Coming To Terms

by subtleshadeofgrey

A version of the 'reading of the will' -7B AU. Can the Larabee brothers come to terms with their new family members. Can the new Larabees come to terms with a new lifestyle. Will any of them figure out what makes Ezra tick & will Ez learn to trust?

4. Chapter 4

Coming To Terms chapter 4

Disclaimer: Why do I have to keep reminding everyone that I don't own Ezra or the boys? Isn't life empty enough without the constant…okay, guess I might be a little bit of a drama queen.

A/N Just wanted to say thank you for the wonderful support. Hope you enjoy this installment.

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All conversation stopped at Nathan's exclamation and eyes turned to face the person at the other end of his glare.

Ezra.

"Ah believe that those are the medical details that you requested Doctor Larabee." The voice was smooth and soft and the expression neutral but the twinkle in the jade eye was both amused and defiant.

"No Ezra. I asked for your medical file, not a piece of paper telling me that you have allergies to milk and beef and you've had your spleen removed! And don't try and tell me that that's all because the big red letters saying 'further access denied' and a contact number in Atlanta are a big clue that there's more."

"Sheesh Ezra! Can't you be upfront about anything? Why do you have to make life difficult for Nathan, he's a doctor, and a good one at that. You should show a little trust and a bit more respect." Buck was exasperated at the southerner's attitude. Chris, on the other hand, was angry and had surmised a reason for his black sheep of a brother's reticence.

"It don't matter if half your records are forwarded from some jail or under a hundred different aliases , Nate needs to know everything if you're gonna be a chain around our necks for the next year."

The embarrassed silence hung heavy in the air and the only one not looking angry or uncomfortable was Ezra who maintained an expression of stoic indifference. It sent a shiver through Nettie's small frame. What kind of life must he have had to learn that sort of self control.

After several moments silence Ezra rose elegantly and slowly from his chair and, rather than addressing the parties who had spoken, he turned to Josiah.

"Mister Sanchez, may I ask you a question?"

"Of course Ezra, and it's Josiah."

Ezra nodded. "Tell me Josiah, what is Mister Dunne's medical history?"

Josiah was puzzled and the reactions around him suggested that everybody else was too but Josiah answered the question. "I don't know Ezra."

Ezra smiled and turned to Vin.

"Mister…" he corrected himself before Vin could do it for him. "Vin. What ailments does Josiah suffer from?"

"Don't know." he replied but he had an inkling where this was going and Ezra was right to be concerned.

"Ezra! What the hell are you doing?"

"What is all this crap!?" Nathan and Chris's exclamations were made together and were met with instant censure from Nettie for swearing. Ezra ignored their comments and turned to JD.

"JD, what conditions afflict me?"

"A…A milk allergy, and you're allergic to beef too. Oh! And you don't have a spleen" replied the young man, still unsure of the significance of his knowledge but it had dawned on the others and Nathan was looking shame faced. He hadn't meant to break doctor / patient confidentiality but he'd been so mad! And the Larabees didn't keep secrets from one another. What one knew they all knew. It had always been the way.

Ezra turned and walked to the door leading to the hall without acknowledging Nathan's belated attempt at an apology. As he turned the handle he looked back and smiled as though the past few minutes hadn't happened, then casually stated

"Well Ah don't know about the others but I would quite like to get settled in, it has been a tiring morning. Mister Larabee" he looked directly at Chris with an implacable expression that sorely tempted the rancher to wipe off his face with his fist then continued with an uncanny insight that made him and Buck blush under the resulting, disapproving, stares of Nettie and the new Larabees. "I am sure that you have already allocated me the worst room in the house so would you care to lead the way?"

Chris stomped up the stairs as the others followed him, wisely keeping their silence. Chris was not sure what to make of this whole situation. He wanted to curse his father for his philandering, for his secrecy and his sudden attack of conscience that resulted in their being here. But most of all he wanted to be able to yell at him for dying; for leaving them with this mess…for not being there to talk to.

