Part 3

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The next morning at the ranch
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Ezra Standish stood staring out the window of the ranch house he shared with Vin Tanner. He turned and looked up as Vin came down the stairs, barefoot and wearing only his pants.

"You're up early, Ez."

"I have been thinking."

"'Bout what?"

"Joseph," he hesitated, "it'll be good to see him again."

Vin gave him an evaluating look. "Just how well did you know this Joseph LaFiamma?"

Ezra laughed. "You're jealous and you haven't even met him!" Then he stepped in close and slid his arms around Vin. "You've nothing to worry about in that department, Love. Joe is a wonderful person but he and I were never anything more than friends. Think you and Chris... a very special relationship but totally different from ours."

Vin gave a slight nod. He'd often wondered if Ezra was jealous of his friendship with Chris, but the gambler had never given any indication of being. Now, he supposed he'd get the chance to see if he could be as accepting of a special friend of Ezra's as Ez was of his special friendship with Chris. He wasn't certain he could be. He still had flashes of jealousy when he saw Ezra laughing over something with Buck even though he knew the ladies man was just a friend.

He stepped close and wrapped his arms around Ezra. "Wanna come back to bed for a bit?" He leaned in nuzzling Ezra's neck, smiling at Ezra's soft chuckle.

He kissed his way up to claim his lover's mouth, then drew back slightly to let Ezra answer.

"I think that would be acceptable," Ezra grinned at him leaning in for another kiss, "Most acceptable."

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Two Days before Thanksgiving
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The weather was cold, but clear, as Vin Tanner made his way through the trees near the river that cut across the back of his and Ezra's property. He could hear the wild turkeys gobbling and knew that he'd be taking at least a couple home with him.

He had already snared a brace of pheasants and four showshoe rabbits, but Ezra had specifically asked for turkey for the Thanksgiving dinner he was preparing.

Vin grinned at the memory of waking to the shock of finding his lover slipping out of bed ahead of him. He had tried to lure Ezra back, but the gambler had been adamant that he had to get started on the cooking, after all he only had two days left before the big event.

When Josiah and Nathan had shown up with the new table and benches and Ezra had started moving furniture around, Vin had decided that it was time for him to head out to get Ezra's turkeys.

He had left with the memory of his lover, standing at the table in the middle of their kitchen with his sleeves rolled up, wearing an apron and kneading dough to make crusts for dried apple pies, imprinted on his mind. He had never thought that Ezra was the domestic kind, but from the smell of the pumpkin pies in the oven, his lover could definitely cook.

This was the first time that Ezra had done any of their cooking. Vin was almost always up and in town long before Ezra even awoke. They normally ate lunch with the others at either the hotel or the saloon and ate supper in town, as well, before returning to the ranch, although Ezra frequently returned home before Vin.

He sighed. Their work kept them apart a lot, but that was made up for by being able to spend most nights at home with Ezra in their own bed. He decided that things were working out well. He got to spend time alone while riding both the morning and evening patrols out of town.

Ezra got to sleep as late as he wanted then spend most of the afternoon in town, teaching the children and giving piano lessons. He made his contribution to the peacekeeping efforts by working at the jail, sorting wanted posters, filling out the sheriff's log and filing records of the outlaws they had encountered and arrests that they had made.

On Friday and Saturday nights Ezra played poker in the saloon until closing time while Vin sat behind him, chair tipped back against the wall where he could watch the room and be ready to help, if things got out of hand. With Ezra there things seldom did. He had a knack for heading off trouble, calming down situations and generally just keeping things under control.

Vin pulled his thoughts back to the present and squatted down near a large tree. In the open spot just beyond it he could see a flock of turkeys, including two of the biggest toms he had ever seen. He made up his mind that those two would be Ezra's.

He carefully drew a bead on one of them, aiming for the head. A clean head-shot would kill it instantly without having to worry about digging lead out of it. He let his breath out slowly as he pulled the trigger. The sound of the gunshot sent the turkeys into a frenzy, flying out of the clearing and into the nearby trees, but they soon calmed again when he remained still and hidden.

Soon they were back to milling around, pecking at the ground, totally ignoring the dead tom in their midst. He shook his head. Turkeys had to be the stupidest animals on the face of the earth. One of them was lying dead on the ground and the rest didn't have the sense to get the hell out of there.

