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azombiewritesTitle: A Love Lost
Rating: PG
Warnings: Bad writing and a lack of contractions.
Fandom: The Magnificent Seven
Main Characters: Ezra and everyone else.
Summary: Ezra is in love but an old enemy has other ideas install for Ezra and his new lady friend.
Disclaimers: The guys are owned by CBS, MGM, Trilogy Entertainment Group, and The Mirisch Corp.
Spoilers: None
Author's Notes: People keep asking about this story . . . it's location. I gave up. Put it up.
Status: Complete
Total Word Count: 16,550
They had all gathered for dinner at the restaurant and Buck had Ezra and Rochelle sit together in between everyone else. The night was spent eating, talking and laughing. Buck watched Rochelle and Ezra and thought that if Ezra also loved Rochelle then he was hiding it pretty well because he was not able to tell. They still had not noticed the stranger sitting on his own at one of the other tables eating his own dinner. The man had heard the name Ezra mentioned and he knew that it was the fancy dressed man that Rochelle had fallen in love with. Well he was soon going to put an end to that.
The dinner carried on till late in the evening and once they had finished they went their separate ways, each thanking Rochelle on their way out. Ezra was the last to leave and he had told Rochelle that he would escort her to her room. They didn't notice the man that had followed them out.
Ezra had taken Rochelle's arm as they walked towards the hotel. "You still have not told me your story."
Ezra glanced sideways at her. He was still amazed by her beauty.
"My story?" she turned and looked straight into his eyes.
"Remember, in my room you said that you would tell me your story. Now is a better time than any." he smiled.
"Why don't we wait till we get inside though." she led towards the hotel and once they were inside they sat at one of the tables and Rochelle told him her story.
She told him how she was in love with a man whom she thought was a good man, he had treated her well. They were going to be married. Ezra listened to this without interrupting her. "He came to see me one day and he was drunk, something had happened but he would not talk about. He had started drinking a lot and became a very angry man. I still don't know why. I tried but could never get him to talk about it. I still don't know what happened. I couldn't take it any more so I left. That is one of the reasons why I am going to visit my family." she looked up at Ezra and could see the understanding in his eyes.
"That's why you wanted to help me?"
She nodded. "I couldn't help him but I knew that I could help you. Well actually, I was not sure but as we sat outside the saloon that day, I knew I could. I thought that Joseph was a good man. But I know that you're a good person Ezra, you should show people that side of you more often."
Ezra laughed. "My mother would disapprove." Ezra became serious. "Do you know what happened to this man?"
"No. I knew he would be very angry with me leaving. I just wish that I could have helped him. He changed just like that and I have no reason as to why." she looked down at her hands.
"You did the best that you could Rochelle." he took her hands in his. "There is only so much you can do for a person. They want to have to accept the help that is offered or they can't be helped." he saw the look of 'Do you know what you just said'. "I know, I wanted help I just didn't know how to accept it until you came along. You didn't really give me a choice so I had to accept your help."
"What do you mean didn't give you a choice?" she playfully hit his arm.
"You threatened me with physical abuse and from that punch you just threw I know that I did the right thing." he watched her laugh. 'Yes I believe that I do love you Rochelle.' she returned his stare but before she could say what she wanted he continued. "Let's get you to your room, it's been a long night and you are going to need your rest for tomorrow as I am going to take you up on that game of poker."
"Ezra, that was another lie. I can't play poker. I thought it would get you to talk."
"Well then my dear I will just have to spend the day teaching you then won't I." Rochelle loved the thought of spending all day with Ezra.
They walked up the stairs to Rochelle's room and stood outside the door for a moment. Rochelle opened the door but before she went in, she gently kissed Ezra's cheek. She smiled at him and then went inside. Ezra stood there for a moment and placed his hand where she had kissed him. Her lips had felt so soft against his face. He walked away, went downstairs, and sat at the table that he and Rochelle were just sitting at. He needed a moment to think. A man walked pasted him and went up the stairs.
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Rochelle was preparing herself for bed when she heard the knock on her door. She thought that it was Ezra. She rushed to the door but it was not Ezra. She gasped in shock and tried to slam the door shut but Joseph forced his way in. Rochelle backed away from him as he walked further into the room.
"I finally found you Rochelle." he smiled but it was an evil smile. He had followed Rochelle for a month after she left him and now he finally found her. "Why did you leave me?"
"You know why Joseph, you changed. Something changed you and I didn't love the person that you had become. I don't know what happened to you but I couldn't marry you. I tried to tell you this but you wouldn't listen to me."
Joseph grabbed her by the arm. He saw the pain on her face as he squeezed to hard. "You are still going to marry me Rochelle whether you like it or not. You agreed to that and you are going to carry out that agreement."
She tried to pull her arm away but she couldn't so she slapped him with her free hand. She saw the mark that her hand had left and she also saw the anger in his eyes grow even more. He drew his fist back and hit her. Rochelle fell to the ground. He pulled the knife from his belt. He pulled her up from the floor.
"Don't you ever hit me again Rochelle. Now I want you to pack your bags we are leaving." he pushed her towards the bed.
"I am not going anywhere with you Joseph. I don't love you anymore." she was crying now. This man that she had once loved now scared her.
"I suppose that it has something to do with this man called Ezra." he saw the look of surprise on her face and he lifted his knife in front of him. "If you don't do what I say then I will take care of him." he threatened her.
The thought of this man hurting Ezra made her angry and she ran to him intending to hit him again with all her force.
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Ezra had decided that he was going to tell Rochelle how he felt about her. He got up out of his chair and went up the stairs. He was going to tell her that he loved her and then hoped that she would return his love. He made it to the top of the stairs before he hesitated. He had become doubtful. He didn't want to be hurt again. While he stood there, he thought about Charlotte and how she had died because he had loved her. He did not want to be hurt again by Rochelle not loving him. But he had to tell her. He took a deep breath and continued to her room.
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Joseph had brought his knife back down and Rochelle ran straight into it. The knife entered high in her chest puncturing her left lung. She looked up at Joseph. He looked down at her not realising what had happened until he saw the thin line of blood drip from her opened mouth. He pulled his knife out and dropped it to the floor. He lowered Rochelle and saw the blood bleeding freely from the knife wound on her chest. He was going to try to help her but he heard a knock at the door and someone calling Rochelle's name.
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Ezra knocked on Rochelle's door knowing that she would not be asleep yet. But he received no answer so he knocked again and called her name. He knew that she couldn't be asleep already so he tried her door and found it to be unlocked. He opened it and walked into her room calling her name at the same time. He saw her lying on the floor in a pool of blood.
"Rochelle!" he yelled as he ran to her. He turned her over and saw the wound. "Rochelle!" He held her in his arms for a moment but he had to get help, he had to get Nathan. He got up and turned but as he did so he saw someone out of the corner of his eye and before he could do anything to react, the man hit him across the side of his head with the butt of his gun. Ezra fell to the floor next to the woman he loved.
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The hotel clerk looked up as a man ran past the desk. He saw the blood on his shirt and knew that something must have happened in one of the rooms upstairs. He knew that one of the lawmen had gone upstairs and wondered if he had something to do with this man being covered in blood. He did not really want to go upstairs and find out so instead he went to look for one of the others. He went to the saloon, as he knew that's where they usually were. He saw Chris Larabee and Vin Tanner sitting at one of the tables. He ran to the table.
"Something has happened at the hotel." he said to them.
"What?" Chris got up.
"I don't really know but a guy covered in blood ran out of the hotel but I didn't go up and check." he said.
"You didn't check?" growled Chris as he and Vin walked past him. "Which room was he in?"
"I don't know. He wasn't a guest."
"So in other words we are going to have to check every room." Vin said to Chris.
They ran to the hotel and up the stairs. They were about to start checking the rooms when they saw one of the doors open. They stood outside the door and pulled their guns from their holsters. There was light coming from the room. They went in quietly, not knowing what they were going to find. What they saw was
Ezra laying in a heap on the floor and Rochelle next him. Chris rushed to Rochelle while Vin checked on Ezra.
"He's alive." Vin told Chris. He looked at Chris hoping to hear the same about Rochelle but Chris shook his head indicating that she was dead. There was too much blood on the floor around her.
