Series: Five Dollars
Part Two

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Vin Tanner sat in the Lone Tree jail and gazed out the window at the night sky. He was glad that the jail was big enough that he had a cell to himself. He hated being locked up and having to share the cell would have made it worse. He closed his eyes and tried to think on more pleasant things... like his lover and their last night together before this mess started.

Ezra had been excited, talking about carving pumpkins for Halloween. He'd just come back from the McGlamory place, where he and Mrs. McGlamory had gathered pumpkins from the garden and hollowed them out. Mrs. McGlamory was making pumpkin pies and the children had wanted to carve Jack O'Lanterns from the pumpkin shells. Ezra had volunteered to help despite the fact that he had never carved a pumpkin in his life.

He had quite proudly brought one home for them. Large and misshapen, it had sat on the dresser with a candle burning in it while they made love. Vin thought it was grotesque but he hadn't wanted to tell Ezra that but Ezra had seen his hesitation and laughed telling him that it was supposed to be ugly.

Dewey and Melissa McGlamory were going to throw a Halloween party at the ranch. It was to be their last hurrah at the ranch as they would begin moving into the saddle shop with it's newly completed addition the first week of November.

Ezra was already planning the Thanksgiving Dinner that would also be his and Vin's first occasion in their new home. Vin hoped that this little adventure wouldn't put a crimp in that. Ezra was more excited about moving into the ranch than Vin had ever seen him be about anything. He hadn't been this excited when he'd bought the saloon that time.

He stood and moved to the window seeing the merest sliver of a moon hanging low in the sky. He remembered Ezra saying that tomorrow night was Halloween. He wondered where Ezra was as he finally moved back to the bunk and settled down to try and get some sleep.

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Ezra tossed restlessly. He hated sleeping without Vin beside him but he knew he had to try and get some rest. Even camping in the cave where he and Vin had spent so many happy nights didn't help. If anything the memories of their passionate lovemaking and the happy contentment of drifting off to sleep in Vin's arms afterwards only made him more restless. He knew that Vin should be sleeping in the Lone Tree jail and prayed silently that he was still all right.

Finally he drifted off into a troubled sleep, to tangled dreams of making love with Vin juxtapositioned with nightmarish images of Vin hanging as he watched helplessly held back from his lover by invisible hands.

He awoke crying out Vin's name as the sun began to lighten the sky.

He arose with grim determination and after a quick breakfast gathered his equipment and prepared to set the charges that would bring the rock-bridge down. By the time the sun was full up he was hanging upside down beneath the arch of the bridge, hole borer in hand drilling holes for the dynamite.

He wondered vaguely what the others would think if they could see him now. He set the charges, linking them together, working his way carefully along the rock formation. By noon he was done.

He returned to his camp and saddled Chaucer. It was time to scout the campsite and set his charges there.

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Buck and JD rode into Four Corners at mid-afternoon. Buck frowned when he didn't see Chris sitting in his customary place in front of the jail. His eyes turned to the saloon, his frown deepening. Ezra wasn't on the porch.

A bad feeling churned in his gut. He pulled Lady up in front of the stables and called out to Yosemite as the man came towards them. "What's happened?"

"Bounty hunters came for Mister Tanner." Yosemite told them without preamble. "Ya'll better get up to the clinic. Mister Larabee got shot."

"Ezra?" JD asked with concern.

"Went after'em. Loaded for bear." Yosemite stated.

"Did Josiah go with him?" Buck asked knowing Nathan would have stayed with the injured Chris.

"Wasn't here. Mister Standish went alone."

"Ya'll let him go alone?" JD demanded.

"He wouldn't let nobody go with him. Said he didn't want no *amateurs* under foot." The way he accented 'amateurs' made it plain that that was the word Ezra had used.

Buck and JD exchanged glances then hurried towards the clinic.

Yosemite watched them go then nodded to himself. He reckoned it was time to ride out to the McGlamorys and bring Mister Larabee's horse back to town. He figured that of the rest of the seven would be riding out soon.

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Nathan looked up as Buck and JD burst into the clinic. He held up a hand for quiet then said, "He's asleep. Ya'll might as well go get some food and rest. He's done said we're not ridin' out till morning."

"Why the hell are we waiting till morning?" Buck demanded.

"Because," Larabee's voice came from the cot behind him, "Ezra isn't expecting us and we don't want to get caught in his line of fire... not when he's packing half a case of dynamite. I figure this time we're just gonna be picking up the pieces... I just hope that's not literally what we're doing."

Buck turned to gape at Chris, "Dammit we oughtta be out there helpin' him!"

"Timetable won't allow it. He'll hit them tonight. Use the cover of darkness to even the odds. Even if we left right now, we wouldn't be there in time. We're just going to have to trust Ezra to get the job done."

The other men exchanged helpless looks. It didn't feel right to leave the wily gambler on his own but if anyone knew how to manipulate the odds it was Ezra Standish.

With much grumbling the two men finally agreed that there wasn't anything that they could do and agreed to wait till morning. Their horses needed to rest up in any event. They could use the time to plan and prepare... but come first light the five remaining peacekeepers would be on their way to make sure that their sixth and seventh were alive and well.

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Vin Tanner leaned back against the tree he was tied to and looked around the campsite in the failing light of the setting sun. It was the site he had assumed they would camp at on the Lone Tree-Inch Long trail... the site he was sure that Ezra would make his attack upon. He was attempting to see if he could find any indication that Ezra had been there but as far as he could see no one had been there for at least several days.

What if he was wrong? What if Ezra hadn't figured all this out? What if he wasn't coming?

He shoved the thoughts away. Ezra would come. Ezra loved him.

He heard one of the younger bounty hunters mention that it was Halloween night. There was a touch of superstitious awe in the voice. Some of the older men must have picked up on the tone as well because they began to regal the younger man with ghost stories.

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Ezra Standish lay along a branch in the upper reaches of a tall oak not fifty feet from the edge of the bounty hunters camp. This was his second trip to the campsite that day. He had come out as soon as he had the charges set at Devil's Gorge and carefully scouted the campsite, making sure not to leave any sign that he had been there. He had set his charges at the camp then retreated to the gorge to wait for darkness and set the timers for the charges there. It had been frustrating to have to leave the site and not be absolutely certain that he was right about the bounty hunters camping there but if he remained, something might give his presence away. Besides he had had to wait until less than twelve hours before the time he wanted the charges at the gorge to go off in order to set the alarm clock timers.

Holding Vin's spyglass to his eye, he watched the camp carefully. He smiled to himself. They had set it up just the way he'd predicted.

The prisoners were each tied to a separate tree but they were all grouped close together in a rough line on the far side of the camp. The horses were tied to a picket line between two trees not far from the spring that provided the water for the campsite. The fire was made in the fire pit left from numerous other campfires. Two guards paced around the perimeter of the camp but the fools kept glancing inward towards the light of the campfire. Every time they did that their eyes had to readjust to the darkness when they turned back to scan the darkness outside the camp.

