Sitting in the corner table of the saloon, Buck was nursing
his shoulder.
The man had inhaled half a bottle of whiskey in less than thirty minutes
and Inez was becoming annoyed with him. "You need to go and rest, Senor Buck.
It is late and this is no good for your injuries," she picked up the whiskey
bottle and tried to take it away.
"Hold on there, Darlin’. I’ll be needin’ that," he grabbed
the bottle back.
Miss Recillos was thoroughly disgusted with the man as she shook her head
and walked away.
The tall rogue watched the lovely lady leave but another one caught his eye
as she approached the table. "Well hello there, beautiful," he smiled gently.
He held his liquor well, but Athena could tell he was intoxicated. She stopped
just outside his reach. "Dr. Jackson has a message for you, cowboy..."
Wilmington smirked. "If he’s convinced ya he’s a doctor and is
trusting you tah get me home… Lord I’m in trouble now!"
Athena was not amused by his comment. It was late, her shoulder was uncomfortable
and she was tired. "The boy…"
"JD?" the ladies’ man interrupted. He straightened in his seat and looked
at her with great concern. "Is he gonna…"
"The boy has stirred," she continued. "Your healer believes he will survive
his injuries."
Buck was elated to hear the news and his body relaxed again. He swallowed
down another drink and poured one more. "Reckon that’s worth
celebratin’," he mused. "Didn’t need tah be blamin’…"
Athena looked at the man, as he grew quiet. She could sense the turmoil in
his soul and the confusion in his heart. She closed her eye, accepting the
opportunity that befallen her. The rest that she desperately needed would
not come to her tonight… "Tell me?" she whispered.
He heard her beckoning and the ladies’ man hid his eyes. He knew she’d
caught him thinking and he wasn’t exactly proud of his anger. He glanced
around the room as though the whole world knew every secret he ever had.
Cautiously, he looked back at the woman, and gave her a reserved smile. Somehow,
he felt at ease in her presence. Somehow, he knew he could talk to Athena…
but he couldn’t do it here. Licking his lips, he tried to stand and
slumped back down in the chair. Shaking his head, he growled at his own
incompetence then laughed. "Help me tah my room?" he asked happily.
She hesitated.
"I…" he knew what she must be thinking. He smiled and shook his head
before lowering it… not that he hadn’t thought about it. She was
indeed, a beautiful woman and he was attracted to her. He looked back into
her eyes. Now was not the time...
She smiled guardedly. Believing she understanding his intentions, Athena
assisted him in rising from the table. Carefully the injured couple made
their way out of the saloon.
Buck sat at his table with his head in his hands. They
must have been talking for an hour now and all it seemed to do was confuse
him. He was tired and his frustration was getting the best of him. "Come
‘ere!" he called to her.
Athena was tired, too. She felt like she wanted to give up but she understood
that the forces that drove her would not relent. If only she knew how to
get through to this man. How to calm his anger so that he could see clearly
enough to bind the others together. The passions that drove Buck Wilmington
could provide the element that would keep The Seven linked until Destiny
came.
Each member within this select group contributed an intricate part of the
whole yet; it was the ladies’ man that defined their universe. He guided
them without knowing. They followed without understanding that they were
being led. He did not understand himself, how important his role was. How
could she make him understand?
Glancing across the room, Buck smiled at the woman, "Come ‘ere!" he
called again. He could see she was deep in thought. He tried to stand but
his leg gave way.
The crash and the groan brought Athena back from her reflections and she
moved to his side and knelt down. She did her best to help him up but his
weight was too much for her. They landed back on the floor in a heap.
Buck laughed. "Well, Darlin’… best you back off while I make ma’
way tah the bed."
She did as he asked and watched as the ladies’ man crawled to the bed
and climbed up. He unbuckled his gun belt and set it on the table. He kicked
off his boots and looked at the woman who stood watching him. "Come ‘ere!"
he said one more time. He motioned her to sit beside him on the bed.
Athena looked at him hesitantly for just a second, then did as he requested.
Wilmington shuffled over to give her room to join him. He pulled her to his
chest for comfort but could tell she wasn’t sure of his actions. "Relax,"
he suggested. "Reckon we could rest up betta lying here."
Athena could feel the gentle nature of the big man as she lay beside him.
