Ezra was sitting have a quiet lunch at Manson Cafe when the
conversation at the next table intruded on his afternoon tranquility.
"I don't know what I going to do, Mary. I've looked everywhere and
the only thing available is something so ugly I'd rather clean floors
with it or so expensive that it would bankrupt me." To Ezra's ears
that sounded like Rain Jackson, Nathan's wife. "And even if I dared,
Nathan would skin me alive." Satisfied that he at least knew two of
the ladies at the table behind him, he concentrated on the New York
Times and his lunch.
"Si, Rain. I have looked everywhere and everything is taken. With
all the young senoritas getting ready for their prom and this
political dinner there is nothing available." Taking a bite of his
egg salad croissant Ezra shamelessly eavesdropped. He knew all about
the political dinner that was going to take place two weeks from
now. A.D.Travis had surprised the team yesterday by telling them
that he suspected some high-ranking ATF officials and politicians
might be exchanging bribes for future favors at this dinner. He
wanted his most trusted team there to keep an eye on things.
The Judge had paid $500 a head for Chris, Mary, Buck, Inez, JD,
Casey, Nathan, Rain, Vin and Ezra to attend the dinner as his
guests. Josiah had had to decline due to his sister Hannah's cancer
surgery that was scheduled for the next week.
"I ... I guess I could wear my prom dress, maybe the rest of you ...
oh." Another of Team Seven's womenfolk; Casey Wells, JD's girlfriend.
"Well, that's it then. We just have to tell the men they have go
without us. I refuse to show up looking like the poor cousin." Ezra
sat up, for Mary Travis sounded defeated. That woman was as tough as
her boyfriend Chris Larabee and for her to sound defeated meant that
these woman were at the end of their rope.
He knew that he would probably regret this, but these women had been
extremely kind to him over the years. If he could do this for them
now it would be a small repayment for all those home cooked meals
they had brought over when he had been injured on the job. Sighing,
he got up from his table and walked around the side of the booth to
look at the four dejected women.
"Ladies, maybe I can be of assistance."
+ + + + + + +
Three days later the four women were gathered at Inez' Saloon
looking over the wonderful dressed Ezra had designed for them, but now
they were wondering where they could get jewelry to match such
beautiful creations. Vin Tanner sat across from the women enjoying a
ranch burger as he watched the women working themselves up over
something. Figuring that he owed the women for all the small kindness
they had done for him throughout the years, he wiped his mouth with the
paper napkin before getting up and making his way to the four women.
"Ladies, what seems to the problem?"
The four women looked up into the gentle face of Vin Tanner and all
started speaking at the same time.
"I don't have anything ..."
"I want something to match ..."
"My dress is needing ..."
"I can't find anything ..."
Thoroughly confused and not able to make sense out of what the women
where trying to tell him, Vin let out a sharp whistle that stopped
the women in mid-speech. "Now Mary, why don't you tell me what has
all of you so worked up."
Mary handed Vin the sketch of the dress that Ezra had designed for
her. Then she remembered the promise that each of them had made to
Ezra not to tell anyone who designed their outfits. Biting her lip,
she shot a quick look at the other women at the table to see their
own chagrined expressions. "A ... a friend of ours designed these
dress for the political dinner and, well, we don't have any jewelry
that would match and ..."
Vin looked at the design and through how beautiful it would look on
Mary. Whoever the designer was, he or she had captured Mary's
personality, creating a work of art that would knock Chris for a loop
and having every other man envying him. Silently he asked for each
of the women's sketches and enjoyed the clean looks and fresh cuts of
the various dresses and how they matched the personalities of each of
the women before him.
Looking at these designs he came up with some simple pieces that
would compliment each dress, but he didn't have enough materials to
do this. Biting his lip and blushing furiously, Vin made his quiet
offer. "I ... I could make you something ... but I don't have the
materials. If you have some old jewelry that you don't want
anymore ... I could use it to make you something."
Four female voices squealed in delight and the women launched
themselves at Vin, who was wishing the floor would open up and
swallow him whole.
+ + + + + + +
The six men from Team Seven and A.D. Travis waited at the bottom of
the Travis's stairs for their dates to appear. First down the steps
was Evie Travis, who paused at the top of the steps so that she could
look in her husband's eyes, who looked up her with pure adoration.
