Early afternoon sunlight shone on the street as the men raced outside the saloon. As they made their way to the street, they had to push past people trying to make their way indoors and away from the shots. The seven men all had their guns drawn and ready. There was a man standing in the middle of the street about 200 yards in front of them. He was firing his gun into the air above his head repeatedly, not aiming at anything. He was trying to get their attention. Ezra turned to see Chris' eyes go cold. Taylor. Ezra seized up the man immediately. He looked like he was in his late thirties. His black hair dusty, and unkept. He had a beard that looked more like he just forgot to shave than anything else. His face was rugged and he wore an unreadable expression on his tired face. He looks like the perfect match for Chris.
Silence filled the air as the seven men stood in a line facing Taylor. People from the town watched from the windows of the buildings. Although they didn't want to get in the line of fire, they couldn't hide their curiosity.
"I got no trouble with the lot of yah, just Larabee. The rest of yah better git." Vin was standing to the right of Chris, and saw that the look in the man's eyes. He was completely willing to finish this one on one.
"How'd you find me Taylor. From what I can remember of you, you ain't a good tracker." Chris didn't sound worried that he'd been found. He'd never been hiding. He was just curious.
"Easy. You see, your old man worked for me a while. He was in the hole to me quiet a bit of money, so we made a deal. He helps me find you, and he lives. We all win. 'cept you that is." Chris' whole body tensed at the mention of his father. I should have known he had something to do with this. Chris shoved the thought aside. I'll deal with him later.
"Well Taylor, sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not gonna be the one to die today." Chris' voice was pure ice, the other six knew Chris meant every word.
"I dunno, if the shot I got off earlier is any indication, I think I've got a good chance." JD's blood ran cold. Taylor had almost killed Chris before, what if this time, he really did? "So why don't you tell your little guppies there to back off and we can settle this."
Chris didn't have to say a word. The other six men put their gins back in their holsters and walked off the street. They stopped on the saloon steps and stood back to watch. But inside, they were all worried.
In a second it was over. As the two men stood facing each other silently, Chris saw Taylor's right hand flinch, indicating he was going for his gun. In a flash, Chris had his gun chest level and pulled the trigger. The noise made JD jump. It had been immediate. Taylor fell with his hands around his gun, but never got his gun higher than his waist. Chris had been to fast.
Chris calmly let his arm and gun drop to his side and turned. He saw his comrades on the steps to the saloon. Vin was leaning against the wall of the saloon, a smirk on his face. Josiah had a gleam in his eye. Nathan just nodded as Chris looked at him. Ezra had a amused grin on his face, and Buck just did a slight nod. It was JD that caught his eye. The kids mouth was wide open in shock. Chris walked towards the saloon and was on his way through the door when he passed JD. The kids mouth was still open as he looked out to the street where Taylor still lay dead. As he brushed past him, Chris took the barrel of his pistol and put it under JD's chin, pushing it closed it. Chris entered the bar and heard the others laugh at JD's sharp intake of breath realizing he had been staring. Then rubbing the underside of his chin where Chris had placed the hot barrel of his gun. Ezra patted the young kid on the back and they walked off together with Nathan to collect the body of Vince Taylor.
As Chris entered the bar, followed by Josiah, Buck, and Vin. People walked away from the windows where they had watched the whole thing. Some looked at Chris with a hint of fear, but mostly admiration. Buck saw Chris pull his hat down to hide his eyes. Buck smiled. He knew Chris hated all the people staring. "Come on Chris." He said as they sat at their usual table, watching as even the bartender kept his distance. "You should be used to all the attention with all the stunts like that you do." Buck laughed. Chris just smiled as he shook his head.
The seven men sat at their usual table late the next night. They had been there for almost an hour, drinking and talking. JD had tried out a new joke he'd heard, only to be rewarded with moans. Chris had even contributed to the conversation. He didn't talk a lot, he never did. But this night they were hearing more out of him than they had over the past few days. He had been gone all day on an 'errand', he called it, and only returned about 3 hours ago. Nathan and Josiah had taken care of Taylor's body, and no one talked about it, but no one had forgotten. JD especially. Chris had caught him staring at him three times in the last hour. Vin noticed it to, and knew that Chris noticed it. He just hoped Chris wouldn't lose his temper with the kid. Vin had to admit, he was impressed with Chris too.
Once again, Chris felt JD's eyes on him. Picking up his whiskey, and not even looking at JD, Chris said, "JD, if you got a question, why don't you just ask. It'd sure be better than having you staring at me the whole night." Chris took a long sip of the Whiskey and set the glass on the table. Only then did Chris look at JD. The kid looked terrified. But he quickly regained his composure. "No. Sorry." It was now JD's turn to take a drink. Buck put a hand to his mouth to hide his smile. Ezra had to turn his entire face. Chris gave JD a smile before standing up.
"Well, I'm gonna go take a walk." Taking his hat from the table Chris pulled it low over his eyes, and turned to leave. As he walked out, no one saw the huge grin on his face.
Epilogue:
As Chris walked into the Sheriff's office the next morning, JD was sitting at his desk. "You wanted to see me, JD?"
JD Dunne turned at the sound of Chris' voice. "Uh, yeah. Chris, I just got this a minute ago." JD got up and handed a folded piece of paper to the gunfighter. "Normally, I'd say I was sorry, but…" JD's voice trailed off, not finishing his sentence.
Chris read the paragraph quickly, then looked up. "Thanks JD." He turned and walked out the door. In the street he passed Buck and Vin.
"Hey, Chris, what's with the smile." Vin asked curiously. "You just scare the crap out of JD again?" Vin had thought the whole incident last night had been very amusing.
"Nope. See you two around." And with that, Chris walked through the two men and down the road, tipping his hat to a lady that passed by. She smile awkwardly, not ever seeing that side of Chris Larabee. Buck and Vin just watched, looking at each other, they turned and began to walk again when they saw JD come out of his office.
"You guys just see Chris?"
"Yeah. He just went that way." Buck pointed down the street in the direction Chris went with his head. "Why?"
JD shook his head. "He's acting his head. I mean, I know he always does, but I mean, really weird. He just got a telegram. His father was shot and killed yesterday, and he reads it and it doesn't even shake him. Almost like he already knew..." Once again, JD's voice faded away, the three men turned together in the direction Chris had gone.
"You don't think…" JD stammered.
"No JD. I don't think anything." Buck said, and walked off. Vin just looked at JD, and spoke slowly. "You better not get involved JD. A word of advice." His voice was all business.
"Ha! You think I'd get involved with this? What do think, I want to die early?"
"Smart kid." Vin walked off after Buck, and JD went off back to his office.
"Hey Buck," Vin said, running to catch up. "What was that errand Chris was gone all day yesterday for?"
"Don't know. He never said." The two exchanged glances, then decided together with a look to never to bring it up again.
"So, Vin, what do you say we go and see if any new ladies came in on the last stage?" Vin just laughed as the two walked off.
End
(Note: Alright, I'll admit it is a very odd ending, but hey, that's what you get when you actually encourage me do this kind of thing. I'm just plain old creepy, huh? *g*)
