Silver-Tongued Devil
Buck Wilmington was leaning against a fence-post out at Chris' place, pondering. He did a lot of that these days and today, as per usual, he came up with nothing at all.
'Pity,' he thought. 'Could have been a good day for ponderin', all things considered.' The sun was shining, the sky was as clear and bright as a crystal, and there were even birds chirping nearby. And the monotonous rustle of hay being shifted, together with the sweet and grassy smell of it, could have been downright idyllic.
Buck kicked up a few sprigs of hay which had landed on his boots and pushed his hat back impatiently. Too damn hot to think. Too difficult to think about it. And damn if he could ever work it out, no matter how hard he kept thinking.
"What's the matter with you, Buck?" Chris asked with a frown, hurling yet another pile of hay through the air. "Don't think I've ever seen you this chatty."
Buck managed a half-hearted smile. "Yeah well, Chris. Guess after all these years we've known each other, some of your ways must have rubbed off."
Chris set down the pitchfork he'd been using to assault the hay bales out back of the shack, and turned to face his old friend fully. "You know I ain't one to pry, Buck, but if there's anything wrong with you that's liable to affect the rest of the guys, you better tell me."
"Hell, Chris. It ain't nothin' like that." Buck tried again with the smiling, doing a better job than before. "Just a lil' somethin' that's been goin' through my mind. It's gonna sort itself out soon enough." If only he could believe that...
Chris held his friend's eyes for a moment. "You can still talk to me, Buck. You know that."
Buck playfully punched Chris' arm. "Yeah, I know that, old dog. Thanks."
Chris frowned. He couldn't rightly remember ever seeing Buck this way. Sure, Buck got sad and angry and bad-tempered like any other guy, but when he did, everyone knew about it. Buck didn't keep things inside. It just wasn't him. And being so darn quiet wasn't him, either. Still, so long as it didn't cause any trouble for their little group, he wasn't gonna interfere. Lord knew, he hated nothing more than folks makin' his business theirs. Or tryin' to.
Buck offered, "You want any help with that, Chris?"
Chris shook his head. "Thanks, Buck. Wasn't really enough to do for two and I'm just about done."
"I might head back to town then." Buck readjusted his hat and waited for Chris to acknowledge his statement with a nod. "See ya, Chris."
"Okay, Buck. I should be back in town in a day or two." He briefly squeezed Buck's shoulder before watching his friend walk over to his horse and mount up.
Buck smiled and with a quick wave of his hand, he turned and rode away, leaving a concerned Chris behind.
+ + + + + + +
When Buck rode down the main road, he naturally headed straight for the Saloon. Where else would he go? But he reconsidered soon enough, changing direction.
The Saloon had become damn hazardous lately. All his troubles were waiting right there for him. Actually, not really waiting for him... hell, that would have been okay. It was more like they sat there - lookin' pretty, at that - having no idea they were his troubles at all.
With all his worrying, it was amazing how the cause of his ponderin' and worryin' didn't just go ahead and read it off his face. It wasn't like he was hiding it well.
His fear that someone that smart would just see it the moment he so much as looked at him never came to anything. Just as well. It probably wouldn't take much to drive him outta town. And then he'd really have some ponderin' to do.
"BUCK!"
JD appeared by his side, a little out of breath. He'd been running to catch up with his friend.
"Hi, JD." Buck looked down at his young friend's sweet, flushed face and kept riding, more slowly now. "Just heading to the livery."
"Yeah, I figured. Are you comin' to the Saloon later? A couple of strangers arrived on the stage today, and Ezra's got one of 'em to agree to a game." JD was quite excited about the whole thing, and Buck couldn't help but smile.
"Someone should warn the poor fella."
JD grinned. "So, you comin'?"
Buck thought about it. He knew it would be better not to. It sure as hell would be easier. But damn it, just because you couldn't have something didn't mean you couldn't look at it. "Yeah, alright. I'll be there in a little while."
"Right!" JD beamed. He too had noticed that Buck had been awful quiet lately, and he didn't like it one bit. He'd talked to Josiah about it, and the preacher had told him that going by the symptoms, he'd say it was love trouble.
Both JD and Josiah had considered that for a bit, but had quickly come to the conclusion that in Buck's case, that couldn't be it. Buck Wilmington just didn't have love trouble.
They exchanged a few more words and JD headed back to the Saloon quite excitedly while Buck went to take care of his horse.
+ + + + + + +
Freshly bathed and dressed in a light blue shirt and clean jeans, Buck eventually made his way over to the Saloon. His heart was thumping, his mouth was dry, and his hands were clammy, and dammit, he wasn't used to any of it.
The sun had nearly gone down all the way, leaving only a shimmering pool of orange light behind on the horizon. At least things would cool down a bit for the night, weather-wise.
Buck ran his fingers through his still damp hair, his strides growing longer and faster the closer he got to the Saloon without him having the faintest idea it was happening. But when he got close enough to hear the racket coming from the place, he slowed down again, realizing just where he was goin' and why.
He wasn't headed there to watch some fool gettin' his pockets turned inside out. And he wasn't going there for company. Hell, he wasn't much in the way of company himself these days.
The reason he had agreed to spend the evening at the Saloon had a whole lot to do with gambling, but nothing with playing games.
When Buck entered through the swing doors, he said a quick 'hello' to Josiah, Nathan and Vin, who were seated close to the door. And then he turned left to where he simply knew the reason for his willingness to take a gamble to be, and he found himself face to face with it.
"Ah, Mr Wilmington. Glad you decided to join us."
Buck smiled crookedly. Of course, he had to smile at him that way. And he had to look so goddamn inviting too in that deep red jacket over his creamy-white shirt.
JD waved to him, motioning for Buck to get settled beside him.
"Hey, JD." Buck sat down beside JD, and that put him mercilessly right opposite Ezra. He'd have to say something. "So Ezra, how much are you winning?" He gave Ezra's opponent a quick sideways glance, wondering if the haggard, mustached man had any idea what he was in for.
Ezra smiled a slow, generous smile. "Why, Mr Wilmington, we've only just started. And I'm yet to establish just how suitable a match Mr Whitfield here is." Nodding politely towards his fellow player who spared him no more than a grumble, Ezra left no doubt that he did not consider him a worthwhile adversary. With a sneaky smile, he began to deal the cards.
Buck had stopped listening after the "suitable match" bit. All of a sudden, he found himself able to focus. Yes, that was it! A match. Common ground.
A smile began to slowly quirk up the corners of Buck's full mouth, traveling upwards until it reached his deep blue eyes. And suddenly, his mess of thoughts was beginning to draw together to a nice, tidy bundle. All he had to do now was find the right ribbon to help tie it all together.
Ezra's eyes were caught in the determined, single-minded stare of Buck, who wasn't even aware he was staring at Ezra at all. If he had been, he might have noticed that there was a distinctive if slight trace of interest and curiosity in the emerald depths.
But Buck - when he was focused on something - was about as perceptive as JD was when it came to women. Otherwise, he might have stopped to think that his idea was bound to create more mayhem than anything else.
And he might have seen right there in those beautiful green eyes searching his own that all he truly needed was a flame to light the fuse.
But he didn't know and he didn't see, and so Buck Wilmington embarked on a winding, adventurous and most unusual path to the heart of one Ezra P. Standish.
+ + + + + + +
Come morning, Buck positively jumped out of bed. He hadn't been able to grab much sleep, but nevertheless, he felt as bright and bouncy as a young fox. And ready to make things happen!
After a quick breakfast at the hotel, well before his friends showed up there, he went over to the new clothing store in town, run by a pretty young lady who'd just arrived from back East.
"Mornin', Miss Jennifer," he drawled to the shop owner, flashing his most luminous grin and causing an embarrassed giggle.
"Why, Mr Wilmington. You're up bright and early. What can I do for you?"
Buck's smile broadened. "I was thinkin' of getting myself a whole new wardrobe."
"Really?" The shopkeeper's eyebrows drew up. "Who's the lucky girl then?"
Buck shook his head. "It's nothin' like that. Just felt like bein' different," he said mysteriously.
"Well, let's see how we can make you different then." The woman smiled and drew Buck into the back of the store, where a small assortment of suits, shirts and hats were laid out.
