Prologue
The Annoucement 

Of all the things Vin Tanner never expected to be after Ely Joe’s treachery had caused a price to be put on his head, being engaged was the unlikeliest.  

Even when he fled with Charlotte Richmond, with dreams of going to Brazil to live a new life, he never considered it. After all, the act of leaving with Charlotte seemed so final, the details such as courtship, engagement, and even a wedding seemed trivial after the fact. All Vin cared about during those days of madness, was simply being with Charlotte. He never thought beyond going to Brazil where they would share each other’s lives for the rest of their days.  

Vin supposed after spending so much time with the Indians, where the ritual of claiming someone for your own was nowhere as rigid, he had forgotten things were different in Christian society.  Only after the business with Nicholas Serfontein where his relationship with Alexandra Styles was placed under scrutiny, did he realised he had done her a disservice.  After all, it was clear to the entire town of Four Corners, they were courting from the night he turned up to the dance with Alex at his arm. 

Even before that, Vin and Alex had been seen riding off together on Peso, her arms wrapped around his waist as they disappeared together for hours alone. And considering the night of the dance was also the night Vin had taken Alex’s virginity, he supposed he should have at least made some formal declaration regarding what existed between them. 

Certainly, such a declaration had quelled the wagging tongues of innuendo when Chris Larabee and Mary Travis had done the same. For years before the gunslinger and the newswoman had announced their intent to marry, the town had simmered with accusation regarding the nature of their relationship. Vin was surprised to see how their effective the announcement to marry, made discreetly in the Notice Section of the Clarion News, silenced all speculators. 

Of course, in the case of Vin and Alex, there were complications. 

The announcement in the Clarion News only referred to the engagement of Doctor Alexandra Styles, without naming her fiancé. After all, Vin still had a price on his head and it would take only one bounty hunter see his name next to hers in any announcement to realise the way to claim the $500 reward was to come after Alex. Nevertheless, the announcement was good enough for the townspeople of Four Corners and Vin was satisfied Alex’s reputation remain intact. 

Still, the fallout from the Klan’s presence in Four Corners left behind an indelible impression on Alex. Having been the main target of the Klan’s hatred, Alex was kidnapped by Francis Lamont and subjected to abuses that left visible bruises on the doctor’s skin for weeks, despite her dusky colouring. While it gained her sympathy, it also revealed indirectly, the shame of those who’d allowed the Klan’s vile rhetoric to infect their view of their neighbours. Privately, Vin was forced to sneak into her house beneath anyone’s notice to comfort her while she slumbered. 

During her ordeal with Lamont, Alex had been forced to take refuge within an old well and inadvertently became trapped there. Vin had recalled Alex telling him of her fears regarding small, dark spaces and had Alex’s father, William Styles been alive, he would have told the tracker of a fall into an abandoned meerkat warren when she was four.  The burrow had been no more than six feet deep but it was tight and cramped, leaving Alex with a lifetime phobia whose cause she no longer remembered. 

It took weeks for her to be able to sleep without waking up shaking and after a night at Nettie Well’s, Vin and Alex had the long awaited discussion about their relationship they’d avoided until that point. In becoming engaged, Vin found himself one step closer to respectability, although the price on his head still lingered, waiting like the Sword of Damocles to fall.  As one who had never truly been happy or contented until he looked across the street and met the ice cool gaze of a black garbed gunslinger, Vin feared nothing this good could last. 

Eventually, something bad was going to invade his happiness. He just didn’t know what. 

Except it was not Vin Tanner who would be bringing forth the calamity, it would be Alex. Across the sea, the wheels of revenge had been set in motion logn before the news of their engagement had reached them. If anything, it served to add fuel to an already vengeful fire.  Even if Vin's name was absent from the engagement notice, the presence of Alex's name was enough. 

The family had known where their favourite son had fallen and why he travelled across the world to America. While they indulged his foolishness, largely because as the eldest son of their family, he had the right to do as he pleased, allowing him to die because of it was another matter. When the cause of the death was over a half-caste exile from London society, the sting of his loss was unacceptable. 

Especially when they knew he travelled to the Americas for a woman who had given the same hand he wanted in marriage to someone else.  By the time the announcement was made, the plans for vengeance were already afoot and only serve to stoked the fires of rage of those prepared to deliver it.

Chapter One
New Arrivals

“You nervous Pard?” Vin Tanner as Chris Larabee as the two men sat outside Chris’ shack, trading a bottle of whisky while they enjoyed the evening sky, far away from the noise and activity of Four Corners.

While the land around the immediate area of the shack had been somewhat cleared, the grass beaten into dirt by regular traffic and the building that had gone on, they were still surrounded by vegetation on all sides. Further out, there was only knee-high grass turning gold, burnt by the New Mexico sun while even further out than that, tall clusters of aspens stood like sentinels watching over the property, their green leaves becoming the colour of honey. They stood against a vibrant sapphire sky, smeared with glorious shades of amber as the sun bled out of the world.

Vin enjoyed coming out here and though he told the rest of the seven back in town that it was to let Chris know what was going on or to bring supplies, the truth was, he liked the quiet of the place. A man could think clearly out here, where back in town, the stomping of feet against the boardwalks, the chatter of too many voices, often with little to say of any value and the constant rumble of people going about their business, proved too much of a distraction.

While he wouldn’t trade what he had in Four Corners for anything, especially now, Vin sometimes missed the days when his life meant being out in the wilderness, having only his thoughts for company.

“Nervous?” Chris glanced at Vin, taking a swig of whiskey from the bottle and relishing the burn as it made its way down his throat, before handing it to Vin.

“Yeah, you know with the wedding.”

Chris didn’t quite smile but his lips curled enough to show his amusement. He’d seen the notice in the newspaper this week and even if Vin wasn’t mentioned specifically, there was no doubt in anyone’s mind, he was the other half of the couple mentioned in the engagement notice involving Alexandra Styles. Thanks to Nicholas Serfonteine and the goddamn Klan shining the ugly light of suspicion on Vin and Alex’s relationship, it had become necessary for the couple to make a formal declaration about their romance.

Prior to that, there was little doubt the two had been courting, what with the whole of Four Corners witnessing the somewhat scandalous way Vin and Alex would ride double on Peso, out in the wilderness for hours on end. Sure it wasn’t proper but Chris had liked seeing them together. It reminded him of how carefree he and Sarah had been in the early days of their courtship, though Hank would have killed him dead if he’d taken such liberties with his daughter.

Until then, the town had accepted their relationship as unconventional but kept the scandalmongering to a minimum because Vin knew how to be discreet when he shared Alex’s bed. There was no hint they were intimate even though Chris knew for a fact, Vin no longer spent his nights in his small wagon. The gunslinger still found a lot of amusement ribbing the tracker about the state he found them in the night Vin and Alex consummated their love. Besides, anyone who saw them together would be able to tell how deep their feelings ran for each other.

Chris who was by no means a sentimental man, even when he was carrying on an equally passionate relationship with Mary Travis, knew true love when he saw it.

Of course, all it took was a racist fuck like Serfonteine to turn things sour. Chris’ jaw still tensed when he recalled hearing how some people actually found the idea of Vin and Alex having children offensive because they would be half-breeds. God only knew what would have been Vin’s reaction if he had been privy to that line of thinking. Nevertheless, to repair Alex’s sullied reputation, it was decided they at least announce an engagement, even if Vin could not entertain the idea of marriage until his name was cleared in Tascosa.

“Not really,” Chris answered, aware Vin’s question was more for himself than anyone else. “If it’s anything like the first time, I just need to show up at the church and then it’s over.”

Vin absorbed that, saying nothing for a moment as he considered Chris’ answer before finally stating a moment later. “The engagement announcement went into the newspaper this week.”

“Yeah, I noticed,” Chris nodded. “You okay with that?”

Vin shot Chris a look and took a sip from the bottle. “Yeah I’m fine, I guess.”

“You guess? You do want to marry her right?”

Vin turned his blue eyes back into the horizon. “Can’t do without her. She’s got my heart.” He said simply and that was enough for Chris to understand how much in love with his lady the tracker was.

“But?”

Vin stiffened, hating it sometimes that Chris Larabee knew him so well, Chris was able to draw out his anxieties like venom from a wound. “I would have liked it to be because we wanted to, not because we had to. Seems like we’re doing all this to keep people from talking. I mean I know it’s gotta be this way. She can’t do her doctoring if her name’s in the mud in town but still...”

“It’s just an engagement, Vin,” Chris said kindly. “You don’t have to be married until you’re good and ready.”

“If I don’t get my name cleared, it could be never and if the wrong people get wind of what she means to me, it could mean a whole world of trouble.”

“Vin,” Chris stopped the younger man from going on before he worked himself up into a state. The trouble with Vin was, he spent so much time alone, he tended to do the same in his head, overthinking things until it drove him crazy. “Deal with it when it comes. You love Alex, don’t you?”

Vin stared at the ground, the tip of his boot made lazy circles in the dirt. “Yeah, though I never reckoned on a woman like her wanting someone like me. Yet when I look into her eyes, I know that’s all she wants. I don’t understand it.”

The lack of confidence, particularly with the opposite sex, was something Chris had encountered before. In their earliest days in Four Corners, Vin had been charmed by a woman named Jenny, whose agenda had been nothing less than the murder of Mary Travis. She had played Vin, using his insecurities about himself to make him care for her. Chris would have willingly killed the bitch for just how much damage that had done to the young man’s self-esteem. Later on, Charlotte Richmond had been no better, using Vin as a substitute for her husband. It left Vin feeling he would never be good enough for any woman.

Yet his relationship with Alex had always been different.

Considering the woman was a London educated medical doctor, their relationship was something of a mystery to those who didn’t know the couple. Chris understood it perfectly of course. During that business with Randall Mason, when Alex had ridden after Vin when Mason had given the tracker to bounty hunters, leaving Chris and Nathan to go after them both, they had talked about how such a thing could be.

Nathan who was closer to the lady doctor than possibly Vin himself, mentioned William Styles, Alex’s father, was a wanderer at heart, a free spirit who simply enjoyed travelling and seeing the world. Until his death, Alex had been his willing companion, travelling to faraway places most would only ever read about in books. Like Nathan, Chris realised it was this free spirit that Alex recognised in Vin and loved so much.

“Hell we ain’t meant to understand it,” Chris replied, taking the bottle back from Vin. “If we could understand what women thought, it would be like the second coming. Look Vin, it doesn’t matter why she loves you, only that she does. The rest of us can see it in her eyes when she looks at you. Don’t worry about anything else Vin, it’s all bullshit.”

“You gotta a nice way of turning a phrase, Chris.” Vin produced a half-smile but took his words to heart as best he could. If there was one person in the world whose opinion mattered to him, it was Chris Larabee. Chris always played it straight with him, even though he could be an ornery cuss when the mood took him. The gunslinger didn’t have patience with mincing words or sparing anyone’s feelings, he just told you things the way they were. Furthermore, his counsel wasn’t something he gave unsolicited. If he had something to say, he said it because you needed to hear it.

“Thanks, Pard,” Vin said with a faint smile. “Got another reason for coming up to see you though.”

“More than just wedding talk?” Chris smirked.

“Funny Larabee,” Vin gave him a look. He reached into his buckskin coat and pulled out a folded piece of paper before handing it to Chris.

Chris unfolded it and realised it was one of the wanted posters that came to the jailhouse frequently. JD would put them up on the board, dutifully removing the ones where the bounty had been collected. This particular poster belonged to Ambrose Wayne, a horse thief who’d been doing the rounds of the area, stealing the animals right out of their corrals and selling them individually for a tidy profit. The reward on his head was three hundred dollars, dead or alive.

“I was at Purgatorio a few days ago,” Vin spoke. “Got the word that Ambrose is showing up in the next few days. Figured I’d go stake the place out and pick him up.”

“For the bounty?” Chris stared at him, wondering how on Earth Vin expected to collect unless... “You want me to turn him in for the reward?”

“Yeah,” Vin nodded. “I figured, we’d split the money in half if that’s agreeable to you.”

“That ain’t necessary,” Chris said automatically. “Money’s all yours. I’m not taking half just to deliver the son of a bitch.”

“It’s only right, I mean, no way I can do it myself and I need the money cause I want to buy Alex a ring.”

So that was it. “A ring?” Chris tried not to smile.

“Ain’t proper that she be engaged and have no ring,” Vin stared at Chris as if this was the most reasonable thing in the world. “I can give her that at least.”

“Fair enough but I still ain’t taking half,” Chris reiterated. “Stick it in a bank or something. Save up for the day when you do decide to have a wedding. Trust me, you’ll need every penny then.”

“You just saying that because Mary’s letting Inez plan yours,” Vin teased, having been in the Standish saloon enough in the last few days to hear Inez’s preparations for the thing. The bartender who was a force of nature on her own had suddenly gone from stormy to twister in her envisioning of the ceremony, making every man present feeling grateful they weren’t Chris Larabee.

“Why do you think I’m hiding out here?” Chris grinned. “In any case, I ain’t taking the money and you should take Ezra with you when you buy the ring.”

“Why?”

“Because if there’s one thing Ezra Standish knows how to do, it’s to get something expensive for a lot less than its worth.”

*********

The sun had well and truly disappeared behind the horizon of the Territory when the stagecoach rolled into Four Corners that evening. The Butterfield Overland Conchord and its team of six horses rumbled through the dirt street, picking up mild interest from the townsfolk as it passed them by. Distinct by its coat of red paint and bright yellow wheels, the coach always managed to appear pristine even though it should be covered with dirt and bulldust.

John Sorenson, the driver who often made this run, was a fastidious man and was known to wash the stage down when it stopped for the night if it was possible to do so. Sorenson, a familiar face in the community, waved to one or two people as he directed the team of six horses towards Heidegger’s Four Corners Hotel, the agreed stop for the coach. As it was the most likely place of accommodation for most of the town’s visitors, it made sense. Furthermore, next to the granary and the Pemberton Emporium, it was the largest building in town.

Peering out of the window, the man studied the town through the veil of dust surrounding the stage as the carriage entered the last leg of its journey. As expected, it looked no different than the handful of settlements they’d passed on the journey here. Like those others, it was a place without colour or charm, so covered in dust it almost looked as if it had grown out of the desert instead of being constructed from wood and nails. Lights peered out of windows, winking at him in greeting, with passersby, provincial pheasants all of them, paused and watched their progress to the hotel.

The stagecoach came to a halt with its usual rattle, shaking everyone inside its walls with one final bit of discomfort before disembarkation. Horses snorted their gratitude for the journey’s end, dispelling their exhaustion in loud, stilted pants as they waited patiently to be stabled for the night. Sorenson climbed off the driver’s box with Carl Fellows, his shotgun messenger, who had made the run with him at least a dozen times before.

Riley Marshall climbed out of the stage before Sorenson could open the door. Dressed in a suit Ezra Standish would consider well-made, his blue-green eyes swept across the length of the street, as the fringe of his blond hair blew back against the light breeze in the air. In his early thirties, Riley stood six feet tall and held a physique accustomed to exertion, if not hard work. He would be considered ruggedly handsome by most women he encountered and would no doubt turn many a female head during his stay in Four Corners.

Turning back to the coach, he took the gloved hand extended through the door and helped the woman within emerge from the Conchord. Dressed in a deep red suit, with high neck shirt and matching hat, the woman was as equally handsome as the man helping her out of the carriage. Her blond hair was styled fashionably and she met his gaze with clear blue eyes. Once her dark boot touched the ground, she scanned the street and frowned.

“So this is the place. Are you certain about this Riley?” She asked him as if hoping he was wrong about their locale so they could climb back on board the stage and return to civilisation.

“Absolutely,” he said with confidence, helping her out of the stage as Sorenson conferred with a thin, reedy looking man in an ill-fitting suit who appeared to be the hotel porter. Meanwhile, Fellows began unloading their luggage. Riley noted the hotel in front of him and had to admit it did have possibilities. It still looked as dust-ridden as the rest of the town but it was large enough and the patronage if he could judge by the noise emanating from the saloon attached to it, was robust and lively. No doubt the hotel did good business on their custom alone.

Confident their luggage was being attended to, Riley and Cassandra headed into the hotel to get settled in.

*********

Truth be told, Ezra Standish would prefer to do his fleecing while he was in his own tavern, or rather the tavern belonging to his mother. However, Ezra never found it as satisfying to be there when the rest of his associates were not. Although he would be hard-pressed to admit it, the saloon did not feel right when the seven weren’t present and Ezra felt it most profoundly, when he was alone in the place. Unfortunately, tonight his friends were busy with their own personal occupations.

Mr Larabee was presently hiding out at his shack to avoid shooting Inez whose planning of his wedding was starting to make the taking of Gettysburg appear simple. Mr Dunne was having supper with the lovely Miss Wells at her aunt’s homestead, while Mr Jackson was studying for the equivalency exam he would have to take to become a qualified doctor. Mr Sanchez had the duty at the jailhouse while Mr Tanner was conducting business of his own out of town, and wherever Mr Wilmington was, it was sure to include a woman and a bed.

Ezra himself could not remain in the saloon for long. Glancing at the clock suspended over the shelves of liquor and glasses behind the bartender of the saloon, Ezra knew he could remain for just another half an hour before he went to meet Julia at her emporium. They made dinner plans earlier in the day and Ezra wished to be there to greet her when her day was done. A warm bloom of emotion filled him at the thought of Julia Pemberton, the feisty, scheming Easterner he loved with all his heart and was his spiritual soul mate.

