Laughter echoed across the crowded and smoky room. Some patrons turned to glance at the group of noisy men sitting in the far corner. Others simply gave thanks. Three months earlier, Larabee and his band of gunfighters had signed on to protect Four Corners. Many had thought the town had stepped from the frying pan into the fire. Gunfighters only bred trouble. How wrong they had been. In a few short weeks, the Seven had made the town safe. Those who have never lived with the constant threat of brawls, shoot-outs and fear could not possibly understand what a luxury ‘safety’ was.

The Larabee Gang had ‘cleaned-up’ Four Corners, to use the local vernacular. Now, the little town was a haven for its citizens. All could walk the streets without fear. The intangible atmosphere of security provided by the regulators was a gift the people who lived in the settlement could never repay.

Only this afternoon, the peacekeepers had saved the town from a drunken trail herd who had ridden in intent on causing trouble. The battle had been quick and fierce but the end result had been inevitable. The troublemakers were driven out with their tails between their legs. Peace was restored yet again by the Seven men who were temporarily calling Four Corners home. It was the ‘temporary’ part that was beginning to concern some of the citizens of the town. Some feared that it was only a matter of time before the group moved on.

With only two days until Christmas, the people of Four Corners found themselves feeling very thankful and they were determined to show it. Hence, the Seven had been drowning in free drinks for almost five hours. Needless to say, as the clock struck 10:00pm, they were happily and raucously drunk.

“That’s bullshit, Buck! You are so full of crap,” J.D. laughed, alcohol stealing his ability to control the volume of his voice.

Nathan signalled for his companion to be quiet. The group was lounging around a single table; the tabletop covered in recently drained glasses. The younger man opened his mouth to reply, but the bartender appeared with yet another tray of drinks.

“Compliments of the Simons,” he stated, inclining his head to the Simons’ brothers drinking at the bar.

All seven men raised their glasses to the brothers who nodded.

“Boy, what a Christmas!” Buck cried, handing out the drinks, cheerfully. The big man noted that Vin had several glasses sitting in front of him untouched. “Come on, Boy! You’re fallin’ behind.”

“Someone’s got to stay sober, Buck,” Tanner chuckled. “Besides, I’ve got to ride shotgun tomorrow.”

“Man alive, you’re a worry, Tanner,” the scoundrel laughed. “I’m going to make you an offer. Now, I wouldn’t do this for just anyone, just so you know. How about I help you with them drinks?”

Tanner grinned.

“Your sacrifice is positively humbling,” Ezra stated, toasting Buck. The gambler’s voice had the slightest slur to it. A slur he shared with most of his inebriated colleagues.

“I know, I know. It’s just the kind of guy I am,” Buck offered, modestly.

“It’s getting late,” Nathan noted, glancing at the time.

“Christmas is almost here,“ J.D. cried, merrily. “It‘s Christmas Eve tomorrow. Hey, I have an idea!”

“Oh, hell,” his six companions murmured as one. Chris winked at Vin.

“I’m not dressing up as Santa Claus,” Josiah stated. “Just thought I’d get that in early.”

“You’re the right shape,” Buck chuckled.

J.D. grinned. “On Christmas Day, just before I used to go to bed, my Ma and I would tell each other what we thought was the best thing that had happened in the year and the thing we regretted most about the year. What do you say?”

“I say, it is time for me to depart,” Ezra murmured. “The thought of listening to you all...“ He started to stand, lost his balance and ‘fell’ back into his chair. “Who moved the floor?”

“You’re drunk,” Josiah pointed out.

“First of all, I do not suffer from intoxication. And second, I do not feel you have the right to comment, my whiskey soaked friend. Good Lord, your eyes are bloodshot!”

“Here, have another drink,” Buck laughed, pushing two of Vin’s untouched glasses towards his companions. “We can’t let them go to waste.”

