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Ok here it is and as usual I have attached the word version for better reading and paragraphing. Hope it was ok including your characters as I have.? and tag who ever is next. Colleen? Sam?


Josiah: Part one

The Wind blew, the clouds parted, and out came the sun. Josiah smiled to himself remembering when Buck had said that very same line over three years ago in a small Indian village a day’s ride from the town that had become their home. Of course Buck had meant it in a slightly different context than Josiah did right now.

It was a beautiful warm and sunny day in Four Corners. Winter had passed fairly uneventfully, and Spring had finally arrived. Josiah was in high spirits today, his budding romance with Belle Chandler looked to be going well, and Cheyanne seemed to have finally recovered from the torments of her past and the sorrows of the last year. He doubted she would ever ‘really’ be over it all, but she had learned to overcome it. She still kept Vin Tanner at arm’s length, but it look as though they too had been socializing more. Josiah had to admire Vin’s persistence and patience. He surmised that Vin must care very deeply for Cheyanne to stand by her and wait so patently for her all this time. It gave him much comfort to know that Vin would be there for his surrogate daughter should, God forbid, something happen to him.

Josiah stepped around the corner of the church just as Cheyanne walked out of the barn with Blaze, her wolf pup who had become her constant companion followed close behind then lazily laid down nearby.

“础苍苍颈别”

Cheyanne fed Blaze the carrot she had in her hand and upon hearing her name turned to see Josiah coming toward her.

“I’m going to the mercantile do you want to come along?” he asked as he reached her.

Cheyanne shook her head no and with the curry brush she held in her hand began brushing Blaze along his back.

“Alright then, do you want me to bring you anything?”

Turning back to look at her benefactor she nodded “Carrots for Blaze, and sugar cubes.”

Josiah chuckled “with all the sweets you feed that horse it’s a wonder he can run the way he does.”

Cheyanne smiled, “You are only jealous because you did not win our race yesterday.”

Josiah laughed, “I want a rematch, the wolf got in my way”

Cheyenne’s Christmas present from Vin had grown substantially in the last few months, his thick grey coat was taking on a more white hue and he seemed to be growing more and more by the day, he was already standing knee high to her, he had the stealth of a cat and was proving to be quit the guard dog.

“You got a name for him yet?” Josiah asked nodding toward the sleeping wolf pup.

Cheyanne nodded “Ghost”

“Well it Suits him. I’ll be back soon, you sure you don’t need anything else?”

“I am sure” Cheyanne answered before resuming her task. Her thoughts lingered on Josiah and the storekeeper Belle. She was glad to see Josiah so happy. It had been a long time since a woman had put such a twinkle in his eye.

This Belle Chandler seemed pleasant enough, but Cheyanne sensed there was more to the woman than was visible, she held a secret. What it was Cheyanne had no way of knowing. But there was something, something that kept her from trusting completely. And that something is what kept Cheyanne from trusting her as well.

****

“Good morning” Belle greeted Josiah when the bell over the door jingled as he entered the store.

Josiah removed his hat “Well good morning Miss Belle and how is the most beautiful storekeeper in town doing this fine day?”

Belle blushed. She had come to enjoy the preacher’s flirtatiousness and found it amusing.

“I am well, thank you Josiah. And where is your ever-constant ward this morning?”

The girl Cheyanne was usually with him when he visited the store. She was a noticeably quiet girl, she seemed very shy and never said much.Belle had started to become more at ease around her. She had heard about the trouble with the bounty hunter last year. The girl had stuck up for her innocent friend and taken the blow for her actions.Belle knew how hard that must have been for her. She had also found herself in that sort of predicament some years ago. She admired the girl for sticking by her friend no matter the cost. And she was also glad Cheyanne’s friend had left when he did. Hawk McCloud was part Sioux and he made her nervous, he stirred memories inside her from a time she desperately wanted to forget.

“It seems Cheyanne would rather spend time with her beloved horse than with me this morning.” Josiah feigned disappointment.

“I see.” Belle smiled “Well tell me what it is I can help you with today Josiah”

“Well let’s see, I’ll need a couple boxes of cartridges, a pound bag of nails, a bag of carrots and a bag of sugar cubes”

Belles puzzled expression did not go unnoticed.

“For the horse” Josiah offered with a grin.

“Of course” Belle chuckled handing him the cartridges she walked over to one of the jars and filled a small bag with sugar cubes and set them on the counter near the ammunition. Once she’d filled a bag with Carrots she set that on the counter with the rest of Josiah’s order and began to tally it up on the cash register.

“Is that all I can get for you today?”

“Well, there is one more thing.” Josiah grinned sheepishly

“And what would that be?” Belle asked coyly

“The day is sublime and I was hoping that I might entice you into taking a buggy ride with me this afternoon?”

