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azombiewritesTitle: Prisoners
Rating: PG
Fandom: The Magnificent Seven
Main Characters: Ezra and Josiah
Summary: Ezra and Josiah are on their way back to Four Corners when they are taken prisoner by a family who think the lawmen have stolen their gold.
Disclaimers: The guys are owned by CBS, MGM, Trilogy Entertainment Group, and The Mirisch Corp.
Spoilers: None
Status: Complete
Total Word Count: 23,633
The first thing Ezra's mind registered was the pain in his chest, then the one in his side followed by the continuous ache in his head. He was confused. He couldn't remember what had happened so he had no idea why he was in so much pain. He wanted to open his eyes but feared what he would find. He shivered and realised that he also felt cold. The movement caused the pain that his body was feeling to erupt and he let a cry of pain. He tried to stay still when he heard the movement beside him then relief flooded through him when he heard Josiah's voice.
Josiah felt Ezra's movement before he heard his exclamation of pain. He shuffled even closer to him. "Ezra, it's Josiah. Can you hear me?"
Ezra nodded then stopped due to the pain.
"Ezra?"
Ezra frowned and wondered why his friend hadn't heard him the first time. "Yes." His throat felt sore, he needed a drink. "Water?"
"I'm sorry Ezra, I don't have any." Josiah pushed himself up against the wall. "Ezra, I need to help you stay warm, do you think you can sit up and lean against me."
"No." Ezra didn't want to move at all, everything hurt and the last thing he wanted was to make the pain worse.
"Ezra! Get up!" Josiah knew he wouldn't get anywhere with him if he continued to ask him nicely. There was no movement. "EZRA!"
Ezra first tried to move his arms but found them to be tied behind his back, he slowly rolled onto them, and he gritted his teeth against the pain and waited.
"Ezra!"
"I'm coming." he gasped out through ragged breaths.
"There's a wall behind you, push yourself backwards until you reach it then try and sit up." Josiah could see him lying on his back but it was his breathing that concerned him.
Ezra forced his eyes opened so he could see what he was doing but all he saw was darkness. "Where are we?"
"I'll tell you when you get up here Ezra. Now move!" Josiah growled at him.
Ezra pushed himself backwards, every second was agony to the ribs on his left side but then his head hit the wall that Josiah was talking about. The pain wasn't as bad as what he was feeling in his ribs or chest.
"Now push yourself up Ezra. Use the wall for support."
Ezra pushed with his hands, it took him a few minutes but he was finally in a sitting position, he turned towards Josiah's voice and could make out his face in the darkness. "Now what?"
"I want you to lean against me, it's going to be a cold night Ezra, and you need to stay as warm as you can." Josiah moved sideways until he was flushed up against the gambler. "I want you to sit on my legs Ezra."
"You what?"
"I don't want any arguments Ezra, you’re sick and if I don't help you you'll get worse." Josiah felt a shiver wrack Ezra's body. "Do it Ezra! Now!"
Ezra was too tired to argue. He moved sideways then used his hands to push upwards, on the second try he landed on Josiah's warm legs.
"Now lay your chest against me." Josiah ordered him.
Ezra slumped against him, his head lying on Josiah's right shoulder, he could feel the warmth radiating off him and took comfort from it. He felt uncomfortable in this position but the warmth he now felt told him that Josiah was right.
"Better?"
"Yes." Ezra shuddered as a violent cough erupted from him. He grimaced against the pain it caused in his chest. "Where are we?"
"Try not to talk Ezra. Bert Young, he's the man that let us stay in his barn, his sons came back, they think we stole their gold and they want to know where it is and they're going to use you to try and get me to talk." Josiah didn't want to lie to him.
"Great." muttered Ezra. He pressed himself closer to Josiah, the warmth of his body easing some of the pain in his chest.
*************
Nathan, who was also enjoying the peace and quiet without the southerner, walked alongside the ex-bounty hunter as they headed towards the saloon. They both had the intention of enjoying a drink without being accosted by a certain unnamed gambler who only wanted to win any money that was still residing in their pockets. Vin pushed the saloon's swinging doors open and stepped into the near empty room. He easily spotted Chris and Buck sitting silently in a corner to the right of the doors.
"I'll get the drinks." Vin informed Nathan.
Nathan nodded in agreement and stepped towards the table that his friends occupied. He sat down in the chair and took in Buck's humorous expression and Chris' solemn features.
"Any minute now Chris." Buck winked at Nathan with his right eye and leaned over to nudge Chris with his left elbow.
"Expecting something?" Nathan smiled at Buck.
"Ezra." Buck didn't say anymore, he thought the mere mention of Ezra's name would explain everything.
"Uh huh." Nathan winked back in understanding.
Josiah and Ezra were due back at lunchtime, that's why they were here now, to get some peace and quiet before the southerner returned to continue his complaints regarding a trip that turned out to be unnecessary. Chris had received a telegram three days after they left town to inform him that the prisoner he'd sent the men to pick had managed to escape, there had been no way to get the news to Josiah and Ezra so it was decided that they would have to find out for themselves when they got there.
"Yep Ezra's gonna be real mad." Nathan witnessed the grimace as it crossed Chris' face. "You know how much he hate's spending time outdoors, especially when it takes him away from the gambling tables."
"He's going to complain about it until someone physically shuts him up." Buck continued as he ignored the look that Chris shot at him. Buck knew that he was exaggerating, Ezra of course will make some nasty comments but they will be backed up with humour, but he would know that it wasn't Chris' fault. But like the rest of them, they were going to have some fun at Chris' expense.
"What if someone physically shuts you up now Buck?" Chris threatened him.
"He's just having some fun Chris." Nathan enlightened him.
"I know Nathan, it's just that he's right . . . I mean . . . Buck being right, hell that's not right." Chris watched as Buck's mouth fell open.
"I'm always right!" Buck protested.
"I just wish you weren't this time." Chris grimaced. "Ezra's going to enjoy himself isn't he. Do you think he'll try and get retribution through a game of poker?"
"Depends on how much money you've got and Ezra will know exactly what's lining your pockets." Nathan told him.
"I hope he uses those fancy words of his, that look you get on your face when you have no idea what he's saying . . .” Buck smiled at the image.
"Yeah, it's the same one we all get." Nathan chuckled.
"Any minute now Chris, Ezra will walk through those doors and he'll have that smug look on his face and then all hell will break loose." Buck settled back down into his chair so he could see every expression and hear every word.
*************
Bert watched as his eldest son stepped into the cabin, even though Guy had his features he still reminded him so much of his dead wife. His heart saddened when Guy turned to face him and he saw the anger in his eyes, it had never been there before Martha had died but he had blamed himself for her death, the bitterness filled his eyes and settled in to stay. He hoped that his son hadn't changed as much as he feared.
"Guy, I don't believe they took the gold." He stated firmly.
"And what makes you think that?" Guy poured himself a cup of coffee and sat down in the chair next to his father, he wouldn't sit opposite him, and if he did, he would only see the disappointment in his eyes. It had been there ever since his mother died, or so he kept telling himself.
"Mr Standish was, is too sick to even look after himself and Josiah didn't even know where it was hidden."
"Then he must have followed you and you led him right to it." Guy decided it must have been the only way.
"Son, please believe me when I tell you that they didn't take it." Bert placed his hand on his son's arm then hung his head when he pulled his arm away from him.
"If they didn't then who did? There's no one else out here pop! No one else could have taken it." Guy growled at him.
"What about Bill? You know I've never trusted him."
"But I do." Guy got up from his chair and moved back to the door.
"Where are you going?" Bert followed him.
"I'm going to find out once and for all, where that gold is." Guy pushed his father's arm away.
"If you kill him, I'll never forgive you." Bert told him.
"Then that will be two deaths that you won't forgive me for." Guy turned back to his father, the sadness evident in his eyes.
"I don't blame you for your mother's death, you do and that's making you angry." Bert made his way towards him. "You have to forgive yourself Guy. I can't do it for you." For a moment, Bert saw the man that he once was but it was gone before he could continue the conversation. "Guy!"
"I'm going to talk to Bill." Guy walked away with his father's words staying in his mind, he tried to push them away but they kept coming back.
*************
Josiah tried to shift his legs without waking Ezra, but he couldn't move them under the southerner's weight, he tried to wiggle his toes to try and get the blood flowing, they had become numb like the rest of his legs. But he wasn't going to tell Ezra to get off, he needed his body heat to keep him warm, the temperature in the small shed had dropped, this told Josiah the sun had passed over the shed and it was now in its shadow, the direct sunlight no longer keeping it warm for its occupants.
He tensed up when he felt and heard Ezra cough against his shoulder, he could also feel his fever returning, the heat of his body flowed into his own. He wanted to put his arms around him to comfort and hold him until the coughing fit subsided but he couldn't. Josiah leaned his head back and closed his eyes but the sight of Ezra lying on the ground with his upper body drenched with water caused them to snap open. His heart had broken at the sight, he thought that Ezra was dead, and there had been no movement, nothing to tell him that he still lived. At that moment, Josiah had felt as though a father would at the death of his only son.
