Sequel to: Mistakes (Chapter 05)

Ezra stared at the closed door and in a harsh voice berated himself, "Fool. You should have known better." But still he placed a dejected hand against the door. Taking a deep breath, he returned to his desk and thought that maybe it was time he moved on. But to what? Once you leave here what are you going to do?

Resting his head on his bent elbows Ezra closed his eyes and tried to picture himself five years down the road. He bolted straight up in his chair as an image of himself and Vin flashed in his mind. "Okay, that doesn't mean anything," Ezra said softly to himself. Getting up he paced around the room. "The only reason I pictured Vin is ... because he's here," he told himself. "Yeah, that it's. That's why I pictured him," Ezra reasoned. It's got nothing to do with Vin's laugh. Or his blue eyes. Or his silky, curly hair. Or even his skinny ass. It most certainly had nothing to do with the way Vin's touch made him feel, he thought to himself. No way was he saying all of that out loud. If he didn't say it out loud then it wasn't real. Taking a deep breath Ezra pushed all thoughts of Vin from his mind and buried himself in his work. He didn't emerge until Josiah came and made him join them for supper.

In the two weeks that followed it didn't take the others long to figure out that Ezra and Vin were avoiding each other. In fact, Josiah noticed that Ezra had begun to distance himself from all of them. He was spending less and less time with them. While Vin worked from sun up to sun down. Neither of them were eating enough to keep a bird alive. They mostly just picked at their food. And on those rare occasions when Ezra and Vin did find themselves in the same room they watched each while the other wasn't looking. Especially Vin. His haunted blue eyes followed Ezra's every move. Ezra was a little better, but only because he was trained to hide his emotions.

Josiah knew that if something wasn't done and soon then Ezra would leave. And he didn't want that. He'd gotten used to having the Southerner around. And Josiah would be willing to bet that Vin didn't want Ezra leaving either.

He and his six brothers were sitting at the kitchen table when Ezra walked in and Josiah got a sinking feeling in his stomach. This isn't gonna be good, he silently said. The feeling receded a little as Ezra gave them each a folder.

"This is a report, in its simplest form, detailing your gains and losses for the last year," Ezra explained then gave them a minute to look it over. "As you can tell, the Circle 7 Ranch is in pretty fair shape. In fact, if I were to garner a guess I'd say that you were in much better shape than your neighbors. However," he paused for a moment, "that doesn't mean you are not in need of some capital to make repairs and to purchase some much needed equipment."

"How do you suggest we get this capital?" Chris asked with a frown.

"Loans. Or maybe selling some ..."

"No, we're not selling any of the land," Buck told him right fast.

Ezra just gave him a look then continued, "I was going to say stock. Another option would be find a silent partner. One that will only be interested in a small portion of the profits and not the daily operations of the ranch."

"Where would we find someone like that?" JD asked.

"You could have your attorney or banker make a few discreet inquiries," he suggested.

Josiah nodded and then grinned as he looked at how everything was broken down in the report. "Thank you, Ezra," he said, "you did a damn fine job." The others quickly agreed.

"Just doing my job," Ezra said as he casually leaned against the kitchen counter. "There is another matter I wish to inform you of ..."

Josiah felt that sinking feeling return and he interrupting him, "Ezra, no."

"I'm leaving ..."

"NO!" Vin shouted as he shot to his feet. "You can't!"

"Why not?"

Josiah watched as Vin seemed to struggle with his answer before saying, "Who's gonna do the books for us?"

"Oh please, a monkey could work the system I have set up and I have no doubt that one of you gentlemen could as well," Ezra told them with a wave of his hand.

"B..but you can't l..leave," Vin repeated.

"I can and I will."

"I won't let you!"

"You can't stop me!"

Josiah smiled as Vin walked around the table and got right in Ezra's face and said, "I'll be damned if you're not the most stubborn, fanciest talking, self-centered bastard that I have ever met!" He punctuated each word with a poke to the chest. Give 'im hell, Josiah silently cheered.

Ezra gave him a cold grin and said, "Like the opinion of a obstinate, long haired, arrogant flirt matters to me!" Each of his words were punctuated by a jab in the chest that propelled Vin back toward the wall.

"I am not a flirt," Vin countered.

Josiah stopped both Chris and Buck as Ezra grabbed Vin by his upper arms and pushed him back against the wall. "And furthermore, you are extremely aggravating. Sometimes I swear you trying to drive me completely insane!"

"Well it would be a short trip," the Texan said in a breathless voice. "Ezra ..."

Whatever Vin was about to say was swallowed by Ezra as he captured his lips and thoroughly kissed him. Josiah and the others saw Vin wrapped his arms around Ezra and held him tight. Just as they were about to leave and give them some privacy Ezra tore his mouth from Vin's and stepped away.