[Perfect.]

All he had to do was wait.

He'd planned his attack for shortly after midnight. Everyone except the guards would be asleep.

He closed the spyglass, folded his arms to make a pillow for his head. Setting the alarm clock in his head for eleven o'clock he settled down on the thick branch he lay on to take a nap.

His eyes popped open just before eleven o'clock. He slid back on the limb to sit in the crotch where it joined the tree and opened his pocket watch. He had removed the crystal earlier so that he could tell the time by feel. Ten minutes until eleven.

[Good.]

He carefully stretched loosening up his muscles then began the climb down to the ground. As his feet touched the ground he wondered if Vin would even recognize him now. He was dressed in solid black from the hat on his head, to the black-dyed buckskin moccasin boots on his feet. Chris Larabee's black duster swirled around his slender from. He had a black bandanna tied pirate style around his head to cover his chestnut hear should he lose the hat he wore... and three black lightning bolts zigzagged across his face, turning it into a fearsome war mask. Thin black gloves covered his hands.

He was virtually invisible in the dark night.

He moved silently towards the camp circling around it to come up behind the tree where Vin was tied.

The tracker jolted up out of the light sleep he was in when he felt his wrists being cut loose. He leaned back against the tree and kept his hands where they were as a soft breath touched his ear.

Ezra's beloved drawl spoke softly, "Wait for the diversion, Love. Then move out down the slope behind you. Turn to your left at the bottom of the slope. I shall be right behind you."

Then the knife that had freed his hands was placed in one of them and his lover vanished as quietly as he had appeared.

Vin forced himself to remain calm although his heart was racing in anticipation. Adrenaline poured through him. He flexed his muscles, trying to work some of the stiffness out. He wondered what the diversion would be. He figured that Ezra thought he'd be able to recognize it since he hadn't taken the time to tell him what it was.

Several long minutes ticked past and he thought at first that the ticking sound he heard was his imagination then he saw one of the guards looking around and realized that he actually was hearing a clock tick.

Suddenly the night was rent apart by a wild rebel yell followed immediately by the thunder of running horses.

He jerked in surprise at the sound then pulled his arms from behind him and used the knife that Ezra had given him to cut the ropes running around his chest binding him to the tree then the one tying his feet together. His heart pounding, he threw himself to the side and scrabbled down the slope on hands and knees, tearing through the undergrowth, heedless of the scratches from the branches as he made his escape.

Behind him pandemonium reigned.

Leo Marks, the leader of the bounty hunters, came awake to a sound he'd hoped never to hear again, the wild, ringing battle cry of the Confederate Army. A former Union officer he was very familiar with it and with the stubborn men who used it. He gained his feet just in time to dive out of the way as the horses were driven through the camp. He clutched his gun in his hand and tried to find a target.

Ben Hawkins, the young bounty hunter who had mentioned that tonight was Halloween, lay in his bedroll, frozen by the bloodcurdling battle cry. He was too young to have served in the war and he had never heard it before. By the time he had unfrozen enough to move, the horses were bearing down on him. He desperately threw himself to the side and tried to scrabble out of their way. His gun lay abandoned beside his bedroll. A horse hit him with its shoulder and knocked him reeling. He slammed into a tree, his head connecting solidly, and he slid unconscious to the ground.

Andrew Farley never made it out of his bedroll. A horse's hoof caught him in the thigh and he felt the bone snap. With a howl of pain he slumped unconscious where he lay.

Marks looked up as a rider bore down on him and looked straight into the face of hell. All that was visible were two blazing green eyes, set in a face that seemed to be only half there. He was going down driven back by the horse's shoulder slamming into him as the rider swung his pistol to bear and shot him point blank in the shoulder. Not a killing wound but a deliberate one.

The rider swept past, firing at the men who had gained their feet. As he vanished between two trees, close to where Tanner had been tied, an explosion erupted behind Marks, quickly followed by a second one.

Regaining his feet the leader of the bounty hunters spun towards the sound of the explosion.

A tall pine tree toppled towards him.

One of his men grabbed his arm and pulled him to the side as the tree crashed down across the campsite, trapping several men beneath it.

The top of the tree fell into the fire and flames began to lick skyward.

Two of the men trapped under the tree began to scream in terror as the flames grew and they realized that they could not escape from them. The third was Andrew Farely still lying unconscious in his bedroll.

Farley's brother, Mitch grabbed a blanket and began thrashing at the burning tree with it, yelling for someone to pull Andy out from under the branches trapping him.

As men sprang to help the Farleys, Marks cast one last look in the direction that the rider had vanished and cursed. He'd have to let the man go. He scanned the row of prisoners and saw that Tanner was gone. Shit! There was no time to go after them now. He had to deal with the burning pine tree and rescue his men before he could even think about that.

He leaned against a tree clutching his wounded shoulder as he yelled orders to the men still standing to get more blankets, wet them in the spring and put out the fire.

The attack was over incredibly fast. In under a minute his camp had been turned into a shambles... by one man.

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Vin gained his feet as he reached the bottom of the slope he had scrabbled down. He stood for a second with his back to the slope he'd come down then moved off to his left down the sandy bottom of the ravine. He could hear the yelling and screaming coming from the camp intermingled with gunshots and at least two explosions.

He ignored it and continued in the direction that Ezra had told him to go.

A moment later he turned at the sound of horse hoofs pounding into the sand behind him. For just an instant terror seized him. The black figure bearing down on him on a big black horse was frightening. A black duster flapped in the wind, swirling around the figure making it indistinct in the dim light of the pale sliver of a moon that lit the landscape. The face was only half there, split apart by black streaks.

Then just as he heard his name shouted, he recognized Peso and realized that the man on his back had to be Ezra.

"Vin!" Ezra cried out as he bore down on his lover. He held out a hand and, only slowing enough to let Vin grab it, swung the tracker up behind him on Peso.

The sure-footed horse barely hesitated then charged on. Several minutes later the ravine forked and Ezra guided Peso down the right fork. A few more minutes and they were out of hearing of the campsite. Ezra urged Peso up a slope and into a thick stand of trees. He guided the horse down a path marked with white slashes on the sides of the trees then pulled him up as they entered a small clearing where Chaucer and the two livery horses awaited them.

He swung a leg over Peso's neck and slid to the ground.

Vin caught his arm as the tracker slid forwards to settle in the saddle, "Ez..." He leaned down to touch Ezra's face.

White teeth flashed in a grin. "There's no time for lengthy explanations, Love. We're on a timetable... just stay with me. All right?"

"I'll always stay with you, Ez. Always." Vin held the gambler's gaze for a long moment, letting all his love shine in his eyes.

Then Ezra was moving away, swinging up onto Chaucer's back and picking up the lead rope for the two livery horses. He led the way out through the thick trees, again following the blazed trail.

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Daylight was filtering through the trees surrounding the bounty hunters' camp.

