Five Dollars

It wasn't even sundown when Vin rode back into town. He grinned and waved at Chris sitting out in front of the saloon, but didn't stop there.

After he stabled Peso, he stopped by his wagon then headed straight for the bathhouse. Buck would be relieving Ezra at the jail just after sundown and he wanted to be bathed and changed and waiting on the jailhouse porch when Ezra came out.

He didn't want Ezra getting to the saloon before he had a chance to see him. The man could be plumb single minded when he sat down at the poker table... and Vin didn't want Ezra distracted tonight.

He took special care with his dressing, He wore his second pair of buckskin pants, along with the turquoise blue shirt that Ezra had bought him saying that it matched his eyes.

He was sitting in the chair on the jail house porch when Buck came over to relieve Ezra.

"Hi, pard!" The jovial cowboy greeted him, "thought Chris said ya rode out fer a couple of days."

"Come back." Vin replied leaning back in the chair, not even trying to hide the grin on his face. Hell, why shouldn't he be grinning? He was in love and not only that, but he *knew* for certain that the two most important people in his life, Chris and Nettie, were happy that he'd found someone... even if it was an unusual relationship.

"That was quick, you generally stay out a couple a'days at least." Buck said, trying to figure out why Vin looked so happy now. He'd really tied one on just a couple of nights before and he'd looked real unhappy when Buck had seen him ride out that morning, now here he was grinning like his face was gonna crack.

"Needed ta think... got done." Vin looked up at him with eyes that sparkled with happiness and good humor.

"Well, glad to see you looking happier." Buck clapped him on the shoulder and went on in to tell Ezra that he could go.

The gambler called back to Buck from the doorway, "I've already had to tell that miscreant in the cell by himself that if he did not keep his filthy mouth shut I would gag him. Please do so if he continues to spew forth vile comments."

The tracker's smile faltered a bit at the cold look and raised brow that Ezra favored him with, but he managed to say, "Hi, Ez."

"You have returned from your excursion, some what earlier than I had anticipated."

"Didn't need as much time as ah thought ah might." Vin shifted uneasily then taking a deep breath he thrust out his hand with a folded bit of paper in it. "Wrote this...."

Ezra

Emerald eyes

Neath winter's skies

Hold promises of spring

For a frost bit heart

That dares not

Of love's warmth to dream.

He felt his heart quicken as he read the carefully written words. He wasn't a hundred percent sure that he knew exactly what they meant but he *knew* it was a love poem, a love poem written for him by Vin. The name at the top left no doubt about that. He was fighting back tears as he said, "It's... it's beautiful but exactly what does it mean?"

"Means I want a chance, Ez. A chance to spend the rest of my life with yer love keeping my heart warm."

Ezra stood there, staring down at the poem. He wanted to believe that but... he had to know one thing. "Why did you leave this morning?"

Vin shifted uneasily then giving Ezra a serious look he asked, "Ya ever had frostbite?"

Ezra looked exasperated, "No, Mister Tanner, I attempt to avoid inclement weather when ever I can... but what has that to do with--" he broke off and glanced back down at the poem, raising a brow at Vin he asked, "Frost bit heart?"

"Yeah. Thing with frost bite is that after awhile yer get numb... it stops hurting... till ya get some where warm and start thawing out... then it hurts like hell. Feels like somebody's sticking red hot needles in ya."

He looked down into Ezra's eyes. "My heart's been alone in the cold for a long time, Ez. I was afraid ta care that much... right from the start... then Charlotte, she damn near froze my heart solid but you was there to warm me... thaw my heart out. Then when I realized what was happening, how much I love ya... I got scared, Ez. Started thinkin' about all the 'what ifs' and how bad I could get hurt if things didn't work out..."

Vin smiled at him, "Cause Ez, when ya got frost bite, ya gotta get warm and thaw it out or ya'll lose the... 'appendage'?" He looked at Ezra see if he'd used the word correctly.

When Ezra nodded, he went on, "I don't wanna stay out in the cold no more. Don't wanna go on living with a froze heart. I wanna love you. I want ya ta love me..." he trailed off the question in his eyes clear.

Ezra stepped closer, looking up into the beautiful blue eyes, eyes filled with hope and love... love for him, and answered the unspoken question. "I love you, Vin. Tanner. More than I thought I could ever love anyone." He almost leaned in to kiss the tracker then remembered where they were and glanced around, to see if anyone was watching them.

Vin smiled at him, "I know we gotta be careful. Lotta folks don't take to the idea of two men being in love...." He grinned suddenly, "We could go up the back stairs ta yer room...."

Ezra chuckled. "Indeed we could... Shall we, Mister Tanner?" He turned making a sweeping gesture for Vin to go first.

As Vin stepped off the porch he grinned and as he passed Ezra, said in a perfect imitation of the gambler's accent, "Indeed we shall, Mister Standish."

Ezra's soft chuckle sent warm tingles along his spine as the gambler followed him across the street, angling for the alley beside the saloon.

Chris Larabee, who was still sitting on the saloon porch reached up and tipped his hat to the two grinning men as they ducked passed him and into the alley. "Evenin'... boys." He greeted them with a grin.

"Chris." Vin did likewise, almost running into Ezra who had stopped in front of him to salute Chris.

Ezra started chuckling again as Vin's hands caught at his waist to steady them. Then the two men were hurrying on down the alley.

Chris leaned back in his chair and surveyed the street. Everything looked quiet. Laughter drifted back down the alley.

His gaze was drawn to the light in the window of the Clarion. Smiling he stood up and strolled across the street towards it. Wasn't all that bad to be old and in love either.

