Gazing out the window, Ezra was pleased to see there was just enough activity on the street to ensure he wouldn't stand out in the crowd. Well, not any more than he usually did anyway. Any gentleman wearing a well tailored red jacket, gambler's hat and carrying a cane was going to be a bit distinctive in town. And as much as he wanted to keep a fairly low profile to incurring Nathan's wrath, he needed the people of Four Corners to see he was back with the same polish and presence he had always had.

Dressing for today's escape had been a more time consuming process than he'd anticipated. And more tiring. He abandoned the idea of the waistcoat after discovering how difficult it was to not just put on a shirt, but button it as well. His hands and broken fingers were healing well, but not yet as nimble as they had been. Repeating the process for jacket would be enough effort for one day. He'd considered just draping the jacket over his shoulders to help camouflage the sling he still had to use, but he didn't care for the look. And it was unlikely it would rest in place given his still uneven gait and the need for the cane.

He really didn't like the cane at all. It had no style, no flair. Little more that a polished stick. But it was sturdy, and unfortunately that was the most important criteria right now. He looked at it with a sneer of contempt, vowing to himself he'd order a proper walking stick to have on hand in the event he needed one again. He had the unsettling certainty that he would.

A last look in the mirror to determine everything was in place. It was good to see a clean shaven face looking back at him again. Even once the bruising and swelling had disappeared, he was just to shaky to shave himself. JD had offered to help, but the mere thought of that sent chills through him. He finally, with only modest trepidation, agreed to allow Josiah to undertake the task, and had been unexpectedly pleased by the result.

He smiled broadly, carefully shifting his jaw side to side to loosen the tension he still could feel, as he reached for his hat, spinning it in his hands as he opened the door. He froze at the sight of what waited for him.

Vin casually pushed himself off the wall across from Ezra's room. "You really didn't think we hadn't figured on this, did you? Agreeing to letting Josiah near you with a razor? Asking when Nathan was next out of town on patrol? Pacing around the room with that cane trying to get the feel of it? We ain't stupid Ez."

"My ability to obfuscate my intentions clearly has deteriorated from lack of use. I shall have to hone that skill again." He glanced longingly down the hall toward the stairs. "Am I to presume you are the sentinel for my incarceration?"

Vin grinned. "No. I'm your minder to make sure you don't go ass over teakettle on the way down those stairs." His voice took on a more concerned tone. "Seriously Pard. You need to take things slow. Been a long time healing and you can't expect to just walk outta here like everything's back to normal."

"Trust me Mr. Tanner. I am fully aware of the effects three weeks of inactivity has had on my physical abilities. I have no desire to have Mr. Jackson order a further extension on my confinement to these chambers and shall take every reasonable precaution to forestall such an outcome."

Satisfied, Vin took a step back to clear the way for Ezra.

By the time he had made it to the saloon, Ezra was almost ready to call it a day. Muscles that hadn't been tested for ages were now voicing strenuous objections to being brought back into use. Despite the healing that had happened, even simple exertion made breathing more difficult. All in all, he was questioning the wisdom of his decision. Then his attention was drawn to the door as a customer entered.

The outside world was beckoning. A soft breeze could be felt as the door swung wide. It was a perfect day. The sky was as blue as it could be, with just a few large fluffy white clouds to add texture to the sky. It had warmed enough in the last few days to remind him just a bit about his days in the south. It was a good feeling.

Vin had noted the fatigue that had come on so quickly for Ezra, and knew the man was warring with himself about whether to continue his outing. It was hard to fight the urge to tell him what to do, but he held back on his comments, knowing Ezra needed to handle matters in his own time, and his own way. Despite the fact he had finally seemed to accept their apologies and agree to leave this entire horrid incident behind, there was still some sense of hesitation and uncertainty from the southerner.

During one of their conversations, when Ezra was just a little too tired to keep his privacy barriers up, he had admitted to remaining dubious about his acceptance in town. Vin didn't bother to talk him out of his concerns. It would have done no good. The only way Ezra was going to feel at ease in town was by living there again. Actions were far most trustworthy than any speech could be.

He finally gave into his inclinations and nudged Ezra gently toward the door. "Go on out there. You got a perfect afternoon to enjoy ahead of you. Just take your time about things. Unless you want to prove yourself right and have Nathan lock you in your room for another week to heal up again."

Ezra responded with a dramatic shudder, followed by a wide smile.

"Oh, one more thing. I got a few things that belong to you. First, there's some cash." Vin handed over the money he had taken from Harlan's body. Ezra grinned.

"Excellent. Sufficient funds to initiate a poker game later this evening."

Vin then reached into a different pocket and pulled out two items. "Been meaning to get these back to you as well." He handed over the watch and ring. Ezra's eyes lit up. He hadn't expected to see these again and had been quietly lamenting their loss. Few things had sentimental value to him, but these did. Having them back made him feel just a little bit more complete. He strode toward the door, placing his hat on his head before turning and offering Vin a quick salute as he stepped outside.