There was nothing for her to fear here. She reached down and took off her
gun belt and boots, then turned back to look into his eyes. She leaned into
his good shoulder and relaxed into his arms as Buck lay back on the headrest.
"So let me get this straight. You’re tryin’ ‘a tell me them
boys need me around to keep ‘em happy?" The ladies’ man looked
down at her and smiled with a renewed satisfaction.
Athena smiled at his interpretation of what she had tried to explain to him.
"To keep them strong cowboy… They need the strength and passion that
lives here." She covered his heart with her hand and sat up to look deep
into his dark blue eyes. "You must learn to control that fire so that it
can serve them in time of need."
Wilmington returned her gaze but looked inquisitively at her. Her words slowly
sunk in. "Sounds tah me like your tellin’ old Buck he’s got ‘a
change some… Don’t reckon I like that idea much."
She smiled at him again. The rogue had this uncanny knack of rethinking
everything she said. "Not change…" she looked him in the eye. "Just
grow… Use your fire to forge the bonds that can transform seven into
one."
His face was full of questions as he stared at the woman. He could hear the
passion in her voice and somewhere, deep inside; he considered that he might
understand what she was getting at. He would need more time to think on her
words.
Athena could see he was beginning to understand but that it would take more
time. She tried to think of another way to explain. "Have you ever heard
of a Devil’s Advocate?" she asked.
The knock at the door awoke the two sleeping people in
Wilmington’s bed.
Jackson had knocked twice already. Concerned when he received no answer,
he went on in unsolicited. The sight that met his eyes made him smile. He
didn’t think the ladies’ man spent too many nights in that bed
with a fully clothed woman in his arms. "Well… I’m glad I found
both of ya. Don’t reckon I thought I’d find ya like this though,"
he laughed. Moving to the bed, he put his medical bag down.
Buck and Athena both seemed a little embarrassed at the comment. They sat
up and moved apart.
The healer rubbed his hands together. "I’m here tah check on them bullet
holes. Who wants tah go first?"
Wilmington moved to the edge of the bed and slipped his legs over the side.
"How’s JD and Ezra?" he asked, unbuttoned his shirt. His body was stiff
but he felt a renewed strength in his heart.
Jackson pulled back the dressing on the man’s shoulder and examined
the wound. "JD’s awake and been asking for ya. I told ‘im you took
a couple ‘a bullets yerself. Seemed tah make ‘im feel better."
Resetting the first dressing, the healer motioned Buck to pull his pants
down.
A quick glance over his shoulder told Buck that Athena had moved to the other
side of the bed. The window held her gaze as she slowly unbuttoned her shirt.
Wilmington undid his pants and dropped them to his knees.
"Darn kid," Nathan laughed. "All he wanted tah know was how come ya made
it out ‘a the clinic and he hadn’t."
The rogue huffed loudly at Jackson’s story. "Seems like none of us are
keen on spending much time in your place, Nathan. What’d ya make of
that?"
The healer was busy looking under the other compress. "Think maybe it’s
got somethin’ tah do with all them holes you keep gettin’ in ya?"
"I hope you didn’t say that tah JD?" Wilmington raised an eyebrow comically.
Nathan laughed. "Think that was ‘bout that time he fell back tah sleep
again."
"And Ezra?" Buck asked as Jackson moved over to the girl. Like the gentleman,
he knew he could be, the rogue kept his back to the lady, giving her some
privacy.
Jackson pursed his lips as he set about examining the woman’s shoulder.
She’d already removed her shirt and was using it to cover herself. "Came
to ‘bout two hours ago. He’s hurtin’ real bad. He’s been
wonderin’ if you’d come sit with him a spell, Miss Athena." The
healer looked into her eyes as he finished up.
She nodded her affirmation as Nathan headed for the door. He looked back
and smiled. "You two get some more rest now, ya hear!" his tone was serious
but his grin betrayed the humor he saw. Shaking his head again, he quickly
left.
Buck sat on one side of the bed with his shirt off and his pants unbuttoned.
Athena occupied the other side of the bed, naked from the waist up except
for the shirt she held over her breasts. They glanced at each other briefly
before turning their backs to fix the situation they found themselves in.