He took his time, waiting for just the right moment to shoot the other big tom. When it went down, and the remaining turkeys again flew up into the surrounding trees, he rose and gathered both of them up. Tying their feet together, he slung them over his shoulder and headed back to where he had left Peso and the rest of his game.

They would be eating good on Thanksgiving. He knew that Mary was bringing a ham and Miss Nettie had promised a venison roast from the deer he had killed for her the week before. Mrs. Potter was bringing peach cobbler. He knew it would be made with canned peaches, but when it came to peach cobbler, he'd take what he could get, as long as he got it.

They'd be bringing housewarming gifts too. Everyone had agreed to combine the housewarming that their friends had planned with the Thanksgiving dinner that Ezra had planned. It was going to be a big day.

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By the time that he returned to the house, the long center hallway which separated the kitchen and regular dining room from the rest of the house, had been cleared of everything except the two long tables and the benches that went with them. The double doors at each end had been securely locked so that you had to enter through the parlor or the kitchen.

One table was laden with pumpkin, rhubarb and apple pies set to cool, the other with things waiting to be cooked. Fresh apples, with their cores cut out and stuffed with brown sugar, nuts and cinnamon sat on a baking sheet. There were bowls of cookie dough, oatmeal cookies, both with and without nuts, chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies and shortbread cookies. Each bowl had a damp cloth draped over it to keep flies and bugs out.

Ezra had shanghaied Nathan to help with the cooking. The big man was taking a baking sheet with two pies on it out of the oven while Ezra put cookies on a baking sheet when Vin came in the back door. Nathan carried the pies to the table in the hallway, sliding them off and bringing the baking sheet back with him, setting it on the table where Ezra was working He took two more pies from the oven on another baking sheet and repeated the performance.

Ezra eyed the two toms, that Vin held up to show him, critically then turned to look at the stove. There was no way that both of those turkeys would fit in his oven. He shook his head and smiled at Vin, "I'll fix the pheasants and one of the turkeys. Take the other one and the rabbits to Inez at the saloon. She said that she would help with the cooking."

Vin nodded, then turned to Nathan and Josiah. "Ya'll want to help me clean these?"

"Sure, Brother Vin. Be right there." Josiah said.

"Nathan's helping me." Ezra pointed out as Nathan reached to untie his apron.

Nathan shrugged helplessly at Vin but didn't really look that disappointed at getting to stay in the nice warm kitchen while they headed out to the barn to clean the game.

A few minutes later, in the barn, Josiah smiled at Vin, "Ezra seems to be having a good time with this."

"He was a mite upset when the dishes he ordered didn't come, but I told him that weren't nobody worried about the damn dishes. Long as they got fed." He grinned at Josiah and gave him a wink to let him know that he was kidding. He knew that the others would have come even if there hadn't been the offer of food.

"He still worries about appearances. I thought by now he would know that we care about *him*." Josiah grumbled.

"He knows, but it ain't easy, 'Siah. He's a lot like me. He's been alone most all his life. Ever time he'd think he could trust someone they'd turn on him. Real hard to learn to trust when all you ever knowed was being betrayed. He can't even trust his own ma. Look what she done to him over that saloon. Stole his dream like it weren't nothing."

"Speaking of Maude, has he heard from her? Is she coming to the dinner?"

"Not that I know of. Don't rightly think he wants her here. Reckon he figures she'll find some way to take this away from him too."

Josiah frowned but fell silent. It seemed a pity that Ezra would have to worry that his mother would take his home from him.

Back in the kitchen, Nathan was checking the first cookies that had been cooked, "These are cool, Ez. What ya gonna put them in?"

Ezra pointed to a bunch of round tin containers with lids. "Put them in those. I got as much of the rust out as I could but I haven't had time to repaint them. Line them with the gingham squares, then fill them with the cookies and put the lids back on. Leave the cloth over the top edges. That will make the lids fit tighter."

As Nathan reached for a square of the gingham he added, "Those are sugar cookies so use the yellow."

At Nathan's raised eyebrow, he grinned. "If we use different colors for the different cookies, I won't have to open the tins to know what's in them. Yellow for the plain sugar cookies, brown for the chocolate chip, red for the oatmeal with nuts, pink for the oatmeal without nuts and green for the shortbread cookies that I am going to decorate."

Nathan held up the container and asked, "Where'd you get these?"

