PART 3:

It was growing late by the time they arrived in Four Corners. Ezra was exhausted. The streets were empty, so it was easy to get Ezra to his room without coming in to contact with any of the townspeople. Nathan had instructed him to keep to himself, to stay away from anyone who might still be carrying the fever, but Ezra looked disappointed.

"Nate," Chris said, once Ezra had been installed in his room. "How's he doing?"

Nathan sighed. "He's fine, I think. Mostly, he's just tired out. That wound got bad though before it healed properly."

"He wasn't treating it right."

"He did the best he could," Nathan bit back. "But he had a concussion and no one to look out for him. Once it got infected and he had a fever, he probably couldn't do much on his own."

Chris grimaced. "Where's Travis?" he asked.

"He should be here tomorrow," JD said.

Chris nodded.

"What are we going to do about this?" Buck asked.

What could they do at this point? Harrington was dead, the bank money was returned, and Ezra was home.

Chris looked at the envelope Ezra had provided. He'd read the correspondence. Although the language was veiled, it was obvious that the two men were working together. Carr was letting Harrington know that he was expecting something and if that item wasn't delivered, Harrington would be facing trouble. Carr had just enough sense to keep from signing the note, but Ezra had another note in Carr's handwriting. This note was addressed to Standish, dated after the shooting in the warehouse and was rather blunt in the way it blamed Ezra for getting in the way of the gunfight. The handwriting matched the letter perfectly.

Chris would have to gauge Travis, see where they stood with him, and find out if they could trust him with the information. After what had happened with Ezra, Chris would be damn sure before he gave up anything.

"He was lucky to get out of there alive," Josiah said quietly. "If he hadn't been hidden in those crates…"

"He would've been as dead as the rest of Harrington's gang," Vin completed. "And once he got himself out and checked into the hospital, they couldn't just kill him then. So they pinned the theft on him, and would've killed him for that if he hadn't started sneaking around."

Chris scowled, wanting to get to Cincinnati and kick the hell out of someone.

.7.7.7

Travis stepped down from the stage with a slow tread. His expression was somber and his eyes sought out what remained of the Seven. The moment Larabee spotted him, the gunman gestured, pointing to the jail but not moving from his place before it.

Nodding, Travis made his way to Larabee. "Chris," he said quietly. "I am very sorry about the news. I wish things had been different. I can only tell you that we sent Standish with the best intentions."

Larabee silently held the door to the jail open. Travis paused, met Larabee's gaze, and then went in.

The other five were there, each perched on a different piece of real estate in the jailhouse. Chris moved until he stood on the other side of the desk, leaving the chair for Travis.

The judge nodded to each of them, and took the offered seat. "Gentlemen," he said quietly. "I'm sorry that we must meet under these conditions."

"What the hell happened?" Chris asked sharply, breaking his silence. "I let you send Ezra out, and then you leave him hanging?"

Travis looked unhappy. "I've been trying to deal with Captain Carr though all of this. And after Standish was out of communication, Carr was the only source of information. Unfortunately, it was difficult to explain everything about Standish."

"He was sent with your good word and promise of safety," Larabee accused.

Travis sighed. "I did what I could, but I believe his criminal record was a stumbling point for the officers."

"How did they find out about it?" Vin asked.

Travis fixed his gaze on the tracker. "I told them." He leaned back when the men shifted menacingly around him. "I couldn't keep that information from the police agency. I was sending someone to them with my recommendation. Unfortunately, Standish proved the point when he left the warehouse with the money."

"He wasn't the one who took it!" JD said quickly. "He didn't!"

Buck shot him a quick look to keep him quiet, while Travis said, "Someone absconded with it, and he was the most likely suspect. Then, it was left at the bank. The description didn't fit what I remember about Standish, but…" and he trailed off. "Standish had a change of conscience. It's unfortunate that he didn't turn himself in at the time, because his continued insistence on evading the law is what— what led to his demise."

"Tell me," Larabee said, leaning over the desk, his expression dark. "Tell me how that happened."

"Carr was trying to bring him in. Standish had already returned the money, so there was a good chance that the sentence would not be so severe, but Standish insisted on evading him." He moved his gaze from one man to another. "It was a terrible tragedy. I'm sorry. I truly am."

"What happened to him," Larabee tried again.

