Consider the Possibilities

by NotTasha

Vin, JD and Ezra found something interesting in a box of junk, which causes something strange to happen to Ezra

1. First Half

CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITIES
By NotTasha...considering everything

PART 1:

They rooted through what the old man had left behind – Vin and Ezra and JD – going through one box and then another. A lifetime of piffle had been accumulated. The items had once lined shelf after shelf – bookcases and windowsills, doorsills and mantelpieces – filling the shack to capacity – covered in dust and soot and grime.

Stacks of the Clarion had been removed from McCord's abode, along with a wagonload of empty bottles, wrappers, crates, cans, sacks and bags. The man seemed incapable of throwing anything away. Then, after the garbage had been disposed of, the objects of 'worth' had been wiped of dust, boxed and sent into town to be sold. Before the sale could begin, it all had to be priced – and before that could happen, it had to be organized.

It was dull and annoying work, especially when there'd been the threat of trouble from Chester Horton and his men. Horton had bought up property along the upcoming tracks of the railway. Only, he hadn't greased the right palms, and the tracks headed northward, through the property of Marcel Alfredo, who'd managed to places his bribes into more profitable hands.

Marcel's eponymous town of Marcelonia flourished, and the promise of Hortonsville died. Horton fumed. The hatred grew as Marcelonia grew over the years, and now Horton couldn't take it any more. He threatened that town – the Seven promised to assist the folks of Marcelonia if needed. Horton vowed revenge against anyone who thwarted him.

So, with Horton huffing and puffing, here were three of the formidable Lawmen of Four Corners, organizing doo-dads for a sale.

"Here's some more tin plates," Vin said, not even bothering to hold up the pieces as he tossed them into the growing pile. They clattered noisily "How many you think he got?"

"Nigh on a thousand," Ezra said without lifting his head. He made a face as he brought out the last items in his box, a pair of cheaply made ceramic ballerinas. He sighed as he turned them over. Perhaps someone would pay a penny for them. He stood and moved them over to the table already covered with similar brick-a-brack. He set them down, careful to set the dancers on their feet.

Tomorrow, Inez would open the saloon for the 'big sale' and already passersby had plastered noses against the big pane window, trying to get a glance of what Tommy McCord had left behind. Their numbers dwindled as it became evident that Tommy collected junk. They came -- they went -- and now the men in the saloon labored without interruption.

The sale would benefit the restoration of Josiah's church – as stated in Tommy's simple will. Well, Ezra thought, Mr. Sanchez might gain enough to buy a new can of paint or a bucket of nails, but he won't be seein' stained glass windows any time soon. Honestly, I don't know how I was shanghaied into this responsibility. Sure, I wanted have first crack at anything of value. Consider the possibilities -- with luck I could uncovered a treasure or two -- but I didn't expect THIS! Frankly, it goes against all odds that that I'll find anything valuable here.

From the box he was working in, JD pulled out a moth-eaten pheasant and then a handful of lead soldiers. He frowned at the pheasant, and carried it to a table already occupied with a tortoise shell, a small stuffed crocodile and badly mounted bass. Then, he took the soldiers to the table with the poorly-made model boat. The ship was already overfilled with soldiers, and JD tried to find passage for the latest troops. "We're gonna need a bigger boat," he said over his shoulder and then shook his head as he settled them ashore. "Where d'ya think he got all this?"

Vin found a dish made from gaudy orange glass. "Won this at a carnival maybe."

Ezra snorted. "Hardly. The man didn't like crowds. I doubt he could've handled the festivities. I hear he gained most of it exactly in this manner."

Tilting his head, JD moved some of the men about on the stern of the ship. "What do ya mean, Ez?"

"Tag sales," Ezra said, lifting his arms. "Auctions, givaways. Any time someone left town, or…" and he laid a hand over his chest as he dramatically stated, "… passed on – he was the first at the door to rifle through the items offered. I heard that when Morton Sludge died, he bought everything in the man's house – the whole kit-and-caboodle – sight unseen."

"Sure had peculiar tastes," Vin decided as he found a jumping jack doll with red pouting lips, dressed in golds and greens. Next, he found an empty gilded frame, a bent egg beater, a nutcracker made from dark wood and shaped to look like a woman's thighs, and then a brass doorknocker. He fiddled with the nutcracker a moment before he put it down in a hurry.

