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There was not much that would have all Seven riding hard out of the town they protected but the Garson Gang was one of them. The gang had already plundered their way through half the territory, raping and murdering homesteaders, attacking peaceful backwater towns and Indian villages alike. They had left behind a trail of death, destruction, grief, and broken bodies. Chris guessed it was just a matter of time before they came this way so wasn't surprised when Chanu came riding into town earlier that day, looking for Vin.
"Scouts have spotted these men in the barren lands between here and Eagle Bend. Our village is in their path."
"How many?" Vin asked, because none of the reports from other parts of the territory had given a firm number.
"They counted at least fifty strong, perhaps more."
"That's an army not a gang," Nathan murmured. "Gotta be 8 or 9 to 1."
"I've certainly seen better odds," Ezra added.
"Seen worse too," Buck replied with a wink that had Ezra rolling his eyes because they all knew Buck was referring to the day Ezra got tarred and feathered. Luckily for him they hadn't boiled the tar first.
Chris glanced across at Vin and saw the slightest dip of his head, instinctively knowing they were in agreement. If they didn't try to stop the Garson Gang now, while they were still far from the town, then it could end up as a battle along the dusty main street. The townsfolk would end up paying the price in spilled blood.
"Let's ride."
Within ten minutes they were mounted up and heading out of town, leaving its protection in the hands of the town's menfolk. Chris just hoped they had the good sense to follow all the plans he'd set in place over the years; setting up a look-out on the church bell tower, readying carts and wood for barricades, and making sure the women and children knew to head into the deep cellar under the church. Mary Travis nodded to him firmly as he rode past, taking some of that concern from his shoulders. She could organize the town better than any man.
Vin drew up alongside him as they pushed the horses onward, his words almost snatched away but Chris caught them.
"Ain't what I had in mind for today, Cowboy."
Chris smiled wryly, knowing exactly what Vin had planned for them at Chris's shack, far away from the town and prying eyes. He sighed at the loss. Trouble seemed to pick it moments. Eventually they had to slow down for the sake of the horses, not wanting to push them too hard; they reached Chanu's village in just under two hours and found preparations already underway.
Ko-Je stepped forward to greet them alongside some of the village elders and together they drew up plans.
Chris looked up, checking the position of the sun, still high in the sky. "They'll attack tonight. We need to get your people some place safe."
"This is a sacred night," Ko-Je replied. "Our ancestors will protect the People... if we bargain with them."
Chris waited until he was further away before asking Vin and Josiah, "Why this night?"
Josiah answered. "It's a special blood moon tonight. Only happens once in a generation, when Third and Fourth world are in alignment and the spirits can see the living."
"You believe that?"
Josiah shrugged. "I believe in heaven and hell, God and the Devil. They believe in four worlds. Who am I to say who's right and who's wrong."
They worked through the day to shore up the villages defenses while Ko-Je and the other elders sat in their sweat lodge singing to their ancestors, but now purple shadows were growing longer as the sun set. The first bright stars appeared and soon the moon would rise too. One of Ko-Je's people came riding into the village and Chris knew their time was nearly up. The Garson Gang were readying to attack once it was fully dark.
"We should get the women, children, and elderly some place safe... safer," he amended, and watched one of the elders led the frightened villagers towards the creek where they had arranged cover for them some distance away. Chris knew it wouldn't save them if the Seven and Ko-Je's warriors could not fend off Garson's men.
Vin came up beside Chris, both of them shrouded in darkness, and for a moment it felt as if there was only the two of them in existence. He felt Vin's hand caress his cheek, turning to him and sighing into the soft, gentle kiss that was so different from the violence of their lives.
"Chris," Vin murmured and Chris nodded, acknowledging the unspoken words that they were unlikely to survive this night, but Chris had made his peace with that a long time ago. His only regret was in not taking this chance with Vin earlier, but he had needed to finish grieving for the life he had once had with Sarah and Adam before he could reach out for a new one with Vin.
They watched as the blood moon rose, huge in the sky at this time of year, turning the inky shadows to pale purple, and illuminating Vin's face.
Chris took a moment to drink in his lover's face, his eyes shining bright, almost ethereal, feeling a shudder run through him that he knew was as much from his sight of Vin as it was from the vibration of horses hooves. He had nothing left to bargain with but his life, and he offered that up now to both Josiah and Ko-Je's higher powers to save Ko-Je's people, and the rest of the Seven. He offered his life to save Vin's.
