Nothing Sweeter
by Purple Lacey
Part Three
Maude Standish was not having a good day. It had started out with a stiff neck and back from spending a seemingly endless night trying to sleep in the straight-back wooden chair in her room. It had only gotten worse when she had attempted to get breakfast and was served an inedible mess and been snubbed by the uneducated, ill-mannered bumpkin of a waitress at the restaurant. Now here she was-- tired, achy, and hungry-- wandering around this backwater wasteland masquerading as a town while its citizenry insulted and abused her.
If she hadn't been so frustrated she might have been alarmed at how easily the people in this place seemed to see through her ploys and obfuscation's. Everywhere she went she was met with frowns and whispered words behind her back. So far she had been thrown out of three business establishments and been escorted none too gently from the bank. She had been trying to glean some information about Ezra's whereabouts from the locals but had been met with only a few hostile 'I don't have what you're looking for's and 'There's nothing for you here's. People had pointedly turned their backs and walked away as she approached them. She had actually seen some women draw their shirts back as she passed as if they didn't want to soil them by letting them come in contact with her. She had held her head high and tried to preserve her illusion of unconcern. Maude had traveled widely, but never had she been in a place that treated strangers in such a manner. It never once crossed her mind that the people were reacting to her personally and not to a nameless stranger.
She was lost in thought as she walked along the boardwalk and paid no attention to the dark-haired cowboy that was approaching from the opposite direction at a fast pace. While seeming to pay her no attention, Buck was actually very focused on every move the woman made. He had been waiting for her to walk down this particular stretch of the walk for over an hour and now was putting the plan that he and JD had come up with into motion. If this was to work he had to time things exactly right.
Buck slowed his steps just enough so that he passed Maude as she reached the pre-chosen spot that just happened to be across the street from the jail. As he went by he sped up again and bumped into the woman hard enough to make her stumble. With just a tiny extra push, he sent her flying off the porch to land in the horse trough with a mighty splash. Buck never looked back but continued on as if nothing had happened, leaving the woman sitting in the water, sputtering in indignation. Her once stylish hairdo was coming down in sodden ropes that dripped down her face and back, and her hat was seriously listing to one side. As Maude struggled to rise, hampered by the weight of her wet skirts and petticoats, JD slowly walked down the steps of the jail and crossed the street. The young sheriff shook his head in disgust the whole way and he stopped in front of the trough with hands resting on his hips.
“We don't take to public drunkenness in this town,” he said sternly.
“WHAT!” Maude stared up at the young man in disbelief. “You must be joking! Surely you witnessed that deplorable display of bad behavior from that… that brute that pushed me in here then carried on his merry way without so much as a by-your-leave!”
“All I saw, lady, was you stumbling around drunk and falling into the water trough,” JD replied.
He reached down and pulled her up until she was able to stand on her own, then assisted her from the trough, keeping a firm grip on her arm.
“Come on then,” he said and began leading her toward the jail.
“Wait! Where are you taking me?” Maude said as she tried to pull her arm away.
“To jail, of course,” JD told her. “I told you we don't cotton to drunks roamin' our streets.”
“But I'm NOT DRUNK, I assure you!” the woman desperately stated.
“That's what they all say,” JD sighed heavily and through a combination of pulling and pushing managed to get the con woman installed in a jail cell. “You just sleep it off in there,” he told her as he slammed the cell door and locked it.
“I tell you I am not in the least inebriated!” Maude finally lost the last shred of her control and screamed out.
JD simply ignored her and wandered out on to the jail porch where he sat down in his favorite chair and leaned it back against the wall. His face broke out in a huge grin and he struggled to contain the laughter that wanted so badly to escape. It was only a few moments before Buck joined him on the porch. He stood by his friend, his head turned to one side as he listened to the shouted imprecations the enraged con woman spewed.
“Sounds like a scalded cat, don't she?” Buck uttered with a gleeful glance at JD.
“Yep, she sure does,” the sheriff agreed with his grin still in place.
“How long you reckon we should keep her in there?”
“I'd say overnight.
Buck nodded thoughtfully. “That's good. It'll give Ez a chance to get out of the house for a while. He's been real good so far, but you know he's probably gonna get cabin fever if he has to stay in much longer.”
“That's good thinkin', Buck,” JD answered. “I'll keep her locked up until you're ready. You just give me the word when and I'll let her out.”
