These Men: Buck Wilmington

Thanks to Garth Brooks for his song "Two Pina Colladas."

Ezra laughed a little at Buck's consternation. The tall drifter had just been rebuked by another beautiful Saloon girl and sat sulking across from him staring at his half-empty beer mug.

"I do believe Mr. Wilmington that makes three this very evening, three very lovely ladies who have declined your amorous inclinations. What ever has gone wrong?" Ezra asked with a wicked smile, his gold tooth glinting in the dim light of the Saloon as he shuffled his cards on the table.

Buck glared at him. He had absolutely no idea what was going on. After the new petite blonde Heidi and turned him down, he figured that was just because she was new. And maybe didn't know any better. But then there was Marla, and she'd been with Buck several times. But this night, she wasn't at all as friendly as she used to be. And now Holly! Holly, of all the girls that would have given him the least trouble, he figured it would be her, but not tonight. The cute curly haired blonde gently removed Buck's hands from her person before walking off with another customer. Buck had no choice but to drag his dejected self back to his seat across from Ezra.

Some moments passed before Buck finally raised his eyes again. He looked around the Saloon at the various women who'd turned him down and just couldn't figure it out. Then he noticed that Ezra was smirking at him. "You got something to say?" Buck asked Ezra suspiciously.

"Me? Oh no, no Mr. Wilmington," Ezra said with a Cheshire grin and concentrated on his cards once more.

Buck leaned forward in his chair menacingly. "You sure about that Ezra?" he asked again.

The gambler remained poised and smiled slightly as he met Buck's gaze. "I swear on the grave of my sainted -- " began Ezra.

"Maude's alive Ezra," Buck interrupted, referring to Ezra's mother as he continued eyeing the gambler.

Ezra put his cards down and looked at Buck, a rosy color rising in his cheeks. "Yes, she is isn't she?" Ezra asked back, struggling to hold in his laughter.

"It's not funny Ezra. Now you got something to do with it or not?" Buck asked grumpily. "Say, how IS your arm?" asked Buck with an evil grin.

"What's going on?" asked JD who had just entered the dim Saloon and pulled a chair up to their table. He looked from a grinning Ezra to a very serious looking Buck.

"Mr. Wilmington seems to suspect me of implementing a ruse," Ezra said as he turned innocent green eyes toward JD.

JD looked back at Ezra.

"A ruse involving his sensibilities in regard to the fair Saloon maidens," the gambler elaborated.

JD pulled off his hat and looked at his mustached friend, then as he scratched a hand through his dark hair and let his eyes roam the Saloon. Finding the women in question with other men, he returned his gaze to Buck. "You've been turned down?" JD asked bluntly, a small triumphant smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"I believe the term back east would be that he 'struck-out'," said Ezra in reference to the new game of baseball.

JD thought a minute and counted his fingers, one, two, and three. "By all three of them?" JD asked in disbelief, gesturing to the women.

Ezra snickered. "Three strikes and he's out."

"Shut up Ezra," said Buck as he glared at JD who immediately averted his eyes. "Now you sure you ain't pulling one over on ol' Buck now?" he asked suddenly becoming worried.

Ezra sobered a bit and looked at Buck seriously, "you have my word as a friend Buck, that I have no part in your abrupt misfortune with these fair ladies and you have my deepest -- " Ezra started to laugh, "deepest -- " he began again. He was trying desperately to calm his breathing as he wiped the tears away from his eyes. But by then it was too late, JD started laughing too. "Mydeepestsympathies," Ezra finally finished in a rush as he and JD began to laugh outright. The gambler had to bow his head to hide his smile and JD nearly fell off of his chair from his trembling laughter.

"Fine!" said Buck as he stood quickly, pushing his chair back. He shifted uneasily from foot to foot and straightened his hat on his head. Then placing his hands on his hips, he looked down at his two friends who were now so red from laughing, they began gasping for air. Buck shook his head in disgust and mumbled curses under his breath as he stomped out of the Saloon.

The tall gunman pushed through the batwing doors with a scowl. Buck was so preoccupied he nearly collided with Chris and Vin. The two men stepped back and Chris met Buck's scowl with one of his own.

"Something wrong Buck?" Chris asked coolly.

"No," Buck said.

Vin arched an eyebrow. "That Ezra and JD I hear in there laughing?" he asked.

Buck's mood blackened even more. "Yeah," he said flatly.

"Buck?" asked Chris again.

Buck sighed loudly as he looked at his longtime friend. Gesturing with a nod of his head, he directed Chris over the side where a table and a few chairs stood. Taking a seat, Buck waited and watched as Chris walked over slowly and lowered himself into the chair. Buck looked over at Vin who hesitated before the doors and nodded his head again to indicate that the tracker should also take a seat. Vin ambled over and sat down.

"So -- Tuscosa in a few days?" Buck asked a bit nervously.

Chris watched Buck curiously. "Buck," he said again.

The tall drifter looked back at Chris and then Vin, rolled his eyes and shook his head. He sighed loudly again.

"What?" Chris finally snapped in frustration.

Buck opened his mouth, worked his jaw some bit and then shut it again. Chris gave him another warning look as Vin started to smile at the taller man's sudden discomfort.