"I'm ... I'm sorry," Ezra whispered and pressed a gentle kiss to Vin's lips. "I shouldn't have done that," he went on to say then stepped completely away from him. "After all, you don't ... want what you've already had. Do you," Ezra stated then turned for the door. "I'll be gone by the end of the week," he told them as he walked out.

Josiah watched as Vin bit his lip then slid down the wall to sit on the floor. Vin drew his knees up, folded his arms across them, and rested his head on his folded arms. Josiah got to his feet and was gonna walk over to him, but Chris was already there taking the younger man into his arms.

"What did that bastard do to you?" Chris wanted to know.

Vin's head snapped up and with tears running down his face said, "Nothing! Ezra didn't do anything. It was me! I h..hurt him. And I don't know how to make it right."

"Well, hell, Vin you won't ever make it right by avoiding him," JD pointed out.

"Do you want him to leave?" Nathan asked.

"No!" Vin exclaimed.

"Well, then get off your skinny ass and go make him listen," Buck said and hauled the younger man to his feet, but Vin balked as he pushed him toward the door.

"I can't! I need more time," Vin told them and hurried out of the room.

Josiah shook his head. "Time is something you don't have a lot of," he said to no one in particular.

Two days later as Ezra and Josiah worked in the study JD came in and said, "Hey Josiah, there's a Federal Judge here to see you."

Ezra froze and felt the blood drain from his face. "What are you going to tell him?"

"Depends on what he asks me," Josiah said then followed JD.

The Southerner watched him go and then discreetly followed him down the hall to the living room. Ezra came to a stop as he heard someone walk into the kitchen. Placing his finger to his lips, he silently told Vin to be quiet. Ezra noticed that Vin's shirt was unbuttoned and he enjoyed the nearly unobstructed view of his chest. He stored it all away with the other memories he had of Vin. With a shake his head he continued down the hall so he could hear the conversation going on in the other room.

Vin had done a lot of thinking the last two days and had come to the decision that he wanted Ezra. No ... he needed Ezra and that he would not let him leave. Vin was well aware that Ezra was physically attracted to him so he planned to take full advantage of it. He would bombard the Southerner with sensations and dare him to deny them. Vin Tanner had found the perfect man for him and his name was Ezra Standish. Suddenly Vin grinned as he realized the fun he was gonna have convincing Ezra that he was Ezra's perfect man.

Stepping into the hall Vin's grin widened as he saw Ezra hiding behind the door. He stepped up behind him and after a moment's hesitation Vin pressed his body against Ezra's and closed his eyes at the rightness of having Ezra in his arms. Their bodies fit together perfectly. Vin sighed as he rested his head on Ezra's shoulder and tried to concentrate on the conversation taking place in the other room.

"Of course, I remember you, Judge Travis. What can I do for you?" Ezra heard Josiah ask.

"I'm looking for a mutual friend of ours," an older voice replied.

"I'm sorry, but I wasn't aware that we had any mutual friends," Josiah said. Ezra had to bite his lip to keep from moaning as he felt Vin step up behind him, not close enough to touch, but close enough so that he could feel the heat coming from his body.

"Ezra Standish."

"Ezra. Now that's someone I haven't heard from in a while."

"I'm sorry to hear that," the Judge said. "I was hoping that he had contacted you ..."

"Why? Is he in some kind of trouble?"

"When isn't he in trouble?" Ezra heard Josiah laugh and closed his eyes as Vin pressed up behind him and wrapped his arms around him. He almost moaned when he felt Vin smile against his neck. "Seriously though, the little shit has resigned and ..."

"Ezra resigned? I thought his job was his life." The Southerner could barely follow the conversation, hell he could barely even think, with Vin so close.

"Well, apparently his job hasn't been too nice to him lately. I need to find him, Josiah."

"Why? Is he in danger?" Ezra felt Vin tense behind him and he placed his hand on top of Vin's and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

"No more than usual. Look if you talk to him, please have him contact me immediately."

"I will. You'll do the same?"

"Of course. Thank you for your time, " the Judge said then the two men walked out.

Ezra pulled out of Vin's arms and without looking at him went back into the study. He had a lot of thinking to do.

Vin just shook his head, removed his shirt, and followed right on his heels.

The Southerner was standing at the window when the door opened behind him, but he didn't bother turning to see who it was. He could tell by the electricity in the air that it was Vin. "Go away Vin. I have some thinking to do ..."

"Are you saying you can't think with me around?" Vin asked tossed his shirt into a chair then stepped closer. "I don't want just one night with you any more Ezra. I want every night," he told him.