Evie Travis was considered one of the best looking women in Denver
but tonight she had outdone herself, for she was dressed in a silvery
white dress that making her appear like an angel to her husband.
Blue eyes twinkling, hair carefully styled and looking every inch
like the grande dame she was, she gracefully floated down the stairs
to be greeted by seven men who made a fuss over her.
Buck was the first to greet her at the bottom of the steps, shooting
the Judge a devil may care grin. He clasped Evie's hand in his and
with his most charming smile told the judge, "Judge, I didn't know
that you had such a beautiful daughter, but I know why you've kept
her hidden." Then turning to Evie to kiss her hand, "Now, little
darlin', why don't we go someplace and get better acquainted?"
This had Evie Travis blushing like a schoolgirl and the other men
grinning as the Judge snatched his wife's hand from the group's
Romeo. " Wilmington, keep your hands off my wife. You have your own
date to look after." He then took his wife's hand and kissed it.
Looking adoringly in to his beloved's eyes, he said, "I never have
seen you look more beautiful in my life, Evie."
"Oh, Orrin." Evie placed a gentle kiss on her husband's face. "You
look extremely handsome yourself this evening." Then turning to the
other six handsome men she asked, "Are you gentlemen ready to see
your lovely ladies?"
"About time, we're going to cut it pretty close if they don't hurry.
OW!" JD massaged the back of his head where Buck and Chris had
smacked him. "Why did you do that for?" demanded JD of his two co-
workers.
"One, you never rush a lady, and two, women like to make an entrance
so you can never be too late," replied Buck.
"Senor Buck?" Buck looked up to the head of the stairs and froze,
for a goddess stood there. He slowly walked up the stairs to this
vision that must have stepped from an autumn woods to allow him the
pleasure of her company. The dress was in various shades of brown,
reds and deep oranges with designs of tree branch embroidery in gold
thread and drops of amber, smoky topaz and brown quartz seeding the
design. The silk dress floated around Inez' legs, the simple but
elegant cut reaching to the mid-length in front but pooling in the
back to her heels. The neckline was round with little straps that
led around her shoulder, and as she turned to give Buck a good view
he noted that there was no back to the dress but the straps
reconnected to the dress at Inez' lower back where the material was
gathered in the center to have a waterfall effect. The dress was not
tight but the clinging silk produced seductive outline as she moved,
tempting mortal men with her beauty.
Around her neck rested a gold necklace that look like little
interlocking tree branches dotted here and there with amber, smoky
topaz, quartz and pearls and ending in a large pear-shaped amber
stone. Her earrings matched the little tree limbs but each had an
amber pear-shaped drop that hung softly next to her neck. Her black
hair was pulled back into a riot of curls sprinkled with same jewels
that decorated her dress.
Buck gently took her and raised it to his lips, looking at her with
devotion and love in his eyes. Without his usual bravado he told her
simply, "Inez, you are the most beautiful woman that I have ever seen
or will ever see in my life." Then tucking her hand in the crook of
his elbow he escorted her down the stairs.
Two smiles and a glint of satisfaction showed in both Ezra and Vin's
eyes at the shocked statement on Buck's face. JD was standing
openmouthed looking at Inez so he didn't notice Casey at the top of
the stairs. When he noticed a movement he looked up and finally
registered who was there. JD slowly turned his head to look up at
the vision that was waiting for him, his mouth closed with a snap and
he swallowed noisily. "Casey ...."
Gone was the little twenty-five year old instead there stood a
goddess of the sea. Casey wore a dress made out of the thinnest silk
in various shades of blue from a pale blue to the deep midnight blue
at the hem of the dress. The cut was off her shoulders but thin
little straps kept the dress in place as the silk looped down her
arms to stop at her wrists. The hem of the dress was at various
lengths, cut in individual overlapping triangles that seemed to float
in an invisible breeze. The dress was embroidered with silver waves
with little seed pearls and blue stones dotted here and there around
the design.
As with Inez, Casey's hair was pulled back from her face but it then
fell in curls down the back of her neck so that the necklace around
Casey's neck was displayed in all its simple glory. The necklace was
a delicate silver wire starting just below her right shoulder,
looping up and around her neck down to just above her dress where it
turned upwards and finished with a single blue lapis drop. From her
ears hung little lapis and pearl earrings that complemented the
necklace and didn't drown out or over power the young woman's own
beauty.
