Chipmunk

by Tammy Como


 
 
   Maggie stepped off the sidewalk and onto the dusty street.  She brought her hand up to shield her eyes from the glaring mid-afternoon sun, as she looked up and down the main street in Four Corners.  Dust choked the air from horses and stagecoaches passing by.
    "Why bother," she said to no one in particular as she started towards the Saloon.  "I look for him everytime, expecting him to be somewhere other than the saloon."  "I gotta stop talking to myself or people are gonna start talking about me!"
    She walked across the street and up into the saloon, hemmin' and hawin' as she went.  She hated this part, seeing him for the first time each day.  She always got butterflies in her stomach and tongue-tied until 15 minutes into a conversation, by that time, she usually got mad.
    She took off her hat and slapped it against her thigh, to get some of the dust off and to give her eyes time to adjust to the dim light inside the saloon.
    When she finally looked around, she spotted him in the corner with Buck...playing cards and drinking whiskey.
    She wanted to bend over double and clutch her stomach.  Every time she saw Ezra, it felt like a mule had kicked her and everytime this happened she made herself stand straight and tall and start moving her feet towards her best friend of five years.
    Ezra, in her eyes was just about perfect, with his dazzling smile, brilliant green eyes and the dryest wit.  He had the most talented, beautiful hands she had ever seen.  She could sit there for hours and just watch him play cards.  "Yup, pretty much perfect, except for one thing..."  "CHIPMUNK," Ezra yelled from across the room when he spotted her.  Damn, if that wasn't the one thing that just drove her nuts.  He had to call her chipmunk and ruin it.
    As she walked up to the table, Buck turned and gave her a most beautious smile.  He was such a flirt.  Never could take him seriously though, sighing to herself.  He flirted with everyone.  "Hey there Maggie, where's the prettiest girl this side of the Mississippi, been keeping herself?"  Buck asked, tongue planted firmly in cheek.
    "The same place that I have kept myself for the last five years, Buck.  Remember, over in River Flats, doing my job.  Do you remember what my job is, Buck?" she asked him in a teasing manner, running her hand through her chin-length, sun-bleached, blonde hair.  She never got tired of playing this game with Buck.  As she was waiting for Buck's reply, she became aware of Ezra's scrutiny of her and Buck's conversation.  Good, she thought, he deserves to be ignored for that stupid nickname.
     "Your job as Deputy Sheriff, deputy sheriff ma'am," as he always did with a sparkle in his eyes and he lips twisted into a smirk.  "So, Maggie, when are gonna gonna let me court you?" he asked her.  Maggie turned her brown-green eyes on Buck and responed with quiet honesty, "The day you mean it, Buck."  He looked into her eyes, saw that she was quite serious, and let the matter drop.  Buck being the jokester he was, changed the subject by cracking humerous little snippets about local gossip.
    Ezra sat there watching the exchange and the look that had passed between Buck and Chipmunk.  He knew she hated the nickname, but he couldn't help it.  When Maggie Turland smiled, she looked like a chipmunk; eyes sparkling brown, cheeks full.  He examined her closer now (closer than he had in the five years of knowing her).  Chin-length blonde hair, full cheeks, a heart-shaped mouth.  Put everything together and she had a cherubic face.  Contrary to her angelic face, however, her temperment came from the devil himself;  short-tempered and most times the orneriest person he had ever met.  So why did he put up with with her temperment, if it was so bad, he asked himself.  One reason came to mind, when she did smile, which lately had been rarely, the whole room lit up.  You couldn't help smile right along with her.  She made you feel special when she flashed that smile at you.  She was his best female friend.  Who was he kidding, she was his only female friend.  He didn't want to know what life would be like without her and her stunning smile.  He hoped that that day never came.
    As the conversation between Buck and Chipmunk continued, Ezra's eyes traveled down her body.  When had she grown up, Ezra wondered.  He had first met Chipmunk...no Maggie when she was a gawky, tomboy all of 16 years old.  She had tried to pick his pocket and failed.  Boy, she had changed in the five years he had known her.  She still dressed like a tomboy, but she had filled out quite nicely in all the right places.
