Chris stepped away from the newspaper offices, looking down the street towards the church. It never ceased to amaze him how life could go on as usual for some when chaos was churning up the world for others. While no one in town had a clue of what had happened in the past few hours, they'd know soon enough. Mary had said she would start getting word out immediately, he knew from experience how fast stories spread in a small community. Before dinner was cleared from the tables tonight most everyone in Four Corners would find out how they had all been misled by a pretty face and a charismatic personality. And they'd know how they'd misjudged someone who deserved better from them. How they would react was still the unknown quantity, but he had to hope things would eventually smooth out.

Spotting JD leaning against the stable door, he headed down the street. Familiar faces nodded at him, with the occasional greeting being spoken. For the most part, people could read his mood and were keeping their distance, even if they didn't yet know why.

"Take it things went according to plan?" JD didn't move from his spot but smiled as Chris approached. "Buck's still in the church."

"Vin and Josiah should be back soon. They were likely only about half hour behind us." The detour they took would have delayed them, but he knew they were anxious to be back. Where he and Buck had taken their time coming back, the others would be pushing their horses to make good time.

"Faster than that." JD pointed by jutting his chin to the east. Chris turned and saw three figures closing in on the town. "So, what do we do next?"

"We wait."

That wasn't the answer he'd been expecting or hoping for. "For what?"

"For the Judge to figure a way we can arrest that bitch. For Ezra to get better. For Buck to get past this. For all of us to get past this I guess."

"You figure all of that is going to happen?"

If he had the answer to that, he was pretty sure he wouldn't be feeling so unsettled now.

"I'm not sure any of it will. How's he doing?"

"Ezra? Better, according to Nathan. Can't say as I see the change, but then I haven't been with him the whole time." There was a hint of an accusation in the tone.

It wasn't a totally unfair indictment. "I know it wasn't fair JD, but we couldn't take any chances this would fall apart. It was a messy enough problem as it was."

JD pushed himself away from the wall he'd been leaning on and faced Chris squarely. "I know you all think of me a kid, and I admit I don't have the experience and skills all of you do. But I'm NOT a kid Chris. I know when something is important, and this was. I could have handled it. Ain't right that you let me feel so bad about all of this for so long. I get why you thought you had to, but you were wrong."

It was the first time that the kid – the young man - had really stood up to him. Even challenged him. Could be he was right. These past few months had made a difference that he hadn't really noticed before. That made for two of his men who had started to change without him noticing it. He'd have to start paying more attention to the details.

"I thought it was for the best. Guess I'll have to rethink that in the future." It wasn't exactly an apology, but JD seemed satisfied by it.

The two men watched as the riders approached and started to circle behind the church. Chris waved them to come in directly. Despite that, the trio stopped as the hit the edge of town and Josiah dismounted, handing the reins to Vin and walking quickly toward the church. They watched him enter and then rode the short distance to Chris.

"She's skipped town."

Vin cursed as he carefully climbed down, favouring his wounded leg. "I can track her."

"Not until you get Nathan to look at you. After that, if you still want to then go ahead. But all you can do is follow her, right Judge?"

There was a decided reluctance to the nod. "Been trying to come up with a charge against her, and while there may be a few minor options, there is nothing that would warrant the kind of action I'm sure you would prefer to take."

Whatever response Vin was going to make was cut off by Buck rushing out of the church. He turned toward the stable, but seeing the men gathered in front, he changed direction, bolting down the street to the saloon. Nathan had seen it too, from the balcony of the clinic, and he hurried down the stairs and over to the church. When Vin moved to follow, Chris stopped him.

"Don't rush Vin. If it was bad, he'd have come for Nathan, or Josiah would. I think he just needed to get away from all of this."

"You better be the one to go talk to him. Not sure I'm the best one to do that right now. I'm gonna look in on Ez."

"Get Nathan to stitch up that leg of yours."

The rest of the men began the walk into the centre of town. Travis was saved the need to look for Mary when she came out of her office, hurrying toward them.

"Oren, it's wonderful to see you, even under these circumstances. You'll come for dinner, won't you?" She rushed ahead, not giving him a chance to answer. "Chris, I'm sorry. I was so shocked by what you told me that I forgot to give you this."

She handed over a telegram addressed to Ezra. "It's from his mother. Floyd said it came in this morning, and he didn't know how to respond and thought I should. I hadn't gotten around to it yet. To be honest, I couldn't even bring myself to read it." She linked arms with her father-in-law, steering him toward her home, and the two departed.

Opening the telegram, Chris felt an anger welling up. Another warning that came to late. 'Dear Boy. Morrison and company coming. I've learned things and lost my trust in them. Could be trouble. Take care.'

"That's it?" JD asked after it had been read aloud. "Watch for trouble? She knew something was wrong and that's the warning his own ma gives – after the trouble has come and gone."

"Must be that she didn't know to warn him earlier. Wonder what she means she's learned things?"

"That's what kinda makes it sound like she knew something in advance, doesn't it? You going to answer it?"

Chris hesitated. He wasn't good at things like this. Maybe he'd get Mary to help him after all. "Guess I should even if I haven't got an idea what to say. Like to wait until he's awake so she doesn't worry as much."

"Well, maybe he's awake now. Wanna come with me to check?"

He looked down towards the saloon, wondering how long it would take Buck to get himself royally drunk. Figuring he was likely going hard at it he made his decision.

"You go ahead and check. I think I'm going to be needed somewhere else."

