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Learning to Improvise…
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Vin sighed softly and wrapped his arms more fully around his sleeping lover. Ezra was exhausted after having played the grief stricken son to the hilt. The tracker smiled in the darkness still impressed by the gambler’s performance. Hell, for a minute there I thought she really was dead.
Vin shook his head. He hadn’t expected Ezra’s plan to really go off without a hitch, but for the most part it had. Vin wondered if he shouldn’t say ‘thank you’ to whatever deity made that happen. He figured Josiah had already taken care of that, but it probably wouldn’t hurt for him to second it.
Two large, well-muscled gentlemen had disembarked from the stage just as Ezra had predicted. Buck or Vin kept an eye on them as the walked around town, making sure they didn’t cause trouble. The strangers had introduced themselves as Mr. Jones and Mr. Smith, friends of Maude’s, and given their city ‘dude’ attire, most everyone in town assumed they were business types who’d arrived in time to attend Maude’s ‘meeting’. Vin was still amazed by how little it took to dupe people. They didn’t have to say anything more than their names and they were looking for Maude, and every idiot in this town jumped to some kind of assumption. Ain’t any wonder so many people get conned out o’ there money.
Vin quickly realized Buck was probably not the best choice to follow the strangers. He’d nearly given himself away when he burst out laughing at the banker’s attempt to interest them in opening up an account at the bank. Much as Vin liked the tall cowboy, he readily admitted his friend had no sense of subtly or understanding of tracking his quarry. Buck was the kind of man who preferred open and honest communication, or conflict. He simply was not suited to following someone unobtrusively.
Chris must have realized the same thing. The gunslinger had sent Buck off to keep an eye on Maude and make sure the conwoman did not renege on her agreement to participate fully with Ezra’s plan. Vin half expected her to deliberately sabotage their efforts. And he knew he wasn’t the only one.
The conwoman wasn’t alone for more than a few minutes to answer nature’s call. Josiah acted as both escort and guardian. When he needed to be elsewhere, Buck or Nathan took over. JD was kept occupied with other details of the plan since no one was sure if the young sheriff fully appreciated the caginess Maude was capable of. And Ezra appreciated his help. Vin never realized just how much went in to setting up a con. It might all be smoke and mirrors but making is seem real sure took a lot of energy. How any one could have thought Ezra was lazy was beyond him.
Vin sighed and shifted slightly, trying to settle his lover’s weight more comfortably against him. Ezra mumbled something in his sleep, curling in tighter to the lanky tracker, hand clutching at Vin’s arm as though trying to prevent his leaving. Vin ran his hand up and down Ezra’s back, soothing his lover, murmuring softly, "Shh…it’s okay. Everything is all right. Not going anywhere. Jus’ go back ta sleep."
The faint tension Vin felt in Ezra’s stocky form faded back into the deep sleep, nearly boneless, relaxed state it had been in before he’d moved. The gambler did not release his hold on Vin’s arm, but his grip was no longer as tight as it had been. Vin nuzzled the dark curls resting beneath his chin, relieved that he hadn’t disturbed Ezra for too long.
The gambler hadn’t slept much in the past two days. Ezra had seemed to be constantly monitoring what was going on in town, like a general marshalling troops on a battlefield. He knew who had said what to whom, where everyone was, and what had to be done next. If this was what it took to run a con, Vin was very glad his lover didn’t do them anymore, but he could see why his mother was always so eager to get him back in the game. The man was good at it.
Vin glanced toward the window, trying to judge the time of day. From the darkness outside it was still very early even for a morning person like him. Good. No need to get up just yet then. Jus’ cause I’m too wound up to sleep don’t mean anyone else needs to be up and about.
Vin wondered if Maude was as tired as Ezra. The lady cardsharp had played her part just as she’d promised. Hardly surprising when Vin stopped to consider the fact that Ezra’s plan was the only chance she had of extricating herself from her predicament. Although, he had no trouble seeing her as being dumb enough to ‘cut her nose off to spite her face’ as the expression went.
He grinned savagely, placing a soft kiss in Ezra’s hair. It didn’t hurt that Chris had put the fear of god in her, so to speak. Vin had no doubt that his best friend would carry out his threats, and evidently neither did Maude.
She had acted out her part flawlessly. Vin had to admit that she managed to help solidify the illusion Ezra worked so hard to create. If he hadn’t known better, Vin would have thought she really was in town to invest money, bring wealth and prosperity to Four Corners.
Maude never looked more the sophisticated lady than she had for the last two days. She looked like the sort of person one would trust with a lot of money, sounded like the sort who understood complicated investments, and made it make sense for her to explore this dusty corner of the world for friends since her darling son was living here. With Josiah or one of the others always escorting her around town it only added to the implied prestige.