Ezra batted at Vin's hands with one hand while he tried to get the key in the keyhole of his door with the other. "Mister Tanner!" He said, trying without much success to sound stern, "This would be much easier if you could behave with a modicum of dignity!"

Vin continued laughing as his hands roamed over Ezra's body and he moved even closer to rub himself against Ezra's back.

Finally with a laugh, Ezra twisted away from him and shoved the key into his hands. "Here! You open the door!"

Vin tried to recapture him but Ezra grabbed his shoulders and turned him towards the door, "Now, Mister Tanner. The sooner you get it open the sooner we can get inside."

Vin finally relented and opened the door, turning back to grab Ezra and pull him into the room. He kicked the door closed behind them and backed Ezra towards the bed.

He pushed Ezra down on the bed and fell on top of him. He gazed down into the loved filled depths of the emerald eyes. "God, I love ya, Ez." He whispered softly.

Ezra looked up at him, smiling, "I shall never tire of hearing those words... nor of saying these... *I* love you, Mister Tanner." He reached up to brush soft fingertips across Vin's cheek.

Vin turned his head and planted a light kiss in the palm of the hand that had caressed him, then murmured, "I wanna make love to ya, Ez. Wanna make love ta ya all night long and wake up with ya in my arms... where ya belong."

"Let's get outta these things. Wanna see ya, every inch a'ya." Vin stood pulling Ezra to his feet and reaching to remove the gambler's gunbelt.

Ezra trembled at the touch and leaned in to the tracker, resting one hand on the other man's shoulder as Vin bent down to release the tie that held the gunbelt to his thigh.

Vin's fingers trailed along Ezra's thigh and across his stomach to the buckle of Ezra's gunbelt, drawing a sharp in breath from Ezra as they brushed across his straining cock.

Vin carefully reached around Ezra's hips, keeping the gambler in the circle of his arms as he removed the weapon, passing one end of the gunbelt from one hand into the other hand, which held the other end.

He leaned in and brushed his lips lightly over Ezra's, "Don't move. I wanna undress ya."

He stepped back and buckled the belt, moving away from Ezra to hang it on the bedpost where it would be close at hand.

Returning to Ezra, he ran a hand in a long slow caress down the front of Ezra's body from throat to waist, before reaching for the lapels of Ezra's red coat and carefully pushing it off the gambler's shoulders. He took the time to walk all the way over to the valet and carefully hang the coat up, smirking at the impatient little whimper that escaped Ezra as he again walked away from him.

He was deliberately drawing it out, taking his time. Ezra had once spent hours just teasing him, bring him almost off then stopping. He'd told a very frustrated Vin that anticipation was half the fun. Well Vin intended to give Ez a taste of his own medicine.

Noting that for some reason Ezra wasn't wearing his shoulder holster, he decided that the next item that he would remove would be the derringer rig. He took Ezra's hand in his and lifted it to his lips kissing the palm, eliciting a soft moan from Ezra. He reached to unbuckle the straps while carefully laving Ezra's fingers with his tongue.

As he moved away again, to lay the derringer rig on the dresser, Ezra groaned and turned to watch him.

Vin laughed giving him a puzzled look, "But... ya told *me*... anticipation is half the fun." He said innocently.

"Damn! I knew that would come back to haunt me." Ezra swore but the smile and the twinkle in his eye belied the words.

Vin moved back to the gambler and drew one finger along the same line that his hand had caressed before, from throat to waist, "Ya tellin' me ya can't take it?"

"Ah can take it." Ezra's voice was heavy with arousal and his accent thickened. His eyes were heavy lidded and his pupils so dilated that there was just a thin ring of emerald around them.

"Good," Vin said, "Cause we got all night and ah'm planning on ya doin' a lot of anticipating." He put his hands on Ezra's waist and leaned in to kiss Ezra's throat.

Vin trailed kisses up Ezra's neck from the top of the collar to his ear lobe then gently caught the earlobe between his lips and nibbled on it a long moment, enjoying the breathy sighs that the action drew from Ezra.

After a moment he moved back and began to tug at the ends of the string tie Ezra wore. It came loose easily and Vin smirked down at Ezra for a moment before wadding it up in his hand and tossing it towards the dresser so that he could begin unbuttoning Ezra's shirt.

As Vin unbuttoned the silk shirt he let his fingers delve under to touch and caress the warm skin there. He loved the feel of Ezra's skin. It was as smooth as the silk shirts that the gambler wore and warm... always warm.

Once the shirt was open all the way down the front and pulled from Ezra's pants he indulged himself in a few moments of kissing and caressing the exposed skin paying special attention to the tightly puckered nipples.

By the time he stepped back to carry the shirt over to the valet and hang it up, Ezra was swaying on his feet and Vin had to steady him for a moment before he could leave to hang up the shirt.

When he returned Ezra leaned in to him immediately, sighing at the contact. Vin held him for just a minute before guiding him backwards to the edge of the bed, "Think ya need ta sit down." He grinned. "I gotta take yer boots off anyhow."

Ezra could only nod, watching Vin with heated eyes as the tracker knelt in front of him to remove his boots and socks.

Vin sat them beside the bed and stood, his own eyes darkening with desire as he looked at the gambler. He leaned over and kissed Ezra deeply, pushing him back on the bed. He broke the kiss and moved down Ezra's body placing small kisses and nips along the gambler's chest to his belly.

His fingers made quick work of the buttons on Ezra's pants. His voice was husky with arousal as he rose off the gambler to say, "Raise yer hips, baby."

Ezra obeyed, a small thrill going through him at the endearment that Vin had unconsciously used.

