Mary paced back and forth across the front of the newspaper office. She knew she should be working on her next issue but the stagecoach was due in soon and Billy would be on it. Mary hated being away from her son but Four Corners wasn't to a point yet where she felt it was safe for him to join her. The sound of approaching horses drew her attention back to the street. Mary threw her shawl around her shoulders and went to meet the stagecoach. Mary could see the driver helping Billy down. A familiar figure emerged after Billy.
"Anna?" Mary was pleasantly surprised to see her sister-in-law. Mary crossed the road to them. "Anna it is so good to see you." The two women hugged each other tightly. Mary could feel Anna's thin frame. During his last visit Orin had told her about Anna's depression.
"You know that you're always welcome here. How have you been?" Since Jake's death Mary wanted to add to the question.
"I've been fine." The dark circles under her eyes told Mary a different story.
"Mama, there's Chris, can I go say hi? Please..." Mary studied the yearning in her son's eyes. He had formed a strong bond with Chris on his last visit.
"Okay, but I want you to come right back here after saying hello. I don't want you getting in Mr. Larabee's way." Anna followed Billy with her eyes. He ran up to a group of four men standing in front of the telegraph office. A tall man in a black coat leaned down to talk to Billy.
"Is that Chris Larabee? He's all Billy has talked about since his last trip."
"Yes, it is and those are some of the men Orin hired to watch over the town."
"Mrs. Travis? Could I speak with you for a moment?" An older woman had been waiting in front of the office for them.
"Why, yes, of course. Come inside." The older woman looked at Anna. It was obvious that this was a personal matter that she didn't want to discuss in front of a stranger.
"Why don't I wait out here for Billy?" The older woman smiled in thanks and followed Mary inside.
Anna watched Billy talking with Chris. Chris Larabee was all Billy had talked about the entire trip. Anna examined the other men with Billy. A tall mustached man kept looking her way smiling widely. A young man in a bowler hat had left the group and was walking toward her. Anna turned away in the hopes that he would pass by without talking to her.
"Good morning ma'am." Anna turned to face the young man in the bowler hat. He was obviously younger than her but had an engaging smile.
"Good morning." Anna voice was barely above a whisper.
"I'm J.D. Dunne, the sheriff here in Four Corners. Billy says you're his aunt." Anna recognized the name from talking with her father.
"Yes, I'm Anna Travis." Anna watched over J.D.'s shoulder as Billy approached with Chris in tow.
"Well I'm sure that Mrs. Travis will be glad to have some more family around. Are you staying long?"
"I'm not exactly sure how long I'll be staying." Anna was about to say something else when Billy grabbed her hand.
"Aunt Anna, this is Chris." Anna smiled meekly at Chris. His eyes met hers. They were cold eyes that bore straight through her.
"It is a pleasure to meet you Mr. Larabee. Both my father and Billy have spoken highly of you."
"Ma'am." Chris merely nodded before heading toward the saloon.
From behind her Anna heard the door to the newspaper office open and the older woman say her goodbyes to Mary. "J.D. have you been keeping my sister-in-law company?"
"Just welcoming her to town Mrs. Travis. If you ladies will excuse me." J.D. tipped his hat and followed in Chris' footsteps toward the saloon.
"Let's go inside and you can tell me all about what's going on at home."
Anna stood in the darkened newspaper office looking out on the quiet street. Mary was upstairs putting Billy down for the night. Anna could hear Billy recanting the story of winning the spelling bee at school. Anna wrapped her shawl around her shoulders and stepped out onto the street. It felt good to have a few moments alone. The night air was cool and crisp. This trip had been her father's idea. Since Jake's death she'd rarely left her parents' home.
"A pretty girl like you shouldn't be out by herself." The deep voice startled her. A man stepped out from the shadows. He towered over Anna and was at least three times as wide. Anna took two steps back and ran into another man.
"Yea ain't safe for a young girl to be out alone." The second man's wicked laugh made Anna shiver. Anna wanted to call for help but found that her voice had left her. The second man pinned her arms behind her and pushed her forward toward the first man. He leaned in close and Anna could smell the liquor on his breath. Anna struggled to break free but he only held her arms tighter.
"I think the three of us should go over to my room and have a little fun. What do you think Pete?"
"Sounds real good to me."
