"Order in the court," the judge demanded.

Ezra had tried to examine the wife Montgomery Monterrey was representing but she fit no mould that he'd formerly known. The judge announced the legal reasons for Ezra's acquittal and the people present broke into applause and scattered whistles.

Ezra was touched. People usually much preferred a nice hanging than an innocent verdict. It made him think that he should have tried to defend himself on the basis of his word alone. He felt that maybe he would have been believed. A mixture of happiness and overwhelming responsibility came over him. How lucky he was to live in a town where he was so well accepted. He could have analysed his feelings for hours, but Josiah heavy slap on the back brought him back to the events enfolding around him.

"Congratulations, son! Good to have you back," the older and more serious man smiled sincerely at him as he shook his hand. He passed Ezra his guns. The gambler took them in a haze that lifted the moment he saw Chris Larabee approaching fast and furious. Ezra made a face, atypical for the calculated poker player, and braced himself. Larabee was livid. He grabbed the smaller man by his lapels firmly before anyone could react.

"Jonas Johnson? You killed Jonas Johnson," the blonde breathed in his face.

"Now, Mr Larabee..." the con man began evasively.

Josiah was surprised by this display of anger and wanted his fellow man spared after an exhausting fortnight.

"Chris, leave the boy alone," he stated with a mixture of plea and threat as he pulled Larabee's shoulder.

"Why, Ezra?" he was relentless.

"If you'd be so kind to unhand me, I might be able to contribute a solution."

Chris pushed him away and Ezra took it as a good sign. He adjusted his purple coat and looked around the place that was almost completely empty. Even the judge and the prosecutor were walking out the door unperturbed by the dealings of the lawmen.

"Start talking card man or count your lucky starts," Chris snarled.

"In my defence, Mr Larabee, I was merely an assisting party in that assassination."

"What the hell does that mean?"

"What's going on here?" Vin had just come in, tipped off by the judge. Ezra was grateful for the distraction.

"Jonah Johnson," he spat out not moving his eyes of the town gambler. "One of the men who set my house on fire. And this buffoon took it upon himself to kill him!"

"Wrong, Mr Larabee, on two counts." Ezra was on top of his game now.

"I assisted in executing his delivery to justice and I assisted in the safekeeping of money that such a delivery produced." He paused for effect.

"But I did not kill him."

"So if you didn't kill him, who did?" Chris was getting impatient. Josiah and Vin were ready to pounce each on one of the men if words became insufficient.

"Was it Buck?"

Chris was famously ready for a fight with anyone and everyone when his deceased wife was concerned whether it was a mention of her name in a context that he didn't agree with, digging around their life together or the night of the incident. Or if a person involved with her murder was eliminated by anyone other than himself.

"I'd like to think that Mr Wilmington would have come to my aid much sooner than the last day of my trial."

"Stop playing games, Ezra! We're not in a saloon!" Chris shouted.

Ezra looked around, but the irony was lost on Chris. Vin and Josiah lowered their heads to hide childish smiles.

"I'm only going to ask one more time."

"I gave my word never to divulge that information," Ezra admitted. Chris had his gun out before Ezra could continue. He raised his arms and carried on calmly.

"But... I can lead you in the direction of someone who might be free to share the information with you."

"So?"

Ezra was impatient now. He rolled his eyes inwardly.

"Even you can come to that conclusion yourself, Mr Larabee."

He looked at the confused faces around him in disbelief.

"Mr and Mrs Monterrey?"

"Who are they anyway," Vin was first to speak.

"I'm afraid I can't say I made their acquaintance prior to today," he said then continued under his breath. "But I have my suspicions."

Chris was biting back anger.

"I guess we better," he looked for the words. "Make their acquaintance."

And the four unlikely lawmen moved towards the door.