I do not own any of the Magnificent Seven characters, I just didn't want to see them sitting on a shelf collecting dust!

In the dusty, little town of Four Corners, people were walking up and down the main drag on, or in some cases, off the board walks. At the Clarion, Mary Travis was busy at getting her paper printed, and at the Standish Tavern, one Nathan Jackson, and one Ezra Standish, were sitting at one of the tables, eating their lunch, or in Ezra's case, breakfast.

Inez set down an envelope next to Ezra, "Senor, Mrs. Travis dropped this off earlier for you."

"Why thank you, Senorita Recillos," Ezra said, as he picked up the envelope and flipped it over so he could look at the return address. "I should have known that old bat would want to get back at me for the gift I so graciously sent her."

Nathan said, even though he knew better than to ask, "What did you send her?"

"A warrant for her arrest," Ezra stated with a grin. Nathan rolled his eyes.

Setting down the envelope, Ezra pulled out a golden pocket watch out of his scarlet coat pocket, before he stowed it away again, "I wonder what Mr. Larabee has planned now that he's fully recuperated from his ordeal." Nathan continued to eat his meal, so Ezra continued, "Will he decide that this minute town requires our full attention, or will he ask us to ride after that…what did he call Mrs. Gaines? That sick bitch?"

"I don't know," Nathan stated. "All I do know is that this town still needs us."

"Indeed," Ezra mused as he picked up the envelope once again, and ripped it open. He unfolded the letter and started to read, a fake smile on his face, as he reached for his drink of whiskey and tilted it towards his mouth to drink. The liquid had just entered his mouth when his eyes widened and he spat out the alcohol, spraying poor Nathan.

"What is wrong with you?" Nathan demanded as he stood up, not in the least bit happy.

Ezra didn't take his eyes off the letter, "Nothing. Nothing. Just a cruel joke!" He went to take a drink again, looking a bit calmer as he continued to read for a second, and then the liquid was once again sprayed across the table, and Nathan was hit once again. As Ezra coughed, Nathan wasn't sure whether to help him or to just let him choke after that last incident.

Ezra managed to regain some of his composure, as he muttered, "She must be joking…she has to be. A spiteful retaliation for that warrant for her arrest…it has to be."

Nathan was about to ask what was in the letter, when the tavern's doors swung open and Buck Wilmington, J.D. Dunne, and Josiah Sanchez walked in, each of them taking a seat near Nathan and Ezra's table.

Josiah leaned back in his chair, setting a hand on Nathan's shoulder, "Brother, what happened to you?"

"Ezra, you look like hell!" JD exclaimed.

"Observant as always, Mr. Dunne," Ezra stated, giving the youth with the stupid hat a dark look.

"What?" JD demanded, flinching from Ezra's look.

Without warning, Buck snatched the letter from Ezra's hands and put some distance between himself and Ezra as he started to read the laughter in a soppy voice, "Dear Son, I must thank you for the gift you sent. I see you haven't lost your humor. Now it's my turn to give you a gift that's been long overdue. I'm sending your daughter to live with you." Buck blinked a couple times in confusion, rereading the last sentence silently, before he grinned at Ezra, "You've got a daughter!"

"It's a cruel joke!" Ezra snapped, standing up and advancing on Buck. "It's probably some actress she hired just to mess with my head!"

Buck nimbly leaped behind the bar and scanned the rest of the letter, as he continued to grin, "Well, you'll find out in a few minutes. According to this she'll be arriving today on the noon stage!" This got the desired result, as Ezra whipped out his pocket watch to check the time; Buck leaped over the bar and showed the letter to Josiah, Nathan, and JD.

Ezra sank into a chair, looking pale, "Oh good Lord!"

"You all right, Ez?" JD inquired, worried about the gambler.

Ezra snapped, "Do I look all right?"

"Well…no," JD answered.

Nathan said, "You didn't need to answer that."

"Oh!" JD blushed. "I knew that!"

Josiah stood up and walked over to Ezra, "A child is a blessing, Ezra. This should be a time to celebrate."

Ezra glared at the preacher, "No offense, Josiah, but I do believe that this is some cruel and unusual joke that my mother is pulling. So, pardon me if I don't leap with joy."

Before anything else could be said, the tavern doors swung open once more, to reveal two men, Chris Larabee and Vin Tanner.

Chris made his way straight towards the bar, while Vin's keen eye took in the state Ezra was in, "You look like your horse just died."