Buck slapped JD on the shoulder in gratitude.
“Thanks, kid. I'll go tell Chris it's safe to let Ezra come out.”
Buck hopped off the porch and strode toward the boardinghouse whistling. He was half way home when he heard his name called.
“Buck Wilmington! I want a word with you!”
Meanwhile, Chris was busy in the boardinghouse with the twins. He had returned from a patrol and found Ezra and Vin huddled on the parlor settee whispering and giggling together. He had stood unnoticed in the doorway, listening to the happy noises coming from the two boys and felt a warm flood of happiness rush through him as he watched them. He silently gave thanks to whatever greater power had led the two brothers in to his life. In the short time they had been in his care, they had managed to claim huge chunks of his heart for their own. His life had been dark, and drab, and full of despair. Then Ezra and Vin had arrived and lit up his world once again, the love and joy they inspired shining more brightly than the sun into his troubled soul. His happiness had become forever entwined with theirs. If they were happy then so was he.
"What's so funny?" he asked, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed casually over his chest.
The boys started in surprise and Ezra hopped off the settee and ran to his guardian. Chris smiled and uncrossed his arms to lean down and catch his ward then haul him up into his arms.
"Chris! You're back!" Ezra greeted and hooked one arm around the man's neck.
"So what have you two been up to while I was gone?"
"Umm," Ezra flashed Vin a look and Chris, as an experienced parent, instantly knew that they had been up to something; something they were apparently hesitant to confess.
Chris' “Nothing” emerged in unison with the children's. Ezra and Vin looked startled for a moment then guilty.
“Uh-huh. That's what I thought,” Chris smile was ironic.
“Really, Chris,” Ezra hastened to say, “I was just reading… honest!”
Chris stared into the boy's emerald eyes and nodded. “I believe you,” he said, and he felt Ezra's body relax in his arms. Chris deliberately kept his face blank, suppressing the smile that he wanted to show. “So it was just Vin, huh?”
Ezra jerked and sat up straighter. “I… I didn't say… I didn't mean …” he stammered. He glanced nervously at Vin who returned the look anxiously.
Chris turned his look on Vin who was standing with his hands clasped together tightly as he watched the pair. He immediately bowed his head when he saw the blond man looking at him.
“So, Ezra has been reading today. What have you been doing, Vin?” Chris asked mildly.
The boy swallowed hard and looked up at Chris. He opened his mouth but before he could speak another voice answered for him.
“He's been goin' places he didn't have any business goin',” Buck's stern assertion got everyone's attention.
“And where exactly might that be?” Chris asked.
“Seems Vin has been delivering a few little presents to Miz Standish. Miz Adams stopped me on the street just now to give me her opinion on proper and improper places for a boy that age to visit,” Buck said, his stare never straying from the guilty looking child in front of him. “You can understand my surprise at hearing how a boy that was supposed to be staying away from that woman had deliberately gone to her room. A room, by the way, that is in a place that he has been told is off limits to him and his brother for many, many years to come.”
“I just wanted to help!” Vin told him earnestly.
“You were told to stay inside and away from her, Vin,” Buck told him.
“Nuh-uh,” Vin protested, “Y'all told Ezra to stay inside. Nobody ever said I had to.”
Buck took a deep breath and counted to ten as he fought to keep his temper under control.
“But you were told to stay away from Maude Standish, weren't you?” he said.
The blond head nodded reluctantly. Not one to give up without a fight, Vin continued, “I didn't go near her, honest Buck. I made sure she wasn't in her room first. I was in and out long before she got back.”
“She could have shown up at anytime and found you there, and you were told not to go to Virginia's, weren't you?” Buck said and threw up a hand to stop the argument that was forming on Vin's lips. “No more, Vin. Whatever your reasons were, you knew you weren't supposed to go near her and you decided to go anyway. You knew you weren't to go to that hotel and you went anyway.” Instead of yelling at him as Vin expected, Buck's voice got quiet as he said, “I'm very disappointed in you, Vin. I thought I could trust you better than that.”
Buck's soft words were worse than a slap to the little boy. His eyes began to fill with tears as he looked at the man staring at him sadly, disappointment written all over the mustached face. Vin bent his head and tried to blink away the tears, but they escaped and flowed down his face. If he had been watching Buck he would have seen the flash of empathic pain that flashed through his eyes.
