Disclaimer: Magnificent Seven (TV) does not belong to me. This is fan fiction, not for profit. Any references to people, places, businesses, etc. are entirely fictitious.

Story Title: Next Time

Warning: presumed death of an episodic character

Chapter 5: Home

A little backwater town…

x-x-x-x-x-x-x

"Perhaps we might stop the exercises for today," suggested Ezra.

"Now hoss," Buck grinned, he shook his head. "You ain't gettin' outta this. You know we ain't near done with your exercises…"

Ezra stood beside his desk. His graceful hand drew Buck's attention to the two men visible from the front window of his office. Chris and Ben ran hurriedly from the stage depot.

"We're going to have company," explained Ezra. "I would rather not be wobbling, in the middle of leg lifts, when they arrive."

An unexpected rainstorm this morning had brought welcome relief from the July heat. The pair dodged puddles as they crossed Main Street. Ben held his valise above his head as he ran. The tails of Chris's black duster flapped behind him like the wings of a giant crow. They were drenched.

"What are they doing back so soon?"

Buck settled Ezra back in his wheeled invalid chair. The two men outside didn't stop until they reached the covered porch in front of Ezra and Mary's home. Muddy boots were scraped. Ezra lost sight of Ben and Chris for a moment as they moved out of the view of his window. Buck sauntered across the room to open the door of Ezra's office.

"Well hey there," greeted the good natured man.

Through the doorway Ezra saw Ben usher Chris in out of the damp. His son followed as well. Buck stood grinning at the side of Ezra's open office door. Alerted by the sound of footsteps, Mary poked her head out from the opposite doorway leading into the home from the Clarion's office. A pencil stuck out from behind her ear.

"You're back already?" Mary's question echoed Buck's earlier thought.

Ben nodded. He dropped his valise in front of the hall tree. Then the youth shucked off his coat and hung it from a hook to dry. Ben's hat soon joined his coat as well as Chris's battered black Stetson and duster.

"Is the trial over?" asked the inquisitive news editor. "My counterpart in Tucson didn't…"

Chris raised his hands.

"Trial ain't over, but the two of us are done testifying," answered Chris.

"Yeah, Judge Fitch excused us both," added Ben. "We left Tucson three days ago, but the stage broke down, and then the storm today…"

Chris turned to look towards his mustached friend.

"Buck, Judge Fitch said it didn't matter if that woman said we were married or not, but you might be getting a request to corroborate my arrest back in Texas…"

"Already done," smiled Buck. "Telegrams came in day before yesterday."

Ezra eyed Chris and Buck in seeming calm. Chris turned to him next.

"From what Judge Travis said, I imagine the trial will be finished fairly soon."

"Really," drawled Ezra. "And how long must we wait for Mother's…"

As he spoke, Ezra backed up the wheeled contrivance. He intended to move away from his desk, join the others, perhaps move into the kitchen where a pot of coffee awaited. As he tried to turn the awkward chair, he found himself facing the open door to the guest room. Mother's room. Ezra sucked in a deep breath. He stared at the pile of fancy leather luggage stacked in the open storage closet. A hatbox and a lavender parasol sat on top. Ezra froze, unable to move his gaze from the accusing luggage. Footsteps sounded behind him.

"Mary?"

Ezra looked up as the beautiful woman took hold of the arm grips of that monstrosity of a chair.

"What are you doing?" demanded Ezra.

Years of working a heavy metal printing press had given the news editor strength as well as grace. Mary swiftly spun the wheeled chair back to his desk. Buck leaned back against the windowsill, leaving the chairs in front of Ezra's desk empty. Ezra faced Ben and Chris. Although neither sat, they had joined them in his office.

"In answer to your question, Grandmother's bag, the remaining contents, and your letter are still in Tucson," explained Ben. "They're still being held as evidence."

"Should be returned when the trial is over," added Chris.

But Ezra hardly heard his friend. His attention was on Ben. Ezra tried hard to keep his voice calm, not accusatory at all. He wasn't angry with Ben. But he was angry. Angry that Mother's life had been cut short. Angry that he hadn't had a chance to tell her… to tell her… and now this! At least this was something he could talk about!