"If you ask me, you'd better ask the young lady how she feels about it." Another man's voice came from behind them. Anna couldn't see him but by the look in the first man's eyes they didn't want to deal with him. The second man quickly let go of Anna's arms.
"Uh, we was just kiddin' Tanner. We weren't really gonna do nothing." The two men stumbled away as quickly as they could. Anna slowly turned toward her unknown savior.
"Did they hurt you?" Vin took hold of Anna's arm and lead her to a nearby bench. Anna was shaking and Vin was afraid that she might faint. He recognized the look in her eyes it was one he had seen in wounded animals.
"No, I'm fine. I guess I should thank you for coming along. I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't." Anna smiled at Vin. "My name's Anna, Anna Travis."
"I know, you're Judge Travis' daughter." Anna looked at him quizzically. "It's a small town, word travels fast. I'm Vin Tanner."
"I should go in. Mary will be wondering where I've gone off to. Thank you again Mr. Tanner." Anna took the few short steps to the newspaper office.
"Call me Vin, Miss Travis." Anna's hand turned the knob slowly.
"Only if you call me Anna." Anna smiled once more at Vin before going inside.
"Anna.." Vin repeated her name softly to himself.
Vin rode briskly across the plain trying to clear his mind. Since he first saw her step out of the coach he hadn't been able to get Anna out of his mind. Then last night when she smiled at him he'd felt feelings stirring in him, feelings he'd long thought were dormant. In his dreams last night they were together, a tangle of sweaty arms and legs, her naked flesh pressed against his. He'd woken drenched in sweat calling out her name.
Vin cursed himself knowing he had no right to have these kind of feelings for a woman, any woman. Until he set things right in Tascosa he had to accept being alone. A raindrop struck his hand disturbing his thoughts. He looked up and saw the mass of black clouds headed his way. Vin had no desire to ride in the rain. He quickly turned his horse in the opposite direction. He was only a mile from Nettie Wells' place and she wouldn't mind if he dropped in for an unexpected visit. Vin spurred his horse on trying to out ride the storm and any thoughts of Anna.
Vin had just tied his horse up in Nettie's barn when the skies opened up. He could tell by the smell of the air and the look of the clouds that this storm wouldn't last long, thirty minutes maybe an hour. Vin ran the short distance to Nettie's porch and knocked hard. Nettie's young niece Casey answered the door.
"Mr. Tanner? What are you doing out in the storm?" She motioned for him to come inside. Vin could hear Nettie in the next room talking with another woman. "Aunt Nettie, look its Mr. Tanner."
"Well what a surprise, two visitors in the same day." Nettie turned toward Vin and as she did he caught his breath as he saw the other woman was Anna. "It's good to see you son. Its been too long since you came to visit." Nettie smiled at him warmly.
"I hope that you don't mind me dropping by to get out of the rain."
"Not at all, its not too often that we get company. Take off that wet coat and stand by the fire. Casey, go put on some coffee." As Nettie took his coat Vin saw that Anna's right foot was propped up on a stool. Her boot and stocking lay on the floor. Anna's ankle was red and swollen.
"What happend Miss Travis?" Vin crossed and sat in a chair across from Anna.
"I went out riding and got thrown so..."
"Yeah, and she landed funny on her ankle. Then she couldn't get up on her horse. We were the first house she could find." Neither one had noticed Casey had returned until she spoke.
"When we get back to town we'll have to have Nathan take a look at it." Anna blushed and turned away from his gaze. Anna hadn't realized in last night's dim light how good-looking he was, but now she found herself virtually speechless. In the daylight she noticed that Vin has eyes like Jake, her Jake. Those eyes looking at her with such concern tore at her heart. Anna fought to keep from crying.
Vin watched Anna as the color drained from her face and her eyes clouded. "Are you okay Miss Travis?"
Anna nodded and a weak smile crossed her face. "I'm okay Mr. Tanner." They found themselves alone as Casey and Nettie went to the kitchen to get some coffee.
Vin reached out to help Anna as she tried to adjust her foot's position on the stool. He gently grasped her bare foot with one hand and moved the stool with the other. For the briefest moment as he held her foot he imagined running his hand up her leg, touching her bare skin. He quickly pushed the image from his mind and laid her foot down as gently as he had picked it up. Vin swore he could see the same desire and yearning in her eyes.
