TWO

Ezra smiled gently, green eyes bright with affection, as his eight young charges finished the day's lesson, and skipped out Mrs. Potter's storeroom. He spent a lot of time adapting and developing lessons, which would challenge the older children, without leaving the younger ones floundering. And given that their ages ranged from five to thirteen, it was no easy task to create an approach that addressed the needs and skill level of each child.

Ezra enjoyed the time he spent with his young charges, delighting in the task of providing educational guidance to them, watching their young, agile minds expand and readily absorb all he had to offer. The children seemed to enjoy their lessons as well, always on time and eager to get started. It was not uncommon for the regularly scheduled two-hour sessions to start a little early and run a bit long.

Today, however, Ezra had made a point of finishing on time, and shooing his students on their way. He knew Vin was waiting in his room. The tracker was normally waiting there every afternoon, but Ezra knew that his lover was unlikely to be simply relaxing or reading as he usually did.

Ezra's smiled turned wry as the thought about just what his lover might be doing. [Vin will probably be wearing holes in the floor.] His smile shifted into a grimace. [Either that or sharpening his knife.]

Vin and Ezra had left the restaurant together. Lately, it had become a habit for Vin to walk toward the general store with Ezra as far as the alley near the saloon. At the alley they would part company, with Ezra heading off to teach, and Vin sneaking up the back stairs to Ezra's room. No one really thought to question Vin's disappearance, assuming he had slipped away somewhere to grab a nap, or had left town to escape the confining feeling he said it gave him. Even before Ezra had gotten together with Vin, it was not uncommon for either man to simply disappear for hours at a time.

Ezra knew the lanky Texan wanted to talk about Maude and her letter. His lover had respected his earlier request to let the matter drop, but the issue was by no means settled. With a quiet sigh, Ezra softly asked him to wait until after he finished with the children before pursuing a more in depth discussion. He knew that it was unlikely what they had to talk about could be covered in just a few minutes. And the children were expecting him. Vin had simply nodded his agreement, and patted Ezra's shoulder, before slipping down the alley.

Ezra had expected Vin's anger when Nathan brought up Maude. [I really wish Mr. Jackson had some forethought as to how his comment might be received. Of course, it isn't entirely his fault. Without enlightening him as to the true nature of my upbringing, the man cannot be faulted for asking what would otherwise have been an innocent question.] With a quiet sigh; Ezra realized there were definite drawbacks to having secrets. [Of course, there was a time, when there wasn't anyone whose reaction I really had to worry about either.]

He knew his lover might be slow to anger, but once there, he tended to be equally slow about letting it go. [I had hoped his hostility toward Mother would have cooled a bit by now.] Ezra shook his head, trying to comprehend the intensity of Vin's reaction. He had no real experience in dealing with people being angry on his behalf. It was new, and somewhat confusing territory for him.

Ezra sighed, moving to pick up the odds and ends the children left behind. Ordinarily, the children cleaned up the room. But today, Ezra had shooed them out, preferring to undertake the job himself. The simple task helped him settle his thoughts.

[One can only hope that Vin and Mother do not encounter one another for some time to come. Had she actually been in town, I fear Mother would not long survive meeting with Vin. I have no desire be in the middle of that. Lord...I'd rather wrestle with a grizzly bear.]

Ezra felt a brief flash of guilt, realizing his first loyalty should be to his mother, but it wasn't. Vin was his heart and soul. If it came to choosing between the two, despite the fact that Maude was his mother, it would be Vin he chose. His mother may have given him life, but it was most definitely Vin who made it worth living.

Thinking over the reactions at lunch, Ezra was forced to admit what had honestly surprised him, was the anger displayed by Chris and Buck. He had assumed their anger, and outrage would be a fleeting thing, one that would fade as time wore on. Ezra unconsciously chewed on his lower lip, trying to work through their behavior, looking for the angles and reasons for it.

[It is not as if Chris or Buck were personally wronged in some way. I would hardly have expected either one to hold a grudge on my behalf. It is not as if we were long time associates or...even good friends.] Ezra was willing to allow that there was a level of camaraderie between them, a certain degree of understanding, but hardly enough to warrant the other men holding on to their anger for as long as they so obviously had.

[Although, in Buck's case, I suppose more than enough time has passed for him to feel some degree of loyalty.] Ezra smiled, just a quick flash of amused affection that he allowed himself knowing there was no one to see it. Buck Wilmington was, without a doubt, the most loyal man he'd had the good fortune to meet. Thinking it over, he really should not have been surprised that the tall cowboy still felt some hostility toward Maude. [His own mother must have been a truly remarkable woman to have raised him to be such a man as he is.] Ezra felt a touch of envy thinking of the relationship Buck must have had with his mother.

Chris, on the other had, was still a puzzle. On most days, Ezra wasn't sure where he stood with the gunslinger. At one time, Chris seemed inclined to do little more than glare at him. And Ezra knew for some time that the group's dark clad leader did not trust him. In fact, there were times when he honestly doubted if he was trusted even now.

However, of late, things had been good between them. Oh, they might never be on the same footing as Chris was with Vin, or JD was with Buck, but they were certainly no longer directly at odds with one another. [An improvement to be sure. Mr. Larabee and I might never be bosom buddies, but there is no reason we cannot regard each other as comrade in arms, worthy of a level of mutual respect. And since that whole incident with Josiah, we have made great strides toward finding common ground. Not something I ever truly expected, but am decidedly grateful for, none the less.]

Chris had been an unlooked for ally during that incident. Ezra had been outright amazed to find the gunslinger as his defender. But the gambler was wary of placing too much trust in anyone. He'd been burned too often in the past, and feared putting himself in a position of relying on others lest that support be pulled away when he needed it most.

Mentally, Ezra chastised himself. [Mr. Larabee is an honorable, upstanding man. There is no reason to believe he will abandon me during an hour of need.] Ezra sighed. He still had doubts. Trusting in others was not something he did readily. [It is best not to expect allies, only to find you have none.]

Ezra shrugged, finding it difficult to keep his thoughts from running in circles. He put away the children's things and left over supplies on the shelf Mrs. Potter had reserved for their use, and decided to let it go for now. [The reasons for their anger do not matter, at least not as much as the issue of how to deal with it does.] Ezra's lips twisted into a wry grin. [Preferably without any bloodshed.]

Ezra straightened his clothes; deftly smooth the fabric, before stepping out of the storeroom. He closed the door behind him. Mrs. Potter looked up from where she was working at the store's counter, smiled at him.

"Done early today, Mr. Standish?"

Ezra tipped his head toward her. "Yes, my dear lady. It would seem that for once time has not escaped our grasp, and we have completed our designated tasks in the time allotted."

The older woman chuckled. "Oh, but the children don't seem to mind when you stay a bit longer." She gave him a knowing look. "That is a true testament of their enjoyment."

Ezra's lips quirked upward in a half smile, and he ducked his head suddenly feeling shy in the face of her subtle praise. He rarely received compliments of any kind. "I suppose one could look at it that way."

She held a small bag out to him. He raised one eyebrow in question, and Mrs. Potter shrugged her one shoulder. "I thought you might need to replenish your supply of candy."

Ezra quickly delved into his pocket seeking the right coin to pay for the candy. Mrs. Potter clucked her tongue at him, and shook her head. She wrapped his free hand around the bag, and released it with a small pat.

"There's no need to pay me, Mr. Standish." She stopped his protest with no more than a firm look. "I know you give most of it to the children anyway, or spoil that horse of yours with it. And it isn't as if I am not amply rewarded for the time you have taken to teach Josh and CeCe."

"But, Mrs. Potter, you already supply a fee for my services." Ezra hadn't asked for much in the way of pay, knowing full well that the mothers of the children he taught could not afford much. And it was something he enjoyed doing. Being paid for teaching was simply gratis, not the reason he did it.

She snorted in an unladylike manner, before rolling her eyes. "The pittance you receive is hardly enough to compensate for you time, Mr. Standish." She patted his hand again. "We both know that."

Ezra tried once more to hand to her the coin he'd freed from his pocket. It wasn't right to accept things from her. She had a business to run, and a family to support.

"Really, Mrs. Potter--". The gambler sighed, and stopped speaking when she gave him 'that look'. Ezra had seen her use it to good effect on her children, but hadn't considered that it would work just as well on him.

He shook his head. [There will be no winning this argument. The only polite thing to do is to simply accept it courteously.] "Very well then, Madam. I defer to your wishes in this matter."

"Thank you." She replied, her gracious manner off set only slightly by the twinkle of good humor in her eyes, and a small smirk.

Ezra captured her hand, and raised it, bowing slightly so he could place a kiss on her knuckles. "Until tomorrow, Fair Lady."

Mrs. Potter blushed, and made a shooing motion with her hand. "Off with you. I'm sure you have somewhere you need to be."

[Indeed I do.] Ezra tipped his hat, and headed outside. [Vin is waiting.] That thought usually inspired an eager anticipation. Today, his anticipation was tempered with uncertainty. He wasn't sure just what Vin would have to say when he arrived. And he couldn't even judge the possible outcomes. The unknown made Ezra nervous. He hated walking into any situation blind.

Ezra ducked into nearby alley, and made is way to the saloon using the back street. He didn't care to speak to anyone, and had learned early in his stay at Four Corners, very few people felt the need to utilize the side streets. Ezra realized the ability to avoid people when he wanted to do so was another thing he and Vin had in common.

Ezra slipped silently up the back stairs to his room. He deftly picked the lock in only a few seconds, but did not enter immediately. Instead, Ezra tapped quietly on the door, using two taps, a pause, and then two more, to let his lover know it was him. Both of them knew it was a bad idea to surprise the other. Ezra chuckled softly. [Yet another thing he and I have in common.]

He stepped in the room, closing the door quietly behind him. He was not at all put off to find Vin sitting comfortably on his bed, pointing his mare's leg toward the door. Even knowing he'd announced himself, Ezra knew Vin would still be cautious. It was an attitude Ezra found heartening. He wanted his lover to be around a long, long time. And Ezra firmly believed the only way a man could guarantee his survival was to be cautious, and to never assume.

He grinned at the tracker, gold pre-molar glinting in the afternoon light. "Expecting someone else?" His voice was light, teasing, as he raised one hand in a graceful move to point toward Vin's gun.

