Epilogue

Beginnings and Endings

"You ready for this?" Buck Wilmington asked Chris Larabee as he stood at the head of the aisle, wishing that he were anywhere else but here at this moment. It was not that he minded getting married, he just never anticipated having such a large audience when he was doing it. Once again, Chris cursed the day that Mary had asked Inez to plan this wedding because it felt as if half the town was crammed into the manicured garden of Julia Pemberton's home. Still, he had to admit that the lady bartender had done a spectacular job of the preparations because she had turned what was a conservative lawn into a canvas of colour splashed with the scent of wildflowers.

"No." Chris grumbled. "But let's do it anyway."

Buck grinned, looking almost as happy as Chris would have been feeling if he had not to face all these weddings guests once the ceremony was over. "Okay," the big man looked behind him. "Where's the best man?" He called out.

Surprisingly enough, Chris had discovered that the wedding had not turned into a three ringed circus as he feared, despite the number of guests in attendance.

Instead of forcing people into orderly rows, Inez had provided a few chairs for those guests who could not remain on their feet for too long. Most notably Vin, who had been allowed out of bed long enough to attend the wedding before he would be whisked back to his convalescence by both Nathan and Alex who were determined that he take every precaution in light of his injuries. The majority of guests were free to stand where they wished or even watch the proceedings while seated under the shade of the trees scattered throughout Julia's garden. The atmosphere was extremely casual despite all the preparation that had gone into making this day happen. The garden wedding that Inez had chosen was well favoured by the sun shining brightly over the horizon. Although the winter's approach could be felt by the coolness of the occasional breeze, for most part the weather remained glorious with neither a cloud in the sky and the brilliance of the azure coloured sky. Chris looked up and squinted as he enjoyed the heat on his face, taking a breath of the flowers that Inez had used to create an aisle for which Mary could walk and as well as a trellis that arched over the head of the couple when the ceremony began.

The mood that Inez had tried to engender and had seemed terrible restrictive before was actually very pleasant. People were not confined to prearranged seating or required to adhere to some tradition that no one knew why was practiced. Instead, the guests were free to walk around prior to the ceremony, to converse with friends or enjoy the sunshine while waiting for the arrival of the bride.

"He's over there," Chris remarked. "Muscling in on Ezra."

Buck started to laugh as they both spied Billy Travis squirming in between Ezra and Julia who were with the rest of the seven who were not playing some official part of the ceremony. Ezra was frowning at the boy who was obviously seeing the older man as his rival for Julia's affections, while the lady herself was more amused by the drawn battle lines between the two than the serious competition for her attentions. "I better go get him." Buck chuckled. "Before it gets ugly."

"My money's on the kid." Chris replied as Buck left him at the altar while he went to retrieve the best man.

Chris turned his attention to the altar where Josiah was adjusting his collar looking almost as an uncomfortable as Chris himself. The preacher however was more concerned with having to face such a large audience while having to remember that he was the centrepiece of this affair until the vows were exchanged. Chris stifled as smile as he saw Josiah sneak a quick swig from a steel flask that had been discreetly hidden inside the folds of the jacket. The gunslinger has never seen the man so nervous and Chris felt some measure of satisfaction knowing that he was not the only one who was had thoughts of high tailing it out of here.

"How are you doing, Josiah?" Chris asked quietly, beyond the notice of guests who had yet to notice the anxiety of the preacher who would be conducting the ceremony.

"Maybe we can find someone else." Josiah replied. "I've never been very good at public speaking."

"I'm afraid it's a little too late for that preacher," Chris tried not to chuckle especially when he knew that Josiah was as nervous as he looked. "Just have another swig of the whiskey."

