Vin had everything packed and ready and was just waiting for Chris to join him at the livery. It had been a couple of weeks since Eli Joe had met his face at the hands of Chris Larabee. He knew Chris felt bad about it and he knew it had almost broken their friendship apart. Now he and Chris were taking some time off to find the bond that they once had before all hell broke loose.
The others knew of their trip and had bid them farewell at the saloon, expecting them back in a couple of days. Vin had told Chris about a place he found way up near Bad Rock, a rocky flat plateau that existed in the middle of the grass plains. It was the perfect place, miles from any town or people and would give them the quiet they needed to find their way back to where they once were.
Vin still felt cheated at the fact that without Eli Joe, he was still a wanted man. But he did not blame Chris for what happened. If Chris had not saved him when he did, he would be dead and all his efforts to clear his name would be for nothing. As he finished saddling up his horse, he turned to find Chris walking over to him, leading his big black behind him.
"You ready?" asked Chris eyeing his young brown-haired friend.
"As ever as I'll ever be," answered Vin mounting his horse in one smooth motion.
Chris climbed aboard his own horse and started a slow ride towards west, out of town, Vin catching up to ride by his side.
As they rode through they saw the boys standing outside the saloon, nodding their goodbyes and hoping that their friends had a save journey.
***
Chris and Vin arrived at the base of the plateau they both looked up as it rose upward.
"So," smirked Chris. "Where is this easy path you keep talking about?"
Vin sidled a brief look at him and then turned back to stare upward.
"It's there, Cowboy, if ya game," said Vin smiling.
"I'm game. I just don't know if the horses are."
"Aw, come on, Chris. Where's ya sense of adventure?" asked Vin impishly.
Chris turned a soft glare in his direction and sighed. "Lead on, Pard. But if my horse decides to take in his head to try and throw me off, we ain't going any further."
Vin chuckled and nudged his horse up the narrow trail towards the top of the plateau, with Chris following cautiously behind.
***
The trail was rocky and several times as they went up, Chris could feel the way his horse's hooves slid on the slippery slope. Vin seemed to be having no trouble at all keeping his horse steady as they climbed the rise. It took them another fifteen minutes as they were almost to the top of the plateau. Vin turned slightly to see Chris on horse coming slowly up behind him. He knew he was having trouble keeping the black in line. His horse was known for its skittishness. Vin's horse was use to the rise and took to climbing without any problems.
"Chris," called Vin from his horse as he and his steed finally reached the top. "Ya okay?"
Chris stopped his horse in mid-step and glared at the scruffy looking Texan. "I'm fine. Keep going. I'll be right behind you."
Vin nodded and continued his ascent until his horse was standing on the ridge of the plateau. He watched as Chris and his horse gingerly came up to join him and mentally sighed when they had reached the top.
Once Chris was on sure footing on the top of plateau with Vin he said, "Now where is this great place you keep talking about?"
Vin smirked and nudged his horse away from the edge towards the flat plains area that existed on the plateau.
Chris followed behind, still doubtfully how fruitful this journey would be.
***
It was mid-afternoon when they had finally camped for the day at a spot that Vin had known about. Both of the horses were tethered to the only tree, gnarled and old on the top of the plateau. Chris stood looking at the horizon as the sun was slowly moving overhead, a picturesque view that took his breath away. He had to admit that Vin did know the best spots to pick and smiled to himself as his body reveled in the soft north wind that blew across the plateau. He heard light footsteps come to rest next to him and turned to face his friend.
"Nice view, huh?" asked Vin smirking.
"Yeah. I got to hand it to you, Pard. You really do know how to pick ‘em," replied Chris.
"Well, wait to see what I got in mind for tomorrow," said Vin walking away to check on the coffee he started.
Chris did not answer, but knew if Vin thought of it, it probably would be something different, that was for sure.
Chris stretched his arm up over his head, smoothing the kinks of out of his backside that had been riding his horse up the steep climb. He then put his arms down and moved to where Vin sat by the fire where the coffee was brewing.
"So, tell me what you got in store for us tomorrow," said Chris as he sat down next to the lanky Texan as he passed him a cup of the steaming brew.
"Well, first let me tell ya how this piece of rock got its name," said Vin.
"You mean you know why they call it Bad Rock?"
"Yeah. There's some history that comes with it."
"And what would that be?" asked Chris eyeing doubtfully.
"The story goes that this rock was once a very sacred place to the Comanches," explained Vin. "It was a place where they would come to and find out how strong was their bond with someone was."
"Like you and me?"
"Yeah, I guess so. They had to go through a test up here. But sometimes they failed."
"Failed? How?"
"Well, let just say, it wasn't purty. Real deadly like."