Vin half-smiled, his expression just a bit sheepish. "Sorry, Ez. Know I should quit doin' that."

"No." Ezra said firmly. "You should not."

Vin lowered his gun to the floor, with a faintly startled look. "I shouldn't?"

Ezra stepped further into the room. "It is always best to be prepared. I may not have been alone. Or, it may not have been me at all."

Vin nodded, but still looked a bit uncertain. "Don't seem right to be pointing a gun at you. 'Specially you."

Ezra felt a nice warm glow flow through him hearing Vin's words. He smiled gently. "Were you planning on shooting me?"

Vin looked appalled, horrified. "I wasn't gonna shoot you!"

"I know." Ezra said gently. He made a point of making eye contact, holding Vin's sky blue eyes with his jade green counterparts. "Knowing that, is why seeing your gun pointed in my direction, does not bother me."

Ezra casually tossed his hat on the dresser, and removed his jacket. He continued speaking as he undid the derringer rig that encircled his right forearm, and placed it next to his hat. "I would rather have you be ready for trouble than to see you caught unawares. A habit of a lifetime, one that ensures your life proves to be a long one, is not something I would ask you to alter. Nor is it one I would ever be offended by."

Vin shook his head, a crooked smile warming his features. "Have I told you that you aren't like anyone else?"

Ezra raised a hand to rub thoughtfully at his chin. "I do believe variations of that particular sentiment have been bandied about many times." He grinned, dimples flashing. "But really, if one is going to be like everyone else, why bother getting out of bed? You would just see yourself coming and going."

Vin laughed quietly. It was a sound Ezra loved to hear. Vin held out a hand, and Ezra moved forward to take it. His lover pulled him down to sit on the bed, and then leaned in for a kiss.

"Love you, Ez." Vin whispered against his lips before kissing him leisurely, tongues dueling for supremacy. Ezra let Vin win, enjoying the contact, allowing the kiss to deepen. He was always amazed by how soft and warm Vin's lips were. He was convinced that there was magic in the quiet man's touch.

Vin pulled away, blue eyes searching Ezra's face, a touch of worry in his expression. He raised a hand to gently caress Ezra's cheek. "You okay?"

Ezra knew Vin was asking about Maude's letter. He sighed softly, rubbing his cheek against Vin's hand, grateful that this conversation was starting at a place he could handle. [I should have known that would be his first concern.]

"Yes. I'm fine." He smiled wanly, knowing such a simple answer would not satisfy his lover. Ezra sighed again, and sat back slightly so he could face Vin easily. "It is not the first such missive she has sent to me. And I am not naïve enough to believe it will be the last."

Vin frowned. "She send...missives to you a lot?"

Ezra smiled slightly at Vin's hesitation over the word 'missive'. [Another word I am certain he will not forget.] "No. She has never written much." Ezra shrugged one shoulder. "Counting this letter, Mother has written to me just four times since my stay in Four Corners."

Ezra thought about what he had just said. [Hmm...Four times in a little over a year. It should break down to one letter every four months or so. Except that this is the first one in nearly six months. Of course, that does not include her two disastrous visits to this humble little hamlet. Funny thing...I've seen and heard from her more in the past year than I did any other year in my life.]

Ezra frowned, eyebrows pulling together as he considered that thought. [A truly sad state of affairs...I cannot seem to determine if such frequent communication with my mother is a good thing or not. It should be such an easy thing to assess. I mean, a man should not dread contact with his mother. But then most men do not have the pleasure of a mother like mine.]

For a moment, the earlier feeling of envy regarding Buck's mother was back. Ezra had no doubts that the fun-loving cowboy would give his right arm to spend one more day with his mother. [As would JD, and I suspect, so would Vin. Truly, most of our group speaks highly of their mothers. It is indeed ironic, as the only member of our little band with a mother still among the living, that I should feel so ambivalent about receiving attention from her.]

He felt Vin shake his shoulder. The tracker's expression was faintly anxious. "You still with me, Ez?"

"I'm here." Ezra shook his head, trying to dispel his thoughts. He hadn't meant to worry Vin by being quiet for so long. "Just gathering wool."

Vin still looked concerned. "There more to what she wrote than you said at lunch? Somethin' you ain't telling me?"

"Not really."

Vin raised an eyebrow. "Not really? Ain't the same as saying no, Ez."

Ezra snorted and gave his lover a reproving look. "You know, there are days when I regret ever telling you that I have never lied to you. You pay far more attention to what I say and how I say it."

Vin smiled slightly. "I know." He lightly caressed Ezra's cheek. "But I always listened ta ya. Even 'fore then." Vin leaned in again, and placed a chaste kiss on Ezra's lips. He pulled away before Ezra had the chance to make more of that kiss. "Just didn't always hear what ya said. Leastwise not like I do now. I'm sorry 'bout that."

The honest sincerity in Vin's apology amazed Ezra. [Unbelievable. The man actually apologized for letting me mislead him!! Truly, Vin Tanner is one of a kind.]

"There is no reason for you to be sorry, Vin." Ezra reached out and hugged his lover fiercely to him. "I should not continue to be so evasive. The habit of a lifetime takes some effort to undo." The last bit was the only excuse he had to offer. He didn't mean to dance around answering Vin's questions.

Vin held him tightly, hands moving in a soothing gesture down Ezra's back. He whispered in Ezra's ear. "Figure your habit with words is a bit like me with my gun."

Vin patted the gambler's back lightly, easily communicating that no harm had been done. "If it keeps ya safe, I don't mind. And I know you ain't lying. Yer just makin' me work a little harder for the answers."

Ezra couldn't help but laugh. He pulled back enough to rest his forehead against Vin's. "You are like no one else. A genuine, rare treasure."

Vin grinned, a brief flash of amusement. "What was it you said 'bout bein' like everybody else?" His expression turned sly. "Ya figure this means I can keep getting outta bed?"

"Oh most definitely." Ezra laughed again. "Most definitely."

Vin watched Ezra for a moment. "So what else did she have ta say?"

[Like a dog with a bone. Not that I expected any less. It is time I break this habit of mine. Vin deserves better.] Ezra sighed softly. "She included her usual recriminations about wasting my talents in this, and I quote, 'god-forsaken dusty excuse of a town'."

He was careful to keep his voice neutral. There was no reason for Vin to know how much it hurt that is mother thought so little of what he did here. She repeatedly belittled his working as a peacekeeper, finding the idea of her son masquerading as a law-abiding citizen positively ludicrous. And she spoke about the men he worked with in much the same way. [Definitely not something that bears repeating. Telling Vin would merely add fuel to the fire.]

"She also went on at length about why I should leave here, and head for greener pastures."

Vin pursed his lips, blue eyes readily giving away the fact that he was angry. "She think she's got greener pastures ta offer ya?" Despite the softness of Vin's voice it easily relayed his harsh disbelief.

Ezra smiled tightly. "Not for me, necessarily. My benefiting from any endeavor on her part would simply be a side bonus as far as Mother is concerned." Ezra chuckled, but the sound lacked real humor.

He smiled wryly. "You must understand, Vin, Mother has always had designs on living a better life. One of wealth and influence, position and power. I am fairly certain that since she desires such things so strongly, she believes promising me the same, would provide more than ample inducement for me to follow her."

Ezra looked away, ashamed of what he was about to admit to, but feeling the need to come clean with Vin just the same. He cleared his throat. "There was a time when she might well have been right."

"I doubt that was ever the case." Vin said quietly. He placed a knuckle under Ezra's chin, and gently forced Ezra to look at him. Blue eyes were warm, and offered easily visible acceptance. "And even if it was, I know it ain't any more."

It wasn't really a question, but Ezra felt the need to affirm Vin's statement. "No. Not any longer." He smiled. "I have found something far more valuable."

Vin smiled as well, and nodded, apparently satisfied. "Good." Vin took a breath, and bit his lower lip. "You said at lunch ya plan ta tell her no."

That also wasn't really a question, but Ezra nodded anyway. "I will be issuing my negative response to her request as soon as possible. Although, my reply may take awhile to reach her, given her current location."

"Which is where?"

Ezra raised an eyebrow, momentarily caught off guard by the tone in Vin's voice. It wasn't hostile, more wary and concerned than anything else, but definitely insistent. It was as close as Vin had ever come to outright demanding a straight answer. Ezra knew when Vin shifted slightly, and looked uncomfortable, that Vin must have read more in his hesitation than Ezra intended.

"Ain't plannin' ta hunt her down if that what yer thinkin'." Although, Vin really hadn't moved much, Ezra was aware that his lover was on the defensive. To a man who made his living reading other people, Vin's barely imperceptible shift in weight, and expression, all but screamed his current state of mind.

Ezra placed one finger against Vin's lips when the other man would have spoken again halting his words before he could even begin. Ezra smiled gently. "Rest assured, I do not fear your leaving to extract retribution. You are a better man than that, Vin Tanner. You are not the sort who would commit cold-blooded murder, or inflict harm on another with malicious aforethought. About that, I have never had a doubt."

Vin flushed, dropping his gaze, and looking endearingly like a little boy. Ezra grasped he was not the only one who was unused to receiving compliments. He shook his head, realizing that thought was for another time. He refocused his thoughts on the issue at hand.

"And while I confess I have worried as to the outcome, should you and my mother ever encounter one another unexpectedly, I know you too well to think you would 'hunt her down'. My hesitation was not due to thinking you might wish to cause her harm." He removed his finger, letting it caress Vin's lower lip before traveling upward across his cheekbone, still smiling gently, trying to convey his feelings of love and trust, in case his words had failed to do so.

Ezra decided an explanation was in order. He didn't want Vin to think he'd been trying to evade his question. "I was, simply put, caught off guard by your question. That does not mean I doubted you or intended to refuse to answer. I needed a moment to collect myself, nothing more."

Ezra took a deep breath and let it out slowly before speaking again, organizing his thoughts. He regarded Vin steadily. "Now then, since it is firmly established that you do not wish to engage in a destructive rampage, why don't you tell me why you wanted to ascertain her whereabouts? It is obviously important to you." [I'll get to where she is after we've cleared up this little misunderstanding. One thing at a time.]