Buck spent some time searching, asking Miss Jennifer's advice on a few items and discarding most of them as just too darn fancy. He didn't wanna be obvious, after all.
Finally, the young lady let out an excited squeal. "Oh, I have just the thing, Mr Wilmington. It'll go just perfect with those lovely eyes of yours."
He smiled at her charmingly and, blushing, she rushed into the store room to retrieve part of the latest delivery from Frisco.
Buck grinned when she returned, holding the package open. "Oh yeah. That'll do nicely, Miss Jennifer."
+ + + + + + +
An hour later, Buck emerged from his room in his new wardrobe - black pants, a starched white shirt, deep blue waistcoat and necktie to match, and a dark grey coat. He shrugged in the constricting sleeves uncomfortably, but put on a brave face as he sauntered - walking just wouldn't do in an outfit like this - across the main street and back to the hotel, where he expected he'd find some of his friends having breakfast right about then.
As pleased as Buck was with his appearance initially, his mood soon changed when he was greeted with what could only be described as roaring laughter. Buck's stomach sank when he realized he made a ridiculous enough picture even for Chris to damn near split his sides. Hell, what is that bad?
JD, on first spotting Buck in the doorway, spewed milk as far across the table as to hit Chris' plate, letting out a howl of laughter. Chris, on turning to see what had just ruined his breakfast, laughed out loud, while Josiah chuckled softly, mirth barely contained within his bright blue eyes.
Ezra, however, was convinced he actually heard his own jaw snap out of its hold.
"What's the matter with you, Buck? Got into Ezra's wardrobe?" Chris asked sarcastically, stunned to find his friend flush bright red at the innocent question.
JD continued to laugh until he had tears in his eyes, pointing at Buck and muttering the occasional, "Oh Lord!" and "Look at you!"
"Oh hell, it ain't that funny!" Buck finally said determinedly, joining his friends around the table while pointedly avoiding Ezra's questioning eyes. He couldn't avoid his voice, however, when he heard the slow drawl.
"For what it's worth, Mr Wilmington, I do believe you are at your most well dressed today, even if your attire is perhaps not entirely you."
Buck looked up, trying to ignore JD's fumbling fingers in his lap as the kid proceeded to laughingly place a large napkin there. He didn't flinch when JD's fingers tucked another napkin behind his collar, either, not even when the youth said to Chris' and Josiah's amusement, "Now don't you spill nothin' on your pretty clothes, Buck."
"Not me?" Buck asked numbly, his gaze focused on Ezra.
"Well, you must admit, Mr Wilmington..." Ezra finally couldn't hold back a smirk anymore either. "You are usually outfitted much less... shall we say, colorful?" Quickly proceeding because he noted he'd caused offense, Ezra added, "Not that there is anything wrong with the way you are dressed."
Chris was distracting himself by stuffing his face with cornbread, the smirk around his lips not quite hidden by the action.
Josiah was sitting back, slurping his coffee. He squinted as he followed the exchange between Ezra and Buck. Interesting, to say the least...
"You ain't the only one who can dress fancy, ya know," Buck said a little indignantly. Great. That was not what he'd had in mind to say. Things just weren't goin' the way he'd planned.
He quickly ordered himself some breakfast, remembering too late that he'd already had some earlier.
"Mr Wilmington?" the waiter said with a frown when Buck asked for bacon and eggs. "But you've already...."
"So? I'm hungry." Buck looked up at the man, his eyes pleading that he'd just leave it alone.
Shaking his head, the waiter walked away, off to retrieve Buck's second breakfast.
"I thought I'd seen you come in here earlier..." Josiah said thoughtfully.
Buck groaned. "Can't a man have an extra meal?"
JD, who'd been quietly giggling, burst into another gale of laughter, and Chris managed to offer his own plate to Buck without so much a twitch of his facial muscles. "Why don't you have mine while you wait, Buck?"
"Right. That's it!" Buck jumped up and - damn near getting his napkin caught between the table and Chris' plate, which would have sent everything on it tumbling to the floor - spun around and left the hotel, muttering curses under his breath.
Three pairs of eyes followed him until nothing but angrily slamming swing doors remained behind of Buck's uncharacteristic display.
Clearing his throat, Ezra raised his hand with a questioning look. "What just happened here, gentlemen?"
+ + + + + + +
It took Josiah a while to find Buck, who was - by the looks of it - actually hiding out. Eventually, he found him, dressed in his usual type of clothes and sitting broodingly behind the livery. "Want company, Buck?" he offered, settling down on the stairs next to him without waiting for an invitation.
Buck was about to say no, but he figured just because he'd made an ass of himself, that was no reason to be a rude ass, too. "Yeah, sure Josiah," he said softly, trying to smile.
They sat quietly for a few minutes. Buck didn't know what to say and Josiah figured it best if he'd let Buck do the talking. In case there was anything he wanted to talk about.
Finally, the silence got to Buck. "I looked pretty stupid earlier, huh, Josiah?"
Josiah shrugged. "I wouldn't say that. I think Ezra kind of liked your clothes."
Buck was about to get angry at the joke when he realized that Josiah wasn't joking at all - the preacher seemed dead serious, his compassionate eyes looking like they were reading his every thought. "Yeah right..." he said hesitantly. Then, "What's it got to do with Ezra?"
Josiah gave him a crooked smile. "You tell me, brother."
Buck avoided his friend's eyes. "Nothin'. It's got nothin' to do with him. Why should it?"
With a deep sigh, Josiah leant back on his elbows, turning his face up towards the sun. "A traveler from Tibet once told me the story of a man who heard of a great treasure hidden high up in the Himalayan mountains..."
Buck turned to face the preacher, waiting to hear all of it. One of Josiah's stories never had hurt anyone.
"He tried to get to it by any means possible. First, he took a search party with him, paying them a fortune. They combed the entire moutain range but never found a thing. Then, he bought a map which cost almost everything he had left. But it was said to show the way to the treasure, so he figured it'd be worth it. Turned out the map was a fake."
Josiah glanced at Buck, making sure he was still listening. He scratched his chin. "He kept at it for years, and even once everyone he knew thought him crazy for being so determined, he didn't give up. Then, one day, he went for a walk, just to take some time out from his quest. And he found himself suddenly in front of a cave by the foot of one of the mountains. He saw a bright light inside and went in. The treasure he'd been trying so hard to get to was right there, less than a mile from his own home, just waiting for him, it seemed. And because he found it purely by chance, it was all his. He didn't even have to share it with anyone."
Buck frowned. "Is there a moral to that, Josiah?"
Grinning broadly, Josiah looked at him. "It's just a story, Buck."
Gaping, Buck watched the preacher stand and adjust his hat.
Before Josiah left, he turned and grinned at Buck. "But it never hurts to keep tryin' if you really want something."
+ + + + + + +
After some time spent brooding in his room, Buck finally decided that he was being just plain silly. He’d have to go and face the others at some point. And him...
It wasn’t all that difficult, it turned out. When Buck entered the Saloon, there weren’t any of the expected chuckles at his expense, but he didn’t kid himself. Most likely, he was in luck only because of that drunken local cowhand, who was the focus of the town’s jocularity that night.
Buck even discovered to his great delight that Ezra was downright nice to him.
At the end of a long evening spent with the seven of them drinking and playing cards, he invited Buck to stay a little longer. But in his subtle way, he didn’t actually ask as such. “I think I will remain behind for a little while longer,” Ezra simply stated, thus drawing Buck’s attention like a honey pot would a bee.
JD yawned and asked, “Ain’t you tired, Ez?”
“Not at all, Mr Dunne. I find myself plagued by insomnia lately.”
Buck, before even thinking about it, mentioned that he was, too. Not very smart, he thought. Ezra might ask why.
But the gambler merely nodded sympathetically and, once the others had left one by one, proceeded to deal the cards for Buck and himself as though it was a given fact that Buck would be staying.
“We’re gonna have a game?” Buck asked, rather pleased with the way the evening was going.
Ezra smiled. “Unless you’d like me to read your fortune for you, I would say that is the implication, Mr Wilmington.”
Chuckling, Buck asked, “You actually know how to do that?”