Leo Marks sat on the ground leaned back against his saddle surveying the damage done by their midnight raider. They still had five bounties, worth a good three thousand dollars. Tanner wasn't anywhere near the most valuable bounty they had been after, still Marks hated to lose him. It was the fact that they had had him, then lost him that grated.

On the other hand, the man wasn't worth the damage they had taken. Andrew Farley's leg was broken several inches above the knee. Young Ben Hawkins had a severe concussion. Marks himself had a bullet hole in his shoulder. Fortunately the bullet had gone clean through. He'd lost some blood and was weak but barring infection should be all right. Several of the men had burns, ranging from mild to severe but no one was dead. They were either very lucky or the attacker hadn't wanted to kill anyone.

His tracker, James Hurley, had gone out after the horses. It hadn't been easy rounding them up in the dark, fortunately they hadn't run too far. Still they were skittish and it had taken him some time to get them all.

Andy Farley and Ben Hawkins would need a litter to take them on to Inch Long. Marks himself would need to go on there to have the doctor check his shoulder. He would need several of the men to make sure that the rest of the prisoners didn't escape.

He struggled to his feet, calling to Hurley, "Jake! I want you and Mitch to track those two. The rest of us are going on to Inch Long. If you think you can take them, do it. If not, report back to me in town and whoever is up to riding will go with you after them."

Hurley nodded and headed for his horse. Mitch Farley knelt down by his brother just long enough to say a quick, 'So long. See ya in Inch Long.' Then he joined Hurley at the horses.

Five minutes later Mitch was leading the horses down the slope that Vin had vanished down, while Hurley walked ahead and checked the ground for sign. When they reached the bottom of the ravine Hurley stopped and grinning waved Mitch to bring the horses on up.

"They ain't even trying ta hide their tracks. I can follow this trail from horseback!" He grinned, swinging up into the saddle.

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As the dawn streaked the sky, Ezra checked his watch again and threw a glance at Vin. Normally it would have only taken a couple of hours to reach Devil's Gorge from the Inch long trail but in the dark they had had to dismount and walk the horses most of the way making it take more than twice as long. He had, of course, planned for that possibility however they had not reached the point he had hoped they would by this time.

"We need to pick up the pace a bit, Mister Tanner," he called, urging Chaucer into a canter.

"Ain't nobody behind us, Ez!" Vin protested.

"It's not what's behind us Mister Tanner. It's what's waiting for us. I told you we are on a timetable and we are now behind schedule!"

Vin frowned but called back, "'Kay," urging Peso to keep up with Chaucer.

The livery horses trailed behind on their pony line.

An hour later the mouth of Devil's Gorge opened before them.

Ezra pulled up and swung down from Chaucer, "Change horses." He ordered to Vin's confusion.

"What are we doing, Ez?" Vin asked as he watched Ezra attach a pony line to Peso's bridle and hook it to Chaucer's saddle horn.

Ezra slapped Chaucer on the hip. "Go home! Go home, Chaucer! Go home! Now!"

The big sorrel started off then stopped and looked back.

"Go!" Ezra yelled.

Chaucer took one last look back then trotted off back in the direction they had come.

"Ez, the bounty hunters'll find them!"

"I doubt it. If they do see him, they will have great difficulty catching him." He swung astride the other livery horse and reached to pull out his watch again, checking it. With a shake of his head he said, "We don't have time to waste. We have to get through the mouth of the gorge in the next ten minutes. Ride, Mister Tanner!"

He turned the livery horse and kicked it into a run. Vin followed.

The long neck of the gorge was over a mile long. The stone bridge that arched over it was about midway along. They needed to be out of the neck by the time the bridge blew.

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James Hurley was getting a bad feeling. There had to be a reason why the two men weren't making any effort to cover their trail. They had led the horses until it was light enough to see then mounted up and rode like they had somewhere to be... and couldn't be late.

Still, they were gaining on the men and he was now sure that they were headed straight for Devil's Gorge. As they topped a ridge they could see the mouth of the gorge and the two men riding hell bent for leather down the neck into the gorge.

Off to one side two other horses, both riderless, were trotting away towards Inch Long. Hurley ignored them and focused on the riders.

"Why're they riding hard now?" Mitch asked.

"Probably seen us." Hurley answered. It sounded like a good explanation but it didn't feel right.

Frowning he said, "Come on," and spurred his horse into a run heading for the mouth of the gorge.

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Vin looked up as an explosion shook the ground beneath them.

White smoke and dust drifted down. Small rocks rained into the neck of the gorge.

"Ride!" Ezra yelled and urged his horse on faster. The neck of the gorge opened out just a few hundred feet ahead of them and the two men leaned forward over the necks of their horses and, rode concentrating on the reaching the open space beyond.

A second explosion boomed... then a third and fourth like firecrackers on a string.

An ominous groaning filled the enclosed space of the neck of the gorge.

Several hundred yards into the widened space beyond the neck of the gorge Ezra pulled up and turned back to watch his handiwork, pulling a handkerchief out of his pocket he covered his nose and mouth. Vin drew up beside him, pulling his bandanna up to cover his nose and mouth.

More explosions boomed, walking in an arc around the base of the rock-bridge. The massive slabs of rock, groaned, shifted and began to slide downward.

A second series of explosions began, blowing away the arch in the center of the bridge and the ends of the bridge seemed to fold in on themselves. Meeting in the middle, melding together and sliding downward, gaining speed as they went, they tore more chucks of rock off the walls as they fell. The whole thing seemed to hang for just a moment then it rushed on, plunging downward, driving like a wedge into the mouth of the gorge, blocking it completely.

For several long moments afterwards the air was filled with dust and smoke. Smaller rocks dislodged by the sliding monoliths clattered and bounced through the long neck of the gorge. Finally it was still again.

In the unnatural silence that followed, Vin asked. "Reckon them two following us, got clear?"

"Hopefully. However if they did not, I do not intend to concern myself about it." Ezra replied, his voice hard.

Vin turned to look at him, giving a slow nod of understanding. When the bounty hunters had come after him, they had sealed their own fate as far as Ezra was concerned... as far as he was concerned, too.

He looked back at the blocked passage. "What now?"

Ezra grinned at him, "Now we go visit that lovely cave you so like to camp in."

"Shouldn't we head on through the gorge?"

Ezra grinned. "We're not going *through* the gorge, my love. We're camping right here... for a day possibly two... until the hunters have begun to try flanking us by going around. Then we release these horses, climb out of the gorge... I have a way already scouted... and follow Chaucer and Peso. I don't think they will have gone too terribly far. Chaucer hates to leave me."

Vin turned his horse so that he faced Ezra and reached out to caress his lover's face, tracing the lines of lightning across it.

Ezra closed his eyes as Vin's finger followed the lightning bolt across his left eye. "It's only greasepaint. It'll wash right off."

"War paint." Vin corrected gently. "My bold warrior love. Don't wash it off just yet. I want to make love to my warrior." He whispered as he leaned in for a kiss, letting the black greasepaint smear onto his face.

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Hurley and Mitch had just entered the mouth of the gorge when the first explosion shook the ground under them.

