Chapter 3

The boys washed their faces and hands with out being told. Following Chris they went to the jail. They played on the boardwalk. Chris sat reading the paper and drank coffee. Chris chuckled looking up regularly as the boys played. He shook his head as they seemed to have complete agreement without a word being spoken. Afterwards he could never explain how he allowed it to happen.

They lured me into a false sense of security. For Pete's sake I had to deal with Adam and Buck, I know better. He admitted to himself as he lay in the darkened room.

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It started simply Chris had given the boys some string to play with. Buck had sauntered down the boardwalk grinning at the boys playing at Chris feet. Blinking Buck froze.

"Ah shit!" Buck began to run. "Chris don't move!" he yelled. Chris froze turning to look at Buck. Catching himself he didn't move keeping the chair tilted back on two legs.

"Them little devils have tied your spurs together," Buck spluttered. Chris glared down at the innocent faces. Chris' eyes widened as he watched the hurrying Wilmington trip over the cord hidden in the shadow. Falling Buck tightened the cord pulling the chair out from under Chris dropping him on to the walkway.

Chris sat up glaring at the stunned Wilmington and the pleased boys. With loud gulps the boys turned to run. As the boys scampered down the walk a pair of large hands snagged their belts lifting them off their feet.

"Ah Unca Nate let go," Beau squirmed.

"You all right?" Nate asked as he carried the struggling boys back. Chris sprang to his feet, unfortunately he forgot the tied spurs and fell over the rising Wilmington. Ezra stood laughing holding on to the saloon doors and Nathan began chuckling.

I'm gonna tan me some Tanner," Chris snarled.

"Ya cain't do tha'," Beau stated.

"Don't bet on it!" Chris roared.

"Tad thaid ya couldn't whoop a kid iffen ya laugh at what the whoopin'th over," Beau argued. Nathan dropped the boys leaning against the wall while he roared with laughter. Ezra appeared wiping his eyes.

"The boys have a point Mr. Larabee," he giggled helplessly.

"Lands sake, Chris ya shoulda seen yer face," Nathan chuckled.

"Rekin tha' thnare that Tad taughted uth really workth," Beau told Dev calmly.

Mary appeared looking at the men. "What in world happened?" she gasped.

"Unca Buck pulled Unca Chrith' chair out from under him," Beau answered sweetly. "Unca Chrith ith mad at uth," Beau raised tearfilled eyes. "We wath only playin' with the thtring he gived uth," Beau explained.

Mary smiled down at the little faces considering the reference to Uncles and the look of Tanner. "Chris is just feeling cranky. Why don't we go to the store till he calms down," she suggested.

"Would you like some candy?" she asked as she led them away. Open mouthed stares followed the escaping demons.

"I have rarely seen a con of such style," Ezra admired.

"Maybe we can get Josiah to do an exorcism?" Nathan considered.

"Doeth it hurt?" Chris turned and looked at the wide blue eyes peering over the edge of the bed.

"Yes," he gritted.

"We'th thorry, ya wathn't thuppoth ta hit yer head," Beau said.

"It wasn't your prank," Chris whispered.

"Wathn't?" Beau asked in confussion.

"Nah I got loose of your string. Tripped over Buck again and fell over the hitching rail and into the watering trough," Chris' lips twitched as the boys eyes widened.

"It wath Buck'th fault?" the boys asked.

"Yeah think you could talk to him for me?" Chris asked. The heads nodded and the boys climbed onto the bed. Chris noted that they were barefooted and freshly scrubbed.

"Unca Nathan thaid we could thtay if we'th quiet," Beau said. Chris grimaced as the boys carefully curled up against each side. They lay still and soon were sleeping. They're as bad as Vin. Look like little angels, murderous little demons, Chris thought as he snuggled the boys closer as he drifted off to sleep. The boys woke and moved carefully off the bed, trying not to wake Chris.

I should feel bad about setting those tow on Buck, Chris thought. I don't though, Chris grinned maliciously. A soft knock and Vin stuck his head in the door.

"I'se heard what happened," Vin spoke softly in his raspy whisper fighting a grin.

"I don't care what their names are, their Tanners no doubt about it" Chris grinned wryly.

"Picked up the trail from where Buck found 'em follered it jus' over three mile ended in a box canyon. Ya could see where they landed. Chris they wern't no way they fell off a somethin' they jus' was there," Vin said. Vin talked with Chris a while and started to slip out of the room till he heard Buck bellowing in the street.

"What's wrong wit' Buck?" Vin wondered as he moved to the window looking out.

"Dev-vine retribution" Chris settled comfortably into his pillow. Vin turned with a grin

"Ya sicced them boys on Buck?" Chris gave Vin an innocent look. "Maybe I'se best sit here so's I don' get in the way," Vin snickered.