“That, my dear Mr Wilmington, is as debatable as whether or not I cheat at cards.” And Ezra winked at Buck, oblivious to the effect it had on the other man.
Buck’s skin felt on fire with that innocent little wink. Damn, but he didn’t remember ever reacting this way to anyone in the past. And it had to happen with Ezra, of all people, who - even if he were to let anyone get close to him - would likely not allow it to be a fella.
“Mr Wilmington?” Ezra asked, frowning slightly. His question had gone unanswered and he guessed that Buck was miles away, so he figured he’d try again. “Would you like me to read your fortune?”
Buck stared at him.
The green eyes were sparkling with mischief, and for nothing in the world could Buck resist that look. “Yeah. Why not, Madam Ezra?” he said, for a moment almost himself when he envisioned Ezra in a gypsy costume and dangling earrings. He grinned.
“I believe I have just been insulted,” Ezra stated, but the smile on his face belied his words. Truth be told, he was glad Buck seemed to still be able to joke. Whatever had been preying on his mind lately was putting a damper on his humor, and Ezra found that quite a shame.
“Wouldn’t say that was an insult, Ezra. You’d make a damn pretty woman.”
Ezra’s eyes widened and he stared at Buck, who quickly lowered his own gaze and bit his lip.
But a moment later, Buck met the gambler’s eyes again when he heard a nervous chuckle. “Why, thank you, Mr Wilmington. I think.” Ezra was actually blushing.
Buck grinned. “Perhaps you’d best get started on the fortune-tellin’, Ezra, before that whiskey keeps on talkin’.”
Ezra nodded and, laughing softly low in his throat, shuffled the cards. Then he got Buck to shuffle them once himself and to split them into three piles before asking him to uncover the top card of the first pile.
Buck did as he was told. It was the King of Hearts. “What does that mean, Ezra?” he asked curiously.
“The King of Hearts, in my estimate, would stand for yourself, Mr Wilmington. And...” Ezra motioned for Buck to uncover a second card which was the Ace of Hearts. “... he foretells a lucky romantic entanglement for you, Mr Wilmington.” He smiled.
Buck looked up, caught in the sparkling green eyes. “Another card?” he asked, and Ezra nodded. Turning the third card, Buck heard a sharp hiss from across the table.
He frowned. The card looked harmless enough to him, but Ezra was definitely looking kinda strange. “Ezra?” he asked, confused.
“Well, well...” The gambler sat back, his eyes never leaving the cards. “You’re a lucky man, Mr Wilmington. The Ace and the King of Hearts. I’ve rarely dealt a better fortune.”
Buck grinned. “Yeah, but what does it mean to get the Ace of Spades with that? Nothin’ bad, I hope?”
Ezra opened his mouth, but let it snap closed again. His eyes darted back and forth between the cards and Buck.
Buck’s grin widened. “What about the Ace of Spades, Ez?”
Ezra cleared his throat, knowing he’d have to say something, and in hindsight, he was actually relieved when all hell broke lose right then.
A bullet shattered the Saloon window and before Ezra could react in any way at all, he found himself knocked off his chair and dragged under the table unceremoniously. He began to protest, but a large hand was clasped over his mouth. Buck’s. Only for a moment, then the palm was gone again.
“What is happening, Buck?” Ezra asked, unsnapping his Derringer. From his position, he was unable to see the doorway.
Buck willed himself not to succumb to his desire to touch Ezra who was now laying back against him under the table, the chestnut hair tickling his nose with its softness as well as its scent of fine hair shine and expensive cologne. “Someone’s tryin’ to... to shoot up the place,” he muttered, more concerned with the warmth spreading from Ezra’s body to his own than with the bullets speeding past them.
“I wonder if Mr Larabee and the others have retired for the night yet,” Ezra said, turning his head sideways slightly until his eyes met Buck’s.
“Ah.... don’t know... Ezra.” Damn, what was that man thinkin’, turning into his arms like that with no warning? Buck was unaware of how his own gaze softened when he fell into Ezra’s eyes - deep green in the half-dark of their sheltered little spot.
Ezra’s lips parted to speak, but Buck’s intense gaze caught him unawares. The gambler could scarcely believe it, but he was sure he could see a tiny flame in the dark blue depths. And suddenly, he noticed that he felt very, very hot. The very air around him felt hot. Almost as if it was on...
“FIRE!!” the barman yelled, yanking off one of the tablecloths with a melodramatic flourish and throwing it on a tipped over oil lamp which was alight close to Buck’s and Ezra’s position on the floor. He then proceeded to stomp on it like a panicked buffalo. The tiny fire was contained immediately and the man barely managed to drop to the floor in time to avoid the next bullet whizzing past him.
Inexplicably, Ezra burst out laughing and seemed unable to stop until Chris’ angry voice could be heard from outside.
Whatever was going on out there, someone - most likely the gunslinger himself - had put a stop to it, because the firing stopped moments later.
Buck was scratching his head, looking down at Ezra whose entire body was shaking while he had tears streaming from his eyes. As much as he’d normally appreciate having this man in his arms with a fit of the giggles, right now he was just plain stumped. “Ezra?” he asked, confused. “Are you hysterical or somethin’?”
“Most likely, Mr Wilmington,” Ezra managed, before the Saloon doors swung open and two sets of legs - one clad in tight black jeans and one in muddy chaps - made their way past them.
In spite of Ezra’s laughter, Buck managed to distinguish Chris’ distinctive stride, and by the sound of it, the other fella was being dragged inside quite unwillingly.
“Barkeep!” Chris’ voice boomed.
The man who’d joined Ezra and Buck on the floor only recently lifted his head hesitantly. He was shaking all over. “Mr Larabee?”
“Get up!”
The man obliged fearfully. When Larabee gave an order, it was all you could do if you wanted to stay alive.
“He says he paid for a bottle of Red Eye and you threw him out before he finished it.”
“Um... well, perhaps...”
Chris tossed the cowhand against the bar and demanded. “Give him the rest of the bottle.”
The remaining Saloon patrons - a couple of locals cowering in the corner - ran out as fast as they could on their shaky legs.
“Yes, Mr Larabee. Of course.” The barman quickly went behind the bar and retrieved a shot up and half-empty bottle. He held it up for inspection.
“Hey, that ain’t my bottle!” the cowhand blurted out before burping loudly. “Mine don’t have no holes in it!”
Chris let out an impatient growl. “You’re the idiot who shot that in there. Now take it!” His blue eyes held all the warmth of an Alaskan winter night, and the drunk wasn’t gone enough not to notice.
“Alright, Mister.” He reached for the bottle. Three times.
The moment his hand closed around it shakily, Chris hurled him backwards and slammed him down on Ezra’s and Buck’s table. He looked under it and, with a disapproving glare at Ezra, he asked Buck, “What’s the matter with him?”
This somehow only further tickled Ezra’s funny-bone.
“Never mind. I got a jail cell to fill.” Chris ignored the cowhand’s drunken protests as he hauled him towards the exit.
“I didn’t do nothin’, Mister. Lemme go!”
“Once you’ve sobered up and paid for the damage, I might think on it.” Chris tossed the protesting man through the swing doors and straight into Josiah’s arms.
“Ho! Chris!” The preacher tossed him back.
“Anyone hurt in there?” Nathan asked quickly from behind Josiah.
“No, but you two might wanna have a look at Ezra. He’s either in shock or he’s gone loco.”
Chuckling, Josiah nodded, and with a tug at Nathan’s arm, he went inside. Just in time to see Buck emerge from under the table and pull a laughing Ezra up with him. The gambler was clutching the taller man’s sleeves, reassuring him that he’d never had more fun since coming to this godforsaken town.
Buck finally joined in the laughter, mostly ‘cause he couldn’t believe Chris would let the drunk pick up his bottle before locking him up. Well, that and him and Ezra both bein’ a little beyond sober too.
Grinning, Josiah walked up to them. Nathan didn’t look quite so amused.
“Ah, Mr Sanchez. You’ve come to join in the evening’s festivities?” Ezra wiped at his eyes.
“Not really, Ezra. Just came to make sure no one needed any last rites read, that’s all.”
“What’s the matter with you, Ezra?” Nathan asked sternly when the gambler chuckled at Josiah’s remark. “People could have got seriously hurt.”
