his unreadable gaze to Buck.

"Did he tell you he climbed into a bottle after it happened? Did he tell you he became so consumed with guilt and hate he stopped caring if he lived or died? Did he tell you he turned his back on all his friends and pushed away anyone who cared about him? Did he tell you he ain’t spoken about Sarah since it happened... until he spoke to you?" Chris hadn’t said it was the first time he’d mentioned his wife since the tragedy, but Buck knew Chris well enough to know that it was. "I don’t know why he trusts you... hell, I don’t think he even knows why he trusts you, but he does."

For several moments there was silence, the only sound, Peso’s tail swishing away annoying flies.

"I trust him too."

Buck blinked, his face twisting with wonder as he recognized something he’d failed to notice before. Vin’s eyes shared the same haunting pain as Chris’. Abruptly, Buck was overwhelmed by the powerful urge to protect his new friend from whatever it was. He had no idea what was in Vin’s past, but in that instant, he recognized Larabee was providing the same type of support for the quietly spoken tracker, Vin was providing for the gunfighter.

Buck placed his hand on Vin’s shoulder. "Then don’t go.”

Tanner’s chest inflated and he breathed out nosily, his face distorting with indecision.

“Vin, he needs you… and he ain’t needed anyone for three years. And to tell you the truth, I need you to keep doin’ whatever it is you’re doin’. Thanks to you, half an hour ago I saw the Chris Larabee I used to ride with. I thought Chris was gone, but… Please, Vin. I’m willing to beg if I have to. Stay." Buck searched Vin’s face but found the emotions reflected impossible to interpret.

Vin dropped his head and released a deep breath. "Don’t want to be responsible for ill feeling between you two.”

"You aren’t.”

”I’m just passin’ through."

“Not any more,” Buck declared. He meant it. Vin had found a place where he could heal right along with Chris.

Still Vin stared at the ground, but Buck could see the grimace of pain. In a low voice, Tanner murmured, “I got a bounty on my head, Buck. 500 dollars for murder.” The tone didn’t actually waver, but there was passion in each syllable.

Buck withdrew his hand with uncertainly and surprise. The information didn’t fit with the man Buck saw before him.

Vin shook his head. “Didn’t kill him. Was framed.”

“That’s why you were heading to Tascosa? To sort it out?”

“Yeah.”

Buck nodded thoughtfully. “Hell of a weight to be carrying.”

Vin snorted.

Buck rubbed his chin. It was an incredible admission in light of the fact they’d only known each other two weeks, but then, Buck accepted Vin trusted him. “No one will be collecting the bounty with Chris and I riding shotgun.” The pledge was sincere.

Vin exhaled, still focused on his boots. “Aren’t asking you to do that, Buck. Don’t want to get anyone else caught up in this mess.”

“Chris said he’d ride with you and he won’t back out… and neither will I.” A great deal about Vin now made sense. The reserved tracker was on the run. Buck didn’t doubt Vin’s innocence. If Tanner had killed, he’d have said so and then given his reasons. Vin said he was framed and that was good enough for Buck. Buck also understood Vin’s decision to leave was far more than a desire to ‘save’ an established friendship. It was out of concern for his friends’ safety. Vin didn’t need to say so. Buck sensed it. Such a motive went a long way with Buck. Vin Tanner was a good man -- a good man Buck now called friend.

“Okay, I’m warning you,” Buck growled. “If you try to leave, you’ll force me to knock you senseless and hog tie you."

Vin glanced up, the slightest trace of a smile on his face. "Reckon you’d try, too."

"Count on it," Buck stated firmly, studying Vin’s haunting gaze that had the unnerving ability to look right through a man. "We signed on together, and I ain’t talking about protecting a set of buildings.” All seven knew that. “If the shoe were on the other foot, you’d ride with me.”

Tanner’s Adam’s apple jumped.

“Besides, Chris is my oldest friend, and I ain’t about to let anyone hurt him. Not you by leaving, and not me… because of some stupid, selfish mistake. So you’ll leave over my dead body."

Tanner started to open his mouth, but something distracted him for a split second. "So that’s all there is to it, Buck," the tracker stated out of the blue.

"Huh?"

Chris Larabee entered the livery, bearing down on the two men. "J.D. says you’re leaving." The accusation was harsh and low. Larabee flicked his gaze to Vin’s bulging saddle bags.

"That boy can’t get nothing right," Buck muttered, stepping around Chris and heading for the street. "Don’t worry. I’ll straighten him out."

Wilmington paused and glanced back. Vin briefly made eye contact with him and his chin bobbed. Buck was consumed with relief. Yep, he owed Vin Tanner.

Chris began interrogating Vin relentlessly. Wilmington chuckled to himself as Vin completely ignored the black clad gunfighter and set about searching for nothing in particular in his saddle bags.

**

"Well?" Chris finally demanded, watching Tanner shove his small harmonica into his pocket.

"You find out about that big bet?"

Chris examined Vin’s poker face. Tanner had just disregarded every word he’d said. "No, or at least, Ezra didn’t take it. The highest bet he’s taken is twenty dollars on himself to win."

"Which means there are other players. Maybe we should set Ezra after them," Vin suggested, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Already have. If there’s another bookie out there, Ezra will ferret him out."

"Yep."

"Were you going to leave?" Chris demanded.

"I was thinkin’ about it," Vin replied, honestly.

"Why?"

The tracker grinned. "Ain’t important. We better protect the second bookie."

Chris right eyebrow rose. "Protect him?"

"How much you wanna bet if Ezra gets his hands on the poor bastard before we do, he’s one dead duck."

Chris smiled and the two men fell into step.

*********

From the porch of the saloon, Buck watched Tanner and Larabee stride out of the livery. They were sharing a laugh -- the weight of their lives momentarily forgotten.

Buck’s heart sang.

Now, all was abundantly clear.

Vin and Chris shared a common ache.

Buck and Chris shared a common history.

Vin stood at Chris’ left hand… and Buck couldn’t be happier. Tanner hadn’t taken his place. Buck was still there on the right, keeping an eye on his old friend. Nothing, and no one, would ever change that, but from now on, Buck had a partner in that calling. He and Vin would do it together.

The smile on Bucks’ face settled into a look of determination as he considered his second self-imposed responsibility – watching the back of a certain dusty enigma whom he was proud to call partner and friend. He would need to do so from a distance so he didn’t crowd Vin, but he would be there… both for Vin’s sake and for Chris’.