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~/~/~( Chapter 8 )~~~


“Hey, now! Take it easy!”

Kevin spun around and glared at AJ, “Take it easy? ...Easy?!? That bastard Branson has made off with both Nick and Brian!!” Kevin turned his back on the stunned AJ, returning to the task of moving the rocks from the pass, which was illuminated by the full moon. He grabbed a large rock the size of a small calf and with a grunt, he blindly tossed it behind him.

“Hey! Watch it, Kev!” cried Howie as he stumbled back and fell on his rear, the rock Kevin just threw colliding with the ground where he was just standing a moment before. “Damn it, Kevin! If you don’t simmer down some, yer gonna get one of us killed!”

As Howie saw Kevin freeze in his motion to grasp another rock, he knew what he had just said was a mistake. A huge mistake. Howie swallowed and pushed himself to his feet, not raising his eyes as he felt a dark presence now standing before him.

Kevin stared at Howie, his green eyes on fire as anger rose within him like the sun at dawn, slowly and steadily. He clenched his scraped and dusty hands at his sides, their trembling clearly visible as he spoke in a low whisper, his voice even more menacing in the threatening softness, “Before I get one of you killed...” Kevin narrowed his flashing eyes, tilting his head, “You think I’m gonna get you all killed, that it? ...You listen to me, Howie, and listen good.”

Howie recognized the subtle command to look up at Kevin and he did, not able to stop the step back that took him away from the tall man’s dark eyes. Howie stared, he now knew the extent of anger, hate, and vengeance that possessed Kevin Richardson. He felt doubt as to his hopes that their newfound friendships could ever possibly alleviate Kevin’s shattered heart and soul.

Kevin’s voice carried through the crisp night air with stunning clarity, the conviction in his words catching the attention of the two men listening, “I swear, on my own life, none of you will die, NOT while I’m around. As long as I’m breathing, so are you.” Kevin closed in on Howie’s silent form, “Nick and Brian will not die, not while I’m alive. The same goes for you two. Do you understand me?”

Speechless, Howie mutely nodded, his brown eyes flitting to AJ who sat frozen on one of the rocks. AJ’s eyes never strayed from Kevin, his features a mass of surprise and confusion, as well as relief. Kevin hasn’t given in to the anger, he still has some of his common sense left.

“Good,” growled Kevin, “Now lets get on with this and get after them two.”

Howie watched as Kevin stalked back to the piles of rocks, stooping over to move yet another rock from their path. If they kept at it all night, they ought to have enough cleared to get the horses through. With a sigh, Howie stepped to the rocks and joined Kevin in the work, AJ doing the same.

Not one more word was spoken.

~/~/~( )~~~

Brian’s eyes snapped open, becoming suddenly awake. He let out a soft moan, grimacing as his back ached and neck stiffened. He looked around at the dark night, confused, then noticed his tied hands and remembered. He’d fallen asleep, sitting with his back slumped and head resting on his knees. Not a very comfortable position.

Brian frowned, he felt warm. He brought his hands up to his face and noticed his skin was warm to the touch. Damn it, he thought, Guess that graze wasn’t as minor as I thought.

With a scowl, Brian awkwardly worked his jacket and shirt as far down his shoulder as he could, prying the bloody bandage loose and trying to get a look at his wounded shoulder. He silently cursed himself, seeing the wound had been torn and all stitches broken. It had stopped bleeding, but without the sutures, it wouldn’t take much for it to start up again. Not to mention, he was getting a fever. He just hoped it didn’t get too bad, so he’d still have his wits about him.

He visibly jumped as a cry startled him, his blue eyes snapping to the cause. Nick was awake, sitting up and panting. Brian watched as the blond let out a groan and slumped back to the ground, wincing.

Brian scooted closer to Nick and leaned forward to place his hands on Nick’s warm shoulder, “Hey, you okay?”

Nick looked at Brian and raised an eyebrow, letting out a scoff, “I feel like shit.”

Brian smirked, “Okay, in what ways do you feel like shit?”

Nick stared up at Brian, “I feel sick and my side feels like someone’s shovin’ a hot poker through it.”