"Peculiar, he was," Ezra went on, sidling up to the next crate. He pulled his chair beside to it as he used a crowbar to pull off the hastily nailed lid. "Yes, quite an abnormal man. AH!" He jumped back with a shout as something leapt at him.

Vin and JD jerked to attention and then laughed, watching Ezra's chair slam to the floor as the gambler scrambled to his feet, his arms up as if in surrender. He back-stepped frantically from the mouse that had erupted from the container.

"Mouse getcha?" the tracker asked with a smirk.

"You 'fraid of a little mouse?" JD continued, watching as the southerner stop his escape to fret at his sleeves. The mouse skittered across the floor of the saloon.

"Hardly," Ezra answered in a haughty tone, his eyes never leaving the rampaging rodent. "He simply startled me."

"Inez ain't gonna like a mouse in her saloon," Vin commented, not moving from his place. The rodent race along one wall, looking desperately for an escape. "Best get it out of here. She's doin' a favor by lettin' us set up here."

"She's doin' Josiah the favor," Ezra corrected. "We were swindled into the job."

"Yeah, Ezra," JD added with a chuckle. "Why don't you just scoop 'im up and put him in the street."

"Or step on him," Vin added with less compassion.

Ezra snorted unhappily and stomped loudly across the floor, making JD gulp in surprise. The mouse fled in the opposite direction, scurrying across the open floor. It ran into the wall and tried to climb it -- going this way and that, until Ezra -- clomping loudly enough to wake the dead -- scared him in the correct direction and the creature disappeared through the open doorway.

Vin and JD were still laughing as Ezra judiciously approached his box.

"Big tough man like you, 'friad of a little mouse," Vin muttered. "Hate to see that happen."

"Never really thought of Ezra as big and tough," JD put in.

"Yeah, kinda pretty for that," Vin admitted.

"Now wait one minute!'" Ezra exclaimed.

"It was a tiny little mousey." JD snickered, he leaned on the table and rattling the soldiers on their ship.

"He jumped at me!" Ezra insisted, eyeing the open crate. "He may have been riddled with disease!"

"Ezra P. Standish -- scared of mice," Vin continued with a woeful shake of his head. "Pity.. pity."

"I am NOT afraid of mice," Ezra corrected, looking annoyed as he took his seat. "He startled me. That's all"

"Yeah, right," JD answered, trying to stifle his laugh.

Ezra regarded the box and sighed as he reached into it once more. "Lord, it probably crapped and pissed over everything," he muttered. He grimaced as he picked out a long wool sock, pinching it between his finger and thumb, holding it far from him as possible as he it removed it from the box. Crinkling his nose, he tossed it toward the rag pile. Once that was out of the way, he gingerly removed a cheap watch and then a finely carved walrus tusk. From a twist of paper -- inscribed with the single word "Grandma's" -- he found a tooth. Due to the size, he worried for the woman.

JD smiled, leaving the soldiers to their sea-passage and strode across the room to return to work. Still chuckling, he leaned over his box, lifted out a coffee grinder with a bent handle, and then tugged away a grubby lace-edged tablecloth. He balled it up in his hand as he gazed at what was beneath.

"Huh," he mumbled, and regarded the revealed item. He'd never seen anything like it before. It was all green glass with a bronzy base and metalwork. Letting the cloth drape over a nearby chair, he lifted the item. It fit nicely in the palm of his hand – a curious-looking thing with no discernable purpose. "What do you think this is?" he asked, holding it aloft.

Ezra had busied himself with ignoring them, and examining necklace that was possibly pearls, so Vin looked up. He squinted at the thing and held out his hand to examine it. JD complied, striding across the short space to give it to the tracker. "So," JD asked. "You got any ideas?"

Tanner turned it over in his hand, rubbing one thumb along the smooth glassy surface, then along the metal that caged in the green. "Looks like it was made real good," he muttered, unable to find a seam in the metal that crossed over the glass – or crystal – or gem – he couldn't be sure. The bottom was flat – but the rest was humped up. There was weird writing on the base of it – symbols of some sort. He pursed his lips as he wondered if he should be able to read any of it.

Finally, Vin shrugged and said, "I ain't seen anything like it b'fore. Might be a real nice paperweight. Ezra?" Vin called, holding up the item for the man most likely to understand the value of it.

Ezra sighed, glowering over the pearls as he walked to the bar where the jewelry was arranged. "Paste!" he muttered as he settled the strand with the rest of the items. "McCord seemed unable to purchase anything of value in his life!" But his disgusted expression shifted as he noted the item in Vin's outstretched hand.

