Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

…appearances are everything?

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“Not bad,” assessed Maude as she gazed into her mirror.

She rubbed her stiff fingers. In the twelve years since she first told Billy Travis that she played cards to exercise her hands, rheumatism had become an unfortunate reality.

“It’s not like anyone in that overgrown dustbowl of a town still thinks of me as a beautiful young woman,” grumbled Maude.

She paused for a moment. Her ruby lips curled up in a soft smile thinking on a possible exception. Josiah. A former preacher, peacekeeper and still reluctant mayor, Josiah was now in his third term governing the growing town of Four Corners.

“A man of many talents,” admitted Maude. “But gullible! And possibly losing his sight.”

Gullible or nearsighted? Perhaps. Or maybe totally besotted. Josiah had never been one of her marks. The sixty-year-old man still approached her as if seeing a vision of loveliness whenever she visited her son and his family. Despite the silver strands that now threaded through Maude’s once gold hair, the former con artist wasn’t ever going to admit that she was a year older than him. Maude glanced back at her reflection again to critique herself. Aging well. She could still be called beautiful. Fashionable even. But young? She shook her head. No. No one in Four Corners could possibly believe that anymore.

“Certainly not after that party!”

A few years ago, Maude received a letter from her daughter-in law. Mary usually left the letter writing to Ezra. But this letter included an invitation and a request. 'I know you can keep a secret,' wrote Mary. The newspaper editor wanted to arrange a party for Ezra's fortieth birthday. A surprise party. Mary just needed a little help. Part of the planning, and sworn to secrecy, the subterfuge involved was the closest Maude had come to being involved in a con since Mary and Ezra had married.

“Good thing there is a train stop at Tucson now.”

The trip from St. Louis to Four Corners was a matter of days now, not weeks. The rickety coach from Tucson to Four Corners was the hardest part of the journey. Maude, the appropriate libations, and a few special treats, arrived the morning of the party. Maude glanced at the fading daguerreotype sitting on the corner of her nearby bureau. The image of her darling boy as a seven-year-old was one of her favorites.

“And you believed I only came to see the grandchildren.”

Grandchildren! The word still took Maude’s breath away. She had hardly hoped to ever see grandchildren. Maude had spent most of Ezra’s childhood just trying to keep him sheltered, fed, and clothed. Things might have been different, might have been easier, if Ezra’s father had been alive. Might have been different if Maude had been a widow instead of the silly woman who was a bigamist’s second wife… not the real wife. Maude had to fight and scheme every step of the way. Getting Ezra into that fancy Virginia boarding school had helped. And hurt. Ezra had felt abandoned. Again. Maude twisted in her seat to glance to the next frame. She smiled at the photograph taken in Four Corners last August before Ben left for college back East. She reached one hand out to touch the image of the curly haired teenage boy looking at her with Ezra’s smirk. 

“Ben…”

Her finger touched the next dear image. Ezra’s marriage to Ellen Bennet during that horrible war had surprised Maude. The birth of a grandson had amazed her. Ezra’s despair upon the death of his first wife and loss of Ben to the perfidy of Ellen’s mother had absolutely terrified Maude.

“Ezra…”

Ezra left South Carolina headed west. Maude caught up with him in New Orleans. Riverboats seemed to capture his interest for a while. Or maybe it was just the high stakes poker games. It was there that she realized Ezra was sending Mrs. Bennet money. A lot of money. Her son disappeared again. Nearly two years later, Maude met up with him in Chicago. And then he was gone again. It wasn’t until he reached Four Corners that Ezra stopped running. For some unfathomable reason Ezra stayed there. Maude had been able to catch up to him. To see him. To come back again and find him still there. To finally see what kept her son in that Godforsaken little backwater town. With a small smile, Maude’s finger reached to trace the next image.

“Mary…”

The editor of the newspaper The Clarion beamed out at the camera. The headstrong woman had been appalled that Mrs. Bennet had kept Ben from Ezra. Mary’s efforts enlisting Judge Travis on Ezra’s behalf had been instrumental in getting the boy back to live with his father. In the picture, on Mary’s other side stood a sturdy blond teenage boy. Maude’s finger moved to hover over his image.

“Billy…,” she paused. “Or are you still insisting on William now?”

Maude’s finger moved lower to the three little girls in front of their parents. Mary and Ezra each brought a son to their new family upon their marriage. Over the past several years, the couple had been blessed with children together as well.

“Savannah… Marietta… Amelia…”

The two older girls stood in front of their parents while Amelia sprawled on a baby blanket between her sisters. While Ben had Ezra’s curls and captivating smile, Savannah had straight auburn hair to accompany her brilliant green eyes. Five-year-old Marietta had strawberry blonde curls and her mother’s pale green eyes. Maude smiled, her finger lingering on the image of the chubby baby.

“Amelia, your father tells me those wisps of hair you had last year are now a mass of curls like Marietta’s but you still have your baby blue eyes.”

Maude had a wistful thought. Would there be any more grandbabies? Maude glanced from the picture back to the top of her dressing table. The glossy mahogany wood was littered with creams and concoctions designed to make the southerner appear her best. More important than any of the artful treatments on her dressing table though, she reached for her son’s latest letter. The dean would see Ben off at the station, but Ezra had a request.

“Of course, I’ll meet Ben’s train,” muttered Maude. “I don’t think he should be travelling alone either, even if he is eighteen, almost nineteen.”

Surely that’s what Ezra wanted? Right? Not for Ben to escort his grandmother on her trip to Four Corners. Maude’s blue eyes gleamed as she scanned the missive again. No additional requests for her assistance, but a litany of things that concerned her son. The quality of feed for his horse, the price of lumber, and the difficulty of locating a suitable gift.

“The perfect gift for Mary for your tenth anniversary? Hmm…”

Maude would put her mind to it. With four months until the date, there was plenty of time for her to make suggestions. Even if she found the most perfect gift in the world, she knew she couldn’t purchase it. Ezra wouldn’t stand for it. He would be the one to find something for Mary, not Maude. The last thing Ezra mentioned gave Maude pause.

“Oh, that’s not good.”

The last paragraph of her son’s letter concerned Maude more than it seemed to worry Ezra. A former prisoner of the Four Corners lawmen had escaped. Again.

“You think the doctors at that asylum could manage to keep that murdering wench on lithium,” muttered a disgruntled Maude.

Nearly ten years ago, Judge Travis had sent Ella Gaines to an insane asylum in Alabama. Somehow, the devious woman managed to escape every other year or so. Previously, the Gaines woman had been recaptured before leaving the state of Alabama, but not this time. 'She is possibly out of the state of Alabama, headed west. I would not wish the two of you to meet again,' wrote Ezra. 'Please take care of yourself.' Something suddenly made Maude shiver. She set Ezra's letter down, then reached for the tiny bottle of her favorite Parisian perfume.

"I always take care of myself," insisted Maude.

It was after all the only way she could ensure someone would be watching over her darling boy. Maude dabbed the costly fragrance behind her ears. She sniffed.

"That disagreeable, ill-mannered woman best not be trying to go back to Four Corners."

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Chapter Text

…a little subtlety?

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“Thank you, Abner,” called Mary over her shoulder.

The tall blonde news editor stepped out of the telegraph office. Mary paused on the stoop to slip Maude’s telegram into her reticule. She glanced towards the far end of Four Corner’s wide main street. Her home for the past ten years, and current location of the Clarion Newspaper, nestled beneath the shade of several large cottonwood trees. Her bright smile faltered.

“Where did they disappear to?” fretted Mary.

The shaded front porch, veranda as Ezra sometimes called it, was now empty. The wheeled invalid chair that Nathan had insisted Ezra use during his convalescence sat abandoned. The empty baby blanket still lay spread on the boards. Pale green eyes searched. Not for the first time, Mary wished for a telephone.

“I just left for a few minutes!” huffed the worried woman.

The Tucson Weekly Star had installed a direct line to the Tucson telegraph office two years ago when the first telephone exchange in Arizona was installed in the larger city. A tiny border town, closer to Mexico than Tucson, Four Corners still did not have telephone service. Four Corners didn’t have a lot of things found in the bigger town. Train service. Gaslights. Electricity. If the Clarion had a telephone, Mary would not have left her despondent husband to go to the telegraph office.

“That leg isn’t ready for him to try walking on it.”

Mary stalked down the street. Her long blue dress rustled with every hurried step. For a Wednesday morning, the street was relatively uncrowded. There was a small gathering at the stage depot awaiting the next departure. Both Potter’s store and the bank saw several townsfolk entering and exiting. Further down the street, several men unloaded a heavily laden freight wagon over by the livery. There was still no sign of her husband and two-year-old daughter.

“Especially not if he’s carrying Amelia.”

The healing man and toddler couldn’t have gone far. Mary glanced towards the large building at the crossroads. There was a figure seated in front of Inez’s saloon. In Ezra’s usual seat. Her shoulders slumped a little as she recognized one of JD’s new deputies.

“At least he isn’t trying to sit at Ezra’s poker table,” sighed Mary.

A few years back, when ownership changed yet again, the saloon had been renamed. Some people thought La Cantina Sietes was a misspelling of siesta. Mary knew better. Just as Mary knew Ezra wouldn’t take Amelia inside the raucous bar. This late in the afternoon, few tables and seats inside the bar were empty. The exception being a poker table on a raised dais by the broad expanse of windows overlooking the street. The owner had placed a small ‘Reserved’ sign on the green baize top. Inez Rocillos kept a table for the seven lawmen that turned a dying town into a place to call home, for the men that saved Inez from Don Paulo. And no one was sitting there until Ezra made his way back.  

“Where are they?”

Mary glanced towards the Four Corners Elementary School. The playground was empty. Savannah and Marietta, along with all the other young children from Four Corners and the surrounding ranches were inside. Hopefully learning something. This close to the end of the school year the children were antsy, wanting to play, ready for summer. Just past the school, Nathan’s clinic looked to be having a quiet day. Behind her, bells on harnesses jingled. Mary quickly side-stepped out of the street to climb up on the boardwalk in front of the dressmaker’s shop. A familiar voice called.

“Ma!”

Mary turned. Her seventeen-year-old son Billy handled the reins to an unfamiliar pair of matched bays. The handsome horses pulled a gaudy red carriage. A bright red, shiny coach. The contraption was just slightly smaller than the coach pulling up to the depot now. Billy and Ezra sat on a wide coachman’s front seat; Amelia ensconced on Ezra’s lap. The curly-haired toddler clapped her small little hands together. Mary breathed a sigh of relief.

“There you are,” greeted Mary.

Billy pulled back on the reins to slow the spirited horses. The wagon rolled to a stop beside her. Mary discreetly assessed her husband. This jaunt was the first time Ezra had been away from their front porch since Nathan deemed him well enough to move from bed to invalid chair just days ago. Mary could sympathize with Ezra’s desire to be out of the stuffy bedroom behind his office. A loose white shirt covered the remaining bandages on his torso. Pinstriped black pants with the side seam undone almost all the way up to the hip on one side preserved his modesty at least as well as a tablecloth. She thought the carriage ride may have done him some good. Mary hadn’t seen that bright gleam in his eyes in far too long.

