DISCLAIMER: Don't own them, just like to play with them!! The characters from the television program The Magnificent Seven are the property of Trilogy and The Mirisch Co. I am making no money from their use. This Story is created for entertainment purposes only, no infringement intended. Thanks also to MOG for creating the ATF sandbox for me to play in. Not to be copied without permission from the author.
RATINGS: PG - violence, mild language
WARNING: This Story contains an alternative Universe theme, if this type of story is not to your liking or will somehow offend you please delete this mail immediately and do not read any further. Furthermore this story contain semi graphic images of a violent nature, if you feel this may disturb you please find a different story that you will enjoy.
Chapter 3
He wasn’t here. And he hadn’t been here. There was no sign of his Jeep, no sign that he had dropped off his supplies, no fire started for heat. The snowmobile he kept in the shed was still there.
“Anything?” Chris yelled out to Josiah and Buck. They had just come from around back of the cabin. Snow was still falling heavily and the only way they had made it this far was with chains on their tires and following the snowplow, which had plowed all the way to Vin’s cabin, Buck riding along to give directions.
Both men shook their heads but continued looking around, forcing themselves through the almost knee deep snow.
“Chris, he’s not here. The snow is getting deeper and night is coming on. We need to get off this mountain now if we’re gonna make it.” Nathan paused to see if his words were sinking in to their leader. “Chris?”
“I know Nathan, I know. Let’s go.”
Nathan called the others in and they piled into the SUV to begin the silent ride down the mountain. Chris had handed the keys to Josiah and sat in the front seat, staring out the window.
Damn it Vin, where are you?
No one knew how it happened. The light must have just been at the right spot for them to see it. But they all saw it at the same time. A reflection off of metal deep in the shadows off to their left as they were heading down.
“Josiah!” Chris said quietly.
“I saw it.” The big man was already stopping the vehicle. JD was on the cell phone telling Buck to stop the snowplow.
“What do you think it is Chris?” JD asked from the back seat.
“We’re gonna find out.” Chris replied, opening his door and moving with determination towards the edge of the road.
It wasn’t an easy trip down, Chris lead the way with Buck and Nathan following. JD and Josiah stayed on the road in case they needed help.
As Chris got closer he saw the demolished Jeep. It was obvious that the Jeep had rolled several times. The reflection was off of the chrome trim. Chris began moving faster, trying to run through the drifting snow. He was exhausted when he finally reached the Jeep, pushing himself the last few steps to look inside the open door, dreading what he would see.
Empty.
He slammed his hand against the roof and turned away slightly, cursing.
“Chris?” Buck asked as Nathan pushed past him.
“Not in there.” Chris said as he moved aside. Nathan had to look for himself. The tall dark man stooped down, his hand running along the floor of the vehicle, not liking what he had seen.
“Chris? There’s a lot of blood in here. Along the left side here and along the floor. Some on the seat too.” Nathan said as he pulled his head out of the mangled shell.
“Damn it!” Chris flipped open his phone, yelling into it to fight the wind. “JD! We need a tow truck with a wench as soon as you can get it here. And alert Search and Rescue. I want choppers in the air as soon as this wind dies down.”
“Chris, we can’t do anything else here tonight.” Buck tried to reason with his friend. “We need to get supplies to do a search of this kind. And the weather is just not gonna let us right now. Besides, in about ten minutes it’s gonna be too dark to see a thing.” Buck wasn’t sure he was reaching the man.
“We need to go back to town and wait for this storm to end. It’s supposed to break during the night. We’ll get supplies, the proper clothes, some snowmobiles, whatever. And we will find him.”
Chris looked ready to argue. Instead he angrily started the long climb up the hill. Buck looked at Nathan as Chris climbed just out of earshot.
“How bad is he hurt?”
“With the amount of blood already in that car? We’ll be lucky if he’s alive right now. His chances aren’t good Buck. Not good at all.” The two men followed the man in black up the hill.
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