Montgomery Monterrey was escorted back to the hotel like he was the town's liberator released from unjust and overlong captivity. As soon as the judge had been informed of his willingness to provide an alibi, the rumours of his imminent release spread like wildfire. Half the town congregated in front of the prison and then walked the boisterous hotel owner the dozen steps back to his hotel. Moved and inspired by his impromptu welcome back committee, he announced and invited each and every resident to join him for his exoneration celebration later that evening. His usually radiant wife was clad in all black and although she ensured a steady smile stayed unwaveringly on her face it was a weary smile of a reinstated royal that she was sporting. The crowd dispersed faster than was norm after hearing about the party later on. Once they did, only the shadows of several lawmen lingered across the road. Gemma's smile dropped tiredly when the show was over and her doting husband took her inside for an invigorating lunch.

M7M7M7M7M7

"I don't get it, why is everyone so worked up about a school anyway," the youngest, most innocent man of the seven lawmen asked.

He was addressing his pillars, his family. He rightfully didn't feel restrained around them. The former preacher was taking up the entire chair and porch corner, sucking on a long piece of straw. The tracker was in a similar position in the other corner with his feet up. The two men exchanged a look but didn't say anything to the kid.

The healer left the inside of the sheriff's office next and looked at the two older men desperately. Vin Tanner put his feet down in an assumption that help was needed but the remaining three members spilled out before he could rise.

Gemma Monterrey's closest relative – the blonde short-tempered gunslinger came falling down the stairs into the middle of the dusty street. He was quickly followed by the womaniser who was trying to direct his friend's rage onto himself. The gambler moved with slow deliberate motions to put on his hat as the rest of the men decided amongst themselves that Vin would keep an eye on their de facto leader without uttering a word. The card sharp tipped his hat at each of the remaining members of the law enforcement and retired to the saloon.

"What's going on with everybody," the young sheriff directed at his best friend this time.

"I guess a lot of people have a lot to think about," Josiah meditated.

The kid looked from the priest to the healer to his friend increasingly agitated. Nathan Jackson replaced Vin in the chair and the former ranger walked up to the threshold to lean on the doorframe and sigh deeply.

"I don't get it. What's going on," JD Dunne sounded like he was on the verge of tears, the frustration getting to him.

"It's not a school," the healer was the first to offer.

Buck Wilmington raised his moustache in a short smirk.

"Have you never heard of Gabriel's School for Lost Boys before, JD?"

"No," he said honestly.

"Well like Nathan said it's not a school." The tall man sighed once again. "It's a whorehouse."

The young Easterner's eyes widened in surprise and shock so much that none of the three men could hold in a chuckle regardless of the seriousness of the situation.

JD was speechless.

"Whore... But... Gemma wasn't... She... Does she know?"

"I suspect she's known all along," Gemma's self-appointed uncle responded. His and Josiah's eyes met now. If he'd known, the preacher didn't show it.

"It's not that kind of whorehouse," Nathan interrupted to leave.

"We'd better go find Ezra. He shouldn't be drinking alone today."

"A spiritual gesture," the oldest of the Seven said loudly. "And I'm a spiritual man!" He said with enthusiasm. "I'll lead the way," he announced.

JD Dunne was confused into silence. The tall men embraced his friend and spoke to him seriously.

"JD. You swore to hold what you heard in there a secret. So I'm just going to say this once and you'll have to figure the rest out yourself because if this gets to anyone and I mean anyone but one of us boys as a conversation topic, Gemma's and Monty's lives could be in danger. And they certainly couldn't stay living her. D'you understand?"

The boy nodded innocently.

"JD, Gabriel's is a whorehouse by men. For men."

The young sheriff gasped loudly and put both hands over his yawping mouth.

"Let's fill that hole with some spirits, shall we?" the former rangers joked without a smile.

M7M7M7

Mr Monterrey thanked his wife for agreeing to organise the food for the unexpected welcome party. Once she had started with her preparations, he walked purposefully to the saloon. The peacekeepers that he was looking for were split in two different corners and Montgomery took in a deep breath before approaching his brother-in-law and his bounty hunter companion.

"Lawmen," he greeted. He waited to be invited to sit and Vin Tanner gave a small, careful nod.

"I hope you will honour us with your presence at the banquet tonight. My wife will be overjoyed to see you there," Montgomery spoke coldly.

The blonde man snorted and rolled his eyes in response, but the hotel owner didn't react.

"If you would also be so kind," he continued: "I would like to ride out to Mrs David's homestead and invite her and her family to join us."

The blonde man flashed his teeth. The tracker just listened.

"It would be indecent to celebrate without them," Montgomery opined.

"I don't think that's what Mrs Davids needs right now," the gunslinger was throwing his weight, reasserting his authority.

"Perhaps," his brother-in-law allowed. "Perhaps I need it. Perhaps I need to know that she is reassured that you fine gentlemen will keep doing your utmost to protect her and find her assaulter. Perhaps I need to reassure her that she has nothing to fear from me."

"He might have a point there, Chris," the former bounty hunter asserted.

"Then you ride out with him," the man in black rose with his temper and walked over to the other group.

Vin and Montgomery exchanged glances.

"So," Mr Monterrey asked with an added enthusiasm in his voice. "Shall we?"

Vin sighed resignedly, picked up his hat and lead the newest settler to the livery.

M7M7M7

It wasn't like the tracker to begin a conversation, but the silence between the two riders was becoming uncomfortable.

"You troubled with something Mr Monterrey?"

Montgomery looked up from his thoughts.

"Worried. Yes. And It's Monty. Please."

The Texan nodded.

"I'm worried about my wife."

"How so?"

"She's taken a great sacrifice to her reputation... And her ego so that I could be free."

"You were innocent. You should be free."

"I feel guilty over the burden I've made her carry. She's not as hard as she makes out to be. Or maybe as hard as she'd like to be."

The Texan nodded once more.

"She's stayed on in Four Corners for my benefit. So I could experience some independence for once in my life... But I fear for her."

"Fear?"

"What if there's only so much ache a heart can take?"

The tracker sighed thoughtfully.

"Do you think Mr Larabee will attend tonight?"

Vin scoffed then looked at the worried husband apologetically.

"Would you be so kind and do me another favour today? Could you make sure that he does? That all of the peacekeepers do?"

"That's a big ask." Vin was honest.

"I know my wife will be happy for any of you to attend. But her heart is set on Mr Larabee. And Mr Standish," he added.

"And you're not bothered about that?"

"Bothered?"

"Jealous," Vin was going as far as he dared to go.

"Jealous? Of Gemma?"

"Of your wife," Vin explained.

Montgomery smiled.

"She's my wife in law but my companion at heart. The day I see a married couple happier I'll reconsider my confidence."

Vin thought about it. Monty was right. He had never seen a couple as happy or as bonded as Mr and Mrs Monterrey.

"I'm proud to be such a remamrkable woman's partner."

The former bounty hunter considered his former colleague for the first time in a long time. Her reappearance cast her in a role of wife and heiress so much so that he hadn't felt comfortable to interact with her as he normally would have. When he thought about it, the only person she spoke to nowadays was Buck and he had the attention span of a canary, especially if a skirt walked by. Gemma and Josiah used to be in contact, but he hadn't seen any evidence of the two spending time together. He hadn't seen her with anyone other than her husband. The guilt that the hotel owner was feeling spread onto the tracker. He should have done more. He would do more.

"I'll see what I can do," he agreed as they reached the Davis' homestead.

"I'll go in first. Test the waters," he said and was gone.