The storm lasted only an hour and they were soon ready to leave Nettie's farm. Anna's ankle was too swollen to fit into her boot so Nettie had wrapped it in bandages so that it would stay warm and dry on the ride back. Vin had helped to lift Anna up onto the horse. He'd had to hold her close in order to do so and he breathed in heavy the sweet smell of the soap that she'd used that morning.
They rode slowly so that Anna's ankle wouldn't be jarred too badly. Vin told himself silently that as soon as they returned to town he would leave again. He had to get away from town for a few days, at least until Anna had left. Being around her turned too many feelings and desires.
"You.." Anna's voice broke through his thoughts.
"Yes?"
"I was going to say that you remind me of someone." Anna had a far away look in her eyes.
"Someone special?"
"Yes, very special. We were to be married." Vin noticed that she used the past tense.
"Were?" He didn't want her to think he was prying but he had to know what kind of man wouldn't go through in marrying someone like Anna.
"He was the sheriff and tried to stop some bank robbers. They killed him, shot him five times." Out of the corner of his eye Vin could see Anna wipe the tears from her eyes.
"Did they catch the men who shot him?"
"No, but my father keeps promising me that someday they'll be caught and justice will be served."
"You don't sound like you believe him."
"It's been a year and no one's caught them yet."
"Sometimes it takes a long time for someone to be brought to justice."
"You sound like you know something about bringing people to justice."
"I used to be a bounty hunter." Anna could tell by Vin's tone of voice that he didn't want to discuss it any further. Anna decided to switch the topic to something more neutral and asked him to tell her about the other six men who were taking care of Four Corners. Vin started by telling her about how the six of them came together. When he came to the part about JD being thrown from his horse and landing in the trough of water Anna laughed loudly.
"You know Miss Travis, I may be a little bold for saying this but you have a beautiful smile." Anna blushed at his compliment.
"Thank you Mr. Tanner."
"I thought you agreed to call me Vin?" Vin gave her a lop-sided smile.
"And I thought you agreed to call me Anna?"
"Fair enough...Anna."
"That's better... Vin." The two laughed in unison.
Anna dropped the book on the floor in frustration. She felt if she read one more page she might go crazy. Nathan had advised that she should keep her foot elevated to help reduce the swelling so for three days all she had done was sit in Mary's parlor with her foot propped up on a pillow. Mary had tried to keep her company as much as possible but she had her own work to do with the newspaper. Anna hadn't lacked for company either. Nathan came and checked on her a couple of times each day and Josiah came with him. Buck and JD had come by and tried to outdo each other with their flirtations. She'd played cards with Ezra, though she knew he would have secretly prefered to be playing poker in the saloon. Chris had even come in and spent a few minutes with her when he'd come by to pick up Billy to go fishing. But the one person that she'd wanted most to come by for a visit, Vin, was the one who stayed away. Anna wondered what she'd done to make him stay away. They'd seemed to get along so well on the way back to Four Corners from Nettie Wells' place.
"Good afternoon Miss Travis. You look like you are less than entertained by the words in that book." Ezra Standish's southern drawl pulled Anna from her thoughts. She looked up and found Ezra standing in the doorway between the newspaper office and the parlor.
"Have you come to keep me company Mr. Standish?" Anna asked as Ezra took a seat in the chair next to her.
"I was hoping that we could play another game of cards. I do find you a much more entertaining opponent than the locals over at the saloon." Ezra flashed his smile making Anna chuckle. "Well now that's a refreshing sound to hear. What shall we play today?"
"Could you teach me to play poker?" Ezra looked at her with feigned shock.
"I don't think that either your father or Mrs. Travis would approve of that."
Anna sighed heavily. "I suppose you're right about that. I do appreciate your visit Mr. Standish but I'm not really in the mood to play cards."
"Well what are you in the mood for? Maybe I can help entertain you in another way."
"I'm just tired of staying inside. I'd like to be outside for a little while." Ezra sat pondering Anna's comment for a minute. He suddenly snapped his fingers and Anna could see the spark of an idea in his eyes.
"I'll be right back." Anna could overhear Ezra talking with Mary and then the door opening and closing to the newspaper office. Less than ten minutes had passed before Ezra had returned with Buck. Anna watched as Ezra picked up the chair that he had been sitting in and took it out through the front of the office. Anna looked at Buck questioningly.
