Vin stood up from the table, moved toward the window. Ezra started to make a comment about Vin objecting to his cooking but the serious look on his lover's face stopped any remarks.

"Someone's out there," Vin said quietly, turning the lamp down before stepping to the window.

Ezra was suddenly beside him, gun retrieved from the holster hanging near the door. "Why would any sane being be out in this weather?"

A hard winter storm had hit three days earlier. While the worst had passed with the winds dying down, the snow and cold, had left travel nearly impossible. It would be hard going anywhere until the winter sun started melting the snow.

Vin only shook his head in answer to Ezra's question.

Staying beside the window while easing aside the blanket acting as a curtain, Ezra gazed carefully into the snowy dusk. He gave Vin a quick shrug, not seeing anything. Vin nodded toward the barn. Ezra looked again, this time catching the fact that the formerly shut main door was now open by a few inches. As they watched, the door was pressed closed from inside.

"A lost traveler looking for shelter?" Ezra ventured.

"Why not come to the house?" Vin said. "Well, can't leave 'em in the barn. Too cold out there for just about anything other than a moose."

Ezra frowned. "Inviting them into the house will put a damper on my plans for the evening, and morning, and perhaps…."

Vin gave him a wicked grin. "I know you got plans, Ezra, but…"

"But we can't leave them in the barn," Ezra admitted. "This is assuming they are indeed a lost traveler and not a miscreant."

"Miscreant or not…."

"Yes, yes." Ezra sighed. "Front or back?"

Vin reached for his pistol. "Back."

The snow was nearly thigh deep and immediately chilled the leather chaps that Ezra had added as protection against the damp. Despite the absence of wind, the air was the coldest he could remember in their part of the west. He gripped the Remington, thankful for the heavy gloves even if they made shooting trickier. Crouching, he reached the barn's front door. Counting slowly to five to give Vin time to get into position, he grabbed the door, slid it open wide to announce his presence.

"Hands up!" Ezra shouted through the heavy scarf around his lower face. Nothing moved and he fought to spot the trespasser in the fully dark barn.

At the same instant, Vin threw open the back swinging door, coming in with gun leading. The only answer to their bold entrance was a quiet shuffle from one of the horse stalls. Gun raised, Ezra gestured Vin closer to the stall before moving along the opposite end of the line of four pens. There was movement, and an unknown bay horse stuck its head over the door of the stall, nickering softly at the other two equines. Ezra and Vin stepped to the enclosure together, both positioning their guns over the wooden wall.

"Show yourselves!" Ezra ordered.

From behind the new horse two figures emerged - two women hugging closer together, one holding a baby between them. Vin and Ezra exchanged surprised looks.

Vin tossed another log into the flames of the bedroom fireplace, while Ezra grabbed blankets off their bed and offered them to their two trespassers, helping them wrap up before seating them at the table. There had been no questions from either party as they moved from the freezing barn into the warm ranch house. Just before sitting down, Ezra drew back the blanket that divided the small three room house, letting the warmth from the fireplace in the bedroom reach into the main room. With both women and baby warmly wrapped in several layers, Vin waved at Ezra to start.

"Ladies, a freezing barn in the middle of nowhere is hardly the place to take refuge," he stated. "Who are you and what were you doing out in this forsaken weather?"

The two women in front of him could not have been more different. The one clutching the baby was tall, blond, with fair features and blue eyes. The other woman was her opposite, shorter, black haired with sparkling black eyes and a complexion that spoke of being from an older settlement of ranchers, or just come up from further south. The fair one was holding the baby but from what Ezra could see, the dark hair and dark eyes on the child made it difficult to know who the mother was.

They were dressed for winter travel but the normally suitable outfits were surpassed by the unusually heavy snow fall and cold temperatures. Ezra noted that their clothes were good quality, if slightly older. As the temperature in the house went up, the fair lady took her gloves off and untied her bonnet.

"Ladies?" Ezra urged.

"I'll get us some coffee," Vin volunteered.

"Where are we?" the tall one asked.

"You are currently on the Lucky 7 Ranch," Ezra explained.

"The Lucky 7?" she questioned. "You're two of the lawmen from Four Corners?"

Slightly surprised at their knowledge, Ezra nevertheless answered, "I'm Ezra Standish. Vin Tanner is the one getting you coffee. How do you know about us?"

