Title:  The Inheritance

Rating: PG-13 (maybe R later)

Category:  OW/Romance

Spoilers:  None that I know of

Pairings: Ezra/Inez

Summary:  Ezra discovers he is the heir to an English Earl, but to recieve his inheritance he must be married. All he has to do is find a bride, fight off a greedy villain and keep his hands to himself while married to a beautiful woman. Easy, right?

Disclaimer:  I do not own the Magnificent Seven, although I sure as hell wish I did!  I mean seven GORGEOUS men . . .  But I digress.  Trilogy, MGM, et ct own them.  Damn it all!

Author's note:  This is inspired by Catherine Coulter & Julie Garwood who write wonderful, witty romances.  Hope I do at least half as good!  Thank you to my beta reader Steph, who has once again gotten me through!  You Rock!

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CHAPTER 1

Everyone in Four Corners noticed the two well-dressed men who rode into town, following the stagecoach. Chris Larabee leaned against the exterior of the Saloon and studied the pair carefully. Vin Tanner appeared to be asleep with his hat pulled down over his eyes, and reclining in a chair a few feet from Larabee. But Chris knew the Texan was alert and studying the men. "Think they're trouble?" the young tracker drawled out.

"Can't say. Best to keep a close watch 'til we figure out why they're here."

Chris caught the barely perceptible nod as he shoved away from the wall. He watched the pair take their mounts to the livery. They could be casing the town in order to rob the bank, and if that was the case it could lead to a shoot out, which Chris really didn't want.

JD Dunne came jogging up from the direction of the jail as the men disappeared into the stables. "'Hey, Chris. I just looked through the wanted posters. Didn't see those men on any of them."

Larabee nodded, amazed at the contradiction Dunne presented. He was always eager to please the men he rode with, but at the same time he was also growing into a seasoned gunfighter and sheriff. "That don't mean they can't be trouble," he pointed out.

"So what now?" JD sounded too eager, even to himself. He dropped down onto the crate next to Vin's chair.

"We watch and see what they're up to."

The two men exited the livery and spotted the trio watching them. They slowly approached the regulators attempting to assess them before introducing themselves. "Gentlemen," one called out with a thick English accent. He and his companion stopped in front of them. "I presume you're the sheriff, young man."

Dunne nodded, doing his best to appear stern like Chris. It must have been effective because the pair drew back slightly.

"Well," the spokesman said, clearing his throat. "We were wondering if you could tell us if there is a Patrick Standish living in these parts."

Larabee noticed JD's face revealed little. They had taught him well. "Never heard tell of him," JD offered with a shrug. "Try the hotel. Maybe he's passed through."

They nodded and followed the jerk of Dunne's thumb.

Vin silently moved as soon as they were almost across the dusty street. He was well through the door, JD hot on his heels, before Chris decided to move. They approached a table in the back corner where the rest of the seven were playing poker.

"Dammit, Ez!" Buck Wilmington exclaimed, throwing his cards down in disgust. "I promised Blossom I'd be by tonight. I thought I'd get her dinner, but you're cleanin' me out!"

"Well, I suggest you either amend your plans," Ezra Standish drawled out, "or remove your personage from this game before I am forced to relieve you of the rest of your funds." He nodded as Inez Recillos, the saloon's manager and barmaid, deposited four mugs of beer before the men. She smiled in return and went back to the bar.

"What the hell, Ezra?"

"Brother, I do believe he told you to plan on skipping dinner with Miss Blossom or fold before you loose the rest of your money to him," Josiah Sanchez supplied with a grin.

"I don't know 'bout Buck," Nathan Jackson began, "but I'm out. Don't you ever get tired of takin' folks' money?"

Ezra regarded the dark man for a mere second. "Never."

"Ezra," Chris said as he took one of the empty chairs at the table. "Does the name Patrick Standish mean anything to you?"

Vin watched for Standish's reaction. He and Ezra were able to read just about anyone, even one another on occasion. There was an almost undetectable twitch of one eye. "No, should it?" Ezra glanced at the blond leader as he began to deal the cards.

