Answering the Cry
Follows Cry for Help
Buck sighed and stretched, wincing a little at the stiffness in his back. He pushed aside the cup and plate from the lunchtime meal Vin had brought up to him earlier in the day and smiled slightly to think of the lean tracker's "nursemaiding". If it wasn't for Vin he would have missed more than a few meals in the past two days since he'd returned from Chris' ranch, unable as he was to face his friends just yet. Not that he had had much time to miss his fellow peacekeepers. One by one they had appeared at his door, hovering just outside his room when they saw that he wasn't inclined to let them cross the threshold, each with something different to offer.
Nathan had been first, bringing salves and lotions, asking Buck what kind of injuries he had sustained, looking dubious when Buck explained that he had taken a tumble off his horse when returning from the ranch. Buck couldn't blame Nathan for his skepticism. Buck recalled that he had used the same story with Nathan five months ago when he'd returned from the ranch in pretty much the same condition.
Josiah had knocked on his door a few hours later. Bringing a bottle of whiskey, inviting Buck to come over to the church and talk when he felt up to it. He hinted that anything he told Josiah would remain strictly between them as if that might encourage Buck to open up. Buck had summoned up a small smile and thanked the preacher, promising to think the offer over, wondering if Josiah believed for one moment that he would reveal his carefully guarded secrets. Only one other living soul knew the dark places he had been. And although he might betray Buck in other ways, Chris Larabee had always fiercely protected his oldest friend from the demons in his past.
Buck had scarcely uncorked the whiskey bottle and poured himself a shot when Ezra appeared, offering a brand new deck of cards so that he could "improve his egregious card playing skills," as the man so charmingly put it. At the best of times Buck only understood half of what Ezra was saying, so he couldn't swear to it - but he thought that the gambler also brought an offer to punch out Chris Larabee if it would make Buck feel any better. Buck hoped he had dissuaded his friend from that course of action, but he had had a little trouble following all the words and in the end he wasn't entirely sure what help he had refused and what he had agreed to.
And finally the kid turned up, balancing a plateful of stew and a cup of coffee, pulling a grubby handkerchief out of his pocket in which he had carefully wrapped a piece of apple pie. Buck allowed J.D. into his room, but the normally talkative young man seemed tongue-tied and uncomfortable so Buck quickly found an excuse for him to leave, asking the young sheriff to exercise and water his horse for the next few days. J.D.'s expressive face registered his gratitude and he hurried out promising to return next day.
Then there was Vin. Coming and going several times in the last two days. Bringing useful things like food, and hot water and towels. Content to just sit on the bed and distract Buck with talk of everyday things, or sit and say nothing at all. Offering his friendship and quiet understanding, the most precious gifts of all.
What with the constant stream of visitors, Buck wasn't surprised when late in the day he heard another knock at his door. Expecting Vin, he had to work hard to hide his shock when he found Chris leaning in his doorway. He had not expected the man to seek him out for at least another day or two. Wordlessly, Chris held up a bottle of whiskey and waited until Buck stood aside to allow him in. He crossed the room to the table and filled Buck's shot glass to the top. Looking around, he spotted a battered tin coffee cup and tipping the dregs into an empty plate, he splashed a measure of whiskey into the cup and tossed it down before filling it again and putting the whiskey bottle on the table. Buck closed the door but didn't move into the room. Chris turned, studying his friend for a moment.
"A couple of us are riding out to Nettie's place tomorrow to check on her and Casey. You think you're up to coming along?"
Buck stiffened at the question. "You expecting trouble?" he asked.
Chris shrugged. "There's a trail fixen to come through Four Corners tomorrow. Just wanna make sure the cowboys find their way here where we can keep an eye on 'em. Don't want them bothering the locals."
Buck nodded. "You can count on me."
Chris stared at him intently. "Don't need no heroes. If you ain't up to it...." Buck cut him off. "I said I'd be there." Chris stepped aside as Buck walked to the table and sat down, throwing the contents of the shot glass quickly down his throat. "You planning on leaving anybody here 'case them cowboys take a different route?" he asked
Chris refilled his glass. "Josiah and Nathan are staying. Don't know about Ez. He told me, but I'm not sure if he was saying yes or no."
In spite of himself, Buck smiled. Chris shifted restlessly and went to stand in front of the window, looking out into the street. Buck waited, knowing that the man had something he wanted to say. Eventually Chris sighed deeply and dragged a hand through his hair. "Thinking of going to the old place for a couple of days. Putting some flowers on the graves, cleaning the place up a little," he said quietly.
"That'd be good, Chris," Buck said.
"I'd be glad if you'd come with me," Chris said softly, his face still turned to the world outside.
Buck hesitated for just a moment. "I'd like that," he said and heard Chris exhale harshly, as if he'd been holding his breath waiting for the answer.
"Thought we might take a couple of days and visit the township," Chris continued. Buck's head shot up and he swallowed hard against the unexpected lump in his throat. "Haven't been to her grave for a while," he managed to say, although his voice shook badly.
Chris turned away from the window. "We could take some honeysuckle. I remember they were your ma's favorite flowers. That be okay, ya think? Buck just nodded, not trusting himself to speak. He closed his eyes for a minute, breathed in deeply, and felt a weight he didn't know he'd been carrying lift from his shoulders.
He turned away quickly and busied himself pouring another shot. Chris walked over and held out his cup for a refill. Buck tried to pour, but his hand was shaking. Chris reached out and covered the trembling hand with his own, steadying his friend. Buck refused to meet his eyes as Chris removed the bottle and replaced it on the table before reaching out and slowly raising the other man's head. Very gently, he ran a finger over Buck's bruised cheek.