Vin slid the pants and underwear down Ezra's legs and off him. He stood for a moment just looking at the gambler, "God, Ez! Yer so beautiful." He breathed standing, staring at the other man, so entranced that he almost forgot he was holding the gambler's pants in his hands until he moved to reach out to touch his lover and saw them. He tossed them carelessly over a nearby chair and climbed on the bed with Ezra, pulling him up and around so that they lay full length on the bed, side-by-side, with Ezra completely naked and Vin still completely clothed.

As Vin pulled Ezra into his arms and shifted them around on the bed, Ezra rubbed himself against the tracker, moaning softly. His leg rubbed along Vin's. The buckskin pants were soft but had a slight nap to them that felt good against Ezra's sensitive skin.

His leg moved up and over the mare's leg still in its holster and he moaned aloud. It felt somehow wicked and sinful to be lying like this, naked and vulnerable beneath the dangerous and deadly bounty hunter. He trembled with excitement and hoped that Vin would take him without undressing. They'd never done it like this with Ezra completely naked and Vin not only dressed but armed.

As if he could sense the cause of Ezra's heighten excitement, Vin reached between them and began to unfasten his pants.

"Yes! Please! Oh, God! Vin! Take me... take me now... like this... please..." Ezra was almost incoherent with need.

His desire fed Vin's and the bounty hunter moved more quickly, freeing his cock and shifting to reach for the small tin of grease that he knew would be in the bedside table.

He prepared the writhing man beneath him quickly and then smeared grease on his own straining erection before placing the head at Ezra's entrance and slowly forcing his way in.

Ezra shuddered as Vin slowly penetrated him. His eyes were open but Vin wasn't sure what he was seeing. The gambler's hands clutched at Vin's shirt, knotting in the fabric. His legs wrapped around Vin's waist as he tried to pull Vin even deeper into him. His incoherent mumbling was like music to Vin.

He bucked up against Vin, matching the tracker's thrusts. His hands tore at Vin's shirt and Vin felt buttons give and pop off. Sweat beaded on his skin, leaving it slick and slippery under Vin's caresses.

The only understandable word in Ezra's chant was "VinVinVin!" interspersed with whimpers and moans.

Seeing Ezra like this, reduced to a writhing, moaning mass of need and knowing that he was the one that Ezra needed, was all it took to push Vin over the edge. With a shout he froze, buried to the balls inside the gambler as his cum filled his lover.

Ezra cried his name one more time and climaxed almost in time with him, his cum spurting up over his chest.

Gasping he fell onto Ezra, then slowly tilted to the side, pulling Ezra with him, gathering the smaller man into his arms.

For several minutes they just lay there in silence with Vin holding Ezra close. Then Vin leaned over and kissed his tired lover gently and slowly released him.

"Ain't going no where... just gonna get my clothes off and clean ya up a bit. Ya just rest there." He leaned in to press a kiss to the gambler's forehead again before he moved off the bed. "I'll be right back, baby."

Ezra sighed contentedly and let his eyes drift closed again. He thought vaguely that he ought to hate that Vin called him 'baby' but he didn't. He liked it. It made him feel safe and secure.

Vin smiled down at him as he quickly removed his own clothes. He supposed he shouldn't have given into the desire to call Ezra 'baby' but it had come out so naturally and Ez didn't seem to mind. Besides he had the undeniable urge to cuddle and protect Ezra... not that he thought that Ezra needed to be protected. He knew that Ezra could take care of himself, was probably just as deadly and dangerous as Vin was... it was just that he wanted to do it anyhow.

When he had finished undressing he got a wet rag to clean Ezra up with. He sat on the side of the bed and lay a hand on Ezra's arm. "Turn over, Ez so's I can wash you off."

The gambler obeyed. Sleepy green eyes blinked up at Vin as the tracker carefully wiped away the remains of Ezra cum from his chest and abdomen.

When he was done and had tossed the rag in the general direction of the washstand he leaned in and kissed Ezra again, feeling the gambler's smile against his lips as he did. Pulling back a bit, he asked, "Happy?"

He lay down beside Ezra, pulling him into his arms, content to just cuddle and kiss for a while.

"Ya tryin' ta get rid'a me already?" Vin asked but the gentle, teasing tone belied the words.

"Ah'm sorry Vin, I didn't mean that Ah would try and hold on to you all the time. I know you need---"

"Shhhhh!" Vin leaned in placing a finger on Ezra's lips. "Ya just hush, now. Ah know what ya mean. Don't ya go apologizin' fer being happy and content in my arms. Makes me happy and proud ta know that ya feel that way...."

Ezra looked up at him, his face serious. "You do know that I don't want to change you... don't you? I love you the way you are. If you change, you won't be the man I fell in love with."

"Ah know... and the same thin' goes fer you, Ez. Don't you go turning inta somebody I don't know. I love you. I love the gambler. I love the conman. I love the educated man with a quick mind and quick hands. I love your hair and I love your eyes and that flash of gold when ya grin. I love the sound of yer voice and of your laughter. I got me a feelin' I'm gonna be writin' volumes of poetry just fer you. Poems won't nobody else ever hear. I'll whisper them in your ear when I hold you in my arms at night. Special words for the most special person in my life."

"Oh, Vin!" Ezra burrowed deeper into Vin's arms, burying his face against Vin's chest.

Vin could feel the hot wetness of tears against his skin right over his heart. He bent his head and kissed the top of Ezra's head. "I love *you*, Ez. Just like ya are. Don't want ya to change inta something else."

He held the gambler close as the silent tears turned into a deluge, stroking his back as he sobbed in Vin's arms. After a while the sobs tapered off and Ezra slowly regained his composure.

