Disclaimer: No money made, no infringement intended. Original characters belong to me.
This is the second story in the Double Bond AU. You'll probably want to read Twofold first.
Nothing Sweeter
By Purple Lacey
… To prepare one's plan minutely, to slake an implacable vengeance, and then to go to bed . . . there is nothing sweeter in the world. --- Josef Stalin ---
Part One
"That, my friends, is living proof there is a God."
The awed voice of Josiah Sanchez broke the quiet that had settled over the group of regulators gathered on the jail porch in the bustling little town of Four Corners. Buck Wilmington looked up from the checkerboard where he and his seven year old ward, Vin Tanner, were currently battling it out for the title of checker champion. His experienced ears had picked up the tell-tale tone of admiration that only a woman could put in a man's voice. Buck glanced with interest at the older man and followed his gaze to watch as a beautiful, stylishly dressed blonde stepped from the stagecoach.
Chris Larabee looked up as well and his hands stilled over Ezra Standish's little ones. The boy was standing between the seated man's knees. Chris' arms surrounded Ezra and his large hands guided the boy's in carving a scrap of wood into a figure vaguely resembling a squirrel. The blonde man watched as the elegant lady who had captured the big man's attention snapped her lacey parasol open and daintily positioned it over one shoulder.
"An angel has surely come down from Heaven to grace us with her presence," Josiah intoned, his hands moving dramatically to cover his heart.
Ezra, his concentration on his task broken with the Chris' stillness, looked up in question at his mentor. Then he turned to see what the three grown men were looking at.
Chris felt the little body stiffen and caught the hurt, betrayed look that flashed through the boy's eyes as he jerked his gaze from the woman busy giving orders for the disposition of her luggage to the ex-preacher making cow eyes at her. Then a wall slammed down and Ezra's expression smoothed out into his 'poker' face. Before Chris could stop him, Ezra ducked out of his arms and ran inside the jail.
Josiah had not missed the look the child had thrown him either. The large man stood in confusion as he watched the straight little back of the boy disappear inside the darkened jail.
"Ezra?" he called after the boy then turned to look at his friends in puzzlement only to slam into an icy glare from his leader.
"What?" he asked, not understanding either the boy's reaction or the reason for the glare.
"I would have to say that, for Ezra, instead of proving there's a God it proves that there's a devil," Chris ground out in anger.
"But…wha…" Josiah started to say and then it all clicked in his mind.
"THAT'S Maude Standish?" Josiah's amazed voice rose.
"Judging by Ezra's reaction, I'd have to say that's a given," Buck said carefully.
"By all the saints," Josiah signed in remorse. "I didn't know, Chris. I didn't even think."
"It isn't me you need to tell it to," Chris' glare turned down a notch but still blazed.
Although the regulators of Four Corners had never met the woman, they were all familiar with the horrible things she had done to the little boy who was now under their guardianship. The child had suffered greatly at her hands and she had even gone so far as to sell him to a soulless, monster of a man. A monster that had died by Chris Larabee's hand when the man had kidnapped Ezra from his own bedroom one night. Josiah - although honestly ignorant of the identity of the woman on the stage, and only meaning to liven up a quiet day by drawing the men's attention to a lovely woman - had stepped right into the middle of an emotional mine-field with his comments. One wrong step could bring the ire of the other regulators down on his head and ruin his relationship with not only Ezra but the boy's twin as well.
While the ex-priest pondered on the appropriate thing to say, the group's attention was turned from Josiah when Vin suddenly jumped down from his chair. He stood for a moment looking at the woman with his little fists clenched and his mouth screwed into an expression of anger and determination. Vin started toward the woman, intent on venting his emotions on the stepmother that had abused his twin brother so badly. He was stopped when Buck grabbed him by the waist and pulled him off his feet.
"Now hold on a minute there, son," Buck told the little boy who had immediately started fighting to get down.
"Let me go, Buck!" Vin snapped out angrily.
"Nope," Buck told the squirming boy. "Not until you listen to me."
"But she's the one that hurt Ezra and tried to sell him. We can't let her get away with that!" Vin said and fought even harder to escape.
Buck finally hauled the boy up and held him at arms length. Vin's wildly pedaling legs were left dangling several feet off the ground. Buck gave the boy a gentle shake.
"Listen here, Vin," Buck's stern but sympathetic voice finally captured Vin's attention and the boy's movements stilled as he listened. "Nobody said anything about letting her get away with what she did to Ezra, and I promise you that she's not going to have the chance to hurt him anymore. We won't let her. We're going to protect you and Ezra from her."
"But Buck…" Vin started only to be interrupted.
"Trust me, Vin."
Angry blue eyes looked into calmer blue ones and Vin finally relaxed, his body going limp as the anger drained from him and left only fear and concern for his twin. Buck pulled the boy close and hugged him. Vin cuddled his head between Buck's chest and chin and wrapped his arms around the man's neck and his legs around his waist.