Josiah's eyes moved down to look at Ezra's head but he couldn't see it in the complete darkness that now surrounded them, so he allowed his head to fall until his chin touch the sweat soaked head. He left it where it was and listened to Ezra's breathing and his heart as it beat against his own chest, he didn't fail to notice that it was beating faster than it should be. Ezra was getting sicker by the minute and there was nothing he could do to help.
Ezra coughed again and this time his body shifted, his head lifted up then settled back down again.
"Ezra?" Josiah spoke softly, he wasn't sure if he was still asleep.
"Umm." It was a weak answer but Josiah was grateful to hear something.
"I'll get you out of this Ezra, you just hang on, you hear me." Josiah whispered to him. "Stay with me son."
"I'm here." Ezra shifted again and pulled himself off Josiah's lap.
"Ezra what are you doing!?" Josiah growled at him.
"I'm hot, too hot." Ezra allowed himself to lie down on the cold floor but kept his head on resting on Josiah’s thigh.
"Don't lie on the floor Ezra, get up!"
"No, too hot."
Josiah didn't like hearing the simple words that Ezra was using, it meant that he was a lot worse than he would ever let on, he was to weak and sick to use his extensive vocabulary. He became angry and pulled at the ropes that bound his hands but he could feel the rope tearing into his flesh, he gave up as the despair took over.
*************
As the darkness began to settle over Four Corners and drive the light away causing the townsfolk to light their lamps and street fires to guide their way around the growing town, five men sat around a table in the corner of the town's only saloon. Their eyes moved from one another to the doors hoping to see their two friends enter and relieve them of their worry and concern.
"Are we going or waiting until the morning." Buck asked Chris, he knew something was wrong, Ezra would never stay out there any longer than was necessary.
"If anything has happened to him I'm going to lock him up and not allow him to step out of his room again." Nathan muttered.
"What is it with him that he has to keep getting himself into trouble?" Vin asked, he was stunned, that man couldn't go a month without either getting into some sort of trouble or getting himself hurt.
"He's been that way since the day he was born, he's like a magnet, and trouble finds him where ever he goes, even in his room." Chris looked over at Nathan and smiled weakly at him, his troubled blue eyes then turned to Buck. "We go now. I don't want to take any chances."
Everyone began to stand up to follow their leader out into the darkness to search for their friends.
"Vin, JD, you stay here in case we miss them on the way." Chris' expression told them that he didn't want to waste time arguing with them.
They sat back down and watched them leave.
"Do you think Ezra's okay Vin?" JD asked him when the others had disappeared through the swinging doors.
"I don't know JD, they're only half a day late, it might be nothing." Vin gave him a reassuring smile but knew that JD saw straight through it but he didn't say anything more.
*************
"Guy! You can't do it, you'll kill him!" Bert yelled at his son as he struggled towards the shed after him, he couldn't keep up with him. "Ben! Robbie! You have to stop him!" Bert glared at the twins. He couldn't understand why they were following their brother's anger instead of their father's truth.
"I'm sorry pop but Guy knows what he's doing." Ben argued with him.
"He knows nothing! They didn't take the gold. Do you want to be responsible for an innocent man's life?" He growled at them. If only he was a few years younger, he'd turn all three of them over his knee and give them the belting of their lives.
"Guy isn't gonna kill him." Robbie laughed. He thought the whole thing was a joke.
"Not outright, the man's sick, he needs to be looked after not beaten. You have to stop him!" Bert tried again but knew he was getting nowhere with them. He turned on his heel and headed back to the cabin to get his shotgun, he was going to have to stop them himself.
*************
Josiah could feel the damp sweat as it began to soak into his trouser leg, he knew it wasn't his own, it was Ezra's, his fever was causing him to lose a lot of fluids and at the moment there was no way to get those fluids back into him. He was no longer sure if Ezra was asleep or unconscious. He felt the occasional movement that caused him to groan and the violent coughing that use to cause him to wake. He had called his name and shifted his leg to try to wake him but had failed each time.
He heard Ezra take in a gasp of air and then felt his body shift. He gently lifted his leg so he could entice the younger man to wake up. The slow movements continued as Ezra slowly pulled himself from the deep sleep he had been in, his rhythm of breathing also continued to change.
"Ezra?"
"Aw hell." Ezra muttered as the aches and pain registered in his sleep-dulled mind. He'd had some sort of relief from it but now it was back with a vengeance.
"Ezra!" Josiah called him.
"Don't yell." Ezra grimaced and even that small movement cause the pain in his skull to strengthen for a few seconds.
"How are you feeling Ezra?" Josiah asked him but he knew how he was doing, he just hoped that Ezra could give him some sort of hope that he was recovering.
"Like hell." Ezra replied. "How long have we been in here?"
"I'm not sure but I know it'll be dark shortly." Josiah told him.
"Dark? It's dark now or haven't you noticed." Ezra thought he should enlighten Josiah to something that he didn't seem to realise.
Josiah felt the relief that Ezra's sarcasm gave him, if he could be bothered to do that then he must have felt a bit better. "Are you okay being in here like this Ezra?" He waited for the answer that was interrupted by a bout of coughing.
"Yeah." Ezra felt fine with it, he was with someone, a person that would protect him, or try to do the best he could without allowing himself to be killed, and if Josiah died then Ezra knew he would also. "Don't die defending me Josiah."
Josiah hesitated before answering him. He like the others knew how Ezra felt about that, if one of them died to allow him to live Ezra would feel responsible for their deaths and the guilt that he'd feel would be overwhelming. For some reason he still didn't think that his life was of equal importance as any other member of the group, he now knew how everyone felt about him but he thought that they were more important than he was and their lives should be saved before his own.
"I'll do what I'll have to Ezra and I won't die doing it, don't worry about me." Josiah would to do it whether he wanted him to or not, the others would help him deal with the aftermath of emotions. He felt Ezra's head nod in agreement but the southerner didn't say anymore. "The others should be looking for us by now."
"They're three days away Josiah." Ezra reminded him.
Josiah was about to answer when he heard voices coming towards the shed, he knew what was about to happen and he was willing to defend Ezra with his life.
"Ezra, they're coming." Josiah warned him.
Both men turned from the light that poured into the small shed, it wasn't bright but after spending so many hours in the darkened confined space their eyes protested as though it was a blinding light instead of the weakening sunlight that it was. Josiah forced his head back towards the light and saw two men cause it to weaken even more as their bodies blocked it's attempts to get into the shed. He felt the weight of Ezra's body lift from his leg as the southerner was pulled to his feet then out of the shed. Josiah pushed himself into a standing position so he could go after him. He got through the door then felt a force hit the side of his head. He collapsed to the ground but managed to stay conscious. Whoever had hit him didn't use enough force to knock him out. Josiah knew there was a reason for that and he struggled even more to rid his mind of the momentary confusion.
But before he could, two pairs of arms grabbed him and dragged him to a tree, he struggled against them. When one of them moved close, enough to him to be within reach, he head butted him against the side of the head. The man let go of him as he cried out in pain. Josiah turned towards the second man but before he could do anything, he felt someone's hands push him from behind against the tree. His own forehead slammed against it, he blinked and tried to get rid of the sparkles of light that now flashed behind his eyelids. He felt himself being turned around and forced to the ground. His hands were tied to a piece of rope that was already around the tree. Josiah looked up when the man stepped away from him; it was the one who had tried to drown Ezra.
"This is so you can't try and stop me." The man smiled down at him and Josiah saw the evil that was in his eyes.
Josiah pulled at the ropes that bounded him to the tree but he couldn't move. His eyes frantically searched the small area for Ezra and he saw him standing in front of Guy Young. The man who must of been at least Ezra's age was untying his hands. Josiah could see that Ezra was using what remaining strength he had left to keep himself from falling down.
But he failed because Guy Young pushed him to the ground. Ezra put his hands out in front of him to protect himself. Josiah could see the pain that was etched onto his face and he knew that there was going to be a lot more pain and there was nothing he could do but sit here and watch.
"My turn!" Hollow called out to Guy.
Ezra lifted his head from the ground. He first looked for Josiah and saw him sitting against the tree next to the shed, he seemed to be fine expect for the cut about his right eyebrow, a small trail of blood and pooled around the top of the small line of hair then followed it until it found it's escape down his cheek. He could see the fear in Josiah's eyes but knew that fear wasn't for himself. He gave him a weakened smile to try to reassure him that he was alright but the smile dropped when a pair of black boots blocked his line of sight. His eyes lifted up to see the maniacal smile on the man that stood above him.
Guy moved around Josiah to stay out of reach of his legs, he then sat down on the ground next to him, he knew what Bill was about to do and he didn't really like the idea but at the moment the gold was more important than the man who lay at Bill's feet.
"Where's the gold?" Guy asked Josiah without looking at him.
"We didn't take it, someone else did." Josiah couldn't look away from the scene before him.
"Bill is going to hurt him. You can stop him by telling me where the gold is."
"Where's your father?" Josiah asked his own question, he felt the man stiffen next to him.
"He'll do as I tell him." Guy told him. "Why don't you just watch the show and when you've seen enough you can tell me where the gold is."