He shrugged the grief off. He had done more than his fair share of that these past few years. First with Sarah and Adam and then Mom, now Dad. Besides, he wanted to stay angry. It was the only way he could cope with the strangeness that was Standish. The others he understood; oh he didn't know them yet but he suspected that he would like them a lot when he did. That they would prove to be a credit to the Larabee name…but Standish was a creature like no other. He respected Josiah and welcomed his long overdue joining. It was impossible not to like JD although he seemed a little innocent for his age. He snorted softly, Buck would inevitably take it upon himself to educate the poor kid in the ways of men. Still, as green as the kid seemed he hoped that as a smart boy he would have the sense not to take his reprobate of a brother's advice on women. Horses yes…women…the mind boggled. Vin was already a Larabee, he could feel the connection as soon as they had met. And if he was a true Larabee that would mean he'd be as stubborn as hell, so he'd have to remember not to push. Remember that this was all as shocking for them as it was for him.

Except Standish. Robert Larabee may heve been the type to brush his indiscretions under the rug, but he was a thorough man when he put his mind to a task. When he researched his missing children you could be sure that if it was there he would find it…unless that person was purposely covering their tracks. And why would someone do that if they had nothing to hide. Add a greedy grifter for a mother and you have…someone who would in generations to come be the skeleton in the closet of future Larabees. The one talked of in hushed and disapproving tones. The bad blood.

He didn't know what sort of game the southerner was playing but whatever it was he wasn't going to give the man the chance to put it into action. If he thought that he could get at his money by some sort of loophole then he was going to be in for a shock. The only way he was going to see that million dollars was to stay for the duration, and Chris would be willing to bet that the get rich quick schemer wouldn't have the stamina for the long haul. Nettie had been right, he was soft. This place would break him inside of three months. But, unfortunately, until then there was no choice but to put up with him.

'Damn Dad, why can' t you make anything easy?' were his last contemplative thoughts as he did what any big brother would do on reaching the upstairs hallway….he passed Standish off onto Buck.

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Just as Chris had predicted Vin, once given the options, had chosen the attic room reserved for him. He hadn't expected it to be so big and figured all his worldly goods wouldn't fill even half the space. He told Chris so after his new brother had informed him that it was his to do whatever he wanted with.

"Well" Chris pointed out, "There's already a new bed and a closet and dresser, but I can show you some places in town so you can see if there's anything you want to add….that's if you've not got anything being sent on from Texas."

"Only Peso, and as much as I love my horse I don't love him quite that much."

Chris couldn't help himself and the first genuine happiness he had felt since that day in the Judge's office spilled over into laughter. He knew the tension would soon return, it always did, but just for a few minutes it felt like he had known this brother all their lives and the Texan's easy going chuckles were a welcome sound in the lately too sombre house.

"Well I know they're meant to be a man's best friend but…"

"Ain't that dogs?" Vin was glad that he had been able to cut through his brother's shell, if only a little. He not only felt a bond between them he also felt that it was important to connect as one of the outsiders…maybe then this stubborn brother would look a little more kindly on, what he suspected was, their most vulnerable brother. He knew Ezra would be horrified to have someone see through his mask but Vin had never had trouble reading people, it was what made him a good hunter. And Ezra was a wounded soul…trouble was so was Chris and that was a time bomb that needed to be diffused. He just didn't know how. He wished that Blossom were here, she would know what to do.

"Vin?….Vin?"

"Oh sorry" Vin blushed as Chris's voice brought him back to the moment, "Just thinking on home y'know?" And he knew that Chris would know. Home and family obviously meant the world to the man who had already lost so much. Heck, even Ezra had paled as Buck had quickly and quietly filled them in on his family's deaths during lunch. He suspected that it had been a planned move because Chris had conveniently moved out of earshot to help Nettie while Buck spoke. He hadn't really considered it till now though what with everything kicking off over the medical notes.

"Yeah, can't be easy just upping sticks and moving on a weeks notice, but hopefully you'll come to call this place home soon."

Vin nodded at Chris's comment but they both knew that home wasn't so much a place as it was people and Vin was missing his family. Not the family he was birthed to but the family, still linked by blood but tenuously so, whom he had chosen to enrich his life and he theirs.

"Reckon so." he conceded as a slightly awkward silence descended.