Josiah cast a worried look at the audience gathered before him and nodded in agreement. "You're right." He replied and disappeared behind the trellis to do just that. Chris shook his head in bemusement as Josiah departed, hoping that when the time came, the preacher was going to be sober enough to stand. Chris looked over his shoulder to see Buck drawing Billy away from Julia, exchanging a smirk with Ezra who was gloating at Billy as he slid next to Julia once again, now that Billy was called away. It appeared the gambler was touting his win of this particular round with a satisfied smile on his face.

Billy seemed no worse for his ordeal although he spent his first two nights at home sleeping in Mary's bed because that was the only way he could sleep after enduring three nights in virtual darkness in Ella's attic. The law in Willow End were reluctant to rock their community with the news that a deranged murderer had walked among their midst for so long that little or no questions were asked of Mary following Ella's death. The man whom Chris had almost beaten to death had disappeared in the chaos that followed Ella's grisly end. Although they had no idea who he had been, Ezra had mentioned something about an assassin who went by the name of the Jack of Spades. With little more than a description, the chances of finding him were remote and Chris did not believe he would be back. In any case, there was little to be done until Jack was ready to make his move and the injuries Chris had inflicted upon him would ensure that would not be for some time yet.

Lester Croft, who had provided Buck with Ella's location had been paid by Jack to keep closer surveillance on Mary Travis ever since Billy was taken. With the aid of Ezra and Josiah, Buck had made Lester painfully aware of how many bones he would have broken if he did not reveal to whom he was passing the information. Eventually, Lester who was as accomplished a coward as he was an informant, had little choice but to reveal that he had reported Mary's movements via telegram to a place called the Ranch at Willow End. Chris hated to think what would have happened if Buck had not stumbled upon Lester. At the very least, Mary would be dead.

"Okay, pardner." Buck announced his return by dropping to his knees before Billy. "You know what you gotta do?" Buck placed the gold band into the palm of Billy's open hand.

"Yep." Billy nodded. "Inez told me already." The boy frowned having been giving these instructions endlessly first by Inez and now by Buck. "Although she was nicer cause she gave me candy when she told."

"Well," Chris could not resist adding with a perfectly evil grin. "Buck can be very nice too."

Buck stood straight up and sent Chris a scathing glare through narrowed eyes. "Very funny." Buck fumed for a moment, finding not one iota of amusement at the remark even though Chris was trying his level best to restrain the snigger that was threatening to escape him. Like the rest of the seven, Chris had learnt about Buck's encounter with Inez and the description she had made regarding that one time liaison. Chris knew Buck well enough to know that 'nice' was not a description he was going to appreciate since Buck considered himself quite the lover.

"How you doing pard?" Chris looked at Billy.

Seeing all those people before him and suddenly realizing how important an occasion this was, Billy was reciting silently all those instructions that Inez had given him earlier as well as the contributions made by Buck. He looked up at Chris with a serious expression on his face and decided that he was not going to make a mistake because this was an important day for his ma as well as Chris.

"I'm okay." He said unable to keep the slight quiver from his voice.

"Good," Chris smiled, pleased at the inspiration that made him choose Billy to his best man. Both Buck and Vin seemed to be satisfied with his choice as well and the action had gone a long way to allaying Billy's fears that their relationship would not change once he and Mary were finally married. The ordeal with Ella Gaines had gone a long way to helping Chris mend a number of broken fences, not just with Mary but Billy as well. In making Billy his best man, Chris had proved to the child that marriage would not end their friendship and they would still share the time they did together and no wedding could ever change that.

Billy had always been more than just Mary's son to Chris, he was a second chance.

"Mary's here." Buck informed dutifully, following the hush of sound that rippled over the gathering at the arrival of the bride. "Okay pards," the big man said as he withdrew. "Shows all yours."

Vin Tanner and Alexandra Styles watched the commencement of ceremonies from under the shade of a nearby tree, where Vin had been provided a chair so that he could remain off his feet. Even though the tracker had been more than ecstatic to get out of the infirmary for the day, Alex was dubious that the strain would not be too much for him. Still, Alex knew Vin well enough to know that even if he was in his deathbed, he would nevertheless have attended, even if it meant crawling to get here.