"I wish that was my only dilemma," Ezra muttered.

Buck chimed in happily, "Ezra's got a daughter!"

Vin's eyes widened, while Chris turned away from the bar, his gaze unreadable, "Your what?"

"A cruel joke from my mother," Ezra muttered, though he didn't look so sure of that fact.

Vin decided to get out of the line of fire as Chris moved away from the bar towards Ezra. He leaned against the wall next to one of the tavern's windows.

Buck showed Chris the letter, while Ezra looked like he wanted to disappear. Chris' gaze was still unreadable, "We'll know soon enough if this is a joke or not. The stage should be arriving now."

As if on cue, the sound of the stage coach could be heard, as it rattled down the street towards them.

Ezra paled even further at the sound of the stage coach, which didn't go unnoticed by the others, who said nothing, some feeling sympathy for the gambler while others felt skeptical of the gambler, unsure if he was telling the truth or not.

Vin listened as the stage coach rattled past, and he risked a glance out the window. He did a double take out the tavern window as he caught a glimpse of a golden hindquarter and a flash of white tail. " 'Cuse me for a minute." He said, pushing his way out of the doors. He whistled and poked his head back in, "Chris. Buck. You're goin' want to see this."

Buck looked interested as he made his way towards the saloon doors, while Chris remained where he was, standing next to a horrified looking Ezra, and an alcohol-splattered Nathan.

Chris was surprised when Buck poked his head in after looking at whatever had caught Vin's attention and said, "Chris, you've got to take a look at this."

Sighing, Chris made his way towards the tavern doors and pushed through them, glancing at Buck and Vin and asking, "Well?" They pointed at the stage coach that had just arrived, and Chris' eyes widened a bit in admiration of the fine animal that was tied to the back of the coach.

The horse was well muscled and built, with strong hind quarters, a deep chest, strong back, strong, yet fine legs, and a fine head. Its only flaw to their eyes was its coat which was a deep gold, while its mane and tail were pure white, and it had one stocking on its left hind leg. Its eyes were coal black, and they glinted with intelligence as the horse tossed its head.

Buck whistled, "That's one fine animal!"

Chris nodded in agreement before he headed back into the tavern, muttering, "Too flashy."

"Wonder who owns such a fine creature?" Buck muttered, heading towards the tavern as well.

Vin had other ideas, he walked towards the stage coach, and said to the driver, "I'll help you get this horse settled."

The driver's reaction surprised him, "Be careful of that animal! He's vicious!"

"I've handled foul-tempered horses before," Vin said, setting his hand on the palomino's left shoulder. "I'm sure I can…!" He was cut off as the horse snaked its head around and tried to take a chunk out of Vin's shoulder. The horse's teeth clacked together as Vin leapt back, a bit startled. The horse glared at him, its ears laid flat against its head and teeth bared.

A female voice said, with a familiar Southern accent, "I'd appreciate it if you left my horse alone, sir. He doesn't care for men."

Vin took a couple paces back so he could see who had spoken, and he was rendered temporarily speechless.

Standing within the door to the stage coach, was a young woman in a light blue dress and hat. She had hazel eyes, and from what Vin could see, auburn hair.

Recovering fairly quickly, he offered his hand to her, "If I may, Miss."

She accepted his hand as he helped her down, "Why thank you Mr…"

"Vin Tanner, Miss," Vin stated, tipping his hat.

She smiled at him, "Mr. Tanner."

"Can I get your bags, Miss?" Vin offered, eager to assist this beauty.

Buck was looking out the tavern doors, at that moment, and he chuckled as he glanced back at the others, "Looks like someone's in love!"

This was enough to bring Chris away from the bar, once again, "Who is…aw hell!"

JD walked over as well and stated, "Well it looks like she's unmarried." He quickly hurried back to the others after the look Chris shot him.

"Why that's mighty kind of you Mr. Tanner," she stated, smiling at him again.

While Vin was grabbing her two bags, she walked behind the stage coach and untied her horse from the back of it, turning him so that she could see where she could possibly tether her horse.

Vin noticed her looking at his and the others' horses, "You can tether him anywhere, Miss. None of the horses over there will do him harm."

She nodded and started to lead her horse over to Vin's own black horse, Peso, when Peso laid back his ears and squealed at the new horse. She frowned, before she moved her horse in between a buckskin, who merely glanced up from his dozing at the approach of strange, new horse, and a bay. Once she had her horse tethered, the bay set his teeth on the palomino's withers, having to stretch it's neck up a bit, since the palomino was a good head taller than the bay, and started to mutual groom her horse.

