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Part One
Vin reined Peso in, pulling the big gelding to a halt as he straightened up in the saddle, sniffing the air "It's goin' ta rain," he announced as his six friends rode up alongside him.
"We know that Vin." Buck snarled "You've told us at least fifty times since we left town."
"And whilst we are admittedly not 'at one with nature' as you are, we are all still perfectly capable of observing the gathering cumulus for ourselves." Ezra gestured at the threatening clouds overhead.
"I just thought you should know, is all." Vin defended himself.
"Sheesh Vin, a little rain never hurt anyone." JD complained.
"I feel I must disagree with you Mr Dunne. Rain will undoubtedly cause serious harm to my attire, which will in turn hurt my tailor. I vote for finding shelter and continuing with our pursuit tomorrow."
"That ain't gonna happen Ez." Chris informed the gambler. "We gotta try an' catch this gang before any rain washes away their tracks. Let's get movin' boys."
Sighing Ezra kicked his horse after Chris. Vin hesitated a moment longer before following the others.
"Ya can't say I didn't warn ya," he mumbled, the strengthening wind whipping his words away before anyone else could hear them.
Half an hour later Vin reigned Peso in again, stepping down from his horse to peer at the faint tracks that lead over the rocky ground.
"Problems Cowboy?" Chris asked as he joined the tracker.
"No. Trail's easy ta follow, they're makin' a straight run ta Purgatorio like we figured." "Why'd we stop then?" Nathan asked curiously as he looked down at the two men.
"'Cos its gonna..."
"RAIN" six voices interrupted Vin before he could finish.
"Yeah, and its gonna rain NOW." Vin added.
"Huh?"
Six heads turned to look upwards staring suspiciously at the gray sky just as the heavens opened and a sheet of rain dropped out of the sky landing squarely on the upturned faces.
Once they had finished coughing and spluttering everyone's gaze turned to the tracker who was trying hard not grin too much from under the shelter of his slouch hat.
"Hey, I didn't make it rain!" He protested against the angry looks being sent in his direction.
"One has to admit, you are nothing if not accurate Mr Tanner." Ezra noted as he wiped at his face with a silk handkerchief.
"What we gonna do now?" JD wanted to know.
"An excellent question. I for one recommend that we return to the warmth and shelter of our beloved home town."
"We know where they're headed, we can pick their trail back up tomorrow." Vin added.
"No, we ride on." Chris decided. "We don't want this bunch to get away, not with all those folks' money. It'll be hell ta find 'em if they get ta Purgatorio before we catch 'em. And anyway, it can't keep raining like this for ever, it'll die off soon." He climbed back onto Pony's back and wheeled him back onto the trail. Ezra's muttered curses were lost, drowned out by the first crash of thunder.
"Whoa!" Chris looked back along the trail as the panicked cry cut through the rain and thunder. Buck's horse had lost his footing in the mud and the ladies man had almost lost his seating, being saved only by Josiah's quick reflexes as the big man grabbed and handful of Buck's coat and pulled him back upright.
"This is getting a mite dangerous." Buck gasped out once he'd got his breath back.
"Vin?" Chris called the sharpshooter, knowing a decision had to be made. The rain hadn't gotten any less and the trail was rapidly turning to liquid under their horses' hooves.
"Can't see their track's anymore." Vin called back, "I've been guessin' for the last half mile."
"Is there any shelter round here?"
"There's a cave a coupla miles further on an' a place to shelter the horses. It'll be a bit of a squeeze, but I reckon we'll all fit. We're not far behind 'em now, we should be able ta catch 'em once the rain's stopped."
"Okay," Chris reached his decision, "We'll camp at this cave til the storm passes."
There was a collective sigh of relief from five of the six men only Ezra was less than pleased.
"Good Lord. A whole night in a cave with the six of you," he mumbled mournfully, "What have I come to?"
"Come on Ez, it'll be fun!" JD grinned at him "We can sing camp songs."
