This time of night the town was quiet. The spring was closing in on the land, already easing the chilled winds. The mountains still bore caps of snow, but by the look of wideflowing rivers they were rapidly melting. Pulling his buckskin coat tighter around him, Vin Tanner made a silent wish that the warmer weather would hurry up and get there. He was on his way to the hotel, staying over the night in the small town after bringing in another bounty. Having been travelling for almost twelve hours straight, all he wanted was a warm meal and a bed. Not necesserely in that order. One hand removed the hat while the other raked through long and wavy brown hair. The ruffled curls framed a handsome face dominated by bright, blue eyes. Even not among the tallest, the lean and muscular body could hold its ground with the best of them.

About to put his hat back on, the sound of voices drifted over from a corner behind the saloon. One of the voices was slurred and low, the other was sharp and distinctly Southern.

"Ah said unhand me, you miscreant!"

It was also distinctly male. Wondering what was going on, Vin took a few steps closer. A street lamp together with the pale moonlight provided more than enough light to see what was going on.

The larger figure had his back to him, and was swaying unsteadily on his feet. He was also halfway draped over a smaller figure that was doing its best to fight him off.

"Now come on, precious," a happy, drunken voice stated. "Come give daddy some sugar....Ow!"

Apparently 'precious' had succeeded in hitting something very sensitive. "Ah most certainly will not! Now please be so kind as to move your filthy, loathsome person and let me pass." Taking advantage of the bigger man's somewhat crouched stance, he moved out of reach and crossed his arms over his chest. He was about half the size of the amourous cowboy and Vin couldn't help a smile from slipping through watching the angry man. If looks could kill the cowboy would be dead two times over.

"Why did ya do that, sweetpea?" a sullen voice wailed. Vin suspected that the drunken man was way beyond the state where he knew if the pretty, little thing in his arms were male or female, way beyond caring, for that matter. "I was just going to show you a good time..." Arms were flailing trying to bring the other closer again.

The greeneyed object of his misguided affection was about Vin's own height, maybe an inch or two shorter. The wellbuilt body was dressed in tailormade black pants, a pristine white shirt with some most intriguing frilly cuffs nearly covering small hands, and a deep red vest. The unmistakably pretty face was for the moment set in a scowling, annoyed look.

"You are not going to show me anything, mistah! How many times shall ah be forced to say this? Ah do not wish to have anything to do with you whatsoevah. Now leave before ah find mah gun and shoot away the part you seem to be thinkin' with."

Starting to feeling a little bit sorry for obviously lost man, Vin strolled over to them. "I think you oughta listen to the man, pard." He couldn't quite keep the smile of his face. "He seems rather serious."

Bleary, unfocused eyes were turned in his general direction. "Ain't your business, mister... I was juscht...just talkin' to...to my friend here."

"Well," Vin placed his arm around the taller man's shoulders and gently steered him back towards the saloon. "I don't think he want ta be your friend. Tell you what, see that nice saloon there? Inside there you'll find a lotta pretty girls who wanna be friends with ya... How does that sound?"

Wheels were apparently turning. Then the drunk turned to look at the Southerner. "He's awfully pretty, that one..."

"Yes," Vin agreed. "So he is. But he is also able to shoot your balls off if you touch him again. Which if I was you, I'd try ta avoid." Administering a not so gentle push he sent the man stumbling towards the bat-wing doors of the saloon. "Off you go."

Too drunk to even think about changing direction the cowboy plowed through the doors and was lost in the crowd inside.

Seeing him well gone, Vin turned around again. "You ok?"

"Yes." Curious green eyes watched him. "Thank you for coming to mah rescue like that, Mistah...?"

"Tanner. Vin Tanner."

"Mr. Tannah. Ah could have handled that oaf mahself, but your help was greatly appreciated."

Vin was becoming lost in the depth of the moss green eyes with alarming speed. Regaining his composure, he discovered he was now very close to the small Southerner. "You wanna tell me your name as well?"

A wide smile produced utterly charming dimples. "Didn't ah do that? You will have to pardon mah lack of manners." A hand was reached out and placed in his. "Mah name is Ezra Standish."

"Nice to meet ya." Momentarily distracted by the feel and sight of the warm hand held in his larger hand, Vin suddenly found himself staring down into a determined green gaze.

"Ah think ah do owe you a proper reward for your help. Mr. Tannah." Without any further ado the Southerner had raised to his toes and placed one arm covered in soft fabric around Vin's neck. His right hand was still in Vin's grip, the Texan too surprised to let go.

Then a warm, sweet-tasting mouth was on top of Vin's, lips causing delicious friction touching his. The hand that wasn't already occupied, had developed a will of its own and was now fisted in short, auburn hair. Parting his lips to the exploring tongue, Vin leaned in to take control of the kiss, his mind long since having shut down every sign of reason. It wasn't that he had never kissed another man before, it was just that he had never kissed a cateyed redhead with a mouth that were doing things that were too good to be legal to him. Add a devilishly clever tongue to that and a hard, sensual body pressed to his and Vin would be more than happy standing right where he was, doing what he was, until the end of his days.

With a satisfied, little sound the man in his arms drew back a little, eyes glittering up at Vin. "Good Lord, you certainly are skilled in the ways of kissing someone."

Vin's mind was still reveling in the heated kiss. As soon as he could remember his name again and what he was really supposed to be doing, he'd get to forming words. He found Ezra watching him with something that looked a lot like regret on his face.

A new, quick kiss followed, and the whispered words: "Ah am terribly sorry, but ah have to leave now," was spoken into his ear. Then the shorter man slipped out of his arms and disappeared into the darkness that was resting heavily on their corner by now. Staring after him, Vin for a moment wasn't sure if it really had happened, or if his tired mind had made it all up. If so, it had been one hell of a fantasy, even if all they had done was kissing. Directing his eyes to the ground, he noted with interest the two sets of fresh footprints besides his own. That meant no fantasy.

Touching his fingers to moist, kiss-swollen lips, another part of his body was trying to tell him that the feel of an pleasant body against his own had been real as well. A small, private smile making its way over his features, Vin started on his way to the hotel. He had a weird feeling it wasn't the last time he had seen the Southern man.

"Nice shot, pard." Vin downed the glass of whiskey. Behind him he heard the shuffling of nervous feet.

"Dreadful." The gambler didn't look at Vin. "Ah was aimin' to kill him, but the mirror was cracked..."

Leaning against the bar top, Vin watched his cateyed Southerner slowly turn his way, the green eyes widen in recognition. The sight caused a wide smile on the tracker's face.

Oh yes, this was going to be fun indeed...

The End