Disclaimer – You recognise it, I don't own it.
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Ezra knew the rest of the Seven were surprised at his willingness to rise early the next morning. Even more so when he suggested that he and JD return to Four Corners that day, stating that they had neglected their duties for too long as it was.
He knew that Josiah would not return until Blackfox was buried.
He knew that Nathan would not let Josiah stay alone. Their friendship a bond that could not be broken.
He knew that Chris would not return immediately. The pain was too great.
He knew that Buck would not leave Chris to mourn alone. Afraid that the bottle would consume his old friend.
He knew that Vin would insist on watching over Chris. Protecting the man, who right now would not be willing to protect himself.
And JD needed Ezra's protection. He needed to be kept away from seeing that his heroes had feet of clay. That they could be human. With human flaws.
If only for a little while longer. It was like protecting a child from the realization that everyone was good. You knew they would find out the truth eventually.
But that didn't stop you from wanting that day never to happen.
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"Ezra," JD spoke up about halfway back to Four Corners, "Why did he do that? Why kill himself?"
"While Ah cannot say Ah agree with Mister Fowler's choice, he knew he would die."
"What?" JD stared.
"He was a murderer at least twice over, JD," Ezra reminded, "He would have been convicted and sentenced to hang. He simply chose when and how his life would end. Nothing more. Ah am not even sure it qualifies as suicide."
"How do you think that?"
"Ah have seen it occur before. Not frequently, but on occasions. Sometimes when a person knows they have nothing to lose or indeed when they know they are going to lose everything, they choose to end it on their terms. Ah find men such as Fowler will usually perform such acts only when they stand to lose all control over their lives. In some ways it was his last act of defiance, choosing how he would die. Taking that decision away from anyone else."
"But…"
"He chose his method. Had he wished to he could have charged us and forced us to shoot him in our own defence. However he chose the flames, whether it was out of adoration of fire, or because he believed it would be a fitting end to his part of the narrative that is Mister Larabee's life Ah cannot say."
"It's not a nice way to die." JD's voice was soft.
For a moment Ezra's mind stalled. There were implications in that statement he didn't want to acknowledge. Implications he didn't want to have to consider. Implications he didn't want to think about.
Sometimes it was easier to pretend that JD was just a little girl playing make believe.
Better for his sanity as well. It wasn't that he was ignorant of her fears… More that he wasn't dealing with them until it was absolutely necessary.
"What makes a man do those sort of things?" JD asked.
"Ah cannot say. There can be many causative reasons behind such actions. Without knowing more of his history Ah cannot be certain. He was at least honest."
"He was a murderer." JD stared at Ezra.
"He was paid to do a job, and to keep his employer's name secret. He performed both tasks. Once bought, he stayed bought."
"I guess that's one way of looking at it." JD conceded, "Don't think you should tell the others though."
"When one makes a living by playing the angles, JD, one develops the ability to see all the angles."
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It took two days before Josiah and Nathan arrived back at Four Corners. And another day before Chris, Buck and Vin joined them.
It was only that evening in the Saloon, while Ezra was at his usual table, and JD was already in bed, probably fast asleep, that the small group discussed the last few days.
"How did you arrive so quickly?" Chris finally asked.
The question had been nagging at him for a while. But he had had other things more predominate on his mind to question his good fortune in one instance on the thrice damned hunt for his family's murder.
"The Kid." Vin stated, "Bout mid-afternoon, got it into his head you would need us. Wouldn't take no for an answer."
"And you just went with him?" Buck stared, "Kid got a fancy into his head. That's all."
"Said he would go alone if we didn't join him. Reckon he woulda too."
"Can't imagine Ez was too impressed with that." Buck laughed.
"He didn't argue." Vin frowned slightly.
The comment shocked Chris to the core. Ezra would argue about almost everything that took him away from his gambling.
"JD didn't tell you why?" Chris pressed.
"Just kept saying we'd be late." Vin shrugged, "Tried to ride through the night."
"Still you made good time. Seeing as you didn't know where we were." Josiah smiled, "You follow our trail?"
"Most the way. But JD then went a different way. If we hadn't we'd have been too late to help in the gunfight."
"How did he know?" Buck frowned, "How?"
"We will have to ask." Chris declared, "It's almost as if JD knows more about what was going on than he told us."
"The Kid wouldn't do that." Buck instantly defended the boy, as Chris knew he would, "If he could help us, he would. He doesn't keep secrets. Not from us… Not from me."
Chris didn't fail to notice the slightly pained look that ran over Nathan's face for an instant, before it was gone. It seemed to the Gunslinger that the Healer was thinking of his own secrets that he probably didn't want revealed.