"What are you two up to?" Buck winked and gave her a sly grin.
"Just doing what you wanted." Buck leaned down next to her and effortlessly swept Anna up into his arms. Buck carried Anna out through the newspaper office to the sidewalk in front of the building. Ezra was waiting there next to the chair he had carried out. Buck set Anna down in the chair and carefully propped her foot up on an overturned crate.
"This is perfect. Thank you both so much." From where she sat Anna could see everything going on in town. Buck leaned against the post and smiled at Anna.
"Now is there anything else we can do for you Miss Travis?" Buck found himself growing fond of Anna Travis, almost like she were a younger sister. He couldn't understand why Vin seemed determined to stay away from the young lady. Unless he's feeling more than brotherly affection for her.
"No, I can't think of anything else." Ezra took a seat on the wooden chair that he pulled out of the Clarion office. Anna hesitated before she spoke her next words. "Has Mr. Tanner been ill?" Ezra and Buck exchanged guarded glances.
"Um, no, why do you ask?" Buck didn't want to repeat the words he'd overheard between Chris and Vin. Vin had told Chris that he was leaving town for a few days because he couldn't be in the same town with Anna.
"I just thought he would have been by to see me. He seemed so concerned when he brought me back to town." The disappointment in Anna's voice was clearly evident to Buck and Ezra.
"Well I'm sure that he's real concerned but... um, there was some trouble with some horse thieves over by Eagle Bend so Chris sent him over there to see if he could help." Buck didn't see the harm in telling her a small white lie. Buck shot Ezra a look telling him to play along. Anna seemed to accept what he said and it seemed to satisfy her. Buck excused himself and Ezra and they headed for the saloon promising to be back later to see her.
"Mr. Wilmington, may I inquire into your reasons for lying to the young lady?"
"I didn't think it would do anything but hurt her feelings if I told her that Vin left town because he didn't want to be around her."
Vin sat on a rock overlooking a dried out gulley. He'd been riding alone for two days now. He smiled to himself realizing that he missed his bed at the boarding house and nightly poker games with Ezra. Vin had spent a lot of time alone both as a buffalo hunter and bounty hunter. He never thought that he'd miss town life.
Vin wondered how Anna was doing and if her ankle was healing okay. He knew that Nathan would take good care of her. Maybe he'd been to rash in leaving town. He'd tried to explain things to Chris but he hadn't been able to get the right words out. All he'd been able to say was that he couldn't be around her. There were so many other things he'd wanted to say. He wanted to say that everytime he saw her smile he felt his heart leap into his throat. He wanted to say that she was like a fragile bird that he wanted to protect from all that was wrong in the world. But Vin was only able to say to Chris that he couldn't be around her. He'd known from the first moment they met that he had no right to have these feelings for her.
Vin thought back to the conversation he and Anna had during the ride from Nettie Wells' home to Four Corners. She had such hatred for the men who had killed her fiance and anger at the fact that they'd never been caught. He wondered what would happen if she found out about the bounty on his head. I just won't let her find out. Vin mounted his horse and turned east toward Four Corners.
Anna was still sitting in front of the Clarion office when Vin rode back into town. The sun in his eyes prevented him from seeing her sitting there. JD who sat beside her noticed the look of disappointment in her eyes when Vin didn't stop to see her.
"He probably just wants to get his horse put in at the livery. I'm sure that he'll be by right after that." JD could tell by the strained smile on Anna's face that she didn't quite believe him.
"JD could you help me inside? I'm not feeling very well. I think I'd like to go and lay down." Anna leaned on JD as she limped back inside the building. JD headed for the saloon after Anna was settled inside. He found Buck and Chris at the usual table in the corner.
"Where ya been?"
"Sittin' with Anna." JD poured himself a drink from the bottle on the table.
"Oh, so now it's Anna?" Buck winked at Chris. JD merely rolled his eyes and took a gulf of the whiskey.
"Vin's back."
"When?" Chris was surprised that Vin was back already. Chris hadn't expected Vin back for at least a week if not longer. He'd made it clear that he was going to be gone for as long as Anna Travis was in town. Chris had his own suspicions about how Vin felt about the girl.