He still lay snuggled close as he whispered, "Thank you, Vin. Thank you! Nobody has ever wanted *me*, least of all just as I am. I can't... I can't remember a time when I wasn't struggling to be what somebody else wanted me to be, trying to find a way to satisfy someone else so that they wouldn't cast me aside."

"Ezra, I will never cast you aside. Never. I promise you this. You have my word... as a Tanner."

Ezra's head came up off of Vin's chest. He looked up at the other man with eyes filled with wonder. "As a Tanner..." the whisper was barely audible. Tears well in the green eyes again. "You gave me your word as a Tanner. Oh, Vin!" Ezra's voice was choked with emotion. He knew that Vin would never break his word as a Tanner, being a Tanner meant too much to the tracker.

Ezra swallowed hard. "Ah have nothing that means to me what your name means to you that I can swear by... but I promise you, that I will be faithful to you, for as long as I live."

Vin smiled at him and reached out to caress the tearstained face. "I don't need no oath from you, Ez.... Ya let me see ya without that poker face of yers. That tells me what I mean to you, that ya can be yerself with me." He leaned in to kiss the gambler tenderly. Lying back he pulled Ezra to him, so that the dark head rested on his chest.

Ezra snuggled in against him a smile playing on his lips. Somehow he knew that together, he and Vin could face anything. He wasn't foolish enough to think that there wouldn't be problems. There would always be problems. They both had pasts to contend with. The bounty on Vin's head wasn't going to just disappear. His mother would always be trying to drag him back into the life he'd known before he came to this town. Their job would continue to be dangerous and there would always be people who looked down on them but together... together they would face the past and the future... side by side.

Buck looked up from his breakfast at the sound of boots clattering down the stairs in the saloon, in time to see Ezra dancing down the stairs with Vin hard on his heels. He frowned. It was awful early for Ezra to be up... and awful late for Vin if the man had just gotten up... and it looked like Vin was chasing Ezra.

The gambler darted around the bar and out the back door with Vin still right behind him. Neither seemed to notice Buck and JD staring at them as they made their entrance and exit. Laughter drifted back through the door as it swung closed behind them.

Buck reached up and ran a hand over his mustache, thoughtfully. The last time that he had seen Vin the man had been sitting on the porch of the jail... The tracker had been freshly bathed and in clean clothes, making Buck wonder if he was off to see a lady... but he'd disappeared right after Ezra left... and now here he was coming down the stairs behind Ez.... From Ezra's room? If so then....

Buck grinned suddenly. "Well, now! That's more like it!" He muttered to himself.

"Nothing for you to worry about, Kid." Buck grinned at him and attacked his breakfast with renewed gusto. So *that* was why Chris had relieved him on patrol this morning instead of Vin. It was about time that the gambler and the tracker figured out that they were made for each other. It'd been obvious to Buck for a while that the two of them fit together like two halves of a whole.

He knew that Vin and Chris had become very close but he had never even considered that the gunfighter might be able to give the tracker the love he needed. Chris just didn't look at men that way. He had his eye on the lovely Miz Travis. But Ezra... well Buck had suspected from the beginning that Ezra preferred men. He'd been all too comfortable in that dress when they'd needed the distraction for Wickestown... and putting him in that dress had been Vin's idea. Yep. They fit together just fine.

Josiah looked up at the sound of laughter as he exited the church. Ezra was running towards the livery with Vin on his heels. Both were laughing.

Seeing Josiah the two men slowed to a walk and tried to suppress their laughter as they reached up to give him almost identical two fingered salutes.

Josiah shook his head, [Ah, to be young and in love.] He was happy for Ezra. The gambler had been so depressed lately. Now it seemed that he and Vin had found each other at last. He would have to make sure that the tracker knew that he would have to deal with him should Vin ever hurt 'his boy'. He grinned. Some days, being a dad it was worth all the trouble. It felt good to see his boy laughing and happy.

Vin caught Ezra in the livery, pulling him into an empty stall and kissing him soundly.

"Hummmmmm." Ezra sighed with pleasure at the kiss. Then drawing back a bit he asked, "Are you sure Mister Larabee won't mind us riding out?"

"Been real quiet Ez, since the last robbery attempt anyhow." He grinned at his lover, "'Sides he said I could ride out fer a couple of days yesterday so I don't see why he'd mind us taking a few days today." He kissed Ezra again. "I'll saddle the horses. Ya go see about getting us some grub."

They cuddled a few more minutes then pulled apart, Vin moving to saddle Peso and Ezra heading for the general store to see what he could find that he would like to take with them to eat.

Gloria Potter looked up as the bell on the door chimed and smiled as she saw the dapper gambler step into the shop.

"Good morning, Mister Standish." She greeted him, noting the happy smile and lightness in his step. He was feelin better. She had been concerned over how depressed he'd seemed lately.

His soft drawl was filled with happiness as he responded, "Good morning, Mrs. Potter. How are you this fine day?"

"I shall be going out of town for a few days... with Mister Tanner. I shall need some supplies."

He sighed, "The usual, I suppose... hard tack and jerky. Some coffee and sugar. A tin of honey, if you have some. A can or two of peaches."

"We have some fresh apples. Just in today from the Anderson's orchard." She suggested, knowing that Mister Standish did not really like the usual trail food and that he loved fresh apples as did his badly spoiled horse. When he happily added a dozen apples to the growing pile of supplies, she had no doubt that the horse would get its share of those.

Amy and Josh came running in and greeted the gambler. He spent several minutes talking with them, letting them know that he would be out of town for a few days and that the chores that they usually did for him would not be necessary for the duration.

