It was a crisp cool night in Four Corners with the night sky as black as velvet and the stars like diamonds. The moon hung there, a sliver of silver radiating a soft white light. Everything was quiet in the little town with only the crackling of the snow as the Nighthawk made his rounds. It was just after midnight on Christmas morn and he was looking forward to spending Christmas day with his companions sharing a warm fire, conversations, kisses and food. Also to finding out what the six of them had been up to for last two months. All they would tell him was that it was a surprise.
This was the first Christmas that they would be spending together since Ezra had claimed the other six men as his companions and the love they have given him. He paused a moment to reflect on how he had almost lost them all, but now… now he would never be parted from them. The bonds between all of them were so tight that none of them could ever leave. Closing his eyes he could see them, their naked bodies glistening in the firelight as they made love with slow gentle touches. He hoped that they would like the gifts he had made for them.
Sighing, he opened his eyes and continued on his rounds. Suddenly a shadow moved and the Nighthawk found himself up against the alley wall with a very warm body pressed hungrily against his own. He looked up into the laughing blue eyes of the tracker leaning down to gently kiss him. Pulling back so that their lips barely touched Vin whispered, “Merry Christmas, Ez.” Then he gently, tenderly kissed the gambler once again.
This kiss was one filled with love and a touch of passion, but it was perfect for the moment and the two men relished that kiss before parting. Slowly they pulled back so that they could look into each other’s faces. Ezra reached up to gently brush a small strand of hair from out of the Texan’s face. “Vin, what are you doing up so early? Your shift is not for a couple of hours.”
Vin just grinned and kissed him on the nose. “Wanted to be the first to wish you Merry Christmas.” Then he kissed the gambler once more and slipped rag wrapped hot stones into the man’s pockets before disappearing into the night.
Tingling at the warmth that spread through him, Ezra continued his rounds a slight smile gracing his lips. As he approached the stables about forty minutes later he decided to go in and give Chaucer his Christmas treat before continuing his rounds.
Opening the stable door he saw that his old friend was waiting eagerly for the apple that his Master had brought for him and eating it in three bites. Ezra just chuckled and gave Chaucer his customary scratches before turning around right into JD’s arms. The young man stood there a moment, before leaning into gently kiss the Nighthawk on the mouth with soft, trembling lips. He snaked his arms under the other man’s coat before pulling Ezra close as he deepened the kiss. The Sheriff nibbled on the gambler’s bottom lip before trailing his lips up to Ezra’s ear to whisper, “Merry Christmas, Ezra.” He slipped a warm flask into the Nighthawk’s pocket then stepped back, allowing the shadows to swallow him.
The Nighthawk licked his lips, relishing the taste of the young man that had just left and opened the flask to find warm blood. Ezra took a couple of sips then put it in his inside pocket to keep it and himself warm. Setting his hat at a more rakish angle, the gambler straightened his coat before stepping out of the stable, with a smile and a twinkle in his eye. Thinking of the two young men who had come out into the cold to seek him out and wish him Merry Christmas.
As he wandered throughout the peaceful town he took an occasional sip of blood, enjoying the quiet of this special morn. Two hours into his shift he stepped onto the boardwalk in front of the stairs leading up to Nathan’s clinic. The gambler paused as he placing one foot on the bottom stairs before shaking his head, thinking it was too early and that Nathan needed his sleep. Turning around he stepped right into the healer’s arms. He was swept into the shadow of the stairwell by warm strong arms that that wrapped around him. Warm lips tasking like honey caressed his, as even warmer hands snaked up under his coat to touch the small of his back. Tender brown eyes looked down at him and whispered, “Merry Christmas, Ezra.”
Smiling, the gambler reached out to cup the healer’s head to give a kiss in return. “Merry Christmas, Nathan,” Ezra whispered once the two men pulled away from one another. The gambler and healer smiled at one another before Nathan blinked and started to search his pockets for something, pulling out a scarf. He looped the knitted scarf around the Nighthawk’s neck a couple of times making sure that the smaller man’s ears were covered before tucking in the ends into Ezra’s coat. He stepped back eyeing the scarf to make sure that it would do its job. With a satisfied nodded Nathan said, “There, that should keep you warm.”