Vin figured everyone in town had attended Maude’s ‘meeting’. Ezra’s ad in the paper had been just the lure he said it would be. Vin was very grateful his part in Ezra’s plan hadn’t included him being in the church. All those people, in that enclosed area, gave him the willies just thinking about it.
He’d waited for his signal in the alley near the hotel. It was dark enough to obscure his presence and with everyone in the church there was no one to see him anyway. He spotted Nathan going to retrieve Maude and Josiah and had given an owl call as a signal to Chris. Chris shot out the window of Maude’s hotel room and fired into the air twice after that.
It was important that he be seen, so Vin waited until there were enough people in the street before he galloped his borrowed mare pell-mell down the street and out of town. He rode low over the saddle, hair tucked up under a borrowed hat, bandana to cover his face and wearing a long light brown duster. The borrowed mare wasn’t a horse any one in town would recognize. She was one Chris had been working with at his ranch, and Vin had taken care to blur any distinctive features. Once he released her after retrieving Peso, she would head for home of her own accord.
He hadn’t been too worried the trail would lead to the ranch. Especially not when the thunderstorm that had been building as he’d left suddenly opened up just as he made it back to town. The deluge, although it lasted only minutes, was more than enough to obscure any tracks. It also lent credence to his story of losing the trail later on. Yep. Definitely need to remember to thank God for that. Wonder if Josiah would mind if I lit one his candles in the church.
Dashing upstairs to join the others, Vin had been impressed to see Maude lying on the floor looking a pale as any corpse he’d ever laid eyes on. He didn’t know what she’d done to create the bruised look to her neck but Vin had frozen in the doorway, afraid for just a moment that Chris had actually killed her instead of just faking an attack.
Chris had genuinely knocked Josiah unconscious. The big man had worried he would not be able to fake it well enough to convince anyone. The gunslinger had obligingly agreed to make sure he wouldn’t have to act hurt. Vin wondered if Josiah would have tried to fake it if he’d realized Chris intended to smack him up side the head with the leg of a broken chair.
Josiah was spending the night in the clinic. Nathan would make sure he recovered. As the healer had been quick to point out it wasn’t the first time any of them had suffered from a blow to the head and this was probably not the last.
Maude’s ‘body’ couldn’t be left to the undertaker. Ezra’s rather passionate performance regarding the matter had been very convincing. Vin could still hear his lover’s broken voice and ragged breathing as he quietly kept insisting that his mother couldn’t be left in a place like that, she deserved better, should not be subjected to any more stares of the gawking masses. Green eyes bright with unshed tears had all but pleaded with Chris to not allow the undertaker to take Maude.
JD played his part perfectly. The sheriff had crouched down next to where Ezra cradled his mother in his arms. "It’s okay, Ez. Can understand how you feel." He looked up at Chris. "It don’t really matter, does it, Chris?" He’d shrugged one shoulder, looking helpless. "I mean…we don’t HAVE to let him put her in a," JD had swallowed hard, "in a coffin just yet. That would wait until tomorrow, right?"
It was the hotel manager who offered up a room for Maude to ‘lie in state’. She was spending the night in a room adjacent to the one she’d been killed in. Ezra had sat with her until nearly midnight. There was another public scene where Chris all but forced the gambler go to bed.
Chris ordered Vin to take his room and see to it he stayed there. He suggested Nathan could provide a sleeping draught if necessary to ensure the distraught gambler got some rest, making sure those busybodies still hanging around overheard. Vin thought they were worse than vultures. At least vultures were playing the role mother nature assigned them and some good could be claimed from it.
When Ezra protested the gunslinger’s order to leave, half-heartedly trying to pull his arm from Vin’s grasp saying he didn’t want his mother to be alone, Chris told him he’d stay with Maude. "Don’t worry, Ez, I’ll make sure she’s taken care of. She won’t be alone." Vin hadn’t realized just what a good actor his best friend could be. The man managed to say it with a straight face.
Vin breathed deeply, relieved to have what he considered the trickiest part over with. The funeral still had to be done. Buck was set to talk the undertaker and making sure the man brought by the coffin first thing in the morning. The ladies man was a great choice for the role of ‘caring friend’. He would have no trouble convincing the undertaker that it would be better for Ezra not to see his mother in the coffin. Given how distraught Ezra had appeared it was a safe bet the man would agree.
They would bring the sealed coffin down, with no one being any wiser to the fact that Maude wasn’t in it. While the rest of the town was seeing to her funeral, Maude would remain in the hotel. She apparently had a disguise picked out, one that would allow her to make her way to another room and later leave town un-remarked upon. It was also something Ezra had found decidedly amusing.