"Ornery cuss," Vin muttered darkly under his breath as he shot Peso a dark look.

Chris couldn't help smiling when he watched Peso act like his usual, ornery self.

While Buck was grinning foolishly, "She placed her horse next to mine!"

"Easy, Stud. Her horse is in between yours and Ezra's," Chris stated.

"Oh shoot!" He muttered, slightly downcast. That soon changed though, "Well, Peso certainly turned that pretty filly off! Peso stomped all over his dreams!"

Chris glanced back at Ezra, who was rooted to his chair, and oddly silent. He couldn't help grinning at the thought of the gambler actually having nothing to say on the subject.

Outside, while Vin was still glaring at his horse, the young woman approached him, and asked sweetly, though her eyes were stormy, "Do you by any chance know where I may find a Mr. Ezra Standish?"

Vin was too distracted by her beauty to notice her stormy gaze "Sure, Miss. If you'll follow me," he offered her his arm, which she tentatively took as he led the way towards the tavern.

"Oh!" Buck shoved Chris out of the way of the doors as Vin and his lady friend approached.

Chris grunted, "What's the matter with you?"

Buck giggled, "Just don't move, Stud. Just don't move. You'll get a full glimpse of what's coming through!"

Chris sighed just as the tavern doors swung open to reveal, an unusually ecstatic, Vin escorting a pretty young lady. Vin stopped, and glared at Buck, knowing full well what he'd been doing, while Buck just grinned back.

While Vin glared at a grinning Buck, Chris and the young woman were sizing the other up. Chris giving her a disapproving glare, while the young woman gave him a disbelieving glare.

Meanwhile, JD was waving his hand in front of Ezra's face, "Ez? Ezra? Hello?" He glanced at Nathan, "What's wrong with him?" Nathan shrugged. "Ez? She's here…" He temporarily lost his train of thought, "What's up with, Vin?"

This simple statement was enough to bring Ezra out of his shock as he turned to look at Vin, "Why, I do believe, Mr. Tanner is once again in love."

"With your daughter," Nathan stated, causing Ezra to go back into shock.

Josiah made a toast to the ceiling, "Thank you, Lord! Ezra is silent! I didn't think I'd live to see this!"

JD glanced at Josiah in surprise, "What?" Josiah just grinned.

After one last glare at Buck, Vin gently steered the young woman away from the scowling Chris, and he whispered, "Stay away from him for the time being." She blinked at him in confusion as he led her over to a table where four men were sitting, one of them in a classic, gambler's get-up. Her gaze became like that of many daggers.

Ezra, sensing danger, looked up, and any remaining color in his face drained away as Vin gave the introductions, "Miss, this is Ez…" Vin didn't get to finish his introduction.

The young woman's voice was like pure venom, "Aren't you pleased to see me, Father?"

Ezra flinched on the last word, but he managed to regain his composure as he stood up, "My darling girl, whatever she paid you certainly can't be enough for this act."

If it was possible, her gaze worsened, "Let me clear up any misunderstandings here, Father." Ezra flinched once again, "My name is Sara M. Standish." The tavern with these words, "And I am most assuredly your daughter."

Ezra was grasping at straws in a last desperate effort to prove that the young lady before him wasn't his daughter, "Just how old are you?"

"Seventeen in a fortnight," she stated. Ezra sank into his chair, doing the math in his head, obviously lost in thought.

Vin was surprised at how quickly the young woman's personality had changed when she had seen Ezra, but he soon forgot about it again as she asked him, her voice sweet once again, "Could you recommend a place for me to freshen up and deposit my belongings?"

"If you wouldn't mind the company, I'll escort you over yonder, Miss," Vin said, offering her his arm once again, which she took, and he escorted her out, sticking out his tongue as he passed Buck.

Chris made to grab Vin's arm as he passed, but stopped, figuring he'd get him on the way back.

Nathan muttered to Josiah, "That was mature."

"As the young stallion claims his prize," Josiah muttered.

Buck stated, "Oh it's on now!" Chris just shook his head back and forth. Buck hollered at Ezra, missing Chris' head motion, "Figured out if she's yours yet Ezra?" One look at Ezra told him everything, "I can't believe you made something that pretty."

JD chimed in, "Remember the time he…"

Ezra cut him off, "Don't even think of that incident, Mr. Dunne."

