Part Three

Bachelors and Brides

Buck Wilmington made a decision.

In the wake of what had taken place with Charlotte, a dark cloud had formed over what should have been an occasion of celebration. Buck decided something needed to be done to lift all their spirits. Charlotte's arrival in Four Corners had left a vein of tension running through all of the seven, not just Vin. Each had their own opinion on what the tracker should do and the emotions and good intention was making everyone crazy. Thus, instead of waiting until the day before the wedding, Buck decided to take a page out of Mary Travis' desire to have her bridal shower a few days earlier and throw Chris' bachelor party on the same day.

For both bride and groom, it was going to be a memorable night.

The Bridal Shower

After the ugly confrontation she had been forced to endure as part of the triangle that involved Vin and Charlotte Richmond, Alexandra Styles was actually pleased to organize the bridal shower. Throwing herself into something mundane was just what she needed to forget her present predicament. Although Vin had assured her that he was more than comfortable with what had happened, she knew better. He was hurt to the core by Charlotte's words, no so much by the fact that she still loved him but by the circumstances she now found herself, having abandoned her husband. Considering that the land the Richmonds were occupying had gold, she had walked away from a comfortable living and Vin could not feel partially responsible for that loss.

Alex herself felt sorry for the woman but not for her actions. After all, it was the height of arrogance to assume that Vin would simply wait for her indefinitely. Fortunately, Charlotte stayed out of sight for the next two days, allowing both Alex and Vin to recover from the encounter. Alex threw herself into the task of organizing Mary's bridal shower, deciding that Inez was right, she need not adhere to convention and decided she would indulge herself in the planning.

Since Julia had an entire house to herself, where else Alex's home was divided between her personal space and her clinic, the bridal shower was held there. Invited were most of the women of Four Corners since Mary's sphere of influence as a community leader brought her in contact with almost everyone in town. Knowing it was a slight not to be invited, Alex had been careful with the invitations and finally when all the guests did finally arrive, it was more or less a full house.

To accommodate the volume, Alex had decided that it was simpler to have the shower in Julia's garden and the whole affair evolved into a tasteful garden picnic with everyone bringing a dish of their own to add to the collection on the large table holding the food. It was a nice autumn day, so it was not terribly hot but not very cold either. The affair had begun early morning and did not expect to last much longer into mid afternoon which was just as well for Alex had more planned than just this simple garden party.

Inez had told her to be creative.

The garden party was a most civilized affair with everyone lazing about in the afternoon sun, gossiping about the local goings on sipping tea and nibbling on the selection of food that made up the buffet table. Alex found the thing utterly boring and could not admire Mary's ability to sit still and listen with complete patience to the ramblings from a number of Four Corners' matrons. She saw Mary sitting with Mrs. Janet O'Leary and Gloria Potter, who were both bombarding the young widow with all kinds of good advice. Alex immediately felt a stab of sympathy for her friend and hoped what she had planned this evening would make up for some of this.

Julia was similarly deposed talking to another gaggle of housewives, no doubt about the future plans for the Emporium and what she intended to do with the establishment later on. Alex saw Inez engaged in conversation with Nettie and Casey and quickly decided that was where she wanted to be. She had been skirting on the edge of the party, mingling and making enough small talk to seem hospital but in truth, she wanted to be far away from here. The trio were standing next to the buffet table when Alex approached them.

"Well I must congratulate you Alex," Inez complimented as she looked around in approval at the gathering before them. "You managed quite well for someone who I had to drag into doing this."

"Thanks," Alex replied with a faint smile and then met Nettie's gaze with an expression of humour. "It's mostly because I feared for my life. She would have hurt me if anything went wrong."

"Now you leave Inez alone," Nettie laughed. "It's a hard thing organizing a wedding." The older woman gave Inez a wink. "A hundred things need to be done."

"I know I'm going to get you to do my wedding some day Inez." Casey declared with complete sincerity.

"I shall be honoured." Inez said graciously. "Although I don't think I would like to do another wedding for quite a while." She let out a loud exhale at the remark. "Its just too much work."

"And you're loving every minute of it." Alex looked at her with a smirk that told the lady bartender she was fooling no one with that remark.

"I am not." Inez replied with great dignity, lifting her chin and tossing her hair back slightly to make her point. "I am doing this for Mary."

"Speaking of which," Nettie glanced in Mary's direction. "Someone ought to be rescuing the bride, she's been too long with Janet. Listening to that woman is enough to drive anyone crazy as coot."

Nettie was not far wrong if the expression on Mary's face was anything to go by. The widow was still wearing the same mask she had been for most of her conversation with Mrs. O'Leary and even Casey could tell that Mary needed rescuing badly. Mrs. O'Leary was one of those women who had an opinion for every subject no matter how little she knew on the subject. Her belief that with age came wisdom meant that she would impress on everyone her thoughts on how they ought to conduct herself, simply because she was older.

"Mary." Inez stepped forward, deciding as maid of honour it should be her responsibility to intercede on this subject. Beside her, Nettie had advanced as well, deciding that she could be of some assistance in this delicate operation.

"Yes?" Mary said with clear relief in her face as Inez's voice had halted Mrs. O'Leary's conversation for a moment at least.

"I need you to have a look at some of the flower samples for the wedding." Inez replied, trying to signal to Mary with her eyes that this was a rescue.

"Well," Mary quickly rose to her feet. "I guess if I really have to." She looked down at Mrs. O'Leary and asked the woman to excuse her a moment as she went to tend to matters of the wedding. Mrs. O'Leary had little time to argue as Nettie immediately slipped into Mary's former place and took up the threads of conversation, allowing Mrs. O'Leary no idea that she was being abandoned.

As Inez and Mary drew away, Mary whispered into her ear. "Thank God." She said with a sigh. "I had to hear one more thing about why I should keep a firm hand on Chris, I was going to scream."

"Keep a firm hand on who?" Inez glanced over her shoulder in astonishment at the woman who had dared to make such a presumption. "On Chris Larabee?"

"Exactly," Mary shook her head. "You have better chance of turning lead into gold."

"Well how is the bride enjoying her bridal shower?" Alex asked when the two joined her and Casey once again. Alex immediately poured Mary a glass of punch and handed it to the widow, who took it gratefully and downed it as if she really needed a drink.

"I had no idea there were so many women in Four Corners." Mary sighed taking a sip of the punch and then regarding it a moment because its fruity flavor seemed to be laced with something else. "I think I have talked to everyone this morning."

"And gotten more advice than you needed right, Mrs. Travis?" Casey laughed, knowing how it felt to have everyone talking down to her. As the youngest member of the quartet, Casey often had to endure her elders imparting their advice upon her, even when she did not need it.

"Exactly." Mary said taking a deeper sip of the punch. "What is in this?"

Alex looked at her a little guiltily. "Just a little tinge of gin. Julia thought it might make people relax."

"There's a little bit more than a tinge to make people relax," Mary retorted but nonetheless emptied the glass and handed it to Alex. "But I like it."

"Well don't like it too much," Alex warned but filled the glass anyway. After all, it was Mary's bridal shower. She deserved to enjoy herself tonight. Besides, Alex had plenty in her worn doctor's bag that could cure a hangover.

"This is just the appetizer. The main course starts in approximately four hours."

"I am intrigued." Mary replied and glanced at Inez. "Do you know what's happening?"

"Nope," Inez shook her head in honestly. "She has not even told me. All I have been told is that we have to pack an evening dress."

"An evening dress?" Mary exclaimed, now sufficiently intrigued. "Doctor Styles, what mischief do you have planned?" Mary looked at Alex's innocent expression with narrowed eyes.

"Trust me, you'll enjoy it." Alex said confidently, having the whole evening planned in her head and having taken care of the arrangements well before the first matron had arrived this morning with pie.

"Why do I have a feeling, I'm going to get into trouble?" Mary turned an accusing eye in her direction.

"Because trouble is your middle name and getting into it is your first?" Inez suggested helpfully.

Mary stared at both Inez and Alex for a long moment and then said to Casey. "I think I should be afraid, very afraid."

It was almost three o'clock by the time the last guest left and Mary had drunk sufficient quantities of Julia's fruit punch to be very relaxed indeed. In fact, she was actually looking forward to whatever intrigue that Alex had concocted for the evening and hoped it was not as traditional or as suffocating as the garden party before. Mary understood that such things had to be this way and Alex had no choice but to plan it this way for the rest of Four Corners.

