After two hours of riding Ezra was still mumbling to himself; still trying to rationalize what he was doing.

"They wonder why I am leaving." He derisive laugh was short and loud. "Astonishing, isn't it, that none of them ever bothered to ponder the more mystifying question – why had I stayed so long?"

Cursing himself for stirring that thought again, Ezra tried to move past it and focus on other matters, but the voice in his head continued to demand an answer to the question he'd heard taunting him since he left Four Corners.

Why had he ever stayed? Hell, for that matter, why had he even ridden out of the Seminole Village with these men? Or into it in the first place? It wasn't the promise of money. The offered payment was definitely not worth the risk. And even the possibility of gold was something he had known in his heart to be a remote chance at best. Still, remote was better than no chance at all. Deciding that the gold was a marginally acceptable answer for at least one motive, he sought to dismiss the remaining questions with no success.

Larabee might choose to believe it was his threat that had inspired the temporary loyalty when that first battle was resolved. It wasn't. Ezra knew the man would have neither reason nor desire to track him down had he decided to go his own way. So, why didn't he do just that? Seeking to find as shallow a response as he could, Ezra settled on curiosity. Travelling with this cadre of diverse characters could prove to be entertaining for a time, and he was always interested in gathering more material to draw on for future scams. One could never have to much inspiration.

Why he stayed beyond that was a simpler question to answer. Absolution, for at least one of his multitude of sins. Getting a pardon would reopen a region in which he could once again try his luck. Sufficient time had passed that most of his marks would have moved on, and with no legal summons awaiting him, he could have quite the time. Which again circled him back to the question – why didn't he leave? His pardon was earned, his slate cleaned (somewhat). There was no reason to hang around that tiny collection of people and building that dared to call itself a town.

One thought gnawed away at him, trying to break through the barrier he was determined to keep in place. He dismissed it out of hand every single time it poked a small hole through. He was not looking for a new beginning. He had no desire or need to turn his life around. That desire for something permanent that on occasion prodded at him was easily dismissed as a reaction to a particularly exhausting run of bad luck. Or a run from bad luck. He was a Standish, and amongst the many things that meant was that he was destined to be a rover all of his life. His type, their type, did not settle. Did not put down roots. And most importantly, did not do anything that might be considered respectable enough to bring shame to the family name.

Mother had been, as usual, right about that. He didn't fit in, and never would, with decent folk. He would be shunned, doubted and rejected. Why then hadn't those six decent men run him out of down? Why did they continue to not just accept his presence, but to work and socialize with him? Why did those men gather at the liveries for no other reason that to say their goodbyes?

Whatever the reason he had been tempted to stay for the past few months was irrelevant now. He had lived up to his tradition of burning bridges, and as far as he could see, there was no turning back. "Onward Chaucer, to the next thrilling chapter of our lives."

Not more than five minutes later a small misstep altered his plans. Chaucer reared back slightly after stepping into the gopher hole. A few steps were all it took before he came to a full stop, clearly favouring the front left leg. Ezra dismounted quickly, already seeking out the injury as he did. A moment later he was running his hand over the leg, hoping there had not been any damage to tendons or ligaments.

"My dear friend, it is not like you to be so careless. Clearly you were as preoccupied as am I, distracted by the events of the day." He poured water from the canteen onto a towel, wrapping it around what he believed to be the source of the injury.

"This does not make for an auspicious beginning to our next adventure. We are barely clear of the town." He looked around gazing toward what he had left behind. He would have been astonished to see the look of longing on his face if he had known it was there. "From this height, I have little doubt that the lights from the town will be visible. Had Josiah succeeded in hanging that atrocious bell in the tower, I am certain we would be able to hear the midnight peal ringing in Christmas."

He glanced warily at his horse. "If I didn't know better, I would think your actions were deliberate. Surely you cannot be that duplicitous." Chaucer turned his head. "My, my, my. And here I have always assumed I was the most mendacious member of this team."

His vague and illogical suspicions notwithstanding, he was unwilling ready to risk further injury. Ezra pulled his roll from where it was strapped to the saddle. "Do not for a moment presume that this changes any plans. We shall both take the opportunity for a brief respite. You, to allow time for me to determine if there is in fact any damage done, and me to recover from the lost slumber of last night. I assure you that we shall shortly move on from here. That is one promise I will keep."

Checking once more on the leg, and feeling no swelling or heat, Ezra gave Chaucer a critical glare before settling himself against a broad tree trunk. He took a moment to rest his gun under his hand, prepared for any unlikely but nevertheless possible confrontation, before settling back under a blanket and closing his eyes.

