Magnificent Seven

"Lil' Ones"

Summary: In this Old West Alternate Universe: JD Dunne is seven, Vin Tanner is eight, and Ezra Standish is nine. All three wind up in Four Corners and all three end up in the care of Chris Larabee, who is the town's sheriff. Buck Wilmington is his deputy, Josiah Sanchez is the town's preacher, and Nathan Jackson is the town's doctor.

Author's Note: I have recently found the M7 "little" universe and absolutely loved it, for the most part. I especially loved the "little" Ezra stories. I must admit I have not actually seen the show, but seeing as how this is an AU story that wouldn't (or shouldn't, anyway) matter. I know enough about the characters to make it work–I hope… This will be a sort of blending of the "Little Britches" universe and the "Little Ezra" universe—with my own twist, of course ;) If you like "kid fics" I'd suggest reading these. They are great.

Warning: Spanking of minors. (Naturally, since this is the Old West.)

Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. I just wrote this story for fun. Enjoy.

Chapter 2: Goin' to the Injuns

Pastor Josiah Sanchez seemed like a right enough "feller" to JD. He had helped them get from the train station to the church where they'd met Miz Mary Travis and her father, Judge Orin Travis. JD wasn't too sure about him, but he certainly couldn't dislike a lady who made such great cookies!

He ate most of them himself, seeing as how the twins only ate one apiece. He couldn't quite understand what was wrong with them. Sure, they were orphans but so was he and he wasn't all gloomy and silent.

He missed his mama like crazy, no mistake about that, and he was very sad that she had to go up to Heaven but she had always said that a person should see the bright things things in life, not dwell on the things that hurt you. So, that was what he was going to do.

"These sure are good cookies, Miz Travis," he told Mary, after finishing his fourth one.

The pretty lady laughed. "I can see that, Master Dunne," she told him, teasing, "perhaps this will help with that chocolate ring around your mouth." She handed him a napkin.

JD blushed, accepting it and wiping his mouth. He hadn't meant to "make a pig of his self" like his mama used to say he did when he ate and ate, but he'd been hungry and Miz Mary's cookies were very good.

"Thank ya, Ma'am," he told her, politely.

Mary smiled at the dark haired little urchin. "Your quite welcome, JD," she said, "why don't you finish the rest of your milk while I talk to Josiah a moment."

"Okay," JD said, thinking this sounded all right to him.

Mary got up and moved to talk to Josiah. She had thought she'd moved far enough away that the little boy wouldn't be able to overhear them, but she didn't realize just how sharp JD's ears were…especially when he strained to hear what was being said around him.

"He's such a sweet little boy," Mary was saying to Josiah.

"Aye, Sister Mary," Josiah said, agreeing, "he is at that."

Mary sighed. "It such a shame the judge won't let him stay with us," she said, sendning a meaningful look towards her father—who was busy talking quietly to Sister Agnes about the kids' cases and their background.

Josiah patted her own the arm. "It's quite all right, Mary," he said, "we'll find him a home."

JD's eyes widened at that. They hadn't found him a home yet! Did that mean he was going to have to go back on the train with Sister Agnes!?

"Do you have anyone new in mind that we hadn't thought of?" Mary asked Josiah, curiously. There was an unusual twinkle in pastor's eyes she recognized.

"Actually, I do," he told her, smirking. He then bent down and whispered something in her ear.

Even from across the room, JD heard her gasp. "You can't be serious," she whispered sharply to the pastor.

Josiah shrugged. "Yes, I am," he said, quietly.

Mary shook her head. "I agree with you that it would be a good thing for both of them," she said, "but given his temper and tendency to melancholy do you really think it's a good idea."

"I believe this is the Lord's Will, Mary," Josiah told her, seriously, "and after all, we must all follow His Will, do we not?"

"That we do, Pastor," Mary said, crossing her arms over her chest, "but I hope you can convince Chris of that."

Josiah chuckled. "The Lord will make a way," he said, his eyes twinkling again. "You'll see."

JD had heard enough. So, they hadn't found him a family yet and the person they were thinking of sticking him with probably didn't sound like someone who'd want him. Mary's comment about his 'temper' had been enough to decide the little boy.

I'm goin' to the Injuns, he thought. Tonight!

After that, Doc Nate came to have a look at them. Each of them was in perfect health, if a bit scrawny for their ages.

"But a few good home cooked meals," the doc had said, smiling, "will take care of that better than any medicine I can give 'em."

After that, they kids were all sleepy so they were allowed to lay down and rest. JD did sleep, after all he was going to need his rest for tonight.

When night fell, Sister Agnes had been comfortably put up at the boarding house while Pastor Josiah stayed with them.

JD had been awake for some time when he finally heard the deep masculine snores that couldn't have come from either of the ten year olds. Quietly getting up off his cot, he tip toed over to pew Pastor Jo had been laying on. Sure enough, the mustached preacher was snoring 'logs' and was out like a light.

Now was the time to make his escape.

Grabbing up his few belongings, he quickly and quietly left the church. Uncertain in which direction he was supposed to go to actually find the "Injuns" he was intending to live with, he just started heading West.

He was soon out of sight of the town, and he looked back and smiled.

JD Dunne was on his very first adventure…

John Daniel Dunne, Sheriff Chris Larabee growled to himself. I should have known that name meant trouble with a capital T!

"Where do you reckon the lil' Britches will go?" Buck asked him, curious.

Chris shrugged. "I have no idea," he said, "and I wish that Indian bounty hunter would stroll into town. He's the best damn tracker I've ever seen. He'd be able to sniff out the little brat."

He was probably sounding a little harsher than he meant to be, but it was late at night, he was cold, hungry, and down right irritable. Not only were he and Buck out in the middle of nowhere searching, but more than most of the men in town were, too. All because one seven year old boy got ants in his pants and decided to take off.

"C'mon, Chris," Buck told him, grinning. "He's just a little boy."

"A little boy in need of a good switchin'," Chris growled back. "Runnin' off in the middle of the night, scarin' everybody to death. If I'd done something like that at seven, my pa would have strapped my hide clean off!"

Buck chuckled. "My ma would have, too," he told him, "but we don't really know why he's runnin' away, remember?"

Chris snorted. "I don't give a damn about his reasons, Buck," he told his friend. "When we find him he's gonna get at least a major talkin' to, you can be sure of that, before we haul his little butt back into town!"

If I didn't know any better, Pard, Buck thought to himself, I'd say you were a might worried about the kid.

He hadn't seen Chris this riled up, over something like this anyway, in quite awhile and he'd known Chris Larabee for a long time. They had been like brothers for years now, and it was he who had dragged the other man's ass out of a bottle when his wife and son were brutally murdered in a fire.

"C'mon," Chris told him, "let's get moving. The little brat's got a good three hours lead on us!"

Buck chuckled. Yep, definitely worried.

He clucked the reins of his horse and headed after his best friend.

TBC…

(AN—All right, for those of you who expressed concerns about my finishing my nineteen—yes I'm well aware of the number—unfinished stories I intend to finish each and every one of them; in fact, about three of them are only one or two chapters away from being complete. So, please, be patient. For those of you who wanted to know how to find the M7 "little" stories, simply go to Google and type in "Magnificent Seven "Lil Britches" or "Little Ezra" stories and it should come right up. I hope you are enjoying the fic so far, and please keep up the reviews. Thanks.)