Sequel to: Coming Together (Chapter 09)

Buck walked into the kitchen shaking his head and made straight for the refrigerator where he grabbed a beer and drank half of it before turning to his brothers and Ezra who were sitting at the table eating lunch.

"Something bothering you Buck?" Josiah asked.

"I just saw Frank in town and he said that the Sheriff's Department is getting audited by the Federal government."

"Well that's not unusual, is it?" Chris asked.

"No, but they were just audited a couple of years ago. So it's got him a little worried," Buck told them. "And to make matters worse two of his deputies, Billy and Richard, are being audited by the IRS. And Josh and Will have been selected as jurors for a Supreme Court case."

"Damn, what are the chances of all that happening at once," Nathan said with a laugh.

Vin saw Ezra duck his head and noticed a suspicious little twinkle in his green eyes. It'd been six months since Ezra returned and even though they were still learning about each other they were getting closer every day. And it was because of this closeness that Vin knew that his lover knew something about what was going on.

"Who's Frank?" Ezra asked with a blank expression on his face.

"The sheriff," JD told him. "Remember it was Frank and his deputies that ..." the younger man trailed off.

"I remember them now," Ezra said with a nod of head. "Federal audits can be a real bitch. Does Frank have anything to hide?"

"No. Frank's about as honest as they come," Buck replied.

"Then he has nothing to worry about." The Southerner saw Vin looking at him and he asked, "What?"

Vin grinned at him and just shook his head then said, "Nothing." Getting to his feet he placed his plate in the sink then turned back to the others as he heard Ezra begin to speak.

"I think I've found you an investor," Ezra told them. "One that is only mildly interested in the daily operations of the ranch, but has absolutely no interest in getting his hands dirty if he can help it."

"Really? Who is it?" Chris asked.

Ezra looked at each of them and finally said, "This person has discovered ... a certain fondness for ranching or rather... ranchers. He likes horses and has found he likes the vast openness of this area. He enjoys riding and the feel of the sun on his face and the wind in his hair. He finds the whole idea of ranching quite ... fascinating."

By now they were all smiling and Chris asked, "This ... person has that much money to invest without expecting too much of a return?"

With a grin the Southerner nodded his head. "He has come understands that not all returns can be measured in dollars."

"Will he be silent partner? Or does he prefer the hands-on-approach?" Vin asked as he walked over and stood behind Ezra.

"Oh, he's definitely a hands-on-kinda guy," Ezra told him and bit his lip as Vin began rubbing his shoulders.

Vin just did resist the urge to run his hands through Ezra's silky hair. Bending down he did place a kiss on the top of his head before saying, "I think you should contact this person and tell him we'd be honored to have him as a part of our family. That our parents wouldn't want it any other way."

Once lunch was over Ezra made his way to the study and as soon as he shut the door a huge grin appeared on his handsome face. Rubbing his hands togther he sauntered over to the desk, sat down, and propped his feet on the corner. Linking his fingers together behind his head Ezra leaned back in his chair he laughed out loud and thought how grand it felt to have people owe him favors. With a wicked twinkle in his green eyes Ezra wished he was back in Denver so he could hear about the other favor he'd earned.

"I'm sorry Judge Travis, but this card has been rejected," the waiter told him and handed him the card back.

"Rejected? I don't understand," Orrin Travis said in shock. "There must be some mistake."

"I'm sure there is which is the only reason I gave you your card back," the young man said. "By rights I should have cut it up."

"Thank you, Phillip," Evie said to the waiter. "Here take one of mine."

Later as they drove home, Orrin was still trying to understand. "I don't understand how your card was accepted and mine wasn't. We share the same credit," he fussed.

"I'm sure it's just some kind of mix up. Some computer glitz," she told him with a wave of her hand then patted him on the arm. "Don't worry about it. I'll call the credit card company first thing in the morning and get it straightened out."

Three weeks later as the Travis's were entertaining some of the Judge's colleagues at the same restaurant and Phillip once again returned with a rejected card. "What? Again?" Orrin had never been more humiliated. "I thought you took care of this?" he said looking at his wife.

"I did. I don't understand," Evie told him as she once again came to his rescue. "Don't worry we'll take care of it," she said and finished her dessert.

