Ezra Standish was seated outside the saloon, his hat covering his face from the glare of the mid morning sun. The sound of bagging, and the chizzle of saws, drifted over from across the street. The old building beside the hotel was being renovated, and rumours were flying around the town as to what it was to be used for.

He whipped the hat from his face when he heard the sound of footsteps making their way slowly towards him. Looking up he saw the face of his friend Chris Larabee smiling down at him. 'Enjoying yourself?' the black clad gunslinger questioned sarcastically.

'Don't let my relaxed façade fool you Mr. Larabee,' Ezra drawled, 'I can assure you that I am merely trying to lure any would be criminals into a false sense of security.'

Chris let out a short bark of laughter, 'Good one Ezra, but don't worry, things seem pretty quiet today.' He turned towards the door of the saloon, 'I'll leave you to your nap.'

Affronted Ezra sat up straight in his chair. 'Nap indeed,' he muttered, and scanned the street checking for any signs of criminal activity. Seeing none, he settled back into his chair, resting his long legs on a bucket, and relaxed once more.

Things had been quiet in Four Corners of late. Ezra smiled thinking of the relaxed days and nights he'd enjoyed over the past fortnight, he didn't mind his job as a peacekeeper in the small town, but enjoyed the respite the quietness had brought. 'Won't be long until something kicks off,' he thought to himself, and shaded his face once more with his hat. 'Might as well enjoy the quiet while it lasts.' With a smile, he closed his eyes, and fell asleep, which he had been trying to do before he was so rudely interrupted by Chris.

********

Later that afternoon the six men sat together in the saloon, drinking and playing a lazy game of cards. They had each thrown a penny in the pot, and no one seemed that intent on winning, except Ezra. 'No prize is too big or too small,' he heard his mother intone in his head, and he smiled. It had been so long since he'd seen the errant Maude, that he was allowing himself to develop a sort of absent fondness for her.

'I'm out,' J.D threw his cards on the table in disgust.

'Me too,' Vin gave a small regretful smile.

The rest of the men followed suit, and Ezra allowed himself a small victorious smirk.

'What's say I put the money in the pot to good use?' he questioned suddenly, feeling magnanimous in victory.

'You going to donate the money to the Church?' Josiah questioned surprised.

Ezra gave a small chuckle, 'I was thinking more along the lines of donating it to the bar, Brother Sanchez and buying us all a drink.'

Josiah gave a broad smile, 'That sounds good to me.'

Ezra pushed back his chair and stood up. He made his way over to the bar with a smile on his face, life was good.

*******

The next morning was as hot and humid as the days before. Ezra found himself once again, sitting outside the saloon relaxing. This time with the quiet company of Vin, who was making good use of the unexpected lull, and cleaning his gun.

'I do declare,' Ezra commented after a few minutes of comfortable silence, 'This town is almost charming, when it's like this.'

Vin nodded in agreement. 'I reckon I'm gittin complacent though, someone tries to rob the bank and I'll be too lazy to git off my ass.'

Ezra gave a small chuckle, 'With an aim like yours Mr. Tanner, you wouldn't need to get off your seat.'

The two men fell back into a comfortable silence, watching the inhabitants of Four Corners bustle about their daily business.

It was approaching noon, when the stage coach made it's appearance, rumbling down the dusty street.

Ezra and Vin sat to attention, the stage coach brought travellers in and out of Four Corners. Some were just passing through, some came to stay, and many more simply came to cause trouble.

It drew to a halt outside the hotel, and Ezra looked at the numerous, expensive cases strapped to the roof with a sinking feeling.

He knew only one person who travelled with that much luggage.

'Ezra!'

His mother.