A/N: Can you feel the tension building . . . just wait it gets better. Here comes chapter X

Appearances Darlin', are Everything

Part X

"Good morning Senora Standish. Can I help you with anything?" Inez had been packing a basket of food for Josiah and Chris to take out to the others when she heard someone enter the saloon. Sticking her head out of the kitchen the Spanish bartender spotted the last person in town that she wanted to deal with right now. I should have tried to leave sooner, should have known she would come back. "Senora?"

"Oh, hello my dear, I was wondering if my dear son was up yet?"

Inez could tell that the southern lady was nervous about being in the saloon again so soon after what happened last night. While Maude stood in the center of the saloon waiting for an answer the older woman kept throwing nervous glances over her shoulder at the door. It was like Maude was afraid that if she relaxed someone was going to jump out at her. Of course, reflected the bartender, with the welcoming she has received something just might.

"No, I am sorry, Senor Standish left early this morning on a run for Senor Larabee. Sorry but I am not sure when he will return . . . perhaps Senor Larabee will be able to help you?" Inez wanted to smile at the look of fear that crossed the blonde's face at the thought of facing the gunslinger again. "I am sorry I could not help, now if you will excuse me I am taking some things over to Senora Potter's store."

Maude seemed to be frozen in place, unaware of everything that was going on around her. She simply stood there letting what she had just been told sink in. "Mr. Larabee would know where Ezra is?"

"Si Senora, he was the one who sent Senor Standish this morning. Now if you will excuse me?" As Inez said this she walking towards the batwing doors, leading the con-woman along with her. "I believe Senor Larabee will be at the church, he said something about speaking to Senor Sanchez today."

Once on the boardwalk the young Spanish senorita pointed the other woman in the direction of the church, and then headed to Mrs. Potter's store. On the way to the store Inez scanned the town for the black clad gunslinger. I do hope I can find him to give the Senor this food for the others before that woman upsets him.

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The only sounds Maude could make out coming from the church was the sound of someone working with a hammer. The southern gentlewoman stopped just inside the doorway, trying to find the source of the sound in the dark building. After searching for several minutes, Maude decided to simply find out who was there the old fashion way.

"Mr. Sanchez . . . Hello . . . Is there anyone here?" Maude, who like Ezra had never really been fond of churches, waited a few more minutes at the door before she ventured further into the room in search of the man who resided in the church.

Passing through the main room of the church it was easy for the con-woman to see the repairs that had been done to the building. There was the new door, some new paint here and there, and what looked like new stained glass windows in the upper story of the building. I wonder if Ezra has helped with any of this, he speaks so highly of Mr. Sanchez is his letters.

"Mr. Sanchez . . . Mr. Sanchez?" With an irritated sigh Maude sat down in the front row of pews. "What ever did I do to deserve this? All I wanted in my life was to teach my dear boy how to use his god given talents to get the better things in life. And how does he repay me? He throws it all away to play LAWMAN in this god forsaken backwater town. How could Ezra do this to me?"

Maude Standish stopped, and waited, she was in a church after all maybe someone was actually listening, maybe someones would give her an answer. Sitting there in the darkened church the southerner waited for an answer . . . a sign . . . for anything that might help but after waiting what seemed like hours Maude decided that no answer was coming, she was, as she always was . . . on her own.

"It was a silly thought anyways . . . like anyone would listen to me. I should go see if the telegraph office is open." With one last glance towards the back of the church Maude left to see if there was an answer to her cry for help, once again leaving the church empty except for the continuous sound of a hammer being used somewhere in the distance.

It seems right that he's not here, after everything Ezra screamed about last night, I'm sure Josiah wants nothing to do with me. This thought came with a touch of sadness which shocked the con artist. A year ago she laughed at the idea of the ex-preacher's affections, but now . . . well. It truly does not matter, not after last night.

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Chris Larabee waited in the alley besides the church listening to the one sided conversation being held inside. Truth was the gunslinger had planned to talk to Josiah like Inez had mentioned, what she failed to mention was that this comment had been made hours ago, so the two peacekeepers had already held their discussion. Chris had been heading back to the saloon to pick-up some supplies from Inez before he and Josiah headed out to his cabin when he saw Maude enter the saloon.

The peacekeeper had stood outside listening to the exchange just in case the Spanish Senorita needed help, and then had duck out of sight to follow the southern lady over to the church as she searched for Josiah. Chris knew the spiritual man was not there, having just left in him in the livery, but saw no reason to inform Maude of this, thing was right now he was more interested in seeing what she would do when she found no one there then being polite. Did she really want to talk to Ezra? Would she seek Larabee out in order to learn the whereabouts of her son?

Doubt she misses him that much.

Since the first time they had meet the gunslinger had this feeling that he would not like this woman, and now after hearing her opinion of Ezra's decision to stay in Four Corners he knew that the feeling was right.