"I'm Elizabeth Menendez, formerly Elizabeth Collings."

"As in the Circle C Collings'?" Ezra asked in surprise.

"Yes." Looking slightly embarrassed, she continued, "Father has written about some of the…misadventures with the Four Corners lawmen…and this ranch."

Vin stepped to the entranced of the main room from the kitchen, and laughed. "I'll just bet he has."

Elizabeth nodded. Shifting the sleeping baby, she laid a land on the other woman's shoulder. "This is my sister in law, Anna Menendez."

"And the little one?" Vin questioned as he sat down the coffee mugs.

A slight smile lit her face, and she gently eased the blanket a little off the baby. "My son, John Menendez."

"You departed the Circle C proceeding to Four Corners?"

Anna nodded. "Oh si, we got to the ranch, three days ago, before the storm."

"We came in to surprise my father for Christmas," Elizabeth picked up. "He was not there when we arrived. The storm caught him in Eagle Bend. He came this morning…."

Silence claimed the small group as they sipped the hot coffee. "Your father?" Ezra urged.

"He knew I was married to an Arizona Ranger," Elizabeth defended. "He knew my new name…."

Looking between the two women and the baby, Ezra knew immediately what had happened. "But he demanded you leave when he saw Miss Menendez and his grandson," Ezra finished.

Elizabeth gave a small sob and nod.

"Oh, si," Anna answered softly.

"Why'd he do that?" Vin questioned.

Ezra looked at Vin, reminded once more of how much he loved the man. Despite what they had been through in town, despite what Vin had seen happen to so many of his adopted tribe, there was still part of him that believed people treated others fairly. While Ezra would never understand it, he treasured the part of Vin that could.

"They are the wrong color," Ezra said.

Vin exchanged a glance with Ezra. "Oh."

Ezra shook his head. "That he turned you out in this weather is beyond forgiving."

"We left the ranch this morning," Elizabeth defended. "I think he thought the carriage would be warm enough and the snow not as bad."

"Why didn't you come to the house?" Vin questioned. "Why our barn?"

"Given my father's reaction, we weren't sure we would be welcome anywhere." She sighed. "The families in south Arizona don't pay attention …. Some of the families have been there since Texas belonged to Mexico."

"Thank you so much for helping us," Anna said. Trying to cheer the small group, she continued, "Tomorrow, perhaps, we can make it back to Four Corners."

Ezra rubbed his chin, glanced again at Vin. "Ah. Ma'am, from the accumulation of snow between here and the barn, I would estimate us to be snowbound for at least two, three days."

"Oh, si. Of course." Refusing to be sad, Anna said firmly, "Then we will celebrate Christmas with our new friends!"

Vin and Ezra exchanged smiles, and the baby woke with a small cry. "I had better feed him," Elizabeth said, easing out from under the blankets.

Ezra stood and moved his chair into the bedroom, near the fireplace. "I believe you will find it warmer in here."

Nodding, she moved into the other room. Vin stood. "We oughta check supplies. I might have to go shoot a couple of rabbits tomorrow, just in case. Need to get their luggage out of the carriage, too."

"We have some food in a picnic box," Anna offered.

Vin started to slip into his heavy coat, reaching into the pocket for his gloves. "We have plenty of canned stuff and some meat in the spring house."

Vin and Ezra exchanged a quick look as the reality of having to cook for guests hit them. As one they turned back to the two women.

"Can either of y'all cook?" they asked together.

Ezra removed the plate from in front of Elizabeth just as the baby started crying. Both of the women were yawning, and from the way John was wailing, Ezra knew it was more from exhaustion than bad temper. He looked over to where Vin had taken another log into the bedroom for the fire. They had eaten a light dinner of dried meat and cheese from the ladies' basket.

"Are you two ladies ready to hit the hay?" Vin asked.

Anna nodded, "Oh my, si."

"I put some extra blankets on the bed," Vin explained. He paused. "We don't have a crib nor nothing…."

"We can take the remaining food out of the basket and let John sleep in it," Ezra said.

"A very good idea, Mister Standish," Elizabeth agreed.

Picking up the wicker basket, Ezra started to empty the contents on to the table. "I was nanny once for several younger children."

"Nanny?" Vin questioned, suddenly very interested in hearing about this unknown aspect of his lover's history.