Orrin slammed into the house and tried to think of what could have happened. He'd just paid this particular card off, so Orrin knew he wasn't over his limit.

"Don't worry about it Orrin," his wife said.

"That's easy for you to say," he snapped. "You weren't just humiliated in front of your co-workers."

"Don't you take this attitude with me Orrin Travis!" Evie warned him with her hands on her hips. "Or you'll find yourself sleeping alone tonight!"

Orrin sighed as he watched Evie storm from the room in a huff. "Damn woman," he muttered under his breath. "If she thinks I'm sleeping on the couch, she's crazy," he whispered. Taking off his diner jacket he followed his wife up the stairs.

"Are you in a better mood?"

"Yes, dear," he told her, even though he wasn't.

"Maybe some hackers got into the computer and messed with your account," Evie told him.

Orrin nodded his head. "Maybe, but it would have to have been someone who exactly what he was doing. Especially, since he separated your credit from mine. Someone who knew about my agency card," he said as he began to undress. "Someone who had access to Federal records ..." Orrin trailed off and viciously swore as he realized who was behind this.

"Orrin! Don't use that kind of language in front of me!"

He paid his wife no mind and he began to pace around the room clutching his dress shirt in his hand. "Why, that little shit. I should have known he wouldn't just leave! I should have known he'd pull a stunt like this! If he thinks he'll get away with it then he's in for a big surprise," Orrin growled and flung his shirt to the floor. "Just wait until I get my hands on him," he muttered.

"Orrin what on earth are you going on about?"

"Get dressed, Evie, we're taking a little trip."

"Not at this time of the night we're not," Evie told him as she got ready for bed. "Now I suggest you calm down and tell me what's going on. Once you do that then you can pick that shirt up off the floor."

"I'm talking about your wayward son!"

"Stephen?"

Orrin gritted his teeth and had to count to one hundred before replying, "No, your other wayward son."

Evie looked up and him and said, "Ezra ..."

"Yes, Ezra ..."

"Has something happened to him? Is he hurt?"

"I don't know and I don't care ..."

"Orrin, that's no way to talk about Ezra."

"Look Evie, I don't know how he did it, but I know he's behind all this!"

"Behind what?"

"The credit card!"

"Don't be silly. Ezra wouldn't do anything like this to us."

"Us? No. Me? Most definitely," Orrin told her. "And why aren't we going now?"

Evie gave him an indulgent look and said, "It's after one in the morning. We aren't going anywhere at this time of night except to bed."

Orrin hadn't realized how late it was. "Fine then we'll leave first thing in the morning," he told her.

"Of course, we will," she agreed. "I'd love to see Ezra."

"This isn't going to be a social call Evie ..."

"Of course not, dear."

"I mean it. I'm just going to wring Ezra's neck and then we're coming right back home."

Evie laughed at him as she got into bed. "Well, before you do that I want to find out how he's doing. You know he didn't look well when I saw him last."

"Evie ..."

"Goodnight dear," she said as she turned her light off.

Orrin sighed because he knew the conversation was over. "Goodnight, Evie."

"Oh and Orrin," Evie said as she settled deeper in her pillow.

"Yes?"

"Don't forget to pick up your shirt."

The next morning Vin woke at his usual time and grinned as he felt the warmth of Ezra's body pressed against him. Waking with someone you loved in your arms was one of the best sensations in the world. With a sigh he eased away from Ezra, he got up and dressed. After pressing a kiss to his lover's forehead Vin went to do his usual morning chores.

Two hours later Vin stepped back into their room and immediately began to strip when he heard the shower running. Stepping into the bathroom he drew the shower curtain back then climbed in the tub. "Looks like someone started without me," Vin complained and wrapped his arms around Ezra from behind.

"I was just testing the water for you," Ezra said with a smile and turned in his arms. "I didn't want this," he trailed his finger down Vin's chest and cupped him in his hand, "delicate skin to burn."

"You're all heart," Vin told him with a grin that quickly turned into a moan as Ezra hand brought him to life.

Ezra moved closer and stuck his tongue in Vin's ear then whispered, "Well, not all heart."