"Deadly? Like..."
"Dead, Cowboy. They ended up dead. One of them or both of them. That's why it's called Bad Rock. A lot of them failed."
Chris eyed him surprise. "And you brought us here?"
"Well, I figure our bond is strong enough to stand against anythin'. Just look at what we been through together, the seven of us," explained Vin. "It ain't been easy but we survived."
"And you brought us here?" exclaimed Chris.
"Chris, ya ain't listenin'. It has to do what's in here," said Vin pointing to his heart. Vin knew Chris did not understand that the reason he brought him here was to show Chris how strong their bond was and that not even what Ella Gaines had done a couple of months ago could destroy that.
"You brought us here," asked Chris again still confused.
Vin sighed and rolled his eyes upward. He thought out of all of them that Chris would be the one to get it. But he now saw that he was mistaken.
"Damn! I should have never brought ya here!" exclaimed Vin getting up from his seat and stomping off towards the other side of the plateau.
Chris shook his head with guilt. "Shit! Vin, I'm sorry!" he called and starting after the irate Texan. Chris continued to apologize to his friend, but the young tracker was not stopping. When he finally stopped, it was at the edge of the plateau that led back down into the valley. He stood there breathing hard, trying to bring his anger under control. Chris approached him slowly, not wanting to anger his friend anymore than he had. He cursed at himself silently, praying that Vin would forgive him.
"Vin, I am really sorry, Pard. It's just that I don't believe in that type of thing anymore."
Vin turned to face his friend, the one he knew he had the strongest bond with.
"Well, I do," said Vin defiantly. "And why don't ya believe in it anymore?"
Chris eyes lowered to the ground at his feet, not being able to admit to the Texan that he had lost those beliefs the day he lost his son and wife.
"I asked ya a question, Chris," said Vin crossing his arms in front of him.
"Vin, ever since...ever since Adam and Sarah died, ever since I found out that Ella was the one that took them from me and got away, my beliefs have changed. I just can't see it."
Vin looked at him with blue eyes of sorrow. He did understand why Chris would not believe, but he was determined to make him believe again. He had to or otherwise Bad Rock would have its taste of death again. Vin believed and believed reverently in the power of the plateau. He knew that they had to or it could mean one or both of their deaths.
"Chris, ya believe in me, right?"
Chris looked up and stared at Vin bewildered by his question. "Of course I do, Pard. Always."
"Then believe me when I say that I believe our bond is stronger than this rock and I can prove it. We need...I need for us to do this."
Chris mind turned within wheels of doubt, but once he saw the look of his best friend, those doubts were silenced. "Okay, Vin. Tell me what to do."
Vin grabbed Chris by the shoulder and led him over to their campfire as the sun slowly waned on the plateau as he explained his plan to Chris.
***
Vin's plan had all the fixings for disaster as far as Chris was concerned. Vin had explained that their bond had to be tested. The test would be to see if they trusted one another enough that they would trust their very lives with each other. Chris was hesitant about going through with it. He knew he trusted Vin with his life, but he also knew that death did not let friendship or love stop it from collecting its due. Vin was adamant about the test and the strength of their bond. There was no doubt in his mind that they would succeed. Chris finally gave in and agreed to do whatever Vin wanted him to do.
"So, what's next?" asked Chris, eyeing the curly brown haired young man in concern.
"Well, we have to test our bond and the only way I know how to do that is it has to be somethin' unexpected."
Chris eyebrows rose in concern. He could almost hear the underlying meaning in Vin's words. "Does that mean it's dangerous?"
Vin eyed Chris as honestly as he could and lied. "Nah, Cowboy. Ya know I wouldn't do anythin' dangerous."
Chris green eyes looked at his best friend with suspicion and doubt, but they then turned to one of trust. "Okay, Vin. Explain to me what we need to do," said Chris simply.
Vin smiled and grabbed Chris by the shoulder, leading him over to the other side of the plateau. He hoped that Chris would understand that he only lied to show the trust he had in their bond at surviving.
***
Chris did not understand what Vin was doing, but all the trust and love he felt for his friend went into his actions.
He was surprised to say the least when Vin placed a blindfold over his eyes with cloth he had in his saddlebags and told him that this would be part of the test. Vin did not go into a deep explanation, only said two words. "Trust me." And Chris did.
Chris blindfolded was led by Vin. He followed giving ultimate control to Vin which against his nature. They finally stopped, where Chris did not know.
"We're here, Chris," he heard Vin say. Then he felt his hands being tied out in front of him with a rope,
"I'm puttin' this here rope around ya hands, Cowboy. Do ya trust me?"
