"Do you think the sheriff is in on the Clear Water gang?" asked Nathan as Chris joined them at the saloon."No," Chris replied shaking his head. "He's too much a coward to be with a gang. He just saw an opportunity and went for it."
"So what happens now?" questioned Josiah.
"We have to wait for Ezra to wake up," replied Nathan.
"Once we know what's been going on we can figure out a plan," finished Chris.
"Gentlemen," the smooth southern voice floated across the room as Ezra and JD approached.
"Glad to see you're still with us pard," Vin smiled as he raised his glass to Ezra before he finished it off.
"Thanks in part to a spectacular shot made by yourself JD informs me."
"I was lucky," said Vin shrugging off the compliment.
"As was I."
"Hey kid, you okay? You're all flushed," said Buck as he looked JD over.
"No... I mean ya... I'm fine," stuttered JD. Glancing around the table he was suddenly afraid that the others could tell what he and Ezra had been doing just by looking at him.
"Mr. Dunne is simply drained after the excitement of the day I would suspect," Ezra interjected, seeing how flustered JD was getting.
"Yeah that's it," JD nodded quickly in agreement.
"What were you able to find out?" asked Chris getting down to business.
"We assimilated easily into the group. I was able to gather most of the details of their past crimes while participating in a poker game. We were then teamed up with three other members to come here and rob the local bank. I'm assuming that they somehow discovered our deception since during the heist they turned on us and left us locked in the vault to be discovered the next day by the banker."
"Do you get enough to convict them?" asked Vin.
"With everything that we learned our testimony should be enough to incarcerate them," nodded Ezra.
"Then there's nothing left for you to do except report back to judge Travis?" added Nathan.
"Technically yes but there was something I heard that makes me question the wisdom of immediately returning to Four Corners."
"What?" asked Chris sharply.
"They were discussing a big job that they had upcoming. Now there are no establishments within the vicinity that could yield a large payoff. The only conclusion that I can draw is that they're planning on uprooting their operation and relocating. By the time we inform the judge of our discoveries they may have vanished along with our chances of locating them again."
"Ezra's right," nodded Chris. "We're going to have to go get them and bring them back to Fours Corners with us."
"We should get moving then," Vin said standing up. "You remember how to get there?"
"Of course," nodded Ezra as everyone finished their drinks and headed out to get their horses.
+ + + + + + +
It took a couple of hours of steady riding before they approached the Clear Water Cutthroats' camp. When they got as close as they thought they could without being detected, they dismounted and started in on foot. Coming across two guards they managed to take them by surprise and knock them out.
"How many does that leave?" whispered Chris as they reached the edge of the camp.
"Eight and then the leader, Roberts," reported Ezra. The group quietly broke up and snuck forward. As Vin and Buck headed off towards the left they heard voices up ahead. Coming around a corner they saw three men sitting around a tree stump playing poker.
"Any room for a couple more players?" smiled Vin as he and Buck cocked their guns. Looking up startled the men remained still for a second before they grabbed their weapons and started to fire. Reacting instantly Buck ducked around the corner while Vin took cover behind some trees. As the two sides returned gunfire Vin managed to get one guy in the shoulder forcing him to drop his gun, while Buck's bullet pierced another in the chest. He was dead before he hit the ground. Moving to take another shot Vin gasped in pain as a bullet grazed his head. Moving back behind the trees he grabbed his bandana and tied it around his head to keep the blood out of his eyes. After checking that Vin was all right Buck fired off more shots, striking the third man in the neck. The man wounded in the shoulder, seeing he was the only one left standing, started to make a run for it, but not before Vin grabbed him. Slamming his fist into his jaw the last gunman was out cold.
"I hate folks who don't play well with others," grumbled Buck as he looked over the bodies.
Meanwhile the gunfire had alerted the rest of the camp that something was up. Grabbing their weapons they came out to investigate. Stepping out of one of the doors Mullarkey saw Josiah standing casually ahead of him.
"Afternoon," smiled Josiah with tip of his hat. "Oh I wouldn't do that if I were you," Josiah continued as the outlaw cocked his gun and took aim.
"And why not old man?"
"That's why," replied Josiah, as Nathan snuck up from behind whacked him across the back of the head with a tree branch. As his eyes rolled back into his head the man fell unconscious to the ground.
"You don't think I'm old do you?" asked Josiah unruffled as they walked away.
"Course not," assured Nathan.
As the fighting continued, JD was creeping around the other side of the building. Coming across a door, he opened it and snuck inside. He was about to head up the stairs when he heard a click behind him.