Never breaking eye contact with JD, Casey started down the steps,
enjoying the stunned look on her beloved's face. Reaching the last
step with eyes twinkling, she asked, "Cat got your tongue, JD?"
To stunned to even put two words together, JD blurted out, "Casey,
you're beautiful."
Slipping her arm into JD's she leaned in to kiss him gently on the
mouth before trying to make him look at the top of the stairs again.
JD simply ignored her silent hint, looking adoringly at the young
woman at his side.
Rain was the next to appear at the top of the stairs. Gone was the
quiet doctor, instead stood a sensual woman, a goddess of desire.
Her dress was in deep shades of red with the deepest being next to
her face. The body of the dress was cut into flame-shaped slits that
overlapped but allowed tantalizing glimpses of Rain's bronze skin to
show. The top of dress was halter style, the silk gently caressing
her body as it looped around her neck and the dress was embroidered
with bronze thread and a scattering of red gems of various shapes and
sizes. As with Inez' dress Rain's was backless and the silk had been
pulled gently back around her hips to flow down to her heels in a
cascade of flames. Rain's hair had been tamed to pool down one side
of her face, setting off the large Indian-style red garnet earrings
that hung to just below her jaw line.
Nathan walked up the stairs to his wife, a woman that had astounded
him time and again with her compassion and caring and whom he loved
with all his heart. He didn't want to go to this dinner, instead he
wanted to break every speed limit to take this tempting creature home
and make slow passionate love throughout the night. Rain shivered at
the look of passion and desire in her husband's eyes. Gently cupping
her husband's cheek, her eyes reflected the same desire and passion
that was in her husband's along with a promise to fulfill both of
their fantasies later tonight.
As with the other men, Nathan tucked his wife's hand into the crook
of his arm as he led her down the stairs, not bothering to look at
anyone else for he had fallen in love with this woman at his side all
over again. So it was only Ezra, Vin, and the Travises who saw the
nervous tension in their team leader's eyes as he turned towards the
top of the stairs, desiring and yet fearing Mary's appearance. Those
waiting didn't have to wait long.
Where Inez was the goddess of autumn, Mary was the goddess of
spring. Her sleeveless satin dress was in various shades of green
tightly hugging her body and displaying every curve to perfection and
one side was slit up to mid-thigh to allow her to move more freely.
Silver leaves and emeralds cascaded around the dress, catching and
reflecting the light in a riot of color. Her hair was pulled back to
the nape of her neck and a select few curls framed her face. The
silver necklace she was wearing looked like the branches of a tree
with green pear-shape stones and seed pearls gracing its tips. The
necklace hooked around Mary's shoulder with no other visible means of
support, and large pear-shaped emeralds dangled glittering from a
silver foundation in her ears.
The spring vision slowly descended the stairs, not taking her eyes
from Chris, who moved to meet her as she stepped off the last step.
All Chris did was gently kiss her hand, then tucked in the crook of
his arm to escort her to the ball.
+ + + + + + +
The four women's entrance into the dinner was notice with interest
by
every red-blooded male in the place and with envy by the other
women. Most of the attention stayed on the four women, and hardly
anyone noticed the arrest and removal of various AFT upper brass and
politicians caught passing bribes and pay-offs during the first part
of the evening.
When things had settled down some Vin had sat back to enjoy the rest
of the evening people watching when he heard Inez' voice over his
shoulder. "Si, Senora, the designer's name is Arze, but I don't know
if he would be interested in doing any more designs."
"Please, my dear, tell him that I am willing to pay anything he
wants to design my daughter's wedding dress. Please speak to him."
"I will try, but he is a very private man and he only did this as a
favor for me."
Vin was curious to find out who designed those gowns and was kind of
interested in meeting the person. The women wouldn't tell him
anything, but now he knew the mysterious designer was a man and went
by the name of Arze. He wondered why that puzzled him?
+ + + + + + +
In another part of the ballroom, Ezra was overhearing a discussion
Mary was having. "I don't know, Mr. Devon. Lone Wolf only designed
these pieces at my friends and my request. I'm not sure if he'd be
willing to do any more."
"Please ask him, it's for our anniversary and I have never seen
anything like what you and your friends are wearing. Please ask him."
