This is the sequel I sorta promised to Valentine. This also goes out to Lumina who keeps sending Buck to whisper in my ear, now tell him to leave me alone cuz I have other stories to finish!
This is a sequel to The Art of Loving, which is a sequel to The Art of Kissing. It's dedicated to Valentine, Lumina and all the wonderful people on the Mag7 lists.

Sequel to: The Art of Loving

Ezra headed out of the door of his room as fast as he could manage without it appearing rude. What had he been thinking of, what foolish thoughts had been going through his mind? He had thought about seducing young JD, thought about it even though he was interested in someone else, what kind of a person did that make him. The thoughts were whirling in his mind and he wasn't paying any attention to where he was going so hitting a body shouldn't have been such a surprise, but it was. The only thing that was more of a surprise was who the body was -- Buck. //Oh gawd, anyone but Buck,// was the thought that ran through his mind. "Ah beg your pardon Mr. Wilmington, ah was not heeding my direction of travel therefore it is mah own misdeed to have so erroneously collided with your fine personage."

Buck stood looking at Ezra while the words rolled around his brain. "Ezra, did you jist say that you ran into me cuz you weren't payin' any mind as to where ya was goin'?"

"Why yes, that is the thought that I was trying to convey."

"That's real scary."

"It's 'real scary' that I ran into you?"

Buck shook his head and started laughing, that deep down, from the stomach laugh that always drew everyone's attention, especially Ezra's. //I will keep my hands to myself, I will not grab him, throw him to the ground and make love to him right here on the street. I am a stronger man than that!// The thought ran through Ezra's mind, this is what he had been thinking of when JD had asked about kissing, this image of Buck, laughing and smiling and //Oh gawd! I need to get out of here// now his eyes were twinkling and smiling along with the rest of his face.

"I'm sorry, didn't mean to laugh, wasn't laughin' at you Ezra. No, the real scary part is that I understood what ya said. Didn't mean that I didn't have ta work at it a bit, but I did understand it, means I must be learnin' some of them five-dollar words a yers. What in the hell am I ever gonna do with that, don't have much of a use for that many big words." Buck reached out and put his hand on Ezra's shoulder. "So where was you in such a hurry ta be that ya weren't payin' no mind as ta where you was goin'?"

Ezra found himself telling himself to breathe. Wasn't it a normal function, should his body have to be reminded to do this? No, but it was the proximity of the one person he had been thinking and dreaming about, the one person who would in no way be interested in him. A weak smile crossed his face, "Ah was headed nowhere in particular, just felt the need for a little fresh air."

Buck frowned, "Are you okay? You feelin' poorly?"

"Ah am just fine Mr. Wilmington, ah just decided that ah needed to remove myself from the Saloon and take a constitutional. Ah believe that ah'll head over to the livery and possibly take a ride."

"To where?" Buck looked at Ezra's puzzled look before re-asking the question. "Where ya ridin' to?"

"Oh, no place in particular, just out," Ezra waved his hand toward the edge of town, "out there somewhere, somewhere quiet. A place me and my thoughts can be alone."

"Yer sure yer okay? Ya sound a little, sad maybe. If'n ya need someone ta talk to I'll be at the jail fer awhile. I am a good listener! Maybe ain't got no answers but sometimes jist havin' someone ta listen ta yer woes is enough."

Damnit, did the man have to be so kind, it was hard enough being around him as it was. If he started caring then it would become nigh on impossible to be around him and not tell him the truth. How would he deal with that, the ultimate ladies man being told that a short southern conman wanted him. Wanted him in every way that he could get him, lusted after him, hell even loved him. Needed to just be around him as much as possible, whether anything ever happened or not. No, the moment that Buck knew that would be the moment the friendship was over, he could live without Buck's love, but he couldn't live without his friendship, without being able to see him everyday. No, it was best this way, best that he just hold it all in, he was a master at not letting his emotions show, he wasn't about to forget how when it was so all important. "Ah thank you for your generous offer, but ah do believe that a little fresh air and time to think will suffice. After all it isn't as if ah had any life-changing decisions to make. Ah'll see you later at the Saloon perhaps, maybe for a game of chance?" //Please say yes!//

"Sure, have a good ride then." Buck tipped his hat and started walking off before turning, "You seen JD? I ran into Miz Nettie earlier and she said Casey was lookin' fer 'em. Something about needin' ta say good-bye."

"Ah saw him earlier in the Saloon," //Gawd did I see him earlier, if you only knew what I had been doing with the boy you'd kill me!// "but I'm not sure where he is now."

"When Josiah relieves me I'll go lookin' fer him and see what Casey wanted. Like I said, have a good ride and I hope you figure out what ta do 'bout yer problems." Buck tipped his hat before heading towards the jail.

Ezra headed for the livery to saddle his horse and head out for his ride.

"Heya Buck!"

"Heya Josiah, here ta relieve me?"

"Yep, how's our friends behavin'?" He motioned towards the cells where the two prisoners were locked up.

"They been real quiet and good, too bad all of our prisoners ain't this well-behaved. You seen JD at all?"

"Nope."

"Ezra mentioned he'd been at the saloon, guess I'll mosey on over there and see if he's around. You want me to have Inez send you and them back somethin' ta eat?" Josiah just sat back in the chair and nodded yes. "Have a good evenin' then, I'll see ya later."

Buck thought about where to look for JD as he left the jail, //Guess I'll start with the saloon, if nothin' else I can order up dinner for Josiah and them two boys locked up.// He reached the saloon and wandered in. "Heya Inez darlin' got a favor ta ask and a question." The hot-headed bar manager wandered over to him. "Is it possible to have some grub sent over to the jail fer Josiah and them two we got locked up, and you seen JD anywhere today?"

"First, I am not your darling! Second, yes I can have someone take some food over to the jail. Third, you just leave JD alone, he isn't feeling well."

Buck's head shot up at the last statement, "Is he sick, did someone take him over ta see Nathan? What's the matter with him?"

Inez poured him a drink and waited for the questions to end, "I think it isn't a sickness of the body, but the soul. Of course by now it probably is maybe a little of the body." Buck stared at her with a puzzled look. "JD came in here earlier after talking to Senorita Casey, seems that young Casey is leaving Four Corners and going traveling with her Tia from San Francisco. She told JD good-bye and then he came in here and started drinking with Senor Chris, then he came and asked if there was a empty room because he was drunk and needed to sleep it off."

"JD said Chris was drunk and needed to sleep it off? What's so different about that?"

Inez reached across the bar, removed Buck's hat and swatted him with it. "No you idiot, Senor Chris said JD was drunk and needed someplace to sleep. I told him that the room at the end of the hall was empty, he helped JD up and left I suppose. Poor JD, he must have been heart-broken. He never drinks so it must have hurt him very bad to make him get drunk."

Buck just shook his head at the thought of the kid drinking like that. "What the hell was Chris thinkin' of, lettin' him drink like that. I'm gonna go check on JD and then I'm gonna go find Chris and give him a piece a my mind." He nodded his thanks at Inez and headed for the stairs.

Buck lightly tapped on the door, "JD? You okay Kid?" He waited a minute and tapped again, "JD? Inez told me you'd been drinkin', you feelin' okay?" He was starting to worry, maybe the kid was real sick and couldn't answer. He climbed back down the stairs and went over to Inez, "He ain't answerin' me, I think he's sick. You know JD don't drink, so it wouldn't take much booze ta make him real sick," he looked expectantly at Inez.

"Alright Buck, I'll give you a key. But I'm only doing this for JD." She went into the backroom and returned with a key. "If you need Nathan, yell down and I will send for him."

"Thank you Inez." He took the key and headed back up the stairs stopping once more in front of the door. "JD? Yer beginnin' ta worry me kid. If'n ya don't answer me right away I'm comin' in ta check on ya." No answer so Buck unlocked the door and turned the door knob.

The first thing he noticed was the smell, that wasn't the smell of illness, it was the smell of lovemakin', had JD brought one of the workin' girls up here to ease his heart over Casey leavin'? Buck walked over to the bed where he could see a lump under the covers and the tops of two heads. A blonde, that surprised him, he always figured JD was partial to brunettes, maybe he was wrong. "JD, son, you okay? Looks like you finally solved that little 'virginity' problem. How you feelin'?"

A tousled head popped up from the covers and promptly pushed the blonde head further under the same covers. "Buck?! Whatcha doin' here? Ya need ta leave now!"