"I was jus'....well... thing is..." Vin sighed, and tried again. "I figure if she's gonna show up any time soon it would be best to be prepared."

Ezra nodded, readily understanding where Vin was coming from. Maude's earlier visits had been disruptive to say the least. And given what the Vin and the others now knew of his upbringing, Ezra could easily see another visit by her being even more unsettling. [The only problem with this line of reasoning is that I have yet to determine how one should prepare for a visit from my mother.]

"Yes, I suppose battening down the hatches would be a wise course of action." He murmured, speaking more to himself than Vin, silently likening a visit from Maude to riding out a hurricane. He considered another option, unaware that he spoke it aloud. "Either that or make a run for the hills."

Vin captured both of Ezra's wrists, his grip tight, blue eyes fierce. "You wanna go, you let me know first. Won't take me five minutes ta be ready. You don't run without me. Ya hear?" Vin shook him, emphasizing his point.

[Damn. I really must remember to maintain a tighter rein on my tongue in the future.] "I wouldn't dream of leaving without you." Ezra answered honestly. He had no intention of willingly leaving Vin, now or ever.

Ezra's voice was solemn as he continued, making it clear he meant what he said. "You have my word, Vin. I will not flee without waiting for you to join me."

"Good." Vin squeezed his wrists once before letting go, and relaxing back against the headboard. Vin still looked a bit pensive. "Ya think she'll come here when ya tell her no? I don't want her hurtin' you again. Harder for her ta do that from a distance."

Ezra recognized Vin's worry for him as the heart of the matter. The earlier warm glow Ezra had experienced was back. [Amazing. I wonder if I will ever get used to this. I sincerely hope not. Having someone care about my well-being is not something I intend to ever take for granted.]

Ezra paused as he gave Vin's question and concern serious thought, wanting to give the matter the attention it deserved. He ran his tongue over his lower lip as he thought through the possible alternatives, weighing the odds carefully. "For the moment, I do not think Mother will be gracing us with her presence."

"Ya sure?"

Ezra shrugged, his expression rueful. "With Mother one can never be certain of anything. But from the tone of her letter, I expect she is already firmly embroiled in her latest con. Far too engaged with it to pay Four Corners a visit any time soon. Particularly when one considers the distance between here and Denver."

Vin frowned, brows pulling together slightly. "Denver? Hunh." He was clearly not entirely pleased with what Ezra had said. "Still too damn close if ya ask me."

"Perhaps." Ezra kept himself from smiling. [I have the feeling Vin might well think anywhere west of the Mississippi is too close. Still it would be best to assure him that Denver is more than far enough.]

"Getting here would be an arduous undertaking, one that I seriously doubt Mother would consider. Certainly, not without being in dire straits." Ezra honestly couldn't envision Maude making a pilgrimage to Four Corners for anything less. He sent a silently plea heaven ward that his Mother not be in such a position any time soon. In part because he did care for her and about her, and in part, because he still thought time might help cool Vin's anger.

"Dire?" Vin raised both eyebrows. "That means what 'xactly?"

"Very bad. Terrible." Ezra clarified. "In Mother's case, that might well translate into mortal peril."

Vin nodded as he moved a hand to entwine his fingers with Ezra's. His thumb caressed Ezra's palm. Ezra felt himself relaxing under Vin's touch. He hadn't even realized he was tense until Vin began his gentle massage.

"So...as long as everything she's plannin' goes okay, you don't think she'll come here?"

"That is my best guess." He turned his free hand palm up as though weighing something, trying to envision all the options he'd considered, balancing one against another. "Based on past experience, she would have no reason to otherwise." Ezra paused, before admitting, "Not that I've ever truly understood the reasons for anything she does. Nor have I been entirely accurate in predicting her behavior in the past."

"An' she'll take no for an answer?" Vin looked up from their joined hands when he asked this.

Ezra shrugged, with nonchalance that was only slightly forced. "She will simply have to." He smiled, dimples appearing, feeling his mood lighten considerably even as he thought about his next words. "I no longer dance to her tune." [Nor will I ever again. For better or worse, I am my own man now. Or rather, I am Vin's.]

"Yeah?" Vin grinned.

"Oh most definitely." Ezra winked at Vin, leaning in closer. He let his body language and eyes speak for him, subtly altering the mood as he did so. "I much prefer the music you and I make."

Ezra captured Vin's lips in kiss. He started out light, almost teasing, tracing Vin's lower lip with his tongue, nibbling gently, asking for permission to enter. Vin granted him entry with a soft sigh, and Ezra delved deeply into that well loved grotto, tracing over familiar territory. Vin had not relinquished his hold on right Ezra's hand, but that didn't keep the gambler from using his free hand to cup the growing hardness between Vin's legs. Ezra kept his touch gentle; knowing that feather-light, teasing contact would arouse Vin faster than anything else.

Vin arched into his touch, and sighed. Ezra delighted in that soft sound of pleasure his touch elicited from Vin. Vin was never loud, but he was definitely vocal. Ezra had made a point of using the soft sighs, moans, whimpers, and nearly silent pleas as a definitive guide for ensuring his lover's pleasure. It made him feel good to make Vin feel good.

Vin released his hand and wrapped both arms around Ezra, pulling him closer. With a hard thrust of his hips and smooth roll, Vin moved to pin Ezra under him. The tracker pulled his lips away, blue eyes dancing as they met green.

"You gonna give me another lesson, Teach?"

Ezra chucked at the use of that name. When they had first become lovers, Vin had possessed very little experience in the physical aspect of a relationship. His innate shy nature made it difficult for Vin to capitalize on his good looks, despite the many offers that had come his way. So while not entirely an innocent, Vin was by no means what one would call an accomplished lover, and he had absolutely no experience when it came to men. Ezra had been only too happy to share the knowledge and experience he'd garnered, taking the time to introduce his lover to the all the pleasures to be had. Those lessons were something both men enjoyed immensely.

Ezra started to respond, only to have his breath escaped in a gasp of pleasure when Vin lowered his head to nibble at Ezra's neck. Ezra closed his eyes, and tilted his head back to give Vin greater access. Vin took advantage of Ezra's move to work his way further down his neck. Lips, tongue, and teeth worked together, making it hard for Ezra to concentrate on anything other than the feel of his lover.

Ezra took a deep breath, and tried again to speak. "I believe you may... have something to...teach me, Vin." He shivered when Vin's tongue traced a path along the tendon at the side of his neck, not stopping until he was just beneath Ezra's ear. Ezra couldn't contain the soft moan of pleasure when Vin sucked on his ear lobe, and then blew across it.

Vin's hands were busy with the buttons of Ezra's shirt. Ezra tried to return the favor and undo Vin's shirt, but Vin kept distracting him with his tongue, or slapping his hands away. The tracker seemed determined to strip Ezra first. He decided it didn't matter who lost their clothing first, just as long as they were both naked and soon.

Vin unbuckled his shoulder harness, and Ezra sat up enough to make removing the rig easier. He tried not to wear his gun belt when teaching the children, preferring to wear the less visible guns he owned. He didn't want to bring such a blatant indicator of violence with him into the classroom. The children were exposed to it enough just living in Four Corners. And despite knowing it was foolish to think simply not wearing a gun belt would be sufficient, Ezra still wanted to foster the illusion that the classroom was a place of safety.

Vin shifted his weight, reaching to hang Ezra's gun from the bedpost where it could be easily reached if needed. Ezra took advantage of Vin's movement and swiftly undid the buttons of his lover's shirt, shoving it of his shoulders, and trapping his hands. Ezra grinned wickedly when Vin shot him a dirty look.

"My turn." Ezra leaned forward to flick his tongue across one of Vin's already hardened nipples. Vin shuddered, whispering Ezra's name in one long sigh. Ezra divided his attention between first one and then the other, teasing Vin with little licks, and the gentle application of his teeth, while his hands caressed Vin's back.

Vin freed his hands, throwing his shirt behind him, and pushed Ezra down on the bed with throaty growl. The tracker captured his lips in a kiss that was almost bruising in its passion. He ran his fingers through Ezra's hair, tilting his head for a better angle, and making the gambler want to purr in response to his touch.

If asked about it later, Ezra was sure he couldn't really answer just how they came to lose all their clothing so quickly. It didn't seem possible they could actually undress since neither of them were willing to let go of the other for very long. He was vaguely aware of skin being revealed, and having much attention paid to each inch as it became visible. But he was far too lost in the sensations, both those he felt and the ones he wanted to create, to really pay any more attention. Ezra didn't care that his clothing was scattered around the room, or left lying in a heap on the floor. Blessedly naked, skin-to-skin, made how they came to be that way an unimportant detail.

Ezra's hands skimmed over Vin's back, enjoying the feel of his skin. For someone who led such a rough, unsheltered life, Vin's skin was amazingly soft and smooth. It reminded Ezra of the feel of satin. Full body contact was wonderful even when they did nothing more than sleep cuddled up with one another.

As usual, in moments like these, Ezra found himself murmuring in French. Much of what he said was simply words of endearment. Nonsense really, not even full sentences, but because he utilized words to express himself so often, he couldn't seem to stay silent. His lover on the other hand, while vocal, rarely spoke, expressing his feelings of love and passion easily with his actions. Despite their different modes of expression, or perhaps because of them, both understood the other.

Ezra wiggled, trying to reach the bedside stand, and the tin of lubricant that it held. Vin captured his hand, long fingers encircling his wrist, and moved it to where he could hold it trapped above Ezra's head. He caught Ezra's other wrist as well, pinning it with the first.

Vin shook his head at Ezra. "My turn, Teach."

Ezra could have broken Vin's grip if he wanted to. Vin wasn't really holding him tightly, his fingers only loosely wrapped around Ezra's wrists. The gambler looked up at his lover, green eyes bright with love, and trust. He'd already decided earlier to let Vin lead, willing to follow wherever he chose to take them.

"Your turn." He agreed, his voice a hoarse whisper.

Vin dropped his head to nuzzle the spot where Ezra's shoulder and neck joined. He drifted lower, until he found a spot above Ezra's heart. Vin sucked hard, and applied his teeth with enough force to leave a light bruise. Ezra arched his back, welcoming that brand. The tracker made a point of marking him where no one else could see, and Ezra always sported at least one love bite. The gambler didn't mind. He liked wearing Vin's mark.