When they had a minute alone earlier in the day Vin couldn’t resist asking about it. Everyone in town had met Maude or seen her at one time or another. Only way their plan was going to work was if everyone thought she was dead…which wouldn’t happen if someone spotted her. "So what is this disguise she’s got in mind?"
Ezra chuckled. "Never fear, Cheri, no one will recognize her. They are used to seeing her as a well-to-do lady. Thinking of her as a blonde with a trim figure. Not to mention her accent. No one will recognize her as a heavy-set brunette in a gingham dress and bonnet with an accent that marks her as coming from Boston."
Green eyes fairly danced with laugher. "My mother is about to become a kindly matron resting here briefly, before continuing on to see her daughter who is now living in Santa Fe. She’ll be trading in her deck of cards for knitting needles."
Vin had snorted. "She can knit?"
"Not well." Ezra admitted with a laugh. "But then she doesn’t have to."
"Jus’ more set dressing?"
Ezra glanced around confirming they were alone before ducking in to place a quick kiss on Vin’s lips. "Set dressing." He confirmed with a smile.
"I’d already taken the liberty of having a room reserved for her the name Martha Attkins. Mrs. Attkins arrived on the same stage as Vuocolo’s men, but in all the excitement, she was merely overlooked." Ezra winked at Vin. "The hotel manager has never met her, but I doubt that the man even realizes that. He received her wire asking for a room indicating the date of her arrival. And the poor dear has been too exhausted from her travels to leave her room. Although, she has managed to ask for food to be delivered. Even ate it."
Ezra laughed lightly. "She’s had her clothes laundered. Of course, they had to be delivered via one of the girls who cleans for the hotel and returned the same way. It simply wouldn’t do for Mrs. Attkins to be seen in her under garments. A message has even been sent to Santa Fe tell her daughter not to worry, she’s delayed her journey for a few days to recuperate here in Four Corners."
Vin chuckled. "You are just way too damn smart, you know that?"
"Quite." The gambler agreed with a grin before he sobered, his inner contemplation visible in his eyes. "She’ll be leaving on the next stage after Mr. Smith and Mr. Jones depart from our fair hamlet."
"It bother you she can’t ever come back?" Vin had worried that his lover might regret his decision. As much as Maude was a miserable mother, she was still Ezra’s mother, and knowing he’d never see her again could not be easy for him.
Ezra smiled again. "No." Ezra sighed and waved a hand. "Perhaps it should, and it may in the future, but some how I’ve never doubted my mother would some day vanish from my life for good." His expression turned rueful. "There were times when I even prayed for such an event and an equal number of times when I feared it would finally occur. Knowing the terms under which she is being forced to stay away and the timing of it is almost a relief."
Vin nodded. He understood. He was also real damn glad to know Ezra was not going to be devastated by his mother’s permanent absence. At least, not until the con was finished. Vin and the other would be around to help him deal with it if her being gone should prove to hit him harder at some later date.
And somehow he had no doubt that Maude would stay in touch, even though she could never come back. Damn woman will still write to him, of that I’m sure. Can’t see her lettin’ go completely. Don’t really matter much…not like she can hurt him as bad with a letter the way she can in person. Man gets more mail than anyone in town, and ain’t nobody saw fit to comment on that yet. So I don’t imagine one more letter is gonna draw too much attention.
Ezra shifted in his arms, a soft sigh escaping as he settled once more. Vin glanced toward the window again. Ezra told him he wanted to be up at first light to ensure everything was in place for the grand finale. The tracker hadn’t really thought it necessary, but didn’t argue, knowing he’d never win. He promised himself he’d see to it that his lover got plenty of rest when this was all said and done.
The faint light of a false dawn was beginning to lighten the horizon. Dark clouds hung in the west, heralding that possibility of another storm. Vin sincerely hoped it would rain again. In addition to continuing to establish the ruse of a trail lost, it would also serve to keep most people indoors. They could get the ‘funeral’ taken care of without having to spend much time among the townspeople.
"Has the sun risen yet?" Ezra murmured quietly, the sound of his not quite awake voice surprising Vin.
"No." He answered softly. "Still dark out yet."
Ezra lifted his head with a deep sigh. "It will be show time soon."
Vin ran his fingers through Ezra’s sleep tousled curls, lightly massaging as he did so. There was just enough light to make out the beautiful green eyes he continued to find so fascinating. "You still got time. Go back to sleep."
"We have time." Ezra added emphasis to the first word. "I think there are better things we could do with it than sleep." Ezra smiled at him, eyes sparkling playfully. Those clever, talented hands that Vin found so enticing were already moving, making him shiver in response. "Don’t you agree?" Ezra’s question was whisper soft against Vin’s lips as he moved in for a kiss.