"What do you mean remaining contents?"

"Grandmother's money, medicine and fan have either been lost or stolen," answered the dark-haired youth. "Your letter was separated from her bag, and I haven't seen it. Her derringer, cards and handkerchief were still with her bag when I last saw it at the courthouse."

Ben reached into the inside of his plain black waistcoat and withdrew a small packet of items. He leaned forward and gently placed the package on Ezra's desk within easy reach of Ezra's fingertips. Ezra glanced away. Ezra had no desire to open the packet Ben placed on his desk. He knew whatever his mother kept in the hidden compartment of her bag was important. He would have to deal with it someday. Not today. Opening her things would make her absence real. Maude wasn't coming back this time. And despite Ezra's complaints of her leaving him so often as a child, she had always come back for him. Just as she'd journeyed to this tiny backwater town time and again since he had settled here.

"When no one was looking, I was able to retrieve these items from the false bottom of grandmother's handbag."

Ezra hadn't missed the odd look Chris gave Ben when his son had said 'when no one was looking' but thought he'd wait to ask about that. His sharp ears heard Mary's footsteps go into the bedroom behind him.

"Thank you, Ben," replied Ezra.

He glanced over his shoulder in time to see Mary shut the door to the storage closet. She turned to come back into his office, pulling the bedroom door shut behind her as well.

"Ben, the girls are upstairs playing if you want to let them know you are back," suggested Mary.

She smiled at Chris and Buck, gestured to the seats opposite Ezra.

"I'm sure you all have lots to talk about," she added. "Why don't you have a seat, I'll bring you back some hot coffee…"

The warmth of Mary's words wrapped around Ezra, easing some of the ache he felt. Buck pushed off the window sill.

"Why don't I give you a hand with that," smiled the former lawman.

She nodded in agreement. Buck and Ben followed Mary out of his office. Ezra was glad to have a moment to talk with Chris alone. The sharp eared man could hear Mary continue speaking with Ben as they moved away.

"Or if you want to see Billy, he's outside looking over the work done on the carriage house…"

The chair across from Ezra scraped across the floor. Ezra turned his gaze back to see Chris sit down with a sigh. The lean man arched an eyebrow upwards. He'd obviously heard Mary too.

"Carriage house, huh?" Chris flashed a wry grin. "Getting pretty fancy here, aren't you?"

Ezra shrugged. The small two stall barn near their home could barely accommodate both of the new horses. The additional tack and the big red carriage would never fit.

"I could hardly leave that fine piece of equipment out in the elements to rot," he replied with a languid drawl. "Not after Mother was so kind as to gift me with it."

"Reckon not," agreed Chris with a chuckle.

For a moment the two friends sat in companionable silence. Then Chris leaned forward, resting his elbows against his knees.

"Just so you know, Oren thinks despite that foolishness Ella's attorney tried to pull, there will be a conviction."

Ezra glanced away from his friend. He struggled to maintain his seemingly calm façade. Whatever the law did to Ella, it wouldn't bring Mother back.

"Oren's expecting a hanging?"

"A guilty verdict for sure," clarified Chris. "Not quite sure of Judge Fitch and how he'd sentence a person."

Before Ezra could ask anything more, Mary appeared with Buck. Buck sat a steaming cup of black coffee in front of Chris and moved to settle into the other seat. Mary rounded Ezra's side of the desk. The blonde leaned in to set Ezra's cup down. She brushed her other hand across Ezra's shoulder. She'd obviously heard some of their talk.

"Does Tucson still do public hangings?" asked Mary.

"Don't know," shrugged Chris. "If Ella's sentenced to hang, I doubt it would be in public.

"What do you mean?"

Chris chuckled. Buck's mouth spread in a big grin.

"I hear the sheriff in Tucson's a real particular fella," started Chris. "Sends printed invitations…"

"Yeah," interrupted Buck. "He don't like all the commotion a public hanging draws, thinks it brings in the bad element."

Mary rolled her eyes, then headed out of the room.

"I've got to get back to the paper."