“I can’t believe Nathan agreed to you riding…,” began Mary.

Ezra’s green eyes looked away from her. Mary sucked in a deep breath. That tell…

“Nathan doesn’t know you’re out,” challenged Mary. “Does he?”

“Ahh…”

Ezra’s drawl only confirmed what she already knew.

“I take it that means no,” snapped Mary.

All the pent-up worry of the last six weeks came out in her voice. Billy jerked back in his seat at her harsh tone. Amelia’s happy smile disappeared and her little chin started to quiver. Mary regretted her loss of control. She hadn’t meant to sound so harsh. Ezra turned back to look at Mary. The bleak expression that worried her so was back in his green eyes.  

“I have not seen Doctor Jackson yet today.”

Mary’s eyes widened in surprise. Nathan had been at their home every day since a band of desperate men tried to rob the Four Corners bank. All of the seven regulators once referred to as the Magnificent Seven still lived in the Four Corners area. However, only Sheriff JD Dunne remained actively involved in law enforcement. When the formidable thirty-year-old called for a posse, JD was backed by his two young deputies and a few townsfolk including the mayor and one green-eyed gambler. Chris, Buck and Vin were out at their ranches and hadn’t heard the call. Neither had Nathan. In the pursuit of bad men and bank notes, a much-loved horse was shot, its rider thrown.

“Then we best get you back home!” stated Mary.

Ezra had needed nearly every service listed on the physician’s shingle: bullets removed, wounds cleaned and stitched, broken bones set. In addition to the heavy cast running the length of Ezra’s right leg, Nathan had added a metal brace to immobilize the shattered bones. Keeping the man still while healing was another task entirely. Mary turned to her son.

“Billy, I need you to get this carriage turned around and back home,” she ordered. “Then take it back to wherever you got it…”

“I can’t take it back,” interrupted the tow-headed teen. “The horses and carriage belong to us.”

“What?” demanded Mary. “What do you mean?”

Billy glanced towards Ezra.

“Mother sent a gift,” sighed Ezra.

“This?”

Mary couldn’t keep the sound of disbelief from her voice.

“A veritable chariot,” added Ezra.

“What..., what…?” Mary spluttered.

“It’s made by Brewster and Sons,” chimed in Billy.

Admiration was evident in his voice. Amelia babbled in excitement as if in agreement with her big brother. Mary took a deep breath.

“Why?” she demanded.

“I believe it is mother’s way of saying I should quit riding,” answered Ezra.

Ezra glanced down at his healing leg.

“A gentleman of my age should not endanger a good horse,” continued Ezra. “I rode him to his death, endangered…”

“Phhht!” interrupted Mary. “You didn’t endanger your horse!”

Mary wondered, did Ezra even remember exactly what had happened? For that matter, did Maude know what happened to Ezra and his horse? Maude could keep her emotions in check, seeming cold, even heartless at times, but Mary knew that was a con, an act. Thinking on the telegram in her reticule, Mary felt sure that the extravagant gift had nothing to do with Ezra’s riding. Whether Maude had ordered the carriage built to her specifications or won the showy vehicle over a hand of cards was of no concern. Why had Maude sent the carriage and horses? Mary gestured towards the livery.

“Billy, get the carriage turned around,” she repeated.

“You could ride with us,” entreated Ezra. “I assure you the seat is quite comfortable.”

Mary eyed the bench seat warily. While Mary would love to climb up and ride back home with them, she had to think of Ezra's ungainly cast. Mary didn’t want to crowd them, didn’t want to take a chance on hurting Ezra. Mary shook her head.

“I’ll walk.”

The inquisitive woman turned from Ezra to look at the rear of the carriage. The fancy carriage had a spacious passenger compartment. The plush, tufted seats looked to be covered in red velvet. The interior seating would easily accommodate a half dozen adults. She missed the hurt look in Ezra’s eyes. As Billy set the carriage in motion, Mary shook her head again in an effort to clear her thoughts.  

“What on earth was Maude thinking?”

By the time Mary reached La Cantina Sietes, Inez stood on the boardwalk. Near the livery, Billy turned the carriage in a slow, wide circle. The saloon manager’s gaze was fixed on the spectacle of the red carriage. Mary stopped for a moment. Years ago, when Maude had owned the saloon, Ezra’s mother had hired Inez as manager and also asked Inez to inform her of any issues concerning her son's health. Mary tilted her head to catch her friend’s eye.

"Inez, by any chance, did you telegraph Maude when Ezra was injured?”

Inez raised her eyebrows. Mary shrugged. It was a longshot. In the aftermath of the robbery, Inez had been busy tending her injured nephew Roberto. Mary knew it wasn’t likely, but she had to ask. Had to hope.

“No, I thought you did,” answered Inez.

“I should have,” sighed Mary.

And she had meant to. But with Ezra seriously injured, the children frightened, Billy trying so hard to keep the Clarion going while she tended Ezra… Mary shook her head. There had been little or no sleep, children to comfort, bandages to change, a fevered brow to cool, she could come up with a dozen or more excuses, but none of them would ever be good enough.

“I’ll have to apologize…”

“Perhaps, if she is not visiting soon, and Ezra is recovered when she comes, Señora Standish will not be too angry,” suggested Inez in a soft hopeful voice.

The two women exchanged a glance. They both shook their heads. They knew better.

“Maude sent a telegram earlier today,” added Mary. “She and Ben should be here by Monday.”

“Ay,” Inez sympathized.

The beautiful dark-haired woman reached out to clasp Mary’s hand and offer a reassurance of sorts.

“I do not think you have too much to worry about,” soothed Inez. “I have not seen Señora Standish try to shoot anyone in years.”

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Chapter Text

…genuine French leather

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“Aah, finally.”

Maude gave a slightly breathless sigh as she sank down into the tufted seat. Running across a crowded train station was certainly not her favorite activity.

“We’re lucky we made it,” grinned Ben.

Ben set his small valise on the floor beside his feet, then sat down in the seat facing her. They were currently the only occupants in the first-class carriage.

“When my train was late arriving, I was sure we would miss this departure.”

Maude made a non-committal chuckle. Let the dear boy think that luck had anything to do with it. With the bribe Maude had paid the engineer, she would have been very annoyed if this train had left without them. She glanced at the railcar window. Her reflection showed her once blonde hair piled up high atop her head. Pins and ornate combs kept the elaborate style in place. Her pale lavender travelling dress with frothy white lace at her throat and wrists didn’t look too disheveled.

“Good thing this train was late departing,” added Ben.

Maude appraised her eldest grandchild. At almost nineteen, the boy was slightly taller than Ezra. Ben got his dark hair and eyes from his mother’s side of the family, but the boy’s dimpled smile was pure Ezra. Dressed in pinstripe pants, a dark burgundy shirt and a black travelling coat, Ben appeared the epitome of a young gentleman. Years ago, Maude had told Mary ‘once in a while you'll see something you did right.’ Maude was sure, the best thing she had ever done for Ezra, and for Ben, was to convince Hortense Bennet to return Ben to his father. Maude put an effort into keeping her face impassive as she spoke to her grandson.

“It was a good thing that you didn’t have any additional luggage.”

“Didn’t need much,” shrugged Ben. Then he turned his gaze on her. “Do you still travel with all that fancy leather luggage filled with bricks?”

Since Ezra and Mary had married, Maude tried to make a trip to Four Corners at least once a year. There was a note of curiosity in Ben’s voice. Maude wondered what his real question would be.

“Of course, dear boy,” replied Maude. “My luggage was already loaded.”

She looked away. Waiting for his real question, Maude reached inside her small beaded handbag as if there was nothing else to say. Her reticule held a few essentials: a small sum of cash for the trip, a two-shot derringer, an ivory and lace fan, a small green bottle stoppered tight with a cork, a frothy lace handkerchief, Ezra’s last letter, and of course… a deck of cards. Maude looked up in time to see Ben glance at her with a wry grin.

“Why do you kept leaving bricks under the bed every time you came to visit?”

Maude blinked at Ben’s question. Mary had designated the comfortable room behind Ezra’s office as hers ten years ago when she and Hortense first brought a nine-year-old Ben to Four Corners. While Maude knew the room had other uses as well, Maude always shut the door between the bedroom and Ezra’s office when she visited. Maude had no intention on telling Ben anything about the bricks. She widened her blue eyes as if in surprise as she spoke.

“When did you go in my room?”

The slight stress on the word my caused Ben’s eyes to drop. His face flushed. Maude pursed her lips, trying hard not to chuckle. Ben trusted far too easily. Ezra had never been so easy to manipulate.

“Father leaves the door open when you’re not… not inhabiting the room,” explained Ben. “So we can get books.”

“Are books under the bed?”  

“No, but Savannah likes to hide under the bed…”

Ben’s voice trailed off at her puzzled look.

“Rainy days, Billy and I keep the girls out of the Clarion…,” Ben shrugged again. “They like to play hide and seek.”

And this time, Maude didn’t hold back her mirth. Her soft laughter brought a smile to Ben’s face. Really, thought Maude, she should tell Ezra about the heavy bricks. Not the regular ones she kept for travel, but the special ones. A layer of baked clay hid his inheritance. Maude’s bright blue eyes shifted to light on the travelling bag her grandson had brought. She easily changed the subject without ever answering Ben.

“And I wonder how you manage to travel with so little.”

“Travelling light,” replied Ben. “I didn’t want to be worrying about luggage. I just want to get home and see Father…”

A loud whistle blew. The big train jolted into motion, jerking Maude back against her seat. Ben continued speaking.

“…is on the mend.”

Maude tilted her head to look at Ben as the train began to pick up speed. She swallowed. Then Maude waved a hand beside her ear.

“I’m so sorry dear boy,” said Maude. “With all the noise of the train moving, I don’t think I heard you right. Did you say something about my darling boy?”

Ben’s face froze. The familiar expression was one Maude had seen on her son so many times. Ezra’s poker face. And while Maude was glad to realize the boy did know how to keep his feelings in check, now was not the time. They both spoke at the same time.

“Ezra’s last letter didn’t mention…,” began Maude.

“I thought you already knew…,” started Ben.

Maude and Ben both stopped speaking. They stared at each other.

“Ezra’s last letter was written in the end of April,” stated Maude.

Since settling in Four Corners, Ezra wrote to her on a regular weekly basis. Maude knew mail delivery was erratic at best. Letters could often be delayed. Once Maude had received a month’s worth of letters all on the same day. Telegrams were much quicker. But costlier too as they charged by the word. Additionally, Maude also subscribed to her daughter-in-law’s newspaper. The Clarion was delivered to Maude’s St. Louis home five days a week. Surely Mary would have sent a telegram if something… if something… Maude placed a dainty hand against her chest, trying to suck in a deep breath. Ben’s eyes widened in concern.

“Are you alright Grandmother Standish?”

“Just catching my breath,” dissembled Maude.

