“I can, and I just did, sheepherder.” Stewart was the local cattle baron in the town of Four Corners and controlled most of the land, and with it,  a great deal of power.

“Damnit, Travis. Can’t you do something to stop him?!” Stratmore turned from the rancher to Judge Orin Travis, who sat at the head table. “We 'all' need that water for our livestock. With everything drying up so fast, its gonna be out last hope.”

“I’m sorry, Patrick. James does own the land the water is located on and I can’t force him to let anyone use it.” Orin sighed heavily as he saw the fury enter the sheep rancher’s eyes. He had been afraid of this.

“You hire seven outlaws to protect this poor excuse for a town, but you won’t do nothing to help
us lowly laborers.” The red-headed man cut his eyes into to slits as he continued. “I get it now. I
guess I overlooked what really made this town work, didn’t I, Judge.”

Travis stood slowly. “I recommend we reconvene this meeting tomorrow at noon and give
everyone time to calm down.”
 
Patrick began to advance on the older man, but a voice behind him ceased his motion. “I suggest
you take the judge’s advice, Stratmore, and save it until tomorrow.” The sheepherder glanced over
his shoulder and saw Chris Larabee, along with the other peacekeepers staring him down.

“Fine.” The man looked back to Travis, then to James. “But don’t think this is over.” He headed
toward the exit, pausing long enough to beckon his son. “Lets go, Hank.” The youngest Stratmore rushed to his father and they  left the proceedings.
 
The rest of the townspeople, plus Stewart, left shortly afterward, leaving the judge and the seven
regulators alone in the feed store.

“You think anything’ll come of this, Judge?” Nathan Jackson stood alongside the other men now
surrounding the table watching Orin.

“I’m afraid it will, Mr. Jackson. Stewart James knows exactly what he’s doing and what will
happen if he cuts off the water supply.” Orin raked a shaky hand through his graying hair. “Its
only a matter of time before those folks are forced to do something drastic.”

“Like sell their land.” Buck Wilmington had watched the meeting with controlled fury. The
seven had tangled with James many a time and knew what treachery he could inflict.

The judge glanced toward the ladies man. “Exactly.” He then turned his gaze to their leader. “Do
you have any ideas how to stop this thing?”

Chris swung his eyes to the window and watched the retreating form of Stratmore before
answering. “Make it rain.”

***************

Two days later...

“Do you think Miss Nettie will be able to hold out 'til this is over, Vin?” JD Dunne rode beside his friend as they headed back to Four Corners from the ranch of the woman in question.
 
“Don’t know, kid. She stood up to Royal, but this is different.” Tanner thought back to that time and shook his head sadly. “She’s survived before, I don’t see her not lasting through this.” The tracker gave the boy a slow grin and reached for his canteen. As he picked it up, he noticed it was empty. He frowned slightly, thinking how they had just filled them up about four hours ago when they had left town. Even though it was mid-September, the eatwave that had started in July seemed unwilling to let up. “You got any water, JD?” Vin pulled Bounty to a stop and waited as JD did the same to Seven.
 
The youth grabbed his canteen and shook it lightly. A small 'whoosh' could be heard, but it was extremely faint. “Dang, I could have sworn it was full earlier.” Dunne shook it harder and sighed. “Is there anywhere we can fill these up?” He glanced at the afternoon sun beating down on them and then back to Tanner. He noticed Vin surveying their surroundings.

“Yeah, if we’re lucky.” The tracker pointed to a clump of trees to the east. “Over there's Crescent Springs. It should still have water left.” He urged his horse forward with the teen following close behind.

As soon as JD spotted the shimmering pool, he realized how thirsty he truly was and leaped from his saddle. He slowed his motion toward the pond long enough to discard his hat, before plunging his head into the cool water.

“Ya' mind saving some for me, kid.”  Vin smiled slowly at the exuberant youth beside him. The boy never ceased to amaze him. He always plunged into everything head first.

“Don’t worry. I’ll leave enough to get ya' back to town.” JD grinned, causing rivlets of water to trail down his soaked face.

Tanner just shook his head and filled his canteen, raising it to his lips once he had finished. After taking a long pull, he brought the canister down and checked the area. Larabee had warned them to be extra careful due to the feud brewing between James and the sheepherders and farmers. The ex-bounty hunter turned the canteen up once more and continued his search. As he
brought the liquid away from his mouth, his gaze fell on an outline near the top of the springs.

He stared harder and it began to take shape, causing Vin to immediately become alert. “JD!” He never waited for the teen to respond, as he corked the canister and headed towards the object.

“Wha-” Dunne raised his satiated head from the ground and saw the sharpshooter rushing to the treeline. He quickly jumped to his feet and followed, drawing one of his colts just in case. He came to a stop about 10 feet behind Tanner, as he took in the cause of his partner's alarm.