"So when can I expect to be standing at your wedding?" Nettie Wells asked as she stood next to Alex with Casey and J.D. close by.

"Easy there ma'am," Vin quickly responded. "Ain't I been hurt enough?" He teased Alex with a look of mischief, winking at her when she smirked at him for the remark.

"Not quite," Alex retorted with a frown of mock anger. "You can do with a little more pain if you keep that up."

"It's a lovely ring," Nettie commended as she examined the bauble on Alex's finger. "I never figured you for having such good taste Vin."

"I get it right once in awhile," he let his gaze meet Alex's affectionately. "Besides, I had to give her a ring or else she'll up and run off on me." He joked.

"I've got my wedding all planned out," Casey announced to all and immediately J.D.'s eyes widened in what the others could only describe as panic. He looked like a deer that had just been caught in someone's sights.

"Wedding?" J.D. swallowed visibly. "Why, ain't no one asked you yet."

Casey threw him a black look and Vin winced, feeling a pang of sympathy for his comrade, wondering if J.D. had any idea what he had just stepped into so blindly. "Don't you want to marry me J.D.?" Casey questioned, her hands on her hips, the universal gesture of a female about to get very upset, showing him just how serious she was on this point.

"Well. .I don't know. .I mean we're too young to get married. .and I ain't never thought about . ." J.D. started to stammer, having realized now what that pained expression on Vin's face aimed at his direction was all about.

"We'll discuss this later," Nettie stepped in before blood was drawn although judging by the daggers her niece was pointing in J.D.'s direction, the old woman was of the firm belief that she had merely staved off the inevitable until after the wedding. For J.D.'s sake, Nettie hoped he had some errand to run that would take him out of town for a few days, at least.

J.D. looked at Vin helplessly, seeking help but the tracker could do nothing but shrug his shoulders in futility at the predicament his young friend had found himself. Unfortunately, his experience with the fairer sex was too limited for him to be of any help anyway. In either case, the dilemma gave way for the moment to the ceremony that had begun.

As Maid of Honour, Inez made her appearance before Mary and the lady bartender looked positively radiant as she proceeded down the aisle, her brown eyes surveying the scene to ensure all her hard work had finally come to fruition with flawless execution. As always, Inez's ability to capture all with her sultry good looks was unmistakable as she smiled at those she passed, giving Alex a wink of confidence at how the preparations had turned out. She wore her traditional Mexican styled clothes with shoulders bare and flowing cotton that made her look every bit the Latin beauty that she was. With a note of bemusement, Alex noticed that Inez was doing her level best not to make eye contact with Buck.

Attention from Inez quickly shifted once Mary Travis started down the narrow walk, lined with flowers that had been fashioned in an aisle that led to the proverbial altar so to speak. Mary had opted to wear a cream as opposed to white. Her dress was tasteful picture of embroidered lace and a high neck line that made her look very demure indeed. Instead of wearing it loose, as she had become accustomed to of late, Mary wore her flaxen coloured hair up, with soft ringlets that hung over her neck and brushed the skin every so lightly. With small buds of white flowers in those locks of white gold, she looked utterly breathtaking as she strolled down the aisle at the arm of Judge Orin Travis who was giving her away.

Vin glanced in Chris' direction and saw one of the rare genuine smiles he seldom displayed, steal across his best friend's face. As he watched Mary gliding past, Vin felt the occasion sneak up on him with unexpected emotion and he was glad that Ella Gaines' insanity had not stopped this day from happening. Vin knew just how much Chris loved Mary, how they had always loved each other in fact and it had been a hard long road for both of them to reach this point. Despite the pleasure he felt at seeing two of the dearest people in his life coming together, he could not help feeling a little melancholic about the events that he had endured himself during the last few days. He realized he was feeling like this because of Charlotte.