Reining in their horses the two men looked around wildly as the horses pranced nervously.

"Shit!" Mitch cursed and pointed at the stone bridge as the second explosion shook the ground.

"Goddamn!" Hurley yelled and yanked his horse's head around, to the direction they had come. There was no chance of making it all the way through the neck before the bridge came down. "We gotta get outta here!"

He dug in his spurs and his horse leaped forwards, headed back out of the neck of the gorge as more explosions boomed in the confines of the gorge neck and terrifying groans echoed as the bridge began it's long slide to the ground.

Mitch cast one terrified look over his shoulder and spurred his horse as well.

The two men raced back the way they had come, not stopping until they were well clear of the neck of the gorge.

Thick clouds of dust and smoke boiled out of the gorge behind them as the bridge collapsed into it.

The ground was still shaking as the two men pulled up on small ridge to look back at where the mouth of the gorge had been. A rock wall filled the place the narrow opening had been, reaching up more than half the depth of the gorge. Steep and rough there was no way through it, around it nor as far as the two men could tell over it.

Hurley shook his head. "Son of a bitch." He swore admiringly. "We ain't gonna catch'em now. Better try and catch up to Marks. He's gonna wanna know about this. Only chance of catching them is to go round... and they'll more'n likely be through and half way back to Four Corners 'fore we get ta the other end of the gorge."

"Think Marks'll want us to go back ta Four Corners after Tanner?"

"Hope not. They'll be waiting for us. Tanner ain't worth it. Better to cut our losses and take what we got."

Hurley turned his horse's head and started off towards the Inch Long trail. He noted the tracks of the horses that the two men had turned loose but when Mitch wanted to track them down he vetoed it. "Waste of time. They won't be easy to catch. Marks'll want to know about the gorge soon as possible."

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Yosemite stood watching the five men as they led their horses out of the livery. He and his boys had had them saddled and ready when the five had arrived, just as the sky has begun to lighten.

Mary Travis stood beside Chris Larabee, one hand on his arm, a serious look in her eyes.

"You take care of yourself." She said softly, knowing it was useless to ask him not to go.

He took her hand in his, raising it to his lips to press a light kiss to it. "Don't worry. I'll be back. All the shooting should be over by now. We're just going to ride escort home."

She made a small undignified sound, almost a snort. "Sure... and you wouldn't even think about raining retribution on those men for taking Vin."  

He chuckled. She knew him too well. Hell, she'd probably take out after the bounty hunters herself if she thought it would do any good.

"Well, maybe just a little." He grinned unrepentantly.

She shook her heard and smiled. "You just make sure you come back in no worse shape than you already are."

Nathan stepped up beside them. "I'll see to that. Ma'am."

She turned to smile at him, "Thanks, Nathan."

Casey stood next to JD's horse, one hand resting on his leg. "You take care, too. Ya hear? Don't go getting your fool head blowed off."

JD let out a long-suffering sigh. "I can take care of myself, Case. 'Sides, there's five of us. Be seven when we tie up with Vin and Ezra. Ain't nothing gonna happen to us."

"There was ten of them bounty hunters." She reminded him.

"Bet there ain't ten no more," JD asserted, "if there are, they probably ain't all in one piece."

Nettie and Inez stood slightly off from the riders, letting the two women say goodbye to their men.

Buck reined up just in front of them, "Inez, darling, don't you worry none about ole Buck. He'll be just fine."

"You had better be." She ordered then hesitated a moment before reaching up and pulling him down for a quick kiss on the lips.

"For luck." She told him as she released him.

"YeeeeeeeeHaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwww!" Buck's exuberant whoop, startled the others, bringing all eyes to him.

"Come on guys!" He hollered, "Can't nothing stop us now! I done got me a kiss from Miss Inez!"

Laughter rippled through the group as they swung into their saddles and followed the big gunslinger out of town.

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Ezra led the way into the outer cave where he was camped and turned to pull Vin into a hug. "Missed you." He said quietly. "I was so scared that they would kill you before I could get to you."

Vin held him tightly. "I know, Baby." He leaned back a bit to look down into the gambler's face. He smiled again at the sight of the war paint. "But doing what's got ta be done even though yer scared, that's what courage is. Yer one'a the bravest men I know."

Ezra shifted back a bit as Vin reached up to again trace the black lightning bolt across his face.

"'Mong the people, a man has more'n one name. There's the one he's give when he's born an' his sacred name that nobody else knows, then there's the one he earns in battle."

Ezra smiled up at him, seeing the look in his eyes as the tracker continued to trace the black streaks across his face, "Am I to assume that you wish to bestow upon me a battle name, my love?"

"Iffn you don't mind."

"I may not understand all the ways of the people, as you call them, but I do understand that a battle name is something special. I could never mind having you give me the gift of a special name."

"Black Lightning." Vin whispered the words as he continued to trace the lines. "My brave, bold warrior, with a mind and hands as quick as lightning and just as deadly. Lighting up my life like the lightning lights up the night when it flashes." He bent and placed a gentle kiss on Ezra's lips.

"Black Lightning." Ezra whispered back. "I like it." He paused a moment, "Have you a battle name as well?"

Vin smiled down at him, "White Wolf."

"Because you are a white man... and an expert hunter/tracker?"

"Yes."

"I like that as well. Black and White go well together, as do we."

"We go a lot better'n just well together, Ez." Vin replied, leaning in for another kiss. "Now, I wanna make love to my bold warrior... to my Black Lightning."

They moved slowly undressing each other, sharing kisses and soft caresses. Ezra had left their bedrolls spread out on the floor of the cave, knowing that he at least would want to lay with Vin a while when they returned even if Vin had not been up to what they were now doing. They moved to the blankets without letting go of each other and sank down to lie in each other's arms.

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It was late afternoon when the other five of the seven reached the campsite on the Lone Tree-Inch Long trail.

Chris pulled up just outside the camp and held up his hand for the others to stop as well.

Josiah gave a small snort as he looked over the campsite, "Well, brothers, this..." he waved a hand to indicate the half-burnt, fallen tree, the torn up ground and scattered remains of the bounty hunter's belongings, "...veritably screams Brother Ezra was here."

"Yeah," Nathan agreed, "but did he and Vin get away?"

Chris nodded to JD, "Vin's been teaching you to track, see if you can tell what happened here."

The men dismounted, staying pretty much where they were as JD began circling the camp to look for sign. He moved slowly, studying the ground carefully. It was nearly a half an hour later that he came back to where the others waited. "Looks like Ezra ran their horses through the camp. Then blowed over the tree with dynamite."

He motioned towards the line of trees to the side of the camp. "There's cut ropes lying beside that tree over there and it looks like somebody scrabbled down the slope to the bottom of the gully. Footprints in the sand there... then a running horse. The footprints disappear and the horse hoof prints dig in deeper so I'd say who ever was on the horse picked up the one on foot. A couple of other horses followed after them, sometime later. The main bunch took off towards Inch Long about the same time. They were dragging at least two travois."