How can she feel that way about her son? Now I see why it took him so long to accept that he has got real friends here, people who care about him. Probably the first time anyone has cared for him not for his talents. As Chris waited for Maude to leave for the telegraph office so he could go in search of Inez, the gunslinger began to think the town's resident gambler. He started to remember the few times any of the Seven had told Ezra that he had 'done good', how the cardsharp would get the same smile on his face that children did when their parents told them they were proud of them. Or how about when Ezra seemed truly shocked that one of the others would show concern for him if he got injured in a fight. The longer Chris thought about it the more he realized the even thought JD was the youngest in the group, with the childhoods that Ezra and Vin had there were times when they seemed younger than the sheriff. No wonder those three are so close, they have so much in common.

Deciding he had wasted enough time standing outside the church Chris headed down the boardwalk in search of Inez, stopping long enough at the livery to tell Josiah to grab the horses and meet him in front of Mrs. Potter's store . . . oh, and to watch out for Maude.

I'll tell him what I over heard once we're out of town, the way he feels about Ezra I would hate to see what he would do to Maude right now.

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"She really did all of that to him? What kind of woman could be that cruel to their only son?" Mary, like the other women in the store, had thought of her own son when Inez had begun to recount the tale of the previous night's events.

Inez knew Ezra would be terribly embarrassed to learn that these women knew the details reviled yesterday about his sordid past, but the saloon manager knew that the gambler had come to mean as much to them as any other member of the Seven, if she wanted their help in her plan then they deserved to know why.

"Poor Mr. Standish, he is never anything but polite to others, and he has done so much for this town. How could he have such a monster for a mother?" Gloria Potter couldn't stop thinking about the times the southern gentleman had helped her around the store (when no one was looking of course), or the way he had with the children in town. That poor boy deserved a better childhood, and to think we all thought he was raised with the best of everything money could buy simply because of the way he presents himself.

"I agree with Gloria, the fancy dressing fool may come off the wrong wayat the first meeting." Nettie paused to remember her first meeting with the gambler, "but underneath all those fancy clothes and ten dollar words he has a heart of gold same as the other six."

"Aunt Nettie, Ezra's always so nice to his ma, why would she be so mean to him? I mean, he is her only son isn't he?" Casey had set next to Inez through the whole discussion feeling sadder and sadder for her southern friend. Ezra had done so much for the town, and he always treated her like a real lady, even when the others only saw a tom boy. The young woman remembered when the female bounty hunters had come to town, and how Ezra had saved her from making the worst mistake of her life. I never thanked him for that, well I will now. "I'll help ya Inez, I owe Ezra and he's a friend."

"No he's not a friend." This statement from the store owner shocked the other women, till they heard the rest of what Gloria Potter had to say. "That boy, all seven of them, are family."

"Mrs. Potter's right, and if I have learned anything since Steven and I moved out here is that family takes care of family."

"Well it sounds like we're all in, what did you have in mind girl?"

"Gracias, you do not know what this will mean to Senor Standish." Inez settled back into her set, and was about to go over her plan when she saw the familiar figure walk in front of the store window. "Good morning Senor Chris, sorry I could not meet you at the saloon."

"Not a problem Inez, Ladies." Chris walked over to take the offered basket from the bartender, and then turned to leave. If he had any notion to what the women had been doing he showed no sign as the gunslinger moved towards the door. "Oh one thing, Mrs. Standish is heading this way. Ladies, have a wonderful afternoon." With a smile, and tip of the hat Chris was loading the supplies up on his horse before any of the women could respond.

Casey followed the gunslinger to the door to wave good bye to Josiah, who was waiting with the horses. As she turned to come back inside she confirmed what Chris had said, Maude was just a few doors down.

"We'll meet at my place tonight, I'll make dinner and we'll talk then. Okay?"

"That's a wonderful idea Mary."

"Si, I will see you ladies tonight.'

"Come on Casey, we have things to take care of before then. Girls, we'll see you later."

"Well, I need to go finish working on the paper."

As one the women of Four Corners left the General Store to head off to their own places of business or residence. All the while they were unaware that their mass exoduses had been observed from down the boardwalk.

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Maude had exited the telegraph office just in time to see Chris walk into the General Store. Building up her courage, the con-woman had headed towards the store with the intention of finding out where her son was. She stopped dead in her tracks however when she saw him come back out mere moments later carrying the basket of 'supplies' Inez had said she needed to give to Mrs. Potter. As Maude watched Chris and Josiah ride out of town she saw movement out of the corner of her eye in front of the store. As she watched the women of this dust bowl of a town exited the store like a small army, and then split apart to go their separate ways. Now what was that all about?

"You just wait, wait three more days and we will see how far this town will go for Ezra."

Clutching the reply to her telegraph like a winning hand in cards, Maude turned to head for the hotel planning on doing just what her answer suggested. With a smile she reread the reply one more time before heading up the stairs to her room.

ROUNDED UP THE BOYS – STOP – ON OUR WAY NOW – STOP – BE THERE IN THREE DAYS – STOP – WAIT FOR US – STOP

Yes indeed, this game is about to get fun. You'll see my boy, mother truly does know best.

TBC . . .

A/N: What are the girls up to? What is Chris going to do about this? Will Josiah ever look at Maude the same way again? And who is the telegraph from? Please tune in for the next chapter to fine out. Let me know how you like it so far . . . your reviews are appreciated and loved.