Turning his head Vin captured Ezra's lips and kissed him until they were both moaning and thrusting against each other. Grabbing Ezra's hips he spun him around and pushed him toward the shower wall. Reaching for the liquid soap Vin began sputtering as he found himself standing directly under the nozzle. "I hate this shower," he muttered as he wiped the water out of his eyes.

He caught his breath in anticipation as he saw Ezra drop to his knees, but his lover only put the stopper in allowing the tub to fill a little then turned the shower off. Ezra then grabbed his hips and helped him to his knees.

"Now, let's try this again," Ezra whispered against his lips then turned around so that he could lean against the side of the tub.

Vin growled deep in his throat and quickly prepared him. Even though him and Ezra had made love countless times in the last seven months Vin still felt a moment's hesitation at breeching his lover's opening. And as usual Ezra impatiently thrust back on him making all his good intentions fly right out the window.

Grasping Ezra's hips Vin began to move in slow easy strokes making his lover moan and plead for him to go harder and faster. He wanted to prolong the sensation of being surround by Ezra and ignored Ezra's impassioned demands.

"Vvviiinnn," Ezra moaned. "Please."

Vin moaned as he felt Ezra clench his inner muscles around him. After he'd done it a couple of times the Texan felt his control slip and he began thrusting harder and faster pushing them both over the edge.

The Texan wrapped an arm around Ezra's waist and turned them both so he could lean back against the tub and Ezra could lean against him. Vin then tilted Ezra's head back and gave him a lingering kiss.

They lay there a few minutes then much to Vin's disappointment Ezra got to his feet. "Where ya going?"

"I'm expecting a call from Atlanta," Ezra told him then reached for a towel.

"Atlanta?" Vin ran appreciative eyes over all that exposed skin.

"I'm having some funds transferred so that we can get this partnership under way," he said then gave a little yelp. "Did you bite me?"

Vin grinned then leaned forward and kissed the spot he'd just bitten on Ezra's ass. "Sorry, but I just remembered that day we went fishing and I told you I wanted to take a bite out of your ass and couldn't help myself."

Ezra dropped to his knees and knelt in front of his lover and caressed Vin's cheek with the backs of his fingers. "Know what I remember? You'd just taken your shirt off and I knew I was in so much trouble. You were a ray of light on my dark soul Vin and just what I ... needed most," he whispered.

Not knowing what to say Vin leaned closer and gave him a deep sensual kiss. The need for air was the only thing that separated them. Ezra helped him to his feet then threw the towel over his face. "Hey!" Vin protested and quickly removed it. "Aren't ya gonna dry me off?" he asked as he watched Ezra's enticing ass as he left the bathroom.

"No."

Vin grinned and toweled himself dry then tossed the towel in the hamper. Stepping back into their room he quickly dressed and laid across their rumbled bed so he could watch Ezra. He groaned as his lover pulled a shirt on covering his well-muscled chest before tucking it into his jeans. "I wish you wouldn't even wear a shirt," Vin said. "Why can't to just go without one?" He watched as the sun's rays filtered through the curtains of the their bedroom making the red highlights stand out in Ezra's hair. Little by little Vin had brought more and more of his things over and between the two of them they had the bunkhouse looking more and more like a home. Of course, it didn't compare to Ezra's old apartment in Denver.

They'd borrowed Chris's truck a couple of weekends back and packed up what few things Ezra didn't still have packed from when he first moved to Denver six years ago. Vin had to admit he felt a little uneasy about Ezra giving up such a nice place for an old run down bunkhouse, but Ezra soon put him at ease as he told him that the apartment had never been a home and what they shared here was much more precious to him.

Ezra blushed and shot Vin a look. "I can't go around bare chested," he told him.

Vin grinned as color flooded Ezra's face. "I don't see why not. I'll have it off of you within the hour anyway. It would save us both some trouble if you did," he argued. Then got to his feet and walked over to him.

"Would you go around in a pair of low riding hip hugger jeans so that your belly button showed?"