"Turn around slowly boy," a voice said coldly. JD did as he was told and turned to face Colin. JD knew that there was no way he was going to be able to pull his gun quickly enough to prevent Colin from shooting him. "Now how the hell did you get out of that safe?"
"I did, that's all that matters," JD scowled, refusing to look intimidated. "Look Colin I beat you once don't make me do it again."
"You don't really believe that do you, you little putz? Look at it this way, someone was going to take you out soon. It might as well be me," Colin laughed. Hearing the gunshot JD closed his eyes and threw up his hands protectively as he waited for the pain to rip through his body. It took him a couple seconds to realize that it wasn't happening. Slowly opening his eyes and dropping his hands he stared surprised at Colin lying face down on the floor. He was bleeding heavily from a wound in his back.
"Never did like that bastard," said the doctor calmly as he stepped out of the shadows.
"You... you killed him." JD stuttered in shock.
"That damn well blows my Hippocratic oath."
"Whose side are you on anyway?"
"Depends what kind of mood I'm in," shrugged the doctor as he turned and walked away. JD stood looking after him for a second before he started up the stairs.
Meanwhile, upstairs in the opposite side of the building Ezra was making his way down the hall. He paused beside a door as he heard movement inside. Getting his gun ready he glanced inside expecting to be shot at. Greeted with silence Ezra went in a foot further and scanned the room. At one corner of the room was a safe and in front of it sat Jason putting the money in a sack as quickly as he could.
"A thief to the very end," commented Ezra coming in.
"I should have know you would turn up, you always do," replied Jason, looking over his shoulder, not at all threatened by Ezra's presence.
"It was your idea to lock us up in the safe wasn't it?"
"True. You see, Roberts caught on to that fact that someone was stealing from him and I needed someone to pin the rap on. You came in handy."
"Well I'm afraid your little game is over. You see, I'm now working for Judge Travis and as such I'm going to have to take you in."
"It doesn't have to be that way. Now I don't know what kind of scheme you're running on this Travis fellow, but it can't be that lucrative."
"I'm not conning the judge."
"Oh come on Ezra, you and me are cut from the same cloth. We're thieves, we lie to stupid people to get what we want and then we leave. Now don't try to trick me into thinking you've changed. You've always been a lying son-of-a-bitch and you always will be, but that's what I like about you. Come with me Ezra, you remember how good we were together, both at making profit and other things." Jason ended by smiling lustfully and taking a step forward.
"Sorry, I don't want nor need you anymore," replied Ezra coldly.
"Oh yeah, I forgot about that little kid you had following you around. So is he what you're using to keep you're bed warm these days?"
"That is none of your business."
"Fine, I don't have time to argue with you," Jason scowled as he picked up the bag and started towards the door.
"Where do you think you're going?" demanded Ezra aiming his gun.
"New Mexico maybe," shrugged Jason. "Come on Ezra we both know you won't shot me, so why don't we end this pathetic charade?"
Seeing that Jason wasn't going to listen, Ezra pulled the trigger. Jason yelled out in pain as the bullet pierced his arm.
"You bastard!" Jason gasped as he leaned over, grabbing his wound. Then without warning Jason pulled a gun out from under his jacket and turned on Ezra. Relying on years of practice Ezra fell back on instinct as he fired again. This time the bullet got Jason in the chest. Before he could fire, Jason fell to the ground. Walking over, Ezra saw that Jason had been hit directly in the heart. He gave one last moan before he died.
Suddenly hearing rapid footsteps approaching, Ezra swung his gun towards the door. A second later it flew open almost coming off its hinges as JD came bursting in. They stood with their guns drawn staring at each other for a second before they both relaxed.
"I heard gunshots. Are you alright?" gasped JD as he rushed forward ignoring Jason bleeding body.
"I am fortunately unharmed."
"Thank God. I'm... sorry about Jason."
"Why?" frowned Ezra confused.
"Well I know you two were... close once and..."
"Jason means... meant nothing to me. I couldn't never love him the way I love you," smiled Ezra tilting JD's face up with one hand. JD smiled and blushed slightly before he threw his arms around Ezra and they started to kiss.
"So what happens now?" asked JD when the kiss ended. "I mean when we get back to Four Corners. Will things go back to the way they were before?"
"I certainly want to pursue this relationship that we have discovered. Although it might be hard, I hope that once we return to Four Corners that we continue to be friends as well as lovers."
"I was hopping you'd say that," sighed JD relieved as he reinitiated the kiss.
Downstairs Chris had discovered Roberts' office. Kicking the door in he aimed his gun at Roberts and Stiles.
"You're under arrest," Chris said calmly.