When he turned back to the counter, Gloria said, "I made a pumpkin pie last night. Let me get you and Vin a piece to take with you." She disappeared into the back of the store where her kitchen was and soon returned with not two but four nice size slices of pumpkin pie wrapped in brown paper.

As she placed the supplies into a gunny sack, he looked over the hard candies on display on the counter, selecting a variety of them and laying them on the counter for her to put in a small sack for him.

As he gathered up his things she said, "I'll just put that on your account, Mister Standish."

He nodded his thanks, said good day and departed. She looked after him for a long moment. She knew that the gambler generally preferred to remain in town unless he was going to visit another town but today he seemed more than happy to be riding out with Vin.

She had often wondered at the friendship between the two very different men. Several months ago, Vin had started having her put items on Mister Standish's account, mostly just candy that he gave to the local children but occasionally other items as well. The first time Mister Standish had asked where the extra items had come from. When told that Mister Tanner had put them on the account he had simply nodded and paid the charges. Nothing more had ever been said about it.

She stood for a moment gazing after the departing gambler. He certainly did seem happy today... almost like a man in love.

They had met Chris on the road and he'd given his consent for them to take a couple of days off and just spend it together. He knew after all that in the first flush of discovering their love for each other they wouldn't be much good for anything anyhow.

Now as the sun sank low in the west they were setting up camp in a secluded spot beside the river. Vin had led Ezra up the riverbed to the site. It was unreachable from any other direction and the splashing of anyone coming up through the water would giving them plenty of warning.

They had their supper and banked the fire for the night. Making a single bed from their bedrolls, they stripped and lay down together.

For a long while they just kissed and cuddled, gently stroking and caressing each other.

Then Vin rose on one elbow to look down into Ezra's eyes, "Ez?" He waited for Ezra to look up at him before continuing, "I want you to make love to me... take me, tonight."

Ezra smiled up at him as he reached up to run a hand through Vin's long tresses. "You don't have to do that, Vin. I love having you take me."

"I want to do it. I want to know how good it can be. I been took before but I never liked it. Men I's with... they didn't care 'bout me... didn't try an' make it good for me. I know you won't hurt me... any more'n I'd ever hurt you. I know that with you... it'll be good. Please, Ez."

Vin grinned down at him. "Reckon that makes two of us. I can't say no ta ya either."

Ezra laughed and rolled them over so that he was on top. "In that case, my love, prepare to be ravished!"

He looked down into the love filled blue eyes of his tracker and let his hands slip through the long dark waves of Vin's hair. "Ah love your hair, Mistah Tannah... love running my fingers through it. Promise me you will never cut it off."

Vin's eyes closed in pleasure as Ezra continued to finger comb his hair, "Ah promise, Ez. I love it when ya do what yer doin' now. Feels so good."

Ezra smiled down at him and said softly, "I'm going to make you feel even better, my love."

He bent his head and began to plant soft gentle kisses across the tracker's forehead. He slid slowly downward. His lips trailing lightly across Vin's eyes and cheekbones to his jaw then followed the line up to his ear lobe and nipped it lightly. The soft tips of his fingers followed the same path on the other side of Vin's face.

Vin moaned in pleasure and Ezra chuckled softly, his breath tickling Vin's ear. Then he was slowly trailing his tongue down Vin's throat on that side while his fingertips mirrored the action on the other side of Vin's throat. He licked and nipped his way along Vin's collarbone, letting the fingers of his left hand slide farther down to glide in a feather light touch across the nipple on that side before he slid on down to nip at the other one with his teeth,

Ezra chuckled as Vin's hands tangled in his hair, pulling and pushing at the same time. Uncertain if he wanted to pull Ezra closer get more of the ghost like caresses or push him away to stop the sweet torment.

Ezra slid lower, licking, kissing, nipping at the tracker's belly. His tongue darted out and plunged into the dimple of Vin's navel and the tracker arched up crying out loudly. "Ezzzzrrrraaaa!"

Panting, Vin let his body slump back down on the blanket, "Yer wicked. Ya know that, don't ya?"

Ezra's grin was his only answer, but the gambler let him catch his breath before returning to his slow sweet torturing. He skipped over Vin's straining cock and pushed the tracker's thighs apart so that he could lick the insides of them. Trailing his tongue down one he bit just above the knee, sucking the skin hard, marking his lover.

After a long moment of sucking on it he pulled back to regard it proudly then gave it a soothing lick. "Mine." He murmured. "All mine." His green eyes were almost completely dilated with arousal, only a thin rim of emerald remained. He would have liked to continue the slow torture but he was becoming too aroused himself. His cock was full and hard, pulled tight up against his belly.

Vin's cock was the same and leaning precum onto his stomach as he twitched and writhed in pleasure.

Ezra moved away enough to grab the tin of oil that they had lain near the fire to warm before they had laid down. Opening it, he dipped his fingers into the warm oil and moved back to raise Vin's legs up to his shoulders. He let his fingers glide up and down the crease between Vin's buttocks, gently stroking the puckered opening but not attempting to enter it yet.

Vin moaned his approval and Ezra dipped his fingers back in the oil. This time he circled the opening then gently slid one well-oiled finger inside, slowly rotating it.

Vin's sigh told him that all was well and he added a second finger, gently beginning to scissor them inside, slowly stretching the tight ring out. When he felt Vin relax, he gently added a third finger and pressed up inside feeling for the small gland that he knew was there.

He found it and stroked it gently. Vin's eyes opened wide in surprise as the jolt of pleasure went through him. His body jerked uncontrollably and he cried out, "Oh, God!"

