RATING: PG
CATEGORY: Challenge - OW
MAJOR CHARACTERS: Nathan and Ezra
DISCLAIMERS: This is fanfiction. No profit involved. This story is based on the television series "The Magnificent Seven". No infringement upon the copyrights held by CBS, MGM, Trilogy Entertainment Group, The Mirisch Corp. or any others involved with that production is intended.
SUMMARY: Nathan's chess set is missing
DATE: November 6, 2015

A Game of Chess V: For Love of the Game
By NotTasha

PART 1:

Nathan slapped open the batwing doors of the saloon and took a moment to survey the place. The hour was early and only coffee was being served. The few traveling cowboys gave him narrow looks, not knowing him. They looked away after a moment. Those that were familiar with Jackson, watched carefully. When Nathan Jackson looked this anxious, it usually meant that someone was in trouble.

He scanned the room for a moment – and, not seeing what he wanted, he continued through to thud up the stairs that ran up the back wall. When he reached the dim the hallway above, he took a breath and brushed a hand over his chest.

"Be calm," he told himself. "Won't do anyone any good to go about this half-cocked."

He blew out the breath and nodded in resolution. Satisfied, he stepped forward and rapped on the familiar doorway. "Ezra?" he called.

The voice within responded, "Come in, Mr. Jackson."

Nathan opened the door and took a moment to check the neat little room. He looked everywhere, noting every surface. Finally, he let out a disappointed sound and turned to the inhabitant.

Ezra was at his shaving stand, finishing his morning ablutions. He dabbed at his face with a towel as he looked at Jackson in the reflection of his mirror. "Can I help you with anythin'?" he asked, sounding mildly irritated at the interruption. He turned and added, "You seem disappointed."

"I was hoping..." Nathan started and then stopped talking. He made a face and then continued, "I was hoping that you'd borrowed it. I wouldn't be upset or anything."

"Borrowed?" Ezra repeated as he hung the towel on the stand. He picked up the pan of water and carried it to the open window. "I take it that you're missing something important." He tossed the water into the alley without looking.

No shouting followed, so apparently, no one was below.

"I was just hoping it was here," Nathan stated.

"What?" Ezra asked, sounding a little frustrated. "It would definitely help narrow down the possibilities if I knew what you're seeking."

Trying not to look upset, Nathan inhaled slowly before he said, "My chess pieces."

Ezra was fiddling with the pan to get it correctly in place on the shaving stand. He stopped his motions and lifted his gaze to meet Nathan's. He didn't say anything immediately.

"Have you seen them?" Nathan asked. "You didn't borrow them, did you?"

"I haven't and I didn't," Ezra answered, looking at Nathan curiously.

Nathan shook his head worriedly. "I'm sure someone must've borrowed them. I was just hoping…"

"Where did you see them last?"

"In the clinic. I keep them in that box under a cabinet." Nathan made a motion, as if he was reaching for the box.

"You're certain that you put them away properly? They weren't left anywhere else? Perhaps you forgot them on the balcony? Or left them at Josiah's after a rousing game."

"I'm dead certain, Ezra. They're important to me. I know I put them away."

"Perhaps you…"

"I know what I did, Ezra," Jackson said with more snap in his voice than he wanted. "I know I didn't leave them anywhere. The pieces are gone, but the chessboard's still under the box. They should be together."

Ezra nodded, perhaps not noting Nathan's brusqueness. "When was the last time you saw them?"

Nathan sighed. "Three weeks ago, as best as I can recall. It's been a while, but it can't be more than three weeks. I remember playing JD when he was in there with that stomach problem. We've been kind of busy around town since then, so I haven't had the time for a game."

Ezra picked up his hat, settled it on his head and then reached for his jacket. "Let us check out the scene of the crime," he declared and gestured for Nathan to lead the way.

"I don't know, Ezra," Nathan said. "You really think it was stolen?"

"Why would someone take the pieces and leave the board if they just wanted a game?"

Nathan shrugged. "The board's heavy."

"It's because it's not as impressive as the pieces."

"If someone wanted to have a game, they might've just borrowed the pieces and used their own board. It would have been easier."

Ezra frowned. "Have you asked anyone else who might have 'borrowed' it?"

"I can't think of anyone who'd take it without asking."

"No one outside of me?" Standish asked, pulling on the jacket.

With a grimace, Nathan said, "I didn't mean it like that. I just came because…" He lifted a dropped a hand.

Ezra waited a moment, watching. Then he completed, "You thought I might help?"

Nathan nodded, grateful.

Ezra grinned at that. "I do have a devious mind, quite capable of discerning a miscreant's motives. Let's have a look!" He moved past Nathan and into the hallway.

Nathan followed, waiting while Ezra locked the door and immediately turned to the stairs. "I don't want to think someone could've broken in and taken it," he said to Ezra's back.

Ezra kept ahead of him, down the stairs and through the saloon. When they reached the boardwalk, he turned to allow Nathan to catch up with him. "I've told you before," Standish said, "the set is very well made and would be worth a great deal. It's honestly no surprise that someone might want it."