"The junk shop in town. They had dozens of them. All shapes and sizes. When I have time I'll paint them. The larger ones are perfect for storing flour, meal, sugar and such in the kitchen. The smaller ones can be used for storing almost anything. I also got crockery jars but these were cheap and figured that I could use them for other things after the holidays are over."

"I wouldn'ta thought you'd shop at the junk shop."

"I'm quite careful with my money, Mister Jackson and I have found that owning property is a drain on one's finances." He smiled wryly. "One of the reasons that I never bothered to try before."

"I'm still not sure why ya bought a ranch. I mean you wanted a saloon..."

"But Vin's dream has always been to have a small horse ranch and now what he wants is more important to me than what I want. Besides, I may yet buy a saloon."

Nathan sighed, sitting down at the table as he layered the cookies into the tin. "Reckon that's pretty much the definition of love, ain't it?"

"What?"

"Caring enough about what somebody else wants to put that ahead of what you want." He paused a long moment, then went on, "Rain don't want to live in town. Scares her."

Ezra nodded, "I can understand that. She doesn't know anything but the village."

"Don't see how I can leave. Ain't another healer around here."

"Not at the moment, but we'll be getting a spur off the railroad in the spring." He said, matter of factly.

"We will?" Nathan looked up.

"That is what my sources say." He paused, counting the spoons of cookie dough that he had dropped on the baking sheet and added one more before going on. "Once the railroad comes, even if it's just a spur, the town will grow rapidly. With that growth there may well come a licensed doctor. Many people, who come to you now, will turn to him. Have you thought of what you will do then?"

Nathan frowned and shrugged, "Not really. Guess I always knew, that sooner or later, there'd be a real doctor in town but hadn't really thought about how it would affect me."

Ezra removed a sheet of cookies from the oven and took it to the table in the hall to cool. He returned and removed the second one. As he passed Nathan on the way to the table in the hallway he said, "You need to think about it."

Nathan nodded but remained silent.

Ezra returned, put the unbaked cookies in the oven, then came to sit back at the table with Nathan.

"There will, of course, be those, such as myself, Mister Tanner and the others who will still prefer to come to you. However, you might wish to take into account the possibility that you will lose many patients before you decide what to do about Miss Rain. The Indians will still need a healer and the doctor may well not be inclined to care for them. He or she shall almost certainly not care as much as you do."

He gave Nathan an understanding look, "If you love her, it may well be best for all concerned, if you do move to the village, should a licensed doctor take up practice in Four Corners. The town will have a doctor. You will be there to care for Miss Rain's people. She will be happy. Those of us who prefer to go to you will know where to find you."

He paused, "You and she will always be welcome in my and Mister Tanner's home."

Nathan smiled, "Thanks, Ez."

"You're welcome." Ezra smiled back at him then grew serious again. "A marriage is a partnership, Mister Jackson. If you want to marry her, tell her so. Tell her why you are hesitating. Discuss it with her and listen to her. Respect her opinion. Take in to account her wants and needs. Learn to compromise."

Nathan's head came up at the word compromise. Anger in his eyes.

Ezra shook his head. "Compromise does not mean losing, Nathan. It doesn't mean you give up your principles or lose to the other person. It means to reach a middle ground that is acceptable to both. Marriage is not a competition. There is not, should not be, a winner and a loser."

He tilted his head and looked at with a sly smile. "Would you like to know why Mister Tanner and I are so happy together?"

"Yeah. I would."

"It's simple. I feel that I have made the better deal in our union... and he feels that he has made the better deal in our union. That is the secret of a happy marriage, Mister Jackson, for each person to feel that they have made the better deal. That there is no one else in the world that they would rather be with. I cannot imagine life without Mister Tanner. I do not even want to."

He took a deep breath then said, "Perhaps now is the time to clear up a misunderstanding, regarding our first meeting."

Nathan started to speak but Ezra held up his hand to stop him. "Please hear me out first, Mister Jackson."

Nathan nodded.

Ezra looked down at his hands for a moment before looking back up at Nathan and speaking. "I have never had any interest in women and before I met Mister Tanner I had never been in love with anyone. But I have always preferred men, and have often felt an immediate and strong desire for a man that I have only just seen or met. You are a very attractive man, Mister Jackson, and that day in the saloon, my body reacted to you immediately. Then almost as quickly my better judgment kicked in. I said what I did, because I felt that it would be simpler to let you think that I didn't want to ride with you because you were black, rather than to admit that it was because I was attracted to you and afraid that I would say or do something that would reveal that attraction and inspire you to kill me."