"I'll go and find Nathan." said Chris. He checked Ezra on the way pass and the look that crossed between Chris and Vin said everything. They were worried about how Ezra was going to react to Rochelle's death.
After Chris had gone, Vin picked Ezra up and placed him on the bed. He checked him for any other wounds apart from the obvious one on his head. When he first checked him, it was to see if he was alive and now that he knew, he was, he checked him more carefully. He found no other wounds. He saw that the head wound was still bleeding. He found one of Rochelle's hankies’s lying on the chest of drawers and used it to put pressure on the wound. A few minutes later Chris returned with Nathan with Buck running in after him.
Buck took one look at Ezra lying on the bed and then ran to Rochelle. Chris had told him that she was dead but he had to see her. He saw her grey face. Her lips were beginning to pale already. He took her hand in his and sat with her. He didn't want her to be alone. He knew that the others would take care of Ezra.
"I couldn't find any other wounds on him Nathan." Vin had not taken his eyes off Ezra, he didn't want to look at anyone else, and they were all thinking the same thing.
"Let's move him to my room, I don't want him waking up here to find Rochelle like this." said Nathan.
"I think he has already seen her." they turned around and looked at Chris. He had bent down to the floor and came back up with a bloody knife. "We need to find out who that man was that ran out of this hotel."
Nathan and Vin carried Ezra to Nathan's room while Buck and Chris carried Rochelle to the undertaker's. They didn't say a word to each other. Once they had done that, they went to find Josiah and JD to tell them what had happened. When they had found them, they returned to Nathan's room while Josiah went to take care of Rochelle - she had deserved that.
Nathan had taken care of Ezra's head wound. After cleaning it, he found that it did not look serious. Once they knew that he was going to be okay Chris, Vin and JD went out looking for any sign of the man that had killed Rochelle. They returned an hour later stating that they had not found anything. Chris said that they would question the hotel clerk later. They all then waited for Ezra to wake up, as he might also be able to tell them something. But that was not the reason they stayed. They did not want him to be alone when he woke up. They weren't sure how he was going to react. Buck had an idea though but he was not going to tell them that Rochelle had loved Ezra and that he thought that Ezra felt the same way about her. Not yet anyway.
It wasn't until morning that Ezra had woken. Most of the others had fallen asleep including Josiah who had joined them after he had the undertaker do the right thing by Rochelle. Buck was awake when Ezra came round.
"Ezra."
"She's dead isn't she?" asked Ezra.
Buck looked him in the eye. "I'm sorry Ezra. She died before we found you. Nathan couldn't do anything to help her."
Ezra rolled over on to his side with his back to Buck and said no more.
Buck let him be, went, and woke the others to tell them that he was awake. He woke Chris first who then went to Ezra, he wanted to know what happened. He sat down on his knees in front of Ezra.
"Ezra I need to know what happened. Did you see the man that killed Rochelle?" Ezra looked at him but did not answer the question. "Ezra?"
"Go away Mr Larabee."
"Ezra we need to know so we can find the man that did this. You were there you must have seen something."
"Go away and leave me alone." Ezra's voice was steady but firm.
Chris was about to say something else when Buck grabbed his arm and pulled him away from Ezra. "Not now Chris."
"Buck we have to find out who killed Rochelle and he is going to tell us what he knows." he went to go back to Ezra but Buck held onto him.
"Chris not now!" Buck pulled him away.
Nathan then moved to the bed. "Are you feeling okay Ezra?"
"Just a headache Mr Jackson." he answered.
Buck listened to what he said and knew that he was telling Nathan how he felt physically and not what he felt inside. But that was okay he was going to talk to Ezra himself later, he wasn't going to let him end up the way he did before.
Nathan ushered everybody out of the room then thinking that it would be best to leave Ezra alone. Buck and Nathan stayed outside the room while Chris and Vin went and questioned the hotel clerk. Josiah went to the saloon to see if any strangers had booked a room there in the last few days, and JD went to check with the stable hand to see if anybody had left a horse there.
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Chris and Vin entered the hotel to find the same clerk behind the desk. They walked up to him and the man behind the desk drew back from them.
"What did the man look like?" he growled. He was not going to put up with any nonsense from this man. He wanted answers and he wanted them now. He had been suspicious of Rochelle when she first wanted to help Ezra but he had grown to like her and he could not understand why someone would want to kill her.
"Huh?" he was terrified of Chris Larabee. He knew what kind of man he was and what he was capable of doing to someone.
Chris leaned across the counter and grabbed him by his shirtfront. "What did he look like?" he yelled into the man's face.
"Oh, um, he was about your height, dirty looking brown hair that was short. Solid build and he clothes were dirty so I couldn't really tell you what colour they were. That's about all I can tell you."
Chris let go of him. "Was he a guest at this hotel?" asked Vin.
"No." said the man looking at Vin. "But I did see him here once before, I thought that he was visiting one of the guests but he was only upstairs for about five minutes. That was when the other lawman visited Miss Hamilton."
"Ezra?" asked Chris.
"No, the other one, Mr Wilmington and that was yesterday."
"Buck. That means that he might have seen him." Vin said. They both turned and walked out of the hotel hoping that Buck would remember the man.
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Josiah and JD also returned to Nathan's room and found Chris questioning Buck. "He said that the man was upstairs when you went to see Rochelle yesterday. Do you remember seeing anyone that looked like he had been travelling for a while?" asked Chris.
Buck thought for a moment. It then clicked in his mind. He remembered the man that had been standing in the stairway when he left Rochelle after inviting her for dinner. He couldn't give a better description though because he didn't take much notice of the guy.
"He had a room at the saloon. Arrived in town a couple of days ago but he hasn't been seen since last night. Name of Joseph Hawkings." they all looked at Josiah. "He is either hiding somewhere or he has left town. I stopped at the telegraph office on the way over, gave his name and a description and asked for it to be sent to the neighbouring towns in case he showed up."
"Good work Josiah. JD?" he looked at JD hoping that he did not say what he didn't want to hear but he did.
"Seems that there was only one horse left, guy looked the same, but the horse was not there this morning so it seems like that he has left town." JD hung his head.
"Shit!" muttered Chris as he slammed his fist against the wall. He began to walk away. "I am going to take another look around town just in case."
Buck and Nathan stayed behind again. They knew what Ezra was capable of doing and did not want to leave him alone. Ezra was still lying on his side when Buck went back in. He walked to the bed. "Ezra, I want to talk to you before you shut yourself out again. I am not going to let the same thing happen to you." Buck looked at him. Ezra returned his gaze and then began to get up. "Where do you think you are going?"
"I want to go and see Rochelle." he muttered.
Buck could hear the sadness in his voice. "Do you think that is a good idea at the moment Ezra?" he wasn't going to stop him but he wanted to make sure that it is what Ezra wanted to do.
"I need to see her Buck."
"Sure Ezra, I'll come with you." he could not help but notice how Ezra did not protest or demand to be left alone.
Nathan protested though as they came out the door. "Ezra what are you doing? I want you to stay in bed do you hear me?"
"It's alright Nathan I'll bring him right back. He wants to see Rochelle." Buck said to him. Nathan nodded in understanding.
They reached the bottom of the stairs when Ezra turned to him. "Where is she Buck?"
"She's at the undertakers. Josiah made sure that she was okay." Buck did not take his eyes away from Ezra.
He did not want Ezra to think that he did not want to talk about it because if he thought this then Buck may not be able to get him to talk to him. He followed him to the undertakers and they both went in. The undertaker showed them where Rochelle was. Ezra walked into the room with Buck behind him. Ezra did not move any closer to Rochelle he just stood there looking at her. Buck stood behind him and looked at Rochelle himself. Ezra saw her brown hair that had been tied back with a few whisps against her face. He saw her blue lips and pale face. He saw how her chest did not go up and down as a person's did when they were breathing. Josiah had the undertaker put a clean dress on her. It was the pale blue one that Ezra had loved to see her in. He wanted to see her eyes but they were closed.
"You loved her didn't you Ezra." it wasn't a question as Buck knew that he was right.
"Yes." Ezra didn't turn around.
"She loved you too. She told me yesterday when I went to see her."
Ezra turned around then.