"So, you think Ezra got Vin loose and they took off towards Devil's Gorge just like Ez planned. Two of the hunters went after them and the rest headed for Inch Long with their wounded." Chris said.

"Yeah. Looks that way."

Chris considered a minute. "JD, you and Buck track the two that went after Vin and Ezra. The rest of us will go into Inch Long. If you get to the mouth of the gorge and it's blocked, meet us in town."

They separated and moved out.

*************************************************

Ezra reluctantly pulled away from Vin's embrace. He could tell from the light that streamed in to the front of the cave that it was mid-afternoon. They had lazed around the camp most of the morning. They had made love, bathed, eaten and made love again. Now they were just resting in each other's arms.

"We should climb up to the look out point and see if Mister Larabee and the others have put in an appearance." He told Vin quietly.

"Yeah, reckon so." Vin pulled him back for another kiss. "Hate to let go of ya though."

Ezra chuckled softy, "I know the feeling. I was so afraid that I would never see you again. Still, Mister Larabee will be most displeased if he goes all the way to the other end of the gorge and we do not come out that way. Hopefully we will be able to make contact with them, if they come close enough to the mouth of the gorge."

He stood and pulled Vin to his feet.

As they dressed Vin said, "Reckon you're right about that... an' Chris don't need to be riding no farther than he has to what with being shot up."

"It was not a serious wound, Vin." Ezra reminded him, seeing the worried look in his lover's eyes. "I checked it thoroughly. It missed all the bones and the lung. Nathan should have had no problem getting the bullet out. The bleeding had stopped before I left."

"I know... it's just that..."

"That you'll feel better when you see him for yourself." Ezra smiled at him. "I understand, Love... and Mister Larabee will feel better when he sees you for himself."

Vin moved to take him back into his arms, kissing him gently. "That's one of the things that I love about you... you always seem to understand no matter how hard it is for me to explain something."

"Reading people is what I do, Vin. A conman has to be able to see what the person he's conning needs and provide it..." he broke off to inject hastily, "not of course that I'm conning you... but the principle is the same."

Vin smiled down at him, "You never could con me, Ez. I saw right through that 'I'm just a gambler and a conman and I don't care about anybody else' act from the start. Knew all along that there was somebody real special hiding behind that poker face of yours. Somebody kind and gentle with a heart plumb full of love just aching for somebody to give it to."

"... and I am so very glad that you let me give it to you." Ezra lay his head against Vin's chest soaking up the feeling of contentment and love that being in Vin's arms always gave him.

After a moment he pulled back and they walked out of the cave, hand in hand, happy to be able to relax and do so without having to think about who might see them.

They made their way to the rim of the gorge and walked along it to a point where they could see out over the plain below and the trail that they had followed into the mouth of the gorge.

Ezra had returned Vin's spyglass to him and they found a seat in the shade of an ancient juniper tree, where Vin had a clear view of the trail leading to the gorge. Ezra leaned back against the trunk of the tree and Vin leaned back against him, letting Ezra support him as Vin surveyed the trail below.

A slight breeze stirred their hair and Ezra stroked Vin's back out of his face, letting his fingers card through it gently.

After a bit Vin said, "No sign of them yet. They shouldn't have any trouble trailing us though. Tracks are real clear." He closed up the spyglass and leaned back in Ezra's arms. "That feels good," he said quietly referring to Ezra's fingers carding through his hair.

"I should have brought my brush up with us. I could have brushed it for you."

"Ya can do that later. I like it when you brush my hair. Don't know why... just seems so..."

"Intimate." Ezra supplied the word knowing that Vin would file it away and never forget it. "That is one of the reasons that I love to do it so much."

They fell silent for a while then Vin said, "Ez?"

"Yes, Love?"

"Would you marry me?" Vin asked hesitantly.

"What?" Ezra blinked uncertain if he'd heard the softly asked question correctly.

Vin turned sitting back away from him just a bit, "Would you marry me? I know it wouldn't be legal but me'n 'Siah was talkin' about things while we worked on the rooms we added to the leather shop and I asked him about the vows, what they meant and all... and he said there's all kinds'a different vows.... And I been thinkin' about it lots what with us being about to move in together and then this happening and I... I wanna marry you... take vows with you... promise you that I'll always love you, no matter what happens."

"Oh, Vin! I don't know what to say. I never imagined you'd ask me that. I... yes! Yes, I'll marry you... and I don't care if it's legal or not! A piece of paper doesn't mean anything, Vin. Marriage is about loving each other and being committed to each other and to the marriage. No piece of paper can ensure that love and commitment and the lack of it cannot stop that love and commitment. I love you. I am committed to spending my life with you and I would love to exchange vows with you." He stopped and reached out to take Vin's hands, smiling happily. "When?"

Vin drew him to his feet. "Here. Now. Just me'n you in front of... the Great Spirit... uh... God."

"The Great Spirit is fine I think." Ezra said softly, "I think he might be a bit more open to our love than the fire and brimstone God I was raised with."

Vin nodded and licked his lips, "I like the traditional vows and they didn't need much changing."

He paused then looking deeply into Ezra's eyes, began. "I, Vin Tanner, take you, Ezra Standish, to be my lifemate. To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part. Here in the sight of the Great Spirit I make this pledge that forsaking all others I will cleave only unto you for as long as we both shall live. Amen."

Ezra blinked back tears, his hands gripping Vin's tightly. "Oh, Lord, Vin!" He swallowed hard then in a shaky voice replied. "I, Ezra Standish, take you, Vin Tanner, to be my lifemate. To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part. Here in the sight of the Great Spirit I make this pledge that forsaking all others I will cleave only unto you for as long as we both shall live. Amen."

Vin bent to kiss him then and he found himself clinging tightly to his lover as the kiss seemed to go on forever. Finally they slowly released each other and stepped back a step just looking into each other's eyes, their hands still clasped.

Ezra felt as if his heart were singing. The sun seemed brighter. The breeze seemed sweeter, softer and warmer.

He had known he loved Vin and Vin loved him. He had known that they were committed to each other yet somehow saying the words, speaking the vows, even if no one else would ever hear them, made it more real. He *felt* married.

Vin smiled at Ezra. His lover... no, his mate... looked dazed. Tears welled in the green eyes and were blinked back, a smile played across the kiss swollen lips. He claimed those lips again, then rested his forehead against Ezra's. "Love you, Ez."

"Love you, Vin." Ezra affirmed.

Vin couldn't stop smiling, grinning really. He'd been afraid that Ezra wouldn't think was a good idea for them to exchange vows. He couldn't hide his delight that Ezra had so readily agreed and seemed to be so deeply affected by the exchange of promises. Silently he vowed that Ezra would always know that he truly meant those words, meant them forever.

A while later they were once more seated beneath the juniper tree. This time Vin leaned against the trunk and Ezra rested in his arms, sitting beside him, facing him, his head resting on Vin's chest.