Tonight, the hotel saloon was filled with the usual crowd. They included the regular barflies that remained at the counter, no matter what time of day it was, cattle hands who were in town for the night, hoping to cajole a working girl or two into their bedrooms and the locals who liked the respectability of the hotel to do their drinking.

“Well gentlemen,” Ezra declared following the groan of annoyance rippling through his opponents seated at the felt covered table with him, “I’m afraid I’m going to have to take my leave of you. I have engagements elsewhere.”

In front of him, the cards facing his opponents revealed a full house, a hand none of them were able to match and so the small collection of bills and one finely wrapped cigar was his. Ezra collected his winnings, taking note of their faces, making sure no one’s annoyance shifted into murderous anger which sometimes happened when the sting of defeat was too much for them to bear. Fortunately, his derringer was tucked neatly beneath the cuff of his jacket sleeve to mediate any disagreements.

Straightening up, Ezra caught sight of a new face stepping into the saloon. The stranger, with his fair hair and blue eyes, seemed oddly familiar, though Ezra didn’t know why. As it was, the seven took an interest of all strangers drifting into town, mostly because such intelligence usually gave them the foresight to know if trouble was coming. The man went to the bar to order a drink and Ezra decided to play good soldier for Mr Larabee by finding out something about the man since it was likely the black garb gunslinger would want the intelligence.

Stuffing his bills into his pocket, Ezra glanced at the clock once more and realised he could spend ten minutes on this endeavour before he had to go meet Julia. Maintaining his usual air of nonchalance, Ezra took up position next to the stranger at the counter and gestured at the bartender to bring him a shot of whisky.

As he stood there, he pretended to notice the man, giving him a once over before replying, “I do not believe I have seen you in this locality before? Are you new to town Sir?”

The man broke into a faint smile, “I am. I’ve just arrived here from Melbourne.”

“As in Australia?” Ezra raised a brow, even though the accent immediately gave him away. While it didn’t quite sound English, there were enough similarities to offer confusion.

“That’s right,” the man nodded. “I’ve decided to invest in the area. I’m told the region is gaining prominence and I thought a small place like this would have good potential.”

“Well with the railroad opening up, your assertion is not far from incorrect. There are plenty of opportunities here to an individual with the working capital and the acumen to exploit it. Permit me to introduce myself, I am Ezra Standish.” Ezra extended his hand as a glass of whisky was placed in front of him.

“Please to meet you, Mr Standish, I am Riley Marshall, formerly of Melbourne, Australia.” Riley took the gambler’s hand and shook it. “I take it you are a resident of these parts?”

“I am,” Ezra nodded. “I take some interest in maintaining law and order in this community. I own the Standish Saloon across the street and feel it my civic duty to ensure the clientele of all establishments in Four Corners, feel safe and secure.”

“An admirable goal,” Riley noted, thinking this dapper Southerner did not at all sound like a lawman but in this savage world, anything was possible. “And how is business?”

“It could be better but as more settlers move in, it will improve I am convinced,” Ezra said smoothly. “I imagine your native country of Australia is much the same? I am surprised you would travel so far for opportunity when Australia from what I know of the land, is also a place ripe for the entrepreneur.”

“It is,” Riley agreed, “but truth be told, I am a recent widower and wished for a new start where there were not so many memories of my dear wife.”

“I am sorry,” Ezra said sympathetically, trying to show sincere feeling in that regard if the stranger’s story were true but for some reason, his gambler’s sixth sense was telling him something was not quite right. However, whether the feeling straddled the uncertain terrain between a white lie and menace was unknown at this point so Ezra simply made note of it for now. “I can appreciate the need for a change after such a loss.”

“Thank you,” Riley replied graciously.

The clock above the bar revealed it was time to go and Ezra decided the subject matter gave him a perfect segue to make his departure. “I’m afraid I have a prior engagement and must take my leave of you. I do hope to see more of you in the future. I have never been to Australia but I would be interested in hearing more about it.” With that, Ezra tipped his hat, downing his drink with one neat swallow before stepping away from the bar.

“I will be happy to tell you all about it Mr Standish. Have a good evening.”

“Likewise,” Ezra returned and left the saloon to meet Julia.

*********

It was a universal truth that if there was a young woman of marriageable age, who was beautiful and unattached, it was highly likely she would be discovered by Buck Wilmington within thirty minutes of her arrival in Four Corners. When the visitor just off the stage, decided she would take a turn of the boardwalk to stretch her legs after the formalities of checking in were taken care of at the hotel, she was immediately noticed by everyone on the street.

It was difficult for her to go unobserved in any crowd. For a town blessed with a number of beautiful women, she stood out as something new and those who happened to notice her eyed her with interest and admiration. Buck Wilmington, who once again was driven to a stalemate in his ongoing battle to win the hand of the fair Inez Recillos, sighted the woman as she left the hotel and immediately staked his claim.

Way too many women were being stolen out from under his nose lately. First, the lovely Doctor Styles who breezed into town months ago, dazzling not only him but both Ezra and Vin. Fortunately, Buck was not heartbroken about missing out on Alex’s affections because she and Vin were so good together, even the Lothario’s heart was warmed by the love he saw there. No, what had stung, was missing out on Julia Pemberton, the beautiful emporium owner with the alabaster skin who he tried so hard to win only to realise she’d set her cap for Ezra Standish.

It was enough to make him think his animal magnetism was on the wane.

“Good evening Miss,” Buck greeted as he came alongside the beautiful woman, following her Lily of the Valley perfume. “I ain’t seen you around here before, I take it you just came from the stage?”

Cassandra turned to the tall stranger who’d presumed to join her on her walk. Reminding herself it was the custom in the New World, particularly in these parts, for men to simply begin conversations with women they did not know, without the benefit of the introduction, Cassandra flashed him her most dazzling smile. Aside from being tall, his features were handsome even if the most prominent thing about him was the thick moustache. He looked very much like the quintessential ‘cowboy’ that ruled much of the West.

“I did,” she said pleasantly. “I thought I’d take a turn of the boardwalk to stretch my legs.”

Buck raised a brow at the accent. “You’re English.”

“Why yes, I am.” She smiled, “I suppose my accent is somewhat obvious.”

“Yeah it is, but I also know another young lady in town who talks the same way. She’s English I think."

“You think?”

“Yeah,” Buck nodded because it occurred to Buck then that Alex may have sounded like this beautiful woman in front of him but he didn’t know for sure if she’d been born in England. He made a mental note to ask Vin about it later. “She’s got your accent but I ain’t sure she’s from your neck of the woods.”

“Well the Empire is more than England,” Cassandra replied, understanding his dilemma now. “I am Cassandra Heglund, just arrived from London.” She offered him her hand.

Buck took it and kissed it in the fancy fashion she was probably accustomed to before he introduced himself. “Buck Wilmington at your service Miss Heglund. I’m one of the lawmen in town and if you’re wanting to take a turn, I’d like to play escort. We’ve got men who’ve ridden hard and been drinking all day since they hit the town. At this time of night, it may not be safe for a lady as pretty as you to walk on your own.”

Instinctively, she swept her blue-eyed gaze across the street and noted the only establishments open at this time of the night were either the saloons or the hotel. The clunking of a badly tuned piano and the lively chatter of voices emanating from the swing doors of the taverns seemed to confirm his comment. Elsewhere, the doors to other businesses were notably closed, with the lights in their windows blinking into darkness for the evening. Finally, the proportion of men on the street, as opposed to women, was inordinately high, too much to be considered comforting for any decent woman.

“I see what you mean,” she agreed with a nod and resumed walking, giving him a look that prompted him to join her. “And you are part of the constabulary Mr Wilmington?”

“Yes I am,” he grinned, pleased at the invitation. “We keep the peace around here, make sure no one gets rowdy, so decent folk can go about their business.”

“How admirable,” she replied, deciding he had a nice smile and a rustic charm to him.

“And what brings you here to Four Corners, Miss Heglund? This is a long way to come from England.” Buck remarked, thinking she had the prettiest blue eyes he’d ever seen and hoped she wasn’t just passing through for the night.

“Well I’m travelling with a friend of the family,” she explained. “He’s interested in buying the hotel and if he is successful, I would be installed as his singer.”

“Heidegger’s Hotel?” Buck said with surprise, unaware the German was intending to sell. Then again, if the money was good enough, the man would be a fool not too. Furthermore, with a songstress as pretty as this one taking the stage, every man in town would be fighting to get through the door to see her. Hell, he sure would.

“Yes that’s right,” Cassandra nodded. “Riley has been in correspondence with the gentlemen for the last month and we’ve arrived to finalise the sale.”

Mary was going to be pissed, Buck thought. Mary Travis usually had her ear close to the ground about such goings-on. It would bother her to know such a sale was taking place without her having the least bit idea of it. It would be an affront to her journalistic integrity and Buck made it a point to tell her this news in the morning, just to see the reaction. Buck did love to get his fun where he could.

“Now that’s a surprise,” Buck said wondering what the new owner of the hotel would be like. Hopefully, the man didn’t get it in his mind to start raising prices. “And you’re a singer. I never would have pictured it.”

“Why not?” She asked as they crossed the street, now they’d reached one end of the boardwalk. By now the sun had truly set and the clear sky revealed a moon that was full and glowing with unparalleled beauty. The light diminished the glitter of the stars nearest to it but still, the Territory sky’s breathtaking canvas could not be held back for long.

“Because, you look to me like a lady who should be riding around in fine carriages, with fancy footmen and maids, waiting on you hand and foot. You look way too beautiful to be singing in a hotel. You don’t send a thoroughbred to do menial work.” He said using Ezra’s favourite phrase.

“You are sweet,” she laughed. “I sing because I like to, Mr Wilmington. It’s a passion and I do it well.”

“No offence intended Miss Heglund,” Buck said quickly, not wanting to offend her. “I just think you are too beautiful a flower to be anything but worshipped by anyone who saw you.” His voice took on the tone of huskiness that allowed him to ride into the beds of many a young lady.

“Well I cannot say I am immune to being worshipped,” she winked at him, which only made his smile broader.

“I’m happy to be one of the converted,” Buck liked her humour.

“I have a feeling you’ve charmed many a goddess before me,” she teased. “What about this other woman with my accent? How do I know you haven’t fallen prey to other ladies of the Empire?”

Buck laughed, not about to trust himself with answering that question with anything resembling the truth. “You’re the only one I can think of that way Miss Heglund,” he said in mock hurt. “The other woman with your accent is a lady doctor who’s engaged to one of my best friends and those two, they only got eyes for each other.”

“A lady doctor?” Cassandra’s eyes narrowed in calculation. “I did not think there were such things.”

“Oh yeah,” Buck replied. “Alex is a real doctor from London. Came out here less than a year ago and set up shop. Seems she couldn’t doctor anywhere else on account she was a woman but that’s everyone else’s loss. She’s been real good for Four Corners.”

And it was true, Buck had to admit. Aside from making Vin happier than Buck had ever seen him before, Alex helped them through some tough scrapes since her arrival in town. From nursing their wounds to giving Nathan some relief in the burden of healing that had been his responsibility from the moment he hit town. More recently, her friendship with Nathan had evolved into her helping him to gain accreditation to become a real doctor, something the former slave richly deserved.

“Sadly, it is a man’s world,” Cassandra returned. “And does this lady have a name? I might call on her. It would be nice to meet someone who’s from England, especially when I start to feel homesick.”

“Oh I’m sure she’d like that,” Buck smiled, pleased to know Miss Heglund intended remaining in town for a while. As much as he harboured hopes with Inez, Buck had to accept the lady might never return his affections and he was a man with needs. If a gorgeous filly like Miss Heglund was within his reach, Buck was not going to waste the opportunity to get to know the woman. “Her name is Alexandra Styles and she has a clinic in town. If you want to meet her, just say the word.”

“I will take you up on that when I am settled Mr Wilmington,” Cassandra smiled. “I think I will quite look forward to meeting Doctor Styles.”

*********

“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right.
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.”

Alexandra Styles lowered the book and raised her eyes to Vin Tanner who was lying next to her on the picnic blanket, his arms folded beneath his head as he stared up at the stars, listening to her recital. Just like he’d recite poetry to her, often spoken from the heart, she’d recited some to him from the books he couldn’t read, because as she once said, she couldn’t write a poem to save her life.

They were lying under the stars by the creek on the property belonging to Nettie Wells, as they sometimes did, with Peso tethered somewhere in the darkness. In the sky above, the stars and the moon listened to the exchange of poetic words with mild interest as they usually did when Vin and Alex came out here alone.

He’d come to collect her after he got back to town from Chris’s shack and they’d ridden out under the cover of darkness, with supper in a basket so they could share the evening together. Even if they were now officially engaged, whatever that meant, Vin made sure their departure remained unseen. People still thought it wasn’t proper for Alex to be riding with him double on Peso but it was one concession she would never give them and Vin loved her for it.

Something told him they would be doing it until the day that both of them were too old and grey to get on a horse.

“That one was pretty,” he commented.

“Elizabeth Barrett Browning,” Alex answered, crawling across the space between them to nestle herself comfortably in the crook of his arm. Lying next to him, she lifted her chin to meet his lips in a soft kiss before adding, “I still like your poetry better.”

“You’re just saying that ‘cause I’m saving you from becoming a mean ol’ spinster woman.” He remarked, a smile of teasing on his face.

“Yeah you’re right,” she nudged him in the ribs gently. “I’m obligated to agree with everything you say now because we’re engaged.”

Whether or not he knew it, Alex was rather happy by the fact they now had an understanding. The nature of Vin had always kept her from imposing formality on him. Part of why she loved him so much was his wild, untamed spirit. She could think of nothing worse than trying to make a farmer out of him or force him into any vocation that would gut the heart out of his wandering soul.

Nevertheless, she wished to be engaged, not merely because she wanted it known he was her man, but also because she suspected he didn’t think he was good enough for her. Why this was so, Alex couldn’t fathom, considering how ardent his feelings had been from the moment he dared to express them to her.

In fact, it was right at this very creek, Alex realised she might love him when her worries about operating on Ezra had spilled forth in tears of weakness. The moment Vin had taken her hands to offer her comfort, Alex felt her heart stop, as if it needed re-calibration because its definition of love had just received a reality check, and what she thought she knew of it until that point, was wrong. Even when they were trapped in Agnes Doherty’s cabin, where she’d almost made love to him, Alex realised how wrong it felt being with Ezra and how perfect wanting Vin was.

When Randall Mason came to town, the old friend who had become a living nightmare, she could no longer deny how she felt. Even though she wouldn’t say it to him until much later, she would not have given up her virginity to anyone she wasn’t in love with. When they consummated their relationship, it wasn’t a clumsy meeting of flesh but something beautiful, something she would remember until her last breath.

This skin-clad barbarian as Randall so viciously described him, with the soul of a poet and the heart of a wanderer made her feel like the most precious thing in the world. Vin won her over with the sincerity of his feelings. She wanted to spend her whole life with him, to bear his children, and share all the things with him an independent woman like herself often scoffed at. Even better, he was one of those rare men that did not wish her to sacrifice her own dreams to be his.

“That make you happy Doc?” He asked suddenly, making her look up at him.

“Being engaged?”

“Yeah,” he nodded. “I mean I know we’re doing it to keep folk from staying out of our business but it is what you really wanted right?”

“Would you marry me tomorrow if you could?” She asked instead.

Vin blinked, taken back by the question. His expression hardened as if he was trying to think of the best answer. “If it weren’t for this price on my head, yeah, I would.”

“Me too,” Alex answered. “I love you, Vin, There’s never going to be anyone else. I wanted to be engaged because I want to be your wife someday and for right now, I want everyone to know I’ve chosen you for mine, no matter what happens.”

“I’m yours huh?” Vin smiled, liking the sound of that very much.

Whether or not she knew it, her words made his heart swell up in his chest like an inflating balloon. It had been a long road for him to get here, but she had been worth it. Tilting his head, he breathed in the scent of her hair and committed it to memory. He loved how her scent would cling to his shirts when he’d stayed overnight and she’d slipped it on instead of her robe, to go get a drink of water or something. It would stay with him all day.

“Yep,” Alex quipped. “You’re my man, Vin Tanner. I’ll call out any gal who tries to make a move on you.”

Her attempt to sound like a local was thoroughly ridiculous with her accent, making him laugh out loud.

“Okay, I’ll make sure I pass that along when I leave town.”

“Leave town?” Alex raised her head and stared at him. “You know, you fleeing town after we just put the announcement for our engagement doesn’t fill me with confidence.”

“I ain’t fleeing town,” he tickled the spot beneath her ribs that always made her squirm. “Just got some business to take care of for a few days and then I’ll be back. Just an outlaw needs picking up in Purgatorio.”

“Oh okay,” she nodded, perfectly comfortable with that. Of course, she always worried when he went off to face God only knew what with the seven, but this too was part of what he was and she accepted it. He was the best tracker in the Territory according to Chris Larabee, and just like her skills as a doctor was needed, his skillset put him in demand. “Be safe for me?”

“Always,” he said kissing her nose. “Although I figured when we get back maybe we could go away somewhere. Just the two of us.”

“Really?” She eyed him, liking the idea of going away with him. “What do you have in mind?”

“I’m thinking some out of the way place where no one knows who we are,” he met her eyes with a sly smirk, “where we could spend a day or two in a room with a bed, and door that locks.”

“Mr Tanner, I like your thinking. Maybe I’ll leave a day earlier to go to Sweetwater and we can meet up somewhere out of town?” She suggested.