"I don't want her here," Vin whispered to his guardian. "Make her go away."
"She won't be here long," Buck reassured the child.
While Buck had been dealing with the distraught boy, Chris had issued orders to the remaining peacekeepers and they had swiftly separated to carry them out. After putting his carefully laid plans into motion, Chris walked over to the now quiet Vin and rubbed the child's back gently. Vin looked up at the group's leader and Chris could see the tears that had gathered in the little one's eyes.
"It's going to be alright, Vin," Chris told the boy. "I promise you."
Vin sniffled and nodded in acceptance of the promise then laid his head back on Buck's chest.
"You know what to do?" Chris asked Buck with a raised eyebrow.
The other man nodded and a grim smile pulled at his face. The blue eyes that usually held laughter and life hardened to icy-cold stone.
"I'm going to check on Ezra. Then I'll take both boys to the boardinghouse and stay with them until JD gets there. Then it's my turn," Chris instructed and waited for Buck's acknowledgment before turning on his heel and entering the jail.
Chris scanned the dimly lit interior of the building but failed to see Ezra anywhere. He approached the desk and squatted down to look under the knee well. There he found his little one crouched with his arms wrapped tightly around his raised knees.
"Ezra?" Chris asked quietly so as not to startle the boy too much. "Would you come out, please?"
Chris opened his arms to the child who scurried from his hiding place to jump into his protector's arms.
"It's alright, son," Chris told him. "You don't have to be frightened of her. You're not alone anymore, remember? I won't let her hurt you and neither will Buck or JD or Nathan or Josiah. You're safe now, Ezra."
"But Josiah said…" Ezra's trembling voice broke off as Chris pressed a gentle finger across his lips to stop his words.
"Josiah didn't know who she was, son. Now that he does he's real sorry that he said that. He realizes he hurt you with his words and he never meant that to happen. I'm sure when he gets back from the errand I sent him on he'll want to tell you that himself."
Ezra held on a little tighter and Chris allowed it for several minutes before he pulled back and looked down on the child.
"I'm going to take you and Vin home and stay with you until JD gets there. Then I have some business to take care of. You two will stay with JD until we get back."
"You are going to deal with Maude?" Ezra asked seriously.
Chris nodded, "Yeah. We'll deal with her. I guarantee she's not going to be enjoying her very short stay here."
"Be careful," Ezra whispered. "She's not as harmless as she looks."
Chris hugged the boy closer, touched by his concern.
"I'll be careful, I promise. You just behave for JD and try not to worry. Everything is going to be alright."
Ezra sighed and reluctantly drew back from the comfort of Chris' arms. The man stood up and held out his hand. Ezra grasped it and Chris led him out of the jail and onto the porch where Buck and a now much calmer Vin were waiting. Buck stood watching the threesome as they made their way to the boarding house. Vin threw several worried looks over his shoulder at him and Buck tried hard to convey with his confident smile that the child didn't need to worry. The minute the group disappeared into the boarding house the gunman's smile turned predatory and he stepped off the porch to put his part of the plan into action.
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JD stood leaning casually against the wall across from the registration desk of the town's hotel and watched as the stage driver struggled to carry in the many heavy suitcases that Maude Standish had brought with her on the stage. As Chris had ordered, JD had hurried ahead of the woman and corralled the hotel owner, Marvin Green, for a few well chosen words. It had been JD who had rescued Green's pretty young daughter from a gang of ruffians and the man had been embarrassingly grateful to the young sheriff ever since. The hotel owner had been only too glad to do a favor for his daughter's savior.
"Good day, Sir," Maude's cultured southern voice addressed the hotel keeper as she stopped before the desk. The woman gave the man a charming smile and said, "I'd like your best room, please."
Marvin Green threw a quick look at JD then told the woman, "Sorry. We're full up. You'll have to look elsewhere."
Annoyance flashed across the beautiful face for an instant and then was gone just as quickly.
"Oh surely you have something," Maude's voice became even sweeter and more charming as she wheedled. "It doesn't have to be your best. I do declare, I am so weary from my journey that a closet would suffice. I'd be willing to pay extra."
Mr. Green shook his head firmly and replied, "I'm sorry. I can't help you."
Maude's eyes hardened a bit but her sweetly imploring look never faltered as she addressed the man, "Perhaps you could direct me to another hotel or a respectable boarding house?"
"The only place you might be able to get a room is at Virginia's hotel," he answered.
"Very well, then," Maude sighed daintily and turned to address the stage coach driver only to find the man had slipped out during her conversation with the hotel owner leaving her bags in a pile to one side of the front doors.
"Could I impose on you to have my bags brought to Virginia's hotel?" Maude asked, fluttering her eyelashes delicately at the man.
Green shook his head again and told her, "I'm sorry. I'm short handed today. I can't spare anyone to help, and I have to stay and watch things around here."
Maude's gentle façade was starting to slip a little and her voice sharpened when she asked, "Then would it be acceptable if I left my bags here and sent someone for them later?"
