Title: Appearances Darlin', are Everything
Author: Vivian Tanner
Rating: T
Summary: Maude makes another visit to the lovely hamlet of Four Corners. . . Once again her parenting skills are brought into question. This time, however, Ezra is drunk in the saloon and all of the boys are there to hear. What will they think of their gambler friend now? What will they think about Maude? Will Ezra learn he finally has a real home, and family?
Disclaimer: Don't own these boys or their friends and family, wish I did, but a lass I do not. Just thought I'd take them out for a ride or two or three. I promise to return them to their rightful owners unharmed.
Appearances Darlin', are Everything
Epilogue
"R-raised me? Did you say raised me? Come on, now, mother. You didn't raise me as well as, uh . . . as a stray cat raises a litter. You-you dumped me. Remember? At every aunt and uncle's house you could find. Unless, of course, you needed me . . . for a con."
The day her boy had said those words still rang clearly in her memories . . . the site of those emerald green eyes growing wet with tears, it had been too much, the feelings of her poor boy to strong. So Maude had handled it like she always did, she yelled at him, pushed him away, made him feel small and then left him behind. Sure she had come back, but only to try and make him see how soft he was getting in that town. Now with the whole issue of the Standish Tavern between them she felt she needed to free Ezra of that dust bowl of a town even more. He was getting attached, to that town, to those men, to that . . . JOB!!!! No sir, she needed to put an end to this, and soon.
"Oh, Ezra, are you ever going to see I did the best I could? Lord, I was so hurt when you said that . . . do you not realize what I have done for you? The sacrifices I have made for your childhood? The life I could have lived, if I hadn't cared for you so?" Maude spoke out loud to herself, not caring about the looks she received from the other passengers. "This time, things will be different; I'll show you how much you need me. I'll make sure you see how that town is ruining you. Why it's a waste of your god giving talents! You'll see, this time I'll make sure you know what it has cost me to care for you. . . . or my name is not Maude Standish!!"
As the stage thundered across the landscape towards its next stop, Maude began to plan the most important con of her career . . . the con to make Ezra P. Standish realize he still needed his mother. No, that he still owed his mother and it was time to pay up. Really honey, did I not teach you that nothing in this world is free . . . maybe it's time for another lesson.
A/N: So what do you think? Should I keep going? Loved or loathed it let me know.