Ben reached a hand out to pat her shoulder. Maude schooled her face to seem impassive. She wasn’t going to admit to palpitations, and certainly wasn’t going to admit to concern over her darling boy. Ezra would be fine. He had to be fine.

“What happened?” demanded Maude.

“Don’t you still subscribe to The Clarion?” countered Ben.

“Of course!” huffed Maude.

“Billy wrote an article about the bank robbery,” prompted Ben. “About six weeks ago…”

“Billy wrote an article?” echoed Maude.

“He used the byline of W. R. Travis,” answered Ben. “He thinks Billy doesn’t sound grown up enough.”

Maude had to think a moment. That sweet little boy was growing up too. Too fast, all of them!

“Didn’t you read it?” pressed Ben.

“Yes, there was an article about a bank robbery,” Maude remembered.

The news story hadn’t seemed important at the time. Without Mary’s byline, Maude hadn’t paid much attention to it. Desperate creatures tried to rob the bank. The perpetrators were jailed or buried. An injured man was being tended by Doctor Jackson.

“Why wouldn’t Mary be writing?”

Even as Maude asked the question, she realized the answer. Mary hadn’t written because Ezra was the injured man.

“You should probably ask Mother that.”

Ben’s voice was oddly flat. Maude’s eyes flashed. Discretion was a laudable virtue, but she needed to know what had happened to her darling boy!

“I most certainly will,” retorted Maude.

But the frown on Ben’s handsome face told Maude there was something else going on here.

“What else is wrong?”

Ben looked away. For a moment, Maude thought he wasn’t going to answer. Then he turned back to her.

“When I went away to school, Father told me I could come home whenever I wanted,” replied Ben. “After I read the paper, I sent a telegram saying I was coming home.”  

“Surely you weren’t going to leave in the middle of the semester…”

Maude’s incredulous voice trailed off. Oh yes, she realized that was exactly what Ben had wanted to do. And Ben hadn’t liked being at school when he wanted to be home. His lips crinkled up in a frown at his next words.

“The response came back, I was told to stay in school, finish the semester and come home after exams.”

“Who wrote it?” asked Maude.

“I don’t know for sure,” admitted Ben. “I’m hoping it was Billy…”

But Maude could tell, he was afraid that Mary had sent the telegram. Maude realized Ben probably didn’t know much more than she did. And he’d honestly been surprised that she hadn’t known that Ezra had been injured. Maude reached into her handbag and withdrew the worn deck of cards she kept there. Taking the pasteboards out of their box, she began to shuffle.

“You’re going to play cards?”

Maude couldn’t tell if Ben sounded more incredulous, or relieved that she wasn’t going to press him for any more details. She arched one eyebrow up.

“No, I’m just shuffling to exercise my hands,” replied Maude. 

She tried for a fancy flourish with the cards. Something she’d often done garnering suitable appreciation. But today… thinking of Ezra, Maude’s hands started to shake. Her fingers wouldn’t cooperate. The cards splayed up and outwards, raining down on the floor between their seats.

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Chapter Text

…What's come over you?

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Nathan closed his thick medical book with a quiet sigh. Both Mitchell, the neurologist from Philadelphia, and Hammond from New York recommended lithium bromide for treating nervousness and mania. But treatments for melancholy? Seems like nobody knew what to do. Folks couldn’t even agree on what caused it. Was depression something inherited and unchangeable? Or something to be treated? The physician rubbed his tired eyes. From the front room, Raine’s excited voice pulled him from his worried thoughts.

“Nathan, come quick!”

The tall man pushed back his chair and rose to stand. Leaving the desk, his many medical books and research papers, Nathan moved to join his wife at the front window of their home. Jimmy and Eban were at school. Raine held their youngest child up on her hip so she could see out the window. Three-year-old Autumn seemed entranced. Nathan saw Mary. The newspaper editor strode hurriedly past the front of their home.

“Glad to see Mary getting out,” remarked Nathan. “She hasn’t hardly left Ezra’s side since he got hurt.”

Raine tilted her head to face her husband. Her lips were pursed, and she had that squint-eyed look on her face that Nathan had come to understand meant she’d taken exception to something he said.

“And where else is she supposed to be?” demanded Raine. “Her man’s been near kilt and laid up in bed, can’t move…”

Nathan raised his hands in an effort to appease his wife.

“You’re right,” soothed Nathan. “I shouldn’t have said that, but it just isn’t healthy spending so much time cooped up inside.”

If anything, Raine’s eyes narrowed more.

“You been spending near as much time inside with Ezra,” reminded Raine with a huff. “If it isn’t good for Mary, then it isn’t good for either one of you.”

She turned back to the window. Nathan’s curiosity won out.

“What did you want me to see?” asked Nathan.

Raine pointed. A fancy red carriage turned at the livery and started back down Main Street towards them. Along the street, other people stopped to turn and stare. Some folks even waved. JD came out of the jailhouse and grinned.

“That flashy thing sure is attracting a lot of attention,” chuckled Nathan.

The looks the vehicle was getting almost reminded Nathan of that little cart Maude rode in when she was trying to drum up business for her hotel and casino. But this ostentatious carriage was full size, much bigger. And bright red.

“You sure it isn’t the folks riding in it getting folks attention?”

As the coach neared, Nathan realized Billy was driving. And not only that, Nathan recognized the man seated beside the youth. Autumn waved her hands in excitement.

“Ezra what do you think you’re doing?” protested Nathan.

“Looks like he is enjoying a ride about town with Billy and Amelia,” smirked Raine.

But Nathan didn’t hear. The determined healer stepped outside. His long legs strode after the coach.

“He knows he’s not supposed to be riding on that thing,” grumbled Nathan. “Mary knows too! And holding Amelia? I told him he’s got to keep that leg still!”

The coach pulled up in front of the wide veranda that spread the width of the building that housed the Clarion and the family home. Nathan stopped for a moment. The physician observed his patient. It was the first time Nathan had seen Ezra with even a hint of a smile on his face since the injured man woke up in the big feather bed behind his office.

“Keeping you flat on your back those first weeks was needed.”

Nathan remembered the day of the shootout. It wasn’t until JD sent one of his deputies back to Four Corners for a wagon and Nathan, that the busy doctor had realized there had been trouble. Nathan closed his eyes.

“About the only thing you didn’t hurt was that dang shoulder of yours,” he whispered.

Nathan had splinted and wrapped Ezra’s unconscious broken body before they loaded him into the wagon. Once Ezra was settled into the bed, the real work began. Nathan had never wanted to know so much about the practical application of traction ropes and braces.

“The bullet wounds weren’t too bad,” added Nathan still talking to himself. “But that leg, with so many breaks, I had to tie you down so you wouldn’t thrash about and hurt yourself worse.”

In those first frightening days while Ezra remained unconscious, fevered, and delirious, Mary shooed the girls back into the main part of the house. Ordered Billy to keep them there. Ordered all of her children to keep things quiet and not disturb their father. Mary and Nathan took turns watching over Ezra. The quiet, dark room seemed like a good place for an injured man to heal. Until Ezra woke hurting, tied up, and alone.

“I should have been there,” admitted Nathan. “Sent Mary off to get some sleep, I only stepped out of your room for a cup of coffee.”

Nathan watched as Mary reached for Amelia. Ezra’s smile disappeared.

“Mary, wait up,” called Nathan.

The news editor lowered her arms and turned to face Nathan as he approached. But Nathan watched Ezra. The green-eyed man tightened his grip on his youngest daughter. Raine had a point. Too much time cooped up inside could wear on anyone. Several days ago, Nathan provided a wheeled invalid chair. The physician glanced at the empty chair on the porch.

“That dang contraption got Ezra out of that dark room but not back into his life,” muttered Nathan to himself.

From what Nathan had seen, Billy usually wheeled Ezra out onto the porch after the older girls went to school. Mary had gone back to her printing press, taking Amelia with her into the Clarion’s office. In the afternoon, Mary or Billy would bring Ezra back inside before the older girls came home. He still tired easily. Today was the first time Nathan had seen Mary leave Amelia with Ezra. Nathan moved closer and called out to his patient.

“Ezra, you know I told you the chair or the bed,” huffed the doctor. “I didn’t say nothing about riding around in no circus carriage!”

“Circus carriage?” objected Ezra his voice ratchetting upwards with indignation. “I’ll have you know this fine piece of equipment is a work of art…”

Nathan nodded with pretend exasperation as Ezra extolled the attributes of the elegant carriage. The spirited horses received their due accolades. The coach itself, with an elevated bench seat, high wheels and the silver-plated door handles on the passenger compartment got a sniff of seeming indignation. Nathan frowned. The physician fisted his hands against his hips.

“How did you manage to get up there?” demanded Nathan.

Nathan didn’t miss the guilty look on Billy’s face, even though he was watching Ezra. The former conman tried acting as if nothing bothered him.

“Carefully,” drawled Ezra.

“And just how do you think you’re gonna get down from there without breaking anything again?”

Ezra flashed a cheeky smile.

“Why with your able assistance of course.”

Nathan’s deliberately deepened his frown. Didn’t want Ezra getting ideas. Behind him, Nathan heard footsteps. Townsfolk had followed the carriage to the Clarion. Nathan recognized the tread of one large lumbering form in particular.

“It’s gonna take more than just me…,” began Nathan.

“Might I lend a hand as well?” Josiah’s rumbling voice offered.

Nathan turned to look at his friend. He grinned at the big man.

“Yeah, that would be right appreciated,” answered Nathan. He glanced from Josiah to the woman standing between him and his patient. “Mary, do you want to take Amelia until we get Ezra settled in his chair?”

With the implication that Amelia would be returned to Ezra, the green-eyed man relinquished the toddler. Between them, Nathan and Josiah soon had Ezra out of the carriage. Ezra protested some at the jarring movements. Nathan could tell he was feeling uncomfortable. It wasn’t until Ezra was settled back in the wheeled invalid chair with his leg propped up that Mary turned to her son.

“Billy, if you pull the carriage up beside the stable, you can put the tack inside it. Then there will room enough for both horses in the stalls.”

A shadow flitted across Ezra’s face at the reminder of the empty stall, the beloved horse gone.

“Sure Ma.”

People stepped forward into the vacant space left by the horses and carriage. Most folks greeted Ezra, said how glad they were to see him out and doing better, and then left. It was obvious Ezra was getting tired again. JD stayed longer than most. Hat in hands, JD waited a chance to speak somewhat privately.

“Ez,” began the young sheriff, “I just can’t tell you how sorry…”

“Don’t,” interrupted Ezra. “You are not to blame because those miscreants decided to shoot my horse…”

“You wouldn’t have gotten hurt if I hadn’t asked you to join the posse,” protested JD.

Mary’s sudden sharp intake of breath told Nathan that maybe she had that same thought. JD glanced towards her. His eyes dropped as if he expected Mary to agree. However, instead of a tongue lashing, the sheriff received absolution.  

“You’re not at fault JD,” stated Mary.

“You don’t blame me?”