"You can leave them there, but I'm not responsible for watching them. If something happens to them while you're gone then it's on your own head."
"You are too kind," the sharp tone of her voice edged into sarcastic. With a withering look, the blond beauty swept out of the hotel in search of other accommodations for the night.
The two men stood staring after her for a moment then Marvin Green looked at JD.
"How was that?"
"That was perfect, Mr. Green. Absolutely perfect. Thanks so much for your help," JD grinned and grabbed the man's hand to shake.
"Anything I can do to help, Sheriff. My family owes you a lot, and my wife dotes on those two little boys y'all are raising. It's a privilege to help you dish out some of what that one deserves."
JD tipped his bowler hat and quickly exited the hotel through the side door leading into the alley. JD sprinted down the alley as fast as he could. His mission accomplished, he hurried to make his report of success to the peacekeeper's leader then take over watching the boys.
JD was not the only regulator visiting the townsfolk and calling in favors. Nathan had visited two of the rooming houses, the livery and the hardware store. Josiah had started with Inez' saloon, and made his way to all the others. Buck had hurried to Virginia's hotel and then had a few words with all the boarding house proprietors in town. After JD relieved him, Chris had cornered Mary Travis in her newspaper office, and then headed to Potter's store. One by one, every business owner in the town had been enlisted in the regulator's plot of revenge on one child-abusing confidence woman. Some cooperated out of thanks to the regulators for past help. Some for fear of reprisals, but most agreed to help because of their fondness for the twins after hearing a very well-edited version of what this woman had done to poor Ezra. By the time Maude had found her way to Virginia's, the ever-efficient grapevine of Four Corners was already abuzz. For once this suited the town's regulators just fine.
7777777
The peacekeepers, minus Nathan, had gathered in the parlor of their boarding house after speaking with the townspeople. Nathan was keeping a close eye on the woman. He had followed her around all afternoon as she searched for a place to spend the night. The woman had taken one look at the lobby of Virginia's hotel and immediately turned up her nose and left to find something more suitable. Thanks to the efforts of the peacekeepers, she had reluctantly returned from her fruitless search after a few hours and grudgingly paid for what was, apparently, the only available room in the small town.
Now while the healer watched the woman to make sure she stayed out of trouble, the other regulators met to compare notes.
"Things are goin' good, pard," Buck's cheerful voice assured his friend and leader.
Buck smiled down at the blonde seven year old sitting in his lap and tugged on the child's hair playfully. Ezra sat on his own guardian's lap with the man's strong arms surrounding him. The little boy took comfort from the arms holding him so securely. He snuggled against Chris' chest feeling protected from the old hurts and fears that seeing his stepmother had stirred up.
"What exactly is your plan?" he asked curiously.
Chris looked down at the little face raised to his own in question and gave an evil grin.
"Were going to make her suffer," he replied.
"Yeah, Ez," Buck threw in, "She's gonna get a little of her own back."
"I don't understand," Ezra said.
"You told me she always insisted on the best, remember?" Chris replied with a grin, "The best hotels, the best restaurants, clothes, and entertainment you said. Well we thought she deserved to have a taste of the worst for a change."
"But I thought you were gonna turn her over to the people she cheated, " Vin said, puzzled.
"We will do that if she doesn't agree to go away and leave you two alone."
"So why don't you just do it now so they can lock her up in jail?" the boy persisted.
Chris looked at the two little boys and chose his words carefully.
"When Ezra was staying with her she made him do things," Chris told him gently.
The man looked down at the boy in his lap. Ezra tried to hang his head, but was stopped by Chris who took the boy's chin in his hand and gently forced the child to look at him. Although he was speaking to Vin, his eyes remained on Ezra.
"Ezra had to do what he was told. He was too little to decide for himself if what he was doing was right or wrong, and that woman punished him harshly if he didn't do as she said. He had no choice but to learn what he was taught and act the way she wanted him to until he was big enough to escape from her. He is not to blame for the crimes she committed or the people she hurt."
Chris' solemn eyes drove his message deep into the heart of the child who had been watching him with fear and shame welling in his emerald eyes.
When the man was certain his words had been accepted by the child he turned his head to look at Vin as he continued, "Ezra wasn't to blame, but sometimes when people get angry they don't always stop to reason things through. They just lash out at anyone they think had a part in hurting them or making them angry."
"So if you turned her over to these people they might get mad at Ezra, too?" Vin's voice rose and he looked at his twin in alarm, "And want to punish him too? No! That's not fair!"
"Easy, Vin," Back hurried to calm the child in his lap. "We're not going to let anybody do anything to Ezra. We decided to punish the woman ourselves and then make her go away and leave you two alone."
Mollified, Vin settled back against Buck.
"So what precisely have you arranged for her?" Ezra asked again.
"A very uncomfortable stay in our town," Chris' laughing voice answered.
Amid rounds of gleeful laughter, the regulators filled the boys in on their plans.