Ezra moved his fingers away for a second letting Vin relax before stoking the gland again. He waited patiently as his lover trembled and shook with pleasure. He chuckled softly. "You didn't know that was there did you?"

"That, my love, is the source of anal pleasure. It is a gland that every man has. It's what you rub your cock across inside me that makes me love having you take me so very much... and I assure you that I will make certain that you know that feeling." He shifted, slipping his fingers out of Vin and placing the head of his cock against Vin's entrance. "Relax, beloved. I won't hurt you."

He leaned forwards and kissed Vin tenderly as he slowly but firmly slid his cock deep inside his lover. Once fully seated he stopped, holding still, allowing Vin to adjust to the feeling of having him inside.

Only when he felt Vin relax did he slowly withdraw and begin to stroke, making certain that he bumped against the gland with each gentle stroke.

Neither of them could last much longer. Ezra cried out, stiffening as he filled Vin with his cum and almost instantly Vin screamed Ezra's name and shot his load across his belly.

Ezra collapsed on top him then rolled to the side, gathering Vin up in his arms as Vin had so often done him. "Oh, Lord, Vin! That was incredible!"

Vin's arms tightened around him. "Yeah." He lay against Ezra breathing heavily for a while before adding. "I knew it's be wonderful with you. I love ya, Ez." His voice trailed off as he drifted into sleep.

Ezra smiled down at him then gently laid him aside and got up to get a cloth to clean them up. When he was done he covered them both with a blanket and snuggled down against his lover to rest. He wouldn't sleep... not until Vin awoke.

Vin was awake well before daylight. He looked up into Ezra's smiling face, "You didn't sleep, did you?"

"Someone had to keep watch, Love." Ezra said softly. "Besides you know I can't go to sleep early."

"Well, you can sleep now. I'll be up and watching." Vin leaned over and kissed him, "...and Ez, I like that."

Ezra smiled at him. "I have no idea why I started doing that. It just felt right." He blushed slightly, "I like it when you call me 'Baby', too." He admitted.

"Good cause I like callin' ya, Baby." Vin said and leaned in to get another kiss. "Now go to sleep."

He waited a few minutes until he heard Ezra's breathing even out then got up. He stirred up the fire and added some wood to it then went down to the river to bathe.

It was barely noon when Ezra began to stir. Vin noted that Ezra really hadn't slept that long, only about six hours. The others just thought Ezra was lazy because his sleep cycle wasn't the same as theirs. He kept a different schedule than them.

Thinking about it Vin realized that the difference in their schedules could be put to good use, if they planned for it. He'd speak to Chris about it when he got back. It wasn't fair to expect Ezra to take dawn patrol when he had been up all night at the tables. Ezra never minded leaving a game to go on midnight patrol and he was at his best in the late night hours. It seemed foolish to demand that the gambler go against his natural sleep pattern when they could just as easily make use of it.

They ate lunch and broke camp. "We aren't far from Willow Creek." He commented as they rode out. "Wanna stop by there. We could do a bit of shopping and spend the night at the hotel."

They rode into Willow Creek by mid afternoon and after checking into the hotel, went down to the mercantile. They strolled through the store, looking at various items. They spent a long time at the soap and toiletries display, smelling the various ones and passing them back and forth between them. They finally settled on a couple of different scents. One smelled like oranges, the other like magnolias. Ezra's eyes had gotten a far away look in them when he smelled it and he'd mentioned sitting in the swing on his grandmother's front porch, the scent of magnolia blossoms heavy in the breeze. Vin had to get it, if only for the smile that crossed Ezra's face at the memories it stirred. Ezra also bought aftershave, cologne and a bar of shampoo soap.

He stopped at the stacks of ready-made shirts, his eye caught by a deep blue one, much darker than Vin's eyes. Vin smiled and nodded when Ezra asked if Vin liked it. It joined the other items they had chosen.

Vin fingered an emerald green one and looked askance at Ezra knowing that he never wore anything but white shirts. Ezra smiled and nodded. It joined the other shirt.

A delighted smile crossed Ezra's face as he saw a pale green waistcoat, shot through with silver threads. He added it to the growing pile. They continued to look around but finally decided that they could get anything else they needed at Mrs. Potter's in Four Corners. As they placed the items on the counter Ezra saw a stack of books and asked if they were for sale. Assured they were he went through the stack, glancing through each book to see what it was about and discussing them with Vin. He finally settled on two, a travel journal about Egypt and a book of poetry.

They paid for their purchases and headed back to the hotel. For once Ezra had no interest in playing poker. He and Vin cuddled on the bed for a long time, as he read to the tracker from the books they had bought. They made love again then Vin drifted off to sleep while Ezra sat propped up in bed and read. Again Vin awoke well before dawn and they cuddled some more before Ezra curled up and went to sleep, his head resting on Vin's shoulder. At daylight Vin slipped from the bed, careful not to wake his lover and went down to get some breakfast, making sure the door was locked behind him.

He strolled around town then got their horses and saddled them, bringing them from the livery to tie them in front of the hotel. Ezra was up shortly thereafter and they ate lunch together in the hotel dining room.

After lunch they headed back out. They camped that night where they had the first night and rode back into Four Corners the next day.

The next several weeks went by quickly and peacefully. Vin spoke to Chris about arranging the patrol schedule to take advantage of his penchant for being up at the crack of dawn and Ezra's habit of staying awake late into the night.

Chris agreed. He'd already begun scheduling Ezra for the midnight watch having come to the same conclusion that Vin had. It was better to use the gambler's natural tendencies than to fight them. All trying to make Ezra take dawn patrol did was cause conflict. Ezra was invariably late and who ever he was to relieve was invariably annoyed by it.