Ezra retrieved his cards off the table and clambered past him and towards the door. “If you’ll excuse me, gentlemen,” he said not quite as clearly as was usual for him. “I think I shall retire now.”
Collecting his discarded hat on the way, he called back, “It’s been a most... entertaining evening, Mr Wilmington, but if I were to stand here long enough, even Mr Jackson might begin to display a sense of humor. I might find myself too spooked to go to sleep at all.” He tipped his hat at his friends and left.
Buck grinned, shaking his head, while Nathan fumed.
Josiah put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it. “Looks to me like neither one of us is needed here, brother.”
Nathan muttered some less than gentlemanly comments on Ezra while making his way to the door.
“Thanks for stopping by, Josiah,” Buck said, smiling.
The preacher grinned. “Glad to see you’re making progress, Buck.”
“What? Uh... no, I...” Buck started, but Josiah was already off, leaving him standing in the middle of the deserted Saloon by himself.
+ + + + + + +
Romance was needed here, Buck decided the next day. After all, Ezra thought him to be the King of Hearts. Alright! He would show him.
He decided not to rush into another damn fool idea like getting himself all dressed up fancy. He needed some substance now.
So as soon as he'd had breakfast, Buck went to pay a visit to someone who ought to know all about bein' romanced.
"Miss Jennifer?" he called out, peering inside the new clothing store.
The owner's head bobbed up from behind the counter where she'd been stacking some shirts on a low shelf. "Ah, Mr Wilmington. What can I do for you?" she asked cheerfully.
Buck entered, looking around carefully as if he shouldn't be there. "Just wondered if you might have some advice for me," he said, smiling.
"Would that be fashion advice?"
"Oh no!" Buck raised his hands defensively. "No, definitely not. Thank you, ma'am." He chuckled. "It's somethin' a bit more... personal."
Personal... Jennifer frowned, eyeing her tall, handsome customer with interest. Well, if Buck Wilmington wanted to discuss something personal with her, she certainly wouldn't say no. "What can I do for you?" she said, smiling.
Buck could tell when a woman was flirting with him, and he was never one to pass up such an opportunity. He leaned on the counter, his face mere inches away from hers as he asked softly, "What would a man have to do to win your heart, Miss Jennifer?"
Blushing becomingly and fidgeting with a stray lock of hair, she said, "Well, I suppose he'd have to be kind and gentle and romantic."
"Romantic!" Buck exclaimed. "Yes, that's the part I want to know about."
"Oh, Mr Wilmington, I can't imagine that you need any kind of instruction on how to be romantic," Jennifer said softly and with an unmistakable twinkle in her eyes.
Buck grinned. "I'm afraid in this case... let's just say the object of my affections is quite... special."
Something about the way he said that with such a faraway look in his eyes told Jennifer that she wasn't the person he was talking about. Sighing a little regretfully, she said, "Someone special, hmm?"
"Oh, very special." Buck nodded enthusiastically. "This is someone who's a 'lil hard to get close to, if you know what I mean, Miss Jennifer."
She couldn't rightly imagine any woman making it hard for Buck Wilmington to get close to her, but she nodded understandingly anyway. "Well, I don't think many ladies could resist attentiveness."
"Attentiveness..." Buck scratched his chin.
"And perhaps a token of affection? Something very personal to the recipient?"
"A gift..." Buck began to look around the store. Of course. He could send Ezra a gift. Anonymously. Just to see those sparkling green eyes light up, if nothin' else.
"Is this lady someone you know well, Mr Wilmington?" Jennifer asked, a little perturbed that her customer was scouting for that gift among the cufflinks and cravat pins.
"As well as anyone could know... her," Buck said, grinning. Did anyone - including Ezra - know Ezra?
"Perhaps a pretty brooch?" Jennifer offered, walking over to Buck and tugging at his sleeve. "They're over there, by the way."
"I think I'm going to get... this right here!" he declared, picking up a particularly elegant silver pin embellished with a pretty stone in just the right shade of green. Noting the young lady's confusion, he quickly pointed out, "This is for me, Miss Jennifer."
"Of course." She smiled understandingly. "But... about the other gift..."
"I'll think on that." Buck winked at her, handing her the pin and rummaging through his pockets for the remnants of his hard-earned pay. Just as well Ezra had read his fortune last night, instead of taking all his money in a game of poker. It occurred to him that he'd have to ask him about that Ace of Spades. He never had found out. "How much is it?"
"Fifteen dollars, Mr Wilmington."
He shrieked. "Fifteen?"
Jennifer smiled. "This is an emerald, you know," she pointed out, running her fingertip over the delicate stone.
"Oh." Buck gritted his teeth. "Um... well, Miss Jennifer. How about I give you ten dollars right now and bring the other five in later? Will you hold it for me?"
"Of course. But you can take the pin now, Buck. I know you'll pay me the rest."
"That's mighty fine of you, ma'am." Buck beamed.
She wrapped the pin carefully in some waxed paper and handed it to him in exchange for his ten dollars, thinking that if he couldn't come up with the remaining five dollars, there were always other ways for him to 'pay up'. She giggled.
"What's so funny?" Buck asked with a grin.
"Nothing at all, Buck. Really." She watched him walk to the door.
"I'll see you later, ma'am," Buck tipped his hat and stepped out into the street where he promptly collided with Ezra.
"Well, good morning, Buck," the gambler greeted, noting with surprise that the other man quickly tugged something into his shirt pocket as if hiding it from view.
"Ezra! How did you sleep after all that excitement last night?"
Ezra smiled. "Wonderful, actually." He nodded towards the doorway to Jennifer's shop. "I see you're not wasting any time making your fortunes come true?"
"Uh... what, you mean Miss Jennifer?" Buck flushed. "Oh no, I just bought a little somethin'."
Ezra nodded knowingly. "She is a very lovely young lady, I must admit."
"Yes, she is, but Ezra..." Buck scrambled for words frantically. "You've got it all wrong!"
The gambler briefly touched Buck's arm and squeezed it. "No matter, Mr Wilmington. After all, it has nothing to do with me."
And he walked on after Buck caught the barest glimpse - not even enough to be sure - of a hurt look.
Buck stared after him. "You've got it all wrong..." he repeated. And once Ezra was out of earshot, he added, "It's all about you!"
+ + + + + + +
Back in his room, staring at the pin, Buck considered his options. He could give it to Ezra and his secret would be out. No, that wasn't an option. Not yet. This was too important.
Or he could let him "find" it with a note. Yeah, that might work. He'd miss out on seein' the look on his face, but he wasn't quite ready to reveal himself yet. Buck grinned. No one - not even Ezra - could mind an anonymous admirer. Buck got to work.
+ + + + + + +
Ezra hated nothing more than to be on watch during the mid-day heat. And with a slight hangover, it was particularly disagreeable.
When he entered his room, he flung his jacket over a chair back - it would need cleaning now anyway - and fell back on the bed with a sigh, only to jump up again immediately when he felt something pricking him in the back.
He turned with an unspoken curse on his lips to find a small envelope with nothing but "Ezra" written on it. He frowned and opened it, glad that at least, he could assume it wasn't from his mother. Not with such an incomplete address. Unless she was in town...
But it soon turned out that it couldn't possibly be from Maude Standish, because a small gift-wrapped object tumbled onto Ezra's bed sheets. His mother didn't give gifts.
"My my... " Ezra mumbled to himself, unwrapping the small item.
When he held the elegant and tasteful cravat pin in his fingers, he let out a little gasp. A most delicate piece of workmanship. But who...?
Taking another look at the envelope, Ezra found a little note protruding from it and unfolded it. His eyes widened when he read the words...
'This made me think of your beautiful eyes, Ezra, and how much I love to see them light up. I'm hoping that some day, they'll light up looking at me'.
Ezra dropped the note with a whimper. "Good Lord!" he exclaimed, lifting the pin to his eyes and squinting at it. He quickly stood and walked to the window, looking across the street at the newest store in town. Then he looked at the pin, and back at the shop sign of 'The Clothing Emporium'.
He couldn't be sure. And if he was wrong, he'd make a big fool of himself. But there was no denying that the only place of business in Four Corners that would sell anything as stylish as this pin would be the Emporium. There was also no denying that he'd seen Buck come out of that store only this morning, and that on seeing him, his friend had tucked away his purchase in his pocket.