    He had been 23 when they first met and thought of himself as older and wiser.  Now look who was acting like a 16 year old, calling a girl, no a woman...Chipmunk.
    He was in his own little world, when Maggie said something to Buck.  The look that passed between them.  The look made him want to squirm in his chair.  He wanted to leave them to whatever they had been discussing, but the eye contact ended and Buck started cracking jokes.
    "So, Miss Chipmunk,  what brings you by the this fine establishment, today?"  Ezra asked between Buck's jokes and Chipmunk's giggles.
    "Oh, my gosh, I'm sorry.  I forgot  the main reason for coming here.  Ezra, I need your help."  "Sheriff Brody needs to go to San Antonio for a month on business.  As large as River Flats is, it's too big for me to handle alone, and I was wondering, if you'd be willing to help me watch over the town while Sheriff Brody is away."  "He will even deputize you to make it legal."  Maggie said in a rush.  She didn't want to give him a chance to think about it.  "It's only for a month.  Then you can come back to your nice, boring, staid life."  Damn, now why did she go and say that.  She had to watch her tongue;  remember honey and vinegar, and all that other cow flop stuff gramma used to say.
    "Why Miss Chipmunk, is that anyway to ask your's truly, for help?"  "I think you should try another approach."  Ezra said in that soft southern voice.  When he spoke, it felt like a warm cloud of scented smoke had wrapped itself around her.  Maggie came out of her stupor, shaking her head.  Enough of that kind of thought, she told herself.
    "I will."  Buck said from across the table.  I would be proud to assist you in any assistance you might need.  He wiggled his eyebrows and  there went that smirk again.  Maggie was seriously thinking about ripping out one of the hair's in Buck's mustache, just to get him to shut his yap!  Maggie turned, with hands on hips to stare Buck down.   "Buck, this is no laughing matter,  I need help."  Buck replied, "I'm being serious Maggie, if you need help, I'm offering it."
    Maggie was a little disappointed.  She had wanted Ezra's help.  He was her friend, after all.  "O.K., Buck, be in River Flats no later than noon tomorrow.  Sheriff Brody is leaving at one and you need to be deputized."
    Maggie kept shuffling from one foot to the other, running her hand through her hair in disappointment.  She could feel her temper starting to rise.  Yet, another letdown by Ezra.  She had to get out of here before he saw the disappoint on her face.  "Well, thank you Buck for helping me and I am sorry but I have to get going.  Gotta get back to the Flats before sundown."  There's always a ruccus in that town around sundown."
    "Why I do think I will help you out of the little predicament you are in, also, Chipmunk."  Ezra said, smoothing out the sleeve of his red-satin jacket.  "Besides, now I will have a partner in crime for any extracuricular activities that may arise."  He lifted his eyebrows and gave Buck a knowing look and Buck winked back, understanding everything Ezra didn't say.
    Damn, didn't anything get under his skin.  "O.K. fine, both of you be there tomorrow or I will hunt you down like the dogs you are and blister both of your backsides with a strap.  Do you understand?"
    "She plays rough, I like that in a woman." Buck replied.  Ezra just sat there staring at her face.
    Maggie knew that it was time to leave.  She was just about to erupt a whole lot of angriness on the man staring at her.
    "You are most welcome, chipmunk."  "Buck, she shows her gratitude in such wonderous colors, doesn't she?"  "Why yes, I believe you are right Ezra.  She is just completey red with thankfulness."  Buck responded, finally noticing that she was getting hot under the collar.  He had to turn his head, if she saw him smile she would kill him right about now.  "We'll be there, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed."  Buck said, trying to hide the smirk.  He wondered what had gotten her all riled up!
    She couldn't take anymore.  She turned on her heel and walked outside into the cool night air.  Taking a deep breathe and trying to get herself under control, she counted from one to one-hundred.  She finally had herself reigned in.  As she took a step to get to the street, she heard a quiet southern voice speak from behind her in a whisper, "Goodnight and salutations Miss Chipmunk, I hope you have a restful sleep."  Ezra tipped his hat in her direction and turned and walked back through the swinging doors, as he entered the saloon he mumbled to himself, "with you constantly around for a whole month, I don't think I will be getting much."