“I like that,” Vin agreed, wanting no repeat of the vilification that resulted because of Nicholas Serfonteine and his Klan. While Vin still snuck into Alex’s bed at nights, he was mindful of not doing it too frequently. Of course, the engagement made it easier for him to come and go but he always hated leaving her in the dead of night. He wanted to know what it was like to wake up with her in his arms, to spend a whole night together.

“Any idea where we should go?” Alex asked.

“Haven’t thought that far ahead yet,” Vin replied. “Didn’t think you were gonna be so easy.”

“Easy!” She swatted him on the shoulder. “You’d be very sorry if I withheld my favours, Mr Tanner”

“I don’t know, I mean I only took you into my bed to keep you from turning into an old dried up maid.”

Vin loved to bait Alex, aware of just how magnificently she would rise to the occasion. In the early days of their relationship, before it had become a romance, their verbal sparring bordered between flirtatious and foreplay. They had gotten so much under each other’s skin there was only one way for them to end up. Either killing each other or falling madly in love. Vin was always certain it was going to be the latter.

“You’re funny,” she mounted him, her bottom grinding against his groin in challenge.

Loving the delicious weight of her against him, Vin slid both hands beneath her skirt, running his palms along her thighs, relishing the feel of them against his skin. “And you’re beautiful.”

“Now how am I supposed to stay mad at you when you say things like that to me?” Alex leaned forward and pressed her lips to his in a deep, searching kiss.

“Only one way to find out,” he took hold of her hips and flipped her over, so he could roll on top of her.

Alex laughed as she found herself on her back, her legs parting immediately so she could cradle him between them. “I love you cowboy,” she smiled, drinking in his blue eyes.

“I love you Doc,” Vin said before covering her body with his, to show her just how much.

Chapter Two
Meetings

When the stranger walked into the saloon the next day at noon, Chris Larabee was struck with a sense of familiarity, though he could not explain why.

While he did stand out amongst the other patrons of the Standish Saloon, in his expensive clothes, blond hair and refined features, a few seconds of deep scrutiny by the gunslinger produced no memory of ever meeting the man and yet the familiarity remained. Seated at the table with the rest of the seven, except for Vin who’d ridden out of town this morning to begin his hunt for Ambrose Wayne and JD who was doing his morning patrols, Chris had come in for Inez’s lunchtime menu.

Although he and Mary were engaged, he was not so presumptuous as to assume she would automatically drop everything the instant he hit Four Corners. After all, she was still the editor of the Clarion News and her days were busy, writing her articles and being involved in community affairs. What was more likely, was after he was done with his duties as lawman of Four Corners for the day, he would share supper with her after a few drinks with his friends at the saloon.

By the evening, the establishment would stink of stale liquor, cigar smoke and sweaty bodies from the trail, but at this moment, what wafted through the place was the aromatic scent of cinnamon, scorched chilli, oregano and epazote. Aside from being able to plan a wedding like a deranged militant, Inez was a fine cook and the main reason why the saloon performed as well as it did. Of course, it would take being dragged by wild horses across the Panhandles before Ezra admitted it.

“When did he get in?” Chris asked, waiting for his food while nursing a cup of hot coffee.

“The stage last evening,” Josiah Sanchez rumbled, noticing the man’s arrival before his meal of chilaquiles was served. “Apparently he’s interested in buying the hotel.”

Chris raised a brow at that. He was certain Mary would have mentioned it if someone was interested in buying the hotel. As one of the town’s recognised community leaders, Mary kept an eye on new people who would leave a significant mark on Four Corners.

“Really? I didn’t know the German was interested in selling.”

“Everyone’s got a price Chris,” Buck pointed out, his eyes following Inez flouncing around the room, serving customers, waiting for her to come back his way before he could make another ritualistic attempt to gain her attention. “I spoke to the filly he came to town with. Prettiest thing you ever saw, seems she’s going to be singing at the place when Heidegger sells.”

“Filly?” Nathan Jackson asked peering over his copy of Hanaoka Seishu’s Surgical Casebook which Alex loaned him for his studies to reach accreditation. “Man, do you have a divining rod for women or something?”

“He does,” Chris drawled with a wicked sneer, “it’s just below his belt.”

The comment drew a sudden burst of guffaws from all those present, with Buck wearing a grin on his face that revealed he was neither offended or unrepentant by his ability to find female company, no matter where he was. Leaning forward, he added with an equally triumphant smirk, “and the ladies all love it.”

Inez who happened to be walking by at the time overheard the remark and snorted derisively, “sure they do.”

“Inez, once you get a taste of me, I’ll ruin you for other men!” Buck hollered after her, aware of her affections for him, even if she wasn’t prepared to fall into his arms like every other woman he encountered. Buck considered this a challenge that would only make their eventual coupling all the more unforgettable when she finally succumbed to his charms.

Inez paused long enough to retaliate. “Yes, I will enter a nunnery and swear off them forever.”

With that, she turn her back on him, her red skirt flouncing like the flag of surrender on the discussion, before slipping behind the bar to return to the customers waiting to be served.

“Anyway, you were saying Buck?” Chris rolled his eyes, more interested in hearing about the stranger and his plans to buy the hotel than the continuing saga of Buck and Inez’s non-existent romance.

“Sorry,” Buck snapped back to the subject at hand. “Seems that fellow over there,” he gestured to the stranger who seemed to be studying the mug of beer he had been served, trying to decide if he was going to drink it or not. “Has been writing to the German, talking about selling the place and it looks like he’s here to make it all final.”

Ezra Standish who had been at a different table, engaged in a game of cards with some trail hands that had come in for the day, concluded his game and joined his friends, once he’d stuffed his winnings into his pockets. Taking up the empty seat next to Nathan, he glanced at Inez and gestured for her to bring him a fresh drink, which the seven had come to know, took the place of lunch in the gambler’s world.

“Hey Ezra,” Chris asked quietly, “you know anything about the hotel being sold?”

The gambler could be a veritable fountain of information when needed. Aside from fleecing money from those he’d conned into poker, Ezra had a tendency to mine his opponents for information without them being aware of it.

“No, but I did chance upon the stranger you’re so interested in, while I was at the hotel yesterday,” he declared sitting down. “I was engaged in a delightful game with some poorly skilled salesmen who were eager to part with their hard earned commissions, when the stage came in. Certain you’d be interested in any intelligence regarding the man, I decided to strike up a conversation.”

“And?” Chris asked, trying not to get impatient. At times like this, Chris wished Ezra could use his words with the same economy as Vin.

“His name is Riley Marshall and he hails from Australia. Apparently, he’s here to invest in the area. I am afraid I didn’t learn much else, other than he’s a recent widow and wished a new start from his native country.”

“Australia?” Buck looked around.  “Where is that? Near England or something?”

“A little further south,” Josiah deadpanned. “Long way to come for a new start. I thought Australia is where you went for that sort of thing.”

“Grief does strange things to a person,” Nathan commented, not looking away from his book.

It seemed like every time they looked at the healer these days, he was hunched over one of the thick books from Alex’s library. Not that any of the seven minded at all. Nathan was such an exceptional healer, it felt only right the man should transition his skills into becoming a real doctor. Everyone of them looked forward to the day they could call him Doctor Jackson. Chris knew Vin was especially proud of Alex, as he was too, that she’d paved the way for Nathan to gain his qualifications.

“Amen to that,” Buck raised his glass of beer at the remark, more sensitive to that fact than anyone else at the table, save Chris. “Anyway, Miss Cassandra, that’s the filly’s name,” he said smugly, “let me walk her around town last night and she told me the whole story.”

“Miss Cassandra?” Ezra asked, having missed this part of the tale.

“Mr Marshall’s travelling companion,” Josiah answered helpfully.

“Naturally, you reached her first,” Ezra exchanged a knowing look with the others regarding Buck’s prowess to find female company as soon as it hit town. “Go on.”

“Well apparently, Miss Cassandra and Mr Marshall are family friends from England. When he decided to come out here to buy the hotel, he invited her along because he knew she wanted to break from her family and be independent.”

“You got a sense of something wrong Chris?” Josiah asked as Inez returned to their table, carrying a plate full of mollettes.

“Thanks, Inez,” Chris said gratefully, his stomach twitching happily at the sight of the food.

“You’re welcome Senor,” she flashed him a smile and a scowl at Buck in quick succession before heading off again.

“Just interested,” he answered Josiah’s question once she was gone. “Mary’s heard nothing about the hotel being sold and she usually has her ear to the ground about this stuff. Besides, if he’s buying the hotel, that means he’s sticking around for a bit.”

“It would seem that way,” Nathan lowered his book for the first time and took stock of the man. “Seems familiar though.” The healer stared at Marshall for a moment as the stranger spoke to one of the barflies at the counter. “Though how, I can’t say.”

“You’re not the only one,” Chris grumbled, even more, uncomfortable now he knew Nathan shared the feeling. Somehow, it felt important he remembered why his gut insisted on it.

“Well let us satiate your curiosity,” Ezra remarked, looking over at the man before calling out, “Mr Marshall!”

*********

The first order of business Riley Marshall had in mind the next day after conducting some perfunctory discussions with Mr Heidegger regarding the purchase of his hotel, was to visit the saloon. After his discussion with Cassandra at breakfast this morning, he listened to the information she gleaned from Buck Wilmington about the way things functioned in the town, in particular to its constabulary and the seven men who protected Four Corners.

During his conversation with Heidegger who didn’t appear all that eager to sell his hotel, even if Riley were remotely interested in purchasing the place in such a location, he learned the story of the men the town called the Magnificent Seven. Outlaws and reprobates all of them, they had blown into town and somehow become installed as the law in the community by the local Judge. According to the German proprietor, the coming of the seven heralded the arrival of the town’s prosperity and were seen as the community’s saviours despite being little more than armed thugs.

The seven, one of which was Ezra Standish, whom Riley met the night before were known to frequent the gambler’s establishment on most days. Once Riley concluded his business with Heidegger, he decided to take a look at the place himself and the men who would give him the most opposition in his plans at Four Corners. Cassandra had her own errands to run today and once he gained the necessary intelligence from her tasks, would decide how they would proceed next.

As expected, the saloon was as rough and squalid as he imagined. Even though he’d lived in colonial Australia, the towns of the American West seemed on the verge of outright dilapidation. The saloon whose only saving grace seemed to be the lovely Mexican bartender and the cuisine she provided, did little to impress Riley. Still, he was here for a reason. Even though he struck up a conversation with one of the barflies at the counter, he was more interested in the men who guarded this town, seated at their table. The one that captured his notice most, however, was the black-garbed gunslinger, with the pearl-handled weapon tucked in his holster.

Without being introduced, Riley knew immediately this was Chris Larabee.

Riley knew him not simply because of the descriptions of the formidable man but also because his name appeared in the shortlist of people who had compelled Riley’s journey to Four Corners. From the scrutiny Larabee had placed him under upon his entry into the saloon, Riley knew he would have to tread cautiously around the man. If Larabee for one moment, discerned his purpose in Four Corners, Riley’s suspected he would not be long for this world.

Fortunately, the appearance of Ezra Standish calling to him diffused the situation and allow Riley the opening he needed to introduce himself to Larabee directly.

“Mr Standish,” Riley joined him and his companions at their table where it appeared they were partaking of the lovely barmaid’s lunchtime menu. “I thought I’d take a look at your establishment myself after our meeting yesterday.”

“Do join us,” Ezra kicked out a chair, making the invitation so Chris could ask his questions directly.

“Well if I’m not imposing,” Riley lowered himself into the seat and surveyed the table carefully. Larabee was no longer staring at him but instead, returning to his meal but somehow, the new arrival still felt the scrutiny.

“These are my associates,” Ezra began introductions, moving around the table, starting first with Josiah, before moving on to Buck and Nathan.

“Mr Wilmington,” Riley spoke up. “You made the acquaintance of my friend Cassandra, last evening. I am told you escorted her during her turn around the boardwalk.”

“That’s right,” Buck replied with a little smile, glad to see he was the subject of discussion after he’d left the lady. Considering how taken Buck had been with her, this bode well for their future association. “It ain’t safe for a beautiful woman to be walking around on her own after dark. I felt it my civic duty.”

“Well Cassandra appreciated it,” Riley returned, wanting the lady to cultivate her association with this primitive. After their conversation last night, it appeared Mr Wilmington was a veritable fountain of information if given the proper inducement to speak. In this case, Cassandra’s very considerable charms. “I’m sure she’d like you to call on her when she’s settled.”

“Is that right?” Buck grinned, offering his companions at the table a smug smile. “Never let it be said that I’d disappoint a lady.”

Everyone except, Riley and Chris rolled their eyes respectively. “And this is Mr Nathan Jackson, our resident healer and doctor in training,” Ezra concluded.

“Nice to meet you,” Nathan greeted politely.

“So you’re Nathan Jackson,” Riley stared at the man closely, hiding his recognition. This name, as well as that of Chris Larabee, was one he was familiar with. Inwardly, he stiffened at the notion, this black man, who wasn’t even a real doctor played a part in the incident that brought him to this community. “I have heard good things about you.”

It was at this point, Chris lifted his gaze and met Riley’s eyes directly. “Australia huh?”

“Yes,” Riley nodded. “On the other side of the world. It is not that much different from America actually. You have outlaws, we have bushrangers, you have cattle hands, we call them drovers. We have our version of the Territory, homesteads and stagecoaches.”

“And you plan on settling here?” Josiah asked. “Seems like a long way to travel, to settle in a place that’s more or less the same as home.”

“Well America is the land of opportunity and this region seems to be where the money is. I plan on being here for quite some time. I’ll start with the hotel and see where we go from there. I take it the prosperity of this community is due to your presence? Was I correct in Heidegger mentioning seven of you are the constables protecting the town?”

“Lawmen,” Chris corrected.

“He hates being called constable,” Ezra quipped.

“And your other two lawmen? They’re not here today? I hope there is no trouble in town requiring their attention.”

“Well JD’s at the jailhouse,” Buck answered readily enough, not seeing any harm in revealing the information. “Vin is probably off somewhere with Alex.”

“No he ain’t,” Chris said giving Buck a sharp glare, warning him off revealing anything further about Vin’s present whereabouts. He wanted no one to get wind of the fact that Vin was out there right now, tracking Ambrose Wayne.

“Alex?” Riley inquired, “Is that another lawman?”

“No he means Miss Alex,” Nathan laughed at the thought. “She’s his fiancee. Doctor Alexandra Styles.”

“I heard you had a female doctor in this community,” Riley remarked. “How very progressive. You know I’ve never come across one who was female in all my travels. They’re mostly relegated to assuming roles as nurses in hospitals. I never encountered one who actually had a practice.”

“That’s why the lady came here,” Josiah explained. “We got a shortage of doctors in these parts so folks aren’t liable to complain if whoever is doing the healing is a man or woman.”

Or black, Riley thought looking at Nathan briefly.

“Truer words were never said Sir,” Riley agreed and got to his feet. “Well gentlemen, I will take my leave of you. I have other errands to run today. It was good to meet you all.”

“Likewise,” Buck replied and the others around the table offered similar acknowledgement before Riley stepped away and headed through the batwing doors, to the noonday heat outside.

For a few seconds after Chris watched him go, his eyes narrowing in deep deliberation. Something about that man gnawed at him and Chris hadn’t missed the subtle nuances in his features and his eyes when something struck a chord. The question was, what did the man want?

“He knew you by name Nathan,” Ezra, who was as astute a student of behaviour as Chris Larabee, observed.

“What?” Nathan stared at the gambler. “What makes you say that? I ain’t never laid eyes on that man before.”

“Yeah but Ezra’s right,” Chris declared. “He knew you and I think he might have even known me.”

“I must concur with Mr Larabee,” Ezra said in support of Chris’s statement. “He’s here for something and I don’t think it’s the hotel.”

*********

Julia Pemberton was pleased.

It was the first time, Mary Travis and Alexandra Styles had come to her house for tea. After her rocky beginnings with both ladies in Four Corners, Julia felt inordinately pleased their relationship progressed to the point, where they were calling in on her. Much of this improvement had to do with the recent tragedies both she and Alex suffered, enabling them to rally to each other’s cause and forget the enmity that began their association.

In Julia’s case, despite once having treated Alex most cruelly by announcing the end of the doctor’s romance with Ezra Standish in the worst way possible, Alex come to Julia’s aid when she was at her most vulnerable. When she found herself pregnant during the period Nicholas Serfonteine and his Klan was causing mischief in Four Corners, Julia had taken herself to Purgatorio to get an abortion.

She had been so terrified by the idea of having Ezra’s child, she believed it was the only course left to her. Only when she saw those filthy instruments, in that squalid little shack, had she come to her senses. Sadly, her so-called ‘doctor’ opted to perform the procedure anyway, knocking her out with chloroform to ensure her cooperation.

When she returned to Four Corners, bleeding and mangled, Alex came to her aid, not only providing her with medical treatment but keeping secret what had happened. Where it would have been easy for Alex to destroy Julia’s relationship with Ezra with the truth, the doctor instead lied, claiming Julia suffered a miscarriage. Eventually, Julia would tell Ezra the truth but for those first few weeks, when she was fragile and raw, the lie had served its purpose to smooth the way for that difficult conversation.

Julia never forgot what Alex did for her, even when Julia had given her no reason to be kind. So in the aftermath of the Klan’s abduction of Alex, where Alex had been subjected to physical and mental abuses by Francis Lamont, Julia extended the same support to the doctor. While she had been taking care of Ezra who’d suffered horrific injuries himself, Julia dropped in daily to see how Alex was doing. After seeing Alex’s state when she was found, nearly stripped naked, bruised and bleeding, Julia heard a far worse account of her ordeal from Ezra and knew what kind of scars could be left behind.

