AND ORDER

By: KellyA

Beta by NotTasha

Part 1

Ezra Standish's flamboyant attire was a beacon amongst the drab dress of the saloon's patrons. It announced his profession as a gambler as it concealed his job as lawman. At the moment, his foremost calling was the attraction at a center table with five other men. Ezra glanced at the five cards he held-three queens and two tens. His face remained impassive as his eyes circumvented the table, eyeing the other players. He raised the pot another dollar.

Ezra listened to the din that surrounded him; husky laughter competed with the nameless song pecked out on the out-of-tune piano, the clank of glasses punctuated friendly banter. These were the harmonies of his life, ones he was very well acquainted. Any change in the familiar rhythm of the saloon's vocal expression would not be overlooked. He smiled at the thought that his life as a gambler had proven advantageous for a lawman. He loved life's little ironies.

Ezra's thoughts turned to six men, who also managed to stand out in their own distinctive way within the confines of the saloon. Vin and Josiah were situated on the other side of the table, allowing him the privilege of taking their money. He was already devising a strategy that would allow Josiah to win sufficient funds to aid in the replacement of the orphanage's roof. There had been a severe windstorm early that week and many homes had been damaged. Ezra also hoped that, given enough money, Vin might replace his rather rancid buckskin coat. His mother would be truly appalled at this altruistic behavior. He actually took a certain amount of pleasure from his philanthropic activities, not that he would admit it to anyone.

"Your call, Ez," Josiah's baritone voice broke through the southerner's pleasant musings.

"Yeah, Ez, don't keep us waitin' to hand over our money," Vin chuckled. The other players at the table were not amused with the tracker's confidence in the gambler.

"Ah, Mr. Tanner, I shall endeavor not to disappoint," Ez replied smoothly as he revealed his hand and smiled at the groans of defeat, another chord within the saloon's repertoire, of which he was intimately familiar.

Ezra regarded Buck from across the room, as another hand was dealt. The resident Casanova was trying to woo a young blonde barmaid. JD and Nathan were conversing in the corner, although it appeared more like JD was doing all the talking and Nathan was just trying to keep up with the youth's exuberant conversation. Nathan twisted his mouth as JD suddenly burst into laughter at one of his own jokes.

Ezra's eyes narrowed and a smile crinkled the corners of his mouth when he spotted Chris surveying the room from his place at a far table. Chris actually seemed to be enjoying himself. His face was relaxed; a faint smile melting away the years and putting a light back into his eyes that was too long absence.

The seven lawmen were at ease for the first time in days. The last of the outlaws, who had robbed the bank at Cedar Ridge, were cooling their heels in the jail awaiting the judge's return. Chris had just finished morning patrol and given everyone the day off, allowing one of the upstanding citizens of Four Corners a chance to show their appreciation by watching over the prisoners.

Larabee nodded when he noticed Ezra's serene scrutiny from across the room. He wondered what the suave southerner was thinking. Of the six men he worked with the enigmatic gambler was probably the most complicated-A puzzle with some of the pieces missing. Chris downed his beer and wiped a hand across his mouth as he slouched back against the bar. He was slowly putting the pieces together and getting a picture of the smooth operator-a man who hid a fragile heart behind a mask of indifference and self-interest. Chris' blue eyes swept the room, a rare feeling of affection filling him as he gazed upon the six other lawmen he found himself irrevocably tied to.

'Content,' Chris thought. It was the first word that came to mind when he thought of his life in Four Corners and the friends he had made.

'At peace,' Ezra reflected, unknowingly mimicking his leader's thoughts, it was the reason they all remained in Four Corners a place that was fast becoming a home for the seven lawmen.

TBC