Nathan stared at him, agape, for a long moment then blinked, "You were attracted to me?" he asked incredulously.

"At that time."

"And you thought that I'd kill you, if I knew?"

"Again, yes, at that time. I did not know you then, Nathan."

"But you did decide to ride with us. Why?"

"Mister Larabee... or more precisely Captain Christopher Larabee. When I discovered who the man that had asked me to ride with him was, I could not refuse. During the war, there were a few Union officers whose names were known, among the Sons of the South as men of honor, men who treated captured Confederates with dignity and respect. One of those was Captain Larabee. To be asked to ride with him was an honor, one that I could not refuse. I decided that to be allowed to ride with him, I could put aside my desires. I am after all accustomed to doing so... And now I am, as I have said, very happy with Mister Tanner. I no longer feel any desire to be anything more than friends with you and I hope that by telling you this I have not caused additional problems."

"You were attracted to me?"

"Were. Yes."

"And my being black didn't matter?"

"No. It did not. What mattered was that I felt you would not be happy to learn of the attraction."

"You mighta been wrong about that."

"Perhaps, but I doubt it. You are the kind of man that wants a wife and family. We might have had something but it would not have lasted and now... I am glad that I did not pursue it. I would never have mentioned it, were I not aware that your misconception about the reasons for that comment in the saloon that day has been and still is hindering our friendship."

Nathan tilted his head and studied Ezra for a long moment then he nodded. "You're right. I think maybe I've had a lotta mis-con-cept-ions," he stumbled over the word, "about you and most of them go back ta that day in the saloon. You ain't what I assumed you were." He stood and held out his hand to Ezra, "I'm sorry about making assumptions and right glad to call you my friend."

Ezra smiled. His eyes were bright, as he reached to take the hand. "And I am glad to call you friend as well, Nathan." He released Nathan's hand and grinned at him, "Now, we have more cookies to bake."

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Thanksgiving Morning
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Vin awoke to the smell of roasting turkey. He knew without opening his eyes that Ezra was already up, assuming that he had ever come to bed at all.

His lover had put the turkey in the oven just before midnight the day before, saying that it would need a long time to cook. The huge bird had barely fit into the oven and Ezra had said that it would need basting regularly to keep it from drying out. Most likely Ezra had simply stretched out on the ragged old sofa in the parlor catching naps between basting the bird.

Vin sighed and got up. It was going to be a busy day and there would be a big crowd to contend with. He had already decided that the best idea would be for him to take an early morning ride. Maybe go out to Nettie's and help her and Casey load up their wagon with whatever they were bringing and ride back with them. That way he'd have a little peace and quiet before the place got wrapped up with people.

When he was dressed and ready to go he headed downstairs. Sure enough, Ezra was lying on the sofa.

He opened his eyes when Vin came and sat down beside him.

"Mornin', sleepyhead," Vin teased.

"Morning, Love." Ezra reached to take his hand and pull it up to his lips for a kiss.

"Missed ya," Vin whispered, pulling their joined hands back so that he could press a kiss to the back of Ezra's.

Ezra smiled at him. "I promise you, tonight I will sleep in our bed."

"Gonna hold ya to that."

"I might however be too tired to do anything more than sleep." Ezra teased.

"Be all right. Long as you're there. Miss just holdin' ya."

"I miss being held." Ezra's eyes were drifting closed again.

"I'm gonna ride over ta Nettie's. See if her'n Casey need a hand getting' things loaded up and over here. We'll be back 'fore dinner."

Ezra yawned. "What time is it?"

"Going on ta seven."

"I'd best get up then. Inez is supposed to be here by eight with the other turkey and the rabbits."

"Want me ta stop by and see if she needs help?"

"Yosemite and his boys are supposed to help her load the wagon. She's bringing some chairs from the saloon." Ezra sat up, looking around the nearly bare parlor. "We are really going to have to get more furniture."

"If ya say so." Vin shrugged. He liked the house uncluttered.

Ezra grinned at him. "I promise not to get too much furniture... and no lace and frills." He stood and gave Vin a quick hug and a kiss. "Now, get along with you. I've got a million things to do yet."

