Hi everyone! Sorry for such a long time between updates! This is such a fun and exciting AU, but sometimes there's roadblocks that I have to work around to make stuff come together the way I want it too. And in this particular chapter there were some things I had decided very early in my story building that I wanted to happen and in order for them to happen, it took some serious thinking, writing/rewriting and assistance from a friend, because there were days I just sat and stared at the doc in dismay. :p :p
We're getting closer to where I have them going and fairly shortly things will move a bit faster in that respect. And with cooperation from the muses, it won't be forever and a day before the next chapter. :)
On to the next bit!
***BoB***
"My belongings are at the inn." Ezra spoke softly a few moments later and Josiah fought back a sigh. He really had no desire to go back through the town. The boy next to him picked up on his apprehension immediately.
"I can go retrieve it and meet you back here…?" The pint sized gambler stepped away from him, but when Josiah refused to release his hold on the boy's shoulder, Ezra sighed and threw an unreadable expression at Josiah.
"We best get moving. The boys are waiting and if it takes too long, they're going to think something's gone wrong."
***BoB***
Buck poked at the fire a bit before turning the spit. He and JD had caught fish earlier, and boy, was he looking forward to having them for dinner. He then jabbed at the ground around the spit where the potatoes baked underground. He was sure glad Nathan had been able to help that farmer with the broken arm. This was a real meal, something they didn't get much, and it smelled pretty dang good. Probably because of whatever the doc had added to it. He glanced over at JD and grinned. The kid was laying flat on his stomach, reading. He held tight to the already dog eared pages of the dime novel Josiah had grudgingly gotten for him. The Cub had read it a bunch of times in the last few days and-
The sound of someone approaching camp had Buck reaching for his knife. Moving so he was in between JD and whoever was coming, he opened his mouth to call out, when Nathan emerged from the tree line.
"Nate!" He exclaimed as the young healer came closer, the exasperated snap of his brother's voice freezing Nathan for just a moment.
"Sorry, Buck. Should've called." About to agree with him, Buck paused. Sheathing his knife, he watched as the boy came closer.
"Something wrong, Nate?" Nathan shook his head despite the troubled look he wore. Buck frowned, it took a lot to ruffle their doc's feathers. "Are ya hurt?"
A rueful grin spread across Nathan's face at the concern in Buck's voice. "No, ain't hurt. Josiah..." Nathan stopped talking to look behind Buck. Seeing JD still wrapped up in his book, he shifted and then waved at Buck, motioning for them to move closer to the fire. Buck followed, thoughts racing through his head, none of them good.
Buck set a hand on Nathan's shoulder, "Josiah what? Doc, what happened?"
"Josiah...there's this...I think he...he's got another kid."
Buck's eyes widened and his hand dropped off Nate's shoulder. That was certainly not what he'd expected to hear and words of disbelief fell from his mouth. "What now?"
Nodding, Nathan continued, "Honest, Buck. Pulled some kid outta the saloon." A moment of silence preceded a burst of a chuckle from Buck and he clapped Nathan on the shoulder.
"Well, I'll be danged. Preacher's the pied piper!"
***BoB***
Josiah held back a grin as the auburn haired youngster came down the inn steps, bag in hand. The last two steps were taken with definite stomps and given the boy's attire and speech, the childish act was nearly Josiah's undoing.
"Is that everything? Nothing else you need to get?" Josiah asked, hand going back to Ezra's shoulder. The auburn head shook, but the boy didn't look at Josiah.
"No horse, no relatives? Nothing?"
"No. Shall we go now?" The youth turned to glare at Josiah and, with a sigh, he gave a little squeeze to Ezra's shoulder.
"Camp's this way."
Moments later, the silence between them only broken by their own foot falls, the sounds of Diablo fading as they left the danger of that behind, Josiah took a deep breath and quietly asked,
"Are you all right?"
