By Winnie

Rating----PG13

Disclaimer-----The Magnificent seven characters do not belong to me, but I am grateful to have the chance to play with them for a while.

Comments------This story is for Jenny and I hope you enjoy it. It’s mostly Chris Larabee and Ezra Standish, but the others show up eventually. Thanks to Marti for reading along and to Antoinette for always being so supportive and checking for errors.

Part 1a

Chris stood with his back against the bar, a half empty bottle behind him as he watched Ezra skillfully wager against the trio sitting at the table with him. They’d been playing five card stud for hours now and the pile of money in the center of the table could make or break them all. Chris knew by now how to tell who had the best hand and which man was bluffing. He was pretty certain Ezra had them all beat, but one man, a young red head who looked to be the same age as JD Dunne, was definitely holding something more than a pair of deuces. He turned back to the bar as he heard Ezra raise the ante and two of the men slapped down their cards as Chris poured himself another shot. He downed it and smiled as the fiery liquid burned the trail dust from his throat. Looking in the mirror he watched as Ezra smiled, showing his gold tooth as he pushed the final bundle of money into the pot.

“Sir, I call your fifty and raise you everything I have left.”

“I,” the kid fanned his cards once more and looked at the money, salivating at the idea of bringing home more money than his family would ever see. His brother entrusted him with the bank deposit, but the call of a card game had been too much and he’d lost half of it in the first three hands.

“Well, Sir, do you call or fold?” Standish asked, his voice exactly the same as it was during every hand whether he won or lost.

“Call!” the kid said and shoved everything he had into the pot.

“You sure about that, Andy. Yer brother’ll tear off a piece of yer hide if’n ya lost it all!”

“He’ll do that anyway if’n I don’t put it all in the bank, Clyde. Now I called ya mister. Whatcha got?”

Chris continued to watch through the mirror, smiling as he saw the smile on the green eyed gambler’s face. He turned back in time to see Ezra fan his cards out face up on the table.

“Full house, sevens over threes,” Standish said and his opponent threw his cards down on the table and stood up.

“Yer a cheatin’ bastard!”

“Sir, I may very well be a bastard, but I assure you it was unnecessary for me to cheat against a person of your upbringing and education!”

‘Ah, hell,’ Larabee thought as he watched the kid draw his gun. Before the kid’s gun cleared leather Larabee’s gun was out and his voice cut through the tension. “I wouldn’t do that, Kid!”

“This ain’t got nothin’ ta do with ya, Mister!”

“Yeah, it does. See, the man you’re thinking on shooting could very well be a cheat and a swindler, but he didn’t do either this time.”

“How the hell do ya know? Ya weren’t even playin’!”

“Didn’t need to. I’ve played cards against Ezra. Even managed to win a couple of hands, but against a bunch like you, he didn’t need to use any tricks. You gave your hands away and anyone could’ve read you.”

“He’s a cheat...”

“Like I said that could very well be, but he wasn’t cheating today. Now why don’t you and your friends move back and let him pick up his money and we’ll be on our way.”

“He ain’t takin’ my money!”

“It is not your money anymore, Sir, I won it fairly,” Standish said as he began pulling the winnings towards him.

“Look,” Andy said, his hand once more inching towards his weapon.

“I wouldn’t, Kid...not if you want to be able to use that hand to eat your supper with.”

“There’s three of us, Mister, can’t get us all.”

“Maybe not, but I’m willing to take that chance...are you...or better yet are your friends? Better look around you, Kid, you’re all alone here!”

“Ain’t right taking a man’s money...”

“Should have thought of that before you sat in on the game,” Larabee warned, his eyes quickly taking in the tension wracked bodies around them. “Ezra, you ready to go?”

“I certainly am, Mr. Larabee.”

“Larabee...Chris Larabee?” Clyde asked moving back slightly.

Chris heard his name whispered around the room and the tension mounted once more as several pairs of eyes turned in his direction. He began to move towards the door using the bar as his guide and motioned for Standish to follow him. He knew his reputation still followed him and probably always would, but right now they were out numbered six to one and those odds were not very favorable.