"THAT was just plain scary," Buck stated. Before he grinned mischievously, "So how old were you were you sired that fine looking filly?"

"I was sixteen, Mr. Wilmington," Ezra stated trying to retain some pride.

Buck grinned, "Shoot, I was sowing my oats two years prior to that."

Ezra muttered, "Be lucky anything hasn't shown up on your door step."

"Don't forget, Buck, you did have a scare just recently," Josiah stated.

"I was planning to make it right!" Buck muttered, looking affronted.

Chris elbowed Buck, "Admit it, you were relieved."

"Darn tootin' I was!" Buck admitted without any shame. Josiah gave Buck a knowing glance.

Meanwhile at the boarding house, as Vin led the way up the stairs to an empty room, Sara asked, "May I ask how you know my father, Mr. Tanner?"

"We're the law in this town, Miss," Vin answered, eager to please. "There's seven of us all together."

"Am I to assume that the other five men in the tavern were also make up the law in this town?" She questioned.

Vin nodded, as reached her room door, setting her bags down, "I can wait for you, Miss, if you want."

"No, that's all right, Mr. Tanner, I believe I can find my own way back to the tavern," she answered, opening her door.

Vin tipped his hat before he made his way back to the tavern where he was met by Chris, who cut right to the chase, "Is this going to be another distraction?"

"Stay out of my business, Larabee!" Vin snapped, as he stalked into the tavern, leaving a surprised Chris behind. Chris walked in a few seconds later and made his way to the bar, finally getting his drink.

As Vin sat down, Buck mooed, hoping to get a reaction out of the bounty hunter, but he didn't get the one he wanted. Vin just grinned at him, stating in his casual way, "I know where her room is do you?"

Ezra slammed down his drink and stood up, sending his chair skating across the floor. Vin glanced Ezra warily, "What's wrong, Ez?" Ezra didn't answer, merely retrieving his chair and glaring at the bounty hunter as he sat back down.

Buck walked to Vin and patted his shoulder, "Nice knowin' ya!"

"Aw, hell, Ez! You know I didn't mean it like that!" Vin said, trying to work his way out of the hole he had just dug.

Ezra's gaze was livid, "Then pray tell what you did mean Mr. Tanner. Enlighten me."

"Ah-uh… um…I think I need to check on something in my wagon," Vin stated as he shot of the tavern.

Everyone turned in surprise as they heard their fearless leader snort, as his shoulders shook.

Buck's mouth fell open, before he just started to grin stupidly, while the others laughed, apart from Ezra, who still looked like he wouldn't mind turning in Vin for the five hundred dollars.

Chris turned around laughing as well, "That made my day."

"Mr. Tanner sure left here in quite a hurry," Ezra said, smiling slightly.

Josiah added, "Like the devil himself was hot on his heels."

"That sure put that pup in his place," Buck stated grinning.

Chris turned back to his drink, just as the tavern doors opened, and a figure in the classic gamblers' get-up walked in.

JD commented, while Ezra tried to figure out what had come over him, "If I wasn't dating Casey, I still wouldn't try and court her, she's not that pretty!" He froze as he heard the notorious click of a gun being cocked.

"Care to run that by me again?" Sara asked, standing on his right, looking like a pretty female version of Ezra, except where Ezra had a scarlet coat on, she had a plum coat on.

"Uh…uh!" JD stammered while Sara uncocked the gun and moved it away from his head.

Buck chuckled, "Boy, you look like a fish out of water!"

"Why are you even dressed like that?" J. D. demanded, trying to get back some of his pride.

Sara smiled, "I prefer this attire than to that dreadful tent I was wearing earlier."

Nathan muttered to Josiah, "She really looks like Ezra with what she's wearing now." Josiah nodded in agreement.

JD glared at her as she holstered her gun and turned to face Chris' back. "I've heard that you all are the law in town."

This statement was enough to make Chris turn around and glare in the general direction of Vin's wagon. "What of it?" Chris asked.

"Well, Mr…"

"Larabee," He supplied.

She smiled, "Well Mr. Larabee, seeing as to how I'll be staying here for awhile, it seems I will be riding with you and the others, since I have no intention of just sitting idly by in this here town."

"You need experience to join up with us!" JD said smugly.

Chris ignored JD "It's a dangerous job…we…"

"Mr. Larabee, I'm fully aware of the dangers involved," she stated.

