Ezra Standish leaned casually against the post, outside the saloon. He was feeling particularly happy with himself. Vin Tanner may think he’d had the last laugh, but then, the tracker had never encountered the great Ezra Standish before. Standish had a memory like an elephant and the cunning of a wolf. Vin Tanner was going to pay!

Several people passed the well-dressed regulator, each smirking at him. Not three hours earlier, Standish had ridden into Four Corners on the back of a mule. The entire town had flowed out onto the street to see his embarrassing entrance. Josiah and Nathan had laughed. Buck and J.D. had been worse, actually applauding him. Chris had smirked and Vin... Vin Tanner!

Ezra smiled to himself. Yes, Vin had had his fun, now it was time for Ezra to have his. The gambler’s plan was outstandingly simple, yet brilliant - if he didn’t say so himself. To carry out his well-deserved act of justice... for it was not revenge... he needed the help of one man. One man whom he could trust... bribe. It had not been hard. Buck Wilmington was easy to convince and as it turned out, once Ezra had explained his purpose, Buck was only too happy to assist.

Now, Ezra simply had to wait. In the next few minutes, Vin would head for the livery, as he did every day at this time. The tracker always went for a ride late in the afternoon.

Standish couldn’t wipe the grin of satisfaction from his face. Buck was in the livery ready to enact the gambler’s justice.

“Afternoon, Brother,” Josiah greeted Ezra. Standish flashed the large preacher a wide smile.

Josiah’s eyes narrowed with suspicion. “You look like the cat who got the pigeon.”

“My pigeon is yet to appear. But he will.”

“Ezra?”

“Justice, my friend, is a wonderfully liberating thing.”

At that moment, Vin appeared out of the alley that housed his wagon and turned toward the livery. Ezra rose from the post, turned to the livery and gave Buck the signal to set things up.

“Now, what are you up to, Ezra?” the preacher demanded.

“Not, now,” Ezra whispered with excitement. The gambler licked his lips in anticipation. Standish watched as Vin strode down the street with long relaxed strides.

J.D. appeared out of Potters’ just as Vin was passing. The tracker stopped as the youth sent fourth a flood of words.

Ezra cursed softly under his breath. He glanced at Josiah, who now had a grin on his face.

“You after Vin? It won’t be easy to catch Vin out. What devious plan have you in mind?”

“Something extremely simple. The oldest trick in the book.”

Vin stood patiently, listening to whatever epic J.D. was expounding.

“Mr. Dunne could win a medal for meaningless blither,” Ezra muttered impatiently. He glanced at the livery, but all was quiet.

“And just which trick do you think you are going to be able to get Vin to fall for, Brother?”

“Mr. Tanner usually enters the livery via the small door at the side, does he not?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, I have just had Mr. Wilmington set up a bucket above that door.”

“So you’re going to drench him with water? That’s it?”

Ezra flicked his eyes to Josiah and his gold tooth flashed. “Who said anything about water?”

Josiah’s grin broadened. “What have you put in the bucket?”

“The most delicious mixture of molasses and the foulest smelling manure I could find. It will take an eternity for Mr. Tanner to remove the molasses from his hair or the smell from that loathsome buckskin coat he wears.... oh, for goodness sake!” Ezra snorted. J.D. was still burbling.

Finally, Vin nodded, commented, tipped his hat and then continued on his journey toward the livery. Ezra smiled. His entire being lit up with excitement. Justice.

As Vin passed the blacksmith’s, Nathan appeared. The tracker stopped.

Ezra threw his hands up in disgust. “Of all the... now, what on earth would they have to converse about?”

The minutes ticked by. Buck appeared out of the livery and strode... danced... toward the gambler. The big man was animated, a smile the size of Texas on his face.

“For goodness sake, Mr. Wilmington, control yourself. Mr. Tanner will see you and may begin to suspect something.”

“Relax, Ezra. Ole Vin isn’t going to know what hit him. And I tell you, that stuff is really disgusting! Smells like shit!”

“That is because a large proportion of it is,” Ezra chuckled.

Nathan and Vin finished their conversation and Tanner moved on. Ezra could feel his heart thudding in his chest. The smile on his face was coming from his soul. Justice.

Vin strode down beside the livery, headed for the side door that opened almost directly onto Peso’s stall. There was a sharp whistle. Tanner glanced up the street. Chris signalled his friend and then headed toward him.