"Um…" Chris knew that delicacy wasn't his strong point but he had to wonder if the reason that the bounty hunter hadn't brought much was because he couldn't afford much. "…if you need any financial help…"

Vin took pity on the blond as he struggled not to sound patronizing. It was a common mistake people made when they met him. The way he dressed, his battered jeep and his frugal ways led folks to think of him as being poor. He pushed away the little flare of anger that the well meaning brother's offer had triggered, the one that made him feel like a pitied poor relation dependant on the charity of the better, more successful, branch of the family. It was hardly his fault that he hadn't grown up among the rich Larabees; that he'd had to work damn hard for every penny and to his own, and he hoped, his mother's…God rest her soul, pride he had done well for himself. He realised that he had been silent too long when Chris blushed and shuffled his feet before apologizing.

"Sorry if I sounded a little….if I embarrassed…" God Chris thought, 'I hate being diplomatic…never works' He was relieved to hear, instead of an angry retort, soft gravely laughter.

Vin's anger vanished as soon as it arrived. It was hardly the other man's fault. Likely it wasn't anyone's fault other than Robert Larabee and it was no use being riled at the dead.

"It's okay Chris. Ain't that I can't afford stuff. Maybe in the past…but that taught me to travel light. Bounty hunting actually pays pretty good, especially if you get yourself a reliable reputation."

The smile on Vin's face reassured Chris that no offence had been taken and with a mental sigh of relief he went on to show Vin the built on bathroom and it's connecting door to the rest of the roof space where there had been the intention of another room, the idea being to share the bathroom; in the end it hadn't been structurally practical, leaving the one large room and the much smaller one at the other end of the house with the same limitations. After the mini-tour Chris left the Texan to freshen up before they all got together again to discuss the rules and individual plans.

Nathan found himself liking Josiah and JD right away. He had been a little worried that the newcomers wouldn't accept him because he was black and adopted. Or, even worse, that he was adopted and had the comfortably well off life that they might feel should have been theirs - and they would have been right in thinking that. He loved Robert Larabee as much as any son loved their father, adopted or not, but that didn't mean that he wasn't aware of his flaws, and the man had his share. But his worries seemed to be groundless as he chatted with the two he'd been asked to help select rooms.

Of all the new arrivals they had been the most instantly open and friendly. Vin had also been friendly but he was, the medic suspected, a little shy…he also appeared to be the protective kind, just like Chris. Trouble was he also seemed to be a bit of a soft touch because he was starting to cast that protective eye over the sneaky southerner. Nathan didn't know quite what to make of that contrary man. He was courteous, yet cold; self deprecating and anti social. He wondered if the obvious wariness the man displayed around him was because he was a Larabee, or, for some unknown reason because he was a doctor. The only thing he was pretty sure of was that the reason wasn't his colour because he was even more hostile towards Chris. And there was something about him, something he felt he should be picking up on but for the life of him he couldn't figure out what it was. Putting aside his curiosity and making a mental note to ask Chris to have a talk with their Texan brother about being too trusting towards con men he led the oldest and youngest of his brothers down the hallway where the bedrooms lay.

"Okay guys, this room and the two opposite are free so I guess you should choose whichever you prefer. The layout is basically the same but I should warn you that this room" he indicated the first room he had pointed out, "is next to the one occupied by Buck…and let me tell you that Buck is a very appropriate name; he has quite an active social life if you get my drift."

Josiah chuckled while JD blushed at Nathan's comment. Both immediately chose the two adjacent rooms across the corridor. Nathan showed them the layout and the location of the bathroom along the hall before helping them to carry their luggage in. Like Chris he left them to settle in. He couldn't help but think that this whole thing was either going to be a great adventure or a total disaster.

"Well this is it. It's got a bed, closet, dresser and private shower and toilet." Buck could happily kill Chris for chickening out of showing the southerner the room that he had chosen for him. It was plain embarrassing that the grand tour could be taken in a few steps in each direction…well maybe a few more steps for Ezra because he was only little. He and JD must have got that off their Ma's since the Larabee's tended to the broad and the tall. Then again Nathan was the tallest of them all and though he was every inch a Larabee he also, in a biological way, wasn't. Buck stopped himself before he tangled himself up in a mental knot and waited patiently for his new brother to comment.

