Disclaimer: I do not own the Magnificent Seven or the characters. I do not use this forum for profit. I do own the story and it’s premises.

Rating: FRT-13

Warnings: H/C of my favorites Chris and Vin with some romance intertwined, some language.

Synopsis: While watching the Magnificent 7 tapes over and over and over, I noticed that they lacked interaction with some Native Americans. I have done a lot of research on this aspect of the show and during the 1870s Four Corners was the cornucopia of Native American historical and geographical richness. This is my first frantic so be gentle with me.

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Chapter 2

Two days outside of Four Corners

Chris was two days closer to Four Corners and to the meeting that he most dreaded in his life, explaining to his friends how he had failed to do what he set out to do. For the past two days since realizing how much closer he was to Four Corners, it gnawed at him constantly.

His stomach churned with the thought of admitting failure and it made him even more sick when he thought about the compassionate faces that would only try to console him and relieve his anguish. He did not want that. He did not want release. He wanted revenge and his anger burned hot within him. He wanted the anger to continue so that he would never give up his mission or forget the ones he loved.

But he did not know since his loss to fate on whether or not he would be able to hold on to that anger again. Two months on the move had worn him down. He was tired and he was ready to give up. All he wanted to do now was to lie down and die, and be with the ones he missed so sorely. He thought had found forgetfulness in a pair of green eyes, which belonged to a certain newspaperwoman.

But every time he got close, memories of his wife and son who had died in a fire came back to haunt him, pushing him further and further away from the happiness the thought he had found in Four Corners. If only he could forget his pain and his loss. If only he could die and again be with his family.

But little did Chris know that fate was about to give him his wish. Suddenly without warning, Chris felt something hit him hard in the back, causing excruciating pain, on his left side. The blow and the pain knocked him forward against Pony’s back.

Pony wrestled violently against the reins as he felt his owner’s hold loosen. Chris swayed on the back of the horse as the pain started to radiate to his back. Somehow, throughout the fire that was burning in his back, he had managed to stay mounted and bring Pony back in control.

Once that was done, he reached behind to feel for what had struck him. As his hands slid up his back he hit something right under his shoulder blade, which caused the fire to burn even more. It was a long piece of wood and Chris knew by the feel of it, that it was an arrow. He looked down in the front of chest, but the arrowhead did not come out the other side. He knew it was still inside him. He could feel the warm wetness on his back and it was quickly moving down his side.

Chris knew he was in trouble, but he could not see his attackers. If they had a position on top of the canyon, there was no way he could defend himself against this unseen enemy. He knew he had to do something. He could not stay there perched as a target, so he decided to make a run for it.

Chris urged Pony into a gallop, ever so often glancing behind him to see if he was being followed. His hat fell to hang loosely behind his back, letting his long blonde hair fly as he rode wildly into the wind. If he could make it to the next ridge, he could take up a position on that ridge, which would give him a better advantage point in defending himself. Chris Larabee leaned hard over Pony’s back, letting the horse all out. Pony ran hard, sensing the urgency of his owner’s command through the reins. Both man and horse knew that their lives counted on Pony’s ability.

As the ridge got closer and closer, Chris felt himself getting weaker. The way he was losing blood, he did not know if he could make it. Death was getting closer by the minute. He didn’t want to die, but he was not afraid. His only regret would be that he did not complete his main mission in this life and that he would be leaving the others behind, especially one Vin Tanner. The thought of leaving him and not being able to help him in his quest to prove his innocence bit into Chris’ soul like a sharp knife.

Turning his thoughts back to the matter at hand, Chris saw that the ridge was almost upon them and his heart leaped at the hope that stood only a mile away. But victory for Chris was not to last for long. Chris’ fingers that were holding the reins had suddenly went numb, and the reins slid from his hand for second.

But that second was enough for Pony to sense the pain in his owner and the horse reared up in fear. Chris fell off, flying into the air for a brief minute and hitting the hard packed dirt ground with a thud as he felt the arrow break off further inside his back.

With his back now in more pain than he thought he could imagine, Chris realized the need to ignore it and get the hell up if he wanted to live.

As quickly as he could, he tried to sit up, at the same time trying to reach his gun to draw it.

Nevertheless, as he did, he felt the pain radiate even more fiercely and quickly fell back to the ground, exhausted and in pain and with no gun in his hand. Sweat was dripping from his body profusely and the nausea he now felt was not making him feel any better or his head any clearer in what he needed to do.