Brian winced in sympathy, “Think you can go for some water? They gave us a canteen.”

Nick nodded and Brian helped him struggle to sit up, then handed him the canteen. He watched as Nick’s hands shook slightly as he lifted it up to his mouth. Brian sighed, “We have to get out of this.”

Nick lowered the canteen, capping it and handing it back to Brian. He placed his bound hands in his lap and stared at the dusty ground. When he spoke, his voice was soft and held a trace of defeat, “What for? He’ll jus’ keep comin’ after me.”

Brian studied Nick, his eyes narrowing at the change in the rebel’s personality. What had happened to the ‘I don’t need you or anyone else’ stubborn attitude? “Not if we stop him, Nick, and that is just what will happen. I’m sure of it.”

Nick turned his face to Brian, his once vibrant blue eyes now dull, a haunted look gripping them. Nick scrutinized the gambler beside him, trying to decide whether he could truly trust the man. Brian stared right back at him, his eyes reassuring and a supportive smile turning his lips. Nick looked away and sighed.

“Brian, have you ever had somethin’ ya took fer granted fer truth be suddenly ripped away from ya in the knowledge that it was all a lie?”

Brian furrowed his brow at the softly spoken words, not expecting this sudden openness from the man beside him, who was almost as closed off as he. Brian pursed his lips, his face clouding over in memory as... he lied, “Not to my knowledge, no.”

Nick nodded his head slightly, “Me neither.”

“Then why would you ask of it, if it were not something you knew of?” pressed Brian, somehow knowing that Nick wanted to tell him something, something of his past that he hadn’t told anyone. “Tell me, Nick. You can trust me.”

“I can?” asked Nick, drawing his knees up to rest his arms on their support. He shifted his seat with a wince, not looking at Brian as he continued, “I’ve only been able to trust one person since... ...since before. An’ he went an’ died an’ left me alone all over again. No one’s shown me any reason to trust ‘em...” Nick threw a glance over at Brian before letting his gaze fall on the lone outlaw by the fire that had stayed up to watch them, “Why should you be any dif’rent?”

Brian gave Nick’s form a long look, then let out a loud sigh, “Hell, Nick. I’m not the one that should be sitting here preaching to you about trust, when I wouldn’t trust a person as soon as look at them.”

Brian lightly tapped Nick on the arm with his hands, getting the rebel to look at him, “My living is reading people, Nick. Let me tell you that what I see in you and the others; AJ, Howie, and even Kevin, is something we can trust.” Brian stared Nick in the eyes, “You see and know it too, otherwise you would have been long gone back in that first town...” Brian smiled, “You almost were, if I remember correctly. You stayed, Nick. Why?”

Nick blinked, turning his head away and staring at his hands, “I don’t know. It-... it jus’ felt right, I guess. I don’t rightly know the exact reason fer stayin’, I’ve still got to figure it out.”

Nick pressed his lips together, his sandy eyebrows scrunching as he switched his gaze to the stars above in the ebony night sky, “There’s one thing... I don’t know, but...” Nick sighed, shaking his head slightly, “No one ‘ceptin’ Pete ever took a second look at me, no one ever cared either way what happened ta me. Hell, the only reason I’m sittin’ here instead of dead and buried is ‘cause of Pete. He taught me so much... an’ I never got to give anything back to ‘im ‘fore he died.”

Nick fell silent and Brian pursed his lips, wondering if he should say something for Nick to continue, or stay quiet and let Nick decide. Pressing his lips together, he chose to initiate the conversation to continue, he thought Nick needed a little nudge to go on, “How did Pete help you, Nick?”

Nick smiled slightly, giving Brian a small glance before focusing in on his hands again, “He basic’ly grabbed me by my collar and drug me outta a saloon fight where I woulda been dog meat. Took me in and taught me how to live out here,” Nick gestured to their surroundings. He looked at Brian, “I ain’t from around here, I guess ya could say. Didn’t know a dust devil from a tornado. Ol’ Petey showed me the dif’rence of things and made sure I knew what was good an’ bad when it came to gettin’ the lead out.”

Brian smiled, but it fell away as he asked his next question, “How did he... die?”