"Let's give 'em Hell," Vin murmured, and Chris grinned wide, no longer caring who spotted them standing so close, with Vin's hand still cupping his cheek.
They turned as one and took cover, guns at the ready, knowing the others had taken position around the village. The first line of defense held for a moment, ambushing six riders, who fell beneath bullets and arrows but not without cost to Ko-Je's warriors. More riders took their place, horses jumping the obstacles placed in their path. Lit torches were thrown at the tepees, some catching immediately but no one could spare the time to save them in the fight for their lives. Reloading for the third time, Chris wished every bullet had hit its mark but the purple shadows played tricks with the eyes, and those riders not killed outright were still a threat.
"Fall back!" Chris yelled as the second line of defense fell beneath horses hooves and gunfire.
Vin was no longer by his side but still within sight, having swapped the exquisite assassin rifle, taken off the body of a man intent on killing Mary Travis, for his mare's leg. His aim was a true as Chris's but both of them were being forced back towards the creek. Chris thought of the frightened women and children hiding back there and his thoughts turned to Ko-Je's gods.
"Now would be a good time," he whispered, gun barely jumping in his hand as another rider fell.
By now the blood moon was higher above the horizon, full and red and so huge Chris could almost believe he could reach out and touch it. The last bullet left his gun and he braced himself as a rider came straight for him, a saber glinting red from the moon, and black from the blood dripping from it, screaming his battle cry. At the last minute the horse reared, the rider toppling off the back, and Chris pressed his advantage as the horse turned and ran, terrified. His knife sank in deep, seeing terror in the eyes of the man who had planned to kill him. A terrible chill lifted the hairs at his nape and Chris turned, believing an enemy at his back only to see the purple shadows twisting into the forms of men, turning green and shape-shifting into figures of animals baring sharp teeth and claws, swirling around. He gasped as they passed right through him, icy fingers crawling across his body. A Garson rider was caught in the claws of an shapeshifter wraith and torn to pieces while the rest of the riders turned and fled, the ghostly apparitions chasing them across the plains, tearing into their flesh before slowing losing shape and cohesion, the green drifting away until nothing was left but an eerie silence.
Chris looked to the side as he felt Vin's presence at his shoulder, seeing the awe in wide, bright eyes. He reached out and gripped Vin's forearm, wanting to be certain he was real, and alive.
Clouds crossed the sky, covering the blood moon and when the cloud moved off it left behind a yellow full moon.
The sounds of triumph, of joy, began to rise around them and Chris lifted his eyes to meet Ko-Je's, seeing the smile playing about the Chief's lips.
When the sun rose many hours later Chris could almost believe it had all been a dream. Only the shredded bodies of Garson's men bore testament to the truth. They had put out the fires and gently collected the bodies of their dead. All Seven had survived the night, all of them silent as they thought of last night's events.
Josiah spoke first. "I have questions. Many questions, so I'm staying here with Ko-Je's people."
Nathan smiled, "They got themselves a real doctor in town, so I plan to ride on to the Seminole village, maybe stay there, start a family with Rain."
J.D. took off his hat, holding it by the brim. He was no longer the kid, fresh from the East; he was a man now. The Judge had offered him the permanent position of Sheriff, and Casey had said 'yes' to his proposal of marriage, but he wasn't the only one with matrimonial intentions.
"There's a lady I plan to marry," Buck spoke softly, and Chris smiled, knowing Buck's womanizing days were over.
"Ezra?" Chris asked and gained a glint of gold as the gambler smiled.
"I believe there is a soft feather bed awaiting for me... and a saloon I intend to purchase from my mother."
Chris turned to Vin.
"Never intended on sticking around this long," Vin stated, and Chris knew he was the main reason why Vin had stuck around at all. "Could use the company on the trail, Cowboy."
For a moment he thought of his shack and that small parcel of land just outside the town. He had carved a life for himself out there; a lonely, solitary life. He thought again of last night, how he had offered up his life for Vin's, and maybe this was the bargain he had struck. He didn't need to say a word, Vin's blue eyes crinkling at the edges as Chris answered with a slight lift of his lips, giving up that lonely life for something harder yet infinitely more rewarding.
He and Vin mounted up after saying their farewells, and Vin looked across at him.
"You want to swing by the shack, pick up anything?"
Chris shook his head and smiled. "Got everything I need right here."
END