While the doctor had been uncertain of how to take Julia’s gestures of friendship at first, it was clear she needed the company. Thanks to Serfonteine’s attempt to damage Alex’s reputation because of her relationship with Vin, the tracker found it difficult to maintain a vigil at her side without creating more gossip. Thus he was grateful when Julia, Mary and Inez took turns being with Alex when he was absent. Julia was glad to see, she wasn’t the only one who was shaken at Alex’s fragile mental state after becoming accustomed to the confident, headstrong doctor.

The self-assurance that was so much of Alexandra Styles’s personality had been broken by Francis Lamont and whether or not Vin Tanner noticed, it had not been rebuilt.

“You know,” Julia remarked as they sat in her parlour, decorated in deep, rich colours of blues and dark greens. There were heavy drapes across the windows, keeping the harsh Territory sun from damaging the deep rosewood furniture and expensive Persian rug. “Where I come from, an engagement is usually followed by an engagement party.”

Alex, who was in the middle of sipping Oolong tea from a cup of fine bone china, nearly choked at the suggestion. “You must be joking.”

Mary smirked as she filled her cup from the lovely, china teapot with its lavender pattern tendrilled across the bone surface, understanding Alex’s horror at the suggestion. She tried to imagine Vin at an engagement party and could not complete the image without the sight of the man riding out of town on Peso, headed for the Mexican border. Still, observing Julia closely, Mary suspected the titian haired beauty was not serious about the suggestion.

“Why not, nothing elaborate, just you and Vin, the men, Inez, Casey, Rain and Nettie, having a picnic lunch somewhere? After all, we’ve missed the chance with Mary.”

“Please do not give Inez any more ideas,” Mary stiffened at the idea of an engagement party piled on with the rest of Inez’s ideas for the wedding. “Chris and I have given serious thought to eloping and she’s just in the planning stages. When she first offered to plan the wedding, I imagined something simple with Mexican food. I had no idea it was going to be...

“...a royal wedding?” Alex smiled, having made the silent decision should she and Vin ever decide to plan a wedding, Inez was not going to be involved.

“This problem would resolve itself if she just had sex with Buck,” Julia deadpanned and silenced everyone at the table. “What?” She stared at Mary and Alex’s shocked expressions. “You know I’m right!”

Mary, who knew Inez the longest, tried to appear outraged but even as she rallied up the arguments to claim Julia was wrong, she also knew there was a kernel of truth behind Julia’s assertion.

“Of course you are,” Mary finally confessed, “but we’re not supposed to say that out loud!” The news woman's cheeks burned with embarrassment at having to make that confession.

“If not Buck, with someone.” Alex pointed out. “As a doctor, I can tell you it’s not good to be so high strung, especially if you don’t know how to take care of it yourself.” She winked at Julia and Mary.

The three stared at each other, catching her meaning before bursting out laughing for a good minute.

When they finally settled down, Alex said seriously. “Honestly, it’s going to be a very long time before Vin and I can ever get married. I couldn’t even put his name in the engagement notice. I think its enough we are engaged so the town can go back to gossiping about Jilly Harris and what she’s supposed to be getting up to with the Baker boys.”

Both Mary and Julia caught the slight shadow over Alex’s eyes as she made that statement and knew the reason for making the engagement announcement still bothered the doctor.

“Are you alright Alex?” Mary reached for her hand and squeezed it.

While Julia did not know if her relationship with Alex had extended far enough to such a gesture, her emerald green eyes showed her empathy nonetheless. “Are you still thinking about what those Klansmen did?”

Alex stiffened and shifted her gaze away. “I hate it that the reason we had to get engaged was because of those bastards. It wasn’t enough that Lamont...” she paused, closing her eyes to force away the memories of what had taken place inside that filthy shack. She could still remember how he tasted when he’d forced his tongue down her throat, that disgusting mixture of alcohol and tobacco that still turned her stomach. Amidst his sadism was his fierce desire to have her, just like Randall Mason, who’d killed her father to possess her and would have killed Vin, if she hadn’t acted first.

“Alex, Vin loves you and you love Vin,” Mary stated firmly. “There are good people in this town who know what you two mean to each other, more than the narrow-minded fools who believed the Klan’s vile words.”

Then again, Mary had stood on the street with Alex that day and saw the words ‘WHORE’ painted across her clinic walls. Not to mention the talk about the kind of half-caste children she and Vin would produce. Mary was still staggered by the unbelievable cruelty of those sentiments and the fact, they had come from her own neighbours.

“I know,” Alex shrugged it off and stood up abruptly. “Julia this was lovely,” she smiled at the Emporium owner. “We should do it again. I have to go however, I have appointments.”

Before either woman could protest or bid her to stay, the doctor swept out of the room and left them behind, staring after her in concern.

“She’s not as recovered as she’d like us to think,” Julia stated the obvious.

She’d seen Alex the night of the attack and was horrified by the state of the doctor. Lamont had pursued her across the woods in the darkness and the rain, forcing Alex to take refuge in a well where she’d gotten trapped. According to Buck Wilmington, he and Vin had found Alex screaming hysterically. Yet despite that ordeal, Alex still managed to treat Ezra, as well as Lamont, citing the need to work to overcome her trauma. In the weeks that followed, even with the gossip dying down about Alex and Vin’s relationship, it was clear to her friends she wasn’t recovering even if the seven, including Vin and Nathan, being men, hadn’t seen it.

“No,” Mary agreed, disturbed by Alex’s reaction and hasty departure. It had taken Inez months to recover from what had been done to her and while Alex hadn’t been raped, she had come damn close to it. “When it happened to Inez, it took time but as terrible as what happened, the attack wasn’t personal. Victoria Kendall was trying to get at Buck and Inez was the easiest way. Also, Inez is better at expressing her feelings than Alex is. Alex is too much like Vin, she likes to keep it to herself which is not always the best thing.”

“Should we tell Vin?” Julia asked, unable to imagine the tracker not wanting to know if Alex was still traumatized by what happened. Julia and Ezra had a rule about no secrets and she couldn’t imagine Alex and Vin didn’t have a similar pact.

“I don’t know,” Mary shook her head, easing back into her seat. “This is more than just what happened with the Klan. I mean it’s Randall Mason too.”

Julia nodded, remembering Randall Mason, the Englishman who had come to Four Corners, not long after Julia’s arrival in town and the start of her relationship with Ezra. At that point, Vin and Alex were just beginning to explore their relationship openly, even though Julia had suspicions they had feelings for each other long before that. Mason had been an old friend of Alex, who harboured a desire to marry the doctor and would not take no for an answer.

“Yes, Mr Mason was most persistent,” Julia frowned, remembering how the man had orchestrated hers and Inez’s kidnapping to distract the seven while he attempted to drag Alex away from Four Corners. “She’s had two men willing to go through extraordinary lengths to acquire her. If they weren’t so deranged, it would almost be flattering.”

“Let’s just keep an eye on her for now,” Mary replied, “and hope everything settles down for a while.”

*********

Alex felt foolish.

She knew she reacted badly but she couldn’t help it. All of a sudden, the memory of Lamont and Randall surfaced so violently, she’d almost gagged from the intensity of it. Stepping onto the boardwalk once she’d reached the main street of town after leaving Julia’s home, she had made the walk, taking deep breaths. As she returned to her clinic, she took note of Josiah’s church and wondered if the preacher would be there. Perhaps talking to him would help.

He wouldn’t be there, Alex realised when she glanced at the town clock and saw it was noon. At this time of the day, Josiah was probably at the saloon getting lunch, which was why Inez was absent from the tea with Julia and Mary this afternoon. Taking a deep breath, she looked at her hands and realised they were shaking. A sense of longing for Vin filled her then, wishing he were here so he could take her hands in his and ease the anxiety out of them as he had once done so at the creek in Nettie Wells’s property. That one innocent gesture had changed everything.

It had barely been four weeks since the ordeal at Lamont’s hands and Alex was angry at why she wasn’t recovering faster. She was more resilient than this and hated her weakness. Her father didn’t raise her to be weak, to be susceptible to all those useless emotions women displayed when they lost control. She was a doctor.  She couldn’t be fragile. Lamont was in a prison, rotting in a cell for the next twenty years, while Randall...

Well, she made sure he would trouble her no more, that was for certain.

She’d just walked past the saloon when suddenly, she heard footsteps come up alongside her and half expected it to be one of the seven, when a voice spoke to her she did not recognise.

“Good afternoon, you must be Doctor Styles.”

Alex paused and turned to the speaker and realised she did not know this person. Aside from the fact he was dressed like a very proper English gentleman, with his blue eyes and dark gold hair, his hat was not American. She studied it for a moment, before realising she recognised the style. It was an Akubra. She’d seen it when she and her father travelled across Australia some years ago.

“I am,” she said cautiously as he tipped the hat at her. “I do not believe we’ve met.”

“I am Riley Marshall,” he introduced himself. “I’m new to Four Corners as of yesterday, to invest in the area and during my conversation with Mr Heidegger, learned this town had a beautiful lady doctor of exotic origins. I just knew I simply had to meet you.” He flashed her his most charming smile.

“Welcome to Four Corners, Mr Marshall,” Alex stared at him for a moment, trying to remember if they met before. There was something about him that seemed familiar. She shook the thought out of her head. “Am I wrong to assume you are Australian?”

“Very good Doctor,” he gave her that disarming smile again. “Most people think I’m English.”

“Well there is some English there,” Alex returned, deciding he was going to be very popular with the unattached women in town. He was very handsome, she had to confess although she found ruggedly, dusty lawmen with too soft voices, were more to her taste these days.

“And a trace of Yorkshire?” She ventured a guess, as she resumed walking with Riley falling into step with her.

HIs face brightened. “I did come from Yorkshire but I’ve spent most of my time in Melbourne. You’ve been to Australia?”

“I have family in Derbyshire,” Alex answered, although she’d never actually met the relations who made William Styles an outcast without outright disowning him. “And I travelled to South Australia about seven years ago with my father.”

“South Australia?” Riley’s eyes widened in mild surprise. “That’s hardly anything there but the tribes!”

Indeed, the area in which she described had done the impossible, beaten back the white settlers and pastoralists to the point the government simply abandoned the terrain to the tribes who’d lived there for the past 20,000 years. If not for the magnificent monolith called Ayers Rock, there would be no reason to travel there at all. The area was as close to wasteland as could be imagined, with nothing to recommend it, save the landmark.

“My father wanted to see the Rock,” she explained. “So we travelled to see it on our way to the Indies.”

“Long way to travel just for that,” he remarked, starting to realise why a man might lose himself in her. She was very beautiful and there was intelligence behind those brown eyes, just as compelling. Still, as lovely as she was, he could not forget his reason for travelling to this locality and reminded himself, this meeting was part of a larger plan which had yet to come to fruition.

“My father loved to travel.  Australia was just one place in the journey,” Alex said with a sad smile, once again hating Randall Mason for taking him away from her. Four weeks ago, she wrestled with her decision to end him, telling herself revenge was never justified. However, the encounter with Francis Lamont had changed her perception of vengeance. Moments like this, when she thought of her father, who would never meet Vin or any of the children they would have together, she felt less guilty.

“He sounds like an interesting man,” Riley complimented. “He is not with you?”

Alex’s expression hardened in light of what she was just thinking of a moment ago. “He’s dead.”

“I am sorry to hear,” Riley noted the fury in her eyes and wondered what was at the heart of it. “Well I won’t keep you Doctor Styles, I just wanted to introduce myself. I plan on being in town permanently and wanted to make your acquaintance. Perhaps I could call on you sometimes.” He reached for her hand and held it to his lips before she had a chance to stop him.

In any other situation, it would have been a charming gesture but in this instance it was intrusive, mostly because her affections were already promised elsewhere. “Mr Marshall, I’m afraid that wouldn’t be appropriate. I am engaged to be married.” Alex pulled back her hand, her cheeks blooming in colour, though her dusky skin concealed it.

His expression revealed nothing less than mortification. “Please forgive me Doctor Styles, I didn’t mean to insult you. I did not see a ring on your finger and assumed you were unattached.”

“We haven’t gotten around to that yet,” Alex answered quickly, hiding her hands behind her skirt.

“If you were mine, dear lady, that would be a necessary first step.” Riley pointed out. “However, that is none of my concern. I wish you all the best and hope we can at least be friends.”

Accepting the sincerity of his apology, she supposed she couldn’t blame him for the mistake. The announcement in the paper was only a week old and he was new to town. There was no reason for him to know she was attached and Alex felt some measure of gratitude no one was talking about her relationship with Vin anymore.

“I would like that too,” Alex returned politely and was glad when her clinic came into view and she needed to cross the street. “Until next time Mr Marshall.”

“I look forward to it,” Riley tipped his hat at her as she stepped off the boardwalk, intending to cross the street, while there was a lull in the traffic. He watched her as she made her way to the two story building that served as her clinic and her home with interest. Riley noted she didn’t look back at him.

From the swing doors of the Standish Saloon, Chris Larabee watched the exchange in silence.

*********

In actual truth, Cassandra Heglund wasn’t just a singer, she had also another more profitable skill.

Indeed, when she arrived at the town of Cimarron, a few hours after Riley Marshall met Alexandra Styles for the first time, she appeared nothing like the genteel English woman that so charmed Buck Wilmington, on the boardwalk the night before. Now she was dressed like a grand lady, ready to enjoy the delights of a night out.

While Riley was a stranger to the Territory, Cassandra was not. She was here almost a month before Riley arrived in America, needing to pave the way for his ultimate plans in Four Corners. They had known each other in England, that had not been a lie but Cassandra’s fortunes had been far different then. Bad investments and too many games at the card table by her father had dwindled her family fortune and unless she married well, was facing destitution. She’d come to America to make her own opportunities and achieved some success as a singer.

Where she was most successful, however, was a procurer.

If a service was required, an object found, a person silenced, she was the one who could connect people to see it was done. Beauty had allowed her to make connections and if she could facilitate a service between two parties, shouldn’t she profit with a small percentage? It kept her from submitting to the desires of any man to make her way in the world and placed her in the perfect position to help Riley carry out his plans in Four Corners.

Entering the establishment in Cimarron known as the Maxwell House, Cassandra was wearing a shimmering gown of taffeta, with an off the shoulder bodice and lace trims out of the neckline and double puffed sleeves. With gloves and jewellery to suit, she looked every bit the lady of importance and having ‘procured’ for Lucien Maxwell, the owner of the establishment in the past, Cassandra had earned enough reputation to be afforded every courtesy.

Having come from London, Cassandra had to admit being impressed by the size of the structure in this otherwise dreary town, surrounded by mountains on a flat plain with nothing but tumbleweeds and windstorms to recommend it. The interior of the building came with high, molded ceilings, deep piled carpets, velvet drapes, paintings in gold frames, and four pianos — two for each floor. It was a place where one could enjoy the attention of working girls, be entertained by dance halls, get drunk at the saloon and of course lose money in the gambling rooms.

It also had a parlour where business was conducted with only one rule. The Maxwell House was neutral ground. Maxwell tolerated no violence in these halls. He was perfectly content if disagreements took place, but the first person to raise a hand, blade or a gun to another would die for the incursion.

The man was called Johnny Miller, a known outlaw who had a tendency to kill with a shotgun and seldom left witnesses alive. Responsible for raiding stages, banks and the odd gambling house, he’d been operating mostly in Kansas, though he’d been moving south with his party of twenty men in recent years. On occasion, Cassandra had found he was quite the efficient hired gun, which was why they were meeting today.

“Damn Cassie,” Miller studied her as he waited in the wing chair, a working girl on his lap while he swilled the whisky in his glass. “You do look fine.”

The saloon girl he was holding in his arms, was clad only in her undergarments with a silken bed jacket draped over her shoulders. She regarded Cassandra with a bit of jealousy, taking note of the foreigner’s expensive clothes.

“Later Annabelle,” Miller pushed her gently off his lap. “I got business to conduct.”

She sniffed unhappily but obeyed, giving Cassandra another glare from her dark eyes before disappearing out of the room, no doubt to join the stable of girls in the main floor of the brothel. Cassandra waited until she was out of earshot before taking up the chair in front of Miller.

Despite his reputation, Miller was no more than thirty years old and the bleached bone Civil War jacket of leather he was wearing, belonged to his father. With blond hair cut close to the scalp and blue eyes so light they were the colour of the sky, he was a pure sociopath who was not only patient but exceedingly vicious, as many of his victims could attest.

“Nice to see you again Johnny,” Cassandra smiled. “I take it you’ve been enjoying yourself here?”

“On your dime Cassie,” he drawled. “Easiest job I ever done, waiting around for you to get your shit together.”

“Well don’t get too comfortable,” Cassandra replied. “My client is in the country and he’s ready to proceed.”

“When do you want us?” He downed his glass and raised his eyes to her.

“In three days,” Cassandra replied. “If everything goes well, we’re all going to take a ride to the ocean.”

Chapter Three
Runt and Jay

He blew into Purgatory like the sandstorm sweeping across the flat desert.

The storm chased Vin Tanner into the collection of tents and shanties calling itself a town, pelting his back with sand and grit. He could see sirocco winds moving through the dirt streets, hurling dust into the air like a mist. It allowed him to arrive without notice since no one was inclined to sit outside in such weather.  The only greeting he received from Purgatory as he nudged his horse to the nearest stable was the sway of tent flaps and the shudder of the poorly constructed shacks.

