This deserted part of back country was frying in sun, burning by merciless rays. As well as his own, half-naked, exhausted, weak body. He was lying on the stony, dusty ground, probably dying.
But Chris Larabee didn´t care.
He licked his dry lips, his gaze fixed on the horizon, maybe far beyond it. He didn´t percept the big thirst, the pain, sharp stones biting into his unshaven cheek. It was so far ...
The only thing he could do, before the devil comes for his wicked, worthless soul, was to recall ... Recall all the things, the words, the acts, the events which led him here. To the no mens´s land, to the death.
Ella Gaines.
His nightmare, his Nemesis.
Just a thought about her still hurt like hell. The passion for Ella he felt when he was young. The pain, the torture she brought him when he turned to be a man, a husband and a loving father. He was sick of the fact he once loved her, made love to her ...
But now, his neverending hunt, which was keeping him alive through all of these years, was over.
Ella Gaines was dead.
But he felt no satisfaction. No liberation.
It was much worse than before.
First there was a big pleasure, cause he had done, what he was dreaming about for so long. How could he know it won´t last?
He killed her. Killed. Ever since, Chris suffered by terrfying dreams. Scary flashbacks. Blood, sweat, shots, scream and the biggest heavy on his chest he ever felt. When he woke up, he cried.
And Sarah and Adam ... they both disappeared from his dreams, sleepless nights and memories. He couldn´t recall their faces, their voices. They departed from him ...was it Chris´s punishment for the murder? For life, for years filled with hunger for someone´s death? For love he so roughly threw away ...?
Love ...
Chris´s mind recalled a beautiful picture of Mary Travis. Her sparkling blue eyes, porcelain, soft skin and long blond hair flying in the wind. All her frowning faces, sometimes angered sound of her voice, belligerent attitude ...
He was half dead, but this memory brought a sad smile on his face.
The friendship they´ve gathered, their love which they´ve never ... shared. He never told her, what he was feeling. And though he knew, she felt the same way, she never made that simple step towards him.
He lost her. Mary Travis married again with an amazing man, a politician. A year after that, she died, giving birth to their child.
Something in Chris Larabee was broken, he lost Mary forever.
The last thing she told him was : „It´s your fault that Ella Gaines is still alive. You let her go. It´s your fault Larabee.“
They argued and it was for the last time he saw her. He had a chance to fix things ... But he was a fool. And he lost her forever. No promises, no swears, no prayers could bring her back.
After Mary´s death, Chris Larabee left Four Corners.
To kill Ella Gaines.
Some months ago, when his mission in this life was already done, he unexpectedly met Ezra Standish in some awful pub on North.
When it happened, Chris Larabee was already just a shadow of the man he used to be. Just a drunk, dirty, angry shadow.
„What a pleasant surprise,“ said Ezra with his grin.
Chris´s vacant stare didn´t discourage him. He sat down to his old friend , or however you call that ... Maybe he tried to be friendly, for sure he was nosey. But most of all, he longed to share all the old events with Chris. To torture him? Maybe. He´d done that very well...
It wasn´t like it used to be, when he left Four Corners. Many things happened. What? You don´t want to hear that?
Chris Larabee, lying in the dust, closed his eyes. Lonely tear flowed down his cheek. No, he don´t want to think about it. He don´t want to remember ...
Ezra told him the story.
Buck Wilmington. Buck with his wife, Louise. What a happy marriage with one son. Buck wanted Chris to be on his wedding, but he was gone. No one knew where he was. So he chose JD to ... took Chris´s place. How understandable. How sad.
Chris stomach squeezed a pity and a disappointment. He had to be there. But he disappointed them again. As usually.
Buck joined his wife in her political work and they did well. Until they were, with their son, assassinated.
And Chris Larabee wasn´t there again, to help him, to save him.
Vin Tanner.
A very special man, who seemt to understand. Never talked too much, but he was good friend, capable gunslinger, reliable person.
Vin has his own troubles, but he was always ready to help anyone who needed that. No matter he was wanted.
But at the end, there was someone longing for this tasty reward. Vin Tanner was shot in his back in the middle of the day on busy street. He even didn´t have a chance to defend against the gunner.
A dead friend, who didn´t deserve to die like this. What he was thinking about in the last seconds of his life? Remembered old lovers? Old friends? Chris?
Chris let him to do this work, this hard work, with no support and no help.
Vin was gone.
Why didn´t Ezra stopped? He saw it´s tearing Chris Larabee apart! He knew ...
JD.
The youngest of all of them. Funny, between hay and grass, tough. And courageous. Oh yeah, very courageous young man. He had to be a great man one day.