He took only a few steps before stopping to scan the street, relishing the moment. It all felt right. The familiar faces, the landmarks he had come to know. The feel of the town was comfortable. It wasn't something he had experienced often, and he found he quite enjoyed the sensation. He could only speculate on how long such a feeling might last, but for now, he was ready to believe he could call this home. The next few minutes would help him determine whether or not that was just wishful thinking.

Still not entirely sure what to expect, he started his careful promenade. His first stop was going to be the livery stables. The men had reassured him Chaucer was none the worse for his time away and he had been able to see Vin and JD exercising him. But until he was face to face, he wasn't going to be convinced.

He'd barely made it twenty steps when the first interruption came. Mrs. Potter called out from the entrance to her store across the street. "Mr. Standish. Good to see you out. I have some peach preserves in stock for you when you feel up to coming by."

He carefully waved his hand back in response, paying attention to not losing his balance with the effort. Why would she have those? He hadn't asked her to order those for him, although the thought of the sweet taste was enough to make his mouth water. He promised himself he'd pop in on his way back for the treat.

There were no other conversations as he made his way to the stables. Several people passed by, most nodding their greeting or uttering as simple 'Good day'. A few ignored him. Still, it was better than he had feared. No one appeared to be openly hostile, which was a success as far as he was concerned.

When he noted the stalls were empty, he made his way to the corral behind the building. Several horses roamed the area in a slow, carefree manner, paying little heed to the world around them. His appearance changed that for one. Chaucer's nostrils flared and his head came up when he heard the familiar whistle from his human. He cantered over to the railing and reached his head across to greet his friend.

"Yes Chaucer, I have missed you too. It will be a while yet before we can ride together again, but the time will come." Reaching into his pocket he retrieved a couple of the peppermint treats he always kept on hand. Chaucer gently took them, and then nuzzled at him, hoping for more. "Well, some things never change, do they mon ami? You have had enough for the moment." He negated the comment by offering a few more.

For the next several minutes the two simply stood near each other, enjoying the chance to reconnect. Finally, reluctantly, Ezra took a step back. "I fear I lack the stamina to spend the afternoon here with you today. You will have to continue to allow the others to care for you for a bit longer, but rest assured I will be back to visit soon, and on a far more frequent basis."

Ignoring the whinnying was difficult, but Ezra knew he had to move on. He was already wondering if he was going to be able to make it back the short distance to the saloon, or if he should consider going to the church to rest for a bit first. Of course Josiah would be there, and that would result in a report to Nathan about just how badly out of shape he'd become. He didn't want to consider the ramifications of such a disclosure, so he steeled himself for the walk home and slowly set off.

Despite the temptation, he passed straight by Mrs. Potter's shop. That detour, minor as it might be, was beyond him. Throw in the fact he would be required to undertake small talk and keep up the pretense of feeling fine, and even the thought of going in became exhausting. He had almost cleared the front of the store when the door opened.

"Mr. Standish."

He gritted his teeth to keep the sigh to himself and the exhaustion from his voice, before turning back, forcing a smile to his face as he did. "Mrs. Potter. Lovely day, isn't it."

"Now don't you go putting on a show for me. I can only guess at how tired you must feel so I won't be keeping you. I'll have one of the children take a jar of those preserves over to you a bit later, and you can have a bit of a treat with your dinner later. Have to eat to get your strength up. Is there anything else you'd be needing?"

The state he was in, that simple kindness was almost his undoing. He took a moment, hoping she would assume he was thinking it over instead of trying to find his voice again. "No madam, I believe that indulgence will more that satisfy my needs at this time. Please add the sum to my balance and I shall be by to make good on my account soon."

"Don't you be worrying about rushing that. I'm not." She smiled warmly and darted back into her store. Ezra stood in place, staring for several seconds as tried to understand what had been said.

"She trusts you. Plain as that." Chris had watched the byplay from the window of the jailhouse, and now came outside, bringing an extra chair with him. He signaled to Ezra to sit down, and it was clear it was more of an order than a suggestion.

It took a bit of time for him to find a comfortable position, but eventually he settled down and picked up where the conversation had stopped.

"She is a fool to do so."

"Well, it's not like you plan on going anywhere, and even if you did, she figures you'd settle up first."

"My history does not support that supposition."

Chris grinned wryly. "Don't think she cares much about your history – Mrs. Potter is more the type to judge someone on current actions."

"That still makes her a fool."

"Do you plan on cheating her?"

"Of course not."

His grin widened. "So just how does any of that make her a fool? I'd say she is a decent judge of character myself."

As much as he enjoyed a good debate, especially when he knew that not only was he right, but the argument would serve as an irritant to Chris, Ezra simply didn't feel up to it. Instead, he nodded slightly, then closed his eyes and tilted his head back to enjoy the warmth of the sun on his face.