With Vin taking the dawn patrol and Ezra taking the midnight one that left the afternoon and evening shifts to be divided between the other five peacekeepers.

Chris was well satisfied with the arrangement. The town was well looked after. There were fewer conflicts among the seven and Vin and Ezra were extremely happy with the arrangement as it also meant that they got to spend a certain amount of time together everyday, with out anyone commenting on it. It had long been common for Vin to come off patrol at noon, eat lunch then vanish, for a couple of hours.

No one paid any attention to it any more, just assuming that he was hiding out, taking an afternoon siesta. Only Chris, Josiah and Buck were aware that now, he was sharing a midday tryst with his very male lover.

Ezra Standish was a happy man. He got to play poker up until midnight. He now made a point of not being late for his shift and was much more alert and on guard than if he was forced to take the dawn patrol. He really wasn't losing that much money by cutting his poker games off at midnight and he felt the benefits far out weighted the monetary losses. Not only was he able to maintain a significant relationship with Vin but the other peacekeepers seemed to accept him more and consider him more trust worthy.

He sat in the rocking chair beside his window, waiting for Vin to ride in from patrol. He had taken to awakening around a quarter to twelve every day, knowing that Vin would be there soon. He hadn't bothered to dress, he'd take his daily bath after Vin paid his daily visit. He watched the street through the lacy curtains that gave him privacy without blocking his view. He'd tied back the heavy over curtain on one side so that he could watch the street unseen.

Vin would stop at the livery to stable Peso, then come to the saloon for lunch. He'd step out the back door after, heading for the privy. When he returned he'd come up the back steps instead of returning to the saloon proper. A moment later he would be in Ezra's room and the two of them would, for a couple of hours, be lost in their own little world.

Ezra smiled at the thought. It was starting to rain. Vin always stayed later on rainy days. There were fewer people about, fewer people to wonder where the tracker was... or why the gambler was sleeping late. He had found himself growing very fond of storm clouds lately.

He moved from the rocker to start a fire in the stove, the rain would bring a chill to the air and Vin would be wet when he came in. He laid a couple of his favorite fluffy towels nearby. Perhaps he'd have Josh go ahead on and bring his bath water up. He tossed on a house robe over his underwear, tied it securely and padded down the back stairs and stuck his head through the door to the kitchen.

He smiled at Inez, "Miss Inez, would you be a dear and send Jose to tell Josh that I would like my bath now."

She gave a quick, "Si, Senor." She immediately yelled something in Spanish to the young Mexican boy that helped her in the kitchen when she was busy and turned back to call to him, "It is done!" before sweeping back out into the saloon, her hands full with a tray of plates.

Josh wouldn't get very wet, just crossing from the Mercantile to the saloon and he could pump the water from the saloon kitchen's pump and heat it on the big stove there. Most of Inez's cooking was already done, the big pots of beans, rice and browned meat for her Mexican dishes already cooked and sitting in big pots on the cooler side of the stove to stay hot.

By the time Vin came in, had his lunch and got up stairs the tub of hot water would be waiting for him.

An hour later he was standing at the window, frowning down at the street, starting to worry about his lover. It was almost one o'clock and Vin had yet to appear. The rain had quickly turned from a drizzle into a torrent and the temperature had dropped rapidly along with it. Even if nothing had happened to Vin, he would be soaked through and chilled by now... if he hadn't holed up somewhere to wait out the storm.

[No. He'd want to get here. He knows how much I've grown to love the rainy days when we can laze a bed together longer than usual.] Ezra fretted silently. He did love these times together but he would rather that Vin holed up out of the rain than have Vin risk pneumonia to get home to him.

A moment later he shook his head. Vin was coming down the street, leading Peso. The horse was limping. That meant that Vin would stay at the livery to tend the horse instead of coming straight to the saloon. Without another thought he quickly dipped a bucket of the bath water out of the tub and sat it on the stove to keep hot, so that he would have it to heat the water back up with when Vin made it up to the room.

Quickly throwing on the pants and shirt he had worn the day before, he pulled on his boots and grabbed his slicker. Moments later he was down the back stairs and out the door on his way to the livery.

Vin was pulling the saddle off of Peso as Ezra ducked in the livery through the side door. Pulling his slicker off and tossing it over a nearby stall door he said, "What happened to him?"

Ezra entered the stall, giving the big black a quick caress on the way to Vin's side. "You're soaked to the skin." He chided his lover. "I'll take care of Peso. You go on up to my room. Josh just brought my bath water up. You need a hot bath more than I do."

Ezra grinned, "My thoughts exactly... but you head on up. Stop by your wagon and grab a change of clothes. The room's warm. I'll be there as soon as I get Peso settled."

"'kay." Vin started out then, looking around to make sure that no one was there he pulled Ezra close, "Have I told you lately that I love you?"

"Not today." Ezra leaned close, barely brushing his lips across Vin's. "Go on now... before you catch pneumonia and we have to deal with Nathan!"

Vin chuckled and headed out leaving Peso in the capable hands of his lover. He grinned at he ducked out of the livery and trotted through the rain towards the alley next to the saloon where his wagon was parked. It felt good to be fussed over by Ezra. In fact he was looking forward to Ezra doing quite a bit of fussing over him this afternoon.

He grabbed a change of clothes out of the wagon and his slicker just in case he had to go back out in the rain and ducked in the back door of the saloon.

Nathan frowned, wondering why Ezra would be taking care of Vin's horse... and why Vin would let him as ticky as he was about who messed with the cantankerous animal. Deciding to ignore the question he said, "You better get outta them wet things, fore you get pneumonia."