Ezra sat down on the bed again. He turned the pin in his fingers and traced the tiny emerald. And he picked up the note and read it again. And again. And then he let out a triumphant whoop before falling back with a great big smile and lifting the pin to his lips, giving it a playful, noisy kiss.
Ezra's trip to the bath house lasted barely half as long as his usual cleaning rituals. He had a plan. One he was eager to put into action.
Smirking to himself, he exited the bath house with his dirty clothes wrapped in a bundle under his arm. He'd forgone taking his coat with him, instead quite uncustomarily walking down the main street of town in shirt sleeves, pants and suspenders. He felt the gentle breeze playing through his damp hair, the sun warming him, and his world seemed just fine.
At least until he came within view of the Emporium.
With scarcely a split-second to spare, he hurried out of view, peeking around the corner of another building as Buck Wilmington literally sneaked up to the shop's side entrance. He watched as Buck looked around as if to make sure no one was watching him, before he straightened out his bandanna, ran a hand through his hair and quickly went inside.
Ezra smacked his head into the wooden wall beside him. Repeatedly. "Idiot!" he hissed. "Stupid idiot!" But moments later, some kind of self-destructive curiosity won out over reason after all and he decided he needed to see with his own eyes.
Peering past the wall and out into the street, he made sure no one would be watching him. Thankfully, it was too busy. Everyone was going about their own business.
Ezra hurried across the street, heedless of the fact that he was whirling up dust onto his clean trousers. He had to rush. Who knew how long Buck's tête-à-tête would last?
Once he got closer to the Emporium, he slowed down, his long strides changing to a very, very slow stroll. This allowed him to peer inside. He wished he hadn't.
Buck Wilmington and Miss Jennifer were deeply engrossed in conversation which was punctuated by the shopkeeper's giggles and Buck's broad smiles. Worse yet, Buck seemed to be clasping Miss Jennifer's hands in his while she - in typical feminine fashion - pretended to be slapping his hands away.
Ezra briefly stopped, gasping and staring. How could he have leapt to such a conclusion. Ridiculous! Buck was the ultimate ladies' man. There was no doubt about it. One only had to look at the teasing look on Miss Jennifer's face!
Oh god, she had spotted him! Ezra quickly waved back when she raised her hand and waved to him. And then he rushed out of sight.
Buck had entered the Emporium as inconspicuously as he could. Bad enough Ezra had seen him come out earlier! He didn't want to make himself any more suspicious.
Miss Jennifer had come from out back, greeting him with a smile when he showed her the remaining debt he'd come to pay. "You really did hurry back, didn't you, Buck?"
Buck grinned. "Wouldn't wanna get myself into your bad books, Miss Jennifer. You've been real nice to me with your advice." He tried to press the money into her hands, but she, inexplicably, refused to take it.
"I was wondering, Buck..." she said. "How about you take me out to dinner one evening instead of paying me that last five dollars?"
Buck actually looked shocked, causing Jennifer a giggling fit.
"It's alright, I was only teasing, Buck. Don't think that new lady love of yours would appreciate seeing you out with me like that." She winked at him.
Buck laughed. "You're right there, Miss Jennifer. It would make things kinda difficult." And with a twinkle in his eyes, he added, "Which is a darn shame, if you know what I mean."
She blushed and lowered her gaze. When she looked up again, she spotted someone familiar walk past - no, not walk, but stand outside kind of frozen in place. She waved cheerfully at the well-dressed figure who, after a half-hearted wave back at her, almost ran away.
"How odd!" Jennifer declared, frowning at the large shop front window."What's that, Miss Jennifer?" Buck asked, following her line of vision.
"Well..." She said, confused. "I just saw Mr Standish walk by and he looked almost... shocked, when I waved to him."
"Ezra..." Buck gulped. "Ezra was out there just now?"
Jennifer nodded. "Yes, isn't it the oddest thing? He almost looked like he got caught. Like I wasn't meant to see him standing there."
Buck let out a little groan.
When Jennifer looked at him in concern, he said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Miss Jennifer, but I'm gonna have to get goin'."
"Sure, Buck." She finally allowed Buck to place the money into her palm. "Will you go see about Mr Standish? He did look a little pale. I do hope he's alright."
Buck nodded. "So do I. I'll see you, Miss Jennifer."
She saw him out, frowning after him when he walked down the street kinda slow, almost dragging his feet.
+ + + + + + +
'Just great,' Buck thought. Now Ezra had seen him whispering and giggling with Miss Jennifer, he'd be sure it was her Buck was after. Not that Ezra would care! He'd been a damn fool for thinking he might in the first place. But then...
Why had Ezra reacted to seeing him there the way Miss Jennifer said?
Buck was more confused than ever.
"Buck, you look like you're carrying the weight of the whole town on your shoulders!" Josiah's comforting, deep voice broke through Buck's thoughts.
Buck stopped in his tracks. "Yeah," he simply said.
Josiah shook his head and sighed sympathetically. "Why don't you just come right out and tell him?"
Buck looked at the preacher sadly, not even wanting to bother denying anything. "Right now, Josiah, he wouldn't believe me if I did."
Josiah scratched his chin. "In that case... seems to me like it's up to you to prove something."
"And what would that be?" Buck sighed.
"That, Buck, is something only you can answer." Josiah grinned like he'd just dished out the best piece of advice ever and left Buck to ponder. Again.
Buck stared after him. Prove something... but what? That he didn't like women? He snorted - no one'd believe it. Hell, he did like 'em. Only not as much as he... liked... Ezra. What then?
Hearing someone humming a cheerful tune behind him, Buck turned, only to find Miss Jennifer standing behind him.
"You didn't get far, Buck!" she said with a smile.
Buck returned the smile. "I guess not. Just had a bit of a talk with Josiah." Something came to him when he looked at her. Maybe he should tell her. She might have an idea. In fact... he had an idea!
"Can I talk to you in private for a minute, Miss Jennifer?" he said with his most charming smile.
Jennifer was predictably swayed by it. "Why, certainly, Buck." And she allowed herself to be led back to her shop.
+ + + + + + +
"Oh!" Jennifer exclaimed. "So... Mr Standish is the... ahem, object of your affection?" She was surprised, certainly, but deep down, she was glad things were turning out this way. Ezra Standish and she were not competing on the same terms, so to speak, and thus, she didn't feel as bad as she might at losing out to another woman. She smiled.
"I'm guessin' this is mighty strange to you, Miss Jennifer?" Buck ventured. If he was to ask for her help, he had to be able to trust her.
"Strange?" Jennifer mused. "No, not that. In fact, I can't say I blame you."
They exchanged a smile, acknowledging their shared attraction to a certain Southern gentleman. Buck definitely felt better.
"And there's some way I can help you, Buck?" Jennifer inquired.
Buck nodded. "That's what I'm hoping. See, Ezra has this idea in his head that I'm... well, that I'm sparkin' you, I guess."
Jennifer blushed. If only! "Is he jealous of me?" she asked.
Buck shrugged. "That part I don't know about. He's kinda funny about it, but I don't even know if he's interested. I mean..." Buck looked a little dejected. "For all I know, he might be jealous of... me."
Jennifer giggled. "I don't think so, Buck!"
"You're a mighty attractive young lady, Miss Jennifer."
"Thank you, Buck." Jennifer smiled. "But I still don't think so."
Buck scratched the back of his neck. "I sure hope not. But I want him to know that there's nothin' goin' on between the two of us. Just in case I have a chance with him, you know?"
Jennifer nodded. "Oh yes, I understand." She knew just what to do.
"You'll help me?" Buck asked, his spirits lifting instantly.
Jennifer nodded. "Leave it to me, Buck."
+ + + + + + +
"He is what?" Buck shrieked.
JD frowned at his friend. "Takin' her to dinner. Tonight, over at the hotel. What's the matter, Buck?" He grinned. "You jealous?"
Buck paled visibly. "Course not, JD, don't be silly!"
Shrugging, JD picked up his hat from the Saloon table and made to leave.
But Buck held him back. "So, Ezra asked Miss Jennifer out to dinner?"