Chris could understand that. Everyone had their secrets. Maybe even JD…
But those ones wouldn't be big things. JD was too open for that.
"No, I don't think he would." Chris agreed, "But… If someone came to him and told him that we were going to be in trouble in a particular place, and that he wouldn't be able to catch us if he followed, but needed to go ahead…"
"Kid wouldn't even think to ask for more information or how they knew." Buck sighed, "He's so single-minded. Doesn't even think about people lying to him."
"The logical step would be to ask him who told him." Josiah put in, "No doubt that person will have more information."
"Reckon so." Vin agreed.
Chris settled back into his seat slightly. It seemed the hunt was not yet over. However he would let JD sleep until morning…
None of the others would be too inclined to wake the kid. The boy seemed to sleep little enough as it was. It was very rare that the Easterner got anything close to a full night's sleep.
And if he woke the boy before he was ready, Chris knew the kid was not exactly coherent for ages.
He wanted coherent sensible answers. So he would have to wait.
But he knew JD would provide them. So he could wait.
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Ezra had known the question was coming. Had known since the moment JD had brought the horses and insisted they leave then and there.
He had been trying to buy as much time as possible before the question was asked. To allow him time to come up with a reason for JD's actions.
He had had four whole days.
However it still hadn't given Ezra enough time to come up with a plausible explanation for JD almost dragging Vin out of Four Corners, and Ezra going along willingly.
All he had managed to do was be in a position so that when the others went to interrogate JD, he would also be present.
"Kid," Vin started, "Why did you say we had to leave? We hadn't heard from anyone."
"I just knew we had to go." JD shrugged, across the table.
Ezra had to close his eyes against the groan he wanted to emit. JD didn't get the direction the questions were going to go in.
The Gambler wasn't really surprised; all his observations had told him that JD didn't know that what she did was unusual. Or even that she was doing it in the first place.
He was actually quite surprised that she had been so adamant that time… That her premonition had been so strong.
"Why?" Buck pressed.
"I don't know." JD smiled slightly, "Just knew we were needed."
"How did you know?" Nathan asked.
"I don't know." JD was starting to lose her calm.
"It's alright, son. We're not angry, but we need to know."
"I said I don't know." JD was desperate for them to believe her now.
"JD," Chris fixed the girl with a glare, "Who told you?"
"No one! I don't know how I know what I know. I just know!"
JD turned and ran off. Buck went to follow, but Ezra moved to stand in the way.
He could see the confusion and hurt in her movements. She was upset that they didn't believe her. She couldn't understand why they didn't understand. She was hurting.
So Ezra stopped the interrogation.
"Mister Wilmington, Ah believe JD wishes to be alone. Gentlemen, Ah must congratulate you on terrorising a person who is innocent of any duplicity."
Ezra knew his tone was more scathing than usual, but he couldn't help himself. None of them could have failed to see the confusion in JD's eyes, yet they had continued to press her, knowing that she didn't understand.
"You mean he's covering for you." Buck growled.
"No. Ah would not ask that of our youngest. He has answered you truthfully, as far as he is able. He does not know how he is cognisant of the information he possess. Only that he is in possession of it."
"I don't follow." Buck frowned.
"Ah believe, and have some evidence to support mah theory, that JD has a touch of the fey about him."
"A what?" Vin frowned.
"What are you going on about now?" Nathan pressed.
"You're sure?" Josiah stared.
"You have proof?"
"I've heard stories…"
"What is fey?" Nathan demanded.
"A touch of fey," Josiah leant backwards slightly, "It's used to refer to people who are psychic… Clairvoyant."
"The kid can see the future?" Vin breathed.
"Not exactly." Josiah shrugged, "Touch of fey, is just that… A touch. JD probably just get feelings… Hunches. About where and when he is needed. About where he is meant to be."
"Precisely, Mister Sanchez. Ah spotted it quite early on. Ah will confess that Ah was surprised that Ah seemed to be the only one aware of the phenomena."
"There weren't any clues…"
"Au contraire, there were a thousand, Mister Larabee. You never have to bellow twice for JD. He always appears by your side before your voice has finished his name. Quite an achievement, considering his name is only two syllables long. And he often states that he has to go, because one or other of us requires him, before the shout is heard. If we intend to ride out, our horses are always prepared. JD is not aware that these are surprising to myself. Ah have worked hard to keep this clandestine, especially from himself."
"Why?"
"If you knew, why didn't you tell him?"
Ezra could understand their confusion. But he had his reasons.