Chris eyes under the blindfold scrunched up in amazement, but of course Vin could not see it. "Of course I do. What are we doin', Vin?"
"Just listen to me, Pard. Everythin' is gon'na be fine. Mark my words."
Chris sighed and smiled inwardly to himself. "Sure, Vin. Anythin' you say, Pard."
"Chris, what I'm gon'na do is have you try to find me without seein' me."
"What?" Chris exclaimed. He was now questioning his previous decision in his confidence of Vin's plan.
"Take it easy, Chris. I ain't gon'na let nothin' happen to ya, ya hear?"
Chris sighed again reluctantly trusting Vin to know what he was doing.
"I hear ya, Pard."
"Good. Now I got this rope tied around ya and I ain't gon'na let ya go anywhere that I think ain't safe. What I want ya to do is to find me usin' our bond."
"But Vin..."
"No buts, Cowboy. Ya did it before, remember. Ya found me that time I got caught by Eli Joe when he was about to hang me."
"I remember, Vin. But that was different," said Chris. "I was following you."
"But how did you know which way to go. They said they was headed for Texas, but ya didn't go that a way."
"That was luck and determination on my part Vin not to see ya strung up like some mangy dog," argued Chris.
"I don't see it like that, Chris. Ya made it there in time and I know it had to be the bond we share."
Chris kept silent, knowing that he would not win this argument. The only way Vin would listen now is if the test proved him wrong.
"So what now, Vin?" asked Chris.
"I'm gon'na move away from ya. Without touchin' the rope, I want ya to find me without seein' me, okay."
"I don't know, Vin..."
"Please, Chris," begged the young tracker. "Try and see if ya feel me through our bond, just like before."
Chris nodded hesitantly agreeing to Vin's plan and hoped that nothing would go wrong. Chris tried to concentrate on where he had heard Vin's voice last. But he knew Vin being such a good tracker would know that and probably move out of that direction. Chris calmed his furiously beating heart down and started to relax, trying to bring the image of Vin to his mind. When he finally had it, he started to have a feeling, almost a tug of his instincts as they turned him little towards the left of the direction he was about to go. He started to follow that direction slowly, hoping that he would find Vin at the end of it or at least show Vin that he was wrong.
Chris could not see as Vin watched his friend slowly start to walk towards him. Chris did not see the big smile that was on Vin's face as realized that his hunch was right about the bond he and Chris shared. Chris also did not see as Vin's smile faltered as he watched Chris approach a very rocky piece of ground that was too near the edge.
Vin decided at that moment that proving himself right was not as important as his friend's life. "Chris! Stop!"
But it was too late. Chris took another step and felt himself falling backwards into air. Vin heart jumped into his throat. He still held the rope that was tied around Larabee's hands and tugged on it hard, trying to stop Chris' fall. Chris fell only a couple of feet, but that couple of feet was enough for his arms to be almost jerked from their sockets. His body, moving with gravity came back into the plateau cliff face hard, his head hitting the rocky outcrop with a loud smack. Chris was instantly unconscious and his body swung back and forth, listless and lifeless hung by the arms several feet off the plateau.
Vin pulled on the rope, but found it was too heavy to bring Chris back up. He looked behind him and saw the only old oak tree that stood on the plateau and started unraveling the rest of the rope towards it, determined to tie it off so that he could go and retrieve his friend. He found he was lucky in this aspect as the length of the rope he still held in his hand was long enough to reach it. He tied the end he held securely around the tree and when it was done, he quickly ran over to the plateau edge where he saw his friend fall. When he got there, he leaned every careful over the edge and saw that Chris was held aloft by the rope, still blindfolded.
"Chris!" yelled Vin at the body that swung in slow motion at the end of the rope. "Chris! Talk to me!"
Vin was only met with silence and then he noticed the trail of blood slowly seeping from Chris' forehead, running down his face to the valley below.
"Damn! Hang on Chris!" Vin knew it would be impossible for him to pull Chris up the cliff side without help. He remembered the horses and quickly jumped up from his position on the edge and ran to get his horse.
In the meantime, Chris continued to dangle like a rag doll on the rope, unconscious and unknowing of what had befell him.
***
It took Vin a few minutes to get Chris up to the top of the plateau. When he finally got to see the blond thoroughly, he saw that there was a gash on the side of his forehead that was bleeding a great deal. He felt for the pulse at the man's neck and felt a strong beat, thanking God that the man was still alive. He quickly took a cloth out of the pocket of his jacket and used it to wipe the blood away. It was a deep cut, but he remembered Nathan saying once that head wounds always looked worse than they were.