      Maggie was getting those butterflies again.  She looked at her pocket watch, for about the hundredth time, certain that they weren't going to show up.
    She had been pacing outside the  sheriff's office to the point that there was a path in the dirt street and there was so much dirt that had been kicked up, she could feel it coating her face.  She sighed, "Men you couldn't shoot them and ....you couldn't shoot them!"  Just as the saying escaped her mouth, she heard the sound of distant hoofbeats.  Maggie looked down the street and there went the butterfiles again.  He was but a speck on the horizon and she could still tell who sat astride that horse.
    "Ah, so Buck had aslo kept his promise.  This should prove to an interesting month."  She had a feeling Buck and Ezra were going to cause more trouble with their good looks rather than prevent it.
    She stood with her hands on her hips, waiting for them to reach her.  Tapping her foot on the dusty street.
    Eza and Buck finally reached the sheriff's office.  It took only one look at Maggie, for both of them to know that she was ticked.
    Ezra pulled out his pocket watch and checked the time.  "Why Miss Chipmunk, I do believe that we are on time for this momentous occasion."  He looked at Maggie to gauge her reaction to the nickname.  He saw the color rise in her face.  At least he thought she had turned red, with all that dust on her face, he wasn't certain.  One thing he was certain about was her sparkling, burning stare.  Why she certainly was ticked!
    "Buck, Ezra.  How nice of you both to finally show up."
    Buck let the snide comment pass him by as he slid off his horse.  "Why Miss Maggie, was there any doubt that we would be here, as promised?"
    Maggie watched Ezra swing his leg over the saddle to dismount his horse.  She wanted to make sure he wasn't going to go galloping away.
    She turned into a mischevious smile and wicked eyes.  "Buck where you are concerned, I tend to doubt alot."  She smiled at Buck to let him know she was only kidding.  Buck responded in kind, "Miss Maggie, you know dang well that wherever there are unknown territories to explore, I would gladly be the explorer to lead the expedition."  She watched his eyebrow wiggle and couldn't help bursting into laughter.  "Oh, Buck ever the good samaritan.  That sounds odd though.  Buck and good in the same sentence!"  She managed to say in between the giggles.
    Ezra watched the banter that always ran like a river, between Chipmunk and Buck.  They were two of a kind.  They were actually intimidating...knowing what the other person was going to say before it was said.
    When she burst into laughter, Ezra's breath caught in his throat.  Never before had he noticed her as a woman before.  At this moment she was the most enchanting thing he had ever seen; with her dusty face, sparkling eyes which he noticed were green with laughter, and that infectious laughter, which brightened her whole face.
Ezra remembered to breath, taking a long, slow, deep breath so as not to let either of them know that there was anything wrong.  He shook his head wondering what had gotten into him.  She was like his little kid sister!  He looked at her again and rephrased that thought in his head.  Correction, she was like his all grown up sister and gathering enormous attention from Buck at the moment.
    Ezra cleared his throat to get their attention, "Pardon me Miss Chipmunk, but I do believe we are here for a reason.  We should all adjourn to the sheriff's office so that I and Mr. Wilmington may be deputized on this glorious day."
    After several moments, Maggie had finally gotten herself under control.  "I believe you are correct Mr. Standish.  If you gentleman, and I use the term loosely, will follow me."  She snickered.  Maggie thought to herself, "Oh my gosh, did I just snicker?"
    Both men followed Maggie into the sheriff's office.  Ezra looked around the office.  He had seen way too many jail cells from the inside.  He appreciated the view fromt this side.  River Flats had half the population of Four Corners, yet there were twice as many cells as there were in Four Corners.  This didn't bode well.
    Ezra turned to Sheriff Brody.  He knew the local sheriff to be a good, honest, hard-nosed, stubborn man with one end result.  Justice.  If it wasn't for Sheriff Brody, Chipmunk would still be picking pockets to this day.  Sheriff Brody was the one to credit for Chipmunk's rehabilitation.  Ezra was just the catalyst that sparked the end result of her becoming a deputy sheriff.  In fact, Ezra had a tremendous amount of respect for Maggie.  She was one of the few women that represented the law in this wild and dangerous territory.