"Inez told me that you'd been drinkin' so I figured I'd best check on you. Decided there were better ways to mendin' a broken heart than drinkin' I see. So who is it? A blonde, I saw that much. Let's see is it Mary Louise? Fifi? That new little gal Gwen? So, how was it boy, ya gonna tell me?"

JD slid out of the covers and winced before reaching for his clothes. "You really need ta leave Buck, ya shouldn'ta done this and come in here. She's... she's real shy, that's it, shy! We best be leavin' now."

"You feelin' okay, buddy? I saw that look a pain. What happened ta ya? Hey, darlin! You best be gettin' up and gettin' ta work gal. Don't want ya to get fired now, do we?!" He leaned over and swatted the form in the bed on the ass. Suddenly there was a revolver in his face and an angry lookin' Chris Larabee behind it.

"You ever swat my ass again Buck and it'll be the last thing you do. Now JD asked ya to get out, so get out!"

Buck looked from the naked Larabee to the dressing Dunne and bells went off in his head. He turned to Chris and ripped the gun out of his hand and tossed it to the floor. He pulled back his arm and let fly with a murderous punch to Chris's face. "You goddamn son-of-a-bitchin' asshole. What in the hell did you think you were doin'? You take a sweet kid like JD and you fucked him, didn't you? Answer me you cocksucker?" He pulled Chris out of the bed and started slamming him against the wall. "Oh, but maybe you forced JD ta do that part of it, Inez tole me that he was drunk. DRUNK! I oughta beat the shit outta ya! Actually ya son-of-a-bitchin' bastard I think I will kick the shit outta ya!" By this time Chris was starting to lose consciousness, but not once had he lifted a hand to Buck. "WHY CHRIS, WHY? Why'd ya take advantage of him, you couldn't get laid any other way? I know that ain't true, so WHAT WERE YOU THINKIN' LARABEE?!?"

Suddenly there was a weight on his back and he let Chris's limp body drop to the floor while he reached over his shoulder to pull the weight off of him. It was JD and he was in tears. "It's okay, JD. He ain't ever gonna hurt you again, I'll make sure of it kid!"

Next thing Buck knew he was hitting the floor, knocked down by a punch from JD. //Who'da thought the kid had such a good right hook?// "What in the hell did you think you were doin' Buck? I told ya to leave but you just wouldn't go. Now... now you've beat the shit outta yer best friend. What goes through your mind sometimes Buck? Let's get a few facts straight here, okay? Was I drunk? Hell yes, but not so drunk that I didn't know what I was doin'. Chris asked me more'n once if I wanted ta do this and I told him yes! Did he take advantage of me? Hell no! I'm the one that started the whole thing, not Chris, me! I seduced him, and I don't regret it one damn bit. Did he hurt me? I ain't never been treated with such care since my momma died. This ain't about sex Buck, it's about love. I love Chris and he loves me, and if you don't like that, well it's too damn bad." JD walked over to Chris and pulled him into a sitting position. "How you feelin'?"

Chris moaned before answering in a whisper, "like shit, i feel like shit. guess he didn't manage to kick it outta me, he only turned me into it." He reached up with a shaky hand and ran his hand over JD's cheek. "i'm sorry, i never meant to cause problems between you and buck, i ain't worth it."

JD's eyes started tearing up, "Buck, you best go and get Nathan," he told Buck. Not turning his head at all so as not to dislodge the hand stroking his cheek. "Yer wrong you know, you are worth it. Buck will either learn to deal with it or he'll have to learn to do without me in his life. I don't want ta have ta choose between the two of ya, but if I do, I choose you Chris!" He yelled back at Buck once again. "Buck I tole ya to go get Nathan, after that maybe it's best if you jist stay out of our way fer awhile. I ain't feelin' real friendly towards ya at the moment."

Buck looked at the scene in front of him, "JD?"

"I said git Buck. Make sure ya send Nathan back."

Buck headed out the door and down the stairs. He stopped at the bar and asked Inez "Do you think someone could go for Nathan, I... I jist need ta git outta here fer awhile. They need Nathan." He looked at Inez with such a look of pleading and confusion that the woman couldn't resist.

"Jose, run over to Senor Nathan's and tell him to bring his medical bag and come here. Someone has been badly injured and needs his help." She never took her eyes from the tall lawman's face all the while. She had heard the conversation from upstairs, everyone in the saloon had, //Thank God there was only me and a few of the working girls. They're all so fond of Buck, they won't say anything to anyone.// "I'll make sure that everyone gets taken care of, you go now, you need to think on this. It will be okay Buck, just you wait and see."

Buck smiled shakily before answering her, "No, it ain't never gonna be okay. I don't know if I can forgive Chris, we been through a lot, but this might be more'n I can handle. Tell the others that I'm gonna leave town fer awhile, I need to work this through in my mind. I... I hope Chris is okay, I really do. Tell him I'm sorry. Tell JD, that I'm sorry. I... I gotta go now." He turned and left the saloon at a rapid pace.

She shook her head and looked to the heavens, "Madre dios! Please god, look out after him, look out after all seven of them. Don't let this be the thing that divides them."

Ezra rode out of town toward an area where the creek fed into a pond. It was a good place to sit and think, shade from the trees provided a place of serenity aided by the trickling sound of the creek. He needed to think about what had happened between he and JD, he needed to get his feelings for Buck under control, he needed... hell, he needed a drink! He pulled his flask from his pocket and took a good swig, felt the burn run down his spine to his stomach, felt a few of his fears fade.

What had he hoped to accomplish with young Mr. Dunne? Nothing! The truth was he had just been transferring his own feelings for Buck to the closest person he could find, as if somehow they would find their way from JD to Buck. Not that Buck would want to know anything about them anyhow. No, it was time to display some of that famous 'poker' face and lock those feelings away inside. His mother had always told him that 'love is for suckers and marks', he'd believed that to be true for so many years. Here he was though, in love with Buck Wilmington, leave it to him to pick the most inaccessible person. He knew Mr. Tanner had spent time among the Indians, he surely understood that love transcends gender, he possibly would have stood a chance with him, //But noooo Ezra! You pick a ladies man to fall for. LADIES man, not MANS man.// He slid down next to a tree and proceeded to bounce his head off the tree several times, hoping to beat a little sense into himself.

//No Ezra, accept it, deal with it, and get on with your life. Alone!// Alone, that seemed to be the key word in his life, alone. It's how he had lived his entire life, alone. For the first time he had friends, people that worried about him and shared their lives with him and expected him to do the same. Like Buck, worrying about him feeling sad and offering him a ear to hear his problems and a shoulder to help carry the burden. The only problem being of course that he was the problem. No immediate solution came to mind, so Ezra just settled back against the tree and tried to clear his mind and, as Josiah would say, search for inner peace.

Buck couldn't get out of town fast enough, he needed someplace to think and he knew just the place. He was a little surprised and even a little more upset to see a horse near his spot. When he got closer he could see that it was Spade, Ezra's horse. Apparently this was where Ezra came to think also. He tied up Rogue next to him, JD always laughed about the damn horses name, no matter how many times he'd been told that the horse was already named when Buck had gotten him. //Boy always says it was fate that I got that horse cuz he and I were both rogues...// No he wasn't gonna think about that now. Maybe if he was lucky Ezra would leave and let him think in peace.

He rounded the trees and saw Ezra sitting down, leaning against a tree, "Heya Ezra."

Ezra's head popped up, he'd been so deep in thought he hadn't heard the ladies man come up on him. "Mr. Wilmington, what brings you to this spot of our area?"

"Prob'ly the same thing that brung you. Need ta think."

Ezra looked at Buck's face, something was very wrong. "What is the matter Mr. Wilmington? You look as if you've lost your best friend." He did not expect what happened next. Buck slid down the tree to land next to him and proceeded to start crying. Not just cry, but heart-wrenching sobs of pain and anguish. "Buck, my gawd, what has happened, what is wrong? Is it JD? Chris? One of us? What has happened?" No answer came, only an escalation of the tears. Ezra turned and took the man into his arms and held him like he had only ever held him before in his dreams. In his dreams though they were always happy and Buck was not happy, far from it. He stroked Buck's hair thinking how soft it was and how nice it felt in his hands. //Ezra, get your mind off of that, he needs comforting now.// He just held him and slowly rocked in place until he felt the flow of tears slow and finally stop.

