Vin Tanner slouched further down in the chair that now stood on two
legs. He pulled the wide-brimmed hat low over his eyes, basking in
the early morning peace. People often wondered why the quiet man rose
with the sun. When the hell else could he find this kind of quiet in
this town? He knew his morning meditations wouldn't last long today:
Standish had last patrol and would soon be coming to complain about
the hazards of working before noon. Vin figured he had at least
fifteen minutes until the gambler came strolling down the boardwalk,
those ten-dollar words announcing his presence. So, Tanner sat and
waited for the onslaught.
Moments later, heavy footsteps announced the arrival of, most likely,
the only other man in town who would appreciate the silence.
"Josiah."
"Vin."
And so they sat in peaceful bliss and waited. The tracker had even
begun to settle into a relaxing doze when it began.
"Mr .Tanner, would you be so kind as to inform me of the point of
these early morning jaunts through our fair backwater. Really, what
sensible miscreant would be making mischief at this ungodly hour?"
"Mornin' Ezra." Damn! My timin's off, Vin thought, as he forced his
eyes up to meet those of a man who was none too happy to join him.
"Ezra, my friend, why don't you just take a seat and enjoy this
beautiful morning with us?" Josiah pointed to the empty chair next to
him without opening his eyes.
"As appealing as that sounds, Mr Sanchez, I believe I hear my bed
calling." As Ezra began to walk toward the hotel, he spotted a figure
leading a horse into the livery. There was something oddly familiar
about that figure. Dull brown suit and dark floppy hair that really
needed to meet the business end of a pair of sheers. Ah yes, JD Dunne.
"The day is quite new yet for our youngest compatriot to just be
riding in, is it not?" Ezra's inquiry caused only a slight stir from
the two other men as Vin adjusted his hat again.
"Went fishin' and it's near eight."
"Honestly, Mr. Tanner, I will collapse in utter amazement if there
were ever to come a moment in which you allowed more than ten
syllables to come from your mouth in one sitting."
"Did young Miss Wells accompany him?" Josiah spoke, ignoring Ezra
completely.
"Yep, reckon he's just comin from Nettie's now. That enough
syllables for you Ez?" Tanner eyed the man in red with a small smirk
gracing his tanned face.
"Yes, Mr. Tanner, that will do," he replied dryly.
"Funny Vin, brother Ezra is still standing. I believe his promise to
collapse will go unfulfilled." Josiah let a small ripple of laughter
escape his throat before breaking eye contact with the Southerner.
"Sadly," Vin replied, earning a scowl from Standish. "I thought you
was goin' to bed anyway."
"Well, I was thinking…"
"Uh-oh." Two worried sighs followed Vin's comment.
"Ezra, now I don't know if that's such a good idea this early in the
morning."
"Now Josiah, I was under the impression that a man of your intellect
would appreciate my powers of deduction. Now, may I continue?" With
nods from both the tracker and the preacher, Ezra began again. "As I
was saying, Mr Dunne and the young Miss Wells have enjoyed a number
of these excursions within the past month, have they not?" Josiah
threw Vin an amused smile as Ezra continued his musings. "Now I
cannot recall a time when our dear sheriff amused us with tale of the
capture of some scaly creature. Nor has he offered to feed us said
creature."
"Spit it out Ezra." Standish shifted slightly under his friend's
scrutinizing gaze. He knew Tanner would come to the young man's
defense if JD was slandered, even in jest.
"Well, Mr Tanner, it seems our young friend has become a novice
Casanova."
"Ezra," Vin warned only to be interrupted by Josiah's deep voice.
"Now brother Vin, I do see some logic in Ezra's speech."
"He don't need you encouragin' him Josiah." Although he somehow
understood what Standish was saying, Vin was sure JD would not be
happy knowing they were talking about his courting rituals,
especially behind his back.
"Come to think of it, I don't think I have ever seen the boy bring a
fish home either. They are sweet children, and it is possible that
they throw the fish back, but of course they are two young people in
love…"
"Josiah you're startin' to sound like Bucklin." The tracker tried
to put a warning tone in his voice, but the small smile on his face
ended any hopes of that. "Just leave the kid be Ezra. Whatever those
two do on their own time is none of our business."
"But I believe there is someone who would disagree with that
statement Mr Tanner." As Ezra spoke, Nettie Wells' wagon pulled in
front of the sheriff's office.
"Mrs. Wells, you're looking lovely on this fine morning." Putting on
his most dazzling smile, Standish attempted to make nice with the
woman.
"No need for pleasantries, fancy pants. I'm looking for JD." It was
said that the Chris Larabee glare could scare a man out of his wits.
Folklore even attributed some deaths to the patented gaze. But it had
no affect on Ezra Standish. But one look from this woman had Ezra
squirming in his expensive boots.
"If you don't mind my asking Nettie, has the boy done something
wrong?" Josiah tried not to laugh at the uneasiness the gambler was
displaying because of the woman before them.