Refusing to be embarrassed by the admission, Ezra said with great dignity, "It was the lead up to a plan of my mot…." Realizing what he was about to reveal concerning his not exactly legal past, he quickly changed tracks. "Teachers. It held the possibility of leading to a very well regarded teaching position."

He was rewarded by a choked laugh from Vin.

"Ladies," Vin gestured to the small kitchen. "There's a chamber pot in the bedroom. I filled the kitchen bucket with water and there is a wash basin on the sideboard. Sorry 'bout the water being so cold. I'll refill the wood bin in the morning. We have a bit of coal for the potbelly for cooking."

"Mister Tanner," Elizabeth said, as John let out a heartfelt yowl. "Do not apologize for anything. You and Mister Standish have been angels of mercy in our time of need."

"Oh si. We are putting you out of your beds now to add to our list of things to thank you for," Anna observed.

Ezra raised an eyebrow at Vin. It was not uncommon for a small ranch house to only hold one bed. There was little they could do about it now. They had decided on adding another room soon and then to buying the feather bed that they both wished for. Vin returned Ezra's query with an invisible shrug.

"I hope you ladies do not mind sharing a bed," Ezra said plainly.

"Not at all," Anna said. "It is warmer that way."

Elizabeth moved into the bedroom, trying to quiet John. With a last good-night, Anna pulled down the separating blanket. Vin went to a large chest that dominated one side of the main room, jerked out a huge buffalo hide, and followed that with several heavy woven blankets. A few minutes later, he and Ezra were stretched out on the hide, wrapped in the blankets. Vin made a point of putting Ezra next to the back stones of the fireplace.

"You wanna add some more clothes there, Ezra?" Vin asked, knowing how much Ezra hated being cold.

"If I attempt to wear any more garments, I will be unable to move."

In the other room, John continued to cry, through the noise was softening.

"Being angels is not what I had in mind while we were snowed in," Ezra complained in a whisper.

"Ah, now," Vin said with a hint of laughter in his voice, "who else can say they got a nanny and an angel for Christmas?"

As light kiss brushed his cheek. Ezra chuckled. "Go to sleep, Vin, before I do something dangerous."

"Oh my. Does he always sleep so late?"

Ezra shifted a bit under the mound of blankets, barely hearing the softly accented voice. For a moment, under the comfort of the warmth, he tried to remember why there was a woman in the house. A chuckle sounded from Vin. Reluctantly, sticking his head out, Ezra smiled at Anna and Vin.

"As we are currently snowed in, I see no pressing reason to venture out from this rather lovely, most importantly, warm, position."

Vin's chuckle was lost under the rather loud and boisterous laugh from Anna. An answering, through more ladylike laugh came from the bedroom. A minute later, Elizabeth moved the blanket aside and joined them.

"John is asleep," she announced.

"A wise thing to do on his part," Ezra said as he forced himself to sit up.

Through the windows bright, cold sunlight decorated the room. Ezra shivered a bit. Vin nodded. "Yep, it's colder than a witch's…. colder than yesterday."

Ezra smiled as Vin colored up just a bit. "Sorry there, Miss Anna."

Anna laughed again. "Mister Tanner, we live on the frontier, there is no language that would shock us."

Standing and straightening his shirt, Vin said, "I'll feed the stock if you'll whip us up some breakfast there, Ezra."

"Me?" Ezra said a little timidly. "Are you sure you wish to put these poor ladies through that so early in the day?"

"Please," Elizabeth said, "I would be happy to make breakfast. Though you'll have to show me where everything is."

"I am more than capable of fulfilling that requirement," Ezra said as he started to peel the blankets away.

Wrapping a heavy woolen scarf around the bottom half of his face, Vin draped another over his ears before putting his hat on to hold it in place. "Extra bacon," came a muffled request as he opened the door just wide enough to slip through.

"Mister Standish," Elizabeth motioned toward the small kitchen.

Leading the way in, Ezra said, "If we are to be trapped by the wintery accumulation, I think, Vin and Ezra will be easier for all of us."

The next few minutes were spent firing the stove, cutting the bacon, and finding a chuck of cheese. Knowing the storm was coming when they came out to the ranch, they had brought eggs and milk with them, leaving them out on the window ledge to keep fresh. The milk was frozen solid, so Ezra put the glass bottle on the edge of the iron stove for John's use later.

By the time Vin had finished hauling hay and water to the stock, the bacon was just being lifted out of the skillet.