“Of course not,” assured Mary.

The sheriff’s face took on a look of gratitude. But Ezra’s expression changed to that worrisome despondent look again.

“Reckon there’s enough blame for all of us, me especially,” interjected Nathan. “I wasn’t even there.”

Ezra, Mary, Josiah and JD all turned to stare at him in surprise.

“I assure you, I never…”

“Nathan, no,” objected Mary.

“Brother, who would have tended the wounded if you had been there? Been hurt too?” asked Josiah.

And while Nathan had known they didn’t blame him, it was JD’s response that surprised him.

“When I called for a posse, I told Jonas and Delbert specifically not to ask you!” thundered JD. “Knew you were busy tending Mrs. Tolliver.”

Nathan’s eyes widened at JD’s words. He hadn’t known the young sheriff had deliberately omitted calling him. Funny how much of a relief it was to know he hadn’t missed a call. JD thumped his bowler hat back upon his head.

“Now if you folks don’t mind, I’ve got to get back to doing my job,” continued JD. With a pointed look at Nathan, he added, “I’ll leave you to yours.”

While Ezra, Mary, and Josiah watched JD stomp away, Nathan’s compassionate eyes turned back to his patient.

“Ezra, you’re looking a little peaked there,” Nathan observed.

Mary’s head snapped around, her pale green eyes searching. She looked at Ezra as if he was gonna break thought Nathan. The physician turned to Mary and held out his hands.

“Why don’t you let me take my goddaughter?” he suggested. “I think maybe Ez just needs a glass of water.”

Startled, the headstrong woman turned to him. For a moment, Nathan thought Mary might object, might insist on staying with Ezra.

“I am a bit thirsty,” drawled Ezra.

“Tis a bit warm,” added Josiah. The big man ducked his head and flashed a shy smile at Mary. “Do you got any of that sweet tea?”

Without a sound, Mary handed Amelia to Nathan. The screen door swung shut softly behind her. Nathan carried Amelia over to Ezra. The child gurgled and held out her hands, reaching for her father.

“You up to holding this squirmy bundle of giggles again?” asked Nathan.

“Always,” answered Ezra, arms outstretched.

“Keep the leg elevated and don’t let her bounce on it,” directed Nathan with a smile.

The doctor handed Amelia over. Ezra’s face lit up, a real smile this time.

“You seem to be healing well,” observed Nathan. “Bullet wounds closed; bones seem setting straight as can be...”

Before Nathan could finish speaking, Billy came running up the walkway and onto the porch. Mary must have heard him from inside.

“Billy, would you bring out some chairs to the porch?” she called.

The screen door opened and shut again as the youth disappeared inside. But Nathan didn’t pay any attention to Billy. He focused on the healing man seated before him. Physically, Nathan knew that Ezra’s injuries were healing. So, what was bothering Ezra? 

“You hurting anywhere else I don’t know about?”

Ezra looked up to meet Nathan’s gaze. That bleak expression was back again.

“You have done an admirable job of putting me back together….”

“Then what’s wrong?” interrupted Nathan. “You haven’t been yourself.”

Ezra closed his eyes for a moment before speaking.

“It is entirely my own fault,” declared Ezra. “I rode my horse to his death, I’ve endangered my family’s livelihood, alienated the affections of my wife and children, all due to my reckless behavior…”

“What are you talking about?” Josiah interrupted in disbelief. “What reckless behavior?”

“I’d like to know the answer to that too.”

Ezra’s eyes flashed open at Mary’s words. Nathan and Josiah turned to see Mary standing at the open door. She held a tray with several glasses of tea and one of water. Billy stood in the shadowed entryway behind her. He held two ladderback chairs. Mary stepped onto the porch. The tray shook a bit.

“We’ve already talked about your horse,” reminded Mary. “You can’t blame yourself! Especially after you told JD it was those miscreants that killed your horse.”

Ezra opened his mouth as if to speak, but then closed it again. Mary’s eyes stayed on Ezra. Wordlessly she passed the tray towards Josiah. His grasping hands hurried to grab it before she let it go. The glasses only sloshed a little. Billy followed his mother outside. He quietly set the chairs on the porch and backed up, wary eyes on Mary and Ezra. Josiah sat down in one of the chairs sloshing the tea again. The forthright woman’s voice sounded brittle when Mary spoke.

“But I’d especially like to know what you meant by endangering your family and alienating our affections.”

Amelia gurgled and held up her hands to her mother. Mary reached for the child. Her motion brought an unexpected response from Ezra. He leaned away from Mary, tightening his grip on Amelia.

“No,” protested Ezra. “I’ll not lose my family again.”

“What? What are you talking about?” Mary’s voice held genuine puzzlement, and hurt. “You’re not losing anyone!”

“Then why was I banished to the guest bedroom?” demanded Ezra.  

Mary’s eyes widened in surprise. Josiah balanced the tray on one hand and picked up a glass of tea with the other. He took a huge gulp of tea, keeping his eyes fixed firmly on the porch ceiling. Billy mumbled something about getting more chairs and bolted back inside. Nathan wished he could disappear as well.

“Banished?” protested Mary. “You were never banished!”

“You’re not angry at me?”

Ezra’s voice was hesitant. Amelia turned her face away from the adults. Snuggling against her father’s shoulder, she stuck her tiny thumb in her mouth and closed her eyes.

“I… I know… I’ve not had the opportunity to earn any money at poker, and as I’m not really a peacekeeper anymore there isn’t even a dollar a day for me to contribute…,” continued Ezra.

“I’m not angry at you!” interrupted Mary in a low voice. “And no one expects you to be playing poker or earning money when you’re hurt!”

“Then why…,” Ezra’s green eyes flickered over to look at Nathan. “I was told…”

Nathan tried to remember just exactly what he’d said to Ezra when the injured man first woke up lucid and aware of his surroundings. Ezra had wanted Mary. But Nathan had objected.

“With that leg, you gotta know you need to sleep by yourself…,” huffed Nathan.

Ezra looked away from Nathan. He kept his gaze away from Mary as well.

“I don’t like being alone,” admitted Ezra.

He swallowed.

“It hurts.”

Mary raised her head at Ezra’s quiet words. She shot a venomous look at Nathan. The physician stepped back at the force of her glare. For the second time this day he raised his hands in a pacifying gesture.

“Nathan said you needed quiet!” snapped Mary. “While you healed…, for a few weeks at most!”

“I did,” agreed Nathan hastily. He looked at Ezra and nodded a confirmation. “Quiet, and lots of rest.”

“Not forever!” huffed Mary.

Ezra seemed to consider that for a moment, then he turned back to Mary.

“And our own room is not quiet?” asked Ezra.

“With the girls running up and down the stairs?”

The incredulity in Mary’s voice was impossible to miss. Josiah picked up another glass of tea and started drinking it as well.

“Especially when they are chasing each other around, going in and out, getting ready for school…”

“Ahh,” sighed Ezra. He leaned back in the invalid chair. One hand rubbed gentle circles on Amelia’s back. “You might have a point there.”

For a moment there was silence. Then Ezra’s plaintive voice spoke.

“Until this infernal chair appeared, I hadn’t seen Billy…”

His voice trailed off as Mary crossed her arms over her chest.

“He’s been helping me in the Clarion,” interrupted Mary. “So I could help take care of you. Perhaps you might have noticed little things like fresh sheets, clean…”

Ezra hurriedly nodded.

“Your efforts are duly noted and appreciated…”

Mary’s shoulders tightened.

“But I miss the children too!”

Ezra’s voice held a note of desperation. He looked down at the curly haired toddler in his arms. 

“Today is the first time I’ve held Amelia, and I haven’t seen Savannah or Marietta since…”

“You’ve been sleeping a lot,” stated Mary in a flat voice.

“Not that much,” objected Ezra.

“If you had been awake, you would have seen them blowing kisses from the bedroom doorway.”

A hopeful gleam lit up Ezra’s eye. Mary let her arms fall back to her sides.

“Really?”

“Yes, really,” assured Mary. With a determined voice, she added, “No one’s affections have been alienated!”

For a moment Nathan dared to hope this squabble was over. He glanced at Josiah. The big man’s blue eyes were still trained on the ceiling. As Ezra started to speak again, Josiah reached for another glass of tea.

“What about Ben? And mother?” asked Ezra. “We haven’t received any telegrams from either of them.”

Mary’s face flushed bright red.

“I’m sorry Ezra,” apologized Mary. “With everything going on I haven’t sent any telegrams. They probably don’t even know you were injured.”

Billy opened the screen door and stuck his head out.

“Ben figured it out from my article in The Clarion,” informed the teen. “He sent a telegram said he was gonna come home early.”

“I don’t recall…”

“We didn’t get a telegram from Ben,” added Mary’s puzzled voice.

“I forgot to give it to you.” Billy swallowed. “It was back when… back when… we didn’t know…”

Mary’s shoulders slumped realizing what her son was trying to say.

“Oh Billy…”

Mary stepped towards the open door and hugged Billy. His muffled voice continued.

“I told Ben to wait until after he finished his exams and be sure to bring Grandmother Standish.”

Mary released her grasp on Billy. The teen slipped back inside letting the door swing shut as she turned to Ezra. Her head tilted slightly to one side. For a moment, Nathan was reminded of Maude when he had seen her in the saloon once, eying a mark.  

“When I left you and Amelia earlier, I went to the telegraph office,” stated Mary. Then she raised the ante. “Mother Standish sent a telegram this morning. She and Ben will be arriving in a few days.”

“I’m glad to hear that.” Ezra matched her quiet tone.

“If you are really feeling up to it…,” Mary’s voice rose a bit with a questioning tone. “We could move you back to our room.”

Ezra sucked in a deep breath.

“I’d like that,” answered Ezra.

His impassive poker face didn’t reveal a thing. Only someone who knew Ezra very well would be able to tell how much happiness was found in those quiet words.

“The girls will want you to read to them,” reminded Mary as if setting terms. She shrugged. “Apparently neither Billy nor I do the voices right.”

“I will make every effort to do the voices right,” promised Ezra.

“Good,” agreed Mary. Her voice now firm, she added, “But no stress on your leg.”

Mary glanced back at Nathan. She smiled.

“Doctor’s orders.”  

“That’s right,” agreed Nathan. “No stress on your leg.”

Nathan thought for a moment that the negotiation was over, but Mary raised one finger to the side of her face. She spoke slowly, thoughtfully.

“And what exactly did you think you did that was reckless?”

Ezra looked surprised at the question, as if the answer was obvious.

“I rode after those miscreants, knowing they carried guns…”

“Son,” interrupted Josiah. “It’s what we do.”

The big man glanced from Ezra to Mary and then to Nathan. As if they objected, he spoke again.

“It is,” Josiah insisted.

Mary stepped closer to Ezra, bending her knees to bring her down to eye level with her husband. Josiah reached for the last glass of tea as Mary placed her hand on Ezra’s.

“Don’t you think it would be more reckless to leave those miscreants running loose?” asked Mary.

