Girls At Work - BtVS/M7 - FRC
Title: Girls At Work
Author: Beriaearwen
Series: Follows "One Day In Town"
Crossover: Buffy The Vampire Slayer / The Magnificent Seven
Characters: Vin Tanner, Buffy Summers
Rating: Suitable for all ages
Word Count:1426
Disclaimer: The characters of Buffy the Vampire Slayer belong to Mutant Enemy, etc. The characters of The Magnificent Seven belong to MGM, Trilogy, etc. All are used here without permission. No copyright infringement is intended.
Notes/Warnings: None really.
Summary: Vin needs to get away from town and offers to deliver mail along the way.
Girls at Work
By Beriaearwen
Vin slipped out of the saloon, adjusting his hat as he stepped onto the boardwalk.
The walls were closing in again and the open land was calling to him.
“Patrol?” Chris asked from his position in the chair next to the saloon door. The small smile lifting the corner of his mouth let Vin know he understood.
“Always good to know what's out there,” Vin stated, not denying he was heading out. There was no need.
“Mail wagon just came in.”
Vin nodded and changed the direction in which he was walking. Rather than the stable, he headed toward Potter's store where the mail was sorted and stored until people collected it.
Since some of the outlying farms and ranches didn't get to town that often, he and the others would offer to take the mail out to the farms instead. It was usually only a few letters and it didn't take them out of the way.
Stepping into the store, he waited for Gloria Potter to finish with her current customer before approaching. “Ma'am,” he greeted with a smile and a tip of his hat.
“Mr. Tanner,” Gloria replied, smiling in return. “How may I help you today?”
“Heading out east on patrol and heard the mail came in today.”
“That it did. Give me just a moment.” She disappeared into a back room before calling out, “How far are you going?”
Vin thought about it. He'd had no real destination in mind when he left the saloon. He smiled slightly as the image of a petite blonde with hazel eyes popped into his mind. Clearing his throat, he shook his head to dislodge the image. “Probably hit the Jepsons, Franklins, Danvers and Wiltons. Can head out to the Thompsons and Gundersons if there's a need.”
Gloria appeared a moment later with a small sack and a few letters. Handing over the letters, she said, “I put them in order. There's one for the Jepsons, two for the Franklins and one for the Thompsons. The sack has a few letters and two packages for the Danvers.”
Vin nodded in acknowledgment as he took the items. “I'll see they arrive safe and sound.”
“You always do. Now you take care, young man.”
“I will,” he assured, nodding his head to the woman as he left.
<><><><><><><>
As he road toward his next destination, he felt a sense of nervous anticipation. He'd only seen the young Danver's ladies once, been introduced and spoken to Miss Buffy perhaps a total of ten minutes, but she sure caught his fancy and he knew he'd caught hers as well.
She was the reason he'd been out this way patrolling more than normal.
He let out a sigh and chuckled slightly at his own foolishness. Chances they'd have anything in common were slim. His humor faded as he remembered that he still had a $500.00 bounty on his head.
Releasing a sigh, he looked at the open land around him, glad there was still open land despite the settlers. He knew, could see and had seen, that the West, that his world was changing, getting more crowded, getting closer, but he couldn't help longing for the open wildness of the land, of those portions of the land where he could still lose himself in what God made rather than what man did.
Since he first met them, he'd had something of a soft spot for the Danvers. When he heard that they had two young cousins coming to live with them, he, like everyone else, had been curious. That day in town had been the fist time he'd seen them up close. Spotting them pinned down like they were in that gunfight had made him angry, but seeing the way Miss Buffy handled herself had intrigued him. Most young ladies knew nothing about defending themselves. It made him wonder about them.
Seeing them up close at Nathan's had altered his perception of them again.
When he returned her knife to her, Vin had been able to spend a few minutes talking with Miss Buffy and found he really liked talking with her. He knew he couldn't spark her, court her properly, but part of him wanted to. She was the first woman he'd been interested in since he'd been a young buck just earning his manhood. Then Little Rabbit had been slaughtered with the rest of the village and the army had taken him away. His escape to the buffalo hunters hadn't left much time for anything else. Then there was the bounty hunting followed by Tascosa and being hunted.
This was the longest he'd been in one place and, even with the judge's offer, he'd been thinking about heading out. At least until he saw her. Now...
Approaching the ranch, he called out. Normally he only saw Mr. Danvers. Occasionally Mrs. Danvers would come out, but before town, he'd only seen the girls from a distance.
He had to admit that the Danvers' place was looking better than it had before the girls came.
A small form stepped out of the barn as Vin entered the yard. He blinked a few times as he realized the breeches and shirt did nothing to hide a feminine form, one he hadn't expected to see, especially dressed that way. “Miss Buffy,” he greeted, his voice hoarse. He felt his cheeks flush and cleared his throat. He watched as he pulled out a cloth and wiped her hands before offering one to him.
“Mr. Tanner. A pleasure and a surprise.”
