Buck resented the wake-up visit from Chris. He'd been late getting settled in last night and had no desire for an early start to his day, not that little details like that were of any interest to Larabee. The plans were laid out quietly as the two men sat for breakfast.

"Need at least two men staying in town. Ezra belongs at the carnie - he knows his way around up there. And Nathan should likely be there as well, case he's needed for anything with better than half the town being there."

"OK, but with most folks being gone, what has you so worried about someone being here?" Buck knew his friend well enough to understand there was something else going on.

"There's money in the bank."

Buck wasn't impressed. "There always is Chris. What's the big deal?"

"Lots of money. Shipment of cash headed out to Sacramento. There's gonna be a military escort for it, but not for a few more days, so we've got it stashed. Came in on the train part way from Washington, and then by buggy this far. Travis figured we'd be the best stopping point."

Trying to keep his tone neutral wasn't easy for Buck. "Any reason you didn't bother letting us know?"

Chris looked decidedly unhappy. "Orders. They figure the fewer who know about it, the safer it is."

"And Travis figures one of us is going to steal it? Well that's just-"

"He's under orders to Buck. There was a theft of an earlier shipment and turned out there was an inside source. Don't want that happening again, so if there is anyone they are suspicious about, they want them out of the picture."

Buck stared for a minute before speaking again. "So Travis doesn't trust Ezra. Do you?" Chris didn't answer. "Damnit Chris! If you can't trust him, what is he still doing here? That kinda problem gets people killed." When he got no answer, another thought popped into Buck's mind, and before he even spoke, he was hoping he was wrong.

"When you were at the carnival yesterday, were you really there with Billy and Mary, or were you spying on Ezra?"

"I'm gonna pretend you didn't ask me that."

Even feeling a bit guilty, Buck wasn't ready to let it go. "Never noticed you around there. Like you were trying to keep hidden."

"I was there with a woman and a little boy. You really think I'd put them in any kind of danger. Really Buck?"

Phrased that way, he did feel bad about thinking the worst. "Well, it's not like you to hide away when something big is going on."

Chris acknowledged the truth in that. "I'll admit, I figured staying low the first day might be a smart play, but I wasn't spying on anybody. Just keeping my eyes open in general." The two men looked at each other and without speaking, agreed the matter was settled. That still left the bigger issue.

"Not saying I want it to be true, but that's a lot of money Buck. More than most men would want to walk away from."

"Look, I admit I wouldn't have trusted Standish as far as I could throw him when he got here, but I think that's changed – some. Even so, I don't see the man robbing the bank. Don't fit with his style. 'sides, I don't think he'd do that to us."

"You know he headed out to meet up with the carnie folk before I got out there? Saw him on the trail on the way back. And you said yourself he was acting strange yesterday. That he was watching the folks there, and more important, they were watching him."

There was no denying things had been strange yesterday. Buck had the impression on a couple of occasions that people were looking to Ezra almost as if seeking permission before doing something. But this explanation made no sense. He couldn't see the gambler suddenly becoming the brains behind an elaborate bank robbery. Although God knows, he would be capable of planning it. "That's the real reason you're sending him up there today - to keep him out of town?"

Chris hesitated, not wanting to admit it out loud. That made it so much more real. "He is best suited up there. But yeah, I wanted to see if he'd squawk about it and fight me on it."

"Did he?"

"Never got the chance to ask. He's already gone for the morning. You can't tell me that's normal either."

Buck was unable to answer that, so just moved on. "Who do you want and where do you want them?"

"Vin and JD are going to stay in town. You, Josiah and Nathan are kind of noticeable, so you being up there might help keep things under control. I'll ride up with the rest, but circle back. We should be able to keep an eye on things with that plan. Probably gonna be a quiet day, but I'd rather be ready for it, just in case."

Buck nodded and got up from the table. He'd taken only a few steps before turning back. "Just how is Ezra supposed to have found out about this money?"

"Same way anybody would I guess. Somebody involved somewhere talked about it, either on purpose or without thinking. Anyone with as many connections on the shady side of legal as Standish has been could be involved."

"So could a lot of other folk. Tell me, did you think to ask Ezra why he headed out to the camp?"

"When have you ever known the man to give an honest answer if he didn't want to? Or have to?"