Purgatory remained unchanged as if the accumulation of time lasted for as long as it took for the desert winds to sandblast it away. It was a place for murderers and thieves, for those who wanted to be forgotten and for misfits who craved company but were not fit to be among the decent. It was a place to hide and though he would never admit it, not to Alex or even Chris, it was a place Vin Tanner could feel comfortable because it let him fade away into the ether.

This more than anything else was the reason for his discomfort at being engaged.

When a man made a promise like this to a woman, no matter how much he felt for her, no matter how much it burned whenever she was not around, he could never simply vanish again. To be with her, meant being in the world and that was a state of affairs Vin had such difficulty wrapping his mind around.  When he rode with the seven, Vin could still fade into the background and remain unnoticed. This trait was his greatest value as Chris’s trusted second. The gunslinger’s overwhelming persona drew all eyes to him, ensuring no one ever saw Vin coming until it was too late.

Leaving his horse at the local livery, which was little more than a rickety barn that shook with every strong gust of wind, Vin kept the brim of his slouch hat low as he made his way to one of the larger tent saloons, to wait out Ambrose Wayne. Stepping through the flap, he was immediately assaulted by the odour of stale liquor, cheroot smoke and unwashed bodies. Crossing the dirt floor to the plain wooden counter, he passed by the collection of drinkers and working girls perched on chairs at tables and wooden barrels fashioned for the purpose, enjoying each other’s company.

He showed no signs of recognition when he saw Ambrose Wayne.

In his late forties, Ambrose wore a thick beard, a heavy beer gut, and a face bloated by too many years of hard-drinking. Seeing him laughing and carousing with a saloon girl who could have been no more than seventeen, told Vin why the man was reduced to stealing horses right out of their corrals in the dead of night, like some cowardly varmint. Clearly Ambrose’s best days were behind him but Vin was not about to make any snap judgements without further assessment. When a man’s life was on the line, he could be damned resourceful and Vin wanted to claim this bounty with the minimum of fuss.

Reaching the bar, he paid his two bits for a bottle of whiskey and found a barrel at the rear wall of the tent, to sit a spell and watch the man, keeping note of just how many drinks he was imbibing at the behest of the saloon girl.  Vin spent a day catching up at Chano’s village instead of coming straight here when he’d learned Ambrose had hit town. Men with prices on their heads tended to be most alert on their first day at a new place. Vin had wanted him to get comfortable with the idea no one was coming after him until the tracker was good and ready to bring him in.

Besides, his own situation might gain notice if he spent too much time in Purgatory, not partaking in any of its delights. Such behaviour reeked of the law, not to mention a tracker with a price on his head, looking to make quick money to buy his gal a ring. How could he, when lovemaking with Alex was so utterly fulfilling, he could not stand the thought of touching another woman without wanting her.

“Hey honey,” a decidedly female voice greeted him and Vin looked up to find himself staring at a saloon girl with long black hair and light bronzed skin. For a moment, Vin could only stare, finding some familiarity in her smooth skin and her smile, before suddenly needing to remind himself he was now an engaged man.

“Ma’am,” he greeted politely, eyes shifting briefly past the long, satin skirt of her dress to make sure Ambrose was still where Vin had seen him.  Fortunately, the saloon girl resting on the man’s lap was working him good, ensuring he’d spend as much money on drinks before she finally took him back to her crib.  No doubt, she had some kind of deal in place with the owner to coax patrons into buying drinks for letting her into the place.

“Now you’re too pretty to be sitting all by yourself lonesome,” the woman in front of him continued speaking. “Buy me a drink and I’ll keep you company, all night if you like.”

She was very pretty and if it were not for Alex, Vin might have been tempted to accept her offer but he was here on business. Then again, having her join him might not be a bad idea.

“Tell you what,” Vin drawled easily, “I’ll buy you a drink if you just sit a spell.”

“I can do that,” she leaned forward, presenting him with a view of gloriously, formed breasts and once again, the ache for Alex became acute. “But that would be a shame.”

“Maybe,” he said clearing his throat, “but I got someone waiting at home for me and it wouldn’t feel right.”  

“Well ain’t that sweet,” she flashed him a smile, this time displaying some genuine affection as she sat down and ordered herself a drink. “My name is Tammie.”

“Nice to meet you, Tammie,” Vin remarked, inviting her to sit only because he wanted to blend in.

“So what brings you to Purgatory,” Tammie asked. “It can’t be the scenery.”

“Oh just waiting on a friend,” Vin replied, providing her no more detail than that. In this town, information was as much a commodity as sex and liquor. He had no intention of allowing her to gain any of it from him. “Due any day now. What about you? Where you from?”

She was Creole, he knew that much for sure, and there was a slight twang to her accent Ezra would probably find familiar though Vin thought it might be from somewhere near Louisiana.  She seemed much too pretty for a place like this but then again, Vin suspected her passing likeness to Alex might have made him a little biased.

“I’m from all over,” she said evasively, a shadow passing over her eyes that made him feel a little sad, knowing most women who ended up in a place like Purgatory, didn’t do so by choice. He never used to give such things a lot of thought until he and the seven had run into Mr Wickes and how he treated the girls in his stable. It angered Vin women had so few choices, indenturing themselves to Wickes was the only way they could survive.

They engaged in meaningless conversation for a few more minutes, after she’d downed the drink he ordered her and then chose to move on, realising she wasn’t going to be enticing him for the night. Vin supposed he ought to take it as a compliment that she looked somewhat disappointed by this fact. However, she soon found some other patron at the saloon to lavish attention on, a cowpoke who was more than happy to be spoiled by a pretty lady.

Meanwhile, Ambrose appeared ready to conclude his drinking for the afternoon and was ready to keep company with his companion in a more secluded location. The man stood up shakily and Vin decided if Ambrose didn’t pass out drunk before he unbuttoned his pants, the tracker would be extremely surprised. No matter, the only thing that would happen in such an instance, is that Ambrose was going to wake up, finding himself robbed of every cent he had.

The two of them stumbled out of the tent and Vin drained his glass before getting up to follow them out.  Ambrose’s unsteady walk told Vin he would not be making his way across town in any hurry so Vin saw no reason to rush. Tipping his hat in Tammie’s direction, Vin stepped through the flap and nearly ran into someone making their entry.

“Runt?”

Vin’s spine straightened immediately, recognising the nickname from a time so distant in the past, he was frankly surprised he remembered it at all. Worse yet, not only did the name make him remember a period in his life he would rather forget, but it also put him face to face with the person who gave him the damn thing in the first place.

“Jay?” Vin stared at Johnny Miller in utter shock.

Even though it had been almost seventeen years since he had seen the man, Vin recognised him immediately. It was in the eyes. Unlike Chris Larabee’s which Vin could read so well, it felt like they were connected in some way, the eyes he was looking at now were unreadable and blank. Yet it was their emptiness that made them stand out in his memory.

The last time, he’d seen Johnny Miller, they were barely teenagers, trapped in the same state-run orphanage, somewhere in Texas. Back then, Johnny had been a little older than Vin and went by the nickname of Jay. Vin hadn’t yet experienced his growth spurt and being somewhat withdrawn and silent, made him an easy target for bullies like Johnny. Vin endured the savage beatings for a few months, mostly because by then, he was already making plans to run away and did not wish to call undue attention to himself.

Of course, the trouble with bullies was once you let them get away with beating on you, they got the idea they could do it all the time and though he was small, Vin Tanner knew how to protect himself. By then he had been in a home for a few years and learned how to take beatings as well as give them, even though he rarely made the effort. He preferred to fade into the background, so no one would see him. Vin had no idea at the time, the trait would follow him all his life.

What sparked the infamous Tanner fury that Randall Mason and Francis Lamonte knew with such painful familiarity, was Johnny’s inference he had no idea who his father was because his mother was a whore. Vin’s mother died working the land, on a farm he barely remembered, except to know it was dry and dusty, and there was never quite enough food to feed them both. The slur against her was the one insult he would not tolerate and after the red haze of fury descended, both boys found themselves in the home’s infirmary, getting patched up together side by side. 

“You fight good Runt,” Johnny had said to him.

Vin did not answer, choosing instead to glare at him through a black eye.

“Sorry for what I said about your ma,” the older boy apologised. “Didn’t have no call to say that to you.”

The apology surprised Vin and he took it with a slight nod, saying little.

“My dad shot my ma,” Johnny continued speaking, his words sounding odd through a fat lip.  “Got sick of beating on her and decided to save some time with a gun. Shot her through the eye, in front of me.”

Vin raised his eyes in shock and this time, he managed to speak.  “Sorry.”

Johnny shrugged, “don’t got to be. I did the same to him.”

“Goddamn Runt,” Johnny’s face split into a smile, “I know that face anywhere. What the hell are you doing here?”

Vin glanced over his shoulder to take stock of which direction Ambrose had gone and supposed it wouldn’t be too hard to track the man down later. Besides, if he tried to avoid Johnny, it was only going to cause more of a scene and Vin wanted to maintain his anonymity in Purgatory for as long as he could.

“Just passing through,” Vin replied, having no wish for the man to know he came from Four Corners and had ties to that community. “Waiting on a friend to finish up with a saloon girl, before we head out to the border. What about you?”

“Same thing,” Johnny replied. “Me and my men have a job in Texas. It will be a couple of days before we’re needed and this seems like the place to hold up until we’re ready to ride.”

Vin knew he was lying and the thing of it was, Johnny probably knew he was too. That was how they had survived in that orphanage together, learning to co-exist because any fight between them would only end in a stalemate. “Let me go find out where my friend wound up, so he don’t get rolled by no working girl and we can grab a drink in here.”

For some reason, Vin wanted to know why Johnny was in Purgatory because he did not for one minute believe the man was just passing through.  Just like he knew when Johnny had lied knowing nothing about how Mr Fulton at the orphanage, had broken his neck after being kicked down the stairs one night, Vin knew Johnny Miller was lying now.  

The suggestion seemed to agree with the man and Johnny broke into a grin. “I’ll be waiting, Runt.”

*********

It did not take long to catch up with Ambrose mostly because Vin had been correct about the man’s inebriated state when he left the saloon.

Weaving through the sandstorm as if he were a leaf in the wind, Ambrose’s young companion was trying to guide him through the streets towards the Line, where most of the working girls in Purgatory resided in their collection of tents. He knew that Lydia, the working girl the seven had helped deliver from Mr Wickes, had ended up here.

Thanks to the sand and grit in the air creating dust clouds as thick as any fog, Vin was able to follow them without being seen. Once he was sure which tent Ambrose had wound up, he felt safe enough to make his meeting with Johnny, confident Ambrose wasn’t going anywhere for a few hours. Not judging by the way the liquor affected him, Vin thought. At least the girl he was with, was spared the effort of servicing him.

Vin did not expect his drink with Johnny to take long. They weren’t friends, merely fellow inmates from a prison they escaped long ago. It was merely a formality to catch up with each other, to see what they looked like away from the walls and oppression of the ‘good’ Christian folk who tried to teach them humility and decency, by beating it out of them with rules and canes.  Vin put up with it for seven years, until he could bear it no more and ran away, because sure as hell, he wasn’t staying there till he was eighteen.  Had Johnny remained until he was old enough to be allowed to go? Vin didn’t think so. Even as a kid, Johnny had been biting at the bit against their carers, he doubted he would stay any longer than he had to.

Upon returning to the saloon tent, he noticed Johnny was occupying the largest table in the saloon and was surrounded by no less than half a dozen men. So Johnny had not come to Purgatory alone, Vin decided, adding weight to his belief the man was here for a specific purpose. With the nearest town to Purgatory being Four Corners, Vin was certain whatever the reason, it would most likely affect the communities falling under the purview of the seven.

The men seated around the table, created a small island around them because the other patrons saw what Vin did, that the men riding with Johnny were dangerous. Mostly white, Vin spied only one man that might have originated south of the border. White or Mexican, it mattered little because they flashed enough coin and menace around the room for Vin to know, they made their living by the gun belts they wore. The saloon girl named Tammie, who Vin had bought a drink with earlier, was sitting on Johnny’s lap, getting the attention she’d sought.

“Runt,” Johnny grinned after Vin had gotten himself a drink and joined the man at the table. “Vamanos,” he said to the Mexican sitting in the chair next to him.  The man obeyed without question and moved to another chair further along the table, taking his shot glass with him.  The man was in his thirties, wearing a white shirt almost yellow beneath a dark vest and hide pants. His beaver black hat was held to his back with a cord around his neck.

“I think you can call me Vin, Jay,” the tracker sat down and tipped his hat at Tammie. “Tammie.”

“Yeah, I forgot how much you like that nickname,” Johnny uttered a little laugh, not appearing offended. “Man once gave me a fat lip for calling him that. You can still call me Jay though. It ain’t as bad as Runt.”

“This one?” Tammie said incredulously, “he’s too sweet for that.”

Shit, Vin suddenly realised he inadvertently let slip he had someone waiting for him somewhere when he refused Tammie’s advance earlier. For some reason, Vin did not like the idea of Johnny knowing anything about Alex.  Johnny’s eyes darted from the saloon girl to Vin, suspicion and perhaps a little jealousy creeping into the man’s face. The eyes revealed nothing, of course, they never did, but Vin could see him bristling like a porcupine sniffing trouble.

“You know each other?”

“Just bought her a drink before you came in,” Vin explained, moving quickly to put the man’s mind at rest. Even in the orphanage, Vin remembered how possessive Johnny was about his things and how ready he was to use his fist to keep anyone from them. It appeared, little had changed since then.

“He’s not interested, he’s got a girl,” Tammie added just as hastily, possibly astute enough to make the same observation.

“You married Vin?” Johnny said apparently mollified by that explanation and immediately looked at Vin’s right hand, searching for a wedding band. “Can’t imagine that. You could barely look at girls, let alone talk to them.”

Which wasn’t saying much because, in those days, he hardly spoke to anyone, Vin thought.  When he was a child, it was just him and his Ma. There had not been anyone else really and being thrust into the orphanage after her death, surrounded by so many bodies and voices, he had been terrified. Later on, when he learned how things worked in the place, staying quiet and fading into the walls was the only way to survive the ordeal.  

“I talk to this one,” Vin shrugged off Johnny’s comment, pretending to casually study Johnny’s men when the scrutiny was anything but cursory. “She’s down south. I’ll be seeing her when I cross the border.”

“She pretty?”

Vin thought of Alex with her sheeny black hair, her golden skin, and her full lips, and felt another pang of longing for the beautiful doctor. He missed being away from her bed, missed spending his nights charting her skin, ravishing her body before collapsing in her arms, after making love ther all night.  The image of her dark hair tousled wild against the pillows, her brown eyes filled with love for him despite what he was, swelled the heart inside of him.

“Yeah,” Vin admitted with a little smile, “she’s pretty.”

Johnny looked at him thoughtfully and Vin wondered if the man saw through that simple statement to know just how much feeling there was in it. “Good for you Run...I mean Vin.”

“Gonna introduce me to your men, Jay?” Vin regarded the men at the table with them, who were sizing him up just as sharply as Vin was doing to them.  They were all the same age as Johnny, Vin noticed and wondered how far their association went back. Did some of his men follow Johnny from the orphanage or had he picked them up on his way through the years.

The one closest to Johnny was a head taller than him, sporting dark hair, and hard green eyes, softened by the play he was exchanging with a passing saloon girl. Beneath the heavy brown coat over his broad shoulders, was a dark burgundy shirt and a black waistcoat. Slapping the girl on the rump as she walked by, he turned back to Vin at the mention of introductions.

“Zeke,” the man nodded at Vin who tipped the brim of his hat in salutation.

“Vin Tanner.”  

“You already know Campos,” Johnny regarded the Mexican who had given up his seat earlier. That’s Tucker, Slick, Rebbi, and Del.” He gestured to the colourful assortment who seemed a cut above the hired guns Vin usually encountered in Purgatory in the past.

“Good to meet you all,” Vin offered politely receiving acknowledgement in a series of grunts, noncommittal greetings and slight nods. Turning back to Johnny, who was running his hands all over Tammie, taking liberties with her that promised a more heated coupling later, Vin waited for the man to make eye contact before speaking.

“Been a long time Jay, how you been getting along?”

“Can’t complain,” Johnny replied.  “Got the hell out of the home as soon as I can. Took your lead. Figured if a little fella like you could cut and run, didn’t see why I ought to stick around either. One day I just walked through that bitch Pritchard and didn’t look back.”  He turned to Tammie again and began kissing her neck.

Pritchard. Vin stiffened remembering the hard-faced woman, who was one of the administrators of the orphanage. She was a mean spinster reaching her middle age without an ounce of sympathy or kindness for her charges. To her, they were the discarded remains of the poor she was forced to civilise before releasing them into the world.  It was Edna Pritchard who operated the Orphan Train, an operation where she had gotten fat off the money she took from anyone who needed a child to work.  She sent them to parts unknown, to be worked to death on a farm or worse.

Vin had taken advantage of the Orphan Train when it was his turn. He had no intention of going where the woman sent him and took the first opportunity to escape. He jumped the train en route, damn near killing himself in the process. For days he wandered, injured and thirsty until the Comanche found him. Why they didn’t kill him outright, Vin never knew but they took him in and taught him how to survive.

“I’ve been mostly in Kansas,” Johnny’s words brought Vin back to the present. “What about you? Pritchard was plenty mad when word came back you jumped the train. We all figured you were dead.”

“Nah,” Vin shrugged. “Just didn’t have the mind to be no farmer. I jumped off as soon as I could and got lost in the Territory. Spent some time with the Indians, took up buffalo hunting for a spell but these days I make my money where I can. Hiring out my gun mostly.”

It was a better explanation than lawman, and bounty hunter would only deepen any suspicions of him, especially if any one of them had a price on their heads.