However, their afternoon plans were exclusively for Mary, Inez, Julia and Alex. Mary wished Casey could have accompanied them but according to Alex, she was not sure Nettie would approve of what she had planned this evening.

As per Alex's instruction, Mary had packed a small bag that contained an evening dress which she was assured could be pressed when they reached their destination. They would not be gone all night because all four had commitments at home the next day that required their presence and would not wait for a bridal shower, no matter how much they would have liked. Gloria Potter had agreed to take Billy for the night who seemed a little more manageable after his conversation with Julia Pemberton. It was to Mary's chagrin as well as amusement that her son had developed a crush on the Emporium owner after her kindness to him.

Wondering what Chris would be getting up to while she was gone, Mary made her way to the livery once she had finished her packing. Obviously, Alex had a little foray out of town planned but it was anyone's guess what the doctor had in mind. She hoped it was less scandalous then what she was certain Buck had planned for Chris and reminded herself that she was not going to let her imagination run away with her at what the men would be indulging in tonight.

Besides, she had past the point in their relationship where she was jealous of other women. Chris knew how to restrain himself in all things and so she had every confidence that there was nothing Buck could tempt Chris with.

Besides, he was a dead man if he succumbed.

Mary arrived at the stable and saw the others already present. They were waiting patiently for the stable hand on premises to complete hitching a pair of horses to a buggy large enough to seat four. Apparently she had been correct in her assertion that this excursion was going to be one out of Four Corners and found herself looking forward to an interesting evening. It also helped that the punch had put her in an extremely good mood where she was able to forget the more tedious aspect of a wedding.

"Are we going on a trip?" Mary asked as she arrived.

"Yes but not a terribly long one. Just for the evening." Alex replied since none of the others had an idea what was happening beyond their departure from town.

"Where are we going?" Mary inquired, hating mysterious. Journalistic curiosity was a terrible burden to bear she decided. It was the same excuse she used when she used to sneak down and open Christmas presents before the day.

"Not telling." Alex said adamantly. "Just get in the carriage."

"You realize of course," Inez responded with a smile from the backseat of the buggy. "We will not get a moment's peace until we arrive. She is going to drive you crazy until she knows."

"Did I really make you my maid of honour?" Mary threw her a dark look.

"Yeah, so its too late to change your mind now." Inez retorted with a satisfied smirk.

"Come on Mary," Julia urged, eager to get going because unlike Mary she thrived on surprises. "Leave a little mystery in your life."

Mary sighed, deciding she was outnumbered on this point. It appeared that she was just going to have to endure the mystery until they arrived at their destination. Still, she had to admit there was something intriguing about not knowing where they were going although the possibilities would narrow once they left town. Once they were settled in, Alex took the reins and the quartet began their trip.

It did not take long into their journey that Mary discovered that they were heading towards Sweet Water and knowing the kinds of entertainment that existed in that larger town, Mary had to admit it was a pleasant discovery. The weather held for most of the ride, with the temperature dropping slightly as the day progressed into night. Autumn had left a slight chill in the air but they had wisely brought shawls or coats with them to negate its effects. It was a pleasant ride into Sweet Water which was far more enjoyable then the bridal shower she had been forced to endure that morning.

It surprised Mary to learn how little she had in common with the house wives of Four Corners. Her world involved crises on an almost daily basis and her life involved more than just raising a child and getting a husband. On the eve of becoming married, Mary was far happier because she had the love of a good man and a job which she loved doing. The three friends with her at this moment shared more of an understanding about the way she lived then anyone she had met throughout her life.

The sun had begun to set when they arrived in Sweet Water. After leaving the buggy at the local livery, the four women found themselves at the luxurious Sweet Water hotel with its rooms of running water and room service. Although they would not be staying the night, Alex had booked a room so they had somewhere to get dressed and cleaned up before they went out for a night out on the town. The hotel had in house entertainment as well as a gambling casino, none of which any of them had ever chanced to enjoy.

After checking into the room, the women proceeded to get refreshed and changed into their evening wear for the night ahead. The hotel boasted a five star restaurant which provided them with dinner. Mary enjoyed the evening immensely, knowing that she was probably courting danger when she partook of the bottle of wine that Julia ordered. It was certainly a far cry from the stolid proceedings earlier that day even though she understood why it was necessary for Alex to plan it that way.

"Oh my," Mary giggled as the wine went straight to her head and turned her pink cheeks in a flushed reddish hue. "I think I'm going to suffer tomorrow." She laughed as she drained her glass.

"Well you're supposed to sip it." Inez pointed out, feeling a little tipsy herself. "Just make sure she doesn't convince us to go investigate an old haunted house." The Mexican warned, remembering all too clearly what happened the last time they had imbibed in the devil's water.

"Ah yes," Julia nodded. "The infamous Chesterton House. Ezra made some mention of that."

"I'll bet he did." Mary grumbled. "I had to put up with Chris wearing this smirk across his face for the next week."

"Don't get me started," Inez waved away the subject with distaste. She had remembered how irritating Buck had been during that time, particularly after he had tried to help her by giving her his hangover remedy. Fortunately, this time she was wise to him. "Buck would not let me live it down for even longer than that."

"Are you ever going to do anything about that man?" Alex asked, aware now that the alcohol was getting to all of them with the possible exception of Julia, who as always remained poised and in control of her faculties. Even she was feeling a light headed with the potent combination of liquored up punch and wine.

"Like what?" Inez looked at her.

"Sleep with him for God's sake." Mary blurted out and more or less confirmed that she was on the heavy side of tipsy. "Put him out of his misery and yours."

"Never." Inez exclaimed, with great dignity. "I'm saving myself for marriage."

The three looked at her.

"You are kidding, aren't you?" Julia asked, unable to even fathom such an archaic concept. Of course, it was never proper to be too free with one's affections at least as far as Mary and Alex were concerned.

"Of course I am kidding!" Inez burst out laughing, thinking how priceless the blank expressions on their faces were. "I don't take those cold showers for nothing you know."

"You're just doing it to torture Buck." Mary teased.

"Yes." The bartender said with complete sincerity. "If I have to suffer, so does he." She said wickedly.

"So what now Alex?" Mary asked, now that they had finished dinner. She wondered what else Alex had planned for the evening.

"I thought we'd go to the hotel casino." Alex suggested with a smile, pleased that her friends were enjoying themselves immensely. The rest of the patrons at the restaurant were casting odd looks at the four women who were quite obviously drunk and enjoying every minute of their scandalous behaviour. Alex who did not drink felt the alcohol effect her more than it should while Julia seemed sober even though she had drank considerably. It would not surprise Alex if Julia could hold her liquor quite well.

"You gambler you." Mary pointed an unsteady finger in her direction. "You just want to get into a game." The blond gave her a knowing glare.

"I do not!" Alex giggled in protest. "I thought we might have a look at the other people playing."

"Sure." Inez laughed. "Just as long as we don't have to steal horses and make a getaway."

"Or have to wear men's clothes." Julia added.

"Or blow up a bank." Alex remarked, looking at Mary as she said that.

"I'll have you know that you should all be grateful that I did that." Mary said haughtily. "Now let us see what else there is to do of this place. Its my last days as a free woman, I want to kick up my heels and live a little. I'm suppose to forget all that fun stuff when I'm married you know. You wait," she regarded all three of them. "Some day, you'll be married too and then you'll suffer."

With that, she stood up shakily from the table and wandered off without them."I think we better keep a close eye on her." Julia declared and then looked at the rest of her companions and made a mental note to keep them all under close supervision. Fortunately, being a wanton in her youth had allowed Julia to indulge her excesses and in doing so, she had developed the tolerance that none of the others had.

"No problem," Inez stood up just as jerkily and hurried after Mary. "That's what maids of honour are for!"

Julia watched Inez disappear out the dining room and turned to Alex. "On second thought, I think I'd better keep an eye on the lot of you."

While Alex settled the bill, Julia took a moment in the powder room, intending to meet up with the others in the casino. However, when she reached that part of the hotel, her three friends were nowhere in sight. Julia scanned the vicinity, searching for the trio at the gaming tables where poker, roulette and blackjack were being played by both genders. It was a tasteful atmosphere but the tension was still the same around the gambling tables were money was the only equalizer.

Julia searched the card tables first and saw no sign of her friends until she happened along the bar.

"Oh my God." Julia exclaimed at the sight that she was beholding.

"Now see Senor," Inez held court, surrounded by four men who were very taken with the sultry beauty if the gleam in their eyes were anything to go by. On the counter next to her was a bottle of tequila, slices of lemon and some salt. "This is how you prove you're a man in Mexico." The woman announced to her audience.

