"Ezra Standish, your time has finally come," he thought to himself, fighting to maintain his cool, detached poker face as he laid down the winning hand on the table. The others around threw down their cards in disgust, but with only mild grumbling. Time had proven the man to be an unnatural force when it came to gambling, and they all knew when they took their places at the game they were fighting the odds. And, as usual, they lost.
Chris Larabee and Josiah Sanchez sat at a nearby table. To the casual observer they were simply two men having a quiet conversation and ignoring the activities around them. To anyone who knew them, their reputations or this town, it was clear the men were watching very closely, making sure no one took exception to the all too typical run of good luck Ezra was having. He had been all but unbeatable lately, even more so than usual. And while there had been a time, not all that long ago, he would have been called out over such good fortune, his reputation as a stellar gambler had overtaken his questionable history.
"Gentlemen, while this has been a pleasurable, not to mention profitable evening, I believe the hour has come for me to take my leave of the game. I enthusiastically anticipate future soirees of enjoyable companionship."
"Huh?" a couple of his fellow card players looked at him confused.
"He's saying good night." Buck Wilmington walked up to the table grinning. "Can't you ever just be straight forward Ez?"
"Ez-ra! Really Mr. Wilmington, would one additional syllable be so difficult for you to pronounce. And as for my use of appropriate language for any specified circumstance, I can only express that precise etymological practice has benefitted me on more than one occasion, so I shall continue to be deliberate in my choice of phrase."
"Imagine them fancy words get you into as much trouble as they get you out of."
"Probably more," added the dusty cowboy who had just walked into the saloon.
Ezra grinned. "I would wager, Mr. Tanner, that the numbers are likely balanced."
"Don't take the bet Vin. Ez-RA can't lose tonight."
"I stopped betting against our boy ages ago Buck."
The trio had made their way over to the two men who had been closely watching the game. "Might we join you Mr. Larabee?" Without waiting for the nod that followed, they all pulled up chairs. "I assume you are able to confirm the honesty of my playing this evening, given the scrutiny with which you monitored the proceedings?"
"Weren't your honesty we were worried about," came the casual, and to Ezra, mildly surprising reply.
"I can assure you I would have been more than capable of observing any attempts at manipulation from the others at the table."
"No doubt of that Son," spoke the second observer, a big man whose physical presence belied the gentle soul beneath. "But it was likely that those others might take exception to your ongoing good fortune. Wouldn't want to see you busted up so close to the biggest poker game of your life now, would we?"
"I am not your son, Mr. Sanchez, as I apparently must continue to remind you, but I do appreciate your vigilance on my behalf. And, in reply to your unspoken question, yes, this evenings success has tipped the scale on my financial requirement for admission to the event. With only two days to spare! I assume Mr. Larabee that there remains no conflict that would restrict my attendance?"
"No, Ezra – there's no reason you can't go lose all that hard won money of yours." He smiled slightly at the offended look Ezra gave him. "In fact, I was thinking some of us might join you on the trip. Be interesting to watch some of the wests best gamblers all in one place."
"So you anticipate trouble."
"Not from you Ezra, but you do seem to be a bit of a draw for it, 'specially when you're on your game." He ignored this offended look as well.
Buck laughed. "He's right about that. You can get more folks mad at you in a shorter time than just about anybody I know."
"The gentlemen in this tournament are not rubes fresh off the stagecoach Mr. Wilmington. They are professionals. There will be no quick tempered fisticuffs resulting from the loss of a hand."
"Can't believe you have won – and saved - $1000 to buy into this game of yours." Vin had a mix of awe and concern in his voice.
"Actually, I have $1100, plus small amount of travelling money. Always good to have a bit in reserve. And, to be honest, it wasn't all fresh winnings Vin. With such a short advance notice to amass the funds, I had to resort to alternate sourcing. Some was in the bank –"
"You had savings?!" Buck was stunned.
"- and I sold off a few small gemstones I had been holding onto for the proverbial rainy day," he finished, ignoring Buck's interruption.
"How much you figure you could win?"
"It is a winner take all tournament – no one leaves the table with money except the winner through each round. And as there are expected to be 25 participants…"
"25 THOUSAND dollars." Buck shouted, making heads turn in the saloon. "Damn Ezra – what are you gonna do with all that money?"
"He ain't won it yet Buck." Vin said angrily. "No guarantee he will either."
"Mr. Tanner, are you trying to jinx me?"
"Course not Ezra, just sayin' is all." Vin tried to get the neutral tone back to his voice, but couldn't hide the anxiousness from his eyes. He had no doubt that with $25,000 in his pockets, Ezra would not be coming back to his dollar a day job in Four Corners. Likely wouldn't even ride through town to collect his things. And as much as he wished the best for his friend, the thought of losing the gambler from the team hurt him more than he would have expected.