Later that day, the door to the clinic opened and Buck
and Athena walked in, closing the door behind them. Nathan motioned the two
to be quiet as he slipped outside for a break. Athena stood over the gambler
and took in his face while Buck moved over to the waiting kid.
The woman watched her green-eyed gentleman for a long time. She couldn’t
help but wonder if the actions he had taken yesterday were her fault. Slowly
she knelt beside the bed and leaned into talk to him. "Ezra," she whispered
in his ear.
His eyes slowly opened and he smiled his best smile for her.
She ran her fingers gently over his cheek and sensed his pain through the
touch.
Seeing her flinch, the southerner frowned. "It’ll be alright," he assured
her. He knew she felt his pain. "You’ve given me a special gift, Athena.
The strength I need to see this through." Searching for the right word, Standish
pursed his lips. "I’m stronger now than I was before. My heart
understands…"
She smiled at his words but it pained her to leave him like this. She would
have liked nothing more than to stay by his side but she was being called
away. Staying here would be so right… but it was not to be. "I’ll
be leaving tomorrow," she said, lowering her head. "I need only a little
more time here then I must leave to send the others back."
Josiah had explained to Ezra and JD about everything that had gone on while
they were unconscious. The gunslinger had left sometime during the night
and had not stopped to say goodbye to anyone. The tracker had hauled his
wagon out of town early that morning. Vin’s cautious farewells had seemed
as permanent as any. None of the others presumed to know what Larabee and
Tanner were going through but the southerner was scared for the woman. He
knew her intent too well. Perhaps he had listened too closely. Perhaps Athena
should give up now before it was too late… "I do believe you may have
witnessed the last ride of The Seven, my dear." He took a painful breath
and continued. "Whilst Mr. Tanner might be reckoned with. I would suggest
you stay as far away from Mr. Larabee as you possibly can." Standish had
faced the blond’s wrath himself and there was one thing he was sure
of… Chris was a dangerous man and even more so when he was angry.
Ezra’s warning was as serious as any the woman had heard. She smiled
at his concern, knowing that he had no idea that his own happiness was at
stake. "I have no choice," she said just as painfully. She laid her head
on the man’s chest. After several minutes she continued. "Our time was
brief, Ezra Standish." She looked up into his beautiful green eyes and kissed
him long and hard. "I will remember you in my dreams." Setting her head on
his shoulder, she closed her eyes.
The gambler nuzzled her head with his as they held each other closely. He
would remember her too… for a very long time!
Buck limped into his room and locked the door behind
him. Rubbing his shoulder and leg, he moved for the table. Suddenly the tall
rogue became aware of a presence in the room and spun around to face Athena.
She sat on his bed with her head down and her knees curled in to her chest.
Her hat, coat and boots lay beside her as she rocked slowly back and forth.
The ladies’ man could sense she was upset and he moved to sit beside
her. He touched her head gently.
Athena lifted her eyes to meet his.
"What’s wrong, Darlin’?" Wilmington asked softly. The woman’s
eyes were beautiful this close up but Buck could see fear in them. He pulled
her close and asked again. "What’s wrong?"
"I must leave soon. I must send them back… I have no choice."
There was a tremble in her words that Buck had never heard before. It scared
him to hear her talk like this. "Chris and Vin?"
She nodded into his shoulder and pulled him close. "Tell me you understood
the words we spoke of yesterday. I need to know that you can forgive…
and forget," she raised her head to look at him again. "Please tell me you
will welcome them home… if I can send them back!" She sat back and looked
at the man. Slowly she lowered her head to hide her eyes. "… I must
know I will not endure his wrath in vain."
Wilmington took the woman’s elbows and looked at her carefully. He knew
from her tone that she was frightened and he understood from her words that
only one of the two men could make her feel this way. "Now you just hold
on there, Darlin’. Don’t you be goin’ out after Larabee if
he’s gonna hurt ya."
Her eyes begged for the answer that she needed to hear. "Tell me you have
made peace in your heart."
Wilmington looked at the girl in amazement. It was obvious she was being
compelled to do something that scared her, yet all she could talk about was
the conversation they had had last night. Buck remembered how she’d
explained the importance of accepting his oldest friend for the man he was...
and not to judge him on one single act.
Wilmington had argued it wasn’t one single act but a string of many.