Oh, he thought, that's interesting.

Licking his lips in anticipation, Standish muttered, "What have we here?" He snatched it away from Tanner, and a thrill went through him as his hand enclosed the thing. He smiled, thankful for his ability to find something valuable even in all this hodgepodge. "Interesting," he mumbled, scraping one thumbnail into the film of dust that coated the glassy substance. "Quite interesting," he repeated, feeling his heart flutter.

Could this be an emerald within the metalwork? This isn't cheaply done! Oh no, the craftsmanship of the framing gives that away. This is quality material. Gold? Is it gold? Oh…possibly. But isn't it too lightweight for gold. But what's the material within it? No one would've put this much effort into encasing mere glass. The stone has to be -- valuable.

He flipped it around, studying it from all angles and noted the symbols. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket to polish at it. Pictograms… hieroglyphs maybe? Bah… that hardly mattered. He concentrated on the stone within the metal. It had to be an emerald! But one of this size? He'd never heard of such a thing. Oh, this was going to be his salvation! It would set him up for life! He felt lightheaded at the possibility.

"So, what do you think?" JD asked excitedly.

Ezra looked up to find both Vin and JD staring at him expectantly. He smiled tightly, hoping he wasn't sweating in his excitement. "Well," he drawled. "It might be worth somethin', given the proper market." He stopped polishing and returned the now-soiled handkerchief to his pocket. "A pittance might be givin' for it. It'd be worth checking into."

He yawned to show his disinterest. "I shall take it to Ridge City, perhaps. See if I might sell it for a better price than I can get here." And he smiled warmly at his companions, to show his good will.

"Ezra," Vin started. "You don't aim to keep that, do ya?"

Ezra looked hurt. "I only mean to keep it safe," he stated, grasping it tightly in one hand. "I'd hate for anything to happen to it, and thus I will do everything I can to protect it." With a quick movement, he flipped it inside his jacket, saying, "Nothing will happen to it in my care. I am a veritable vault of safekeeping."

He felt that thrill again – that rush – almost like a chill running through him – or perhaps a 'warmth' would better describe the feeling. He felt damn good. And he saw JD step back. Vin suddenly got to his feet, shoving back his chair. Their eyes were wide as they stared at him.

"Did you see a mouse?" Ezra teased, but the others spoke right over him.

"Ezra!" JD spouted.

"Jesus! What the hell was that?" Vin added, looking at the gambler in concern.

Annoyed with their antics, Ezra responded, "All right, I know how this looks, but I insist…"

"I ain't seen anything like that before!" JD continued, his face growing a bit pale. "You okay?"

Ezra opened his mouth to retort, but the kid's frightened expression stopped him. He gazed to Vin, waiting for the joke to continue, but the tracker gazed at him with troubled eyes and repeated, "What was that?"

"What was what?" Ezra responded, baffled.

"You… you… started … glowing," JD tried to explain.

Vin nodded, looking perplexed. "It was almost like a foxfire went over you," he stated.

"Glowing?" Ezra chuckled. "Me?"

"It's gone now," JD said, still not looking comfortable.

"It was only the glow that comes from doing a righteous deed," Ezra explained. "Like keepin' this item safe."

Somewhere down the street, a shot rang out to accent Ezra's statement, and the three men turned toward the street. Shots continued. With a sigh of disgust, Standish stated, "Sounds like it's comin' from the grain exchange."

"Yup," Vin returned, hastily grabbing his mares leg. "Maybe Horton's finally come."

"Better check it out," JD added, un-holstering his Colts. He nodded resolutely to his friends, ensuring that they were ready. And they bolted toward the door.

Vin saw it – saw it too late. As Ezra stormed through the batwing door, determined to get a view of the grain exchange – he hadn't seen the man on the other side of the street. Vin saw him – too late.

Vin watched the man take aim at the gambler. He shouted, reaching and trying to pull down Standish – but it was too late. The man with the rifle aimed at the gambler's heart and fired just as Ezra noted the peril he was in. He tried to get out of the way – but it was too late.

The rifle went off with a 'pop' and Ezra went down, sending the batwing doors fluttering.

PART 2:

"Ezra!" Vin shouted, twisting out of the way as he reached for Standish. But JD had grabbed Ezra and tugged him across to the other side of the doorway.