"Must have been a hell of a trip getting up here this time of year?" Vin asked as they finished eating.

"I was under the mistaken idea that…father would enjoy having… us for Christmas…." Again Elizabeth's voice shook.

Anna moved, wrapping her in a gentle hug. "It is well, Beth. My family will be enough for both of us."

Looking awkward, Vin said, "I'm sorry.…"

The lady straightened, wiping at her eyes. "No. It was a stupid idea to travel in the winter. At least Robert, my husband, thinks I'm at the Circle C, so he won't be worried."

Anna sat back down opposite Ezra. "This snow is not normal though?"

"Haven't seen it this bad in years," Vin answered.

"Is there anything we can do for you ladies to keep you amused?" Ezra asked. "I would request that Vin play his harmonica for you but I feel it would not be appreciated by John."

The day went by slowly, filled with quiet activities. Anna pulled some knitting out of a travel bag, while Vin worked on tooling a new bridle, Elizabeth read, and Ezra played solitaire. The gambler only broke away from the game when John awoke and Elizabeth brought him out to let him play on the buffalo robe. Vin watched as Ezra juggled three wooden balls that Elizabeth had given John to play with. The baby crawled toward him, fascinated by the spinning balls, before trying to snatch them out of the air, and ending up in Ezra's lap. Ezra laughed and Vin smiled at the sight of his love playing with the baby.

While Vin made another trip for feeding and wood, Ezra once more helped with dinner. They then settled in for their second night. Just as Vin was wiggling his way under the pile of blankets, Elizabeth's soft voice carried from the other room.

Faster than fairies, faster than witches,

Bridges and houses, hedges and ditches,

Charging along like troops in a battle

All through the meadows the horses and cattle:

All of the sights of the hill and the plain

Standing up, Vin leaned closer to the dividing blanket, drawn like a moth to flame by the recitation of poetry. Behind him, Ezra pushed up on his elbows, watched a slow smile light Vin's handsome face.

"She would probably be happy to have an appreciative audience," Ezra suggested.

Before Vin could refuse, Elizabeth called, "Mister Tanner, please come in."

Vin slipped through the blanketed entrance, smiled at Elizabeth. Anna was still knitting, sitting tucked into one side of the bed. On the outside, leaning close to the basket holding a sleeping baby, Elizabeth smiled at him. "I know he is too young to understand but reading helps both of us to sleep."

Thinking of the man in the other room, Vin nodded. "Heard that works on lots of folks. What were ya reading?"

"New Poems for Children." She held the book out toward Vin. "Would you like to read some of it?"

"Oh, no, ma'am. I'd probably just wake John up. But do you mind if I listen to you read for a bit?"

A little later, when he eased himself back onto the robe next to Ezra, Vin noted the slight smile that the gambler was wearing even in sleep. While it was not the way they had planned their Christmas, it was proving to be quite pleasant.

"Looks like the worse is over," Vin announced after the morning feeding. "Warmer and the snow has started to melt."

"We can make it back to Four Corners by Christmas?" Anna asked. "Two days?"

Giving a slight shake of his head, Vin said, "Probably not. Snows still pretty deep."

"We were expecting the storm when we came out but, as stated previously, did not expect the magnitude," Ezra explained. "We will all be missed at Christmas but I'm sure there will be plenty to celebrate once we are back."

His hopeful statement did nothing to lighten the sad acceptance on the ladies' face.

Ezra suddenly announced, "We need cookies!"

The others stared at him as if he had lost his mind.

"Christmas cookies!" he defended.

"Do you know how to make cookies?" Vin asked with a tone that said he was doubtful.

In the same tone, Ezra answered, "Maybe?"

The two ladies laughed, and John, resting on his mother's hip gurgled his approval.

"I wouldn't object to help," Ezra admitted.

"If y'all are gonna be cooking, reckon we need more wood," Vin said, starting to put on the layers of clothing he had just taken off.

As the two women started into the kitchen, Vin leaned over and whispered to Ezra, "Keep them in the kitchen for a bit."

The questioning look from Ezra was answered with a wink from Vin.

The three cooks stared at the cookies they had pulled from the cast iron oven. Enjoying the smell and the warmth filling the small three batches of simple sugar cookies were now displayed out on the sideboard.

"Well," Anna ventured, "they are star shaped."