Although he did not voice it to Alex, Vin found himself thinking what Charlotte was doing at this moment as she made her long journey home, accompanying her husband's body with the intention of burying him on his land. They had not spoken since the day of the shooting and would have maintained that silence if Charlotte had not appeared at the infirmary on the day she left. Vin was not proud that he had been forced to kill Richmond even though the action had been one of self defense. It seemed like such a pointless reason to die especially when nothing that Richmond suspected was true.

Fortunately, Charlotte had made her visit when it was time for Nathan's watch and Alex was helping with the pre-nuptial arrangements. Vin remembered meeting her eyes and feeling that same affection bubble inside him, despite everything she had done to bring calamity to his life and to that of Alex. He knew that like Ella Gaines, Charlotte had done what she had out of love for him even though he was no longer hers to make that assumption.

"Charlotte." He said quiet, not knowing what else to say.

They looked at each others like strangers who wanted to be more. A line had been crossed between them and they both knew it. What she meant to him once was like mist fading in dawn's light and though he still cared for her, he knew that he would never love her the way she wanted him too.

"I'm leaving today." She swallowed, trying not to weep as she saw her hope die in his indifferent eyes.

"Where will you go?" He could not help asking.

Charlotte tried to maintain a brave face because she needed to be strong in the days to come and this was as good as any time to start. "I'm going to take Will home." She replied softly. "I want to bury him on our land. Its what he would have wanted." Her eyes could no longer meet his because Charlotte could not bear to see the love that was no longer in his eyes. Perhaps it had been gone for even longer but she seemed to notice it more at this time.

"What will you do then?" Vin was struggling to make conversation because he did not really want to speak to her. He was still angry that he had killed Will Richmond because of her, not to mention what she had almost made him do to his relationship with Alex. Charlotte had almost made him let Alex walk out of his life forever and despite what he might have felt for once and still did to a lesser degree, he was nonetheless angry that he had been forced to pull the trigger on Richmond.

"I'll stay on." Charlotte answered, feeling just as uncomfortable as he did. "See if I can try and do things for myself for once in my life. I've spent most of my years, thinking I needed a man to look after me. I'd like to try and see if I can do for myself for once."

"I think you'd do alright." Vin said with genuine belief that she would be able to take care of herself. Charlotte was stronger than she knew and he hoped that she would learn to use that hidden reservoir of strength inside her.

"Vin," Charlotte opened her mouth to speak as she searched the words to say what she needed to before she walked out of his life forever and never got a chance to do so. "I'm sorry."

His eyes met hers, almost in surprise. He had not expected an apology, an impassioned plea perhaps that things could be worked out but not a gesture of regret.

"I'm sorry for what I did." She repeated herself. "I never meant to hurt you Vin. I just loved you so much, I wasn't thinking straight. I did what I did to get you back and it never occurred to me that perhaps you might be happier with her than you would with me. I did wrong by you Vin," she swallowed, wondering if he had any idea how terrible this ache was in her heart as she uttered these words. "I just want you to know that I am sorry and that I was wrong. She loves you more than anything in the world and all those things I said to you about her were not true."

Vin took a deep breath and answered after a moment. "I should have known that before you made me think all those things Charlotte so I'm as much to blame for what happened between Alex and me as you are. I'm sorry it ain't the way you wanted," his eyes softened to show that he had forgiven her on some level, even if his anger had not quite abated. "But things change and people move on. That's what I did Charlotte, I moved on. Now you gotta do the same."

She had merely nodded before leaning over him to plant a kiss of farewell on his cheek. When she parted, she offered him another saddened look and swept out of his life and this time Vin knew it was going to be forever.

"You okay?" Alex whispered when she saw Vin's gaze shift from the bride and stare off into space in silent contemplation.

"Just thinking," Vin said with a faint smile as he slipped his hand into hers.