Ezra closed his eyes as Vin once again pressed up against him. He shivered as Vin's fingers skimmed along his sides. Ezra tensed as those fingers gripped his waist and tried to turn him around, he resisted. It was a token resistance at best because his body knew what it wanted. And it wanted to feel Vin against it. It wanted to wrap itself around Vin and never let him go.

"Screw it," he said in a harsh whisper then turned, grabbed Vin, and gave him a fierce soul-searching kiss. Never releasing his prize Ezra pressed forward forcing the man in his arms to back up until he bumped into the desk. With a sweep of his arms the Southerner sent everything flying then laid Vin on the now empty desk top.

Tearing his mouth free Ezra kissed and nipped his way across Vin's jaw then down the side of his neck. He felt hands tugging at his shirt, but paid them no mind as he pressed his tongue against Vin's rapidly beating pulse. Ezra growled deep in his throat and laid claim to the writhing body beneath him.

Vin arched up trying to get closer. "Ezzzrrraaa," he moaned and reached for the button of his jeans.

They were both lost in their passion and didn't hear the knock on the door, but they couldn't ignore the concerned voice. "Ezra, I ..." Josiah stopped in his tracks causing Chris to run into to him from behind.

Ezra looked up and froze at seeing Josiah and the rest of Vin's brothers standing in the room. "Oh, shit," he swore, but instead of moving Ezra buried his face in Vin's neck for a moment. "Ya should have locked the door," Ezra whispered in his ear.

"Door?" Vin repeated clearly not understanding what Ezra was talking about.

The Southerner slowly pulled back and motioned toward the door.

Vin rose up to his elbows and looked over his shoulder and swore, "Oh, shit."

Taking a deep breath Ezra took Vin's hands and pulled him up to him then pressed a gentle kiss to his lips and stepped back.

With a smile on his face Vin grabbed Ezra's by his belt loop and fastened his jeans back up. His smile turned into a grin at the color that flooded Ezra's face.

Chris cleared his throat, "Sorry to interrupt, but we want to know what's going on and we want to know now!"

"What? Do you wish to know my intentions?" he asked with a smile. Looking at a grinning Vin Ezra went on to say, "I have every intention of f ..."

"Ezra!" Vin exclaimed with a red face and slapped his hand over Ezra's mouth.

"No," Chris replied with a smile. "So long as you don't hurt Vin, whatever happens between the two of you is just that between the two of you," he told them. "We want to know what's going on with the judge."

Ezra opened his mouth only to have Josiah interrupt him.

"This is my family Ezra and I need to know if their in danger."

The Southerner squared his shoulders and told him. "I would never endanger you or your family, Josiah. And I resent the fact that you think I could."

"Are you gonna call him?"

"No ..."

"Why not?! He said it was important." Josiah walked up to him and grabbed his arm. "Dammit Ezra talk to me!"

Ezra jerked his arm free and bellowed, "NO!"

"I can't help you if you don't talk to me," the older man told him. "You can trust me, Ezra."

"And I do. For the most part." Ezra took one of Vin's hand and held it tightly in his, "I ... wouldn't know where to start."

"Try the beginning," Josiah suggested. "What happened at the warehouse? How'd you get stabbed?"

"The warehouse has nothing to do with this," he said and released Vin's hand. Running both hands through his hair he sighed and said, "That was just the straw that broke the camel's back. I was stabbed during an exchange gone bad. It happens all the time. I resigned because I'm tired of looking over my shoulder. Tired of trying to protect myself from both sides."

"I'm sorry it came to that Ezra. What's the Judge so worried about?"

"I'm scheduled to testify at a grand jury in a couple of weeks," Ezra said it as though it was no big deal and turned to look out the window. "Travis probably just wants to make sure I'll be there."

"Will you?" Buck asked.

"Most definitely. Even if I have to crawl ..." The sound of an approaching vehicle made Ezra pause. "Shit," he swore and reached for the gun stripped to his ankle. "We got company," Ezra said as he dropped to his knees. "They have the judge. I'm sorry I brought this onto your family."

"What do we do?" Nathan wanted to know.

"Whatever they tell you. Try not to worry. I'll get you out of this," he promised then grabbed Vin and gave him a hard kiss then winked at him before crawling over to the other window that lead to the back of the house.

"Where are you going?" Vin asked as he followed Ezra to the window.

"I gotta get to my car," he replied then opened the window, removed the screen, and climbed out.

"I'll come with you," Vin offered.

"No!" Ezra said in a harsh whisper. "No, Vin you stay here and help protect your family."

"Ezra be careful."

The Southerner nodded his head then slipped out of sight.

Continued in Reckonings