“Ezra, when you get through the door head for the horses. I think we’ve overstayed our welcome.”

“An understatement, Mr. Larabee,” Standish said. Quickly moving past the gunslinger he shoved through the batwing doors into the dark street.

Chris continued to hold the men at bay until he came up against the door. He backed through and heard the gambler behind him. Without taking his eyes off the door he gingerly made his way to the edge of the boardwalk and grabbed the reins Standish handed him. Still holding his gun in front of him, he quickly mounted up and turned the horse to the north and headed out of town at a gallop. He heard shouts and curses behind him and several gunshots before he turned Pony down an alley and quickly rode out of the town of Swift Creek. He knew they couldn’t continue the pace for long, but was also worried about the very real possibility of being followed.

The horse’s hooves pounded across the hard packed earth, echoing through the mountainous terrain as the two men fought to put as much distance as possible between themselves and the town. Chris had no idea how much time had passed when he drew Pony to a stop and turned to see Ezra pull his own horse to a stop beside him.

“Do...do you think they will follow us?” Standish asked as he glanced over his shoulder.

“Guess that depends on how badly he wants that money back.”

“He did seem a little irate when I showed him my hand.”

“A little?” Larabee asked, eyebrows arching at the idea of anyone being a little angry after losing so much money. “I think he’s more worried about what his brother will do to him when he finds out.”

“Yes, well, how was I to know he was gambling with someone else’s money?” Standish asked.

“Didn’t say it was your fault, Ezra, just saying there could be trouble when he gets home and that means we should be expecting trouble to follow us. It’s going to take us three days to get back to Four Corners and it looks like we’ll be looking over our shoulders the whole time.” Silence reigned for several long minutes before the southerner looked deep into his companion’s eyes as they began walking the horses along the moonlit trail.

“Mr. Larabee, did you mean what you said back there?”

“About what?”

“That you knew I wasn’t cheating and won the pot fair and square?”

“Ez, we’ve known each other how long?”

“I guess it’s been nearly three years.”

“How often do we play cards?”

“At least once a week. Why do you ask?”

“Well, it seems to me a man who gambles with his friends tends to let his guard down. I’m getting to know a few tells about you, Ezra, and one of them is when you’re cheating.”

“Mr. Larabee I would never...”

“Calm down, Ez. I know you don’t cheat when you play with me or the boys, but I have watched you play some professionals and you have been known to cheat a time or two.”

“Ah, yes, slight of hand is something mothah taught me to be well skilled at.”

“Well, Ezra, your skills are well honed where gambling is concerned, however, you really need to work on when and where to get into a game. That town did not seem very friendly in the first place.”

“I believe you’re right and shall endeavor to be more careful of what I set my sights on,” Standish said and lapsed into silence once more.

“Get the horses, Clyde!”

“Andy, we best get back ta the farm and tell Billy what happened!”

“I ain’t goin back without the money. Ya go get the horses and we’ll ride out after ‘em.”

“But...”

“Shut the fuck up, Clyde. I ain’t ‘bout ta go home empty handed. Jacob, go help him and see if anyone else wants ta join us in a posse.”

“A posse? What for?”

“That bastard stole my money and he’s gonna go ta jail fer it!”

“He won the money, Andy...”

“By cheatin’! Andrew Cross spat. “Now that makes ‘im a thief in my book and since we got no sheriff here it means we gotta take the law inta our own hands. Since he took my money that gives me the right ta go after ‘im. Guess it makes me the law in this case. Now is there anyone else that’s willin’ ta go after that cheatin’ bastard and get our money back?”

“I’ll go...he took my wages too!”

“Anyone else?” Andy asked and watched as the others turned their backs on him. “All right, that makes four. Me, Clyde, Hank, and Jacob. The three of ya are now my deputies and are sworn ta back me up! The rest of ya go on ‘bout yer business and keep yer noses outta mine!”

