| By Brigitta B. At 4:34 am, the sun began to appear on the horizon. At 4:35 am, J.D. leapt from his bed and rushed down the hall to Buck’s room. “MERRY CHRISTMAS, Buck!... Buck? Buck, wake up, it’s Christmas!” the youth cried, pounding on the door. “J.D., by the time I get to the door you better be gone because if you aren’t, I’m going to wring your neck!” Buck opened the door in his underclothes. J.D. grinned at his huge friend. “Come on. Let’s go and wish the boys a merry Christmas!” “The sun isn’t even up! Hell, I’ve only been in bed just over two hours!” Wilmington complained, rubbing his eyes. “I wonder how Vin is?” J.D. mused, following Buck back into the room. “If he has any sense, he’ll be asleep!” Buck cried, falling down onto his bed. “Buck! Buck, what are you doing?! It’s morning!” J.D. insisted, rushing across to the window and pulling the curtains. “It’s Christmas morning! It’s going to be a beautiful day. You’ve got to get up!” “I swear to God, I’m going to kill you.” ********** Mary Travis glanced up at the clinic. It was almost lunchtime and she had been hoping to wish the regulators a happy Christmas, but they had been collected in the small room above the livery almost since dawn. From the clinic she could hear intermittent laughter and the odd Christmas carol being sung by J.D. ********** “Do you like it, Chris?” J.D. asked. He had been bouncing around the confined space like a jack rabbit all morning. “Thanks, J.D.” Chris chuckled, holding the tie up for the others to see. J.D. had been handing out presents to everyone. “Mr. Larabee, I would give five dollars to see you wear that outside of this room,” Ezra laughed. The atmosphere in the room was warm, relaxed and full of joy. Maude was sitting in the corner watching transfixed. She had never seen anything quite like this in her life. Chris turned to show the tie to Vin. Tanner was propped up on a number of pillows, chuckling quietly. He body was black and blue... and purple and green and swollen. He felt sore all over, but for some reason, the pain had dulled since the boys had arrived. They had shared breakfast, most of them having to sit on the ground. Then there had been the present giving and J.D.’s singing. The youngest member of the group had almost burst when he had been presented with the bridle his friends had bought him. “I can’t believe it! How did you know I wanted it?!” “HOW?!” Buck cried. “You told everyone in town you wanted it!” “I did not... did I?” “Ya did,” Vin laughed. He gripped his ribs as he did so. Josiah raised his hand for silence. “Gentleman, this Christmas, we have a great deal to be thankful for.” All eyes fell on Vin. “Yes, indeed,” Ezra agreed. “So, let us take a few moments to thank our Lord.” Josiah bowed his head. “Loving Father, we thank you for this wonderful Christmas. We thank you for the friendship you sent us in the form of one another. Most of all, we thank you that we could celebrate it together. We ask that you keep Ezra in the palm of your hand as he journeys away from us. While our paths will be separated, our friendship will not. Amen.” Ezra kept his eyes directed at the ground. “Ezra, are you leavin’?” Vin asked with surprise. Standish nodded and raised his head. “Yes. A business opportunity has presented itself in San Francisco.” Vin stared at Chris and then back at Ezra again. “When are you leavin’?” “We really should be getting ourselves organised now,” Maude stated, rising to her feet. All of the men had forgotten she was there. “The stage leaves in half an hour.” Ezra scanned the faces of his friends. They were all trying to smile, but each was failing badly. “Well, if you’ll excuse me. I shall bid you good bye in a few minutes.” Ezra turned and followed Maude out of the room. The clinic was plunged into silence. “When did he decide this?” Vin asked. “Maude’s acquired a prestigious gambling establishment and she wants Ezra to run it,” Josiah informed the injured man. J.D. was shaking his head. “Someone should have said something.” “We all agreed that this will probably be hard enough on Ezra as it is. Best we simply wish him all the best.” ********** Twenty very sobering minutes later, a large group of people were collected around the stage. Word has spread quickly that Ezra was leaving and many of the locals had come out to wish him a safe trip. “Come along, Ezra. I feel like some prize steed on display,” Maude complained as her son helped her into the carriage. Standish turned back to the group collected on the side of the street. He had just come from the clinic where he had wished both Vin and Nathan goodbye. Buck tipped his hat. Josiah stepped forward and wrapped his good arm around the smaller man. “God bless you, Ezra.” J.D. stared at Ezra with false ease. The youth extended his hand. “Hope everything turns out for you, Ezra.” “Thank you, Mr. Dunne. I am sure it will.” Ezra’s eyes flicked to Larabee. For several seconds the two men stared at each other. “I guess I’m running out on you for a second time,” Standish whispered. “You need to go. We understand that.” Chris offered his hand. Ezra stared at it and then accepted the offer of friendship. “Be