A/N: Seems the last chapter sparked some healthy debates, so I thought I should comment on them. First, sorry to anyone I may have offended, but I never claimed a desire to be historical accurate in writing this story. Second, thanks to those of you who have reviewed my story, and continued to read it beside the fact it is taking forever to write, I appreciate the helpful comments, advice and support, i.e. Ruby Sparrow, amsilcox, glitteryfairy 11 & Cassandra30. Now, without further ado, the ones you really came to read about.

Appearances Darlin', are Everything

Part IX

"Ezra will ya open the door, please? All we want to do is see that you're okay." JD was starting to really worry about the group's skittish gambler. It had been about half an hour since Ezra had erupted at Maude in the saloon then high tailed it up to his room to . . . to . . . well, that was the problem, they had heard nothing from the gambler but a few muffled sobs since he entered his room. We have to get this door open. "What are we gonna do? We have to see if Ezra's okay?"

"I know kid, but after everything that went on downstairs we need to be careful how far we push him. That boy is jumper than a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs, we can't afford to make it worse." Buck had been sitting in a barrowed chair outside of Ezra's door since the gambler had first run in there. The lady's man wanted to kick the door down and force the fast talking southerner to talk to them as much as the sheriff did, but after dealing with Chris in his darker hours Buck knew that, that course of action would most likely only bring more trouble. No, we need another way of getting that door open. "JD, do me a favor, go and get Inez will ya?"

"Buck, right now really ain't the time for-."

"I know that boy, I'm thinking she may have better luck with opening this door. Ask her if she could bring up some hot water so we can make some of Nathan's tea for him." Buck watched the sheriff practically run down the stairs in search of Inez, then he turned his attention to the two other men in the hall way. "What are we gonna do when we get that door open? We can't keep promising to keep that woman away from him, than let this happen again. I don't think Ez can survive any more of this, the boy seems to be at the end of his rope."

"I know that Buck, but what you suppose we should do about it? Right now I just want to get him to drink some of this here tea and relax a little, but after that . . . we can't force Ezra to talk." Nathan, though he sounded calm, was the picture of pure worry, if the healer wasn't pacing up and down the hallway; he was in one spot switching from foot to foot.

"What we need to do is get him out of town, and away from Maude. I think we should take him out to Chris's place, than go from there."

Vin had taken JD's place by the side of Ezra's door, and was trying to decide if he should try to get the door open or wait for Inez like Buck. "Iffen we can't get him ta go peacefully Buck, what do we do than?"

"That boy's so drunk I'm sure it won't be hard to convince him to go. Or we do what I use to do to Chris."

"Yeah Buck, what was that?"

"Well Nathan, you see when Chris used to get in one of his moods, and crawl into the bottle, well I would just wait till he passed out and I'd drag his sorry ass back to wherever it was we were staying."

"And if I remember correctly I tried to shoot you the next morning every time you pulled that stunt. Seeing as Ezra's as fast with that gun as I am, and can shoot a helluva lot straighter when drunk I think that might be a bad idea." The three men had been so involved in their conversation that they had not heard Chris, JD and Inez coming up the stairs to join them. "Now just where are you boys planning on taking Ezra to anyways?"

"I suggested taking him out to your place Ol'dog, hold up there for a few days till we can get him calmed down, and figure out what to do with that woman Ez is forced to call mother." Buck spoke that last word as if it was a foul tasting substance that needed to be spit out. "So pard, does that plan meet up with yours?"

"Reckon so, how does Ezra feel about this plan of yours?"

"Well now, we need Miss Inez here to see if she can get our boy to open the door, 'cause he ain't budging for any of us. So what do you say darling, care to give it a try?" Buck flashed Inez his most charming smile, I hope it works for a yes on this.

"Of course Senor, if you think it will work." Inez moved passed the grouped men up to the door that had everyone's attention, has she passed Nathan she handed him the tray with her tea set on it, the set that Ezra had purchased for the saloon. "Senor Standish I brought you some tea, I thought perhaps you would like some to help you sleep . . . Please Senor, will you open the door?"

The group waited for a minute to see what would happen, if their new idea would work out on finally getting them into that room. The peacekeepers, at the end of their own ropes, were about to break the door down when they heard movement inside. Seconds later the door opened to reveal a vision of Ezra they had never seen before and prayed they would never see again. There, framed by the door, stood their fancy dressed gambler only Ezra did not appear so fancy at the moment. The conman's shirt was unbuttoned half way down, his vest was just hanging on his shoulders, Ezra's sleeves were rolled up above his elbows and that auburn hair that was so perfectly brushed everyday was sticking out at every angel. If the appearance of the conman's usual pristine clothes didn't worry those in the hallway, one look at the man's face destroyed any hopes that nothing was wrong. Standish's face was now such a pale complexion that his shirt had more color, except of course for his nose which he apparently had blown to much, for it was a lovely red which now matched his favorite jacket. Ezra's eyes were the worst, besides being blood shot from crying so much, they showed such pain and sorrow that it made the other men want to cry for their bother. Despite all of this though, the man was wearing a smile when he addressed the Spanish bartender.

