Vin Tanner was sitting on a low bench watching what was going on around him. Absently he fingered the red splattered across his chest. ‘Shot, I can’t believe I’ve been shot. And not just shot, but the first one shot.’ He thought ‘ and not just once, four hits.’
He sat watching the woods, every now and then he could see movement, in the quiet area.
All at once he heard a volley of shots, coming from the direction he had seen Chris head in earlier.
He sat up a little straighter and scanned the woods to see if his worst fears were confirmed.
A several long minutes later, he relaxed when he saw Chris Larabee limp out of the woods. He did a quick scan of his friend to make sure he was ok.
‘Shot in the thigh,’ he smirked, ‘several to the chest.’
Chris made his way over to Vin, and sat down next to him, he slowly stretched out his legs. He smirked and glanced at Vin.
“So you were shot first. Did ya see who got ya?”
“Nope. Came outta nowhere. Next thing I know I am covered in red paint. What about you did ya get a look?” Vin asked.
“No.” Chris answered, while gently rubbing his chest. “Those things pack a wallop.”
“That they do cowboy, that they do.” Vin said, while glancing sideways at Chris, “Sure does beat the real thing though.”
“I hear ya there pard.” Chris chuckled
They sat in silence for a few minutes, both men scanning the woods, wondering who would next fall victim to the shooter.
“Ya know, we should be able to vote on what we do for birthdays” Chris grumbled.
“You know that ain’t how it goes, it’s JD’s birthday, and this is what he wanted to do. ‘sides it’s no different from when we went to that museum and fancy restaurant with Ez.” Vin said
Chris sighed heavily, “Yeah I know.”
Vin grinned “Wonder who will be next?”
They both thought for a moment.
At the same time they both announced who they thought would be next.
“Josiah” Vin Said. “Ezra” Chris stated.
“Ezra?” Vin looked at Chris shocked. “No not Ez, he can get out of anything.
“Josiah? No Vin your wrong.”
“Think about it Larabee, ‘siah has been around, he’s older, he will be next.”
“Wrong Tanner, just because Josiah has been around, means just that, he has experience. Now Ezra, well he takes to many risks, so it will be him.”
“Nope.” Vin said.
“Nope, that’s your answer, Nope?” Chris asked.
“Ez, has been in every situation you can think of, and some ya can’t. So it ain’t gonna be him.” Vin paused before continuing, “ Tell ya what Larabee, I say Josiah, you say Ez, lets make a bet on it.”
Chris glanced at Vin. “What kind of bet.”
“Nothing major, cowboy, loser buys the first round.” Vin said.
Chris grinned and answered. “Your on.”
The men clasped there fore arms together in the familiar warriors grip.
The both settled back to watch the game. It wasn’t long before they heard another round of shots being fired. Both men sat up and leaned forward scanning the woods.
Vin pointed off to the left they could see a figure making there way through the woods.
Both men were eagerly watching wanting to know who won the bet.
At the same time they exclaimed, “Buck!?!”
Buck slowly made his way over to where Vin and Chris were sitting. He had taken a couple of shots to the side, and arm.
“Junior, Big dog, what’s going on?” he said as he slowly sat down.
“Who got ya Bucklin?” Vin asked
“Not a clue Junior, not a clue.” Buck said while leaning back.
“So who was the first victim?” Buck asked
Chris smirked and said. “Vin was.”
Buck started laughing. Gasping for breath he said “Ok let me get this straight, the Sharpshooter was the first victim?”
“Shut up Bucklin” Vin grumbled.
Chris started laughing along with Buck.
Buck still gasping for breath asked “So what were you boys talking about?”
“Who the next vic was going to be.” Chris answered.
“So who did ya think it would be?” Buck asked.
“Well cowboy there thought it would be Ezra.” Vin said chuckling
“And Vin thought it would be Josiah.” Chris chuckled.
“Well boys your both wrong.” Buck stated
“We see that Bucklin.” Vin said laughing, Chris joining him.
Buck turned his head and looked at Vin.
That made Vin and Chris laugh even harder.
Buck sighed. “Well your both wrong the next vic will be JD. Boy always gets himself into trouble.”
Vin and Chris looked at each, a silent exchange passed between the two.
“Tell ya what Bucklin, if JD is the next vic, Chris and I will buy the first round, if not you buy the first round.” Vin said.
“You boys are on.” Buck answered as they shook hands.
They all leaned back to relax for a moment, before Buck added, “ I am so sure the next person shot will be JD that I think we aught to up the bet, not just the first round of drinks but dinner too. And I don‘t mean McDonalds either Junior, a nice dinner.”
“Ain’t nothing wrong with McDonalds Bucklin.” Vin grumbled.
Chris started laughing, “Vin some of us like real food once in awhile.”