Chris knew they could not keep riding. The terrain was rough enough during the day and next to impossible to negotiate during the night. They’d managed for a while because of the round full bodied orb of the moon high overhead, but they’d lost even that when clouds obliterated the stars overhead. He knew they had to find shelter as the wind began to pick up and pulled Pony to a stop, wishing, not for the first time, that they had the lanky Texan with them. Vin Tanner could track a fish through water if he had a mind to and right now his tracking skills would’ve helped them find a place to hold up for the night.

“Ez, we’re not gonna get much further. Keep your eye out for some place to make camp!”

“Mr. Larabee, I don’t think there is adequate housing in the area,” Standish said, smiling as the gunslinger shook his head.

“Not about to find anyplace fancy...guess we’ll just have to take rocks and brush instead of a mattress and feather pillows.”

“Please, just the thought of a feather pillow is enough to put me to sleep.”

“Well just keep thinking of it and maybe we’ll both get some shut eye tonight,” Larabee said as he started picking his way along the trail once more. The rocky ledge they were on narrowed the higher they went, but Chris knew they could not turn back. There had to be someplace where they could make camp at the top of this trail. He glanced over his shoulder and saw Standish’s horse stumble, and was relieved when the gambler kept his wits about him and moved the horse forward.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Andy, maybe we should stop!” Clyde suggested as darkness fell over the land.

“Ain’t lettin’ ‘em get away, Clyde. He got somethin’ that don’t belong to ‘im and I aim ta get it back. Billy always said I’d amount ta nothin’, well maybe it’s time I showed ‘im what I’m made of. Me, you, Jacob and ol’ Hank there could have a real good time in one of them towns north of ‘ere.”

“You mean take the money from them two and not go back ta Swift Creek?” Jacob asked.

“Tha’s right! Why the hell should we go back ta that two bit town and keep workin’ fer nothin’. I ain’t got nothin’ ta keep me there. When pa died he left it all ta Billy and I got nothin’!”

“Your pa gave it to Billy ‘cause of your gamblin’ problems,” Clyde observed.

“Andy ain’t got no problem with gamblin’...”

“Thanks, Jacob...”

“His problems with losin’,” Jacob Kennedy finished and laughed with the other two.

Andy pulled his horse to a stop and turned to the man on his left. “Ain’t gonna listen ta ya bad mouth me, Jacob, ya want in on this then ya’d best shut yer mouth lessin ya want me ta shut it for ya!”

“Wasn’t bad mouthin’ ya, Andy. I’s just funnin’ with...”

“No funnin’ allowed either. Now are ya with me or not?”

“We take all the money and head north. What about the gambler and his friend?”

“We kill ‘em.”

“Robbin’ ‘em’s okay, Andy, but I ain’t one fer killin’” Clyde said.

“Well, if they give us the money without fightin’ us we’ll jest take their horses and leave ‘em with a good long walk ‘head of em’,” Andy explained as he started his horse forward once more.

“Billy, I know you trust Andy, but I’ve been trying to tell you he shouldn’t be trusted with the payroll deposit,” Rose Cross told her husband.

“Andy’s seventeen now, Rose, and I want him to know he’s as much a part of this farm as we are. I’m going to tell him about making up the papers giving him half of this place when he gets back. Billy pulled his wife close and wrapped his arms around her as they stared out over their land.

“I hope he doesn’t let you down.”

“I do too, Honey, but if he does it’ll be the last time. Owning half of this place depends on how well he does his job over the next year. I was eighteen when Pa left this place to me and it changed me...”

“Did it ever,” the brunette laughed as she turned in his arms and accepted his kiss. “Sometimes I miss my wild young man.”

“I thought you said I was still wild, especially in bed...”

“Billy!”

“What? Don’t tell me I’ve tamed my Wild Irish Rose”

“Not on your life,” Rose said flipping her unruly red hair over her shoulder as she nipped his lip.

“Oh, hell, baby, do you know how much I love you?”

“I believe I do, Billy, and believe me I feel the same way about you.”

“Want to take a walk down by the creek?”

“At this hour?”

“Seems to me you didn’t care what the time was when I came for you, least not until your father caught up to us.”