"My dear Miss Recillos, I must apologize for the insensitivity of my compatriots in forcing you from your bed at such an hour. Please, do not worry about me any more and go get some rest. I fear these fine gentlemen are exaggerating my true condition."

"It was no trouble Senor I was worried about you as well. If however, you are sure, I will say good night." The men could tell Inez was not happy to leave, but seemed to take comfort in the fact that Ezra was not going to be left alone by the action.

"Now since you gentlemen were so inclined to use that lovely lady to get my door opened, may I inquire as to why?" Vin could see that Ezra was trying to play off his appearance by slipping deeper into his five dollar words. Won't work this time pard, I doubt any of us can be conned by you today.

"Ezra?"

"Yes Mr. Larabee?"

"Can the boys and I come in, we need to talk?" Though this was presented like a question, they could all hear the undeniable order behind the words.

"And if I were to decline your hope for an audience at this point in time?"

"We'll kick the door in when you close it again."

There it was, the challenge had been set. The other peacekeepers knew how much these two seemed to enjoy fighting, now they had to wonder would it come to that again or would the two men resolve this like friends.

"Well, when you phrase your request in such a charming manner how could one refuse?" Ezra moved to the side of the doorway, motioning them in with a waist deep bow. "Entrée vous, please excuse the mess, you see I have been unable to repair the damage I inflicted upon my room last night. Please gentlemen, make yourselves comfortable."

As the men moved around to find somewhere to sit they realized that Ezra had been packing again, only this time it appeared that the conman was getting ready for only a three or four day trip away from town. The five men now found themselves setting on everything from Ezra's bed still covered with clothes, to the rocking chair that resided in the gambler's room. After everyone had entered, the conman simply turned to lean against the door, this position (the others realized) allowed him to face the five men in the room without placing his back open to any of them.

"Ezra did you get any sleep last night?"

"Why do you ask Mr. Wilmington?"

"'Cause I'm pretty sure this in the same pile of clothes me and Vin sat next to on this bed o' yours." Buck turned from eyeing the articles behind him and JD to really look at the card sharp. Now that the lady's man knew what to look for it wasn't hard to see the signs that Ezra was exhausted. For one the man was practically being held up by the door, his puffy blood shot eyes had bags under them and where his hand was visible on the door handle Buck could make out the trembling of the muscles from the effort it was taking for Ezra to stay on his feet. Though Buck never took his eyes off the conman the town's rouge aimed his next comment at the tracker sitting in the chair next to Ezra. "Vin will you grab him before the dane fool passes out? Ezra why are ya doing this to yourself, we told ya we want to help you?"

"Thank you for your concern gentlemen, but I truly must insist that it is unnecessary. My appearance only makes you think that some terrible occurrence has befallen my person. When in fact-."

"Ez, Bucklin's right . . . will ya sit down?" The request, which sounded more like an order to Ezra, was joined with a push by the lanky Texan towards the chair he had just vacated. "And it ain't just your appearance that as us worried pard, though that ain't helping ya much right now."

Before the group's eyes it seemed that as their conman fell into the offered chair it was if all his walls fell as well. "I must admit I find myself in need of some assistance. I fear I may lose what little sanity I have left if this game of Mother's is to continue. I ventured to my room with the plan to pack my personal effects and depart this fair town until Maude managed to do so herself."

"So what's the problem Ez? We can help you pack or sneak out to the livery if you would like?"

"That, though I truly appreciate your kind hearted offer Mr. Dunne, is not the problem I find myself unable to solve." As Ezra spoke he seemed to sink lower into his chair, if the action was a result of drink, exhaustion or sorrow his friends could not yet decide.

Knelling down next to his friend Vin sought to catch the southerner's eyes. "Then what's the problem Ez? Maybe me and the boys can help ya out of your . . . predicament." Vin waited for the smile that would always cross the gambler's face when the tracker would parrot his words back at him, he waited but it never came.

It seemed like forever to JD till Ezra looked up at the men gathered in the room, it was a few more minutes till the card sharp answered Vin's question. As the young sheriff watched his southern friend come to terms with something inside himself, JD could almost see the inner battle Ezra. This was when the men in the room realized what one of the man's predicaments was, Ezra had made it clear for most of the time the group had been together, he was not in the habit of trusting other people, because he was rarely trusted by others himself. Now here he was trying to move beyond the well built walls and safe guards in order to let these men that the gambler had come to care about and trust in, help him. Then it happened, though they were whispered quite softly there was no mistaking the words that fell from the conman's lips. "I find I have no where else to go . . ."

