Nathan and Vin walked into the room shortly after the mask was removed from Larabee’s face. They knew something had happened as the nasal canulas were back in place. Anne Sheridan sat at his bedside, her eyes rimmed with red, evidence that she’d been crying.
“Anne, what happened?” Jackson asked softly, not wanting to wake the sleeping man.
“Come outside and I’ll tell you,” she answered, standing up and walking to the door.
“Vin, I’ll be right back,” the medic said.
Tanner nodded as the two people walked out of the room. He sat in the chair and rubbed his throbbing shoulder. He started therapy on it the week before and everyday it got a little easier. Today was an exception as he forced himself to go beyond the requirements. He smiled, knowing Stacey Midland would have berated him for it if she’d been close by. He watched Larabee’s face, seeing the evidence of the pain that still lingered in his body. He knew Chris would be okay, but hated the idea of how much his friend still had to go through. They’d be starting to get him out of bed again the next day, and physio was also going to start up. The broken hip would take a long time to heal, especially with Larabee’s other injuries and recent bouts with plant toxins.
“It may take some time, Pard, but we’ll be there to help you,” Tanner vowed.
Chris heard the familiar voice as if through a thick blanket of fog. He groaned and turned his head towards his friend, forcing a smile to his face as he fought to open his eyes. Slowly the lids lifted until the blurred images focused and Tanner smiled back at him.
“Hey, Vin,” he coughed and reached for the water on the table beside the bed, sipping greedily from the straw.
“So, you gonna tell me what happened?” the tracker asked.
“Happened?” Larabee frowned, trying to retrieve the information he needed.
“Why those things are back.” The sharpshooter pointed to the nasal canulas.
“Oh!” he frowned and again tried to remember what happened. He closed his eyes and let the images flow until his mind focused on the misplaced lead and subsequent confrontation with the doctor.
“Ah, Hell, Vin. It’s not her fault!”
“Not who’s fault?” Tanner asked and realized Larabee was talking about the nurse. “Anne?”
“Yeah, she was here and we were talking and I wanted...wanted to show her how...I...I felt,” Larabee explained.
“So, what happened?”
“One of the damn leads on this thing came off and it sent an alarm to the nurse’s desk.”
“Oh, Hell, Chris,” Tanner said with a grin. “Don’t tell me they caught you and Anne in a compromising situation?”
“It’s not funny, Vin, it means she’ll have to face a hospital board...she might lose her job because of me.”
Tanner’s face grew serious as he listened to his friend explain exactly what happened. What he’d first thought would’ve been a great laugh turned out to be another piece of trouble for the blond.
“I’m not gonna let them do that to her, Vin. She didn’t do anything wrong and she doesn’t deserve to be blamed for any of this.”
“Neither do you, Chris,” Tanner told him.
“Told Dr. Foster to tell the board to send someone to talk to me and I’d sign any papers they w...wanted me t...to.”
Vin knew Larabee was becoming breathless again and he placed a hand on the trembling shoulder. He waited for the green eyes to meet his and smiled.
“Chris, just relax, Pard. Nothin’ you can do about any of that right now,” he said as the door opened and Nathan and Anne walked back in.
Jackson nodded towards Tanner and stepped up to the bed. He hated seeing Larabee like this and he knew there was nothing he could do to ease his friends mind about what might happen, but he was going to try.
“Chris, Anne explained what happened and I don’t think anything serious will come from it. They might reprimand...”
“Doesn’t deserve a reprimand...”
“I know, but she’ll probably receive one,” Jackson explained.
“But I’m n...not her pa...patient!” Larabee insisted.
“Not now, but you were, Chris,” Anne explained.
“Shit! I’m so...sorry, Anne, didn’t mean t...to cause y...you any trou...ble,” the blond said.
“Don’t be sorry, Chris. I wanted...want this as much as you. You do still want to try, don’t you?”
“Hell, y...yes!” the injured man swore.
‘Then you need to calm down and let yourself heal so we can fight this together. Okay?”
“O...kay.”
“Good!” Jackson hissed. “Now that that’s settled I want you to settle down and be quiet. You got that?”
“Y...yeah...I got it, b...boss,” the blond said with a grin, and heard Tanner try to stifle a chuckle.