Julia watched in mild fascination as Inez dusted some salt onto her forearm before sucking it into her mouth. Immediately following that action, the bartender picked up the shot glass filled to the brim with tequila and tossed it back, digesting the contents with one deep swallow. As soon as she had done that, she picked up the lemon and bit into the slice. Inez winced as she removed the fruit from her lips, wiping away the juice with her arm as she put down the glass hard on the counter.

The men seemed to clap as if she had performed some minor miracle and Julia had this terrible premonition that she had better stay sober for the rest of the night as well as finding the others. By now Inez had refilled the glass and was reaching for another slice of lemon much to the amusement of the men around her.

Julia did not know if she should drag Inez away now or wait until the woman was comatose with tequila before making the attempt. Either way, at the rate she was going, Inez was not going to have to have any trouble worrying about cold showers with the men who were presently surrounding her.

"Inez." Julia broke through the group watching Inez like she was the tastiest thing on the table. Inez uninhibited was even more alluring than Inez sober. She oozed sexuality with such force that it was almost something tangible and almost every man who was offering to buy her a drink was subject to it. Julia could only thank God that Buck was not here. This display from the object of his affections would probably send the man into sensory overload.

"Julia!" Inez gushed and wrapped her arm around Julia's shoulder. "Everyone, this is my friend Julia. Julia say hello everyone!"

Oh boy, Julia thought to herself and made an obligatory greeting to the men present. "Inez, maybe you've had enough."

"Enough?" Inez looked at her with horror. "I am perfectly fine. Look!" She held out her hand to show Julia that it was perfectly stationary even thought she could barely remain seated on her stool. "Bartender! One more!" Inez laughed and then remembered something. "Never mind Senor, I can do it myself."

She leaned across the counter and retrieved the bottle of tequila before pouring herself another glass. Repeating the procedure with the salt, she drained its contents sharply and pressed the lemon slice to her lips before letting out a satisfied grin of accomplishment. "See Julia, I can not only run the bar, I can also plan a wedding and drink tequila like a man. Mamma Rosillios would be so proud of me."

Julia rolled her eyes and groaned. "You're an inspiration to women everywhere." Deciding that it was not safe to leave Inez alone, especially in her drunken state, Julia took her by the arm and helped her off the bench. "Gentlemen," Julia said politely. "I think my friend and I will call it a night."

There were words of disappointment all around when she dragged Inez away from the bar and the bottle of tequila which the lady bartender made a grab for as they drew away. Julia had only one consolation in mind as they left the bar that at least she had gotten to Inez before she did anything she would hate herself for in the morning. Julia kept a firm grip on Inez as she began searching for Mary and hoped that the widow was not in the same state as she had found Inez or else this was going to be a very long night.

Actually, it did not take Julia very long to find Mary Travis and where she did find the bride to be made the Emporium owner's jaw drop in astonishment. Towing Inez behind her, Julia found Mary at the roulette table in the arms of man. The duo was exchanging extremely heated kisses, much to the outrage of the more respectable customers in the casino. They were staring at Mary and her new friend with expressions of reproach and disapproval. As she neared Mary, Julia tried to snare a look at the man whom Mary was willing to behave so improperly with and found that there was something familiar about him she could not place. However, it was somewhat difficult to see when neither he nor Mary was coming up for air very soon.

"Looks like Mary's having fun." Inez chuckled as Julia let go of her long enough to go retrieve the errant bride.

"Mary Travis," Julia said clutching the woman by the wrist and pulling her away from the man. Suddenly, she began to understand what all those relatives of hers had endured when she was in the worst of her wild and wanton days. "What in God's name are you doing?"

"Hey!" The man she was kissing grumbled in annoyance and looked up at Julia. If she had thought seeing Mary kissing a complete stranger was shocking enough, staring into the face before her eclipsed that so easily that Julia completely forgot the latter image.

It was Chris!

At least she thought it was Chris on first glance. As she blinked, she could understand why Mary would make such a mistake in her state of inebriation. Only when she looked closer, could Julia see the differences and they were slight differences indeed. The most obvious was the moustache he wore and his eyes seemed colder than Chris Larabee's did, if such a thing could possibly be. He did not wear black but brown leather or suede, she could not be sure. His unruly hair hung over his eyes and he stared at her with the same intense gaze.

"It's alright Julia," Mary said and then hiccupped loudly. "Its Chris. He just grew a moustache, that's all."

"I apologize for my friend, Mr.?" Julia replied deciding that she did not want to get into a situation with this man who wore a gun belt around his waist and looked to her like a gunslinger.

"Ringo," he said eying her like she was something as tasty as Mary. "Johnny Ringo."

He certainly was, Julia thought with a smile. The resemblance was uncanny down the last devastatingly handsome bone in his perfect body. For a moment, Julia was tempted to forget Ezra and just drag this man somewhere for a heated midnight tryst. She could not fault Mary's taste anyway.

"Mr. Ringo," Julia sighed, deciding she ought to be the responsible one for once in her life since Mary was in no mind to think for herself. "My friend here is engaged to be married in a day or two. She normally does not drink very much and you bear an amazing resemblance to her fiancee, please understand that she is not in full control of her faculties."

"I kinda guessed that." He broke into a faint smile. "Kept calling me Chris and telling how glad she was to see me out of black. What is this guy, an undertaker?"

Julia held a straight face. "Something like that." She replied. Well technically it was not a lie. Chris had put enough men into the ground in his time. "I'd appreciate it if you would excuse her, she's not normally prone to behave this way."

"I gathered," he grinned. "You won't begrudge me if I say goodbye to the lady now would you?" Ringo asked taking a step towards Mary, who was still smiling at him, her lips reddened from their passionate exchange.

"Of course not." Julia replied, not wanting any trouble with the man.

Johnny Ringo approached Mary Travis and grabbed her roughly again, pulling her to his mouth as he kissed her with renewed passion. He would have like to have taken this woman but he saw no pleasure in enjoying her company and then having her call out someone else's name. He kissed her hard and passionately, wondering if this man to whom he so closely resembled had the same hunger for her. It was a waste if he did not. When he parted, he merely winked at Mary and responded in departure. "If you ever get sick of this Chris guy, look me up."

"Where's Chris going?" Mary asked Julia in puzzlement as Ringo started to leave the gambling area.

Julia groaned as she realized that Inez was off somewhere and she would have to find her again. "Listen to me very closely Mary," the redhead said slowly. "That. .was. .not. .Chris!"

"Of course it was." Mary said with a sigh. "You just didn't recognize him with the moustache."

Julia swore again.

"Alex!" Julia hissed as she found the doctor seated at one of the private gambling tables on the far end of the casino. In this part of the gaming floor, high stakes poker was being played in the pot in the middle of the table was any indication. The notes piled in the middle of the felt covered table were a small fortune of hundred dollars bills and it appeared that all eyes were on Alex.

"Excuse me Miss," one of the players said. "Do you mind. We are currently engaged in some serious betting." He was an older man with a mustached that curled at the edges wearing a fancy suit and appeared to take his gambling very seriously. "Now Doctor Styles, are you still with us?"

"Certainly Doctor Andrews." Alex smiled back and then turned to Julia who had moved behind her with Mary. "I'll be just a second, Julia."

Julia huffed impatiently, eager to get out of this place because Mary was becoming increasingly difficult to manage with the widow wanting to go off to seek Chris with his new moustache. She glanced at the hand Alex was going and had to admit that it was an impressive hand. Casting her mind back to Alex's infamous game with Ezra, Julia could not help but smile at thinking how mortified her lover had been at Alex letting him win again. He still demanded a rematch occasionally but his persistence had faded with Alex's constant refusal.

At the moment however, the tension at the table was at a knife's edge as Alex pushed notes into the centre of the table, to add to the stake that was building with slow momentum. "I raise two hundred dollars, any one of you boys care to match that?" She met the eyes of the men around her, challenging them to keep up with her. Not wishing to be outdone by a woman, the man directly across her pushed more money to add to the pot.

"I match your two and raise you three." The man stared at her, daring Alex to compete. A small crowd had gathered around the table, watching in anticipation at how much money was going to find its way into the centre of the table before a card was even seen.

"I'm out!" Someone said and his declaration was followed by his cards landing on the table as he pushed away from the edge in a show of defeat. The circle returned to Doctor Andrews who bit his lip in consideration as he weighed the notion of pulling out while he could or riding this game to its inevitable conclusion.

