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.

Birthday Fic: This is for Lady H’s birthday. She wanted Vin hurt with Chris comfort and some romance.

Author: Stormm

Fandom: OW, Vin, Chris, All Seven.

Premises: After Obessession. Vin takes Chris out to his cabin for some much needed rest after his confrontation with Ella Gaines. But they get little rest when trouble finds them.

Rating: FRM/FRAO

Warnings: Some language, some graphic violence, adult sexual content.

Title: Where Angels Go Trouble Follows

Chapter: 1

Vin had everything packed and ready and was just waiting for Chris to join him at the livery.

It had been three weeks since the Ella Gaines incident and his friend was on his way to a complete healing, at least physically.

He had decided that he and Chris had needed time away for the emotional healing to begin. The only problem was he had not spoken to the blond gunslinger about it.

In fact, in the past few weeks, it was hard for anyone to talk to the man about anything. He had prowled around the small town growling and snapping at almost everyone like a wounded bear. This included Vin when he just asked about how he was feeling.

But Vin, like the others, decided enough was enough and Vin was determined to help the older, blond regulator get his life back. Ella had taken it away, but Vin was going to give it back.

Vin knew Chris would not open easily in front of the townsfolk and Mary Travis. There were too many scars and too much pain from Ella’s betrayal. Vin remembered when he was in the same situation when he had lost someone he loved long ago while living with the Comanches.

The medicine man was the one that led him back on the path of life and Vin was preparing to do the same for his blond friend by taking him out to his cabin and keeping him there for a week.

He had explained his idea to the others and each had different reactions. Buck thought he was crazy, Ezra looked at him dubiously, JD eyed him in awe, Josiah nodded in approval and Nathan shook his head in concern.

In the end though, they all knew it was better than having a Chris Larabee prowling the town and being a menace to anyone who dared approach him.

As Vin was finishing up with his packing, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a black figure flow pass the open door of the livery door. He halted what he was doing and went outside to see the retreating form of Chris Larabee walking towards the saloon.

Vin sighed and knew it was time to put his plan into action. The boys were already situated in the saloon and would help if need arose, but Vin figured he could handle the lanky blond himself.

Vin walked over to the saloon and pushed opened the batwing doors. He walked inside to the dimly lit interior.

Inez was behind the bar, serving drinks to a couple of patrons who were regulars.

He found Ezra at his usual spot at the card table, most likely playing solitaire, as there were no marks this early in the morning.

Buck, Josiah, Nathan and JD were at a table off to side having breakfast.

And of course, the one man who he was looking for was in the back of the room at table, alone, staring at an unopened bottle of Red Eye Whiskey.

He looked over to Buck and noticed his eyes glance quickly over at the slouched blond and then back at him. He knew Buck was trying to convey to him his thoughts on the man’s disposition.

Vin walked over to Chris’ table and sat down across from him, his eyes glancing at the bottle that sat between them.

“Hey, Cowboy, what ya doin?” asked Vin under hooded eyes.

Chris looked at him and then green eyes turned back to the bottle in the middle of the table.

“Hey, Pard, why don’t we go out to your place? I figure we can finish off that extra room we started,” suggested Vin.

Chris turned to look at the young tracker and said, “I ain’t in the mood, Tanner.”

“What ya mean ya ain’t in the mood?” Vin was now getting angrier at the man’s wallowing in self-pity. “What done crawl up yaur ass, Larabee?”

Chris stood up suddenly knocking the chair he sat in backwards and almost knocking the bottle of whiskey to the floor.

Vin could tell that the man was not steady, but he knew it was not from his drinking binges. It was from his wound that he received from Handsome Jack the day that Chris found out about Ella Gaines betrayal. Chris would not rest and of course, he would not give his body a chance to heal.

Vin had enough and he knew drastic measures were needed.

“Come on, Chris. Let me take ya home, Cowboy,” said Vin grabbing a hold of Chris’ arm.

Chris jerked his arm from out of the young Texan’s grasp. “Fuck you, Tanner!” He then started to walk around him, grabbing the bottle as he did.

Vin pushed him back, at the same time tearing the bottle from his grasp and throwing it down to the floor, shattering the bottle into pieces.

He looked at Chris and found himself staring into the green eyes of a wintry storm.

“Damn you, Tanner!” came the low curse from the blond.

Vin knew what would come next and stood his ground ready.

Chris charged the young curly-haired man, almost bringing him down to the floor, but not quite.

Unfortunately for Chris, Vin was in better shape and it took him no strength at all to grab the lanky blond by the waist, twirl him around until Vin had a firm grip on his arms. Chris tried to fight back, but four days of no sleep, no food and no liquids except what he got from the saloon did not help.

Finally, Vin had enough of trying to subdue the blond gunslinger. He spun the man to face him and when he did with one quick punch, Chris was knocked backwards over the table.

Buck and the others got up from their seats, concerned for the blond’s physical wellbeing and the brown haired man’s emotionally one.

“Vin?” called Buck hesitantly.

“Don’t, Buck,” said Vin adamantly. He knew the tall lawman would probably try to make up an excuse for the blond’s behavior, but right now Vin did not want to hear it.

Vin walked around the fallen table to where Chris lay and found that the man was unconscious.

“Nathan,” said Vin.

Nathan approached Vin and the man on the floor of the saloon. He examined Chris quickly and said, “He’s out like a light, Vin. What did ya hit ‘im with?”

“You saw. My fist. Either Chris has a glass jaw or I think it’s worst than we thought,” relayed Vin.

“He needs this, Vin,” stepped up Buck. He knelt down next to the blond. “You and I both know it.”

“I know, Buck. I know,” said Vin thoughtfully. “Well, Nate?”

“Nothing a little food, rest and relaxation won’t cure,” said Nathan grimly. “Vin, ya sure ya can handle this?”