Nick frowned and looked away from Brian, “Got sick, pneumonia. He was pretty old, near twice Kevin’s age I’d say. Pro’bly more so. I was left alone and took what Pete taught me and survived.” Nick stared hard at his bound hands, clenching them into fists, “I survived.”

After a pause, Nick let out a sigh, raising his hands to rub his warm face tiredly before switching his gaze to lock with Brian’s, “Then you guys come along and start helpin’ me, even when I said I didn’t need it. Y’all still stuck around... No one’s ever done that ‘cept Pete, an’ I fought him tooth and nail in the beginnin’, same as I fought you guys. Me decidin’ to trust him was one of the best decisions I ever made...” Nick paused, then continued, “Thought maybe the same might happen with you guys, I jus’ been havin’ a bit of trouble convincin’ myself of it.”

Brian nodded his head, his eyes scanning the surroundings, “It took me a while to see what was right in front of me, too. I still haven’t totally convinced myself, but I know in my heart that it’s right...” Brian glanced sideways at Nick and cleared his throat, right now he’d like to know why he was talking so openly with the rebel. He mentally shook his head, it just felt right, to talk to Nick like he was. He smiled slightly as he thought that Nick was probably wondering the same thing of himself. His smile widening, Brian looked at Nick who was currently gazing away from him, “Now, you mind telling me what woke you up in such a distressful state earlier?”

Nick’s head snapped around to stare at Brian. Damn it, thought Nick, thought he didn’t notice. Nick took in Brian’s smug expression in the moonlight and silently cursed, who was he kidding? Nick rested his head in his hands briefly, letting out a breath of air before lifting his head and answering, “Had a bit of a nightmare...” Nick stopped, his face astonished. He hadn’t meant to say that, what the hell? He snapped his eyes to Brian and saw the raised eyebrows, obviously, the gambler didn’t expect such a truthful answer either.

Brian took in Nick’s shocked countenance and smirked, “Care to share it?”

Nick stared at Brian and then rolled his eyes, his voice exasperated when he spoke, “God, why’d I say that?” Nick then gave Brian a grin, but Brian could see it was forced.

“You can talk to me about it, Nick,” placated Brian, his smirk gone and replaced with a sincere expression. “You do have a mild fever, so that is most assuredly the cause of your dream. It may help you to relay it to me.”

Nick turned away from Brian with a scowl, but Brian also noticed a trace of fear in the blue eyes, “It was nothin’, nothin’ I want ta talk about anyways.”

Brian pursed his lips, “You sure? You never know-”

“I said NO, Brian!” snapped Nick, his blue eyes flashing in the moon’s glow.

Brian swallowed and sent a nervous glance to the fire, watching as the man on guard shifted his hold on his gun and eyed them. Clearing his throat, Brian looked back at Nick and nodded his head, “Understood. I shall not ask anymore of you.”

Nick’s angry expression fell away and he sighed, “Aw Christ, Brian. I’m sorry. I- ...I jus’ don’t want to talk about it, ‘kay?”

Brian watched Nick for a moment, then smiled, “It’s all right, Nick. I understand. Some things are not for discussion.”

With a grateful smile, Nick nodded. Brian set his lips in a line and looked at the fire beyond, “Maybe we ought to think of something to escape our current holdings?”

Nick glared over at the fire, his common stubborn streak resurfacing, “Absolutely.”

~/~/~( )~~~

The moon lowered in a decent toward the western horizon, casting a parting darkness on the three young men in the pass before the sun began its awaited ascent into the sky. The gray light of dawn outlined the rocky borders of the pass, not quite reaching the men who still worked incessantly in clearing the blocked passage.

AJ paused in his work, looking up at the gray light while swiping a dusty arm across his sweaty brow, his hat having fallen to his back long ago. He let out a short breath and looked to his two companions beside him with tired brown eyes. Then with an exhausted sigh, he flopped lazily onto a nearby rock, his voice weary as he spoke, “’Ey, Kev? Ya think we’s got enough cleared ta get through?”