Pony, at this time, had moved only a little ways and Chris tried again to get up, grabbing onto Pony’s right stirrup to try and pull himself up from his kneeling position. But Pony, still skittish from their last encounter, pulled away, leaving Chris to fall again onto the ground face down. His breath coming fast and harshly, Chris readied himself to try again to reach the stirrup, but as it were, Pony reared up, his right back hoof, clipping Chris in the head. Chris fell backwards with a crunch and felt pain as the arrow was pushed even further into his back. He closed his eyes as the pain intensified into a point of light in his vision. He knew this was the end. He had no more strength, and as his hands groped down to the front of his body, he felt the metal arrowhead now sticking out through his chest, just under the ribcage. He his breath became harsher and harsher with every intake. His last thought was that fate had finally given him his wish. He would finally be with his lost family again. As darkness crept into his vision, and his eyes closed, he last thought was that he would not be able to keep his promise to Vin.

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Four Corners, same day

Vin Tanner came riding into Four Corners before dusk. He had been gone for weeks out riding to the further utmost ranch and farm areas on patrol. He had not told the boys before when he left what he was doing. He just knew it was something he needed to do. He had felt as if something was torn from him the day that Chris had left and he needed an outlet to deal with it. Keeping busy was the only answer he could come up with.

He remembered the day Chris left so clearly in his mind. Chris was at Yosemite’s preparing Pony for the ride out. Vin had watched him secretly, not wanting the older man to know that he was being followed there. When Chris had made his announcement it was in front of all of the boys, Mary Travis and the Judge. Vin did not want to confront Chris there. He wanted to talk to Larabee alone, as he thought was his privilege as his closest friend. Even Buck Wilmington, who knew Chris for a long time, knew that Vin needed to be alone with Chris. It was the one reason he did not follow them both out of the saloon after Chris made his decision known to the others.

Vin had finally caught up with Chris at Yosmite’s readying Pony for the trip. Chris was in a detailed conversation with liveryman about what he would need for Pony and he had not noticed the blue-eyed bounty hunter walking through the livery door and standing not a few feet away from him.

“Now is that all ya need, Mr. Larabee?”

“Yep. That’s about it, Yosemite.”

“So, do ya know when ya might be comin’ back to Four Corners? I can keep Pony’s stall available,” replied Yosemite. He had noticed the young tracker, but figured Chris Larabee being the man he was probably knew Vin Tanner was there, so he said nothing.

“Yeah, Chris. When are ya comin’ back?” questioned Vin in that soft drawl that was Vin’s.

Chris Larabee turned to face the tracker, startled that he had not seen nor heard his approach. Inwardly, he cursed himself and knew that he was right about his decision to leave. This town was making him soft and dull-headed. He then turned back to getting Pony ready, trying to ignore the anger that was on the young man’s face.

“Ya didn’t answer my question.”

“I wasn’t aiming to.”

“I thought we wuz friends, Chris.”

“We are friends, Vin. But I got somethin’ I need ta take care of.”

“And what about Tascosa?”

Chris turned and gave Vin his famous green-eyed glared. Vin only stared back even harder.

“Well, Chris?”

“Vin. I promise. I’ll be back to help you settle with Tascosa. But, right now, I need to go after him.”

“Chris, how’d ya know this ain’t some dang trick just to get ta ya?” said Vin, as his anger grew. Larabee could be walking into a trap and his own death, and Vin was not about to let that happen.

“I don’t, Vin. But it could also be the end of what I’ve been tryin’ ta finish for so long. I can’t keep goin’ like this, Vin. I need ta put an end t’it.”

“I understand that, Chris. Really I do. But I think ya makin’ a mistake.”

“Vin, I appreciate the concern. But I gotta do this.” Larabee turned back to readying Pony, hoping that Vin would take it as an invitation to leave.

At first, for a second, Vin started to open his mouth, to come up with more arguments of why Larabee should not go. But then he closed his mouth, turned around and simply walked out of the livery. He knew that whatever he said now was not going to change Chris’ mind and he knew as his friend, he would never make him do anything he did not want to do. He valued their friendship too much to try to.

Chris had been gone for almost two whole months and there was no word from him. Vin was starting to regret his decision to let Larabee do what he wanted. He did not know if he was in trouble or not, but he did know he was not dead. He would have felt it if Chris had left this mortal world. It was their silent link that held them both together even at great distances. Chris could not leave the land of the living without the knowledge of Vin Tanner and Vin Tanner would not let him.

As he approached the saloon, he lithely jumped from his horse Peso and tied his reins to the hitching rail. Vin knew that Buck, J.D., Josiah, Nathan and Ezra would be in the saloon. It was their gathering place when the sun was setting and the town was getting settled for the night. He walked up the boardwalk steps and pushed his way past the batwing doors.