“I did,” nodded Ezra. “But I wasn’t sure what you thought…”

Mary leaned in and brushed his lips with a light kiss. She whispered something. Nathan only caught a few words. Foolish… worries… love. Mary stood back up leaving Ezra with a happy grin on his face.

“I’m glad we got that settled,” smiled Mary.

Across the way a door slammed open. Nathan glanced over to see an outpouring of children from the school. Savannah and Marietta must have already seen their father on the porch. The girls raced towards home. Behind them, at a slower pace, Vin followed ten-year-old Dora. At the sound of Josiah’s voice, Nathan turned back to the gathering on the porch.

“Mary,” Josiah spoke in an apologetic tone. “I do believe we may need some more sweet tea.”

Mary rolled her eyes at the empty glasses.

“You know where the kitchen is,” reminded Mary. “The pitcher is in there.”

Josiah disappeared inside their home. Mary stepped closer to Ezra and reached for the sleeping Amelia. This time he relinquished the toddler without protest.

“I’ll put her to bed while you reacquaint yourself with ‘Vannah and ‘Etta,” smiled Mary. “Then I’ll check on Josiah and see how he is doing with the tea.”

“You might also want to ask Billy about those chairs he mentioned,” suggested Ezra. He gestured towards the school. “It looks as if we may be having company.”

“Mind you don’t let anyone bump that leg of yours,” cautioned Nathan.

Ezra touched his forehead with one hand in a gesture reminiscent of a salute. Nathan moved towards the porch stairs as Savannah and Marietta raced to clamber around Ezra.

“Father!”

“Father! You’re awake!!!”

“Have you seen Maisie’s kittens?”

As the girls chattered excitedly with Ezra about the ginger cat, Nathan looked back to the school. Jimmy and Eban had joined Dora and Vin. They would be here any minute. Further back, Nathan could see Chris and Buck standing beside the Larabee wagon. Alex, Stevie, and Adriana clamored around Chris, while RC jumped up and down in front of Buck. At a nod of Chris’s head, Alex and Stevie took off towards the Clarion. Chris swung Adriana up on his shoulders. Buck laughed and made a shooing motion with one hand. RC ran after his friends. Together, Chris and Buck sauntered after their children. As his own sons reached the stairs, Nathan spoke.

“Jimmy, Eban, be careful, no bumping Ezra’s leg now,” reminded Nathan.

“We weren’t,” protested Jimmy.

“I know,” nodded Nathan. The careful man continued, “And we aren’t staying long. We don’t want to wear him out. And he isn’t up to doing magic tricks, so don’t even ask him.”

“Dora,” called Vin’s quiet voice. “You heard Nathan.”

“Yeah Pa,” nodded the auburn-haired girl. “It would be good just to see him. Nettie will want to know how he’s doing.”

The children went on to join their friends. Vin stopped beside Nathan. In the distance, Nathan saw Casey coming too. Her hand gripped around little Christopher’s wrist. In the crook of Casey’s other arm, Natalie perched at her mother’s waist.

“He up to everybody visiting?” asked the sharp-eyed rancher.

“Yeah, I reckon,” answered Nathan.

Nathan watched the children and his patient. The healer noted Ezra’s delighted smile. The bright spark was back in the green eyes, no sign of melancholy. Nathan smiled.

“Man like Ezra needs to be with folks,” chuckled Nathan softly. “Tactile sensitivity and all.”

x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Chapter Text

…an amazing woman

x-x-x-x-x-x-x

“Three trains is enough. I’m glad to be off of them,” Maude sighed in seeming pleasure. “They’re fast, but I don’t like that infernal noise they make.”

The elegant woman had one hand on Ben’s forearm. Her reticule dangled on its strap between them. Maude’s other hand twirled a dainty parasol that matched her lavender travelling dress. In the distance, clouds skittered across the mountaintops.

“We’re on the last leg of our journey,” continued Maude. “Just one coach ride more and we’ll be in Four Corners.”

Sunny Congress Street bustled with people as they sauntered to the stage station. Her grandson carried his valise in his unencumbered hand. Behind them, a porter pushed a heavy-laden wheelbarrow. Maude’s fine French luggage had been unloaded from their last train and piled haphazardly into the wheelbarrow. Slightly off-key music pounded from the open doorways of one of Tucson’s many saloons.

“You’re lucky,” grunted the porter. “It’s been a dry June. Without the mud and slick spots, the stage to Four Corners might not take more than twenty-four hours.”

Maude turned her head to smile at Ben. He pressed her to one side, adroitly steering her past a miner leading a pack mule.

“The driver will of course stop to change the horses and let travelers refresh themselves,” assured Maude with the worldly air of someone who knew those sorts of things.

Ben looked somewhat skeptical.

“Last August was dry too,” said Ben. “When Father and I left Four Corners, the driver barely stopped long enough to change horses and let folks use the necessary.”

As they passed yet another saloon, Maude noted the figure of a familiar dark-haired woman standing by the door. The former conwoman sucked in a frightened breath. Although Maude had only met her once, she wasn’t ever going to forget Ella Gaines. The escapee from the Alabama Asylum for the Mentally Insane stood near the saloon’s big glass windows. Ella had her back to them but Maude could see her features reflected in the glass. The wild-eyed woman had a devious smile on her face. Ella appeared to be haggling with the man standing before her. All Maude could think was that she had to get Ben away from that woman! They needed to warn Ezra and the rest of the seven!

“We should hurry,” urged Maude quickening her step.

“What?”

Ben almost stumbled as Maude increased her speed. The porter was hard pressed to hurry after them.

“Stage ain’t leavin’ for at least an hour,” called the porter.

The stage driver might be willing to leave early if the passengers were ready and a bribe was big enough, thought Maude. Might even be willing to leave some passengers behind if the bribe was really big. In a matter of minutes they reached the stage depot. While the porter unloaded Maude’s luggage, Maude tried to catch her breath. She set her parasol down next to one of her bags, then left Ben to supervise the loading of her bulky luggage onto the stage while she spoke to the driver. A few words, a suitable exchange of cash, an agreement was made. Maude returned to where Ben stood near the open carriage door. At the depot master’s hurried call, passengers were now starting to board.

“My dear boy,” smiled Maude. “I’m afraid you will have to go on without me.”

“What?” Ben exclaimed in surprise. “You’re not coming? I promised Father…”

Ben’s lips clamped shut. Maude’s eyebrows went up slightly. What did the dear boy think he was trying to hide?

“What did you promise your father?” asked Maude ever so sweetly.  

“That… that... that I wouldn’t ride on the coach alone.”

Ben stuttered at first, then spoke in a quick rush of words as if hoping his answer would be believed. Hardly, thought Maude. She looked away, not wanting Ben to realize that she knew he was lying.

“You’re not five,” reminded Maude. “I’m sure if Billy managed to survive a coach trip from Tucson to Four Corners with a bunch of strangers you can too.”

Ben looked confused.

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

Had he never heard that story? Maude huffed in exasperation. No one ever seemed to think ill of Mary’s actions.

“Ask Billy about the first time we met,” urged Maude. “He was just a little boy and…”

Maude knew Mary had sent her son off to live with his grandparents. The boy seemed to go back and forth between the two homes for several years. Billy didn’t return to Four Corners to stay until Mary and Ezra married.

“My lady Mother put a five-year-old on the stage by himself?”

Ben sounded shocked. Maude paused. Oh, she could use this. Twist it and turn it to her advantage. The opportunity was almost irresistible. But really, Maude could also see if she did use this, it would only come back to hurt Ezra. Her darling boy, with his tender heart so easily damaged, loved Mary. Anything that hurt Mary would hurt Ezra. Besides that, Maude actually liked Mary. So, Maude answered with the truth. Mostly anyway.

“To be fair, I think it was your Grandfather Travis that put Billy on the stage alone.”

“Grandfather Travis did that?”

Ben’s voice sounded in disbelief.

“Or it might have been Grandmother Travis.”

Maude couldn’t resist adding that little tidbit. The sainted Evie never seemed to have done anything that would invoke criticism. Moving up the boardwalk, Maude noticed a well-dressed man in a tailored suitcoat slow as he approached them. The gentleman tipped his hat at the still beautiful woman. Instinctively Maude’s lips curled up in a flirtatious smile. She even batted her eyelashes. Then Maude dismissed the stranger as she turned back to face her grandson.

“But you must go on to Four Corners,” insisted Maude. “I have business to tend to.”

“Business.”

Maude looked at Ben in surprise at his tone. The sneer in his voice was unmistakable. Ben had seen her harmless flirtation with the unknown man. And Ben seemed to have jumped to some sort of conclusion. The wrong conclusion. The lonely little boy wandering about Hortense Bennet’s gloomy old house in South Carolina was gone. Ben had grown into a confident young man. Confident enough to stand up to Maude.

“I don’t know what you are thinking, but this is business. Just business,” repeated Maude firmly.

“Husband number six?” challenged Ben. “From what I’ve heard you made a good living out of marrying rich men.”

Maude sucked in a deep breath. That hurt. She doubted Ben heard that directly from her boy, but Ezra must have said it to someone, sometime. And someone had repeated it.

“No,” answered Maude. “This business concerns a woman.”

“Really? I don’t think so,” scoffed Ben. “You’re leaving me, to go after that man. Just like you left father when he was a boy...”

“I don’t ‘go after’ men,” hissed Maude. “They seek me!”

More words of denial were on Maude’s lips. She had never sent Ezra off on a coach alone! But she had left Ezra. Left him with Susan, Aunt Margaret, Frank and cousin Butler, and more boarding schools than she could remember. Maude raised her chin in defiance.

“And I may have left Ezra, but I came back,” reminded Maude.

She wasn’t going to let anyone, Ben, or anyone else for that matter, criticize her for the way she had managed to raise Ezra. He had turned out just fine. Her darling boy was just fine!

“Why does everyone think I’m such a horrible mother for leaving my child while I tried to earn a living for us?” she blurted out.

For a change, the tears swimming in her eyes as she looked at her grandson were real.

“Maybe because Father seems so upset about it,” countered Ben.

“Hmmph!”

“In his stories, it hardly seems like you were around.”

Maude blinked. She remembered that Ezra had once said she only came back when she needed him for a con. Didn’t her darling boy know better? Surely that wasn’t how her darling boy remembered his childhood? Their life together?

“We spent his first four years together in Charleston,” huffed Maude. “He must have had some fond memories of our home.”

“What makes you say that?” objected Ben.

“Ezra bought that darling house for me with his first bonus from Sommersby and Son.”

Jay’s wife had ordered them evicted from that home almost the instant the doctor declared Jay dead. Maude smiled sweetly at Ben.

“Later, during the war, when your father and Ellen married, he brought her to live with me,” continued Maude.

“That doesn’t mean anything!” argued Ben.

And maybe it didn’t mean anything, but Maude thought it did. Those first pampered years, when she thought she was the adored wife of a busy shipping merchant had been happy ones. Ezra had been a happy little boy. Her first con, thought Maude, was trying to keep smiling and bright for Ezra while she pretended not to be upset that their whole world collapsed.