“Really?” Johnny tore his lips from where they had been on Tammie’s cleavage and studied Vin once more as if the admission made him need to size Vin up against a different yardstick. After a few seconds, he spoke. “We’re going to be here for another two days if you’re done paying a call on your gal down south and feel like earning some good money, come back this way. I got a job where I could use another man.”

Vin was tempted to ask him the nature of the work in question but resisted it, mostly because he suspected Johnny wouldn’t appreciate the interrogation. Besides, the man was too smart to give out specifics until he received a firm commitment from Vin.

“I could be convinced to come back this way,” Vin said, pretending to consider the offer. “I can finish up over the border if there’s work.” He spoke with such unflappable indifference to the question, Ezra would have been proud. Johnny was a calculating son of a bitch who missed nothing, even as a child.  Vin had no doubt that if Johnny even suspected what he was really about, he wouldn’t leave this tent alive.  “Reckon you can wait?”

“We can wait,” Johnny confirmed now it appeared Vin might actually join him. “If you want in, best be back by tomorrow, sundown.”

“I’ll be here,” Vin agreed, content to do just that because this was a lot of men for a job and Vin wanted to know what it was Johnny had planned in the area to require it. He had a sixth sense about trouble and while it was nowhere as sharp as Chris’s, it was there nonetheless. Right now, it was telling him this reunion was going to cause nothing but harm.

*********

Leaving the tent saloon a short time later, Vin stepped out into the dust storm once more, headed towards the livery to get his horse. An exchange of fresh cheroots with the owner, allowed Vin to take Ambrose’s mount too. The man saw no trouble in Vin taking the animal after being told Ambrose had fallen down drunk in the street and had to be taken home to his family before his wife caught on he was seeing a whore in town.

Once he had the animal, he led both horses to the Line where the working girls of Purgatory resided, trying to let the unease of seeing Johnny ‘Jay’ Miller once again, subside in his gut.  He tried not to think of his past, save a few morsels of memory which he clung to because of the warmth surrounding them. Seeing Johnny only resurfaced the uglier ones and he hated it.

His ma had died of putrid fever when he was five. He didn’t even remember where the farm they lived on was situated. He assumed Texas because the orphanage he was sent to was in that state. Vin remained there for almost seven years, enduring the cruelties of the folk running the place who were determined to beat decency into their charges with the Bible and the switch.  The first time he tasted freedom, away from the walls of that terrible place and fell asleep with the open sky above him, Vin knew he would never again be comfortable under a ceiling.

The Nokoni Wanderers, part of the Comanche, who found him in the wilderness, starving and frightened, had taken him in. Unlike the white children they encountered previously, Vin had humility because he knew his place in the world. It was somewhere beneath horse manure and under someone’s boot. They liked his ability to listen quietly and obey without question. Their war chief Peta decided he could be salvaged and raised him to be a warrior, even though the man knew Vin would probably return to the white man one day.  

Vin hadn’t cared because as hard as the Nokoni were on him, he was in a position to earn their respect by learning their ways. Seven years in an orphanage taught him he would only ever be a dead woman’s discard, nothing more. With the Nokoni, he became a warrior and he learned how to survive needing no one’s help ever again. Eventually, he would leave and wherever he went, he always found himself most comfortable among the Indians, spending time with the Apache until his heart, what else (?), got him into trouble and he had to leave them for good.

Reaching the hill, Vin looked down at the row of tents and one barn sized house that made up the Line, where the working girls of Purgatory resided. Ambrose’s companion wasn’t from the house, because the ladies there did not have to go searching for customers. Every man knew where they were. He knew which tent Ambrose wound up in and if the man was still in his drunken state, then Vin was just going to haul his ass out of there and put him on his horse.

Leaving the horses outside the tent, located at the far end of the Line, Vin approached cautiously, not about to let his guard down. Drawing his Winchester, he used the barrel of the weapon to part the flap and stepped inside. What he saw when he entered, did not surprise him in the least.

Ambrose’s snore filled the small space behind the canvas as he lay against the mattress on the wooden bed. His pants were halfway down his knees, exposing his long johns and shirt half-unbuttoned. His rounded belly protruded prominently under the faint light bleeding through the part in the flap.  There was a dressing table and an open trunk revealing the spoils of feminine clothing. He scented lavender and noted the bits and pieces a young girl might find precious.

“Who the hell are you?” The girl looked even younger close-up and was leaning over Ambrose, unashamed of her bare chest as he walked in. Vin averted his gaze from her, trying not to be embarrassed, even though it was clear she was going through Ambrose's pockets.

“Nobody,” Vin said shortly. “I’m just here for him. You can keep whatever you find on him but I’m bringing him in.”

“Bringing him in?” The girl’s blue eyes widened, moving away from Ambrose, clutching a sheaf of notes. “What did he do?”

Vin allowed himself a little smile, aware he would go to hell for this but didn’t want to waste time with lengthy explanations.

“Well, he’s been killing saloon girls ma’am. I’ve been keeping an eye on you to make sure you weren’t next but he has left bodies all the way from Kansas to Amarillo. Slices them up and then pulls out their insides. Real sick shit.”

The girl paled. “Jesus.”

“Yeah you’re real lucky, he got confident this time with the drinking,” Vin added as she retreated off the mattress and stood by the dressing table, not about to intervene as he headed towards the wooden bed frame.

“Thank you, Mister,” she said quickly, the fear for her life making her cover her breasts as Vin pulled up Ambrose’s pants and dragged him off the bed.

“You’re welcome ma’am,” Vin replied, hiding his smile as he removed Ambrose from her presence.

*********

WARNING: ADULT SCENE TO FOLLOW

He returned to Four Corners well after dark.

Ambrose woke up briefly during the trip to holler a litany of curses, partially at being trussed up like a calf over his saddle and also because he had a raging hangover. Vin reminded himself the next time he went on one of these jobs, to ask Alex to let him have a few of those magic pills she sometimes gave him when he was hungover for such an occasion. In the end, it was simpler to coldcock the man for the rest of the trip home.

Upon arriving in Four Corners, Vin found the sandstorm scouring Purgatory, had reached the town, and as he rode through the streets, felt the gale rushing over the sound of wind chimes, causing window shutters to shudder and bang against wooden walls.  Heading to the jailhouse, Vin left Ambrose in one of the cells, confident the man would sleep it off till morning. Tomorrow, Chris could take him to Bitter Creek and collect the bounty as agreed upon.

Once he left Peso and the horse carrying Ambrose, which did not belong to him either, at the livery, he made his way to Alex’s clinic discreetly. Fortunately, the dust storm had made it easier to climb up the backstairs and knew at this hour, she would likely be in bed. Vin let himself into the darkened kitchen, using the key she’d given him for the lock on the door. After the business with Randall Mason, Alex was never allowing anyone to just sneak into her house again.

Entering the bedroom, after he washed in the bathroom on the other side of the house, Vin was grateful to get the dirt and sand off his skin. Thanks to her inheritance, Alex ensured the building had plumbing, not just for the convenience of it, but also it was necessary for her doctoring. With all the instruments she insisted on keeping clean by boiling, it was vital. Wearing only his pants and his gun belt draped over his shoulder, Vin saw Alex fast asleep between the covers, wearing one of his shirts.

With her black hair framed over the pillow like a cascade of jet, she looked so damn beautiful, he could do nothing but stare at her for a few seconds.  He liked her wearing his shirt and the idea her scent would be soaked into the fabric made him smile. Draping the gun belt on the bedpost nearest to his side of the bed, he slipped into the covers next to her.

A surge of desire filled him and he let his hand slide under the covers, moving gently over her body before slipping beneath the hem of his shirt to the thatch of dark hair between her gloriously supple thighs.  Vin knew he ought to let her sleep but he couldn’t help it. After months of sharing her bed, the passion for her had not waned. If anything, it had intensified.  By sharing intimacies with him, Alex gave him her utmost trust to not to break her heart and Vin loved her even more for it.  

Gently caressing her thigh on his journey down, she reacted with a soft murmur of pleasure, still unaware of his presence.  He felt his heart quicken in pace with the hardening of his manhood when his fingers found their way to the velvet softness between her legs. Beginning with the gentle manipulations of her folds, he knew from experience what would make her quiver, and was rewarded with a wanton sigh that sent a jolt of lust through him from his fingertips to his cock.

“Oh, God...” Alex whimpered and that sound was so arousing, it made Vin even harder. He watched her mouth parted, watched her pink tongue swirling over those full lips before her eyes fluttered open and she realised he was there.  Love filled her eyes so completely for him, it made the chest in his heart ached from the sheer joy of it.

“Vin,” she smiled, “when did you get back?”

“Just a while ago,” he said drinking her in, his fingers still exploring her moist flesh.

“I missed you,” She sighed, a comment that sounded so completely obvious considering what he was doing to her.  God, how did he know where to touch her so intimately, she felt like she might die if he stopped?

“Me too,” he smiled wolfishly and disappeared beneath the covers. Spreading her legs apart, Vin took in the scent of her sex, now sufficiently damp from what he’d been doing to her, before planting a gentle kiss on the inside of her thigh. Alex pulled away from the covers, wanting to see him. He raised his eyes to herd and gave her a playful wink, before he parted her folds, exposing her clit to the air. Marvelling at how rosy and pink the flesh was once he got past the dusky skin, Vin gave her no quarter before lowering his head to take a long, hard lick with the broadside of his tongue.

“Oh God, cowboy...!” She uttered a moan of complete surrender, her back arching over the mattress, her fingers clutching the pillows from the sheer pleasure of it.  

He loved how she cried for him whenever he did this to her. Pleasuring her had been one of the highlights of their lovemaking because he never had a relationship where he could just spend hours learning all the things he could do to please his lover.  Before Alex, he had been a novice, with only quick encounters with working girls that felt more like servicing than lovemaking.  Even his passions with Charlotte on the prairie had been a quick affair laced with guilt and worry of being out in the open, where danger could sneak upon them.

As always with Alex, it had been different. Their nights together were an odyssey of exploration and delight.  How many nights had they spent learning how to pleasure one another? The sweetness of all of it was they were both approaching it from the same place, even if Vin had a little more experience than her.

Vin felt Alex’s legs caressing his back as she continued to chant his name, half out of her mind, unable to do anything but be swept away on this wave of exquisite sensation. He continued his sensuous greeting by relentlessly sucking and teasing her moist flesh. The tracker was brutal in his delivery, his fingers ensuring Alex’s folds remained exposed so he could suckle on the flesh like she was the tastiest thing in the world.  

Alex continued to moan loudly, her body squirming, almost trying to escape him because the sensation was too much but Vin was not about to let her go.  He wanted her surrender as he held onto her thighs, his mouth on her sex, refusing to let her clit have any respite from his assault. When he felt the walls of her inner passage began to contract around his tongue, he knew she was there.

“OH VIN!!!”   

Her juices flooded his mouth and he lapped her up with just as much insistence, refusing to yield until he drained every ounce of honey from her sweet, sweet flesh.  The taste of her, the sound of her heavy breathing, the rise and fall of her chest beneath his shirt, filled him with such an intensity to possess her, Vin moved up her body quickly, his chin still moist with her damp. She looked at him through heavy lids, smiling dreamily as he pulled his shirt off her body, not caring if the buttons went flying across the floor because he needed to feel her soft breasts against his chest.

Christ, he needed to be inside of her. He was so hard and ready, he could barely stand to wait for another second as he remained poised between her legs. Hooking a leg over his hip, he rammed his cock deep into her throbbing folds, as far as it would go. Her back arched on the bed as she cried out but Vin was there to capture her lips, savouring the moan as it escaped into his mouth.

Vin drove himself all the way in and saw Alex’s eyes roll back in ecstasy as her nails dug into his back. He uttered a satiated groan and thought how being inside her always felt like he was coming home after being lost for so long. Plying her lips with deep, bruising kisses, he marvelled at how good she tasted. How had he lived this long being unable to do this to her every night?  Driving himself into her repeatedly, she buried her head in his neck, whispering soft words into his skin.

“I love you,” she said softly.

Vin blinked and looked at her.  For a moment, the lust for each other receded, replaced instead by the love they felt so deeply for one another. He kissed her mouth tenderly, forgetting the maelstrom of desire gripping them.

“I’ve loved you from the moment I saw you Doc. Wished I was brave enough to say it first.”

“Doesn’t matter. I’m yours. Now and forever,” she said kissing him back.

He resumed his strokes, slow and languid at first before quickly picking up momentum until Alex could feel him pounding into her. The tip of him produced a surge of pleasure each time he impacted against the hard barrier of flesh, allowing him to go no further. He filled her so beautifully, her insides turned into warm honey with each stroke.  Once again, he was bringing her to orgasm and Alex loved him so much for it.

The pleasure of it, Vin thought half-mad with desire. Vin was starting to come undone when he felt her legs tightened around his waist, her hips moving to the rhythm he set for both of them. Inside her, Vin could feel Alex’s muscles contracting around his cock, increasing the tension until he was mindless with it. The more Vin pumped into Alex’s slick passage, the more she delivered heaven to him with her deliciously clenching sex.

Vin showered kisses along Alex’s neck, whispering all kinds of worship against her skin. His were soft words that were an affirmation of his love, his adulation of the liberties she allowed him to take with her body. She was feverishly kissing his mouth, his cheeks, and neck. The words escaping her mouth were a gibberish.

“Gonna do this to you forever,” he muttered through his kisses.

“Please...Vin...yes...” She was still sobbing his name when her release swept over her and the crushing contraction of her inner muscles damn near killed him. Vin was enveloped by pressure so tight, it felt as if he was driving his cock through a solid, wall of slick, wet flesh. The taut grip against his shaft increased a thousandfold as the sharp ache of pleasure travelled up his cock and drove all coherent thought from his mind. He exploded inside of her, with a single powerful thrust, unleashing a loud, broken grunt of surrender from his lips as he filled her with warm seed.

“Jesus!” He hissed, feeling her breasts pressing into his chest and her panting in the crook of his shoulder, sobbing her satisfaction into his wet skin. Vin caught her mouth, still gasping in pleasure, forcing his tongue down her throat, stroking and caressing it, so they would come down together.

They collapsed against each other, a tangled mess of limbs and sweat. The scent of sex was heavy in the air as they lay against the sheets for a few seconds, coming down from the heights they ascended together, like falling stars returning to the Earth.

“I guessed you missed me huh?” Vin smiled, very pleased with himself as he rolled onto his back, allowing Alex to snuggle up to him.

Equally sated, Alex allowed him his moment, closing her eyes to savour the smell of him as she planted a soft kiss against his bare chest while her fingers traced circles on his damp skin.  “Just a little. Did you miss me?”

“Yeah,” he nodded. “Dunno why though, seeing how you’re such a mean ol’ spinster woman.”  He met her gaze with a playful wink.

“I know, I know,” she laughed softly, “I must be lucky that a sweet-talking lawman like you took pity and decided to marry me.”

Was it only months ago, he asked her to that dance?

So much had changed since that night when she realised she loved him even though she was edging towards the conclusion well before that.  Alex had never believed she could love anyone that much again, not since her father died. The void William Styles left behind inside her was a chasm so wide, Alex never imagined it could be filled again. When she first came to Four Corners and Ezra Standish meant something to her, not even her affection for the gambler could take away that emptiness.

Until Vin Tanner held her hands in his and looked into her eyes, at that creek next to Nettie’s homestead, and banished the emptiness away for good.

“Hey Vin,” she said, lying against him. “Why don’t we just get on Peso and ride away for a while. Go somewhere you’ve always wanted.”

Vin blinked and looked down at her.  “You mean leave Four Corners?”

“Not leave,” Alex said meeting his cobalt coloured eyes. “I mean just go exploring, go someplace we’ve never been for a few weeks. Leave everything behind.”

The idea was tantalising of course and before Alex came into his life, he toyed with the idea numerous times and in the end, settled for a few days out of town every now and then, just to get in touch with the land. Chris understood his need for solitude after a life lived out in the wilderness for so long. Town living was hard on a man if one wasn’t used to it and Chris knew Vin found the enclosure of walls and too many bodies difficult to take after a spell.

“What about your patients?” Vin asked and for the first time, saw something in her eyes he had not seen before or maybe, just hadn’t noticed.  

Now that he was looking, he recognised when he had seen it last and the realisation worried him. It was the night he pulled her out of that well when Francis Lamonte, now languishing in Kansas State Prison, tried to rape her.  As always, Alex used her work to aid her recovery but he remembered how she had been in the days after. Plagued by bad dreams, where she would wake up weeping, the ordeal of climbing down that well, having been so frightened to be driven into it in the first place, left its mark upon her.

And still did, it appeared.

“Nathan can handle it,” she shrugged. “Four Corners did well enough before I was here, I’m sure it can stand a few weeks without me. Let’s just get on Peso and ride, leave everything behind, sleep under the stars and just forget the world exists.”

“Sure Doc, anything you want,” Vin said, kissing her hair, hiding his concern for the moment because he wasn’t sure what to do about this.  She loved being a doctor and hearing her speak of walking away from it, even for a little, was unlike her. Not for the first time, since the night he found her in that well, Vin Tanner wished he killed Lamonte.

Now he was worried something was broken inside of her and he had no idea how to fix it.

Chapter Four
Jealousy

As was his habit during his nights with Alex, Vin slipped out of her bed a short time before dawn and retreated to the broken-down wagon he called home, left in the alley behind the jailhouse and Watson’s Hardware.  Vin moved the wagon here a few nights after he started sharing Alex’s bed, because it was secluded and he could come and go as he needed to, without being seen by the decent Christian folk of Four Corners who might have objections to his supposedly innocent affair with the lady doctor.