Ezra's reply was unrepeatable as the seven men cautiously got their horses back onto the trail and made their way towards shelter.
They were truly the most miserable looking collection of men and horses ever seen. The men huddled low into their saddles, hats pulled down over their eyes. The horses plodded through the mud, hooves sliding and slithering, too wet and tired to bother shying at the continued thunder and lightning that filled the air around them.
"It can't rain like this forever, it'll die off soon. Hah!" Buck grumbled from somewhere underneath his dripping hat.
"Okay, I was wrong. I admit it." Chris snapped back. "How was I supposed ta know it was gonna rain this much?"
"You coulda listened to Vin," Nathan pointed out.
"Vin said it was gonna rain. He didn't say that the entire season's rain was gonna fall in one night." Chris glared up the trail to where Vin and Peso where gingerly picking their way through the mire.
"I for once agree with Mr Larabee's assessment." Ezra had to shout to be heard over the rain. "Our sharpshooter's capacity for understatement has reached new and unimagined heights. This isn't rain, it's a tropical monsoon."
"Brothers, I'm thinking that this weather is Biblical in its proportions." Josiah commented. "I think an ark would be more useful than our horses in this."
"Josiah, could you ask the Lord what we done to deserve this?" JD's plaintive voice drifted back to them from where he rode alongside Buck. Even the young Sheriff's enthusiasm had been washed away in the downpour.
"Heck, it musta been something right bad to cause this." Buck noted, "I think we're in danger of drownin' on dry land."
"This is no longer 'dry land' Mr Wilmington. This is a lake. I am quite convinced that a family of ducks will be swimming past shortly. Even the idea of spending the night in a godforsaken cave is starting to look appealing in comparison to riding in this."
"C'mon guys. We can't get any wetter so at least it can't get any worse." Four pairs of disbelieving eyes turned to JD.
"It just did." Ezra replied, pointing up the trail to where Vin had stopped and was climbing down off his horse.
"We're here," the tracked shouted, waving at them through the rain. The six men looked in growing dismay at the small hole in the rock face that Vin was gesturing at.
"That's it?" JD voiced the question that they all wanted to ask.
"Well, it's bigger on the inside." Vin replied.
"It'd pretty much have to be." Buck peered dubiously at the small hole along with everyone else. He just hoped the storm passed quickly or else it was going to be a long, long night.
"There's a sheltered spot a bit further on." Vin interrupted Buck's gloomy thoughts. "We can put the horses there."
"How about I endeavor to make our accommodation more inviting whilst you attend to our steeds?" Ezra suggested, eager to be out of the rain as soon as possible.
"That's right kind of you Ez." Vin smiled at the gambler as he wearily climbed down from Peso's back. "Make sure you clear out any critters you find in there."
"Critters?" Ezra's enthusiasm for escaped the elements waned visibly.
"Yeah, snakes and suchlike," Vin explained. "They'll be wantin' ta get out of the rain as much as us."
Ezra swallowed noisily. "On second thoughts, I think it would be better if I saw to my own horse. Chaucer can be very sensitive about these things." He grabbed the chestnut's reins and began hurriedly leading him in the direction Vin had indicated. Grinning, the others followed leaving Vin to check out the cave.
"You gotta admit this is pretty grim," Buck noted as the seven men settled down in the cave, trying to make themselves comfortable.
"I'm sure things have been worse, I just can't think when." Nathan agreed as he turned to watch as Ezra peeled himself out of his jacket. The gambler's attention was fully centered on his task and he did not notice everyone staring at him until he had finally managed to wrestle the garment off and attempt to wring out some of the water from it.
"Why, may I ask, have I suddenly become the focus of so much attention?"
"We were just admiring the colour of your shirt." Buck was the first to get his thoughts back in order.
"I don't think I've ever seen such a pretty colour." JD added, grinning broadly.
"What?" Ezra looked down in confusion at his shirt. "Oh good Lord!" He groaned. The fine white shirt was now a startling shade of pink, the dye from his jacket having run and stained it."Ruined. Completely ruined!" The gambler mourned.