Vin released his hold on Ezra's wrists, his hands moving to cup Ezra's face. His gaze was so direct and intense, Ezra found it hard to breath. The love shining in those beloved blue eyes took his breath away.

Vin kissed him deeply, sweetly. Ezra basked in the emotions it conveyed. Before meeting Vin, he had never been aware of just how expressive one man could be without ever saying a single word. Even after three months, Ezra still found it an awe-inspiring thing.

Vin's eyes met his again. "I want you ta take me."

Ezra felt his eyes widened in surprise. Until now, he hadn't broached that issue, not wanting to force his lover into anything he didn't want to do. He had introduced Vin to the pleasure that could be had using just his fingers. And had tried to convey just how much he enjoyed being on the receiving end of Vin's hard thrusts, how much he delighted in being filled by Vin. But he had planned not to push Vin to reciprocate. He was willing to wait for Vin to ask for more, and perfectly content with their relationship as it stood, if Vin never asked.

Well, the man has asked. Ezra licked his lips, and swallowed hard. "Sure?"

"Positive." Vin answered, a small half-smile on his face, blue eyes warm. "Been wantin' ta know."

"Know?" Ezra shook his head, dismayed by his ability to speak more than one word at a time. At this rate he'd be completely speechless in short order. [Focus, Ezra. Focus.]

"Yeah." Vin sighed softly, using his knuckle to caress Ezra's cheekbone. "Wanna know how it feels." A faint blush rose to color Vin's cheeks. "You always seem ta like it."

Ezra smiled. "I do indeed." He did not want Vin to have any doubts on that score. "I more than like it. I love it."

"Good." Vin nodded, grinning. "Then it's about damn time, I find out fer myself what its like."

Ezra captured Vin's lips with his own, wanting to taste his smile. He cupped Vin's face with both hands, tilting his head before placing a kiss on his forehead. The gesture was almost one of benediction.

Ezra was struck again by the beauty of the man before him, and just how lucky he was to be given the opportunity to be a part of his life. He opened his mouth to speak, but struggled to find the words. Trying again, he finally managed to get out, "We need to change positions a bit."

The tracker nodded eagerly, and rolled off Ezra. His expression was one of excited anticipation. Ezra was reminded anew that Vin really wasn't much older than JD. He conveniently over looked the fact that his own age wasn't that far off either.

"Roll over."

Vin frowned. "Why?"

"It will be easier that way." Ezra said gently.

Vin raised an eyebrow. "But when I... when you..." Vin shook his head, his blush deeper than before. He looked away and then back, expression resolute. "Always took you face ta face." He finally managed to get out.

"I know." Ezra could feel the faint leer that tugged at his lips. "But that way requires a certain amount of... flexibility. Not to mention familiarity with one's limits."

"I wanna see yer face." Vin insisted, a faint, but definite pout forming around his mouth.

Ezra shook his head. He would not give in on this no matter how cute his lover looked at the moment. "Next time. I don't want to hurt you, Cheri." Ezra had recently taken to using the endearment as something of a pet name for Vin when they were alone.

Vin sighed, understanding that Ezra would not back down. He rolled over, rising up on his hands and knees. He looked over his shoulder, and wiggled his ass invitingly. Ezra took a shaky breath, and struggled to control himself. He lightly spanked Vin's ass. "Behave."

Vin chuckled, and tossed him a saucy wink over his shoulder. "Make me."

Ezra shook his head, smiling a little at Vin's taunt. [I may well make you before I'm done.] He reached for the tin he tried to grasp earlier. He used his fingers to gently prepare Vin, trying not to be rushed or distracted by Vin's occasional whimper of pleasure or the little shimmy his lover did each time he withdrew. He kept his movements slow, drawing out Vin's pleasure, refusing to let his lover hurry the pace, and making him wait.

"Please...God, Ez...please." Vin bowed his head, his arms shaking, breathe coming in harsh pants. His cock was so hard it was touching his belly, leaving trails of pre-come with every move he made. He rocked himself back on Ezra's fingers, but each time he tried to speed things along, Ezra simply stopped moving.

"God...Please, Ez...yes." Vin's last word came out in one long sigh as Ezra used his middle finger to brush Vin's prostate just enough to enhance his pleasure but not enough to let him come.

Figuring he'd teased Vin enough that his lover was more than ready, Ezra slid in behind him, having already coated his dick with lube. He took a deep breath, and then another, shaking with the effort to not let go and just nail Vin to the mattress. [Control yourself. You are not some mindless animal in heat.] He wanted this to be good for Vin, that meant taking his time, and not shooting off too soon.

He breached Vin's opening, and forced himself to hold still, when he heard Vin's gasp, and felt him tense. His hands roamed soothingly over Vin's back, before moving to caress his chest and belly. "Easy. Easy. It is all right. Relax, Sweetheart." He murmured, and then shook his head realizing he was not speaking English.

Ezra spoke again, making sure he was understood this time. "It's okay. Just...take your time. Relax. That's it. Easy now."

"I'm...okay." Vin panted.

Ezra still waited, almost trembling with the effort it took to remain still. He briefly considered pulling out. Unsure of his ability to control himself, Ezra whispered hoarsely "Don't want to hurt you, Vin. Please...don't let me hurt you."

Vin reached up, grabbed Ezra's forearm, holding it against his chest, and keeping Ezra from withdrawing. He moved back slightly, wiggling just a bit. "More. Want more. I'm ready."

Ezra rolled his hips forward, entering his lover a little bit at a time, pausing to let Vin adjust, until he was all the way in. Ezra took a shuddering breath, and clung to Vin, arms wrapped around him, holding tightly. [God...so good...so warm...tight. Sweet Jesus...never thought it would be this good. Never even dreamed it could be.]

"You okay?" He had to know. It wasn't enough for it just to be good for him. It meant nothing if Vin wasn't sharing in his pleasure.

Vin moaned softly, still breathing hard, but he was no longer tense. "Didn't know it...would feel...this good. Ya never said it would...be so...right...God...Ez, I ain't got words." Vin pulled Ezra's hand to his lips and placed a warm, tender kiss in his palm, conveying with that action all the things he couldn't say.

Ezra smiled, and kissed one shoulder, heartened by Vin's answer. "It will be better." He whispered a soft promise as he nuzzled Vin's ear.

Ezra began to thrust, slowly after first, barely moving. His free hand was busy caressing Vin's wonderfully sensitive nipples, rolling them between his fingers, smiling when Vin sighed out his enjoyment making it sound like a rumbling purr. Ezra nibbled at Vin's ear before moving to the back of his neck, seeking that spot that always made his lover weak in the knees. Vin's quiver let him know he'd found it.

Ezra increased the speed and depth of his stroke. Vin released Ezra's hand to brace himself on the headboard, sitting back more, heightening the pleasure for both of them when he did. Ezra let one hand ghost down Vin's chest and abdomen, reaching for his rock hard cock. He began to jack it in time with his thrusts.

Vin began to rock up and down, using his thighs to help him ride Ezra, effortlessly matching each move Ezra made. The gambler could feel himself spiraling higher. He closed his eyes, and breathed in Vin's intoxicating scent. He'd never been able to totally define it, but Vin's scent reminded him of wind that blew off the orchard his Uncle Malcolm had planted near his house. The air was always fresh, almost sweet, tasting of the promise of good things to come.

He let himself revel in the feel of Vin's skin against his. Ezra felt like all his nerve endings were responding to the briefest contact, making his skin tingle. He couldn't help responding to the wonderful sensations, sighing softly, and tightening his hold on Vin, trying to get even closer.

So lost was he in his own building climax, Ezra almost missed the slight tremors, and hitch in his breathing that heralded Vin's. Vin shifted his weight back until he was all but sitting in Ezra's lap. The tracker groaned, and tipped his head back to rest it on Ezra's shoulder, his whole body tensing so hard he was almost vibrating. The corresponding internal contractions brought Ezra to completion only seconds after Vin.

Ezra had been only vaguely aware of Vin's clenched jaw as his lover did his best not to howl out in ecstasy, releasing it as a hiss through clenched teeth. The gambler, for his part, had bitten Vin's shoulder trying to contain his own cries, knowing it was important that they not be heard. He was sure his effort to remain silent would leave a mark.

It took several minutes for Ezra to get his breathing back under control. He felt weightless, and incredibly heavy at the same time. His thoughts seemed to free float, like a butterfly, fluttering aimlessly. He just felt too good to really work up the effort to concentrate.

Vin's soft sigh broke Ezra from his reverie. He tilted his head to rest it against Vin's. "You okay, Cheri?" He asked quietly.

"Hmm? Oh...yeah." Vin turned his head to nuzzle Ezra's temple. His breathing still a bit unsteady, his words were barely audible, little more than a throaty whisper. "Never felt better in my life."

Ezra chuckled, pleased to know Vin felt the same way he did. "Good."

Vin shifted, pulling away. Ezra's now lax member slipped free, and he felt a moment of loss, already missing being so connected to his lover. Vin stretched, almost catlike in his graceful movements. The tracker lay down with the same fluid grace with which he did most everything, curling up on his side almost immediately.

Ezra smiled, pleased that Vin didn't seem to be suffering from any ill affects from their recent activity. He cocked his head to one side, studying his lover. Vin's eyes were heavy lidded, barely open. Ezra knew if left on his own, the former bounty hunter would be asleep soon.

Vin held out a hand, offering it to Ezra. "C'mon, Ez. Lay down." Vin sighed. "Don't wanna take a nap by myself. Hate sleepin' alone."

Ezra held his hand, bringing it to his lips, kissing Vin's knuckles. "Let me just clean us up a bit. Otherwise we might end up stuck together permanently."

"Wouldn't be a bad thing." Vin murmured, a half smile blossoming on his face.

Ezra laughed, suddenly imagining what a stir that would cause in Four Corners. "Perhaps. However, I do not think this town would survive the gossip such an event would likely cause."

He released Vin's hand, and slid out of bed. After such a mind-blowing orgasm, it took him a moment to find his balance. [Lord. I feel as uncoordinated as a newborn foal.]