Buck continued even though he saw that Ezra was upset. "She was going to tell you, she knew that you felt the same way, she just wanted to wait a few more days to make sure you were over what happened."
He turned back to Rochelle. "She loved me?"
"Yes she did Ezra." Buck did not know what else to say.
A lone tear fell down Ezra's cheek.
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Ezra heard the gentle knock on his door. He went and opened it to find Buck standing there ready for Rochelle leaving. He had contacted her family and they asked if she could be returned to them so they could bury her with her family. Ezra of course had agreed. He was not going to go with her. The others would not allow it so Buck was going to go with Rochelle. Ezra could not understand why they would not let him go.
No one actually gave him a reason. He just assumed that either they were showing too much concern or they did not really trust him to come back. He hoped that it was due to their concern for him. But he knew that it also had a lot to do with the fact that Chris did not trust him to return to Four Corners.
"You ready Ezra?" asked Buck showing his concern for his friend. Ezra had not shut himself within his wall of defence. He talked when spoken to. He answered their questions of concern. Buck was surprised in regards to all of this. Ezra seemed to be coping but then again he could hide his feelings very well so they all kept an eye on him just in case it was all an act. Buck hoped that Rochelle really did make a difference to him allowing him to deal with his feelings instead of shutting everyone out. But then this had to happen.
They had still not found the man that had killed her.
"No but let's get it over with anyway." Ezra had wanted to say goodbye to Rochelle before she and Buck left. He closed the door behind him and followed Buck down the stairs. They walked towards the church, as that was where Rochelle was. Josiah was going to hold a church service for the friends that she had made in Four Corners.
Ezra arrived at the church with Buck following close behind. He saw the other five gunmen in the church. Mary was also there with a few other people that she had come to know. They had come to pay their respects. Ezra moved to the front knowing that all eyes were on him. They had known that he and Rochelle were close but only Buck knew how they really felt about each other and Ezra wanted it to stay that way.
Josiah gave a wonderful sermon, everybody had thought so. When it was over, they left the church with four of the lawmen carrying Rochelle's coffin out to a wagon. Buck was going to drive the wagon to the closest town to the railway and then go by train. He promised Ezra that he would also stay for the funeral. Buck did not think that it was right that the others told Ezra that he would be best to stay behind. He was also surprised that Ezra had not argued with them. Ezra had said his goodbyes privately so he stood back as they put her on the wagon. Once that was done Buck turned to Ezra.
"Take care of her Buck." said Ezra.
"You know I will Ezra." he smiled to reassure him. "I will be back in a couple of weeks. I'll tell you all about it and her family."
"I'd like that. Thanks Buck. For everything."
"What are friends for Ezra." he saw Ezra smile finally accepting his friendship and help. So Buck thought.
Ezra turned his back on Buck and the woman he loved and went to the saloon. They others said their goodbyes to Buck and followed Ezra.
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Two days later Ezra completely changed. He was walking towards the Clarion when he saw JD running towards him with a telegram in his hand. He ran straight to Ezra and stopped not sure whether he should tell Ezra first or the others. He remembered what Ezra had been like the last week and thought that it would be safe to tell him.
"Where are you headed JD?" Ezra asked as he stood in his way.
"I got a telegram for Chris about that guy who killed Rochelle."
"May I read it please?" Ezra put out his hand waiting for JD to give him the telegram hiding the anger and hatred that he felt towards Rochelle's murderer behind his poker face.
"Uh sure Ezra." he handed it to Ezra and watched as he turned towards the saloon thinking that he was going to read it on the way back but instead he turned into the alley. JD followed him not sure what he was doing.
The telegram had told Ezra what he wanted to hear. The man that had killed Rochelle had been arrested in Hills Rock a town about three days ride from Four Corners. Ezra held down his anger. He felt more than heard JD come up behind him.
"Some good news isn't Ezra?" commented JD. But he was not prepared for Ezra's fist connecting with his jaw.
Ezra had all intentions of going after the man once he had been found but he had to do it without the knowledge of the others or else they either would have gone with him or would not have allowed him to go at all. He had kept checking for telegrams on a regular basis hoping to get the news before anyone else but JD had beat him to it today. Unfortunately, JD was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Ezra did not hesitate. He turned and hit JD knocking him to the ground. He then picked him up and half carried him to the stables making sure that no one saw them. Once he got to the stable, he place JD in one of the stalls hoping that he would be out long enough for him to get a head start. Ezra saddled his horse and rode off after the man who had murdered the woman that he intended to spend the rest of his life with.
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Chris and Vin were sitting in the saloon three hours later when JD walked in slamming his hat down on the table. Chris could see that he was angry about something. He could also see the bruise that was developing on his jaw.
"Who hit you JD?" Chris smiled at Vin. "Wasn't Casey was it?"
"No it was Ezra." he said angrily.
Chris got out of his chair. "What did he hit you for and where the hell is he?"
"He's gone." JD explained about the telegram and how it had said that they had arrested Joseph Hawkings in Hills Rock.
"Vin get the others were going after him before he does something stupid."
"Chris he left about three hours ago. He knocked me out and left me in the stables." JD was looking down.
"It's not your fault JD, he fooled all of us. The question is why would he want to do something so stupid on his own." If Buck was there he could have told them and then they would have understood and not be so angry with Ezra for what he did. But instead, they thought that he had only been friends with Rochelle like the rest of them.
They all meet at the stable and got their own horses ready then gathered some food for the three-day trip. They wondered if Ezra had thought to take food and water with him. They then headed out after him with Chris intending to give him a piece of his mind when they caught up with him.
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Ezra was not concerned with food or water as he always kept his saddlebags full in case he had to leave town in a hurry. It was an old habit that he would never break. He had to make sure that he kept up a steady pace. He did not want to tire his horse out because that would mean that the others would catch up to him. He knew that they would be following him by now and he also knew what Chris would probably do to him when he did catch him. He managed to keep ahead of them for the three days. He did not know how far behind him they were so when he did arrive in Hills Rock in a couple of hours he was going to do what needed to be done before they could stop him. What he didn't realise was that he had gained an extra two hours lead which gave him a total of five hours.
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Chris and the others had kept a close eye out for any sign that would show how far in front Ezra was. When they had stopped for the night, they did not see any fires in the distance. They had started one of their as they were not worried if Ezra saw it because he would know that they were after him. In the morning when they started out at first light, they had to ride for two hours before they found sight of where Ezra camped. This meant that he had continued riding when they had stopped. It also meant that they now had to ride harder to catch up with him. Chris realised it was not going to happen. He knew that Ezra would reach the town hours before they did. He just hoped that he did not do anything stupid. But then he always seemed to think that lately when it came to Ezra.
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When Ezra arrived in the town, the first thing he did was take care of his horse. He took it to the livery and
paid someone to rub him down and feed him. He then checked his guns and went the sheriff's office. Ezra walked into the office looking towards the cells to make that the man behind the bars was the man he wanted. He recognised the man by the description that they had been given.
The man sitting in the cell had looked up when he saw someone enter. He saw that it was the man that came into Rochelle's room after he had killed her. It was the man that she was in love with. Joseph knew that he was a dead man. The expression on Ezra's face told him that.
"And who are you?" asked the sheriff as he got up from his chair. This man had walked in and gone straight to the cells without introducing himself.
Ezra put a smile on his face and turned to face him. "I'm Ezra Standish." he shook his hand as he introduced himself, keeping the smile on his face. "I'm from Four Corners, the town which sent out the telegraph regarding this man and the murder of Rochelle Hamilton."
"Really you got proof of that." he asked.
"Did I not just give you proof." stated Ezra still with the smile on his face.
The sheriff frowned at him. "What do you mean?"
"I would have to be one of the hired lawmen there, how else would I know about this man and the murder. I am here because of the telegram that you sent us."
"Have you come to take him back?" he asked glad to be rid of the man. He was sick of hearing his apologies for killing the woman.
"No." Ezra turned and looked at Joseph the smile dropping from his face. "I just want to ask him a few questions first if you don't mind."
"Sure. But I will be glad to get rid of him. He has been nothing but a pain ever since he gave himself up."
Ezra turned back to the sheriff with a look of confusion on his own face. "He gave himself up, you didn't arrest him? The telegram said that you had arrested him."