"But no one would understand it," Nathan said under his breath as he came alongside Ezra. "No one knows how much it means to me." He thought about the set. The pieces represented something – someone – in his life. He could feel his heart clenching at the thought that he might never see it again.

They made their way to the livery and up the stairs. Nathan unlocked the door when they reached the clinic.

"Do you always lock the door when you leave?" Ezra asked.

Nathan nodded. "I have a lot of medications in there, drugs that some folks use too freely. I have to keep things secure."

Ezra nodded. "Have you ever returned to the clinic and found the door unlocked?

Nathan shrugged. "Sometimes. I 'spect, if I was in a hurry or forgetful. Sometimes it happens."

"How about in the past three weeks? Especially, if you were sure that the door had been locked when you left earlier."

As they walked into the clinic, Jackson contemplated. "Yeah," he said. "Two Sundays ago." He continued, "I remember heading out for Josiah's service and I could've sworn that I locked up, but when I got back, the door was shut but unlocked. I didn't notice anything missing. I figured I was just wrong."

Ezra nodded. "It's easy enough to pick a lock, if one has the right tools," he said, "It's much harder to lock the door behind you without a key."

Jackson indicated the crate under the cabinet. "I usually have them in there." He pulled out the box, showing that it was empty. "Even the burlap bags are gone." Beneath the empty box, the heavy marble checkerboard still waited

Ezra rubbed his chin. "And do you remember anyone giving unusual attention to the set?"

Nathan shrugged. "Just about everyone who sees it," he explained. "Any time I have it out, people ask about it. I've been careful to put it back when I'm done because," he paused and sighed, "they ask too many questions."

"Did anyone say anything about it recently? Greedy people can't stand to see something so precious and just leave it alone. We're not known for our patience in that respect. Itchy fingers," he said, rubbing his fingers together for emphasis. "I would think someone acted relatively quickly."

"I can't remember anyone," Nathan said. "I haven't had it out in a while. It was just JD and me, and then I put it back when we were done. Before that, it might have been a month since I had it out. Me and Josiah were playin' a game that kept getting interrupted. We had it set up here for a while. Lots of folks saw it then."

"So, that was in mid-July?"

Nathan nodded.

"Did anyone ever offer you money for it?"

"Folks ask how much it'd cost 'em. I tell 'em that it's not for sale."

Ezra made his way to Nathan's desk, found a pad of paper and handed it to him. "Write down the names of everyone who saw it when you had it set up recently, whether or not they asked for a price."

Jackson nodded as he took the pad.

With a vague flip of his hand, Ezra said, "It probably isn't one of our local people. They owe you far too much, but one never knows. Some people just can't help it when they're close to something valuable." He turned and started toward the door. "Meanwhile, I'll be researching who was in town in mid-July and two Sundays ago."

Nathan stared at the pad in his hand.

Standish nodded to the door and smiled a little. "We will find it, I have no doubt."

Nathan was dubious. "It could be a long way off by now. It could be anywhere."

"That set is extraordinary," Ezra told him. "It will not remain in hiding." He touched the brim of his hat and said, "I'd best get started. Good luck." And he slipped through the doorway.

With a sigh, Nathan sat at his table and started thinking.

His mind wandered as he remembered all the time and work he'd put into those carvings – his whole life existed in those pieces of wood. He felt sick thinking they'd been stolen.

If he could just believe that the set had been borrowed, it would be returned soon. If he could just hang onto that belief for a little while longer, he could hope.

But, as he stared at the paper, he knew Ezra was right – the set had been taken.

He to cursed himself, knowing that it had probably happened two weeks ago and he hadn't noticed. The thief was long gone, snatching away the one thing that meant the world to him.

It had taken him years – so many years - to carve them all. Each had taken hours, days, weeks. Nights spent by a fireside. Days spent sitting beside a sickbed. Long hours of work, always in private. He'd prayed over the faces of people he'd lost. He'd pondered and remembered them and put all his memories into each. He'd caressed their faces and held each piece in his hand, as he wished he might hang onto the living person still – just be able to touch each person one more time – to embrace them and thank them for being there for him.

He wanted to cry.

He'd never cried over a mere 'thing' before, but it was like losing the people all over again. He'd never be able to recreate that set. If it was stolen, it was gone forever.

How could they have gone missing without him even noticing? It was as if he was betraying those people from his life. It was as if he'd forgotten about them. He'd promised himself that they would be in his heart always.

And even the row of white pawns – his friends – it was like he'd turned his back on them and hadn't noticed that they'd been taken away.

Nathan could only stare at the blank page for several minutes, seeing nothing.

Finally, not knowing what else he could do, he reached for the pen and inkwell and started thinking.

.

It was late in the day when Ezra returned to the clinic. Nathan lit a lamp as Ezra handed him two pages of names. "See if any of these ring a bell. They were all in town on that Sunday or the Saturday before. This other list has folks who were in town mid-July. The names with checkmarks were here on both occasions. There aren't many."