Vin moaned, unable to resist the taste of those tantalizing lips, sucking Ezra’s tongue into his mouth. He always tastes so damn good. Always.
He was grateful they’d opted to sleep naked, reveling in the rush of immediate skin to skin contact. While they both the comfort found in the simple intimacy of direct, full-body contact, it wasn’t always an option, even in town. The rest of the peacekeepers knew about them, but they usually still found it to be prudent to maintain some level of decency on the off chance they had to move in a moment’s notice. Yesterday’s performance guaranteed no one but one of their friends would be bothering them any time soon.
Vin shuddered as Ezra’s fingers found his nipples and began tweaking them. He arched his back, unconsciously trying to get closer. He simply couldn’t get enough of Ezra’s touch. There is magic in his fingers. Has to be.
Vin pulled Ezra closer, his hands moving to stroke satin smooth flesh of his lover. He had never touched anything that rivaled the feel of Ezra’s skin. The closest thing he’d come across was one of Ezra’s recently removed silk shirts still warm from his body heat.
The need to breathe broke their kiss. Vin panted, his breathing ragged. Ezra ducked his head, placing butterfly kisses along the column of Vin’s throat. Vin tipped his head back, giving his lover greater access, breath hissing out between clenched teeth when Ezra sucked hard at the hollow of his throat. It would leave a mark for sure, but his bandana should cover it.
He felt Ezra lick and nibble his way back up, moving toward Vin’s ear. "You are so beautiful." Ezra whispered in French as he playfully licked the outer curve of left ear.
Vin smiled, responding in the same language. "So are you." He nuzzled Ezra’s hair, delighted as always with the feel of those silken strands against his face. "Bewitching you are."
Ezra raised his head. Green eyes seemed to glow in the darkness reminding Vin of an encounter he with a mountain lion once. The big cat had sat perched above him, watching intently, tail twitching with interest, but it never moved to attack, content to simply observe. Vin figured the puma had been waiting on him to make a move before it acted. Vin didn’t bother waiting for Ezra to make a move, not wanting to waste any time, raising his head to once more capture those incredible lips, to taste that sweet mouth.
Ezra’s hips began moving against his in lazy, tantalizing thrusts. Vin’s hands moved to cup Ezra’s ass, kneading those muscular hemispheres rhythmically, encouraging him to continue. He loved this moment of building tension, when everything felt good, spiraling higher, but not yet out of control.
Ezra reached for the tin on the nightstand, hand fumbling blindly. In one smooth move he straddled Vin’s hips, sitting up, hands braced against Vin’s shoulder holding him against the bed. He looked down at Vin, smiling warmly.
"I want to go for a ride."
Vin shuddered, cock hardening even more from Ezra’s tone of voice. That husky, needy whisper a full octave lover than his normal speaking voice seemed to almost physically slide across his skin, raising goosebumps as it did so. Ezra only ever sounded like that when they were making love. It triggered a reaction every single time.
Vin couldn’t verbalize a response. He just nodded, more than willing to let Ezra take control. The gambler leaned in for a kiss. Vin was only vaguely aware that his hands had left his shoulders and now were busy elsewhere.
He caught Ezra’s faint gasp of pleasure in his mouth, realizing Ezra had reached behind himself, preparing his entrance with his fingers. "Coulda done that for you." Vin whispered against his mouth, hands roaming over Ezra’s chest in a touch mean to sooth rather than arouse.
"No…No." Ezra gasped, pupils dilated so far as to almost totally obscure the green. "Let you and…I wouldn’t last."
Vin was glad he wasn’t the only one so close. It felt like it had been forever since they’d done this rather than just two days. Vin had a feeling he’d never stop being hungry for Ezra. There was something positively addicting about Ezra P. Standish, something Vin fully intended to indulging as often as possible for as long as possible.
He felt Ezra’s slick hand move over his cock and involuntarily bucked. Ezra rode it out, not the least bit fazed by Vin’s reaction. He positioned himself over Vin’s shaft and slowly lowered himself on to it. Vin did his best not to move, fighting hard not to just slam into Ezra, enjoying the exquisite torture of being sheathed a little at a time.
"God." He choked out, whimpering when he was finally buried balls deep into his lover’s hot, tight channel. "So…good. Ez…you feel so…good."
Ezra remained still, internal muscles clenching and releasing around Vin’s shaft in a steady, deliberate rhythm. Of all the lessons Vin had gotten, he still hadn’t mastered this particular skill. The tracker’s lean form grew taut like a bowstring, fingers and toes curling tightly. He thought he was going to come right then, without Ezra even having to move.