"That's funny," laughed Roberts. "Shoot him," he ordered Stiles. As he went back to taking some papers out of his desk, Stiles took out his gun with shaking hands. He was about to take aim when Chris gave him his meanest, darkest look. Feeling Chris' eyes bore into him, Stiles quickly dropped the gun and put his hands up in the air.
"Good boy," nodded Chris. "Now it's your turn."
"Oh for Christ sake," scowled Roberts when he looked over at Stiles. "What the hell good are you?"
"Give it up. You're the only one left. There's no way you're getting away. You don't even have a gun," sighed Chris as he came over. Waiting till Chris was close enough Roberts made a quick grab for the gun, but he wasn't fast enough. Seeing the move coming Chris swung his gun so that the butt hit Roberts in the head, sending him to floor unconscious. "You going to come quiet like?" Chris asked looking at Stiles, who quickly nodded.
When no gunshots had been heard for a couple minutes everybody assumed that the job was done and assembled outside the building.
"Well?" asked Chris looking around the group.
"We killed two of them and have one knocked out," reported Buck as Nathan bandaged Vin's wound.
"We got another one out cold," added Josiah.
"There's one dead upstairs," Ezra spoke up.
"Colin's dead downstairs," said JD.
"I got the leader unconscious and another feller tied up," finished Chris. "So that's four dead and six alive."
"That's only ten, I thought you said there were supposed to be eleven," interrupted Vin.
"I forgot to tell you that before we left for the bank job the last man, the doctor, said he was going to leave the gang and head East," JD explained not really sure why he was lying.
"Should we go after him?" frowned Nathan.
"No, on his own he won't be much of a threat and he already has too much of a lead," decided Chris, shaking his head. "Come on, let's get ready to head back." Nodding, everyone set out to gather the prisoners and the dead bodies.
+ + + + + + +
After the regulators finally arrived back in Four Corners the prisoners were taken over to the jailhouse while the unluckier ones were carted over to the mortuary. Seeing that all the pressing matters had been taken care of, the regulators headed over to the saloon. Getting a couple of bottles of whiskey, they sat down at their usual table.
"I thought I would find you in here," smiled Judge Travis as he walked over to the table.
"Afternoon judge," nodded Chris in greeting.
"I just came to congratulate JD and Mr. Standish on a job well done."
"Thanks," smiled JD happily.
"Your kind words are certainly appreciated."
"Will you have enough evidence to convince them this time?" asked Vin leaning forward.
"I definitely will. Besides, JD and Mr. Standish's testimony, one of the prisoners has agreed to tell all he knows if his sentence is reduced."
"So much for honor among thieves," said Nathan.
"After many years of enforcing the law, I have learned that honor means very little to people like that. Good day, gentlemen," the judge smiled as he tipped his hat and left.
"Amen to that," added Josiah as he finished his drink.
"Well it looks like the excitements over for now," said Nathan. Just as he finished, there were gunshots and yelling from outside.
"You just had to go and say that didn't you?" scowled Buck as they reluctantly left their whiskey and headed out to break up the commotion.
+ + + + + + +
Later that night Ezra was in his room getting ready for bed when there was a knock on the door.
"Who is it?" Ezra called cautiously as he pulled one of his guns.
"It's me, JD, can I come in?" JD's voice called back softly.
"Of course you may," smiled Ezra as he went over and opened the door.
"I thought we could celebrate getting that gang behind bars," announced JD as he held out a bottle of Champaign.
"Where did you procure this from?" smiled Ezra as he took the bottle.
"From this guy passing through town. I know you don't like the whiskey they sell at the saloon and he told me that this was some of the finest Champaign you can get."
"It certainly is. You made a fine choice," Ezra lied as he looked at the label. "Did you bring glasses?"
"Oh, no, I didn't think of that. We could just drink it from the bottle."
"JD, a gentleman does not consume liquor of this quality directly from the container," sighed Ezra in distaste.
"That's all right, 'cause I didn't really come here to drink champaign," smiled JD as he took the bottle and placed it in the table. "There are other ways we can celebrate, you know?"
"I certainly am aware of those options," replied Ezra as they came together for a kiss. Still engaged in their passionate embrace they started to back up towards the bed. As the frame hit Ezra in the legs they tumbled over backwards onto the mattress. They lay that way for awhile simply kissing and holding each other close.
"I'm so happy," gasped JD.
"As am I."
"How are we..."
"Shhh, we have plenty of time to discuss matters," Ezra silenced him with a kiss. Snuggling together they anticipated a long night of love-making secure in the knowledge that whatever the future held they would face it together.
THE END
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