JD grinned. "No, see, as far as I know, she asked him. Pretty spunky, that Miss Jennifer." He whistled appreciatively.
+ + + + + + +
Buck paced his room from end to end, scratching his head and tugging at his moustache and generally feeling like a caged animal about to tear out its fur. Finally, he couldn't stand it any longer.
"Oh, this is it!" he exclaimed angrily. He threw on his jacket and grabbed his hat and stormed from the room, off to find out what in the hell was going on.
He bumped into Josiah on his way across the street.
"Ho, Buck!"
"He's having dinner, Josiah!" Buck declared with disgust. "With Miss Jennifer from the Emporium."
Josiah nodded sympathetically. "That's a complication."
"A complication? Ha! I am dumber than a fish walkin' out into the desert, that's what I am."
Josiah suppressed his grin admirably. "Don't know about that thing with the fish, Buck. I mean, they don't usually walk and..." When Buck glared menacingly at him, he raised his hands. "Never mind. I'm sure there's some sort of fish like that someplace."
"Well, fish or no fish, I told her!"
"About the... "
"Yeah, that." Buck huffed, shifting from one foot to the other. "I thought she was gonna help. Looks like she misunderstood and went and helped herself to Ezra instead."
"Hmm..." Josiah's eyes narrowed. "Maybe she is helping, Buck?"
"Ha!" Buck fumed again and, deciding that there was no reasoning with Josiah, kept stomping towards the hotel where he knew Ezra and Miss Jennifer to be.
Josiah's concerned gaze followed Buck, but he eventually walked away, figuring that Buck would come to him if he wanted his help.
Buck got to the hotel's front door and peeked through the window, just above the little frilly curtains. They weren't hard to spot - Ezra was, as usually, the best-dressed man in the place. And Miss Jennifer had gone all out to impress her date, wearing a deep green dress with little feathers all over. Buck snorted. Green - that figured!
When he turned, weighing up whether or not he should just go back to his room and get drunk, Buck spotted JD coming down the street, whistling cheerfully.
"Psst, JD!" he hissed.
"Hey, Buck!" JD came closer, only to find himself tugged towards the hotel door. "What's goin' on, Buck? Where are you takin' me?"
"To dinner. Come on."
"Oh, right." JD grinned, but then his face fell. "But I ain't gettin' all dressed up fancy, Buck."
Buck looked at him sternly. "You're just right as you are."
JD looked satisfied. "Go on then, I'm hungry." And he pushed Buck through the door and right into the fine dining room.
+ + + + + + +
Jennifer suddenly began to giggle and Ezra turned his head towards the door to see what had caused her jocularity.
"Well, I'll be," he said a little sourly, regarding the spectacle of Buck all but falling into the room with a grinning JD following right behind. Then he instantly turned back to face his dinner companion. "More champagne, Miss Jennifer?"
"Yes, please." She flashed him a luminous smile when he poured her a second glass, keeping an eye on Buck past Ezra's shoulder.
Buck had recovered his balance and glared at JD. "Behave or I'm not buyin' you dinner."
JD grinned. "'kay, Buck. Hey, there's a free table, next to Ezra's."
Buck grit his teeth, but then he realized that he'd be better able to keep an eye on what was going on that way. "Go on, then," he instructed JD. "Go sit."
JD did so, waving to Ezra on the way past. "Hey there, Ez. Miss Jennifer." He briefly lifted his hat.
He was greeted back while Buck earned only an icy glare from Ezra. Jennifer just looked mysterious, apparently on the verge of bursting out laughing.
Buck soon began to wonder whether coming here hadn't been a very bad idea. Neither of the two people at the next table were paying any attention to him, and no matter how hard he tried to flirt with JD in the hopes of unsettling Ezra, the most he managed to get back from JD was a giggle.
"Why do ya keep lookin' at me like that, Buck?" JD asked with a grin when Buck did his best sultry look across the rim of his glass.
"Shh!" Buck hissed, peering over to the next table where Ezra seemed far more intent on establishing just exactly what Miss Jennifer's eye color was than to worry about Buck's glances at JD.
"I was just thinkin'..." Buck tried again. "You got really lovely eyes, JD."
JD promptly burst out laughing, making Buck cringe. "I think you got me mixed up with someone, Buck."
Buck shook his head, deciding to try the heavy artillery. He reached across the table and placed his hand on JD's. "No, JD. It's your eyes alright. I wish I could drown in them."
JD's face fell. Then he grinned broadly. "Buck, you've been drownin' in too much whisky. Come on, let's get ya to bed."
"Bed, right!" Buck smiled seductively, quite sure the words had been loud enough to travel across to Ezra's seat.
Apparently, they had, because Ezra's head snapped up and he glared at him.
"Come on, JD." Buck decided he might as well do the drunk act, if only to get JD to cooperate. He slumped, letting JD more or less drag him to the exit.
JD chuckled, but he managed to steer Buck towards the door, even if he was a little disconcerted by the way Buck's hand moved up into his hair at one point.
+ + + + + + +
"Well, that has to be seen to be believed!" Ezra fumed, moments after the door had closed behind Buck and JD.
Jennifer bit her lip. "Buck and JD, you mean? Yes, they certainly are very close, aren't they? Although personally, I had been wondering whether Buck..." She gave Ezra a meaningful look. "Oh, never mind."
"Pray, continue, Miss Jennifer," Ezra said charmingly.
"Well, I must have been wrong, obviously, but if anyone had asked my opinion..." She hesitated, taking great delight in the troubled look Ezra was giving her. "I would have thought that Buck's interests lay... elsewhere." Her eyes once more connected with the Southerner's.
Ezra's jaw dropped. He looked at her somewhat confused, clearly trying to make sense of what he had witnessed earlier between her and Buck. Originally, he had thought that she'd wanted to have dinner with him to get back at Buck for something or other. But now... "Yes... so would I," he said, more confused still.
Jennifer happily chatted away the rest of the evening, but she noted with great delight that between herself and Buck, however oblivious Buck had been to her idea, they had given Ezra quite a bit of food for thought.
+ + + + + + +
Once Ezra had dropped off Miss Jennifer at the backdoor to her establishment - she lived upstairs - he walked home, deep in thought.
Nothing made much sense to him. There was something going on between Buck and her, but then she went ahead and asked him to have dinner with her. That was unusual enough, but on the day he'd seen her with Buck?
Were the two of them playing some kind of prank on him? Well, he wasn't at all amused. As charming as he found Miss Jennifer, he didn't like to be a pawn in someone else's game, not even if the players were as charming as that.
And what about Buck and JD? Why had they gone through all that trouble of acting out... what? Ezra sighed.
Then, into all that mess, another thought came to him. The emerald pin - now, how did that fit in there? He'd been almost certain that... until he'd seen Buck with Miss Jennifer.
His eyes lit up. Buck had been trying to give her something. And he'd sneaked into the shop.
Now, as much as he... liked Buck, his friend wasn't exactly the soul of discretion when it came to his paramours. But he had sneaked, not wanting to be seen. What if his first thought had been right?
Ezra stopped dead in the middle of the road. "I'll be damned."
"Not if I can help it."
Ezra felt a big paw land on his shoulder. "Josiah, what are you doing out this fine evening?"
Josiah squinted up at the top floor of the boarding house. When Ezra followed his line of vision, he realized he'd stopped right in front of Buck's window. Providence, perhaps?
"Looking for Buck. He seemed a bit disturbed earlier. Just thought I'd see if his soul needed taking care of."
Ezra smiled. "Disturbed, you say? What kind of disturbance do you suspect, Josiah?"
"Oh, I don't know, Ezra. A matter of the heart, if I'm not mistaken..."
"Well, well. Our Buck, you say?" He couldn't help a trace of satisfaction sneaking into his voice.
"Yup." Josiah grinned broadly, suddenly not looking very concerned at all. "But the way I see things, I don't think there's anything much to worry about." And with that, he gave Ezra an encouraging punch against his upper arm and walked away down to his church.
Ezra remained behind, looking up at Buck's window. Very slowly, a smile began to travel up from his mouth until it lit up his eyes. Then, he too went home.
+ + + + + + +
Buck didn't have high hopes for the day. In fact, he gave serious thought to just not getting up at all. If things got any worse, he might as well just leave town before he made a worse ass of himself.