Vin started to reply when they heard another series for shots being fired.
‘Think that was off to the right. Who headed that direction?” Chris asked.
“Not sure.” Vin answered.
“Wasn’t payin attention.” Buck said.
Chris just looked at both of them disgusted.
“What?” they both asked.
“These are your team mates and you don’t know where they are?” He asked.
“Sure we do cowboy.” Vin said.
“Yep, big dog we do.” Buck answered.
“Ok where are they then?” Chris asked.
Vin looked at him like he was crazy. “In the woods, of course.”
Chris could feel the vein in his forehead start to throb.
The men set up and waited for the latest victim to come out of the woods. About five minutes later, they saw a figure heading toward the tree line.
Vin’s eyes got wide, he started to laugh, he elbowed Chris and pointed.
Ezra Standish stepped out of the woods, his chest and abdomen, where cover in red paint.
Chris looked to were Vin was pointing and started to chuckle, “I feel like steak, AND maybe lobster tonight, Buck.” He said.
Buck’ eyes got wide and he said “Ah hell, damnit Ez why did ya have to go and get yourself shot?”
“I’m sorry Mr. Wilmington, I wasn’t doing it on purpose I a sure you.” Ezra answered.
“Hey Ez, did ya see you shot ya?” Vin asked while handing Ezra a bottle of water.
“Thank you,” he pause to take a long drink of water. “No I didn’t see. So who was the first fallen member of our group?” He asked.
Buck and Chris started laughing. “Vin” they answered.
“Really?” Ezra said while arching his eyebrow.
“Yes Ez I was the first.” Vin sighed.
“We have been taking bets on who we think is next, Buck here said JD, and now is going to buy dinner and the first round of drinks tonight.” Chris said.
Buck just looked at Chris, “So Ez, who do you think the next vic will be”
“Why Nathan of course.” He answered before taking another long swallow of water.
“Nathan?” Vin asked.
“Yes, you see we are all trained in the art of combat, Nathan was a medic in the military. So logically he should be the next vic.” Ezra explained.
“Makes sense cowboy.” Vin said.
“Yeah it does.” Chris agreed.
Ezra joined the men on the bench.
“So Bucklin, where ya gonna take us for dinner?” Vin asked.
“Mr. Tanner, I do believe that is Mr. Dunne’s decision and not ours to make, and God willing he will pick some place that has decent food, and not fast food.” Ezra stated.
Buck and Chris started laughing, Ezra looked at them like they had lost there minds.
“Sorry Ez, but big dog here just got done saying the same thing, when you where shot.” Buck said.
“I see, well…” Before Ezra could continue shots could be heard.
“Wonder which of our associates will be the victim this time?” Ezra asked.
Patiently they scanned the woods waiting to see who would step out into view.
After a few breathless moments, there team mate stepped out of the woods.
A chorus of “Josiah’s” rang thru the air.
Grinning he made his way over to his brothers, he was splattered with paint on the left side of his chest and shoulder.
“Brothers” He called out to them.
“Josiah.” Chris answered. “Did you see who got ya?”
“No brother Chris I didn’t” Josiah answered while accepting a bottle of water from Vin.
“Who was…” He never finished as a chorus of “Vin” rang out.
Josiah’s booming laughter could be heard into the woods. The remaining players grinned to themselves, one wondering what was so funny, and the other knowing the answer.
“Mr. Sanchez, Mr. Wilmington is taking all of us out for dinner this evening.” Ezra said, while moving over to make room for Josiah to sit down.
“Have we decided where we are going?” Josiah asked
Buck spoke up, “Gonna leave that up to the kid.”
“Gentlemen, do you realize that leaves Mr. Dunne, and Mr. Jackson in the woods. And that one of them has systematically stalked each one of us and eliminated us.” Ezra commented.
“What are ya saying Ez?” Vin asked.
“Gentlemen, out of the two men in the woods only one has military training, and I think we grossly overlooked that, by assuming he is just a medic.” Ezra said.
At that time they heard another series of shots.
Each man sat up and focused on the woods, waiting to see if Ezra’s theory is correct.
Two men stepped out into the clearing, one covered with paint and laughing at what the other one had said.
“Nathan!?!” Five voices rang out.
They watched as the two men made there way over to the bench.
“How Nathan?” Chris asked.
“Easy, you all are creatures of habit, I just followed your patterns and that’s how I eliminated you. Vin always goes high and watches Chris’ back first, eliminate Vin, you eliminate Chris. Buck, worries more about JD and not about himself. Ezra always takes unnecessary risks. Josiah, you just have to have patience on.”
“What about JD?” Buck asked.
“Thought that was clear, Buck, it’s his birthday, you don’t shoot the birthday boy first, you save him for last.” Nathan said laughing.