Chris glanced at Ezra, who was still pondering what had come over him earlier, he sighed, seeing no help there, "You need to know how to shoot and ride."

"Why don't I demonstrate my prowess in these areas to you in an hour?" Sara asked. "This will give me time to get more…appropriate tack for my horse."

Chris nodded, and Sara took her leave, heading towards her horse and neatly dodging the love struck Vin.

Vin walked back into the tavern looking a bit crestfallen, and then wary as he glanced at Ezra. Seeing no threat from the gambler he walked, leaning against the wall once again, and looking outside.

JD stared at Chris in surprise, "You didn't let me join so easily!"

"This is a different case entirely," Chris stated, turning back towards the bar. "She's going to be here for awhile by the sounds of it, so I might as well give her a fair chance to show us what she can do…"

JD scowled, not in the least bit happy. Buck smacked him in the back, "Cheer up, JD! You've earned your place here, even if you did make a fool of yourself when you first showed up!"

"Thanks, Buck," JD said, sarcastically.

Vin whistled, attracting the others attention, "She's got some mighty fine tack there!"

Ezra walked over to the window and glanced out of it, "That's a side saddle seat and bridle. I can see what she meant about needing more appropriate tack. She should get a fair trade at the Livery."

"Why's that, Ez?" Buck asked, coming to stand near the window as well.

Ezra answered, "Because it's all in exquisite condition."

Buck and Vin couldn't argue, especially when they watched Sara come back out of the Livery with an ebony bridle and saddle that was a tad bit worn, but probably the best Tiny had.

They all left the window as she started to saddle the palomino, deciding to relax a bit while they could.

Ezra inquired, as he started to shuffle a deck of cards, "So, Mr. Larabee. What are your intentions now that you're completely recovered from your injury?"

"We still have to protect this town, Ezra," Chris stated. "And Ella will return. I know she will. Until then, we're remaining here."

All of the other seven nodded, satisfied with this answer.

An hour later, Chris walked out of the tavern, followed by the other seven, each of them eager to see what Sara could do. She was already mounted on her palomino, the black tack standing out against its golden hide.

As Chris walked into the middle of the street, she moved the reins slightly and the palomino started to turn on its hindquarters, keeping in one place as it spun faster and faster, until horse and rider were a blur.

Buck whistled, "Now, THAT'S riding!" JD scowled.

Without warning, the palomino shot down the street, easily eating up the ground with its massive stride. At the end of the street, Sara set the reins against right side of the palomino's neck, and the palomino turned instantly, and thundered back down the street straight towards Chris. People were standing on the board walks now, interested in what was going on, as the palomino came down the street at a full gallop.

As the palomino and its rider came closer and closer, everyone glanced uneasily at Chris. Nathan, Josiah, and JD were the first to abandon Chris, not wanting to get run over by the sturdy palomino. Ezra was the next one to leave, not putting it past his daughter to trample him.

Buck said nervously, "Chris!" Vin kept casting anxious glances at the fearless leader.

"I'm not asking either of you to stay," Chris stated. Buck and Vin abandoned him without hesitation then.

JD asked as the palomino was starting to get past the safe stopping distance, "Is she ever going to stop that horse of hers?"

"I sure hope so, JD" Buck answered, worried about his friend now.

At the last possibly second, several feet separating Chris and the palomino, Sara flicked the reins and the palomino slid to a stop, its golden hindquarters sliding underneath its body as it came to a stop an inch away from Chris, its forehead at Chris' eye level.

"Whooeee!" Buck yelled. "Boy that pretty filly can ride!"

Chris shoved the muzzle away, and Sara frowned at her horse, obviously disappointed that the palomino hadn't bitten Chris.

Vin muttered, "Sure, tries to take a chunk out of me, but not him."

Chris was unfazed by how close he had come to being trampled by the palomino, "You definitely can ride." He walked over to JD who grabbed his hat with both hands, holding it to his head, "I'm not going to use that."

JD relaxed only to have his hat yanked off his head by Buck, who threw it to Chris. JD retaliated by shoving Buck fairly hard, almost sending the older gun slinger into the horse water trough.

Chris walked back out into the street and threw JD's hat into the air. Whipping out her Colt, she fanned the hammer, firing all six shots at the hat.

When the hat hit the ground, Chris walked over and examined it, before he tossed it back to JD. Buck intercepted the throw, determined to examine the hat, "Pretty fast shot." He finally allowed JD to have his hat back.

"Thank you!" snapped an indignant JD.