He noticed that his friend was unconscious and unresponsive to his ministrations. He could guess that maybe Chris might have a concussion, but without Nathan's expertise he was not sure. He lifted Chris onto his shoulder and carried him over to their camp. He prayed that Chris would wake up soon. It was the only way he would be able to tell how hurt the man really was. As he started preparing a bedroll to place Chris on, his mind scurried over thoughts of guilt and blame. He cursed himself, putting the burden of what happened to Chris on his shoulders and coming to the conclusion that his friend's current condition was the curse of the Rock.
He suddenly shook himself out of his remorse as he realized that Chris needed him now more than ever. As he cautiously moved Chris onto the bedroll he heard a sound, a moan and knew it was coming from blond in front of him.
"Chris?" Another moan followed, this time louder. "Chris! Come on, Cowboy. Ya gotta wake up for me, okay?"
Vin watched as Chris' eyelids slowly came open and found he was looking into unfocused green eyes. The eyes squinted at him and Vin knew that Chris was trying to see who was leaning over him.
"V...in?"
"Yeah. It's me, Pard. How ya feelin'?"
"Like...run...over...by...stampede," came Chris' raspy reply.
Vin smiled at that comment, glad to see that his friend had not lost his sense of humor, but he knew the blond was in pain.
"Ya fell off a cliff, Cowboy," said Vin trying to calm his own wrecked nerves.
"I...did?"
"Don't cha remember?"
"Nah."
"What do ya remember?"
"Remember...remember ya tellin' me...uhm...somethin'..."
Vin could see that he was having a hard time remembering and said, "Forget it, Pard. Just relax. Just tell me if ya hurt anywhere."
Chris groaned then and said, "Damn! My head...my head feels like it gon'na explode."
"That's cause ya hit ya head on the cliff side. Anythin' else hurt?" asked Vin desperately hoping nothing else did.
"Don't rightly know, Vin. I just feel...feel tired," he responded, his eyes starting to close.
"Hey, Cowboy!" exclaimed Vin, shaking Chris gently. "Don't go to sleep on me, ya hear. Ya gotta stay awake."
Chris' eyes popped open, pain lacing his face. "Tired, Vin."
Vin knew he could not let Chris sleep. If Chris had a concussion, he knew he would not wake up if he went to sleep.
"I know, Pard. But ya gotta stay with me, okay?"
Chris nodded slightly and tried to keep his eyes from closing.
"Listen, I'm gon'na finish cleanin' ya up and then I'll get ya settled," explained Vin.
Vin started to clean Chris up, specifically his eyes out for any other injury on the dazed blond. When he was done and he found nothing else amiss with the gunslinger, he placed a blanket over the man who he noticed was starting to shiver. He knew a fever was probably developing and left the man to go search his horse's saddlebags for some of Nathan's tea. He had just finished putting the pot on the fire to boil the tea, when he heard his friend cry out in agony. Vin dropped everything he was doing and ran to kneel down over Chris.
"Chris?" he called gently. He noticed that his eyes were closed and cursed himself silently for leaving his friend. "Chris? Come on, Cowboy. Let me see those green eyes of yaurs."
Chris lay there, moaning and tossing in what seemed to Vin a fevered dream, but did not answer the lanky Texan.
"Damn!" swore Vin to himself. He grabbed the sick man's hand and squeezed it, hoping that the blond gunman would feel the connection.
After a while, it seemed that Larabee did, and green eyes suddenly opened to bear on the tracker's face.
"Thank God!" exclaimed Vin. "I thought ya was gon'na leave me there for a while."
"Not...hardly," retorted Chris, trying to smirk at the young blue eyed man. But the smirk slowly turned into a grimace as Chris felt the throbbing in his head bang with every beat of his heart.
Vin noticed the ache that appeared in the man's usually calm features and knew the blond was hurting.
"I'm making ya some of Nathan's tea. It should take away some of the pain and help ya fever."
"Don't...want any," replied Chris, his eyes starting to close again.
"Chris!" exclaimed Vin.
"What?" said Chris startled and annoyed. He was tired and he just wanted to sleep.
"Ya can't go to sleep, Pard. I need ya to stay awake."
Chris saw the worry look Vin gave him and knew his friend was concerned. He felt guilty at having being the center of that concern and said, "Sorry...I'll try."
"That's all I ask, Cowboy. Listen, while the water's boilin' how about I tell ya about how I come to know about this place," said Vin, an idea forming in his head.
Chris looked at him perturbed and nodded reluctantly.
Vin smiled, glad that he could find a way to keep his friend awake and safe. "Well, it was about a few years ago when I was a young man..."