Travis sighed. "Through investigation, Carr was able to determine that Standish had been hiding in the manufacturing district. Carr and a few of his men went there. They were able to track down Standish. They gave chase." Travis paused again. "Standish tried to evade them by climbing over one of the holding tanks. Carr begged him to come down, to give himself up. He told Standish that the law would be lenient. Unfortunately…" Travis took a breath. "Standish refused. He tried to escape, but fell and his body was not recoverable. I'm sorry." He looked to each of them. "If he had only given himself up…"

Larabee tightened his hands into fists. "Do you believe that story?" he asked, his voice a low growl.

Travis said nothing immediately. "It's the report I was given."

"Do you believe it," Chris repeated. "All of it?"

"No," Travis admitted. "Not all of it. I had a low opinion of Standish at the start, but this doesn't sound like the man I've come to know. He'd sent me messages earlier, about the stipend I'd set up for him. I wasn't sure what to make of it. I assumed that Carr was paying him what I sent and that Standish was just trying to get more money. I told him as much."

"You wouldn't believe him?" JD asked.

"I thought I could trust Carr," Travis responded. "And Standish is always trying to wheedle more money out of me."

"You wouldn't believe Ezra?" JD persisted.

Travis faced Dunne, and said, "I should have." He turned to Larabee adding, "I should have realized that something was wrong, especially after they took down Harrington with no survivors." He changed his gaze, taking in each of the others. "Nine men dead and none of the police officers were injured? It's something to consider."

"Except for Ezra," Josiah said. "He was injured. He was working for the police. He was trapped and shot, and they left him behind."

"They couldn't find him," Travis said softly. "They said that he'd escaped with the money. I understand that the injury was minor and he was able to free himself."

"Can you trust Carr after he'd left one of his own people behind?" Chris exclaimed. "Ezra never was one of his men though, was he?"

Travis looked remorseful. "I tried reaching Standish after that incident, but he had moved on. I'm sorry that your friend is gone. I truly am. I liked him. As for Carr, most of what he's said is suspicious." He shook his head. "I just wish I could hear Ezra's side of the story. He was stingy in what he gave up to me during that time. If I knew the truth, I could take care of this." Travis said. "I have my suspicions that Carr is dirty, but I don't have the proof I need."

"And what would you do if I could provide you with Ezra's story?" Larabee said. "What assurance can you provide me with?"

Travis looked confused. "Concerning."

"We need your word that you'll keep most of this quiet. Use what you can, and keep the rest to yourself. We need to trust you."

For a moment, Travis said nothing, then finally spoke. "You don't trust me now?"

Larabee replied, "Did you trust Ezra?"

The judge sighed "It all went to hell, didn't it? I wish I could go back and change things. He knew something was wrong, and I should have listened to him." Travis cleared his throat, and said, "You have my word."

Chris exchanged glances with his men, and blew out a low breath. "Okay then," he said. "If you want hear Ezra story, we can make that happen."

Josiah, standing with his back against one of the cell doors, stepped forward pulling the door open behind him.

From the dimness of the cell, a man stepped forward. He was thin, with overgrown black hair and stubble on his cheeks, but Travis recognized him the moment he moved into the light.

"Pardon me," Ezra said, looking to the others. "But I'm not sure whether my ears deceived me or not. Did the Honorable Judge Orin Travis say that he 'liked' me?"

.7.7.7

Ezra went over the facts again with Judge Travis once Chris had dispatched the others from the room. The story remained mostly the same, with more details regarding his interactions with Carr and his men. Chris could feel is ire rising as Ezra continued to add more information.

By the time he was done, Travis had a list of names and further details about Ezra's time in Cincinnati.

"Teddy Myers," Ezra said. "He's Carr's muscle. Not a very smart man, but he's intimidating enough that no one points out his failings. I've seen what happens to those who cross him. The lucky ones are merely hospitalized. Kirk Schmidt is Carr's sniper. He has a deadly aim, nearly as formidable as our Mr. Tanner, but with far fewer scruples. He carries multiple weapons. Carl Stevenson, also well-armed, is nearly as slick as me, but nowhere near as handsome. Bill Swann is Carr's right hand man, always at his side and willin' to do almost anything for him. All of them were involved in this."

Ezra ended the meeting suddenly, checking his watch and declaring he had an appointment with his barber that he would not miss. "I was pulled from my bed far too early in the mornin' and hadn't the chance to see to my grooming."