    Sheriff Brody came over to the three standing in the doorway and shook Buck and Ezra's hands.  "I do appreciate this Mr. Standish, Mr. Wilmington.  Maggie here can take care of herself but unfortunately with all the trouble we have been having lately she can't take care of the entire town too.
    Both Ezra and Buck understood what he meant.  They stood there to be sworn in as deputies and accepted there stars.  "OK, gentleman, you will be staying at the Lazy Daisy Hotel.  It is just down the street.  Maggie will show you where and will also show you your rooms, which are free of charge of course."  "I am sorry to have to cut this short but I must be going.  I will see ya'll in about a month."  Sheriff Brody turned to Maggie, "You take care of yourself, girl."  "I will Brody.  You better get moving."  As Maggie gave Brody a hug goodbye, she had the oddest feeling that when he returned she would be a different person than the one he had left.  She was saddened by this, knowing that life as she knew it would never be the same.
    As Maggie watched Brody ride away, she took a deep breath and then turned to her two companions.  "Alright, you guys ready to meet your rooms for the next month."  She started walking down the street, not caring if they were ready or not.  She knew that being the type of men they were they would always be prepared.  They followed.
    They arrived at the Lazy Daisy.  Buck and Ezra registered at the desk while Maggie fetched the room keys.  They arrived at Buck's room first.  Buck of course, had a flip comment. "Do you wish to join me in a toast to my new place of residence, Maggie?"  "I can have champagne sent up if you like."  Maggie replied with a sigh, "I would love to Buck, but I have to get back to the sheriff's office.  Maybe later."  She reached over and kissed Buck on the cheek.  "Thank you for making me laugh.  I needed that today."  Buck put his hand to his cheek and with a devilish smile said, "If that's all it takes to get a kiss from you darlin', I will crack jokes until the sun comes up."  Maggie laughed and smacked his arm.  "Get in there and get some rest!"  "Trust me, you will need it come tomorrow."  Buck walked in the room, chuckling, "I will make sure you keep that promise, darlin'," and shut the door behind him.
    Maggie turned to Ezra.  "This way Sir."
     "Why so formal, Chipmunk?"  Ezra asked following her down the hall to the last door on the left.  "Why am I so formal?"  Maggie exclaimed.  "Why Mr. Standish, I am taking tips from you."  "Never calling anyone by their first name, never calling me by my real name."  "I'm learning from the best."  Ezra grabbed Maggie's hand, the hand that possessed the key to his room.  "Why Miss Chipmunk I do believe you just exclaimed that I was the best."  Maggie could feel her cheeks growing warm.  She wasn't sure if it was from what he said or from him having ahold of her hand.  She released the key to the room.  She was all flustered and couldn't think of a reply.  "I...ummm...I, oh just get some rest please."  "Ezra, can I ask you a question?" as she craddled the hand he had released. "How is it possible, that you never get those pretty, peacock feathers of yours, ruffled, no matter what is said to you?"  "It's a long story, Chipmunk and I would rather not go into on such a lovely day."  "Someday, maybe."  Ezra turned the doorknob and felt a hand on his shoulder.  He turned to find Maggie with a beautiful smile on her face.  "But, you will tell me someday, won't you?"  "Yes Maggie, I promise."  He grabbed her hand, about to bring it to his lips and thought better of it.  He squeezed her hand and let it drop.  "Have a good evening Chipmunk."
    "How forgetful of me, would there be a fine dining and imbibing establishment in this fair town?"  Ezra inquired.  He was tense all of a sudden and needed to loosen up with the aid of some spirits.  "I will show you to the fine dining and imbibing establishment, as you put it, of the town if you and Buck will meet me downstairs at six this evening."  Ezra was puzzled.  "We could meet you at the sheriff's office, if they would be closer to your place of residence."  Maggie replied, "Oh, I'm sorry Ezra.  I had forgotten to tell you that I had to move to the Golden Spitoon temporarily, while I fix my leaky roof."  "That doesn't bother you does it?"  Maggie asked, hoping that it did.  At least that would be some emotion coming from him.  "Whyever would that bother me Chipmunk?"  Ezra frowned at her.  Yes why does that bother me, Ezra thought to himself.  Buck was here and now Maggie.  This could be a tricky situation.  He didn't want to see Maggie get hurt over Buck.  And he didn't want Buck to hurt her.  And if he was honest with himself, he didn't want her being that close to him either.