Kevin gave a strained groan as he wrestled a rock from the path, forcing it aside. That done, he leaned heavily on it and looked across at AJ with tired but determined green eyes, “It’s mornin’, AJ. We can’t waste anymore time, so I guess it’s good enough ta get by. Not too bad o’ terrain to lead the horses over.”

Howie gave a groan and collapsed to the ground, “I’m beat, an’ now we gotta go a’ridin’ in the saddle for God knows how long? Can’t we rest a bit?”

Kevin pushed away from the rock he leaned against and shook his head, “No, we’ve already given ‘em a head start. If we go now, we ought to atleast stay with ‘em somewhat. And we know where they’re goin’, so we don’t have to waste time trackin’. We can head after ‘em at a fast clip.”

AJ stared down at his hands and arms as the sunlight in the pass increased, seeing the bloody scrapes and dark bruises mingling in with all the dirt and dust. He flexed his fingers, wincing at the slight pain. He grinned tiredly, “Looks ta me we’ll be in your service, ‘D. Got some scratches from them damn rocks.”

Howie sighed, nodding, “Yeah, got me some o’ those, too.” He pushed himself off the ground with a groan, “C’mon, might as well get it done with so we can get a move on, eh Kev?”

Kevin didn’t answer and Howie turned to see him standing straight, his head turned up the pass, staring. Howie's brow furrowed and he glanced at AJ, who gave him a small shrug. Howie walked up to Kevin and tentatively touched his arm, jumping back when Kevin snapped to attention with a growl.

Kevin looked at Howie with renewed fire burning in his eyes, his flat when he spoke, “We go, NOW.”

Howie stood frozen as Kevin brusquely turned and headed back to where the horses were tethered, the healer eventually turning to AJ with wide eyes, “Christ, talk about a man havin’ mood swings.”

AJ let out a chuckle, shaking his head as he walked up to Howie, “I don’t think we’ve seen anything yet, ‘D. That there’s a stack o’ dynamite ready ta blow, he’s jus’ waitin’ for the right thing to set him off.”

Howie grinned tiredly, “I wanna see that show, should be damn interestin’.”

AJ smirked, “I think Branson done did himself in when he pushed the envelope by a’takin’ Brian, it’s pushed ol’ Kev over the edge.” AJ watched Kevin saddling up Blaze and shook his head, his smirk falling away to be replaced by a grim expression, “Lord help the man, ‘cause no one else’ll be able to when Kevin gets ahold of ‘im.”

Howie frowned and slowly nodded his head, then looked at AJ, “But who’ll help Kevin?”

AJ’s face hardened, the brown eyes narrowing, “We will, and anyone tryin’ ta stop us be damned. We’ll get Nick an’ Brian back, an’ get some of our own kicks in as well.”

They were silent for a minute and then AJ grinned and thumped Howie on the back, causing a cloud of dust to erupt from the soiled material, “Best get on our way, ‘D. ‘Fore Kevvy gets pissed.”

Coughing, Howie glared at AJ, waving a hand in the air in an effort to clear some of the dust cloud, “Damn it, AJ!”

With a laugh, AJ jumped away as Howie took a swing at him, taunting the healer as he ran to the horses. Howie cursed the tracker and took off after him, dust falling from both of them as they raced toward the horses.

AJ arrived first and slid to a stop at Kevin staring at him with menacing green eyes, arms crossed over his chest. He cleared his throat and tried to speak, but was suddenly propelled forward and onto the ground at Kevin’s feet. AJ craned his head around to see a puffing Howie glaring down at him, “Got’cha! Ya damned tracker!”

Howie then noticed eyes on him and looked up to see Kevin’s cold stare pinning him back, he swallowed. Then he bent over and picked AJ up, shoving the tracker toward his horse and then reaching his own, both silently tacking them up under Kevin’s angry eyes.

~/~/~( )~~~

Nick felt something hit him in the leg, hard. He snapped awake and went for his gun, only to come up empty handed. He forced his eyes open, his breathing short and quick as the sneering visage of Branson formed above him.

“Rise and shine, pretty boy,” he chorused in that grating voice of his, kicking Nick once again in the leg before walking away, his laughter rolling through the camp.