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"What happened to your plans to put up some kind of tree kid?" Buck didn't have to even look at the forlorn face and to know why but hoped to capitalize on his usually bombastic style to goad the young man into some kind of holiday activity. Damn Standish for picking today to leave.

"You ain't that stupid Buck. Close, but not that bad. You know full well there's no point in it."

"Seriously? Ezra was the reason you were doing this? And you can me stupid. Come on. At the very least you can help me put up some of this here mistletoe. Got to do my best to spread holiday cheer."

With a look of disgust, JD pushed back from the table, letting the chair fall as he stood quickly. "Spread your own damn cheer Buck. I ain't in the mood for this crap." He stormed out without looking back.

Looking around to see Chris silently nursing a beer with a deep scowl embedded on his face, Josiah tutted quietly. "I think our absent cohort would be somewhat astonished at the effect his departure has had."

"Selfish to the end." Buck sat heavily in his own seat, deciding to no one's surprise he would have another beer. "Henry?" He called over, pointing to his glass, and the bartender nodded his understanding.

Josiah had come to a different conclusion concerning Ezra's timing, although he doubted Buck was in the mood to hear it. "I would suggest that our questioning of him sped up his plans. Under ideal circumstances even Ezra would have preferred a few more days of planning over such an abrupt departure." He polished of his own beer as the bartender, who knew the men too well, sat two drinks down on the table. "I also think he is counting on all of us having exactly the reactions we are. The angrier we are at him, the less likely we are to regret his departure."

"Well if he figured I was going to saddle up and ride after him, he's in for one hell of a long wait."

"Still feel that way if I tell you there's a storm coming in?" Vin ambled up to the table, waving off the bartenders silent question. "Clouds in the distance, and a change in the air. I'm betting it's going to be a bad snow coming up fast."

Buck looked up, concern crossing his face. "Shit. Ezra wasn't expecting that. None of us were. He's gonna be in trouble."

Vin grinned. "Relax Buck. It's still clear as a bell out there. I just wanted to make sure you didn't mean what you were saying."

"Conniving little bastard – aren't you? Aiming to take over from Ezra on that score?"

That earned a solid laugh. "Like any of us could even hope to come close to that God given gift he has."

"Speaking of clear as a bell, I can use a few strong backs and helping hands."

Quickly deducing what was coming, Buck groaned at the thought of the manipulation the feat would require. "Now Josiah, you can't be telling us you aim to try to get that bell into the tower today?"

"Made myself a promise that it would ring in Christmas, and I'd kind of like to keep that."

"Sure that you're not trying to call your wandering sheep back home?"

"No Vin, I have no such delusions. But I do like to think he might hear it in some way and know that we are still with him. And that, no matter how much he denies it, or how much any of you do, he might feel that he still belongs here."

Rolling his eyes, knowing that any spoken criticism would be rebuffed, Buck gulped down the rest of his beer. "Well hell, if we're going to be stupid about something, and this does seem to be my day for it, we might as well work on the damned bell."

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Ezra's eyes flew open with a start, hand clenching around his pistol. It was only when he realized that the nudging he had been feeling came from Chaucer and not a more nefarious source that he was able to get his breathing slowed to a manageable rate.

"Startling an armed man is never a wise move Chaucer. You truly seem to have determined that you are no longer bound by the rules you have been taught." A dismissive snort was the only response.

Ezra leaned back again, memories of the dreams he'd been having poking into his thoughts. Not surprisingly, they had centred around the town, and the past few months there. Flashes of events he would have preferred to forget. Near the top was the mortifying experience with that dress, but there were innumerable other moments as well. Accusations about his character, or lack of same. The repeated looks of disapproval. All of those were part of the wave that overtook him.

As he calmed himself, different recollections began to surface as well. A casual wink at a shared jest. A hand of support after a fight. Toasts to victories, small and large. Laughter blended with a touch of disbelief at the card table as he laid down yet another winning hand. Concerns voiced when injuries occurred, and help coming from unexpected sources. And as difficult as it was for him to accept it, he was beginning to feel those memories outnumbered, and outweighed, the others. He closed his eyes as another reality slammed into him. He had just walked away from the first – the only – time in his life that he had been a part of something. It may not have been the smoothest piece of machinery ever created, but the pieces, diverse as they were, seemed somehow to work well together.

"You really are an unbelievably short-sighted and stupid man Ezra Standish." It had to be his imagination, but he was certain the faint sound of a clanging bell was echoing in the hills, and he knew where it must be coming from.

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"Can't believe you guys got that thing up there." Chris looked up at the church tower, taking a step back as he had second thoughts on how secure such a speedy job may well be.