Anne smiled as she listened to the three men talk. The relationship between these seven men was special and she saw it every time one or more of them came to visit Chris Larabee. She watched the blond’s face as he slowly relaxed and his breathing returned to normal.
‘Thank, God,’ she thought as she met his gaze once more.
“Chris, I have to go,” she told him.
“You’ll come back?”
“Nothing could keep me away,” she whispered in his ear, aware of the others watching her. She felt his head turn and she kissed his cheek softly before standing up.
“We’ll make them listen,” he told her and smiled as she left the room.
“You sure about this, Chris?” Jackson asked.
“Never been more sure of anything in a long, long time, Nathan,” Larabee assured him.
“Then it’s a fight we’ll be there to help both of you win!” Tanner vowed.
“Never doubted it for the world,” Larabee said and relaxed against the pillows.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next week passed slowly for Chris as he began to heal. Physio on his hip was hard and the pain on his face told the others just how much he was going through. His ribs and shoulder also began to heal, but the weakness in his lungs continued to be a problem, one that often left him breathless and frustrated. The IV was gone from his arm now that he was able to eat and keep things down. He was alone in his room, sitting in the wheelchair, waiting for the others to come take him outside again. This was the time of day he looked forward to most, a little freedom from the captive hours spent in this room.
Chris felt his mind drifting back to the meeting with the woman from the hospital board. She’d come down to speak with him about what went on between him and Anne Sheridan. No on else was present and Dr. Kelly Smith was very professional in the way she conducted her talk with him. She asked him if anything happened while he was Anne’s patient in the ICU and he assured her nothing went on until well after he’d been moved out of the unit. He told her how he was the one to initiate everything and that Anne even told him she couldn’t go through with it. Kelly listened as he explained how his feelings for Anne had nothing to do with her taking care of him and that they were both adults with no ties to anyone else. He signed papers releasing the hospital from any responsibility for what was happening between himself and Anne Sheridan. He showed the copies to Anne when she came to see him that evening and they talked again about the possibility of her losing her job.
Chris looked out the window, thinking about what Anne told him the day before. She signed on with an agency who assigned jobs to nurses who were willing to travel. She requested a position in or around Billings, Montana and was waiting to hear from them. Chris was as excited as she was with the possibility of her moving to Billings, knowing it would give them a chance to get to know each other without putting pressure on them. He asked if she was sure about giving up her position at Washoe and she assured him she was ready for this change. He closed his eyes and thought about the possibilities that lay ahead for both of them, a smile on his face as he remembered the time they’d spent together the night before.
Josiah eased the door open
in case Larabee was sleeping, but wasn’t surprised to see the younger man sitting
by the window. He let the door close behind him and walked over to the patient.
“Afternoon, Chris? Are you ready to go outside?”
Larabee smiled and nodded his head. “Are you kidding? Get me out of here before someone decides I need something else done to make me feel better.”
“That bad?” Sanchez asked.
“Not really, no more than the usual anyway,” the blond told him.
Josiah knew it was more than the pain bothering the injured man. He remembered talking to him about his developing relationship with Anne Sheridan and knew Larabee blamed himself for her troubles. What Chris didn’t know was that Anne talked to him as well. Josiah would not betray her confidence, anymore than he would any of the six men on the team, but he knew she was worried about the impact her moving to Billings would have on this man. The ex-preacher smiled inwardly at the thought of these two people helping each other heal, because that’s what was going to happen if they got together.
“Do you want me to get the nurse to give you something for pain?” the older man asked when Larabee winced as he moved on the chair.
“No, not right now. Let’s just go outside. Where are the others?”
“They’re waiting outside. Got a little surprise planned for you.”
“They do?” Larabee smiled.
“Yes, they do,” Sanchez laughed at the excitement on the blond’s face. “Now why don’t we go see what they have in mind?”
“Sounds like a plan, Josiah, get me out of here.”
Sanchez pushed the chair towards the door, but before he got there it opened and his nurse entered.
“Chris, I need to do your vitals,” Nancy explained.
“Ah, he...Look, can’t it wait until I come back in?”
“Well...”
“Come on, Nancy, give the man a break. He’s been cooped up in here for over a week,” Sanchez explained.