Ezra schooled his expression into it's trademark poker face as he inspected the place he would be forced to call home for the next twelve months. He could see from his escorts body language that he was not expecting a favourable image to have been presented. Indeed, the phrase 'living in a shoe box' sprang to mind. But he had lived in far worse and been treated well and far more opulent and been treated worse. In truth the size was reminiscent of some of the hospital and rehabilitation centre rooms he had stayed in. At least it was clean and the roof space would provide extra storage options. It also had surprisingly good natural light for an attic. The only problem, as far as Ezra could see, was the number of stairs he would have to traverse every day. But that was a problem for him to deal with alone. No need to bother anyone unnecessarily….or give them ammunition.

"It is perfectly adequate for mah needs, thank you Mr Larabee. Ah assume that there are no objections to mah customizing it more to mah own taste?"

"Huh?" Buck was thrown for a moment. He had been expecting a tantrum or explosion of some sort and he had gotten instead…it took him a moment to recover and process the question he had been asked…decorating! The man was asking if he could decorate. "Oh, yes sure; it's your room, you do whatever you need to."

As he left the room he thanked his lucky stars that the fancy man was obviously too polite to tell him to his face that the room was crap. He would still be having words with Christopher for putting him in such a situation though.

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Vin unpacked his few possessions; his clothes only took up half the closet space and two of the dresser drawers. It wasn't actually all he owned but he figured he could buy some of the stuff he needed locally, the rest he had left in storage with Chanu. He placed one of the few things he would never be parted from, his medicine bundle, in the bottom of the closet and his other most precious possession - a silver framed photograph of his mother holding him when he was a baby, on the bedside table. The blanket from blossom went onto the end of the bed ready for when the nights turned cool - but decorative until then and the one for who knew who went with Pete's gifts into the bottom dresser drawer. He figured that he had enough time for a quick shower before having to go back downstairs. He looked around his new room. It had a good feeling to it but he would do a proper cleansing ceremony tomorrow to spiritually settle the space. He made a mental note to inform the others of his plans…didn't want them to think he was up here smoking pot!

JD was impressed by how homely his room was. Having only ever had one proper home, not counting student accomodation, it somehow surprised him that anywhere else, anywhere without his mother in it, could feel like home…especially so quickly. Shaking off the slight depression that tended to come over him whenever he thought about her not being there any more he dumped his suitcases and laptop on the bed and began to unpack, making sure to separate what he had come to think of as his ordinary clothes from his 'new life' clothes including several new pairs of jeans, check cowboy style shirts and several bandanas, though he wasn't quite sure what he waqs supposed to do with them…something about trail dust?, he mused. He noted in passing that there were plenty of electrical sockets for his equipment, including his games player and desktop computer which would be arriving in a couple of days. As excited as he was about being a cowboy for a year he couldn't do without the necessities of life.

Josiah liked the simplicity of his room. The plain white walls and the large window with the view out over the meadow at the back of the ranch gave him a sense of being closer to nature, and the fact that he had been offered a room on the same floor as Buck, Chris and Nathan made him feel accepted. He frowned slightly at the realization that the only one of them who hadn't been offered a free choice was Ezra. Not only that but he had evidently been effectively barred from this floor. He had to admit that the southerner didn't do himself any favours with his defensive attitude but as a psychologist he had found that people who developed a defensive attitude often had something to feel defensive about. And unless he was very much mistaken Ezra's life while it may or may not have been an honest one had almost certainly not been an easy one no matter what he might attempt to portray. He hoped that with time his younger brother would learn to trust them with his past so that they could help him to a better future. He smiled once again at the idea of them all as a close family - it would certainly take a lot of work but success would be worth it.

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It took everybody less than thirty minutes to make their way back to the family room. While they had been settling in Nettie had been busy clearing away the lunch things. She would have to rustle up something for the allergic southerner to eat later. The beef dish she had brought with her would be alright for Vin as, having prepared it herself, she knew that there were no milk products in it but Nathan had explained to her that Ezra was one of about twenty percent of milk allergy sufferers who was also allergic to beef. She tutted to herself; as a rancher's wife and then a rancher in her own right it seemed inconceivable to her to be able to live on a diet without milk or beef. No wonder the boy was so thin; it was a wonder he could find anything to eat at all. She suspected that he was probably a fair cook, he would have to be out of sheer self preservation.