"Damn," Vin grinned shaking his head, "Ez must be spending too much time with you, Nate. He done told me that." He held up his bundle of clothes. "Gonna change in Ez's room. He said that the Potter boy had just brung his bath up but when he seen me towing Peso home he figured I needed it worse'n he did."

Buck grinned, "Weather like this makes a man appreciate a tub a'hot water... and a friend good enough to offer it."

Nathan frowned again. There was something in the way Buck was grinning that made him think that there was more to this than just a friendly gesture on Ezra's part... but what else could it be.

Vin turned back to the kitchen and ducked through the door to the back stairs without saying any more.

It was a good ten minutes later that Ezra dashed up the steps to the saloon porch and pulled his slicker over his head shaking it out on the porch before he came in. He hung it over a chair, close enough to the stove in the barroom for it to dry but not too close and asked of no one in particular, "Did Mister Tanner, go up to my room?"

"Yeah." Buck replied, grinning, "Reckon he's already in that tub a'your'n by now."

Ezra followed her back to the kitchen. "I've not eaten yet either. You may as well fix two plates. I'll take it up." He returned to the barroom and grabbed a bottle of brandy from his private stock. Ducking back into the kitchen he called, "Inez? How many bottles of brandy are in the storeroom? This is the last one out here."

She pushed through the beaded curtain between the barroom and the kitchen carrying a loaded tray.

As Ezra deposited the bottle and two glasses on the tray and took it from her, she said, "There is a half a case left in the storeroom."

"This is September. We have at least another month and a half before the weather is too bad for them to get through... but yes, we need to start thinking about stocking up for the winter."

"Go ahead and put... two cases... and a case of Kentucky Bourbon on your next order. Private Stock."

"Of course, Senor Standish." Inez smiled at him. He might not own the Standish Tavern at the moment but he still acted as if he did, sometimes. She had started back through to the kitchen but turned back. "Oh, unless there, is a mistake on the books, someone has pilfered two bottles of Red Eye."

"I audited the books last Monday. The accounts were correct then. We've only had one shipment since... Have you accounted for breakage?"

"Gracias, Senor." She made a shooing motion, "Now, go. Get that up to Senor Tanner before it is cold."

Ezra gladly obeyed. He wasn't foolish enough to open the door without letting Vin know he was there. "Mister Tanner," he called, giving the door a light kick with his foot, "room service."

Vin recognized his voice but reached out and picked up his mare's leg before calling back, "come ahead."

Ezra pushed the door open and carried the heavily laden tray into the room, depositing it on his dresser. Pulling the smaller table from his bedside to a spot close to the bathtub, he transfered the tray to it. He moved a chair close to the table and sat down. "I do believe that Miss Inez thinks that you need fattening up. It appears that she has given us enough food for several meals."

"Why Mister Tanner, why ever would she think that." He smiled leaning over the side of the tub to steal a kiss. He let his hand dip into the water and trail across Vin's belly.

Vin chuckled, "Ya keep doing that an' Miss Inez' good food's gonna get cold long fore we eat any of it."

"Don't behave too, much... I like it when yer a bad boy." Vin said with a smirk.

A little over an hour later Nathan stirred in his seat, "Maybe I oughta go up and check on Vin. He's been up there a while. Might be he's feeling poorly."

"If Vin needed ya, Ezra'd a'done been down here to fetch ya, Nate." Buck said with that same grin he'd flashed before.

"Let it alone, Nathan." Larabee said quietly. "Ain't nothing wrong with Vin. He'll be down when he's ready to come down."

"Well, Nate let's just say that Ezra is probably takin' real good care of Vin and leave it at that."

"No buts, Nathan. They're happy. They do their jobs and even you have to admit that Ezra's been a lot easier to live with these past weeks."

JD had been listening to the conversation in puzzled silence, "What are you guys talking about? What's going on between Vin and Ezra?"

"I ain't a kid, Buck. I'm old enough to be sheriff. I'm old enough to have killed men and been shot. I reckon I'm old enough to know what you're talking about."

"Sorry, Brother Buck. He asked you." Josiah grinned and leaned back in his chair.

After a long moment, Buck took a deep breath, "Well, kid... ya know what I told ya about men and women... well some a'it applies to men and men. Usually it happens out on the trail or anywhere that there ain't no women... or not enough women to go round. A man'll get lonely, get tired of being best friends with his hand, if ya know what I mean..."

"Okay, well. Maybe he's got a friend, a real good friend and this friend... he's lonely too... so...."

"Well, uh... yeah but I kinda think that it's more'n just that... they got some real deep feelings for each other." Buck plunged on.

"What he's saying, Brother Dunne, is that you shouldn't get any hopes up of ever being invited a wedding where either of our absent brothers is the groom... not unless something drastic happens."

Buck grinned, "I'm happy for them. Life's hard on a man that prefers other men... and I think they do... did... even before they found each other. You do know that you can't go mouthing off about this to just anyone... don'tcha? Lotta people'd wanna run them outta town... maybe worse, if they knowed."

"It's illegal, JD." Chris said quietly. "If it becomes public knowledge, they could be arrested."

"Yeah," Nathan put in quietly, remembering the incident that brought the seven together. "If the so called *decent* citizens get wind of it... they might even be lynched."

"You... I mean we... wouldn't let that happen would we? I mean they're both one of us... they're two of the seven."

Five men touched their glasses together in a solemn pledge and tossed their whiskey back.

They would keep their brothers secret, quietly and unobtrusively guarding them from prying eyes and gossiping voices.