He smoothed his jacket, a rich brown one that he hadn't worn since the last time he was ill. "And I must see a tailor as well," he said with a sigh. At least he wore his black low-crown Stetson again, and the familiar gunbelt was at his waist. Things were getting back to normal.

"May I be dismissed?" Ezra asked.

Travis let him go. Ezra turned to Larabee next, and received a nod. With that, Standish turned and opened the jailhouse door.

A cheerful greeting met Ezra from JD and Buck. They stood and were determined to accompany him to the barber. Ezra didn't deny them. The three sauntered down the street in the direction of the shop.

Chris waited until the trio was on their way before he asked Travis, "What are you going to do about this?"

Travis looked to the notes he'd taken during Ezra's discourse. "Chris," he said. "There's little that I can do unless Standish wants to appear in the land of the living again."

"What if he wrote out all of it in a letter, dating it before he threw that dummy into the vat?"

Travis gave him a long look. "I can't accept it."

"Can you take the facts he's given you and begin your own investigation? Leave him out of it?"

Travis sighed. "You know you're opening me up to trouble if anyone starts asking questions regarding where the information originated. It would be better if he came out and made an official statement. He can't keep up the ruse that he's dead."

Chris shrugged. "I have a feeling he can change names pretty easily. Honestly, I have no idea if 'Standish' is his real name or not, but I've gotten used to it. Don't care much for Stutz or the others he used recently." Larabee nodded to the letter Ezra had obtained. "What about that?" he asked. "It shows that Carr was working with Harrington."

Travis gazed at the envelope. "And how will I say it came into my hands?" he asked.

"I gave it to you," Larabee said. "It's the truth. I'm the one who handed it over. I can say Ezra had it sent to me. Also the truth because he handed it to Buck first." He was getting as tricky as Ezra.

Travis seemed to be mulling it over. "I'll do what I can," he said. "It's going to be difficult if I can't use Ezra's testimony, but I have the letters and the one he sent me. That will allow me to start the investigation into Carr and his men."

"What about the money?" Chris asked.

"The bank recovered most of it," Travis said. "Enough to satisfy them."

"No," Chris paused. "The money you promised Ezra. He was supposed to get paid while he was there and it was cut off from the start."

Travis closed his eyes moment before saying, "The agreement was for a few days of work. The money was paid out to his name, far more than what was originally agreed upon. My records show that he received everything that was due to him before he left Carr. I wish I had proof that Carr intercepted it, but I have nothing of the sort. After that, the money had to be cut off because he breached our agreement by leaving Carr's service. Since he wants to remain dead, I cannot administer any further payments to him. I cannot legally pay a corpse. And he ran up quite a bill at the hotel."

"The money was part of the deal," Chris said, his voice low.

"I'll see what I can do," Travis said.

"That's pretty much the only answer you've given me. Ezra tracked down Harrington, infiltrated his gang, and served him up. He fulfilled his end of your deal. In return, he was shot, abandoned, betrayed and left to run for his life without any help, had to stage his own death before he felt safe enough to come home. He caught Harrington. You'd better get Carr or I will!"

Travis gazed back at Larabee, his expression steely. "You'd best stay out of this, Mr. Larabee. I'll do everything I can to bring down Carr, Mr. Larabee. You can count on that. I don't like any of this any more than you do. I sent Standish there merely to identify Harrington. I never asked him to put himself into such a dangerous situation."

Chris shook his head. "It's what he does." Larabee hated to remember how many times Ezra waded into the middle of something that no sane man would have tempted. "He was trying to do the right thing because nobody else seemed to give a damn! Get this fixed."

.7.7.7

Ezra returned to the jailhouse later in the day, following a trip to the barber and the bathhouse. The mahogany brown jacket was still too big for him, but clean-shaven and with his hair returned to its normal length, he looked more familiar.

Nathan and Josiah came in with him. They spoke happily of the lunch they'd just enjoyed at the restaurant, lingering on the description of the peach pie that they'd divided amongst themselves and consumed entirely.

Finally, the discourse petering out, Ezra paused and pulled his hat off his head. He ran a hand through his hair as he delayed. The hair color was lighter, closer to its normal hue. The barber must have had something that could strip out the dye, but once Ezra had disarranged his hair, it stood out stiffly, looking crisp and dry.

