At the insistence of the man she considered her fated destiny, Suzie and Kenneth had left the saloon. She had been amazed that they had managed to get most of the money he'd lost back from the smooth gambler simply by coming up with a few clever answers. She would have thought the man was smarter than that. Maybe the alcohol had affected his judgment. Fear that he would come back and challenge them for the funds was a big factor in her agreeing to leave, along with her desire to show Chris how cooperative she could be. She was worried that he might think she wouldn't be an obedient bride. There was also the simple the truth that she was considerably more drained by the events of the day than she was willing to let on.
Which was why she was surprised by the fact sleep eluded her. Kenneth had curled up on the floormat provided in the room they had to share and was snoring lightly in just minutes. She was too restless, and found herself sitting on the window ledge, enjoying the night air and watching as the last late-night revellers left the saloon and the town began to quiet for the night.
Thoughts of Chris filled her head, along with a few of the other people she had met in town. For such a small isolated spot, there were a startling number of good-looking men here. None as handsome and impressive as Chris, but attractive nevertheless. The fellow who had delivered their bags – Vin she was told – had a shy sweetness to him. He spoke little, but smiled in a way that she had to admit made her knees go a just a bit weak. And the boisterous fellow that seemed to be such a good friend to Chris had a spirit to him as well. She could tell he was exactly the kind of man her father had warned her about – charming and flattering, but with only one thing on his mind. Father had never been to clear about what that thing was, but Aunt Mildred had blushed and stammered her way through explaining a bit of it. Buck was a man she was going to stay well clear of.
While she would never allow herself to say so aloud, the healer was a handsome man as well. She was sure Kenneth would be upset to hear her have such thoughts about any man, let alone a coloured man, but she couldn't deny the simple truth. It was a shame, but it was a fact that she could never really be allowed to think of him in any such manner.
Even the older man they'd arrived in town with had a warmth to him that she was sure many of the older women, say those over 20, found attractive. The former sheriff (surely he was too young to have that title?) was cute, but young. She wanted a more mature man to take for a husband. One already wise in the ways of the world, who was done with 'sowing his wild oats'. She thought she understood that term, even though Aunt Mildred had refused to provide details. Besides, JD apparently had a sweetheart, from the talk she'd heard.
And while she hated to admit it, there was a definite charm to the gambler. Those green eyes (not as fascinating as Chris's, but a close second) danced as he'd played his games and defied all opponents. There was a suggestion of a different kind of danger about the man that she found fascinating, and a bit frightening as well. Add in the alluring accent and hypnotic smile and Ezra Standish was definitely the sort that could attract whatever woman he wanted, and she had no doubt he had done so on many occasions.
She mulled over the happy turn of fate that left all of these men in one small town, and decided again this was the location they should put down roots. She'd already suggested it to Kenneth, who was noticeably less than enthused. Even when she assured him that he could undoubtedly find work here, he had steadfastly refused to consider the possibility. She tried to remind him with his experience as a clerk he could surely find someone who would pay him for that skill. Maybe the bank? And if need be, she could find work. She considered the options. Seamstress was out – the last button she sewed on fell off before the shirt was even done up, as he was quick to remind her. She was a decent cook, but not fancy enough to get a job doing that. She had spent several years waiting hand and foot on her family, and while it was not her first choice, she supposed she could be a waitress, or a maid, at least until Chris was ready to marry her and make sure she never needed to work again. She imagined there would have to be a decent period of courting before that could happen. At least a couple of months.
She was drawn away from planning her future as the noise from the saloon increased. Looking down, she was the doors were opening and was surprised to see Chris and Buck stumbling out. They were unruly and rowdy, laughing and cursing as they lurched down the sidewalk.
"You figure Miss Belle's is still open for business?" Chris asked loudly, his words slurring together.
"Ah Chris, you know for the two of us, it ain't business. It's pure pleasure for those ladies. And besides, you know you're their favorite!" They both howled with laughter, almost falling over each other.
"Ya gotta admit Buck. Keeping company with those ladies is definitely one of the benefits of this job of ours."
Nodding, and trying to stay upright in the process, Buck agreed. "Beats the hell out of the dollar a day we get."
The two men stopped when they heard a window above slam shut. Chris spoke softly. "You were right. She was watching."
"Saw her up there when I stepped out to toss the last drunk out for the night."
"Do you think this disillusioned her enough?"
"Seeing as how she damn near broke the window, I'd bet yes." Chris allowed himself a moment to feel relieved at Buck's words. "Course, on the other hand, could be she is going to decide she is the good woman who can reform you and change your wicked ways."
"Shit."
"So, can I be best man at the wedding?"
The two men had been friends for far too long for Chris to kill him over a bit of teasing, no matter how enticing the prospect was. Choosing not to yield to that particular temptation, Chris turned and headed toward the boarding house and the comfort of a decent sleep. Realizing who else was in the house and the fact she might hear him come in, he turned toward the jail instead. It was empty tonight, and one of the bunks would work just fine.
"So, you're not coming to Belle's?"
Buck laughed at the dirty look the question got, and wandered off. Chris looked up again, relieved to see the light had gone out in the room. He made his way to the jail house. In the darkness, neither man spotted the unconscious body in the alley near the livery.
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Buck was whistling loudly as he made his way through the early morning light back to the boarding house. There were times he wondered why he even bothered to keep a room there, since he slept in it so rarely. Maybe he could work out a deal where he just paid rent on a closet for the few clothes and other possessions he had. Yes, definitely something to consider.