The ring he had bought her sparkled in the sunlight as Vin gently caressed her knuckle with his finger. Seeing it there gave him a sense of such accomplishment that Vin could not help but pull her hand to his lips and kiss it gently.

"Easy there cowboy," she teased as her gaze shifted between Mary's progress up the aisle and Vin's cobalt coloured eyes. "You're in no shape for anything more than that for at least awhile."

Vin merely reacted with a wolfish grin before adding, "Well there's a reason to get better."

"I knew that dress would look perfect." Julia said with approval as Mary finally made her way to the top of the aisle with Chris and Billy waiting for her arrival. Mary had purchased the dress from her Emporium and Julia had been more than happy to assist with helping the bride make the choice. It was with great pleasure that Julia had come to call Mary Travis a friend even though her early relationship with the newspaper editor had been less than cordial. Still, Mary was one of those women whose compassion was a river that ran endlessly even if she did hide steel beneath its waters. Julia respected Mary for the formidable woman she was and now felt privileged to know that Mary considered her a friend.

"Your taste is impeccable." Ezra commented as he watched Mary reach the head of the altar. "Even if your judgement is not." He could not resist adding in light of her conversation with Mary earlier today to which Ezra was privy. The gambler still could not believe that Julia had agreed to such a thing even though he had been unconcerned with the situation until just prior to the wedding.

Julia looked at him and frowned. "Are you still unhappy that I agreed to take Billy for a few days?" She asked keeping her voice down over the sound of the music being played by Gloria Potter at the small piano that had been brought to the garden for the day. "Mary and Chris deserve a honeymoon."

"I do not disagree," Ezra retorted, unable to keep the disapproval out of his voice as he responded.. "However, did you have to be so magnanimous? I am certain young Master Travis could have spent time with the Judge. I never recalled you being so charitable."

"He just got back from Eagle Bend Ezra," Julia said impatiently. "Not to mention spending three nights in virtual captivity by that mad creature. Mary and I both agreed, he should remain in Four Corners close to his friends besides, I like the child."

"I noticed." Ezra grumbled, not relishing how difficult it was going to be snaring any time with Julia over the next few days with Billy present in her house.

"Mr. Standish?" Julia gave him a conspiratorially look. "Are you attempting to tell me that you are threatened by an eight year old boy?" She folded her arms and stared at him with a gaze that spoke nothing but accusation and amusement.

"I shall not even bother to dignify that remark with an answer." Ezra retorted turning away even though she had struck a nerve. He was not jealous of Billy Travis, although the child did seem to delight in depriving him of as much private time with Julia as possible. Ezra was not blind to the fact that young Master Travis had developed a crush on the object of his affections but behind his youthful and seemingly innocent visage, Ezra was certain Billy was concocting ways to rid Julia of him.

"Because you do not have to be jealous of him, you know." Julia responded, glancing slyly at him and enjoying his discomfiture. Her arm was linked through his and she squeezed his hand tighter in response. "Just because he is younger, good looking, utterly devoted gaining my attention. ."

". .and eight years old." Ezra reminded.

"I'm young enough to wait ten years," Julia teased by letting out a breathless sigh, as she pretended to picture what an eighteen year old Billy Travis was going to look like. "Besides, he'll be just adorable when he's eighteen years old and I'll be the seasoned older woman." She grinned wickedly and saw Ezra stiffen in annoyance at the thought of his having to deal with Billy's crush on Julia for the next decade.

"You have no shame," the gambler retorted with a tone in his voice that indicated he was going to sulk when the ceremony was over. She had not been blind to Billy's attempts to usurp Ezra's place next to her earlier on and had to admit to enjoying seeing Ezra entering some juvenile attempt to win her favour in his rivalry with Billy.

Completely unrepentant, Julia enjoyed the smouldering fire in Ezra's eyes and decided she was not going to let him off the hook so easily, particularly when she was having such an amusing time baiting him.

"Who needs shame, when I have two men fighting over me?"

