Standard Fanfic Warning that wouldn't last ten seconds in a court of law: these aren't my characters. I'm just borrowing them for, um, er, typing practice. Yeah, that's it, typing practice. (The quick red fox jumping over the lazy brown dog gets old real quick, y'know?) Based on characters and situations from The Magnificent Seven TV show, not the movie. All characters will be returned to their lawful owners unharmed (or at least suitably bandaged). Originally published in Diamonds and Dynamite #1, from Agent with Style Press.
Riding the Range
by Susan M. M.
Magnificent Seven
Ezra Standish reached out and pulled the cash on the table toward himself. "Thank you, gentlemen, thank you very much."
"Danged if I know why I even bother playing cards with you, Ez," Buck Wilmington complained. "Even when you don't cheat, you still always win."
Ezra smiled, revealing a gold tooth. In a soft southern drawl he asked, "May I interest anyone in another hand?"
Chris Larabee shook his head. "You've got enough of my money."
Ezra shuffled the cards as the table fell silent. JD Dunne looked around. Silence was something he neither enjoyed nor understood. As far as the young sheriff was concerned, it existed to be broken.
"Say, did you hear about the cowpoke and his wife?" JD asked. No one stopped him, so he continued, "He told her to 'throw a saddle on the stove, Ma; we're riding the range tonight'."
No one laughed.
Pouting, JD complained, "Well, Billy thought it was funny."
"Master Travis is only six," Ezra pointed out.
Buck smiled at that.
"If you will excuse me, gentlemen," Ezra looked at another table, where four cowboys were playing cards, "I see pigeons that need plucking." He rose, put a finger to his hat, then headed across the saloon.
"Josiah and Vin ain't back yet. Maybe you'd better check on them," Chris suggested.
"Right." Buck rose, and tapped JD on the shoulder, indicating the boy should follow him.
Once they were out of saloon, Chris repeated, "Throw a saddle on the stove, Ma; we're riding the range tonight," and chuckled softly.