Adult-FanFiction.org : Television / Streaming

Magnificent... 8?	By : SisterWine Category: M through R > Magnificent Seven Views: 1621 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: MGM Home Entertainment and Mirisch Corp. own the Magnificent Seven. I make no claim to the series or characters. The other characters in the story, are mine.

Chapter List
- 1-Magnificent... 8?
- 2-Two
- 3-Three
- 4-Part Four
- 5-Part Five
- 6-Part Six
- 7-Seven
- 8-Chapter 8
- 9-Nine
- 10-Ten
- 11-Eleven
- 8
- 9
- 10
Chris had left the restaurant and hotel while Vin escorted Lyla back up to her room, after their meal. It had been dark for some time and he had debated riding out to his now-finished stretch of land he had purchased, for some sleep. He made his way over to the Livery, where he had kept his horse, but glanced up to see the light on in Nathan's place. Wondering how Jesse was feeling, Chris climbed the stairs and knocked twice on the door, letting Buck know it was him and that it was alright to enter. Opening the door, he gave a quick glance over to Buck and then nodded in Jesse's direction, on the bed. "How's he doin'?"
Buck stood up and came closer to where Chris had stopped, at the end of the bed. "Nathan says he'll have a headache for awhile. Managed to get the swelling down. He's more tired than anything. He makes it through tomorrow without someone killin' him, it'll be a miracle." Buck looked from Chris to Jesse's sleeping form, on the bed. "When's the judge supposed to get here?"
"Just after breakfast, I'm guessing." Stepping closer and placing a hand on the endrail of the bed, Chris fixed his eyes on Jesse's face. He had watched the young man's expression, since he had come in, and noticed that the prisoner had been in pain but mostly -what looked like- agony over the coming trial. "I don't expect Carson to be too eager to get it started, seein' as how he sentenced Jesse to hang, already. If anything, it'll do more harm than good."
Buck inched forward and lowered his voice as he leaned closer to Chris. "Those marks on his back tell a different story. You followed this boy's story ever since we've been back here. His pa whooped this boy within an inch of his life and when he stood up for himself, he killed a man. You sayin' he still deserves to hang for that?" His anger welled up as he pointed over to Jesse. He understood what it meant to be a sheriff and to protect his loved ones; however, he wasn't about to doubt a man (or boy) that had been pushed to his limits.
Chris's expression turned grim. "There's other ways to resolve that kind of dispute. Jesse's been open about what happened, sure. But, what happens tomorrow, when the full story comes out? Was Carson's judgment sound, or was it too hasty? Hell, he might roll into town, have a heart to heart with Travis and have his judgment stand. It doesn't matter what I, you, Vin, or anyone else thinks. Jesse chose to live by the gun. One day, if not tomorrow, he'll have to own up to what he did. Or, it'll dog him for the rest of his life. And now, Lyla's too."
"I've been in his Pa's shoes before, Chris. That badge holds some mighty strong power. Pretty soon, you start believin' there ain't nothing that can slow you down. When you get too big for yer britches, there ain't no listenin' to reason. No matter who tells it to ya. And when you get mad, you got no one else to help you relieve it, you toss 'em back and it makes you mad. So mad, you need to let it out." Buck lowered his voice to almost a whisper, his tone more firm. "That boy's been starin' at me, since we brought him back from Willow Ridge, like he's seen a devil. He deserves to have his side heard. And when Jesse tells his story, dry eye or not, that boy is gonna have one hell of a weight off his shoulders." His eyes met Chris's, driving his point home, "you can't stand there and say you'd deny him the right to make things right. What if he were Vin? Or Nathan? or Ezra? I know you did yer damndest to help Vin. So why should Jesse be any different?"
Chris took a moment to stare back at Buck. His head turned and his gaze fell on Jesse's sleeping form. He had tried to imagine Vin lying there. Chris sighed and swallowed the lump in his throat that didn't seem to go away. He thought of Lyla and how she would feel to hear Jesse had been convicted a second time, again, without being heard. "Alright."
~~~~~~~~~~~
Weightlessness and the feel of his head filled with seering water made Jesse feel more than ill. Every time he opened his eyes, pain would prevent his vision from being clear. The blur and nausea overwhelmed him as he shifted to the left, on bed. A groan escaped him. Moving slowly, Jesse's head turned and his eyes opened to stare at an unfamiliar wall. He moaned but caught his breath as he heard movement from across the room. Someone stood from sitting in a chair and was coming over to crouch down, beside the bed.