The boy didn't answer right away and Josiah waited, glancing at him before looking ahead to the edge of town. There was no way the outspoken gambler child had suddenly lost his voice and turned church mouse. Another heartbeat and Josiah cleared his throat in expectation.
"I am as good as to be expected."
"You sure? Your arm isn't hurting at all?" Josiah paused in his walk, tugging Ezra to a gentle stop. The teenager shook his head, shrugging his shoulder in an unsuccessful attempt to remove Josiah's hand.
"My arm is fine, thank you."
Studying the boy a moment longer, Josiah finally gave a nod and they started towards camp again. "Where are your folks?"
Ezra stiffened, it obviously not a subject the young man wished to discuss. "Gone."
Nodding even though Ezra couldn't see him, Josiah figured they'd save that talk for another time. As they stepped into the woods, Ezra began looking around in slight concern.
"We always camp outside town, Ezra. It's not far."
"How quaint." The muttered words had Josiah biting back a warning, choosing instead to ask another question before his patience took another hit.
"Headed any place in particular?"
"Nowhere…..Anywhere."
Sighing, Josiah once again squeezed Ezra's shoulder gently. "Aren't we all, son."
***BoB***
Nathan shrugged at Buck's comment, moving closer to the fire. Turning the spit, he muttered, "Don't think the kid-" then shook his head without finishing his thought.
"Don't think what, Doc?" Shrugging again, Nathan stayed focused on his task, as he removed the spit from the fire. "Nathan?" Buck stepped closer, about to turn Nathan to look at him, sure his brother was hiding something, when JD's voice broke between them.
"Hey Nate! Why'd Josiah need you? Buck says Chris needed time alone, but I dunno what for, do you? Did you get anything in town? Do you think Josiah-"
Clapping a hand over JD's mouth, Buck wrapped his free arm around the boy's shoulders. "Breath there, Cub. Told ya before, too many questions get ya no answers."
JD twisted against Buck's hold, backing away seconds later when Buck released him with a laugh. "Darn you, Buck!" The dark haired boy exclaimed with a frown, "Was talking to Nate, not you!"
Reaching out, Buck knocked the boy's hat from his head, watching as the younger boy chased after it, the grumbling that was coming from his little brother now even less complimentary.
"Ya know Josiah said to quit that, Buck. Poking the bear and all." Nate shook his head as he knelt next to the small blaze. He began to dig out the potatoes from their hole in the blackened earth around the fire, glancing at Buck with a questioning look.
Looking over at JD, who had slammed his hat on his head and stormed back to where his book lay, dropping to the ground next to it, Buck shrugged. "Didn't have to answer any of the Cub's questions, did ya?" he replied, seconds before laying a hand on the knife at his waist again.
"Someone's coming."
***BOB***
Steering Ezra toward an opening in the trees, Josiah spoke softly. "I'm gonna call out so they know it's me." Ezra nodded, another subtle attempt to remove Josiah's hand from his shoulder unsuccessful.
"Boys! It's me!" Josiah's voice rang loudly through the otherwise quiet forest.
"Hey, Preacher!" came the reply and Ezra started, unable to rein in his surprise. He knew that voice.
***BoB***
JD pulled against Buck's hold on his shirt, grumbling about being let go. "Next time, Cub, wait till we know for sure it's Josiah!" Buck scolded, his hand releasing JD's shirt and the boy shot forward.
Racing to greet Josiah, JD hollered out, "Hey Josiah! Guess what?!" only to skid to a stop when he saw his guardian wasn't alone.
Josiah grinned, tugging JD forward after a moment of the boy just standing there looking back and forth between them. When the boy's mouth opened Josiah spoke quickly, before their youngest could go on one of his never-ending tangents.
"JD, this is Ezra. Ezra, JD." JD stared at Ezra's outstretched hand a mere second before grabbing and shaking it.
"Hi, Ezra!"
"Pleasure to make your acquaintance." Ezra spoke quietly, shifting softly on his feet. Giggling now, JD shook his head, and pointed at Nathan, still near the fire and then Buck, who'd come to stand near Ezra's left.