"Buck, what is the matter? Is there anything I can do to help?" Buck just shook his head and held on a little tighter. "Ah'm sorry, but you are frightening me, what could be so wrong that it would bring you to a state such as this?"

Buck started laughing, not the way he laughed in Ezra's dreams, this was a painful laugh, an angry laugh. "It's funny, ya'll said it looked as if I'd lost my best friend and I prob'ly have, both a them."

"Please explain that statement Mr. Wilmington?"

"What happened ta Buck, I liked that better."

"Alright, Buck would you please explain that statement? What do you mean you have, both of them?"

"I meant just what I said, figure after today Chris 'n JD won't never talk ta me again."

"What exactly happened?"

"I beat the shit outta Chris."

Ezra just looked at him, waiting for the punchline, surely this was a joke. When none appeared he asked, "What do you mean, you beat the shit out of Mr. Larabee? Why on earth would you do something like that?"

"It seemed like a real good idea at the time." Buck gave a weak smile before continuing on. "If I tell you the whole story will you keep it under yer hat? Don't know just how much Chris and JD are gonna say 'bout it."

"You have my word Buck."

"I went lookin' fer JD ta tell him Casey'd been lookin' fer him, checked at the Saloon and Inez tole me that he been drinkin' with Chris and was drunk. Kinda pissed me off, Chris lettin' the kid drink, he knows he don't do that much, he shoulda stopped him. Anyhow she tole me that he was upstairs in one of the rooms sleepin' it off. I convinced Inez ta let me have the key, cuz he weren't answerin' and I was worried 'bout him, he don't drink much ya know so I figured he was feelin' pretty bad by then. I let myself in and you could smell sex in the room. Ya know how it smells after ya spent time makin' love?" Ezra nodded and Buck continued, "Anyhow I could see two bodies in the bed, figured the kid had decided ta drown his sorrows with a sweet young thing, only thing is it didn't turn out ta be that at all."

Buck got up from the ground and started pacing, "I swatted the other person and tole her she'd best be gettin' back ta work, turned out it wasn't one of the working girls, it was Chris!" Ezra closed his eyes, //Oh shit!// It took me a coupla seconds ta put it all together, him and JD, naked, stink a sex everywhere. I... I kinda lost it!"

"What exactly does 'kinda lost it' mean Buck?"

"It means purty much what yer thinkin' it means. All I could think of was Chris takin' advantage of JD. JD's just a kid and Chris, he's been around long enough ta know better. I... I think I hurt him bad, real bad, I just wanted ta kill him. JD stopped me, told me he wanted it, they're in love. Told me ta call Nathan and then ta get the hell away from them, so I did, I made sure Nathan been sent fer and I left. Don't now where I'm gonna go from here, figure I can't go back there, not after that."

Ezra just shook his head, "What were you thinking of Buck?"

Buck started laughing again, "Funny you should say that cuz that's pretty much what JD said too. Told me ta get outta his life."

That didn't sound like Mr. Dunne, he was kinder and more charitable than that. "What exactly was said, the actual words, not what you think you heard, but what was said? Think about it before you tell me."

Buck sat back down next to Ezra, "JD said he'd known what he was doin', that he'd started it, that Chris didn't hurt him and that they was in love. Then he told me that if he had ta choose, he was gonna choose Chris."

"And what did Mr. Larabee have to say?"

"Not a whole hell of a lot, he didn't even try to stop me from beatin' on him, he told JD that he was sorry 'bout comin' between us, that he wasn't worth it. JD tole him that he was wrong, that he was worth it."

"Now think about what you've just said, nobody said anything about not being your friend. JD merely said that if forced to choose he would choose Chris. Chris sounds as if he feels like he does not deserve the happiness in his life, do you believe that to be true? Will you force JD to choose between love and friendship? Ah'm going to head back into town and let you have some peace. Just think about what was said and what you really think. Is it a problem for you, two men being in love, making love?" //Please, if there truly is a god, don't let him tell me no! Let me pretend there is a chance for me.//

"No, that ain't a problem. I grew up in a whorehouse, you see all kinds there. My momma taught me that love, real love was so rare, so special that no matter the shape or gender, if it came yer way then you reached out with both hands and grabbed it and held on tight. It ain't as though I ain't never slept on that side a the sheets, been a lot more women in my life, but there've been a few special men."

Ezra's head popped up as Buck said this, a kernel of hope started trying to put down roots. "Well, you just think a while. Ah'll make sure they know you're okay." He swung up into the saddle. "It will be okay Buck, just wait and see."

Buck started laughing again, this time it was more of a lighter, happier laugh. "Ezra, what's with you repeatin' everybody's sentences today. That's what Inez tole me just afore I left."

"Well, now you've heard it from two different people, believe it Buck."

Buck watched him ride off and then settled down to do some serious thinking.

Ezra set out for town, taking a meandering route, something that afforded him more time to think. The trail that he followed would lead him by Nettie Well's homestead, now that Casey was gone it might be a good idea to look in on the older woman and see if she needed anything. He would never admit it to anyone, but he actually liked the old woman, she had a lot of strength and the fact that she had taken in her niece to raise only raised his esteem of her.

As he neared the ranch he could hear shouting, he spurred Spade on and found himself riding into trouble. Several armed men were shooting at the house and yelling for Nettie to come out, she was yelling back what they could do with that idea and taking a few shots of her own. He pulled his gun and managed to kill several of the men and wound at least a few more before feeling a sharp pain in his side. He glanced down to see blood coming from a hole in his side, someone had managed to hit him. He felt someone at his back pulling at his jacket and jerking him from the saddle, then he hit the ground with a thud. He closed his eyes for a brief moment and marshaled his strength before opening them to look a large rather ugly man in the face.

"Can ah help you with somethin' my dear man?" Appearances were everything and he was not about to let this prime example of a cave-man know that he was in pain.

"You know that ole bat in there?"

"If you are referring to Miz Wells, then the answer would be yes. If you think that holdin' me will convince her to come out, then you are very incorrect. The truth is that she does not care for me overly much."

"Well, guess we'll see about that. You best hope yer wrong mister, guess if not, yer gonna die." The man grabbed him and pulled him out in front of the house where he could be seen. "Old lady, if you don't come out of there then we're gonna make sure this here friend of yours gets hurt real bad." Nettie stuck her head out just enough to see what was going on. "I mean it, you come out or Mr. Fancy-Pants here is gonna be hurtin' real bad."

"Truth is boys, he ain't exactly what you'd call a friend, acquaintance maybe, but friend, no." Ezra smiled at that, Nettie was sticking to her own beliefs. Reassured him that everything was not wrong in this world yet. Besides he was relatively sure that this gorilla had no intentions of letting either himself or Nettie leave alive, if he could make sure she stayed in the house then she had a chance. Himself, he didn't have much of one, the funniest thoughts started to cross his mind. Things like who would look after his horse, which poor soul would have to tell his mother and would Buck make his peace with Chris and JD. That had surprised him; the youngest and most innocent of their group and the most jaded. JD hadn't seen much of life and the world and Chris... well Chris had seen way too much of both. Maybe in a strange way it made perfect sense, Chris could ease JD's path into aging gracefully and JD could help Chris find some of that peace and serenity that he longed for.

He felt a fist slam into his face, "Pay attention to me asshole!"

"When you manage to say something worth heeding, then and only then will ah give you a bit of my attention."

"Old lady, you watchin'? Yer friend, is about to get hurt even worse'n he already is. He's bleedin' bad from that bullet, let's see if we can make him hurt more." Two of the remaining group of men each grabbed one of Ezra's arms and started pulling his jacket and shirt off. "Wouldn't want yer fancy clothes to get ruined, would we now."

"Your solicitude for my haberdashery is gratifying. A little out of line for common thugs, but appreciated jus' the same."

They pulled him over to the corral and tied him up, face against the rails and spread-eagled, what ever was coming was not good. "One last time old lady, come out of we'll hurt yer friend."

Ezra yelled as loud as he could, "Madam, whatever happens, do not emerge from your domicile. Ah believe that no matter what you do or what happens, these ruffians have every intention of killing me."

"Shut up!" the thug yelled at Ezra. "I told ya lady, what happens now is yer fault."