"Whoa, take it easy, son." Buck's voice was a lowered to a calm whisper. He studied Jesse's expression as the young man turned his head to see who had spoken to him and froze in terror when he found Buck sitting too close to him. "I ain't gonna hurt ya. You just take it easy, now."
Jesse breathed a little harder but managed to calm himself. "Where am I?" He tried to raise his right hand but found it had been shackled to the bedframe. His eyes widened as he realised that he couldn't move from the bed and only he and Buck were left in the strange room Nathan used for a clinic. His vision started to clear and the revirbiration in his ears had ceased as he slowly curled and pushed himself to sit up. It had been a slow, almost stopped, transition but he wasn't willing to remain lying down and vulnerable for long. Looking around the room, Jesse quickly surmised that it was nearly morning and his trial would start soon.
"Easy now. You passed out. Nathan figured he'd bring you here. Sheriff really rattled yer brain, huh?" Buck sat back but kept his focus on Jesse.
Jesse hardened himself, trying to understand why Buck was there and not Nathan, or Chris. "You here to finish me off?" Nodding to the holstered gun on Buck's side, he wondered who he could trust.
Buck shifted his position. "No. In fact, I thought we'd have ourselves a little talk. Since that night in Willow Ridge, you've been starin' at me like the Devil's on yer heels. You gonna explain it to me?" Buck touched a chord with Jesse but the younger man remained silent. "Those welts on yer back, yer Pa did those. Didn't he?" Again, Buck was answered with silent frustration. "You told Chris and Nathan about what happened in Echo. Lyla confirmed it. They'll help you, Jesse, but if I'm gonna help, I need to know why. Now, I heard what you told the Sheriff, this afternoon. And if you wanna wait for the trial, that's fine. I see a young man who wants to make sure his wife is safe but he also wants to swing for something he may or may not have done. I watched you tryin' to protect her, in the schoolhouse. How are you gonna protect her when you're dead?"
Bowing his head and turning away from Buck, Jesse swallowed. The one solitary candle that had burned for most of the night, now flickered and shadowed his regret and shame. It sat on the small reading desk, under the window, to the right of the bed. The glow enveloped the two men, half-hiding their features.
"Yer Pa's been hauntin' you. Hasn't he?" Buck's eyes searched the young man's face. The horrors he had seen in his own lifetime might have paled in comparison but he was unwilling to admit, not just to himself but to anyone, that Jesse had deserved the beatings made evident on his back. No matter how ruthless he had been as a child.
"Lyla's lucky she's blind. Some of the ways Papa'd look at her... 'specially when he was drunk. He wasn't always drunk. That night in the store, you walked in and I thought I hadn'ta killed him. I can't prove I didn't kill him. Papa sent lotsa people to the gallows. Some were my friends, and he had that same look you're givin' me, right now, every time I'd look at him and ask why." Jesse turned back to stare at Buck. "No matter who I tell, this judge or Carson, or you,.... I can't prove my innocence when it's all gone. The only difference now is, Lyla's gonna hear everything. She's gonna have to live with it, regardless if this judge lets me live or sends me swingin'. What's worse, she'll find out just who her brother, the sheriff, really is."
The pit in his stomach deepened and his mouth went dry. Inhaling and exhaling slowly, Buck stood up and walked around to sit beside Jesse, on the bed. "Lyla's a sweet, caring, intelligent young woman. She's gonna find out who her brother is regardless of now or later. The only difference is, you have the opportunity to be there and help her through this. I don't know about this Judge Carson or what really happened, that day. Judge Travis, son, if he says he'll hear you out, then that's what he'll do. It ain't just you against the world, anymore. Lyla's gonna be countin' on you to be there for her." Buck's voice remained just above a whisper and met eyes with Jesse, several times, to make sure the younger man heard and understood him.
~~~~~~~~
The door to the jail was yanked open and a stout, older gentleman stepped in. He was an elderly gentleman with a receeding hairline gone completely white, matching his bushy mustache, looking somewhat outdated. His rounded figure and stalky legs only added to his forceful appearance. Rounded specticles had been freshly shined and cleaned in order to clearly see the young man between the bars. He had glanced at Jesse for only a minute before turning to stare down his nose at Chris, who now stood up, from sitting at the desk, to acknowledge the stranger. "I'm here to see a Chris Larabee. You may tell him Judge Gregory Carson is here to see him." Brushing the dust and lint off of his fresh gray suit, Carson hadn't bothered to look at the man across from him, let alone acknowledge the hand offered to him.
"Judge Carson, I'm Chris Larabee. Thank you for coming." Chris's expression was flat but he managed to keep his tone in a respectful manner. "It seems Jesse, here, requests a retrial about an incident that happened three years ago." Chris watched the judge's posture and expression as he turned back to, again, stare down his nose at the outlaw.