Once he was steady on his feet, he retrieved the hand towel from the washstand and cleaned them both up. Vin's hooded eyes followed his every move. Ezra had no doubt that his lover was staying awake, waiting until he joined him, before giving into the overwhelming lassitude he had to be feeling. Ezra snuggled in next to Vin, throwing the towel in the general areas of where it came from. [I'll take care of that later.]

Because neither of them were likely to be missed until suppertime, it wasn't uncommon for Vin and Ezra to wile away the afternoons together. Ezra sighed as Vin pulled him closer, relaxing into that warm, comforting hold. Many an afternoon was spent just like this... wrapped up in each other, sometimes napping after a bout of love making, sometimes just curled up while Ezra read aloud to Vin. Other days they rode out of town, Vin teaching Ezra a bit about tracking, or showing him a bit about the beauty of the area.

Ezra would be awake in an hour or two. Time enough to clean himself up, and be presentable, so that he could play poker until his shift started around midnight. Vin would be up in the same amount of time, or less. He would spend several hours discretely watching Ezra's back before returning to spend the rest of the night in Ezra's bed. For the moment, both men were content to just enjoy being close to one another.

"Love you, Ez."

"And I you, Vin."

Vin tried to wait patiently, something he normally had little trouble doing. But today, it wasn't nearly as easy. Today, he had finally finished the love knot he'd made for Ezra, and he was waiting for Ezra to finish with the children so that he could give it to him.

He had spent two days working with the string Nettie had given him. It had taken him that long to master the technique of weaving it together, and to create the design he wanted. Once he had that part figured out, the next had been to decide what to make the knot from.

Vin had already decided on a lock of his hair. He'd waited until today to actually cut it. Ezra loved his hair, and would be observant enough to notice a piece was missing. So Vin had put off cutting it until the last possible moment, not wanting to try and explain why he'd done it until he had the knot completed and ready to offer.

However, he wanted to have the knot be more than just his hair. He remembered what Nettie had said about the knot being a representation of their lives intertwined, and he wanted something of Ezra's to be woven into the knot as well. He stripped the lace from the cuff of one of Ezra's shirts. The shirt was one of several that the gambler claimed had been ruined beyond redemption, but that he kept in case of an emergency, like the need for makeshift bandages. The lace was incredibly soft, and very fine. The quality of it only served to confirm what Vin already knew; Ezra liked to wear well-made, first-rate clothing.

In the course of his wonderings, Vin had occasionally come across small items he liked, and made a point of hanging on to. One such personal treasure was a small number of turquoise beads. The most common color was a soft blue. But Vin had one unique oval shaped bead that one half was blue, the other half was green. Thinking the colors would also serve to symbolically represent them, he worked the bead into the center of the knot.

Vin held the end result in one hand. A small blue and green bead, framed by the intricately woven network of hair and lace covered the center of his palm. He was still somewhat surprised by just how well it turned out. The cream colored lace, with its delicate loops and folds seemed to mirror in small detail the main knot, while drawing attention to the turquoise bead. His hair provided a darker contrast, with the sun bleached strands adding a faint glimmer reminiscent of gold.

Vin took a deep breath. [Hope Ez thinks it's okay. Don't matter what I think. Well, it does...cause I wouldn't give something I didn't think was worthwhile, but it ain't really my opinion that...Oh for crying out loud, Vin Tanner, get a grip on yourself.]

He shook his head trying to shake off his thoughts at the same time. Vin tried to relax, but found himself pacing the room with slow, measured steps instead. The faint sound of Ezra picking the lock, and then his usual knock interrupted Vin's movements.

Vin had his gun held ready, but managed to keep himself from actually pointing it at the door. [Really ain't right to be pointing it at him. Know he said he didn't mind, but it still just ain't right.]

Ezra slipped in, quietly closing the door behind him. He raised an eyebrow at seeing Vin standing in the center of the room. Vin usually lounged on the bed or sat in the rocker. Finding him in the center of the room was bound to seem a bit odd.

"Something wrong?"

Vin shook his head. "Nah. Jus' couldn't seem ta sit still."

Ezra's sharp eyes studied him for a moment. "Perhaps, a foray into the wilderness would a better use of our afternoon than remaining indoors."

Whenever he got restless, Vin would feel the need to just ride out of town, and spend some time away from people. Ezra accepted that need for peace and quiet as just part of Vin's nature. The gambler seemed to hesitate for a moment, suddenly still, his expression slipping from warm and open to blandly neutral. He offered quietly, "I will understand if you did not wish for me to accompany you. I realize that being constantly in each others company may be a bit wearing on your nerves."

"What?" Vin stared at him. Ezra was good at reading people, and there was no way he could have missed Vin's brief, almost measured silence, and his obvious nervousness. Unfortunately, it had led Ezra to believe Vin was searching for away to tell him he wanted to be alone, that Ezra's company would be unwelcome.

"No. Ez, no." Vin stepped forward, closing the distance between them. "I want you with me." [Never want ya to think otherwise. Christ. This is not how I planned this.]

He quickly shoved his gun in its holster, and pulled Ezra to him in a fierce hug. "Ya don't wear on my nerves, ya damn fool." He got more than enough solitude to satisfy his needs when riding patrol, or waiting in Ezra's room. In truth, aside from Chris, Ezra was the only other person who never seemed to get on his nerves or crowd him.

Vin pulled away enough to make eye contact. "Want you with me."

Ezra nodded once, smiling slightly, his stance relaxing into something more at ease. "Shall we partake of mother nature's bounty, then? Spend this afternoon indulging ourselves in remote untamed landscape she has so graciously provided?"

It took Vin a moment to decipher those questions. [Love the way he talks even if I don't understand everything he says.] Vin shook his head. "Not just yet."

Ezra frowned, eyebrows pulling together slightly. "Something is wrong."

"No. Not wrong." Vin contradicted Ezra's statement. "Jus' well...truth is..." Vin sighed, once again regretting that he simply didn't have the same way with words his lover did. "Don't rightly know how ta...look will you sit down, please?"

Ezra cocked his head to one side, and then shrugged. He stepped over to the bed and sat down. He made a graceful gesture indicating he Vin had the floor, and he was willing to wait for him to speak.

Vin took a deep breath. He reached for the key that hung around his neck, holding it so Ezra could see it. "You remember giving this to me?"

"I remember." Ezra answered, his attention totally focused on Vin.

"Meant a lot to me when gave it to me." Vin wrapped his fingers around the key. "Not sure if I can even explain it to ya, but it's more than just a way for me ta get in here." Vin sighed, and released his hold on the key, tucking it back into his shirt. He bit his lower lip, brow furrowed as he tried to find the right words to explain himself.

"Havin' it means ya trust me." Vin made eye contact. "Ya got all yer stuff in here, and you didn't even think twice about givin' me the right ta come and go. Didn't seem at all worried that ya gotta pick the lock jus' ta get in yer own room. First time in my life that someone was willin' ta go out o' their way for me. Do somethin' they didn't have ta jus' for me."

Ezra's eyes widened. He opened his mouth to speak, but Vin held up a hand, keeping him quiet, needing to finish. "See, the other thing is...well, I know this is gonna sound stupid, but... having it is jus' kinda like havin' proof that ya love me."

"You had doubts?" Ezra asked quietly, eyes troubled, his tone of voice uncertain.

"No." Vin answered firmly, wanting to offer reassurances to his lover, not liking the way he sounded or looked when he'd asked that question. "Never had any doubts. It was just something I could hold on to whenever I was by myself. Something real, so I'd know that everything 'tween us wasn't just something I dreamed up."

Ezra's smile was like a ray of sunshine, warm and bright, and full of understanding. When he spoke his voice was hesitant, almost shy. "I, too, on occasion, have sometimes found myself uncertain as to whether this was all a wonderful flight of fancy, or genuine reality."

Vin chuckled, his earlier nervousness vanishing. "Quite a pair, ain't we?"

Ezra's dimpled grin clearly showed he shared Vin's humor. "Indeed we are. A matched set."

Vin hesitated, enjoying the moment before continuing. "Thing is...I wanted to give you something that would work for you the way the key works for me."

Ezra immediately tried to protest. "Vin...that isn't necessary. Really--"

Vin stopped Ezra's words by moving forward to crouch in front of him, blue eyes level with green. "Know it ain't necessary. Don't have to give you anything, any more than you had ta give me the key. I want to."

Ezra nodded slowly. "As long as this is your choice, and not done from some misplaced sense of obligation." He raised a hand, using the back of it to lightly caress Vin's cheekbone, his expression tender. "I've already received far more from you, Cheri, than I ever imagined."

[Reckoned right 'bout what he'd say. Guess that means I am really getting to know him.] Vin smiled. "Then a little more won't hurt, will it?"

Ezra grinned, dimples readily visible, gold pre-molar glinting. "Touché."

"That mean ya agree with me?"

Dimples made another appearance. "More or less." Something in Vin's expression elicited more of an answer from Ezra. "Specifically, it means you made a point...one I cannot effectively argue against. So while, I may not agree, I really have no grounds to disagree."

Vin shook his head in amazement. [Never get a simple answer.] "Ya couldn't just say yes?"

Ezra shrugged one shoulder. "Certainly." Green eyes sparkled with good humor. "I choose not to."

Vin chuckled. "You are something else, Ezra P. Standish."

Ezra tipped his head, somehow managing to convey a bow in that abbreviated gesture. "Thank you."

Deciding that now was likely to be the best time, before he lost his courage or got nervous again, Vin held out his hand. The knot rested in the center of his palm. He silently offered it to Ezra. The cardsharp hesitantly reached out to touch one finger to the knot, delicately tracing the intricate design.

"It's a love knot." Vin said, relieved his voice was steady, and didn't betray how anxious he was.

Wide green eyes rose to meet Vin's blue ones. "You made this?"

Vin nodded, struck speechless by the awed, almost reverent tone of Ezra's voice.

"You made this...for me?"

Vin nodded again, his nervousness back in spades. [Must be somethin' bad ta make him repeat himself. This was a bad idea. Shoulda thought of somethin' else.] His attempt to withdraw the knot, and hide it from view, was thwarted by Ezra simply plucking it out of his hand.

"I have seen such remembrances before." Ezra's fingers again delicately caressed the token. "But...I never expected to...be so lucky as to receive one. Never really considered the possibility another might find me worthy of such an honest and heartfelt gift."