Ezra could hear some talking going on behind him as he tried to prepare himself for whatever was coming. He heard it before he felt it, the unmistakable sound of a bull whip heading toward his back. The only thing worse than the sound was the feel, it had been years since he'd heard one, an uncle had used them on his slaves when he was a child. Well the slaves and a young nephew who refused to do as told. He felt the leather bite into his back and the force of the blow bounced his head off the railings. Before he'd had time to catch his breath there was another blow and yet another. He could feel and see the world slowly turn to gray and then black.

Vin had decided to ride out and check on Miz Nettie, after hearing Chris and JD's stories and helping Nathan haul Chris into the clinic he needed some fresh air and time to think. He'd lived among the Indians so the idea of two men loving each other wasn't anything he couldn't deal with, it was just the idea of JD and Chris. He chuckled to himself, it had better be love else Chris would be killing JD when he never slowed down or stopped talking. Chris never talked, JD never shut-up, guess it was just gonna take time. He even understood Buck's part in all this, hell they all knew he was like a goddamn mother-hen with the boy, he just let his head overload his brain. He acted before thinking, nothing new or out of the ordinary for Buck.

He was coming up on Nettie's ranch when he heard a noise that didn't belong, a bull whip, who in the hell would be using a bull whip at Nettie's. It wasn't good whatever was happening. He rode in as far as he could without causing any alarm, then he dismounted and grabbed his rifle and snuck in as close as he could. Somebody was tied up on the corral and this big guy was using the whip on him. Vin wondered who the guy was and started looking around and felt his blood freeze, he'd seen two things that made him realize who was getting the whipping. There was Ezra's horse and one of the guys was holding some clothes, on the top was that damn red jacket Ezra was so proud of. Vin's blood went from frozen to boiling in a few seconds, nobody hurt one of his family and got away with it, nobody.

He stepped forward and raised his rifle, "Hey asshole, you with the whip." The man slowly turned towards Vin, "Put it down and raise yer hands, all a you."

"And if we don't?"

"Well ta be truthful, I'm hopin' ya don't so I got a good excuse ta kill ya." Vin's voice was calm, even, "Now, I ain't tellin' ya no more, drop it and live or don't and die. Yer choice." The big man laughed and lifted the whip and turned back toward Ezra; there was one shot and the big man toppled like Goliath. The other men all grabbed for there weapons and in just a few shots they'd joined their boss on the ground. The only man left standing was the man holding Ezra's clothes, he slowly laid them on the ground and lifted his arms. "Miz Nettie," Vin yelled to the house, "you okay in there?"

The door opened and the spry old woman came out the door. "Don't just stand there, do something with that one and then help me get Mr. Standish in here." She headed out towards the corral where Ezra was tied up, Vin headed for the other outlaw and grabbed him.

"Pick up them clothes and head towards that corral," he poked the man with his rifle. When they'd reached Ezra he handed his rifle to Nettie and told her, "Keep yer eyes on him, maybe you could take them clothes and we'll jist make him help carry Ezra inta the house." She took the rifle and clothes and kept a bead on the man all the while Vin was untying Ezra and then while the men carried him into the house.

She opened up Casey's room and motioned for them to put him down on the bed before handing Vin back the rifle. "Vin, I need you to get me some water, we need to try to get these wounds cleaned out." Vin grabbed the other man and headed out for the kitchen, returning shortly with a bowl of water. Nettie'd gotten out some bandages and towels and once the water got there she started trying to clean out the wounds. "Vin, there's too many of them, I'm not a doctor, I'm just an old ranchwoman. You need to go get Nathan, Ezra needs more help than I can give him. You go and take that man with you and see if someone can make him talk." Vin looked at the bed and his friend, "Go! I'll do the best I can, but the sooner you go, the sooner Nathan will be here. Go!" She waved towards the door and Vin grabbed the outlaw and headed for the horses and town.

Buck never was a complicated man, he'd thought about his actions and accepted that he'd done something wrong, he even knew why he'd done what he'd done. He always treated JD like a kid, but somewhere along the line, the kid had grown up and become a man. He'd refused to see that, didn't want to accept that JD had known what he was doing, which meant the only other person he had to blame was Chris. Chris had been around long enough that Buck thought he should have known better, but the truth was that he hadn't done anything wrong. It had been a decision by two grown men, Buck hadn't wanted to accept that, so he had just ignored what he didn't want to see. The only thing he could hope was that once he begged for Chris's and JD's forgiveness they'd understand and forgive him. He didn't want to lose either one's friendship and if that meant accepting that they were together and supporting them as much and as long as they needed, then that was what he intended to do.

He decided that he'd hid out long enough, it was time to go back to town and face the music. He mounted up and started riding home.

He wasn't even half way when he noticed dust, someone was riding hard and riding fast, usually a sign of trouble. Two people, they slowed and Buck rode to catch up. "Vin, what'n the hell are ya doin' and who's this feller?"

Vin looked at him before asking, "Buck, I cain't explain nothin' but I need ta get back ta town and fetch Nathan, will you ride back to Nettie's and help her all ya can?"

Buck just nodded his agreement and Vin and the other man picked up the pace once again and headed for town. Buck turned his horse and headed back towards Miz Nettie's, hopefully someone there could tell him what was going on.

He got to Nettie's and saw Ezra's horse and some bodies laying by the corral, he ran for the house and reached for the door to find a rifle in his face. "Buck Wilmington, are you trying to get yourself killed?"

"Nettie, what in the hell happened here?"

"These nice gentlemen," she motioned to the bodies, "thought that we should have a talk about giving up my ranch, don't know who they worked for or what they really wanted. Mr. Standish rode in and managed to shoot two or three," she pointed towards some bodies further out, "but they shot him. They tied him up to the corral Buck, and used a whip on him, I sent Vin for Nathan, it ain't good." She opened the door and led him into Casey's room, Ezra's back looked like a piece of shredded meat. "I cleaned everything out as best as I could. I bandaged up that bullet hole, bullet went right through and was just getting ready to put some cool, wet bandages on his back when you came."

Buck looked at her and then and Ezra before asking, "What do'ya need me ta do?"

"If you could do something with that horse of Mr. Standish's, I know how much he cares for the animal. Then if you could do something with those bodies, at least get them out of sight maybe. Then you could come sit with Mr. Standish while I fix up some coffee and food, it's gonna be a long night."

Buck headed out to the horses and rounded up all of them, he pulled the equipment off the dead outlaws and turned them loose in the corral after filling the trough and throwing out some hay. He led Rogue and Spade into the barn and removed their equipment and brushed them both down before making sure they had hay and water. He got them each some grain and fed it to them before wandering out to the bodies. He grabbed Miz Nettie's old farm horse and rigged up a rope and pulled all the bodies down a coolie at the back of the barn. Then he finally headed back in to the house where he washed up and went into Casey's room and sat beside the bed.

He gently took Ezra's hand and held it in both of his hands, running his thumbs up and down his fingers. For the first time he was actually looking at Ezra and seeing him. He had strong hands: long, nimble fingers, hands that were good for gambling, good for using a gun, good for caring for children, horses and animals. "Why is that Ezra, why do children and animals like you so much?"

" 'Cuz they see underneath that armor of his. He wears that attitude and those fancy clothes of his like armor and adults like ourselves never think to look any further. Both kids and animals seem to see right through that and see the man inside, a good man who doesn't want anyone to realize he's a good man. Why do you suppose that is?"

"You ever met his ma?" Nettie shook her head, "Didn't think so, if you had than you wouldn'ta had ta ask that question. He was saving money ta buy the saloon, actually he did buy it but his ma cheated him outta it. Told him it was her duty as a mother 'cuz he wasn't stayin' sharp. All his life he's been taught that ya never let anyone get close ta ya, 'cuz friends are just a 'liability'. Times we've been on the trail together and he's had some bad nightmares, all I could ever tell fer sure is they were from his childhood and he was being hurt. See his ma just kinda dumped him wherever unless she needed him fer a con, so he never had much of a childhood growin' up. I grew up in a whorehouse, but I think I saw more love than Ezra ever did. Somthin' like that has ta scar a man inside his heart, but we're doin' the best we can to make him realize that we're there fer him, that we care."

"That explains that."

"Explains what?"