Vin chuckled and left.

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Ezra had just returned from taking a quick bath and changing into clean clothes when he heard the wagon rattle into the yard. Stepping out on the front porch he called a greeting, "Good morning, and welcome."

He walked down to stand on the steps as the wagon stopped in front of them. He helped Inez and Yosemite's daughter, Sadie, down while the boys piled out of the back. "Miss Rocillos, you look lovely as always. Miss Sadie, you are growing into a fine young woman."

"Gonna be the image of her ma." Yosemite said, his eyes saddening at the memory of his late wife. Then he stood a bit taller obviously putting his grief aside and asked, "Where do you want these things? Miss Inez had me bring some tables, too."

"Si, I know how hard it can be to find a place to put things at such a large gathering. Also you will need a table for the children and since the saloon is closed for the day, I thought we could bring the tables from there along with the chairs."

"That was very thoughtful, dear lady." He thanked her with a smile, then turned to Yosemite. "Perhaps it would be best to use the back door. I'm already needing more table space in the kitchen."

"You will need some in the parlor as well... to put the housewarming gifts on until they are opened." Inez reminded him.

He nodded and smiled. He already knew what Inez had gotten them. She had ordered a set of twenty-four pressed-glass glasses from the company that provided the beer mugs and shot glasses for the saloon, refusing to listen when he told her that it was too much.

He followed Yosemite around as he drove the wagon to the side porch and directed the boys as to where he wanted the tables and chairs in the parlor. They then moved on to the back porch and unloaded the rest into the kitchen. Ezra was surprised to find that Inez had also brought a box full of dishes from the saloon. He wouldn't have to worry about not having enough.

They had barely gotten the wagon unloaded when Mrs. Travis arrived with Billy and the Judge. Chris rode his horse along side the buggy. After that there was a steady stream of people arriving.

Ezra and Inez retired to the kitchen for the final preparations, leaving Chris and Mary to act as hosts in the parlor until time for dinner to be served.

By noon the ranch house was overflowing with people.

Ezra wove his way through the crowd, to Mary's side. "The table is ready. Is Rafe back yet? He took the buckboard into town to get Miss Sherry over an hour ago." Miss Sherry was the new seamstress in town. Rafe had taken a shine to her and she to him.

"I haven't seen him. Buck and JD aren't here yet either."

"Who else has not arrived as yet?" Ezra asked with a frown. He had so wanted this dinner party to be perfect, but it seemed that it was going to get a late start.

"Nathan and Rain just came in." Mary looked around, trying to remember who all Ezra had invited. It seemed half the town was here.

Ezra nodded distractedly then frowned. "Vin. Vin, Mrs. Wells and Miss Casey. They have not arrived yet." He excused himself and worked his way through the crowd towards the front porch.

Before he could reach the door, JD burst through it.

"I shot a bear!" he shouted excitedly, practically jumping up and down. "It ran right outta the woods in front of us! Buck's horse threw him! I shot the bear!"

He turned back to wave towards Buck Wilmington and Rafe Mosley as they backed in through the door dragging the bear by it's hind legs. Miss Sherry held the door for them.

"I know it's not real big..." JD chattered on as the rest of the occupants of the room stared open mouthed at the sight of the bear being dragged into the parlor. "...but I wanted you guys to have it... as part of your housewarming present from me'n Buck. You can have it skint out and it'll make a real fine rug for in front of the fireplace." He bounced towards the fireplace, eyes gleaming.

The other guests hurriedly opened a path for him and the two men dragging the bear.

"See. It'll be perfect," He crowed triumphantly as Buck and Rafe deposited the bear face down in front of the fireplace. He bent over it and began to arrange it to suit himself, chattering on as he did. "If you put the head right here..." He grabbed the head and tugged.

The bear chose that moment to open its eyes.

JD executed a perfect squatting back jump... at least it would have been perfect if he hadn't collided with Buck.

Buck landed on his ass on the floor with JD on top of him.

Amelia Potter let out a shriek that could be heard in Eagle Bend. Her mother, Gloria, grabbed her and ran for the open hall door.

Josh Potter jumped out the window onto the side porch, breaking it in the process and spraining his ankle. Matt Brewster followed him out.

Yosemite grabbed his two younger children and hustled them through the open doorway into the hall where the tables were set up.