Vin quickly stifled his anger at hearing his lover think he might be unworthy of anything. [He doesn't need my anger. Needs ta know I what I think.] "Don't know anyone more worthy than you, Ez."

"Your hair." Ezra traced the knot once more. The gambler's sharp eyes assessed Vin. One hand reached out and unerringly located the shorn lock.

"It'll grow back, Ez." Vin wasn't entirely certain if Ezra was upset that he cut his hair or not. [Don't look upset. Looks more surprised than anything else.]

"The lace?" Ezra raised an eyebrow.

"From the cuff o' one yer old shirts." Vin bit his lip. "Was one ya said was ruined." Vin hastened to assure his lover. [Don't want him thinkin' I'd destroyed somethin' o' his.]

Ezra smiled slightly. His eyes were warm with an emotion Vin couldn't quite name, but the tracker would love to see more of whatever it was. [Never seen his eyes look so green 'fore. Reminds me o' the same green ya see at a spring after crossin' the desert.] A word Ezra had used once came to mind. [Vibrant. Yeah. That's it.]

"If I remember correctly, love knots are meant to show life and love intertwined." Ezra's voice was so soft he all but whispered. "You included something of you, and something of me, yes?"

Vin nodded, and breathed easier, relieved that Ezra understood. [Shoulda figured he'd know what it meant. Smartest man I know...ain't real surprisin' he'd know about this too.]

"The bead represents us both then." Ezra's smile deepened. "Two separate," Ezra's fingertip traced Vin's hair and then the lace, "becoming one." He lightly stroked the bi-colored turquoise bead. "Still unique and distinct, but no longer autonomous."

"Yep." Vin felt himself smile in response. [Wasn't quite what I was thinking, but it's close enough. He jus' put it a bit better than I did is all. Man sure has a way with words.]

"This is exquisite, Vin."

"That good?" [Gotta know for sure.]

Ezra smiled warmly at him, erasing the last shadow of doubt. "More than good, Cheri. Far more than good. It is exceptional, extraordinary. A treasure, to be sure."

Vin shook his head; bemused by Ezra's praise, and not certain his gift was worth all that. "Just some hair, a little lace and a bead, Ez."

Ezra lightly tapped Vin's chest, hitting the spot where the key resided. "And that is just a key."

Vin smiled ruefully. "Touché."

Ezra laughed. It was a sound of open, honest delight, something the former bounty hunter never got tired of hearing. [Wish I could find a way ta make him do that more often.]

Ezra leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on Vin's lips. It was sweet, gentle. "Thank you." He whispered, a faint puff of air that ghosted across Vin's moistened lips, making the tracker shiver slightly in response.

"Yer welcome." Vin managed to get out after a moment.

Ezra pulled back, and looked at the knot he still held in his hand. He studied it and then nodded to himself. He leaned sideways, toward the bedside table, and opened the drawer. Ezra withdrew a small roll of leather that Vin had never noticed before. [Course, isn't not like I've gone through his things, so I s'pose there's probably a lot o' stuff I haven't seen.]

Ezra pulled the string, and opened the roll on the bed next to him. Vin blinked, surprised at the glint of gold and silver. The gambler had revealed a small collection of jewelry. Vin studied the pieces as Ezra deftly sorted through them.

He frowned. There were several pendants, a few chains, what had to be a pair of ladies earrings, and a couple of rings. Vin didn't know much about jewelry, but he had no doubts each piece was of better than average quality, and probably worth a pretty penny. [Never saw him wear any o' that. Course most of it ain't really his style, but still...would have thought I'd have seen some of it at one time or 'nother.]

"Ez, what is all this stuff?"

"Currency, when I have nothing else to offer." Ezra answered calmly, eyes still on the bundle before him. "Easily transported, and hidden. Acceptable anywhere."

Vin pursed his lips. For the first time, he wondered just how much his lover had squirreled away. Not because he was interested in the amount, but more the reason for it. Vin was beginning to understand that it wasn't about greed. Had it been about greed, Ezra would never have revealed this stash to him at all.

[It's almost like he's scared not ta have ready cash on him. Like he's gotta have it hidden in different places so no one will ever be able ta take all of it, and leave him high and dry. Kinda makes sense given what his mother put him through. Sellin' him ta pay off a debt. Stealin' his saloon. What kind o' mother would kill her child's dream? That no good bitch!] Vin took a deep breath. [Best not ta think on her right now. Don't want to spoil the day.]

Ezra gave a small sound of satisfaction. He pulled one chain free of the collection. It was a twisted rope of gold. Vin watched as his lover threaded the chain delicately through the knot, careful to make certain it was secure, without altering the integrity of the knot. Ezra then held it up for Vin to see. The knot now hung suspended from the chain, reminding Vin of brooches he'd seen a few women in town wear.

Ezra held it out to him, and Vin took it. The gambler then removed his cravat, and undid the first two buttons of his shirt, turning slightly away from Vin. He made a gesture that Vin correctly interpreted as an invitation. The tracker rose to stand behind Ezra, and hooked the chain around his neck.

Ezra turned to face Vin again. The love knot hung just below the hollow of his throat, seeming to be so much a part of the man Vin loved, that it might well have always been there. [With his collar buttoned no one else will be able to see it.]

Vin grinned. "Looks good."

Ezra winked at him, that saucy look suddenly making it hard for Vin to breath. "How could it appear any other way, Mr. Tanner?"

He knew Ezra was teasing him by using his surname. A playful Ezra wasn't something Vin intended to let pass up. "Could look a bit better though." Vin stated, his voice light enough to let his lover know he wanted to play.

"Really?" Ezra raised an eyebrow, and pursed his lips slightly. "How so?"

Vin started undoing the rest of Ezra's buttons. "Need ta open this a bit more." He undid all the buttons, taking time to apply teasing, arousing touches to his lover's chest as he did so. "Maybe take it off all together." He nodded as though giving that thought real consideration. "Yeah. I think that might just be best. Need to get a big picture here."

Ezra looked at him from under his lashes, a look that was blatantly provocative. "But what about our sojourn into the wilderness?" Ezra's question was coy, and Vin knew it.

"That can wait." Vin's answer was decisive. He was enjoying what he was doing right now, and looking forward to what came next. [Wanna spend the rest of the afternoon right here.] "We'll go tomorrow."

The lanky tracker was delighted when Ezra laughed. That was twice in one day he got to hear that wonderful sound. [Gonna be a good day after all.]

Chris Larabee made his way to the saloon as he normally did each evening. He took his usual seat, and made a casual study of the patrons. It looked like quite a few of the local ranch hands were in town tonight, making the saloon more crowded than usual. They were drinking, but didn't look to be getting rowdy just yet.

[Might bear watching though. Could be trouble. 'Specially since there are hands from the Lazy S, and the Double T here tonight. Don't know what the bad blood between those two spreads is all about, and I don't care. As long as they keep their noses clean while they're in Four Corners, that's all that matters. Probably just wishful thinking. Dumb bastards always seem bound and determined to spend at least one night in jail when ever they come to town.]

Chris looked up, hearing the sound of someone walking down the stairs. The step was light, and Chris knew before he looked who it had to be. He watched Ezra descend, and make his way over to the table where he typically held court, as Chris liked to think of it. The gunslinger cocked his head, studying the younger man. [He's definitely in a good mood.] With a small smile Chris realized progress was being made. [Was time I couldn't read anything from him at all.]

Vin appeared a moment later, slipping silently into the seat next to Chris. The dark clad gunslinger noted Vin seemed to be in just as good a mood as Ezra. He found it oddly gratifying to know things were still good between the two of them. He'd had his doubt about their relationship initially, but had none now.

[Would have never thought the two of them would make a couple. Let alone be this good for one another.] Chris shook his head. [Just goes ta show I don't know a thing about matchmaking.]

"You two have a good afternoon?" Chris couldn't resist asking, giving Vin a sly look as he did.

"Yep." Vin's lips quirked upward in a small half-smile, blue eyes twinkling.

Chris rolled his eyes. [Didn't really expect more of an answer than that. Should know better.] Chris couldn't help thinking that having one friend eager to share intimate details was more than enough. [Sort o' glad Vin isn't like Buck. Not sure I could handle getting any more blow-by-blow stories.]

Chris motioned to Inez to bring him a bottle. She sauntered over, neatly avoiding a tipsy cowboy's reach, and weaving her way through the crowd. The raven-haired bar maid placed a bottle and two glasses down on the table with a small smile.

Chris returned it with a slight nod. "Gracias."

"De nada, Senor." She replied softly

"Any o' these boys givin' you trouble, Ma'am?" Vin asked softly, his eyes indicating the cowboys that filled the room. Chris was pretty sure the tracker had already noticed the same things he had, and was looking for where trouble might blossom.

"Nothing I can not handle." Inez replied, winking at him.

Chris and Vin shared a look, and the gunslinger knew his friend was thinking the same thing he was. [Said nothing she couldn't handle...which means they've been difficult, but not too bad yet. Was right thinking they need watching.]

Chris sipped the drink he poured, eyes roving around the room again. He noticed that Vin's eyes strayed to the table where Ezra was playing poker. The game seemed to be the same as usual. A few men had evidently been waiting for Ezra to show up.

Chris frowned thinking that the ones who'd been waiting were fools. [You'd think they'd know by now that they aren't ever gonna get the better of Ezra when it comes to cards.] The gunslinger was honestly surprised that more trouble didn't start at the gambler's table.

[Would assume it to be the natural starting place. Nobody likes losing their money, and there was a time I figured that any trouble in the saloon just had to start with Ezra and his gambling. Real damn disgusted with myself. It took way to long for me to figure out that I could count on one hand the number of times things actually got out of control at Ezra's table. Just didn't trust him not to be a problem, and I let that cloud my judgement. Was just plain stupid.]

Chris pursed his lips wondering if the lack of trouble emanating from the gambling table might not have something to do with Ezra. He had spent several days just watching the gambler with newly opened eyes, and Chris realized that Ezra seemed capable of maintaining control of his playmates almost as well as he did the cards he dealt. The conman had managed to talk his way out of trouble more than once, deftly avoiding situations that would have gotten others killed. And it certainly didn't hurt that Ezra didn't like playing with drunks.