“Nathan, we all agreed. This needs to be done and I’m the one to do it,” said Vin resolutely.

“I believe we said that you had drawn the short straw, Mr. Tanner,” said Ezra standing over them with a smirk.

“Ha, ha! Ya hilarious, Ezra,” interjected Buck.

“But he was the right choice,” piped in JD.

“I will pray for you, brother,” said Josiah. He hid a smile behind his movement of a benediction.

“I think I need more than just your God, Josiah,” said Vin, starting to lift the blond from the floor. “Help me guys.”

Buck, Josiah and Nathan helped Vin to get his package slung across his shoulder.

“He’s everyone’s God, Vin,” replied Josiah helping to make sure Larabee was secure against Vin’s shoulder.

“Well, let’s hope he’s Larabee’s too,” said Vin walking out of the saloon, his bundle swaying on his shoulder.

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Chapter: 2

By the time Vin had reached Larabee’s cabin with his burden still slung across the man’s horse, Chris was regaining consciousness.

Vin quickly dismounted his own horse and then swiftly pulled Chris off of his own horse and stood him up against it.

“Wake up, Chris,” said Vin as he gently slapped the man’s face to bring him to consciousness completely.

Chris groaned and slowly cracked one green eye open and found he was staring at two anger filled blue ones.

“W…What?” stammered Chris.

“Come on, Chris. Ya home.”

Chris eyed Vin tiredly and closed the one eye that was open. Vin sighed and slapped him again, this time a little harder.

“I said wake up, Chris!”

“W…what? Leave me alone,” said Chris trying to push Vin away, but ended up missing and falling to the ground.

Vin blew out a breath and bent down to pull the man off the ground. He lifted Chris up and steered him towards the door of the cabin.

Once inside, Vin none to gently laid the blond on to his cot in the cabin. He noticed the man was still out and decided he needed to corral the horses before his work was to start.

Vin came back about an hour later and found that Chris had not moved from the place he had put him.

He languidly walked over to the blond and started removing his coat, gun belt and colt and his boots. He placed the items on the chair next to the bed.

Once that was done, he put a pot of coffee on to boil and started making some beans he found in Chris’ cupboard. It was not much, but he knew he needed to put some food into the man’s body first. He knew that Buck would be out to the house in the morning.

Vin was done within an hour. He then walked over to the still out blond and shook him.

“Chris! Wake up!”

Chris mumbled, but did not wake.

Vin shook his head in dismay. This was not going to be as easy as he first thought. He knew Chris was not going to cooperate, but he thought at least he be awake.

Vin walked over to the bucket that was half filled with water and picked it up. He carried it over to where the blond lay and without a second thought, tossed the water from the bucket all over the man.

Chris jumped up from the cot he lay on, sputtering water and trying to find his colt to shoot whoever had woke him from his self-imposed stupor.

“It ain’t there. I moved it.”

Chris turned to see the lanky Texan standing over him with an empty bucket.

“What did ya do that for?” exclaimed Chris angrily.

“’Cause ya deserved it,” Vin replied simply.

Chris eyed the young tracker guiltily. He knew that Vin was right. He had been acting like an ass for the past few weeks and his friends did not deserved the way he had been treating them.

Vin saw the look and had some hope that maybe the old Chris Larabee was coming back.

“Do ya remember what ya did?” asked Vin, his eyebrow cocked patiently at the blond gunslinger.

“Yes…no…not really,” answered Chris ashamedly. “I guess I’ve been a bad boy, huh?”

“I’d say ya was a downright ornery, jackass, Cowboy. I’m sure the others would agree,” said Vin holding out his hand to him.

Chris eyed the hand and then eyed his friend with doubt. He then took the hand, as Vin pulled him up off the bed to help him stand on his feet.

“Listen, I made us some supper. Why don’t ya go wash up and change into some clean clothes? There’s a clean shirt and a pair of pants in ya saddlebags that Mary washed. In fact, I insist.”

Chris looked at him surprised and said, “That bad?”

“Well, I wasn’t gon’na say anythin’ at first, but we gotta stay in this cabin together for the rest of the week and I don’t have a very strong constitution.”

“Ya been hanging around Ezra too much, Pard,” said Chris grabbing the saddlebags and starting for the door to the water trough to wash up.

“Well, you ain’t been around much lately. I got lonely,” said Vin teasingly.

Chris rolled his eyes and walked out the door. He did not hear the humming that was coming from the lanky Texan as he finished preparing their meal.

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When Chris came back, his face was clean-shaven and he wore a clean dark blue shirt and a pair of jeans. His hair still needed shortening since Chris had not done anything with it since his confrontation with Ella Gaines and her friends. But his eyes said the man was still half asleep.

He sat down gingerly at the small table that adorned his home and Vin placed a plate of beans and a cup of coffee in front of him.

Chris pushed the plate of beans away and picked up the coffee, sipping it slowly, reveling in the taste of it as it burned its way down his throat.

“Eat up, Chris. Buck won’t be here until sometime later tomorrow with more supplies, so best fill up on these beans in the meantime,” said Vin, placing another plate and cup on the table.

“If ya don’t mind Vin, I think I’ll pass,” said Chris groggily taking another sip of his coffee.

Vin shook his head in disapproval, but he knew he could not make the blond eat when it did not want to, but Vin would only wait so long before he would force him to.

What Vin did not know was that Chris was very hungry, but his stomach at the moment was doing somersaults at the smell of the beans.

Chris figured it was because he had not eaten in the past couple of days and only nibbling here and there for the past two weeks. He needed his stomach to the get use to the idea of seeing food again and beans were not on the top of the most appetizing right now.

Vin decided that he would push the subject later, but right now he would be happy to the see the blond sober and lucid for once.

Vin ate in silence as he watched Chris drink his coffee. About half way through finishing his meal, he watched as Chris’ green eyes slowly closed shut. The man’s head was nodding forward as he was sinking towards sleep.