"Do we take IOU's?" The doctor inquired and drew sharp responses of no from those seated at the table, except Alex.

"I can cover you Doctor Andrews," Alex offered. "Call it professional courtesy." She smiled.

"Why thank you Doctor Styles." Andrew smiled, tipping his hat in her direction before remarking. "I'd like to match Mr. Douglas' bet to stay in."

"For my esteemed colleague." Alex announced and pushed Andrew's notes forward. "And for myself, another hundred."

Mary leaned over her shoulder to see what cards she had when suddenly the widow exclaimed. "But you've only three eights and a pair of queens!"

A visible groan shifted throughout the room in quick succession after Mary had made that statement and Alex hung her head down not only in embarrassment but also because the disclosure had more or less ended that particular game. The doctor winced in frustration as she looked up at her opponents and asked with a wry smile. "I guess no one's going to raise?"

The expression on their faces said enough and Julia whispered in Alex's ears. "Now can we go home?"

The Bachelor Party

Unlike the sedate affair enjoyed initially by the women of Four Corners, in celebration of the impending nuptials of Chris Larabee and Mary Travis, the bachelor party was somewhat livelier as such things tended to be. The Standish Tavern had been closed for the evening, devoted exclusively to the use of the seven as they celebrated Chris' last days of freedom as a single man. With Buck Wilmington in charge of the festivities, there was naturally, plenty of alcohol in attendance with working girls doing the rounds of the room, even though no one had taken up the offer to disappear upstairs for some feminine company.

Chris had to admit he was having a good time and as he glanced over at Vin who sat not far from him, with a woman in his lap trying to behave even though she was coming on very strong, he guessed the tracker was enjoying himself as well.

For once, Chris had to admit that Buck's idea to bring forward this party was a good one for the tensions had been created by Charlotte's appearance in Four Corners was nowhere to be seen. Although he had yet to pick a best man yet, Chris had a candidate in mind and hoped that either Buck or Vin would not be too offended by his choice.

"Well Mr. Larabee," Ezra said sitting next to him with a drink. "How does this compare to the last soiree Mr. Wilmington threw in your honour?"

"A lot less trouble," Chris replied, downing his glass and reaching for the bottle on the table before him. "At least I'm not waking up with a bell around my neck."

"I would love to hear the story behind that conclusion." Ezra laughed. "Although I would not count the entertainment for the evening as being this delightful gathering." The gambler gestured to the women before them. "I do believe he has something special planned."

"That's a worry." Chris drawled, feeling somewhat drunk already but not enough for it to be debilitating. "Buck never does anything conventional in that sense."

"Hey Ezra," Buck sang out. The tall man was presently holding a rather voluptuous working girl in one hand and a glass in another. "How about singing us a song? I told Trixie here that you got the purdiest voice. Remember when you made your debut at Wickestown?"

"Yeah Ezra!" Nathan laughed. "Maybe we can find you something to wear."

"That is not funny Mr. Wilmington." Ezra grumbled with annoyance. "I'll have you now, that I only wore that costume in the line of duty."

"Well Ezra," Chris teased. "You had to admit you were quite the fetching young lady."

"You are an engaged man Mr. Larabee," Ezra said darkly. "You are not meant to be noticing how fetching I am." The gambler retorted and stood up from his chair.

"Now if you excuse me, I need to go kill Mr. Wilmington or at the very least shoot him in the mouth."

"Its been tried and failed." Chris replied. "Believe me, I've done it myself."

"Just one song and show a little leg!" Buck's voice sang out again and Ezra flashed him a look that was filled with daggers.

Chris laughed as he watched Ezra proceed forward to confront Buck and possibly Nathan who was enjoying this playful teasing as much as his oldest friend. Good ol'' Buck, Chris shook his head in resignation. The man never changed and in some ways Chris was almost glad of that. It was nice to know that at least something in his life remained constant. So much had changed in the last two years since he had arrived at Four Corners. It was quite a sobering thing to remember that Sarah and Adam had been dead five years already. Where had the time gone? He had never imagined the turns his life would take when he first felt his heart react at the sight of the young woman standing down a bunch of drunks, with a shotgun that was she was having trouble just holding on to. He saw how she had trembled as she raised the weapon to bear but the determination in her eyes and the set of her jaw as she prepared to stand firm had touched him more than anything had done so since his wife and son had died. Did he know then that he loved her or just that there was something being rekindled inside him.

Chris did not know for certain and perhaps he would never know. When he had first laid eyes on Mary Travis, everything had changed for him, not just the unbearable pain of his loss but also the loneliness he had worn like a cloak for much of his life even when his family still lived. Mary had made his life worth living again and with her came the friends that were now working themselves into a proper state of intoxication.

He looked up and saw Ezra and Buck wrestling, with Nathan yelling something to Buck about keeping his hands off the lady and Chris did not believe that it was the working girl Trixie. He tried to suppress a smile as both Buck and Ezra landed on the table, their collective with crushing the table beneath them, sending bottles and glasses full of drink in all direction. Nathan was holding his glass high, lest he did not spill anything while around the two men, laughter ensued.

Vin stepped out the line of fire, holding his own glass carefully not to spill it in the midst of all the excitement as he came to take Ezra's former place next to Chris. The tracker seemed in good spirits which was quite a change considering his encounter with Charlotte had been only a day or so ago. Like Chris, Vin preferred to stay out of the hard carousing the others indulged in, although the tracker was known to have a playful side when the mood took him.

"How are you enjoying your bachelor party, pard?" Vin asked, his gaze still fixed on Ezra and Buck. By now, the gambler had impossibly manage to get Buck in a neck lock and was proceeding to empty a bottle of whisky over the man's head while the rest of the room was cheering him on. Buck who was unrepentant was crying out. 'Don't hurt me ma'am!' Which only succeeded in infuriating Ezra even more

"I'm enjoying it pretty good." Chris had to admit. "I think I like staying out of the line of fire more than anything else."

"I don't blame you." Vin laughed. "Come one Ezra, show the man what it's like to take on a lady!" The tracker hollered in the direction of the main group.

"Duck!" Chris warned and the two men moved out of the way as a bottle few in their direction and impacted on the floor behind them, spraying them with fluid as it shattered.

"I wouldn't rest too easy," Vin said after they were back in their original positions again. "I hear Buck's got something else planned this evening. He had it brought in from Bitter Creek."

"Really?" Chris frowned, hating surprises of any kind. In particular those that had its origins from Buck Wilmington. He remembered the last such surprise that Buck had sprung on him and recalled that it ended up with his having to sneak into town without a stitch of clothing other than the boots on his feet.

"He's been whispering about nothing else. Said it was something special that is sure to knock our socks off." Vin added.

Chris did not want his socks knocked off, or anything else for that matter. However, it did not look like anything was going to happen just yet, with Ezra finally releasing Buck who was soaked from his alcohol bath. Ezra had now turned his attention to his other tormentor and was running after Nathan with another full bottle of whisky. Almost everyone in the room was suitably inebriated by this point and so Ezra was being cheered on in this endeavour.

In the meantime, J.D. and Josiah were engaged in a drinking contest. Josiah seemed as stoic as always, his tally of empty glasses not all reflecting in his seemingly sober features. J.D. on the other hand was on a fast track to being completely wasted before the hour was up. To his credit, J.D. was hanging on quite well as he tried to keep pace with Josiah who was clearly offering the young man a challenge to stay upright. Knowing J.D. as well as he did, Chris knew the youngster was stubborn enough to drink himself into oblivion just to prove he could keep up with the older man.

"Kid's going to be sick to the stomach tomorrow." Vin said with a wry smile.

"Tomorrow?" Chris looked at him. "I'd give him another twenty minutes."

Suddenly Chris remembered that he had something to discuss with the tracker and figured now was as good a time as any to bring it up. "Listen pard," Chris said taking a sip of his drink and looking at the young man. "After me and Mary are hitched, chances are I won't be spending too much time at the shack. I was wondering whether you'd like to take up the place. I need someone to keep an eye on the place."

"Are you sure?" Vin asked somewhat overwhelmed by the offer. "I mean, I thought you were pretty attached to the place."

"I ain't giving it to you or nothing," Chris joked, amused by Vin's reaction. "I just want someone to be there since I ain't going to be. I'll be staying at Mary's place although I reserve the right to turn up now and then, when I need some peace and quiet. Besides, I'll still take Billy fishing up at the creek."