“Good point,” Ezra agreed, toasting Vin. They were in high spirits. Nathan, Buck, J.D., Josiah and Ezra had consumed far more whisky than they traditionally would. Chris, too, had put away more than his fair share, but Larabee was one man who could hold his alcohol. Vin had taken on the role of ‘protector’. If anything started, Tanner would finish it. One of them always remained sober in case of trouble. Vin had been ‘volunteered’ on this occasion.

“Oh, come on fellas. Buck, what’s the best thing that happened to you this year?”

Wilmington paused and thought carefully. Gradually, his face lit up with a lecherous smile. His companions began to shake their heads all guessing exactly what was on their friend’s mind. “Well, I reckon it would have been Miss Georgia... no, Miss Penny... of course there was Miss...”

“Yeah, we get the picture, Bucklin,” Vin chuckled. Tanner flicked his eyes around the room routinely. All was settled. People were drinking, but happy. Outside, he could hear folks singing Christmas carols.

Not for the first time, Vin considered the fact that the town was becoming so civilized he felt out of place. His very world was changing around him. Vin belonged to rough, but carefree times where a clock had no place and a man could peer out in front of him and not see another human being. Unfortunately, progress was encroaching on his disappearing world. Churches, schools and committee meetings were alien to him. He had considered moving on, but that was out of the question for the moment. Not because he had signed on to do a job, but because he, and the other six regulators, had given an unspoken pledge to mind one another’s back. That was more than reason enough to try and adapt to the world progress was creating. However, it wasn’t easy.

“Nathan?” J.D. asked.

“Well, now,” Nathan stated. “I suppose the highlight for me was the night I cleaned Ezra out!” All of his companions, apart from the appalled gambler, toasted him.

“What?” Ezra cried. “I think that is an insensitive..."

“Bla, bla bla,” Buck laughed. All of the rest of the men joined in, much to Ezra’s consternation.

“Your heinous laughter will not be forgotten. I will reap my revenge,” Standish claimed. He was grinning however, and his threat received only more laughter.

“Josiah?” J.D. prompted.

Sanchez was slumped to one side. He had drunk two glasses to everyone else’s one, but then, Josiah had been trying to forget. Christmas did not hold a lot of happy memories for him and thus he had been trying to drown any conscious thought. Unfortunately, the lonely Christmases spent with his young sister, waiting for their father to return from preaching to ‘the heathens‘, refused to be submerged.

“Mr. Sanchez, are you still with us?”

Josiah righted himself in the chair, only to slump to the other side. His friends grinned.

“Had a bit much there, Josiah?” Nathan asked.

“Nope, not enough. I can still see all of your ugly faces.”

“Oh, charming,” Ezra berated.

“Josiah? The best thing?” J.D. pressed.

“The best thing that happened to me can be best described by something a Chinese monk once said to me.”

“Oh, hell, here we go,” Buck murmured. J.D. rolled his eyes. Ezra and Nathan toasted each other. Vin glanced at Chris and grinned.

“Chow ming tos Jung ei chung ur chai la.”

“What?” J.D. asked.

“Well, he was Chinese,” Josiah explained.

“What does it mean?” Nathan asked.

“He who sits close to the fire will pull burrs from his trousers.”

“Burrs?“ The group began glancing at each other puzzled.

“Yep, that makes sense,” Buck agreed. J.D. shoved his friend and the drink he held splashed over Ezra.

“Gentlemen, gentlemen. Had I wanted a bath, I would have...”

“Bla, bla, bla,” Buck laughed.

“Mr. Wilmington, I think it only fair to warn you that should you continue to reduce my oration to single syllable grunts, I will be pressed to stand up and...”

“You can’t stand up,” Vin chuckled.

“That is a fair, point, Mr. Tanner,” Ezra agreed, toasting Vin again.

“Ezra, what’s the best thing that happened to you this year?”

“A highlight. Well, there have been too many to remember. Let me think. I suppose it would...” As Ezra expounded his many successes at the card table, Vin found his eyes drawn to Chris.

Larabee was aware of Tanner’s gaze, but he maintained his attention on Standish. Both Vin and Chris were well aware of what the other was thinking. The best thing that had happened to each of them was obvious, but neither would voice it. ‘Men’ didn’t espouse such things.