"Besides the fact your last name's Standish?"

"Well, yes," Ezra looked at him. Chris tried to reign in his anger and impatience. Ezra always seemed to rile him somehow.

"Two Englishmen are looking for someone by that name."

"Some con of yours that went wrong?" Nathan asked, sarcasm thick in his voice.

"Do you think I would still be using the name if that were the case?" He watched as some of their company shrugged.

"You have to admit, it's an odd coincidence," Josiah pointed out.

"Yes, I suppose so," Ezra sighed.

"Well, I guess we'll find out," Chris said as the Englishmen entered the Saloon and approached the seven.

"Gentlemen, the proprietor of the hotel told us we could find an 'Ezra' Standish in this establishment," the spokesman explained.

"May we inquire as to why you are seeking this Standish man?" Ezra questioned before anyone else could comment.

"My name is Daniel Withnell, and my compatriot is Jonas Millhouse. We are solicitors from the firm Kent, DeWitt, and Meyers in London. Richard Standish, Earl of Wakefield, employed us nearly ten months ago to find his son, Patrick. Lord Patrick Standish is the Earl's oldest child, and therefore his heir."

The cards Ezra was holding flew out of his hands causing everyone to look at him. His eyes were wide and he was slightly pale. "I was told Grandfather was dead," he croaked out.

"Excuse me?" Millhouse questioned.

Ezra shook his head slightly, as if to clear it. "Patrick Standish was my father. He died when I was seven."

"Oh, I see. Well, Mr. Standish," Withnell said quietly. "It appears you may be the new Earl of Wakefield."

Buck spewed the beer he'd been drinking across the table, spraying Chris. Larabee glared at him while

Buck asked, "You mean Ez's an Earl?"

"Well," Withnell began haltingly. "Not quite."

"Whadda mean 'not quite?' " JD protested. "You just said he was."

"There was a stipulation to Lord Richard's will," Millhouse supplied. "You see, the Earl knew he would pass on shortly . . ."

"Grandfather's dead?" Ezra interrupted. Josiah reached over and squeezed the southerner's shoulder in support.

"I'm afraid so," the lawyer answered softly. "He's been gone for three months now."

"You were saying about the stipulation to the will," Larabee prodded.

"Yes," Withnell said. "The Earl was in poor health and the doctors gave him little time. His second son, Robert, was killed in a carriage accident. He believed he would have to leave his estate to Robert's oldest son Warren, who he believed was weak in character."

"What's the stipulation?" Chris snapped impatiently.

"Ahh," Withnell hedged nervously. "There's more than one. Firstly, our firm would be trustees of the estate for six months after the Earl's passing. Then if we hadn't found Lord Patrick Standish or his heirs, Lord Warren Standish, would be the ninth Earl of Wakefield."

"And if you found Patrick Standish or his heir?" Josiah inquired.

"Then he inherits everything, as long as he is married, or marries within that six month time frame."

Ezra, who had by this point snapped out of his state of shock, arched an eyebrow. "Married," he laughed. "Surely, you jest."

Millhouse coughed to cover his nervousness. "No, sir. We do not."

"Do you mean to say that if I do not find myself bound by matrimony in the next three months, I will lose my inheritance?"

"An inheritance you never knew of," Withnell pointed out. "But yes. The Earl wanted to insure that his bloodline would be carried on, legitimately. Now if you'll excuse us gentlemen," he said rising, Millhouse following suit. "We will allow Lord Standish to adjust to this news. If you would be so kind to inform us about how you wish to pursue this matter by the end of the week," Withnell commented to Ezra before leaving.

The lawmen watched silently as the solicitors exited the saloon. Ezra waved Inez over for a drink. She deposited a bottle of his favorite whiskey and a shot glass on the table in front of him. He sighed and opened the bottle and began to drink from it, ignoring the glass.

"Interesting," Josiah said, finally breaking the silence.

"So Ez, whadda goin' to do?" JD asked, a touch of excitement in his voice.

"I am going to find a way to receive my inheritance."

TBC …