Ezra had told him once, shortly after the seven had taken over protecting Four Corners, that playing with drunks was always a poor bet. Chris had scoffed. "Would think a man would be easy to win against when he isn't thinking straight. Hell, they'll never be able to tell that you're cheating."

"I don't cheat." Ezra had stated calmly, before smirking, eyes bright with inner amusement. "And in any case, if I did, drunk or sober, my opponents would never be able to determine that fact for certain." Ezra shook his head, his expression suddenly sober. "Mr. Larabee, a drunk man can be the most dangerous of foes."

Curious, Chris couldn't resist asking, "Why?"

"Because, one can never accurately determine precisely how a drunk man will react. It leaves far too much to chance. The only thing more dangerous than playing a drunk, is to be playing while inebriated. Poker is a game of wit and skill, Mr. Larabee. It is far less a gamble than the untrained perceive it to be."

At the time, Chris hadn't really taken Ezra seriously. But after watching the younger man, he finally realized that the cardsharp had shared something of himself in that moment. Something of his outlook, and habits. The gambler seldom drank to excess, or sat for long at a table with drunks for opponents.

Chris smiled tightly remembering the first time he'd seen Ezra. The cowboys Ezra had held off with his peashooter had been drinking, to be sure, but they weren't all the way gone. [Them still being sober is probably the only reason his bluff worked at all. Don't think a drunk would have had enough sense to realize that little pop gun of his could be deadly. Wonder what Ezra would have done if the idiots had called his bluff.] Chris shook his head, knowing the conman probably had a back up plan of some kind. [He usually does.]

Vin's eyes continued to wander around the room, returning to Ezra's table after each sweep. Chris knew that even before they'd become a couple, the former bounty hunter had made a habit of watching the cardsharp's back. The gunslinger had never guessed that there was more to Vin's caution than simply looking out for one of their number.

[Kind of wonder how I survived this long not being able to see what was right in front of me.] Chris snorted, disgusted by his own short-sightedness. Vin raised an eyebrow.

Chris waved a hand, letting him know it was nothing. [At least not anything I care to explain.] He shot Vin a dirty look, when his friend smirked, blue eyes dancing with mischief. [Got the feeling he already knows anyway.]

"Where's Buck?" Vin asked, after several minutes of companionable silence.

Chris half smiled, more or less expecting the question. The seven usually got together in the evenings, and lately is was Buck who had been joining Chris first, with Vin showing up later. Chris didn't begrudge the extra time Vin spent with Ezra. And in some ways, he was honestly grateful for the chance to renew his friendship with Buck. In burying himself in his grief over the death of his family, and doing his level best to isolate himself from the world, he had forgotten just how much he liked the gregarious, fun loving cowboy.

"New lady friend." Chris answered with a suggestive look.

Vin rolled his eyes. "Sure hope this one ain't married."

"Me too." Chris loved Buck like a brother, but he knew as well as any of them just how much trouble Buck's penchant after chasing after married women could be. [Still am amazed some jealous husband hasn't killed him. Man has almost as much luck as Ezra. Come to think of it...Buck just might have more.]

"Nathan and Josiah should be wandering in shortly." Chris added after taking a sip of his drink. Josiah had offered to help Nathan gather more herbs for his supplies. Chris had seen them both ride into town less than an hour ago. He expected them to stroll in at any time.

JD was still on duty at the jail. His shift wouldn't end until Ezra's began, but the youngest member of their little band would still make an appearance each evening, just to touch base if nothing else. It was no coincidence that Chris assigned JD the shift when the majority of the others were in town. He wanted the young man to have as much back up as possible, while still allowing him to enforce his authority as sheriff, and be treated as a competent member of their peacekeeping force.

The gunslinger was sure the others knew what he'd done. [Don't want JD to think I'm treating him different, but I want him to live to be my age too. Means we just keep a closer watch on him. Maybe not as obvious about it as Buck, but I am doin' my best to keep JD from getting hurt.]

Josiah and Nathan sauntered in, both looking very pleased with themselves. The ex-preacher and the healer made their way to the bar. Chris expected them to pick up a beer, before joining them.

The gunslinger tensed when one of the cowboys from the Lazy S, Nick Bantrim, blocked Nathan's path. Bantrim had made no secret of his thoughts regarding Blacks, Indians and the Chinese. The man was almost pathological in his dislike of non-Aryan races. His attitude was not shared by any of the townspeople, but that hadn't kept Bantrim from voicing his opinion, loudly, every time he came to Four Corners.

Chris' eyes narrowed as he observed Bantrim. The gunslinger had agreed with JD, when the young sheriff pointed out the fact that voicing one's opinion, no matter how insulting, was not against the law. And until Bantrim actually did more than just mouth off, they really didn't have grounds to arrest him.

[Not that I don't want ta just hold him down and beat the shit out of him any way. Just on general principle. But JD was right. We're the law here...much as I hate letting him spew that garbage, we have to apply the law equally or not at all.]

Nathan moved to step around Bantrim. But the cowboy continued to block his path. "You ain't welcome here." Bantrim growled, poking his finger into the center of Nathan's chest.

Chris could almost feel Vin's attention focus on Nathan and Bantrim. Both of them had shifted in their seats, hands falling to their weapons ready to act should Bantrim decide to do more than just mouth off. He wouldn't allow Nathan to be attacked by a loud-mouthed bigot. Chris had claimed him as one of his own, and would go to great lengths to defend what was his. But he also didn't want to undermine Nathan's ability to deal with the situation peacefully. Since signing on as a peacekeeper, the healer had shown himself to be more than capable of handling people like Bantrim, often without even having to raise his voice, or resort to violence.

Chris didn't like doing it, but he waited. He wanted to give Nathan the chance to handle it quietly before he moved to intervene. It had been Ezra who'd pointed out, months ago, that his shooting people like Bantrim, no matter how much he wanted to, would only serve to make people more afraid of Chris, and his lightening fast gun. It wouldn't do anything to ensure that Nathan was treated with the respect he deserved. Nor would it allow them to see him as equally capable of handling trouble as the other six men hired to protect the town.

The gunslinger grimaced, realizing he and Vin weren't the only ones focused on the possibly escalating confrontation. Some looked eager, anticipating the violence with an almost rabid excitement. Others looked wary, uncertain, but no one seemed inclined to walk away. For some reason it reminded Chris of the spectators who had come to see the first battle of Bull Run. There were always those who seemed drawn to participate in blood sports, just as there were always those who liked to watch. [Shit. No way this isn't going to get ugly. Just no way.]

Chris cast a quick glance toward the poker table. He wanted to see if Ezra was also ready. The gambler was calmly gathering his cards, and putting them in his jacket, watching every move like a hawk as he did so. Sharp green eyes seemed to be weighing every person in the room, assessing each party. Ezra tipped his head toward Chris letting him know he was prepared to do his part, should the need arise.

"Is there a problem, brother?" Josiah asked Bantrim, his deep voice carrying through the now quiet room even though he didn't speak loudly. "We simply wish to get a drink. No cause for trouble."

Bantrim scowled Josiah. "This don't concern you, Preacher." His dark, beady eyes shifted back to Nathan. "I'm talkin' ta the nigger."

Nathan's jaw tightened at the racial slur. "I don't think you have anything to say that I care to hear." Nathan's tone was surprisingly mild, despite the fire in his eyes.

"Is that so?" Bantrim snarled.

Nathan managed to smile tightly. "I've heard it all before. No reason for you to repeat it. Just want to get my drink, and I'll be on my way."

"Yeah, Bantrim. Jus' shut the hell up, and let the man get his beer." Jack Cantrell piped up from where he was leaning casually on the end of the bar. Cantrell was ramrod for the Double T. Chris knew he hadn't spoken up out of any fondness for Nathan, but out of spite for Bantrim.

"Darkie has as much right ta drink here as you do." Cantrell gave a derisive laugh. "Maybe more. Least he ain't some half-breed mongrel like you."

Chris swore silently, getting to his feet. [Goddamn, miserable bastards. They're just looking for an excuse to start a fight. Just bound and determined to start trouble.]

Chris saw Vin slid out of his chair, crouched and ready. Unfortunately, they weren't the only ones moving. Every cowboy for both the Lazy S, and the Double T, had come to attention as well. Chris glared at those nearest to him, halting their actions and holding them in place, at least for the moment.

"I don't want no damn uppity nigger stinkin' up my saloon." Bantrim spat at Cantrell, squaring off to face the other cowboy, seeming to have forgotten Nathan entirely. "And I ain't a half-breed, you son of a bitch!"

"Well, ya can go get yer drink somewhere else then! Ain't yer saloon, ya two bit rustler!" Cantrell stepped away from the bar. Several of his crew flanked him.

"It's mine if I say it's mine!" Bantrim roared, moving in to attack Cantrell. And just that quick the brawl was underway.

Chris hated brawls. They lacked style and finesse. He never knew what would set one off, or how long it would last. Brawls were like a whirlpool sucking in everyone in the room. Fists were flying, and furniture suddenly doubled as weapons as tables were knocked over, chairs broken.

Chris briefly wondered if he should be grateful or pissed that no guns had been drawn yet. Grateful in that it might actually keep serious injury to a minimum, but pissed since he couldn't justify drawing his own when no one else had yet. [Firing a shot into the ceiling won't work with these clowns. Never has before.]

Josiah and Nathan were so close to the epicenter, they had no choice but to join in full bore. The gunslinger worried for Nathan. He might not be the real reason for this dust up, but that didn't mean he might not still be a target by those misguided idiots who believed him to be the cause.

Chris was confident that Josiah would do his level best to protect his friend. The former preacher was bigger than any man present, and managed to more than hold his own against the onslaught, dropping two cowboys almost immediately by banging their heads together. Nathan managed to stay close to Josiah, covering the big man's back, while taking out another cowboy with a well-placed blow to the temple. The healer was no slouch when it came to fisticuffs, and seemed to be a match for anyone who came his way.

Chris started on the fringe, taking down any man knocked out of the fray, and making sure he stayed down. He kept trying to work inward toward the center in the hopes of reaching Josiah and Nathan. Vin moved to stay next to Chris, covering his back and right side. The lean tracker moved with a lethal grace and speed that made it difficult for anyone to land a blow, while he dealt out his own with surprising force.