    Maggie, shrugged her shoulders and turned to leave.  "I just thought you might have a problem with women in a hotel that generally houses all men."  "I have no problem with that Chipmunk.  I know you can take care of yourself."  Ezra spoke softly to her.  "Besides, even if you do run into trouble, you have Buck and I to rescue you, from the debauchery."  Maggie sighed at his voice being so close and so soft.
    "Well, I have to get running, Ezra.  See you tonight."  She took a big step backwards so that she could get her breathe back.  She turned on her heel and walked down the hall.  As she reached the top of the stairs, she heard Ezra say, "Til then, Chipmunk, til then."  She heard the door close and descended the stairs.  "Oh boy, I am in big trouble here."

    Maggie sat back in the chair behind her desk.  Darn, it's hot in here, she thought to herself.  She again wiped the perspiration from her forehead and the back of her neck, with an already damp hankerchief.  Usually, the heat and stuffiness of the sheriff's office didn't bother her.  Today, however was a different matter.
    She was just pulling her sweat-soaked shirt away from her body and blowing down the front of it to try and cool herself off a little, when she heard a slight noise to her left.  Her feet hit the floor and she spun around to the open doorway.
    Standing there was Ezra.  He looked as crisp and fresh as a spring morning.  His hair was slicked back to perfection from a recent bath and his clothes were starched and pressed. Ever the perfectly groomed man.  His green eyes were a sparkling fire in the dimness of the office.
    She quickly turned away, not wanting him to see the brief flash of wanting that she was sure, could be seen in her eyes.  When she realized what she had been doing when she had heard him in the doorway, she blushed scarlet.  She started shuffling papers around on her desk to cover her embarrassment.  "Ezra," Maggie exclaimed, hoping her voice wouldn't crack from the wanting and the embarrassment that the moment had brought out, "what are you doing here this early?"
    Ezra stepped through the doorway with his thumbs in his vest pockets. "Why Miss Chipmunk, I do believe you should check your time piece.  By my calculations and my pocket watch, the 6 o'clock hour is upon us.  If you will kindly show us the way to the fine Golden Spitoon, we would be most appreciative of your services, darling little girl."
    Maggie sat straight up in her chair, talking while she straightened up her desk.  "Oh, is Buck outside waiting.  I'm sorry.  One thing lead to another and I must have gotten carried away with this paperwork."  Maggie said trying to get out of the stuffy office. As she stood to leave the sheriff's office, Maggie said, "By the way Ezra, I am not a darling and I am most certainly not a little girl anymore.  If you would be so kind as not to refer to me as one in the future, I would be most appreciative."
    Ezra looked at Chipmunk.  With a blush on her cheeks, her hair a wild mane (because of her nervous habit of running her hands through it) and her shirt clinging damply to her skin, Ezra was quite aware at that moment that she was no longer a little girl.  "As you wish, Chipmunk."
    Ezra turned and walked out the door and into the setting sun and the riders waiting patiently outside.  He heard Chipmunk say that she had to go to her room and get cleaned up before she went to the Spitoon.  As she walked out the door, she looked out into the street.  "Why hello, Nathan, J.D., Chris, Vin and Josiah.  Fancy meeting ya'll here, in River Flats."  She turned and glared at Ezra.  "Ezra," she said between gritted teeth, "what are they doing here?"
    Ezra responded calmly, "Why Miss Chipmunk, I could not enter a new drinking establishment by myself without my drinking and card playing companions."  Maggie stared into his eyes to fathom what they all were really her for.  His gaze was as calm and placid as a lake.  Nope, she wasn't going to get any answers out of him right now.  "You are a grown man, dammit.  I am sure that you and Buck could have handled yourselves just fine."