Ezra watched Chris wrap his big hands around the cup. The shootist settled back in to the chair with a contented sigh. Ezra reached for his own cup. Buck left his own cup on the desk. He leaned back on two legs of the chair, a silent watchful presence.

"Is there anything else I should know about your trip to Tucson?" prodded Ezra.

The urbane man took a small sip of coffee. Chris blew on his coffee and took a sip as well. Ezra waited patiently for a response.

"Not really," answered Chris. He gestured to the packet. "Although I do wonder why you didn't mention Maude's bag had a secret bottom."

"It hardly seemed necessary…," began Ezra.

Chris straightened in his chair. The easy camaraderie between them gone as he thumped his cup on Ezra's desk. The steaming liquid sloshed over the rim. Ezra winced. The hot coffee would surely leave a ring on the fine wood. Buck's chair thumped back on the floor as the former sheriff looked ready to grab Chris.

"Hey now stud…" began Buck.

"Do you know Ben broke into the jail to get that?"

Ezra sucked in a deep breath; his green eyes widened involuntarily in surprise at his son's audacity.

"No," snapped Ezra. "My instructions did not include endangering…"

"Glad to hear that," interrupted Chris.

Chris's anger, so quick to appear, was equally quick to disappear. At the lessening of tension between them, Buck settled back in his chair, but his blue eyes remained alert.

"Hoped he and his friend were acting on their own," added Chris.

Noting a curious tone in Chris's voice, Ezra reached out for more information.

"Ben mentioned he might meet a friend from school in Tucson."

A mischievous gleam lit up Chris's eye.

"Did he tell you this friend is a gal?"

"Hoo doggie," Buck relaxed back in his chair. A big appreciative grin spread across his face. "What's she like?"

Ezra leaned back in his chair. He smiled as the conversation shifted to a somewhat safer topic. Ben had written Mary and Ezra about the young woman from Prescott several months ago. Ezra addressed his next question to Chris.

"I take it, you've had the pleasure of meeting the lovely Miss Sutton?"

"Pretty alright," agreed Chris.

Ezra's eyes lowered to the cup he still held. He wasn't ever going to tell anyone, Ben especially, that Mary had come to him with a curious bit of research. 'It seems the Sutton family has only lived in Prescott for the past eight years or so. Before that, it's like they didn't exist. There's no record of them. Anywhere.' Ezra didn't want Chris or Buck checking up on the young woman.

"You know anything about her?" pushed Chris.

Ezra took another sip of coffee before answering. His voice remained unperturbed when he spoke. Caution, and perhaps some subtle misdirection, would be needed now.

"What are you concerned about?" asked Ezra.

"I think Sutton might be an alias," suggested Chris. "I recognized her sister."

Oh. Ezra smiled as he realized Chris knew. That actually made things easier. He set the coffee cup down and rubbed one hand against the tight muscles in his neck. Ezra had made a point to follow up on Mary's findings, but he didn't like keeping things from his friends. Buck shifted uncomfortably in his seat; a wary frown spread across his handsome face.

"What's a gal Ben's age doin' using an alias?" asked Buck.

Ezra didn't answer Buck's question directly. Instead he chose his words to answer Chris's previous question.

"I travelled to Prescott on business a few months ago," admitted Ezra. "Had the pleasure of meeting Miss Sutton's sister then."

"You did?"

Chris sounded surprised. Buck looked from Ezra to Chris. His blue eyes narrowed as the astute man realized there was something not being said.

"Who is this sister?" prodded Buck.

Ezra's green eyes flashed a warning at his friend.

"Does it matter?" countered Ezra.

"Might."

Chris spoke in a low growl before Buck could answer. Ezra turned his gaze back to Chris.

"Miss Sutton is not associated with her family's former business," explained Ezra. "According to the sister the business is no more."

"What family business?" demanded Buck.

"Really?"

Buck sounded confused, while Chris sounded skeptical. And Ezra himself took 'Cretia's word with quite some caution.

"Lucius Stutz's family business," answered Chris.

Buck sucked in a deep breath.

"Those kids? Those little hired assassins?"