"When I was tryin' to clean out his back I noticed some old whip scars. Completely healed and almost faded out so you can't see them, he had to be pretty young when he got them. I know he's from the south, reckon somebody he stayed with owned slaves, maybe figured the boy was just one of them and treated him the same way. I'm gonna go keep a watch out for anymore of those men, I ain't got nothin' for pain 'cept some whiskey. Here's fresh water, pull those rags off his back and dump them in that bucket, there's fresh ones in the drawer. Get them real wet that will help ease the pain. Anything else ya need?"

"I brung in our saddlebags, look in Ezra's and see if he's got that flask of his, a few shots of whiskey won't stop the pain, but it might make it a little easier ta take." Nettie nodded and left the room. She returned just as Buck was pulling off the old rags, she set down the flask and a cup of coffee and headed back to the porch. Buck wet down the new ones and gently laid them on Ezra's back, hoping that he'd stay unconscious but that was just too much to ask. He'd just finished when Ezra's eyes started twitching and then he barely heard a quiet moan. Buck sat next to him on the bed and put one hand on each shoulder, he had an idea of what was going to happen next and he wasn't wrong.

Ezra could hear voices coming from a distance, but they seemed to be getting closer. Just as the voices were nearing they stopped, but then something else started... pain! Excruciating pain! Why was he in pain, what had happened? Miz Wells! Ezra tried to pull himself up to check on the woman, but someone had him pinned down, who was doing this and why? He heard a voice next to his ear, soft and gentle, like the man it came from. "Ezra. Ezra, it's okay, just relax and lay back down."

"miz wells, is she okay, what happened?" came the soft whisper.

"Nettie's fine, you ain't doin' so good though. Do you remember anything?"

Ezra's brow wrinkled up in thought and suddenly the memory hit him. "they used a whip on me, but ah didn't yell, ah never yelled then and ah wasn't goin' ta yell now." Suddenly the pain came washing over him, like the waves in the ocean and he knew he was going to drown. He gripped Buck's hand as tight as he could and tried to stifle the moans.

"I ain't got nothin' ta give ya fer the pain 'cept a little whiskey." Buck reached with his free hand and grabbed the flask, he tucked it under his arm and held it while he removed the lid with his free hand, he wasn't willing to ask Ezra to let go of his other hand, the man needed the strength it seemed to give him. He set the lid down on the bed and gently poured a swallow in his mouth, when that was gone he gave him a few more until the worst of the shaking had stopped. He sat the unstopped bottle on the table next to them and started running his hand through Ezra's hair, trying to soothe him like you'd soothe an injured animal.

Ezra's eyes drifted shut, probably from a combination of whiskey and pain, but whatever the reason Buck was grateful. He started his inspection of Ezra once again. The first thing was how much muscle the man had, he never seemed to do any work, but he sure had the muscles some how. His hair, his hair was so soft underneath Buck's hand, like silk. He couldn't help but notice how well shaped his buttocks were when he'd been changing the rags on his back, Nettie'd done stripped the boy naked as the day he was born and Buck had liked the view. He started thinking about the man's smile, those little dimples that appeared when he was happy and then there was that little gleam of mischief that always seemed so much at home in those green eyes. Buck started laughing, he was sizing up Ezra the same way he sized up the ladies, only Ezra wouldn't, couldn't be a fling. He was too fragile for that, not that Ezra would agree with that, but the boy was fragile where love and caring came into play.

Ezra's eyes cracked open, "what is so funny Buck?"

"Me, sometimes I'm such an idiot. When yer feelin' better we need ta have a long talk about what it takes to keep you happy." Ezra had such a confused look on his face, it was kinda cute. Buck leaned down and gently kissed him, "Ezra Standish, I'd like your permission to court you." Ezra's mouth dropped open, //Damn I finally found a way to shut him up!//

"Excuse me? I don't believe ah heard you correctly. Did you just ask for mah permission ta court me?"

"Yup."

"Ah'm not some delicate Southern Belle, ah do not need to be courted."

"Yup."

"Yup what?"

"Yup, ya need ta be courted. I know ya ain't some sweet little flower of a woman. Yer a strong man, capable of lookin' out fer yerself. But everyone needs a little romance in their lives. If I know anything it's romance. All ya need ta do is say okay, it ain't like yer gonna be up fer too much fer awhile. Might as well let me have my say, I plan on doin' it anyway, with or without yer okay, with it'd be a lot easier on both of us."

"Mr. Wilmington--"

"Buck."

"Mr. Wilmington--"

"Buck!"

"Fine then, Buck! Has anyone ever told you that you are somewhat pixilated. In plain English even you can understand, you are quite mad!"

"Yup."

"Yup what?"

"Yup, I've been told I'm a little crazy."

"Are you doin' this to make me insane? Speaking in one word sentences, ah know that you are capable of formin' full sentences with multiple words."

"Figure in a relationship ya gotta have someone talkin' and someone listenin', and you'll do enough talkin' fer both of us. Thought I'd take lessons from Vin and Chris on one word sentences."

Ezra rolled his face down into the pillow, but Buck could still hear what he said, "Ah do not need this, ah did not ask for this, why me Lord?"

Buck reached out and started stroking Ezra's hair, enjoying the softness, the feel on his hands. "I know you ain't had an easy life, hell none of us have. I also know there ain't been a lot of love in yer life, I mighta been raised in a whorehouse, but there was always lots of love from a lot of people. I ain't askin' ya ta suddenly believe that I love ya, all I'm askin' is fer a chance to convince ya that I care and that you deserve ta be loved. Ya ain't this worthless self-centered gambler that everyone thinks ya are, underneath all that armor is a kind, generous, lovin' man. Every kid and animal knows that, they all see yer gentle soul inside. Ya remind me of a wild rose, beautiful flower, beautiful fragrance, but surrounded by lots of thorns. The thorns are there to protect the flower from harm, but if you know how to avoid the thorns, then the prize can be yours. Just give me a chance ta get past those thorns, that's all I'm askin'."

"Ah must be pixilated myself, all you will end up provin' is that ah really am exactly what ah appear ta be, you will end up bein' greatly disappointed Mr. W-- Buck. Yes, if this insane scheme of yours is how you wish to waste your time, then who am ah ta stop you."

Buck could see Ezra tighten his jaw as the pain rolled over him, anybody else would be screaming or crying, but Ezra hardly even showed the pain. Nobody should have had to grow up being taught that every little emotion is bad, that you have to hide everything away. He kept up stroking the gambler's hair and started making soothing sounds. "Shh, it's okay, Nathan'll be here any minute now. He'll get ya fixed up good. We'll get ya back ta town and you can share the clinic with Chris, ah hell, forgot I had ta deal with that too. I'm either a brave man or a stupid man, having men like JD and Chris mad at me, askin' a man like you ta go courtin', in my case, reckon it's cuz I'm stupid. Once I talk ta Chris I know we can work it out and be friends again, JD, now that's a little harder. It's always easier ta forgive someone that hurts you than it is to forgive someone that hurts someone ya love. And then there's you, it takes a pretty foolhardy cowboy ta think he can catch the attention of a..."

"not a fool, brave, maybe a bit stupid, but not a fool." Ezra's voice was quiet and he had to unclench his jaw to talk.

"Buck, how's he doin'?" Nettie asked from the doorway. "I see riders comin' in, figure it's Vin and Nathan, he hanging in there?"

"thank you madam, i am."

"Just call me Nettie, figure at my age I oughta get what I want." She winked at him and turned to greet the visitors.

Nathan and Vin came hurrying in the room, Nathan went over and picked up the wet rags and took a look at Ezra's back and then he removed the bandage from the bullet wound. "Ma'am, would you boil me up some water. I need to get those wounds cleaned out real good, I'm gonna need ta stitch some of them up." Buck had gotten up and moved out of Nathan's way so Nathan leaned over Ezra and looked at his eyes and felt for a fever. "How ya doin' Ezra?"

"fine."

"Nathan, he's hurtin' real bad. The pain eases up fer a bit and then it just seems to sweep over him. Ya know how he is about tellin' us things like that."

"Yeah, I know. I figured as much. I'm gonna give ya some laudanum Ezra, more than I usually would fer pain. It oughta put ya ta sleep so's I can work on those wounds without causin' ya anymore pain than I gotta." He reached in the saddle bag Vin held forward to him and pulled out a bottle and spoon. He carefully measured out several spoonfuls and got Ezra to swallow them before turning back to the wounds. "I'm gonna start cleaning these out, but ya oughta be asleep before it gets too bad." He took the hot water Nettie brought him and added some carbolic to it and started gently cleaning out the smallest of the wounds, just as he'd said Ezra was out before he started in on the worst ones. Vin and Buck helped him until he finally had cleaned everything out and gotten the wounds stitched up.