Self-consciously, he lowered his head and held his hat. "Mr. Larabee, might I ask for an advance on my pay?" He kept his head down, not meeting anyone's eyes. "I'm afraid I finished off my bankroll and had nothing to spare to pay the barber and the bathhouse. I should never default on paying either because I depend on both so much. Luckily, our meals are covered, otherwise I'd be needin' more to pay for lunch. And I must stop at Potter's store. Peppermints were promised to Chaucer, and he will remember. If you would kindly allow me the advance, I would be grateful. I'm good for it."

By the time he'd finished speaking, Chris had opened the little safe in the jail. He picked up the stack of bills that had been building up since the day Ezra left, and grabbed up what remained in the other small stack. "Here's your back pay," Chris said.

"Oh," Ezra said, taking the bills. "I thought you all might be splitin' the money six ways in my absence as you all were shouldering the work." He glanced to the others, and then fluttered the bills. He looked curious. "It seems a bit heavy."

"I included the petty cash," Chris said. "To help cover some of your expenses."

Ezra smiled at that, not arguing. Carefully, he pulled off some of the bills and secured them in a jacket pocket. The rest were folded tightly and slid into his boot. "Now," he said. "Off to take care of some outstanding bills and find my tailor." He touched the brim of his hat as he left the room.

Chris moved to the window to watch him go. He seemed to have a lighter step now, some of his pep returning. As Ezra passed Vin's wagon, Standish stopped and the tracker leaned out. They chatted.

"We let him go into a pit of vipers," Josiah said quietly.

"There was no way of knowing what was going to happen," Nathan responded, trying to sound reasonable. "It shouldn't have been that way. He should've been able to trust those people."

Vin swung down from his wagon, said a few words to Ezra. The gambler responded, then Vin reached inside for something.

"He's so slow to trust anyone," Josiah said. "What was going through his head when he was trapped and hurt and alone in that warehouse? He's so wary of being abandoned."

Vin came out of his wagon with two apples. He handed one to Ezra, who buffed it against his jacket.

"And did you see how happy he was to get that money?" Nathan added. There was no accusation in his statement. "He's always anxious when he's low on funds. Can't be content unless he knows he has a cushion. It's how he finds security, I think."

"That's Maude's doing," Josiah said. "The abandonment thing, too."

Chris watched the tracker and the gambler as they continued down the boardwalk together with their apples.

"We'll get this fixed," Chris said.

.7.7.7

A few days later, a message came from Travis' latest location, saying that the investigation had started. The information Ezra had provided was enough to open a whole can of worms. The inquiry accused Carr, along with four other men from Ezra's list: Officers Carl Stevenson, Bill Swan, Teddy Myers and Kirk Schmidt.

It started with the Harrington case, and it snowballed from there. The more the investigators looked, the more they found. Carr and his men were dirty through-and-through. Another few days passed, and the next message from Travis announced that the men had been arrested.

So the Seven celebrated in the saloon, enjoying the afternoon and the good news from Judge Travis. It was a cheerful celebration, but a tension remained. Arrests did not mean a guilty verdict. There was still the trial and the sentencing. There was still no telling how this would turn out. Chris let Travis know that he'd travel to Cincinnati for the trial and that he'd offer any assistance he could. He was ready to take down those sons of bitches.

He wanted a piece of them.

The officers were, as one might expect, mad as hell, and claiming that they'd been framed.

The Seven were lifting a glass to the arrest, when Mary Travis pushed open the batwing doors, carrying a few copies of the Clarion. She smiled at Chris, going to him immediately. "You hadn't been by to pick up your subscription," she teased as she set one of the papers in front of him.

Chris nodded, and muttered a thank you as he unfolded the paper. He was on his feet before she made her way around the table to Ezra. "When did you print this?" he snapped.

Mary froze, and looked toward him with startled eyes. "Mr. Larabee, I…"

"When?"

"Four days ago," she said. "Since you hadn't been by, I figured you'd like to see the story I'd written. I would have brought it sooner, but things have been rather busy. I've been investigating a very interesting story about a man who said he saw a chupacabra on his property. I believe it was just a coyote with mange though. His story is a riveting one though. It will be my top story in the next edition."

And she set the paper in front of Ezra with a flourish and a smile. "I'm sorry it took so long to get this to you," she said kindly.