Three sheep lay in a semi-circle, dead. The flies had began to buzz the carcasses and the stench was minor, which only meant they hadn’t been gone long. JD pulled his coat around the bottom half of his face, as he watched the tracker examine the remains.

“They been shot?” The muffled question caused Vin to glance over his shoulder. He almost laughed at Dunne’s squeamish reaction, but refrained himself.
 
“Nope.” The sharpshooter returned to his search and was beginning to get a sinking feeling at his findings. The sheep didn’t have any outter wounds that he could see, which could only mean one thing. Tanner stood up quickly and rushed passed the youth. “Lets go, kid. We gotta get back to town, now.”
 
The boy couldn’t take his eyes off the fallen corpses, but the rapid footfalls of Vin leaving him behind spurned him into action. He had only gone a couple of feet when a a firy, intense pain erupted within his gut, causing him to fall to the ground.
 
The tracker slowed his trek to let the teen catch up, and to go over all the information he had so far. As he ran over in his mind what he had found, he was drawn from his musings when he registered that JD was no longer following. Tanner paused
and looked over his shoulder. What he saw made him turn back the way he had just come at a dead run.

“JD!” Vin slid to a stop beside his fallen friend. “JD, can ya hear me?”

The sharpshooter easily rolled Dunne onto his side and flinched at the agony etched on the youth’s face. “Whats wrong, kid?” He tried to loosen the young man’s deathgrip to his abdomen, but an uncontrollable shiver caused JD to tighten his hold.

“Hurts!” The boy began rocking back and forth to ease the pain, but it wasn’t working.

“Take it easy, kid. Slow, deep breaths.” The ex-bounty hunter held on to Dunne’s clenched fist, hoping to add some support. He waited patiently until the shakes had subsided somewhat.

“Better?” Tanner turned JD to face him and saw that the pain had apparently eased somewhat.
 
The youth nodded. “Yeah. What the hell’s wrong with me?” JD gave his friend an expectant gaze.
 
Vin dropped his eyes and concentrated on getting a handhold on Dunne. He needed to get him to his horse as soon as possible.

“Vin?” The urgency in the weakened voice, caused Tanner to flinch.

“Looks like the water’s gone bad, kid.” The tracker had him in a sitting position and was about to help him stand. “You think you can help me get you to the horses?”

This time Tanner looked at the boy and  JD saw the fear flash in his friend’s eyes. He nodded. “Yeah, I think so."

The teen helped the sharpshooter as much as he could, but the pain was coming back. “Hurry, Vin.” Dunne gritted his teeth.

“Don’t worry, JD. As soon as I get you to Nathan, you’ll be fine, alright?” The tracker hoped his voice sounded more convincing then he felt.

“You okay?” The boy stopped suddenly as a thought struck him,  almost causing both of them to tumble to the ground.

If he were sick from  drinking the water, then Tanner had to be feeling the effects also.
 
“Don’t worry about me, kid. I didn’t drink as much as you.” Vin hoped the youth had missed the droplets of sweat on his brow. He too was feeling weak and slight spasms of pain were beginning to assault him.

JD knew the tracker had to be lying, but another wave of agony stopped him from questioning the other man further. He tried to push himself faster, knowing his extra weight had to be tiring his lanky friend.

They finally reached the mounts and both of them slumped against the beasts, sighing. “Okay, lets get you situated and then get the hell out of here,” Tanner said, helping Dunne get his foot in the stirrup and then pushing him the rest of the way into the saddle. “You doing okay, JD?” Vin reached over and  grabbed Bounty’s reigns, never letting go of Seven’s.

“Yeah.” The response was weak, but a welcome sound to the sharpshooter.

“Good. You just hang on, kid and I’ll get us home.” The ex-bounty hunter mounted slowly, but kicked the horses into a fast trot before he ever hit the saddle, knowing he only had a little time to get them both back to Jackson’s healing hands.

************

“Rider comin’.” Young Hank Stratmore watched the man approach, as he stood on the front porch of his father's house. He was just about to leave with some of the other men and feed the stock, but paused as he had spotted the stranger.

“Who is it, boy?” Patrick asked, coming to stand beside his son.

“Don’t know, never seen him before.”

“I guess we’d better find out then.” Stratmore reached inside the door and pulled out a twelve guage shotgun. The resounding click of both barrels being cocked caused the approaching man to halt his advancement.

“Mr. Stratmore, I presume.” Wedge Parker leaned one arm on his saddlehorn and held the other out to his side. “I mean no harm. I’ve actually come to help you.”

“Help me what, mister?” Patrick never let his gun waver.

“Solve your water problem, of course.” Parker smiled slightly as the other man began lowering his weapon. “If you’ll allow me a few minutes of your time, I’m sure you’ll want to hear what I gotta say.”