"I suppose one of us should give them a try," Elizabeth suggested.

The ladies looked up at Ezra with expressions like they were asking him to grab a rattlesnake. Taking a deep breath, he reached for one of the cookies. Taking a very small nibble, he chewed thoughtfully, then broke into a wide grin.

"An excellent cookie," Ezra confirmed.

They all laughed, reaching for one of the confections. Ezra picked up one of the cookies and entered the main room. He knew Vin had been back inside for a while but had stayed in the kitchen as requested.

"Vin, you must try…." He stopped so suddenly Anna ran into him. Elizabeth managed to stop short, then stare over his right shoulder.

There on the cedar chest was a small Christmas tree. Vin was standing next to it, looking embarrassed, proud, and a little shy. Before Ezra could move, Anna clapped wildly, ran forward and planted a solid kiss on Vin's cheek. Handing John to Ezra, Elizabeth closed with Vin and did the same.

"It needs more decorations," Anna declared. "Oh si! I have some ribbons."

For the first time since they had been forced into the shared house, Elizabeth suddenly lit up, looking much younger than she had before. "I have a string of pearls."

They both bolted for the bedroom, leaving Ezra to shift the baby up into his arms and stare across the sunlit room at Vin. The way they lived had forced them to learn a strange sort of messaging, where a look and a smile could be as loving and as meaningful as a deep kiss. Ezra smiled; letting all the love he felt for Vin reach his expression. Vin returned the gesture, then stepped forward to take his cookie. If he licked his lips a little slower than normal, Ezra was the only one who noticed.

It was perhaps the saddest and best example of a Christmas tree Ezra had ever seen. A string of pearls, several long strands of ribbon, a single bow, some feathers that Vin had in a box, and a cookie decorated the tree. Vin reached out and crowned the small tree with a sheriff's star that Ezra had held on to after some con or other. As Vin stepped back the ladies applauded and Ezra laughed, bouncing John on his hip as he did. The baby's laughter filled the small room, causing all the adults to laugh even more.

"That is a magnificent tree," Ezra declared to John, who laughed even more.

Sudden pounding on the door made them all jump. Handing John to Anna, Ezra motioned Vin to the side of the door. Elizabeth pulled one of the covers over the window back just enough and held up four fingers toward the two men. Waving the two women into the bedroom, Ezra put on a neutral expression and opened the door just enough to see who it was. Behind the door, Vin made sure it wasn't going to be opened any further.

"Sir?" Ezra questioned. "What can I help you with on this chilly day?"

The man, dressed warmly in a long drover's coat, smiled, took his hat off. "We're from the Circle C, sir. Our boss, Mister Collings, sent us to find his daughter and grandson."

At this statement, Elizabeth stuck her head around the blanket covered bedroom entrance.

"And why would his absent family be here?" Ezra questioned.

The cowboy managed to look a little chagrined. "Well, sir, he had a falling out with his daughter, and uh, well, kind of kicked them off the ranch. Only he got to feeling bad, what with the weather and all, and wanted us to make sure they were okay and to get them to come back."

Ezra tilted his head thoughtfully. Through training and instinct he had made a life based on judging what people were saying, on whether they were speaking truth or lies. There was something wrong here.

"What leads you to believe that they are here and not returned to Four Corners?"

"We could still make out the carriage ruts in the snow," the man admitted. His voice took on a harder edge. "And the carriage is in your barn."

Ezra didn't know if Elizabeth also sensed something was wrong or was just her father's daughter. She stepped up behind him, and said firmly, "If my father wants us back, he can come get us."

The dover merely gave a little nod, made to turn away - spun back and slammed his shoulder against the door. Bracing the door from behind, Vin held steady, and before the man could try it again, Ezra had a pistol pointed at him.

"The ladies will be pleased to return to the Circle C when Mister Collings comes to retrieve them," Ezra said firmly. "I suggest you return to the ranch and relay that to your boss."

A bullet crashed through the window. Ezra jumped back, slamming the door as another round thudded into the solid oak.

"Kitchen!" Vin yelled as Ezra tossed him the rifle from next to the window.

Cradling the now screaming baby, Elizabeth and Anna scrambled for the only windowless, stone section of the house.

Tucked next to the window, Vin pulled back as more shots shattered the glass.

"Goddamnit!" Ezra yelled. "We just acquired those windows!"