"No longer," assured Ezra. "Miss Sutton appears to have grown into quite the polished young lady. She is solely a student now."

"Would you bet on it?" asked Chris.

"Yes," drawled Ezra. "I would."

That seemed to satisfy Chris, and Buck too. Ezra didn't think he should mention that he wouldn't take a bet on what 'Cretia and her brothers did for a living. Despite what happened in the past, the devious little hellion Lucinda appeared to be going straight now, no longer an assassin in training. Hopefully it would stay that way. Even more, Ezra hoped that Ben and Lucinda weren't anything more than mere acquaintances, friends at best. Chris had indicated Miss Sutton helped Ben break into the Tucson jail. Ezra realized he would have to follow up on this, soon. But not now.

"I think we're all entitled to at least one alias," added Ezra. "A second chance."

At first, Ezra thought he might have overplayed his hand. Chris and Buck both looked shocked. Then smiles spread across their faces as they remembered who they were talking to. Chris and Buck both snorted in laughter.

"Fine," agreed Chris. "But I'd keep an eye on her."

"I intend to."

Buck nodded in agreement. Before Ezra could say anything more, a familiar wagon pulled up out in front of the home. Vin's slouch hat was pulled low over his eyes. The summer rain, so quick to pour earlier, seemed to be tapering off now. The sharpshooter didn't often bring his old canvas covered wagon into town, preferring Nettie's buckboard for most errands. The lithe man jumped down from the bench seat. Vin clambered up the porch steps. Seeing them watching him through the window, he waved at them. The long-haired rancher let himself in and ambled inside to Ezra's office.

"Hey Ez," greeted Vin. "Chris, Buck."

"Good to see you Vin," greeted Ezra.

"What are you doin' in town in the middle of the week?" asked Chris.

Vin shrugged.

"Just had a thought cowboy," answered Vin. He gestured to his wagon. "You want a ride back out to the ranch?"

"In this rain?" objected Chris.

"It's lettin' up."

Chris squinted at the slowing rain, more spatters now than a downpour. Although Vin seemed mostly dry, Chris still seemed undecided.

"You so sweet you gonna melt?" prodded Vin.

"Not hardly," laughed Chris.

"Best take Vin up on that ride," urged Buck with a chuckle. "I only got one rain slicker, and I ain't letting you ride double with me."

Buck and Chris both rose to stand.

"Reckon I'll just get my hat," agreed Chris. He turned to Ezra. "It's been good seeing you Ez, hope you don't mind me rushin' out, but I…"

"Want to go home."

Ezra smiled as he completed his friend's sentence. He glanced from Chris to Buck and Vin. He raised one hand in a familiar two fingered salute.

"I quite understand."

Four Corners might be just a little backwater town, but it was home. Chris, Buck and Vin started towards the door. Then Buck turned back to look at Ezra with a mischievous gleam in his eye.

"Hey Hoss," grinned Buck. "Before we leave, do you wanna show these fellas some of your graceful steps?"

x-x-x-x-x-x-x

"Special delivery for Sheriff JD Dunne."

JD looked up from his desk. A bedraggled red-haired man stood in the jailhouse doorway. Where had he come from? The stage had arrived nearly an hour ago. Had this fella ridden in by himself?

"Izzat you?"

JD eyed the man warily. The skinny man was wet, his black suit damp, but not soaked. He carried a large brown envelope and a box. There were few travelers that rode alone. Most of the ones that did, weren't anyone JD wanted in Four Corners.

"Where did you come from?" asked JD. "You a bounty hunter? Or Pinkerton agent?"

"Nah, I'm a court appointed deputy," objected the man. "Came from Tucson. Judge Fitch sent me. He even arranged for me to ride on a private stock train as far as the James ranch. Got there this morning. When the rain let up some, I rode in to town."

Hmmph. JD didn't like thinking on the James family. Stuart James still held a grudge over his nephew's sentencing so long ago, despite the clear fact that Lucas had murdered Mr. Potter. His eyes turned to the brown envelope and box.

"What kind of special delivery?"

"Stuff for Sheriff JD Dunne iffen that's you," challenged the man.