It was Vin's turn to blush and he grinned even as he hid his face in Ezra's neck. Vin had discovered that his belly button was super sensitive and Ezra took great pleasure in making him writhe and whimper in delight before giving into his pleas. Vin pulled Ezra's recently tucked in polo shirt out of his pants and pushed his hands inside needing to touch what was currently hidden from him. "Okay, okay," Vin conceded. "We'll both keep our shirts on ... in public," he told him with a grin.

"Deal."

Vin took those grinning lips in a kiss that had them both moaning and straining to get closer to one another. He offered no resistence when he felt himself being pushed down on the bed. He shuddered as Ezra tore his shirt open and began kissing his way down Vin's chest. The Texan had taken to wearing shirts with snaps on them just so Ezra could rip them open. All thoughts flew from Vin's mind as he felt Ezra's hot breath on his quivering navel as he teased him.

They both groaned as they heard a persistent pounding on the door. "Damn," Vin swore. "I forgot I told Chris I'd go into town with him this morning." He welcomed the quick hard kiss Ezra gave him just before getting up. Vin grabbed him before he could get to far and said, "We'll finish this later."

Ezra smiled at him and said, "You know we never did finish what we started that day in the study."

"Why, Ezra are you suggesting that we make love on my father's desk?" The sultry look in those green eyes was answer enough.

"Vin! Get your ass out here now!" Chris suddenly bellowed.

"Just hold your horses!" Vin hollered. Then with a grin said, "I'll see you later."

"You know where I'll be."

Ezra glanced at the clock and grinned as he saw that it was almost lunch time. Looking at the desk he remembered how last time he'd swept everything off it and frowned as he realized just how hard he'd been working on these accounts and began putting them away. He didn't mind sweeping some of them, but not all of them.

He had just put the important papers away when the door was thrown open and a muttering Vin walked in and headed for the locked gun cabinet. "Vin?"

"Sorry son of a bitch," Vin muttered under his breath.

Getting to his feet Ezra walked up to him and asked, "What's wrong?" Vin barely even looked at him as he loaded the rifle in his hand. Reaching out Ezra grabbed Vin's face and forcefully turned him to looked at him. "What the hell is going on?"

His lover briefly closed his eyes then leaned closer and pressed a kiss to Ezra's lips. "Stay in here Ezra. He's not taking you away from me again," was all Vin said as he turned and walked away.

Ezra frowned as he tried to process what exactly Vin was talking about. Then all of a sudden it hit him just who 'he' was. With a smile on his face Ezra followed his lover out the door. He stood just inside the door as Vin and his brothers fanned out on the front porch to prevent Judge Travis from getting in.

"That's far enough!" he heard Vin tell him. "You're not welcomed on this property! So get the hell off of it now before I call the law and have you removed!"

"Dammit Vin put that away!" Chris told him.

"I understand how you feel, Mr. Tanner," Orrin Travis told him, "but I don't mean Ezra any harm. I just wish to speak with him."

"You're not getting any where near Ezra!"

"Orrin ..." Ezra heard Mrs. Travis say and knew it was time to put a stop to this before someone got hurt.

"Vin ..."

"Stay back Ezra! This bastard's not stealing you away from me again," Vin told them all.

Ezra couldn't help, but grin at the way Vin was protecting him.

"Ezra!" Evie said as she peered at him from behind her husband.

"Ms. Evie."

"Ezra tell him to put the gun down," Judge Travis told him.

"Do you know these men, Ezra?" Evie asked.

"Yes, ma'am," Ezra introduced each of them. "The one with the gun is Vin my ..."

"Best friend," she suggested.

Ezra smiled and nodded his head. "Among other things."

"Ezra I don't know how you did it, but I want you to correct it!" Orrin suddenly said.

"Correct what?" he asked and eased the gun away from his lover. "It's okay Vin. I'm not going anywhere with him."

"Damn straight," Vin said in a voice that brooked no argument.

As soon as the gun was put away Evie Travis stepped right up to the Southerner and said, "Ezra, just look at you! I don't think I've ever seen you this happy before."

Ezra blushed and ducked his head, but couldn't keep the smile off his face. He then did something that Evie Travis would never forget. Stepping closer to the older lady Ezra pressed a kiss to her cheek and actually returned her embrace.