“Chris,” called Vin softly.

Green eyes popped open and looked at Vin in annoyance.

“Why don’t ya go on back to bed? I’ll clean up and then I’ll head out to find us some grub.”

“Ain’t ya gon’na wait for Buck?”

“I’ll get us some meat for a stew tonight. Buck ain’t gon’na be here until the mornin’ anyway.”

Chris nodded sleepily and stood up from his chair, pushing it back as it scraped against the floor. He then shuffled his way back to the bed and fell upon it face down, falling immediately asleep.

Vin sighed and got up. He would go hunting while the blond slept. Maybe with some rabbit stew in his belly he would be more awake and able to listen to what Vin had to say.

Unbeknownst to Vin or Chris, two men stood near the trees outside the cabin, watching, eager and waiting for the right moment to do them harm.

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Chapter: 3

Vin had headed towards the wooded area where he had saw some rabbits running around when they were coming up the path that would lead to Chris’ cabin.

Vin hunted on foot, aware of the fact that he needed to hurry up before it got too dark.

He had left Chris sleeping and figured it was best that he had, giving the blond time to get his head rested and together before they would have a serious talk about his past actions.

Vin turned suddenly, as he heard a sound coming from one of the bushes. Rabbits, was the one thought that popped into his head. He crouched down lower trying to read the tracks he saw leading off into the bush. He was about to crawl under the bush when he heard the sound of what sounded familiarly like the sound of hammer of a gun being locked back into place.

“I wouldn’a move iffen I wuz ya and I’d put ya hands up where I can see ‘em,” said the male voice behind him.

Vin did not turn around but cautiously raised his hands up in the air in front of him.

“Now, boys, don’t you know that Mr. Tanner is a man that is sometimes hard to convinced to mind his own business,” said a female voice behind him also.

Vin recognized the voice and turned to face the owner of it and the one person whose presence would torment his best friend.

“Ella Gaines! What the hell ya doin’ ‘ere?” asked Vin in disgust.

“It seems you still have not learned that the proper appellation to address a lady is by her married name. When you speak to me, you address me as Mrs. Larabee,” said Ella as she traced Vin’s cheek with the handle of the umbrella she held.

“When I see a lady, I’ll address her proper,” retorted Vin.

Ella smiled and without batting an eye, swung full force and slapped Vin in the face.

Vin smiled defiantly as blood trickled down the side of his lip.

“Where…is…he?” asked Ella, slow and deliberate.

Vin did not answer, only looked at her smirking.

“I know he came up here with you, Mr. Tanner. My men are very thorough. All you need to do is tell us whether he is out here with you now or up at the cabin waiting,” explained Ella.

“Go to hell!” said Vin spitting blood from his cut lip onto Ella’s pretty white skirt.

“You bastard!” screamed Ella, taking a gun from one of her men quickly and then turning it on Vin. “You think you can keep Chris from me, but you are wrong, Mr. Tanner. You and Buck Wilmington have always tried to keep him from me, but this time I will have what I want.”

She then aimed the gun at the helpless tracker and pulled the trigger in swift motion.

Vin was unprepared for the shot and felt the bullet enter his shoulder as he was flung back to the ground, the pain encompassing his mind and body totally.

Ella grinned as she watched the young ex-bounty hunter writhed on the floor in excruciating pain. She wished she could make him suffer more, but her main reason for being here was still elusive to her.

“Angel!” she called.

Just then a tall, thin, figure that seemed to be dressed much like Chris except the color of his duster was grey instead of black, came walking to the forefront to stand next to Ella and over Vin.

Vin, of course, only noticed the boots and spurs that seemed to mark the figure as someone who considered himself part of the West’s gunslingers’ brethren.

“Angel, you keep a guard on Mr. Tanner here. He is your responsibility, do you understand?” ordered Ella.

The head that held the dusty grey Stetson on Angel’s head bobbed up and down in acknowledgement.

He then bent down and literally hauled Vin to his feet, blood seeping through Vin’s hand as he tried to physically staunch the blood flow of the wound.

Angel pulled out a kerchief from his pocket and placed it over Vin’s shoulder wound. Angel held a gun pointed at Vin and then motioned Vin to start walking back towards the cabin. Vin could nothing more at the moment. He had to wait for a chance to get them out of this. He only hoped that Chris was awake and sober when they got there.

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Chris awoke to silence and the missing of a presence. He sat up in the bed and looked around. Vin was gone and Chris thought he remembered Vin saying something about going to hunt for some rabbits for a stew, but he was not sure. His mind was a little foggy at the moment and his headache had just receded to a dull ache about an hour ago.

He was still partly dressed with a shirt and a pair of jeans, but the shirt was unbuttoned.

He got up from the cot, barefooted and walked over to the bucket of fresh water on the table. He dipped his hands into it and splashed the cool water on his face vigorously.

He then got a cup from the cupboard and poured some water into it. As he started to drink, he heard the sound of horses coming up the path.

He quickly walked outside to meet what he thought was Vin coming back with their food.

“Hey, Vin…” he stopped in his greeting as he saw Vin, accompanied by no other than Ella Gaines and three other men, riding up to his cabin.

Chris quickly ducked inside to retrieve his gun.

Once he had it, he ran to the door and stood on the side of it with it slightly opened, his gun aimed at the people approaching.

“Chris, honey, I know you’re there,” called Ella enticingly.

“What do you want, Ella? Ain’t enough ya killed my family, now you want to kill my friends too?” yelled Chris through the door.

“I told ya, Chris. They weren’t good enough for you. I’ve always loved ya Chris and I am the only one that knows what is good for you. You don’t need any of them as long as ya have me,” shouted Ella back at him.

“Don’t listen to her, Cowboy!” yelled Vin.