There was no time to check on Standish -- Dunne would have to take care of him – Lord help him Tanner turned to where the shooter waited and started firing. The gun battle was short lived. The shooter was too exposed and Vin was too sure a shot, and too pissed off to let the man get away. The man feinted and dodged, but he never stood a chance. He'd taken Tanner's friend --- and would pay for it.

Tanner let out a satisfied exhale, as the man went down, falling face-forward in the dirt.

Further down the street, Larabee and Wilmington took care of the ruckus at the grain exchange. The gunfire that had erupted, quieted. Wilmington sent up a shout, and Vin responded. It was over in a matter of minutes. Seconds really --damn, it had only taken seconds – seconds to end everything.

Feeling sick, Tanner finally turned his attention from the street to where Ezra and JD huddled at the other side of the doorway. Lord, he didn't want to see this.

"Damn, Ezra, you must have your lucky socks on today," JD cried, as he pulled at Ezra's jacket. "I can't find any blood on ya."

Ezra muttered, "He was aiming directly at me. Didn't see him in time. He should've put a bullet through my heart."

Slowly, a smile broke over Vin as he watched JD fuss with the gambler, trying to find a bullet hole. Ezra looked perplexed and a little annoyed, but definitely alive. Finding his voice, Vin stated, "His sights must have been off."

Ezra shook his head as he sat up. "I won't look that gift horse in the mouth, but how could a man be so insipid as to enter a gun battle with so poor a weapon?"

Somewhere in the street, Nathan was shouting, "Is everyone okay?"

Vin moved into the doorway, checking to make certain that the street was safe again. He whistled and gestured toward Nathan. "Ezra got himself shot at," he called. "Ain't found a hole yet."

"Hey!" JD's startled cry drew Vin's attention back to the room, hoping that JD hadn't discovered the worst. "HEY!" JD shouted again. "Omigawd!"

A glow emanated from Ezra's chest. What the… Vin dropped down beside the two, pulling back Ezra's jacket to get a better look at what JD had found.

Nestled on Ezra's chest, on top of a waistcoat pocket, the strange glass-and-metal thing was glowing bright green.

"Good Lord," Ezra muttered, gazing down at adhered device. "What is this thing?" He tried to grasp it between his thumb and fingers to yank it off. His fingers were rebuffed – not coming close to the surface – a strange greenish aura seemed to surround the thing as he reached.

The three stared in disbelief, as Ezra tried again, more forcibly this time – but his hand was deflected away again by the glimmering green. Startled, he looked up at the other two.

Vin, unable to fathom how this could be possible, tried to reach it – but he was met with the same barrier. "Just checking," he muttered as he sat back on his heels. "Damn… what the hell is that thing? Has it got a fire in it? A lamp of some sort?"

"I don't know," Ezra responded, flummoxed. "It's tight against me and doesn't feel hot enough to be powered by a kerosene flame. I've seen certain religious articles that have been treated with a substance that makes them... illuminate."

Nathan and Josiah burst into the room at that moment, coming to an abrupt stop as they found the concerned two huddled over Ezra. "What's the matter?" Nathan cried. "Get back. Let me look at him."

"Nathan…" Josiah breathed out, as Vin and JD gave way, as he got a look at the glow from Ezra's chest. "Good God in heaven."

"What the…?" Nathan started, but was too astounded to say anything else. He hunched down beside Ezra to gaze that the thing. The others said nothing more -- staring.

In the silence, Buck and Chris arrived at the door behind them. "I see you got that guy," Buck commented, looking over his shoulder at the body in the street. Cockily, he continued, " We took care of the two down by the Exchange. Horton's men."

"Horton!" JD echoed. "So it was him!"

Vin muttered, "Hell and damn!"

"Yeah, looks like he's gunnin' for us now," Chris said with a note of disgust as he stayed near the doorway, looking out into the street for more trouble.

"Damn fool," Buck commented. "This ain't our fight, but it looks like he's drawin' us in. It ain't gonna be pretty."

Ezra sighed and shook his head. "Just what we need," he muttered. "We'll have to watch our backs until he's put behind bars."

"Not to worry, Ezra…" Buck started, but halted as he leaned in with the others, catching sight of what had drawn their attention. "Ezra…" he gasped. "How'd you do that?"

Chris chanced taking a glance. "What the hell is it?" he demanded to know, before turning to keep an eye on the street.

Vin shook his head. "We ain't got a clue… but I think it saved him from gettin' shot." He nodded to the doorway. "That fella out there should've drilled him through, but this thing deflected it somehow."