"He rode in a few minutes ago. He didn't even stop and say hello to Anna before heading for the livery. I think it kind of hurt her feelings." Buck made a motion for JD to be quiet.
"Well don't stop talking on my account." Vin pulled out the chair next to JD.
"You're back early." Chris pushed the whiskey bottle across the table to Vin.
"Guess I just didn't see any reason to stay away." Vin smiled slyly before taking a sip of the whiskey. "So, anybody know how Anna Travis is doing?"
"Her ankle's healing fine, Nathan's been taking good care of her. But..." Buck's words trailed off.
"But what?" Vin momentarily worried that something worse had happened to Anna.
"Its just that...well... she's been wondering where you were? She was disappointed that you hadn't been by to see her."
"Well maybe I should head over and say hello." Vin scooted his chair back from the table.
"Uh, Vin, can I make a suggestion?" Buck wrinkled up his nose. "Maybe you ought to consider a bath first?"
Vin pushed his hat over his wet hair. He realized that Buck had been right about recommending a bath. After a couple of days of riding he smelled worse than his horse. Vin's mind was so occupied with what he was going to say to Anna that he nearly ran into Mary as she came out of the newspaper office.
"Evenin' Mrs. Travis." He nodded to Mary and Billy.
"Good evening Mr. Tanner."
"You look like you're on your way out?"
"We're going to the Potter place for supper. Was there something that you needed?"
"I was just comin' by to see how Miss Travis was doing, but if y'all are headed out then I can come back tomorrow."
"Anna's not going with us. She wasn't feeling well so she decided to stay home tonight."
"Oh well, I don't want to bother her if she's not feeling too good." Vin turned away but Mary caught his elbow.
"Actually I think a visit from you could be just what she needs to lift her spirits." Mary gave his arm a gentle squeeze and then lead Billy down the street.
Vin opened the door to the newspaper office slowly. He could hear Anna moving around in the back room. He wondered if he should call out to her from here. He didn't want to suddenly appear in the doorway and scare her.
"Anna. . ." A figure moved into the doorway separating the newspaper office from the back room. Anna could make out the figure in the office but it took a few moments for eyes to adjust to the dim light of the office and for her to make out who it was.
"Vin?" Vin thought in the shadows that he could make out a smile on her face.
"I wanted to stop by and see how you were doing. How's your ankle?" Vin moved closer to the doorway till they were standing only about a foot apart. He took a deep breath inhaling the scent of roses that emanated from her.
"I'm doing much better. Nathan says I should be up and around like normal in a couple of more days. The swelling has almost completely gone down."
"Maybe if you're feelin' up to it we could go for a ride Sunday afternoon?"
"I'd like that, I'd like that a lot."
"I'm sorry I haven't been by to see you sooner. But . . ." Vin's words trailed off. He wasn't quite sure how to explain his absence.
"That's alright you don't have to explain. Buck told me why you left town."
"He . . . he did?" Vin was shocked that Buck even knew what he'd said to Chris and more shocked that he'd repeated it to Anna. "And you're not upset with me?"
"Upset? Why would I be upset?" Anna chuckled lightly.
"Well I didn't even really explain to Chris what I meant when I said I had to leave town because I didn't want to be around you, couldn't be around you." Vin looked up and saw that Anna's face had turned pale and tears were brimming up in her eyes. Vin's words echoed in her head, didn't want to be around you. "Anna? Are you alright?" Vin reached out to steady her.
Anna stumbled back and away from his grasp. She turned her back to him and quickly wiped the hot tears that were streaming down her face. You stupid girl, she chastised herself silently, how could you ever think that he might have feelings for you. Anna took a deep breath and turned back toward Vin. She wondered if he was faking the concerned look on his face.
"I'm fine. I just momentarily felt faint. I think its best that you go now. I'd like to go and lie down." Anna tried to stay strong and fought to keep the tears back.
"Are you sure you'll be alright? I could go get Mrs. Travis for ya or maybe Nathan?"
"No, I'll be fine. Goodnight Mr. Tanner." Anna turned away so quickly that the swirl of her skirt nearly knocked over the small table next to her. Vin watched in confusion as she strode quickly up the stairs to the second floor. What just happened? he wondered silently to himself. It had not escaped him that she'd returned to calling him Mr. Tanner. I'd better find out just what Buck told her.