Chris almost crumbled at hearing the sound of Vin’s voice coming from outside. He knew he was Ella’s prisoner and that this was turning out to be one bad day.

“That’s right, Chris. Don’t listen to me. Ya can watch your friend here slowly bleed to death,” said Ella motioning to her men.

They brought Vin to the forefront and threw him on the ground in front of the cabin.

“Chris, I am sure ya wouldn’t want to see ya friend hurting, now do you?” asked Ella.

Chris cursed under his breath. He wished he had not missed killing the woman the first time he had her in his sights. Now, she was back to haunt him and his friends.

“Alright, Ella,” said Chris opening the door and holding his hands high in the air. His colt dangled from one of his hands. “I’m coming out.”

“Do it real nice and easy, Cowboy,” said one of the Ella’s men.

Chris moved forward towards them. He saw Vin on the ground in front, writhing in pain, blood flowing freely from his shoulder.

“Vin, ya okay?” questioned Chris doubtfully.

“I’m…fine, Pard,” answered Vin eyeing Ella and her men with contempt.

“Yeah, sure ya are. That’s why ya bleedin’ all over the place,” said Chris glaring at Ella.

Vin smiled wickedly at him and said, “Can’t help it since they put a bullet in me.”

Chris grimaced at that and wished he had Ella’s neck within his grasp, but he knew if he wanted to keep Vin from suffering Ella’s wraith, then he was going to have to play along…at least for now.

One of the men came over to him quickly and removed his gun from his hand. The man then put the gun into his pants belt and stepped back to stand next to Ella.

“Ella, why don’t ya let Vin go? He ain’t no use to you,” said Chris walking further towards the group.

“I wish I could, lover. But I just have this feeling that once I do, I will have nothing to bargain with. This way, I know you won’t try anything if you think Mr. Tanner’s life would be in jeopardy,” explained Ella smiling devilishly at him.

Chris shivered slightly at the look she gave him. It felt as if someone was standing on his grave and they wore Ella’s high heel boots as they did.

“At least let me tend to his wound,” said Chris.

“Oh…alright, Chris,” answered Ella begrudgingly. “Angel, help Mr. Tanner into the house. Make sure there is nothing in there that Mr. Tanner nor Mr. Larabee will be able to use as a weapon.” She then turned eyes towards Chris and said, “Sorry, lover. I may be crazy, but I am not stupid.”

Chris watched as Angel helped Vin move towards him, holding a gun in front pointed at Vin as he did. Chris stepped aside, letting the gunman and Vin into the house.

He turned to find Ella and the other two men in a deep conversation. It seemed that Ella wanted to make sure that area was secured and ordered one of the men to stand guard on the hillside above.

Once they were done, they walked over to Chris and the house. Ella stopped in front of Chris and tried to plant a kiss on his lips. Chris pulled back immediately, avoiding her touch. Ella glared at him, anger blazing in her eyes as he did.

“You shouldn’t do that, Chris, darling. It could cost Tanner,” sneered Ella.

Chris saw her eyeing the doorway to his cabin and knew what the woman was hinting at. She proceeded inside, following Vin and the other man’s footsteps. Chris hesitated when he felt something poking him in the back. He turned around and found Ella’s other henchman poking a gun into his back. He glared at him angrily and proceeded to follow Ella inside the cabin. He just hoped that Buck was not walking into a trap.

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Chapter: 4

Inside the cabin, Chris found Vin on the cot, bleeding from his shoulder, while the one called Angel stood guard over him.

Ella stood by the small table, looking around appraising the small cabin. Her nose turned up at the sight of the size of the eating area and sleeping area.

“You should have stayed with me, Chris. I could have given you anything you want,” she said.

Chris eyes clouded with hatred as he looked at the one person who had destroyed his happiness. “I don’t want anything you got, bitch!”

Ella smirked at the blond and nodded towards the other gunman.

The gunman walked swiftly to where Vin lay and using the butt of his rifle he swung it at the wound on Vin’s shoulder.

Vin was unprepared for it and screamed out in pain as increased pressure was immediately placed on his bleeding wound. He doubled up, almost passing out as he saw red in front of his eyes.

“Vin!” yelled Chris, starting to run towards his friend.

He was stopped the by gunman known as Angel, the man stepping in front of Chris. As the man stepped in front of Chris, he held his gun pointed directly at his heart, keeping Chris barely at bay.

“I would not try anything, darling,” said Ella caressing Chris’ cheek with one finger. “We would not want your friend to be hurt anymore, now would we?”

Chris glared hatefully at the woman in front of him, cursing fate for having given him any contact or relationship with the woman.

“I did not hear you, Chris,” said Ella nodding to the gunman who then repeated the action of bringing pain to Vin.

Vin cried out again, but this time, he did pass out, the pain too much to bear.

Chris pushed Angel aside, not caring if he was shot in the back or not, running to Vin’s side.

“Vin!” He knelt down next to the unconscious man on the bed and noticed the handkerchief that was soaked in red. “He needs a doctor,” said Chris without looking up from trying to staunch the blood flow.

“No. Absolutely not!” replied Ella. “The more people who knows about me being here, the more chance that one of your other friends might find out.” Ella walked closer to Chris, standing directly over him as he tended to Vin.

“But of course, if they did come, I have a special surprise for them,” she purred, as she bent down and breathed lightly on the back of Chris’ neck.

Chris cringed as he felt her hot breath on his neck, the smell of her turning his stomach inside out.

“He’ll bleed to death if he don’t get help, Ella,” said Chris through gritted teeth.

“Well, we can’t have that can we,” said Ella sarcastically. She then turned to face Angel and said, “Please tend to Mr. Tanner, Angel. Angel here is very good with bullet wounds.”

Chris was about to object, but then he knew unless they stopped the wound from bleeding, Vin might not make it until Buck and the others arrived tomorrow.

“You can show Angel where things are. In the meantime, Jake?”