Chris nodded in agreement to Buck's statement, before he glanced down the street and found a can that someone had left lying around. He walked quite a ways down the street before he set it down, and moved away from it, indicating that Sara should shoot at it once she had dismounted.

She dismounted with ease before she took aim at the can. The first shot hit the can dead on, sending it back several feet, the same happened with the second and third shots, on the fourth, she missed, but by then, the can would have been hard for many of the seven apart from Chris, Vin, and Buck.

Chris looked at the other seven before he glanced at Sara, who was leading her horse back to the hitching post, "I'll let you know later what my decision is." With that said, he headed back towards the tavern, followed by most of the others, apart from Ezra and JD.

Ezra approached his daughter, "Where did you learn to shoot and ride like that?"

"Well, Father," Ezra flinched on the word. "My grandmother," she placed as much venom on the word as she did with father. "Thought it would be best if I was educated in many expertises."

Ezra frowned, but he didn't add anything. Instead he asked, "Did she make sure you received an education?"

The look she shot him made him wish he had just kept his mouth shut, "Father," he flinched on the word, "I don't see why you're concerning yourself with all of this at the present time. You were never concerned about my well being before. Now, if you'll excuse me, my horse requires my immediate attention."

What Sara had said bothered Ezra as he made his way towards the tavern. He sank into a chair and sighed heavily, pulling out a deck of cards and shuffling it absentmindedly while he pondered what his daughter had said.

Buck, seeing that his friend was obviously troubled, tried to perk him up, "At least she's not in her terrible twos, Ez."

"No, I missed her terrible twos only to have to deal with her terrifying teens," Ezra muttered, waving down Inez so he could get a drink.

Outside, JD, approached Sara, his pride wounded since she had indeed done better than when he had first joined the seven.

"You know, you weren't that good," JD stated. "It really does take experience to be a true member of the group."

Sara sighed, before she turned around, blinking flirtatiously at him, "You know, JD, you look so handsome in this lighting."

"What?" JD backed up as Sara advanced on him.

She smiled, "You must be the heartthrob of the town…"

JD kept backing up, "L-look, I have a girlfriend!"

"And I'm sure she'll completely understand…" She leaned in, and JD backed up even further, and he lost his balance, falling into the horse water trough. Sara grinned, as he came sputtering out of the water, "I'm sure she'll love to listen to your pathetic excuse as to why you're saturated with water."

Unbeknownst to both of them, Casey had watched the entire incident from across the street, and Buck had been watching from just outside the tavern. He chuckled to himself as he watched JD flopped out of the trough. "Uh-oh!" He said, sitting up straight in his chair as he watched Casey stomp towards Sara.

Casey demanded, "What are you doing, flirting with my boyfriend?"

Sara glanced at Casey, "I wasn't attempting to win Mr. Dunne's affections in the slightest. I was merely maneuvering him towards the water trough so he'd get drenched."

"I don't take kindly to someone doing that to my boyfriend either!" Casey snapped. "You slut!"

Sara's eyes blazed, "A slut? I suggest you take that back, you whore!"

Casey threw the first punch, her fist colliding with Sara's cheek. From there the two young females were a rolling in the dust, each trying to get a good shot at the others.

JD leapt back in alarm and glanced towards Buck, who was out of his chair and heading into the tavern.

Buck shoved through the tavern doors, "We got a problem!" He retracted his head and watched the fight, flinching as each of the girls fought, it was now obvious that Casey was starting to lose.

Chris was the first one out of the tavern, and he glared down the street at the two females before he made his way towards them.

Nathan asked Ezra as they walked out, "Shouldn't you be the one breaking that up?"

"Oh, I'm not getting involved in that, then she'd draw her gun on me," Ezra stated without any shame. Nathan rolled his eyes.

Josiah asked Buck, "Why didn't you break up the fight?"

Buck chose not to answer, flinching as Sara got a solid punch in.

"Break it up!" Chris bellowed, neither of the girls paid him any attention though. "That's enough!" He gave another warning, which also went unheeded.

Moving in, he grabbed Sara around her midsection, unfortunately, she had been in the process of moving her arm back for another punch, and Chris got her elbow in his cheek, and he felt it split open. He carried her away from Casey, and into a side street.

"Not very ladylike," Vin stated, smiling slightly.

Ezra was frowning in thought, "No. Not at all." He was recalling the difference between the two girls' punches and how one had seemed more boy-like than the other.