Once inside, he saw that he was right and his six companions were seated at a table on the far right, playing cards and drinking a bottle of whiskey that they must have absconded from Inez. Each of the five men looked up from what they were doing and turned to face the tracker. He nodded at them and they nodded back in kind. He then slowly strolled over to the table where the five peacekeepers were seated.

“Hey, boys. How’s things goin’?”

“Well, if it isn’t the illustrious Mr. Tanner. And how are things in the primitive localities?”

“Quiet, Ezra. At least for now.”

“Why don’t cha pull up a chair, Pard and join in the fun?” asked Buck, a huge smile crossing his face. He was glad to see the Tracker had came back. They were worried about him since Chris had left.

“Nah. Don’t need ta loose any of my money ta Ezra’s cheatin’.”

Ezra looked up from his cards and eyed the Tracker amazement. “Cheating? Cheating? Why, Mr. Tanner, I am appalled.”

“Ezra, don’t take on so. Ya know Vin don’t mean it, “ came J.D. reply.

“Ah, yeah, I do, J.D. Ezra cheats, and he ain’t bad at it.” Vin smiled deviously at Ezra.

“Mr. Tanner, I will not sit here and listen to such slander of my character and profession.”

“What did he say?” asked J.D.

“I think he just said that Vin insulted him,” replied Josiah, looking from under the cards he held.

“Don’t get ya panties in a bunch, Ezra. Vin is only jerkin’ ya chain,” came Buck’s comment, glancing laughingly at Vin.

“Where ya been, Vin? We’ve been lookin’ for all ya all week,” said J.D., pushing a chair in Vin’s direction.

Vin took the chair and sat down tiredly. The others could see that he did not look well. They knew he was worried about Chris, although he said nothing. Chris was what they were all worried about. But Vin was taking it worst than the others. They all knew how close to Chris he was and they knew he took Chris’ leaving harder than he let on.

“I’ve been doin’ my job, which is what the rest of ya should be doin’ stead of lolliegaggin’ around here.” Vin’s words were said calmly and without malice. He saw it as a statement of how things were going with them since Chris had left. They were getting lax and lazy in their jobs since their leader had left.

They all could see that underneath Vin was on edge. Larabee was gone for two months without a word and it was grating on all their nerves. Without their leader, they did not feel complete. He was the glue that kept them together and lately the edges were beginning to come apart. Although they did not like it, none of them knew how to stop it except to have Larabee back in among them.

J.D. looked shockingly at the others and then exclaimed, “I haven’t been lolliegaggin’, Vin! I’ve been workin’ at the jail, just as if Chris . . .”

J.D. felt a kick to his shin under the table. He knew it was Buck, but he did not say anything. He closed his mouth abruptly and knew that he had opened his mouth when he should not have. He looked at Vin’s face and for a moment, the mask had dropped and J.D. saw the hurt that was there. The same hurt that at one time or another was reflected in all of them. But as quickly as it had fallen, the mask was back in place and the strong-willed and silent Vin Tanner was back.

“I know, J.D. It’s just that we gotta keep goin’ like nothin’ happen until Chris gets back.” Vin said calmly.

“If, our distinguished leader decides to grace us with his presence again.”

They all turned to look at Ezra. Ezra only shrugged his shoulders and ignored them, turning back to the cards in his hand. He had only spoken what they all had been afraid to say. What he, himself, had been afraid to say.

“Ezra, ya know Chris is comin’ back! Chris wouldn’a leave us like that,” said J.D. jumping up from the table.

Buck grabbed J.D.’s arm and pulled him back down into his seat.

“ Ya right, J.D. He wouldn’. Chris ain’t forgotten about us and don’t any of ya be sayin’ otherwise.” Buck’s eyes came to rest on Ezra. Ezra looked slowly up from his cards and gave him a look that said he would think of doing nothing of the sort.

“Listen, Brothers, you must have faith that Chris knows where his place is. He’ll be back,” interceded Josiah.

“And, he ain’t gonna go for ya’ll doubtin’ each other and fightin’, ya’ll hear,” came Nathan’s authoritative voice.

“Nathan’s right. And I plan to be the one that’s gonna wup Chris Larabee’s sorry ass when he get back for makin’ us worry,” came Vin’s soft drawl.

The others looked at him and suddenly they all began to laugh in earnest, one by one. When Chris came back, he would have to go a round or two with a very angry Tracker.

TBC

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