"Yep he gave himself up and I have heard nothing but regret ever since and to tell you the truth I'm sick of hearing it." the man moved to leave. "I leave you alone with him for a while then. I will be in the saloon down the street if you’re looking for me when you’re done." He walked out of the building leaving Ezra looking at Joseph Hawkings with a look of confusion on his face.
Ezra went back to the cell. He was confused. He had come all this way expecting to find a murderer. But instead, he found a man who regretted what he had done. "You gave yourself up." Ezra repeated.
"You can kill me if you want. That's what you came here for isn't it?" he looked up at Ezra. "I was just trying to scare her, I had my knife in front of me and she ran at me. I told her that I was going to hurt you and she got angry. She ran straight into the knife, I didn't even know what happened until I saw the blood. I didn't mean to kill her. And then you came in. I had no idea what to do. I hit you with me gun and then I ran. I ran until I got here. I will never forgive myself for what I did. I loved her to once."
Ezra could not believe what he was hearing. He grabbed the chair behind the desk and sat down, he couldn't stand up anymore. "She was scared of you. She said that you had changed, she was afraid that you were going to kill her. How do I know that what you’re saying is true?" asked Ezra. He didn't want to believe it but the man had given himself up. He would know that he would be hung for the crime.
"I did change, I gambled too much and lost money that I could not pay back. They asked for payment another way. I had to help them rob a bank. Two men were killed. I couldn't handle it and took to the bottle. It ate away at me and I took it all out on Rochelle. I should have told her what happened but I couldn't. I'm sorry, if I could change everything I would."
Ezra watched him. He was stunned. From what this man had just told him it could have easily been Ezra on the other side of those bars. He couldn't face this man anymore. He got up and left.
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The remaining five lawmen finally arrived in town and they headed straight to the sheriff's office expecting Rochelle's murderer to be either dead or badly beaten but when they entered the building, they found neither. They found him to be alive and well. He looked scared though to see them. He must have thought that they had come to do what the other man had not and that was to kill him. But he would welcome death. He couldn't handle the guilt anymore.
"Where is he?" asked Chris.
Joseph of course knew he was talking about. "He was here but he left. I don't know where he is now."
"He's in the saloon." said the sheriff.
They all turned at once at the sound of the voice that came from behind them. They saw a man standing in the doorway. Chris did not say anything. Instead, he clenched his fists and stormed out of the sheriff's office.
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Ezra was sitting at a table in the corner of the saloon when he heard them enter through the doors. He thought that they would have been here sooner. He waited until they reached his table before saying anything. "Well Mr Larabee I thought that you would have been here sooner." he smiled up at them.
"What the hell do you think you’re doing Ezra!" Chris said to him trying very hard to keep his temper in control. He could see that Ezra had had too much to drink.
"Can't you see that I am having a libation or two?" Ezra answered him.
"You know what I am talking about Ezra. I want to know why you came out here. Were you intending on killing that man?"
Ezra laughed at him. He couldn't help himself. He thought of Rochelle and how that pitiful man had accidently killed her. Of course he had all intentions of killing him but one look at him told him that he would suffer more staying alive than dying. Ezra couldn't stop laughing.
Chris lost his temper then. "What the hell are you laughing at Ezra? I asked you a question and I want an answer." demanded Chris.
"Did he tell you that he gave himself up? Did he tell you that it was an accident, that he didn't mean to kill her? Did he?" Ezra was still laughing. The woman he loved was dead because some stupid man was trying to scare her.
"Is that true Ezra?" asked Josiah.
"Pitiful isn't it." Ezra finally stopped laughing. He went to take another drink but Chris knocked the glass out of his hand. Ezra sat there staring at the space where the glass had been.
"Why did you hit JD and come out here on your own? Why didn't you wait for us?" Chris leaned down towards him.
Ezra returned his stare. "Because you would not have allowed me to kill him." he stated simply.
"You got that right." said Chris smiling at him but it was not a pleasant smile. Ezra had not taken his eyes off Chris. Everyone else had stepped back. There was something else going on here with Ezra and they waited to find out what it was.
"You know Mr Larabee, it seems strange to me that you have no problem seeking revenge against the man who killed your family but when it is someone else who wants revenge it seems to a different story entirely."
Chris grabbed Ezra's jacket and pulled him to his feet. "You mention my family again and I will kill you myself." Chris growled into his face.
"Go ahead." smiled Ezra.
That seemed to stop Chris in his tracks. He threw Ezra back down into the chair that he had pulled him out of. Ezra grabbed another glass from the table and poured himself another drink. Josiah moved to the table and sat down next to him.
"You still have not answered Chris's questions Ezra. Why did you come here on your own?" They could all see how differently Ezra reacted to Josiah than he did to Chris. He did not show any anger towards Josiah like he had Chris. In fact, everyone saw the change that came over his face. They saw the sadness that his expression and eyes now held.
"I loved her Joisah." he looked into Josiah's eyes. "I loved her. And now the second woman that I have loved is dead." Ezra drank the whisky that he had poured himself while everyone watched him. They had no idea how he felt about Rochelle.
"Did Rochell love you?" asked Josiah.
"Yes she did. Buck told me. She told him when he invited her to dinner. She just didn't want to tell me yet because I was feeling too sorry for myself." he was turning the glass around in his hand and he suddenly through it against the wall. "But I wouldn't tell her so she didn't know I loved her. " Ezra looked down at his hands. The others wanted to say something to him but thought that if they did he would stop talking. They were surprised that he had said so much already.
"Ezra I am sure that she knew how you felt about her." Josiah put his hand on Ezra's shoulder but he moved away from his touch. He put his head in his hands. Ezra did not say anything else. He was quiet from then on. Josiah looked up at Chris who was standing near the table with his own head down. Chris had no idea how Ezra had felt about Rochelle, none of them had and he came in here showing anything but concern for Ezra. He was angry and he let Ezra know it.
Nathan moved over to him. "I'm sorry Ezra we didn't know."
"I don't want your pity!" Ezra yelled at him. He stood up so quickly that he knocked his chair over. "She's dead and there is nothing that I can do about it to bring her back."
"It's not pity Ezra." Josiah stood up with him. "Were your friends and we are concerned about you."
"Oh really and that's why Chris just threatened to kill me. Out of concern was it Chris. You were so worried about me that you came in here yelling at me and threatening me. That's real concern isn't it?" Ezra spat out at both Josiah and Chris. He was angry now and he let it all out. He was angry that Rochelle died. He was angry that he did not get to her room sooner to stop her from being killed. He was angry about the type of concern that his friends showed him. They either showed it through anger or pity and he didn't know which one was worse. He pushed his way through them and left them standing there watching his back as he left the saloon. Josiah looked at Chris.
"I'm sorry Josiah I didn't know."
"There you go again Chris, telling the wrong person that you are sorry." JD spoke up for the first time since they walked into the saloon. Chris looked at him and nodded. JD was right it was Ezra that he should have been apologising to. He walked out of the saloon to look for him but he didn't have to go far. He saw him standing in the alleyway with his arms folded around himself and walking in circles. He looked lost. Chris went up to him.
"Ezra I'm sorry I didn't know."
"Of course you didn't." he didn't look at Chris but kept his head down and continued moving about in the same spot.
"I should not have gotten angry at you. I should have asked you first." Chris said to him.
"Yes you should have."
"Ezra would you please stand still and look at me." Ezra did stop but he did not look at Chris. "Ezra look at me." When he did look at him, Chris could see the tears in his eyes. "I do know how you feel Ezra and I thought the same way as you do. I wanted revenge and look what it has done to me. I don't want you or anyone else for that matter to end up like me. Full of hatred for the rest of their lives always looking for the man who murdered a loved one. That is why I was not going to let you do it. It wouldn't have made you feel any better."
"And here I was thinking that it was because you disliked me so much." Ezra looked back down and wiped the tears away. He hated anybody seeing him cry especially this man.
"You are never going to change are you Ezra?"
"I certainly hope not Mr Larabee."
"Come back inside Ezra and I will buy you a drink." Chris turned around hoping that Ezra would follow him.
"In a minute Chris. I just need a minute."
"Sure Ezra." Chris smiled at him and Ezra nodded in return.