Nick shut his eyes as he fought to calm his breathing and racing heart. Why does everyone insist on wakin’ me up with violence? I’m gettin’ damned tired of it! With one last long breath, Nick peeled his eyes open and searched for Brian, finding him a few feet away and glaring at the retreating back of another of the outlaws. Nick cleared his throat, “Bad wake up call fer you, too?”

Brian tore his eyes from the man walking away from him and faced Nick. Nick winced, the deep red color that marred the gamber’s jaw answered his question. Brian flexed his jaw, bringing his bound hands up to massage the now tender area, “I guess you could say that.”

Brian got to his knees and crawled over to Nick, grunting as he settled beside the rebel. He turned to face Nick, “You all right?”

Nick nodded, pushing himself into a sitting position, “Feel ‘bout the same as last night, so at least I ain’t any worse... ...That’s good, ain’t it?”

Brian smiled and nodded, “I think so.” He stopped and reached forward to move Nick’s vest aside to get a look at his side and sighed with relief, “It didn’t bleed anymore, so I think you’ll be all right as long as you don’t do anything too strenuous.” Brian placed his hands on Nick’s forehead, “You’re a bit warm still, but not any worse than before. So... so far, so good.”

Nick scrutinized the gambler for a minute, then asked in a firm voice, “What about you? You look a bit... off, Brian.” Before Brian could stop him, Nick reached forward with his own hands and felt Brian’s face, frowning at the warmth he felt before Brian jerked away, “You’re sick! How long?”

Brian sighed, rubbing his face with his hands, “I’ve felt a bit... off, as you put it, since we settled camp last night. It’s nothing serious, I’m all right.”

Nick scowled, “Well, ain’t we a fine pair. Both of us are sick an’ hurt, both of us are prisoners, an’ both of us are in some deep shit! You sure that what we talked over last night is gonna work? Can’t we figure somethin’ out a bit sooner?”

Brian let out a long breath and looked at the ground, “I can’t think of anything else that could work and not get ourselves killed in the process. We have to face it, everything is out of our control here. There are six men guarding us right now and we are tied up, there is nothing we can do until Monument. Then perhaps what I foresee will work, but we must remember the others. They will most assuredly be right on our tails and concocting their own plan to get us out of this. We’ll just have to wait and see.”

Nick turned his head up and let out a small moan, “God, this absolutely sucks!”

Brian chuckled, “I couldn’t of said it better myself.”

Nick smiled, then frowned as two men came towards them, coils of rope in their hands. Nick gave Brian a despairing glance, “Time to mount up an’ be on our way, Bri’.”

Brian nodded grimly and awaited the rough handling the men approaching would surely give out. The men stopped before them, the one before Brian speaking out, “C’mon, time to get back on the trail.”

Brian bit his lip as the man grabbed his arm and yanked him to his feet, the damaged flesh of his shoulder protesting the roughness. As he was ushered to his horse, Joker, Brian looked back to see the other man pull Nick roughly to his feet. Brian could see the pain flash across Nick’s face at the movement, his tall form bending over in an effort to lesson the pull on his side.

Brian was forced to mount Joker and his feet were soon tied to the stirrups, then his bound hands were secured to the saddle horn. Brian watched as the other outlaw basically threw Nick onto Journey, the faithful horse snorting at the stranger so close to his personal boundaries and attempting to kick the man. The outlaw cursed and jumped away from the angered steed, glaring.

Nick gripped the saddle horn with both hands as his side burned as if on fire, eyes clenched tightly. He did not relish his upcoming ride to Monument. He sat mutely as the outlaw finally retained some of his nerve and approached Journey, soon tying Nick’s hands and feet to the saddle.

Branson rode up then on his own horse, his rough face glaring at the two young men he had to baby-sit. His gray eyes glinted as he barked his orders, “You boys behave an’ ya might arrive at Monument the same health wise as ya are now. So, for yer own benefit, don’t do nothin’ stupid!”

Then he spun his horse around and nodded to his men, who now had mounted their own horses. Two of them came forth and grabbed Joker’s and Journey’s reins, prepared to pony the animals.

Branson made one last look around and then nodded, “All right! Lets move on out! We ought to hit Monument by sundown.”