Little did he know it was his lucky day.
When he went to have breakfast, he found JD, Josiah and Ezra already at the table. A grouchy greeting later, Buck suddenly stared at Ezra. He was wearing it. He was actually wearing the pin! In fact, he seemed to have gone out of his way to have his clothing match the pin.
"Good morning, Buck," the Southerner greeted, much more cheer in his voice than Buck would have expected after the previous evening's disaster.
"Um... mornin', Ezra."
"Did you sleep well?"
Buck gaped at him. "Well, to be honest..."
But Ezra had already decided that he had and smiled. "Good. I slept wonderful," he reassured Buck, who was more than a little confused.
"That's... uh, that's great, Ezra."
Josiah was grinning. "We were just admiring that pin Ezra is wearing, Buck."
Buck was glad he hadn't started eating yet. He's probably have suffocated on his breakfast.
"We were?" JD asked in surprise. A moment later, he yelped and gave Josiah an annoyed look.
Buck didn't follow what was going on entirely. A bad night did that to a guy. But what he did know was that Ezra was looking at him kinda... peculiar.
"What do you yourself think of it, Buck?" Ezra said, moving his tie around a bit so the pin caught the sunlight shining into the room and reflected it back at Buck.
Buck squinted. "I like it."
"Really?" Ezra asked, grinning.
Buck just nodded, wondering if that sparkle in the gambler's eyes might actually go ahead and kill him before he found out what in the hell was goin' on.
"Well, that's wonderful.," Ezra said cheerfully and flung his napkin on the table with a flourish as he stood. "If you gentlemen will excuse me, I am going to be out of town for the day and I'd best be getting started."
"Sure, Ezra." Josiah pushed away his empty plate as well.
JD was still eating but waved his hand in the air.
Buck frowned. "You going by yourself, Ezra?" He considered biting off his tongue as soon as the words had come out.
"Why certainly, Buck. It's a safe enough journey to Red Rock, and I anticipate to be back by nightfall." Ezra smiled.
Buck didn't like it. Most of all, he didn't like not seeing Ezra all day. Well, at least it didn't look like Ezra was taking Miss Jennifer along for which he ought to be grateful.
Before Buck could say anything more, Ezra had left, leaving nothing but the scent of his expensive aftershave behind. That would have to do for the day. Buck sighed.
+ + + + + + +
"Josiah, I need help!" Buck all but wailed when he visited the preacher later that day.
"I thought you'd never ask, Buck." Josiah pulled Buck into the church, closing the door gently behind them.
Buck had already pulled himself free and was pacing to the window facing the street. Then he came back, but continued to shuffle around in place.
"It's six o'clock," Buck said, as if that explained the full extent of his restlessness.
"Yup." Josiah confirmed the time on his pocket-watch.
"He's not back yet."
No need to ask who Buck was talking about. "It's not nightfall yet, Buck."
Buck was grinding his teeth when he went back to look out the window again.
Josiah sighed. "What kind of help did you want, Buck?"
"Oh yeah, that." Buck flung himself down on a bench but straightened out immediately, concerned he might be causing Josiah offense.
Josiah just grinned.
"You know that pin Ezra is wearing today?" Buck asked.
Josiah nodded. "It's from you."
"Is there anything you don't know, Josiah?"
"A lot." Josiah sat down beside Buck. "Ezra came down this morning showing us that pin. He said someone sent it to him. He also said he'd love to thank the sender personally, except there wasn't any name on the note."
Buck groaned. "You didn't tell him. Did you?"
"Buck, Ezra is a smart man."
"Yeah. That's true enough."
"But if you ask me..." Josiah hesitated.
Buck shifted forward to the edge of the bench. "I'm askin', Josiah. Go on."
"I think Ezra's been hurt. Bad." When Buck looked horrified, Josiah quickly added, "In the past. But I wouldn't be surprised if he'd never come out and say how he feels about someone."
Buck straightened out. "I'll have to tell him then."
"That about sums it up."
"I'm not as good with words as Ezra is, Josiah. I thought I could get started slowly, ya know? Dressing up all fancy like he does. Buying him somethin' pretty like he'd buy himself. But now I got as far as I can go with that, and messed up all of it, and I know I can't tell him how I feel the way he oughtta be told."
Josiah squeezed Buck's shoulder sympathetically. "Ezra's gonna be more interested in the meaning than in the words, Buck."
Buck smiled uncertainly. "But the words would make it easier to get that meaning to him, if you know what I mean."
Josiah grinned. "Well, in matters of the heart, Buck, the good Lord never meant things to be easy."
"He could have given us a few pointers at least."
Buck looked so desperate, Josiah couldn't help but smile. "I never thought I'd see the day that Buck Wilmington doesn't know how to pour his heart out."
Buck grew serious. "Never had to do it before, Josiah."
"Serious, is it?" When Buck nodded, Josiah continued. "Glad to hear it, Buck."
"Josiah..." Buck shifted. "I had an idea, but I really do need your help."
"Just say what it is, Buck."
Once Buck had told him, Josiah's jaw dropped. "You think that's a good idea?"
Buck sighed. "Hell, I hope so."
And they prepared their plan of 'attack'.
+ + + + + + +
Buck whiled away the early evening with an extended bath, taking his time to ponder the strategy. Josiah wasn't too crazy about his plan, but from where Buck was sitting, it didn't look too bad, and he'd finally managed to get Josiah to agree to it.
Buck was already back in his room by the time Ezra returned and made the bathhouse his first stop. He considered dressing in his fancy new outfit, but following Josiah's advice, he just wore something that 'was him' as Ezra had called it. Still, he did choose a neat white shirt and black jeans.
A little while later, Buck heard a whistle from below his window and went downstairs, meeting Josiah by the front door.
"Ready, Buck?" Josiah inquired.
Buck shook his shoulders to release tension. "As ready as I'll ever be, Josiah. He is back, right?"
Grinning, Josiah nodded. "Oh yeah."
Buck swallowed. "Alright. Lead me to temptation, preacher."
+ + + + + + +
Buck glanced at the rocks in his hand and up at Ezra's window. Suddenly, he wasn't so sure anymore that this would work.
"Go on, Buck." Josiah's voice came from around the corner where he stood, keeping out of sight.
Buck glanced at him and then, he tossed the rocks up against the window.
It took only a moment before a shadow moved through the room lit by a single lamp, and then, the window was pushed open. "Yes?" Ezra's voice didn't sound irritated as such, just... curious.
"Uh... it's Buck, Ezra. I just came by to..." Buck got stuck.
Josiah hissed at him and once he had Buck's attention, he whispered, "I came because I need to tell you something. Something that's been preying on my mind."
Buck looked up, barely making out Ezra against the back lighting. "I came because I need to tell you something. Something that's been preying on my mind."
Ezra grinned. "And what might that be, Buck?"
Buck cleared his throat.
Josiah whispered, "You, Ezra. You're all I can think about, day and night. Your beautiful eyes and enchanting smile rob me of my sleep, and I find myself tongue-tied when I'm around you."
Buck frowned at Josiah. But he bravely repeated every word, not quite happy with his delivery.
Ezra bit his lip. "Is that so, Buck?"
Buck hissed to his friend in the shadows. "It ain't workin', Josiah."
"It's working just fine, Buck. Trust me, he'd have thrown something at you by now if it wasn't."
Buck snorted. "That's a comfort."
And just then, something did come fluttering down from the window above. Buck cringed, but picked up the... playing card? The Ace of Spades. He grinned.
"Josiah..." came Ezra's voice from upstairs.
Buck shushed Josiah before he could reply. "Don't say anything."
But Ezra said, quite loudly now, "Would you mind going away, Josiah?"
Josiah chuckled and called back, "Not at all, Ezra." And he made to leave, causing Buck to shriek a little and clutch at his arm.
"You can't leave me alone now, Josiah!"
Josiah merely grinned and walked away, meeting Miss Jennifer on the next street corner.
"Please say it's working," she said, still feeling rather guilty that she had indirectly caused things to go less smoothly.
"I certainly think so." Josiah tipped his hat. "Would you allow me to see you to your door, ma'am?"