"Ah heard tell of a person with similar gifts to JD, who was informed of his skill, in order to attempt to enhance it and control it. Instantly he lost the skill. Ah did not wish such a fate to befall JD. Ah do not know if mah silence helped or hindered, but JD's gift has increased to the point where Ah believe mah continued silence is impossible."
It was the truth. But not the whole truth. Revealing that JD had such a skill to the others was to encourage closer scrutiny. Something JD could ill afford.
However it was past the point of secrecy in this matter. If Ezra did not speak and reveal what he knew in regards to this secret JD would be distanced from the group, and could potentially leave. Or even have her most valuable secret revealed from the scrutiny the others would give in an attempt to divine the secret Ezra was telling.
"How skilled is he?" Josiah pressed, "I mean… How useful?"
"Ah have come to use JD as an additional warning, alongside mah own instincts. For example, if JD settles himself down in the Saloon casually, and near the bar, there is little threat. If he joins anyone of yourselves, again there is no danger to fear. If however JD settles down facing me, but off to one side, and his stance is anticipatory, ah will usually find danger approaching from behind me at some point in the evening. If JD decides to sit behind me, then Ah will be facing the danger. If he sits so that his back is against the wall, Ah usually gather all the winnings Ah am able to and close mah game for the evening, as there will be a brawl."
For a moment the whole group just stared at Ezra.
The Southerner felt a bit of pride towards JD for the simple fact that a listing of JD's ability could stun the Seven into almost reverential silence.
"You know all this?" Chris breathed after the shock sank in a bit.
"Once Ah realized that JD could predict the future to some degree, it seemed logical to utilise his ability, even if he were not aware of it. Ah studied his habits, and while it took me some time to notice correlations, Ah was able to utilise his habits to predict the future with some measure of success."
"Any other habits we should be aware of?" Josiah asked.
"If he cleans his guns twice in the same hour, then we shall have a gun battle before the week is up. If he tells me you require mah presence, then Ah go. He usually accompanies myself, however."
"We always thought it was you leading." Buck muttered.
"Surprisingly in most of our endeavours together, as Mister Tanner no doubt observed, it is usually JD leading, while Ah merely follow."
"He's right." Vin nodded, "JD said this way. Ez followed. Didn't think about it. Reckon if I hadn't been there, they wouldn't have even talked about it."
"There would have been no need, Mister Tanner. Ah trust JD's instincts. If he indicates that something is needed, then it is needed. The main issue Ah find with JD's ability is that it rarely indicates when he himself requires something or will be in direct peril. The ability is also not fool-proof. One would be foolish to rely solely upon it."
"The kid can protect others, but not himself?" Chris blinked.
"Indeed, Mister Larabee. Ah also have to confess that JD while not being able to predict every encounter we face, he has never predicted an encounter which has failed to take place."
"Never?" Josiah breathed.
"Not in mah observations, Mister Sanchez. Though as Ah said, he is not aware of his talents in any way, beyond being able to know when he is required. That ability he perceives as being a common trait."
Ezra allowed himself to pause. Words alone were not enough for this conversation. He knew they would need time to take in what he had said.
"Could it possibly be a coincidence?" Josiah pressed.
"In mah opinion Ah rather doubt it," Ezra drawled, "The anticipation of confrontations, Ah could write off as poorly drawn conclusions. However the fact remains that JD can inform me of when Ah am needed, before Ah am asked for. He can even tell me who requires mah presence. Simple coincidence cannot be a suitable explanation for that."
"And you're sure he doesn't know?" Buck asked.
"Positive."
"So do we tell him?" Nathan breathed.
"Reckon we need to tell him something." Vin shrugged, "Not right him not knowing what he can do."
"Pardner?" Buck looked at the Texan.
"Among the People, they talk of people with skills like that. They're Blessed by the Spirits. Said to hear the Spirits. Some can even talk to them. Reckon JD's just between the two. He can hear them, but he don't know what they are. Got Shaman potential. Among the People he'd been in training since it were spotted."
"So we tell him." Chris nodded, "Seems to be useful. But not really controlled. We need to make sure he doesn't use it as an excuse to get us to do things."
"Is your opinion of him so low that you honestly believe that JD would do that?" Josiah chided.
"No." Chris conceded, "No, he wouldn't."
"Damn right he wouldn't." Buck nodded, "The kid ain't a liar."
"So who tells him?" Nathan redirected the conversation back to the main topic.
Ezra could tell that the Healer really did not wish to discuss JD's morality.