Buck hated seeing his boy so upset but knew he had to be firm. Although he wanted Vin to grow up strong and independent, Buck knew the child had to be taught to follow instructions. The territory they lived in was still rough and dangerous. There would be times when the boy's life might depend on his absolute obedience, and Buck was not willing to chance having Vin lose his life because his guardian had not instilled the proper respect for his authority into the boy... but it was so hard to watch those heartbroken tears flow down that little face. Buck stepped forward and knelt in front of the child. He slowly drew the boy in for a hug then cuddled him close.
“I'm sorry, Buck,” Vin whispered. “I'm sorry.”
“Shhh, Vin. I'm not real pleased that you disobeyed, but that doesn't change things between you and me,” Buck assured him. “I still love you.”
“I just wanted to help,” Vin said with a sniffle.
“I know, son, but there are times it's alright for you to help and times that it isn't. You need to ask me first so I can let you know if it's okay or not. And when I tell you not to do something or go somewhere I expect you to listen and mind me, okay?”
Vin nodded vigorously, his earnest little face raised to Buck's as he promised.
Buck's smile returned at his ready agreement and Vin sighed in relief. His world was spinning on its axis right if Buck was smiling.
"I was just coming to tell you that JD and I took care of Maude for a little while so you and Ezra could get out for a bit," Buck said.
Ezra's face brightened and he and Vin shared a happy glance.
"It's a real shame that Ezra's finally able to go out and you have to stay inside," `Buck continued.
Vin looked up at his guardian in dismay.
"But Buck..." he began.
"Nope. I believe you need to stay inside and think about what I just told you," Buck said firmly.
"Yes, sir," Vin answered in a small, dejected voice.
Ezra had silently watched the whole scene play out, and watched his twin dejectedly seat himself on the sofa that had been Ezra's jail all morning. Ezra raised pleading eyes to the blond man holding him.
"Chris?"
Chris shook his head and told the child, “No, Ezra. Buck is right. Vin needs to learn. He broke the rules and has to pay the price for that so he'll remember better the next time."
Ezra gave a deep sigh of disappointment and nodded.
"I'm sorry, Vin," Ezra said. "I will stay and play with you."
Vin shrugged and gave his twin a half-hearted smile.
"You told me it was a bad idea. I should have listened. It's my fault, not yours. You go on while you have the chance. I'll see you when you get back."
Ezra reluctantly let Chris carry him from the room, his little shoulders drooping.
"Come on, son, cheer up," Chris smiled at the solemn child. "It's not forever. You'll be playing with Vin again soon. Right, Buck?"
"Sure,” Buck reassured him. "I'll make him stay in by himself for an hour or so then he can come out and join us."
Ezra's perked up and finally smiled, eager to get out of the boarding house now that he knew his twin was not going to be stuck in their "prison" for long.
"Can we go visit Josiah?" Ezra asked with a smile?
"Sure can," Chris told him. "I wanted to hear about how things are going with Maude Standish anyway. I haven't had a chance to talk to him since I got back. Let's go see how the plan is progressing," Chris finished with an amused grin.
The trio headed over to the old church looking for the ex-priest. They found him busy sanding one of the hardwood pews in the small church he was restoring. Ezra pulled away from the two adults accompanying him and ran toward the large man.
"Josiah!" Ezra greeted him.
Josiah smiled at the uncharacteristic enthusiasm of the greeting and said, "Sounds like someone is glad to be out of the boarding house."
He lifted the now blushing child for a hug and then shifted him to his hip.
"Yep," Buck grinned, "He just got sprung and wanted to come see you first thing."
"Well, I'm honored then," Josiah teased with a toothy grin. "It's been a long time since I've been anybody's first."
"I think that's a road we don't need to be going down just now," Chris said dryly with a nod toward Ezra.
Josiah looked startled for moment then his grin got even wider as he shook his finger and he replied, "You, my friend, have a salacious mind. I can recommend some penances to help you rid yourself of the problem...or perhaps the names of a few charitable ladies willing to help keep you on the straight and narrow."
"I believe I'll pass," Chris smiled back. "I think I can find my own salvation when it comes to that."
Ezra had looked between the two men as they teased, his brow wrinkled in confusion as he tried to divine the meaning for their humor but failing,
"I don't understand," he told them causing all three men to start laughing.