Ezra’s green eyes glistened with unshed tears at the sweet gesture, as the dark healer gently cupped the gambler’s face in his warm hands. “We love you Ezra.” Then he too disappeared into the darkness.
Touching the scarf in wonder, the gambler continued on his rounds with a happy smile on his face and love in his eyes. He started to whistle as he made his rounds wondering which of the others would surprise him next.
As the Nighthawk finished his rounds, he headed back to the saloon and up to his room. Opening the door he stepped into the room and was wrapped in strong arms. The gambler was turned gently around and warm lips caressed his cold skin as a moustache tickled his cheek. The scoundrel pulled back to look down at the smaller man. “Merry.” Kiss. “Christmas.” Kiss. “Ezra.” Double kisses.
Ezra wrapped his arms around the bigger man, snuggling up to the warm body after being out in the cold so long. “Merry Christmas Buck.”
The two men stood like that for a short time just enjoying being in each other’s arms. But Buck had a schedule to keep and it was too important to allow his hunger for the man in his arms to take over. Gently he disengaged their arms as he led Ezra out the door, stooping to pick up the gambler’s saddlebags.
“Buck, where are we going?” asked Ezra, as he was being ushered down the stairs.
Buck wrapped an arm around the smaller man, cuddling him as they walked to the stables knowing that no one would see them in the shadows. “Well Pard, we got a little surprise for you.”
Puzzled green eyes looked up at him. “Buck?”
Hugging the smaller man to him Buck told him, “Shush, Darlin’. Don’t worry.” He then pushed the younger man into the stables. There was Chaucer all saddled and ready to go, as well as Vin, JD, Nathan, and Josiah who were waiting for them.
Josiah walked up and gently cupped Ezra’s face. “Merry Christmas, brother” he said, before bending down to devour the gambler’s tempting mouth.
Ezra looked up dazed at the preacher, as Josiah blindfolded him. “Josiah?” queried the gambler, feeling strong hands lifting him up and other hands arranging his legs around his horse.
There was a gentle chuckle as Josiah’s large hand caressed the Nighthawk’s thigh. “Don’t worry Ezra. We have a wonderful Christmas surprise for you.”
Through the morning darkness the five men lead their sixth, who was picking up the excitement of the men around him. Ezra couldn’t see the boyish smiles on his companions’ faces, but he could hear them in their voices and couldn’t wait to see what they had been up to these last couple of months.
About half an hour to forty-five minutes later they came to a halt and the gambler was gently lowered to the ground. Buck and Josiah led him up three steps to a porch. The blindfolded man heard a door open and the warmth of the house reached out to surround him. A new set of hands, Chris’s, took both of his as he was led slowly inside. Ezra could hear the other men silently follow him into the house. As Chris stopped in the middle of the room he gathered Ezra into his arms and gently kissed the smaller man, before moving behind the gambler to whisper “Merry Christmas, Ezra.” The gunslinger then started to untie the blindfold.
Ezra opened his eyes to see a Christmas tree decorated with little wooden toys, lighted candles, colored paper, and strung with row upon row of popcorn. It was one of the most beautiful sights he had ever seen. Then turning slightly he saw seven stockings hung on the mantle of the fireplace where a warm fire was burning. As he continued to turn he saw that he was in the front parlor of the Donaldson ranch. A ranch that had been for sale since the widow Donaldson moved back east to live with her son in Boston.
It was the only ranch in the area that could be used to establishing his clan house. It had five bedrooms, an indoor bathroom, a large kitchen, a dinning room and a parlor slash library; plus fifty acres of prime land, cattle, and a small line of some excellent pieces of horseflesh. It would have been perfect for him and his companions but had been mysteriously bought from under him. Now he knew who had bought it. He turned to the six men who were breathlessly waiting to see his reaction.
The six men watched as a smile of pure joy broke over their Nighthawk’s face as he realized where he was and what it meant. They watched as silent tears fell from sparkling eyes as he turned to face them. Together the six men told him, “Welcome home Ezra!”
The End