Chris watched him. It was worrying to see the lines of pain back, and the evident fatigue that even this short outing had brought on. Three weeks of healing had helped, but it looked like there was still a way to go.

"I do feel better than before Mr. Larabee. Your apprehension, while appreciated, is not warranted."

Of course Standish would know what he'd been thinking. "Was just wondering how long it is 'til I can put you back out on patrol."

"No doubt Mr. Jackson will have a say in that matter. I will defer to his expertise."

Knowing Nathan would definitely err on the side of caution, Ezra was more than happy to extend his rest period for as long as possible. As long as the restrictions didn't keep him from the card table.

"You might want to know I've been in touch with your mother."

Ezra nearly fell out of his chair. Of all the thousands of things that Chris might have said that one never would have entered his mind. "She sent you a telegram around the same time you got hurt. Figured I should let her know why you didn't answer her."

"Mother and I do not always respond promptly to missives. You needn't have troubled yourself."

"No trouble. She was worried about you." He paused, waiting for the response. When he got none, he fed out a bit more of the story. "Seems she thought you might be in some danger from Morrison and her friends. And that she didn't trust them."

Ezra hedged. "You claimed you read my letter to you Mr. Larabee. That should tell you all you need to know. I would prefer to not dwell on the matter any further. Did mother respond to you?" Please God, don't let her be coming here now. That was decidedly more than he could cope with. Besides, he was just beginning to feel he might be able to stay here, and there was no doubt in his mind that if anyone could destroy that possibility, it was Maude.

"Just to thank me, and say she'd come when it was convenient."

With any luck, that wouldn't be the case for some time to come. Or ever. He couldn't imagine why it would ever be convenient for her to come to a place like Four Corners.

"Well, I shall have to put off the celebration of an imminent arrival then. Now, if you will be so kind as to excuse me…" He made a move to stand and let out a soft moan as muscles objected to the effort and a wave of dizziness followed.

Chris was instantly on his feet and reaching out to support him. "You need a hand Ez? I can get Josiah over here – help get you across and upstairs."

"No, thank you. One such spectacle was sufficient. Just give me a moment for the town to stop spinning and I will be fine."

"Good afternoon Mr. Standish."

He turned his head quickly at the unexpected greeting and felt the earth tilt again. As unobtrusively as possible, Chris pressed his hand against Ezra's back to keep him from toppling over.

"Mrs. Travis. What an unanticipated pleasure to see you."

"Oh, I doubt that Mr. Standish." She paused, lost for what to say next. She had rehearsed this moment a hundred or more times in her head, but now facing the moment of truth, she found the words failed her.

"Please don't madam. There is no need for you to address recent matters. Your compassion and humanity were preyed upon by a woman who possesses neither trait. You were a victim in all of this, and it is I who should be apologizing to you for the role I played in creating such a vile creature."

She shook her head in a combination of shock and disagreement. "You are apologizing to me after my actions resulted in shame and danger for you. You deserved better from this town, and I am deeply ashamed of the part I had in all of this. I hope some day you can forgive me."

"As I said, there is no need, but if it will make you feel better, allow me to say the incident is one I prefer to not expend my energies on and therefore it need be discussed no further."

It wasn't the resolution she had envisioned, but pushing the issue now, when he was clearly drained for the day, would be unnecessary, not to mention cruel. She gave him her warmest smile and reached out to gently touch his arm.

"If that is what will satisfy you, then I will do as requested."

Chris tilted his head to her, signalling it would be best for her to move along. He could feel how much Ezra was leaning against his hand in an effort to stay standing and he didn't think the act would last much longer. Taking the cue, Mary scurried away, using the excuse she needed to get back to her work.

When the way was clear, Chris moved close enough that no one else would hear his question. "Can you make it back home?"

It was just across the street, but it might as well have been a mile away. And the recollection that there were stairs to be scaled before he could lie down again sapped him of the last of his confidence. "Perhaps, but I fear the effort will likely prove embarrassing."

"Come with me." Chris turned him and guided him slowly into the jail, propping him against the desk as he retrieved the keys from the drawer and unlocked the cell. "Why he's locks the damn thing when no one is in there is something JD never has been able to explain to me." Before leading Ezra to the cot, he went into the second cell and grabbed the mattress from it. "Not going to be the most comfortable spot to lie down, but you can catch your breath."

"At the moment, it looks quite acceptable, I assure you."

Ezra sat down slowly on the edge and basically fell over onto the pillow. Chris helped him get settled and stepped away to get a blanket.

"You rest as long as you need to. I'll come by in a bit to see how you're doing, and if you're up to it, Vin and I will help you get back to your room."

He opened out the blanket and looked down. Ezra was soundly sleeping, with a faint smile on his face.

"Guess I should say we'll get you back home."

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

tbc