Section Judge Orrin Travis arrived in Four Corners three months after the storm, right at the beginning of what would be a very snow-heavy winter, which had come in late. Clean-up had been completed throughout the town a month ago. All farms were operational again, even if they had to wait until spring to be back in business, and aside from the second bridge, which was still under construction due to the change in weather, not much still had to be finished. Everyone's business was running and supplies were coming in on an almost regular basis now, weather permitting.
The weather had turned from golden autumn with sunny but cold days to rain and the first flakes of snow. Nights were freezing cold, promising even lower temperatures soon, and days were mostly gray and bleak. And occasional nice day brightened spirits, but most everyone was preparing for snow and bitter cold.
The Larabee pack was taking care of whatever was going on, from scam artists and thieves to opportunists who had flocked in, trying to make a bargain with rather illegal means. There had been a few altercations, all quickly subdued. A pair of con artists had come through, but JD had found their Wanted posters and they had been arrested. Another wanted man had been hunted down because he had fled, after robbing two people, almost killing one of them. Vin and Buck had found him just off Donner Creek, which would have led him into the heart of Four Corners Territory. It would probably have done him in to be on his own in the middle of the wilderness anyway.
"Did him a favor," Vin commented as he had thrown the slightly bruised and battered man into a cell. "Could've let him face justice in a different way."
Chris would have been all for it, but he had a duty. He was a regulator.
So several arrests had been made and the people detained until a Section Judge came by.
With the arrival of more snow, things had calmed down considerably. There were hardly any travelers. Seasonal help had left or holed up in their own little cabins or at a ranch where they would help out with whatever was done throughout winter. Temperatures were now in the lower degrees and with the arrival of snow late in the season, travel was only ever done in groups or by coaches.
xXxXxX
The population of Four Corners was never high, but now it was at its lowest, with seasonals gone and some folks waiting out the cold season somewhere else. Businesses were open, the hotel was always welcoming travelers, though it lived off those staying long-term this time of the year, and Potter's Hardware offered repair and home improvement services. Some had already started the holiday decorations. Rose's Bed&Breakfast was almost drowning in colorful lights strung around the porch, along the awning, and around the windows. She had even wrapped wooden squares as parcels to display in her front yard.
The pack couldn't complain about boredom, though. Even with less people passing through, there were always complaints, people going missing, and the occasional dispute over monetary matters. Ezra handled the latter. He had a knack when it came to finances and going over accounting books or financial statements was almost easy sometimes. Telling someone to stop investing in questionable 'once in a lifetime opportunities' with people they had a) never met and b) businesses that operated on the other side of the continent was what had him want to scream into a pillow.
"They never learn," he muttered as he dipped a piece of potato in a hearty, slightly spicy, thick sauce.
"Greed," Buck agreed. "And stupidity. Lots of that. Stupid is catching. It's one of those money rolling schemes again?"
"Investment plan, amazing returns, rates you wouldn't believe are real, and all it takes is a tiny bit of monthly payment." Ezra shook his head and stuffed the potato into his mouth, savoring the flavor. Inez made the best dips. "Of course people don't stick with the small payments. They go in big because the so-called financial advisor gives them a few secret tips he has never given to anyone before. They hand over their savings and off he goes. A few letters follow, with a statement how their investment is developing at an amazing rate. So more money is invested. And another letter about how incredible everything is, with congratulations that they signed this special plan. Then nothing."
"Who is the unlucky victim this time?"
"The Hammond family."
Buck winced. "Ouch. They just had their third child, right?"
"Robert John Hammond, yeah." Ezra shook his head. "Half their savings are gone. JD and I put together a warning we want to print in The Clarion. Hopefully people will read it when it's in big letters and easy words."
Buck chuckled. "Hopefully. When it isn't the sleazy, travelling salesmen, or the gold diggers, it's the investment scammers."
Ezra raised his glass and emptied his drink, washing down the last of his meal. "Never a dull moment."
xXxXxX
He went over to the newspaper office where he found Mary busy with one of the bulky machines, cleaning out parts and replacing some of the older ones. Ezra didn't make the mistake of offering help. He knew the woman was very well capable of doing everything that needed to be done in her business, and she was also very well capable of lobbing a part at him for his question.
She took the warning JD and Ezra had written up, nodding to herself as she read it. "It'll be on the front page of this week's edition," she promised.
"Thank you."
"It's a damn shame," she added. "We keep telling people about all those scams. I repeatedly print articles and stories, and someone still falls for it, ruining himself and his family, his whole life."
Ezra had to agree. He had run schemes similar to this, though not as in-depth and exclusively, and he knew how easily people were manipulated, their hopes and dreams ruined, how greed would switch off the brain.
"Let's hope a warning from the town's regulators has a bigger impact." Mary wiped her hands and gave the crossbreed a smile. "Do you want some coffee?"
Ezra gracefully accepted and spent the next half hour answering Mary's questions about the investment scam. She made notes.