Vin's smile widened slightly as he took note of the flush on her cheeks. “Always a pleasure Miss Buffy.”
“You can just call me Buffy,” she offered, looking up at him shyly.
“Don't reckon your cousin would appreciate it too much.”
She shrugged. “He's not here right now, is he?”
“No, he's not,” Vin agree softly. “Best you call me Vin, then.”
“Vin.”
He felt a shiver run down his spine at the way she said his name. He was just about to say something else when a large squak from the chicken house drew his attention, but not before he saw Buffy wince.
“Dawn and the chickens are still working out a truce,” she offered as explanation.
Vin chuckled softly. “Sound like some tough negotiations.”
“They are,” Buffy agreed with a grin. Leaning forward slightly she whispered, “I think the chickens are winning.”
Vin couldn't stop the full-throated laugh that escaped him and felt his heart warm at the sound of Buffy's laughter joining his own. Once he settled down his eyes locked with Buffy's, but before he could say anything, a not entirely pleased voice interrupted them.
“Afternoon Mister Tanner. How can we help you?”
Looking up, he saw the stern expression on Clive Danvers' face and the look he shot at Buffy. He bit back a sigh at the look sent in his own direction. “Just out for a patrol. Anything we need to know about?”
“Nothing out here. Heard the Gundersons thought they'd seen cat tracks in their far field, but that was last week. Not sure if there's anything to it. Haven't seen any ourselves.”
Vin's tensed slightly and his face grew grim. Large cats getting close to human farms were a problem. He'd have to set out and track it down to make sure it wasn't a danger. Hopefully it just wandered where it shouldn't have been. “That all?”
Danvers nodded.
“Mail came in earlier today,” he said, untying the sack from where he'd secured it. Handing it down, he offered. “Judge will be by in two weeks. May need men for a jury.”
Clive nodded again. “I'll be here if you need me.”
With a final nod of acknowledgment, Vin took the reins more firmly in hand and straightened. “Best be on my way if I'm going to see those cat tracks today.”
“Yep,” Danvers agree.
He tipped the brim of his hat and took his leave. “Mr. Danvers. Miss Buffy.”
“Mr. Tanner,” Buffy returned, smiling at him.
Clive nodded.
Turning Peso around, he headed away from the Danvers home, planning his ride to get to the Gundersons' with as much daylight left as possible. It didn't stop him from taking a look back.
He smiled as he noticed Buffy staring after him.
Straightening in his saddle once more, he wondered what, exactly, it would take to clear his name and how quickly it could be done.
End
Author: Beriaearwen
Series: Follows "One Day In Town"
Crossover: Buffy The Vampire Slayer / The Magnificent Seven
Characters: Vin Tanner, Buffy Summers
Rating: Suitable for all ages
Word Count:1426
Disclaimer: The characters of Buffy the Vampire Slayer belong to Mutant Enemy, etc. The characters of The Magnificent Seven belong to MGM, Trilogy, etc. All are used here without permission. No copyright infringement is intended.
Notes/Warnings: None really.
Summary: Vin needs to get away from town and offers to deliver mail along the way.
Girls at Work
By Beriaearwen
Vin slipped out of the saloon, adjusting his hat as he stepped onto the boardwalk.
The walls were closing in again and the open land was calling to him.
“Patrol?” Chris asked from his position in the chair next to the saloon door. The small smile lifting the corner of his mouth let Vin know he understood.
“Always good to know what's out there,” Vin stated, not denying he was heading out. There was no need.
“Mail wagon just came in.”
Vin nodded and changed the direction in which he was walking. Rather than the stable, he headed toward Potter's store where the mail was sorted and stored until people collected it.
Since some of the outlying farms and ranches didn't get to town that often, he and the others would offer to take the mail out to the farms instead. It was usually only a few letters and it didn't take them out of the way.
Stepping into the store, he waited for Gloria Potter to finish with her current customer before approaching. “Ma'am,” he greeted with a smile and a tip of his hat.
“Mr. Tanner,” Gloria replied, smiling in return. “How may I help you today?”
“Heading out east on patrol and heard the mail came in today.”
“That it did. Give me just a moment.” She disappeared into a back room before calling out, “How far are you going?”
Vin thought about it. He'd had no real destination in mind when he left the saloon. He smiled slightly as the image of a petite blonde with hazel eyes popped into his mind. Clearing his throat, he shook his head to dislodge the image. “Probably hit the Jepsons, Franklins, Danvers and Wiltons. Can head out to the Thompsons and Gundersons if there's a need.”
Gloria appeared a moment later with a small sack and a few letters. Handing over the letters, she said, “I put them in order. There's one for the Jepsons, two for the Franklins and one for the Thompsons. The sack has a few letters and two packages for the Danvers.”
Vin nodded in acknowledgment as he took the items. “I'll see they arrive safe and sound.”
“You always do. Now you take care, young man.”
“I will,” he assured, nodding his head to the woman as he left.
