The Whole Kit and Caboodle
By Brate
This meant war. Not only had the tracker made a fool of his best friend, rather publicly, he followed through with a strike against the rest of the team as well. This could not go unpunished, and the six men had banded together to ensure their success. Their revenge had been interrupted with not one, but two attempts to rob the bank. With the excitement, the tracker thought maybe his transgressions had been forgotten.
He was a fool.
Under the direction of the resident gambler and conman, the six were instructed to pretend like nothing happened, lulling the unsuspecting sharpshooter into a false sense of security. Knowing how adept Vin was at assessing a situation, the men agreed. They would wait him out.
Six men sat at a table in the Saloon, plotting their friend's downfall. The healer suggested making Vin think he was sick. The scoundrel suggested telling the saloon girls that Vin was diseased. The preacher suggested a baptism in the river. The kid suggested throwing Vin in a pile of horse manure.
The gunslinger waited until they'd finished and turned to the gambler, "What's your plan?"
Ezra gave a gold-toothed grin. "My dear compadres, you must remember that Mr. Tanner is a tracker. I suggest we give him something to track." The rest of the men smiled along with the conman. "And we'll need an innocent participant."
"Like who?" asked JD.
"I believe Mrs. Travis may be recruited."
~~OO~~OO~~OO~~
Vin Tanner and Chris Larabee were seated outside the jailhouse enjoying the day, when they spotted Mary Travis hurrying toward them.
"Something we can do for you, Mrs. Travis?" Chris asked.
"Actually, I was hoping Vin could help me."
At this the tracker rose, strode down the steps, and stood in front of the newspaperwoman. "What can I do for ya, ma'am?"
"You see I told Billy he could take his new horse out riding, but I wanted him back before lunch. I know it's not much past, but I'm getting a little worried." She lifted pleading eyes to meet Vin's. "I'd be so grateful if you would go look for him."
"No problem, ma'am," said the tracker touching the brim of his hat. She informed him Billy had mentioned something about Otter's Pass. Vin nodded and headed toward the livery. Larabee winked at Mary and followed his friend.
He found the tracker saddling Peso. "You want some company?"
"Nah, he should be easy to track down."
Chris watched his friend ride out of town in the direction of Otter's Pass. As soon as the tracker was out of sight, the gunslinger spun and returned to the jail. "He's on his way," he announced to the gathered men.
The plan was to send Vin on a wild goose chase. JD had borrowed Billy's horse earlier and set off on a roundabout course. He'd lead the sharpshooter around in circles before ending up at the old Mill Pond. The boys would head out and be at the pond when Vin arrived, dusty and tired from tracking in the sun all day long.
That was the plan.
After a few hours, Josiah, Buck, Nathan, Ezra, and Chris left for the Mill Pond. They wanted to be there in plenty of time for Vin's arrival. The five men approached the pond, and, as they got closer, saw a horse tied to a tree next to the water.
"JD musta made good time," mused Buck.
As they got closer Chris narrowed his eyes. "Goddammit!" he shouted and spurred his horse into a gallop. Tied to the tree was Peso. "Tanner! Where are you, you sonuvabitch?"
"Stop yer caterwauling. I'm trying to take a nap," replied a drowsy voice from behind a nearby boulder.
The other men rode up and dismounted. The followed their leader behind the rocks. There in the shade, spread out on a bedroll, resting against his saddle, was the smiling tracker. "What took you boys so long?"
The regulators tripped over each other in their astonishment. "How'd you get here?" asked Nathan.
"Rode m'horse," Vin answered.
"But how did you know where to come?" Josiah countered.
"Well I'm sure you fellas figured JD was light enough, but he's still a mite heavier than Billy would be." Vin paused at their furious faces. "And didn't stop at the usual places a young boy might. Since he seemed headed here, in a roundabout way, I jest followed the crow."
The men looked down at the smirking sharpshooter for a few seconds, then Larabee snapped, "That does it." He nodded at the preacher. "Josiah."
Sanchez stepped forward and snatched up the lean man, raising him high. Vin started struggling but was overwhelmed by the larger man's strength. With a short walk, Josiah tossed Tanner, landing the young man in the middle of the pond with a splash.
The tracker waded back out cursing and sputtering. He went behind the rocks to change into some dry clothes from out of his saddlebags. The five grinning men turned at the sound of an approaching rider.
"Hey, guys," JD called out. "I led him 'round real good; it should be awhile before he shows.... What's so funny?"