Chris smiled at that comment. He could not see Vin ever being young. He had known that the tracker had went through a lot in his lifetime and he knew the experiences he had had aged the young man dramatically. Chris eyes started to close slowly as he listened to Vin's story of how the Comanches had first came to Bad Rock and how the Great Spirit had told them that on this rock they would be tested for their faith and loyalty to their tribesmen. He heard Vin tell of how one of the great warriors, Grey Wolf, had determined that the faith and loyalty of one of his fellow warriors and friend needed to be tested.
Vin explained that Grey Wolf had saw something in his friend's eyes that spoke volumes of dislike and betrayal and he did not know why. When questioning his friend, Half Moon, his friend had said that he loved Grey Wolf and would die for him if need be. Grey Wolf doubted this since lately all of Half Moon's actions showed differently.
It was at this time that Grey Wolf asked Half Moon to prove his love and loyalty by taking the test on Bad Rock. Half Moon was hesitant at first, but agreed when he saw the look of doubt his friend gave him. The day both men went to Bad Rock for the test, Grey Wolf had a sense of dread that spoke of tragedy. He had told Half Moon as they rode that he changed his mind, but Half Moon would not listen. He wanted to prove to the man he called friend that he was still his friend. The test consisted of Grey Wolf being blindfolded and of Half Moon being his guide. They were positioned around a great roaring campfire and the idea was that Grey Wolf needed to trust Half Moon to navigate him safely around it. But what happened was not that and to this day, no one knew what really happened on the plateau. In the end, Grey Wolf lay dead and burnt and Half Moon came back half a man, his soul burned from his very being.
When questioned by the tribes as to the events, Half Moon kept silent and became one of the crazy outcasts that were supposedly touched by the spirits. A month later, Half Moon took his life by jumping off the same plateau where his friend had died. None of the tribe's people ever found out what really happened on Bad Rock that day. Their families mourned them and soon they became legend. But the medicine man of the tribe believed that the spirits had touched both Grey Wolf and Half Moon and each had been found unworthy in the Great Spirit's eyes and was punished for their distrust and disloyalty to one another.
As Chris heard the tragic ending to the story, his eyes fluttered opened to blue eyes regarding him worriedly. He knew what Vin was thinking. That they were much like Grey Wolf and Half Moon and the reason why Chris fell was because they had been judged unworthy in the Great Spirit's eyes.
"No...Pard," said Chris softly to those deep blue eyes. "We ain't nothin' like those two."
Vin eyes softened and guilt that was his burden lifted somewhat. "Ya think so, Chris?"
Chris coughed lightly and said, "Yeah. We wouldn't have gotten this far if we were. We've been in a lot of scrapes together, Vin. The seven of us has always pulled through. We'll get through this too."
Vin smiled gently at the man he considered his best friend and lightly touched him on the shoulder, showing his love and loyalty.
"Get some rest. I'm gon'na see about that tea."
"Ya mean after that long...long wind bag of a story, ya lettin' me get some sleep?" retorted Chris.
"Shut up and close them eyes. I think ya gon'na be alright," said Vin standing up and walking away.
Chris closed his eyes, feeling the tiredness that was coming on. He felt a stab of pain in his chest, but soon it dissipated and he sighed in relief. He just hoped Vin was right, because he knew if something happened to him, Vin would never forgive himself.
***
When Vin returned with the tea, he found Chris asleep, but his breathing sounded harsh and it worried him greatly. He set the cup of tea on to the ground besides the blond and shook the man gently. At first, nothing happened and the gunslinger seemed to sleep on. Vin shook him again, this time with a little more force and was surprised when Chris eyes popped opened wide and a deep rattling cough spewed from his mouth. Although the cough was a frightening sound, it was nothing compared to what caught Vin's eyes. He watched as Chris bent over at the waist and coughed again, this time a red substance came forth to splatter on the ground besides him.
"Chris!" exclaimed Vin.
Chris could not answer, it seemed that he was having difficulty catching his breath. Vin saw the panic in his friends green eyes as his breath came in rasps. He gently grabbed the man and held him as he coughed harshly, bent over. When Vin finally felt the man's body relax and the coughing had stopped, he lifted the blond into his arms, laying his head on his chest.
"Chris?"
Chris could finally breath when the coughing had finally ceased and he opened glazed eyes to look up at the face hovering over him.
"I'm...I'm okay, Vin."
"No ya not, Chris. I don't like the look of this. I wish Nathan was here."
"Don't...Don't worry...Vin. I'll be fine."
Vin eyed him doubtfully, but kept silent. He knew it would do no good to argue the point as Chris would never admit to being in pain. But Vin was worried that if they did not get help soon, Chris would not survive.
"Hey, Pard. I got somethin' for ya to drink," said Vin changing the subject.