"Pink suits ya Ez." Vin joined in from his position by the cave entrance where he was 'on watch'. Everyone knew he was also there because he wasn't too keen on being in the confines of the cave, but since that also meant he was in the wettest spot no-one complained.
"Ya think its gonna let up soon?" Chris asked hopefully as he finished shaking water from his hat.
"Nah, looks like we're gonna be here for a while." Vin didn't exactly say 'I told you so' but everyone could see it written across his face.
"Has anyone got any food?" Buck wanted to know. "I'm hungry."
"You're always hungry." Chris pointed out.
"True, but if we're gonna be here a while we might as well have a bite to eat."
"Haven't you got anything Buck?" JD asked.
"Well no. I didn't exactly get time to pack lunch with Mr 'Let's ride' here" the ladies man scowled at Chris.
"Buck, they robbed the bank at Eagle Bend and killed the deputy, we didn't have time to hang around."
"I know, I know. It's just that a nice bit o' food right now would be real appreciated." Buck sighed.
"I wouldn't say no to some supper either." Josiah said. "Why don't we do the Christian thing and share out what we have between us."
"Okay." Chris agreed, "What ya got Josiah?"
"Erm, well. I don't actually have anything." The ex-preacher admitted.
"Me neither." Chris confirmed. He looked around the rest of his men. Buck he already knew had nothing.
"Ezra?"
The gambler dug through his saddlebags. "I am afraid all I have to offer is this apple I was going to give to Chaucer." He placed the rather bruised looking fruit in the centre of the cave.
"JD?"
"Erm, hang on." JD rifled through the insides of his jacket pockets. "I got some peppermint candy," he announced triumphantly, bringing the crumpled and soggy paper bag out of his pocket, placing it next to the apple. "They've got a bit of fluff on 'em, but they should be okay."
"Vin?"
All eyes turned expectantly to the sharpshooter. Vin would surely have something to offer, the man was always prepared for anything.
"I got four strips of beef jerky." He added the dried meat to the collection. "What?" he asked, seeing the disappointed looks from everyone else, "I was on my way to the store when Chris got the telegram."
"Nathan?"
"I think I've got a bit of bread in here somewhere…" Everyone perked up until the healer pulled out a chunk of very green and mouldy bread.
"What the heck is that Nathan? You been conductin' some sorta weird science experiment?" Buck wanted to know.
"I guess it'd been in there longer than I realized." Nathan apologised ruefully.
"Is that it?" Buck looked at their pathetic pile. "A horse's lunch, JD's three month old sweets, Vin's famous'chew 'til ya jaw drops off' jerky and, and…" he gestured at Nathan's loaf at a loss for words.
"Maybe Josiah could persuade that God of his to do a miracle." Vin suggested.
"Even when Jesus fed the five thousand he had loaves and fishes to work with." Josiah pointed out, "I think we're on our own here brothers."
"Hey, we could eat this." Vin suddenly jumped up and grabbed at something long and thin lying on the floor beside him. He threw the dead rattlesnake into the centre of the cave.
"That wasn't very funny Vin" Chris snarled several minutes later once everybody had sat back down and stopped swearing.
"Where on earth did that come from?" Josiah asked, rubbing his head where he'd bashed it on the low ceiling in his attempts to escape the rattler.
"Oh, I found it in here. Thought I'd better kill it rather than let one of you lot find it later."
"And you honestly expect us to consume that serpent?"
"They make good eatin' Ez. They taste like chicken."
"You can eat them raw?" JD was horrified.
"Nah, ya gotta cook 'em first."
"How exactly were ya plannin' on cookin' it?" Chris wanted to know. There was no dry wood to be had and no way of starting a fire within the confines of the cave.
"Ah."
"I guess we'll have to stick to what we got here then." The gunslinger started to divide up their diminutive collection of food.
on to part 2
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