"What the hell is going on?" Vin asked. Even as he questioned the situation, the firing stopped.

"I think we're about to find out," Ezra guessed.

"In the house! Send out the women."

"No!" Vin yelled back.

"We ain't gonna hurt 'em," echoed across the frozen landscape.

"Why do you want them?"

"Just like we said," the hard voice returned. "Gonna take 'em on home - and get a nice finder's fee."

"Ransom," Ezra said softly, shaking his head.

"They work for my father," Elizabeth said, sitting on the floor and trying to quiet John. "Why would they do this?"

"Your father is not known to hire the most honest of men," Ezra said bluntly.

Vin guessed, "They probably saw y'all head off, figured they could trick you to leaving Four Corners."

"What do we do?" Anna asked, sliding up next to Elizabeth.

Ezra and Vin exchanged quick glances. "You've got food, water, and wood. Boys'll expect us back once things get clear, two days maybe," Vin counted off. "Best thing to do is wait them out until someone from town comes to check on us."

"Not certain about the wood," Ezra said. "If they are smart they will have a man on each window. The window is opposite the fireplace."

Vin frowned. "Even if we cain't get more wood goin', it's warmer in here than it's gonna be for them out there."

Another bullet crashed through another window. Ezra cursed fervently under his breath.

"Enough," Vin snapped. Kneeling, he rested the barrel of the rifle on the edge of the shattered window. A long minute went by before he pulled the trigger. Outside there was a cry of pain.

"Perhaps we should go with them," Elizabeth said. "I don't want anyone to get killed on our account."

Vin leaned back against the wall under the window. "I didn't kill him. Just bloodied him a bit so the others have to waste time on him. And he won't be shooting at no one for a while."

"I mean," she argued, "my father can afford to pay a ransom."

"But will he?" Ezra asked. "He did chase you out into a storm. And what if these villains decide that maybe they don't need Anna?"

Horror colored Elizabeth's expression as she faced the reality of what the other men might be capable of doing. She reached for her friend, holding her hand for a moment. A few more shots hit the windows and door.

"What can we do?" Anna asked.

"Sit here and let them waste bullets," Vin said.

Silence claimed the ranch yard. Ezra moved closer to the window, and yelled, "Gentlemen, the weather is too cold to spend it outside tonight. If you leave now, we won't pursue this matter any further."

More shots peppered the front of the house. Vin just looked at him and shook his head.

Time crawled slowly through the morning with only the occasional shot to let them know the kidnappers were still outside. At one point Elizabeth had gone to the kitchen, used the last of the coal to fire the stove. She had warmed some milk for John, some beans and bacon for the rest of them.

As the day started to edge toward afternoon, Ezra lay his gun down and, crouched over, moved toward the bedroom.

"What are you doing?" Vin demanded.

Leaning back near the dividing wall, Ezra said, "We need to ascertain if they are indeed at each window."

"Ezra…." Vin started.

"I will be cautious," Ezra assured him.

Vin took a deep breath, then reluctantly nodded. In the corner, Anna crossed herself, holding tight to a rosary.

Ezra flattened out on the cold rough floorboards. Barely moving the blanket, he crawled on elbows and knees toward the still glowing fireplace that was only a few feet away. Holding his breath, he waited for a shot. Nothing happened. He looked back over his shoulder to where Elizabeth was peeking under the blanket.

Very slowly, he reached for a log in the rack. Two shots rang out, taking out the window and shattering against the side of the rock. Ezra let out a cry of surprise and pain. Before he could decide the fastest way to get back, he was grabbed by the ankles and yanked back into the main room. He rolled over, surprised to find Elizabeth holding on to him. John stared at him from the mound of blankets near the wall.

When he went to offer her a smile, he flinched. Reaching his hand up to his cheek, he pulled away fingers showing a few drops of blood. Vin slipped across the floor just as Anna handed Ezra a clean diaper.

"Well," Vin said as he wiped the blood off Ezra's face, "that answers that question. Just some scratches there, pard."

"Small favors," Ezra observed. "We are in for a cold night."

"In the house! Y'all needing some fire wood?"

Vin and Ezra both scrambled back to the front of the house. Standing carefully, they flanked the windows, trying to spot the man talking. A minute went by before it became frightfully clear where the man meant.

"Goddamnit!" Vin yelled. He leveled the rifle again, this time aiming to do more than scare. "They have torches!"