"Will you two be quiet?" Nathan hissed as he stood next to Rain who had come to Four Corners just for the wedding. "You can settle this later." The healer said reproachfully, unable to keep from hearing what their argument had been about.

"Sorry Nathan," Julia smiled.

"And Ezra?" Nathan said as he retreated back to his original position.

"Yes Mr. Jackson?" Ezra asked.

"You should be afraid of the competition." The healer chuckled. "Very afraid."

Mary Travis looked at Chris Larabee and they both shared the same thought as they stood before each other on the day of their wedding. He looked in the depths of her blue-grey eyes and saw it filled with the same kinetic energy he had spied the first time he looked at her. Chris knew that for all his reservations and reluctance at the fanfare of the day he was just as happy as she was to be here. Still, the anxiety he saw in her face was not for the important step they were taking today but for a more singular notion which he shared with her most empathically at this moment.

They should have eloped.

"I have a horse waiting." He said quietly. "If we run now, we can make it to Mexico."

"Not a chance," Mary whispered sharing the joke as Josiah cleared his throat for the third time and tried to prepare himself for task he was required to perform. "They'd cut us down before we even made it off the lawn."

"Damn." Chris chuckled and then took note of Josiah was standing before them looking more than just a little pale.

"Josiah are you alright?" Mary asked, her eyes wide as she saw beads of sweat running down the preacher's forehead. The man looked positively terrified.

"I'm fine." He cleared his throat and offered them a crooked smile before looking at the Bible he was holding in the hand.

"Take it easy preacher," Chris replied, "it will be over soon enough."

Josiah swallowed again and looked over the couple at the people assembled, telling himself repeatedly he could do this. If Chris and Mary could get his, he could endure delivering their wedding vows.

"You can do it Josiah." Billy said encouragingly, giving the older man a smile.

Josiah took another deep breath, stared at the guests assembled for a brief instant before opening the book before him and reminding himself that a stiff drink lay at the end of this ordeal and prayed secretly that would be incentive enough to ensure this day went forward smoothly. Deciding he could delay no longer, Josiah pushed out his chest and began.

"We are gathered here to join on this fine day. .."

As it turned out, Josiah did a most splendid job of conducting the ceremony that finally saw Chris Larabee and Mary Travis wed. He did not falter once in the face of adversity, delivering all his lines with that remarkably erudite voice of his that transfixed everyone from the moment he began speaking to the instant when permission was given for Chris and Mary to seal their union in a kiss. Everyone almost cheered when Chris and Mary pressed their lips together in the first really public show of affection that anyone in town had ever seen but had always suspected. The gunslinger seemed embarrassed by all the fanfare but Mary seemed perfectly at ease with it all and after awhile, seeing how happy everyone seemed to be by the marriage, Chris relaxed enough to enjoy the fact that he was now married once again.

Of course during the reception for his very notable performance, Josiah did get very drunk. He boomed loudly on how he had finally conquered his fear of public speaking before promptly collapsing under a tree where he spent the rest of the night until Julia Pemberton urged someone to take him home.

Billy Travis managed to wedge himself in between Ezra and Julia during the reception party and remained a permanent fixture at the young lady's side much to the chagrin of the gambler who as expected had no opportunity to monopolize any time with the love of his life. Ezra was especially thrilled to learn that Billy had a whole itinerary planned of things he wanted to do with Julia while his mother and Chris were away from Four Corners.

Things which unobtrusively did not involve or require any participation by Ezra. J.D. spent the rest of the reception, gravitating between apologizing to Casey while at the same time trying to dodge extremely volatile questions about exactly where their relationship was heading.

And no one used the word 'nice' around Buck.

Chris and Mary left the reception late that evening, disappearing to an undisclosed location to enjoy their honeymoon in a hotel with room service, a do not disturb sign on the door and where they did not have to sign the hotel register as Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

Oh. .and Josiah got the bridal bouquet.

The End

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