Nancy smiled at the hope on the handsome face of her patient and nodded.
“Alright, but be back in half an hour or I’ll be forced to come find you.”
“Half an hour!” Larabee winced.
“Well, we could do it now and get you back in bed,” Nancy said.
“No...ah...I’ll take the half hour.”
“Smart man,” Nancy said and held the door open for Sanchez to push him through.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Do you think he remembers what today is?” Dunne asked as they spread a cloth over the newly set up table.
“Probably not, Kid,” Wilmington explained.
“I’d be surprised if he even knew the date,” Jackson said, fastening the clips to hold the cloth in place.
“How old is Mr. Larabee turning today?” Standish asked as he placed paper plates around the table.
“He’s a year older than me so I guess that make him 43,” the ladies man answered.
“43! That’s practically...”
“Say it kid, and you won’t live to be practically anything!” Buck warned.
Vin placed the basket of ribs and taters on the table and turned to see Jackson place the chocolate, cherry cheesecake in the center of the table.
“You are gonna let him have some of it aren’t you, Nate?” the sharpshooter asked.
“Hell, Vin, I’m not that bad. This is a special day for Chris and that’s why we got all his favorites, isn’t it? Well, except for the suicide sauce. I really don’t think he could handle that today,” Jackson answered with a grin.
“Too bad Miss Sheridan had to work,” Standish observed.
“Yeah, but maybe she’ll deliver her own birthday present to Chris when the lights go out,” the scoundrel laughed, his eyebrows wagging up and down as he said it.
“Mr. Wilmington, that’s crude,” the gambler said as he placed plastic utensils at each place setting.
“Not for Chris...”
“Shut up, Buck, here they come,” Jackson warned as he lit the fourteen candles.
Chris closed his eyes and enjoyed the feel of the warm sun on his face as Sanchez wheeled him into the garden. The thought of being outside had driven most of the pain from his body, and he was looking forward to relaxing in the flower garden. His eyes opened wide as six voices started to sing.
“Happy Birthday to you...”
“Ah, hell!” Larabee hissed, but couldn’t stop the smile from forming on his face. He’d forgotten his own birthday, but these guys didn’t and for that he was grateful.
“Happy birthday to you...”
“I don’t believe this...”
“Happy birthday dear Chris...Stud...Cowboy...”
Larabee was laughing as the different names shot from different mouths.
“Happy Birthday to you.” The six men finished and Wilmington placed the cake in front of his long time friend.
“Happy birthday, Pard, and I hope we share a hundred more” the ladies’ man said seriously. “Now make a wish and blow out the damn candles!”
Larabee swallowed the painful lump in his throat and smiled as he counted the candles... Fourteen. He knew the significance of the number instantly...A candle for each member of the team...past and present. He felt tears forming in his eyes, but refused to let them fall. ‘Wish you guys will always be a part of my life,’ he thought.
“My mother told me I’d never see fourteen again...glad to see she was wrong,” he said, looking at each face before blowing out the candles.
“Ah, hell, Stud, you’re gettin’ downright sentimental!” Wilmington said, turning away and grabbing a napkin to wipe at his eyes.
“Seems he’s not the only one, Buck!” Dunne said with a grin.
“Got something in my eyes, Kid!” the ladies man said as he took control of the wheelchair and pushed Larabee towards the head of the table.
Chris looked at the meal before him, a smile spreading over his face as he spotted one of his favorite takeout foods and several cans of diet Pepsi.
Six pairs of eyes looked towards Josiah Sanchez as he said a blessing over the meal, before seating themselves.
“Dig in boys!” the ladies man said.
“Oh, man, I’m going to en...”
“Chris, just take it easy on...”
“Like Hell, Nathan, I’m gonna pig out and you’re not gonna stop me!”
“That’s what I thought you’d say,” Jackson said, smiling as he filled the injured man’s plate. “Enjoy, Chris.”
“Thanks, Nathan,” the blond said as he picked up the succulent rib smother in mild barbecue sauce.
“Well?” Wilmington asked.
“Oh, God, this is...”
“Delectable, Mr. Larabee?” Standish asked and the blond nodded his head.
The seven friends ate the meal, laughing and talking, until the entire batch of ribs and taters disappeared. JD and Ezra cleared the table and set a package of small paper plates on the table.