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Josiah and JD stopped their horses staring in shock. Buck Wilmington was standing in the street in his longjohns and gunbelt trying to put his boots on and avoid the pelting objects from the second floor window. A pair of pants and shirt sailed into the street followed by his flattened hat.

"Now Darlin!'" Buck called.

"Don't you now Darlin' me," Becky snarled. "I heard them boys talkin' 'bout how ya was seeing Missy after dinner," Becky fumed. Buck started moving away as Becky's aim improved.

"Buck!" JD snickered "Ya best close yer flap nobody wants to see yer ugly butt".

Buck stood up straight and walked with dignity into the bath house past the laughing town's folk. Josiah and JD chuckled as they traveled on to the livery.

Nathan snuck in and peeked out stiffeling his laughter.

"What's going on?" JD asked.

"They're at it again," Nathan snickered.

"Who's at it again?" Josiah asked.

"Buck found twin boys alongside the trail yesterday. Cute as bugs, they look just like Vin. They ain't his though. According ta them they was born in 1997. Their clothes make ya think they's telling the truth," Nathan filled them in.

"Why are you hiding in the livery?" Josiah asked.

"Chris is recovering from a slight concussion. Ya saw what they did to Buck," Nathan flashed a huge grin.

"What happened to Chris? JD demanded. Nathan told the story of the tied string as the horses were unsaddled and stabled for the night. Josiah stood upright wiping the tears of laughter off his face.

"Let us gird our loins and venture into the lions den, John Daniel," Josiah wrapped an arm over JD's shoulder as they headed for the door.

Josiah and JD were introduced to the twins at the restaurant over supper. Josiah hid his grin as the boys distracted Ezra so that Vin snitched the roll from Ezra's plate. Ezra looked at his plate and glared around the table.

"Someone has absconded with my dinner roll," Ezra informed the table as a whole.

"Wha'th abthconded mean?" Beau asked as he held a hand out for a portion of the roll.

"To take without permission...,"Ezra began.

"Ta thteal?" Beau asked in shock.

"Yes, Master Beau," Ezra frowned at the twins rapidly devouring pieces of roll. "Master Beau, did not yourself and Master Dev finish off all the rolls previously?" Ezra inquired. The boys exchanged glances.

"Thith ith yer roll?" Beau asked innocently. Vin popped the last of the roll in his mouth and chewed.

"Master Beau where did Mr. Tanner acquire that roll?" Ezra frowned.

"What roll?" the boy asked looking around.

"The one that Mr. Tanner just divided in three portions," Ezra glared.

"Offen yer plate," Beau answered honestly.

"You knew it was my roll did you not?" he demanded.

"Yeth thir," Beau answered. "Weth doing ya a favor".

"How might I ask would purloining my dinner roll be aiding me in any manner," Ezra asked.

"Unca Nate thaid ya wath gonna get fat ath a hog iffen ya don' get up from tha' poker table. We figured iffen ya didn' eat tho much ya wouldn' get fat," Beau blinked innocently.

Nathan hurriedly excused himself and left the table. Vin grinned at the convoluted reasoning. Ezra sat silently with his expression unreadable. Finally he spoke

"Thank you Master Beau, Master Dev, Mr. Tanner your concern for my health is commendable. It will be necessary to express my appreciation with Mr. Jackson at a latter date," Ezra paused for a moment "In the future regardless of how poor the manners I will stab anyone attempting to liberate my dinner. Do you understand?" Ezra snarled.

"Yeth Unca Ezra." Beau nodded. "Reckon tha' meanth leave hith bacon alone in the mornin' don' it?" Beau asked a sheepish Vin.

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When the boys and Vin had settled for the night with Nathan. The others gathered at their usual table.

"Them boys is full of vinegar," Buck enthused.

"Weren't you the one with his butt hanging out in front of most of the town?" JD asked.

"Their sharp as tacks," Chris chuckled almost silently.

"Headache better, Brother?" Josiah smirked.

"They are natural con artist. With a little training what those children would be capable of," Ezra remarked. Frowns were exhibited by the others. "Pardon me gentlemen I must be somewhat light headed from lack of proper substance," Ezra flashed his dimples. As the other erupted in laughter.

The towns people were enjoying themselves watching the seven regulators try and ride herd on two small boys. Josiah discovered that white wash and two young'ns mix to well. When he watched the boys the next morning. There wasn't any meanness to the boys just high spirts and curiosity.

Nathan discovered that fishing might not be such a good idea either. Remarkably no one needed stitches after that incident. JD had to be rescued from a jail cell when a game of sheriff and horse thief went to far. The boys had saddled Peso and were preparing their escape. Vin captured the desperados' before they made their get away.

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