"Think Ezra was just lucky?" JD asked. "Maybe it just ricocheted off, just like with the diamond broach?"

Ezra sighed. "Don't remind me," he mumbled. "I'm still feeling that loss." And he furrowed his brow as he realized that this probably wasn't the emerald he hoped for. So much for good luck!

"The guy was aimin' higher," Vin went on. "Would've hit him 'bout here." And he drew back to give Ezra a solid whack on the breastbone and thrust his fist forward. Tanner never made contact.

"Ahhh!" Tanner cried, jerking back his arm and clinging to his hand. "Damn!"

"Didja see that!" JD shouted. "That glow?" JD pointed to where Vin had struck Ezra. "That thing protected him. Bet that's how it protected him from that bullet."

"But that can't be," Nathan breathed out.

"I didn't feel a thing," Ezra commented, his eyes wide with wonder. At the realization, he smirked at Vin. "Not a thing." He laughed as he stood, using the still-suffering Vin for leverage. "This is amazing!"

"It's impossible," Nathan added.

Tanner opened and closed his hand slowly as he grimaced. "It was like hittin' a wall." He shook his head. "I'm just thankful I wasn't hittin' him any harder."

Chuckling, Ezra drew in a deep breath, feeling almost giddy. "Incredible," Standish stated. "Do you know what this means? I'm unassailable! You can't shoot me. Can't hit me! Consider the possibilities!"

"We'll see about that," Nathan stated and stepped forward, giving Ezra a narrow glance. "I have to figure this out." Carefully, he reached for the conman.

Ezra continued to smile, looking like the cat that swallowed the canary. "Be careful, Mr. Jackson," he kidded. "I bite."

Moving slowly, Jackson tried to lay his hands on the man. He could clasp the fabric of his jacket, but even with his slow movements, there seemed to be a barrier as he came closer to touching the man or any of his clothing beneath the layer of the glowing thing. "It's like he's got a shield all over him," Nathan muttered, walking around the southerner as he felt around his back as well. "It feels… solid." He circled around and reached for the green device, but met with no further success than the others. "Damned if I know what's going on," he admitted.

Josiah nodded dumbly for a moment before explaining, "Some cultures believe in protecting spells -- that certain items are endowed with a magic that gives the wearer special powers -- protection. When a man wears such a thing, nothing can touch him -- he can never be hurt."

Buck narrowed his gaze at the glowing thing. "Think that's what we got here?" he asked the big man.

Sanchez looked chagrinned. "Never believed it," he uttered. "Starting to believe it now."

Ezra looked pleased as punch as he rocked back on his heels. "Imagine it! No one can hurt me! Oh, to never have to worry about my safety at the card table. To be able to walk down this street without the possibility of someone's half-assed brother getting a notion to track down one of the Seven and 'make 'im pay fer wut he dun to Jimmy'.

"Mice won't be able to getcha either," Vin added with a smile.

Ezra returned the statement with a smug expression. He went on, "Mr. Horton's escapades mean nothing to me. He can send every one of his men against us, and I shall come out of this unharmed."

"Yeah, and what about the rest of us?" JD asked.

Ezra shrugged indifferently. "I'm invulnerable!" he crowed. "In-vul-nerable!" He smiled, showing his gold tooth.

Chris scowled. "Makes no sense," he muttered. "Has no scientific explanation."

Ezra's smile didn't dip. "I've never been a scholar of science," he explained. "Come on, hit me. Any of you. I dare you!" And he gave Chris an encouraging look. "Now's your chance, Mr. Larabee? Care to carry out an experiment?" And he cocked his head, smiling impishly.

The gunslinger allowed himself a tight grin as he leaned near the doorway. He responded curtly, "I ain't stupid." And then he changed his glance to take in Vin who blew at his knuckles.

"Hey, I learned my lesson," Tanner replied, feeling the gaze upon him. "I ain't touchin' him again!"

"Where'd he find it?" Josiah asked, his voice hushed.

"I got it out of that box," JD nodded to the container in question. "Just one of the things that Mr. McCord left behind."

"McCord probably had it for years," Buck stated. "Always collecting crap from somewhere."

Josiah nodded. "He may have acquired it when Mr. Herzog sold of his wares. Remember that traveler?"

"Ah yes," Ezra said with a nod, bringing a finger to his chin, but being careful not to crowd the strange glowing device. "Claimed he'd come from Egypt and was selling off the contents of a Pharaoh's tomb. It was all a sales pitch of course… but…"

"Egypt," Josiah repeated, drawing close to Ezra to get a look at the thing. "It would be interesting to see if there are any markings on it."