"I'd like ta get him back ta the clinic, Buck would you ride into town and bring back a wagon?"

"I got a wagon we can use Nathan. If it weren't for Ezra I'd probably be dead now, I couldn't have held them men off much longer." Nettie turned to Vin, "Go out and pile the wagon up with hay, I'll get you some blankets to put on top so we can make a bed for Ezra. Nathan, you go clean up, Buck, you go get the horses ready and then when the two of you get the wagon up here you can help Nathan load up Ezra." Within a few minutes they were ready and had the wagon standing by the door. Nathan had told them that they couldn't put any pressure on Ezra's back so he had to remain on his stomach. Vin and Buck each grabbed two corners of the blanket and pulled them up between them so Ezra was hanging in a sling of sorts. They carried him out to the wagon where Nathan was waiting, Vin handed his ends up to Nathan in the wagon and then climbed in and reached down and took Buck's ends and then they gently laid him down and covered him with a quilt. Nettie climbed in the seat and took the reins."

When they reached the clinic Josiah was waiting outside with a stretcher and they got Ezra on it and Vin and Josiah carried him into the clinic. Nathan stopped Buck with a hand on his shoulder before he could follow them in. "Buck, I don't think that's a real good idea. Chris and JD are in there and JD ain't feelin' too kindly towards you right now. If you could see ta the horses and maybe get some information out of that prisoner it would help."

"It's okay Nathan, I understand. Would you just tell Chris that I'm sorry? Tell JD the same thing too, I'll talk to them later and we'll work it out. Tell Ezra when he wakes up that the first step is gifts, he should expect the first shortly."

"Sure I'll tell him, is he gonna understand what yer talkin' 'bout?"

"Yup." Buck nodded and went back to the wagon, he helped Nettie out and she went to the hotel and he took the horses and wagon and got them tucked in their stalls and taken care of. Next stop the jail and the weasel that had hurt Ezra. The thought crossed his mind that torture probably wasn't allowed, but what nobody knew wouldn't hurt them.

The prisoner couldn't wait to talk, all Buck had to do was tell him that Vin was on his way to the jail to 'discuss' the problem and the guy couldn't talk fast enough. Seems they were hired by a rancher to try to chase off the smaller ranchers so he could buy their land and expand his own ranch. Buck sent a telegram to Judge Travis telling him about it and what had happened and headed for the saloon.

He met Vin there, told him about what the weasel had said and settled down with a bottle of whiskey. "How's Chris?" he asked Vin.

"Figured you'd ask how Ezra was?"

"Got an idea of how Ezra is, don't know how bad I hurt Chris."

"Not as bad as could be, he's got a concussion, couple a broken ribs, dislocated shoulder, bruised collar bone. Nathan says he'll be out of the clinic in a week, which means he'll be out a few days. Don't mean ta be nosy Buck, but you mind tellin' me what the hell happened?"

"Yeah I mind. Truth is I need ta talk with Chris and the kid first, owe them both an apology. Don't know that they'll ever forgive me, but I gotta try."

"You never know Buck, maybe just explaining what happened would help." Buck's head popped around when he heard JD's voice. "So?"

"What happened? You mean other than the fact that I was an asshole? Somewhere ya grew up and I didn't notice it happenin'. So instead of treating the two of you the way I'da treated any of the others I treated ya's like it was a friend takin' advantage of my kid brother. I was wrong on both counts. Ezra gave me a speech and made me think about what happened. I couldn't accept the fact that you were makin' yer own choices as a grown man so I blamed everything on Chris. I want you to know this before I say the rest, neither of ya did anything wrong! Love is special and when you find it then you have to hang onto it. Two grown men each found love in a friend and showed it by makin' love with each other. I was wrong, you were right. I didn't give you a chance to explain, and even when you tried I didn't listen. I'm sorry JD! Your friendship means a lot to me, so does Chris's and all I can hope is that the two of you will eventually forgive me."

"You don't have to wait Buck, I already forgave you. All you had to do is ask. Chris, you'll have to talk to him yourself, but I don't want to lose your friendship either, I just didn't want to have to choose because I'd pick love over friendship anyday."

"That's the way it's supposed to be JD. Now that yer here you can help me think of a gift fer Ezra."

Vin looked at Buck before asking, "Why, cuz he's hurt? You ain't never got no one anything before."

"No, it ain't cuz he's hurt. It's cuz we're courtin' and the first step is gifts. I was thinking whiskey, but he can't drink while Nathan's workin' on him. Flowers would get me killed, so any ideas?"

"How about soap?"

"Vin, even I know soap ain't a good present. When did you start courtin' Ezra?" asked JD.

"Today. Finally took a good look at the man and decided I liked what I saw."

"Buck, he ain't as tough as he looks, you hurt him and you got me ta deal with." Vin glared at Buck as he made the statement.

"I know, he's kinda fragile, especially where love's concerned, ain't been much of it in his life. So why soap?"

"Not just any soap, I overheard him asking Missus Potter the other day if some soap she'd ordered had come in yet, some fancy kind that smells good."

"Guess I'll head over there and see what Gloria knows. Maybe then I'll go check on both of Nathan's patients and if Chris feels up to it, he and I could have a little talk."

Buck headed over to the general store to see if Gloria Potter knew anything about soap, he bought lovers and lovers-to-be a lot of things, but soap? Of course none of those people were Ezra. He spotted Gloria behind the counter, "Gloria? What do ya know about soap?"

"Any kind in particular Buck?"

"If I said Ezra and soap, would that help?"

Gloria started chuckling, "Yes, that would help. I told him I had a shipment of some new lavendar soap coming in all the way from England. It just got here today. Nettie told me what happened, is Ezra going to be okay?"

"Nathan says he is, and Nathan ain't wrong 'bout these things. So would it be possible for me to get a bar of that soap, maybe it'd help Ezra feel better."

Gloria gave him a sly little smile that made Buck wonder just how much she knew. "I've also got some of the other soap he'd ordered in."

"Why would he need more'n one bar?"

"The lavender is for bathing and your body, this other soap is for your hair."

"Soap, just fer hair?"

"I laughed the first time he had me order some in, but after I tried it once I started using it all the time. Most of the ladies in town buy in now too. After all Ezra does have beautiful hair, it's such a shame it's usually hidden under that hat. Don't you agree Buck?"

"Yes ma'am, I surely do." Buck smiled thinking of just how soft that hair really was before realizing where he was. "At least I'm sure it would be if it mattered to me." Gloria just smiled that sly little smile again, damn that woman had ta know somethin'. "Why don't ya give me a bar of each and I'll make sure he gets it." She wrapped up the soap and handed it too him before telling him, "When he can start eating real food again let me know, I'll send over a pie, that boy does like pie."

"That he does. I'll let you know, and thank you for advice about soap." Buck tipped his hat and headed over to Nathan's clinic. He lightly tapped on the door and Nathan answered, "I just came ta check on yer patients, how're they doin'?"

"Ezra's still asleep, Chris is awake and doin' better."

"Any chance I could come in and talk to him?"

"Don't you upset him, if'n yer gonna get him all riled up then just leave now."

"I promise, I came ta apologize fer being an asshole."

Nathan nodded and opened the door, "Since yer here, I'm gonna go get somethin' ta eat, I'll be back later. You stay here or get someone else, don't leave them alone, ya hear."

"Loud and clear." Nathan left the room leaving Buck alone with the patients. Chris was sitting in a chair looking out the window and didn't seem to notice Buck's arrival or Nathan's departure. Buck slowly walked over to him, "Chris." He didn't want to startle him. "Chris, I came ta talk to ya."

Chris slowly turned his head to look, "Thought you said everything you had to say earlier."

"Nope. I came ta apologize ta ya. Already tole JD that I was sorry for bein' an asshole. Now I need ta tell you the same thing."

"Don't matter."