"Remember when we were younger, before you, you know, uh, met Sarah, a -- and I was really popular with the ladies?" Buck asked Chris.

Chris opened his eyes a little wider and nodded his head, surprised at the apparent reason behind Buck's bizarre behavior. "I think you chased anything with a skirt back then Buck," Chris said, watching his friend.

Vin's smile grew wider. "He's different now?" he asked.

"Yeah, uh," Buck said shaking his head in disbelief and ignoring Vin's question. "Remember when, I had that problem?" he asked.

"Problem?" Vin asked curiously.

Chris smirked, the reason becoming clear. "How many ladies turned you down this time Buck?" Chris asked, his hazel eyes twinkling a bit.

"Three," replied Buck.

"Hold on now," interrupted Vin with a wave of his hand. "You saying that them Saloon gals turned you down?" Vin asked incredulously.

Buck turned his eyes toward the tracker and nodded sadly.

Chris began to chuckle softly, shaking his head from side to side. Vin lowered his gaze and smiled into the tabletop.

"It ain't funny at all Chris," whined Buck. "You remember what happened the last time, I -- I almost gave up all together," Buck defended.

"Buck," Chris said smiling at Vin who had begun to laugh softly. "It won't last and you know it," he added comfortingly.

"Hey Buck," said Vin. "Maybe you should do something about it," he suggested.

"Yeah? Like what?" asked Buck hopefully.

"Oh I dunno, maybe see Nathan like you did about your 'animal maggotism'," Vin said laughing.

Buck's face fell.

Chris started laughing too and held up his hands in surrender. He shook his head in apology and continued to laugh softly with Vin who had once again looked down to avoid Buck's glare.

"Thanks a lot pards," Buck said unhappily as he crossed his arms across his chest.

"Hey what's so funny?" asked Nathan as he and Josiah walked up to the table of three men. Ezra and JD stepped out the Saloon, saw Buck practically pouting in his seat and broke out laughing again.

"Boys?" asked Josiah with tilt of his head.

"Mr. Wilmington here -- " attempted Ezra through his chuckling. "He was, was --" he said gasping for air. "Oh I can't," he said finally giving in and bending over with laughter.

Ezra's giddiness was infectious and JD leaned against the wall to support himself. "Buck got," he began breathing in deeply.

"JD!" Buck yelled trying to halt JD.

The young man guffawed. "Buck, I'm sorry," he said gasping. "He got turned down by those women," JD said inclining his head towards the Saloon.

Nathan and Josiah smiled, looked at each other and then chuckled lightly as they looked at Buck.

"I -- I'm sorry Buck," JD breathed, continuing to laugh.

"Women?" asked Nathan, disbelieving the plural.

"Oh, oh yes, Mr. Jackson," said Ezra. "Three of them," he said smiling brightly.

Chris looked over at Buck who seemed to have sunk lower in his seat. "Buck," he said as the others began to calm down. "It'll pass," he reiterated.

"Yeah you'll be the 'scoundrel' again in no time," Vin said smiling.

"Yeah Buck," said JD. "At least you got us," he added helpfully.

Buck looked at his friends and smiled slightly. Straightening in his seat, he cleared his throat. "I suppose it is kinda' funny," he admitted.

Josiah chuckled lightly. "Brother Buck, laughter is food for the soul," he said comfortingly.

"Yes, even if it is at your expense," inserted Ezra with another smile.

Buck shook his head and grinned. "Hell fella's, you're right. Even if you all are ugly, at least I got you," he said finally laughing. The tall drifter stood suddenly and rushed back into the Saloon. He emerged shortly afterwards with a few bottles of whiskey and some glasses. As he set about pouring them, JD noticed that he had poured eight glasses instead of the seven.

"Buck, I think you miscounted," suggested the young Sheriff.

Buck arched an eyebrow and grinned. "Hell kid, I think I'm entitled to one drink for each hand tonight. Seein' how I'll be spendin' it alone and all," he added starting to laugh.

The other boys joined in and the group laughed for sometime enjoying each other's company before Holly emerged from the Saloon. She cast Buck an all too friendly glance and smiled widely when the drifter jumped to his feet. Buck smiled back, his blue eyes twinkling with affection.

The tall drifter turned to look at his friends and smiled once more. "Well fella's, looks like things are gonna work out after all," he said with another smile as he rushed into the Saloon after Holly.

JD stared after his friend.

"Planning on catching flies JD?" Vin asked the youth that stood staring at the batwing doors. JD looked back at the five men who were watching him and closed his mouth. He smiled sheepishly and shook his head but said no more.

A second later, Buck emerged from the Saloon with another bottle of whiskey. Returning to his seat, he poured another round for everyone at the table and picked up a glass.

"What happened to Holly?" asked Nathan.

Buck downed his whiskey in one gulp and grinned. "Holly can wait," he said. "I feel like spendin' time with you fella's, my friends," he added looking at each of them as they returned his smile. The each picked up a glass of their own and lightly toasted Buck. "Course' the whiskey's a big draw," he said with a wink as he filled the glasses once more.

The End