“Yes, Mrs. Larabee?” responded the other gunman.

Chris rolled his green eyes in disgust at the sound of his name being used in connection with the woman.

“Go tell Mike that the others will be here later tonight and as soon as they are, have them set up a guard around the area. We don’t want any surprise company dropping by unexpected and all.”

Chris was shocked at first, but quickly smoothed over his surprise. He knew he had to find a way to warn the others. But right now, his first concern was getting Vin patched up before he lost too much blood.

“No, guess we wouldn’t,” replied Jake walking out of the door to meet up with Mike.

“Angel!” commanded Ella.

Angel bowed and motioned for Chris to show him where the things would be that he needed.

Ella smiled as she watched Angel and Chris go into the area that was designated as the kitchen to get the things they needed.

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Chapter: 5

Angel and Chris worked diligently get the things together to clean up and bind Vin’s wound. Unfortunately, the ex-bounty hunter was not aware of it since he was still unconscious.

Chris noticed as they undressed him, that Vin was starting to sweat and Chris knew that it was the first sign of a fever. He wished Nathan was there at the moment, but knew that once the healer arrived, all hell would break loose first. No, it was up to him.

Although Angel was the enemy, he seemed to know a lot more about medicine than Chris and was doing a real good job at sterilizing the needle and bandages that they would use to clean up and repair Vin’s wound.

“Ya know a lot about gunshot wounds, huh?” asked Chris, trying to make conversation as they worked on Vin’s wound.

Angel did not answer, but only removed his hat and duster, throwing them on the chair next to the bed.

What Chris saw next shocked him to the core.

Angel was a girl, a young brunette with long hair and eyes of blue.

“Ya a woman!” exclaimed Chris.

Angel again did not answer, but poured water into a basin and quickly took a bar of soap and started to wash her hands.

Chris noticed the delicate hands as they scrubbed the dirt and grime from them. He also noticed that on her thumbs was the hardened callus that stood as the trademark for a professional gunslinger. A woman gunslinger, he could not believe it. Yet, he remembered meeting two women bounty hunters and robbers.

“Angel? Is that your name?” questioned Chris.

“Sometimes. Name’s Angelina. Angelina McCloud,” she answered leaning over and Vin and trying to remove the blood soaked shirt that was attached to his shoulder. She took a rag and soaked it. She then trickled the liquid onto the sticky substance and slowly started to pull it away from Vin’s skin.

It was at this moment that Vin decided to wake and he felt the pinch of something being pulled away from his skin. He groaned softly, which alerted Chris to the fact that he was waking up.

“Take it easy, Cowboy,” said Chris, gently holding the young ex-bounty hunter on the bed.

“C…Chris?” stuttered Vin.

“Yeah, Pard. How ya feelin’?”

“Like…I got…shot,” replied Vin as a cough surfaced up.

“Ya did,” said Chris, helping Angel to clean Vin’s wound.

“Who’s…who’s the girl?” asked Vin eyeing Angel with glassy eyes.

“Her name’s Angelina, Angelina McCloud,” answered Chris.

“Call me Angel,” said Angel gently wiping the crusted blood from Vin’s shoulder.

“I wouldn’t of thought ya for the type that hangs around someone like Ella,” said Chris.

“And I wouldn’t of thought ya for the type to become a lawman,” retorted Angel.

“She…sure…sure…got ya there, Chris,” stated Vin smiling gently at Angel.

“So Angel, are ya here to help us or help Ella?” asked Chris decisively as he wrapped up Vin’s wound. Vin grunted as he felt Chris pull the bandage tighter around his shoulder and waist.

“If ya keep it up, Chris, I don’t think we gon’na have to worry about what Ella’s gon’na do to me,” said Vin annoyed and in pain.

“Stop complainin’ ya scrawny Texan.”

“Who…who ya callin’ scrawny,” coughed Vin trying to send a glare the blond man’s way.

“Ya ain’t got ‘nough strength in that glare to kill a fly. And Angel has not answered my question,” said Chris finishing with the bindings.

Angel passed Chris a wet cloth from the basin of water she held and said, “I help myself, Mr. Larabee, just like ya wife there.”

“She ain’t my wife!” sneered Chris. “No matter what she say.”

Angel saw the anger and hatred in the man’s eyes and knew he was telling the truth.

“Well, she thinks so, Mr. Larabee.”

“Listen, lady, I need help in gettin’ Vin out of here and warnin’ my friends before they walk into her trap. I’m asking ya to help us,” pleaded Chris.

Angel eyed them both with sympathy and said, “Don’t. I can’t.” She then stood up and went to toss the dirty water out of the cabin back door.

When she came back, she held a cup and knelt down next to the bed, placing it in front of Vin.

“It’s water,” she said, as she watched Vin eye the cup suspiciously.

Vin smirked at her and said, “Thanks.” He then drank from the cup, not realizing how deep his thirst had become.

“Why won’t ya help us?” persisted Chris.

Angel sighed despondently. She noticed that Vin had enough of the water and pulled the cup away. She then said, “Listen, I can’t promise ya anythin’, but I’ll see what I can do.”

“Why did you change your mind?” asked Chris.

“I can’t resist such baby blues,” said Angel smiling gently at Vin.

Vin grinned as he watched Angel get up from her kneeling position and walk away, glancing slyly at him as she did.

Once she was gone, Vin turned back towards Chris and saw his look of confusion and bewilderment.

Vin shrugged his shoulders, as best as he could considering and said laughingly, “I guess it must be my animal magnetism.”

Chris rolled his eyes at the tracker in exasperation. He just hoped whatever it was it would not wear off too soon with the woman gunslinger.

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Chapter: 6

When Ella had finished surveying her delicate trap that was set for Larabee’s other friends, she came back inside the cabin and found Vin resting on the bed and Chris at the table sipping coffee, his back turned away from her.