Buck grabbed a chair and pulled in over in front of Chris. "It matters ta me. I didn't mean the things I said, well maybe I meant them at the time, but I was wrong, damn wrong. The more I though about it, the more I realized that you and JD are perfect together." Chris gave him a curious look. "Look, the kid's got way too much energy, and not near enough common sense to look after himself. You got the way ta burn some of that energy off, and maybe along the way you can teach him a few survival tactics so he don't die young. 'Sides you both need someone to love and look after, if the kid's managed ta get through that wall you built after Sarah and Adam then I owe him more than I'll ever be able ta pay back."

Chris blinked back a few tears, "Do you mean that?"

"Chris, yer the best friend I've ever had, JD's the second best, nothin' could be better than my two best friends findin' love with each other. It's time fer you to start livin' again, and if JD makes ya do that then all I got ta say is why didn't I shove ya's together sooner."

"But you said..."

"I know what I said, it was just the shit from my ass comin' out my mouth. I can't believe I did this to ya, god, I am so, so sorry Chris. Can you ever forgive me?"

"Figure it was payback for a lot of years, I hurt you worse than this and more times, but yet you never let me get too far down before you pulled my ass back out of the dirt. I just didn't want to have to choose between you and JD, I love him you know."

"I know, it's gonna be okay." Buck leaned forward and touched his forehead to Chris and then reached around and gently hugged him. "I need ta go check on Ezra, I brung him a present."

"You brought Ezra a present, but not me, I thought I was your friend."

"You are, but I ain't courtin' you." He stood up and pulled the chair over next to Ezra's bed, ignoring the muffled outburst from Chris. "Hey darlin'." He leaned over next to Ezra, gently kissing his forehead. "You in there?"

"Ah am."

"I brung you a present."

"Brought."

"Huh?"

"You brought me a present."

"That's what I said."

"Nevermind, what did you bring me."

"Well I though about flowers," Ezra wrinkled his nose up, "I thought about whiskey," Ezra looked hopeful, "but I knew Nathan'd never let ya have it." Ezra looked disappointed. "So I brought you soap."

Chris burst out from the other side of the room, "Soap? I know you can do better Bucklin, your disappointing me."

Buck turned and glared at him before turning back to Ezra. "I have it on the best of authority that you were completely out of this," He held up the hair soap. "When Nathan says it's okay, I'll help you wash yer hair with it." Ezra smiled at that thought. "And I have it on the same authority that you've been waiting for this to come in, close yer eyes." He waited until Ezra's eyes were closed and he opened the other bar of soap and held it under his nose, thinking how good it really did smell. "When Nathan says it's okay, I'll give you a bath and wash every part of yer body 'til he smells as purty as that soap." He leered at Ezra before gently kissing him on the lips. As first kisses go it wasn't one of the best, but taking into consideration the location and the condition of the kissee, it was actually fairly good.

"When Nathan gives me the okay to go down to the bath house ah will indeed let you help me bathe."

"By then I could be old and gray."

"Now that ya'll mention it, ah do belive ah see a few gray hairs there, Buck."

"I don't think so, best look again darlin'."

Neither of them noticed JD come through the door and head over to Chris. Chris motioned to the other bed and JD helped him stand and slowly walk to it. Chris motioned for JD to sit down of the bed and once he was comfortable, Chris eased himself down, so he was sitting with his back to JD, leaning into the younger man's strong body. He quietly whispered to JD, "Did you know about Buck courtin' Ezra?" JD smiled and nodded. "I think he's got his hands full, finally met his match."

"Buck or Ezra?" JD asked.

"Both!" chuckled Chris as he leaned back a bit more and made himself comfortable. "Just like I've met mine," he smiled up and JD leaned down and gently kissed him. They settled in and listened to the other two men.

"I know I ain't got no gray hair, so you best look again."

"Lean down here, oh my mistake, it's only dust. Don't you evah take a bath Buck?"

"I take enough, I never had no complaints from the ladies."

"Ah am not one of your ladies."

"No, yer all male. Got a feelin' you cost a lot more ta keep than the ladies." Ezra opened his mouth to reply but Buck leaned down and kissed him. Not so gently this time, with more passion and love, "But I figure yer worth every cent!"

Ezra looked at him smugly and replied, "Yes, ah am!" The other three men in the room started laughing, Ezra just pulled Buck's head down for another kiss.

"Darlin', I need ta find Nathan?"

"Why?"

"Find out if'n ya can leave yet, I got plans fer you!"

Several long weeks later Buck was finally getting to take his gambler from the clinic. He'd had to settle for kisses and some gentle petting, but hopefully that would be changing. Nathan was busy lecturing Ezra. "You still ain't gonna be able ta lay on yer back yet, not 'til ya heal up a bit more. But you could prob'ly lay on yer side now instead of just on yer stomach. If'n ya got any old, soft undershirts ya might want to wear one under yer shirt, either that or don't get them shirts starched and ironed fer awhile."

Ezra cocked an eyebrow and started to make a remark, but Buck beat him to it. "Nathan, shame on you. Don't ya'll know, 'Appearances are everything'." Ezra smiled at that.

"Well that's all fine, but they're also gonna be mighty rough against that healin' skin. I want ta see ya at least twice a week to see how yer healin' up."

"He knows, Nathan. I know. I got one question fer ya? Can he have a bath?"

"Don't see why not. Just make sure all the soap gets rinsed outta those wounds, other than that it shouldn't be no problem."

"Thanks Nathan." Buck gently helped Ezra to his feet and started for the door. He knew Ezra still tired easily and had lost more weight than he could afford to, but Buck intended to solve that. Once down the stairs he headed for the bath house. "How 'bout we get ya a bath first, darlin'? That sound good?"

"It sounds wonderful, but they aren't open yet."

"I explained ta Thomas that Nathan was lettin' ya out and he said he'd let us in early so's ya could have a little privacy." Buck knocked on the door and was promptly let in. Several of the baths were filled and waiting. Buck whispered to Thomas who whispered back and nodded towards the rear. The two men shook hands and Thomas left, locking the door behind him.

"Dare ah ask what that was all about?"

"You could, but I ain't tellin', it's a surprise. Now, how 'bout I help ya undress and we get ya into that tub."

"Ah can undress mahself Buck."

"I know, but I figured it'd be more fun if I helped." He seated Ezra in one of the chairs and carefully removed his clothes, taking the time to gently massage each part of his body as it appeared. His toes and feet, his calves and outer thighs, his shoulders and arms. When he finished Ezra was wearing his birthday suit and a smile.

Buck helped him into the tub and turned to remove most of his own clothes, leaving only his britches on. At Ezra's cocked eyebrow he answered, "Don't want to get too wet." He reached in his coat pocket and removed a familiar package of soap. "I tole ya that I'd give ya a bath and wash yer hair. I always keep my promises, which first?" He held up the two bars of soap, Ezra pointed to the one for hair.

Buck grabbed a pitcher and gently leaned Ezra forward in the tub, dipping the pitcher in the water and pouring it over his head. Once his hair was wet, Buck lathered up the soap and started massaging it into his hair. Ezra leaned back and sighed, "Does that feel good darlin?" He nodded at Buck's question. "Well just relax and enjoy." It was probably a toss-up which of the two men was enjoying this more.

When Buck finally decided Ezra's hair was clean he leaned Ezra forward again. Grabbing the pitcher he poured water over his hair until all the soap had been rinsed off. The he grabbed a washcloth and the lavender soap and started lathering the up the cloth. He started with Ezra's back, gently cleaning the whip marks before carefully rinsing them out and leaning him back. He then picked up his left hand and washed it and his arm and rinsed it off before turning to the right one.

Once finished with his arms he moved on to his chest paying close attention to his dusky-rose nipples. Ezra lightly moaned, Buck rinsed him off and leaned down and ran his tongue over one nipple before sucking it gently into his mouth. He paid the same attention to the second nipple before lifting his head and kissing Ezra. He then picked up the washcloth and moved down to Ezra's feet.

"You are a very, cruel man, Buck Wilmington." Buck just chuckled as he soaped up Ezra's feet. He could hear the younger man purring, apparently the gambler had sensitive feet. From his feet he moved up to the calves of his legs and finally up to his thighs. As he gently washed Ezra's inner thighs, Buck could hear Ezra's breath growing shallower and faster. He looked up to see Ezra's head thrown back against the edge of the tub and his hands gripped tightly to the sides. He sat the washcloth to the side and reached down and gently palmed Ezra's balls, then more firmly rolled them in his hand.