The red-haired man watched the stranger for a few seconds, then nodded his head in an
affirmative. “You’ve got ten minutes.”

*************

The sun had dropped to below the mountains as the two wayward peacekeepers finally entered
the town limits. JD was completely slumped over his saddle and Vin was barely able to keep
himself upright.

“Not much further, kid. Just hang on.” Tanner hoped that Dunne was conscious on some level
and heard him. “We’re almost home.” The tracker glanced briefly to his friend and then back at
the streets of Four Corners. They were still a little ways away from any of the main buildings,
but he was sure they could make it.

**************

Josiah Sanchez stood at the jailhouse window, sipping his coffee and listening to the clank of
Chris cleaning his weapon at the Sheriff’s desk. The two men had sought the buildings quiet
refuge when the saloon had become to loud, even for them.

“You ever wonder what keeps us here, brother?” The ex-preacher chanced a look over his
shoulder to see Larabee pause and stare at the desk.

“Every damn day for the past year and a half.” The leader never looked up, even when he heard
Sanchez’s low rumble of laughter.

“Amen.” Josiah swiveled back around to watch the patrons outside the jailhouse haven. As he
swept his eyes down the street and then back up, his breath caught in his throat at the sight that
greeted him. He quickly sat his cup on the table and wrenched the door open.

Chris jerked his head up at the sudden movements, seeing the bigger man’s form running down
the stairs into the street. Larabee grabbed the nearest weapon and followed Sanchez’s abrupt
departure, knowing it had to be trouble.

As he hit the dirt street, he too saw what had grasped the older man’s attention. JD was sprawled
on the ground at his horse’s feet and Vin was hanging over the side of Bounty. The leader broke
into a run, heading to his best friend’s side.

He reached the man just in time to catch him as he began sliding from his horse. “Vin!” Chris
dropped the rifle and eased him and the tracker slowly to the ground. He cradled the limp form
to his chest, jumping slightly at Josiah’s voice.

“I’ll go get Nate.” Larabee glanced over his shoulder and saw the pale face of the youngest
member of his team, feeling the fear grip his heart. He roamed the youth’s body with his gaze for
any external injuries and blood. Not seeing any, he quickly done the same to Tanner. Neither had
any visible wounds, which worried the older man even more. He was about to lay his best friend
down and begin a physical examine, when a whispered voice caught his attention.

“JD, needs Nathan.” Chris watched Vin’s eyes blink slowly before focusing on him. “The kid..”
Tanner attempted to move, but Larabee put a restraining hand on his arm.

“Take it easy. JD’s right here and Josiah’s gone to get Nate. Just lie still until he gets here.” The
leader was about to ask the younger man what had happened, when a loud voice called out.

“KID!!” Buck had just exited the saloon to join Miss Emily, when he had glanced up the street
and saw his best friend’s prone form on the ground. The saloon girl was quickly forgotten as he
rushed to Dunne. Wilmington dropped down beside the boy and pushed the wet locks of hair
from his friend’s forehead. “JD, son, can ya hear me?”

“I’m sorry, Buck. I tried to get him here sooner...” Vin was interrupted by a sudden pain, causing
him to double over.

“Easy Vin. Your both gonna be fine, alright.” Chris reached out and grabbed one of the tracker’s
hands in his.

“What the hell is wrong with them?” Buck raised worried eyes to Larabee.

The leader had no idea what to say to his friend to ease his pain, except, “I don’t know, but
whatever it is, I know Nathan can fix it.” Chris flashed Wilmington a stern gaze before turning
back to the lanky sharpshooter.

As Buck was about begin yelling for the healer, Jackson appeared before them and began
examining the fallen men. A few seconds behind him came Josiah and Ezra, who was alerted to
a problem by the gunslinger’s earlier bellow.

“Well, Nate?” Wilmington wasn’t a patient man by nature, even less so when it involved his best
friend.

“Looks like they been poisoned.” They all caught the puzzlement and concern in Nathan’s
words.

“What can we do?” Sanchez stepped forward as Jackson motioned for them to pick the men up.

“We’ve gotta get it out of their system as soon as possible.” The healer left JD to Buck’s strong
hold and turned to see Chris and the ex-preacher lifting Vin.

“And how do you propose we do that, Mr. Jackson?” Ezra had stayed back out of Nate’s way,
not wanting to interfere.

The black man stopped and looked into the gambler’s concerned face. “You don’t want to
know.” Nathan patted the southerner on the shoulder and pointed them both toward the clinic.

*************

“What makes you think I’m looking for someone of your calibur, Mr. Parker?” Stratmore sat at
his kitchen table, staring at his uninvited guest.