Buck nodded sadly and continued toward the diner, trying to reconcile some of the things he'd seen in the last 24 hours with what he was hearing now.

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Coulson watched Standish riding toward the carnival grounds, cursing to his companions from the moment he saw the man. "Stuck up bastard used to be one of us - he understood. Now he's so fucking high and mighty - thinks he's better that everybody else."

"Always thought he was better - all them fancy clothes and words. Puttin' on like he's somebody. You know how much he cost us yesterday?" Arthur had the same look of disdain on his face as he spit a wad of tobacco and juice from his mouth.

"Least ways if he's up here he won't mess with our plans pop. That bank is the real reason we're here. Yesterday was penny ante stuff."

Shaking his head, Coulson cursed again, knowing that wasn't the case. "He'll figure we're up to something if we ain't there junior. Won't take him long to go looking for us."

Arthur drew his gun. "One easy way to make sure he can't ask questions."

"Put that damn thing away. You think a shot this early in the morning won't raise questions? Way he's circling, it looks like he's planning on coming up the back. That's perfect. I know just the spot up ahead where we can stop him without anybody knowing. That'll settle our problems."

Ezra rode slowly toward the fair site. He could see smoke coming from a couple of campfires undoubtedly started to get breakfast going for the troupe. He sighed quietly, wishing he had taken the time to have something himself. He wasn't used to being up this early and felt that trying to eat anything at such an ungodly hour would be far more trouble than it was worth. He was now regretting that call. He was certain he could scrounge a few biscuits at the very least if he headed into the site, but unfortunately for his growling stomach, that wasn't the plan. He wanted to watch from a distance for now. Something had seemed off kilter to him last night, and despite reviewing the evening in his mind several times, he hadn't come up with a satisfactory explanation for the sense of impending trouble. As much as he was loathe to awaken with the sunrise, he did just that today and headed out of town to keep an eye on the assorted morning activities. Maybe that way, he could figure out exactly what was going on, and with any luck, stop things before they started. Having to explain to the others why he had his suspicions would only lead to uncomfortable questions about his relationship with Dickens - it was so hard to remember to think of him as Sikes - and the others.

Chaucer's sudden rearing back was the only sign Ezra had of trouble, but it was a few seconds too late for him to be able to avoid the branch that swung out at him. Arthur had been holding it back and let it fly to slam into him. He kept his grip on the reins, but the impact dazed him enough that he was incapable of fighting the hands that pulled him down, slamming him to the ground. Chaucer's move to butt his owner's attacker was thwarted as the reins were grabbed and he was forced away. Ezra lay on the ground, winded and looking up at the silhouetted outline of his attackers.

"Watch his right arm - he's got a gun stashed there." A foot came down heavily on his hand and Ezra fought to control the shout of anguish from pain and nausea from the sound and sensation of bones snapping under the pressure. His wrist was grabbed and a moment later he heard fabric tearing and felt his gun being ripped from the holster. The foot that had mangled his hand landed several swift kicks to his side and ribs, rendering him helpless as he was stripped of the remaining weapons in just seconds.

"This appears to be an extreme retaliation for the simple accomplishment of preventing you from defrauding the public of gaming money last night Coulson." He gasped it out, trying with limited success to keep the severity of his pain from his voice.

"Listen to you. Even knocked flat on your ass and stretched out on the ground you still like to think you are better than us."

"My physical location has nothing to do with the veracity of my claim." Ezra knew goading these men was at best a fool's play, and under the present circumstances might well be suicidal, but his better judgement often fell victim to his pride and vanity. He was going to have to learn to do something about that one of these days, assuming he was given that chance. He started having doubts about that when he felt another kick to the ribs. The sound of cracking echoed through him again.

Chaucer reared back, pulling at his reins trying to break free, nearly dislocating the younger Coulson's shoulder in the process. He pulled his gun in response. "You stupid damned horse!"

"No." Ezra thought he was the one shouting, but his cry was barely a gasp. Arthur had been the one issuing the warning. "Just tie the damn thing up. Your old man was right - we don't want anybody checking out a gunshot." He grinned evilly at Ezra. "Got better ways of teaching this one a lesson about who's in charge now." Despite a desperate effort to pull away as Arthur swung his foot again he was unable to completely avoid the blow aimed squarely at the head. Ezra didn't hear the laughter that followed.

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tbc