She did not see Angel anywhere about, but knew the gunslinger would not be far away. She had paid good money for her services and was told that she was one of the most dependable gunhawks around today.

From what Ella understood, at one time she was second, but since Chris Larabee had dropped practically out of the arena since his induction into upholding the law of the small and dingy town of Four Corners, she had moved up to the top.

Ella stepped closer to the blond man at the table, the heels of her boots scraping against the floor as she did, alerting Chris to Ella’s presence.

Chris turned to face the cause of his demons and glared hatefully at her over his cup.

Chris determinedly set the cup down on the table and stood up from his chair, approaching Ella with rage in his eyes.

He was only about a foot away from her, when she seemed to pull out a small derringer from her dress pocket and had its barrel aimed directly at Chris’ heart.

Chris continued to walk towards it, until the barrel was pressed up against his chest.

“Go ahead, Ella. Pull the trigger. You’d be doin’ me a favor,” rasped Chris.

“This gun may seem small to you, Chris, but I can assure you that it is very deadly.”

“Then pull the trigger, Ella, but ya better make sure ya kill me,” growled Chris.

Ella then turned and pointed the derringer towards another direction. This one was aimed at the sleeping form on the bed.

“I won’t have to, Chris,” replied Ella smiling wickedly. “Another bullet should put your friend to bed…permanently, that is.”

A shiver traveled up Chris’ spine as he realized that Vin’s life was in danger.

Just then, Angel came walking back in, her spurs jingling across the floor, alerting Ella and Chris to her return.

“Angel, darling,” said Ella smoothly. “I was looking for you.”

Angel only nodded at Ella, letting her know that she had returned.

“I need you to watch over Mr. Tanner while my husband and I have a private conversation outside,” said Ella eying Chris with deviltry in her eyes.

She did not see the cringe that Chris made as she said those words.

Ella quickly grabbed Chris arm and while she held her derringer close to his body, she pulled him outside, leaving the woman gunslinger alone with the sleeping tracker.

Angel lowered herself gently on the bed next to the young tracker, her hand slowly reaching up and softly brushing a fallen curly lock away from the sleeping face.

To Angel, Vin was the angel, lying upon the bed. She had felt her attraction for the young ex-bounty hunter the minute she set eyes on him from her previous position above the cabin.

She could almost see the lean muscles that seem to peek out from under the white sheets that formed a cocoon around the man’s body.

Angel licked her lips with desire at the thought of this man even for one day, lying in her bed.

Vin felt a touch that almost felt like the wind brush his face. He opened his eyes and found himself staring into the deepest brown eyes, eyes that seem to grab his heart.

“Ya awake, I see,” said Angel.

“Woke up…and found an angel…lookin’ over my shoulder,” rasped Vin smiling gently at the woman gunslinger.

“Ya know, ya talk a lot of trash, Mr. Tanner,” laughed Angel softly.

“Call…it…like I see it,” answered Vin trying to move on the cot.

“Ya better keep still or ya might just bust open that wound of yours,” Angel informed him.

“Where’s Chris?”

Angel lowered her eyes for a moment and then when she raised them, she said, “Outside with Ella.”

Angel watched as Vin’s eyes turned into fiery blue orbs of fear and hate.

“We have to warn the others and get Chris away from her. She’s dang…”

He was silenced quickly by Angel’s kiss upon his lips. Vin did not resist. In fact he returned her kiss with just as much passion and fervor as she did, maybe even more.

When they finally released each other, their eyes locked in the knowledge that this was only a temporary state. They knew as soon as Ella came walking through the door with Chris, Angel was expected to be on her payroll, and Vin would again be the enemy.

“Angel, we ain’t got much time,” said Vin pushing a fallen lock away from her face.

“I know, Blue Eyes,” replied Angel, cupping his face gently with her hands. “You leave everything to me, okay?”

Vin looked at her askance. He could not believe that this little woman was as deadly as he and Chris supposed. Her small frame was misleading. Vin felt the power and strength that was behind her touch. He knew if she wanted to, that same gently touch that sent shivers of desire down his spine could probably also snap his neck without much effort.

Just then, Ella and Chris came walking back in, followed behind one of the other two men. Ella arm was wrapped tightly around Chris’ and Vin could see the tenseness in the man’s stance and walk. He knew Chris was probably dying inside right now having to be so close to the person who had caused his family’s death and not able to take action.

Ella sauntered over to them, practically dragging Chris with her. “Angel, get ready. Their friends should be here soon,” said Ella smiling at the man on her arm.

“Ella, why don’t you let Vin go and I’ll go wherever you want,” pleaded Chris.

“Although that is a very tempting offer, Chris, I just have this feeling that once Mr. Tanner here is no longer in my possession that I will be losing my ace in this game,” explained Ella.

Vin could see that Chris was getting frustrated with her and he knew sooner or later Chris was going to let his temper speak for him.

“You think this a game, Ella!” exclaimed Chris angrily, jerking himself out of her grasp.

Ella swiftly pulled out her derringer and aimed it at the raving blond.

“Chris, I think you’re forgetting about your friend over there…”

Chris glanced at Vin and they both knew that to make Ella angry would probably get them both killed before their friends arrived.

Chris glared in rage at Ella, but held his tongue from issuing any further curses at the woman.

Ella noticed Chris’ reserved composure, but she nodded at the tracker on the bed, knowing it was all his doing at keeping the blond from ripping her throat out.

“So what now, Ella?” growled Chris through clenched teeth.

Ella smiled and said curtly, “We wait.” She then promptly sat down at the table, at the same time motioning to the man who carried the rifle and he went to stand by the door.

He opened the door and signaled to someone outside.

Just then, two men who Chris and Vin could tell were hired guns came into the cabin.

“Jake, Joe,” said Ella nodding. “You know what to do.”

At that, Jake and Joe walked over to where Vin lay and pulled him up out of the bed.