"There were symbols," Ezra admitted. He fluttered a hand. "They could possibly have been Egyptian hieroglyphs but I'm no expert on the matter."

"I'd really like to get a good look at it," Josiah said thoughtfully. "Can you shake it off?"

"It seems to be attached to me," Ezra told him. "I can feel it quite solidly against my chest -- almost like a magnet. I doubt that anything will dislodge it."

Josiah nodded. "Protects you from bullets and blows. It seems to be a very valuable device. So, why didn't McCord ever use it?"

"Maybe he did?" Ezra said with a shrug. "I know I would, given the chance. And, as luck would have it, I do have the chance!" And he grinned again, unbearably smug. "McCord was a bit of a hermit and more than a little insane. Few knew his comings and goings. He very well might've used it regularly. Might've danced naked in the moonlight, with only this as ornamentation," he said as he gestured to the device. When the others gave him an odd look, he reached for his flask, muttering, "Not that I would do that."

"When you found it, did you see anything odd about it?" Josiah asked. "When you touched it? Did the device start to glow then?"

After a pause, Ezra commented, "I did have a curious sensation when I first touched it… it felt like something…" he paused, trying to explain it. "I felt … it felt like I was meant to have it." And he stopped, realizing he wasn't expressing himself correctly. "And when I attempted to put it in my pocket, there was a new sensation. A sensation I felt from my head to my toes."

"We saw it!" JD exclaimed. "He glowed!

"Foxfire," Vin illustrated. "He was covered with foxfire."

"Did either of you touch it?" Josiah asked JD and Vin.

They both nodded. "Didn't feel like much of anything to me," JD responded. "Just thought it was weird looking."

Vin agreed. "Didn't feel anythin' at all. Didn't see anythin' either."

"Must be something different about Ezra," Josiah decided.

"Standish," Chris started, staring out into the street. "You're somehow special?"

Ezra's grin increased. "Why yes," he responded. "Yes, I am, but I've always known that. No surprise." And he uncapped the flask and tipped it back for a drink – and was met with the shield.

The whiskey ran down the front of the southerner – never touching him. Alarmed, Ezra stepped back, seeing the drops of liquor form on the floor.

Ezra raised his head, meeting Nathan's concerned glance. "Oh no," Standish muttered, trying to bring the flask to his lips, but it stopped – a half inch from meeting him – making a strange almost melodic sound as it collided with the shield. The barrier shimmied and glowed as he assailed it… but the flask moved no closer to him.

Glancing toward the others – Ezra noted the same troubled expressions. "Oh," he muttered. "This can't be good."

"If he can't drink whiskey, then he probably can't drink water or eat any food," JD surmised. "Nathan, if he can't eat or drink…"

"He ain't gonna last long," Nathan completed the thought.

Buck tsked. "Gonna be safe against Horton. But what good will it do in the long run if ya can't eat?"

"Can go for weeks without food," Nathan commented. "But water – he's gonna need to drink somethin'. Can go a few days, but--"

"Try it with a glass, Ez!" JD encouraged. "Maybe it don't like metal!"

Eagerly, Ezra reached around the bar and pulled out a glass, then found the water pitcher that Inez kept handy. He filled the glass, and lifted it in salute to the others before attempting to drink it -- and was met with the same failure as the flask of whiskey.

"Aw hell," Ezra murmured, grabbing for the glowing device again without success. Frustrated, he stopped.

Determinedly, Josiah strode to the box that JD had been rooting through. "There has to be some clue to what it is," he muttered. "We should check through everything. Try to find something else about it."

Chris jerked his head toward the street. "Boys, we don't have time for this." He shoved his way through the door as he noted Mr. Juje standing outside the telegraph office, waving a paper at him. With one last glance at the street, he strode out to meet the telegraph man. The others followed.

"You got 'em all?" Juje asked, staying halfway in his doorway.

"Seems so," Chris responded. "What you got there?"

Breathless, Juje flapped the page at him as he leaned on his crutches to keep his weight of his splinted leg. "They're goin' after Marcelonia!" he declared.

"Marcelonia?" Nathan echoed. "Horton's really gonna do it."