"I can but try."
Ezra had looked at the wonderful pieces of jewelry that had been
designed to go with his dresses. The work was all hand done and
exquisite in detail. They fitted his designs perfectly and he would
have been interested in meeting this jeweler but the ladies refused
to tell him anything. Now he had a gender and a name. But why would
Lone Wolf bring Vin to mind?
+ + + + + + +
Both men decided to play detective and try to find out who was their
unknown partner. Vin kept Inez in sight as she made her way towards
Ezra, curious as to why she was dragging him off to a shadowy
corner. Moving up quietly, he found a spot where he could overhear
their conversation without either of them noticing.
"Senor, Senorita McClain is willing to pay anything for you to
design her daughter's wedding dress. Please think about it; you
shouldn't hide your talent, every woman here has been hounding us to
find out who you are. Just think about it."
Ezra was Arze!
Now he could understand why Ezra didn't want the others to know
about his hobby. Hell, none of their teammates would understand his
desire to create women's jewelry either... that is, up to now.
He waited until Inez had moved away before confronting Ezra about
his hobby. Following the smaller man to an empty table he sat down,
startling Ezra who was fiddling with the piece of paper Inez had
given him. "You know, Inez is right. You should do it."
Startled Ezra said, "Mr. Tanner, I don't know what you are talking
about."
Giving Ezra a wry grin, Vin told him, "Oh, I think you do, Ez…or
should I say Arze."
The smaller man's shoulders slumped in defeat. "Well Mr. Tanner, are
you going to let the rest of our acquaintances in on my little hobby?"
Shifting slightly in his seat Vin answered, "No Ezra, it's none of
their business. I just ... I just wanted to meet you. To tell you
how much I liked your designs. It kind of inspired me while I was
making the jewelry for the girls."
Startled green eyes searched his friend's blushing face. "YOU'RE
Lone Wolf!"
Quickly checking to see if anyone had heard, Vin hissed, "Shhh! I
don't want anyone to know."
"But Mr. ... Vin your designs are exquisite! You shouldn't ashamed
of your work."
"I'm not; it's just…the same reason that you don't want the others
to know about your hobby."
+ + + + + + +
The group arrived back at the Travis home around 3:00 am and
everyone was a little tired, which could explain Casey's slip.
As JD was leading Casey off to take her home she pulled away to run
to Ezra, throwing her arms around him and saying, "Oh thank you Ez, I
felt like a princess tonight. Remember, you promised to make me
another ... oh!" Casey finally realized what she had done and pulled
back from Ezra in alarm.
Ezra, knowing that the cat was truly out the bag, simply held
Casey's hand and told her, "That's alright Casey, I'm glad I could
help."
Ezra then turned to his male co-workers and waited for the teasing
to start. Vin made his way over to his friend, standing beside Ezra to
give him moral support, and Ezra gave him a quick smile before facing
the other four men. But instead of the condescending looks he'd
expected he was instead greeted with respected and admiration.
From JD he heard. "Damn, Ez. Why didn't you tell us?"
"Ezra, where did you learned to do something like this?" questioned
Nathan.
Then from Buck he heard, "Ez, you old dog, why'd you hide this from
your ol' pard?"
And from Chris, "Ezra, thank you."
Ezra was confused; he'd expected to be teased unmercifully but
instead he was being praised. Blushing, he dropped his face when he
felt Vin lay a gentle hand on his shoulder.
Chris looked between his two men and a sneaking suspicion came to
mind. "Vin, answer me truthfully; you're Lone Wolf, aren't you?"
Giving his quiet friend encouragement, Ezra told Vin. "It's okay,
Vin. Tell them."
"Yeah, cowboy, I am."
This resulted in the women dragging Ezra and Vin away to ask them
for more designs while the men looked on. An interesting glimmer
appeared in Buck's eyes as he watched the women flock around the two
men. Leaning over to his oldest friend, he said, "You know Chris, I
think we are in the wrong line of work. Look at how the ladies just
flock to them, maybe we should give up being AFT agents and start
designing. Hell, there's a lot more money to be had, great benefits,
and no one shooting at you."
Chris looked over at his friend. "Buck, you don't have enough talent
to draw a paper bag, let alone design anything like Vin and Ezra. "
The End