“What the hell?” yelled Chris as he tried to prevent the men from taking Vin.

The third man that was there grabbed him and threw him down to the floor, a Winchester’s barrel pushing into his back.

“Vin!” Chris shouted from his position on the floor.

But Vin could not answer. He was busy trying to stop the pain that tore through his shoulder as the men pulled him out of the door.

Chris watched in horror, as he lay pinned to the floor, as Vin was dragged away from him.

“You harm him, Ella and there won’t be a place you can hide that I won’t find you!” he exclaimed.

“Tsk, tsk, Chris. Keep it up and you may not see Mr. Tanner ever again,” Ella responded laughingly.

Just then Jake and Joe had returned.

“Where’s Vin?” asked Chris struggling and trying to push the third man off.

“Stop squirmin’,” said the man holding him down.

“Let ‘im up, Tom,” said Ella.

Tom removed the rifle barrel from Chris’ back and Chris pushed himself up and off the floor. He started to move when he heard the hammer of a pistol being pulled back.

“Don’t shoot him, Tom. At least not yet,” commanded Ella.

“Where’s…Vin?” questioned Chris, his green eyes taking count of the bodies in the cabin.

“Oh, you’ll get to see him, love,” said Ella walking over to Chris. She reached out to touch his arm and watched as Chris almost jerked from her grasp.

Ella then walked over to the cabin door. “Come, Chris. I am sure that you will enjoy this.”

She then walked out the door as Chris, was ushered out by her men, his heart thumping wildly in despair at what awaited them outside.

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Chapter: 7 - Epilogue

When Chris stepped outside of the cabin, what he saw brought anguish and hatred all in one swift moment.

Vin was on his knees, hands tied behind his back, blood seeping through his bandaged shoulder.

The two men who had dragged him out of the cabin, stood behind him, their guns aimed in his direction.

Chris green eyes looked at Ella with a rage that could burn hell itself.

Ella saw the deathly glare that Chris had sent towards her, but she ignored it, smiling wickedly at him. She loved the fact that she could see the fear on his face, that she held something that could control the Great Chris Larabee, notorious gunslinger. She would make Chris see how much he needed her and how little he needed his seven friends, especially the young tracker who seemed to interfere at every turn of her plans.

“What the hell is this?” growled Chris. “What do you think you’re plannin’ on doing, Ella?”

“There was a time when you would have run away with me Chris. A time when you didn’t doubt me or question my love.”

“That was when I was either too drunk or too stupid to see, Ella. But I do now.”

“No, Chris. It wasn’t because of either of those reasons. It was because of him,” said Ella pointing towards Vin who was kneeling on the ground, eyes of pain trying to focus on what was going on.

“Bullshit, Ella! It was because you thought you could have anything you want without asking permission. You figured everything belonged to you, including Chris,” yelled Chris, his eyes glaring at her so hard as if they would bore through her.

“Enough!” shouted Ella. “I have had enough of this dribble from you, lover boy. Kill ‘im, boys!”

The two men then pushed Vin down to the ground and pulled their guns from their holsters, aiming their weapons directly at the young tracker.

“NO!” screamed Chris, as he was pulled back by two other men behind him. He struggled violently, trying to get his capturers to release him to go to his friend. “No, Ella! If ya want to kill someone, kill me!”

“I couldn’t do that, Chris,” said Ella gently touching his cheek. She then turned to the two men and said, “Do it!”

Vin heard them, but between the pain in shoulder and the anguish of knowing his death was coming, he could not utter a word, but lay on the ground, his end approaching.

As Chris continued to struggle against the men that held him he saw his truest friend, on the ground, his face turns towards him in resignation. To Chris, Vin looked as if he was saying goodbye. With that thought in mind, Chris continued to fight even harder, win or lose.

Just then Chris heard a shot being fired and another in rapid session. Chris closed his eyes in defeat at the thought of Vin lying dead on the cold ground in his own blood.

But when he opened them to look upon his friend one last time, he saw that Vin was sitting on the ground, Angel standing next to him, her gun pointed directly at Ella and the other men holding him, still smoking from being recently fired.

“No more, Miss Gaines,” said Angel, using Ella’s real last name.

“What do you mean no more, Angel? I have paid you good money to do a job. Don’t tell me you’ve become attached to that dog on the ground,” growled Ella, her eyes glaring at Angel viciously.

“I said…no…more,” said Angel. “Now let him go.” She waved her gun in the direction of Chris and the two men who held him.

The two men looked at Ella for confirmation. She nodded, reluctantly and watched as her two henchmen released Chris.

Chris stumbled from their hold and stood up quickly to move to stand beside Vin and Angel. He then released Vin from his bonds, as Angel stood guard over the others.

“You won’t leave this area alive, Angel,” said Ella. “I have men all around here.”

“They’re kind of tied up at the moment,” said a voice from the side of the house.

Ella turned to find she was confronting the barrel of a Winchester and one of the seven, Buck Wilmington.

“It seems that your colleagues have had an unfortunate accident and have all had a dreadful fall from their horses,” said Ezra appearing from behind a tree with his weapon aimed at them.

“Yeah, they didn’t look first before they leaped,” added JD, coming from behind another tree, smiling.

“Chris, Vin, ya’ll awright?” asked Nathan walking into view from the other side and moving towards them.

“We are now, Nate,” said Chris hauling Vin unsteadily to his feet. “Thanks to you guys and to this little lady over here.”

“Well, thank ya very much little lady,” said Buck Wilmington tipping his hat to Angel.

Angel tipped her hat back while still keeping her gun trained on the other men and Ella.

“Well, Ella,” said Chris letting Angel take over with keeping Vin on his feet as he started to walk over to her.

The next thing Ella knew was that Chris had her on the ground, trying to strangle her to death.