"Ah always loved this place. Sitting here under this tree with you, looking out over the plains able to see for miles. Watching the sun rise or set. It's always been special and now... now it is the most special place on earth to me. It is our wedding chapel. A chapel built by the hands of God not man."

Vin hugged him tighter, "Know what you mean, Ez. Always loved this place myself. Now... it's even more special."

*************************************************

Leo Marks was not a happy man. His shoulder throbbed like an abscessed wisdom tooth. He had more prisoners than able-bodied men to guard them and on top of all that, the hair on the back of his neck was prickling. Four years of war and ten of hunting bounty had taught him to trust that prickling.

There was trouble coming. Correction. More trouble coming.

The demon on the black horse the night before had been like something out of his nightmares of the war... and he did still have nightmares about the war. That damned bloodcurdling rebel battle cry would set anyone on edge. Half his men were too young to have heard it in that context. If they had ever heard it, it was just a bunch of drunk cowboys whooping it up... but the man last night had used it just the way it was meant to be used. To freeze the men he was attacking and give him the upper hand. He had planned his attack for the time most everyone would be asleep, had struck fast and hard. He had achieved his objective and retreated... no heroics, no gloryhounding, just in and out in a clean surgical strike.

As annoyed as he was at the situation he had to admire the pure tactical genius of it. The man had used their own camp set up against them, driving the horses through the camp, between where most of his men were sleeping and the trees where the prisoners were tied, dropping that damned tree with incredible accuracy right into the fire. He had deliberately shot Marks himself, undoubtedly to cause confusion by disabling the leader... but he hadn't shot to kill.

He turned in his saddle to look back at the travois behind his horse and the one behind Mike Sanders' horse. He had deliberately chosen to have the travois hooked to his and Mike's horses so that the uninjured men would not have to deal with them while keeping an eye on the prisoners. He rode at the rear of the column behind the prisoners and the rear guard so that he could help keep an eye on their bounties.

Last night he had had ten able-bodied men. This morning he had six and two of those were tracking Tanner and the man who had attacked them. That left four men besides the injured to watch over five prisoners.

Under normal circumstances they would have reached Inch Long around noon, from the camp they had made last night. With five prisoners and two wounded men riding in travois, it was nearing sunset and they were just coming into sight of the small town.

Marks let his second-in-command, Randall Henderson, deal with getting the sheriff to lock the prisoners up in the jail, while he and Sanders moved on down the street to old Doc Taggart's office. He knew that once he was out of the saddle he wouldn't be getting back up again until at least morning.

They left the horses standing in the street in front of the office while the doc and his wife helped them inside and got some men to carry Andy Farley and Ben Hawkins in.

Marks cast one wary glance back towards the trail they had come in on. The prickling at the base of his skull was worse than ever.

*************************************************

Vin lazily surveyed the terrain below them through his spyglass. The sun was setting now and the plains below were shadowed and overlain with a pale amber glow. He lowered the glass with a grin. "Buck and JD are headed our way."

Ezra reached for the glass and looked out over the plains and chuckled. "That gray of Mister Wilmington's is hard to miss."

"They oughta be in shouting distance by the time it's full dark." Vin commented.

"I wonder where Mister Larabee and the others are?"

Vin snorted, "Chasing Marks more'n likely."

*************************************************

JD had followed the trail left by Vin, Ezra and their two pursuers easily. "They sure wasn't trying to hide where they were going any." He commented to Buck.

"If what Chris said was true wouldn't be no reason to." When JD gave him a questioning look he went on, "Iffn they was gonna stop up the mouth of the gorge, wouldn't matter none if the hunters followed'em."

As they drew closer to the mouth of the gorge they found that to be true.

"Whooo wheee!" Buck exclaimed. "Will you look at that! Ole Ez has sure 'nough been busy!"

JD stared at the rock wall that confronted them. "Damn!" He swore softly, "How're we gonna find them now?"

As they sat staring at the wall a loud whistle drifted down from above and they heard Vin's voice, "Hey Bucklin! Ya'll just gonna sit there an' stare or what?"

Buck gave a chuckle and turned his horse, riding back away from the entrance to the gorge to a point where he could see the rim. He scanned the top of the gorge walls hunting the tracker.

After a minute he gave a shout, "Hey, Vin! You and Ez all right?"

"We are in good health, Mister Wilmington." Ezra replied for Vin, "Where are the rest of our merry little band?"

"Headed for Inch Long... and Chris ain't real merry. Fact is I kinda feel sorry fer them bounty hunters." He paused, "How're ya'll planning to get down from there?"

"Climb... however it is rapidly becoming too dark to do so tonight." Ezra called back. "I suggest you either camp there or go on to Inch Long. It's only a two hour ride from here... perhaps a bit longer since it will be dark before you arrive there."

"Chris is gonna want to know ya'll are all right. Reckon we better ride on." Buck called back.

"Indeed. If you should happen to see Chaucer and Peso please take them in tow. We shall need them when we rejoin you."

"Sure thing, Ez." Buck hollered and with a wave he and JD rode off.

*************************************************

Able Collins had been sheriff of Inch Long for nearly ten years... ever since the town had had a sheriff in fact. He was pushing sixty with a shock of untamed white hair and sharp blue eyes. In lieu of a handgun he carried a sawed off shotgun in a special holster. He had a slight smirk on his face as he watched Marks and his men ride into town. [Damn fools. Musta tried ta take Tanner.]

Collins knew Vin Tanner was wanted for murder in Texas... but this wasn't Texas and what he'd seen of Tanner was a quiet young man who didn't hunt trouble. A man who worked with six other men to protected the town of Four Corners. He figured Tanner was a dangerous man, all right, he wouldn't be riding with Chris Larabee if he wasn't, but Collins just couldn't see Tanner murdering someone... anyone.

He wondered exactly what happened... and how far behind the bounty hunters Larabee and his men were.

He watched while Henderson and the other three uninjured men dragged the five prisoners off their horses and into the jail. He recognized them all from posters that he had.

As soon as the prisoners were settled in the two small cells in the jail, Henderson headed for the doc's to check on Marks and the others. Martinez and Ramos headed for the saloon and Rico Jones settled into a chair against the back wall of the jail with his rifle cradled in his arms to watch the five men.

Collins gave him a nod and went out to sit on the jail porch. As he settled into the rocker he grinned. Yep. Larabee would be riding in soon enough and he wanted a front row seat for the show.

*************************************************

Chris Larabee was seething. His face resembled a thundercloud with his eyes the lightning.

Josiah and Nathan rode slightly behind him, silently exchanging worried looks.

Nathan wasn't happy that their leader had insisted on pushing on to Inch Long that night. He thought that Chris needed to rest. The black clad man had refused to let him check the shoulder wound and he was concerned that Chris might be starting to get a fever... but he wasn't brave enough to dare Larabee's wrath by pushing it when the man was in the mood he was in.

Josiah just gave a philosophical shrug of his shoulders and said nothing. If Chris fell off his horse he'd quietly help him back on. You didn't get in Larabee's way when he was in one of these moods. It just wasn't healthy.

