"Royal flush," Ezra chuckled, laying his cards on the table.

Vin's face screwed up and he tossed his cards down with a grunt. "That's it for me. Night, boys."

Standish watched his friend rise, a perplexed expression claiming his face. "Ahh, Mr. Tanner. There is the question of my remuneration?"

"Huh?" Vin asked, frowning.

"He wants you to pay up," Buck translated.

Vin glanced at Wilmington and then around at all of the other boys. "I thought this was just a friendly game."

"Yep, that's what we said," J.D. agreed.

"I certainly did not agree to such an abomination," Ezra insisted. "It was my understanding that each chip was worth one dollar."

Tanner's eyebrows drew down. Chris Larabee studied his best friend and then leaned forward. "Just a friendly game, Standish."

Ezra opened his mouth to protest, but Vin cut him off. "All right. Double or nothin'."

"Vin," Josiah cautioned.

Tanner held up his hand to silence the preacher. "I don't want it said I don't pay my dues."

Ezra beamed. "Well said, Mr. Tanner. Double or nothing suits me just fine."

Chris frowned. Buck and Nathan began shaking their heads. J.D. looked up at Vin nervously. "Vin, ya won't have a chance."

"Incorrect, my dear boy. There is always chance... even if it is a slim one."

Vin pursed his lips. "I'm bettin' I can stand on one hand and drink a full glass of beer without spillin‘ a drop."

The smile on Ezra's face dropped. "I..."

"That's the deal. Double or nothin'."

Chris sat back, eyed his friend and muttered, "You've had too much whiskey tonight."

Ezra and Vin maintained eye contact.

"Must have hit his head when he fell from the roof yesterday."

"I didn't fall. I jumped," Vin corrected.

"And you must have landed on your head if you're bettin' you can balance on one hand and drink a beer," Buck insisted.

Still Ezra and Vin stared at each other. Standish prided himself on reading people, but he was drawing a blank with Vin so he considered the wager from every angle. "Mr. Tanner, I don't believe this is a prudent bet on your part. What you are proposing is physically impossible."

"Double or nothin'."

Chris crossed his arms over his chest. "I'll put a dollar on Vin."

Ezra's eyes narrowed. He knew Chris was just trying to put him off. If he accepted Vin's bet, he would wipe his friend out completely. If he didn't, he would forfeit his winnings. "Done."

"Ezra!" Nathan chastised.

Vin nodded, his serious face flicking to Nathan and then back to Ezra.

"I'll get the glass of beer," J.D. offered, rising hesitantly and then striding off to collect it.

"Vin, it isn't too late to pull out," Nathan encouraged.

"I beg to differ. The challenge has been accepted," Ezra argued, his face alive with the prospect of doubling his money.

Nathan shook his head with disgust.

Chris looked up at Vin. "You better know what you're doin'. I've got a dollar ridin' on this."

"Relax Cowboy. I haven't done it in years, but I'm... I think I can still do it."

Ezra smirked. “And your memory of performing this feat is a little hazy due to being inebriated the last time you believe you did it?

“Shut up, Ezra,” Vin grumbled.

J.D. returned with the full glass of beer and retook his seat.

Before he could hand it to Vin, Buck grabbed it and took a swig. “It was almost spillin’. I want to give Vin a sportin’ chance,” he explained.

"Let us clarify our wager, Mr. Tanner. While standing on one hand you are going to drink a full glass of beer... without spilling a drop. Correct?"

"That's what I said," Vin murmured quietly.

Nathan again shook his head. "Ezra, for goodness' sake."

"It's all right, Nathan. I was the one who made the terms," Vin stated, talking the beer from Buck. The young tracker drew in a deep breath to calm himself. He flexed his shoulders and then rolled his head around, stretching the muscles in his neck. Studying the area around him, he took a step back. J.D. rose to his feet to get a better look.

"It's been a while," Tanner muttered. "Here goes, nothin'."

Slowly he crouched and placed his left palm flat on the dusty floorboards. He tapped his fingers and then, unhappy with the position of his hand, he moved it. He then glanced at the table and back to his hand before shuffling back another few inches. Nathan, Buck and Josiah all rose to get a better view of what was about to take place.

Ezra simply smiled smugly.

Vin sucked in another breath and released it very slowly. He shut his eyes and then opened them. "Okay," he whispered. "You might want to step back a bit, J.D., in case I don't balance."

Dunne did so, his eyes wide. Tanner nodded his thanks and then exchanged a glance with Chris.

Taking another deep breath, Vin lifted his left foot, placed it on top of the hand pressed flat on the floor, raised the glass to his lips and skulled the glass of beer.

Ezra's eyes widened. "Wha.... What are you doing?"

Vin finished the beer and looked at the spluttering Southerner. "I'm just drunk a full glass of beer... without spillin' a drop... while standing on one hand," he chuckled, inclining his chin to his boot which was resting on his hand.

Buck, Nathan, Josiah and J.D. all burst out laughing. Chris simply smiled.

Ezra mouth started moving, but no words were forthcoming.

Vin stood up. "Now, I reckon that what you owe me is about the same as the cost of a round. Thanks, Ez."

Buck slapped Vin on the back. “Funniest thing I’ve ever seen.”

“He got you good, Ezra,” J.D. chuckled.

“The beers,” Nathan prompted, grinning.

As Ezra rose, his lips pressed firmly together, Chris stated, "And you owe me a dollar."

This caused the other men to erupt into laughter again.

Vin winked at his stunned friend. "Unless of course, it was just a friendly game, Ez?"

Ezra licked his lips. Each of the other men looked at him expectantly. "Well, I.... yes. Of course." Slowly a smile spread across the Southerner's face. "No, Mr. Tanner. I was expertly outsmarted The drinks are on me and tomorrow night I will have the opportunity to..."

"... to play another friendly game," Vin interrupted.

Ezra grinned. "Exactly what I was going to say. Just friendly game."