"That's Nathan and that's Buck." JD made the introductions and then looked back at Josiah. "You get any candy this time?"
Chuckling, Josiah shook his head, "No Bud, not this time. Go help Nathan with dinner." Josiah turned JD around, and gave a gentle push, aware of the tension coming from the newcomer.
Frowning, JD obeyed, though he was grumbling about the lack of candy. Once he was out of ear shot, Buck stepped closer to Ezra and raised an eyebrow.
"Funny running into you again, Hoss."
Surprised, but intrigued, Josiah stayed quiet. He'd certainly never expected any kind of acquaintanceship between Ezra and his boys. Maybe Simeon was right, this was his purpose. He supposed the only thing he could do was watch and learn. Glancing over at Buck, who gave a slight shrug, he looked back down at Ezra and waited.
"Mr. Wilmington," Ezra returned. He wore a look Buck would soon begin to call his 'poker' face, "Are you still traveling with Mr. Larabee?" It didn't escape either of the older boys' notice that Ezra glanced around the camp, clearly concerned, despite the look he wore.
Buck nodded decisively. "I am. And you're still getting yourself in situations you can't get out of," Buck replied, his look daring the younger boy to argue.
***BoB***
Nathan's head snapped over to look at Buck, pretty sure he heard his brother say he knewEzra. But, that didn't make sense. He shook his head, as if clearing it of nonsense information.
"JD, go fill the bucket with water. We'll need it for supper." Nathan handed JD the metal container.
"Aw, Nate!"
"Go on, JD. No fighting." JD moved off and Nathan set the potatoes next to the fish, before getting up and heading towards the other boys. He looked from Buck to Josiah, then at Ezra, the boy's fiery glare a clear warning to stay away.
Though no words were spoken, it was obvious to Buck that something was off. And within a few seconds, pieces began to fall in place. Nathan's concern from earlier, Ezra's glare, and Nathan's current wariness created a picture Buck didn't like. He moved next to his brother, arm going around the healer. He sent his own glare at Ezra, before Josiah steered the auburn haired youngster towards the fire.
"C'mon, boys. Maybe we should talk things out over dinner."
Following after their guardian and the teen in the deep red coat, Nathan shifted slightly under Buck's arm. He glanced up and whispered, "Thanks, Buck."
***BoB***
Josiah watched the interactions between his boys, concerned on a few levels. Nathan's wary response to Ezra and Ezra's obvious scorn of their healer was a problem. Buck's immediate protection of Nathan had pride bigger than the forest they resided in banging in Josiah's chest, and yet it was obvious Buck didn't like Ezra's way with Nathan either. Josiah cleared his throat, ready to try and tackle...well, he wasn't sure what exactly, but Buck beat him to it.
"So, what was it this time, Hoss? More saloon troubles?"
Ezra glared across the fire at Buck before looking over at Josiah. "I do not generally have such difficulties in my games of chance. I am quite talented." The child gambler straightened his jacket with his words, a look of pride settling over the poker face.
Buck snorted and stepped closer to Ezra, "Didn't seem that way back in Red River Run." Ezra paled slightly and he shook his head.
"That was an entirely unusual occurrence, Mr. Wilmington."
"You wound up in jail!"
"As did Mr. Larabee, if you recall!"
A new voice broke between the heated voices, cutting the tension and halting Josiah, who was about to step between the two.
"Just who are you?" JD's upset voice preceded the boy as he darted up to Buck and Ezra.
Ezra opened his mouth to retort, but was cut off by JD. " I know you're Ezra, but why are you yelling at Buck?" Moving to Buck's side, JD pressed his body into Buck's before continuing, "Why did Josiah bring you here? You in trouble? Where'd Josiah find you? Are you hungry? You gonna stay with us? Josiah don't like trouble. Nate's our doctor, Buck likes girls and Chris don't like nobody much...Buck's my brother, you know?"