Rafe spun and dashed back out the door they had come in, grabbing Miss Sherry on the way out and hauling her along with him as he fled across the porch and into the yard.

Josiah and Nathan were sitting talking to Dewey McGlamory who sat in his wheelchair. They rose as one, grabbed the sides of the chairs and fled with Dewey through the open door to the hallway. Maneuvering between the two tables they carried him through the kitchen and out onto the back porch. Mrs. McGlamory followed, hauling her children by the hands as she ran.

Mary Travis grabbed Billy and turned to run.

Chris Larabee grabbed them both and hauled them through the door to the hallway and on through the kitchen to the back door and out, passing Nathan, Josiah and the McGlamorys on the way, not stopping until he had them across the back porch and in the yard. He shoved Mary towards the barn.

"Get in there and bar the door!" he ordered as he turned back towards the house and the renewed screams of panic.

Inside the house the bear gained its feet.

Inez Recillos was not the kind to run. She grabbed the first available object and hurled it at the bear.

Unfortunately the first available object was a lighted oil lamp. It burst when it made contact with the bear's solid chest... spilling the oil over the bear's fur and setting it aflame.

Ezra Standish couldn't let a lady get hurt. Seeing that Inez wouldn't retreat on her own, he grabbed her and threw her bodily out the window that Josh and Matt had gone through, trusting the young men to keep her from coming back in.

The bear let out an unearthly howl and leapt backwards beating at its flaming chest with its paws. It crashed into the screen sitting in front of the fireplace and the screen collapsed under its weight. It landed rump first in the fire in the fireplace. Springing to its feet, still howling, it made a mad dash across the room with both its chest and its rump on fire. It was too panicked to know where it was or where it was going. It tripped and fell on to the sofa, setting it ablaze.

Regaining its feet it charged towards the smashed window and the freedom beyond.

Ezra turned to see the flaming bear charging towards him. Pure reflex had his derringer in his hand before he even thought about it. He emptied both barrels at the bear.

It didn't even slow it down.

He dove aside as the bear passed and rolled to his feet. Grabbing a folded quilt off the table full of gifts he began beating at the burning sofa... managing to put out the fire.

The bear had stumbled into the broken window and was trying to get through it, setting the curtains on fire as he did.

Ezra cursed and ran over to the window, tearing down the curtains and stamping out the fire while the bear struggled to get out the window.

Noting that the bear was still on fire and determined not to let it burn down his newly acquired home, Ezra began beating at the flames on the bear with the quilt following it out the window as it finally made its escape.

Josh and Matt were dragging a screaming Inez away from the porch as the bear came through the window with Ezra behind it.

Chris, returning from securing Mary and Billy, saw Ezra follow the bear out the window and followed him through it.

The bear charged across the front lawn heading for the woods just as a late arriving Casey Wells and her aunt turned into the yard with Vin riding Peso alongside their wagon.

Peso reared and pranced around, nostrils flaring. Vin fought to bring him under control, finally leaping from the saddle and letting him run as he brought up his mare's leg to take a shot at the singed bear.

Casey hauled up on the reins trying to stop the horses that had panicked at the first scent of the bear.

Nettie grabbed her Spencer Carbine and flung it to her shoulder, letting loose just as the horses jerked, throwing her back on the seat.

The Spencer Carbine went off.

Vin's mare's leg barked.

Chris' pistol spoke.

Ezra hit the ground... just a second before the bear.

"Ezra!" Vin screamed running to his partner and falling to his knees beside him. "Oh, my god! Are you all right?"

"Are ya'll through shooting?"

"Uh... yeah... I think so." He looked towards the bear, which now had a large hole completely through its chest. Not to mention several more in it's back.

"Then Ah'm all right." He gave Vin a dimpled grin, "When I saw Mrs. Wells raise her rifle Ah simply felt that it would be safah to make mahself as small a target as possible."

As they all gathered around the now thoroughly dead, but still smoldering bear, JD said glumly, "I'm sorry guys. I really thought it was dead." He hesitated then sighed, "It ain't fit to be a rug now."

Ezra turned, opening his mouth to snap at the younger man, but seeing the remorseful look on JD's face he stopped. [No matter what happens, a host should always be gracious to his guests.] Great-grandmother DeVille's voice echoed in his mind. He shook his head. [I bet she never had to deal with a burning bear!]