"Please…god…please, Ez…you gotta…move." Vin felt shudders rippling through him as he struggled to not let go just yet, not wanting to come before Ezra did.
Ezra rolled his hips in a slow, sensual move. He began to rock, rising and falling like he was riding Chaucer in a parade ground post trot. Vin fisted the sheets, pleasure coursing through him in waves.
He forced himself to unclench his right hand. He blindly sought Ezra’s weeping erection, stroking it in time to match Ezra’s steady movement. Vin could hear Ezra saying something, but for the life of him he had no idea what. It didn’t matter. At the moment all that mattered was that he didn’t stop.
Vin was sure he could see stars behind his eyes. He starting meeting Ezra’s downward thrust, pushing himself deeper into Ezra. Ezra’s hands were caressing his chest, toying with his nipples, making him whimper again, almost begging for more. Just a little more. "Please…god…Yes. Please…Ez…just…don’t…just keep…sweet Jesus."
Suddenly Ezra froze, head tilted back, mouth open in a near silent scream of completion, cock jerking in Vin’s hand, spurting his seed across Vin’s abdomen. The corresponding internal contractions had Vin coming a second later, teeth clenched hard against the need to shout Ezra’s name, to howl like a coyote at the blinding satisfaction he was feeling.
Ezra all but collapsed on Vin’s chest, breathing hard, arms curling around him in a tight hug. Faint tremors rocked them both as they tried to regain control of their breathing. Vin buried one hand in Ezra’s hair while the other moved up and down his spine in a comforting gesture.
"I gotcha, Ez." Vin whispered. "It’s okay. I gotcha."
Ezra nodded his head against Vin’s shoulder, his breathing gradually slowing, tremors fading. He felt Ezra shift and his now lax cock slipped free. Vin sighed, already missing that connection. He turned his head to place a soft kiss on Ezra’s temple.
Ezra took a deep breath and pulled away. He smiled wickedly at Vin. "If we were to do that every morning, I could certainly see the benefit of rising before the sun."
Vin chuckled. "And I’d be late for patrol."
"Your point?" Ezra arched an eyebrow.
Vin mock growled at him. He moved a hand to the one ticklish spot he knew of. He delighted in the peels of laughter Ezra emitted in response. "You are a bad, bad boy, Ezra Standish."
Face flushed from spent passion and laughter, Ezra gave him a sly look. "You can punish me later."
Ezra rolled away from him, expression one of all business. "For the moment, we need to get cleaned up, and see to today’s little melodrama."
Vin grimaced, unhappy to have the mood shift so soon, but recognizing the need for it.. "Be real glad when this shit is all taken care of."
"As will I, Cheri. As will I."+ + + + + + +
Chris sipped his drink, settling into his chair more firmly. He reflected that the funeral had gone rather well, despite the rain. Or maybe because of it.
He wondered idly if Maude would be pleased by the turn out. More than half the town had attended. It had taken all his will power not to show the amusement he felt at people who would have tarred and feathered her if they’d known the truth standing in the rain looking like drowned rats paying their respects to a woman they barely knew. He was certain more of them were mourning the loss of an opportunity, bewailing the shattered fantasy of easy money than feeling any real sorrow over her ‘death’.
It was sobering to see how few were genuinely present to offer support to Ezra or honestly cared about the gambler. Admittedly the funeral was a sham, but they didn’t know that. It would have been nice to see more of them show some sort of honest concern for a man who regularly risked his life for them. They could have put forth the minimal amount of effort to at least give a damn about his loss. There were days when he hated this damn town and all the people in it.
He amended that thought. He didn’t hate them all. Mrs. Potter and her children were clearly compassionate. As were a number of other ladies and their children. For the first time in a week, Chris wondered about the new teacher. He sipped his drink trying to figure out if he’d missed her arrival or not. Mentally he shrugged, deciding it didn’t really matter.
Blue-gray eyes searched the room, waiting of the others to put in an appearance. Vin had ridden out at first light, ostensibly to check once more for sign of the robbers. In reality he’d simply headed for Chris’ ranch to make sure the mare had made it back safe and sound. The tracker had ridden back into town, bedraggled and dripping, just in time to attend the funeral with the rest of them.
After the funeral, Nathan had been insistent all of them change into dry clothes. Josiah and Vin got special attention. Josiah because was still not entirely steady on his feet, and Vin because he had gotten completely soaked during his early morning ride. The healer warned them all about catching their death, his fussing seeming so normal for such an out of place situation.
Chris sighed. The big man had delivered a beautiful service. Although, the wicked looking bruises he sported made Chris wince. He hadn’t really meant to hit the ex-preacher so hard. He apologized last night, and would do so again today when he had a chance.