"Thanks Chris," Vin said softly, feeling the emotion well inside at the gesture. Vin had never really been long enough to call any place home in his life before coming to Four Corners and what Chris was offering was a place of his own where he could escape the quiet without disappearing into the wilderness for a few days.

"Okay Chris," Buck approached. "Its time for the entertainment." The tall man reeked of liquor as he neared them, running his fingers through his dark hair. He dashed up the stairs to the upper floor of the saloon and called out. "Come on out darlin'!" He shouted, capturing everyone's attention at the same time. The rest of the seven turned towards him as they heard the scratchy sound of a phonograph starting to blare.

The music that exuded from some undisclosed room in the corridor was loud and heavy with percussion. It was the kind of music one heard in music halls and steamy theater shows in the big city. Buck hurried back down the stairs back to Chris and Vin before announcing. "Everybody give a hand for the lovely Miss Salome and the dance of the Seven Veils!"

She emerged from one of the room, tall, lithe and clad in a colorful assortments of strategically placed scarves over parts of her body. A veil hung over her face and through the thin material they could almost spy her full round lips. And those were the only things she was wearing. Her long red hair was tied into a pony tail that hung over back and swayed tantalizingly when she moved.

The woman who went by the pseudonym of Salome sauntered down the stairs, dancing to an exotic beat that reminded everyone present of faraway places known to them only in book and stories. The dance was one that could only be described by those witnessing it as one of pure sex.

It exuded in the slow movement of her hands, the way her hips swung from side to side, making her skin ripple with such fluidity of moment that there was not one man present who unaffected by the display. Even Chris started to feel a little dry in the throat as she regarded the men present with cobalt coloured eyes in her seductive but painfully slow movements. The music seemed to be almost as intoxicating as the dancer before them, forcing each man to be aware of her as she stepped onto the floor, wearing soft slippers made her footsteps almost nonexistent.

No one spoke as she drew closer and even Josiah and J.D. had abandoned their drinking contest in light of the vision before them. The woman moved gracefully to the centre floor of the saloon. She was dressed in an imitation of a harem girl's costume which was little more than wisps of gossamer like material clinging to her white skin and bounced lightly with each movement she made. The material was thin enough and scant enough to ensure that most of her was exposed and she twirled about before them, afforded the men a tantalizing view of cream coloured skin that was close enough to touch.

"Mr. Wilmington, you've out done yourself." Ezra's voice managed to say in a quiet whisper as he watched with the same mesmerized expression that the others were wearing. Like every man in the room, it was not possible to be transfixed by the seductive movements of the woman before him, the almost heathen dance she was performing was enough to make them all go to church and thank God they were men. The six had all chipped in their money for Chris' party and at this moment were extremely pleased with Buck's efforts.

"Why thank you Ezra," Buck said with a smile. "Of course, she ain't as pretty as you in a dress but we can't all be that blessed."

A small titter of laughter followed that remark and Ezra reacted by throwing a bowl full of nuts at Buck's direction.

Salome of the veils approached Chris. The gunslinger found himself swallowing as she leaned forward and brushed her lips against his through the silk of the veil, affording him an extremely healthy view of her breasts, barely concealed in the top she was wearing. The scarves that were tucked neatly in a sequined belt around her hip kept her bare thighs from being exposed and brushed against Chris as she danced before him. Her hand snaked down the length of her naked stomach and unhooked one of the lengths of material from its place before tossing it in Chris' direction. She offered him an alluring smile and then withdrew to lavish her attentions on Vin.

Chris let out a sigh of relief as Salome made the round of the room, thinking to himself that he had not been that tempted in a quite some time. He realized that much of it had to do with being drunk but it was difficult not to react at the sight of a half naked woman gyrating sinfully before him. He looked over his shoulder at Buck and stared at his old friend with narrowed eyes.

"You're an evil man Buck." Chris said with a devilish smile.

"Well Chris, I just wanted you to know what you'd be giving up." Buck patted him on the back as they both watched Vin get bright red as the woman sat down on the tracker and performed her a highly tantalizing lap dance on him. Chris could see Vin's Adam's apple bobbing up and down as he too, was forced to remind himself that he had prior commitments else where. Like before, she removed another veil as a calling card before departing from the tracker to continue her journey through the rest of the room.

"This ain't reminding me," Chris glared at him with mock anger. "This is torture. Where did you find her?" He asked over the sound of the music playing from the phonograph.

"In Bitter Creek. She's one of the acts at the new burlesque parlour at the seamier side of town." Buck replied, his eyes moving in perfect rhythm with Salome's firm round derriere.

That explained why Buck had been so eager to take any duty that involved him going to Bitter Creek the past few weeks. During these forays, Buck seldom came home before the next day and Chris now had an idea what the man had been up to in the town. With a smile, he wondered just how well Buck knew Salome. If Chris at all knew Buck Wilmington's habit, he would have no doubt have attempted to familiarize his relationship with the young lady in the biblical sense.

J.D. was staring at the woman before him with wide eyes as Salome turned her attentions to him. The youngster was in an even worse state that Vin because J.D. could not even bring himself to drop his gaze from her face because that was not where he wanted to look. Even Salome was finding some amusement in his shyness and she slipped a veil behind his neck and caressed his skin as she tugged on either end. J.D. was trying to say something but only managed a lopsided grin as he felt Salome's long hair brushing against his cheek.

"I think he's about to pop." Buck laughed and Chris could hardly disagree. He was in better control of his urges than most and he was having a difficult time wrestling with temptation to even think what J.D. must be going through at the moment. It did not help the situation that with the removal of each scarf, more of Salome's shapely legs were being exposed for all to see. At this point, her long slender legs was almost as tantalizing as everything else she was doing.

"Come on Chris," Buck grinned, filling Chris' glass with more liquor since he had further plans for the groom that would require his being in a state of further intoxication to enjoy.

Chris would probably kill him and his co-conspirators, namely Vin and Ezra but then no one lived forever.

By the time Salome had discarded her last veil, Chris Larabee was so drunk that he could barely stand. Thanks to Buck filling his glass every time he emptied it, the gunslinger was almost comatose when the music and the entertainment came to an end. J.D. was forced to excuse himself after the stimulating display and none of the older men wanted to know where he was going, even though they all had a pretty good idea because they all remembered what it was like to be that young and over excited. Fortunately, Buck, Vin and Ezra had other preoccupations in mind, so the lust they had felt over the sumptuous Miss Salome was fleeting.

Nathan helped Josiah back to his lodgings, since apparently J.D. had belatedly won their drinking contest when the preacher had collapsed in a drunken heap, clutching a silk scarf while wearing an inexplicable smile on his face that Nathan did not want explained to him. With Chris more or less out cold, the party had come to an end with most of the guests choosing to depart and Ezra deciding that it was as good a time as any to close the tavern for the night.

"Buck," Vin said as he helped the tall man carry Chris upstairs. "I hope we don't get shot for this. I ain't lived long enough to want go out so soon."

"I'm telling you Vin," Buck grinned as they made their way up the stairs, with Vin holding Chris' legs and Buck keeping a firm grip of his head and arms. "It will be worth it just to see the look on his face."

"I must admit," Ezra remarked as he picked up Chris' black hat from the floor. "I do feel some trepidation over this."

"It’s his last few days as a bachelor!" Buck exclaimed, unable to believe that two of the bravest men he knew could be so yellow over such a harmless little thing. "He’s allowed to have some fun, ain't he?"

"I am uncertain if Mr. Larabee would consider this fun." Ezra pointed out. "However, I do reserve the right to point the finger in your direction if he chooses to take revenge."

"Me too." Vin agreed as they backed up slowly onto the steps that would take them to the room awaiting Chris upstairs. "I'll take my licks if I gotta but I'm going Ezra's way and saying it’s your fault." The tracker said with a wicked grin.

"Nice to know that I'm riding with men of character." Buck frowned.

Julia had no idea what time it was when she finally drove the buggy back into Four Corners. It was obviously the small of hours of the morning because there was no one on the darkened street when she and her companion returned to town. Although she had been tempted to stay in Sweet Water, considering the state of Inez and Mary Travis, Julia and Alex had opted to return home. Besides, if they were to let Mary out of their sight even for a moment, there was no telling where the woman would end up. As it was, no amount of convincing by either Julia or Alex had been able to move Mary on her belief that she had been kissing Chris not some stranger named Johnny Ringo.

