The Poker Game
Ezra sat at the Seven's table in the saloon as Chris entered. He ordered a shot of whiskey and then went and sat down beside Ezra, who was shuffling a deck of cards.
"Ezra." Chris nodded.
"Mr. Larabee." Ezra acknowledged with a small smile.
"You feelin' better?"
"What? Well, yes, maybe." Ezra hesitated in saying the words.
"You have been acting really weird the last few weeks, wanna tell me what's up?" Chris asked concerned.
"No, I'd prefer no to, mr Larabee," Ezra said quietly.
Ezra had been on edge for the last few weeks. Something odd had happened to Ezra and even Ezra himself didn't'know what to make of it. So far, Ezra had been sitting in the saloon almost every day, drinking whiskey and shuffling his cards. Chris had tried to figure out what was wrong but Ezra didn't say a word.
*******
2 days later JD was sitting outside the sheriff's office as Ezra came and joined him. They sat in silence for a few minutes before Ezra cleared his throat and got JD's attention.
"Mr Dunne...,"Ezra began but fell silent.
"Yeah, Ezra, what's up?" JD asked. "Are you okay? You seem a bit... off...?"
"I'm fi... No I'm not fine," Ezra sighed and sat down. "I'm not okay at all."
"You wanna tell me about it?" JD said softly as he understod that Ezra really needed to talk to someone.
"I don't know... I guess I do..," Ezra said wondering how to break this to JD.
"Go on," JD said and touched Ezra's arm.
At the touch Ezra jerked and stood up, knocking his chair over. JD pulled back and looked shocked at him. Ezra turned his head and took a deep breath and then sat down in the chair again.
"Sorry," he whispered.
"'S okay," JD said.
"This is very awkward for me," Ezra said after a while.
"If it helps, I promise I won't tell anyone," JD said.
"Thank you," Ezra said. "Okay, a few weeks ago, I saw something that I didn't think would affect me but it did... "
"Yeah..," JD said as Ezra rested his head in his hands.
"I always thought that... Well, women were...," Ezra said.
"Go on, Ezra." JD smiled softly.
"Okay, I like women alot," Ezra said. "But not in the right kind of way."
"Uhm... you mean you're..." JD fell silent.
"I guess I am... I think anyway," Ezra said and it felt like a large weight was lifted off his shoulders.
"Who is it?" JD suddenly asked.
"What?!"
"Who is it that you have feelings for?" JD said looking a bit worried.
"Why do you want to know?" Ezra said.
"It's Buck isn't it?" JD exclaimed.
"What!?!"
"I have sort of realised that I love Buck like..." Now it was JD's turn to fall silent. "And now you have fallen for him..."
"Mr Dunne, I can assure that I'm not in love with Mr Wilmington." Ezra smiled.
"You sure?" JD was suspicious.
"Yes, I am certainly sure of that," Ezra said. "... So you are...?"
"Yes, I'm... having impure thoughts about Buck," JD said also feeling that a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
"Act on it then," Ezra said. "Mr Wilmington and you have always been able to communicate... about everything, right?"
"Well, not about this. He'll probably shoot me if I told him," JD sighed.
"Oh well, I'm not so sure about that," Ezra said. "I on the other hand would surely die instantly if I ever told *him* about my feelings."
"No, I don't think so," JD said.
"Do you know Chris at all?!" Ezra said and suddenly realised that he had let it slip. "Oh dear..."
"Chris!?!" JD exclaimed and then continued. "Well, why not. He's a goodlooking guy."
"You do realise that he'll shoot me if I ever uttered a word of this."
"No, I don't think so," JD said. "Has he been with any women lately?"
"No," Ezra said.
"What made you realise that you had feelings for Chris?" JD asked. "You mentioned something had happened..."
"Well, a few weeks ago I walked in on Chris taking a bath," Ezra said.
"So? You've done that before, right?" JD said.
"Yes, when he's been seated in the tub, but this time around he... wasn't."
"You saw him..," JD said.
"Yes, mr Dunne, I saw Chris naked," Ezra said.
"And that made you realise your feelings for him?" JD said.
"Yes, you're sort of stating the obvious here, mr Dunne," Ezra said.
"Hey, what's up?" A new voice came from behind.
"Buck!" JD exclaimed. "How long have you been here?"
"What? I just arrived!" Buck said. "What's up with you?"
"Nothin' at all," JD said.
"I was just wonderin' if ya'll wanted to join me in the saloon?" Buck said.
"I'd be delighted and so would mr Dunne," Ezra said before JD had a chance to utter a word.
"C'mon kid," Buck said and grabbed JD and pulled him from his chair.
The three men entered the saloon and found Chris at the table. JD was quick to take the only seat which wasn't beside Chris and Ezra shot JD a glare. JD just giggled as Buck sat down beside him and Ezra sat down beside Chris. Ezra started shuffling his card and asked:
"Would you, gentlemen, like to join me in a game of poker?"
"Sure," Buck said.
"Yeah," JD said.
"Mr Larabee?" Ezra said questioningly.
"Alright," Chris sighed.
"Where's the rest of the guys?" JD asked.
"Vin's in Sweetwater. Josiah and Nathan are at the church," Chris said.
*******
2 and a half hours later the four men were still playing poker. Suddenly a woman came up to them. All men looked up and Buck instantly jumped out of his chair.
"Wendy!" He exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"
"Hi, sweetie." She smiled.
Ezra immediately noticed that JD looked down into the table with a sad look on his face. Apparently Wendy was just passing through Four Corners and she didn't have a place to stay. Buck immediately offered his room and JD looked even sadder. Wendy and Buck left and JD threw his cards on the table.
"It's alright, JD," Chris said.
