Part 11

Over the next four days, every time Ezra awakened, one of the others was there and invariably the first thing out of their mouths was an apology. Ezra unfailingly told them that apologies were unnecessary, but they weren't about to take that answer. After a while it got tiresome and he finally told them that he would shoot the next man that apologized, then looking down at himself, lying on the clinic bed in nightshirt and without a gun in sight, he amended that to he would shoot them as soon as he was able to find out where they had absconded to with his weaponry. After they all had laughed at that, things loosened up a bit. Thankful the first time he woke up with Buck there, they had a long talk about what had happened out at the pool, and Ezra was finally able convince Buck that it had only been an unfortunate accident. But the others six were still feeling off balance. They had thought they had known him so well, only to find that they didn't know the man at all.

Vin took the chance to bring some of Ezra books over and get more lessons in reading, which Ezra was quite happy to provide.

Buck and JD stuck to telling Ezra's stories while they were there, Buck mostly of past exploits, JD of the latest novel he had read.

Chris usually was quiet when he first arrived, but after a few minutes, Ezra would ask him a question about Sarah or Adam, and for the first time, Chris could talk to someone other than Buck about them and know that the person understood.

Nathan was there most of the time, since he lived behind the clinic, but he and Ezra would talk, too. Usually keeping to topics that dealt with their lives since coming to Four Corners, but once in a while, they would discuss the areas of the South they both knew.

Josiah would usually end up engaging Ezra in political or philosophical debates, and found that the young man, whom he had always thought of as intelligent, had actually been holding back on him before. It was a pleasure for him to find someone he could discuss such ideas with in greater depth than he had ever been able to before.

Finally after a week in bed, however, Nathan begrudging agreed to let Ezra out of the clinic for a while. With some trepidation he agreed to Ezra going down to the saloon for a few hours for lunch. He even acceded that if he dealt all right with that, he could finish his convalescence in his own room, with Nathan coming by to check on him daily.

The trip down the clinic stairs drained Ezra badly, but he had been shut up there for so long, he didn't care. It felt great just to be outside in the fresh air again.

When Ezra and Nathan arrived at the saloon, they headed immediately for the Seven's usual table. Sitting down, Ezra gave a sigh of relief and smiled at Inez as she brought over some glasses and a bottle of whisky. At Nathan's request, she went back and retrieved a cup of coffee for Ezra. Ezra started to protest, but the stern look on Nathan's face silenced it before it was even spoken.

Within ten minutes all of the rest had shown up and joined them. Many of the townspeople even came by to wish the gambler well also. It surprised Nathan a little that so many people came by, since few knew what had been going on thanks to Buck warning Taylor not to say a word. It saddened him greatly that he had refused to see what had apparently been obvious to others around them.

Even though it was the first time they had all been together in over a week, for the next half hour conversation was stilted, as if the others weren't sure how to talk around the Southerner anymore.

Finally Ezra broke the uncomfortable silent that had fallen on them again. "That's enough pussy footing around. I will not break because of something you say. While it will feel good to drop some of the affectations," Ezra paused as he shifted his expression into and back out of the well known greedy smile that had dominated their image of the man, then continued, "I'm not prone to falling apart over little things. The lassitude of the weeks leading up to the accident was a product of the situation on Harvest Hills and the unfortunate timing."

Buck was plenty willing to get things back to normal, but he had to ask, "The timing?"

A sad smile covered Ezra's face as his eyes took on a far away expression. "The day of the accident would have been our tenth anniversary." Everyone at the table remained silent as Ezra seemed to fall into the memories for a couple of minutes. Shaking himself out of it Ezra continued, "But it's good to finally have it out in the open. It'll be nice not to have to pretend anymore." With that Ezra gave them all an open friendly smile, one that actually lit his eyes, something that they had rarely seen before. As part of, as Ezra had put it, "dropping the affectations," he had foregone his cravat and jacket, and now he even went so far as to unbutton his shirt cuffs and roll the sleeves up to the elbow. "How about a friendly game, then?" Ezra offered after they had eaten their meal.

Everyone agreed and started digging in their pockets for something to play with. They were all surprised when Ezra laid his hand on Chris's arm and shook his head. "What I had in mind, gentlemen, was exactly that. A game only of friendship and skill, with no money involved." All of them stared at him in dumbfounded silent for a few seconds then, beginning with Buck, they all smiled at him reaching over to lay a hand on his shoulder to a few seconds.

Ezra continued to smile as he dealt the cards. The newly renewed camaraderie was refreshing for all of them after the stress of the past weeks. The game went quickly, with Ezra winning most of the hands as usual, but all enjoyed it as they never had before. When a second game was suggested, by Vin of all people, the others agreed readily and the cards were dealt again.

As the second round was dealt, the card flying from his fingers in some incredible maneuvers, Ezra said, "Now, I must warn you, this type of game may not be a frequent occurrence as I do have a living to make."

All of them looked up to grin at him, but JD actually began to snicker. "Ez, you never made that much off of us in the first place."

Ezra grinned at the younger man and admitted, "True, but appearances must be maintained."

"Not around us, St…Ezra," Chris very consciously modified his normal way of addressing the man, which warmed Ezra's heart. "We don't want to see a front; we just want to see you."

Ezra didn't answer right away, but when he did it was in a whisper, "Thank you, Chris."

Not wanting to get emotional in the middle of the saloon, Chris grunted back at him and told him, "Glad you understand, now let's get back at the game." Everyone chuckled lightly at that and turned back to their cards.