“You were born there.”

Jay’s perfidy and untimely death had put an end to that. Marrying Hubert had been the act of a frightened young woman, desperate to find a home for her child. Despite her efforts, sometimes Maude thought her worry, sadness, shock during that time had impacted Ezra.

“Grandmother Bennet said I was born at Bennet Acres,” protested Ben.

Maude could hardly believe her ears. Hortense Bennett was going to hear from her!

“She lied,” snapped Maude.

Ben’s eyes widened in disbelief. Maude glanced back down the street to the saloon. Ella was no longer visible by the door. There wasn’t time to explain to Ben her many marriages. The ways she had tried to earn a living. Francis Claude D’Moines and his rackets! Maude needed to find Ella before that woman found them.

“You need to get on the stage right now,” insisted Maude.

“Or what?” protested Ben.

“Do you really want to find out?”

Maude put every ounce of manipulation she could draw on into her blue-eyed gaze. Most people had a secret or two. Something they didn’t want the world at large knowing. And oh… oh… Ben’s eyes clouded over. What did the dear boy fear? Maude pushed Ben back against the open entrance to the stage with both hands. The other passengers were gawking at the spectacle they made.

“Get on the stage now,” she ordered. “And when you see Ezra, you tell him…”

“Phht,” interrupted Ben with a snort. “Do you really think father will care what you have to say?”

“Yes, I do,” answered Maude. “Your Father loves me, even if I did finagle that saloon out from under him…”

“You did what?”

“Never mind, ask your father sometime…,” retorted Maude.

The stage hand stepped up then to shut the coach door.

“And ask him about Charleston!” called Maude.

There wasn’t time for anything more to be said. Maude stepped back. She watched as Ben squeezed into a small spot between a drummer and a heavyset matron bouncing a toddler on her knee. The driver cracked his whip. The horses strained forward; the carriage jolted after.

“Be safe dear boy,” whispered Maude.

She waited until the stage containing Ben was out of sight. Then the determined woman turned to go in search of her quarry. It was merely a matter of minutes before Maude spied Ella again.

“There she is.”

Ella wasn’t far from the saloon where Maude had seen her earlier. The man she had been talking to was gone. Thinking her nemesis was alone, Maude followed Ella out beyond the edge of town. She trailed Ella along a narrow ridge above a ravine.

“Where are you going?” growled a low voice.

She fumbled with her reticule, seeking the derringer. Maude thought she was being discreet.

“Now see here young man…”

“Get your hands where I can see them.”

She felt the barrel of a revolver placed against her neck. The sound of the hammer being pulled back seemed so loud. Maude glanced back to see the man Ella had been speaking to earlier. She raised her trembling hands.  

“Missus Larabee,” called the armed miscreant. “This woman has been following you.”

Ella turned at the sound of her henchman to face her pursuer. She moved closer to stand in front of Maude.

“Who are you?” demanded Ella. “And why are you following me?”

Maude didn’t even try to explain herself to Ella. She batted her eyelashes at the man with the gun.

“She’s not Missus Larabee you know,” smiled Maude.

“Don’t matter,” answered the man with a shrug. “She’s rich and pays well. Reckon she can call herself anything she wants.”

Maude rolled her eyes.

“Do you know who Mr. Larabee is?” prodded Maude. “I don’t think Mr. Larabee would appreciate you helping her.”

The gunman frowned as if he didn’t understand the question. Didn’t understand there might be a threat from a man named Larabee. But Ella had heard Maude’s voice. Ella’s eyes narrowed in recognition. The dangerous woman remembered Maude.

“You,” growled Ella’s feral voice. “You’re that crazy woman that tried to drown me…”

Maude turned to look at Ella in surprise as the woman approached her.

“Crazy?” protested Maude. “You’re the one who’s crazy! You tried to kill my darling boy!”

“Who?”

Ella’s puzzlement, real or feigned, infuriated Maude.

“Don’t try to pretend you don’t know what you did!” snapped Maude. “Why aren’t you still in that asylum in Alabama?”

At the question, Ella’s expressive face took on a sly look.

“I’m not crazy,” her sultry voice answered. “Why should I be locked up in that dreadful place?”

“You paid a man to kill the real Mrs. Larabee and her little boy!” protested Maude.

Ella feigned a look of shock.

“Who told you such a lie?”

Ella took another step towards Maude. With heavy pancake makeup covering lesions on her face, Ella seemed even older than Maude’s sixty-one years.

“All I want is my husband Chris…”

“He’s not your husband,” protested Maude. Remembering what Ezra had said of the woman, Maude added, “Chris Larabee has never been your husband! And never will be!”

With a snarl of rage, Ella launched herself at Maude. The man with the gun hurriedly stepped back out of the way. The two women grappled. Maude couldn’t keep her balance. She scratched and clawed as the dirt on the ridge shifted beneath her feet. Her hand tangled in Ella’s long dark hair. For a moment, Maude thought she had a solid hold. But the hair, a wig, pulled loose of Ella’s bald head. The crazed woman screeched. Releasing her grip on Maude, Ella placed her hands over her head as if to hide her scabrous skull. Maude slipped. She felt herself falling.

“No!” protested, pleaded, Maude.

There was a swirl of dark and light.

“I have to tell…”

x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Chapter Text

…sometimes they don't rightly appreciate what you do for 'em

x-x-x-x-x-x-x

“You left Mother alone in Tucson?”

Ezra couldn’t keep the sound of dismay from his voice. He felt a touch of chagrin at his lack of vocal control. Although Maude often travelled alone, Tucson was still a wild frontier town. Rainstorms in the mountains had delayed the stage’s arrival from Monday afternoon until this morning. Ben now stood here in their kitchen. Dusty, his navy-blue suit crumpled and travel stained, but safe. Where was Maude?

“I didn’t leave her,” protested Ben. “Grandmother forced me onto the stage. She stayed behind and watched until I couldn’t see the stage depot anymore!”

Ezra shifted uncomfortably in the wheeled invalid chair. His elevated leg ached. And quite frankly his backside ached from too much sitting already at this ungodly hour. Nearly seven weeks now since his injuries and Nathan still insisted Ezra shouldn’t stand on the damaged limb.

“Mother left you?”

The gambler remembered the many times in his childhood his mother had left him. At least then she hadn’t sent him off by himself. Of course, he’d been younger than Ben. His first born was hardly a little boy anymore.

“Yeah, just like she used to leave you.”

Ezra arched a quizzical eyebrow up at that. Billy came in through the open front door with the first load of Maude’s luggage. The denim clad youth turned right, into Ezra’s office headed to the guest bedroom behind it.

“Really?” drawled Ezra.

“Yes,” insisted Ben. “She said she had some business...”

Ezra’s dark green eyes flashed at the word business. Surely not?

“Oh, good Lord,” exclaimed Ezra.  

He turned his head, seeking Mary. His partner in raising these wonderful, delightful creatures called children had put a cranky, teething Amelia down for a nap. She now stepped out of their bedroom bringing a small pillow.

“Is Preston Wingo…”

“Still in Snelltown,” soothed Mary.

Ezra watched in admiration as Mary walked towards him. At thirty-nine, she was still as beautiful as she had been ten years ago. Lord he was thankful that women’s fashion had gone back to using a bustle beneath a skirt! Her pale blue watered silk dress rustled in the most delightful way as she moved.

“And last I heard, he is still married and spouting poetry to his third wife, the young red head…”

Mary stepped behind Ezra and laid a gentle hand on his shoulder. The healing man leaned forward at the slight pressure of her touch. She slipped a thin feather pillow between the back of the chair and his shoulders. Funny how such a small thing could make such a big difference. Ezra felt the tension in his back muscles ease as he settled back down.

“I don’t know who this Preston fellow is…,” continued Ben.

“An odious little man that I have no intentions of introducing you to,” interrupted Ezra.

“But Grandmother said her business was with a woman.”

“A woman?” echoed Ezra.

He was pleased to note he hadn’t let his surprise show in his voice. He glanced towards Mary. While he hoped his own face didn’t betray his concern, Mary’s worry was obvious.

“You don’t think…,” began Mary.

Ezra had warned his mother of Ella’s escape in April. As yet, there had been no reported sightings of the murderess. Certainly, no word of her capture. Could the dastardly woman have reached Tucson?

“Mother does have a talent for trouble.”

“Just like her son,” smirked Mary.

Ezra realized Mary was trying to lighten the mood, to make him smile. He allowed his lips to curl up in a small, rueful grin. They were at home after all.

“Perhaps when the wires are up again, I could send a telegram…”

Mary was interrupted by the loud sound of knocking at their front door. JD opened the door without waiting for an answer. Their exuberant friend stuck his head inside and hollered.

“Hello the house!”

“Come on in JD, we’re back here,” called Mary.

“I’m hardly dressed for visitors,” huffed Ezra in a low voice.

The fashionable man ran a light hand over his chest. The fit of his waistcoat was much better since Nathan had allowed the removal of the last of his bandages. Ezra frowned at his mutilated pinstripe pants. There was no help for them. The metal brace peeked out from where the seam had been and his skin showed.

“You paraded through town dressed like that just days ago,” reminded Mary. “I’m sure JD won’t mind.”

JD took his bowler off as he entered the breezeway. He stopped for a moment as Billy entered the corridor, now empty handed. Ezra rubbed his fingertips against his aching forehead. Mary turned back to Ben.

“Why don’t you give Billy a hand with the rest of Mother Standish’s luggage,” suggested Mary.

Ben flashed a smile. He greeted JD as they passed each other in the wide hallway. Then Ben joined Billy. The two young men headed out to retrieve another load of Maude’s baggage. JD entered the kitchen. He set his hat with a yellow paper crumpled against the brim on the big round table. Mary eyed the paper eagerly.

“Is the telegraph working again?”

“Yep,” nodded JD. “Got a telegram from the sheriff in Tucson.”

“Oh, I’m glad to hear it’s working. That is good news,” smiled Mary.

“And what did the good sheriff of Tucson have to say?” drawled Ezra.

“He’s arrested Ella Gaines.”

“Arrested?” asked Ezra. “Surely he meant held? Pending her return to the asylum…” 

“No,” stated JD firmly. “Ella got herself arrested this time. Don’t reckon she’s going anywhere until after the trial.”

“Good,” replied Mary. “I feel much better knowing that woman is locked up.”

“I’m getting ready to ride out to Chris and Maria’s to let them know,” grinned JD. “Since school’s already started and I saw that cart load of Maude’s luggage, I knew you folks would be up. Thought you might like to know too.”

“Thank you, my friend.”

Mary laid a hand on Ezra’s shoulder.

“I’ll get Abner to send a telegram to Tucson,” continued Mary. “We’ll find Mother Standish…”

“What?” interrupted JD.

The suddenly agitated peacekeeper ran a hand through his dark hair. JD pointed to Ben and Billy bringing in more luggage, including a lavender parasol set atop a large hatbox.