A flash of red caught his eye, and Chris smiled. Ezra was on his left. As the shortest, and most dandified looking member of their group, it might be logical to think the gambler would be the least dangerous. In reality, the gambler was probably the most dangerous simply because no one really expected him to be, and he didn't fight fair. Ezra didn't hesitate to do what ever it took to win.

[Damn glad the little shit is on our side.] Chris grinned when Ezra hit his opponent below the belt, and then executed a neat upper cut to the jaw when the man bent over. The cowboy, who towered over Ezra by more than a foot, toppled like a felled tree.

Three cowboys from Double T stopped hitting opponents from the Lazy S long enough to gang up on Josiah, knocking the big man off balance. The ex-preacher stumbled back a step or two, moving away from Nathan, as he tried to hold them off and recover his balance at the same time. Nathan turned to pull one of them off Josiah, leaving his back exposed to the knot of men trading blows behind him.

Chris saw two of Bantrim's cohorts, Smith and Saxton, were no longer fighting with cowboys from the Double T. Their focus was on Nathan's undefended back. The faint flicker of light on steel was the only indication Chris had that Smith was holding a knife. Saxton was holding the leg of a chair, intent on using it as a bludgeon.

Ezra surged forward with a warning cry. "Nathan! Look out!"

Chris wasn't certain how Ezra managed to cover the crowded floor so quickly, but the nimble cardsharp was there in time to give Nathan a hard shove, keeping the healer from getting a knife in the back. Unfortunately, Ezra was unable to evade the knife entirely. With an evil smile, Smith buried his knife in Ezra's right shoulder. Not to be left out, Saxton used the chair leg he held to land a solid blow just above the gambler's temple, opening his scalp at the hairline, and dropping the smaller man like a pole-axed steer.

Josiah made a sound like an enraged bull, attacking the three cowboys with renewed and deadly fury, trying to get to Ezra. Nathan, having recovered from Ezra's shove, turned to help. But it was Vin's reaction that proved to be the most effective.

The tracker pulled his mare's leg with a blinding speed Chris hadn't known he was capable of. Instead of firing it, Vin swung it with brutal force. He struck the cowboy in front of him, breaking the man's forearm with a resounding snap, sending the cowboy to the floor with a loud scream.

That piercing scream was sufficient to halt almost everyone. Everyone but Saxton, who had raised the chair leg again, clearly intending to strike the fallen gambler a second time. Vin aimed and fired once. His shot reduced the leg to splinters, and left Saxton cradling a hand shredded by force of flying debris. Saxton sank to his knees, cradling his injured hand and crying. Suddenly, the only discernable noise in the room was Saxton's whimpers, and the soft moans from the cowboy whose arm Vin had broken.

Chris had pulled his gun the minute Vin had pulled his, and he kept it pointed at the now subdued mob. "This. Party. Is. Over." He snarled, eyes daring someone to do something asinine.

He heard Inez cocking her shotgun behind the bar, using it to add weight to his order. [Good girl.] The pretty bar maid had ducked behind the bar once fists started flying, but Chris knew she had only done so with the intent of snagging the gun she now held. Inez had shown herself to be more than capable of handling trouble in the past.

Josiah had drawn his gun as well. Although, Chris was fairly certain the large man's expression which promised horrible retribution was more of an effective deterrent than the gun. The gentle giant many thought Josiah to be was no longer in residence.

[A demon prepared to vent the wrath of God might be a closer assessment of him at the moment. Attacking Ezra was the fastest way to get on that man's bad side. God help Smith and Saxton if Ezra ain't alright. Course they don't really know it, but they got more reason to be afraid of Vin. Josiah might just beat them to death. Vin will make it so it takes days for them to die. Bastards would be begging for death by the time he finished with 'em.]

Chris' own feelings on the subject were leaning the same way. He sent a dark look toward Saxton, feeling a moment of intense satisfaction at knowing the man was in a lot of pain. The amount of blood pouring from his hand made Chris wonder if he might not lose use of that hand permanently. [Serves the son-of-a-bitch right. Almost sorry Vin didn't kill him out right and be done with it. Kinda sorry he didn't take Smith, too.]

Seeing Chris, Josiah and Inez had the room under control, Vin and Nathan both immediately moved forward to check on Ezra. The healer carefully moved Ezra from his side to his back. Chris could tell the lanky Texan was holding his breath as he waited for Nathan to place a gentle hand against Ezra's neck, and check for a pulse. Vin took a shaky breath, as did Josiah, when Nathan nodded, letting them know the gambler was still among the living.

Despite his obvious focus on his fallen lover, Vin hadn't holstered his gun. He kept it steadily trained on Smith, even when his eyes were on Ezra. Once Nathan started to examine Ezra more closely, Vin rested his free hand lightly on the gambler's chest, just above his heart. Chris knew he was verifying for himself that Ezra still lived and breathed. The gunslinger figured the action was subtle enough not to garner much attention.

Vin's attention shifted to pin Smith in place with just a look. His blue eyes had paled to the color of glacial ice, and contained a raw fury that promised a lot of pain if Smith so much as moved the wrong way. The cowboy for his part stayed very still, keeping his hands up, and away from his body. Smith reminded Chris of a rabbit trapped by a hungry wolf.

JD stepped into the saloon, careful not to be framed in the doorway, moving to the left with his colts drawn. Buck slipped in behind JD, and moved to the right. They both had the room covered, and kept their backs to the wall. Chris was impressed with just how well the two of them worked as a team. [Come a long way from when Buck was always trying to push the kid behind him.]

The ladies man looked around the room and gave a low whistle. Tables had been over turned, chairs smashed, and several men lay moaning on the floor. Remarkably the mirror had not been damaged, and surprisingly little glass was broken.

Buck shook his head. "Damn, boys, you shoulda waited for us."

"This little do-si-do wasn't our idea, Buck." Chris glared at the now quiet, and immobile combatants. It pissed him off to see the amount of destruction they had left in their wake. [Hard to believe all this was done in just a few minutes.]

Glancing toward where Ezra lay silently on the floor. Chris winced. He expected the man to have moved by now. "Nate? He okay?"

The healer glanced up from where he knelt next to Ezra, pressing a handkerchief to the still bleeding scalp wound. "Should be. Will know more once he comes to." Nathan frowned. "I don't want to pull that knife out until I got him in the clinic."

Chris nodded. He remembered, from his time in the army, wounds like that had a tendency to bleed profusely once the weapon was removed. [Always a good idea ta have supplies on hand just in case. No reason for Ez to bleed anymore than he already has.]

Chris' eyes flickered from the ex-preacher to Ezra. "Josiah."

The big man holstered his weapon and moved forward. He laid a hand on Vin's shoulder, silently asking the tracker to move. Vin shifted, reluctantly making way for Josiah, and slowly relinquishing his contact with Ezra. Josiah crouched low, and with an astonishing amount of gentle care, tenderly gathered his friend into his arms. The big man was careful not to jostle the right shoulder. He rose smoothly to his feet, impressing Chris anew with how strong he was. [Ez might be short, but he's solid. Man's got to be stronger than an ox to just lift him that way.]

Nathan was already moving, pushing the door aside, and holding it open. Vin had risen to his feet as Josiah stood, ready to offer assistance should it be needed. His focus was now on Ezra's face. The gambler looked decidedly pale.

"Vin, go with them." Chris ordered. He knew Vin had every intention of staying with Ezra, and he didn't blame the tracker one bit for wanting to make sure his lover was going to be fine. By making it an order, no one would question Vin's actions.

"Nate will probably need an extra man ta keep him in the clinic once he comes around." [There. That should work as cover for having Vin go along too. Everyone in town knows how much Ezra hates being in the clinic. Hell, none of us like being there, but I think Ezra's the worst of the bunch.]

Josiah carried Ezra from the saloon, moving as if he holding something unbelievably fragile. Vin and Nathan were flanking him. With Ezra out of harm's way, the rest of them were free to focus on the problem at hand. [Like getting all these cowboys locked up.]

Bantrim spoke up from where he lay on the floor, next to the bar. His right eye was swelling shut, and he sported a bloody lip as well. "What about him?" He asked, pointing toward Saxton.

Chris smiled nastily, eyes hard and unforgiving. "What 'bout him?"

"Needs someone ta look at his hand."

"Closest thing to a doctor, in this town, is the 'uppity nigger' you didn't want to drink with." Chris growled. "He ain't good enough to be in your saloon, doubt he'd be good enough to patch up your friend either. Or you suddenly change your mind 'bout that?"

"No." Bantrim grimaced in distaste. "But he still needs tending to."

"Well, then I guess you better see to him." Chris stated, not giving an inch. "Cause no one else will."

When Bantrim moved suddenly, Chris stopped him with a small, warning wave of his gun. "Shuck your gun belt first. Nice and slow. Understand."

Bantrim nodded slowly, and unbuckled his gun belt carefully, letting it fall to the floor. "Good." Chris gave the rest of the combatants a hard look. "All of you...guns off. Nice and easy, or it will be the last thing you ever do. I guarantee it."

Cantrell cleared his throat, hesitantly getting Chris' attention. "Tom's arm is gonna need looked at. Don't have a problem with Jackson taking care o' it."

Chris nodded. Ranch hands on the Double T had good reason to respect Nathan's ability as a healer, even if they might not necessarily like him. The former slave had saved their boss's life once, and had always been willing to treat whatever ailed them.

"Once he's done with Standish, I'll ask him to take care of your man."

Cantrell tipped his head in acknowledgement, apparently willing to accept that. Chris smiled tightly. [Ain't like he's gonna get another option.]

"Inez, if you would gather up their guns?" He considered asking Buck or JD but decided he'd rather have them keeping an eye on the cowboys. [Wouldn't put it past them to be dumb enough to try something.]

"Si, Senor." Inez made her way around the room collecting gunbelts, and placing them on the one table that remained up right. She kept her shotgun with her.

"Much obliged, Ma'am. We'll be back for those once we get these sorry S-O-B's settled in the jail."

Chris sent a glare around the room. "Ya got two choices...you get up and head for the jail in a quiet and orderly fashion. Or I shoot you and let the undertaker deal with your miserable hides."

He wasn't the least bit surprised when they all opted to quietly get to their feet, some needing assistance from their friends, and shuffled meekly out the door, toward the jail.

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