Evie wiped the tears away and smiled at him. "He hugged me," she said. "Did you see that Orrin? Ezra actually hugged me!" Reaching around him she reached up and placed a kiss on Vin's cheek and told him, "Thank you. Six years ... Six years, I've known this young man and he has never allowed me to touch him much less hug him." Evie took them both by the arm and stepped up on the porch and headed for the swing. "Tell me what you've done to Ezra to make him happy?" she asked Vin.

"Evie, that's not why we're here," Orrin told her. "Remember?"

"Oh, pooh," she fussed and waved a hand at him. "Very well."

Ezra just did keep the smile off his face. "What is it you want me to correct?"

"My credit!"

After raising one eyebrow Ezra taunted him by saying, "I suggest you start by paying your bills."

Vin heard the Judge growl and got to his feet as the older man took a step closer to Ezra.

"Boys, please, let's do behave," Evie told them. "Now Ezra," she said and patted him on the arm. "Two of Orrin's credits cards were rejected ... and he seems to think ..."

"Not think, I know he had something to do with it," the older man corrected her from where he still stood in the yard.

"You think I tampered with your credit cards?"

Vin looked at his lover and bit his lip to keep from smiling at the innocent look on Ezra's face.

"I know you did!"

"This happened with all your cards?"

"No, just two."

"Really," Ezra said in disbelief. "It was just two?" he asked with a frown on his face.

"Like you didn't know!" Orrin told him. "Look Ezra I know I could have handled things differently, but I did what I thought was best at the time. I never meant to hurt you or Mr. Tanner."

"It was just the two cards?" Ezra couldn't seem to believe it.

"There the only ones I used."

"Ahh, that explains a lot."

"So you did do it," Evie said. "But why? Why would you that to Orrin?"

Vin grinned at the look of panic that flashed across Ezra's face and he wondered if he'd tell her what her husband had done.

"I admit to nothing," Ezra told her. "However, if I had done something then I most certainly would have had sufficient cause."

"And that cause would be?"

Vin felt tears sting his eyes as he relived that day the Judge and the sheriff had carted Ezra away. Looking into his lover's green eyes he saw a deeper reflection of his own pain there. Vin suddenly realized that while he had his brothers helping him to cope with Ezra's unexpected departure ... Ezra hadn't had anyone to help him. Vin wondered how he coped.

Evie looked at them and gasped at the pain she could see in their eyes. Glancing at her husband she saw the guilt on his face and suddenly knew what Orrin had done. She cleared her throat then said, "Ezra ..."

"What?!" he snapped.

"Don't you take that tone with me!" she warned him. "I didn't take this kind of attitude from my own son and I'll not about to take it from you either!"

Ezra got to his feet. "You are not my mother!"

Evie jumped to her feet and before she knew she slapped him across the face. "No I'm not. I deserve a little more respect from you than your mother does. Don't I?" She bit her lip, but refused to baby him.

Orrin should have been happy, Evie had just done what countless other had wanted to do for years. Himself included. But instead all he felt was sad.

"Did he at least give you time to say goodbye?" she asked Ezra.

"No," Ezra told her in a harsh whisper. "I ... barely had t..time to tell him t..that I'd ... be back."

"It was the worse day of my life," Vin suddenly said and came to stand in front of him.

Evie couldn't hold the tears back anymore as she saw Ezra step back from Vin as he reached for him. She knew a man on the edge when she saw one and brushed her own tears aside. "Ezra I understand why you felt you had to get back at Orrin, but it's time to let it go," Evie told him and pretended not to notice that he flinched away from her as she reached out to touch him. "What you have here is more important than your pride. Isn't it?" she asked him. Reached up Evie rubbed the imprint of her hand on his cheek. "I'm sorry I slapped you, but I'll not be spoken to like that by you or anyone. Especially when I don't deserve it," she said.

Ezra felt the same stinging in his eyes as he felt on his cheek. He nodded his head and said, "I'm sorry Mrs. Travis. I meant you no disrespect." Then with a shrug of his shoulders continued, "And you're right. Vin is much more important to me. As is his family," Ezra told her. Then with grin on his face said, "Actually I'm glad you're not my mother. I ... wouldn't like you near as much."

"Thank you, Ezra."