Vin found Buck in the saloon. Buck was at the far end of the bar chatting animatedly with a pretty young woman that Vin didn't recognize. But by her clothing it was obvious that she was a ‘working girl'. The town had seen an increase in their number since the seven men had defended the women out at Wickes Town.
"Buck, I need to talk to you."
"Aw, Vin, can it wait till mornin'? Me and Sally here were just getting acquainted." Buck winked at the woman eliciting a giggle from her.
"NO. We need to talk now." Buck turned at looked at the former bounty hunter. It was obvious from the look in his eyes and the tone of his voice that this was not something that they could negotiate.
"Alright. Now, don't go away darlin' I'll be right back." Buck followed Vin to the corner of the saloon. Chris and Ezra watched with interest from their usual table a few feet away. "Now what can I do for you Vin?" Buck gave his friend a sly grin.
"What did you tell Anna?"
"What?" Buck didn't understand Vin's question.
"Anna said you told her why I left town. What did you tell her?" Vin's voice was stern and steady.
"I told her that there was some trouble over by Eagle Bend and that Chris sent you over to see if you could help. Why?" Buck jumped back as Vin's fist slammed into the wood next to his head.
"Vin?" Chris had never seen Vin like this.
"Damn it." Vin stormed out of the saloon pushing other patrons out of his way as he went. Chris followed quickly on his heels. Vin stomped down the street to the livery. Once inside he began grabbing random items and throwing them around in an attempt to quell the fire of rage that was building. Chris stood silently in the doorway watching his friend's tirade.
"You wanna tell me what's going on?" Vin turned slowly toward Chris his breath coming in ragged gasps.
"Damn it Chris, I know he's an old friend. But why the hell couldn't he just keep mind his own business." Chris waited patiently for Vin to explain. It took several minutes for Vin to calm down to where he felt he could talk about it without flying into a rage again. Vin perched himself on the edge of a hay bale and sighed deeply.
"Remember when I told ya I had to leave town because I couldn't be around Anna? Well, I wasn't bein' completely honest. I know it'll sound crazy ‘cuz I hardly know her but ever since she first stepped off that stage . . . I've had . . . these . . . um, feelings for her. I just thought it'd be easier on me if I stayed away till she left."
"Why'd you come back then?"
"Life's too short to be runnin' away from feelings." Vin's voice was barely a whisper and almost inaudible against the noise coming from the saloon.
"What does this all have to do with Buck?" Vin explained what had happened with Anna. He felt bad for getting so mad at Buck. In his heart he knew that Buck would never have done anything to hurt Anna. He made a silent pact with himself to straighten things out with her tomorrow.
Vin waited till after dinner time to go and see Anna. He'd put on a clean shirt and even considered having a shave before heading to the Clarion. Mary was in the front room working on the latest edition of the newspaper when he entered.
"Afternoon Miz Travis."
"Good afternoon Vin. What can I do for you?" Mary smiled brightly at him. "Well actually I came to see Anna. We had a bit of a misunderstanding las' night and I wanted to apologize to her."
"I'm so sorry Vin but Anna's headed home." Vin looked at Mary in surprise. He thought Anna was staying for at least another week.
"Headed home?"
"Yes. It was a little sudden but she took the noon stage to Ridge City."
"Noon stage? I thought that stage was only carrying. . ." Vin cut his words off remembering that the stage's actually cargo was supposed to be kept under wraps.
"It's alright Vin. I'm aware that the stage was carrying that payroll shipment. Of course I'll never understand why they thought it would be safer traveling by stage than by train in the first place." "I guess somebody thought that nobody'd expect it to be on a stage."
"Maybe. Well, anyway, they agreed to let Anna ride to Ridge City. I'm sure it was only because she's the judge's daughter."
"Thanks Miz Travis." Vin quickly headed out the door and toward the livery. He bumped into Chris outside the saloon.
"Where are you off to in such an all fired hurry?"
"Gotta catch up with that stage." Chris followed on Vin's heels to the livery.
"Mind tellin' me why?" Chris knew it had to do with Anna. He'd seen her board the stage before it had left. Vin stopped for a moment and turned to face his friend.
"When I started as a bounty hunter I met this girl. Her name was Kathleen, she was a school teacher. I never thought I could fall so hard for a woman. But she had this way of saying my name that just took my breath away."
