**Part 18
Ezra scrunched up his face and tried to make out the sounds that had suddenly popped into his head. He felt so weak and couldn't understand why.
"Hey, Ez. C'mon pard, wake up."
Ezra recognized Buck's voice. He felt a cool rag swipe across his brow and tried to force his eyes open.
Buck stood and pushed open the flap of the tent to yell out. "Hey, Nate, I think he's waking up."
Nathan quickly entered the tent and kneeled down next to the gambler resting a hand on Ezra's forehead. He was relieved by the coolness of his skin. "It's about time. Get me a glass of water."
Josiah entered with a smile on his relaxed face.
Buck poured a glass of water from a nearby pitcher and handed it to the healer. They had all been forcing water down Ezra whenever it appeared that he was waking up. Over the last three days the gambler only regained consciousness for a short time then would lapse back into a deathlike sleep, scaring the hell out of everyone. The village medicine man had chanted all night. Several of the women had helped Nathan keep Ezra cool and force medicine down his throat. No one wanted to think that the man who had saved the village might die.
Nathan was determined this time to bring Ezra all the way back. He snaked an arm behind the conman's shoulder and raised him up. "Wake up, Standish…Git your lazy ass up!" He tried to sound threatening, like Chris, hoping it would force the gambler into putting more effort in waking. Nathan placed the glass of water to Ezra's lips and smiled when Ezra sipped the life-giving fluid. He slowly eased Ezra back down onto the pallet. Ezra winced as Nathan lifted the bandage to check his wound.
Buck smiled when he saw Ezra's green gaze upon them. "Welcome back, pard."
Ezra's brow furrowed then his eyes widened as a rush of memory assaulted him. He tried to sit up only to feel Nathan's hand on his chest.
"Whoa, what do you think you're doing," Nate exclaimed.
"The medicine...the children..." Ezra gasped fighting to sit up, Nathan's hand being more than sufficient to hold him down. Ezra's sun-burnt skin stretched tight and his wound pulled. Pain surged through his body causing his face to go white.
"Damnit, Ezra, don't do that!" Buck yelled, his heart jumping into his throat as Ezra fell back gasping, trying to siphon off the burning pain.
"Take it easy. Everything is fine," Nate soothed, grabbing a damp rag and wiping the sweat from Ezra's forehead.
Ezra turned his face away, his sea-green eyes filling with tears. "No, I lost the medicine. I failed everyone."
Buck stepped back and threw the tent flap aside. "Does this look like ya failed?"
Ezra slowly turned his head and peered out past the entranceway. He smiled when he saw Chanto and his sister playing with several other children. The young brave stopped and returned the gambler's grin. Ezra's brow furrowed, he couldn't remember what had happened, but he released a breath of remorse that he had been holding for too long.
"How?" Ezra whispered.
"We're hoping you'll be able to tell us later," Nathan said.
JD gingerly entered the tent. He was still weak but he was now moving on his own, much to his relief.
"JD? What the hell do you think you're doing?" Buck reprimanded. He pulled a chair around and grabbed the young gunslinger by the arm helping him to sit.
"Buck I'm fine stop mollycoddling me!" JD snapped, but there was no anger in his words, and he gave his friend a weak smile. "Ez, gosh it's good to see you awake."
Ezra frowned at the young gunslinger's condition.
"He had the fever, Ez," Buck stated, noticing Ezra's bewilderment.
"Then it is good to see you too, Mr. Dunne."
"Wouldn't have made it without you, Ez," JD solemnly added. "You saved the whole village."
The look of gratitude in JD's eyes sparked a feeling of warmth that filled a void in Ezra's heart, one that had been too long empty. A pleasant smile graced the corners of the gambler's lips. His smile dipped as he tried to remember what had transpired and how he had ended up the hero.
"Don't worry it'll come back to you," Nathan assured. "You took quite a knock on the head, on top of heat stroke and dehydration. I'm just glad you can remember your name."
Chris and Vin appeared at the entranceway amongst the chuckles of their friends.
"Ez!" Vin greeted happy to see his friend alive and coherent. "We got them two who ambushed you."
"My horse?" Ezra blurted out.
"He was at the stables when we got there," Vin assured. "Musta got away from those two on his own."
Ezra visibly relaxed. "He's a very resourceful animal."
"Not unlike his owner," Chris remarked with a smile. "Funny thing, those two bushwhackers thought they were selling medicine, instead it turned out to be plain water."
"Aw yes, I believe I do recall some slight-of- hand," Ezra smiled. "I'm glad my ruse worked."
Chris stepped by the others and squatted down beside the southerner. "Ez, you took a mighty big risk walking across the desert without water. I believe I'm speaking for everyone when I say 'you did good and I'm glad you're a part of us.'"
Ezra took a deep breath, growing uncomfortable under the praise, but enjoying it nonetheless. "Mr. Larabee, I told you that medicine would arrive and a Standish never goes back on his word."
Chris smiled and squeezed Ezra's shoulder.
"Alright, everyone out, Ez still needs to rest," Nathan exclaimed. "Buck, take JD back to his tent, before he falls over."
"Ah geeze, Nate, I'm fine," JD Protested as Buck took hold of his arm and began to lead him out of the tent.
"Maybe someone could get a wagon so we could go home tomorrow," Nathan suggested pulling the light blanket up to Ezra's chin.
Ezra closed his eyes, listening to the affable banter between his friends. He had proven his worth to these extraordinary men. He now felt worthy of being part of their vanguard for justice, and the magnificent bond they all shared. They were a family now and forever.
NOTE: Harker's Fever was made up to fit the story.
Thanks all for the wonderful comments…it's sparked my writing muse back into action. I'm working on a couple new stories and re-vamping some old ones so stay tuned…
THE END