'Dammit! There I go again' she thought with a wry smile. As determined as she was to dislike the offspring of Maude Standish and concur with the conclusions that Robert Larabee had made from the results of his investigations into the boy's past she just couldn't seem to reconcile it with what she was seeing and hearing; and from what Buck and Nathan had told her of Robert's comments in the will she would be having words with the blunt and inconsiderate man when she reached the pearly gates. It was a mistake to judge someone without getting to know them first, though she didn't doubt that Ezra would not make the process an easy one… not if he had anything to do with it. But for all his aloofness there was the same sort of longing in his eyes that she had seen in Vin's. Now that boy reminded her of her youngest, living in Canada now and doing well for himself but he had always been a strange mixture of pragmatic yet shy. Yes Vin definitely needed a little mothering. Poor JD obviously still missed his own mother very much but she was sure that Buck would be good for him. And perhaps he should introduce him to her niece, Casey. They were about the same age and she could help him make some new friends, there were a lot of young people around most of the year because of the local college.

Her thoughts meandered along as she worked. She realised later that it was testament to the strength of the Larabees as a family that she herself, not related by blood, adoption nor marriage, felt like this was her family too…all of them. From Christopher, still dealing with his grief and Josiah, still coming to terms with finally being accepted; to Buck who was caught in the middle between the brother he adored and the new brothers he instinctively wanted to welcome because that was the sort of nurturing man that he was. She hoped that between themselves she and Buck could steer the others towards a happy ending. She didn't doubt for a minute that no matter what they may say the new arrivals were desperate to find a place here, even if they didn't stay forever. Family was the one thing that had always been denied them in one way or another and she hated to think what might happen to them if they were rejected again. For some reason the jade green eyes of the southerner came to mind. It occurred to her that some might not be able to take that rejection again. She gave an involuntary shiver as she carried a coffee tray into the family room. She had been surprised that she had been asked to remain but she suspected that they knew she'd wheedle the details out of them anyway…Buck especially, was an inveterate gossip.

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All were gathered, sitting on the couch, recliners and extra chairs brought in from the kitchen, Nathan having made a mental note to himself that they needed another couch. It didn't surprise anyone that Ezra was the last arrival. Trust the man to want to make the grand entrance was the most popular thought as Ezra ambled unhurriedly into the room, taking the last seat.

Ezra saw from the various expressions that no-one was surprised at his late arrival. As long as they weren't aware that he had been forced to rest half way down the stairs he couldn't care less what they thought. He hadn't realised how quickly he would miss his cane. It, or one of it's brethren, had been his constant companion since his teens and while he had started off hating the thing with a passion it had become almost a comfort to him. But he knew that he could not afford to show any weakness. He wasn't sure what exactly would happen if he did show such a failing but he wasn't willing to find out. Not yet anyway.

"Now that we're all finally here" Chris began with an accusing glance at the southerner. His ears were still ringing from the tongue lashing that Buck had given him after he had avoided his responsibility of showing their newly acquired black sheep to his less than impressive new quarters. He forced his animosity away; this was supposed to be a friendly welcome.

"First, on behalf of Buck, Nathan and myself I would like to welcome you to both the ranch and to the Larabee family…"

"Excuse me?"

Chris sighed. He had thought that the welcome at least would be without controversy. Trust the sheep to bleat.

"Yes Ezra?"

"I think that you will find that there is no mention in your father's will that a name change is required to qualify for the specified inheritance. Mah name is Standish, not Larabee." Ezra's final comment was stated with firmness and nobody doubted that if he said that the will didn't contain a name clause then it didn't. Ezra Standish seemed the type to read any document with a magnifying glass. What did surprise Chris, Nathan and to a lesser extent Buck was the view of the next voice to be heard from.

"Gotta say that I agree with Ez on that." Vin's tone was even and non challenging but the sentiment was just as strong. "I'm proud to be a Tanner. Name's the only thing I got left of my Ma and while I don't want to offend ya I aim to keep it that way."

"Me too." JD had lost his mom; he wasn't prepared to give up his name…not yet.