"Get up!" Hollow yelled down at Ezra.
Ezra pushed himself into a kneeling position and then onto his feet, he knew what this man wanted to do but while he had some strength left in him, he was going to return the favour.
Ezra's dulled reactions allowed the fist to slam against his jaw, he was flung sideways but managed to stay on his feet. The man followed him and when he did, Ezra threw his own punch. He swung his left arm up and towards Hollow, the back of his fist connected with the man's nose.
"That won't last." Guy muttered to Josiah.
Ezra prepared himself for the onslaught that his actions would bring. He blocked the first blow and landed another punch to the man's jaw.
Josiah couldn't help but smile, even in his weakened state Ezra was going to defend himself for as long as he could but he knew that Guy was right, Ezra wouldn't last and when he could no longer defend himself, the other guy would move in for the kill.
Hollow was furious, the man was supposed to be sick and therefore not be able to fight back. He moved forward quickly hoping to catch him off guard, the man had already managed to strike him twice but he won't do it a third time. But Ezra did, the man got to close to him, Ezra reached out and grabbed his shoulders and at the same time he moved his head back then brought it forward, his head slammed against Hollow's nose. The man screamed in pain when the cartilage broke under Ezra's forehead.
"Hold him!" Hollow yelled at Guy's brothers, he used his sleeve to wipe the blood from his nose.
"We didn't take your gold!" Josiah growled to the man beside him but his eyes stayed on Ezra's weakening form.
Ezra was slow to react; his strength had been sapped from his body. Arms grabbed his own and pulled them behind him. He tried to free himself but he couldn't even manage to stay upright, his legs began to buckle but the hands that held him kept him upright.
Ezra knew there was nothing more he could do, the man was now going to add to the pain he was already feeling. He smiled as the bloody face approached him; at least he managed to cause the man some of his own pain. He felt the fist hit him, the guy had aimed for his nose, probably hoping to break it but Ezra turned his head to the side just in time, the closed fist hit his cheek instead. He heard a muttered curse; the man wasn't as good as he thought he was. This time his fist slammed into Ezra's stomach, there wasn't much he could have done to stop that, if the man moved back just a little bit he would be able to use his feet, but he thought his lack of strength would prevent that.
Hollow hit Ezra in his injured side and enjoyed the groan of pain that escaped from his lips, he hit the side again but this time there was no response. Ezra clenched his teeth against the cry that wanted to be voiced. He allowed it to happen once, not again. A fist hit his face again. He could feel his legs collapsing beneath him.
"Let him go." Hollow spoke quietly.
Now that Standish couldn't defend himself, he was going to inflict the pain that he wanted to from the start but now he was going to do more damage than he had agreed to do, the man had broken his nose and he was going to pay for it. He waited until he fell to the ground. He watched as Ezra struggled to get back onto his feet. He kicked him in the side, the force of the kick throwing him onto his back.
"We didn't take your gold!"
Ezra started to struggle for air, he rolled onto his side as a coughing fit began to tear through him, the pain in his chest was excruciating. He felt the boot connect with his side again; the continuous pain in his side and chest was making it even more difficult for him to breath. He looked up at the man as he closed in on him again and pushed himself onto his hands and knees, he used his hands to support himself and dug deep down to his need to survive and kicked out with his foot. His heel connected with the man's knee, he heard more cartilage snap.
"Bastard!" Hollow screamed out as he fell to the ground.
Ezra collapsed to the ground, his chest was heaving as his lungs fought for breath. He looked up to see Hollow leaning over him. But he couldn't fight anymore, he could hardly breath. He waited for the fists to connect with his body and he wasn't disappointed. Hollow's fists rained down on him, they hit his face, his injured side and his stomach.
"Stop it!" Josiah yelled out.
"He will if you tell me where the gold is." Guy winced at the sight of Bill continuously hitting the man that lay unmoving before him.
"Alright I'll tell you, just stop him." Josiah told him.
Guy was about to call out to Hollow to stop him but a shotgun blast stopped everyone.
"Move away from him Hollow!" Bert Young growled at the man.
"Pop what the hell are you doing?" Guy jumped to his feet.
"I told you they didn't take the gold." Bert repeated himself. "Untie him Guy."
"No."
"Do as I tell you, your my son and I won't allow you to kill this man!" Bert raised his voice.
"No." Guy stood defiantly in front of Josiah. He was blocking the larger man's view of his friend.
"Robbie, untie him so he can help his friend." Bert ordered him.
Robbie looked from his father to his older brother.
"Do it!"
Robbie moved towards the tree and Josiah. He wouldn't look his brother in the eye. He knelt down beside Sanchez and released him from his bounds.
As soon as he felt the ropes loosen, Josiah freed himself and ran to Ezra, he grabbed Hollow, who was still sitting next to Ezra's side, by his shirt collar and threw him away from Ezra, and he heard him cry out as he hit the ground a few feet away. Josiah then ignored him as he knew that Bert would have him covered with his shotgun. He knelt down beside his injured friend.
"Ezra?" He took the bloodied face in his hands and wiped the hair from his forehead. He could feel a mixture of blood and sweat under his hand, he placed another hand against his chest, even through the material he could feel the heat emanating from his body, he could also feel his chest heaving for breath, and although he was in an unconscious state, he was still struggling for each breath. "Ezra?"
"Bring him to the house Josiah." Bert called to him.
Josiah gently lifted Ezra up into his arms and pulled him close to him, making sure that his head rested against his shoulder and began to walk towards Bert while making sure that he stayed out of his line of fire.
"Guy, you know that I have never lied to you and I never will, these men didn't take the gold, someone else did." He looked at Hollow when he spoke the last words. When Josiah reached his side, he glanced down at the unconscious man in his arms.
Hollow saw his chance when the old man's eyes moved away from him. He pulled his gun and fired.
Bert turned back when he heard his son cry out to him. He heard the sound of a gun going off and knew it wasn't his own, he felt the bullet tear through his shoulder, and he dropped the shotgun and fell to the ground.
"POP!" Guy ran towards him but stopped when Hollow aimed his gun at him.
"Leave him!" Hollow stood up and supported his weight on his left leg, his right knee was useless.
"What the hell did you do that for?" Robbie yelled at him.
"Because he's trying to stop us from getting our gold back, they took it, he just won't admit it." Hollow explained.
"You didn't have to shoot him." Ben moved towards his father.
"He was going to let them get away. We worked too hard and too long for that gold to let it slip through our fingers." Hollow looked back at Guy. "Listen to me Guy. They had to have taken the gold. Who else could have done it?"
"You." Guy stepped towards him.
Josiah was standing sideways and when Hollow looked away from him, he chanced a glance down at Bert to see if he was still alive, he saw him looking back up at him, the old man nodded towards the gun that lay at his side. Josiah nodded back and although he knew he was being watched by the two younger sons he began to kneel down, he laid Ezra on the ground and picked up the shotgun, he stood up and turned towards Hollow.
"Put the gun down or I'll shoot you where you stand." Josiah's voice was calm but it also held a menacing tone.
"You can't shoot all of us, and it will be your friend that one of us shoots first." Hollow smiled.
"He doesn't have to shoot all of us." Guy growled at him. "Ben, Robbie take pop up to the house, you," he nodded towards Josiah, "take your friend as well, I'll deal with Bill."
"Only after he puts his gun down." Josiah warned him. "He'll shoot you otherwise."
"He won't shoot me." Guy assured him.
"He had no trouble shooting your father." Josiah watched out of the corner of his eye as the two brothers picked their father up.
"Take his friend." Bert's voice reached Josiah's ears.
"I'll bring Ezra. You go and take care of your father."
"Put your gun down Bill." Guy told him.
"He'll shoot me."
"If he shoots you then I'll know that he took the gold, if he doesn't then I'll know that you did." Guy smiled at him.
Hollow couldn't take the risk, he turned towards Josiah and raised his gun at the same time, but he wasn't quick enough, Josiah pulled the trigger, but he didn't aim to kill, these people were relying on that gold. The shotgun pellets tore through his legs and he fell to the ground screaming in agony.
"Take care of your friend." Guy told Josiah once more.
This time Josiah nodded and dropped the gun, he bent down again to pick up Ezra. When he had him in his arms he headed up towards the cabin, he had no idea what Guy was going to do with Hollow, he didn't care. He looked down into Ezra's face, his features were still slack and his breathing was also still difficult. He had more important things to take care of.
*************
Chris pulled on his reins to halt his horse's continuous movement forward. He waited patiently for Buck and Nathan to do the same.
"We'll have to make camp. We can't go any further until day light." Chris told them. They had been riding for six hours and it was now near midnight, he knew that it would be difficult to find them, for all he knew they could have passed them already, he'd made a mistake, and they should have waited until dawn. "We'll head out again at dawn."
"I thought you didn't want to take any chances." Buck growled at him. The longer he had to think about it, his feeling that something was wrong grew stronger.
"I know, but it's dark, what if we ride pass them without knowing it?" Chris asked him, he understood Buck's anxious fear, he was feeling the same thing and he let that feeling control his decision but not now.