"What?" JD said.
"Don't worry, Buck won't stay with her," Chris continued.
"What do you mean?" JD said confused.
"You're jealous," Chris simply stated.
"No! No I'm not!" JD blushed.
"It's quite obvious, JD," the leader said with a small smile. "It's okay."
"No, it's not okay!" JD said. "I love Buck and he doesn't care."
"Yes he does," Chris said. "I can assure that he will be spending the night on the floor in your room, JD."
"What? Why?" Ezra said.
"It's obvious that he has the same feelings for you as you have for him," Chris said to JD.
"I... I... I don't know what to say," JD said.
"I think it's great." Chris smiled.
"You do?" Ezra was shocked he never expected Chris to be alright with this sort of thing.
"Yeah," Chris said as he downed another whiskey.
About 15 minutes later the saloon doors creeked and the three men looked up and saw Buck. He came and sat down with his friends again and picked up his cards.
"Let's continue," he said.
"I thought you were...," Ezra began.
"Wendy? She's a lovely girl but not for me," Buck said and Chris and JD exchanged glances.
"So where are you sleeping tonight then, mr Wilmington?" Ezra asked.
"I was thinking about JD's room," Buck said looking at JD.
"Sure, yeah," JD said and smiled a small smile.
The men kept playing cards for another hour. After a while JD yawned for the 10th time in 10 minutes. Buck won the game and rose up from his chair. He pulled JD up in a standing position and said:
"We're going to bed."
"Goodnight," Ezra said trying to contain the chuckle that was about to burst out and he failed miserably.
"What?" Buck asked.
"Oh, nothing," Ezra said and shook JD's hand. "Sleep tight."
"G'night, Ez." JD smiled.
Buck and JD went out in the warm evening and made their way to JD's room. Buck made a bed for himself on the floor beside JD's bed. JD sat on the bed and tried not to stare as Buck got undressed. Buck suddenly looked up and met JD's gaze. JD quickly looked away and fell back on the bed.
"What's up?" Buck said.
"Nothing," JD said quickly and felt a flush creep up on his cheeks.
"Sit up, JD," Buck said.
JD sat up in bed and found Buck right infront of him. JD nervously ran a hand through his hair. The two men sat in silence watching each other. Cautiously Buck put a hand on JD's thigh and JD gasped.
"Want me to stop?" Buck whispered.
"No." JD shook his head.
Buck gently started rubbing JD's thigh and JD's mouth fell slightly open. After a while Buck pushed JD down on the bed and climbed over him. Buck ran a finger down JD's neck to his shirt and started unbuttoning it. JD lay still and just watched Buck undressing him. Soon they both climbed under the covers together. JD hesitated but finally put a hand on Buck's chest and started touching him. Buck gave a low moan and ran a hand through JD's black hair.
"Kiss me, Buck," JD whispered.
"I'd love to," Buck said and caught JD's mouth with his own.
The two men met in a deep passionate kiss. When they finally came up for air JD looked at Buck all flushed. Buck smiled slightly and touched JD's cheek.
"I love you, Buck," JD said after a while.
"I love you to, JD." Buck smiled and they kissed again.
*******
In the now abandoned saloon Chris and Ezra were still playing cards. Ezra marvelled about the fact that Chris actually spent time with him and him only. Ezra was so consumed with staring at Chris he lost game after game to Chris. After a while Ezra finally realized that he was out of money.
"I seem to be out of funds," Ezra said.
"Double or nothing?" Chris said.
"I have nothing to bet," Ezra said.
"Yeah, you do." Chris smiled.
"What ever do you mean, mr Larabee?" Ezra was confused.
"If I lose you'll get all your money back. If you lose, you'll lose that shirt," Chris said.
"What?!"
"I like that shirt," Chris stated.
"Alright, double or nothing," Ezra said and delt the cards.
"I'll be looking forward to that shirt," Chris said.
"No, no, no, I'll be looking forward to getting my money back." Ezra smiled.
"Don't bet on it," Chris said with a chuckle.
A few minutes later the men were done and sat with their final hand. Ezra was certain that he would win since he had a full house.
"What d'ya got?" Chris said.
"Full house. Sorry, mr Larabee," Ezra said.
"No, I'm sorry, Ezra," Chris said and spread his cards on the table. "Four aces, Ez. Sorry."
"What?!" Ezra was in shock. "How is that possible?"
"Lose the shirt and I'll tell you." Chris grinned.
"Alright," Ezra sighed and stood up and unbuttoned his shirt.
Chris rose and took the shirt from Ezra who was now standing dressed only in pants and his boots.
"Alright, now you tell me how you managed to win, Mr Larabee," Ezra said.
"It's Chris," he said. "I won because you didn't know I cheated."
"You cheated? No, you didn't. That's not possible," Ezra said.
"Yes it it. You have been occupied with staring at me...," Chris said.
"I most certainly haven't!" Ezra exclaimed and cursed at himself for staring at Chris.
"Don't even try," Chris said as he put on his black hat.
"Mr, Larabee... I mean Chris..," Ezra began but he was interrupted.
"Shut up, Ezra," Chris said as he pulled the gambler into a crushing embraced and suddenly his lips were over Ezra's.
Ezra was in shock at first but then his arms snaked around Chris' neck and he felt his whole body turn into mush. The only thing keeping him upright was Chris' arms that were around his waist. Chris' tounge explored every little inch of Ezra's mouth and he enjoyed it immensly. As they came up for air Chris' blue eyes met Ezra's green stare. Chris quietly gave Ezra back his shirt and as Ezra was getting dressed again Chris said:
"You doin anything for the rest of the night?"
"Yes, I hope so... Chris," Ezra said as he kissed Chris again.
THE END