careful.” “You, too, Mr. Larabee. You, too. Well, I’ve already bid Mr. Tanner and Mr. Jackson a good day so I suppose I shouldn’t hold the stage up any longer.” Ezra lingered for a few more seconds, his eyes sweeping his friends. Above the clinic, Nathan and Vin appeared. Tanner had insisted and so Jackson had been forced to assist him out onto the landing. Vin was leaning heavily on Nathan, but he was there. Ezra tipped his hat to the pair, who returned the salute. “Ezra?” Maude prompted. Ezra flashed his friends a dazzling false smile and then turned and stepped up into the stage. As the carriage pulled away, no one waved. They just stared. The regulators didn’t move until the stage disappeared from sight, Ezra’s horse tied to the back and trotting along behind. Without discussion, Chris and the boys climbed the stairs to the clinic to resume their Christmas celebrations. Unfortunately, the celebratory mood had dissolved. ********** “... and we must make an appointment at Anthony’s. He is the finest tailor in Frisco. You will need new everything!” Ezra was staring out the window of the stage. He couldn’t fathom the feelings he was experiencing. He was flooded with grief. Grief? “Just wait until you see this place. Oh, Ezra, it is Magnificent!” “The Magnificent Seven,” Ezra murmured. That was what the dime store novelist had called them. “Pardon? Is that what you want to rename the place? Yes, I suppose that would work. There are seven different games offered. Yes, I like that. We’ll call it ‘The Magnificent Seven‘. Perfect!” Maude licked her lips. She was trying to pretend she hadn’t noticed her son’s shattered disposition. “We can have an opening night! Seven free drinks for every person.” “Mother.” “Seven free chips for each roulette player.” “Mother.” “We’ll employ seven dancing girls and...” “Mother.” Maude drew in a deep breath. She and her son stared at each other. “You’ll forget that chapter of your life. You’re a starting a new.” Ezra lowered his face. Maude swallowed and shook her head. “No, I suppose you won’t. I had been hoping I was wrong, but... I never thought I’d live to see the day when I’d say this but... you belong there.” Ezra’s face came up. Maude smiled. “The truth be told, I’m jealous.” “Jealous?” “You have found the two things I have spent my life searching for. People who care and a place to call home.” Her voice had become emotional. “I envy you that. I think I realized this wouldn’t work when you raced off to find your missing friend. I have never seen you so passionate about anything. And then, this morning, watching you with them...” Maude swallowed and wiped the tears. Ezra leant forward and kissed his mother on the forehead. “I love you, Mother.” ********** “Vin, do you need any more laudanum?” Nathan asked. Since Ezra had left, Vin had become pale. Perhaps it was because he no longer had anything to keep his mind occupied and off the pain pulsing through his battered body. Tanner shook his head. The silence in the room was uncomfortable. “Hey, J.D., how about we sing one of them Christmas carols?” Buck suggested. J.D. didn’t look up from the new bridle he was fingering. “Anyone hungry?” Josiah asked. The men shook their heads. Vin shifted and drew in his breath. He felt tired and sore. “Want to lie down?” Nathan asked. “Yeah.” Chris rose to his feet and moved to his best friend’s side. He and Nathan stepped forward to lower Vin down, but the sound of booted feet coming along the landing caused them to pause. Six sets of eyes darted to the door as it was filled by a familiar figure. “EZRA!” “You came back?” Chris asked. “Had a change of heart?” Josiah inquired. “No. I simply came to my senses. I must have time to reap my revenge. None of you ungrateful, poor excuses for friends will ever win another game while I have breath in my body. Besides,” the gambler added, softly. “I realized that this chapter of my life is not yet finished.” “And your dream to run a posh gambling house?” Nathan asked. “Is a wonderful dream that I will pursue in the next chapter of my gifted existence.” “Thanks, Ezra,” J.D. whispered. For several seconds there was silence. Nods of welcome and understanding were exchanged. “Is there any more of those Christmas biscuits?” Ezra asked, trying to lift the emotional atmosphere. “I’m feeling rather peckish.” Smiles presented on all of the men‘s faces. Buck slapped Ezra on the back. Chris and Nathan turned to Vin and started to lower him. “I’m fine. Stop fussin‘.” The healer and gunfighter exchanged a glance. Buck insulted J.D. Vin Tanner started chuckling, clutching at his tender chest as he did so. “They say laughter is the best medicine,” Nathan offered as he and Chris retook their seats. “I knew it was going to be a great Christmas,” J.D. proclaimed, cheerfully. “Hey, it was your turn, J.D.,” Buck pointed out. “My turn?” “The other night we were all sayin’ what was the best thing that had happened in the year.” “Yeah, I told you. Beating Ezra at poker,” J.D. laughed. Standish snorted his disgust. “We were on the regrets part.” “Yep, most of us regretted not cleaning Ezra out more often,” Nathan laughed. “Do you think there is still time for me to catch up to the stage?!” Ezra demanded. “San Francisco is sounding better by the minute.” “We were up to you, J.D. Any regrets?” “Not now that Vin’s okay and Ezra’s back.