Belle beamed but before she could give him her answer two young men burst through the front door with guns in hand.

Josiah quickly reached for his own gun but before he could retrieve his weapon the two boys had him in their sights.

Josiah could do nothing else but take his hand from his firearm and hold his arms up. One of the boys took Josiah’s revolver and tossed it aside. The other boy who could not have been more than 16 or 17 quickly went to the cash register and ordered Belle to open it. When he had taken all of the money and stuffed it into his pockets he pointed his gun at her.

“Get over there.” He motioned for her to stand beside Josiah.

She did so noticing that the other boy had pulled down the window shades and locked the door before he began filling a gunny sack with food.

“Hurry up Shad”

“I am damn it, just keep them covered.”

When his sack was full the one called shad spied the cartridges on the counter and scooped them up as well.

Looking over at his younger brother Jessie, Shad nodded toward Belle.

“We better take her with us, we might need a hostage.”

Josiah took Bells arm and gently pulled her behind him. “I don’t think that’d be a very smart boy’s, the lady stays with me.”

“I said she’s coming with us” Shad growled and proceeded to grab Belles arm in the same instance Josiah made his move for the boy’s gun.

Before he knew what was happening the boy pulled the trigger a loud pop rang threw the air,

Belle screamed as Josiah fell to the floor.

***

Cheyanne stood motionless, a horrible dread suddenly erupted inside her, her stomach felt as if it had fallen to her feet, her heart began to race causing a rapid rush of panic to wash over her. Josiah’s image flashed in her mind, his expression a mask of shock and pain.Something was wrong, she could feel it.Ghost suddenly stood up and his ears perked. Then she heard it, a gunshot rang from down the street. The curry brush fell from her hand as She called out “Josiah!” and bolted toward the mercantile.



Chris, Buck and Vin sat immersed in their card game with Ezra. As usual Ezra had the upper hand and was winning.

“To rich for me” Vin declared tossing his cards on the table “I fold” at the same moment the cards hit the table the sound of gunfire rang out and a woman screamed. All four men in unison were out of their seats and rushing for the door.

**

The boys stood stunned, no one was supposed to get killed, they just wanted the food and money.

Belle rushed to Josiah’s side and tried to use her apron to stop the bleeding from the wound so close to his chest.

Pulling himself from the ordeal Shad thought quickly and shook his brother “get the bag, go on Hurry up”

Still stunned Jessie did as he was told while Shad grabbed Belle’s arm and jerked her to her feet. Then both boys made a mad dash out of the door with Belle in tow.

Nathan stepped out of his room his gun belt slung over his shoulder. He could have sworn he’d heard a shot echo through the stillness of the morning.

JD rushed from the livery. He had been saddling his horse so that he could ride out and ask Casey to go fishing with him when he heard a Gunshot.

As soon as Chris, Vin, Ezra, and Buck reached the mercantile the boys Emerged from inside with their captive. Chris Shot into the air to get their attention.

Jessie returned fired resulting in Chris and the others taking cover behind whatever they could find.

The second shot ringing out sent JD and Nathan running towards it.

Chris shot into the dirt in front of the boy carrying the gunny sack in hopes it would stop them from going any further. It worked and the boys stopped just as they stepped off of the board walk.

“Let the woman go!” he called out. “We can end this peacefully”

“Chris” JD shouted as he and Nathan reached the scene.

Chris turned toward them and motioned for them to try and circle around back.

Ezra and Vin took up positions on either side.

“Let us go or the woman dies” the older boy shouted out.

“That’s not an option, your surrounded, you’ll never make it out of town, drop your guns now.”

Nathan and JD stealthily entered through the back door of the mercantile.Josiah lying motionless on the floor bleeding from his wound was the first thing they saw. Nathan immediately went to his side.

“Is he?” JD could not finished his question afraid of what the answer might be.

“He’s alive” Nathan told him. “He’s in bad shape, we got to get these two under control right now so’s I can get him up to my room.”

“You just take care of Josiah; I can do this” JD told him.

The confidence in his voice made Nathan worry. The boy could be overzealous and therefore cause the situation to worsen. His first instinct was to stay and try to stop Josiah from bleeding to death but if he didn’t help JD first there could be more bloodshed.

Doing what he could for Josiah at the moment Nathan quickly moved with JD and slipped behind the assailants.

Neither boy was prepared to shoot the woman, they hesitated and for a split second dropping their guard as they searched for a way out of their predicament. Shad’s grip on Belle momentarily loosened just enough that she was able pull free and run back into the store falling to her knees at Josiah’s side. At the same time JD and Nathan saw their opportunity and rushed up behind the inexperienced boys.