The silence at the table told him the others were having the same thought, and not likely for the first time in Chris's case at least. Their leader had a resigned look to his face. He did expect there was a very good chance the seven were soon to be six. Even without the win, this game was going to put Ezra back in contact with the element he had left behind when he reluctantly agreed months ago to join with the unlikely group of lawmen. As much as the man had 'reformed' himself over time, had made a solid and surprising effort to fit into the team and town, there was a look that came into his eyes when he laid down a winning hand than nothing else could inspire. Gambling was in his blood, and returning to their straight and narrow path was anything but a sure thing. And if he beat the odds and won? There was no doubt in Chris's mind, really in the mind of any member of the team, that life in Four Corners would be a lot less lively.
Ezra broke the uncomfortable silence that had settle over the group. "Well gentlemen, I am going to secure my winnings and retire for the evening. I have an early day tomorrow, as Mr. Larabee has so thoughtfully assigned me the morning patrol for my last round prior to my rendezvous with destiny. Good night." He raised his fingers in salute as he left the saloon.
Buck looked at his long-time friend. "Think there's anything we can do to change his mind about all of this Chris?"
The man in black snorted slightly. "Poker game of a life-time? What do you think?"
"I think this is going to be a lousy week."
"We got no right to ask him not to go, but still…"
"You're right Vin. We can't ask him." Josiah's voice was thick with sadness. He had an inexplicable bond with the gambler, and felt in his heart he was losing part of his family. The departure of any of the team would be hard, but Ezra – that was going to be the worst. "This is too important to him."
"Thought we were important to him."
"Knock it off Vin. You ain't five years old. You know damn well this is what he was born to do – in his blood. It's not fair to him for us to try to tell him otherwise."
"I know. Don't have to like though."
"None of us like it." Buck agreed. They sat quietly at the table for the remainder of the evening.
"Well here's a sight I never expected to see." Buck grinned as he walked into the livery. "Ezra Standish saddled and ready to ride at – what - 7 o'clock in the morning. You musta been the fella who woke up the rooster!"
"I can rise and be prepared when the motivation is sufficient, and in this case I have 25,000 reasons."
"Ez?" JD walked toward his friend, getting as close to Chaucer as the horse would allow. "Win or lose, you are coming back here – right?" Buck had spoken to the junior member of the team the night before, pointing out to the eternally optimistic youngster the realities of this adventure. It hadn't entered his mind that the money would change things.
He looked down from his mount at the almost desperate look on the young man's face. He was angry that someone had finally voiced the concern they all had, and at the same time relieved to be asked about it. Relieved to realize, in glancing at the others, that they were asking, they did care.
"Of course I shall return Mr. Dunne." A smile of relief spread over the lawman face, only to be extinguished with the phrase that followed. "All of my possessions are here, and there are some I would not wish to leave behind."
"So you're leaving. If you win you're leaving us."
Ezra didn't answer immediately.
"Think we'd all like an answer to that one Pard." Vin stopped saddling up as he talked. Everyone was in the room, and the silence was overwhelming.
"I promised you, Mr. Larabee" he said looking over to the man, "that I would not run out on you again."
"This ain't running Ezra. That promise wasn't meant to be a lifelong sentence. You want to move on, any of us want to move on, all you got to do is say so. I'm not gonna put a gun to your head to try to make you stay." He looked the gambler in the eye. "Having said that, I – we – would like you to stay. Understand why you wouldn't, but we'd sure like it if you did."
"I believe, gentlemen, we are counting chickens not merely before they hatch, but well before the hen has laid the eggs. I promise you JD, victorious or vanquished, I shall return here prior to making any further decisions on my future. Does that satisfy you?"
"For now." JD pause, not knowing whether he could voice the next thought with any conviction. "Guess I ought to wish you good luck."
"Your good wishes, however lacking in veracity they may be, are appreciated. Mr. Jackson, have you something to add before I depart?"
The healer had stepped up beside JD. He, Josiah and JD would be staying in Four Corners to keep the town guarded in the absence of the remainder of the group.
"I do wish you luck Ezra. I know you've wanted a chance like this for a long time, so I hope you get whatever it is you need out of it. Really."
"Thank you sir – that means a great deal. Mr. Sanchez, any observations?"
"Just what Nathan said works for me too. We can talk about anything else when you come home."
Ezra couldn't miss the less than subtle emphasis on the last word, but merely nodded his acceptance. "I shall see you all within the week, fates being kind, with my pockets much fuller." He rode out, knowing his three travelling companions would follow. They did, after glancing back with discouraged looks at the men staying behind. They watched their friends ride, so focused on the foursome that none noticed the others at the edge of town watching the departure.
TBC
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