It was at this point in their discussion that Athena had taken time out to
calm his thoughts and refocus his anger into useful energy. She had reminded
him that the gunslinger was alive now because of the way he was. She had
asked if he would change a man so much… and then bury him because of
it… It was that statement alone that had ended the conversation that
had dragged on well into the night. Chris Larabee was Buck’s oldest
friend for a reason…
"I reckon I understand what you told me… What happened ain’t
nobody’s fault. And, blamin’ Chris or Vin for it ain’t gonna
do nobody, no good. If there’s anyone around here who can straighten
this out... " The ladies’ man cocked his head and grinned. "Well, I
can’t turn my back on ma friends now… can I?" He caressed the
woman’s cheek and tried to reassure her of his decision. In eleven days,
he’d never seen this woman look so vulnerable. Wilmington didn’t
like it one bit but he understood why she might be frightened of Chris. Hell,
any sane man would be… let alone a woman. Yet, he couldn’t quite
grasp her apprehension in confronting Tanner. "Look at you," he pulled her
closer. "You’re shakin’ all over." Feeling her apprehension, Wilmington
tried to offer her options. "You don’t got ‘a go after ‘em,
ya know. Chris’ll calm down… eventually. He’ll be back. Vin,
too, probably."
Athena shook her head. "He who sees has heard the call of the mountains and
plains. His need for solitude is real." She couldn’t explain to the
ladies’ man that Tanner was using what had happened as an excuse to
run away. "… And, the dark one is lost. He will not come back this time.
I must go…" She knew in her heart that she had no way of understanding
the man called Larabee. She also understood, beyond any doubt, that he would
not return without her guidance.
Buck held nothing against the tracker. After his conversation with this lady
last night, the rogue had accepted that Tanner had done his level best when
the chips were down. There was no blame to be laid or any benefit in holding
contempt in his heart. He was also confident that Vin just needed to hear
those same words from the right person.
The rogue pulled the woman tight into his arms and held her as he took a
deep breath. Larabee was another story entirely though. He’d known Chris
for more than a dozen years now and had seen him at his best… and his
worst. He knew what happened in the gunslinger’s head when things went
wrong. There was no reasoning with him. Wilmington had tried once… and
paid a terrible price. Understanding this simple fact first hand scared the
heck out of him. For that reason alone, Buck didn’t want Athena to go.
Taking a deep breath, the rouge pulled her closer. An idea flashed through
his mind and he was ashamed of it. He was afraid to admit it even to himself
but he couldn’t deny what he knew in his heart. Wilmington understood,
that if anyone else tried to convince the pair of ‘stubborn jackasses’
to change their minds… Oh, God! He was afraid for Athena, yet
there was a strength in this woman… Something he had seen in no other
individual before.
Lying against his strong chest, the woman could feel Buck’s sincerity.
She knew that he would be able to complete his task if she could just send
the two men home. She understood his concern though and tried to relax and
give him peace of mind with her body gesture. She sat back and looked up
into his deep blue eyes. She caressed his cheek and ran her fingers through
his hair. "I will be gone by morning cowboy... You must promise to stay here
and give the others strength… I cannot promise I can send your friends
home tomorrow." She lowered her head again. "But I will send them back to
you."
"But…" he started to object.
She looked up at him and placed her fingers over his lips to quiet his
insistence. "I must go. Neither of us can do anything to change what
must be. History must know The Seven and only I can make sure it is
so. You must all see Destiny together." Athena lowered her head, then looked
back at him again. "Remember your promise to stay here… Keep the others
strong for as long as it takes… Welcome your lost friends when they
return and always…" she stroked his cheek again. "Always remember your
fire and passion are the elements that bond these men as one."
Her words rang through Buck’s ears and into his heart. He leaned down
and kissed her as he stroked her hair.
She pulled back from him and looked deep into his soul.
He smiled ever so gently and kissed her again.
This time she did not pull away. She felt a stirring within herself that
she had never experienced before.
Wilmington gave in to the feelings that now consumed him and, in doing so;
he freed his mind from all that it knew.
The tall rogue gazed into her eyes and for the first time since she had met
this man, Athena was able to truly know him. She saw his inner most thoughts
and feelings with different eyes... She finally understood how genuine and
explicit this man’s passion really was. The woman smiled at him cautiously.
Wilmington returned her smile and kissed her again… and again.
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