Josiah made no comment. He wouldn't mind dropping the name of the step - father he had hated but he felt that to admit it now would only stir up more trouble. He, therefore found himself sitting where he often sat - firmly on the fence.

Buck had been prepared to argue Ezra's comment but when Vin had made the emotion behind the three men's reasoning clear he had to admit that he wouldn't like anyone to presume that he would change his name at the drop of a hat either. He could see that his other brothers agreed; looked like the first crisis had been averted. He didn't doubt that there would be another one soon.

"Okay, I guess I can understand that" admitted Chris and he quickly moved on to the next item on his list.

"The will states that all benefactors should live and work on or from, or in day to day commute distance from the ranch for the twelve months. Now that doesn't mean you're prisoners. You can go visit friends and family but the overwhelming majority of your time will be spent here. The will does state in the sub-clauses that major holidays and birthdays should be spent as a family." He waited for protests to arrive and was a little surprised when they didn't. He didn't realise, of course, that none of the new brothers were used to having family celebrations and holidays to attend, except perhaps JD and his family pretty much died when his mother did, with his uncles living mostly out of the country family get togethers weren't on the cards any time soon.

Boosted by the lack of complaint Chris moved on. "Now as to work issues. "Well Josiah, looks like you're already sorted. Nathan will take you round the hospital tomorrow and introduce you, get the paperwork organized. That sort of thing."

"Sounds fine by me brother. I can't wait to get started." Josiah would have been happy to get the position even if he hadn't been a part of this. Helping people was what he loved to do.

"Good" confirmed Chris. "Now JD, I understand from Buck that you've chosen to definitely try the cowboy life rather than take a job at the college, that right?"

"Yes Sir…I mean Chris" Nettie, who had been sitting quietly couldn't help a little chuckle at the still overawed youngster. Reminded her of her Albert when he was young and wondered if she would want to be tied down to a cowboy for the rest of her life. She had and it had been a good life. She thought it would be a good life for the young-un too.

"Well I'll leave your training in the capable hands of Buck. Just don't take his advice on women or beer. If he tells you he knows everything there is to know about either just remind him of the time he got drunk in Vegas and tried to marry a police officer's horse at the Elvis chapel."

There were snickers all round at that. Somehow no-one doubted the truth of the tale. For his part Buck adopted a hurt look, although his moustache twitched happily. "She was a damn fine looking woman for a police officer and her horse had the prettiest eyes!" Buck was glad to see that Chris's aim of making JD less nervous had worked so he added. "I'll take you to town tomorrow kid, get you all kitted out."

JD didn't like to have to mention money but as a student he wasn't exactly well off and all his spare cash went on computer equipment.

"Um, how much…"

"It's ranch business so the ranch will foot the bill." Chris's matter of fact tone settled his mind and everyone's attention turned to Vin.

"Since you already know the ropes we'll start you as a ranch hand proper as soon as your horse arrives. In the meantime you can help out generally and get a feel for the place; meet the rest of the guys."

"That's fine with me." Vin was looking forward to working a ranch again. He loved the outdoors but trudging through rain drenched or heat baked city streets running down a bail jumper wasn't quite the same thing. And he never seemed to get enough time to ride Peso these days.

Chris knew that it was all going too well. But he couldn't help feeling a vicious satisfaction as he informed Standish of his duties for the next twelve months.

"Ezra. You'll be working alongside JD. We'll get you kitted out, you'll need proper work clothes and decent boots. Horses ain't gonna care if your shoes are shined but you'll care when one of 'em crushes your poorly protected foot. You'll learn to ride and rope and maybe by the end of the year we'll have made a halfway competent cowboy of ya."

Chris had been too busy watching Ezra's face pale at what he thought was a reaction to the prospect of hard labour but Vin and Buck had also noticed the never still hands clench tightly until the nails were on the verge of piercing the skin.