No doubt she would remember when the alcohol wore off but for the moment, Mary was so inebriated that Julia had no intention leaving the woman alone. It had strained both Alex and Julia's patience to breaking point to keep Inez and Mary from wandering off and doing something they would all regret in the morning and Julia let out a collective sigh of relief when the buggy finally rolled into town. Julia decided to take Mary home first, since the widow had passed her craving for wanderlust and had now turned a decidedly uncomfortable shade of green. Alex who was tipsy herself, had still presence of mind to know that Mary was not far from being violently ill and decided that getting her home was the best thing at the moment.

"Come on Mary," Alex said as she and Julia helped Mary out of the buggy in front of the Clarion. Across the street, the lights to the saloon were still on although the sounds of revelry were absent.

"Didn't you think Chris was just dreamy with that moustache?" Mary asked with a dazed smile as Julia took her arm as she stepped shakily out of the carriage.

Upon touching the ground, her foot gave way on her and the trio struggled to maintain on their feet, while Inez giggled at the sight of them all.

"Inez," Julia looked at the lady bartender with a dark look. "Stay where you are. You've drunk enough tequila to choke a horse." Julia grumbled.

"I'm staying right here," Inez replied, showing Julia she was a damn sight better condition than Mary whom Alex was having to prop up while she was escorting the widow to the door.

Julia glanced at the saloon as she and Alex helped Mary to the door. "I wonder if the boys are having as much fun as we are?" She asked sarcastically.

"We were having a pretty good time," Alex replied, refusing to let the whole night be a waste. "So our bride has a little difficulty with alcohol. If I had to marry Chris Larabee, I'd need a stiff drink too."

They got Mary through the front door when Julia cast a glance at the buggy and noticed that Inez was nowhere in sight. "Hey, where did she go?" Julia asked as Alex was fumbling with Mary's keys to open the door in the unlikely event some local scandalmonger saw the pillar of the community in this state.

"Who?" Alex asked looking up.

"Inez!" Julia exclaimed frantically, knowing what state Inez was in at this time.

"Well she probably went home." Alex said finally opening the door with one hand while the other was holding onto Mary who was draped over her shoulder. "We'll look for her later." The doctor retorted. "Besides, how much trouble could she get into anyway?"

With the party more or less over and Chris tucked away for the night, Buck decided it was time to call it a night. Vin had already left and Ezra had asked him to lock up on his way out of the place since the gambler had turned in for the night already. The preparations for tomorrow little amusement at Chris' expense had already been taken care of and all it required was for him to be present when the gunslinger woke up to his little surprise. Chris was probably going to trash the hell out of him when he sobered up but Buck could not help himself by denying this little indulgence.

He was half way down the steps when he saw Inez walk through the doors. She was dressed in one those nice cotton dresses that Mexicans tended to favour that really made her look especially lovely and Buck wondered what mischief she and the others ladies had been up tonight. It must have been interesting if the time was any indication of their own festivities. Inez walked across the saloon and noticed him only when she was nearing the steps.

"Hey Inez." Buck greeted as he continued down the stairs. "How was the bridal shower?"

"Terrific." Inez smiled, staring at him in manner that made Buck uncomfortable although he could not understand why. "I drank tequila in Sweet Water and Mary saw Chris grow a moustache."

At this point, he worked out she was tipsy.

"I think its time we got you to bed young lady," Buck chuckled, amusing himself with her inebriation and telling himself to remind her of embarrassing detail tomorrow. Gently, he wrapped his hand around her arm as he intended to take her to her bedroom upstairs.

God, he smelled so good, Inez thought as Buck moved next to her. Inez felt the familiar stirring inside her whenever he was close to her physically. How much he affected her would have surprised him if he had any idea or should she have chosen to let him know about it. She had stayed away from him because she feared getting hurt. Inez knew he loved her, she just never knew whether or not Buck loved her enough. Suddenly, what Julia had asked her earlier returned to haunt her and Inez questioned what was the purpose in curbing her own desires for him when it was obvious how she felt. She was a grown woman who knew how to handle her feelings about Buck Wilmington.

If she wanted to indulge her feelings for him, Inez could not see what was so wrong with that. Especially when he was here right now and looking as handsome as always with that intoxicating scent that pushed her closer and closer to the edge of caution.

Finally Inez found she no longer cared any more.

Buck became more and more aware of how Inez was pressing up against him as he steered her towards the steps, how her breath was moving closer to his ear and he could feel its warmth tickling his ear. Buck was just about to turn around and question what was happening when suddenly, he took note at how she was looking at him. There was one word that could describe what was in her eyes.

Hunger.

When it started, Buck Wilmington was almost in disbelief. He could not fathom it when he felt her wrap her arms around him suddenly and pulled him to her. After so many refusals despite the most heavily mounted campaign Buck Wilmington had ever launched to win any lady's affection, this sudden success was more than he could handle. Inez crushed her luxurious lips against his but there was nothing tender in her kiss. The hunger that burned in her was so fierce that he could feel it against his skin. Her tongue slid past his teeth, finding his own before engaging in an ancient ritual of taste that all but left him breathless.

He was still too astonished at this sudden show of lust to make any suitable response when he felt her nails raking through his hair, a satisfied groan escaping her lips from the bottom of her throat at the sensation. Her mouth devoured his with ruthless intensity and Buck who was used to being in control during every sexual encounter was almost spellbound by the demand in those silky lips. She slammed him against the wall of the empty saloon, oblivious to the fact that anyone could walk in here at this moment and catch them. Somehow, the danger wrapped up with the attainment of the previously unattainable sent a surge of excitement through him that was almost unbelievable in its ferocity.

Buck felt himself harden behind the fabric of his pants, a situation that only heightened Inez's wild passion as she felt the length of him, digging in her belly through her dress. She moaned as she felt its hard ridge pressing into her and seemed to melt against it in a desire to narrow the distance between them, as if their bodies could be pressed any closer against each other. Inez met his gaze and she smiled at him, never looking more beautiful or sultry in that one moment. He could smell the alcohol on her breath and knew that she was drunk. A part of him felt that he should stop this because she was not entirely in her right mind. However, as she pulled apart his shirt and buried those perfect lips on the soft skin of his neck, the nobility was driven completely from his mind and he cared for nothing else.

It took a few minutes of sweet torture as her mouth did its worst against his neck for Buck to regain some measure of composure to do more than just stand helplessly against this hard wooden surface and be taken by her. Although that idea made him so aroused, he could barely think. His hands started tugging at the white cotton dress she was wearing, needing to feel skin as she laved his neck with her tongue, alternating between kisses and gentle nips. His erection was straining against his pants with such need that Buck could only close his eyes in response and wallow in the feeling of tremendous desire.

God, he had known she could be passionate and fiery but he had never imagined this. Not once.

Inez left her lips slid down his exposed chest, delighting in the hard muscle that so many women had enjoyed before her. She did not care who had been there before her because at this moment, she needed him to pleasure her and all other considerations were secondary. She ripped the shirt further apart, popping buttons across the floor as she exposed more skin. She was conscious of him pulling her dress above her legs and his large hands cupping her bottom, kneading into fiery conflagration, the heat between her legs that was already past control or sense. Running her tongue across his skin, Inez explored every curve of taut flesh, from the hollow of his neck to the small depression in the centre of his chest. She licked and tasted until she was aware that he was groaning and calling her name.

His nipples lay before her, elliptical shapes of erect tissue that begged her mouth for stimulation even though he had not spoken a word but screamed it in his reactions. Her lips glided over the rough skin and Inez heard the sharp intake of breath that followed the heat of her mouth enclosing the oval of the tight nub.

"Christ, Inez." He whispered incoherently as she began to work on it. Like before she was not gentle and God, he did not want her to be. He wanted her to take what she wanted from him, to make love to him instead of the other way around. She was making him so hard with her ruthless initiative that he had decided he wanted nothing but to let her satisfy her own desires as long as he could enjoy the ride with her. He pulled the dress over her and groaned in disappointment as her mouth left his nipples even for the slightest moment, when he slipped it over her head and tossed it aside.

As always imagined, she wore very little underneath. Just a slip here and easily discarded pantalets there. Inez was hardly concerned over her nakedness as she moved to his other nipple and repeated the same torture. Buck was running his hands over her smooth back, delighting in the curves and the feel of her silky skin against his. She smelled like cinnamon and in her hair, Buck thought he scented wild flowers and everything that was untamed and free. He closed his eyes as he felt her teeth digging into his skin, wondering how such pleasure could be derived from pain.