"Hey! Ezra!" Vin said, tapping the gambler on the shoulder, "What's on your mind?"

"Nothing, Mr. Tanner. Nothing at all," Ezra answered, heading back towards the tavern.

In the side street, Chris roughly set Sara on her feet, "What the hell was that back there?"

"Did you honestly expect me to be called a slut and allow her to beat me into the dust, Mr. Larabee?" Sara demanded, still ticked off.

Chris gave her his best glare, which seemed to quell her temper, "Street brawls between ladies, or anybody for that matter isn't tolerated here."

"Now I know," Sara said, sarcastically. "Why don't you remind that we-young lady of that since she's resided in this town far longer than I have!"

"Because that's not my job!" Chris snapped. "Nettie can deal with Casey. If you plan on riding with us, you'd best get your act together!"

"Yes, because you would take being called a bastard lying down," she muttered darkly.

Chris' gaze became livid, and she started to wish that she hadn't said anything, "What I'd do doesn't matter. What you did is not exceptable!"

"Because I'm a girl," Sara stated bluntly, forgetting that Chris seemed to be beyond his boiling point.

Chris managed to keep the worst of his temper under control, "Don't let that happen again. I don't care if you have to get beaten to a pulp, you don't need a reputation in this town when you've just gotten here." With that, he walked out of the side street and made a beeline for the tavern, noticing that JD was chasing after Casey, who seemed furious with her boyfriend.

Chris walked into the tavern and paused behind Ezra, who was now doing some card tricks for his own amusement, "You need to decide if you want your daughter to ride with us."

"Pardon?" Ezra turned around in his chair to face Chris.

Chris repeated what he'd said, adding on to it, "I'll support your decision as well."

"Well than," Ezra said, trying to get Chris to break his word, "I believe she should ride with us."

Chris grinned for a brief second, his cheek giving a throb as he did so, "Then she'll ride out with us tomorrow to see what trouble Gerard and the other settlers have been experiencing on their land."

Ezra was left speechless, realizing he'd gone right along with Chris' intentions.

Sara walked out of the side street and walked over to her horse, "Well, Gambler. I must say, I expected Mr. Larabee to tan my hide…it seems like someone might give a damn about us in this town…" Her horse, Gambler, snorted in response, before he set his teeth on the bay's withers, just as the bay did the same to him once again. "And you've found a friend," she said, with a smile, before she made her way towards the tavern.

She pushed her way through the doors, and was greeted by Vin, who tipped his hat to her.

Seeing as to how she wasn't very familiar with the other men that made up the seven lawman she sat at the table behind her father's chair, pulling out a deck of cards, and shuffling them absentmindedly, lost in her own thoughts.

Buck walked up to the bar next to Chris and saw the wound Chris was now sporting on his cheek, "What happened, Stud?"

"Ask her," Chris gestured vaguely at Sara.

Embarrassed now by her earlier behavior, she said, "Well…uh…Mr. Larabee's face was…um…merely in the wrong place at the wrong time!"

Buck looked at Chris for conformation, and when his long time friend nodded, he laughed, "See what happens when you interrupt a cat fight? Those two were going at it worse than a couple of cougars fighting over a hare!"

Chris didn't respond to that, while Josiah and Vin chuckled, thinking that an accurate description of the fight.

Buck's expression grew serious, "So what's the trouble that the settlers' are having?"

"Don't know," Chris answered. "Mary simply said that they were having trouble and wondered if we'd take a look."

"So she's speaking to you again?" Chris' look answered Buck's question. "So we're riding out tomorrow."

Chris nodded, "Until then you can still do what you want in town."

"Buck grinned, "Don't I always?"

Sara didn't glance back as her father said quietly to her, "Mr. Larabee has stated that you may ride with us. So you'd best be ready tomorrow."

"Of course, Father," she said.

Ezra flinched again, and Nathan asked, "Ezra, are you all right? You've been doing that a lot lately?"

"I'm fine, Mr. Jackson," Ezra answered, as Sara stood up and left the tavern once again.

Buck, hearing this said, "Nathan, it's nothing to worry about, see it all spouts from a simple word…" Buck made it look like he was going to go back to the bar, when he whipped right back around and said in Ezra's ear, "Father!" Ezra flinched and jumped, before he shoved Buck good-naturedly.

Outside, Sara was simply checking out the town, and noting the businesses that were in the town, when she heard a young voice shouting behind her, "Hey! Hey!"