"They have that lovely saloon," Ezra put in, sidling up behind and cradling his flask in one hand. "Shame if anything happened to it. And a most refined restaurant." He sighed. "And to think, I went without breakfast this morning. Terribly shortsighted of me. If I'd only considered --"

"Hand it over," Larabee cut Ezra off as he took the message from Juje. A frown creased his face as he read. "You're kidding me," he finally muttered.

Juje shook his head. "I never got a message wrong. Not once!" He jabbed a finger at the note as he leaned on his crutches. "Chester Horton is leaving Sweet Wallow. He's headin' for Marcelonia. Says here he's gonna take the whole town apart."

"Fuck…" Buck muttered, closing his eyes.

"Who sent it?" JD asked.

"Horton!" Juje declared.

"Fool," Ezra muttered.

"We got time to head them off?" Nathan asked expectantly.

Vin nodded as he calculated. "They'll be ridin' through the Grass Flat. We can cut them off before they get anywhere near the town. Gotta ride though. Gotta get movin', now."

With a weary sigh, Chris stated, "They're expecting us." And he squinted at Ezra and his glowing chest. He didn't understand how the thing worked, but at that moment he wished that they all could be so protected.

PART 3:

They stormed into the livery, ready to head off Horton's crew before the angry men reached Marcelonia. The horses, well attuned to their owners and their moods, stomped impatiently in their stalls. The Seven moved with practiced assuredness to ready their mounts for the ride.

"They got one hell of a town goin' there," Buck commented as reached Clyde's stall. "Marcelonia's boomin'."

"They got a theatre now and a nice hotel," JD added. "And that restaurant..." he trailed off as he shot Ezra a commiserating look.

Ezra sighed and shook his head. "A pity. I really would have enjoyed sampling their dessert menu. I hear it's extensive. We can't let that be taken from us, can we?"

"Lots of families moving in," Nathan commented as he patted Badger's muzzle. "Lots of women and kids."

"Ain't right for someone wants to destroy it all just 'cause someone else didn't get what they wanted," Vin added.

"And those people," Josiah commented morosely, "all those innocent people could be killed."

"Won't happen," Chris pledged, pausing to meet the glance of each of his men. "We'll stop him. We'll do whatever it takes." And he opened Job's stall to prepare the animal.

Ezra was the last to reach his horse. "Hello, Chaucer," he murmured congenially. "Are you ready for a bit of exercise?" But as he opened the gate, he wasn't prepared for Chaucer's reaction. The animal's eyes went wide, and he backed away until he collided with the back wall, snorting a warning.

Ezra paused, not knowing what to do. The horse kept backing, but had nowhere to go. "Chaucer," Ezra crooned. "It's all right. It's me... it's Ezra."

But Chaucer snorted again, rearing and pacing, kicking up his heels and battering the back of the stall.

"My friend," Ezra called softly, trying to calm the animal. "It's okay... it's okay." He reached to catch the animal's head, but the horse dove at him, attempting to grab him by the neck to shake him to bits. Shocked, Ezra ducked away, moving an arm to ward him off. Chaucer went for the arm instead and jerked back as his teeth clashed against the strange shield that covered his owner.

"It's me! It's Ezra…" Ezra cried frantically. But the terrified horse would not be calmed, battering his stall and breathing with such ferocity that a froth came to his lips.

"Ezra!" Vin grasped the gambler by the sleeve, careful not to grab onto any flesh. "Get back! Damn it, Ezra, he's scared to death of you!"

Frantically, Standish turned to face the tracker. "He's my horse!" Ezra exclaimed, his eyes filled with an unspeakable misery. "He has no reason to EVER fear me!"

"Get the hell out of here, Ezra!" Chris ordered as Chaucer worked up the others. Job whinnied loudly, thrashing his head and not letting Larabee bridle him. Clyde and Toby danced anxiously. Prophet reared back as Josiah reached for him, and Badger skittered nervously. Other horses in the livery joined in the ruckus. "Damn it, Ezra – NOW!"

Lost, Ezra backed away from his horse, who stomped and wheeled himself about, clattering and banging the boards around him until they started to splinter. Throwing one last look at his compatriots, Ezra darted out of the barn.

It took several minutes for the men to calm their horses enough to prepare them for the ride. JD paused to check Chaucer, to ensure he wasn't hurt and that he'd be calm once they left. And then the six of them led their horses from the livery.

They found Ezra just outside, and he moved judiciously from them as they brought the horses through the doorway. "Why?" Ezra asked agonizingly. "Why did he do that?"

Vin sighed. "Probably couldn't smell you, Ezra. Nothin' can get in at you, so probably nothin' can get back out."