JD pushed off from his desk and rose to stand. He glared at the deputy from Tucson. The man backed up nervously.

"I'm Sheriff JD Dunne," he declared. He extended a hand, made a beckoning motion with his fingers. "Give it here."

x-x-x-x-x-x-x

"You want me to put a chair on the front porch?" asked Vin.

Ezra inhaled sharply. Chris and Buck flanked him. Ezra didn't want his friends to know what a toll this exercise was taking on his aching muscles. He had already stood up from that infernal wheeled chair, walked around his desk, and a few steps more towards the open door where Vin stood. And now they wanted him to go outside? He kept his voice level.

"The porch?"

"Okay Ez," grinned Vin. "It's getting' to be a right pretty day out there…"

Vin disappeared, leaving Ezra spluttering. He hadn't agreed to the porch! It was a question! Merely a question! Surely they…

"Come on Ez," urged Buck.

"You can do it," added Chris.

Good lord! They really expected him to walk all the way outside! Nathan would have a fit. And that, thought Ezra, was reason enough to take another step.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x

"Dang," muttered JD as he read through the letter. "Folks ain't gonna like this.

He looked for the court appointed deputy, but the man had disappeared in the short time it took JD to read the page. He tucked the letter in his pocket and picked up the box the Tucson judge had sent. The lawman left the jailhouse. JD stopped by the saloon where Delbert watched folks along the street.

"Go on over to the jailhouse," ordered JD. He shifted the box in his hands. "I'll be back after I take this over to Ezra's."

JD strode up Main Street, dodging puddles left by the rain, now steaming dry under the warm July sun. He nodded at folks and received greetings in return from the townsfolk he passed. Josiah sat outside the church. Silent and brooding, Josiah didn't respond to JD's greeting. JD didn't say anything when he noticed Josiah rose to trudge after him. Familiar figures crowded the wide front porch running the length of the building from The Clarion front office past Ezra's smaller law office. Chris, Buck, Vin and Nathan surrounded Ezra. JD blinked. Ezra sat in a straight back chair beside a small table. There was no sign of the wheeled invalid chair. A small grin lit up JD's face.

"Ezra's musta finally walked."

Vin left the group and rummaged for something in the saddlebags beneath his wagon seat. The long-haired man pulled out a slim book and brought it back to Ezra. Ezra took it, nodded, then set it on the small table beside his chair. As JD neared, he heard Nathan's voice.

"You were supposed to use that cane I gave you!"

"I had adequate support," protested Ezra with a sidelong glance to Buck and Chris. He returned his gaze to Nathan. "We've managed without the indignity of that…"

JD stepped up on the porch to stand before Ezra. The green eyes flashed from Nathan to JD.

"JD? To what do I owe the pleasure…"

Despite the seeming sound of surprise in Ezra's voice, JD knew Ezra had seen him coming.

"Official business," interrupted JD.

JD held the box carefully, as if it was something fragile. Fine china perhaps, or crystal. He extended his hands towards Ezra.

"Judge Fitch from Tucson sent this," explained JD. "I'm afraid I'm gonna have to ask you to sign a receipt."

Mary came out of The Clarion, wiping her inky hands on a stained cloth. She moved to stand beside Ezra.

"A receipt for what?" asked Ezra.

"Maude effects…"

"Mother's…"

Ezra's green eyes focused on the box in JD's hands. He seemed to be at a loss for words, but Mary wasn't.

"The trial's over?"

Chris looked surprised.

"It can't be," protested Chris. "Ben and I just got back from Tucson. Oren said the trial would take at least a week, maybe more."

JD shifted uncomfortably. He knew no one was going to like what he had to say next.

"Trial ain't exactly over," admitted JD.

That caught Ezra's attention.

"What do you mean, not over?" demanded Ezra.

"Trial ain't over, and it ain't going forward, Judge fitch released the evidence," JD spoke in a rush.

There, he'd said it. All of it, just like the judge wrote it. JD took a deep breath. Glad that was over.

"Why?" drawled Ezra.

How did Ez manage to make one itty bitty little word sound so long?