"It was a team effort." JD grinned, swallowing the urge to amend the comment. "I kind of owed Buck an apology, and he made me earn it."

"Well," Chris patted the young man on the back, understanding his feelings, "I'd say you definitely did."

Josiah had been beyond pleased at the success of their efforts. "Sounded good when we tested it earlier."

The town was caught by surprise by the loud clanging in the late afternoon, most people turning out in the street to see what they could only think of as a miracle. It gave Josiah the moment he needed to remind everyone they were all invited to the evening service. "Having it early enough that the youngsters can be sound asleep in their beds before Santa Clause arrives."

The result was a respectable, although not spectacular turn out. Good enough for an early effort at drawing folks into the church. "Nice service Josiah."

"Yes Chris. I must admit it was gratifying to see how many people managed to stay awake throughout."

Nathan laughed. "Get the windows and roof fixed so folks aren't so cold, you might have a different outcome."

The casual walk across town came to an abrupt end when Vin, who had been in the lead stopped. "Chris, I thought the saloon was closed up for the night." They all looked ahead, seeing a soft light shining through a window. The doors were closed, but there was no doubt someone was inside.

"Could be Henry just cleaning up in there." JDs voice reflected the fact he didn't believe what he was saying.

Neither did the others. "He was at the service and headed back to the boarding house." Buck drew his weapon as he approached the building, the others quickly following his lead. Chris waved Josiah to go around to the back and then signalled Nathan to stay behind for back-up. It was always his preferred strategy to keep the healer as much out of harm's way as possible, given the disturbing frequency with which his services were needed.

Chris looked cautiously through the window. He could make out a shadowy figure in the corner, seated at the back table. There wasn't enough light for him to see much more from this angle and he resigned himself to the fact they'd have to go in blind. This was not the Christmas Eve he had envisioned, but then again, he couldn't say he was shocked by the turn of events either. Counting down with his fingers he threw the door open at three and took the few steps needed to line him up with the table. His intended shout of warning froze in his throat as the man at the table looked up at the stunned faces staring back at him.

"My apologies for not attending your services Mr. Sanchez, but I feared my late arrival might disrupt the occasion." He placed the deck of cards he'd been shuffling back on the table. "Can I interest anyone in a game of chance?" He hoped his face didn't reflect the fear he was feeling over the possible answer.

It was all JD could do to hold himself back, but they all stood in place, waiting for Chris's reaction. Josiah's arrival from the back distracted them for only a second before the tableau of silence resumed. The ticking of the clock echoed as the only sound in the room.

"You here to stay Ezra?"

"I think perhaps that decision rests in large part in your hands."

Five sets of eyes shifted their attention to Chris. When there was no immediate response, the prodding began.

"'tis the season, cowboy."

"Told you not to call me that Buck."

Following up on the theme of his earlier sermon, Josiah added his thoughts. "Christmas is a time for forgiveness Chris."

"So I hear."

"You know the saying Pard. Peace on earth -".

Holding up his hand, Chris interrupted Vin and stopped any other comments that were coming. His focus hadn't shifted from Ezra throughout the discussion and he was forced to admit a grudging respect for the unwavering calmness the man was exhibiting.

"Well Mr. Larabee. Is there a semblance veracity in the aphorism? Goodwill to ALL men?"

The eternity was really only about 30 seconds long before Chris's expression shifted slowly to one of bemused satisfaction. The chair scraped across the floor as he pulled it out and took his seat. "Deal me in."

They all moved to the table, fighting the urge to raise the subject foremost in their minds. There could be discussions on what had happened later.

Ezra acknowledged each man with a quick nod of his head. Vin wondered if he was the only one to notice the tension in the gambler's eyes as he watched as it lessen with each greeting.

Buck's patience was, as might be expected, the first to wear down. Unable to control himself, he had to open the comments. "Gotta say Ezra, you're not the man in red I was expecting to see tonight." If he'd been close enough JD would have kicked him, again.

A flicker passed over Ezra's face before he squelched his reaction. "I dare say with your record Mr. Wilmington, I wouldn't have imagined it was Mr. Claus whose company you were anticipating. However if he were to appear, there is no doubt you would be amply supplied with coal for some time to come."

Buck stared back, jaw dropping. The soft snort from Chris, followed by a chortle from Josiah and finally a much louder guffaw from JD served as the catalysts to break the tension. The casual relaxation of friends settled over the table. Nathan picked up the deck of cards and began shuffling, smiling as he did. As the others began joking amongst themselves, Chris leaned ever so slightly closer and spoke quietly out of the corner of his mouth "Merry Christmas Ezra. Welcome home."

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The End