"I'm sorry, your right." Buck acknowledged.
"We'll find them and I'm sure Ezra will be fine, and Josiah, they're probably doing this just to get back at Chris." Nathan told him but he knew it wasn't true. They wouldn't put them through this sort of worry.
"I wish that were true Nathan." Chris told him as he dismounted from his horse.
*************
Josiah moved as fast as his concern would allow him to, he didn't want to cause Ezra any pain, he knew he was unconscious and would no doubt feel nothing but his heart was still able to imagine the pain that each unnecessary movement would cause him. When he finally reached the cabin he found the door open, he barged in and was directed to one of the doors that led to another room. He didn't hesitate, he made his way to it and Ben opened the door for him. Josiah walked to the bed that was closest to him.
He laid Ezra down on the bed and straightened his legs out, he tore open his shirt and clenched his jaw in anger at the sight of the bruise on his side and the large red areas that covered his stomach and chest that would soon begin to bruise also.
"I'll get you something so you can clean him up."
"How's your father?" Josiah asked him before he left the room.
"The bullet went straight through. Robbie is taking care of him."
Josiah could hear the sympathy in his voice, he couldn't stay angry at him, but he did keep the anger that he felt towards his older brother and Hollow. He turned back to Ezra. He gently pressed against his side, he thought that there was at least two ribs broken and another one cracked. He bent over and pressed his ear against his fever soaked chest and listened to his breathing, there wasn't a rattling noise that Nathan usually spoke of but he could tell that each breath was still a struggle for him, he had no idea why.
"Here." Ben joined Josiah at Ezra's bedside but he wouldn't look him in the eye but his eyes did travel over Ezra's battered upper body. He put the bowl of water on the floor and handed the pieces of material to him, he also gave him a half bottle of whisky.
"Thank you." Josiah watched as he walked out of the room.
He soaked a cloth in the water and gently washed the dirt and blood from Ezra's face, he then soaked part of another cloth with the whisky and used it clean the cuts more thoroughly. The cut on his right forehead was deeper but he didn't think that it would need stitches. Once he had seen to the injuries on his face he moved to one of the other beds in the room, he pulled one of the sheets from it and began to tear it into strips. When he had enough makeshift bandages he carefully removed Ezra's shirt then wrapped his ribs with the strips of material. After he had done that he removed Ezra's boots and covered him with a blanket.
"I'll be back in a minute Ezra." He wiped the damp hair from his forehead then left to check on Bert.
Josiah followed the noises that would lead him to Bert Young. He pushed the door open and stepped into the room. He stood by the door, he didn't want to disturb them, and he just needed to know that Bert was okay. The old man lay on a bed that sat facing the open doorway, each son stood by his side. Josiah could see the pale colour of his skin and he felt his heart go out to him and his family. A pair of pain-filled eyes made their way to his direction.
"Josiah, come here." Bert's voice was hoarse.
Josiah did as he was told and he moved closer to the bed, he sat down when a frail arm motioned him to.
"How's your friend?" Bert looked up at him and could see the worry in the larger man's eyes.
"Ezra's got some broken ribs and he's real sick again, I don't know Bert." Josiah's head hung low. "What about you?"
"He should be okay." Robbie told him.
"I'm fine, Josiah. You go and take care of your friend." Bert pushed him away with his arm.
Josiah nodded and got up off the bed, he used his head to ask Robbie to follow him outside.
"Is he going to be alright?" Josiah had come to like the old man, he had a caring soul.
"Yeah, the bullet went clean through, I managed to stop the bleeding before he lost too much blood." Robbie confirmed for him. "I'm sorry about your friend."
"His name is Ezra." Josiah spoke harshly.
"I'm sorry about Ezra." Robbie repeated and used the name that Sanchez had given him.
"Why don't you go and see what your older brother is doing?" Josiah told him.
Robbie looked away from him and left the cabin. Josiah watched him go then went back to the room Ezra
was in.
There wasn't a chair in the room so he settled for sitting on the bed with Ezra. He looked down at the pale face and wondered what the seven's lives would be like without the gambler, they had become whole once Ezra allowed himself to become part of the small family. He had fought them all the way and at times he had fought dirty by using his hurtful words but that only strengthened their resolve to pull him into the group. He finally surrendered and allowed them to lead him by his arms to what he had never known before.
Josiah dampened one of the cloths and began to wipe away the sweat that had built up on Ezra's face and chest. His hands were gentle as though he feared he would break the fragile form before him. He saw Ezra grimace in pain then begin to cough, his arm lifted up to grip his chest as he rolled over onto his side. Josiah put his hand on his back and began to rub it, he could feel and hear the violent coughs that plagued his friend. He also knew that the pain in his side would be agonising, the ribs would be rubbing against each other. It was a few minutes before Ezra's coughing subsided.
"Ezra?" Josiah leant over him. He didn't want to roll him back over.
"Josiah it hurts." Ezra gasped out through the pain.
"Where Ezra?" He wiped his face with the damp cloth.
"My chest . . . side." Ezra spoke through gritted teeth. His eyes were closed so tightly he wasn't able to see his surroundings.
"You've got some broken ribs Ezra." Josiah told him. "And your chest probably hurts from all the coughing that you've been doing. Your still sick."
Josiah heard a noise behind him and he spun around to see Guy Young standing in the doorway, he wanted to get up and beat him the same way he had Hollow beat Ezra but he couldn't get past the guilt and sorrow that were in the now dull blue eyes.
"Could you get some water for me please, I have to replace the fluids he lost." He didn't receive an answer but Guy turned away and left the room.
"Ezra. Ezra!" Josiah got up and moved around the bed. He knelt down in front of Ezra. He could see that he was even paler than he was before. "Ezra, open your eyes and look at me." Josiah controlled his emotions when he looked into Ezra's green eyes, they were glassy with pain. "I want you to drink some water for me, okay."
"As long . . . as you don't . . . ask me to . . . eat." Ezra agreed. His eyes finally focused on the room that he was in. "Where are . . . we?"
"In Bert's cabin, it's over Ezra so I want you to rest and get better for me okay." Josiah looked up when Guy came back into the room. He took the water that he handed to him. "Move onto your back Ezra."
Josiah waited until he did as he was told then lifted his head with one hand while the other held the cup to his lips. Ezra began to cough again after the first mouthful. Josiah was beginning to find it hard to look at the face that was so full of pain. He did what he wanted to do before, he put the cup down and sat on the bed, he pulled Ezra up into his arms and supported his pain-wracked body until the coughing eased once again.
"Can you drink some more water Ezra?"
"Yeah."
Ezra drank the cool water and felt it ease the dryness of his throat. When Josiah removed the cup and eased his head back down onto the pillow that lay beneath him he rolled onto his side. He could feel Josiah's hand wiping his face.
"Go back to sleep Ezra." He didn't need to encourage him. He was asleep again within minutes.
Josiah pulled the blanket up around his chin and made him comfortable. He didn't move from his bedside even though he knew Guy was still in the room.
"What did you do to your friend?" Josiah asked him.
"I gave him a taste of his own medicine." Guy told him as he moved closer to the bed. He didn't want to look at the face of the man who lay in it. He was lying on his right side with his back to him.
"Don't you mean your medicine? It was your idea to beat Ezra to try and get me to talk wasn't it." Josiah didn't stop the disgust from sounding in his voice.
"Yeah. I'm sorry, I know that's not enough, I've known Bill for five years, I didn't think he would steal from us." Guy explained.
"Where is he now?"
"I'm going to take him to town, hand him over to the sheriff and hand myself in as well."
Josiah looked up when he heard those words. "You don't have to go to jail."
"What if your friend dies?"
"Which town are you going to?" Josiah asked him.
"I was going to Junction City, they know us there." Guy made himself walk around the bed. He looked at the face of the man's friend. He was pale and the bruises and cuts stood out on his flesh. His skin was also flushed. "He looks pretty sick."
"He is." Josiah stood up so he could face the younger man. "If you do something for me, we'll help you."
"There's nothing you can do for me."
"Get your brothers to take him to Four Corners, we are the law there along with five other men." he saw the shock register on Guy's face. "They have a thing about Ezra getting hurt. We all do actually, so I believe they are already on the trail looking for us. Your brother's should meet them on the way, when they do they can give them directions to come here. One of our friends is a healer, Nathan Jackson, will be able to look after Ezra and your father."
Guy watched Josiah for a moment then looked back down at Ezra. "Okay, I'll get them to leave straight away."
"You do that." Josiah turned away from him and sat back down on the bed.
Josiah listened as Guy repeated his instructions to his brothers, they argued with him at first because they didn't want to leave their father but when their elder brother told them that one of the lawmen was a healer they gave in to his request that they take Bill Hollow to Four Corners. Josiah just hoped that they would meet Chris and the others on the trail. He feared that they had already passed them on their search for their missing friends.
He looked down at Ezra's profile. An occasional grimace appeared on his face. He placed his hand against his left cheek then his forehead, the fever was raging within him. His hope that they would meet their friends on the trail now turned to silent prayers.