It wouldn't stop the scammers, nor would it stop another idiot getting up every day, handing over his hard-earned dollars.
xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
"Did you hear about the Yule party Carl and Inga are throwing tonight?"
Ezra hung up his hat as he walked into the sheriff station, smiling at JD's enthusiasm. Free food and drink always brought that on. Especially a lot of food. Wolves really had an endless appetite.
"Yes, I heard. It will end in a food coma, like last year, as well as several noise complaints, drunks falling all over themselves in the street, and us piling a lot of honorable townspeople in our cells until their wives come to pick them up."
JD grinned. "Yep. Buck's already gearing up for an eating contest."
"With you as his only worthy opponent?"
JD smirked, patting his flat stomach. "I've worked up an appetite. He wouldn't be able to say no to Inez's dessert."
"Good luck then."
Ezra shuffled through some papers, looked at their roster, then grabbed a number of folders to sort through. JD grabbed his guns and jacket.
"By the way, I got the radio going. Even reached Denver."
Ezra's brows climbed. "Congratulations. I didn't think the new parts had already arrived?"
JD shook his head as he zipped up his coat. "I used the old ones." He gestured toward the tech room. "Go and have a look. It's no beauty, but it works. Until the next surge blacks us out again, but hey." He grinned brightly.
Ezra curiously walked into the back room that held all their technical equipment, and his brows rose again. The radio station was running, yes. Sure, it looked like it had exploded and there were wires and parts everywhere, held together by what looked like more wires and tape, but it wasn't broken. Examining everything closely, he nodded to himself. It might not hold, but for now it was better than anything what had been officially sent to them.
xXxXxX
The Yule party ran as every year: tons of food and drink, music and dancing, everyone gathering together to have a good time. Some drank too much, some ate too much, some had too much of a good time.
Buck was dancing with every single or available lady, and also with those who just wanted to have a fun time with their resident lady's man. He was gathering a flock of giggling and amorous women around himself. Josiah was reading to a group of kids while they ate so much cake and chocolate, they would probably end up with stomach aches. Nathan and Vin shared patrol throughout the festivities, keeping an eye on the empty streets in hourly shifts. Chris had set up his own watch inside the saloon, eating and drinking in moderation and breaking up a few altercations with just a clearing of his throat or a low, warning word. Ezra was doing what he did best, which was playing cards, talking to the groups joining him, and using his skills to keep many from separating from all their money. JD was right in the middle of it, enjoying each dish Inga presented him with, eating his own weight in mashed potatoes, turkey and gravy.
By the end of the night, there was still enough food for another night of over-indulgence, and Chris herded the last stragglers back outside. Buck was sprawled in his chair, groaning about too much food.
"Told ya," Vin drawled.
"Didn't see you stopping me."
"I did. Throughout the third serving of turkey leg."
Buck grunted.
"And when you dug into your second chocolate pudding."
Another grunt.
"And when you couldn't say no to the cake with whipped cream, though I couldn't see any cake under that mountain of cream."
Buck groaned again and loosened his belt.
"You better get back to your place before this become indecent exposure," Chris told him, lightly kicking against Buck's booted feet. "Ain't anyone carrying you there."
Wilmington rose with a suffering groan, emptied his last shot, and staggered toward the exit. "If I'm not back by tomorrow, look for my body."
"Your bloated body?" Vin laughed.
"Oh shut up!"
Ezra cleaned up his cards, yawning.
"Ready to call it a night?" Chris asked, smiling.
"It's past midnight, so technically it's already morning."
The alpha gave the last man help in leaving, then shut the door. Inez was busy wiping tables and some of her hired help was already stacking the chairs.
"I think we're superfluous," Ezra remarked as Inez carried the remaining bottles behind the bar.
"Guess so. Vin?"
The tracker nodded. "See you after we're all out of the food coma."
"Like that will happen anytime soon," Vin chuckled and gave them a lazy salute.
xXxXxX
They fell into bed, Ezra feeling too full but very content, and his eyes slid shut. Chris poked him in the side.
"Undress."
"Nah, I'm good," he drawled.
"You'll thank me tomorrow. And I'll thank myself because you'll be unbearable when you wake up in rumpled clothes. You don't like your nice clothes rumpled."
"I'll make an exception," Ezra mumbled.
Chris started to undo the buttons of the red vest.
Ezra's eyes cracked open and he smiled. "Ah, I see."
"Not heading that way, Ez."
"Too bad."
"You'd fall asleep halfway into a blow job."
Ezra grinned. "You offering to test that theory?"
Chris leaned over him and kissed the grinning lips. "Not today. I'm too full and I hate for you to lose such a half-assed bet."
Ezra hummed. He finally sat up and Chris stripped off both the jacket and vest. The rest of the clothes went and finally they were snuggling close together. Ezra was out like a light within minutes and Chris smiled to himself before he switched off the light.
tbc...