“ The words were sincere and made his friends pause for a moment. “No fair. That hadn’t happened when the rest of us were sayin’ our regrets. You got to think of something else. Maybe the fact that you still don’t have a decent hat?“ “Let the boy speak for himself,” Josiah chastised. “Regrets this year, J.D.?” J.D. swallowed and nodded. His eyes became moist without his consent. “Miss Annie.” J.D. had taken the life of an innocent woman. He would never forget that single moment in his short life. “I can’t help thinking that if I’d called out to Chris when I saw them robbing the bank, rather than trying to handle it myself... or if... I mean, maybe she‘d still be alive. No one can change the fact that it was my bullet that killed her and...” “Regrets are like shit, J.D. Best left,” Vin stated, quietly. “A man can’t change the past, but he can change the future by not forgetting the lessons he’s learned,” Josiah preached softly, reaching out and placing his hand on J.D.’s shoulder. Dunne nodded. “The Lord gave you the gift of caring, son,” Sanchez explained. “Don’t let one mistake steal that. Gifts should be celebrated, just as Christmas should be celebrated with...” Josiah paused, and glanced at his companions. “...with good friends.” Nathan raised his glass. “To forgetting any regrets but remembering lessons learned.” “I’ll drink to that,” Buck stated. The men raised their glasses. Vin picked up the glass of water beside the bed. “To friendship. A gift to be celebrated.” The group paused. All sobered in that moment. They stared around at one another. Each had come to Four Corners in search of something. All had found it in the form of six friends who would give their lives for one another without thought or regret. “No, Mr. Tanner. Not to friendship. To the best thing that happened to any of us this year... or any year.” For a few seconds the Seven held their glasses aloft and then downed the contents. Vin glanced at Chris. Since picking up the bounty on his head, Tanner had not allowed anyone to get close. It had been a conscious decision. Larabee hadn’t give him a choice, however. Then again, he hadn’t given Chris a choice either. The pair raised their glasses in silent acknowledgment. In each other, they had found more than friendship. They had found safety, loyalty, understanding and as a result, a reason to go on. Vin had spent the past three Christmases running, avoiding crowds and sleeping with one eye open. This year, Tanner found himself settled, happy to stay in a crowded town, and he knew he would sleep soundly. Anyone trying to collect the bounty would have to go through Chris Larabee and that was about as likely as Buck choosing celibacy, Ezra never gambling again, Nathan turning his back on those in need, Josiah denouncing his faith and J.D. sitting still for more than three minutes. Vin Tanner was indebted to all of his friends, but particularly to Chris. He didn’t know why he felt so much trust and faith in this man he hardly knew. Yet, he understood Larabee so completely that it was as if they had known each other all of their lives. Two minds, yet a single soul. Larabee eyed Tanner thoughtfully. Like Vin, Chris was thinking back over Christmases past. The gunfighter had spent the past three trying to forget his murdered family. This year, Larabee found himself wanting to remember. No longer was he dwelling on their loss. He was learning to celebrate their memory - all thanks to a quiet man in a buckskin coat with whom he shared a soul, an old friend who had never given up on him, and four other misfits whose friendship he valued more than his own life. Before, Chris couldn’t think of his wife and child, for that reminded him of the fact that he had no life without them. Now, he had a life again and so remembering was possible. His memories of Sarah and Adam were beautiful and he owed his friends more than he could ever repay for returning them to him. In particular, he owed Vin. He didn’t know why, he just did. Tanner’s head bobbed once. Instinctively, he knew what Larabee was thinking and he shared his best friend’s mystification but vast gratitude. Merry Christmas, Cowboy. Merry Christmas, Vin. “...yeah, sure, Buck! She wasn’t a duchess!” “She was too!” “Chris, that’s bullshit, isn’t it?!” Tanner and Larabee grinned and returned their attention to the circle of friendship - to the best thing that had happened to all seven men. Friendship. A gift to be celebrated at Christmas.
You can drop me a note here.  © Dec 2002 Aussie Lass. : This relates only to the creative property in this story. The distinctive way the story unfolds, the specific dialogue and unique situations are mine. I acknowledge that some of the characters and settings belong to the owners of “The Magnificent Seven” and I thank them sincerely for turning a blind eye so I can borrow them. (g) No infrigement of copyright was intended and no profit has been made from this story... so, please don't sue me. It wouldn't be worth your while. |