"Ask me again in about eight years and I'll explain it to you," Chris promised.
"So why did you want to see me?" Josiah asked to distract the boy.
Ezra shrugged and said, "You have been very busy keeping an eye on Maude, so I haven't seen you today. I merely wished to say hello."
Touched, Josiah hugged the child again and grinned, "Well, hello to you too."
Ezra returned the hug and smiled back at his large friend and asked. "I hope we did not interrupt something important."
"Just taking some of the ugly off this pew and letting its beauty out," Josiah informed him.
Fascinated the boy looked from Josiah's face to the pew the big man had been bent over when they arrived.
"How do you do that?" Ezra asked.
"Here, I'll show you," Josiah offered, setting the child on his feet and leading him over to the pew. Josiah picked up a piece of sandpaper he had been using and placed it in the little hand.
"You rub this sandpaper on the wood like this," the man wrapped his hand around Ezra's and guided the boy. "You keep doing that until you get down to the clean wood underneath. Then polish it with a little oil and elbow grease and you can have it gleaming."
Delighted, Ezra rubbed the sandpaper across the pew briskly and grinned as years of grime and old varnish gave way to the naked wood.
"It is beautiful!" he told the watching men.
The three grown ups watched the child happily sand the pew, while Josiah related all he had witnessed regarding Maude Standish's first day in their town. The men shared several laughs over the tales Josiah told of the treatment the woman had received, and when Buck told the story of how he and JD had arranged to lock the woman up for the night, they were almost rolling on the floor.
Ezra had watched them, his eyes gleaming with his own humor and enjoyment of the stories. A happy feeling engulfed him as he listened to how many people had joined his guardians in helping to dish out justice to the woman that had hounded and abused him. Ezra had found a home when Chris and Buck had taken him and Vin in, but suddenly he realized his home included more than the boarding house he resided in, and the five men that had become his family. Home now included the whole town of Four Corners and its citizenry. The wonder of that filled him up to overflowing.
"So you plan to keep her in the jail all night?" Josiah asked wiping tears of laughter from his eyes.
"Yep," `Buck stated firmly. "I reckon it'll give her a taste of what she can expect if she don't agree to leave town and never bother the boys again."
"You gonna let her change outta them wet clothes?" Josiah grinned. "She might catch cold staying like that all night."
Buck looked thoughtful for a minute then answered, "Well, I guess if she comes down with a cold we'll just have to let Nathan give her some of his bug-juice. You know, that stuff he gave us the last time we came down with colds."
Josiah blanched at the memory and looked uncertainly at his friend. "I don't know if I can go along with that one, Buck. That's almost too cruel!"
Buck just grinned.
"Josiah's right," Chris' voice interrupted. "We're trying to make her suffer, not make her ill. See that she gets some dry clothes and a hot meal."
"Ah, Chris,” Buck groaned. "You aren't going soft on me are you? I thought you wanted her to get what she deserves just as much as I did!"
"I said to take her some clothes, but I never said they had to be hers," the blond man grinned, "and I never said the hot meal had to be fancy, now did I? Beans and hard tack are pretty filling even if they aren't exactly gourmet foods."
Buck slapped the blond on the back and whooped out his approval.
"Has it been an hour yet?" Ezra asked, still busy sanding.
Buck looked over at the boy and then at Josiah, and suppressed a laugh.
"Close enough," Buck said. "Why don't you go tell Vin he can come down now?"
The words had hardly left his lips before Ezra was dusting off his hands and heading for the door.
"I shall return shortly and continue with our project, Josiah," Ezra called back as he left the old church.
As soon as he disappeared, Buck began to laugh.
"What's so funny?" Chris asked.
"Look at Josiah, and then look at Ezra,' Buck told him. "I ain't never seen anybody, young or old, able to do something like that and still stay so clean"
Josiah looked down had his own hands and clothes that were covered in wood dust and, remembering the nearly immaculate child that had just left, had to join Buck in his laughter.
Chris smiled ironically and shook his head, replying, "Most people want their children to learn to stay clean. Here I am wishing mine would learn to get dirty."
"Life does take some interesting, and unusual turns sometimes," Josiah intoned with a smile.
"Amen to that, preacher," Buck laughed and threw an arm across his friend's shoulders good naturedly. "Amen to that."