The End
Part One | Part Two
Master Fan Fiction List
Rating: PG
Warnings: Bad writing and a lack of contractions.
Fandom: The Magnificent Seven
Main Characters: Ezra and everyone else.
Summary: Ezra is in love but an old enemy has other ideas install for Ezra and his new lady friend.
Disclaimers: The guys are owned by CBS, MGM, Trilogy Entertainment Group, and The Mirisch Corp.
Spoilers: None
Author's Notes: People keep asking about this story . . . it's location. I gave up. Put it up.
Status: Complete
Total Word Count: 16,550
They had all gathered for dinner at the restaurant and Buck had Ezra and Rochelle sit together in between everyone else. The night was spent eating, talking and laughing. Buck watched Rochelle and Ezra and thought that if Ezra also loved Rochelle then he was hiding it pretty well because he was not able to tell. They still had not noticed the stranger sitting on his own at one of the other tables eating his own dinner. The man had heard the name Ezra mentioned and he knew that it was the fancy dressed man that Rochelle had fallen in love with. Well he was soon going to put an end to that.
The dinner carried on till late in the evening and once they had finished they went their separate ways, each thanking Rochelle on their way out. Ezra was the last to leave and he had told Rochelle that he would escort her to her room. They didn't notice the man that had followed them out.
Ezra had taken Rochelle's arm as they walked towards the hotel. "You still have not told me your story."
Ezra glanced sideways at her. He was still amazed by her beauty.
"My story?" she turned and looked straight into his eyes.
"Remember, in my room you said that you would tell me your story. Now is a better time than any." he smiled.
"Why don't we wait till we get inside though." she led towards the hotel and once they were inside they sat at one of the tables and Rochelle told him her story.
She told him how she was in love with a man whom she thought was a good man, he had treated her well. They were going to be married. Ezra listened to this without interrupting her. "He came to see me one day and he was drunk, something had happened but he would not talk about. He had started drinking a lot and became a very angry man. I still don't know why. I tried but could never get him to talk about it. I still don't know what happened. I couldn't take it any more so I left. That is one of the reasons why I am going to visit my family." she looked up at Ezra and could see the understanding in his eyes.
"That's why you wanted to help me?"
She nodded. "I couldn't help him but I knew that I could help you. Well actually, I was not sure but as we sat outside the saloon that day, I knew I could. I thought that Joseph was a good man. But I know that you're a good person Ezra, you should show people that side of you more often."
Ezra laughed. "My mother would disapprove." Ezra became serious. "Do you know what happened to this man?"
"No. I knew he would be very angry with me leaving. I just wish that I could have helped him. He changed just like that and I have no reason as to why." she looked down at her hands.
"You did the best that you could Rochelle." he took her hands in his. "There is only so much you can do for a person. They want to have to accept the help that is offered or they can't be helped." he saw the look of 'Do you know what you just said'. "I know, I wanted help I just didn't know how to accept it until you came along. You didn't really give me a choice so I had to accept your help."
"What do you mean didn't give you a choice?" she playfully hit his arm.
"You threatened me with physical abuse and from that punch you just threw I know that I did the right thing." he watched her laugh. 'Yes I believe that I do love you Rochelle.' she returned his stare but before she could say what she wanted he continued. "Let's get you to your room, it's been a long night and you are going to need your rest for tomorrow as I am going to take you up on that game of poker."
"Ezra, that was another lie. I can't play poker. I thought it would get you to talk."
"Well then my dear I will just have to spend the day teaching you then won't I." Rochelle loved the thought of spending all day with Ezra.
They walked up the stairs to Rochelle's room and stood outside the door for a moment. Rochelle opened the door but before she went in, she gently kissed Ezra's cheek. She smiled at him and then went inside. Ezra stood there for a moment and placed his hand where she had kissed him. Her lips had felt so soft against his face. He walked away, went downstairs, and sat at the table that he and Rochelle were just sitting at. He needed a moment to think. A man walked pasted him and went up the stairs.
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Rochelle was preparing herself for bed when she heard the knock on her door. She thought that it was Ezra. She rushed to the door but it was not Ezra. She gasped in shock and tried to slam the door shut but Joseph forced his way in. Rochelle backed away from him as he walked further into the room.
"I finally found you Rochelle." he smiled but it was an evil smile. He had followed Rochelle for a month after she left him and now he finally found her. "Why did you leave me?"
"You know why Joseph, you changed. Something changed you and I didn't love the person that you had become. I don't know what happened to you but I couldn't marry you. I tried to tell you this but you wouldn't listen to me."
Joseph grabbed her by the arm. He saw the pain on her face as he squeezed to hard. "You are still going to marry me Rochelle whether you like it or not. You agreed to that and you are going to carry out that agreement."
She tried to pull her arm away but she couldn't so she slapped him with her free hand. She saw the mark that her hand had left and she also saw the anger in his eyes grow even more. He drew his fist back and hit her. Rochelle fell to the ground. He pulled the knife from his belt. He pulled her up from the floor.
"Don't you ever hit me again Rochelle. Now I want you to pack your bags we are leaving." he pushed her towards the bed.
"I am not going anywhere with you Joseph. I don't love you anymore." she was crying now. This man that she had once loved now scared her.
"I suppose that it has something to do with this man called Ezra." he saw the look of surprise on her face and he lifted his knife in front of him. "If you don't do what I say then I will take care of him." he threatened her.
The thought of this man hurting Ezra made her angry and she ran to him intending to hit him again with all her force.
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Ezra had decided that he was going to tell Rochelle how he felt about her. He got up out of his chair and went up the stairs. He was going to tell her that he loved her and then hoped that she would return his love. He made it to the top of the stairs before he hesitated. He had become doubtful. He didn't want to be hurt again. While he stood there, he thought about Charlotte and how she had died because he had loved her. He did not want to be hurt again by Rochelle not loving him. But he had to tell her. He took a deep breath and continued to her room.
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Joseph had brought his knife back down and Rochelle ran straight into it. The knife entered high in her chest puncturing her left lung. She looked up at Joseph. He looked down at her not realising what had happened until he saw the thin line of blood drip from her opened mouth. He pulled his knife out and dropped it to the floor. He lowered Rochelle and saw the blood bleeding freely from the knife wound on her chest. He was going to try to help her but he heard a knock at the door and someone calling Rochelle's name.
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Ezra knocked on Rochelle's door knowing that she would not be asleep yet. But he received no answer so he knocked again and called her name. He knew that she couldn't be asleep already so he tried her door and found it to be unlocked. He opened it and walked into her room calling her name at the same time. He saw her lying on the floor in a pool of blood.
"Rochelle!" he yelled as he ran to her. He turned her over and saw the wound. "Rochelle!" He held her in his arms for a moment but he had to get help, he had to get Nathan. He got up and turned but as he did so he saw someone out of the corner of his eye and before he could do anything to react, the man hit him across the side of his head with the butt of his gun. Ezra fell to the floor next to the woman he loved.
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The hotel clerk looked up as a man ran past the desk. He saw the blood on his shirt and knew that something must have happened in one of the rooms upstairs. He knew that one of the lawmen had gone upstairs and wondered if he had something to do with this man being covered in blood. He did not really want to go upstairs and find out so instead he went to look for one of the others. He went to the saloon, as he knew that's where they usually were. He saw Chris Larabee and Vin Tanner sitting at one of the tables. He ran to the table.
"Something has happened at the hotel." he said to them.
"What?" Chris got up.
"I don't really know but a guy covered in blood ran out of the hotel but I didn't go up and check." he said.
"You didn't check?" growled Chris as he and Vin walked past him. "Which room was he in?"
"I don't know. He wasn't a guest."
"So in other words we are going to have to check every room." Vin said to Chris.
They ran to the hotel and up the stairs. They were about to start checking the rooms when they saw one of the doors open. They stood outside the door and pulled their guns from their holsters. There was light coming from the room. They went in quietly, not knowing what they were going to find. What they saw was
Ezra laying in a heap on the floor and Rochelle next him. Chris rushed to Rochelle while Vin checked on Ezra.
"He's alive." Vin told Chris. He looked at Chris hoping to hear the same about Rochelle but Chris shook his head indicating that she was dead. There was too much blood on the floor around her.