Able Collins' grin grew wider when he saw Chris Larabee ride into town with Sanchez and Jackson at his back. Collins wondered briefly where the rest of Larabee's men were... but as the man got closer and he could see the gunfighter's face he decided he wasn't going to ask.

As Larabee reined his horse in, stopping in front of Collins the sheriff gave him a nod, "Larabee."

"Collins." Larabee grunted out the name.

"Tanner ain't here." Collins felt the need to make that clear right off. "Marks and his boys rode in a while ago... looking a mite worse fer wear. One of 'em's sitting watch over the prisoners inside. Five they brung in and one that was already here. Marks and most of his boys are at the doc's." He tipped his chin to indicate the direction of the doctor's office, even though he knew that Larabee knew where Doc Taggart's was. "Two are in the saloon." He tipped his head towards the Silver Dollar Saloon just across the way.

"Describe the two in the saloon."

"Mex. Both of'em. One tall and skinny, long hair, scar on the right cheekbone. One medium and stout. Light skin, smooth as a woman's... pretty face. Probably together."

"Josiah." Larabee ground out. "Keep an eye on them." He turned his horse towards Doc Taggart's without another word.

Nathan trailed after him, hoping that the crusty old doctor wouldn't get in Chris' way. He'd hate to have to patch the old man up.

Taggart's wife, who was also his nurse, jumped when the door to the clinic banged open.

So did Marks and Sanders. Hawkins was asleep on one of the cots that lined the clinic's main room. Farley was passed out on another, having lost consciousness when Taggart set his thighbone. He had been lucky that it was a simple fracture. Still it would be a long while before he was up to leaving the clinic.

Taggart never even looked up. "Leave my patients alone, Larabee." He snapped without even turning his head to see who was there.

Larabee ignored him, stalking straight to Marks. He grabbed a handful of shirt and yanked the bounty hunter's leader up off the cot he lay on. "Where's Tanner?" He snarled slamming him back against the wall.

Nathan grabbed Taggart as the white-haired doctor sprang to his feet and started towards the combatants. "Best stay outta it. Won't do them..." he tipped his head towards the other patients, "...no good iffn you get too banged up to tend them."

"Where's Tanner?" Chris snarled again ignoring the pain in his shoulder, riding on anger and adrenaline.

"How would I know. Somebody broke him loose. I figured it was you."

"Wasn't." Chris grinned wolfishly. "You underestimated one of my men. Pissing off Standish was a huge mistake."

Chris stood back letting Marks slump against the wall. "Shooting an officer of the law was another. I could arrest you. You could end up in Yuma with the men you've put there." He grinned predatorily before adding, "But I'm gonna let you go this time... only because I don't want Vin's past brought up. Understand this, though, if I see you or any of your men in Four Corners again... I'll shoot you on sight. I suggest you take the bounties you've got and get the hell back to Texas!"

Turning on his heel he strode out of the clinic.

Nathan released Taggart and tipped his hat to Taggart's wife. "Ma'am. Ya'll take care."

He followed Chris back out the door with a sigh of relief, grateful that Chris hadn't done more damage. His relief soon turned to dismay as he saw a tall skinny Mexican come flying through the window of the saloon and land on the boardwalk at their feet.

As the man struggled up Chris grabbed him, "You're one of those bounty hunters!" He snarled, releasing the grip he had on the man, Chris used his good arm to take a swing at the Mexican.

The man ducked and Chris missed letting the man get a punch into this belly.

Knowing that Chris was in no condition to fight the man and worried about the possibility of Larabee's shoulder wound getting busted open, Nathan joined the fray.

Just as he dragged the man off Chris, three more men boiled out of the saloon and slammed into them, knocking all three of them sprawling.

Chris landed on top of the Mexican and with a feral grin began pounding on him as the man lay trapped beneath him.

Two of the men scrabbled free of the fight and took off running.

The third was the stout Mexican that Collins had told them about.

He recognized his partner and the blonde man pounding on him and jumped to his friend's aid.

Nathan intercepted him and tossed him back towards the saloon where a just emerging Josiah grabbed him in mid-flight, swung him around and struck a blow that sent him reeling into the street.

He landed to lie in a heap just as Buck reined in his big gray a few feet away. "Hellfire, boys! Ya'll couldn't leave us none?"

JD's little bay pranced around the fallen man, JD regarding the sight of Chris still pounding on the tall skinny Mexican with disinterest. He was leading Peso and Chaucer.

Chris looked up at Buck's exclamation and with one last punch that sent the man he had been pounding on into oblivion he stood up. Waving towards the two horses that JD was leading he asked, "Where're they?"

Buck didn't need names to know who he was asking after. After taking a quick glance at the two Mexicans to be sure they were out and couldn't hear what he said, he answered, "Camped out in that cave they like so much in Devil's Gorge... oops, excuse me... I mean Devil's Lake."

"He blew it like he planned?"

"Prettiest dam ya ever saw. Reckon come spring there'll be some fine fishing up there." Buck grinned at his oldest friend, then tipped his head to indicate the blood beginning to show on his shirt. "Looks like ya need to let Nathan take a look at that."

Chris nodded and headed for the saloon.

The few patrons that were left inside hurriedly got out of the dark clad gunfighter's way.

Chris commandeered a table and signaled the barkeep for a bottle.

Nathan squatted down beside Chris to check his wound.

Chris, uncharacteristically, let him unbutton his shirt and slip it down enough to see that Chris had busted a couple of stitches. "Gonna have'ta redo them." He informed Larabee.

"Later." Larabee said firmly, picking up the bottle that the barkeep had delivered and pouring out a drink. He turned his attention to Buck and JD. "They all right?"

Buck chuckled, "Seemed ta be just fine. They was just a'sitting up on the gorge rim waiting on us. Hollered down and told us to go on an' report ta you. Reckon they'll meet up with us in the morning when we head back to town."

Chris nodded just as Able Collins sauntered in and raised a brow to ask if he could join them at the table.

After he sat down he said, "Had a couple of the boys haul them two Mexs over to the doc's. He allows as how they'll be fine when they come around. Told Marks that soon as he's up to riding I want him gone." He paused as Chris poured him a drink and he took a swallow. "I'll make sure they head on towards Texas. Me'n the boys'll escort them if we have'ta."

"Sure your boys can handle them?" Larabee asked.

Collins grinned. "Got me a good dozen men that help out when needed. Ain't none of them fast guns but when I call them in I pass out rifles iffn we're forming up a posse... scatter-guns if we're dealing with something like Marks and his men. Marks is too smart to argue with a dozen men armed with sawed off shotguns."

Various grunts and nods greeted that statement. They sat a while longer just talking before Nathan insisted that Chris get a room and let him re-stitch the shoulder wound and get some rest before they headed out to meet up with Vin and Ezra in the morning.

*************************************************

After Buck and JD rode off, Vin and Ezra went back to sitting under the juniper tree, watching the sky as the twilight faded and the stars began to come out.