It hadn’t surprised Chris in the least to learn Ezra had written most of the eulogy. Josiah had a way with words, but the man usually spoke from his heart. And Chris was pretty damn certain the man didn’t feel a lot of sympathy for Maude any more. He wasn’t entirely certain the man would even if she were really dead. Chris wasn’t sure how Ezra had managed to make the whole thing sound like something Josiah would have written and he really didn’t care. All that mattered was it made for a very nice, believable service.
Nathan had fussed after Ezra as well. He tried to make sure Ezra ate breakfast, which really amounted to watching the man despondently push food around on his plate. Chris sipped his drink with a small smile knowing the fact Ezra rarely ate breakfast certainly had helped foster the illusion the man was too upset to eat.
Ezra played his part to the hilt, appearing withdrawn and unnaturally subdued.
Chris had checked with Vin to make sure the gambler really was all right. Vin’s small nod was enough to reassure him. He knew Ezra was a good actor, he just hadn’t anticipated just how good. The shuttered eyes, pale complexion, and faintly desperate look of a man barely holding it together had seemed all too real.
Chris sipped his drink. He had a feeling that Ezra might have been using the opportunity to truly mourn his mother. In another day, it was decidedly unlikely he’d lay eyes on her again. The gunslinger didn’t feel bad about that at all, but could appreciate how Ezra might. Despite having all the maternal instinct of a reptile, Maude was still Ezra’s mother. Ezra loved her even if he didn’t always like or respect her.
After the funeral, Nathan had insisted Ezra change clothes as well. Something Chris had quietly supported. Aside from getting warm and dry, after spending over an hour at the gravesite, it just seemed too damn weird to see Ezra in dark, somber shades. The man was meant to wear bright colors, to be flashy and stand out like a peacock on display.
Chris refilled his glass from the bottle in front of him. He filled another as he saw Buck and JD enter. The tall cowboy slid into his chair with a brief nod, reaching for a glass and knocking it back.
"Where are Smith and Jones?" The men had been at the funeral, although, they hadn’t stayed long.
JD answered before Buck had the chance to. "Over at the hotel, packing. Told the manager they were checking out."
Buck chuckled slightly. "Lovitt was there trying to convince them that even with Maude gone they should still pursue investing in Four Corners."
Greedy bastard. The last thing they needed was for Vuocolo’s men to opt to hang around and try to swindle the damn banker. "They say anything?"
"Well, that Jones fella talks a bit like Ezra." Buck grinned. "So if I got the jist of all his big words, the answer was a firm no."
"They already got tickets for tomorrow’s stage." JD offered. "Sounds like they are eager to be gone."
"Nathan’s keeping an eye on them." Buck added. Chris hadn’t really been sure that it was necessary any more, but Ezra had insisted. He argued that it wouldn’t do for them to lose sight of the objective simply because they believed it to be within their grasp only to find themselves holding smoke.
"Nathan?" Chris raised an eyebrow.
"Yep." Buck shoved his glass toward Chris clearly asking for a refill. "He’s hanging out in the parlor. Told the manager he wanted to give Josiah some time alone. Figured he’d want that, deal with Maude being dead an’ all. But Nathan said he didn’t want Josiah leaving the clinic just yet. He can watch the stairs to his place from the parlor of the hotel making sure Josiah stays put, and keep an eye out for Smith and Jones."
Chris nodded. Smart thinking. Too many of them eyeballing the hotel or hanging around it was bound to raise eyebrows. Nathan’s reason for being there made sense and no one would question it.
Ezra had indicated that they should leave Maude’s old room unguarded. Smith and Jones would likely take the opportunity to ransack the room, if they hadn’t already done so. Chris didn’t know for certain, but he suspected Ezra might have planted enough cash to suggest there had been more. Not enough to pay off Maude’s debt to be sure, just enough to make it seem as though the thieves had gotten away with a sizeable amount, overlooking one or two hidey holes in their haste to flee.
He was grateful Ezra hadn’t decided to actively engage in any sort of con while in Four Corners. Well, at least not any that Chris knew about. Given how well Ezra had planned this one in less than a few hours and the attention to detail he’d shown over the past few days, Chris was willing to bet if Ezra had been running a con there was no way in hell he’d have been able to spot it.
"Everything else quiet around town?" Chris refilled Buck’s glass.
"Nary a peep out of anyone." Buck shrugged. "Figure the weather has something to do with that."
Chris had harbored some doubt that their ‘failure to apprehend the perpetrators of this horrible crime’ as Ezra described it might cause some unrest in town. People had gotten used to them handling things and it was rare that criminals were not brought to justice in Four Corners. He hadn’t wanted this con to raise doubts about their ability to get the job done.