Part One | Part Two | Part Three
Master Fan Fiction List
Rating: PG
Fandom: The Magnificent Seven
Main Characters: Ezra and Josiah
Summary: Ezra and Josiah are on their way back to Four Corners when they are taken prisoner by a family who think the lawmen have stolen their gold.
Disclaimers: The guys are owned by CBS, MGM, Trilogy Entertainment Group, and The Mirisch Corp.
Spoilers: None
Status: Complete
Total Word Count: 23,633
The first thing Ezra's mind registered was the pain in his chest, then the one in his side followed by the continuous ache in his head. He was confused. He couldn't remember what had happened so he had no idea why he was in so much pain. He wanted to open his eyes but feared what he would find. He shivered and realised that he also felt cold. The movement caused the pain that his body was feeling to erupt and he let a cry of pain. He tried to stay still when he heard the movement beside him then relief flooded through him when he heard Josiah's voice.
Josiah felt Ezra's movement before he heard his exclamation of pain. He shuffled even closer to him. "Ezra, it's Josiah. Can you hear me?"
Ezra nodded then stopped due to the pain.
"Ezra?"
Ezra frowned and wondered why his friend hadn't heard him the first time. "Yes." His throat felt sore, he needed a drink. "Water?"
"I'm sorry Ezra, I don't have any." Josiah pushed himself up against the wall. "Ezra, I need to help you stay warm, do you think you can sit up and lean against me."
"No." Ezra didn't want to move at all, everything hurt and the last thing he wanted was to make the pain worse.
"Ezra! Get up!" Josiah knew he wouldn't get anywhere with him if he continued to ask him nicely. There was no movement. "EZRA!"
Ezra first tried to move his arms but found them to be tied behind his back, he slowly rolled onto them, and he gritted his teeth against the pain and waited.
"Ezra!"
"I'm coming." he gasped out through ragged breaths.
"There's a wall behind you, push yourself backwards until you reach it then try and sit up." Josiah could see him lying on his back but it was his breathing that concerned him.
Ezra forced his eyes opened so he could see what he was doing but all he saw was darkness. "Where are we?"
"I'll tell you when you get up here Ezra. Now move!" Josiah growled at him.
Ezra pushed himself backwards, every second was agony to the ribs on his left side but then his head hit the wall that Josiah was talking about. The pain wasn't as bad as what he was feeling in his ribs or chest.
"Now push yourself up Ezra. Use the wall for support."
Ezra pushed with his hands, it took him a few minutes but he was finally in a sitting position, he turned towards Josiah's voice and could make out his face in the darkness. "Now what?"
"I want you to lean against me, it's going to be a cold night Ezra, and you need to stay as warm as you can." Josiah moved sideways until he was flushed up against the gambler. "I want you to sit on my legs Ezra."
"You what?"
"I don't want any arguments Ezra, you’re sick and if I don't help you you'll get worse." Josiah felt a shiver wrack Ezra's body. "Do it Ezra! Now!"
Ezra was too tired to argue. He moved sideways then used his hands to push upwards, on the second try he landed on Josiah's warm legs.
"Now lay your chest against me." Josiah ordered him.
Ezra slumped against him, his head lying on Josiah's right shoulder, he could feel the warmth radiating off him and took comfort from it. He felt uncomfortable in this position but the warmth he now felt told him that Josiah was right.
"Better?"
"Yes." Ezra shuddered as a violent cough erupted from him. He grimaced against the pain it caused in his chest. "Where are we?"
"Try not to talk Ezra. Bert Young, he's the man that let us stay in his barn, his sons came back, they think we stole their gold and they want to know where it is and they're going to use you to try and get me to talk." Josiah didn't want to lie to him.
"Great." muttered Ezra. He pressed himself closer to Josiah, the warmth of his body easing some of the pain in his chest.
*************
Nathan, who was also enjoying the peace and quiet without the southerner, walked alongside the ex-bounty hunter as they headed towards the saloon. They both had the intention of enjoying a drink without being accosted by a certain unnamed gambler who only wanted to win any money that was still residing in their pockets. Vin pushed the saloon's swinging doors open and stepped into the near empty room. He easily spotted Chris and Buck sitting silently in a corner to the right of the doors.
"I'll get the drinks." Vin informed Nathan.
Nathan nodded in agreement and stepped towards the table that his friends occupied. He sat down in the chair and took in Buck's humorous expression and Chris' solemn features.
"Any minute now Chris." Buck winked at Nathan with his right eye and leaned over to nudge Chris with his left elbow.
"Expecting something?" Nathan smiled at Buck.
"Ezra." Buck didn't say anymore, he thought the mere mention of Ezra's name would explain everything.
"Uh huh." Nathan winked back in understanding.
Josiah and Ezra were due back at lunchtime, that's why they were here now, to get some peace and quiet before the southerner returned to continue his complaints regarding a trip that turned out to be unnecessary. Chris had received a telegram three days after they left town to inform him that the prisoner he'd sent the men to pick had managed to escape, there had been no way to get the news to Josiah and Ezra so it was decided that they would have to find out for themselves when they got there.
"Yep Ezra's gonna be real mad." Nathan witnessed the grimace as it crossed Chris' face. "You know how much he hate's spending time outdoors, especially when it takes him away from the gambling tables."
"He's going to complain about it until someone physically shuts him up." Buck continued as he ignored the look that Chris shot at him. Buck knew that he was exaggerating, Ezra of course will make some nasty comments but they will be backed up with humour, but he would know that it wasn't Chris' fault. But like the rest of them, they were going to have some fun at Chris' expense.
"What if someone physically shuts you up now Buck?" Chris threatened him.
"He's just having some fun Chris." Nathan enlightened him.
"I know Nathan, it's just that he's right . . . I mean . . . Buck being right, hell that's not right." Chris watched as Buck's mouth fell open.
"I'm always right!" Buck protested.
"I just wish you weren't this time." Chris grimaced. "Ezra's going to enjoy himself isn't he. Do you think he'll try and get retribution through a game of poker?"
"Depends on how much money you've got and Ezra will know exactly what's lining your pockets." Nathan told him.
"I hope he uses those fancy words of his, that look you get on your face when you have no idea what he's saying . . .” Buck smiled at the image.
"Yeah, it's the same one we all get." Nathan chuckled.
"Any minute now Chris, Ezra will walk through those doors and he'll have that smug look on his face and then all hell will break loose." Buck settled back down into his chair so he could see every expression and hear every word.
*************
Bert watched as his eldest son stepped into the cabin, even though Guy had his features he still reminded him so much of his dead wife. His heart saddened when Guy turned to face him and he saw the anger in his eyes, it had never been there before Martha had died but he had blamed himself for her death, the bitterness filled his eyes and settled in to stay. He hoped that his son hadn't changed as much as he feared.
"Guy, I don't believe they took the gold." He stated firmly.
"And what makes you think that?" Guy poured himself a cup of coffee and sat down in the chair next to his father, he wouldn't sit opposite him, and if he did, he would only see the disappointment in his eyes. It had been there ever since his mother died, or so he kept telling himself.
"Mr Standish was, is too sick to even look after himself and Josiah didn't even know where it was hidden."
"Then he must have followed you and you led him right to it." Guy decided it must have been the only way.
"Son, please believe me when I tell you that they didn't take it." Bert placed his hand on his son's arm then hung his head when he pulled his arm away from him.
"If they didn't then who did? There's no one else out here pop! No one else could have taken it." Guy growled at him.
"What about Bill? You know I've never trusted him."
"But I do." Guy got up from his chair and moved back to the door.
"Where are you going?" Bert followed him.
"I'm going to find out once and for all, where that gold is." Guy pushed his father's arm away.
"If you kill him, I'll never forgive you." Bert told him.
"Then that will be two deaths that you won't forgive me for." Guy turned back to his father, the sadness evident in his eyes.
"I don't blame you for your mother's death, you do and that's making you angry." Bert made his way towards him. "You have to forgive yourself Guy. I can't do it for you." For a moment, Bert saw the man that he once was but it was gone before he could continue the conversation. "Guy!"
"I'm going to talk to Bill." Guy walked away with his father's words staying in his mind, he tried to push them away but they kept coming back.
*************
Josiah tried to shift his legs without waking Ezra, but he couldn't move them under the southerner's weight, he tried to wiggle his toes to try and get the blood flowing, they had become numb like the rest of his legs. But he wasn't going to tell Ezra to get off, he needed his body heat to keep him warm, the temperature in the small shed had dropped, this told Josiah the sun had passed over the shed and it was now in its shadow, the direct sunlight no longer keeping it warm for its occupants.
He tensed up when he felt and heard Ezra cough against his shoulder, he could also feel his fever returning, the heat of his body flowed into his own. He wanted to put his arms around him to comfort and hold him until the coughing fit subsided but he couldn't. Josiah leaned his head back and closed his eyes but the sight of Ezra lying on the ground with his upper body drenched with water caused them to snap open. His heart had broken at the sight, he thought that Ezra was dead, and there had been no movement, nothing to tell him that he still lived. At that moment, Josiah had felt as though a father would at the death of his only son.