"So what happened?"
"I never told her how I felt and she ended up marrying a local rancher. Part of me always wonders how different my life might be if I'd told her. Maybe I'd be farming somewhere, no bounty on my head. The thing is Chris, I don't want to be wondering the same things when it comes to Anna. Hell, maybe she doesn't feel the same way, but I gotta take the chance." Chris nodded understanding what Vin was going through. "I figure I can cut across the ridge and catch up to the stage. I figure I ought t' be back by supper and hopefully I'll have Anna with me."
Vin pulled his mare to a halt. He'd been riding hard for two hours but he knew he had to be close to catching the stage. He expected to come across it anytime now. Vin dismounted and took a long swig from his canteen. The water felt good running down his throat. A shot rang out disturbing the tranquility of the prairie. Vin stowed his canteen and mounted his horse. He turned her toward the sound of the shot. Two more shots quickly echoed and Vin spurred his horse on quicker. He came to a halt on the crest of a hill. From his position Vin could see the stage coach below. Two men lay on the ground dead from gunshots. Vin watched as one man cut loose the team of horses. A second man was unloading the payroll box from under the seat. There were two other horses with saddles but Vin couldn't see the other men. He also didn't see Anna.
A woman's scream pierced the air. The two absent men appeared from the far side of the coach dragging Anna behind them. Vin desperately wished he had some way to let her know he was there. One of the men raised his hand prepared to hit Anna but one of the others stopped him. Three of the men argued and in the silence a few of their words drifted up to Vin.
"Kill her. . ."
"Leave her here. . .let the vultures take care of her. . ." Even though her face was turned away from him, Vin could imagine the look of fear it must have been showing. The tallest of the men, who appeared to be their leader, lifted mounted his mare. After he was settled into his saddle of the other men lifted Anna up to him. Her hands were tied in front of her and a bandana was used to gag her.
Vin knew that at this distance he could easily pick off the men one by one. But after the first shot he couldn't be sure that Anna wouldn't some how be hurt. He knew that the man she was riding with might use her as a shield or if one of his bullets missed its mark he didn't want to take the chance Anna would be hit. Vin decided to follow the foursome and wait till they made camp.
Vin followed the group for several hours keeping just far away for them not to know he was there but close enough that he could be assured that they hadn't hurt Anna. They made camp in a dried out gully. Vin waited till they were set up and had a fire going before moving in closer. Anna was on the far side of the fire. They'd removed her gag but her hands were till tied together.
"Four against one, bad odds, for them." Vin studied the lay out of the camp noting where the men had laid out their bedrolls to sleep. He knew that when they were asleep was probably going to be the best time to hit the camp. The leader of the group was kneeling next to Anna talking quietly to her. Vin could see her nodding to his words, her cheeks wet from tears. A second man was tending to the horses, while the third was cooking something on the fire.
"One. . .two. . .three. . .where's the fou. . ." Crack. Vin's words died in his throat as blackness enveloped him.
Chris laughed half heartedly at the story Buck was telling to him and Josiah. It was well past supper time and Vin hadn't returned. Chris figured there were only a few explanations for that. Either he hadn't caught up with the stage, which wasn't likely knowing how determined Vin had been when he'd left. Or he caught up with the stage and Anna hadn't shared his feelings. In that case Vin might need some time alone. Out of the two choices Chris almost hoped that his friend wasn't as good a horseman as he was and he'd missed the stage.
The thoughts left his mind as he saw Mary enter the saloon. He recognized that look on her face, something was wrong. She quickly crossed to their table in the corner and handed a telegram to Chris.
"It's from Ridge City. The stage never arrived."
"It may not be as bad as it looks."
"What do you mean?" Mary took a seat at the table with the men.
"Well maybe they're just delayed. You see, Vin went after the stage this afternoon. He wanted to talk to Anna before she headed back home. If he caught up with the stage and spent some time talkin' to her then maybe the stage is just late in gettin' there." Chris knew even as he spoke the words that it was a shaky excuse.
"But it wouldn't be that late would it? And wouldn't Vin have come back by now?"
"It'll be dark within the hour and we wouldn't be able to follow the stage at night. We'll leave at dawn. I'm sure that everything's all right. Don't worry Mary, we'll find her." Chris gave Mary's hand a reassuring squeeze.