"I'll go and find Nathan." said Chris. He checked Ezra on the way pass and the look that crossed between Chris and Vin said everything. They were worried about how Ezra was going to react to Rochelle's death.
After Chris had gone, Vin picked Ezra up and placed him on the bed. He checked him for any other wounds apart from the obvious one on his head. When he first checked him, it was to see if he was alive and now that he knew, he was, he checked him more carefully. He found no other wounds. He saw that the head wound was still bleeding. He found one of Rochelle's hankies’s lying on the chest of drawers and used it to put pressure on the wound. A few minutes later Chris returned with Nathan with Buck running in after him.
Buck took one look at Ezra lying on the bed and then ran to Rochelle. Chris had told him that she was dead but he had to see her. He saw her grey face. Her lips were beginning to pale already. He took her hand in his and sat with her. He didn't want her to be alone. He knew that the others would take care of Ezra.
"I couldn't find any other wounds on him Nathan." Vin had not taken his eyes off Ezra, he didn't want to look at anyone else, and they were all thinking the same thing.
"Let's move him to my room, I don't want him waking up here to find Rochelle like this." said Nathan.
"I think he has already seen her." they turned around and looked at Chris. He had bent down to the floor and came back up with a bloody knife. "We need to find out who that man was that ran out of this hotel."
Nathan and Vin carried Ezra to Nathan's room while Buck and Chris carried Rochelle to the undertaker's. They didn't say a word to each other. Once they had done that, they went to find Josiah and JD to tell them what had happened. When they had found them, they returned to Nathan's room while Josiah went to take care of Rochelle - she had deserved that.
Nathan had taken care of Ezra's head wound. After cleaning it, he found that it did not look serious. Once they knew that he was going to be okay Chris, Vin and JD went out looking for any sign of the man that had killed Rochelle. They returned an hour later stating that they had not found anything. Chris said that they would question the hotel clerk later. They all then waited for Ezra to wake up, as he might also be able to tell them something. But that was not the reason they stayed. They did not want him to be alone when he woke up. They weren't sure how he was going to react. Buck had an idea though but he was not going to tell them that Rochelle had loved Ezra and that he thought that Ezra felt the same way about her. Not yet anyway.
It wasn't until morning that Ezra had woken. Most of the others had fallen asleep including Josiah who had joined them after he had the undertaker do the right thing by Rochelle. Buck was awake when Ezra came round.
"Ezra."
"She's dead isn't she?" asked Ezra.
Buck looked him in the eye. "I'm sorry Ezra. She died before we found you. Nathan couldn't do anything to help her."
Ezra rolled over on to his side with his back to Buck and said no more.
Buck let him be, went, and woke the others to tell them that he was awake. He woke Chris first who then went to Ezra, he wanted to know what happened. He sat down on his knees in front of Ezra.
"Ezra I need to know what happened. Did you see the man that killed Rochelle?" Ezra looked at him but did not answer the question. "Ezra?"
"Go away Mr Larabee."
"Ezra we need to know so we can find the man that did this. You were there you must have seen something."
"Go away and leave me alone." Ezra's voice was steady but firm.
Chris was about to say something else when Buck grabbed his arm and pulled him away from Ezra. "Not now Chris."
"Buck we have to find out who killed Rochelle and he is going to tell us what he knows." he went to go back to Ezra but Buck held onto him.
"Chris not now!" Buck pulled him away.
Nathan then moved to the bed. "Are you feeling okay Ezra?"
"Just a headache Mr Jackson." he answered.
Buck listened to what he said and knew that he was telling Nathan how he felt physically and not what he felt inside. But that was okay he was going to talk to Ezra himself later, he wasn't going to let him end up the way he did before.
Nathan ushered everybody out of the room then thinking that it would be best to leave Ezra alone. Buck and Nathan stayed outside the room while Chris and Vin went and questioned the hotel clerk. Josiah went to the saloon to see if any strangers had booked a room there in the last few days, and JD went to check with the stable hand to see if anybody had left a horse there.
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Chris and Vin entered the hotel to find the same clerk behind the desk. They walked up to him and the man behind the desk drew back from them.
"What did the man look like?" he growled. He was not going to put up with any nonsense from this man. He wanted answers and he wanted them now. He had been suspicious of Rochelle when she first wanted to help Ezra but he had grown to like her and he could not understand why someone would want to kill her.
"Huh?" he was terrified of Chris Larabee. He knew what kind of man he was and what he was capable of doing to someone.
Chris leaned across the counter and grabbed him by his shirtfront. "What did he look like?" he yelled into the man's face.
"Oh, um, he was about your height, dirty looking brown hair that was short. Solid build and he clothes were dirty so I couldn't really tell you what colour they were. That's about all I can tell you."
Chris let go of him. "Was he a guest at this hotel?" asked Vin.
"No." said the man looking at Vin. "But I did see him here once before, I thought that he was visiting one of the guests but he was only upstairs for about five minutes. That was when the other lawman visited Miss Hamilton."
"Ezra?" asked Chris.
"No, the other one, Mr Wilmington and that was yesterday."
"Buck. That means that he might have seen him." Vin said. They both turned and walked out of the hotel hoping that Buck would remember the man.
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Josiah and JD also returned to Nathan's room and found Chris questioning Buck. "He said that the man was upstairs when you went to see Rochelle yesterday. Do you remember seeing anyone that looked like he had been travelling for a while?" asked Chris.
Buck thought for a moment. It then clicked in his mind. He remembered the man that had been standing in the stairway when he left Rochelle after inviting her for dinner. He couldn't give a better description though because he didn't take much notice of the guy.
"He had a room at the saloon. Arrived in town a couple of days ago but he hasn't been seen since last night. Name of Joseph Hawkings." they all looked at Josiah. "He is either hiding somewhere or he has left town. I stopped at the telegraph office on the way over, gave his name and a description and asked for it to be sent to the neighbouring towns in case he showed up."
"Good work Josiah. JD?" he looked at JD hoping that he did not say what he didn't want to hear but he did.
"Seems that there was only one horse left, guy looked the same, but the horse was not there this morning so it seems like that he has left town." JD hung his head.
"Shit!" muttered Chris as he slammed his fist against the wall. He began to walk away. "I am going to take another look around town just in case."
Buck and Nathan stayed behind again. They knew what Ezra was capable of doing and did not want to leave him alone. Ezra was still lying on his side when Buck went back in. He walked to the bed. "Ezra, I want to talk to you before you shut yourself out again. I am not going to let the same thing happen to you." Buck looked at him. Ezra returned his gaze and then began to get up. "Where do you think you are going?"
"I want to go and see Rochelle." he muttered.
Buck could hear the sadness in his voice. "Do you think that is a good idea at the moment Ezra?" he wasn't going to stop him but he wanted to make sure that it is what Ezra wanted to do.
"I need to see her Buck."
"Sure Ezra, I'll come with you." he could not help but notice how Ezra did not protest or demand to be left alone.
Nathan protested though as they came out the door. "Ezra what are you doing? I want you to stay in bed do you hear me?"
"It's alright Nathan I'll bring him right back. He wants to see Rochelle." Buck said to him. Nathan nodded in understanding.
They reached the bottom of the stairs when Ezra turned to him. "Where is she Buck?"
"She's at the undertakers. Josiah made sure that she was okay." Buck did not take his eyes away from Ezra.
He did not want Ezra to think that he did not want to talk about it because if he thought this then Buck may not be able to get him to talk to him. He followed him to the undertakers and they both went in. The undertaker showed them where Rochelle was. Ezra walked into the room with Buck behind him. Ezra did not move any closer to Rochelle he just stood there looking at her. Buck stood behind him and looked at Rochelle himself. Ezra saw her brown hair that had been tied back with a few whisps against her face. He saw her blue lips and pale face. He saw how her chest did not go up and down as a person's did when they were breathing. Josiah had the undertaker put a clean dress on her. It was the pale blue one that Ezra had loved to see her in. He wanted to see her eyes but they were closed.
"You loved her didn't you Ezra." it wasn't a question as Buck knew that he was right.
"Yes." Ezra didn't turn around.
"She loved you too. She told me yesterday when I went to see her."
Ezra turned around then.