"We are only human, Chris." Ezra pointed out when he raised his concern. "It would be good for the townspeople to be reminded of that occasionally." A wicked grin graced the southerner’s face. "Despite evidence to the contrary we are not perfect."
Ezra had shrugged one shoulder. "And it isn’t as if one of their own were killed or the town harmed in any substantive way. It is highly unlikely they will raise much of a fuss or even regard our ‘failure’ with any real concern." Ezra pointed out with a cynicism Chris found slightly disturbing in large part because he knew the gambler was right.
Maude was not well known in town, not really. While many might have wanted to court her in an effort to obtain more business capital, very few really cared about her in any personal way or developed any meaningful relationship during her brief visits. So her death would not affect them as greatly, not raise the desire for justice, the way it might for a friend or neighbor they had known for years. Chris wasn’t sure if that was a tragic commentary on human nature or just Four Corners.
His glance flickered toward the stairs. He wasn’t surprised to see Vin and Ezra heading down. They had both changed clothes, but Ezra still wasn’t wearing the flashy colors Chris associated with him. He had on black pinstripe pants, a gray shirt, a black vest shot with silver threads and dove gray jacket Chris had never seen before. Chris was disappointed, although not certain of why. For some reason he just expected Ezra to come down the stairs wearing one of his white shirts with the frilly cuffs and his favorite red jacket. It would have been prove positive things were back to normal.
"It would not due for me to return to my usual habits just yet, Chris." Ezra took his usual seat and gave the gunslinger a small smile. "Rest assured by the end of the week I will be once more robed in my usual discerning attire."
Chris shook his head. One of these days I’m going to figure out how the hell he knows what I’m thinking. He ignored the smug half smile Vin sent his way.
Inez made her way over to the table. In less time than it took to blink, Ezra’s entire countenance altered. He was once more the grieving son.
"Senor…Would you like something to eat?" Her softly accented voice clearly showed her concern for Ezra. The Mexican woman had been one of the few people in town who could honestly say they knew Maude. Inez seemed to really like Maude…or at least have some measure of regard for her. Chris felt a twinge of guilt over deceiving the pretty barkeep.
"No." Ezra shook his head. "Gracias, senorita. Perhaps later. Some coffee would be most welcome though."
"Ya should eat somethin’, Ez." Vin’s worried frown looked all too genuine. Chris frowned. He tried to remember when he last saw Ezra really eat.
Ezra doesn’t usually eat much at one sitting. Easy to overlook him going off his feed. Chris made eye contact with Inez. "Bring us all some of that chili, Inez. And some of those soft tortillas you were making. We’ll see to it he eats."
Inez smiled. She patted Ezra on the shoulder as she moved away, offering comfort that wasn’t really needed, but Chris knew Ezra appreciated anyway. Even though he’d never come right out and said so, Chris was aware of how much Ezra liked for Inez.
Chris’ high-handed approach earned him a dark look from Ezra once Inez was safely out of sight. He ignored it with ease. "Not going to let you make yourself sick."
Ezra rolled his eyes. "I’m hardly –"
"You will if you aren’t eating." Chris cut him off. If he let the gambler keep talking the man would weasel his way out. He’d never met anyone who could talk his way out of something as fast or as easily as Ezra did.
Ezra released a huff of annoyance but subsided rather quickly, not quite slouching in his chair but as close to it as Ezra ever seemed to come. Chris sent a quick glance toward Vin. He’d expected the gambler to put up more of a fight.
Vin belatedly covered a yawn with one hand and flickered a glance toward Ezra as he tipped his chair back on two legs. Chris got the message. Ezra was tired. Nothing serious or something he needed to be too concerned about.
Not really surprising. He was up at the crack o’ dawn this morning…unusual for him. Course he seemed pretty relaxed then. Makes me think he and Vin must have had a good night…or morning. Chris hid the knowing smile that thought generated. His amusement faded quickly when he remembered that Ezra had been up early every morning since Maude’s arrival and gone to bed very late. Several days of that were bound to take their toll.
Inez returned with a tray of food. She placed a bowl in from of each of them, setting a tray of warm tortillas in the center of the table. She’d also brought a mug of milk for JD, a pot of coffee and several cups.
Vin rocked forward, setting his chair back on all four legs. The tracker reached for the coffee pouring a cup for himself and one for Ezra. He held the pot up in silent question. Buck held up a hand indicating he didn’t want any. So did JD. Chris nodded, letting Vin pour him a cup.
They all tucked into the food in front of them with gusto, except for Ezra. The gambler took small, neat, delicate bites alternating between spoonfuls of chili and small bits of tortilla. Man’s table manners are impeccable even on the trail when there’s no table.