“Daddy really did like you, Billy, he just didn’t like the idea of his little girl getting married.”

“Especially to a rabble-rouser,” Cross said, picking his wife up and carrying her towards their bedroom at the back of the house. His wife had always been able to get his mind off his worries, but even now he wondered if he should have entrusted his younger brother with the money.

Chris reached the top of the plateau just before his friend and looked down the trail. They were at the top of a steep upgrade that leveled out onto a ground that was strewn with rock and debris. Below was a vast maw of darkness that concealed everything from those at the top. Chris continued to stare downward until he was sure there was no one following them.

“Mr. Larabee, I must say the view is exhilarating,” Standish said and turned away from the deep valley.

“Yeah, just too bad it doesn’t have the luxury of a bed,” Larabee said as the moon peeked out from behind the clouds.

“One should be so lucky,” the gambler sighed as they moved away from the edge.

“I didn’t know you had a problem with heights, Ez?”

“It’s not something I boast, Mr. Larabee, but it stems from a childhood experience that still sends shivers down my spine.”

“Want to talk about it?”

“I really wouldn’t want to bore you with tales of my younger days.”

“Don’t have anything better to do,” Chris assured him as they started the trek across the top of the plateau. There were several places Chris could see to make camp, but for now he preferred to ride while they still had light.

“Well, it happened while Mothah and I were traveling with a man named Stevenson in a little town in the south of France. Mothah was working on another of her infamous cons and they needed me to pull it off. I was three...no four at the time and so the details are not too clear, but I remember Stevenson accusing Mothah of conning a con and he picked me up and proceeded to dangle me over the edge of a cliff by my right leg.”

“Jesus, Ez, how did she get you away from him?”

“As I said the details are sketchy, but I do remember screaming and then passing out. When next I regained consciousness I had no voice and refused to go anywhere near the edge of a cliff and even grew terrified of stepping onto a terrace. I have since outgrown that little affliction, but cliffs tend to remind me that there are things worthy of a man’s fears.”

“I guess there is.”

“What about you, Mr. Larabee? Is there anything you fear?”

“As you said, we all have something we fear.”

“Care to elaborate?” The gambler looked at the man riding beside him until their eyes locked. He knew there really was something Chris Larabee feared, and he wanted, needed to know what that was, but he wouldn’t force the blond to open up. He turned to the front again and listened to the silence of the night.

“Fire.”

“Pardon me,” Standish asked, unsure of what he’d heard.

“You asked me what I fear. It’s fire. Ever since...Sarah and Adam were murdered, I’ve hated and feared the flames. Not so much now, but in the months after they were murdered the sight of flames terrified me. I spent many nights cold because I couldn’t strike a match.”

“Was that before you and Mr. Wilmington parted ways?”

“Both. I don’t think Buck knew just how much it affected me. I’d drink...he’d set up camp and start a fire...I’d put it out and we’d argue. Buck put up with a lot of shit before he finally left. Don’t think he really gave up on me though. Seems like every town I went to Buck turned up there sooner or later.”

The two men grew quiet once more as they rode across the plateau. The sound of a coyote sounded in the distance and Chris knew they had to rest the horses. He’d been watching for a place to stop and had been studying a rocky outcropping and decided it was as good a place as any.

“Ez, what do you say we stop for the night?”

“Sounds like music to my ears, Mr. Larabee,” Standish said as he directed his horse towards the outcropping. They were nearing the cluster of rock and debris when the sound of a gunshot echoed across the valley.

“Sonofabitch!” Larabee said, cursing his own lack of attention to the possibility that they were still being followed. He pulled his gun from its holster, turned and shot over his shoulder as he let Pony have his lead. The hooves kicked up gravel and stones as it sped over the rough terrain. Chris could see Ezra riding against the wind alongside him and he looked towards the cluster they’d spotted earlier. He knew if they made it to the rocks there was a good chance they could hold their pursuers off, but he knew they had little chance of making it.