<><><><><><><>
As he road toward his next destination, he felt a sense of nervous anticipation. He'd only seen the young Danver's ladies once, been introduced and spoken to Miss Buffy perhaps a total of ten minutes, but she sure caught his fancy and he knew he'd caught hers as well.
She was the reason he'd been out this way patrolling more than normal.
He let out a sigh and chuckled slightly at his own foolishness. Chances they'd have anything in common were slim. His humor faded as he remembered that he still had a $500.00 bounty on his head.
Releasing a sigh, he looked at the open land around him, glad there was still open land despite the settlers. He knew, could see and had seen, that the West, that his world was changing, getting more crowded, getting closer, but he couldn't help longing for the open wildness of the land, of those portions of the land where he could still lose himself in what God made rather than what man did.
Since he first met them, he'd had something of a soft spot for the Danvers. When he heard that they had two young cousins coming to live with them, he, like everyone else, had been curious. That day in town had been the fist time he'd seen them up close. Spotting them pinned down like they were in that gunfight had made him angry, but seeing the way Miss Buffy handled herself had intrigued him. Most young ladies knew nothing about defending themselves. It made him wonder about them.
Seeing them up close at Nathan's had altered his perception of them again.
When he returned her knife to her, Vin had been able to spend a few minutes talking with Miss Buffy and found he really liked talking with her. He knew he couldn't spark her, court her properly, but part of him wanted to. She was the first woman he'd been interested in since he'd been a young buck just earning his manhood. Then Little Rabbit had been slaughtered with the rest of the village and the army had taken him away. His escape to the buffalo hunters hadn't left much time for anything else. Then there was the bounty hunting followed by Tascosa and being hunted.
This was the longest he'd been in one place and, even with the judge's offer, he'd been thinking about heading out. At least until he saw her. Now...
Approaching the ranch, he called out. Normally he only saw Mr. Danvers. Occasionally Mrs. Danvers would come out, but before town, he'd only seen the girls from a distance.
He had to admit that the Danvers' place was looking better than it had before the girls came.
A small form stepped out of the barn as Vin entered the yard. He blinked a few times as he realized the breeches and shirt did nothing to hide a feminine form, one he hadn't expected to see, especially dressed that way. “Miss Buffy,” he greeted, his voice hoarse. He felt his cheeks flush and cleared his throat. He watched as he pulled out a cloth and wiped her hands before offering one to him.
“Mr. Tanner. A pleasure and a surprise.”
Vin's smile widened slightly as he took note of the flush on her cheeks. “Always a pleasure Miss Buffy.”
“You can just call me Buffy,” she offered, looking up at him shyly.
“Don't reckon your cousin would appreciate it too much.”
She shrugged. “He's not here right now, is he?”
“No, he's not,” Vin agree softly. “Best you call me Vin, then.”
“Vin.”
He felt a shiver run down his spine at the way she said his name. He was just about to say something else when a large squak from the chicken house drew his attention, but not before he saw Buffy wince.
“Dawn and the chickens are still working out a truce,” she offered as explanation.
Vin chuckled softly. “Sound like some tough negotiations.”
“They are,” Buffy agreed with a grin. Leaning forward slightly she whispered, “I think the chickens are winning.”
Vin couldn't stop the full-throated laugh that escaped him and felt his heart warm at the sound of Buffy's laughter joining his own. Once he settled down his eyes locked with Buffy's, but before he could say anything, a not entirely pleased voice interrupted them.
“Afternoon Mister Tanner. How can we help you?”
Looking up, he saw the stern expression on Clive Danvers' face and the look he shot at Buffy. He bit back a sigh at the look sent in his own direction. “Just out for a patrol. Anything we need to know about?”
“Nothing out here. Heard the Gundersons thought they'd seen cat tracks in their far field, but that was last week. Not sure if there's anything to it. Haven't seen any ourselves.”
Vin's tensed slightly and his face grew grim. Large cats getting close to human farms were a problem. He'd have to set out and track it down to make sure it wasn't a danger. Hopefully it just wandered where it shouldn't have been. “That all?”
Danvers nodded.
“Mail came in earlier today,” he said, untying the sack from where he'd secured it. Handing it down, he offered. “Judge will be by in two weeks. May need men for a jury.”
Clive nodded again. “I'll be here if you need me.”
With a final nod of acknowledgment, Vin took the reins more firmly in hand and straightened. “Best be on my way if I'm going to see those cat tracks today.”
“Yep,” Danvers agree.
He tipped the brim of his hat and took his leave. “Mr. Danvers. Miss Buffy.”
“Mr. Tanner,” Buffy returned, smiling at him.
Clive nodded.
Turning Peso around, he headed away from the Danvers home, planning his ride to get to the Gundersons' with as much daylight left as possible. It didn't stop him from taking a look back.
He smiled as he noticed Buffy staring after him.
Straightening in his saddle once more, he wondered what, exactly, it would take to clear his name and how quickly it could be done.
End