Chris squinted up at him and shook his head. He could not think of putting anything in his stomach at that moment. "I can't, Vin. Sick."
"I think it might help ya some."
"Nah. It'll just come back up afterwards. I...I just want to rest," answered Chris, his eyes slowing closing.
Vin did not try to stop him from falling back asleep. There was nothing he could do at the moment to relief the man of his pain. "Damn! It's all my fault, Chris," he said softly, thinking that the man was asleep.
Chris eyes popped opened and stared at Vin with incredibility. "It ain't your fault, Vin. Stop blamin' yourself. I went into this with...with my eyes wide opened. If...if it's anyone's fault, it's mine."
Vin looked at the man in his arms in shock. "Your fault? How is that, Cowboy?"
"Stop callin' me Cowboy," smirked Chris. "I should of watched where I was going."
Vin blue eyes caught a gleam of laughter in Chris' green ones and smiled gently.
"Ya sure. Blindfolded and all."
"Yep," sighed Chris as he felt twinge in his side as he shifted his weight in Vin's arms.
"Listen, I'm gon'na lie ya down for a moment while I get my saddle."
"Why?"
"Gon'na use it to prop ya up. I can guess ya felt a might better sittin' up and all."
"Yeah," replied Chris thoughtfully. "I guess I do."
"Then wait here," he said lying Chris back down on his pallet bed. "I'll be right back."
"Can't...can't go nowhere, no how," answered Chris as he watched his lanky friend go over to his horse and start to unsaddle it.
While Chris closed his eyes and tried to rest, Vin started to getting the saddle off of his horse. He knew it had been two days since they left Four Corners. He just hoped the boys did not decide to wait until the third to start looking for them. Otherwise, Chris might not be around for them to find and he could not live with that on his conscience.
***
In the small town of Four Corners, Buck Wilmington was slowly walking towards the saloon. He was almost there, when he spotted one JD Dunne walking towards him to intercept.
"JD," said Buck, stopping in his tracks as the young Easterner came to stand in front of him.
"Do you know when Chris and Vin are coming back?"
Buck thought about it for a moment and said, "I think they said they'd be back in two days."
"Well, it's almost three. Ya think they're alright?"
Buck knew that JD worried a lot about Chris and Vin, especially since Vin carried a bounty on his head and they were always plagued by trouble because of it.
"You know, Chris and Vin, JD. They ain't like us. They stay in one place too long and they feel crowded. They get an itch and they have to scratch it. They'll be back," answered Buck calmly.
But Buck words did nothing to soothe the concern that was now eating at JD's mind. He just felt something was not right and he wished that Buck would listen to him. Just then, Josiah and Nathan came walking towards the two unofficial lawmen. They seemed to be on a mission and Buck wondered what that mission could be.
"Buck, we need to talk," said Josiah grabbing the big man by the arm and dragging him towards the livery.
"About what?"
"We need to go and find Chris and Vin," interjected Nathan.
"And why do we need to do that?" asked Buck pulling his arm from the big ex-priest.
"I think they're in trouble, Buck," said Josiah.
"Have you and JD been drinkin' from the same water or something?" exclaimed Buck. "What would make you two think that something's gone wrong with Chris and Vin?"
"Just a feeling, a bad feeling," answered Josiah thoughtfully. His eyes turned towards the tall man, making Buck feel ill at ease.
"Well, I think ya'll just gone plum loco, if ya ask me!" said Buck starting to walk away. "Now if ya'll will excuse me, I have a date with an angel."
"She ain't there, Buck," interrupted JD.
"Who ain't there, JD?" asked Buck confused.
"Jolene. She left ‘bout an hour ago," stated JD.
"Left? Why?"
"'Cause I told her ya was busy goin' lookin' for some friends," answered JD and he puffed his chest out in determination.
"I ain't goin' lookin' for no one, but some feminine comfort," retorted Buck angrily.
"I believe you are, Mr. Wilmington," came the voice of Ezra from behind him.
Buck turned to find Ezra standing behind him. He had not heard the gambler approach and did not even know that he was out of the saloon at this time of day.
"Not you too!" exclaimed Buck.
"JD came to me earlier and I agreed with his assessment of the situation. It is very unlikely that Mr. Larabee or Mr. Tanner would be so late in their return," explained Ezra calmly.
Buck released a sigh and knew that he was losing the argument. He also had a bad feeling about Chris and Vin being gone for so long, but he knew if there was nothing wrong how pissed Chris would be at him. He remembered a time ago before they came to Four Corners when he went looking for Chris after the death of his family and how angry the blond was with him for doing so. He did not want to be on that side of the coin again. But then again, he did not want to think that he could have done something to help save his friend's life. He finally relented and heaved a heavy sigh. "Alright, alright. Let's get movin'," said Buck walking towards the stable.