Andrew Cross smiled as they topped the plateau and heard the sound of riders ahead of them. Growing up in the area he knew the trail and had been able to guide the others quickly up the rocky trail. The horses were surefooted and the riders confident after years of hunting in the area. The moon had peeked out from behind the clouds and shone brightly, lighting up the area enough for them to make out shapes and shadows.

“That’s them up ahead,” Cross explained as he waited for the others to catch up.

“Where?” Jacob asked, squinting into the darkness. “I don’t see a damn thing!”

“Keep yer voice down! Ya know sounds travels up here! They ain’t that far ahead and we can catch up ta ‘em real quick!” Cross explained.

“Ya ain’t gonna kill ‘em, right?” Clyde asked.

“Depends on how friendly they are and if they’re gonna give me back my money!” the red head stated and kneed his horse forward.

“Our money,” Hank corrected as they raced across the open area. He drew his gun as the gap narrowed and pressed on the trigger. He knew there was no chance of hitting the fugitives, but it felt exhilarating to be in on the chase.

The two horses moved stride for stride in their flight to escape the bullets kicking up the ground underfoot. The rocky outcropping loomed darkly ahead, but the two men were in a flight for their lives. They were quick to turn and fire a shot at their pursuers, but hadn’t hit anything that they knew of.

“SAVE YOUR BULLETS!” Larabee shouted.

“WHAT?”

“SAVE YOUR BULLETS!” Larabee repeated and saw Standish’s head nod once as he turned his attention to the front once more. They rode as if the demons from hell were on their tail and both men knew to be caught would mean their deaths. The sound of hoof beats drowned out everything else as the two groups raced across the plateau.

Chris knew time was running out as he looked to the left and saw two riders silhouetted against the backdrop of the star studded sky. On his right he could see Standish, his body bent low over the front of his horse in an effort to keep up the pace. The outcropping was directly ahead of them now and Chris could make out the edge along the cliff as Ezra made the turn. He knew the gambler was safe as he made to turn Pony into the opening, but cried out as a bullet slammed into his lower back. He held tightly to the reins, but was unable to stay in the saddle as Pony made the sharp turn. His body slid to the side and he slammed into the hard packed ground as Standish’ fear-filled cry reached his ears. He knew there was no stopping his fall as forward momentum pushed him over the cliff and for a brief moment he was freefalling. The pain in his back exploded as he landed on his left side and began cart-wheeling down the side of the rocky embankment. He lost count of how many times he slammed into the ground before finally coming to rest at the bottom of the cliff.

“D...damn!” Chris cursed as he tried to ride out the mounting tide of pain and nausea. He tried to move, but nothing seemed to work as he blinked his eyes rapidly. He heard the echoing sounds of gunfire and realized Ezra Standish was trapped above him with at least four men shooting at him. Shifting his weight to his right side he tried to push his body upwards, but again his body remained immobile.

Ezra had little time to realize what had happened to his companion as Pony raced through the narrow opening. There was little space for him and the two horses as he looked past the rock, ducking back as rock splintered next to his face sending shards into his right cheek. He pulled his gun and quickly sent a shot towards his pursuers, but didn’t know whether he hit anything as several shots ricocheted off the rock around him. He knew these men only wanted his money, yet he also understood giving it to them would not stop them from killing him. He leaned out and again fired the gun, this time he though he’d hit his mark as a sharp cry reached his ears.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As the four men neared the outcropping of rock they drew the horses to a stop and dismounted in order to find cover. Andrew Cross turned just as Clyde cried out and fell to the ground. He didn’t take the time to check on him as he hurried towards several large boulders to the right of the pass where his nemesis had disappeared.

“Standish!”

“What do you want?” the gambler shouted.

“Throw out my money and we’ll let ya and yer friend go!”

“I was the victor in a well-played hand of poker and that, Sir, makes it my money!”

“Ya cheated! But I’ll let ya get away with it if ya give it back now...otherwise, I’ll make sure yer friend and ya pay the price of yer cheatin’!”

“I will give it serious thought!”

“Ya have five minutes or we’ll come in after you!” Cross screamed and fired a shot towards the opening.