“Didn’t Maude come with Ben and her acc… acc…”

“Accoutrements?” suggested Ezra.

“Yeah,” agreed JD. “All her stuff.”

“No,” sighed Ezra. “She put Ben on the stage and stayed behind in Tucson for some as yet unknown…”

JD’s face blanched. Ezra’s voice slowed to a stop.

“JD,” Ezra tried to lean forward. He reached out to his friend. “Are you alright?”

JD’s mouth dropped open. His mouth gaped for a moment, then he shook himself as if pulling himself together.

“I just remembered something I gotta do.”

JD turned and raced out… leaving his hat and the telegram behind. Ezra watched the screen door swing closed after the lawman. Then he turned his eyes to the items abandoned on the polished oak table. The auburn-haired man reached for the yellow paper.  

“Ezra,” warned Mary.

“I’m sure there are others in town that would be interested in reading an article in The Clarion with the details of Miz Gaines’s arrest.”

When the news editor didn’t object, Ezra unfolded the telegram. His green eyes flickered over the short missive. He stopped for a moment. Reread the words. Ezra took a breath and counted to calm his racing heart. He looked up at Mary seeming unperturbed. He even smiled again.

“It would seem that the nefarious Miz Gaines made the mistake of hiring a henchman with some sort of morals,” informed Ezra.

“What do you mean?”

“According to the telegram, a man Miz Gaines hired to be her bodyguard brought her to the law at gunpoint…”

Ezra waved his hand nonchalantly, still clutching the telegram.

“The bodyguard told the sheriff he witnessed Miz Gaines push a woman down Glory Gulch and wanted no part of murder.”

“Murder?” gasped Mary.

From their visits to Tucson over the years, they both knew the deserted area on the edge of town. No one lived there. The steep ravine was prone to flash floods when it rained. Mary reached for the telegram in Ezra’s hands.

“Who?” asked Mary. “And why?”

Before Ezra could say anything more, Billy and Ben came out of Ezra’s office. The pair were grinning and talking in low voices that Ezra couldn’t hear. Billy lightly punched Ben on the shoulder before the older youth turned to Ezra and Mary.

“Grandmother Standish’s luggage is all in the closet in the guest bedroom,” informed Ben.  

“Ready for when she gets here,” added Billy.

Ezra smiled at the two teenagers. To this day he didn’t know how his mother had coerced Hortense Bennet to bring Ben to Four Corners. Ben had found it difficult at first, reuniting with a father he barely remembered, meeting Ezra’s new wife and her son. But the two boys had become best friends as well as step-brothers, partners in all sorts of mischief. Ezra was glad Ben was home for the summer, glad that the two students would be in the same school together back east this coming fall. Yet Ezra hated that he had to ask his next question. He knew how it would make Ben feel.

“Mary will be sending a telegram shortly to Tucson in an effort to locate my wayward Mother,” informed Ezra. “Ben, what was Mother wearing…” 

Ben’s eyes shadowed with guilt.

“Ben,” insisted Ezra. “You are not to blame for mother leaving you! It’s not your fault.”

“I should have…”

“What?” interrupted Mary. “Tied Mother Standish to the roof of the coach along with the other luggage?”

Ben, Billy and Ezra turned their appalled gaze upon her at the ludicrous image her words conveyed. Mary didn’t give them a chance to answer.

“No,” insisted Mary. “Mother Standish chose to put you on that stage, to send you home first!”

Mary looked directly at Ben.

“I’m sure your grandmother had a reason for that,” insisted Mary. “She always has her reasons!”

“Yes,” agreed Ezra. “Mother knew what she was doing. You can be sure she had a plan when she sent you on ahead.”

Still holding the telegram in one hand, Mary reached into the side pocket of her blue dress. She pulled a pencil and pad of paper out. 

“Now what color travelling dress was she wearing?”

“Uh… purple,” offered Ben.

“My mother would hardly wear such a garish color,” objected Ezra.

He waved one hand in the direction of his office.

“When you were bringing in Mother’s luggage, I saw a lavender parasol…”

Mary glanced down at the telegram.

“Yes father,” agreed Ben. “She was wearing that fancy purple traveling suit she bought in Chicago last year; it came with the parasol.”

“Lavender is not purple,” insisted Ezra.

Ben looked from his father, to Mary and Billy in confusion. Mary eyes widened as she read the text on the telegram in her hand.

“A pale shade of purple…,” began Ben.

Ezra frowned and shook his head.

“A different color entirely.”

“Alright, lavender then…,” conceded Ben with a huff.

“Thank you, Ben,” interrupted Mary. She smiled brightly. In an effort to get the teens outside, she added, “Billy why don’t you show Ben the gift Mother Standish sent.”

Ben and Billy exchanged a glance. Billy even rolled his eyes.

“They want to talk without us,” stated Ben.

“Yeah,” agreed Billy.

As one, the pair turned to go outside. Their voices carried in the quiet hallway.

“You really need to see the new horses and the red carriage…,” continued Billy.

“Red?”

“The carriage came all the way from…”

The porch door swung shut behind the boys. Mary turned to Ezra. She placed the telegram on the table before him, her finger pointing to the sheriff’s description of the woman pushed down Glory Gulch.

“Ezra, just because the witness saw a woman in a purple dress doesn’t mean it’s Maude.”

“I’m well aware,” drawled Ezra.

The tall blonde glanced towards their bedroom, then turned back to face Ezra. Mary frowned at the cast on his elevated leg.

“Will you be alright if I go send a telegram to the sheriff in Tucson?” asked Mary. “I should be back before Amelia wakes up.”

“If not, I assure you we will manage,” replied Ezra. “We’ll be fine.”

“The girls will be home from school in a few hours, I don’t want to tell them anything until we know more.”

Ezra nodded in silent agreement. Still, Mary hesitated.

“Don’t worry, go,” urged Ezra.

He made a shooing motion with his hands. The determined woman hurried away.

“We’ll be fine,” repeated Ezra.

His head lowered. He placed a hand over his eyes. His mother would definitely have had some plan. She always did. But Ezra knew there was always the chance of something unexpected. He remembered her shock years ago at finding out he’d used his own money to buy the saloon. Ezra doubted she would have tried to run him out of business if she had known that fact at the beginning of their competition. Surely her plan this time was to send Ben home, then follow? She hadn’t saved Ben at the cost of her own life? Right? Something in Mother’s plan must have gone horribly awry.

“What happened Mother?”

x-x-x-x-x-x-x

A short while later, Ezra looked up to see the front door open. Mary entered. She stopped at the hall tree in the entryway and hung up her shawl before moving to join him in the kitchen. 

“I wasn’t expecting you back this quickly,” greeted Ezra.

“JD has already sent a telegram to the sheriff in Tucson to get more information,” informed Mary. “I only sent one more to Oren. Abner said he would send over an answer when he gets one.”

“The good judge is retired now…” began Ezra.

“I don’t expect Oren to preside over Ella’s case,” interrupted Mary. “But I thought he ought to know since he was the one who had her committed...”

The sound of knocking on the front door interrupted their conversation. Unlike when JD arrived earlier, this time he opened the door hesitantly. Nathan stood behind him.

“JD, Nathan,” beckoned Ezra. “Please come in.”

“JD?” said Mary in surprise. “I thought you were riding out to the Larabee ranch?”

The sheriff and the doctor strode down the breezeway to join Ezra and Mary. Ezra’s glance caught a crisp yellow paper in JD’s hands. His eyes flitted away from the document immediately.

“I sent Delbert to let Chris, Buck and Vin know about Ella,” answered JD.

Unfortunately, Mary had also noted the paper.

“Did you receive an answer from Tucson already?”

JD sighed. He pulled up a chair and spun it around to sit facing Ezra. The Four Corner’s sheriff looked serious.

“Ain’t no good way to say this,” began JD. “Ella’s in jail for murder, but sheriff said they ain’t located a body. Ain’t likely to find one neither, all that rain and flash floods…”

JD’s voice trailed off.

“So, the murdered woman hasn’t been identified…,” restated Mary.

“If there is no body, there is no knowing who the murder victim is,” interrupted Ezra. “I’m more interested in finding my mother alive.”

JD’s expression took on a more somber look.

“If they don’t have anyone registered in the hotels using the name of Maude Standish,” continued Ezra almost as if thinking out loud. “Either she’s not in Tucson, or she’s using another name…”

“Ez…,” interrupted JD.

“Mary Sutton, she has used that most often.”

“I thought she quit conning folks,” said Nathan.

It had been years since Maude had used any other name, but Ezra continued talking. His words came fast and frantic. He held up a hand and started ticking off additional names on his fingers.

“Madeline d’Smit, Marianne Stillwater, Melinda Shields…”

“Ez,” interrupted JD again, his voice louder, more insistent this time.

The compassionate peacekeeper leaned forward and placed a hand on Ezra’s arm. The fingers stilled.

“Sheriff asked the witness if he knew the victim,” said JD. “He didn’t, but said the two women seemed to know each other, the victim accused Miz Gaines of trying to kill her darling boy. Reckon Maude meant you.”

Ezra felt like he’d been punched. He jerked his arm out of JD’s grasp and sucked in a deep breath.

“That phrase is hardly conclusive of anything,” objected Ezra. “Anybody could…”

“Don’t know too many folks that use darling boy,” interrupted Nathan. “In fact I can’t think of anyone beside your Ma…”

Nathan’s voice trailed off as Ezra frowned at his friend.

“Do you not recall a tragedy long ago?” demanded Ezra. “Claire’s father referred to her as his darling girl…”

“Still…”

“There’s more,” insisted JD.

“No,” protested Ezra.

If he didn’t hear it, maybe it would all go away.

“On the slope of Glory Gulch, a deputy found one of them little bags ladies carry,” said JD. “It’s got a few things in it.”

“Many women carry those things,” challenged Ezra. “Mary and my mother included.”

“The sheriff said one of the things in the bag was a letter from Ezra Standish addressed to Maude Standish.”

Ezra’s eyes widened. He sank back in his chair with a gasp or maybe a moan. Mary stepped closer. She placed a supportive hand on Ezra’s shoulder. He looked away. Ezra tried hard to control his features, but his poker face failed him. Eyes welled up with tears. Good lord! He realized his chin was quivering.

“She’s supposed to take care of herself,” whispered Ezra.

Mother couldn’t… she couldn’t… No! He wouldn’t believe it! Nathan crouched down to eye-level with Ezra. He reached out to clasp Ezra’s wrist. Ezra jerked his arm away again.

“You do not need to take my pulse Dr. Jackson,” snapped Ezra. “I assure you I am fine!

“Ain’t trying to take your pulse,” soothed Nathan. “Just trying to help a friend… I know how much it sorrows a body to lose a parent.”

“And I’m not suffering from melancholy!”

“Melancholy?” protested Nathan. He reared back and eyed his patient in confusion. “Who said anything about…?”

Ezra shot his friend a withering glance.

“You are not always as discreet as you might think,” replied Ezra.

He took in a tremulous breath.

“It’s true, I was sad when I learned my noble steed died. He was my last link with fri… fri… friends long gone.”