JD followed Chris's gaze to the saloon, and concern shaded his face. "You want me to come with? Maybe he won't get as far gone if I'm there."

"Company isn't gonna make the difference JD. You let me take care of this."

Torn now by which friend to help, JD opted for following orders. The last thing Chris needed was anyone giving him something else to worry about. "I'll come by later and let you know how Ez is doing." He turned and jogged over to his destination, hurrying in when he got there.

"Dammit Nathan, how many stitches do you think a little scratch like this needs?"

"Enough that it stops bleeding. Keep pulling away from me Vin and it'll need even more."

Josiah chuckled softly. "Listen to the two of them Ezra, going at it like a couple of overgrown kids."

The broad smile JD had as he approached disappeared quickly as he stopped short a few feet away. "Geez Josiah. I figured he was awake when you were talking to him like that."

"I choose to believe he can hear what's going on, so it would be rude not to include him in the discussion. Besides, I think he would find the conversation entertaining, don't you?."

"Nah, one of us fighting with Nathan while he patches us up is too common to be entertaining – right Ez?" He tried to not let the disappointment show when there was, of course, no answer.

"There, now keep the bandage wrapped around that, and I'll look at it tomorrow. OK, Josiah, you're next."

Vin immediately moved into Josiah's vacated spot. He had hoped to see more change than this but took no small comfort in the fact Ezra was still with them. "Guessing Josiah told you we got the bastards Pard. They won't be hurting anyone else. And we got your things back. I'll hold onto your watch and ring for you. Some money too. Don't know what you had when you left here, but we took everything we found on them. Figure it's all yours now."

No one spoke for several minutes as Nathan patched up Josiah and they all kept an eye on Ezra. There seemed to be so much that needed to be dealt with that the enormity of it all negated their ability to do anything at all.

Fidgety, JD stood and paced in the aisles. When the silence finally got to him, he turned to Nathan. "What did Buck say when he came in here?"

"Not a lot. He seemed kind of dumbstruck when he saw Ez."

"He's blaming himself. It's eating at him bad."

Josiah was pleased to hear the empathy in the youngster's voice. JD had been the first to question Buck's attitude in all of this, and the most vocal. Knowing he was equally quick to show his support for his friend would go a long way in healing the rift that had developed.

Vin was a little less forgiving. "He should feel bad. Ain't saying this is all his fault, but Buck screwed up, and this is the result."

Ezra stirred restlessly. A low moan came from him as he appeared to be trying to wake up for the first time.

"Ezra, can you hear me?" Josiah moved to his side, but Nathan got there first. "You need to stay still Ezra. Stay calm."

The words had no effect. Ezra was trembling now as he rolled his head slowly to one side and then back while struggled for breath. Vin began to gently rub his chest, hoping to ease some of the discomfort. The result was a sharp gasp and Ezra trying to open his eyes. "Buck." He wheezed out softly. "Buck."

Nathan grew more insistent. "Ezra, stop talking. Your jaw is a mess, and your gonna make it worse. Just calm down. Buck isn't here now, but we can get him if you want." He looked to JD, who hesitated.

"He's at the saloon with Chris. Likely pretty drunk by now."

"Warn –" he was trying to speak again. "Warn him. She'll kill –". He coughed lightly and his face tightened as the pain ripped through his chest. It didn't stop him from trying again. "Help him." His head lolled to the side again as he faded back into unconsciousness.

Vin still had his hand on Ezra's chest. "Damn. His heart is racing Nathan."

"Not surprised, riled as he seemed to be. Got tea that might help but getting it into him is another matter."

"Fix it. If I have to do it a spoonful at a time, I'll get it into him." Josiah turned his attention to Vin. "You need to go down to the saloon and get Buck back here. Seeing him, hearing him, might help calm Ezra some."

"Let JD go. I'm as likely to take a swing at Buck as I am to talk to him."

"That's precisely why it needs to be you. To make him understand how important this is, for both of them."

JD stepped forward. "He's right Vin. I'll go with you, but Buck won't listen to me. He might if you tell him what Ezra just said – or at least tried to say. Don't get it myself, but maybe you can explain it."

Vin looked back and forth between the two of them, then back at Ezra. It was evident he was still feeling anxious. The lines on his face were tight, and it was a sure bet the pain was only part of the reason. How could he explain Ezra's concern to JD or Buck when he didn't understand it himself? Why would someone as weak and hurting as Ezra was give a damn about the man who turned on him and basically set up all the trouble in the first place?

Seeing the indecision, and know exactly what was bothering Vin, Josiah answered the unasked question. "Because he considers Buck a friend. He may not have even realized it himself, but here with us he was finding real friendship for what was likely the first time in his life. I'd bet he figures his history with this woman played a big part in all of this, and it would just 'bout kill him if anything happened to one of us because of her."

"You believe a man can change that much?" Nathan handed Josiah the mug of tea and a spoon.

"I don't think he's really changed. I just think the far better man that is underneath all that bluster and sarcasm and game-face that he puts on is starting to come through a bit. Given time, I think we will be seeing more of it."

Nathan grinned slightly. "Somehow I have trouble seeing Ezra Standish turning into some kind of righteous, generous and respectable member of our community."

Josiah chuckled as Vin stood to head out on his mission. "Oh, I wouldn't go quite that far. We wouldn't want him to become boring now, would we?"

M7-M7-M7-M7-M7-M7-M7

tbc