“Chris!” exclaimed Vin, his voice almost hoarse from lost of blood. “Ya can’t kill ‘er, Cowboy. It’ll make ya like her.”

Chris did not listen, but tightened his hold around her thin white throat.

“Chris, don’t sink to her level. You are not a murderer,” said Josiah, trying to pull him away from her.

Chris reluctantly removed his hands from around Ella’s throat as Josiah’s words cut through to the rage that filled his head.

Ella, still lying on the ground gasping for air found herself confronting a very angry and foreboding face.

“I advise you to rise very slowly and keep your hands where I can see them,” said Josiah holding his gun pointed at her.

Ella glared angrily at him as she stood up slowly with a hand still holding her throat where Chris’ hand marks were.

“Shoulda let me kill her, Vin, Josiah,” said Chris as he walked back to the trembling tracker. He then grabbed one of Vin’s arms and threw around his neck and the other around his waist, determined to take the young man back to the cabin. Angel followed behind, her gun now holstered, but her eyes stayed alert, watching warily at the area around them.

They made it to the cabin, leaving the others to pick up the wounded and get Ella ready to be transported back to town, they went in to settle the now shaking Vin.

Once inside, Chris laid Vin on the bed and went for some fresh water and bandages. It did not go unnoticed that Vin’s wound was torn open by the manhandling he received from Ella’s men.

Nathan came charging into the cabin and walked straight towards the bed the contained the wounded young tracker.

Angel moved to the other side of the bed, letting the dark skinned healer the access to Vin, but she did not stray very far.

Nathan glanced at her briefly, but only for a second as he examined Vin’s wound.

“Well, looks like ya tore some stitches open, but not much. Whoever did this work did a pretty good job. I’m guessin’ it wasn’t Chris,” said Nathan as he worked.

“Nah,” answered Vin as he stifled a groan at the ministration of the healer. “That was Angel here.”

“Angel, huh?”

“Angelina McCloud. Nice to meet ya,” she said holding out her hand for Nathan.

Nathan took the hand and shook it vigorously. He then watched as the young woman’s blue eyes turned to stare at the tracker on the bed.

“I guess you two know each other,” suggested Nathan slyly as he continued to untie the dirty bandage from Vin’s shoulder.

“Not really,” answered both Angel and Vin in unison.

“But I sure do want to,” said Angel smiling lightly at Vin.

“Hey, ya my angel and my savior. Can’t having ya leave me, can I?” smirked Vin.

“Nah, guess ya can’t,” replied Angel leaning over Vin and kissing him gently on the lips.

In the meantime, Nathan was watching in awe, his mouth open.

Vin noticed this and said, “Close ya mouth, Nate. Ya tryin’ to catch flies?”

“Ummm…Ah…Sorry,” was all Nathan could stammer out.

Vin and Angel both smiled wickedly at his confusion.

Changing the subject, Vin said, “So what’s gon’na happen to Ella?”

“I guess she goes to trial. The Judge is back in town, so I guess it’s up to him,” answered Nathan.

Just then Chris walked in, carrying a bucket of water and some clean cloth.

“Why bother with a trial,” spat Chris. “We should just hang her!”

Nathan looked up to see the hatred in the green eyes that looked at him.

Chris placed the bucket down by the cot and handed the clean cloths to Nathan. “Here ya go, Nathan,” he said.

“Thanks, Chris,” said Nathan taking the items from him, trying to ignore his comment.

“Ya done, Nate?” asked Vin impatiently.

“What ya hurry?” questioned Chris, eyeing the tracker curtly.

Vin rolled his eyes in exasperation and said, “If I have to explain to ya then it ain’t worth it.”

Chris looked at him perplexed and then at Angel’s anxious face. Chris face lit up. “Oh,” was all he replied to Vin. “Nate how is he?”

“I think he’s going to be fine if he eats properly and rests,” answered Nathan.

“Nathan, why don’t we go with the boys and take Ella and her gang in. Angel can stay here with Vin until we get back,” suggested Chris.

Nathan looked at him confused, but then he realized what Chris was getting at and as he noticed the way the two young people were looking at each other, he realized there was more here than he understood at the moment.

“I guess that would be okay,” said Nathan. He then turned to Angel and said, “Keep the wound clean and change the bandages often until we get back.”

Angel nodded and turned back to the man on the bed.

Nathan left the things Angel would need in taking care of Vin, while Chris got his things together to head into town.

As they both turned to leave, Chris took one last look at his friend and said, “You gon’na be alright?”

“Are ya kiddin’ me?” said Vin.

Chris shook his head, chuckling as he walked out of the cabin.

Angel satisfied that everyone was gone and they were now together, alone, leaned over and placed a longer kiss upon Vin’s lips.

Vin enjoyed it immensely and smiled when she finally moved away.

“First we make sure ya shoulder’s okay and then…” said Angel alluringly.

Vin smiled wickedly. He hoped that Chris and the others would take the long way coming back.

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Chris and the others had Ella and her men packaged in a wagon and ready to be taking into town.

“We gon’na leave Vin here all alone?” asked JD as he mounted his own horse.

“He ain’t alone,” replied Chris smiling. He then turned to Nathan who winked at him.

Buck saw the wink and noticed that the beautiful young woman gunslinger was missing. “Oh,” was all he said.

Josiah then coughed into his hand, while Ezra laughed gently behind his.

JD was the only one who still did not get it, until he too noticed the woman gunslinger missing. “Oh,” he finally said. “Well, ya could of told me!”

“No we couldn’t, kid,” said Buck gently hitting on the back of the head.

“Come on, boys,” said Chris mounting his own horse. “Let’s get this trash back to town. One of them definitely has a date with the hangman.” He glared at Ella, while she turned her head to ignore him.

They rode off, knowing that their friend was in good hands. Thoughts of what was happening in the little cabin as they rode away dancing in all their heads causing a smile to grace each of the six others’ faces.

The End.