Ezra leaned back in Vin's arms and sighed softly.

"What ya thinking about, Baby?" Vin asked quietly.

"Us, the ranch, the future... the bounty on your head. We really need to do something about that."

"Don't know what ta to 'bout it."

"Yates is still out there somewhere."

"Yeah... but how're we gonna find him and keep doing our job in town?"

"I have been thinking about resigning my position as one of the peacekeepers."

"Ez, ya can't do that! You're one'a us. We need you!"

"I'm not saying that I wouldn't be there for the rest of you when you truly need me... but I should like to let go of the day to day stuff. Young Mister Dunne is turning into quite a respectable sheriff. He can handle the in-town patrols. Especially since Mister Larabee is almost always sitting around town somewhere. Yourself, Mister Wilmington and Mister Sanchez can handle the daily out of town patrols. I'm already quite busy and the ranch will take up even more of my time."

"Can't we hire somebody to run the ranch?"

"A foreman? I have been considering that. I think, perhaps young Mister Mosely would be a possible candidate. He has not had a steady job since his sister's death and his father's trial for her murder. I think that long-term stable employment would help him put his life back together. Unfortunately I feel that it might be necessary to tell him the truth about our relationship and given his background... as the son of a preacher and quite a strict one at that... he may not be open to accepting us."

"Might fool you. He's been spending a heap of time out at the reservation... lots of it with Chanu. They're getting' ta be good friends. Might have opened his mind up a bit."

"Indeed... well, then perhaps I will approach him about the job... make it a temporary position until we see how he does then if we decide to keep him on, make the decision about telling him then."

"Sounds like a plan." He pressed a soft kiss to the side of Ezra's neck, "So, what else are you busy with?"

"Several months ago, Mrs. Potter approached me about teaching Josh and Amelia. She was concerned about their lack of schooling and frustrated with the town council's inability to obtain the services of a qualified teacher. She felt that since I am quite well educated and have an affinity for children that I might be willing to fill in temporarily. She informed several of the other mothers in town that I was tutoring Josh and Amelia and suggested that I might be willing to teach the other children as well. I currently have eight children that I tutor. Due to my peacekeeping duties I can not set a definite schedule, however I attempt to spend at least two hours a day with the children. When I have to be out of town I assign lessons for each day that I will be away and Miss Amelia sees to it that the children do them. I check over them when I return. I am also teaching Mrs. Hamilton to play the piano that her husband bought her. I spend an hour with her twice a week. She practices daily. Miss Amelia has expressed an interest in piano lessons as well... and surprisingly Miss Casey has asked about them also. I have not yet decided about taking on additional students as I am unsure as to whether I will have the time to devote to it."

"You really like teaching don'tcha?"

Ezra chuckled, "I love teaching, Vin. There is nothing quite like it."

"Then you should do it."

"It's not that simple, Love."

"Why not? You love it. You're good at it. The kids need a teacher..."

"Vin, surely you are aware that prejudice comes in many forms. You have suffered from it yourself. People look at you and see an uneducated, scruffy ex-bounty hunter who lived with the Indians and immediately say 'we don't want that kind around us and our children'. How many towns have you been run out of for just that reason?"

Vin sighed heavily, "Too many."

"Exactly. Just as there are those who don't want you around them because of how they perceive you, there are those who don't want a gambler and a conman teaching their children... especially one who is, quite literally, a bastard."

"They don't want you to teach their kids cause your folks weren't married? That don't make no sense! You didn't have nothing to say 'bout that!"

Ezra's laugh was pure delight. "Oh, Vin, one of the things I love most about you is that you can cut straight through to the heart of a matter. You are of course entirely right. I did not have anything to say in that particular matter... but that has never made any difference."

"You try to get a teaching certificate?"

Ezra laughed again, this time there was a touch of bitterness in the sound. "Mister Tanner, I *have* a teaching certificate. In fact I have a number of them. I am quite stubborn you know. I have taken and passed the teacher certification test in five states and three territories... including this one. Howsoever each time that I obtained a teaching position, Mother would come to visit and shortly there after I would be dismissed." He shrugged only to have Vin hug him tighter.

"That ain't right."

Ezra sighed again, leaning into the his lover's embrace, "As one of my uncles used to say, 'The world goes as it will, not as you or I would have it'. I have found that to be all too true in some cases."

"Yeah," Vin sighed too, thinking of all the injustices he had seen. After a moment he asked, "You tell Mrs. Potter that you got a certificate? They been looking for a teacher for a long time now."

"No. I didn't tell her..."

"Why not?"

"Vin, there are nearly twenty children in town at the moment. I am teaching less than half of them. That should tell you what the other mothers think of the idea of a gambler and a conman teaching their children. I... I just don't want to stand up in the town meeting and say, 'I have a teaching certificate,' only to be told that I'm not a *suitable* teacher for their children. I don't think that I could handle the rejection... not here... not from these people."

Sensing that Ezra was becoming upset, Vin shifted to turn his lover in his arms, cradling him close, stroking his hair and down his back to soothe him, "Shhhh, shhhh, Baby. It's all right. We won't talk no more about it."

Ezra snuggled into Vin's chest and tilted his head back to look up at Vin.

When he did, Vin placed a soft kiss on his forehead, then over each eye, working his way down to claim his lover's lips. After a long sweet kiss he whispered, "Let's turn in, Love."

Ezra let Vin lead him back down the path to the cave that they were camped in and distract him with his slow gentle love making but in the back of his mind one thought lingered.

They really did need to do something about the bounty on Vin's head.

*************************************************

Morning found Larabee and the other four peacekeepers mounted up and headed for what had been Devil's Gorge. Larabee was impatient to see for himself that Vin was all right and the others had no argument with that.

Even Nathan agreed that seeing Vin for himself would do wonders for the gunfighter. Maybe once he was sure that Vin was all right he would settle down and give himself time to heal.

Vin and Ezra were sitting under the juniper tree again, watching their friends as they rode up. With a quick wave, 'hello'. Ezra tossed their saddlebags down and JD ran to scoop them up.

Ezra unfurled a rope and began his descent. Holding to the rope with one hand he passed it under his buttocks and caught it in the other hand. He dropped over the edge letting the rope slide through his gloved hands. He moved quickly and gracefully down the steep wall.

Vin followed using the same method but was not quite as graceful as Ezra had been.

The first words out of Chris' mouth when Vin hit the ground was, "You all right?"

"Few bruises. Nothing major. Thanks for catching up the horses." He went straight to Peso as Ezra went to Chaucer.

A few minutes later, after both men had spoken to and petted their horses and Ezra had fed both horses half an apple they mounted up.

Chris looked around and smiled. They were seven again.

"Let's go home."

Larabee turned his horse and headed for Four Corners. Buck fell in at his right side. Vin to his left. Ezra beside Vin. JD beside Buck. Nathan and Josiah took the outside ends. Nathan reining his horse in to walk beside Ezra and Josiah taking JD's other side.

The End