Part Five.

Ezra had to laugh. He let the telegram slide from his limp hands and flutter to the floor as he hung his head.

He was miserable, he was crowded by Annie Evans, who left him feeling trapped and claustrophobic, and, just as she had begun to uncomfortably remind him of his own mother and difficult childhood, along had come Maude's telegram.

His fingers rubbed at his eyes in emotional exhaustion, and he chuckled in disbelief as he thought of his mother's words.

Dear Son. Will not be visiting. Making developments. Maude.

He hadn't seen or heard from her for months, and that was her chosen communication? He didn't even know she had been planning on visiting. He sighed deeply, it wasn't that he was even surprised, or putout, it was just another part of the Standish family riddle.

There was a tap at the door, and he looked up as it swung open on its hinges. He groaned as Annie strode in, head held high.

"Miss. Evans," Ezra stood from the bed quickly, turning his back to the old woman, "I implore you, find someone else's life to meddle in, you are done here madam."

Annie ignored him swiftly, her voice when she spoke, eerily low and controlled,

"You know, I didn't appreciate being spoken to in that manner down there. You made me look quite ridiculous in front of everyone," she smoothed one of his shirts absent-mindedly, "What are they going to think now?"

"I couldn't care less Miss Evans. Now would you please, leave me alone."

He turned to hurry her out of the room, only to stop on realising that she wasn't looking at him, and was instead gazing at herself in the mirror, one finger distantly drawing along the lines across her face, in her hand was Maude's letter, hanging loosely by her side from where she'd scooped it from the floor. She took a deep breath,

"We only ever want what's best. There's only so long you can press them to your side before they want to see the world…" her voice sounded strange, far-away, almost musical, and her head tilted slowly to one side, as if trying to get a better look at something, "…just like his father, always finding himself trouble, acting as if nothing in the world mattered to him, but I could see it did, I could see him hurting. My brave, beautiful boy," her voice caught in her throat as her bottom lip trembled, her eyes glazing over as a film of tears shone in the lamplight.

Ezra frowned, aware that Annie was not talking to him as much as she was herself. He swallowed, suddenly acutely aware of seeing something personal, a private emotion in an otherwise closely guarded person.

As she blinked, a tear spilt over her eyelid, and trickled slowly down her cheek, tracing every rivulet and line, and painting a wet line down the old woman's worn face. Slowly she turned to him,

"Why did you do it? I begged you not to. Sticks and stones I always said, but you had to go and try and teach them a lesson didn't you? Look where that left you! Look where that left me!" her voice rose steadily, and she turned back to the mirror, the crumpled letter moving to her face to stifle a sob.

Ezra took a step forward as Annie rubbed her face with a hand, wiping away the tears.

He cleared his throat,

"Miss Evans."

Part of him felt resentful, there he was, trying to wallow in the self-pity and loathing she had brought on him, and all she wanted him to do was wallow in hers.

She turned back to him, blinking as if finally seeing him. She turned back to the letter, realising it was clutched in her hand, she paused as if coming to her senses, and indicated the letter,

"What a mother teaches her children are the most important lessons in the world."

Ezra snorted, somehow he didn't think Annie was talking about poker, which ruled out the majority, if not all of Maude's life lessons.

"A mother is the inspiration to her children, she gives faith, love, support, knowledge, protection and life, and she would give up her life if she had to,"

Ezra listened carefully, trying to work out where Annie was going with her sentence, and trying to picture Maude in all those roles and failing. Annie drew a wobbly breath,

"But she can't save her children from theirselves. I…" she stopped, suddenly ashamed, and turned to look at Ezra once more, "You need mothering don't you?" it sounded more like a plea than a question, and Ezra shook his head, meeting her eyes,

"No."

He already had one, which, as far as he was concerned was one too many. Annie looked crushed, and indicated his telegram once more,

"But, but this isn't a mother. Not the mother you need. You need support, constancy…" Annie got no further, because Ezra's stance changed, his shoulders grew rigid, his jaw set tight, and his eyes narrowed.