Meanwhile, Ezra was leaning out his window. "I suggest whole-heartedly that we try this again, Buck."
Buck sought comfort in the fact that Ezra was not sending him on his merry way. He grinned nervously. "Alright..."
"Ah, but first!" Ezra called out. "I would much rather not be doing this so everyone can overhear."
"You got a point there, Ez." Buck looked around. There wasn't anyone in the street, but you never knew. He looked up at Ezra's window, then assessed the structure of the building.
"Buck?" Ezra asked, wondering whether his friend has lost his nerve after all.
Buck smiled. "I'm comin', Ezra. But I gotta do this right."
Ezra suppressed a groan. By now, he'd be happy if Buck did it at all! But he soon reconsidered when he realized what Buck was doing. "Good Lord, Buck!" he exclaimed, watching as his friend climbed up the outside of the building.
"Is that worry I hear in your voice, Ez?" Buck asked triumphantly.
"Well..." Ezra smiled. "Yes, quite possibly."
"Woohoo!" Buck held onto the window frame with one hand and used the other to take off his hat and toss it away.
Ezra laughed. "I beg you, do enter, Romeo."
But Buck paused once he was almost eye-level with Ezra, gazing into those sparkling green pools. "Oh Ezra..." he said huskily. Then he heaved himself inside, landing on his feet in front of his friend.
They gazed at each other. Buck swallowed hard, his eyes roaming over his friend's features, taking in the slight flush of excitement. And suddenly, he wasn't sure he'd ever be able to say another word, let alone the right one.
But then he did, quite unthinkingly, but with a voice heavy with emotion, "I love you, Ezra."
Ezra's lips trembled. "You do?"
Buck nodded. "I... I've been wanting to tell you, but..." He smiled in embarrassment. "No way I could think of was any good."
"Buck?" Ezra said, reaching for the bandanna which had come a little loose around Buck's neck. He tugged at it.
"Yes, Ezra?" Buck asked nervously.
"You should have just said it."
Buck's eyes widened. Then, he laughed. "You mean I've been making this damn fool of myself for nothing?"
Ezra smirked. "I certainly wouldn't say that. It's been most... entertaining." And before Buck could respond, he pulled him a little closer by his bandanna, his sudden closeness stealing Buck's breath.
"Just when are you planning to kiss me, Buck?" Ezra smiled.And Buck smiled back. Then, he leaned in and drew Ezra into his arms, his mouth closing over his gambler's.
Ezra's lips parted, and Buck's tongue entered him instantly. The soft moan could have come from either of them, or from both.
When Ezra came up for breath, he looked more than a little dazed. "Buck..."
"Yes, darlin'?" Buck smiled, his hand cupping Ezra's cheek.
"Oh, never mind!" Ezra breathed. "I'm all out of words."
Buck smiled. "What's makin' you speechless?"
Ezra moved against Buck, his hands sliding around Buck's waist. "You are. Please, continue."
And, closing his eyes, a smile tugging at his lips, Buck did, his arms enfolding Ezra again as he kissed him tenderly and soon more passionately.
Ezra pushed against him and let him feel how warm and excited he was.
Buck began to walk Ezra backwards, to the bed, and carefully laid him down, moving over him and continuing his kisses almost without pause.
Ezra reached up, pulled Buck's bandanna all the way off and tossed it away, before going to work on the smooth shirt.
Buck hovered above him, noting with satisfaction that Ezra was just as nervous and excited as he was, going by the way he was fumbling. "You can just tear it off, if you want," he suggested helpfully.
Ezra smiled. "What a waste." His eyes met Buck's even as he continued undoing buttons. "I haven't thanked you yet for how considerate you've been - the clothes, the pin..." He tilted his head upwards, offering his mouth for a kiss.
Buck took it, drawing it out for as long as they both could do without air. "You're thankin' me just fine, Ez. Couldn't think of a better way..."
Ezra blushed a little. But then he got distracted as he moved Buck's shirt back over his broad shoulders, revealing the smooth chest, barely dusted with hair, to his appreciative eyes. "Oh Buck..." he whispered, licking his lips.
Buck leaned down, copying the movement on Ezra's lips, and moving on to his ear where he let his tongue swirl around the pretty shell until he heard and felt warm gasps of breath against his neck.
"Don't stop," Ezra pleaded.
"I'm only just gettin' started." Buck reached back to tug Ezra's shirt from his pants, glad he'd forgone wearing a waist coat. His hands pushed the shirt up and out of the way impatiently, until he was able to touch the smooth warm skin, tracing it lovingly up to Ezra's chest.
Ezra's eyes were closed and his lips slightly parted when Buck began to stroke and kiss up his torso, meanwhile using his long legs to part Ezra's and slide in between. And Ezra let himself be opened up like that - showing more trust than he'd shown to anyone for a long time. If not ever.
"God, you taste good!" Buck breathed, his tongue flicking against a nipple while his eyes were fixed on Ezra's parted lips and how difficult he seemed to be finding it to breathe.
"You haven't tried everything yet!" Ezra prompted, setting off a chuckle from Buck.
"Ya know, I would have bet that you'd be a really patient one. Glad to see I was wrong." Buck made quick work of the fastenings on Ezra's pants and once he'd pulled both their shirts all the way off, he tugged the pants down as well, getting Ezra way more undressed than he himself was.
Ezra let it all happen, the warmth and love in Buck's blue eyes providing all the reassurance he needed to feel safe. He smiled when Buck gasped at the sight of Ezra quite, quite naked.
"Since you finally got around to asking, Buck, it's all yours."
Buck looked up, his eyes a little glazed and an affectionate smile on his lips. "Thank you..." And he proceeded to lavish Ezra with kisses and licks, his hands roaming over soft, perfect skin, caressing flesh which quivered with excitement at his touch.
Ezra was already breathless when Buck bent down to take him into his mouth. "Oh yes..." he sighed.
Buck gave everything to Ezra - tenderness, passion, love.
And Ezra was in heaven. He'd never felt so cherished before in his life. When Buck had brought him to the edge, their roles reversed. He was crouched over his friend, kissing him and sliding against him, finally managing to get all that excess clothing of Buck's out of the way as well.
"I..." Ezra began, but then he stopped, suddenly unsure how to say what he wanted to say.
Buck reached up and held his face in his hands, his body unable to stop moving against Ezra reflexively. "Whatever you want, it's yours, Ez."
Ezra smiled. "I want you inside me, Buck."
Buck swallowed. God, he'd never even considered that. He was terrified he'd hurt Ezra, but the plea in the gambler's eyes as well as his own desire made it impossible to say no. "I want to," he said softly. "I'm just... scared."
Ezra leaned down, his head against the side of Buck's neck. "Please. I promise I won't break, Buck."
"You sure?" Buck asked.
Ezra's eyes told him everything he needed to know. And Ezra's hands were already working on him, bringing him close and making him harder and harder.
Buck reached to find something... helpful on the bedside table. He came up with some kind of cream, and with Ezra's help, he prepared them both.
Ezra remained where he was - on top of Buck - and maneuvered himself into place.
Buck reached between them with one trembling hand, guiding himself inside Ezra carefully, while he used his other hand to rub Ezra's hip soothingly.
Ezra relaxed. It wasn't difficult - Buck was being so tender and patient as he entered him.
Finally, they were joined completely.
Buck reached up and drew Ezra forward, kissing him and slowly beginning to push upwards into him.
Sitting back up, Ezra concentrated on breathing evenly, and then, he only concentrated on Buck's hands on his thighs, and Buck's eyes gazing lovingly into his own. God, to be so close to anyone! He'd never had this, never allowed himself to be.
They were moving in unison soon, no longer as careful but faster, harder, more passionately, as they both neared completion.
"Tell me you love me, Ezra!" Buck said hoarsely. "If you do."
"I do." Ezra whispered. "I really do love you, Buck."
Buck smiled, and then his lips parted and with a silent gasp, he came, filling Ezra up and taking him with him.
Ezra slumped against Buck, still connected to him... full and satisfied and... yes, happy. For the first time in his life - entirely happy.
"That was the best moment in my life," Buck said, smiling.
"Buck?" Ezra said, looking up at him. "You always know just the right thing to say."
And they kissed, held and loved each other until the sun rose.
END