Vin had never thought it could be so hard to tear himself away from her every night and return to the cold, thin mattress awaiting him in the wagon, but it was. Not after spending so many years living rough in the wilderness. It wasn’t just their intimacies he enjoyed so much when he shared her bed, he also loved falling asleep in her arms, feeling her warmth as they spooned together and drifted to sleep. Sometimes, they just lay in each other’s embrace, talking into the small hours of the night about their hopes and dreams for the future.

Until last night, Vin realised they had not done this since the whole business with Francis Lamont.

Oh, they spooned and they slept, but she didn’t want to talk. It annoyed Vin to no end he hadn’t noticed. After all, he wasn’t the most vocal of men but their talks were cherished. During those twilight exchanges, she showed him her vulnerabilities and told him secret things he would never have imagined about her.  It was during these instances, he learned of her fear of small, enclosed places, how she would like to have children but was afraid she wouldn’t be any good at it. Vin, in turn, revealed pieces of his life he told no one, about how he hated not knowing where his Ma was buried or who his pa might have been. No one had ever called him a bastard but Vin confessed to wondering if he was.

Until last night, he also realised they never really spoke about what exactly happened to her in that shack with Francis Lamont, that night. Vin knew for certain she was not violated. The evidence of her trauma after that night had more to do with being forced to hide in that well than anything the son of a bitch had done to her.  Furthermore, Ezra had gotten there in time to stop Lamont from satisfying his lustful intentions on Alex, but now Vin thought about it, he had to wonder just how far Lamont had gotten. Had that bastard left more of a mark on her than she was telling him, and if so why wouldn’t she?

Was it possible she thought he might blame her for it? Vin couldn’t imagine Alex believing such a ludicrous thing but as he lay against the mattress, staring at the canvas above him, he had to concede the possibility.  It was inconceivable to him she might believe that of him, not when he remembered the state he found her in that night. Just remembering her dishevelled state, covered in bruises, mud and scratches from where her flight through the woods with Lamont in pursuit, filled Vin with a renewed sense of rage and made him wish again, he killed the bastard.

Could she have been desperate enough to climb down a dark well, to escape Lamont because the man had already done something so awful to her, she would endure facing her worst nightmare than have him touch her again? His gut clenched in outrage and felt it burn as intensely as the night when Vin finally caught up with them. He had been plenty mad that night, enough so Lamont wasn’t all that pretty once Vin was done with him.

Now she was suggesting leaving Four Corners, for weeks and the way she had spoken, made him believe, she wouldn’t mind if it was even longer.  The irony was it was he who was having difficulty with the suggestion was not lost on him. Vin knew Alex was accustomed to travelling with her father across the world and living like a nomad. Sometimes, he had the sense part of the reason she loved him was because he possessed the same wandering spirit as the man who raised her.  While Vin didn’t mind the idea at all, of just getting on Peso and riding out for a spell, he knew it was unlike her to suggest such a course.

Like him, Alex had searched for a place to belong, and they’d found it in Four Corners, just as they found each other.  The idea of her wanting to leave the town and all their friends, when she seemed so happy here made Vin want to know what had changed and somehow, he just knew asking her wouldn’t get him an answer.  Alex was almost as fiercely private as he was and the desire to leave, he was certain was not to escape the town but a desire to escape herself.

Vin knew better than anyone, hiding from oneself did no good but he had no idea how to help her.

*********

If there was one thing Riley Marshall learned, whether one was in England or in distant Australia and it was certainly true in America if you want to learn about a woman in a small town, the fastest way to do that was to talk to another woman.

Or in this case, the women of Four Corners. Of course, he avoided the women he knew to be friends of Doctor Styles, such as Mary Travis, Julia Pemberton and Inez Recillos. Fortunately, being the handsome stranger in town with the unusual accent allowed Riley to strike up conversations with the rest of the local women, which gave him the valuable intelligence he needed for his quest in Four Corners. Thus, he spent his first few days in town, learning the lay of the land, the dynamics of the community and Doctor Alexandra Styles’s role in it.

She arrived a little more than six months ago from England to establish a medical practice in town. Due to the location and the violence of the Territory, the community had been without a qualified doctor for some time, forcing residents to travel to other towns such as Bitter Creek and Sweetwater for medical attention. While there was a healer in the community, even Nathan Jackson was smart enough to know what was beyond him and referred those he couldn’t help elsewhere. Thus, by the time Alexandra did appear in town, they paid little attention to the fact the doctor was female or a half breed of Indian and English extraction.

From the gaggle of gossipy women, he spoke to, Riley learned about the doctor’s relationship with the seven men who protected Four Corners, beyond his conversation with Ezra Standish and their meeting in the Standish Tavern.  Shortly after her arrival in town, she and the owner of the Standish Tavern had struck up a courtship. They conducted in a most proper, Christian way until the relationship was broken off very publicly, according to Sheila Hausmann, when Standish took up with emporium owner Julia Pemberton.

However, the doctor was not wanting for suitors since not more than two months later, she arrived at a dance celebrating the town’s founding, on the arm of Vin Tanner, Chris Larabee’s trusted second.

Their romance was reputed to be extremely passionate, with the doctor and tracker having been seen on numerous occasions riding out of town together, on one horse, which naturally set tongues wagging. Others claimed Tanner spent his nights with the lady, in her home above her clinic. While no one actually saw this happen, it still added to the suspicion of the less than proper relationship between the two.  This was to be expected, of course, the pairing was an odd one. After all, Doctor Styles was a London trained physician and Vin Tanner was a former buffalo hunter who spent most of his time in the company of Indians and gunmen.

Riley listened with interest to their blather, not just from Sheila Hausman and her ilk, but also from the barflies who lingered at the bar counters of the town’s numerous watering holes, who were more than willing to talk once Riley bought them a drink or two.  From them he learned that on the night Tanner and Alexandra had first appeared as a couple, there had been some trouble at the dance they attended together. A stranger who arrived in town a few days earlier had come to ask for the doctor’s hand and was rejected. He attacked the doctor in full view of everyone before Tanner put a stop to it. This didn’t stop him from putting a bullet into her back the very next day.

Unfortunately, justice was never served because the stranger, Randall Mason, died in the jailhouse before he reached a court of law.

“I think we can proceed tomorrow night,” Riley announced to Cassandra as he sat across the lady in the hotel restaurant, enjoying a moderately decent breakfast. “I have all the intelligence I need.”

Cassandra having returned from her travels in Cimarron, was once again the picture of genteel propriety, dressed in the garb of the very elegant chanteuse she intended to be if the imaginary attempt to buy the hotel ever materialised.  Around them, the chatter of hotel patrons was loud enough to ensure their conversation was muted from the hearing since everyone was more interested in their own business to pay attention to the newcomers.

“I am glad to hear that,” Cassandra said with a smile, “because Mr Miller is becoming most impatient. His kind do not do well lingering about for long and sooner or later, will seek out some other occupation to entertain themselves, which will only call attention to his presence. Fortunately, I did not give him any specifics as to what we require of him, beyond our needs for his services as a hired gun. But tell me,” she leaned forward in interest. “What have you found?”

“Quite a bit,” Riley sighed. “Unfortunately, subtlety was not Randall’s strong suit but then my brother was always used to getting his own way.  He was very public about his dealings with the lady and most of the town remember it. It appears, he did ask for her hand but was refused.”

“Oh dear,” Cassandra frowned, familiar enough with Randall back in England to know just how poorly he would have received that rejection. “I take it he did not react well.”

“Not in the least,” Riley recalled what the drunk had told him about Randall shooting Alexandra in the back. “She is involved with one of the lawmen in town, Tanner, who is a notch above savage. The man is a buffalo hunter and wears skins. My brother would have found this an affront to his pride.”

“I must confess, I can understand his confusion. I would imagine an educated woman would have selected a little better,” Cassandra shook her head unable to fathom it. “Although she is half-caste so that might make her choices for a suitor, limited.”

“I doubt it,” Riley shrugged, having met the doctor face to face. “She is very beautiful. I can see why Randall was taken with her. Of course, I would have simply bedded the girl, not try to marry her. One must be sensible.”

“Randall did tend to become obsessed,” Cassandra shrugged, having known the man in her youth and recalled his fixation on the objects of his affection. Of course, no one had suspected it would ever lead him to such an unfortunate end.

Riley had little feeling for his older brother Randall and was here in Four Corners, primarily for their mother Emilia, whose fury at his death, demanded action.  Riley had not lied when he claimed he had come from Australia. As the youngest son of the family, his inheritance had been slight and he used it to make his fortune in Australia. Thus, he was far removed from his brother’s obsession with Alexandra Styles and only learnt of it when he travelled to England.

Upon arriving home, Riley learned from Emilia that Randall had spent almost a decade being enamoured by the half breed daughter of William Styles, a medical doctor who brought his family into scandal by marrying a heathen from India.  So deep was Randall’s infatuation with the girl, he was seen in public with the young woman during the period she was in London, studying to attain her medical degree.  While it could not be denied she was a beauty, her parentage made any prospect of marriage impossible but Randall was determined to have her.

Their mother tolerated it because Randall was the oldest son and her favourite. When Randall declared he was ready to marry the girl and travelled to Egypt to ask for her hand, nothing said could convince him otherwise. However, as it turned out, Alexandra Styles vanished after the death of her father, without giving Randall so much as a word as to where she was going. Emilia had hoped this would be an end to it.  Unfortunately, Randall was not to be deterred and spent considerable expense finding her, who by this time fled to the Americas.

Naturally, Randall had pursued her there but returned not with a bride, but in a coffin.

Emilia had been inconsolable and refused to believe Randall succumbed to a heart attack. Even though he had sustained an injury to his foot from a gunshot, a result of his attempted murder of Alexandra Styles, there was no other violence done to his body. Despite being a man in his late forties, Randall was in good health. Finding it too improbable he simply died of a heart attack, Emilia consulted the Royal College of Surgeons and commissioned an autopsy to be conducted.

Randall had not died of a heart attack but respiratory failure. While there were no longer any traces of poison in the body, it was speculated curare could precipitate such a condition.

Scotland Yard deemed the death suspicious but further action was impossible because curare broke down fast in the body and it was not a poison, it was a muscle relaxant capable of causing respiratory failure. While a needle mark on Randall’s dead hand could be how it was administered, there was no telling if the mark was not delivered during the embalming process.

Besides, they were reluctant to proceed when the suspect, if there was a suspect, was not even in England to prosecute.  Emilia refused to allow that minor detail to keep her from vengeance. Randall’s murderer needed to pay for their crime and Riley had sworn to his mother to see it done.

“Tell Mr Miller, we will need a significant distraction to ensure all the town’s constables are occupied.  You and I will be able to take the woman ourselves.  Before they know she’s missing, we’ll be on route to Galveston. The ship is waiting at the port.”

“My experience in these matters tell me it is probably best we have escorts,” Cassandra remarked. “Even with the bounty on his head, Tanner might risk the crossing into Texas if he learns what we are about.”

“Fine, ask Mr Miller to join us,” Riley replied. “I want this affair to be concluded as quickly as possible. Once we get her to England, I’ll allow my mother to deal with Doctor Styles herself. I want to be done with this business. “

*********

After he woke the next morning and took care of his ablutions as Ezra liked to put it, Vin left his wagon and headed towards the saloon. As was the habit of the seven since Inez took over management of the Standish Saloon and began providing meals, the group usually shared breakfast together as well as discuss any business that needed tending to as the town’s lawmen. Vin had to admit, the thought of Inez’s cooking made his stomach rumble as there hadn’t been much eating the night before when he was at Alex’s.

Well not the kind that fills your stomach, he thought with a satisfied smirk.

In any case, he needed to catch up with Chris and let him know Ambrose Wayne was in the jailhouse, waiting for delivery to Bitter Creek so Chris could collect the bounty on his behalf, not to mention bringing up the subject of his encounter with Johnny Miller in Purgatory. Once again, his instincts regarding Jay screamed danger and a job requiring twenty men was nothing to ignore.

Guy Royal and Stuart James had been quiet for a while now, but neither Vin nor the rest of the seven believed for one moment, the two men had abandoned their desire to turn Four Corners into a ghost town. The ranchers had more than enough money to finance trouble with that many hired guns.  Even if it wasn't Royal or James, Vin wanted to know the specifics of this job and when he learned of it, so would Chris.

Stepping through the swing doors of the saloon, the pleasant aroma of Inez’s cooking wafted through the place and judging by the chatter, her cooking brought a decent crowd to the place.  While no one would say it to Ezra, the success of the place had to do with Inez’s management. Not merely by her cooking but also by the fact, no man complained when being served liquor or food by such a beautiful woman.

“Hey, Vin!” JD greeted from their table in the centre of the room the instant the young man caught sight of him.  Except for Ezra who was incapable of rising early because he was usually at the gambling tables until the small hours of the night and Nathan who was probably doctoring somewhere, the rest of the seven were at the table enjoying the morning meal.  Meanwhile, Inez fluttered about the room like a hummingbird, moving from table to table ensuring her customers were happy.  Even Chris had ridden into town this morning, which meant there was probably some business needing the seven’s attention.

JD’s greeting followed a more sedate chorus of others, including a slight nod in Vin’s direction from Chris as the tracker sat at the table before Vin made eye contact with Inez.

“Breakfast Vin?” Inez hollered from the bar as she saw him.” I have some chilaquiles warming.”

“Yes ma’am,” he smiled in her direction, tipping his hat in thanks before she flashed him that smile that felt like warm sunshine, before disappearing into the kitchen, her hair bouncing against her shoulders.

“You get done what you needed to?” Chris asked, referring discreetly to his hunt and capture of Ambrose Wayne in Purgatory.  Ambrose was pretty low hanging fruit and Chris expected Vin to bring the man in with ease.

“He’s sleeping it off in the jailhouse,” Vin said with a nod, unknowingly confirming Chris’s confidence in him.

“Well it’s a good thing you’re back,” Chris drawled, taking a sip of his coffee. “Got a telegram for the Fort from Simmerson. He’s asked us to escort the stage from Bitter Creek to Eagle Bend tomorrow. Seems it's carrying a shipment of old bills that need to be taken out of circulation. He and his men were going to do it but they’ve been hit by an outbreak of yellow fever and they’re a bit short-handed. They would appreciate the help and they’ll owe us a favour.”

While carrying out such a task extended beyond the purview of their duties as lawmen in Four Corners, cultivating a good relationship with the army was always a good thing. You never knew when you needed their help, what with the Indians in the area and the lawlessness that took place along the Santa Fe Trail.  When Earl and his men had tried to take over Four Corners thanks to Royal and James, the seven’s impersonation of the army had done much to turn the tide of the fighting.  However, none of them was blind to how wrong it could have gone and being able to call on the real army for assistance, might have made things a might simpler.

Besides, Chris and the fort’s commander, Major Simmerson, had known each other during Chris’s army days and Chris had said Simmerson was a pretty decent sort of man, deserving of the help.

“Yeah, it’s just worth it just to see how twitchy Ezra is going to get around all that old money, he’ll be like a dog sniffing out a bone he can’t get at.”  Buck grinned before taking a bite out of the tortilla on his plate.

“Just don’t let him drive the wagon, he’ll take off for the border and we’ll never see him again,” Vin laughed, admitting that would be entertaining. Even though Ezra was a little more satisfied with his lot these days, the promise of easy money would always rob the man of good sense. Vin was glad to be among his friends again and had to admit, he missed them after a few days alone. Suddenly, the thought of running off and leaving them behind for a few weeks felt impossible in the face of all this camaraderie.   “Actually, I gotta head back out to Purgatory. Something may be brewing up there.”

Chris immediately sat up straighter, the gunslinger’s eyes narrowing in interest. “Like what?”

Vin noticed the others were looking at him now, probably prodded into seriousness by Chris’s tone of voice. The gunslinger could sniff out trouble better than any man alive and by now, they had come to rely on it as gospel.

“Not sure,” Vin shrugged, wishing he had more information than just a bad feeling. “When I was in Purgatory yesterday, I ran into Johnny Miller.  I used to know him a few years back...”

“Johnny Miller from Kansas?” Chris declared, knowing the man all too well. By reputation anyway, and it was one that was bloody as well as alarming, especially if the man was in this vicinity.

“Yeah,” Vin was surprised, exchanging glances with everyone at the table before he turned back to Chris. “You know him?”

“I heard of him,” Chris replied. “He’s a hired assassin. Does the job with a shotgun to the face. Real subtle. When he ain’t doing that, he’s robbing stages or chasing folk off their land.  I know the law’s driven him out of Kansas and he’s been moving south. Last I heard he was in Arizona. Didn’t think he’d turn up here.”

“Well he’s here and there are at least twenty men riding with him,” the tracker said unhappily, even more, concerned now Chris told him this news. Of course, he always knew Jay was going to end up bad. At the orphanage, all Jay knew was how to use his fists to get his way but there was also calculation and cunning, like pushing people down the stairs when they weren’t looking. He never knew right from wrong, not even back then.

“Twenty men?” Josiah frowned. That’s a big crew and now he’s here and our problem. Wonderful.”

“How do you know him, Vin?” JD asked curious, as he glanced at Inez approaching the table with Vin’s breakfast.

“I knew him from when I was a little fella,” Vin replied, having no wish to go into any more detail about the orphanage and his experiences there. While Josiah, Buck and Chris knew better than to delve too deeply into his past, JD was always interested and Vin had no wish to recount his time in that place.  “Just ran into him in Purgatory yesterday and told him I was heading south. He said if I  wanted to make some money, he could use more men. I gotta head back there tonight if I want to ride out with him.”