"How about we start with your barn!" one yelled.

Ezra fired a couple of shots but pulled back. "They are heading to the rear of the barn."

The two partners exchanged a long glance before Vin said quietly, "Reckon we better stop them."

"Left or right?" Ezra asked.

"Wait." Elizabeth held out her hand, demanded, "Rifle."

Anna joined her. "Pistol."

The two men looked at them for a minute, then handed over their spare guns.

"We will keep them ducking," Elizabeth promised.

"Si, more than ducking, if I can," Anna said hotly.

"Excellent idea," Ezra said. "Please keep low. I don't relish the idea of John losing his mother."

Elizabeth expertly cocked the rifle, gave Ezra a stern look. "Go!"

The two women took the positions that the lawmen had moved away from. Vin eased to the window on the side of the main room; Ezra to the door near the bedroom. Both grabbing one of the heavy chairs from the front room as they did.

"One, two – three!" Ezra counted.

As he said three, Elizabeth and Anna opened fire as Vin and Ezra threw the heavy chairs through the two already shattered windows on each side of the house. They followed the chairs out, rolling into the snow and whatever cover they could find.

A bullet hit the tree nearest Ezra, but he dove behind the wood pile, firing in the direction of the shot. In front of the house, two men were ducked down behind the water trough, held in place by the fire coming from Elizabeth and Anna. A trail of smoke rose from the back of the barn. He broke away from the woodpile, running toward the small stand of cottonwoods behind the house, trying to gain some cover as he circled toward the back of the barn. As hard as it was to not check on Vin, he keep his eyes on the target.

Shots rang out from near the side of the barn facing the house, splintering the trees, sending splinters into Ezra's neck and causing snow to cascade down on him. Taking the chance to use the snow fall as cover, Ezra zigged back toward the barn; far enough now that he could see the man with the torch. Luck and weather was with him. The wood of the barn had soaked up the damp snow so that the man's attempt to light it was not working. Daring a shot from the other man, Ezra charged out of the trees, firing.

Shots kicked up slush around him but he sprinted into the cover of the end of the barn, barely pausing before charging around the corner and slamming into the torch wielder, taking them both down into the damp, cold white. Gun in hand he hit the man hard enough to knock him out. The torch sizzled in the snow and went out. Struggling out of the freezing white, Ezra scrabbled closer to the barn. An eerie silence claimed the area as all the shooting unexpectedly stopped. From the house, John's cries were the only sign of life. Ezra thoughts immediately turned to taking out the other men – and Vin.

Running along the back side of the barn, Ezra stopped at the corner and carefully looked around it. Two men lay still in the stirred up snow and mud in front of the house. Only a few feet from him, Vin was sprawled out in the snow, struggling to bring his gun up while the man standing above him drew his weapon.

"Vin!" Ezra yelled, bringing up his gun - only to have it click empty.

Desperation took over, he charged the man about to fire, watched in dismay as the gun switched from aiming at Vin to lining up on him.

A shot echoed through the cold and Ezra flinched, waiting for the pain to hit.

"Drop it!"

To Ezra's vast relief the man facing him tossed his gun into the mud, raising his hands and glaring at whoever it was behind Ezra that had fired the rifle shot.

Ezra turned to look – mounted, smoking rifle in hand, was Rance Collings.

"What the holy hell is going one here!?" the rancher demanded.

Ezra ignored him, turning his attention to his partner. "Vin?"

"Damn, that hurt," Vin said as he struggled to sit up with Ezra's help.

Afraid to touch him, Ezra said, "Where?"

"My gun jammed. Wrestled him down, but he kicked me in the knee," Vin flinched as he said it.

Despite Ezra urging him to stay down, Vin climbed painfully to his feet with Ezra's help. Still ignoring Collings, Ezra helped Vin over to the bench on their tiny front porch.

Not trusting Collings, Ezra turned after he had Vin down, and raised his empty gun toward the older man. As he did, Elizabeth and Anna both stepped out of the house, both with weapons also raised.

"Elizabeth!" Collings cried, pushing his rifle into the scabbard and moving to dismount.

"Stop right there, Mister Collings," Ezra ordered.

"Do as he says, Father," Elizabeth added.

Three men moved from the road to back up Collings. Ezra kept his gun aimed at the rancher.