“Oh, hell, Ezra. Enough already!” Buck complained.

“Is it my fault that the past twelve months have been particularly kind to me?”

“Vin? What’s the best thing that happened to you this year?” J.D. asked, dismissing Ezra.

Tanner shrugged. “Survivin’ another year without anyone collectin’ the bounty.”

“You haven’t got to worry about that no more, Vin. We won’t let anyone take you,” J.D. stated quickly.

Tanner smirked at the boy. “Thanks, Kid.”

“Chris?”

Larabee’s brow furrowed. “The best thing? Buck’s face when he realized that female cowboy was a fella.”

Uproarious laughter filled the room. None of the men would ever forget the moment the wig had blown off the ‘woman’s’ head to reveal a man. Buck Wilmington had almost turned himself inside out trying to get away from the ‘funny cowboy‘.

“I knew he was a fella... I knew! I did!” Buck insisted.

“Of course you did, Mr. Wilmington, which was why you were escorting him across the street.”

Buck pointed at Ezra, opened and closed his mouth several times, but he didn’t have an answer to that. His friends erupted again and Buck joined in.

“Okay,” J.D. stated, wiping tears from his eyes as his lungs regained control. “Regrets.”

“Now, now, Mr. Dunne. You are yet to enlighten us with your highlight for the year.”

“Oh, that’s easy. The night I beat you at poker.”

Nathan toasted J.D. The other men began chuckling.

“I see,” Ezra stated, shortly. “It would appear that you all take great pleasure from my misfortunes. A poor state of affairs from men who are supposed to bear the banner of friendship.”

“What did he say?” Buck asked Josiah.

“Bla, bla, bla,” Josiah obliged.

Again, laughter filled the air. Out of the corner of his eye, Vin spotted an argument brewing. Tanner’s brow furrowed. Larabee sensed his companion’s concern and followed the line of Vin’s sight. The two regulators watched from afar, their companions blissfully unaware of the any trouble.

Across the room, a pair of strangers began to raise their voices. They had ridden into town just after the Seven had dealt with the mob earlier in the day. Both looked like they’d been on the trail for quite a while which had prompted Vin to suggest they may be on the run. A review of the latest wanted posters did not yield any results, but Tanner and Larabee had agreed to keep a close eye on the pair.

The men of concern had headed straight for the bathhouse after stabling their horses and then following a change of clothes, had headed for the saloon. According to bathhouse keeper, their name was Wilson and they were brothers, but that was all Vin and Chris knew about them.

Abruptly, one of the Wilsons leapt to his feet, his hand dropping to his holstered weapon. Vin Tanner pushed his chair back, drawing his mare’s leg.

Noting the movement across the room, the arguing brothers spun around to face the lone regulator. “Sit down, Boy!” the standing man yelled. “This ain’t got nothing to do with you!”

“Not yet,” Tanner agreed.

The other brother rose to his feet. “You think you can take the two of us, you dusty pile of horse shit?” The angry pair faced off against Tanner. The reaction had not been what Vin had been expecting, but then, he had not expected the ‘brothers’ to fight amongst themselves or attempt to draw on each other.

“Well, horse shit?” Both men set their legs apart, their arms hanging at their sides ready to draw.

Instantly, the relaxed and festive mood in the saloon was shattered. Silence filled the room as everyone watched the confrontation, nervously.

“Reckon you fellas should get on your horses and leave,” Vin suggested. His voice was hushed but every syllable was edged with enough venom to send the other occupants in the room withdrawing out of the firing line. The area between Tanner and the strangers cleared. “Keep them guns holstered and ride out,” Vin ordered, calmly.

“Are you gonna make us, stinkweed?” one of the Wilsons asked, leering at Vin.

Six chairs drew back. Six men rose to their feet to stand beside Tanner. Seven faces advertised their intention.

“Shit,” Mark Wilson murmured.

“I reckon you fellas should be riding out,” Tanner repeated.