"They've had some trouble over at the jail in Tucson," answered JD

"What kind of trouble?" asked Vin's quiet voice.

JD fumed. The judge, or his court appointed deputy, or the Tucson sheriff should be the one telling this. Not him!

"Don't tell me they let Ella escape."

The angry snarl held more words than JD had heard from Josiah since the news of Maude's passing.

"Ain't gonna tell you that," huffed JD.

"Then what happened?" hissed Ezra, his concern obvious. "Why isn't the trial continuing?"

"Some fella named Oglethorpe…," began JD.

"The deputy?" asked Ben. "The one in charge of the jailhouse?"

The screen door opened. Ben joined Ezra and Mary on the porch. JD wondered how much Ben had heard.

"Don't reckon he's in charge of the jailhouse anymore," grumbled JD. "Most likely in a jail cell now."

JD set the box down on top of the book on Ezra's table. He pulled the letter out of his pocket. He held it up for everyone to see.

"According to Judge Fitch, the Tucson Sheriff got back to the jail, and found Ella's cell unlocked. Both her and his deputy were gone."

"Gone where?" growled Chris.

"The sheriff tracked them out to Glory Gulch," answered JD. "He found this Oglethorpe fella babbling about how he threw the prisoner down the ravine. Said he sent her back to hell."

There was a moment of shocked silence, then a clamor of voices.

"Although I personally find his action quite fitting, I must ask…"

"Why?" interrupted Mary at the same time.

"Sheriff told the judge that Oglethorpe said that Ella drove him crazy singing, chanting and what all."

JD held out the paper.

"Read it yourself," JD said. He shrugged, "Print it in The Clarion if you want."

Mary took the letter hesitantly. She began to read as JD picked up the box again.

"There are many stories, songs and poems, of men led astray by a woman's voice," intoned Josiah. "Legends of creatures such as a siren, a succubus…"

Josiah gestured to the book on Ezra's table. The gilt title Life, Letters, and Literary Remains of John Keats was visible on its brown cover.

"There is even a murderous fairy creature in one of those poems…"

And while JD was glad to hear Josiah finally coming out of his silent grieving, he wished his learned friend wasn't so hard to understand. What the heck did any of that have to do with Ella? With Maude's death?

"All I really got is what the judge wrote."

Josiah started laughing. JD cringed inside at the hard bitter sound.

"Did the Tucson judge say if they found Ella's body?" prodded Josiah.

Mary looked up from the paper and shook her head.

"No, they haven't..."

"Oglethorpe could have let her escape…," growled Josiah.

"That deputy has no reason to lie," objected JD. "Admitting to letting her escape would be a whole lot better for him than saying he killed her."

Chris, Vin, Buck, Nathan frowned, but nodded in agreement. The thunderous scowl on Josiah's face boded ill for Oglethorpe if he should ever come to Four Corners. JD couldn't tell whether Ezra agreed or not. His reticent friend's poker face was firmly in place. JD held the box out towards Ezra.

"Would you please review the contents for me, then sign a receipt?" asked JD.

Wide-eyed Ezra took the box from JD's hands. The silent men on the porch beside them stirred.

"Don't expect you need me for this," began Nathan with a sidelong glance at Ezra. "Don't want to intrude…"

"Appreciate you stopping by Nathan," replied Ezra in a polite tone. "I know you have other patients besides me. I assure you I will be fine."

"Just don't go walking too much on that leg," cautioned Nathan before leaving.

"Reckon we should be goin' too Cowboy," suggested Vin.

"Yeah," agreed Chris.

The shootist settled the black Stetson on his head, but carried his duster to Vin's wagon. Buck moved closer to Josiah. JD heard his best friend's voice.

"We should stay just in case Ez needs help getting back inside," murmured Buck's low voice.

While Buck and Josiah leaned against the wall a few steps back from Ezra, Mary and Ben both stepped closer. They peered over Ezra's shoulders as he slowly opened the box. Maude's bag sat packed carefully in tissue paper.

"The sheriff wrote that he tried to put things back the way it was when he first found it," assured Mary.