Suddenly he grinned, his dimples showing, "Nonsense, Mister Dunne. We shall indeed make a rug of it. It will spark many an interesting conversation in the years to come.... And I assure you that this was in no way your fault. As the host it was my responsibility to insure that any wild animals allowed on the premises were completely lifeless."

JD shook his head as Ezra let him off the hook for spoiling the party, "Ez, you're something, ya know that don't ya?" He sighed again, "Sorry, for ruining the party."

"Ruining the party? My dear, sir, the party has not yet begun." Ezra smiled at him. "Now you and Mister Wilmington assist Mister Tanner in dragging this beast off somewhere and preparing it to be butchered and the rest of us will return to the house." He patted JD on the shoulder and moved on.

"Mister Mosely, Young Mister Potter, I believe it would be a good idea to remove the sofa from the parlor and sit it outside, if you would be so kind. Upholstered furnishings sometimes smolder and re-ignite later on their own. I would not wish it to do so inside the house. Please, make certain that it is well away from anything flammable and douse it with water."

"Ladies and gentlemen, if you would please return to the house, we have a dinner to eat. I don't believe that our uninvited guest did any harm to that." He quickly and calmly gathered up the guests and got them back inside while Vin, JD and Buck dragged the bear off to the barn.

Turning to Gloria Potter, Ezra offered her his arm. He held the refolded quilt over the other. "My dear Mrs. Potter, I am so very sorry for ruining the lovely quilt you made for us... but it was the only thing that I could get my hands on at the time to put out the fire."

"It's just singed a bit, Mister Standish. I'll take it home and wash it and patch it. I'll have it back to you before you know it." She smiled at him. "I have to say that this is one Thanksgiving that I'll remember for a long time!"

Ezra chuckled. "I did want this to be a memorable occasion, but this was not exactly what I had in mind."

The incident however seemed to loosen everyone up a bit and what had been stilted conversation turned lively and laughter filled the house as the guests gathered around the table.

The children were given a separate table, but since there were only a few truly young ones, Josh, Amelia, Matt and Sadie joined them at the smaller table.

Ezra smiled as Josh offered his arm to Sadie and Matt offered his to Amelia. He wondered if someday the two young couples would be telling their grandchildren about the Thanksgiving dinner they had attended and the bear that interrupted it.

He stood for a moment as the others got settled, then as they turned to look at him, waiting to see what he was going to do, he said. "I want to thank all of you for coming. I apologize for the uninvited guest."

He paused, as chuckles greeted that remark, then went on. "This is my and Mister Tanner's first Thanksgiving in the first home either of us has had since we were quite young. We are grateful that you have consented to share it with us. Many years ago, I spent a Thanksgiving with my Aunt Edwina and her family. They had a tradition where they went around the table and each person told one thing that they were thankful for ending with the person who would say the blessing. I would like to initiate that tradition here. If that is agreeable with everyone?"

He smiled as heads nodded and sounds of agreement came from the others.

"Thank you. As Mister Sanchez is sitting to my right and I would like him to say the blessing, I will begin." He smiled, looking from one to another along the table, his eyes lingering on Vin for a long moment, then with a smile he said. "I am thankful for the friends that are gathered here today." With a nod of his head to Vin who sat to his left he sat down.

Vin raised a brow at him, silently asking if he had to stand.

Ezra grinned, "No. You may remain seated."

Vin gave a sigh of relief then after a second's hesitation said. "Reckon I'm thankful for the same thing Ez is. All the friends we've got." He looked around at the room they sat in, "And this place. I'm thankful that I've got a home now."

He turned to Chris, passing the turn to him. Chris took a deep breath. "I think we're all thankful for our friends. I..." he fell silent for a long moment then said. "I'm grateful for finally being able to look forward again." His eyes held Mary's for an instant as he said it.

"Buck." He passed the turn to his oldest friend.

"Everything." Buck said with a grin, "Being alive, being here, having all of you for my friends."

Chuckles greeted that.

When they quieted JD looked around the table, trying to decide which of the many things he was grateful for he should mention. "I reckon that I'm thankful that I ended up here, with all of you rather than somewhere else." He reached and took Casey's hand, holding it as he passed the turn to her.

She smiled shyly. "I'm grateful that we've got ya'll, the seven, to look out for us."