Chris watched as Jackson cut a piece of cake and he felt his mouth watering in anticipation. The cake was placed before him and he picked up the new fork. The layers of chocolate cheesecake, cherries, chocolate syrup and whipped cream called to him and he didn’t wait for the others to get theirs. He placed the first forkful in his mouth and closed his eyes, sighing contentedly as the explosion of flavor hit his taste buds.
“Yep, I’ve died and gone to cheesecake heaven,” Larabee mumbled around a mouthful of food. Again he ate everything on his plate and sat back, patting his stomach in appreciation.
“Damn, I don’t remember the last time I had anything so good,” he told them as they cleaned up the mess.
“Chris.”
“Yeah, Josiah?”
“I’m afraid the half hour is up.”
“Damn...just a few more minutes, okay?” the blond asked, in spite of the pain in his hip as he shifted position.
“I don’t think so, Chris,” Jackson said.
“Come on, Nathan, we haven’t even given him his birthday present,” Wilmington said.
Larabee’s face grew serious as he looked at his friends and his heart seemed to skip a beat at each set of eyes.
“Yes...yes you have...all of you,” he said simply. He knew they understood what he was telling them, that their friendship and being there was the best birthday present he could have.
“Ah, Hell, he’s getting sentimental again!” Wilmington said, smiling as he reached behind him for a package they kept hidden during the meal.
Chris looked at the wrapping, smiling at the white horses that seemed to race across a midnight sky. A silver bow sat in the centre and gold ribbon was wrapped decoratively around it.
Buck placed it on the table in front of the blond and moved back, letting Vin step forward.
“We ordered this a while back, Cowboy, and...W...ah we hope you like it,” the Texan drawled.
“What is it?” Larabee asked.
“Open it and see, Chris!” Dunne exclaimed.
“Nothing’s gonna jump out at me is it, Buck?” the blond asked, laughing as he pulled on the ribbon.
“Damn, wish I’d thought of doing that!” the ladies man said as Larabee ripped open the wrapping, revealing a cherry wood case with gold trim. He ran his hand over the gold letters, C. A. L. and the date, August 1st, 2002. underneath it.
“Aren’t you gonna open it, Cowboy?” Tanner asked.
Somehow Chris knew what he’d find when he opened the lid and he fought the emotions running through him. He felt the others standing behind him and slowly lifted the lid.
“Oh, God,” he said as his eyes took in the pearl handled Colt revolver sitting in a bed of red velvet. A black leather holster, decorated with silver studs, sat beside it. “How did you get this?”
“We had JD search the NET until he came across this one. It’s dated back to 1874 and has a certificate of authenticity,” Standish explained.
Chris ran his fingers over the handle of the revolver and smiled as he looked at the men.
“I don’t know what to say, except...thanks, Boys. This may not have belonged to my great, great grandfather, but it came from around that time and looks like the one we used to...to...kill Maguire.” The blond closed the case and handed it to Buck Wilmington, knowing he couldn’t take it into the hospital with him.
“All right, Chris, no more arguments! It’s time to get you back upstairs and in bed,” the medic said.
Larabee didn’t speak, just nodded his head as Jackson took control of the wheelchair. He knew he’d overstayed his time in the chair by the throbbing pain emanating from his hip, but he was glad to have had this time with his friends.
Half an hour later he was back in the bed, his hip screaming loudly at the mistreatment. Nancy had already taken his vitals and given him a shot and Chris sighed as it finally took effect. He knew Vin and Nathan were in the room and could hear them talking as he slipped into a restful sleep.
His dreams were of the seven men from the Old West and one man in particular. Vin Tanner stood tall and proud on a beautiful horse, a mountain stretching high above him. Chris watched his lips move, but didn’t hear what he said.
Vin and Nathan looked up as Larabee began to mumble something and the sharpshooter moved closer. He knew there was nothing fearful in his friend’s dreams because of the smile and he tried to decipher the words.
“What’s he saying, Vin?” Jackson asked.
“I’m not sure...but it sounds like ‘check the handle’.”
“Check the handle. What handle?”
“Guess we’ll have to wait for him to wake up to find out,” the sharpshooter settled into the chair, his curiosity piqued by his best friend’s words.
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