Chris wasn’t surprised when Ezra pushed the bowl away when it was still half full. He was ready to order the man to eat more when Vin lightly tapped his shin under the table. It was a subtle warning to back off. Blue-gray eyes met sky blue. Chris sighed and held his tongue. He trusted Vin would know what Ezra needed better than he did. If the tracker thought it was enough, he knew better than to push.
Vin laid a hand on Ezra’s wrist. Ezra smiled slightly, green eyes warming as they met Vin’s. Chris watched the by play between them, wondering if that was how it looked when he and Vin ‘spoke’ without words.
"If you gentlemen will excuse me," Ezra pushed his chair back from the table, one hand patting Vin’s shoulder as he did so. "I do believe I would like to retire for a bit."
"Sure, Ez." Buck agreed easily. The tall cowboy had been shooting covert glances at Ezra while they ate, and Chris was willing to bet Buck saw the same things he did.
"You okay, Ez?" JD asked, dark brown eyes narrowed as they assessed his friend.
"I’m fine, JD." Ezra tipped his head slightly. "But, after the solemn occasion of laying my mother to rest, I believe some solitude is expected of me."
JD nodded slowly. The young sheriff darted a glance toward Vin, clearly asking if he was going to follow Ezra back up the stairs. The tracker’s lips quirked upward.
"In a bit, JD." Vin’s eyes darted toward Chris. "Figure Chris will send me up ta make sure Ezra is okay. Make sure nobody bothers him."
Chris nodded. While the rest of the town might not be aware of just how close Vin and Ezra were, they all knew the two were good friends. It would seem perfectly natural for Vin to be the one to keep Ezra company. God now he’s got me looking at all the angles.
Chris jerked his head toward the stairs. "Go get some sleep, Ezra." Blue-gray eyes betrayed the amusement he felt even though his expression didn’t change. "I’ll make sure Vin’s not too far behind you."
Ezra raised two fingers to the brim of his hat. He nodded to the others. "Gentlemen." The gambler stopped to have a word with Inez before heading up the stairs to his room.
Once Ezra was out of earshot, Chris asked Vin, "He really okay?" The gunslinger already knew the answer but he couldn’t stop himself from asking.
Clear blue eyes twinkled. "Yep." Vin tipped his chair back on two legs again, resting his coffee cup casually on his flat stomach. "Just put a hell of a lot o’ energy inta this con. Foolin’ the whole town takes a bit more than just pullin’ the wool of the eyes o’ one or two people."
Buck grinned. "Was kind of fun though."
Chris rolled his eyes. Leave it to Buck to think of the whole situation as nothing but a game. In a way, it was. Just one with higher stakes than Chris was used to playing without having to resort to a blatant display of violence. Part of him really wished all this could have been solved by just shooting a few people. It just seemed a lot easier.
Chris sipped his coffee. The presence of Smith and Jones in his town just made his skin itch. They hadn’t done anything wrong, at least not anything he could justify drawing a gun on them for. Chris could be a mean, cold-blooded bastard on occasion, but even when drunk he’d never killed a man without sufficient provocation. As Ezra pointed out just a few days ago, none of them were executioners.
Chris reminded himself in another day or so this would all be finished. Smith and Jones would be on their way tomorrow. Maude would be gone a day or so after that. Never to return he thought with a sense of profound relief.
He waited until Vin finished his coffee before asking, "You going to head upstairs?"
"Yep." Vin sat forward, returning his cup to the table. He snagged several of the remaining tortillas before rising smoothly to his feet.
Chris knew now that Vin had probably been planning to do that since Inez set the tray down. Little shit knew Ezra wouldn’t eat enough. Chris suspected Vin would have been able to easily talk Inez into bringing something up to Ezra’s room if the gambler had outright refused to eat.
Chris looked toward the door as the sound of rain could once again be heard. It had tapered off as the funeral was finishing falling more as a light mist leading Chris to believe the storm might be finished. He sighed, not entirely disappointed to be wrong. No would expect any of us to ride out in this.
JD’s gaze followed his. "Looks like Mother Nature is on our side this time."
Buck chuckled. "Kid, that ain’t Mother Nature, that’s Lady Luck…and we all know that she’s right fond of Ez."
She isn’t the only one. Chris unconsciously looked up the stairs. He would be very glad his family would be back to normal in a few more days.
The gunslinger sipped his coffee wondering if maybe he shouldn’t light a candle in the church. It was very rare that everything worked out for the best. Wouldn’t hurt to express a little gratitude for having things work out this time. He mentally chortled knowing full well he’d likely be cursing God again in no time. It just seemed to be the story of his life.
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