A/N: If you are a great fan of Maude Standish, you may not want to continue with this story. Sorry to say it does not paint her in a good light, and I decided to just let the boys have some fun.

Appearances Darlin', are Everything

Part I

"So there I was, with that gun in my side and the ugliest bank robber I have ever laid eyes on-"

"I highly doubt that the gentleman in question is the least attractive villain you have made the acquaintance of," came the interruption, delivered in that soft southern drawl that seemed to be a natural fixture to the Seven's favorite saloon. You could rarely visit the saloon without the sound of that voice reaching your ear at some point in your day there.

"Ah, come on Ez, let Buck finish his story," whined of the team's youngest member, JD Dunne, as he once again proved his right to that title.

Not hard to see why the others still treat Mr. Dunne like a child, I wonder if he will ever see why for himself, Ezra thought to himself while he examined his youngest friend. True he himself was not much older than JD or Vin Tanner for that matter, but there was something about the way he and the tracker carried themselves that made them seem older by years.

"Amen to that! Really Brother Ezra, Buck's tale was just getting good."

Seeing that he was out numbered, the town's resident gambler simply nodded his head to the lady's man, wishing him to continue his story telling. If they really must know, I can't allow them to suffer. At least Mr. Wilmington wishes to tell the tale.

Buck and Ezra had been asked to take a prisoner to Eagle Bend, a simple enough trip. Of course, as things often go for the seven peacekeepers of Four Corners, the trip was anything but simple. The two lawmen had just dropped off their package, and were deciding between heading straight back to Four Corners that night or getting a room at the hotel and heading back the next morning.

It was just then that the answer was made for them when shots rang out from the town's bank. The following events, from Buck's point of view, included some shots being fired, words exchanged (mostly by Ezra), and a plan created for Buck to replace the hostages as the robbers left town. It was decided by the would-be robbers that the lawman was a better hostage then the ones they currently held, to bad they truly believed this fact. This placed Buck in danger and in a better position to act, freed the innocent town's people thus clearing the way for the lawmen to take out the robbers, and brought the seven peacekeepers to their current position. They were relaxing around their table, sharing a couple of bottles of whiskey, and listening to Buck's retelling of the pair's adventure, with a few insights by Ezra, when he felt that the story teller was forgetting or changing important facts. This actual action was not happening as much as Buck was hoping it would though.

"Why thank you Mr. Standish." Buck loved the attention he was getting from this, not so much though as the joy he was getting from watching Ezra squirm from the attention he was receiving. That boy ain't been himself for weeks now, I had hoped the trip to Eagle Bend would have helped, "Like I was saying, there I was-"

"Ah, hell!"

"Ezra! Would ya shut up and let me-!" Well what's he looking at?

Every eye at the table turned to their southern friend, he had once again interrupted, and in a manner quit unlike himself. When the other six saw his appearance however, all of their attention shifted to the sight out front of the saloon window that seemed to be drawling Ezra's attention, and causing his current condition. There in the street sat the noon stage, and there in the street next to it, directing the unloading of her 'fine French leather' luggage was none other than Maude Standish. The six friends began forming reasons in their minds as to why she could be here. The last time Maude had passed through they had watched, and in some cases, helped her destroy Ezra's dream of owning a saloon. The men could only imagine what she wanted now.

"Could this week get any better?" Ezra asked no one in particular, though Josiah saw the young man's eyes aim towards the heavens for a second. "Well, if you gentlemen will excuse me . . . it appears I must go play the role of a good son for a moment." With this said the conman gracefully vacated his spot, picking up his hat from the table and existing the saloon just moments latter. I told her no in my letter, so why is she here I wonder.

"Do you guys think Ez knows he looks like a man heading to the gallows the way he's walking?" JD questioned, his eyes searching the table for an answer. Though the others still treated him like a kid, he was observant enough to know something was bothering the southern. Now JD hoped someone else in the group knew what, from the way the other five were watching their friend though he was beginning to think he wasn't the only one in the dark here.

"Reckon he does," the group's soft spoken tracker chimed in, "Seeing as he's the one always sayin' Appearances are everything. Think its best iffen we go help him out." This last comment was said as Vin and Chris both began to get up from the table to follow Ezra out of the saloon. The action drawing curious glances from the remaining four lawmen, as well as from Inez, who had joined the men in watching their friend.

"Why?" Buck asked, turning to glance outside. Hoping to see what was causing his friends to want to get involved in another man's personal business, men who liked their privacy so much they were always sure to leave others alone too their own as well. The sight that greeted his gaze made his blood run cold. The other four regulators were on their feet and heading for the door before their brains could truly comprehend just what they were seeing.

As Josiah reached the batwing doors to follow his brothers outside he heard Inez mumble something. "I'm sorry child, what did you say?"

"Oh, Senior, I did not mean to bother you," however from the way the Spanish bartender was twitching Josiah could tell whatever she had said was in her mind important. "I simply wondered if this has anything to do with the letter Senior Standish received from that woman a few weeks ago. It seemed to upset him at the time."

"Do you know what it was about?" Most likely not, Ezra is far too private of a person, but I can try.

"No Senior, I only know he wrote his reply that night so it could leave on the morning stage." With this said Inez deemed the discussion closed as she went to clear off some dirty tables.

Have to tell Chris about this, see what he wants to do. Hope this doesn't mean troubles coming, things had been mighty nice around here lately. Has the preacher turned to follow his friends outside on final thought crossed his mind, I wonder why Inez referred to Maude as 'that woman.' Just another thing to check later, right now he and the others needed to get outside and deal with what they were witnessing.

There, standing in the middle of the town, was their poker face conman, only on his face was not the blank features they were use to . . . No, there stood a man with tears in his eyes, a man who was on the verge of an emotional display of unheard of proportions, one they were sure he would regret anyone in the town viewing. There stood a man in need of his friends . . . his brothers.

A/N: So how do we feel? What's this letter about? Why's Maude in town? What's up with Inez? Will Buck get to finish his story? Let me know if you want the answers or should I quite writing now, and go back to my day job.