“I overheard your little problem at the town meeting and figured I could offer some help. You
deserve to use that water just as much as James. You need someone who’ll get you some justice,
unlike the so called peacekeepers of this town, and I’m here to provide.” Wedge hid his sly smile
behind the coffee cup he had just raised to his lips.

“What your proposing sounds a little desperate. We’re still holding our own right now.” Patrick
felt uneasy even thinking about taking Parker’s offer, but he was intrigued. He began to stand.
“Let me think about it an...”

“Pa, pa, come quick.” Hank’s urgent call had both men racing outside.

“Whats the matter, boy?” Stratmore skidded to a halt as his gaze took in the contents of the
wagon.

“We found them over by Crescent Springs. Looks like the water went bad.” Angus Milton
watched his boss’s face turned the same shade as his hair, and took an involuntary step back.

“The hell it did. I was just over there yesterday and it was fine.” Patrick clenched his fists.
“James did this.” He unclenched his hands and turned to the man beside him. “Parker, I’ve
thought it over. Your hired. I want him to pay.”

The red-haired man took one last look at his dead stock. “No matter what it takes.” He swiveled
back toward the house and never saw the evil grin pass over Wedge’s weathered features.

“Anything you say, BOSS.” The hired hand snickered quietly as he mounted his horse and began
riding toward Stewart’s ranch.

************

The next morning...

Chris watched the sun peak over the mountain and remembered Josiah’s words from last night.
*You ever wonder what keeps us here?* He glanced to the three sleeping forms to his left,
smiling slightly at Buck’s slumped figure on the edge of the kid’s bed. *Yeah I wonder and then
this happens and I stop wondering.*

He pushed himself away from the wall and went back to resume his seat by Vin’s bed. The
remedy Nathan had suggested for them had caused all the seven to endure a long, fitful night.
Chris had suspected JD would be stubborn about drinking the herbal tea to flush his system, but
what had surprised him was the downright refusal by Tanner.

It had taken him and Ezra both to hold the lanky tracker down, so Jackson could pour the drink
into him. Vin had known the moment he had smelled the concoction what the healer was up to
and made it clear he wasn’t gonna be a party to it.

After the confrontation, the two men suffered even more as they were forced to vomit
uncontrollably. Standish had bowed out within the first few minutes and so had Sanchez. Neither
man wanted to watch the two youngest in their agony, so had conceded their care to Nathan,
Chris and Buck.

Larabee let his smile grow at the choice words Tanner had given the healer within the first hour.
The tracker’s vast vocabulary would have impressed the gambler considerably.

“What the hell are you smiling at?” Vin was curled on his side and had been watching the
different plays of emotion cross the older man’s face.

“Just wondering where you learned all them colorful phrases.” The leader saw the anger flash in
the sharpshooter’s eyes.

“Make me drink that damn tea again, and I’ll show ya how many more I know.” The raspy voice
was low but very menacing.

Chris chuckled as he saw Jackson stand and walked toward them. Nathan stopped at Vin’s back.

“You doing alright?”

The lanky man turned over and gave his deadly glare to the healer. “Yeah. Just great, thanks.”

Nathan couldn’t help but chuckle also. “Well, it was either the tea or..” He let his voice trail off.

“I’ll remember that.” Tanner let his eyes drift close, but the two men watching him knew he was
still awake.

“Vin, how did you two get poisoned?” Chris leaned closer so as not to disturb the sleeping
friends’ next to them.

“Crescent Springs.” The tracker turned to face Larabee once more. “I found some sheep dead
near it and thats when I knew we had to get back here.”

The leader frowned. “Who’s stock?”

“Looked like Stratmore’s. Had his tag on their ear.”

“Damn. What do you think he’ll do when he finds out, Chris?” Jackson had sat on the edge of
Tanner’s bed to listen in to the conversation.

Larabee sighed. “Whatever it is, you can guarantee James will be right in the middle of it.” He
rubbed his hands over his tired face. Now that his partners’ were gonna be alright, the trouble
facing the town loomed in front of him. “I better go try and head this off. Vin, did you spot
anything suspicious about the water? Do you think it was just bad, or did somebody doctor it?”

The ex-bounty hunter concentrated for a few minutes and then shook his head. “I was just by that
place a couple of days ago and it was fine. If it was going bad, I would have noticed.”

The black-clad man didn’t need the younger man to finish. He understood what he was telling
him. “Seems someone is trying to help mother nature do her dirty work right now.” Chris stood
and grabbed his hat. “I’ll be back later. I’ll tell Josiah to come help you watch him.” He smiled
as he heard the soft grumble from the bed and saw the grin pierce Nathan’s features. “If he gets
too out of hand, you can always threaten him with more tea.” Larabee didn’t look back as he left
the room, not wanting to give his best friend a chance at retaliation.