With a deep sigh and bored tone, Judge Carson made his way over to the cell Jesse once again sat in. "Jesse McCall. I understand you wish to challenge my verdict. Have you any proof of your innocence, young man? Or, are you merely wasting this town's time?"
The judge's voice had been exactly as Jesse remembered it; gruff and loud. Jesse stood and walked over to the bars, leaning on them and tilting his head to look between the bars. "I don't know what kind of proof you mean but, they're willin' to hear my side of things. This time, you won't shut up mine or my witness's story." Nodding back to Chris, Jesse kept his composure as calm as the day he had met the seven. His eyes leveled on the elder judge, almost daring the man to glare back at him. His headache had cleared, more than the day before, and since the talk with Buck, Jesse felt his confidence rise.
"Witness?" The word was spoken crisply, as if in a doubting manner.
A corner of Jesse's mouth lifted. "That's right. Judge Travis is gonna give me a fair trial. Then, he's gonna decide if I swing or live." His eyes remained calm and cool as they stared through the bars, at the judge.
Carson came closer, lowering his voice. "Your father was a good man and sheriff. You're as cocky now as you were then. The years of chase and lawlessness haven't changed you, young man. The people of Echo have already handed down their judgement. Murdering a man of the law, alone, is grounds for hanging. Murdering your father'll send you to Hell. You best make your peace, McCall."
Jesse's expression hadn't changed, not even a flutter. He blinked calmly and breathed slowly, silently counting to 10, to calm himself.
Chris silently admired the way Jesse had handled himself. Despite his smug grin, Jesse had kept his cool as if he had been studying Chris for years. Calm, collected and a touch of cockiness. Had Jesse been his son, Chris wouldn't have denied himself the proud smile. He smiled to himself before Judge Travis entered the room and cleared his throat, bringing the attention to him.
"Judge Carson, I'm Judge Oren Travis, the presiding judge in this town. Mister McCall is going to be given a fair trial. Mister Larabee and his six companions will see to that. You've been requested here as a consult and possible witness for the Prosecution. Therefore, I cannot permit you to speak to the prisoner until the trial begins." Judge Travis stood just inside the room and examined the scene, noting Jesse taking a step back and the older Judge turning around to face him.
Carson cleared his throat loudly and glared over at Oren. "I came here to see that my ruling stands. I've been a judge a long time, young man. Jesse McCall is a heartless murderer and deserves to hang for his crimes. He can plead his case to a thousand judges but my ruling stands. You have no authority to change it." The elder judge stomped over to where Judge Travis stood and fumed at the possibility of being overridden. He spent only a few years on the bench more than Travis and had become very territorial and conceited by his rulings.
Judge Travis took a breath. He took a quick look back at Jesse and then back to the judge that now stood before him. "The past of this young man will be discovered in trial. Guilty or innocent, the facts will decide the fate of Jesse McCall. So far, he's been on his best behaviour and under the watchful eye of Mister Larabee and his friends. You are welcome to get settled in and gather your notes from the first tiral. I suggest you get something to eat, before the trial. We start in two hours." Meeting eyes with Jesse and then over to Chris, he nodded and left, not giving Judge Carson the satisfaction of audience to a tantrum.
~~~~~~~
"Jesse McCall, you stand before this court on four counts of murder." Judge Travis sat at his makeshift bench and looked over his docket, before looking up at the young man that stood before him, in handcuffs. The Grainery that served as the courthouse had been full of townspeople, among them sat the seven men that kept the town safe. He had only concerned himself with the prisoner at hand and hadn't paid much attention to the visiting judge and sheriff, that sat at the Prosecution table, scowling.
Jesse's mouth parted. "Four?"
Judge Travis noted Jesse's confusion and glanced down at the docket, in front of him. "Yes. In the case of the murder of Sheriff Sloan McCall, in the town of Echo, seeing as Judge Carson and his notes on the account of the first case are accounted for, I'm granting an appeal. You may be seated, next to your lawyer." Nodding to Ezra, who stood beside Jesse with a hand on Jesse's left shoulder.
"That's only one. If I'm guilty of one, I can't be innocent of the other." Jesse glanced back at Sheriff Drake and Judge Carson in silent horror, remembering the first trial. He then met eyes with Ezra and was ushered to sit down. Turning his head, slightly, to look back at the crowd and find Mary sitting next to and consoling Lyla.