"Someone want to tell me why are some of my men shot up and laying in the snow?" Collings questioned.

"Can you explain why those men sought to kidnap your daughter, grandson, and Miss Anna?" Ezra snapped. "And attempted to kill Mister Tanner and myself; to say nothing about trying to burn down our barn?"

Collings stared at him then glancing around again. "What?"

"Why are you here?" Anna asked, holding her pistol steady with two hands.

"Can I get down?" Collings asked.

"Very well, but tell your men to move back," Ezra said.

With a wave over his shoulder, the other men retreated. Collings climbed down and took a few steps closer, holding his hands out, gesturing toward the still raised guns. The weapons stayed up.

"Whatever happened here, I had nothing to do with it. I came looking for the ladies." He took another step forward. "Beth, Miss Anna, I am so sorry. I was surprised, I just… and did something so stupid." He held his hands out. "Please forgive me. I just wanted to take you back to the ranch. Won't you give me a chance to make up for being stupid?"

"How did you find them?" Vin asked.

"Thought they'd make Four Corners but realized the snow was worse than I thought. I was praying they made the town but saw all the tracks and the carriage ruts leading here." He took another step forward. "Beth, I knew your husband was…I can be stubborn and stupid…."

"On that we can agree," Ezra retorted.

Collings glared at the two lawmen for a moment, then dropped his gaze and nodded. "I just want my family home."

Everyone stood still for a very long time. Finally, Elizabeth lowered her rifle, resting it against the wall next to the door. She looked at Anna. With a reassuring smile, Anna handed her gun to Ezra. Elizabeth was crying as she ran the few steps to her father. Anna turned and ran into the house; appearing seconds later with a still crying John in her arms. They joined the family reunion; hugs and tears followed. When John was handed to his grandfather, he stopped crying.

With a sigh, Ezra sank down next to Vin, holstering his gun while letting the spare one dangle between his knees. Vin put an arm around Ezra's shoulder, nodded toward the family reunion, giving him a soft smile. Ezra answered with a cynical smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"You're bleeding," Vin said casually.

"Unfriendly tree," Ezra answered.

They watched the happy family in front of them. Vin took off his scarf and dabbed at the blood on Ezra's neck. Ezra looked up, letting the smile carry all his love.

"Let us get you inside," Ezra said. "We can pack some snow around the knee."

Near the water trough, Collings was holding his grandson and smiling. "Let's go home," he told the ladies, turning toward the barn.

"No," Elizabeth stated. "Not without Vin and Ezra."

"What?" All three men said at the same time.

"Misses Menendez, as you know, your father has had some grievances…."

"Beth, I don't get along with these two…"

Anna was the one who cut in. "They saved us from being kidnapped!"

"They kept us safe, warm, and fed. In return they are both hurt, and their house and windows have been shot up," Elizabeth continued.

"That's right nice of y'all but…" Vin tried.

"They are coming." Elizabeth's tone said there would be no argument.

The three men stared at each other. Finally, Collings admitted with almost a smile, "There isn't any getting by her."

"She is her father's daughter," Ezra said with a knowing look.

"Look, I know we haven't gotten along…" Very seriously he said, "But I can't repay you for what you did for my family. Christmas dinner is a small start."

Seeing their reluctance, Collings added, "We been roasting a pig with all the fixings, even have some mulled cider."

Another look went between the partners, a look that spoke of love and time together, but acknowledging it was okay to celebrate others' love and family.

"We would not be required to cook," Ezra reminded Vin.

"Guess that'd be worth a day or two," Vin agreed.

Frowning, Anna said, "What of these bast…men?" She gestured toward the three men in various injured states around the house.

"My boys'll bring them back to the ranch for now. I'll see they get brought into town." Nodding toward, Ezra and Vin, he said, "And I'll pay for some new windows."

Before long, Vin was tucked securely into the back of the carriage with his leg up on the wicker basket. Next to the vehicle, Ezra ponied Vin's horse. With Anna at the buggy's reins, they stared toward the road.

"Wait, wait!" Anna flipped the reins to Elizabeth. She ran into the house, appearing a minute later carrying the small Christmas tree.

Laughing, Vin propped it up against the seat next to him. Ezra's smile flashed his gold tooth, which always delighted Vin.

As they started down the road, he broke out with "Deck the Halls."

Vin couldn't sing. But when the others joined in, it sounded very much like Christmas.