Not only was she trying to fill a part in his life Ezra had long struggled with, and both scaring and angering him in the process, now Annie Evans was criticising his mother, not something he was adverse to, but something which he alone considered himself worthy of. No one knew Maude like Ezra did, no one understood her like he did, and no one understood them together, not even him.

He did not need another parent, and he certainly didn't want one.

"Get out," he growled, all decorum missing. Annie blinked at him, "Leave!" he snapped, making her jump.

Annie put down the letter hurriedly on the desktop, her hands out to him imploringly,

"Wait! Wait! I just …don't be angry! I just want to help you…"

Ezra strode over towards the door, holding it open for her to leave. She stood rigidly on the spot, seeming confused and flustered. Ezra ignored all her signs of distress,

"I already have a mother Miss. Evans, I do not need another, and I do not wish to have anyone tell me about my own relationship with her. You do not have the right to talk about me as if you know me, and certainly have no right to intrude in my life in such an intrusive and unwelcome manner."

He watched her closely, still rooted to the spot and unmoving. Eventually he sighed, and left the room himself, grabbing his hat from the bed, and heading briskly down the corridor. Although he had every intention of leaving, his exit spurred her into action, and she raced after him as fast as she could go, calling him,

"I can help you! I just want to help you…"

Her cries fell on deaf ears, and as Ezra descended the steps wearily, her heard her footfalls behind him.

The other six men were gathered about at the bottom of the staircase, and watched him head towards them with concerned expressions.

"You ok there Ezra?" asked Buck, his question swiftly ignored as Annie Evans sped uncertainly down the last few steps, dashing after Ezra as her feet connected with the floor.

"You need -," Annie was cut off as Ezra spun around before the swing-doors,

"You are wrong. I do not need anything, not from you."

Annie stopped, gasping for breath, ignoring her spinning head and the unsteady room about her, blinking as her eyes swam and her head ached like a lighting strike with every beat of her heart.

"I know you Ezra Standish," she breathed rapidly, "I can help you. I know what you are,"

Ezra looked up at her, clearly dryly amused by her latest claim,

"Really?" he drawled, "And what is that?"

People had once again started to lapse into silence around them, and the other six stared on, but this time, Ezra didn't notice, he was incredulously fixated by Annie, the wild woman who had staked a claim in his life.

Annie let out a sigh, desperation mixing with pain and despair.

"A frightened little boy looking for acceptance."

Chris watched as Ezra's expressionless face changed. He watched confusion flick across the gambler's face, to be replaced with a look of pure sadness. As Ezra stood looking at the woman, searching for the words to respond, Chris guessed that Annie had hit the proverbial nail on the head.

Slowly, Ezra sighed, his voice low and defeated.

"Enough Miss Evans, enough. I cannot stand the constant scrutiny. My life is my own, and you have no place in it, nor will you ever. Leave me be madam."

Annie watched in amazement as he leant against the doors and left quietly. Her head was rushing, a roaring sound in her ears, her legs were trembling, every part of her was trembling, and spots were replacing objects in her vision. But most of all, Annie Evans' heart ached. She had no one's love, she was all alone, and very confused.

"Miss. Evans?"

A tall gunslinger was before her, confusion and anger intermixed. She went to take a step towards the door, and suddenly her legs gave way, as she toppled over, followed by startled cries from around the room, she only had one coherent thought, which she muttered sleepily as her world turned black..

"Get my son."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Sorry this took so long! Will post the next bit up on Friday, and the last bit Sunday night if I remember! Uni has been quite busy this week so my apologies for forgetting to update! Also a bit worried because we haven't seen one of our flatmates for a few days, the office doesn't know where she is and has advised us to call the police if she doesn't turn up! She's probably out staying with a friend, but it all adds to the drama over here! Anyway, thanks to all my wonderful reviewers, who cheer me up after a long day of lectures!