"Air must be gettin' into him though," Nathan added, looking to make sure that the conman hadn't turned blue.

Vin grimaced. "Aw, I don't understand it none."

Ezra didn't seem to care about the discussion. "Is Chaucer all right?" he asked anxiously. "I didn't hurt him, did I?"

"He's fine," JD assured. "He just doesn't know what to make of you."

Ezra eyed the other horses. They seemed relatively calm, not ready to bolt at his presence now that they were away from Chaucer's antics. "Perhaps," Ezra said. "Perhaps it's just Chaucer who's affected by this change. I can borrow a hack."

"We ain't got time for that," Chris responded brusquely.

Buck gave him a consoling look. "You got it easy this time, hoss. Just hang around and wait for us to get back."

"Nothin' to worry about," Nathan added with a grin. "You get to spend the day at the saloon, playin' your games."

"No, Nathan," JD told him. "He's gotta sort through the rest of McCord's stuff."

"That's right," Nathan went on. "Maybe see if you can find more of those toys. We could sure use 'em. Maybe you could find instructions if nothing else."

Josiah put in philosophically, "If you can't get on a horse, you can't leave town. The device seems to be a bit of a hindrance."

Ezra put one hand over the strange bit of jewelry. "I can hardly call it a hindrance. It saved my life!" And inside the livery, Chaucer banged at the pen again.

"Watch the town, Ezra," Chris ordered. "We'll be back." And he nodded sharply at the conman, as he reined his horse about. The others bade their farewells and rode off in a cloud of dust, dashing around the incoming stage.

Ezra sighed, watching them go, watching the stage roll in. Dust filtered down around him. With a tight grin, he sighed, realizing another advantage to the device. Not only did it protect him from bullets, flying fists and thrashing hooves, he'd also be dust-free. "Rather like being under a bell jar," he muttered. All in all, not a bad thing, if it weren't for the problems with his horse – and that whole 'inability to eat' thing.

Well, he wasn't hungry – not yet. Laying a hand over the strange glowing thing, he decided to follow through with what JD suggested and return to McCord's boxes. He turned and made his way to the saloon, considering the possibilities of finding more information about the device.

PART 4:

Ezra had just dumped the remainder of JD's box onto the floor when Nina Juje stepped in the doorway. "Mr. Standish," she called softly, holding out the note written by her father.

The gambler stood abruptly, dusting at his pants for no reason. "Thank you, Miss Juje," he said softly, as he took the message from her. He frowned as he read it, feeling the muscles about his jaw grow tight. With a quick movement, he strode out the door, making his way to the telegraph office before the girl could even turn around.

Juje looked up sharply as the gambler slammed open the door to his office. "I figured you'd come," he commented, staggering to his feet and leaning on the counter.

"Is this right?" Ezra demanded to know, holding out the note.

"Yup," Juje responded. He looked sheepish as he added, "Now, I know I said I never get a message wrong – and that's true. I don't! Lance over at Sweet Wallow's telegraph office sent this one after Horton left town. I didn't know until now."

"Damn convenient for Horton to leave out this information," Ezra bit out.

Juje could only nod his agreement.

With a grumble, Ezra stared at the note, looking incredulous as he reread it. "They don't know!" he cried, slamming the paper onto the counter. "Chris and the others won't be able to stop him!"

Again, Juje nodded and then commented, "Especially if they think Horton's still comin' on horseback."

Groaning, Ezra added, "They won't even be in the right place. Vin will have figured their location incorrectly. Damn it!" He looked bleak. "And you know, as soon as Vin and the others figure it out, they'll go after Horton." Ezra closed his eyes in misery, as he stated, "What'll happen when they catch up? My God, they'll be slaughtered!"

And Ezra opened his eyes, his irises looking uncommonly green. He turned abruptly, his coat tails flying as he spun his way out the door and back toward the livery.

Juje sighed, watching Standish go, wishing they'd had this information before. His eyes fastened on the note and he worried about the men who protected their town – worried because he had just sent them to their doom.

He knew exactly what the note said, he'd heard it over the wire, had written down the words, but still his gaze tracked along the writing as he re-read, "HORTON NOT ATTACKING ON HORSEBACK. STOLE LOCOMOTIVE. EXPLOSIVES AND HOWITZER ONBOARD. WARNING - TRACKS ARE OUT IN MARCELONIA."

Juje sighed again and hobbled to his post, needing something to do.

TBC