Judge Travis sighed and sat back in his chair. "Yes, well, we'll see about that." His eyes fell on the young lady Jesse had placed his attention on. He then continued with his statement. "About the matter of the three dead men you shot, just outside of town, the young lady you were travelling with wishes to tell her side of things. I will ask the court jury to reserve their comments to themselves, in this matter. The young lady is blind, not deaf and therefore, is considered a witness for this trial." He nodded over to Josiah as the preacher escorted Lyla from her seat, to the chair, designated to be for the witnesses.
Keeping his eyes focused on Lyla, Jesse wet his lips and took a ragged breath. He knew Lyla would tell the truth about what happened and he hadn't been worried. His concern lie in the following testimony of Carson and her brother, in the death of his father. He hadn't wanted to upset her or, to have her find out that her brother was not just the Sheriff of Echo.
"Will you please state your name, for the court?" Judge Travis spoke clearly but softly as he looked over to her.
Lyla inhaled, calming herself from her rising nervousness. "Lyla McCall. Jesse's wife." Lyla swallowed her unease as she said her married name. She could feel the weight of so many eyes on her but deep breath after deep breath, she reminded herself that she had friends among the crowd and that she would be alright. She wore a rose-coloured skirt and a white blouse that Mary had helped pick out for her. She was clean and her hair had been nicely braided.
Charle stood up, furious of how she had addressed herself. He was silenced by the hardened look of Judge Travis acknowledging him as well as the firm hand of Judge Carson, on his arm. Sneering over at Jesse but keeping quiet, he sat back down and crossed his arms in protest.
"Mrs. McCall, would you please tell the court about the events leading up to the deaths of the three men, a week ago?" Judge Travis turned his head back to study Lyla, who waited patiently in her chair.
Lyla took another deep breath and straightened in her chair, folding her hands in her lap. "Jesse and I had stopped for awhile, to get something to eat and rest. He had gone to catch some fish while I stayed by the horse and wagon. I heard some sounds and got scared but, Jesse told me it was alright and that it was just him. He left me for a minute or two to fix us something to eat and that's when someone grabbed me. They pulled at my dress and whispered vile things in my ears. They said Jesse stole their gold and that he'd better return it. We only passed through Beaver City. He didn't steal any gold." Lyla paused to control her shaking as she relived those horrifying moments. A hand lifted to her right ear, the same ear that had been assaulted by filthy words by the two men holding her captive. After a moment, she continued, staring straight ahead, as if looking directly at Jesse, as he listened to her recollection. "The man that held me, squeezed me tighter and tighter and another man kept pulling at my hair and dress until he ripped my skirt. I screamed and heard another man threaten Jesse. He warned them to let me go but they laughed at him. I've never been so scared in my life. Bu- but, Jesse kept telling me it'd be alright. I heard the first shot and then the man that was holding me let me go. Jesse warned them again to let us alone but, the third man was angry. He started to say something and I heard a click of an older gun. It sounded rusted and dirty. And then I heard the second shot. I tried to get away but I was grabbed and yanked around. He smelled worse than his friend, like licquor and sweat. Jesse started talking to the second man, warning him to let me go. But, the man cursed at him. I heard another shot but, the man was still alive. He- he screamed at us and promised to kill Jesse. We got back into the wagon and left. But, he was still alive. I don't understand how he was dead." Lyla breathed, listening to her own breaths, wishing she was in Jesse's arms, wishing for his safety. "The next town we came to was Willow Ridge."
Judge Travis listened intently on what she said, carefully watching her gestures. "Thank you. A few questions before I excuse you. Did either of you come into contact with those three men, while in Beaver City?"
Lyla thought back. "No. We stayed in the wagon and Jesse only asked a few people, on the street, if there was a Justice in town. They said no and we continued on."
"What made you decide to leave Echo with Mr. McCall?" Travis' eyes fell on Jesse as he asked the question.
Jesse remained focused on Lyla and fisted his hands in attempt to control himself. He wanted to run up her and take her away from the trial and the people that might speak ill of her and their union. Yet, he remained seated and calm.
"I love him. He asked me to be his wife and I said yes." Lyla smiled nervously. Listening to the hushed murmurs of the crowd.
Charlie boiled, hearing his sister profess her love to an outlaw and murderer. "That's a lie! He coerced her inta marryin' him!" Bolting up and pointing an angry finger in the direction of the defendant, he stared directly over at the judge, as if demanding her last statement be stricken from the jury.
Standing up and glaring over at Charlie, Jesse stopped himself from speaking as the gavel banged on the table and Judge Travis ordered both men to sit down and be quiet.