He glanced toward the stables, wondering for a moment if he should go check on Lady. He was scheduled for some long-range patrolling today, and it might not be a bad idea to see to it that she got some extra oats to start the day. Turning toward the new destination, he was surprised to see something in the shadows of the alley. He was more surprised when he was close enough to see it wasn't something, it was someone – and the red coat was all he needed to see to know who.
"Nathan, get down here – Ezra's hurt." He was shouting at the top of his lungs, not carrying if he woke up half the town. He skidded to a stop next to the unmoving figure and dropped down beside him. "Son of a bitch." He muttered as he slowly turned him over.
A thin trail of dried blood ran down the side of his face. More was coming from his nose and the side of his mouth. There wasn't a lot, but it was enough to make Buck shout again for help. He looked up and saw Nathan looking out his window quickly, then without commenting pull his head back in and disappear from sight. Buck knew he'd be down in a matter of seconds.
Chris got there first, awakened by the shouts. Vin wasn't far behind.
"Son of a bitch."
"That's what I said Chris. He has to have been here since last night – after he left the saloon."
Nathan pushed the others aside, talking to Buck as he started to examine his patient. "He say anything? Move at all?"
"Nope. Didn't react when I rolled him."
Cursing softly, Nathan reached out and carefully raised Ezra's eyelid. "Ez? Can you hear me." There was a soft moan and slight turning of the head as if trying to avoid the light in his eye.
"Ezra, you need to wake up." Nathan encourage softly.
Having a better understanding of what it took to wake Ezra when he didn't want to move, Chris spoke up. "Standish, open your eyes before I kick your sorry ass."
"Your concern is deeply touching Mr. Larabee."
The only reason Chris allowed himself to smile at the response was because Ezra had kept his eyes closed. He squatted down beside Nathan. "That sounds like he's alright."
"I wouldn't go that far." Nathan had been checking for injuries, watching every reaction to his touch. "Nose may be busted. Thought the jaw was too, until he talked. Ezra, I want to you try to take as deep a breath as you can. Stop the second it starts to hurt."
Ezra mumbled something about not needing to be told the obvious but complied. He gasped fairly quickly.
"Well, I doubt the ribs are broken badly, or he couldn't have done that much, but there are definitely cracks, and maybe small fractures. We'll have to watch him for bleeding and such, but I think it looks a lot worse than it is."
"Looks worse?" Ezra questioned, trying to sit up and immediately regretting the action.
"You got a mess of bruises and cuts on you. Gonna be a while before you're back to looking your usual dapper self there Hoss."
"Who did this Ezra?" Vin was already plotting an appropriate response to the act.
Ezra closed his eyes for a moment as he tried to recall the event. "I went out for a bit of air before retiring for the night and was ambushed from behind. An extremely ungentlemanly way of starting a thrashing."
Buck laughed lightly. "You couldn't just call it a fight?"
"A fight implies two sides to the dispute. I regret to say I did not comport myself in a manner to make the description appropriate. There were two men; one felt it fitting to hold me while the other pummeled."
"Fellas from the game?" Chris knew the answer but asked anyway to make it official.
Being fully aware of what would happen if he tried to nod his head, Ezra elected to speak instead. "Yes. As they had indicated at the time, they were less than pleased with the results of the evening and were determined to regain what they had lost, and more if possible."
Glancing at Ezra's feet, Buck smiled. "Well, since you still have your boots on, I'm guessing they didn't find your stash."
"No, and they were less than please about that as well. They were desperate enough to conclude that I was in collusion with young Mr. Bolster, and that he had the funds."
Chris stood as he looked over to boarding house, fearing what he might find there. "You didn't tell them where he was, did you?"
Ezra pried open the eye that wasn't swollen shut and glared. "Your opinion of me is so low that you presume I would sell out the interests of an inexperienced and totally innocent young man, not to mention his annoying, but equally innocent sister, in an effort to spare myself a few bruises?"
"No Ezra. It isn't. I shouldn't have asked. Gut reaction."
Satisfied, he closed his eye again. "They were quite determined to confirm their ludicrous supposition and made repeated demands on me to disclose his whereabouts, and that of the money of course. After several unsuccessful efforts, I was eventually able to convince the miscreants that the funds were used to pay off my outstanding account at the bar. Had they taken a moment to realize how much alcohol would have been consumed to create such a debt, the misdirection would have failed. Fortunately, they lacked the capacity to make such a calculation. I attempted on repeated occasions to make my way out of this location during the night but found it rather difficult to remain conscious during the effort." After pausing to catch his breath, he turned to Nathan. "I would appreciate some assistance in getting off the ground and back to my room."
"Can help with the first part, but you're going to the clinic so I can wrap up those ribs and keep an eye on you for a bit."
"The wrapping can be done in my room, and I do not require a guardian."
Chris stepped away, pulling Vin and Buck with him. He'd heard this argument too many times and knew it would end with a compromise being reached.
"Either one of you know where those two are likely to be?"
Buck nodded. "They've been working out at the Circle R ranch for the last month or so. Want me to ride out?"
"Both of you and take JD with you as well." He looked over at the boarding house again. "Best not take any chances that those idiots change their minds and come back to town. I'll get Josiah to keep an eye on the Bolster kids just in case."
"Sure you don't want to do that yourself Chris?" Buck smirked, fully expecting the dirty look he got. When this was over with, and things were returned to normal, he knew Chris was going to find a way to get even.
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tbc