"Hey, it's okay Ezra" Buck kept his tone light although he felt a sudden sense of unease. Sure Chris had gotten pleasure out of the southerners discomfort but he'd been doing that all day and Ezra hadn't reacted. "You won't have any trouble picking it up what with that natural gracefulness you got going."Ezra was almost flattered that Buck had noticed his poise but didn't think he would be so impressed to hear that it came about from learning to walk again. And the fact that the tall outgoing man had spotted one of his tells that indicated nervousness was a warning for him to do a better job of hiding his feelings, he could not afford to suffer a flashback now, although the mention of the horses had turned his stomach. He could not, however, let Chris's assumption go unchallenged.

"As much as I appreciate your 'offer'" Ezra emphasised the word that was the antithesis of the actual command, " I do not feel the need to get in touch with mah heritage at this, or any other, point in time."

"Well, Ezra" added Nathan with what Nettie disapprovingly noted was a sneer, "Don't reckon as small a place as Four Corners will have anybody left in it who doesn't know your reputation by now. If you think that you stand a chance of getting a job in town you can think again…and the college do police checks when they hire staff, even the janitors."

Vin didn't know which riled him more, Chris's ordering his brother about, the town's possible prejudice or Nathan's attitude, both to Ezra and to people employed in low paid unskilled jobs, many of which he'd done himself during hard times, and been grateful for them. He wanted to put them all straight but this was Ezra's show, and he reckoned that he was more than capable of handling things.

"While I thank you for your obvious concern Doctor Jackson, and praise you on your faith in the moral certitude of the no doubt good people of Four Corners…" Nathan knew that he'd been insulted but how do you argue with a man who uses politeness as a weapon … "I think that I should take this opportunity to point out that your father made provision for a third employment option. Ah have already made arrangements to work from, but not on, the ranch" He raised a hand to quell the imminent backlash and added "I have already submitted details of said employment, which in case you fine upstanding citizens were worried is entirely legal and in no way involves mah motha, and Judge Travis has approved it. So perhaps we should move on."

Chris wanted to kill. He just didn't know whether he wanted to kill Ezra or Travis. Probably both he thought with a sigh. It nay be a done deal but he didn't want the weasel getting up to anything in his house without him knowing what it was. Damn man was going to have to learn that families didn't keep secrets. He ignored the little voice, which in all honesty was used to being ignored, as it pointed out that the southerner couldn't begin to know what this family did until he was made to feel part of it.

"What exactly is it you're gonna be doing Ezra? Because if you think I'm gonna put up with strangers coming and going all day long…"

"As to what I am going to be doing, that is none of your business and before you disagree may I point out that the will does not compel disclosure, just compliance. As to the threat of clients wandering in, there is no chance of that since my business is conducted almost entirely via computer and the postal service."

Chris ground his teeth and the room took on a tense air. He knew that the man was within his rights but there were other ways to skin a weasel and he wouldn't keep his secret for ever. If it wasn't something fit to admit to then legal or not it couldn't be good.

Ezra noted Chris's reaction with a certain satisfaction that he refused to feel guilty for. It looked like pressing the man's buttons was going to be an absorbing pastime. He also noticed JD's ears twitch when he mentioned computers. Only to be expected from an MIT graduate. Elizabeth had approached him before all this will business about creating a computer program to go with his books for children who have to stay in hospital long term, he being somewhat of an expert on hospital stays. And while he had no trouble writing the books or illustrating them he hadn't felt competent enough to design a programme. Perhaps this would give him the opportunity to complete the project. He would consider it. It was only one of his ongoing projects which employed only a couple of the skills that he had learned while incapacitated. When his twelve year old self had been offered the option of basket weaving or model making as therapy after his 'accident' as they liked to call it, he had decided that he would learn things that would interest him. He may have been crippled, and still was to some extent, but he was grateful that he still had his hands and his brains, both of which he had put to good use over the years. He wondered just what terrible pursuit's the leader of the Larabees was imagining him indulging in. He could guarantee that it wouldn't be 'The Hospital Adventures of Timmy the Tailless Tiger'

Chris wonderd just why, when he should be scowling, or at least concerned, the weasel was smiling. He moved onto the house rules but he had a sense that he'd just made a fool of himself and he didn't have a clue why.

TBC

A/N Gosh, that was a long one. Hope it wasn't too long and waffly. I know that Chris is a bit of a grouchy bear at the moment but he's had a rough time and now he wants to protect his family and has seen Ez as a threat. Don't worry it'll change…eventually.