Nettie sitting on the other side of her, patted her hand and said, "Amen. And that's what I'm thankful for, too."

There were several more who said amen to that. They continued around the table until it was Nathan's turn. He thought for a long moment before he spoke. "I reckon that it's still pretty much saying that I'm thankful for the people here but what I am truly thankful for is to have found a place where folks see me, not just a black man, a place where I'm accepted."

Then it was Josiah's turn. He looked around the table and gave a nod. "I too am thankful for the friends that are gathered here, but especially for the six brothers-by-choice that I have found in this place." He grinned. "Now, let us say thank you to the Lord for this wonderful repast that sits before us."

He waited until all heads were bowed then began to say grace, "Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for this day that you have given us, for the friends and family gathered here and for the bounty that you have provided for this special meal. Amen." He raised his head and grinned at Ezra, "See. I kept it short just like you asked.

Ezra shook his head and grinned. He stood. "Since there was hardly room for the food on the table, Miss Rocillos has agreed to help me serve."

The dinner lasted well over an hour, even though many of the guests had pushed back their plates and were simply enjoying the camaraderie long before then. The children had long since been excused and were outside playing in the yard, the older ones watching over the younger.

Finally Mary said, "Ladies, if you would give me a hand, we can clear the table while the gentlemen retire to the parlor. Once the dishes are done I think we would all like to see Vin and Ezra open the housewarming gifts."

The men quickly stood and pulled back chairs for the ladies, who began gathering up the dishes and moving towards the kitchen.

The men moved to the parlor and Ezra passed out cigars and brandy to them.

Vin picked a corner and leaned into it, settling in to watch his lover work the crowd.

Ezra was in his element, dispensing drinks and making conversation. He had made certain that Judge Travis got the overstuffed armchair, the only truly comfortable chair in the room. The others had spread themselves around on the chairs that Inez had brought from the saloon.

Rafe had taken a seat by the table full of gifts and was trying unobtrusively to determine what everything was. There was a touch of envy in his eyes.

Vin grinned. He knew for a fact that Miss Nettie had brought them a whole bunch of peach preserves and apple jellies. He wasn't sure who had sent them along but he had seen blackberry jam among the canning jars, as well. There was at least one jar of orange marmalade too, probably from Mrs. Potter. She had had some oranges at the store for a very short time. They had sold out quickly.

Josiah's gift was sitting on the back porch. He'd made them a locking pantry. With the weather as cold as it was, they could put the leftovers from the dinner in it on the porch and not have to worry about them spoiling and since it locked no animals could get in it either. It would see a lot of use through the winter months.

Nathan, always practical, had chosen to give them an assortment of potted herbs that Ezra could transplant to the yard in the spring.

There were blankets and bed linens as well as the two quilts that the ladies had made for them.

The ladies joined them shortly and Ezra ferreted him out of his corner to help him open the few gifts that were actually wrapped. They thanked every one kindly. The one true surprise of the evening was the chiming mantel clock that Judge Travis and Mary had gotten them.

Ezra had looked stunned when he unwrapped it and had thanked the Judge profusely before taking it and sitting it on the mantel above the fireplace with great aplomb.

Finally the evening wore down and people began the process of departing. Yosemite, Matt and Rafe returned the tables and chairs to the wagon and escorted Inez and Miss Sherry home.

The Judge stopped to shake Ezra's hand on the way out the door to return to town. He smiled at the gambler. "Mister Standish, I have enjoyed the hospitality of many people in my career, including having dinner at the White House and I must say that I have never encountered a more gracious host. I don't think anyone could have dealt with the appearance of a bear at their function as well as you did today."

Ezra blushed with pleasure at the compliment. "Thank you, sir. However, I do hope that we don't have to deal with anything like again." He hesitated, then asked, "Might I inquire, if you shall be spending Christmas in our fair municipality?"

"Evie and I will both be coming to spend Christmas with Mary." The Judge informed him.

"I hope to host a small dinner party for the other regulators, perhaps on Christmas Eve. I should like you and your lovely wife to attend, if you have no other plans."

The Judge nodded, "I'll keep it in mind and let you know."

Ezra nodded and smiled as the judge turned to go.

The Judge was grinning as he climbed into the buggy with Mary. Evie would get a kick out of the bear story.

He looked up at Chris on Job, with Billy in front of him and gave a nod. "Let's go home."

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TBC