JD smiled in triumph as he watched the tall lawman walk away and slowly followed the others towards the stable and hopefully towards finding their friends.
***
Epilogue
Vin sat by the fire with his guilt as he watched his friend twist and turn in the fever that was building. Chris had developed a fever and the tracker had tried to keep the man cool with the water they had brought with them, but it was currently running out just as time was running out for his friend. As Chris' hand came up searching, Vin crawled quickly to where the blond man was propped up against the two saddles.
"Hey, Cowboy, ya got to stop movin' around so much. Ya might hurt yourself," said Vin trying to calm the feverish man.
Green eyes opened slightly to stare at his face.
"Chris? Ya awake?" queried Vin, hoping to get an answer.
"Y...eah. T...think so. Where...are we?"
"Still on Bad Rock," answered Vin.
Chris chuckled softly, but soon it turned into coughing. Vin tried to sit him up more to help relieve him of it and found that it had helped. Chris coughing subsided and his eyes focused on the young curly-haired man at his side.
"What's so funny?" asked Vin lightened by the fact that his friend could laugh at their predicament.
"Seems...it's livin' up to its name," said Chris laughing again.
"Yeah, ya right about that, Pard."
"How...long?"
"How long ya been out?"
"Yeah."
"Only a couple of hours. It'll be dark soon."
Chris heard the worry and fear in his friend's voice and wondered why.
"Vin?"
"Yeah, Chris?"
"Is...there anything...anything wrong?"
Vin did not want to worry the gunslinger, so he smiled slightly and said, "Nothin' for ya to worry about, Cowboy."
Chris looked at him suspiciously and said, "Ya...sure?"
"Yeah. Why don't ya try and get some more sleep. I'm sure the boys are on the way right now. It's past the time we said we'd be back and knowin' Buck, he'll have hightailed it right out town to look for us."
Chris nodded, but he heard the tinge of doubt in his friend's voice. He wanted to reassure him that things would be fine, but he knew he would be lying and it was one thing he was not going to do to someone he considered one of his closest friends.
Chris could not help it. His eyes closed slowly to everything around him and to the friend he knew was hurting. He drifted off to the blackness as it called his name.
"Chris!" Vin called again, but he had seen as the blond's eyes slowly closed and knew it was not good.
"Damn, Cowboy. I am so sorry," said Vin softly. He knew the man did not hear him and he stood up, frustrated at his helplessness. There was nothing he could do, except leave his friend and go search for help, but then the fear of losing Chris kept pounding at him. Tears of rage were forming in his blue eyes.
He was about to utter another curse at fate when he heard the sound of hooves coming up the rocky plateau. He turned to look and found the five men he hoped for coming towards him.
"Buck! Nathan!" he said screaming. "Hurry! Chris is hurt bad!"
He watched as the others quickly galloped over to him and he absently wiped at the one tear that had escaped.
Nathan quickly dismounted and knelt by the unconscious man. He then turned to Vin and asked, "How long has it been?"
"Goin' on three days now. I was afraid he wouldn't make it," said Vin, his voice shaky.
Buck came over and leaned over the healer and his patient. "How is he, Nate?"
"Well, from what I can tell, he got a large bump on his head and a cut that's gon'na need some stitches, probably has a concussion. Vin was he awake at any time?"
"Yeah, off and on. He had a fever comin' but I kept it down by keepin' him wet."
"That was right smart, Vin."
"The only other thing Nate was that he was coughing a lot. It's been hard from him to breath. I thought maybe he had some broken ribs, but I can't find a bruise on ‘im."
"Hmmm. It might be that bruised some ribs and it might caused injury inside. Won't know for sure ‘til we get ‘im to town."
"But how?" questioned Buck. "He don't look like we can move ‘im."
"He had ride with me on my horse," said Vin.
"Vin, you look like three miles of bad road right now. I don't think you strong enough to hold him," commented Buck.
Vin glared at Buck and said, "I'm strong enough. Don't ya worry none!"
Buck's posture softened as he realized that the young tracker was blaming himself for what happened.
"Listen, I'm sorry, Vin, but I'm only speakin' the truth," replied Buck.
"He's right, Vin. The most important thing is to get him back to town," interjected Nathan.
Vin reluctantly agreed. He knew that Chris needed to be taken care of and he would deal with his own guilt later.