Buck continued even though he saw that Ezra was upset. "She was going to tell you, she knew that you felt the same way, she just wanted to wait a few more days to make sure you were over what happened."
He turned back to Rochelle. "She loved me?"
"Yes she did Ezra." Buck did not know what else to say.
A lone tear fell down Ezra's cheek.
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Ezra heard the gentle knock on his door. He went and opened it to find Buck standing there ready for Rochelle leaving. He had contacted her family and they asked if she could be returned to them so they could bury her with her family. Ezra of course had agreed. He was not going to go with her. The others would not allow it so Buck was going to go with Rochelle. Ezra could not understand why they would not let him go.
No one actually gave him a reason. He just assumed that either they were showing too much concern or they did not really trust him to come back. He hoped that it was due to their concern for him. But he knew that it also had a lot to do with the fact that Chris did not trust him to return to Four Corners.
"You ready Ezra?" asked Buck showing his concern for his friend. Ezra had not shut himself within his wall of defence. He talked when spoken to. He answered their questions of concern. Buck was surprised in regards to all of this. Ezra seemed to be coping but then again he could hide his feelings very well so they all kept an eye on him just in case it was all an act. Buck hoped that Rochelle really did make a difference to him allowing him to deal with his feelings instead of shutting everyone out. But then this had to happen.
They had still not found the man that had killed her.
"No but let's get it over with anyway." Ezra had wanted to say goodbye to Rochelle before she and Buck left. He closed the door behind him and followed Buck down the stairs. They walked towards the church, as that was where Rochelle was. Josiah was going to hold a church service for the friends that she had made in Four Corners.
Ezra arrived at the church with Buck following close behind. He saw the other five gunmen in the church. Mary was also there with a few other people that she had come to know. They had come to pay their respects. Ezra moved to the front knowing that all eyes were on him. They had known that he and Rochelle were close but only Buck knew how they really felt about each other and Ezra wanted it to stay that way.
Josiah gave a wonderful sermon, everybody had thought so. When it was over, they left the church with four of the lawmen carrying Rochelle's coffin out to a wagon. Buck was going to drive the wagon to the closest town to the railway and then go by train. He promised Ezra that he would also stay for the funeral. Buck did not think that it was right that the others told Ezra that he would be best to stay behind. He was also surprised that Ezra had not argued with them. Ezra had said his goodbyes privately so he stood back as they put her on the wagon. Once that was done Buck turned to Ezra.
"Take care of her Buck." said Ezra.
"You know I will Ezra." he smiled to reassure him. "I will be back in a couple of weeks. I'll tell you all about it and her family."
"I'd like that. Thanks Buck. For everything."
"What are friends for Ezra." he saw Ezra smile finally accepting his friendship and help. So Buck thought.
Ezra turned his back on Buck and the woman he loved and went to the saloon. They others said their goodbyes to Buck and followed Ezra.
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Two days later Ezra completely changed. He was walking towards the Clarion when he saw JD running towards him with a telegram in his hand. He ran straight to Ezra and stopped not sure whether he should tell Ezra first or the others. He remembered what Ezra had been like the last week and thought that it would be safe to tell him.
"Where are you headed JD?" Ezra asked as he stood in his way.
"I got a telegram for Chris about that guy who killed Rochelle."
"May I read it please?" Ezra put out his hand waiting for JD to give him the telegram hiding the anger and hatred that he felt towards Rochelle's murderer behind his poker face.
"Uh sure Ezra." he handed it to Ezra and watched as he turned towards the saloon thinking that he was going to read it on the way back but instead he turned into the alley. JD followed him not sure what he was doing.
The telegram had told Ezra what he wanted to hear. The man that had killed Rochelle had been arrested in Hills Rock a town about three days ride from Four Corners. Ezra held down his anger. He felt more than heard JD come up behind him.
"Some good news isn't Ezra?" commented JD. But he was not prepared for Ezra's fist connecting with his jaw.
Ezra had all intentions of going after the man once he had been found but he had to do it without the knowledge of the others or else they either would have gone with him or would not have allowed him to go at all. He had kept checking for telegrams on a regular basis hoping to get the news before anyone else but JD had beat him to it today. Unfortunately, JD was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Ezra did not hesitate. He turned and hit JD knocking him to the ground. He then picked him up and half carried him to the stables making sure that no one saw them. Once he got to the stable, he place JD in one of the stalls hoping that he would be out long enough for him to get a head start. Ezra saddled his horse and rode off after the man who had murdered the woman that he intended to spend the rest of his life with.
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Chris and Vin were sitting in the saloon three hours later when JD walked in slamming his hat down on the table. Chris could see that he was angry about something. He could also see the bruise that was developing on his jaw.
"Who hit you JD?" Chris smiled at Vin. "Wasn't Casey was it?"
"No it was Ezra." he said angrily.
Chris got out of his chair. "What did he hit you for and where the hell is he?"
"He's gone." JD explained about the telegram and how it had said that they had arrested Joseph Hawkings in Hills Rock.
"Vin get the others were going after him before he does something stupid."
"Chris he left about three hours ago. He knocked me out and left me in the stables." JD was looking down.
"It's not your fault JD, he fooled all of us. The question is why would he want to do something so stupid on his own." If Buck was there he could have told them and then they would have understood and not be so angry with Ezra for what he did. But instead, they thought that he had only been friends with Rochelle like the rest of them.
They all meet at the stable and got their own horses ready then gathered some food for the three-day trip. They wondered if Ezra had thought to take food and water with him. They then headed out after him with Chris intending to give him a piece of his mind when they caught up with him.
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Ezra was not concerned with food or water as he always kept his saddlebags full in case he had to leave town in a hurry. It was an old habit that he would never break. He had to make sure that he kept up a steady pace. He did not want to tire his horse out because that would mean that the others would catch up to him. He knew that they would be following him by now and he also knew what Chris would probably do to him when he did catch him. He managed to keep ahead of them for the three days. He did not know how far behind him they were so when he did arrive in Hills Rock in a couple of hours he was going to do what needed to be done before they could stop him. What he didn't realise was that he had gained an extra two hours lead which gave him a total of five hours.
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Chris and the others had kept a close eye out for any sign that would show how far in front Ezra was. When they had stopped for the night, they did not see any fires in the distance. They had started one of their as they were not worried if Ezra saw it because he would know that they were after him. In the morning when they started out at first light, they had to ride for two hours before they found sight of where Ezra camped. This meant that he had continued riding when they had stopped. It also meant that they now had to ride harder to catch up with him. Chris realised it was not going to happen. He knew that Ezra would reach the town hours before they did. He just hoped that he did not do anything stupid. But then he always seemed to think that lately when it came to Ezra.
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When Ezra arrived in the town, the first thing he did was take care of his horse. He took it to the livery and
paid someone to rub him down and feed him. He then checked his guns and went the sheriff's office. Ezra walked into the office looking towards the cells to make that the man behind the bars was the man he wanted. He recognised the man by the description that they had been given.
The man sitting in the cell had looked up when he saw someone enter. He saw that it was the man that came into Rochelle's room after he had killed her. It was the man that she was in love with. Joseph knew that he was a dead man. The expression on Ezra's face told him that.
"And who are you?" asked the sheriff as he got up from his chair. This man had walked in and gone straight to the cells without introducing himself.
Ezra put a smile on his face and turned to face him. "I'm Ezra Standish." he shook his hand as he introduced himself, keeping the smile on his face. "I'm from Four Corners, the town which sent out the telegraph regarding this man and the murder of Rochelle Hamilton."
"Really you got proof of that." he asked.
"Did I not just give you proof." stated Ezra still with the smile on his face.
The sheriff frowned at him. "What do you mean?"
"I would have to be one of the hired lawmen there, how else would I know about this man and the murder. I am here because of the telegram that you sent us."
"Have you come to take him back?" he asked glad to be rid of the man. He was sick of hearing his apologies for killing the woman.
"No." Ezra turned and looked at Joseph the smile dropping from his face. "I just want to ask him a few questions first if you don't mind."
"Sure. But I will be glad to get rid of him. He has been nothing but a pain ever since he gave himself up."
Ezra turned back to the sheriff with a look of confusion on his own face. "He gave himself up, you didn't arrest him? The telegram said that you had arrested him."