Josiah's eyes moved down to look at Ezra's head but he couldn't see it in the complete darkness that now surrounded them, so he allowed his head to fall until his chin touch the sweat soaked head. He left it where it was and listened to Ezra's breathing and his heart as it beat against his own chest, he didn't fail to notice that it was beating faster than it should be. Ezra was getting sicker by the minute and there was nothing he could do to help.
Ezra coughed again and this time his body shifted, his head lifted up then settled back down again.
"Ezra?" Josiah spoke softly, he wasn't sure if he was still asleep.
"Umm." It was a weak answer but Josiah was grateful to hear something.
"I'll get you out of this Ezra, you just hang on, you hear me." Josiah whispered to him. "Stay with me son."
"I'm here." Ezra shifted again and pulled himself off Josiah's lap.
"Ezra what are you doing!?" Josiah growled at him.
"I'm hot, too hot." Ezra allowed himself to lie down on the cold floor but kept his head on resting on Josiah’s thigh.
"Don't lie on the floor Ezra, get up!"
"No, too hot."
Josiah didn't like hearing the simple words that Ezra was using, it meant that he was a lot worse than he would ever let on, he was to weak and sick to use his extensive vocabulary. He became angry and pulled at the ropes that bound his hands but he could feel the rope tearing into his flesh, he gave up as the despair took over.
*************
As the darkness began to settle over Four Corners and drive the light away causing the townsfolk to light their lamps and street fires to guide their way around the growing town, five men sat around a table in the corner of the town's only saloon. Their eyes moved from one another to the doors hoping to see their two friends enter and relieve them of their worry and concern.
"Are we going or waiting until the morning." Buck asked Chris, he knew something was wrong, Ezra would never stay out there any longer than was necessary.
"If anything has happened to him I'm going to lock him up and not allow him to step out of his room again." Nathan muttered.
"What is it with him that he has to keep getting himself into trouble?" Vin asked, he was stunned, that man couldn't go a month without either getting into some sort of trouble or getting himself hurt.
"He's been that way since the day he was born, he's like a magnet, and trouble finds him where ever he goes, even in his room." Chris looked over at Nathan and smiled weakly at him, his troubled blue eyes then turned to Buck. "We go now. I don't want to take any chances."
Everyone began to stand up to follow their leader out into the darkness to search for their friends.
"Vin, JD, you stay here in case we miss them on the way." Chris' expression told them that he didn't want to waste time arguing with them.
They sat back down and watched them leave.
"Do you think Ezra's okay Vin?" JD asked him when the others had disappeared through the swinging doors.
"I don't know JD, they're only half a day late, it might be nothing." Vin gave him a reassuring smile but knew that JD saw straight through it but he didn't say anything more.
*************
"Guy! You can't do it, you'll kill him!" Bert yelled at his son as he struggled towards the shed after him, he couldn't keep up with him. "Ben! Robbie! You have to stop him!" Bert glared at the twins. He couldn't understand why they were following their brother's anger instead of their father's truth.
"I'm sorry pop but Guy knows what he's doing." Ben argued with him.
"He knows nothing! They didn't take the gold. Do you want to be responsible for an innocent man's life?" He growled at them. If only he was a few years younger, he'd turn all three of them over his knee and give them the belting of their lives.
"Guy isn't gonna kill him." Robbie laughed. He thought the whole thing was a joke.
"Not outright, the man's sick, he needs to be looked after not beaten. You have to stop him!" Bert tried again but knew he was getting nowhere with them. He turned on his heel and headed back to the cabin to get his shotgun, he was going to have to stop them himself.
*************
Josiah could feel the damp sweat as it began to soak into his trouser leg, he knew it wasn't his own, it was Ezra's, his fever was causing him to lose a lot of fluids and at the moment there was no way to get those fluids back into him. He was no longer sure if Ezra was asleep or unconscious. He felt the occasional movement that caused him to groan and the violent coughing that use to cause him to wake. He had called his name and shifted his leg to try to wake him but had failed each time.
He heard Ezra take in a gasp of air and then felt his body shift. He gently lifted his leg so he could entice the younger man to wake up. The slow movements continued as Ezra slowly pulled himself from the deep sleep he had been in, his rhythm of breathing also continued to change.
"Ezra?"
"Aw hell." Ezra muttered as the aches and pain registered in his sleep-dulled mind. He'd had some sort of relief from it but now it was back with a vengeance.
"Ezra!" Josiah called him.
"Don't yell." Ezra grimaced and even that small movement cause the pain in his skull to strengthen for a few seconds.
"How are you feeling Ezra?" Josiah asked him but he knew how he was doing, he just hoped that Ezra could give him some sort of hope that he was recovering.
"Like hell." Ezra replied. "How long have we been in here?"
"I'm not sure but I know it'll be dark shortly." Josiah told him.
"Dark? It's dark now or haven't you noticed." Ezra thought he should enlighten Josiah to something that he didn't seem to realise.
Josiah felt the relief that Ezra's sarcasm gave him, if he could be bothered to do that then he must have felt a bit better. "Are you okay being in here like this Ezra?" He waited for the answer that was interrupted by a bout of coughing.
"Yeah." Ezra felt fine with it, he was with someone, a person that would protect him, or try to do the best he could without allowing himself to be killed, and if Josiah died then Ezra knew he would also. "Don't die defending me Josiah."
Josiah hesitated before answering him. He like the others knew how Ezra felt about that, if one of them died to allow him to live Ezra would feel responsible for their deaths and the guilt that he'd feel would be overwhelming. For some reason he still didn't think that his life was of equal importance as any other member of the group, he now knew how everyone felt about him but he thought that they were more important than he was and their lives should be saved before his own.
"I'll do what I'll have to Ezra and I won't die doing it, don't worry about me." Josiah would to do it whether he wanted him to or not, the others would help him deal with the aftermath of emotions. He felt Ezra's head nod in agreement but the southerner didn't say anymore. "The others should be looking for us by now."
"They're three days away Josiah." Ezra reminded him.
Josiah was about to answer when he heard voices coming towards the shed, he knew what was about to happen and he was willing to defend Ezra with his life.
"Ezra, they're coming." Josiah warned him.
Both men turned from the light that poured into the small shed, it wasn't bright but after spending so many hours in the darkened confined space their eyes protested as though it was a blinding light instead of the weakening sunlight that it was. Josiah forced his head back towards the light and saw two men cause it to weaken even more as their bodies blocked it's attempts to get into the shed. He felt the weight of Ezra's body lift from his leg as the southerner was pulled to his feet then out of the shed. Josiah pushed himself into a standing position so he could go after him. He got through the door then felt a force hit the side of his head. He collapsed to the ground but managed to stay conscious. Whoever had hit him didn't use enough force to knock him out. Josiah knew there was a reason for that and he struggled even more to rid his mind of the momentary confusion.
But before he could, two pairs of arms grabbed him and dragged him to a tree, he struggled against them. When one of them moved close, enough to him to be within reach, he head butted him against the side of the head. The man let go of him as he cried out in pain. Josiah turned towards the second man but before he could do anything, he felt someone's hands push him from behind against the tree. His own forehead slammed against it, he blinked and tried to get rid of the sparkles of light that now flashed behind his eyelids. He felt himself being turned around and forced to the ground. His hands were tied to a piece of rope that was already around the tree. Josiah looked up when the man stepped away from him; it was the one who had tried to drown Ezra.
"This is so you can't try and stop me." The man smiled down at him and Josiah saw the evil that was in his eyes.
Josiah pulled at the ropes that bounded him to the tree but he couldn't move. His eyes frantically searched the small area for Ezra and he saw him standing in front of Guy Young. The man who must of been at least Ezra's age was untying his hands. Josiah could see that Ezra was using what remaining strength he had left to keep himself from falling down.
But he failed because Guy Young pushed him to the ground. Ezra put his hands out in front of him to protect himself. Josiah could see the pain that was etched onto his face and he knew that there was going to be a lot more pain and there was nothing he could do but sit here and watch.
"My turn!" Hollow called out to Guy.
Ezra lifted his head from the ground. He first looked for Josiah and saw him sitting against the tree next to the shed, he seemed to be fine expect for the cut about his right eyebrow, a small trail of blood and pooled around the top of the small line of hair then followed it until it found it's escape down his cheek. He could see the fear in Josiah's eyes but knew that fear wasn't for himself. He gave him a weakened smile to try to reassure him that he was alright but the smile dropped when a pair of black boots blocked his line of sight. His eyes lifted up to see the maniacal smile on the man that stood above him.
Guy moved around Josiah to stay out of reach of his legs, he then sat down on the ground next to him, he knew what Bill was about to do and he didn't really like the idea but at the moment the gold was more important than the man who lay at Bill's feet.
"Where's the gold?" Guy asked Josiah without looking at him.
"We didn't take it, someone else did." Josiah couldn't look away from the scene before him.
"Bill is going to hurt him. You can stop him by telling me where the gold is."
"Where's your father?" Josiah asked his own question, he felt the man stiffen next to him.
"He'll do as I tell him." Guy told him. "Why don't you just watch the show and when you've seen enough you can tell me where the gold is."
