Chapter 16: JD's Box 2
After the laughter died down and JD's mortification had subsided, Ezra retrieved the picture, wrapped it up, and put it away.
"After Buck's death, Dunne and his wife left Four Corners. Dunne had dreamed of being a Texas Ranger someday, so they moved to Texas in pursuit of that dream, leaving the job of sheriff with one of the remaining of the seven." Ezra explained as he turned to the smaller carved box and pulled a small object. After he finished the explanation, Ezra opened his hand to reveal the well known badge of a star within a circle.
"He made it!" JD exclaimed as he gently took the badge from Ezra's palm.
Ezra smiled as he said, "He sure did. Actually he was quite well known in his time. This is his original badge." Everyone, including Nathan who had the badge now, looked up surprised.
"I didn't think the Rangers allowed anyone to keep the badges of their fallen officers," Chris said as the badge made it to him and he examined it.
"Usually they don't, but considering how Dunne died, well, I'm afraid to say some subterfuge was involved in the surviving members of the seven coming into possession of that badge." When the others looked up at him in curiosity, Ezra went on, "When Casey died about fifteen years after their move to Texas, Dunne decided to move back to Four Corners, where the only other two surviving members of the seven were still living. He was killed when the coach he and his three children were traveling in was held up. After it was over, his eldest son took the badge from his body. When the children arrived in Four Corners, they were taken in and raised by one the remaining of the seven. Several years later, after they were grown and moved away, he found the badge with a note that the boy had thought his father would have liked him to have it."
Ezra dropped his eyes as he finished, "He couldn't stand to part with the last thing his young friend gave him."
Everyone nodded their understanding, then JD spoke up, "Who took the kids in?"
"Standish," Ezra said proudly. JD and Vin smiled and nodded, but the others looked surprised.
"What?" JD asked when he caught the surprised and slightly displeased expression of Nathan's face. "Standish would have been the only one young enough to keep up with children, if I have my timing correctly."
"Quite true, also the only other surviving member was Jackson and I'm afraid that the prejudices of the time were still very strong in some areas," Ezra enlarged.
Nathan looked slightly embarrassed as he nodded his understanding with the rest. Secretly, JD was thinking that Ezra, from which ever time, would make a good father.