He became a sheriff in Four Corners. And he was great sheriff. But when Chris and Buck left the town and Vin was killed ... he stood all alone. Only one against all the gangs, gunslingers.
He died with Josiah during the firefight.
And where is all that glory? Where is that bright future? Where is that all? Dying like a lonely dog ... what´s so amazing in that?
But Nathan still lives in Four Corners.
You can visit him, said Ezra with a wide grin.
And it finally led him here.
On the way, so close to the town he left many years ago, he was attacked, robbed, left badly wounded here to die. Some gang of gunslingers got him there where he wanted to be. Close to the final way.
He made this journey to find forgivness, maybe ... redemption. And in a way ... he succeed.
The sun was shining and Christ was half-unconscious.
But then he heard a weird sound.
The horses? The stagecoach? Or his mind plays trick on him? He had no faith left.
The door of the stagecoach slamed and Chris Larabee felt like someone turned him on the back, so he was blinded by the sunlight. He groned and tried to push aside the silhouette stooping over him. But he was too weak.
„Oh no ... Are you all right?“
The honey, female voice was filled with a fear.
Chris opened his mouth, tried to say something, but not a simple sound left his chapped lips.
„No, ssshhh. We´ll take you to the town. You´re gonna be okay.“
Chris felt her calming touch on his hot, aching body, his skin. Her self-confident voice allowed no objections.
„Come on! Help me with him!“ he heard her yelling at someone he couldn´t see.
„Okay, I´m here. Don´t worry, everything´s gonna be okay,“ she whispered to his ear and her sweet parfume filled Chris´s nostrils. Her forelocks stroked his cheek.
He heard that and believed.
Chris Larabee opened his eyes and against the sunshine he saw an angel. He took a deep breath and knew he would go wherever she wanted. If it was dying, he welcomed that with opened arms.
Then he fell unconscious.
Chris woke up in a small room, lying in the bed, naked. He slowly turned his head, though it hurt like hell.
His wounds were treated, his cheeks shaved. He tried to recall what happened, how much time passed, but he was still tired and now also confused.
Still alive ...
Stop.
There was something very familiar here. Something ...
Then the door opened and Chris saw Nathan Jackson entered the room.
„Hi, Chris.“
It was like a physicall shock. After all those years ...
„Nathan,“ he slightly nodded. „How did I ....“
„Got in here?“
„Yeah.“
„They found you near the town. Almost dead. You were almost unconscious and spent three days just sleeping.“
„Nathan ... thanks.“ His lowered voice almost ceased.
„Don´t tell me. Tell it to her. The others didn´t want to stop. She saved your life, Chris. Also cared for you when you were hallucinating.“
„She?“
The last events hit him like a mighty wave.
That woman. The angel.
Chris held his breath. She was real!
„Who is she?“ He needed to know.
Nathan raised an eyebrow. Maybe he was disappointed or ...
The sound of footsteps could be heard from the corridor.
„She´s coming. I´ll ... let you alone,“ said Nathan. „I´m glad you´re back, Chris.“
Chris smiled. „Good to be back ... friend.“
Nathan nodded.
The door opened, but Nathan´s back hid the woman who stepped inside.
„I´ll be back soon. You´ve got just a few minutes,“ Nathan told her.
„Okay, I understand.“
And then the door closed with a slam and there was just a Chris and her.
He tried to sit, but the pain was too much. He hissed with painful grin and slid down, back to the sheets.
„Don´t do that, Chris! You´ll hurt yourself!“ she shouted out a warning and rushed to help him.
„I´m okay. Because of you I´ve heard ...“
She sat down on his bed and blushed a bit.
„My pleasure, Mr.Larabee.“
Chris frowned. He knew her. Who the hell ...
Then his heart fell to the pit of his stomach and his heart was pounding. Of course he knew her!
„Casey? Casey Wells?!“
She fixed her gaze at his face and then burst out laughing. It was sweet, womanly laugh. But he noticed it´s a mask hiding how much she was worried about him.
„Yes, it´s been a long time, right?“
„Too long,“ groaned Chris, stunned by the fact this cute young girl he once knew ...
Turned into the beautiful, sweet, attractive woman.
When she saw his serious face, Casey´s smile ceased.
Chris, with an effort, raised his hand and stroked Casey´s silky soft cheek. She hesistantly bent over him so he could feel her breath on his face. Her half-opened lips and her hand lying on his chest ... It was like a magic.
He saw so much understanding, so much tenderness in her eyes ... Why he had never noticed before?
„Casey...?“ he whispered.
„Shhh,“ she hushed him. „Don´t worry, I´m here. I´ve always been ...“
Forever ...
Chris Larabee kissed his angel and he knew that a new day will come. With Casey Wells by his side.
Forever.