"Get up!" Hollow yelled down at Ezra.
Ezra pushed himself into a kneeling position and then onto his feet, he knew what this man wanted to do but while he had some strength left in him, he was going to return the favour.
Ezra's dulled reactions allowed the fist to slam against his jaw, he was flung sideways but managed to stay on his feet. The man followed him and when he did, Ezra threw his own punch. He swung his left arm up and towards Hollow, the back of his fist connected with the man's nose.
"That won't last." Guy muttered to Josiah.
Ezra prepared himself for the onslaught that his actions would bring. He blocked the first blow and landed another punch to the man's jaw.
Josiah couldn't help but smile, even in his weakened state Ezra was going to defend himself for as long as he could but he knew that Guy was right, Ezra wouldn't last and when he could no longer defend himself, the other guy would move in for the kill.
Hollow was furious, the man was supposed to be sick and therefore not be able to fight back. He moved forward quickly hoping to catch him off guard, the man had already managed to strike him twice but he won't do it a third time. But Ezra did, the man got to close to him, Ezra reached out and grabbed his shoulders and at the same time he moved his head back then brought it forward, his head slammed against Hollow's nose. The man screamed in pain when the cartilage broke under Ezra's forehead.
"Hold him!" Hollow yelled at Guy's brothers, he used his sleeve to wipe the blood from his nose.
"We didn't take your gold!" Josiah growled to the man beside him but his eyes stayed on Ezra's weakening form.
Ezra was slow to react; his strength had been sapped from his body. Arms grabbed his own and pulled them behind him. He tried to free himself but he couldn't even manage to stay upright, his legs began to buckle but the hands that held him kept him upright.
Ezra knew there was nothing more he could do, the man was now going to add to the pain he was already feeling. He smiled as the bloody face approached him; at least he managed to cause the man some of his own pain. He felt the fist hit him, the guy had aimed for his nose, probably hoping to break it but Ezra turned his head to the side just in time, the closed fist hit his cheek instead. He heard a muttered curse; the man wasn't as good as he thought he was. This time his fist slammed into Ezra's stomach, there wasn't much he could have done to stop that, if the man moved back just a little bit he would be able to use his feet, but he thought his lack of strength would prevent that.
Hollow hit Ezra in his injured side and enjoyed the groan of pain that escaped from his lips, he hit the side again but this time there was no response. Ezra clenched his teeth against the cry that wanted to be voiced. He allowed it to happen once, not again. A fist hit his face again. He could feel his legs collapsing beneath him.
"Let him go." Hollow spoke quietly.
Now that Standish couldn't defend himself, he was going to inflict the pain that he wanted to from the start but now he was going to do more damage than he had agreed to do, the man had broken his nose and he was going to pay for it. He waited until he fell to the ground. He watched as Ezra struggled to get back onto his feet. He kicked him in the side, the force of the kick throwing him onto his back.
"We didn't take your gold!"
Ezra started to struggle for air, he rolled onto his side as a coughing fit began to tear through him, the pain in his chest was excruciating. He felt the boot connect with his side again; the continuous pain in his side and chest was making it even more difficult for him to breath. He looked up at the man as he closed in on him again and pushed himself onto his hands and knees, he used his hands to support himself and dug deep down to his need to survive and kicked out with his foot. His heel connected with the man's knee, he heard more cartilage snap.
"Bastard!" Hollow screamed out as he fell to the ground.
Ezra collapsed to the ground, his chest was heaving as his lungs fought for breath. He looked up to see Hollow leaning over him. But he couldn't fight anymore, he could hardly breath. He waited for the fists to connect with his body and he wasn't disappointed. Hollow's fists rained down on him, they hit his face, his injured side and his stomach.
"Stop it!" Josiah yelled out.
"He will if you tell me where the gold is." Guy winced at the sight of Bill continuously hitting the man that lay unmoving before him.
"Alright I'll tell you, just stop him." Josiah told him.
Guy was about to call out to Hollow to stop him but a shotgun blast stopped everyone.
"Move away from him Hollow!" Bert Young growled at the man.
"Pop what the hell are you doing?" Guy jumped to his feet.
"I told you they didn't take the gold." Bert repeated himself. "Untie him Guy."
"No."
"Do as I tell you, your my son and I won't allow you to kill this man!" Bert raised his voice.
"No." Guy stood defiantly in front of Josiah. He was blocking the larger man's view of his friend.
"Robbie, untie him so he can help his friend." Bert ordered him.
Robbie looked from his father to his older brother.
"Do it!"
Robbie moved towards the tree and Josiah. He wouldn't look his brother in the eye. He knelt down beside Sanchez and released him from his bounds.
As soon as he felt the ropes loosen, Josiah freed himself and ran to Ezra, he grabbed Hollow, who was still sitting next to Ezra's side, by his shirt collar and threw him away from Ezra, and he heard him cry out as he hit the ground a few feet away. Josiah then ignored him as he knew that Bert would have him covered with his shotgun. He knelt down beside his injured friend.
"Ezra?" He took the bloodied face in his hands and wiped the hair from his forehead. He could feel a mixture of blood and sweat under his hand, he placed another hand against his chest, even through the material he could feel the heat emanating from his body, he could also feel his chest heaving for breath, and although he was in an unconscious state, he was still struggling for each breath. "Ezra?"
"Bring him to the house Josiah." Bert called to him.
Josiah gently lifted Ezra up into his arms and pulled him close to him, making sure that his head rested against his shoulder and began to walk towards Bert while making sure that he stayed out of his line of fire.
"Guy, you know that I have never lied to you and I never will, these men didn't take the gold, someone else did." He looked at Hollow when he spoke the last words. When Josiah reached his side, he glanced down at the unconscious man in his arms.
Hollow saw his chance when the old man's eyes moved away from him. He pulled his gun and fired.
Bert turned back when he heard his son cry out to him. He heard the sound of a gun going off and knew it wasn't his own, he felt the bullet tear through his shoulder, and he dropped the shotgun and fell to the ground.
"POP!" Guy ran towards him but stopped when Hollow aimed his gun at him.
"Leave him!" Hollow stood up and supported his weight on his left leg, his right knee was useless.
"What the hell did you do that for?" Robbie yelled at him.
"Because he's trying to stop us from getting our gold back, they took it, he just won't admit it." Hollow explained.
"You didn't have to shoot him." Ben moved towards his father.
"He was going to let them get away. We worked too hard and too long for that gold to let it slip through our fingers." Hollow looked back at Guy. "Listen to me Guy. They had to have taken the gold. Who else could have done it?"
"You." Guy stepped towards him.
Josiah was standing sideways and when Hollow looked away from him, he chanced a glance down at Bert to see if he was still alive, he saw him looking back up at him, the old man nodded towards the gun that lay at his side. Josiah nodded back and although he knew he was being watched by the two younger sons he began to kneel down, he laid Ezra on the ground and picked up the shotgun, he stood up and turned towards Hollow.
"Put the gun down or I'll shoot you where you stand." Josiah's voice was calm but it also held a menacing tone.
"You can't shoot all of us, and it will be your friend that one of us shoots first." Hollow smiled.
"He doesn't have to shoot all of us." Guy growled at him. "Ben, Robbie take pop up to the house, you," he nodded towards Josiah, "take your friend as well, I'll deal with Bill."
"Only after he puts his gun down." Josiah warned him. "He'll shoot you otherwise."
"He won't shoot me." Guy assured him.
"He had no trouble shooting your father." Josiah watched out of the corner of his eye as the two brothers picked their father up.
"Take his friend." Bert's voice reached Josiah's ears.
"I'll bring Ezra. You go and take care of your father."
"Put your gun down Bill." Guy told him.
"He'll shoot me."
"If he shoots you then I'll know that he took the gold, if he doesn't then I'll know that you did." Guy smiled at him.
Hollow couldn't take the risk, he turned towards Josiah and raised his gun at the same time, but he wasn't quick enough, Josiah pulled the trigger, but he didn't aim to kill, these people were relying on that gold. The shotgun pellets tore through his legs and he fell to the ground screaming in agony.
"Take care of your friend." Guy told Josiah once more.
This time Josiah nodded and dropped the gun, he bent down again to pick up Ezra. When he had him in his arms he headed up towards the cabin, he had no idea what Guy was going to do with Hollow, he didn't care. He looked down into Ezra's face, his features were still slack and his breathing was also still difficult. He had more important things to take care of.
*************
Chris pulled on his reins to halt his horse's continuous movement forward. He waited patiently for Buck and Nathan to do the same.
"We'll have to make camp. We can't go any further until day light." Chris told them. They had been riding for six hours and it was now near midnight, he knew that it would be difficult to find them, for all he knew they could have passed them already, he'd made a mistake, and they should have waited until dawn. "We'll head out again at dawn."
"I thought you didn't want to take any chances." Buck growled at him. The longer he had to think about it, his feeling that something was wrong grew stronger.
"I know, but it's dark, what if we ride pass them without knowing it?" Chris asked him, he understood Buck's anxious fear, he was feeling the same thing and he let that feeling control his decision but not now.