“Ez…”

“And I hurt,” continued Ezra. “Perforated. Broken bones…”

Ezra hated that his voice sounded so shaky, but he kept talking. The reserved man remembered his embarrassing display of vulgar emotion just days ago.

“That medicine you gave me makes me sleepy and entirely too talkative for the brief times I’m awake. But that is to be expected!”

Although hopefully it wouldn’t occur again. Ezra hadn’t told Nathan that he’d quit taking the painkiller. He ached, but if a weakness were to be revealed, he'd rather reveal physical pain. It was usually safer.  

“Ain’t arguing with you there,” agreed Nathan.

The physician moved from his crouched position to sit in the nearest chair. Ezra stared at Nathan’s warm brown eyes. He didn’t notice the front door open.

“And it is expected that I am…”

Ezra paused for a moment. He called on Mother’s training and reached for that quiet, calm space within. Unfortunately, he couldn’t quite get his voice to sound as impassive as he would like.

“More than sad to learn that the sheriff in Tucson thinks my lady Mother is dead…”

“Grandmother Standish is dead?” Billy’s shocked voice interrupted.

Ezra’s green eyes turned to see Ben and Billy wide-eyed and frightened standing in the entryway.

“Presumed…,” insisted Ezra.

Ezra glanced at JD, desperate to find another explanation. JD shook his head.

“Ez.”

“Possibly her handbag was stolen…,” tried Ezra.

JD’s lips curled up at that last futile attempt at denial.

“I remember thinking she always held on to that thing pretty tight,” objected JD. “Anybody ever manage to steal her bag?”

Ezra swallowed. He closed his eyes tightly against the rush of memories, good and bad. This couldn’t be happening! He wasn’t ready for this. Opening his eyes, he shook his head. Ezra turned back to answer Ben and Billy.

“The sheriff in Tucson thinks it is… pro… probable that Mother…” 

x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Mary hung the Closed sign on the door to the Clarion. The Standish home soon filled with more family and friends. Casey was the first to arrive, toting little Natalie and a bouquet of cut flowers. Ezra barely noticed the beautiful blooms. Mary took the flowers from Casey and moved to the sink. Casey surprised Ezra by reaching down and giving him a brief one-armed hug. She quickly released him to join Mary by the sink.

“Did you leave any irises in your garden?” asked Mary as she pumped water into a vase.

A wail sounded from the bedroom. While Mary went to retrieve Amelia, Casey settled the vase on the dining table. Ezra looked up at the next arrival. Mrs. Potter held a plate loaded with an apple upside down cake towards him. It smelled of cinnamon. It was still warm. Ezra realized she must have made it for her children before she heard about Maude. How had she heard?

“Thank you, but I really couldn’t…”

“When I went to get the mail, Abner mentioned your loss,” said Gloria.

“News travels quickly in a small town.”

“I’m so sorry to hear about your mother.”

A sharp look from Gloria to her children brought Quintin and Felicity closer. They offered their condolences to Ezra then retreated to join Billy and Ben on the front porch. By the time Mary and Amelia re-entered the kitchen, Mrs. Potter had left and Raine arrived with Autumn. The budding poppies Raine brought joined the irises. The three toddlers babbled together while JD cut into the cake. Elderly Mr. Watson stopped in to pay his respects. He left taking a piece of Gloria’s good cake with him. Ezra stared silently at the clock on the wall.

“Mr. Standish? Sir,” snuffled a deep voice.

Ezra’s green eyes blinked. Yosemite stood before him, twisting his broad hat round and round in his hands.

“I’s real sorry to hear about Miz Maude,” gulped the big barrel chested man. “She had an eye for a good horse.”

Ezra smiled.

“Yes,” he agreed. “Mother did have a good eye for horses.”

Yosemite backed up, bumping into Mr. Heidegger. The hotelier mumbled his condolences and then followed Yosemite out. A few hours before school let out, a wagon pulled up in front of their home. The familiar sound of spurs announced Chris’s arrival before he appeared in front of Ezra. Maria followed with their youngest daughter sleeping in her arms.

“JD sent word,” began Chris.

“I know,” replied Ezra.

Chris didn’t say anything more. The rancher pulled up a chair. The soft, raveled edge of his colorful serape nearly touched the floor as he sat down beside Ezra. Mary moved to stand between them. She held Amelia out to Ezra.

“Would you please hold Amelia while I get some toys out?”

Mary thrust their youngest daughter into Ezra’s hands. Amelia looked up wide eyed and smiled at Ezra.

“It looks like you’ve got your grandmother’s eyes,” whispered Ezra as he wiped crumbs from her mouth.   

Buck and Louisa arrived with little Travis next. Mary, Casey, and Raine moved the toddlers and an assortment of wooden blocks into Ezra’s office. Maria followed with baby Inez. Travis joined Amelia, Natalie and Autumn in building castles. Ezra sniffed at the scent of honey, mustard, and cloves. Louisa carried a platter with a baked ham over to the counter beside the sink. Mary left the children under Casey and Raine’s watchful eyes to join Louisa in the kitchen.  

“Oh you shouldn’t have…” began Mary.

“Don’t worry,” interrupted Louisa. She raised a hand as if to halt Mary’s words. “I do know how to cook a ham. It’s well past noon, reckon someone will be hungry soon enough.”

“You’re probably right,” agreed Mary.

Mary reached for a loaf of bread and began slicing it as Buck pulled up a chair to sit between Chris and JD.

“Hey pard,” said Buck. “Right sorry to hear about your Ma.”

Ezra looked into his friend’s blue eyes. The depth of compassion there made it hard for him to respond.

“Thank you, Buck.”

The tiny kitchen was already crowded when Inez arrived with a platter of empanadas and red-rimmed eyes. She laid the platter down in the center of the table.

“Oh Ezra…,” sniffled Inez.

Ezra reached out to the saloon manageress. He patted her hand, surprised to find himself giving consolation. Mary reached over and gave her friend a hug, before pulling Inez towards Ezra’s office to join the other ladies and the younger children. Outside Ezra heard the sound of another wagon. A watchful Vin helped Nettie down. The octogenarian thumped her cane down the hallway to stand before Ezra.

“Heard about Maude,” stated the forthright woman.

Ezra raised his eyes to the testy rancher.

“You gotta know she’d rather it be this way, her going first, than any other way.”

Ezra swallowed. He knew the truth of Nettie’s words.

“That doesn’t make it any better.”

“You won’t ever quit missing her,” added Vin’s soft voice. “But it helps to remember the good times.”

Vin steered Nettie over to sit beside Casey on the settee in Ezra’s office. The long-haired man returned to slouch against the kitchen wall by the big cast iron stove. Ezra felt Vin’s watchful eye on him. Josiah arrived last. The big man’s reddened eyes gave him an evil look that was usually only seen when he had the worst sort of hangover. The lumbering man pulled up a seat, crowding the others to sit next to Ezra. Josiah thumped a dark brown bottle on the table.

“Thought we should have a toast,” growled Josiah.

“Not any of your rotgut,” objected Ezra. “Mother deserves…”

“Better,” interrupted Josiah.

He tilted his big head sideways and glared at Ezra. Then Josiah reached a long arm around Ezra’s shoulder and pulled him close.

“Son, this ain’t rotgut.”

For a moment, the two men that loved Maude most stared at each other.

“It’s a bottle of French brandy that I’ve been saving,” offered Josiah.

It was on the tip of Ezra’s tongue to ask Josiah where he’d managed to find a bottle of brandy, let alone French brandy. But Ezra recognized the pain in Josiah’s eyes. He wasn’t the only one hurting here.

“Alright then,” nodded Ezra.

He shrugged loose of Josiah’s hold and sat up straight in the invalid chair. Ezra’s graceful hand gestured to the pie safe. Assorted glassware filled the top shelf.

“As I am encumbered by this infernal brace…,” began Ezra.

“It’s alright Ezra,” interrupted JD. He pushed himself to stand. “I’ll get the glasses.”

Seven glasses of varying sizes were soon filled with a generous portion of the amber liquid from Josiah’s bottle. Ezra watched his friends circled around him raise their glasses. He knew most of them probably didn’t even like Maude. Wondered, like he did himself sometimes, what kind of mother she was. But they put all that aside to be here with him. He turned to Josiah.

“Your toast?”

Josiah swallowed, then spoke in a gruff voice.

“To an amazing woman.”

“To Mother.”

“To Maude,” echoed through the room.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x

It wasn’t until much later, after Savannah and Marietta arrived home from school and been consoled, after all the guests had gone, that Ben remembered the last thing Grandmother Standish told him.

“Grandmother told me to ask you about the house in Charleston…”

Ezra smiled. Vin was right, it helped to remember good times. And there had been good times. That first home held many good memories.

“Nothing fancy,” replied Ezra. “But a good home. I was born there.”

Ezra glanced at Ben.

“So were you.”

“You mean I wasn’t born at Bennet Acres?”

“Whatever gave you that idea?”

x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Chapter Text

Disclaimer: Magnificent Seven does not belong to me. This is fan fiction, not for profit. Any references to people, places, businesses, etc. are entirely fictitious.

…an amazing woman

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“I never got the chance to tell…,” insisted Maude again.

Voices called to Maude. Mama, Papa, her sister Susan, and brother Frank all dead these many years, all told Maude they loved her. Jay was there. In her perception, he was dashing as always, with that cheeky grin, still the handsomest man she’d ever seen. He held out a hand? Beseeching, as he had so long ago. He wanted her to come with him. As much as she had once loved Jay, Maude refused this time. There was something she needed to do.

“I didn’t tell Ezra and…”

The comforting knowledge that Mary and the others would take good care of Ezra filled Maude with a sense of peace. The warmth of a dear young woman joined her for a moment. Ellen? Thank you, Mother Maude. Then before Maude could respond, Ellen was gone again.

“Josiah!” thought Maude again, “I need to tell him…”

How long had she been repeating that thought? A presence seemed amused by her persistence. Maude almost thought the presence chuckled.

“What’s so important?”

Maude stammered and tried to explain. She really needed to go back. She had to tell Josiah…

“Oh, that.”

The presence beamed in agreement.

“Yes, it is important.”

The darkness faded and Maude felt herself shimmer into the light. She stood in an unfamiliar room. A breeze blew in through the open window. Cottonwood trees sheltered a squawking crow. Ezra and Mary’s home stood nearby. A dear man sat at a desk. He stared at her in surprise.

“Josiah?”

“Maude?”

His hair was darker than she remembered. And Josiah no longer had that grizzled look from many years in the desert. Somehow, he looked younger. Maude reached out to touch the gentle man. Her hand passed right through his arm. She blinked in surprise. Maude hardly heard his next words.

“I go by Joseph now,” replied the big man.

“Joseph?”

“For now,” nodded Jos 'I ah. He tilted his head to look at her. “You’ve been gone a while. Do you know where you are?”

Maude smiled. There was no place else she'd rather be.

“Of course, I’m with you in Four Corners.”

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