"Yep he gave himself up and I have heard nothing but regret ever since and to tell you the truth I'm sick of hearing it." the man moved to leave. "I leave you alone with him for a while then. I will be in the saloon down the street if you’re looking for me when you’re done." He walked out of the building leaving Ezra looking at Joseph Hawkings with a look of confusion on his face.
Ezra went back to the cell. He was confused. He had come all this way expecting to find a murderer. But instead, he found a man who regretted what he had done. "You gave yourself up." Ezra repeated.
"You can kill me if you want. That's what you came here for isn't it?" he looked up at Ezra. "I was just trying to scare her, I had my knife in front of me and she ran at me. I told her that I was going to hurt you and she got angry. She ran straight into the knife, I didn't even know what happened until I saw the blood. I didn't mean to kill her. And then you came in. I had no idea what to do. I hit you with me gun and then I ran. I ran until I got here. I will never forgive myself for what I did. I loved her to once."
Ezra could not believe what he was hearing. He grabbed the chair behind the desk and sat down, he couldn't stand up anymore. "She was scared of you. She said that you had changed, she was afraid that you were going to kill her. How do I know that what you’re saying is true?" asked Ezra. He didn't want to believe it but the man had given himself up. He would know that he would be hung for the crime.
"I did change, I gambled too much and lost money that I could not pay back. They asked for payment another way. I had to help them rob a bank. Two men were killed. I couldn't handle it and took to the bottle. It ate away at me and I took it all out on Rochelle. I should have told her what happened but I couldn't. I'm sorry, if I could change everything I would."
Ezra watched him. He was stunned. From what this man had just told him it could have easily been Ezra on the other side of those bars. He couldn't face this man anymore. He got up and left.
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The remaining five lawmen finally arrived in town and they headed straight to the sheriff's office expecting Rochelle's murderer to be either dead or badly beaten but when they entered the building, they found neither. They found him to be alive and well. He looked scared though to see them. He must have thought that they had come to do what the other man had not and that was to kill him. But he would welcome death. He couldn't handle the guilt anymore.
"Where is he?" asked Chris.
Joseph of course knew he was talking about. "He was here but he left. I don't know where he is now."
"He's in the saloon." said the sheriff.
They all turned at once at the sound of the voice that came from behind them. They saw a man standing in the doorway. Chris did not say anything. Instead, he clenched his fists and stormed out of the sheriff's office.
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Ezra was sitting at a table in the corner of the saloon when he heard them enter through the doors. He thought that they would have been here sooner. He waited until they reached his table before saying anything. "Well Mr Larabee I thought that you would have been here sooner." he smiled up at them.
"What the hell do you think you’re doing Ezra!" Chris said to him trying very hard to keep his temper in control. He could see that Ezra had had too much to drink.
"Can't you see that I am having a libation or two?" Ezra answered him.
"You know what I am talking about Ezra. I want to know why you came out here. Were you intending on killing that man?"
Ezra laughed at him. He couldn't help himself. He thought of Rochelle and how that pitiful man had accidently killed her. Of course he had all intentions of killing him but one look at him told him that he would suffer more staying alive than dying. Ezra couldn't stop laughing.
Chris lost his temper then. "What the hell are you laughing at Ezra? I asked you a question and I want an answer." demanded Chris.
"Did he tell you that he gave himself up? Did he tell you that it was an accident, that he didn't mean to kill her? Did he?" Ezra was still laughing. The woman he loved was dead because some stupid man was trying to scare her.
"Is that true Ezra?" asked Josiah.
"Pitiful isn't it." Ezra finally stopped laughing. He went to take another drink but Chris knocked the glass out of his hand. Ezra sat there staring at the space where the glass had been.
"Why did you hit JD and come out here on your own? Why didn't you wait for us?" Chris leaned down towards him.
Ezra returned his stare. "Because you would not have allowed me to kill him." he stated simply.
"You got that right." said Chris smiling at him but it was not a pleasant smile. Ezra had not taken his eyes off Chris. Everyone else had stepped back. There was something else going on here with Ezra and they waited to find out what it was.
"You know Mr Larabee, it seems strange to me that you have no problem seeking revenge against the man who killed your family but when it is someone else who wants revenge it seems to a different story entirely."
Chris grabbed Ezra's jacket and pulled him to his feet. "You mention my family again and I will kill you myself." Chris growled into his face.
"Go ahead." smiled Ezra.
That seemed to stop Chris in his tracks. He threw Ezra back down into the chair that he had pulled him out of. Ezra grabbed another glass from the table and poured himself another drink. Josiah moved to the table and sat down next to him.
"You still have not answered Chris's questions Ezra. Why did you come here on your own?" They could all see how differently Ezra reacted to Josiah than he did to Chris. He did not show any anger towards Josiah like he had Chris. In fact, everyone saw the change that came over his face. They saw the sadness that his expression and eyes now held.
"I loved her Joisah." he looked into Josiah's eyes. "I loved her. And now the second woman that I have loved is dead." Ezra drank the whisky that he had poured himself while everyone watched him. They had no idea how he felt about Rochelle.
"Did Rochell love you?" asked Josiah.
"Yes she did. Buck told me. She told him when he invited her to dinner. She just didn't want to tell me yet because I was feeling too sorry for myself." he was turning the glass around in his hand and he suddenly through it against the wall. "But I wouldn't tell her so she didn't know I loved her. " Ezra looked down at his hands. The others wanted to say something to him but thought that if they did he would stop talking. They were surprised that he had said so much already.
"Ezra I am sure that she knew how you felt about her." Josiah put his hand on Ezra's shoulder but he moved away from his touch. He put his head in his hands. Ezra did not say anything else. He was quiet from then on. Josiah looked up at Chris who was standing near the table with his own head down. Chris had no idea how Ezra had felt about Rochelle, none of them had and he came in here showing anything but concern for Ezra. He was angry and he let Ezra know it.
Nathan moved over to him. "I'm sorry Ezra we didn't know."
"I don't want your pity!" Ezra yelled at him. He stood up so quickly that he knocked his chair over. "She's dead and there is nothing that I can do about it to bring her back."
"It's not pity Ezra." Josiah stood up with him. "Were your friends and we are concerned about you."
"Oh really and that's why Chris just threatened to kill me. Out of concern was it Chris. You were so worried about me that you came in here yelling at me and threatening me. That's real concern isn't it?" Ezra spat out at both Josiah and Chris. He was angry now and he let it all out. He was angry that Rochelle died. He was angry that he did not get to her room sooner to stop her from being killed. He was angry about the type of concern that his friends showed him. They either showed it through anger or pity and he didn't know which one was worse. He pushed his way through them and left them standing there watching his back as he left the saloon. Josiah looked at Chris.
"I'm sorry Josiah I didn't know."
"There you go again Chris, telling the wrong person that you are sorry." JD spoke up for the first time since they walked into the saloon. Chris looked at him and nodded. JD was right it was Ezra that he should have been apologising to. He walked out of the saloon to look for him but he didn't have to go far. He saw him standing in the alleyway with his arms folded around himself and walking in circles. He looked lost. Chris went up to him.
"Ezra I'm sorry I didn't know."
"Of course you didn't." he didn't look at Chris but kept his head down and continued moving about in the same spot.
"I should not have gotten angry at you. I should have asked you first." Chris said to him.
"Yes you should have."
"Ezra would you please stand still and look at me." Ezra did stop but he did not look at Chris. "Ezra look at me." When he did look at him, Chris could see the tears in his eyes. "I do know how you feel Ezra and I thought the same way as you do. I wanted revenge and look what it has done to me. I don't want you or anyone else for that matter to end up like me. Full of hatred for the rest of their lives always looking for the man who murdered a loved one. That is why I was not going to let you do it. It wouldn't have made you feel any better."
"And here I was thinking that it was because you disliked me so much." Ezra looked back down and wiped the tears away. He hated anybody seeing him cry especially this man.
"You are never going to change are you Ezra?"
"I certainly hope not Mr Larabee."
"Come back inside Ezra and I will buy you a drink." Chris turned around hoping that Ezra would follow him.
"In a minute Chris. I just need a minute."
"Sure Ezra." Chris smiled at him and Ezra nodded in return.
The End
Part One | Part Two
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