The newswoman tucked the sheriff's letter into her pocket and withdrew a pad of paper. She reached for her pencil, then glanced to JD.

"After we get everything listed, I'll write a receipt out in ink for Ezra to sign," she explained.

JD nodded in agreement. Ezra began to remove items from the bag. First, Ezra withdrew a derringer. Then cards and a handkerchief. Ezra's hand paused for a moment. He looked at Ben as he withdrew a rolled-up wad of folding money.

"I thought you said Mother's money was gone?"

"It was…," insisted Ben.

"The judge wrote that the sheriff found some misplaced evidence and returned it to Maude's bag," said JD.

Ezra frowned, but passed the money to Ben.

"Ben, would you please count this so Mary may write the exact amount down?"

Ben began thumbing through the bills. Ezra reached his hand into Maude's bag again to withdraw his letter. Then he reached once more, withdrawing an ivory and lace fan with a silver handle.

"And was mother's fan, one of the misplaced items?" demanded Ezra.

"I don't know."

JD tugged at the collar of his shirt. Then Ben spoke.

"Father," Ben held out a narrowly folded paper. "This was in with the money, and has your name on it."

Ezra reached for the piece of paper. He read it, then crumpled it in his fist. For a moment, JD thought he saw a flash of sadness in Ezra's expressive eyes, but then it was gone. Ezra face held that totally impassive look that usually led JD to fold when playing poker against his friend.

"What is it?" asked Mary.

"A bill," replied Ezra as if it wasn't important. "Payment due upon receipt."

"For what?"

Ezra eyed the small amount of money in Ben's hands.

"For far more than that," he sniffed.

Ezra pointed towards the nearly completed coach house.

"For the horses and the red carriage."

The auburn-haired man began to chuckle ruefully.

"I would never have bought such a thing myself," declared Ezra.

Ezra shook his head dismissively as if he didn't want the extravagant gift, had no need for the fine horses and fancy carriage.

"Mother has managed to catch me up in one of her schemes, one last time."

"It was a gift, not some scheme," objected Mary.

"Maude wanted you to have that," murmured Josiah.

"Perhaps, but Mother is not here to pay for it."

Ezra waved the bill in the air.

"Quite a fancy price tag too," he added. The stoic man gave a small shrug of dismissal. "At least it wasn't a casino or a riverboat. Much easier to return."

"What?" Mary's voice ratcheted up in surprise.

The blonde leaned in closer to Ezra. Mary placed one arm around his shoulders. Ezra uncrumpled the bill to show it to her. JD could tell from the way her pale green eyes widened that the bill for the horses and carriage must be quite high.

"Aw now Hoss, you ain't gonna…"

Buck's voice sounded sad as his words trailed off. JD reached for his hat. His mother had wanted him to go to college, maybe be a businessman. She'd never imagined he would leave Boston, but JD couldn't stay there after she died. JD knew, even before Buck told him, that the bowler wasn't really practical for a man out west. JD twirled the old hat in his hands. He took good care of it. Brushed the dirt from it every night. Even sent it to a haberdashery in St. Louis once to get it reblocked. Might ought to do it again. He glanced over at Buck. His mustached friend had quit teasing him about the bowler years ago when JD told Buck his Ma gave it to him. JD couldn't help but think on how it would hurt to have to give up his Ma's last gift.

"We'll manage," stated Mary.

Ezra looked at Mary. JD looked up as well, a slow smile spread across his lips as he watched Mary hug Ezra. He couldn't hear what Mary whispered in Ezra's ears, but he heard Ezra's response.

"You can't be serious."

"The girls have already named to the horses. We're keeping Cookie, Applesauce and the carriage," insisted Mary resuming her normal voice.

"They've named the geldings Cookie and Applesauce?"

Buck sounded appalled. JD flashed a full out grin. He thumped his bowler back on his head. Ezra turned out Maude's bag and shook it. There was nothing else in the reticule. The only thing still missing was Maude's medicine bottle. Mary flashed a mischievous smirk at Ezra.

"Besides, you look good in red."

x-x-x-x-x-x-x