***
It took them all an hour to get down off the plateau and another two hours to town. All that time, Chris was unconscious and Vin was riding what seemed to the others to be in misery, mostly about his part in Chris' accident. They were back in the town and had Chris finally settled around mid-day. Nathan quickly went to work and ushered the others out, including Vin, whom he told to go to his wagon and get some sleep. But of course, as they others did leave Vin did not. He took a seat outside the door on the porch of Nathan's clinic, waiting for word of his friend's health. It was a couple of hours later, when Nathan finally emerged, his hands rubbing vigoriously on a towel.
Vin jumped up from his cross-legged squat on the porch and approached the dark-skinned healer. "How is he?"
"He'll be fine in a week or two. It seemed the muscle surrounding the ribs were bruised and was causing him some pain, which in turned kept him from breathing deeply, causing his lungs not to expand like they should. But I put some healing poultices on them and should ease the pain enough for him to breath more deeply. He's been asking about you."
Vin's surprise showed on his face. "He's awake?"
"Been awake for the past hour and keeps asking about you. I'd go in there if I was you. It'll keep him quiet and calm if he sees ya."
Vin nodded silently and walked passed the healer through the door to the clinic. When he got inside, he found Chris lying on the bed, slightly propped up, bandages wrapped around his head and bare chest. His eyes seemed closed, but as Vin got closer, he saw them pop open and look at him.
"Vin!" came Chris' raspy call. "Where ya been?"
Vin smiled gently and walked to sit in the chair next to the bed. "Outside, Cowboy. Waitin' for ya to wake up."
"Everything turned out alright, didn't it?"
"Yeah, it sure did, Chris. But I have to tell ya, I was worried there for a while."
"To tell ya the truth, Vin, me too. But we should of known that the boys wouldn't let us down."
Vin smiled disappeared and he grimaced. "Yeah, not like me."
"What? What are you talkin' about, Vin?"
"I let ya down, Chris. Just like in the legend. My bond with ya wasn't strong enough," said Vin guiltily. Vin bowed his head in shame since he could not look his friend in the eyes.
"Listen, Vin, that's nonsense ya talkin'. If it wasn't for you, I probably would have died. Ya know what kept me goin'?"
Vin raised his blue eyes and stared at the green ones looking at him and shook his head.
"You did, you scrawny rat Texan! If it wasn't for you I would of never stayed alive. It was you and that stupid, unbelievable bond that kept me going. And if ya ever doubt it again, I blow a hole through that skinny hide of yours," said Chris.
Vin looked at him astonished, but knew what Chris was saying was heartfelt and true. "Thanks, Cowboy."
"No. Thank you, Vin. Ya saved my life, even if ya don't want to admit it." Chris then smiled gently at him.
Vin touched Chris' shoulder in deep friendship and love for his soul brother.
Chris returned the touch, but using his own hand to cover Vin's. There bond was intact and the although the Bad Rock had tried to proof it false, it did not succeed. In fact, it made it even stronger. At that moment the others walked into the clinic noisily. Vin and Chris both released their hold to stare at the usually rowdy and loud voices of their other friends.
"I said I'm sorry, Buck!" exclaimed JD. "What do you want me to do?"
"I want ya to get her back here," retorted Buck angrily. "It was your fault she left!"
"Now what are ya goin' on about?" asked Vin curious.
"JD just lost me the best filly in this here town!" explained Buck.
"And how did he do that, Buck?" asked Chris from his lying position.
Buck eyes widened in alarm as he realized he would have to tell Chris and Vin that he had almost chosen between a girl and his friends' lives.
"Yeah, Buck. How did I do that?" quipped JD.
"Uh...ah...nothing," stuttered Buck.
The others snickered and chuckled at that comment and Chris and Vin looked on in bewilderment. Chris relaxed on the pillow as he listened to the banter of his friends, feeling a peace and tranquility come over him and knowing that the bond that kept him alive was sitting by his side.
Vin sat back in the chair, pulling his hat over his blue eyes he fell into a deep sleep, knowing that the bond that kept him alive was lying in the bed next to him. Ezra pointed towards the two sleeping men and nudged Josiah next to him. Josiah then nudged Nathan who in turn, nudged JD who in turn slapped Buck on the shoulder.
"What did ya do that for?" exclaimed Buck. He then looked at where Ezra was pointing and smiled. Lowering his voice he said, "Let's get out here so these two can get their beauty sleep." He then turned towards the open door.
The others quietly filed out behind him, Nathan being the last. He said to no one in particular, "'Bout time." And he closed the door on the two friends who had proven that their bond was strong enough to stand even against the legend of Bad Rock.
The End.
-
PHOENIX
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The characters belong to various production/film/TV companies. No profit is being made and no copyright infringement is intended.
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Author's Chapter Notes: This is for Roo’s birthday. She wanted Chris hurt with Vin comfort. |