"I'm sorry, your right." Buck acknowledged.
"We'll find them and I'm sure Ezra will be fine, and Josiah, they're probably doing this just to get back at Chris." Nathan told him but he knew it wasn't true. They wouldn't put them through this sort of worry.
"I wish that were true Nathan." Chris told him as he dismounted from his horse.
*************
Josiah moved as fast as his concern would allow him to, he didn't want to cause Ezra any pain, he knew he was unconscious and would no doubt feel nothing but his heart was still able to imagine the pain that each unnecessary movement would cause him. When he finally reached the cabin he found the door open, he barged in and was directed to one of the doors that led to another room. He didn't hesitate, he made his way to it and Ben opened the door for him. Josiah walked to the bed that was closest to him.
He laid Ezra down on the bed and straightened his legs out, he tore open his shirt and clenched his jaw in anger at the sight of the bruise on his side and the large red areas that covered his stomach and chest that would soon begin to bruise also.
"I'll get you something so you can clean him up."
"How's your father?" Josiah asked him before he left the room.
"The bullet went straight through. Robbie is taking care of him."
Josiah could hear the sympathy in his voice, he couldn't stay angry at him, but he did keep the anger that he felt towards his older brother and Hollow. He turned back to Ezra. He gently pressed against his side, he thought that there was at least two ribs broken and another one cracked. He bent over and pressed his ear against his fever soaked chest and listened to his breathing, there wasn't a rattling noise that Nathan usually spoke of but he could tell that each breath was still a struggle for him, he had no idea why.
"Here." Ben joined Josiah at Ezra's bedside but he wouldn't look him in the eye but his eyes did travel over Ezra's battered upper body. He put the bowl of water on the floor and handed the pieces of material to him, he also gave him a half bottle of whisky.
"Thank you." Josiah watched as he walked out of the room.
He soaked a cloth in the water and gently washed the dirt and blood from Ezra's face, he then soaked part of another cloth with the whisky and used it clean the cuts more thoroughly. The cut on his right forehead was deeper but he didn't think that it would need stitches. Once he had seen to the injuries on his face he moved to one of the other beds in the room, he pulled one of the sheets from it and began to tear it into strips. When he had enough makeshift bandages he carefully removed Ezra's shirt then wrapped his ribs with the strips of material. After he had done that he removed Ezra's boots and covered him with a blanket.
"I'll be back in a minute Ezra." He wiped the damp hair from his forehead then left to check on Bert.
Josiah followed the noises that would lead him to Bert Young. He pushed the door open and stepped into the room. He stood by the door, he didn't want to disturb them, and he just needed to know that Bert was okay. The old man lay on a bed that sat facing the open doorway, each son stood by his side. Josiah could see the pale colour of his skin and he felt his heart go out to him and his family. A pair of pain-filled eyes made their way to his direction.
"Josiah, come here." Bert's voice was hoarse.
Josiah did as he was told and he moved closer to the bed, he sat down when a frail arm motioned him to.
"How's your friend?" Bert looked up at him and could see the worry in the larger man's eyes.
"Ezra's got some broken ribs and he's real sick again, I don't know Bert." Josiah's head hung low. "What about you?"
"He should be okay." Robbie told him.
"I'm fine, Josiah. You go and take care of your friend." Bert pushed him away with his arm.
Josiah nodded and got up off the bed, he used his head to ask Robbie to follow him outside.
"Is he going to be alright?" Josiah had come to like the old man, he had a caring soul.
"Yeah, the bullet went clean through, I managed to stop the bleeding before he lost too much blood." Robbie confirmed for him. "I'm sorry about your friend."
"His name is Ezra." Josiah spoke harshly.
"I'm sorry about Ezra." Robbie repeated and used the name that Sanchez had given him.
"Why don't you go and see what your older brother is doing?" Josiah told him.
Robbie looked away from him and left the cabin. Josiah watched him go then went back to the room Ezra
was in.
There wasn't a chair in the room so he settled for sitting on the bed with Ezra. He looked down at the pale face and wondered what the seven's lives would be like without the gambler, they had become whole once Ezra allowed himself to become part of the small family. He had fought them all the way and at times he had fought dirty by using his hurtful words but that only strengthened their resolve to pull him into the group. He finally surrendered and allowed them to lead him by his arms to what he had never known before.
Josiah dampened one of the cloths and began to wipe away the sweat that had built up on Ezra's face and chest. His hands were gentle as though he feared he would break the fragile form before him. He saw Ezra grimace in pain then begin to cough, his arm lifted up to grip his chest as he rolled over onto his side. Josiah put his hand on his back and began to rub it, he could feel and hear the violent coughs that plagued his friend. He also knew that the pain in his side would be agonising, the ribs would be rubbing against each other. It was a few minutes before Ezra's coughing subsided.
"Ezra?" Josiah leant over him. He didn't want to roll him back over.
"Josiah it hurts." Ezra gasped out through the pain.
"Where Ezra?" He wiped his face with the damp cloth.
"My chest . . . side." Ezra spoke through gritted teeth. His eyes were closed so tightly he wasn't able to see his surroundings.
"You've got some broken ribs Ezra." Josiah told him. "And your chest probably hurts from all the coughing that you've been doing. Your still sick."
Josiah heard a noise behind him and he spun around to see Guy Young standing in the doorway, he wanted to get up and beat him the same way he had Hollow beat Ezra but he couldn't get past the guilt and sorrow that were in the now dull blue eyes.
"Could you get some water for me please, I have to replace the fluids he lost." He didn't receive an answer but Guy turned away and left the room.
"Ezra. Ezra!" Josiah got up and moved around the bed. He knelt down in front of Ezra. He could see that he was even paler than he was before. "Ezra, open your eyes and look at me." Josiah controlled his emotions when he looked into Ezra's green eyes, they were glassy with pain. "I want you to drink some water for me, okay."
"As long . . . as you don't . . . ask me to . . . eat." Ezra agreed. His eyes finally focused on the room that he was in. "Where are . . . we?"
"In Bert's cabin, it's over Ezra so I want you to rest and get better for me okay." Josiah looked up when Guy came back into the room. He took the water that he handed to him. "Move onto your back Ezra."
Josiah waited until he did as he was told then lifted his head with one hand while the other held the cup to his lips. Ezra began to cough again after the first mouthful. Josiah was beginning to find it hard to look at the face that was so full of pain. He did what he wanted to do before, he put the cup down and sat on the bed, he pulled Ezra up into his arms and supported his pain-wracked body until the coughing eased once again.
"Can you drink some more water Ezra?"
"Yeah."
Ezra drank the cool water and felt it ease the dryness of his throat. When Josiah removed the cup and eased his head back down onto the pillow that lay beneath him he rolled onto his side. He could feel Josiah's hand wiping his face.
"Go back to sleep Ezra." He didn't need to encourage him. He was asleep again within minutes.
Josiah pulled the blanket up around his chin and made him comfortable. He didn't move from his bedside even though he knew Guy was still in the room.
"What did you do to your friend?" Josiah asked him.
"I gave him a taste of his own medicine." Guy told him as he moved closer to the bed. He didn't want to look at the face of the man who lay in it. He was lying on his right side with his back to him.
"Don't you mean your medicine? It was your idea to beat Ezra to try and get me to talk wasn't it." Josiah didn't stop the disgust from sounding in his voice.
"Yeah. I'm sorry, I know that's not enough, I've known Bill for five years, I didn't think he would steal from us." Guy explained.
"Where is he now?"
"I'm going to take him to town, hand him over to the sheriff and hand myself in as well."
Josiah looked up when he heard those words. "You don't have to go to jail."
"What if your friend dies?"
"Which town are you going to?" Josiah asked him.
"I was going to Junction City, they know us there." Guy made himself walk around the bed. He looked at the face of the man's friend. He was pale and the bruises and cuts stood out on his flesh. His skin was also flushed. "He looks pretty sick."
"He is." Josiah stood up so he could face the younger man. "If you do something for me, we'll help you."
"There's nothing you can do for me."
"Get your brothers to take him to Four Corners, we are the law there along with five other men." he saw the shock register on Guy's face. "They have a thing about Ezra getting hurt. We all do actually, so I believe they are already on the trail looking for us. Your brother's should meet them on the way, when they do they can give them directions to come here. One of our friends is a healer, Nathan Jackson, will be able to look after Ezra and your father."
Guy watched Josiah for a moment then looked back down at Ezra. "Okay, I'll get them to leave straight away."
"You do that." Josiah turned away from him and sat back down on the bed.
Josiah listened as Guy repeated his instructions to his brothers, they argued with him at first because they didn't want to leave their father but when their elder brother told them that one of the lawmen was a healer they gave in to his request that they take Bill Hollow to Four Corners. Josiah just hoped that they would meet Chris and the others on the trail. He feared that they had already passed them on their search for their missing friends.
He looked down at Ezra's profile. An occasional grimace appeared on his face. He placed his hand against his left cheek then his forehead, the fever was raging within him. His hope that they would meet their friends on the trail now turned to silent prayers.
Part One | Part Two | Part Three
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