"No ma'am, thank you," Ezra corrected. Looking at his lover he bit his lip and closed the distance between them. "I'm sorry Vin."

"You don't have to apologize to me Ezra. I understand."

Looking into those blue eyes Ezra saw that Vin did understand. "Thank you," he said and gave him a brief kiss on the lips. Turning his attention to the Judge, Ezra said, "I'm not going to apologize to you though. You deserved what you got. Just like everyone else."

"Whatever, just fix it," the Judge told him.

"What's the magic word?"

"Now!"

"Orrin!"

"Dammit Evie! Just whose side are you on?"

"Why yours of course," she told him. "But after what you did to these two boys ... it's the least you can do," she pointed out.

Ezra grinned as the Judge turned his back on them as he tried to rein in his temper. The grinned turned into a smile as Josiah gave him a non to gentle shove.

"Ezra you're not helping matters," Josiah told him.

Orrin Travis turned around and in as neutral a tone as he could muster asked, "Ezra would you, please, undo what ever it is you did to my credit?"

"Not that I did anything, but you can consider it done," he told him. "Now would you care to stay for lunch?" Ezra asked as if nothing had happened.

"We'd love to," Evie answered before Orrin could say any differently.

Two hours later Ezra and Vin stood with Evie Travis on the porch as the Judge went on to the car. Evie gave them each a kiss on the cheek. "You know Vin, you never did tell me what it was you did that makes Ezra so happy," she reminded him.

Vin wrapped an arm around Ezra's waist then looked at her and said, "I love him."

She patted him on the cheek and said, "Keep up the good work. Both of you."

Ezra waved them off then laid his head on Vin's shoulder.

"She's a nice lady."

"The Judge is nice as well. Under normal circumstances."

"I'll have ta take your word on it."

Ezra grinned then kissed Vin on the lips. "I love you, Vin," he said.

"I love you too, Ezra."

The Southerner wrapped his arms around Vin and held him. For some reason Maude came to mind. Ezra didn't know why. He hadn't talked to his mother in two years. He didn't even know where she was. Or who she might be married to. Ezra sighed and tightened his hold on Vin.

"What's wrong, Ezra?" Vin asked him. "Who or what are ya thinking about?"

"Someone I can read like the back of my hand, but never got to know," Ezra told him in a pensive voice. Then shook his head and pushed thoughts of Maude out of his head.

"I'm here if ya want to talk."

"I know. Thanks," he said. Then pressed their foreheads together and grinned at Vin just before grabbing Vin's shirt and ripping the bottom snaps open. Ezra skimmed one finger across Vin's navel causing his lover to suck in a deep breath.

"Did you set up the audits and jury duty?" Vin asked him then moaned.

Ezra just nodded his head and thrust one of his legs between both of Vin's.

"You are so bad," Vin whispered as he eyes darkened with passion.

"You have no idea."

"No, but I'm beginning too, Green Eyes," he said and then grinned before saying, "Come on let's go finish what we started earlier."

Ezra pulled back and said, "First one there gets the first massage."

"Deal!" Vin cried and they took off running.

JD laughed as he watched Vin and Ezra play with each other.

"What are you laughing at little brother?" Josiah asked.

"Those two," he said with nod of his head.

Josiah smiled and pulled JD away from the window. "When I first met Ezra I would have bet good money that no one would have been able to get underneath that cool prickly exterior that he surrounded himself in," he said. Then with a shrug of his massive shoulders continued, "Every once in awhile I'd catch a glimpse of something, but it would disappear so quickly that you'd wonder if you'd seen anything at all." Glancing out the window Josiah shook his head and smiled, "Seeing Ezra now it's hard to believe he's the same man I once knew."

"Yeah, it's amazing what a little love can do for a person," Buck added. Then walked over and slapped JD on the back. "So what's for supper?"

"Don't ask me," JD told him. "It's Chris's turn to cook."

They all turned to looked their blonde brother, who promptly said, "Let's go eat in town."

"Should we ask the two love birds to join us?" Nathan asked.

"Hell, Nathan, we won't see either of them again until morning," Buck said with a grin.

"Lucky bastards," Chris said with a grin of his own.

*Coming later: Trouble in Paradise.*