“Yeah,” Ted Wilson swallowed. “Yeah, we’re leaving.”

The pair backed out of the room. Tanner and Larabee followed them to ensure the troublemakers rode out. In only moments, two horses flashed out of the livery and disappeared into the darkness.

Vin snorted and glanced at Chris. Larabee smirked and then the pair returned to their table.

“They gone?” J.D. asked.

“Yep.” Situation contained. Safety maintained.

“Regrets, Nathan?” J.D. asked, immediately.

“You don’t give up, do ya, J.D.?”

“Nope. Nathan?”

“Regrets,” Jackson repeated. His eyes flicked to Ezra and he grinned widely. “I regret not having beat Ezra more often.”

Standish snorted.

“Buck?”

“Well, to tell you the truth, I regret not being able to do more than my share.”

“What do you mean?” Nathan asked, curiously.

“Boys, when a man is as gifted as I am with the ladies, it truly is unfair that I can’t share myself around more so that...”

The contents of six glasses of whisky hit Buck in the middle of the face.

“Jealousy, boys. Jealousy!” Wilmington claimed, as the liquid ran down his cheeks.

“We’re out of whisky,” Josiah pointed out, forlornly peering into his empty glass.

“You spoke too soon,” Ezra drawled as the bartender appeared with another round, compliments of some other fine citizen.

“So, Josiah, any regrets this year?”

“Regrets are like manure. Something that should be passed and not thought about again.”

“Hell, preacher. If you think regrets are like shit, then say so!” Buck insisted.

Josiah eyed Buck and shook his head in disgust.

“Ezra?”

“Yes, I must admit to having some regrets this year.” Standish’s voice was soft. All of the men frowned. “I regret allowing any of you ungrateful curs win any games!”

“Allow! Allowing us!” Buck roared.

“Yes, Mr. Wilmington. Allowing you. I am too soft hearted.”

“Are you saying that the times we’ve beaten you, you’ve ‘allowed’ us to win?”

“I am afraid so,” Ezra admitted.

“Yeah, right!” Buck exploded.

“Believe what you will, my talentless friend, but everyone sitting at this table knows how appalling your skills with the cards are.”

“That ain’t true. Every time I’ve beaten you, I done it... hang on. I’ve never beaten you.” Again the table was flooded with laughter.

“Vin? Any regrets?”

“Nope.”

The other men stared at their friend, whose calm blue eyes were centred on something across the room.

“None?” J.D. asked intrigued.

Satisfied trouble wasn‘t developing, Tanner returned his attention to his companions. “Nope.”

“You have to have at least one regret,” Nathan pointed out.

“Nathan, life’s too short to be thinkin’ on the things that you wish didn’t happen.” Things like the fact that Eli Joe was dead and he had no way of ridding himself of the bounty. “Reckon I agree with Josiah. Regrets are like shit. Best not thought of.”

“See, Vin understood what I meant,” Josiah huffed.

“What about you Larabee?” Vin asked, diverting the attention from himself.

“Yeah, I’ve got a whole gut full of regrets. And I’m gonna feel it in the morning.”

“Never a truer word has been spoken,” Josiah agreed, considering the hangover he, too, would have the next day. “I’m heading to bed.”

“Reckon that sounds good,” Nathan yawned. There appeared to be a general consensus and so the men rose to their feet and bid each other good night.

“You fellas gonna be all right to get to bed?” Vin asked.

Buck slung his arm over J.D.’s shoulders. “Yep, I’ll get the kid to bed.”

J.D. grinned and nodded to Vin. He’d make sure Buck made it to his room. Tanner watched as J.D. guided Buck toward the door, the big man talking and laughing loudly.

“Ezra?” Vin asked.

“I am fine, Mr. Tanner,” Ezra assured his companion as he began to weave his way across the room.

“I better follow him. He might not remember Maude’s sleepin’ in his bed. Night boys.” Vin jogged after Ezra and disappeared.

Josiah, Nathan and Chris crossed the room and then tipped their hats before going their separate ways.

Part 2 of 7

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