Appearances Darlin', are Everything
Part II
"Why Mr. Sanchez, gentlemen, how lovely to see you all in such good health, Ezra and I were just about to depart to the hotel . . . So, if you will excuse us." The smile Maude flashed the six newcomers would most likely have charmed a snake, to bad these were Ezra's friends, not snakes, and only one of them was even looking in her direction, the remaining five set of eyes were watching the play of emotions on the face of their gambler. They could tell Ezra was trying to hide behind his poker face, there seemed to be too many emotions though for him to control.
"I am sorry mother, but I'm afraid I can not join you for lunch . . . I was actually on my way to . . . to the livery when I saw you disembark from the stage. Um, perhaps one of these fine gentlemen will be able to assist you in reaching the hotel." The last sentence was joined with the first eye contact Ezra had made with his comrades since departing the saloon. Please don't question me; just let me get away from here. I know I will have to explain later but I must flee right now, or regret what may happen. "You see I must begin my turn at patrol." Ezra slowly began to turn away, hoping his comrades would let him go unquestioned, no such luck.
"But Ez, I thought-" JD started, having not seen the pleading look in the rouge's eyes, since the young sheriff had been keeping a watch on Mrs. Standish. Boy she looks upset, I wonder what happened.
"That I would likely try to weasel out of my duty, using my mother as an excuse . . . well gentlemen I'm afraid that you will not be able to use today against me later on down the road. Mother, do have a wonderful evening." With his trademark gold flecked smile and a tip of his hat, Ezra began his walk across town to the livery. Perhaps a bit faster than usual, but nothing anyone would notice. I hope.
Now a casual observer would have seen nothing amiss with this exchange. After Ezra's departure they would have seen Maude take Josiah's offered arm with a smile; Buck and JD grab the language laying nearby, while Nathan said farewell to the group before heading to his clinic, and Chris and Vin leaving on different paths without so much as a word from either of them.
Now the more observant watcher would have seen a few signs that all was not well with this group and this is the observer one should probable go with. This observer would have seen the frown that crossed the preacher's face before he took Maude's arm; the eye rolling of Buck and JD prior to picking up the luggage, this observer would have noticed the sympathetic smile from Nathan to his friends as he departed. They would have seen the silent conversation that occurred between the group's ominous leader and silent tracker before they went their separate ways; one of the two peacekeepers heading back to the saloon to finish his drink from earlier, and the other to the livery to check on a brother who was in some obvious need of an ear to talk to. You see Vin Tanner is an observant watcher and he noticed a few more things that no one else had . . . the stiff gait that had carried the gambler away from the group, the fact that Ezra ignored everyone he passed on the way to his destination, and the look in those emerald depths that had beg to be helped when the rest of his body managed to hide his fear.
"Yup, something's wrong with him, reckon I should go and try to find out what," the ex-bounty hunter mumbled to himself. He'd come to think of these men as his friends . . . his family . . . the brothers he'd always wanted, and it hurt him to see them in pain. It was obvious to Vin that something was wrong with the conman for two simple reasons. Ezra was a master of his poker face, the tracker had seen that man get shot and show no sign of anything being wrong. Emotions as far as Ezra was concerned were a weakness, so for him to have shown so many in the last two minutes something had to be wrong. Secondly, Buck and Ezra had both been given the next few days off to recover from the delivery run, Chris had the next patrol, for the conman to be taken on the extra work was unheard of. The only thing Vin could think was that the gambler needed to get out of town and needed an excuse to do so, but why?
"Yup, something is eatin' at him; I just hope he feels like talkin'." Vin made his way to the livery door just in time to see Chaucer heading out the back with a flash of red on his back. Everyone knew how good of a rider Ezra was, Vin had no doubt if Ezra truly wanted to run there would be little he could do to stop him. Well didn't think this would be easy, dame he wants to get away fast, he thought as the chestnut gelding disappeared over the hill. Ezra had to be running Chaucer full out to be making that good of time in eating up the distance.
"Well Peso we better get goin' if we plan on . . . well at least I know he won't be mad about us following," Vin said with a smile, with a look to Peso's stale he saw that before leaving Ezra had saddled up his horse for him, the gambler wanted him to follow. Vin felt a bit of pride in knowing that Ezra finally saw him as a friend, for only a friend would follow to check on him. By saddling up Peso Ezra had stated clearly that he knew Vin would follow, that he trusted Vin to do just that . . . that he wanted Vin to follow. "Come on boy let's get after him." Need to show him he has a friend, that he placed his trust in the right guy.
A/N: Wow, so much drama! What do we think? Are you guys still interested, or have I lost you? Good or bad, please let me know.