The next thing Jessie and Shad felt were gun barrels jabbing at their backs.

“Better drop those guns boys or we’ll blow a hole clean through ya.” JD threatened. Defeated the two thieves dropped their guns and the merchandise they had stolen on the ground

“Someone help Please! Josiah’s been shot!”Belle screamed out.

Nathan was already rushing back threw the mercantile door he knelt next to his fallen friend as a crowd began to gather outside. While Ezra and Buck and escorted the two boys to the jail.

Vin and Chris hurried inside followed by JD.

“Vin, JD, get these people out here” Chris ordered

“How bad is it Nathan?”

Nathan glanced up “Bad” He answered worriedly

Looking over at a still frightened Belle he quickly asked if she was alright and she nodded that she was.

“I Need bandages, sheets anything you can find ma’am I need to get the bleeding stopped.”

She gave him a quick nod that she understood and hurried off to find what the heeler asked for.

Cheyanne raced down the board walk franticly calling out for Josiah.

JD, seeing her first nudged his friend “Vin, you best stop her She don’t need to see this.”

Cheyanne pushed her way through the crowd still calling out for her mentor. Instead of being stopped by Vin he assisted in helping her make her way through the crowd.

“Where is Josiah?” she shouted

“In here” Vin answered as he took hold of her arm and escorted her into store.

Once inside Cheyanne stopped, momentarily frozen in her spot. Her blood ran cold, memories of her father lying dead slumped over the pile of wood he had been chopping blood dripping from the wound in his back, flashed in her mind. Slowly willing her feet to move she walked over to where Josiah lay dropping to her knees at his side.” Josiah?” Tears streamed down her face her whole body trembled “Josiah?” She looked at Nathan for confirmation. He put a comforting hand on her shoulder. “He’s alive”

“Vin, get some help we need a littler to get him to my place and hurry.”

Vin didn’t hesitate as he hurried to find something they could use as a stretcher to carry the wounded Josiah enlisting in JD’s help while Chris took over dispersing the crowd.

“He cannot die Nathan, please do not let him die” Cheyanne sobbed

“I’ll do everything I can” Nathan assured her. He prayed it would be enough.

Within minutes Vin returned with a stretcher followed by both Buck and Ezra who helped get the wounded Josiah up to Nathans.

“Ezra” Nathan turned to the gambler once they had finally reached his room. “Would you ask Mis Emma come give me a hand?”

For a moment Ezra seemed a bit taken aback. It was usually Cheyanne that helped Nathan with his doctoring, but he quickly understood and hurried off to find Emma.

Cheyanne was sitting at Josiah’s side when Nathan came into his room.He quickly began to set up the things he needed to help save his friend. Then he gently put a comforting hand on Cheyanne’s shoulder.

“You need to leave now Cheyanne.”

Cheyanne looked up at him confused “No I will stay”

“It’s best you wait outside, let me do what I can. Your too close to this to be of any help to me this time”

Nathan told her more sternly as he began to check the wound in Josiah’s chest hoping the bleeding had stopped.

“No,” She objected “I will not leave him, you need my help”

Nathan looked over at Vin who had been quietly standing near the door, He went to her putting his hands gently on her shoulders and helped her to her feet.

“Come on Cheyanne, let’s give Nathan some room”

She jerked free of him “No! he needs me” tears streamed down her cheeks. “Josiah needs me.”

“It’ll be alright, we can wait outside” Vin soothed as he comfortingly took hold of her arms and steered the reluctant Cheyanne toward the door just as Emma walked in.

She looked over at Josiah’s still form lying in Nathans bed. She had no way of knowing yet how serious Josiah was hurt but by the blood soaking his clothing and the blankets and the fact that Nathan had sent for her instead of Cheyanne told her it was bad.Emma looked back to her friend and gave Cheyanne’s hand a reassuring squeeze.

“He’ll be alright,” she tried to sound comforting “I’ll come for you as soon as Nathan says it’s okay.”

It took more than a little urging but Vin finally managed to get the distraught Cheyanne outside.She could not keep the tears from spilling down her cheeks, her hands trembled as Vin tried to comfort her. Terrified she would lose the man who had become her father, her mentor, and her protector, and her best friend. Cheyanne turned to Vin for support laying her head on his shoulder as she sobbed. Vin held her close, smoothed her hair, and tried to convince her as well as himself that Josiah would pull through.

Outside Nathans the rest of the seven along with Molly and Shawna, who had found out from Buck what had happened, waited for confirmation that Josiah would recover no worse for the ware. Buck stood next to Molly offering her comfort, Ezra sat in a chair leaning back against the building as he fumbled with a deck of cards, it was just his way of dealing with things. Chris and Shawna stood off to the side immersed in their own sibling conversation as they too lingered. Time seemed to slow; minutes became hours as the group waited for Word.