Ezra's expression fell when he saw the headline. Slowly, he pushed himself back from the table, saying, "I really must be going."

Buck grabbed the paper and swore.

"What is it?" Mary asked, "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing, Ezra," Chris said, trying to placate. "They got the men locked up. You got nothing to worry about."

Mary's brow furrowed as she looked at the headline she'd printed. "EZRA STANDISH IS BACK!" It was the biggest news all week, and she was certain that her subscribers would want to know that their missing regulator had returned. She'd seen people coming up to Ezra over the past few days and Ezra had seemed pleased as punch at the attention.

Josiah looked at the paper next. "Those men won't see it, Ezra," he stated. "No one will see this. It's just the Clarion."

"Now, wait a minute…" Mary tried to put in.

Ezra stood slowly, his eyes on the masthead. "The Clarion was arriving regularly at their office so that they could learn more about me, I suspect. They used the stories to… mock me."

"Mock you?" Mary said, looking at one of the papers in her hands. "Why would they use the Clarion to do that? There are plenty of interesting stories. Look, the Finnegan's sheep had triplets. Lizzy is making fancy hats for her shop. And… ah… Yosemite has horse for sale." She frowned. "Next week will be better."

"There's no reason for them to keep getting it," Buck added. "You're gone, so why would they want it still? They got the guys locked up that were causing trouble."

"Ezra, I was sending it," Mary said, looking lost. "It was your copy. I thought you'd enjoy receiving news from home. And then, I thought… I thought the people you worked with would be happy to know you made it home safely."

"Those men want his blood," Chris said closed his eyes and shook his head. "They thought Ezra was already dead. We were trying to keep it quiet."

Mary looked aghast. "I didn't know," she said, and shot an accusing look at Chris. "I didn't know! You wouldn't tell me anything!"

It wasn't her fault. They hadn't wanted to spread the lie around, knowing that it would only lead to questions which always lead to trouble, but Chris realized that they should have brought the reporter in on the story. He swore to himself, knowing the size of the error.

"Ezra," Mary said, "I didn't know!"

Vin said nothing, he just watched Ezra. Nathan was watching, too.

"Ezra?" the healer said as he stood.

Ezra was nodding where he stood, looking devastated.

Buck said, "I'm sure everything is gonna be fine. They got those bastards locked up. No one will bother you."

Just then, the batwing doors parted again, and one of the telegraph operator's children burst in. He went to Chris and handed him the note, leaving before anyone could say a word.

Everyone looked to Chris as he unfolded it.

"Fuck," Larabee muttered. He sat back down in his chair and ran a hand through his hair as he tried to wrap his mind around it.

"What's it say?" Buck asked.

"Carr and his men escaped," Larabee muttered. "Looks like they just walked right out of their cells. Not a man saw them go."

"It doesn't mean they'll come here," JD said. "Ezra, why would they? They're on the run from the law now."

Ezra said softy, "Because I took their money and they know it. And now they know I'm alive … and they must realize that I'm the one that turned them in." He stared to turn, but his feet tangled and he went down.

Vin was halfway there and grabbed Ezra before he hit the ground. "Nate!" he shouted, but Nathan was already with him. "Nate, He's burnin' up."

Nathan shook his head as he felt Ezra's forehead. "Dammit! Dammit!" he muttered. "He's been so pale I didn't see it coming. He's got the fever."

Ezra looked up at them. "I have to go," he said quietly. "Please, you understand."

"You ain't goin' nowhere, Hoss," Buck said as he moved closer. "'Cept maybe Nathan's clinic."

Josiah stepped in, and helped Ezra to his feet. Ezra wobbled unsteadily. "I got you," Josiah said softly.

Buck came around his other side and the two hurried Ezra to the clinic.

Nathan paused to talk to Chris before he followed. "He'll be okay," the healer said hopefully. "He's just pretty knocked down already. It'll probably take him a while to pull out of this."

Chris sighed. "I guess it was just a matter of time before he caught it." He glanced between the telegram and the headlines. "What are the chances?" he asked.

The others didn't respond. Nathan just grimaced and followed the others. JD looked anxiously after them. Vin picked up Ezra's hat from where it had rolled onto the ground. Mary fretted at her newspapers, looking miserably at the headline.

"Hell," Chris muttered.

TBC - well, that went to hell