8.00am
The doors of the surveillance van clattered open, and the vehicle bobbed up and down as someone stepped in.
Three faces turned to greet the newcomer.
"Nice of you to finally -," Nathan's sarcastic reprimand stopped short as the medic took in the Southerner with a degree of surprise.
Barks of laughter and surprise told him the others had also spotted the undercover agent's startling appearance.
Ezra's usually pristine suit was caked from head to toe in mud, smeared across the sleeves and down the legs, dry, caked and flaking.
JD's snort of laughter turned into a dry cough as Ezra's murderous gaze settled on the youngster. Beside him, Buck was grinning widely,
"Been eating mud pies again for breakfast Ez?" he asked, his grin widening. Ezra paused by the doors at the back of the van, where he had been carefully peeling off his muddy jacket as though it were laden with dynamite. He avoided eye contact as he replied, busying himself with trying to brush as much of the dried mud off the garment as possible.
"No, Mr. Wilmington, I have not indulged in that particular culinary delight. My current state is the result of leaping to the aid of a damsel stranded as a result of an unfortunate vehicular breakdown."
He stopped grandly, only to be met by further smirks.
Buck cleared his throat and gazed at his colleague innocently, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Broken down in the middle of a ploughed field was she?"
Ezra glared at him and elected not to answer. In the following silence, JD decided to get in on the act,
"Well, I think it suits you Ezra…I bet you'll have a whole herd of cattle after ya," he grinned proudly.
Ezra sighed deeply and threw his eyes to the heavens.
"Well if this is the reaction I get for leaping to the defence of a young lady then I rather wish I hadn't bothered.
Silence reigned for a second, and Ezra blinked at the quiet, surprised the men hadn't taken the ribbing any further. He took a seat, grateful for the reprieve.
Suddenly, Nathan cleared his throat and turned to gaze out of the front window once more.
"Who knows Ezra? Maybe if you'd done less leaping you wouldn't be covered in mud in the first place."
Ezra threw his hands to the air and snatched up his coffee.
Roll on the changeover.
000
Me again, I wrote this before Christmas but forgot about it! So anyway, there's the first chapter. All you old west fanatics don't worry, this is just a brief dabble in the ATF world…I'm an old west girl myself! Now, I don't know who she is, but all these ATF fics thank someone called Mog, so I will too! Ta very much! Am very bored so am off to check and post the rest of the chapters…toodles…