Taking his cue from the sounds Ezra made, Buck slowly continued his exploration. He ran his fingers over Ezra's cock and felt it growing firmer. It wasn't as long as Buck's but it was a little thicker. He noticed that the color of it was closer to a purple whereas his own tended to be deep red.

Ezra dragged his head up from the edge of the tub and reached out one hand to pull Buck forward for a deep, passionate kiss. "Buck, ah swear, if ya'll leave me like this, ah'll kill you."

Buck chuckled, kissed him again and pushed Ezra's head back before turning his attention back to Ezra's cock. He started stroking, gently at first and then more firmly. He could hear Ezra mewling, the man had to be part cat, he reminded himself to check for a tail later. He could hear Ezra's breathing grow rougher so he started pumping a little harder and a little faster until he felt the gambler's body tense, spasm and slowly relax. Buck kept pumping until he had milked Ezra's cock of every bit of cum. He then picked up the washcloth, washed Ezra's groin and rinsed him off.

Ezra just lay in the tub, spent and muscles shaking when he felt a hand on his back and another under his knees. He opened his eyes to see Buck picking him up out of the tub and moving him to another. "Figured ya'd want ta soak awhile, might as well do it in clean water." The warm water felt good on his back so he stuck his feet out of the tub and slid down a bit. He felt Buck pick up his feet and put something under them to cushion them from the edge of the tub.

"Lift yer head a bit darlin' and have a drink." Smooth, cool whiskey slid down his throat. "Open up and have a bite." Fingers slid in and left a piece of food. Ezra chewed to find it was apple, fresh, tart and juicy. Next was a slice of orange, in amongst bites of various types of fruit were sips of whiskey.

The water had just begun to cool when Buck kissed him and offered his hand. "You 'bout ready ta come outta there? Thought we'd stop in at the saloon so you could talk ta everyone fer a bit and then it's up ta yer room."

"Ah'm not tired."

Buck kissed him again, "Who said yer gonna be sleepin'? I got plans fer you." He helped Ezra out of the tub and got him dressed. They had just reached the door when someone knocked, Buck unlocked it to find Thomas. He shook hands with the man, "Thanks Thomas, we're all finished."

Thomas turned to Ezra, "Glad to see your feeling better Mr. Standish. That was a brave thing you did, helping Missus Wells that way."

"Thank you sir. Nothing makes you feel better and more ready to face life than a refreshing bath. Ah appreciated how this must have inconvenienced you."

"I figure if the seven of you can risk your life for the people in this town and territory than the least I can do is come in early to do this for you." Thomas nodded his thanks and headed in to clean up so he could open.

Buck and Ezra slowly made their way to the saloon, once there they found the other five lawmen waiting along with some of the townspeople. Nettie Wells stepped forward and helped him into a chair. She turned to Inez, "Why don't you bring Ezra a drink young lady."

"He don't need no alcohol, he's still recoverin', either water or juice Inez." Nathan said.

Buck just smiled at Ezra, neither of them were about to mention the whiskey Ezra had just had. "I've got some fresh apple cider, would you like some of that?" Inez asked.

"That sounds lovely Inez," he answered. "How are you Madam?" he asked Nettie.

"Thought we'd settled this out at my place. It's Nettie. If you can save somebody's life then you should be able to use their name. I'm fine young man, you're the one who was hurt. How are you feeling?"

"Much better Mi... Nettie, now that I've been released from the care of our resident healer."

Inez brought the cider and they all sat around for a bit and talked until Buck stood up and announced, "Ezra just got out of the clinic and I think he needs a rest." He helped Ezra up and followed him slowly up the stairs to his room.

"You really don't intend for me to rest do you?" Ezra asked Buck once they were safely locked in his room.

Buck held Ezra's face in his hands, "No." He leaned down and kissed the smaller man. Ezra wrapped his arms around Bucks neck and returned the kiss, soon they were playing dueling tongues. Ezra moved his hands to the front and started removing Bucks coat. Buck moved his hands to Ezra's hips and allowed him to slide the coat off and lay it on a chair. Then Ezra started unfastening Buck's shirt, stopping between every button to slide his hands in and rub them over the skin revealed until the shirt was undone and removed. As he was doing this his lips kept going back to meet Bucks.

He ran his hands over Buck's chest spending time rolling the brown nipples between his fingers. Buck moved Ezra's hands, placing them on the fasteners of his pant. Ezra took the hint and slowly undid the pants, then pushed Buck down to sit on the bed while he removed his boots, pants and underclothes. Buck reached forward and quickly helped Ezra remove his own clothing and then lay back on the bed, arms stretched wide, inviting Ezra to explore. Being a smart man Ezra took the hint and straddled Buck's legs and started tasting. He started with lips and mouth, Buck tasted faintly like whiskey, then he moved down his jawline to his ears, pausing briefly to tug on an earlobe before moving down to his neck. He stopped at the juncture of his neck and shoulder to suck until he'd marked Buck with the sign of his passion. From there it was down to his nipples, he licked, nipped and tasted until they were swollen and firm. He kissed his way down his abdomen, running his hands over the firm muscl

"Buck, I want you to make love to me! I don't care if it puts pressure on my back, I want you to be inside of me when I come."

"Ezra, do you have any grease or oil?" Ezra climbed off the bed and took a jar out of the dresser and handed it to Buck, before starting to lie down. Buck grabbed him and pulled him back up. "Straddle me with yer head facing the footboard and then lean forward." Ezra did as asked. Buck opened up the jar to find a cream, he dunked his finger in and reached up and ran his finger around Ezra's crack before finally sliding the finger in. Ezra was purring again, but nope no sign of a tail so guess that answers that. Buck wiggled the finger around before removing it, adding more cream to it and it's neighbor and sliding both back in. He scissored the fingers and worked at opening up Ezra, he was long, but not real thick so that would help. Ezra was moaning softly when Buck removed the fingers, recreamed them and went back with three. A few moments of silence at first but Buck felt him relax and then started opening him up once again. When he rubbed up against his gland Ezra purred and tried

"Take hold of my shoulders and lean back against my knees, and when I tell you to, start sitting down." Buck reached behind Ezra and held his cock next to Ezra's opening, Ezra realized what Buck was doing and cooperated by lifting himself up on his knees. "Now," Buck said and started aiming himself into Ezra. When the head was in they both stopped, Buck's hands holding Ezra up until he felt the younger man relax and start easing himself down until he was seated and Buck was completely in. They both stayed still for a few moments until Ezra started rocking back and forth at first, then slowly lifting himself up down. Buck turned Ezra just a touch and the next time he slid down Buck's cock rubbed on his gland.

"Oh gawd, you feel so good in me." Both men were starting to get closer, Buck reached out and started stroking Ezra's cock matching the rhythm Ezra was setting. Buck felt himself slide into orgasm and Ezra followed, both men crying out in the heat of passion.

When Buck had returned to his senses, he slid Ezra to the side and went to the dresser and wet a cloth in the basin. Returning he washed both himself and Ezra down and then slid back into bed and pulled Ezra back on top of him. He could feel Ezra shaking and after feeling a few wet drops fall realized that the gambler was crying. "Darlin' what's wrong? Did I hurt you? I love you, I'd never mean ta hurt ya." He pulled Ezra's face up to his own and feathered kisses over it.

Ezra looked into his eyes before answering, "You really do don't you?"

"Really do what?"

"You really do love me, don't you. Ah don't think anyone ever has, not even my mother. Nobody has ever shown me this much care, this much concern."

"That's what ya do when ya love someone. Ya worry 'bout them when they're not around, you care for them when they are. See you ain't really alive until you let people into yer heart and they let ya into theirs."

"But ah can't do that. Ah don't know how."

"Darlin' yer wrong. Ya did that when ya put yer own life on the line fer Nettie. Ya did that when ya let Thomas show his concern fer ya by helpin' ya. Ya did that when ya told me that Chris and JD didn't hate me, I just had to ask fer forgiveness. Ya did that when ya let me bathe and feed ya today. Ya know all about love, ya just never realized that that's what it was. The best part of livin' is lovin'. It's an art, you get better at it the more you do it."

"Ah... ah love you Buck Wilmington. Ah am so glad ah agreed ta let you court me. You've won, ah'm yours, what ever you want ta do with me."

"Love ya, all the time we have on earth and then in heaven later."

Ezra yawned and snuggled into Buck's arms a little tighter and just before he dropped off to sleep he replied, "That sounds good, very good."