"Oh that's an easy one to solve Ezra, we thought you could go stay out at Chris's ranch for a few days. That is if you really wanted to get out of town?"

"Really, Mr. Larabee . . . you would allow me to invade your sanctuary of peace from the town?" The question was asked with such awe it hurt the gunslinger's heart that this man thought so little of himself that it surprised him a friend would truly want to help him. Staring into those deep green eyes Chris couldn't help but see another more youthful set eyes looking up at him for a minute. Damn, when did Ezra start looking so young?

"I wouldn't call it invading Ez, not if you're invited. It's not much, ain't got a feather bed like you're use to but you can stay there if ya want till we take care of Maude for ya." And make sure she stays taken care of.

"I . . . I don't know what to say . . . I-I can't . . ."

"Don't have to say anything hoss, what you need to do is pack some stuff for a few days. How about JD and Nate help you up here while Vin and I go get the horses ready?"

"Horses, Mr. Wilmington?"

"Sure thing, you didn't think we were gonna leave ya out there by yourself now did you?"

"Ya, me and the boys reckoned we could take turns keeping ya company, that way we can all get away from the town for a little while, might be nice to get a little break. That is if you don't mind the company?"

"Shot Ez, we're at least gonna ride out there with you, make sure you get there in one piece."

"Vin and JD are right Ezra you do have a tendency to attract trouble when you go off by yourself."

"I have a tendency Mr. Jackson, I thought that was a requirement for belonging to this group."

"The other rule is that we back each other up, we may not have shown it a lot Ezra, but you are one of us, so we'll be there when you need us." Chris made sure that the conman was looking at him the entire time. "Well, you all heard the plan . . . what are you boys standing around for?"

With that the man split apart to their appointed tasks, with only one of the men giving a second glance at the group's leader. Chris waited for the gambler to find whatever he was looking for, at this point the dark clad gunslinger had to agree with Buck, Ezra had already been pushed to far, and any wrong move at this point could prove fatal in helping their brother. When Chris realized that Ezra was waiting for something either the others to finish moving about or Chris to speak, the group's leader decided to help the conman out.

"Can I help with something Ezra? Do you want me to go talk to Maude for you?"

"What . . . No . . . I was just a bit beside myself Mr. Larabee as to why you are helping me?"

"We're your friends Ez, hell we're almost family the way we look out for each other. Why wouldn't we help you?"

"Mr. Larabee, you misunderstood, I know why Mr. Dunne and Mr. Tanner are assisting with my evacuation of this fair community. What I can not comperend is why the rest of you gentlemen care so much to help . . . I was under the impression that . . . that you despised me and simple accepted me because at times it is nice to have a snake on your side." Ezra spoke the words with such conviction that Chris knew the southerner believed his words were the gods' honest truth.

"Ezra P. Standish we are gonna handle this problem with your mother, and then the seven of us are going to sit down and have a nice long talk about the make-up of our group. Do we have a deal?" Chris waited with his arm out for Ezra to reach forward to shake hands, when the gambler moved to grasp Chris's hand in a simple shake the gunslinger leaned forward to grab the younger man's arm in the warrior shake that he usually reserved for Buck or Vin. At the smile that lit up Ezra's face Chris realized that the meaning of the movement was obviously not lost on him, while Chris had the conman's full attention he felt the need to fix some of the mistakes he had caused already. "And for future notice Standish, I don't tolerate someone I despise simply because they may be of use to me in the future. Understand? Good, now go pack your stuff, I see you boys at the livery." Before the young man could comment on what had been said Chris got up and followed Buck and Vin out into the hallway.

"He really is a piece of work ain't he?" Buck was leading the way down the hall while sending concern glances back at the door the three men had just left.

"You gonna ride out with us, Cowboy?"

"Not tonight, I'm gonna go talk to Inez about making up some stuff for you boys to take with you for breakfast. Josiah and I will ride out sometime tomorrow with some more supplies. I think it's time I had a talk with Maude about our local card sharp." Though Chris Larabee was the last person to ever hit a woman he was beginning to think that maybe there were some women who just called it upon themselves to be the exception to that rule.

"What should we do about Ez? We need to get him talking about whatever is going on, but I don't think I could take causing him any more pain." It was obvious to anyone watching, that Vin was truly worried about his southern friend, but like the rest of the seven he seemed at a loss as to what to do to help.

"Go get the horses ready to go, and let Josiah know the plan. I get you boys some grub and come over with Ezra and the others. I'm sure once we get him away from town-."

"And Maude-."

"Ez will calm down enough to talk about it. If he won't talk about it in detail, maybe he'll at least say enough for us to figure out how to help."

With a nod to each of the departing men, Chris went in search of Inez, who despite her promise to Ezra was most likely already up waiting in the kitchen to hear how things had gone upstairs. We'll take care of this Ezra, and then I'll make damn sure you know how wrong your mother is about you.