Ezra had stood and placed a hand on Jesse's shoulder, telling him to sit down. He had been joined by Buck, who had taken to standing on the other side of Jesse, to control him as Chris and Josiah made their way over to control the outraged sheriff.
"Jess- ?" Lyla had tried to follow the commotion but became frightened by the banging of the gavel.
Jesse turned his attention from Charlie to Lyla but made no move towards her. "It's alright, darlin." His voice was as calm as he had always spoken to her, after a scare. Sighing and sitting down, he kept his eyes on Lyla but also watched Charlie, in case he was attacked.
"Sheriff Drake, Mr. McCall, there'll be no more outbursts from either of you, until this trial is adjourned. Is that clear? And, I'll advise the counsel to maintain control over their clients." Judge Travis had seemed unaffected by the outburst and firmly set his jaw as he looked from Charlie to Jesse, waiting for each to admit they understood what was expected of them. "Then, let's continue." He nodded for the men to take their seats before excusing Lyla from the stand and calling Chris to tell what happened when he and the posse came upon the scene Jesse and Lyla had left.
Mary had walked up to collect Lyla and take her back to her seat as Chris passed them to sit in the witness seat. She had noticed the young woman shivering from fright and rubbed Lyla's arms, whispering soft words to ease her as they sat down in their seats.
"Mister Larabee, would you please tell the court about your findings of the situation, regarding Jesse and Lyla McCall?" Judge Travis looked over at Chris but glanced back to watch Jesse paying full attention to the rest of the story.
Chris sighed and looked out at the crowd, finding the faces of the six other men and finally resting on Sheriff Drake. "The posse and I were chasing Jesse and Lyla, on account of Sheriff Drake. We were an hour behind them, at most. The last man alive was bleeding pretty bad from his right thigh. We figured he was out of his head a bit, from some of the things he was saying. He talked about how he and his friends were wantin' to 'dance with a pretty girl' but the kid she was with was wantin' to fight. He told us Jesse stole their gold but that was after his friend was about to kill him but Jesse beat them to it. By then, he'd lost too much blood." His eyes met with Jesse's briefly. "The one furthest away from the other two had his gun out and cocked but not fired. If it was a robery, nothin' seemed to be missin'."
Nodding, Judge Travis had a question for him. "McCall had nothing of their's on him, when you arrested him?"
"No, sir. No gold, nothin' I could tell." Chris seemed bored by the trial but waited to be excused before getting up and returning to his seat.
"Thank you. You're excused." The judge's eyes settled on Jesse as he called the outlaw to the stand.
Jesse sat there, nervously. He swallowed and looked to Ezra for assurance. "Well, I came back from the creek, about a few hundred feet from where our fire was. I went to the wagon to fix the fish I caught but I turned around when she screamed. I only saw the first two, one was holdin' Lyla from behind and the other was messin' with her, touchin' her and scarin' her. The leader, Simms, came up from behind me. He was tellin' me I stole from them but they were too drunk to notice anythin like that. One of them started rattlin' on about what they were gonna do to Lyla. Pawin' at her and scarin' her really bad. I told them to stop and let her go but, they just laughed and when they made a move on her dress, I shot the first one, between the eyes. The second one freaked out and chased after her. That was when I saw Simms pointin' his revolver at me so, I shot him in the chest. The third one," Jesse paused and stared over at Lyla, who blushed, embarrassed by what the court was listening to, "he tried to beg for his life. I wasn't gonna kill him but, he reached for his knife and had that kinda look in his eye. He took a couple steps towards me so, I shot him in the leg. He yowled and I got Lyla outta there."
Judge Travis took a long, quiet few moments to think about the testimonies. He took a deep sigh and weighed the evidence. Motioning for Jesse to rise, he cleared his throat and sat forward. "You man, you stand before me accused of murder of the three men, down by Whipporwill Creek. After hearing the testimony of both Lyla McCall and Chris Larabee, I find you not guilty of the charge. Your are free to go." He paused as a smile spread on Jesse's face.
The courtroom had gone silent. The jury had given their verdict of of the murder of the three men and had been excused.
"In the matter of the murder of Sheriff Sloan McCall, I am hereby granting your appeal. Sheriff Drake, you may take your prisoner into custody until a new jury can be summoned." The judge focused on Jesse's shocked expression as Charlie stood up and moved closer to collect the outlaw. He saw the sneer adorn the sheriff's mouth and added, "Mister Larabee, Mister Tanner, will you assist the sheriff in escorting this young man back to his cell?"
Charlie hadn't noticed the two men gathered around him as he shoved Jesse, harshly, into the direction of the door.
Continued.
- 8
- 9
- 10
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Magnificent... 8?