The sound of someone coming up the wooden stairs unexpectedly made everyone turn towards them.

“Is there any news?” Belle asked when she reached the top

“No Ma’am” Buck answered solemnly.

Cheyanne lifted her head from Vins shoulder glaring threateningly at the storekeeper. Rage flashed from her dark eyes. It was an anger none of them had ever seen from her before and it caught them off guard.

“Cheyanne?”Vin probed cautiously

Cheyanne suddenly lashed out shouting in her mother’s native Cheyenne language, Although Vin was the only one who knew what she was saying her intentions were clear as her voice became louder and angrier with every syllable. She left Vins embrace taking a hostile step toward Belle who stood confused and frightened. Cheyannes shouts became screams blaming Belle for being the reason Josiah had been shot, threatening her if he did not survive.Vin grabbed Cheyanne around the waist as she lunged at Belle. Ghost stood and was quickly on his guard watching after his mistress. Shawna and Molly both moved to try and calm Cheyanne until Chris and Buck both took their arms and advised them not too. Still each one tried to persuade her to calm down.

“Cheyanne, stop” Shawna called out

“Please Cheyanne” Molly begged “don’t do this”

“Simmer down Cheyanne” Vin urged “It’s not her fault, none of it”

Cheyanne slowly stopped struggling and gave into Vin. her tear stained eyes still staring daggers at the woman.

Belle stood frozen in her place. Cheyanne’s outburst had frightened her to the bone. The meek and mild girl that often-accompanied Josiah to her store had turned into someone to be afraid of. That is not how she intended their relationship to develop, she had hoped to befriend her. Belle tried to tell herself the girl was just afraid for Josiah and had thrashed out in fear and not anger. Josiah had once told her that he had known Cheyanne since she was a child and that she had been through some sort of hell. What sort of misery he had not elaborated on. But he was the only family the girl had left.Even though she was concerned for Josiah, Belle thought it best to remove herself from the situation for the time being. But before she had a chance to leave Nathan walked out from his room. The look on his face was not encouraging as everyone held their breath and waited for him to give them some sort of good news.

“Nathan?” Cheyanne asked worriedly. The look on his face spoke volumes. Cheyanne could feel the tears forming in the corner of her eyes again.

“He’s lost a lot of blood, but he’s hanging on” Nathan answered woefully “The bullet is close to his heart, I just don’t know enough, he needs a real doctor, in fact he needs a surgeon.” He looked sympathetically at Cheyanne “I’m sorry, but if we can’t find one in the next twenty-four hours..” he let the rest of the sentence drift.

“I know someone” Belle anxiously spoke up, “I think he can get here by tomorrow if someone leaves now.”

Everyone turned toward her.

“My father’s personal surgeon, his regiment is coming this way, from the last telegraph I received they should only be a day’s ride from here. Someone with a fast horse could reach him and get him back here in time.”

“I’ll go” Vin stepped up

“I’ll need to send a letter for my father with you. Meet me at the mercantile.” Belle insisted as she hurried down the stairs.

Vin looked over at Nathan “Look after Cheyanne”

“You know I will”

Vin reached out and gently wiped away a tears from Cheyanne’s cheek.

“Don’t you worry, I’ll have that Doctor here before you know it”

Cheyanne nodded that she understood and watched as Vin hurried after Belle. Suddenly Cheyanne bolted down the stairs. Molly and Shawna tried to stop her but it was no use she was already gone.



Vin saddled his horse faster than he had ever done before and quickly lead him out of the livery. He was heading for the mercantile when he heard Cheyanne call his name. He stopped and turned to see her running up to him with her horse in tow.

“You must take Blaze” she implored

“Cheyanne I can’t take your horse he doesn’t let anyone ride him except you.”

“He will run for you” She insisted shoving the reins toward him

“Cheyanne, I’m gonna need to ride hard and fast, I don’t know if he can take it.”

“Blaze is strong and he is fast, Please Vin, I trust you, Blaze will trust you.”

Vin was still hesitant

Cheyanne urged the horse to lean his head down while she whispered something into his ear. When she was finished the horse whinnied.

Vin shook his head “I swear woman”

“Go quickly”

Still hesitant but with no time to argue Vin took Blazes reins. The black and white paint neighed and stomped at the ground as if he too were anxious to be off. Vin climbed into the saddle. He made one last stop at the mercantile where Belle gave him the letter for her father. Then raced off.

Once Vin was on his way Belle hurried to the telegraph office praying her father would get the telegram and respond even faster.

After seeing to Vins horse. Cheyanne returned to her room. Taking her medicine bundle from the top of the bureau she hurried off back to Nathans. Her faithful wolf at her heels,