Her hands pulled his suspenders free of his shoulders and slipped the shirt off his broad shoulders. Despite her feverish need, Inez took time to appreciate the beauty of the man and he was beautiful. He had been able to charm so many with that boyish smile even though the face that beheld it was without doubt a man. Inez loved hearing his voice, how husky it sounded even when it was not meant to be heard that way. It always sent tingles down her skin even when they argued. Her lips left his nipple and started a downward descent that had Bucked gasping in anticipation by the time she reached the soft velvet skin of his stomach. She covered him with hard, savage kisses, making his insides knot because she finished each tiny kiss with her tip of her tongue making contact against his skin. Her hands had dropped to his hips and she began working the buttons of his pants free as she laved the skin pulled tight across his belly with relentless passion. Buck could hardly believe this attention she was lavishing upon him because it was so mind numbingly pleasurable, he could only grip her hair in response because she had now dropped to her knees.

"Inez," He looked into her eyes as she loosed and all the buttons of his pants and had dropped the fabric around his ankles. Inez met his gaze with a smile, her lips wet with his taste as she remained poised over his hungry cock, aware that it was simply bursting with anticipation for her mouth. Buck knew in that instant that she wanted to do this to him as much as he wanted to feel her take him into her mouth. "I love you." He whispered and she smiled even wider as if she already knew and it would change nothing.

Inez engulfed with in her lips in one deep swallow. He was big, that much had not been an exaggeration of the rumours she had been hearing. She loved how he tasted as she slowly glided over his shaft, taking specific delight in laving the swollen head when she reached him. His fingers tightened their grip in her hair and Inez knew that he was fighting hard to keep himself from pushing his hips in her direction. Inez did not care. She wanted him to pound into her throat until she was close to gagging; she wanted his ecstasy to be absolute and his manhood to swell with such pleasure that when she finally took him, he would fill every inch of her.

"Oh Jesus Christ!" Buck cried out as he felt her pulling his hips forward, until he had no choice but to follow the sensation of absolute pleasure as he begin pushing into the tight, wet heat of her mouth. Her nails dug into his rump as she forced him forward until all he could see was her dark hair bobbing up and down his cock in perfect rhythm with his thrusting hips. He could feel the pressure building inside his cock until all that he could see feel was her mouth carrying him on a wave of ecstasy the likes of which he had never known or would ever want again.

He was getting close. She could taste it in her mouth and knew that if she continued this way for much longer, he would be spent before she could even begin. There was no need for her own arousal because making him a quivering mound of gasping flesh had made her so wet with desire that she felt her sex swelling with need. He was gasping openly, oblivious to where they were or who could walk in. Inez knew that she had him completely in her power but it was not quite enough. She wanted him inside her, she wanted to feel him explode in a rush of orgasmic fire.

Suddenly, she withdrew. Buck looked down and saw her mouth receding from the length of his shaft and the cessation of sensation almost drove him to open sobs of disappointment. He looked at her with question and saw another slow smile steal across her face as she rose to her feet and pressed her mouth against his. Her tongue probing deep again while her naked body stroked the tip of his swollen cock. The rosy head making contact with her skin force another groan from him and Buck saw that she thrilled at the sound of his arousal.

Taking him by the hand, she led him to a nearby table and more or less swept everything on it aside with enough force to send it scattering a suitable distance away where it would cause no harm. Inez made him lie down against the hard wood surface and Buck understood what she wanted of him. It was no more surprise than anything else that had happened to him tonight and he lay back on the surface almost compliantly, his hard cock extending upward awaiting attention.

"Show me." He whispered lustily.

"I will show you everything Buck." She replied, kissing the head of his manhood with a gentle kiss before she climbed on top of him.

His hands reached for her but no sooner than he had tried to touch her, did Inez wrap her hands around his wrists and forced them against the table on either side of his head. Pinning him down helplessly, she pressed her mouth against his again, delivering a most searing kiss that left Buck gasping as he felt the heat of her sex rubbing up and down his belly. Her juices coated his skin and the raw desire in her body reflected in her movements as she rubbed against him mercilessly.

She was so wet that there was little or no resistance when she lowered herself down on him. Buck closed his eyes shut, feeling the intense pressure of tight muscles gripping him as she pushed onto him. Every inch of the journey inside her was pure pleasure and Buck looked at her with a smile, daring her to do her worst because he liked her being in control. Inez smiled at him and kissed him again, allowing him to become accustomed to being inside her. Buck was grateful for the chance because she felt truly wonderful and the need to start thrusting into her was overwhelming. He was not exactly a novice at this but even he was amazed at how much she eclipsed his normal sexual experience.

"Make me scream Buck." She whispered, her lips wet with raw hunger as she started rocking back and forth.

Buck started to groan as he felt her moving over him. She was so hot and tight that he could barely breathe and each movement she made, teased his cock with such relentless pressure that all he could do was shudder with agonizing ecstasy. He had decided to let her take him as if laughably, he had any choice in the matter. Keeping his hands in place, Buck felt Inez ride him like an animal, her muscles tightening each time she forced down on him until he could do nothing but groan incoherently with every stroke of pleasure she was making him endure. He felt helpless in her grip and wanted nothing more than to have her do this to him forever as she pumped his cock with such salacious determination that he felt his control all but slip away under her savage ministrations.

All those rumours and whispers she had heard about Buck Wilmington was answered for Inez as she rocked back and forth on the hard muscle that was currently impaled inside her. He was so far inside her that she could feel him pressing hard against the barrier of flesh that signaled the end of her passage. Each time Inez felt his swollen head making contact with that ending, she found herself moaning at how perfect he felt. He filled her up so completely, she wondered what she could have been thinking by staying away for so long.

Buck felt her pushing harder and harder against him, until her momentum forced his hips into a sensual rhythm with hers. Her breasts bounced lightly against his stomach, her face contorting into a mask of beatific pleasure each time he felt her bottom slap his hips when he slammed into her. After awhile, she had stopped moving, allowing him to take control as he brutally forced his cock as hard as he could into her repeatedly, until the clenching of her screamingly taut inner muscles threatened to drive all sense from his mind. Buck knew he could bear it no more and he felt himself nearing the edge of his control.

Inez was even closer than that but Buck was not to know. He could only feel her muscles crushing him into submission until she could no longer maintain grip on his hands and had released them to brace herself against his chest. Buck's fingers dug into her thighs when he saw her throw her head back in ecstasy as her mane of dark hair cascaded down her back and a sheen of sweat glistened off her magnificent body. God, she was so incredibly beautiful. Seeing her reaching her peak allowed him to keep from his for a few precious seconds because he wanted to revel in the sight of her face when she finally reached her climax knowing that it was he that made her experience it. He held her hips firmly against his as he kept thrusting upwards, until she was the one moaning mindlessly at what he was doing to her.

"Oh Buck!" She whimpered and Buck knew that she was finally at the place he wanted her to be. He felt her stiffen in his hands, her back straightening in his grip as her body arched sensuously. He watched it come over her and felt himself smiling in satisfaction at her release. Impossibly, her muscles clenched even tighter around him and forced him over the abyss with her as they were both plunged into the oblivion of complete bliss.

"God, Inez!" He sang out her name as he felt himself go, his entire soul emptying into her in one final gush or orgasmic pleasure. His back arched, grinding his cock so deep into her that she had more or less slumped forward from the overload of sensation. Buck kept pushing and pushing, until he had allowed every surge of passion to become trapped deep inside her. They warmed each other with hot fluids and melded together in a tangle of sweaty and panting flesh.

Buck closed his eyes and let his heart stop pounding in his chest as his hands stroked her dark hair, feeling such intense pleasure from just feeling the strands under his palm that he wished nothing more than to make her happy for the rest of his life. God, he loved this woman. From the first moment, he had laid eyes on her, he had known that his heart was invariably lost. She lay nuzzled against his chest, rubbing her cheek against his skin as if she would purr if she was able.

"Maybe we ought to continue this upstairs." He said softly, not wanting to move because her weight on top of him felt so good but Buck was painfully aware of where they were and discovery may cause him embarrassment but it would severely damage her reputation.

"You think you're up to it Senor?" She teased as she slid off him languidly like a sleek cat. He watched her graceful movements as she collected her clothes and slipped her dress over her head, her undergarments still in her hand.

Buck was getting another erection just thinking about an entire night. "I'm always up to it darlin." He grinned and followed her upstairs without question.

THE NEXT MORNING

The first thing that Inez realized when she woke up the next morning was that she had possibly the worst hangover of her life. As soon as she opened her eyes, it attacked her in clanging waves of white sound that echoed in every corner of her mind. Consciousness had turned her brain into a belfry and some madman was ringing the bell like it was time for Sunday dinner. Inez groaned and buried her head in her pillow, trying to remember what it was she had done last night and had a vague recollection of tequila and a moustache.