"Ah believe, gentlemen, that Ah would be best suited to this commission, given that JD is no doubt of the belief that he is no longer welcome among you."
"He's welcome." Chris declared, "But next time he gets a feeling like that he has to tell someone. Not just rush off."
"Ah will inform him. Gentlemen."
Ezra tipped his hat to them, before leaving.
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It wasn't hard for Ezra to find JD. The girl was perched up in the hayloft once again. She was easy to find, though he couldn't see her, by the music that drifted down from above.
He easily identified the instrument.
It was the simple wooden flute he had gotten in the bargain for the Bodhran.
Though the tune was not one he knew. Certainly not one she had played for him previously. She had been rather insistent that she would only play when there was no risk of the others hearing.
"Is that an old Irish folk tune that caresses my auricles?" Ezra called up in greeting.
It was a pretty likely guess. In the few times JD had played the Bodhran for Ezra, before the others had returned from Eagle's Bend, she had mainly stuck to old Irish folk music.
She had been right. She had a good voice.
"A Shaker hymn tune." JD replied softly, "So when do they want me to leave?"
"Ah cannot comprehend your question, JD."
"They don't trust me. So, when do they want me to leave by?"
"JD, you do not have to venture anywhere. Ah have managed to explain to our companions' satisfaction what lead such to uncharacteristic actions from yourself."
"You lied?"
"No. Ah merely illuminated them."
"How? I don't know why."
"However Ah do. JD, Ah must confess a small deception on mah part, regarding yourself. Have you ever heard of the phrase: 'a touch of fey'?"
"Yeah. Ma always said her Ma had it. That Ma's Ma's family always had it. But Ma didn't."
"It appears the gift missed a generation and alighted upon yourself."
"But I don't…"
"On the contrary, JD, you do possess the gift. Why else would you ride out to be in the best position to aid our compatriots without any warning?"
"I just… Had a… Feeling."
"A touch of the fey in other words."
"But I don't want it."
"You cannot change what you have been gifted with." Ezra put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her into a loose side-ways hug.
"Ma always called it the Family Curse. Was glad she never got it. Always knowing something was coming. But not being able to do anything about it."
"Well, Ah cannot speak for your forebears who have had the gift, however Ah do believe you can do something to change what will come to pass. Else how was it that you were able to put us in the advantageous position to support our comrades?"
"But I couldn't stop Fowler from dying. Couldn't stop him from taking his secret to the grave."
"JD, Ah doubt that anyone could have gotten the answer Mister Larabee seeks out of him. Questioning would have been useless. And in my experience torture only ever produces the answers that you want to hear, regardless of their veracity."
"So it's not my fault?"
"No." Ezra smiled, "JD, if something occurs, you are not culpable. Whether you predict its occurrence or not. You are never to blame. Sometimes you might be responsible for something turning out better than it would have been anticipated, like in our last venture, however no fault can lie with you should anything go wrong."
"What do I do?"
"Nothing. You continue as you have done."
"I'm scared."
"Ah know. However know this also, Mister Tanner is impressed by your skill. He refers to it as 'listening to the Spirits'. He is also under the impression that were you born of the Indians, you would have been trained to utilise your ability from an early age."
"I don't want this."
"Ah believe it is too late to return it." Ezra smiled.
Inwardly the Southerner knew that he had two tasks to accomplish. He had to not only protect JD's true gender under the increased scrutiny her actions would be, but also to help JD come to terms with her ability. Something it was clear she did not want, and was also slightly scared of.
This was not going to be easy.
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Thank you for all your reviews.
Sorry for the long delay people. This chapter did not want to be written. Finally I just threw a temper tantrum and they got into line.
Please review, I'm under a lot of stress at work.
Grey-Shadow-Horse – Well they all know about the sixth sense now. But how much they believe or understand… That's the tricky part.
Lunaz – Glad you enjoyed. Thanks for the review.
Mystdogs – Sorry for the delay. Hope this made up for it.
PhoenixGrifyndor – I'm with you on this. Chris' reaction could be great or awful for JD. Oh well, not happening yet.
Thorsfriend – Hope this lived up to expectations.
MalikaiDragonSlayer – They're not going to find out yet. I'm having far too much fun.
JudyL068 – I come from a family where being fey is more fact than fiction. I've always kinda envied those who had the gift. Though my mum calls it a curse.
Elfgurl1404 – Glad you liked. And I'll try to keep going at a decent pace. But I will keep going.
SarahRB2-10 – Nice ideas, I might play with them. But I actually have those two revelations planned out.
Ladynwaiting – Let it never be said that I kept a lady waiting.
Once again, thank you all.