"He better not have, Josiah. I'm looking for my niece and I have a
feeling he knows where she is. Now, I'm not saying I don't trust the
boy or nothin', but he's young and impressionable and he spends quite
a bit o' time around Mr Wilmington. And you boys are well aware of
his reputation with the ahem ladies of this town, and a few others
for that matter." Both Vin and Ezra had a difficult time holding in
their laughter during Nettie's small rant.
"Nettie, I assure you, the lad hardly listens to Buck's advice when
it comes to the fairer gender. He is quite an intelligent young man
and would never do injustice your niece. I believe he cares too much
for her to do that." Nettie seemed appeased for the moment.
"Well preacher, and this goes for the lot of you boys," holding
Vin's eyes, she continued, "if that boy ever does take leave of his
senses when it comes to my niece, remind him that I have a fully
loaded Carbine that has most likely seen more action than him and I
am certainly capable of using it. Good day gentleman." She nodded her
goodbye and pulled the wagon further down the street.
As Nettie rode out of earshot, all three men released laughs that
caused passer-bys to look questioningly at the trio of peacekeepers.
"Hey guys. What's so funny?" The arrival of Nettie's would-be-target
caused the laughter to die down. JD waited while the men recovered.
"Nothing my dear boy. Now, might I inquire as to the outcome of your
fishing excursion with the fair Miss Wells?" The smile that fell
across the boy's face gave Ezra all the evidence needed to back up
his earlier suspicions.
"Fine, thanks Ez." JD replied suspiciously.
"How many fish did you bring us son?" Vin couldn't help but smile at
the obvious attempts by the two older men to lure the boy into a trap.
"Aww Josiah, we never keep the fish we catch. It wouldn't be right
being as we don't intend to eat `em, so why kill `em. Ain't that
right Vin?" Ezra ignored the sharpshooter's nod of approval and
decided to try another approach. Either the boy was really sharp and
purposely avoiding the topic, or he was completely obtuse.
"If you don't intend to keep the fish, then why, pray tell do you
take these trips, Mr Dunne?"
The young man eased into the empty chair by Josiah and
explained. "It's quiet, Ez. Gives a man time to think, relax. You
should try it sometime."
"I just may do that JD. If, of course, I wouldn't be intruding that
is."
"Hell Ez, at least Buck just comes right out and asks what me and
Casey do at the waterin' hole." The sheepish look on his friend's
face pushed JD to continue. "And he don't make me dizzy talking in
circles either. Miss Nettie's made it clear that she wouldn't think
twice about putting a few holes in me with that shotgun of
hers. `Sides, I know her sight ain't the best, and she'd probably
need a few shots to take me down. I ain't stupid. I like breathing."
As he finished, JD rose from the chair and disappeared into the
jailhouse.
"Like I said, an intelligent young man. He not only managed to render
Ezra Standish speechless, but he also completely avoided the
question." Josiah laughed as he looked further down the road to see
Nettie Wells climb into her wagon.
"Yep, reckon he did just that, Josiah. I could eat. What do you
say?" With a nod, the preacher stood and stretched. "JD, Ezra, y'all
comin'?"
"Yes, Mr.Tanner. Allow me to make myself presentable and I will join
you shortly." He turned to JD, still standing in the doorway to the
sheriff's office, "Mr Dunne, a word?"
The young man nodded, and Ezra waited until the others were on their
way down the walk.
"That was well done, JD. You just displayed great tact. A gentleman
reveals nothing. My dear boy, you know I would never ask you to
reveal any details of your time spent with young Casey, but remember,
you are both still young and…"
"Now hold on Ezra, I care about Casey and I'm not gonna take
advantage of her or make her do something she doesn't want to."
Standish held his hands up in appeasement. "I know that JD. You are a
good man. I just don't want to see her take advantage of you." Ezra
smiled, not only exposing his gold tooth, but adding to JD's
confusion as well.
"You may want to button your collar today, Mr. Dunne." JD's face
flushed with embarrassment as he realized the source of Ezra's
amusement. He touched his neck in a feeble attempt to cover the
visible reminder of his morning with Casey.
"You better hope that Nettie's sight is as poor as you say or you
may meet that Carbine yet. And Casey seems so innocent."
"Yeah well, she's tenacious, and a lot stronger than she looks
too." JD revealed as he buttoned his shirt until his neck nearly
disappeared behind the high collar.
"I imagine so. Come my friend. Let us find the others." Ezra steered
the younger man toward the saloon. "Just what does one eat for
breakfast anyway?" He wondered out loud.
"Fish," came the quiet reply.
"I beg your pardon?" Standish saw the fear in JD's eyes and followed
his companion's gaze until it settled on one Mrs. Nettie Wells who
was riding their way.
"Well, I was just thinking that I could start bringing home some of
those fish instead of throwing them all back. Hell, if not for
breakfast, then for my own safety. " The former easterner swallowed
thickly as Nettie's eyes met his.
"Just smile and wave, son," Ezra mumbled out of the corner of his
mouth.
They both smile innocently at the elder Wells, who visibly shifted
the shotgun in her lap. Thoughts of the woman wielding the weapon
that was older than her prey caused both men to shudder slightly.
"Fish, you say? That may be a wise decision, JD. A very wise
decision indeed."
The End