Ezra cursed loudly. The anticipation was almost too much for him.

Tanner leaned against the wall of the livery, waiting for his best friend. Once Larabee reached the tracker, they began to talk... and talk... and talk.

Ezra was just about beside himself. “Normally, neither says more than two sentences in an entire week and today, they can’t stop!”

Ezra watched as both men tipped their hats. Chris turned and headed back the way he had come and Vin continued on toward the side door.

Standish bit his bottom lip. This was it. Tanner reached for the door.

“Yes, yes,” Ezra murmured.

The tracker pushed the door open an inch. Chris turned and called something to the young man. Vin paused to reply.

Ezra shook his head in exasperation.

Larabee stared at his friend. Vin shrugged. Chris retuned and the two men began to talk again.

“I declare, if I didn’t know better, I’d swear they were doing it on purpose.”

“I don’t think so, Brother. They don’t look too happy with each other,” Josiah muttered.

Ezra studied his friends’ body language. Chris was doing most of the talking and his stance was a clear signal that he wasn’t impressed about something. Tanner was also having a great deal to say.

Abruptly, the talking ceased. Now, Tanner and Larabee were simply staring at each other. Without warning, Vin grinned and commented. Ezra couldn’t see Larabee’s face, but the gunfighter’s body relaxed. Tanner inclined his head. Chris nodded.

Ezra’s eyes enlarged. Larabee approached the door.

“Oh, God!” Ezra cried.

“Oh, shit,” Buck stated.

“Ohhhh, hell,” Josiah murmured.

Chris opened the door and stepped into the livery. The bucket fell.

“Oh, God!” Ezra cried.

“Oh, yes!” Buck bellowed.

“Ezra, my friend, you are dead,” Josiah chuckled.

Both Larabee and Tanner dived, drawing their weapons. For a split second, they stared at the bucket that had rolled several feet from them. The bucket was now empty - its contents clinging to Larabee. Chris dropped his eyes. His hat and his clothes were covered in some sticky and foul smelling ooze. Vin climbed to his feet and then pulled Chris up. Tanner and Larabee stared at each other and then Vin Tanner exploded with laughter. It was not the quiet, reserved chuckle that usually passed for the tracker’s mirth. This was resonating. Tears began to stream down his face unrestrained. Chris’s face, on the other hand, had a look of thunder.... Ezra’s face had drained of colour.

“It would appear my plan to seek justice has had something of an unfortunate setback.”

Josiah turned to the gambler and offered his hand. “It has been nice knowing you, Ezra.”

In the livery, Chris was growling at Vin. Tanner raised his hands declaring his innocence.

Ezra tipped his hat to Buck and Josiah. “If anyone is looking for me, I shall be elsewhere.”

“Where?”

“Australia.”

In the livery, Vin continued to proclaim his innocence, all the while, laughing hysterically.

Ezra took an appraising look at Chris. The gunfighter truly was a sight. His face and chest were covered in thick, sticky molasses. The more he tried to wipe the stuff away, the further he spread it. The rancid smell was wafting up the street on the breeze. Ezra couldn’t help smiling. He knew he would pay for this, for it wouldn’t be long before Vin convinced Chris that he was innocent. Once Chris started asking questions, Buck would be only too happy to identify who was responsible. Buck was so helpful in that way!

Ezra watched as Chris left the livery, Vin at his heels, the tracker’s chest heaving as he tried to breathe and laugh at the same time. Others paused to stare... not one person smiled.

Ezra waited for the pair to disappear into the boarding house and then set off for the livery himself. While Australia may be an exaggeration, popping out of town until Chris had calmed down was probably incredibly sensible.

As Standish steered his mount out of the livery, he heard a roar that rattled the doors.

“STANDISH!”

“Then again, I’ve heard Australia’s nice this time of year.”

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© May 2002 Aussie Lass. : This relates only to the creative property in this story. The distinctive way the story unfolds, the specific dialogue and unique situations are mine. I acknowledge that some of the characters and settings belong to MGM and Trilogy Entertainment and thank them sincerely for turning a blind eye so I can borrow them. (g) No infrigement of copyright was intended and no profit has been made from this story... so, please don't sue me. It wouldn't be worth your while.