Chris wasn’t sure he liked the idea of Vin joining these men. If a situation developed, he’d be on his own. On the other hand, Vin was also one of the most resourceful men he knew and if anyone could infiltrate the group and find out what was going on, it would be the tracker.

“Be helpful if we knew what he wanted here,” Josiah remarked, understanding Chris’s hesitation had to do with the younger man’s safety but like Chris, knew how capable Vin was.

“I hear you,” Chris sighed after a moment, none too happy about Vin going it alone but it couldn’t be helped. “Okay, stick with him and see what he’s up to. Don’t stay any longer than you gotta pard, he may have been your friend a long time ago, but he’s as dangerous as a cut snake.”

“We weren’t friends,” Vin said firmly. “Just shared the same cage, that’s all.”

Frankly, Vin was grateful for the information because now he knew what Jay was about, he wouldn’t let sentiment cloud his judgement. Not that he had any deep feeling for the man or anything. Jay had been dangerous then, and it looked like little had changed. Once again, he wondered who was financing this for Jay to head out this way with so many men.

“Here you go Vin,” Inez interrupted his thoughts, as she served him the plate of chilaquiles and filled his senses with its tasty aroma. Like everything she cooked, the meal she made his stomach leap in anticipation at the eating.

“Thank’s Inez,” he said gratefully.

Suddenly, the saloon fell quiet when a woman stepped into the establishment. Dressed in the finery they were accustomed to seeing when Julia Pemberton walked into the room, the woman with her dark gold hair and pleasing smile did not appear bothered by the eyes staring at her in a mixture of lust and surprise. Instead, she scanned the room and broke into a smile when her gaze fell on their table.

“Miss Cassandra,” Buck got to his feet, surprised to see the woman in the saloon. Women didn’t come into the place often and when they were forced to, did not remain long.

“Hello Mr Wilmington,” Cassandra glided across the wooden floor towards their table, casting a quick glance at Inez like she was something beneath her, which immediately annoyed Vin. He caught sight of Inez looking down at herself and running her fingers through her hair as if the woman was right.

Naturally, Buck noticed none of this.

“What can I do for you, Miss Cassandra?” He asked, a hint of a smug smile on his face at the fact she’d sought him out.  

There would be no living with him after this, Vin thought silently.

“Well I wanted to take a ride out of town, catch the sights and I was told it wasn’t safe to do so on my own.”

“Territory’s a dangerous place,” Chris remarked, aiming his high-powered gaze in her direction. “Whoever told you that was right.” He didn’t bother to introduce himself.

“And that is why I thought Mr Wilmington might be willing to escort me,” she flashed a smile at Buck.

“Why I’d be happy to,” Buck’s grin went from smarmy to shit-eating.  “When would you like to go?”

“In an hour perhaps?” Cassandra smiled wider, batting her eyes with just enough suggestion to indicate she was more interested in spending time with Buck than she was at seeing the sights.

“I’ll be there,” the big man said with a nod.

“I look forward to it,” Cassandra beamed and then regarded the rest of them at the table. “Gentlemen.”

They returned with a mixture of tipped hats and polite ma’ams before the woman left the room, the faint fragrance of lavender following her as she swept through the doors.

With a smug smile, Buck grinned at them. “It’s my animal magnetism.”

Inez audible snort joined the groans around the table as she swept past them and headed towards the bar.

“Hey Inez, can I grab more coffee?” Buck asked as she was leaving.

“Why don’t you get your new woman to get it for you?” She said snidely and winced inwardly for exposing her feelings to the man. Despite herself, Inez couldn’t help how she felt when that woman regarded her earlier.  Accustomed to Buck’s attention, her self-esteem had taken a blow at the way she was so easily dismissed.

“Inez, you ain’t jealous, are you?” He flashed the men at the table a smirk, perfectly aware he was going to get an incendiary response from the woman but he couldn’t help it. “Say the word, and I’ll forget about her and sweep you off your feet to make ...”

“Finish that sentence and you will wear your food, Senor Wilmington,” Inez warned, not about to put up with talk like that, even if from him and especially after making plans with that woman.

Not that she was jealous.  No, not at all. Not in the slightest.

“Stop snaking the lady,” Chris ordered, shaking his head in amusement. Although Chris had to admit, Inez did seem a little perturbed for someone who claimed she wasn’t at all interested in Buck Wilmington. Then again, the two were like mating alligators and it was anyone’s guess where the two of them would end up someday. Still, Chris hadn’t liked the way Miss Cassandra had eyed Inez either.

“Alright, alright,” Buck threw up his hands in surrender. “But you know where I am, Inez.”

The lady rolled her eyes and left with a shake of her head.

“You do like the difficult ones,” Josiah shook his head.

“And the charming ones, and the pretty ones, and the breathing ones...” JD trailed off, eliciting a laugh from everyone at the table.

“When did she come to town?” Vin asked no one in particular, in between bites of his food, having not seen the woman before today.

“She came in with the fella buying Heidegger’s when you were out of town,” Josiah explained helpfully.

“Heidegger’s selling?” Vin exclaimed with some surprise, unaware the German had intended to sell the hotel. It wasn't that long ago since the man acquired the place from Maude Standish and from what Vin had seen, he had been doing well with the business, not to mention the man looked like he enjoyed being in Four Corners.

“According to Mr Riley Marshall, that’s the fella who came with Cassandra,” Buck added. “She’s going to be his new singer. He’s from Australia.”

“Australia,” Vin mused, recalling it was one of those faraway places Alex told him about. She likened it to the Territory if it had been stretched across the whole country.  “Alex says it’s like the Territory if it were the size of America.”

“Yeah, Australia,” Chris said quietly. Vin noted the unspoken sentiment of caution and concern reflected in Chris’s eyes. Two things that were never a good sign. The somewhat uncanny knack of guessing what was on Chris’s mind told him something about Marshall bothered the gunslinger but hadn’t made up his mind enough to voice what that might be. The tracker didn’t push, aware that when the time came, Chris would let him know.

*********

“Alright, I’m gonna drop in on Alex and say goodbye before I head off to Purgatory,” Vin said a short time later after he was finished with breakfast. “I’ll meet up with Miller and see what he’s doing in town and get away when I can. You gonna be okay without me tomorrow?”  He looked at Chris, feeling a little guilty he couldn’t accompany them on the escort duty for the army.

“Don’t see why not,” Chris drawled. “No one knows the money is leaving and if we keep it quiet, we can get it across to Eagle Bend before anyone figures anything out.”

“I’ll be going then,” Vin nodded and got to his feet.

“Take care,” Buck remarked, not liking it when any of them went off on their own. Vin was so accustomed to being alone, he often forgot there was safety in numbers. For someone as loyal as hell, he often forgot people felt the same way for him too.

“I gotta. Alex will kick my ass if I get myself into trouble.” He said with a faint smile.

“Amen to that,” Josiah smirked. “God did put women on this Earth to give a man incentive.”

“I might as well get to the jailhouse,” Chris remarked, getting to his feet, intending to walk the tracker out.

Vin had a feeling Chris was ready to impart what was on his mind earlier, now there was a chance to talk alone.

Taking leave of their comrades, the two men walked out of the saloon, stepping into the afternoon light of the day, squinting at the stark contrast between the sunshine and the dim light of the salon. Behind them, the batwing doors swung with diminishing creaks.

“Something on your mind pard?” Vin asked when they started walking down the boardwalk.

“I ain’t sure,” Chris admitted. “Something don’t feel right about this Marshall fella. When he showed up that day in the saloon and we introduced ourselves to him, I could have sworn it looked like he knew me and Nathan.”

“You met him before?” Vin asked, suspecting not because Chris would have mentioned it otherwise. The man could spot a lie a mile away and knew how to read people better than anyone Vin knew. If he believed Marshall was familiar with him and Nathan, Vin believed it.

“No,” Chris shook his head, “I’m pretty sure I’d remember him.” Still, it wasn’t just Marshall’s familiarity with him and Nathan that concerned the gunslinger. Although the man thought he had been discreet, Chris had been keeping an eye on Marshall ever since Chris spied him in the company of Alex on the boardwalk.  “He also seems pretty interested in Alex.”

Vin’s spine straightened and the tension ran through him like a sliver of ice. Considering what had been on his mind this morning, regarding his concerns for her state of mind of late, the unwanted attention of another man was probably something she could not deal with, right now.

“What do you mean?”

“Not sure,” Chris admitted. “He went out of his way to talk to Alex and he’s been asking about her.  How long she’s been in town. Who she’s courting, that’s sort of thing.”

While he didn’t like the idea of anyone invading his privacy or Alex’s for that matter, Marshall’s inquiries after Alex might just be a symptom of his interest in her.  Besides, Vin was trying not to jump to conclusions because all that would do is panic Alex unnecessarily if she became aware of Marshall’s interest.

“That could just mean he’s sweet on her,” Vin shrugged. “Alex is awfully pretty, he might be wanting to know if she’s free to court or something.”

“True,” Chris agreed.

“Can’t say I like it,” Vin admitted, “but I can’t shoot every varmint that looks at her wrong. Although it would be might handier if I could.” he tossed Chris a smirk.

Chris uttered a laugh but Vin could tell by his eyes, he was still worried and anything that made Chris worry, made Vin pay attention.

*********

Upon leaving Chris at the jailhouse, once they discussed what was going to be done with Ambrose Wayne, whom Chris would be delivering to Bitter Creek tomorrow when they rode there to play escort for the army, Vin headed in the direction of Alex’s clinic. Approaching the length of the boardwalk where Gloria Potter’s store was situated, he sighted Alex who appeared to be running errands before she began her appointments for the day.

Judging by the basket she was carrying and the general direction she was headed, Vin guessed she planned to pick up a few things at Gloria’s store. Catching up to her in a couple of long strides, Vin was aware once she was done with this errand, he wouldn’t be able to see her because he needed to make his rendezvous with Jay out of town.

“Hello Darlin,” he came up alongside her, coiling an arm around her waist.

“Hello Mr Tanner,” she looked up at him and flashed him a smile he felt right down to his boots. “How are you feeling this morning?” Her eyes twinkled with a spark of mischief and for a second, she looked like she was back to her old self again.

“Relaxed,” he smiled wolfishly at her, perfectly aware she was referring to their heated lovemaking for half the night, after which they had fallen asleep in each other’s arms until his departure of dawn.

“Yes,” she said with an equally wicked smile and then leaned forward and spoke in a quieter voice to ensure her next comment went unheard.  “I feel the same way, twice as relaxed as a matter of fact.

“Three actually,” he leaned closer to her ear and whispered huskily. “you fell asleep in the middle...”

“Vin!” She swatted him on the shoulder before giving him a look that was half amused and half annoyed.  “I am glad I was able to please.”

“Yeah, it was kind of different when you don’t talk,” he smirked. “Nice actually.”

“Oh, you’re so going to pay for that,” she gave him a look as they approached the store.  “Come over for supper tonight?”

“Sorry Doc,” Vin said apologetically especially when she seemed brighter this morning. “I gotta head out to Purgatory again. Something may be brewing and I want to get ahead of it. Won’t be gone for more than a day though.” He promised and hope it was the truth. Vin only intended to be in Purgatory long enough to learn what Jay was up to.

“Too bad,” Alex sighed with disappointment when she glimpsed Riley Marshall walking towards them, further along, the boardwalk.

As with their previous encounter, the man was impeccably dressed in his expensive clothes and no doubt manicured nails.  Looking at him, made her think of Francis Lamont and instinctively, she took Vin’s hand in hers, needing to feel his skin against hers.  Riley’s gaze fell on her first, before shifting towards Vin, studying the tracker in a manner that made Alex feel somewhat uncomfortable. Closing the distance between them, he interspersed his approach by tipping his hat in greeting at the townsfolk along the way.

“Ain’t seen him around before,” Vin remarked, watching the man approach and not missing the way his eyes fixated on Alex. It wasn’t lost on him how Alex was suddenly tightening her fingers around him and once again, Vin cursed not realising how much the ordeal with Lamont had affected her until now.

“Oh, that’s Mr Marshall,” Alex explained. “He came to town while you were away. Apparently, he’s buying the hotel.”

“So that’s him,” Vin took in the sight of the man and guessed why Chris was concerned. The similarities between this man, Randall Mason and Francis Lamont were too close for his liking. Suddenly Vin didn’t like the idea of having to leave town.

“Good morning, Doctor Styles, how nice to see you.” Riley greeted upon reaching the couple. He tipped his hat in her direction and then regarded Vin, waiting for an introduction.

“Good morning Mr Marshall,” Alex said with a half-hearted smile. “This is Vin Tanner, my fiancé.”

“Ah the elusive fiancé, who didn’t appear in the official announcement,” Riley returned with a smile. “Shame on you Mr Tanner, if this pretty doctor was my fiancee I’d like everyone to know it.”

“I reckon they got an idea,” Vin returned smoothly, not about to take offence even if it might seem intentional. At present, he was willing to give the fancy man a little leeway to get a bead on what he was about, particularly in his intentions towards Alex.

“An oversight in the printing,” Alex added, having already prepared this answer for anyone who brought up Vin’s name being absent in their engagement announcement. “Mrs Travis has already apologised and I will have a free month’s subscription of the Clarion News.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” Riley said amiably. “I am pleased to meet you, Mr Tanner, you are indeed a lucky man.”

“I am,” Vin retained his unflappable mask, studying Riley closely and deciding he didn’t like the man. Something about the way he regarded Alex put him on guard and what Chris said about the foreigner asking after her, started to bother him. While Riley appeared attracted to Alex, his interest seemed deeper than that and it put Vin on guard.

“Then you should put a ring on her finger, Mr Tanner,” Riley added good-naturedly. “I was ready to call on the lady until she advised me of her situation.”

“That’s being taken care of,” Vin replied unperturbed.  While he was no longer unsure about her love for him, he wasn’t blind to the fact people found them a mismatched pair and other men, particularly rich, fancy ones with loads of book learning, like Riley, might think that was reason enough to steal her away.

Alex only had to glance at the way both men were staring at each other to know something unspoken was passing between them, like some gauntlet being thrown she did not understand. While Vin didn’t seem bothered by Riley’s question, she could tell he didn’t like this stranger at all. It was time to end this now.

“Well we shan’t keep you Mr Marshall, have a good day,” Alex said politely and without giving him a chance to say anything further, she started walking, tugging Vin along with her.

While Vin didn’t appear bothered by the exchange, Alex felt her anger bubbling inside of her.  She hadn’t liked the way Riley questioned Vin about their engagement and thought the question of her availability had been settled when she told the man about it the day before. Except now his behaviour indicated nothing of the kind.

“So, he wanted to call on you?” Vin asked when they left him behind.

“Don’t start on me, Vin!” She snapped, yanking her hand free of him. “I didn’t ask for his attention!  He wanted to call on me and I told him I was engaged! It’s not my fault, he can’t understand that!”

“Doc I didn’t...” he started to say, shocked by her outburst.

“I know what you mean! It’s not my fault I look like this or men can’t get it in their heads that I’m not some possession they can own by killing the people I love or trying to drag me off somewhere to do whatever they want! I’m tired of it! I want to live my life, with the man I want to be with, without having to look over my shoulder at some bully who won’t take no for an answer or who thinks because I’m not white, I’m PROPERTY!”

With that, she spun on her heels and started to walk away, leaving him in stunned silence, uncertain what just happened. After her quarrel with Ezra over Julia Pemberton, Alex tried to keep her personal affairs private which was why she had been so mortified when the Klan dragged her name through the mud.  Seeing her like this, frankly shocked him and Vin was not about to let it go at that.

“Doc,” he caught up with her in two long strides. “Talk to me, what’s wrong?”

She spun around to face him and Vin’s jaw dropped seeing there were tears in her eyes. Alex almost never let down her guard in public and certainly over something as trivial as Riley Marshall’s unwanted interest, which hadn’t bothered him in the slightest.

“I’m sorry,” she dried her face with her sleeve. “I don’t know what came over me. I didn’t mean to bite your head off like that.”

“It’s okay,” he said giving her a little smile to reassure her. “I ain’t mad. Just a little worried.”

Alex looked up at him. “With everything that’s happened lately...the day hit me harder than I thought. My father taught me not to be weak and I feel it, Vin, I feel it so much this week.”

“This week?” Vin didn’t understand, even though her distress was plain. She was always willing to show him her vulnerable side but today, he was seeing her raw and bleeding, as if there were wounds as fresh as the one Lamont had inflicted on her.

“Tomorrow, it would have been a year since my father died.”

“Aw Doc,” he pulled her to him, understanding at last with that revelation.  “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Because it shouldn’t matter.  He’s dead, what difference does one day or one year make? He’s gone!”

“It makes a difference cause he’s your pa and you loved him.”

“And I got him killed,” Alex said softly. “Like I almost got you killed.”

Vin stared at her. “Doc, that wasn’t your fault. That son of a bitch Randall killed him. You didn’t do anything to make him do that.”

“Maybe not but when we were in London, I thought he was my friend. We went to dinners and dances together. When I was at medical school, being a woman and not white, I was an outcast. He was my father’s old friend who was nice to me. What if I made him think there was more to it than that?  How could I not see him for what he was?”

“Doc, look at me,” Vin said firmly, “you ain’t to blame for that bastard. Not any of it. You’ve done nothing to be ashamed of.”

However, even as he held her and tried to make her believe it, he didn’t know the whole truth. Vin didn’t know she had murdered Randall Mason.

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