He then kicked his horse into a gallop and the others followed suit, Joker and Journey forced to follow the band in a cloud of dust. Brian and Nick could only hang on and hope the others would be there to help them when they made their attempt at escape.

~/~/~( )~~~

Kevin leaned low over his saddle, his arms outstretched as he urged Blaze on faster, Howie and AJ behind him doing the same. The ground flashed by them as they galloped out of the pass and toward Monument following the obvious tracks of the outlaws, the early morning sun now shining her full light upon them.

Only one thing ruled Kevin’s mind: Branson.

If the man died before Kevin arrived at his destination, then he had a guardian angel watching over him, because Kevin was on a mission to make him pay... pay dearly. Kevin’s hands tightened around the reins, his eyes flitting to check on the whereabouts of AJ and Howie before fixating back to what laid ahead of him.

Kevin inwardly fumed, his eyes that of green fire. It wasn’t enough that the man had taken his father away, he now took Brian. For no better reason then to get under his skin, to rattle Kevin in an effort to get him off his game and give Branson the chance to get the upper hand.

The bastard.

Kevin fairly trembled in his suppressed rage, wanting nothing more than to end the life of that animal. An animal who had shattered his very being with the callous actions he committed... Kevin blinked as the images of that night played out before his mind’s eye, the eyes of his father burned into his memory as the bullet ripped through his heart and took him away from Kevin forever. Kevin’s tortured green eyes glazed over as the memory of his home going up in flames filtered across his vision, the feeling of pain that lanced through him at the thought of his dead father inside the inferno... the agony of the past bullets in his side and shoulder rekindling so much that he released a hand from the reins and pressed it against his phantom injuries.

Kevin shook his head, wiping the hurtful memories away and placing them in a corner of his mind, ready to be called upon when he stood face to face with Branson... To use those memories to fuel his rage and finally end his long torment... finally end it all.

Kevin narrowed his eyes and urged Blaze still faster, the black horse responding and giving his man all he had. Kevin made a solemn vow: He’d get Nick and Brian back, then... ...then he’d take his vengeance and finally be free of all the pain... finally be able to live again.

~/~/~( )~~~

The sun sank low in the sky, reaching the end of the day as seven men galloped toward a homestead tucked in the valley of several grassy and tree laden hills. They rode up to the large white house, which was bordered by a large brown barn and several sheds, a large corral spanning the grassy knoll to their right.

Branson pulled his band to a stop and dismounted, signaling his men to stay astride as he walked into the house. Brian sat slumped in his saddle, the long ride having taken a toll on him and effectively wiping his reserve strength away. Nick sat astride Journey beside the gambler in much the same state, barely able to sit up in the saddle with the pain and exhaustion that racked his body. If he didn’t know that it would hurt so bad, he would have fallen from the saddle.

Nick sat with his eyes closed and head bowed, barely aware that they had arrived at their destination. Brian lazily surveyed their surroundings, taking in the layout of the homestead for future reference. He looked at Nick beside him and hoped the wound to his side hadn’t bled any in their long ride, having only stopped once briefly for lunch and to water the horses.

Brian switched his attention to the house as voices carried across the dry air toward him. He watched as Branson and another man conversed on the porch, the new man wearing what Brian could only describe as very expensive clothing. He wore a distinguished dark gray suit that fit his form as if it were personally tailored. When he turned to face them and walk down the porch steps to approach them, Brian could see a sharp looking face with dark brown, short cropped hair combed diligently in exact precision. The man Brian now assumed to be the contractor, made brief eye contact with Brian and revealed deep brown eyes that held a condescending sneer.

As the contractor and Branson neared them, their voices became louder and Brian noticed Nick straighten. Brian then heard a loud gasp from his young friend and turned to see Nick’s eyes wide and face pale in shock. He watched as several emotions flitted across the blond’s face: disbelief, anger, worry, and finally, grudging consent. Nick’s eyes slowly narrowed as Branson and the man stopped before them, the man grinning brightly at Nick. Nick stared hard at the man and spoke in what Brian could only describe as a low growl...

“Father.”