The second thing she realized was that she was not alone in her bed.

She realized it because she found her foot gently caressing a leg that was not hers and was in severe need of good waxing. Inez froze, trying to remember how she had come to be in her own bed and turned around slowly, her eyes widened as some memories started coming back. What she remembered made her wince even though judging by the rested her way her body felt, the experience was not entirely bad if not for one thing.

Please God, let it be anyone else but who I think it is!

She peeked over the tangle of sheets and saw him sleeping contentedly on the side of the bed that had until this point had not been occupied by anyone else, except the stray pillow she tended to throw during her sleep. Buck Wilmington wore a smile on his face that screamed nothing but pure contentment as Inez's memories of the past evening started to make themselves clearer in her mind.

Everything from the moment she walked through the doors of the saloon and found him alone to the point where she had gotten down on her knees and given him. ..Inez blushed furiously at that thought and felt back into bed, shaking her head in disbelief, unable to comprehend that after all the resistance she had put up, she could come undone by one night of inebriation. Of course the experience was perfect. That much she had always known. In fact drunk or not, this pleasant contentment in her bones and the smile that sneaked across her face at how wonderful he had made her feel was not the result of a less than satisfactory encounter. Their coupling had been as fiery and exciting as she always imagined it would be. It was just that she had not been ready to bring their relationship to that point for quite some time and now it appeared that the choice had been taken out of her hands because of her own drunken behaviour.

All she could think of as she stared at the ceiling, feeling her dilemma unfold which each returning memory, was how she could get out of this particular predicament.

"I've gotta go honey." A set of soft lips brushed against Chris Larabee's cheek and immediately awoke the gunslinger. He heard the rustle of movement over him and sat up just as the figure moved away from him.

Chris sat up immediately, suddenly realizing the female voice he had heard speak so tenderly to him was not Mary's. Wide eyed, he found himself staring at Salome, getting dressed in an outfit that looked infinitely more respectable than the one she was wearing the night before. She was putting up her hair in pins and regarded him warmly as he watched her, trying to remember how the hell he had come to be in a bedroom with her and she looking at him as if he. .as if he. .

God, he could not even let himself think it.

"I just want you to know," she looked at him with those amazing eyes. "I had the most wonderful time last night. You were. ." she paused to think of the word. "Wonderful. Your bride is one lucky woman."

And I'm one dead son of a bitch when she gets her hands on me. Chris thought frantically as he searched around for his clothes, trying to remember what the hell he had been doing last night that he could have ended up in this position. The last thing he remembered was sitting next to Buck watching Salome perform her dance for them all. Yet he must have done something because he was here with her, with his clothes strewn over a chair and she looking at him like he had indeed spent the night with her.

Oh Christ, was he in trouble!

"Thanks." He managed to mumble as he staggered out of bed, slipping out of the sheets before he realized that he was not entirely dressed when he stood up. With less aplomb that he was normally accustomed to displaying, Chris practically snatched the sheet off the bed to cover his nudity. "I'm sorry. ." he stammered. "This has to be a mistake..." He said trying more than anything to convince himself than her.

Suddenly the door slammed open with Buck and Vin bursting inside the room. Both men surveyed the room before expressions of horror drained into their faces as they regarded the scene before them.

"Jesus Chris!" Buck exclaimed. "What the hell did you do?"

"Nothing!" Chris declared. "I just woke up!"

"In her bed?" Vin replied with similar shock and dismay. "You're getting married in less than a week!"

"I know that!" Chris barked, unable to fathom how he had allowed himself to fall into such terrible situation.

"Don't worry Chris," Buck said magnanimously. "We'll think of something to tell Mary."

"Think of something? Nothing happened!" Chris declared, adamant in this fact no matter how bad things looked at the moment. He could not have done anything! He had never been that out of control in his whole life.

"Well I wouldn't say that honey," Salome smiled at him. "A little something happened."

"Will you please stop calling me that!" Chris roared, his temper finally getting the better of him. "I ain't your honey!"

"That's not what you said last night."

Chris stopped short and looked helplessly in Buck and Vin's direction when suddenly he noticed that his two friends were not quite as shocked and dismayed as they were a minute ago. In fact they were looking at him, trying their hardest not to laugh. Vin in particular was fighting the urge as Chris saw his jaw tightening with each attempt to restrain himself. Buck however, was not that practiced at hiding his emotions and Chris saw the sparkle in his eyes as his old friend tried not to burst out into loud peals of laughter.

Glancing at Salome, he saw the woman's previous distress having dissolved into amusement. His eyes narrowed at the possibility that he had just been the victim of a practical joke, it dawned upon him that those responsible for his being in this ridiculous state of affairs were the two men before him. Realizing that the scam was up, Salome shrugged her shoulders and gave up the ruse first.

"Don't worry honey," she smiled as she made her exit. "You were a perfect gentlemen."

"That's good to know," Chris frowned as Vin and Buck's attempt at restraint finally gave way and the two men started to laugh loudly at his discomfiture.

"Now Chris," Buck managed to say through his loud guffaws. "You should have seen your face!"

"Pard, I ain't never seen you that scared;" Vin agreed wearing the same look of mischief as he tried to control his own laughter.

Chris nodded slowly as he heard Ezra's laughter further down the hallway, where the gambler had obviously been listening to the proceedings inside the room.

"Okay," Chris turned to his clothes but did not reach for his pants. Instead, he reached for his gun belt and removed the peacemaker that was sitting in its holster after undoing the flap.

"Now come on Chris," Buck said seeing him retrieve his gun and then cocked the weapon just for effect before taking aim. "This was a joke!"

Vin was already taking two steps backwards for a hasty retreat, knowing Chris well enough to guess that if the man wanted revenge. The last Chris saw of the tracker was when Vin ran out of the room yelling at Ezra, "You better run Ezra! He's armed!"

"Don't worry Buck," Chris smiled sweetly. "I'll just graze you"

"Oh shit!" Buck replied as Chris aimed the gun directly at him and fired. The bullet smashed into the doorway, whizzing past Buck's ears close enough to send the tall man running.

Chris chased after him, still clutching his sheet as he hurried down the hallway after his friends.

Mary Travis did not sleep well. She did not sleep well because she had woken up several times during the night. She had woken up several times during the night because she was so drunk that all she could do from dying was to throw up endlessly. She spent much of the night doubled over her wash basin, retching from a severe bout of alcohol poisoning and when she did not think she could throw up any more, she invariably found the reserves for a renewed bout of regurgitation.

She had no idea what time it was when she staggered out of bed and decided she needed something to soothe her stomach before she started vomiting her organs too. If there was some consolation to be had in all this, it was the fact that Billy was not here and neither was Chris to see her in this disgusting state of health. She vaguely remembered kissing some strange man and was mortified beyond belief at how she had become drunk enough to think that he was Chris. Thank God, Julia was there. As she stepped out into the sunshine, wearing a sunhat because that was the only way she could handle seeing any bright light, Mary made her mind up to go see Alex who she prayed had a remedy for her present situation. She had not gotten very far across the street when suddenly; she heard gunshots and froze. They were coming from the direction of the saloon and Mary turned to it just in time to see Buck, Ezra and Vin running for dear life but trailing laughter as they did so. She wondered if her hangover was making her see things.

Then she saw Chris.

Chris Larabee was running after them with nothing more than a thin sheet of cotton and a gun. "Come back here you bastards!" He shouted and then stopped short in his tracks when he saw Mary staring at him in astonishment.

Bride and groom regarded each other for a moment.

"I can explain." Chris said when he neared enough to approach her. His face was crimson with embarrassment while her expression was one of stunned amazement.

After everything that had happened to her last night, Mary suddenly realized that if they were to hold each other accountable, it would be hard to say who was more guilty of inappropriate behaviour. "You know something Chris," she said after thinking about this. "I've got a proposition for you."

Chris looked at her; surprised she was not having his guts for garters. "I'm listening." He tried to say in his usual cool and deliberate manner.

"If you never ask me what I did last night, I won't ask you what this is about." She looked at him.

Chris considered her words and found that he was hardly in a position to argue, considering he was standing before her naked in the middle of the street.

"Done." He said firmly.

"Good," Mary nodded and stepped away. "I'll see you at dinner tonight."

"Okay." Chris agreed and with that both went their separate ways, deciding to let sleeping dogs lie.

TO BE CONTINUED