"Don't," Buck said harshly, turning his face away. Chris dropped his hand, then slowly sank to his knees between Buck's spread legs and lay his head on the man's thigh, his arms snaking around Buck's waist to hold him tightly.
Buck hesitated for a moment, before reaching down and tangling both his hands into Chris' hair, stroking through it while Chris buried his face deep into Buck's groin. Buck's breath caught as Chris mouthed his rapidly filling cock and pushed up under Buck's shirt to stroke rough fingers over his chest. When Buck was fully aroused, Chris lifted his head and stood up, gently pulled Buck towards him. As his tongue licked delicately at Buck's mouth, his hands slipped down to unbutton Buck's shirt and tug gently at the man's clothes, undressing him slowly and carefully. He paused for a moment, tracing lightly over an ugly bruise purpling Buck's side. He looked up and opened his mouth to speak but Buck laid a finger over his lips. Leaning in, Buck covered Chris' mouth with his own and sucked the other man's tongue into his mouth, effectively silencing him. Breaking the kiss, Chris worked his way down Buck's chest, nipping and licking until the bigger man squirmed with need. He ran his hands up Buck's inner thighs to gently cup his balls and stroke his cock firmly from base to tip. Buck groaned as Chris bent his head and slowly sucked the shaft into his mouth. After that, Buck was aware of nothing else except the feel of Chris' mouth and hands, coaxing, stroking, sucking. Finding the rhythm he knew Buck loved, Chris worked the cock skillfully until, all but sobbing in relief, Buck surged half way off the chair and exploded into his mouth. Chris swallowed the salty, bitter offering and continued to suck gently until he heard Buck whimper, then he nuzzled his face into the man's softening groin, and wrapped his arms around the trembling waist.
Buck relaxed back slowly onto the hard char, panting until his breath evened out. He stroked Chris' cheek and once again wound a hand into his hair, pulling the man up onto his knees and kissing his mouth, tasting himself on Chris' lips. Chris stroked his hands up Buck's strong legs, coming to rest just above his knees, tightening unconsciously when Buck's hand slid down to cover his erection and work it free. Buck pushed himself off the chair, dropping to his knees. Chest to chest, he cupped a hand around Chris' neck and pulled him into a searing kiss. Chris moaned into his mouth and closed his eyes, arching into the stroking hand. Buck broke the kiss and leaned to Chris' ear. "Open your eyes," he whispered softly and Chris obeyed. "Come for me," a soft command, and Chris groaned and pumped his seed into the hand that gripped him.
They collapsed together, Buck pulling Chris down until the man straddled him, half sitting in his lap. Chris nuzzled into Buck's neck, holding him tightly. He raised his head to whisper into the other man's ear. For the first time in days Buck smiled - a genuine Wilmington smile, strangely at odds with the tears that slipped down his cheeks.
Later that night Vin looked up to Buck's window to see if there was still a light burning. He wanted to visit one more time to make sure Buck had everything he needed for the night. The room was dark, but as he watched he saw Buck step up to the window and stare out. Standing in a pool of moonlight, his chest bare, hair tousled, Vin figured he had just slipped out of bed. He was about to cross to the boarding house when a movement at the window caught his eye and he froze. Clearly in the moonlight he saw somebody step up behind Buck and wind arms around the man's waist. Over Buck's shoulder Vin could see that the person was trailing kisses across Buck's back. Buck arched back into the touch, a look of pure joy on his face. Vin figured Buck had sweet-talked one of the working gals into sharing his bed and was glad that his friend was in good hands. Continuing to watch, warmed to see his friend once more filled with joy, Vin saw Buck turn to gather the person into his arms. As the body stepped out from behind Buck, Vin could see that it was a man, not a woman, who wound around Buck's body and buried a face into his chest. The two stood intertwined together for a moment, until the smaller man tipped his head and sought out Buck's lips with his own. Vin watched as the two kissed with such passion that Vin felt himself harden. Realizing that he was watching something intensely private, Vin had just turned to leave when the two pulled apart and the smaller man stepped closer to the window revealing himself more fully in the moonlight.
Gasping out loud, Vin found himself rooted to the spot. There was no mistaking the man with Buck, it was Chris Larabee. Vin saw Chris place his hands on the window frame and lean forward, while Buck came up behind him and stroked his own hands firmly up the man's back. Vin thought he knew the exact moment when the taller man pushed himself into Chris' pliant body, making Larabee arch his back so that the tendons stood out in his neck. Buck leaned over and whatever he did seemed to soothe Chris as Vin could clearly see his body relax and all the tension drain out of him. Buck wound strong arms around Chris and pulled him up against his own body then buried his head in the smaller man's neck. With moonlight pouring onto them, Vin could make out the look of sheer ecstasy on Chris' face as Buck took him hard and fast, working him with practiced strokes, running hands up and down his body until Chris threw his head back onto Buck's shoulder and shuddered in completion.
As the two climaxed together, Vin tore himself away and walking on shaky legs he dragged himself back to the jail. Unwilling for a moment to acknowledge what he had seen, Vin tried to find another explanation. Nothing he considered fit. Finally, innate honesty compelled him to face the truth. Along with what he had witnessed tonight, Vin considered their fierce protectiveness towards one another, the way they looked at each other in unguarded moments, the way they touched when they thought nobody else was looking. Vin realized that in spite of years of fighting and arguing, in spite of the constant push and pull of their relationship, even in spite of what happened between them at the ranch, Buck Wilmington and Chris Larabee were in love.
The End
Sequel: No More Tears
*Author is deceased