And Ezra took the pages that Nathan had filled out and found a seat on the bed.

Nathan went through the names Ezra had provided.

"Ruston McAvoy," Nathan said as he pointed to the marked name.

Ezra rubbed a hand on his chin. "There are a couple other names on your list that might prove…"

"McAvoy came in to have a wound stitched. I remember that he kept looking at the chess set, but didn't say a word about it. Kept looking away when I noticed. I didn't put him on my list because, well, he didn't seem interested."

With nod, Ezra said, "Those are the ones you must watch out for the most, the sneaky ones. I tried to get him interested in a game, as my prospects have been rather bleak recently. Sandy-haired fellow with hang-dog eyes, and then tiniest teeth I've ever seen."

"That's the guy. I saw him in town some time later," Nathan stated. "Might have been on that Sunday. I asked him how the wound was healing and if he wanted me to check on it. He acted annoyed, told me that he got someone to remove the stitches for him and he didn't need me to do anything. I thought he was just being… you know…" He paused a moment, and said quietly, "Some folks don't take too kindly to me touching them. They're happy enough to have me fix a problem, but after that they want nothing to do with me."

Ezra said nothing immediately. "Such behavior is unconscionable," he finally stated in a contrite voice. "The act of a base cretin who doesn't deserve your attention. Such thoughtless and selfish acts should not be tolerated."

To that, Nathan smiled a little. "Some folks just need to wise up a bit. They'll figure it out if given a chance and can turn out to be half-way decent if they make the effort."

"Only half-way?" Ezra asked, his face all innocent.

"Depends on the day," Nathan returned.

Ezra nodded to that statement, and tapped on the list. "Now, I'll find out where Ruston McAvoy might have gone after he left town." He patted Nathan on the arm, smiling. "We're on our way, Nathan! Soon we find it!"

And with that, he strode out of the clinic at a determined clip.

Nathan shook his head, muttering, "Sometimes more than half-way."

.7.7.7

When Nathan left his room at the boarding house in the morning, he found Ezra talking to Chris outside of the jail. Standish was holding his horse's reins as the gelding tossed his head repeatedly, jerking him each time.

Ezra was gesturing gracefully with his free hand, in that manner he used when he was trying to convince someone of something. The "P" in his name stood for "persuasive" and it appeared he was using all of his wiles to get Chris to agree to his plan.

Nathan shook his head as he shouldered his bags and went to meet them.

Larabee looked up as Nathan approached. "So, you're headed to Ridge City?" he asked.

Nathan started to speak, but Ezra responded for him. "Mr. McAvoy was heading in that direction when he left town. Said he had business there. We'll be gone for only a day, Mr. Larabee. We'll ask about Mr. Jackson's missing chess set and be on our way. No harm done."

Chris shot Ezra a quick, annoyed look, before returning to Jackson. "You have anything to say on the matter?" he asked.

Nathan responded, "Figure it wouldn't hurt just to ask about it. Ezra told me about Ridge City last night. That's all we know for now."

Chris frowned. "And what if you find it? What do you boys aim to do about it?"

"We're just asking," Jackson responded. "Maybe we can find out where it is."

Ezra nodded, as he reached for his horse's bridle. "Only inquiries at this point," he added. He patted Chaucer's nose and smiled that 'trust me' smile that always got them in trouble. "If McAvoy is wise, he'll know the errors of his ways and give it up."

"And if he's moved on?" Chris asked. "It's been nearly two weeks."

"I doubt that he still has it in his possession," Ezra said. "From what we know about him, he's not the kind to keep fine art. It's probably already sold."

At that, Nathan stiffened a little.

Ezra went on, "We'll be following the trail and see where it leads us. Certainly he showed it to someone in town, trying to sell it. Ridge City is the perfect place to liquidate. It's on the train line and there's plenty of pawnbrokers in town. Some of them are less than savory."

Chris looked from one to another, and then said to Nathan. "You'll wire us." The statement was a demand. "I don't want you two getting in over your heads. Figure out what happened, and then then let us know. Do not try to get it without back-up."

"We're only asking questions," Ezra said again, his expression mild.

"Do not try to take it from anyone," Chris went on, directing his attention on Nathan since it would do no good to harangue Ezra. "Do you have that clear?"

"Of course," Ezra said, gesturing expansively. "We'll inform you immediately. As soon as we know anythin'."

"We'll let you know," Jackson pledged.

And apparently Nathan's response was the one he accepted. Larabee said, "You'll be back tomorrow?"

"Most likely," Ezra replied. "Unless we need to remain out longer."

Larabee was about to respond to Ezra's non-answer when Jackson said, "We'll be back tomorrow. Doc Meer is in town for the week, and I've already spoken to him. He can keep an eye on any emergencies while I'm gone."

Chris gave a curt nod and let them go.

Ezra smiled like the cat who swallowed the canary and picked up his bags.

Nathan heard Chris grumble as he headed to the livery to retrieve his horse.

TBC

I'm sure everything is going to be okay