    Maggie turned back to the five men, still on horseback.  "Welcome to River Flats, gentlemen.  I hope you enjoy your stay."  One by one, they each tipped their hats to Maggie in acknowledgement of the welcome.
    She turned and locked the door to the sheriff's office.  She spoke as she turned back to the men, "Alright, gentlemen, if you will follow me, I will escort you to the Spitoon."  She started walking down the sidewalk and Ezra fell into step beside her and the others following on horseback.  "Ezra are you going to tell me what this is all about?"  She asked, glancing at her walking companion.
    "Now, Chipmunk, there is no need for you to fuss.  It's just a couple of friends getting together for some spirits and fun."  Ezra responded, not quite convincingly.
    "I know you and your friends, Ezra.  Either you are going to cause trouble or your going to try and stop it.  So which is it, hmm?"
    Raising his eyebrows in response to her question, Ezra just looked at her with that placid green-eyed stare.
    "So, you're not going to tell me, are you?"
    "I am deeply sorry to disappoint you Miss Chipmunk but there is nothing amiss but a couple of ...."
    "I know, I know... a couple of friends getting together to have some drinks and play a few games of cards."  Maggie finished for him.
    They continued to walk in silence.  Maggie was catching some of the conversation that was going on behind her.  She burst into laughter at what J.D. had just said and turned to the five men behind her.  "I'm looking for the man who shot my paw." Maggie said in between the laughter.  "That's a good one J.D."  The men, including J.D.  looked at her, stunned.
    Ezra looked at her as if she had just lost her mind.  "I cannot fathom why you found that joke amusing.  The joke itself is not very humorous and J.D. needs to work on his horrendous delivery."
    J.D. turned to his four companions, "See guys, I told you it was a funny joke and I was telling it right!"
    Josiah responded in kind. "Son, the first time you told us that joke, it was somewhat amusing.  However, having heard it several times now, it is getting quite annoying."  Nathan, Chris and Vin shook their heads in agreement.
    Maggie was still laughing.  "I liked it J.D."  She told him continuing to walk down the sidewalk.  Maggie wasn't paying attention to where she was going and her foot snagged a board sticking out of the sidewalk.  She saw the ground rushing up to meet her and was suddenly yanked back by a pair of strong hands.
    When the world righted itself, she realized her backside was pressed up against a strong male chest.  She turned her head to see Ezra's warm, soft, kissable lips mere inches from her own.
    The thank you that she was about to say died in her throat.  Her mouth went dry and her tongue darted out to moisten her suddenly dry lips.  She stared at his lips and traveled up to meet his eyes.
    Ezra saw the fall, before she had even tripped over the board.  Quick hands, which he had to have in his line of business, saved Chipmunk from a nasty fall.  Unfortunately, he had pulled her up too quickly, because now she was pressed up against him.
    Ezra couldn't release her.  She felt good there.  Too good in fact.  He was about to release her when she turned to him.  The look of longing in her eyes, stunned him.  He peered down at her mouth and wondered what it would be like to kiss those heart-shaped lips.
    Maggie heard his hiss of indrawn breath and felt the added pressure of his hands on her waist.
    Maggie was stilled backed up against him and she froze when she saw his eyes lower to her mouth and his face lower to hers.
    From somewhere deep in her foggy mind, Maggie heard someone say, "Get your hands off my girl."  Maggie whipped her head back around to see Buck walking down the sidewalk, towards them, with a twisted smile on his face.  She could feel the blush crawling up her face and felt Ezra let go of her waist.  She took a step forward to get some space between them.  She needed to get her confused thoughts together.
    The spell was broken.
    Ezra heard the voice and knew instantly who spoke the words.  He snapped back to reality and let go of Maggie's waist.  He shook his head to get rid of the cobwebs that suddenly seemed to be in abundance, inside his spinning skull.  What was wrong with him.  He had been about to kiss Chipmunk.  CHIPMUNK, for crying out loud.  His buddy, his pal, his pard.  Ezra, assumed he was coming down with an ailment, but the problem was he felt better than he had in a long time.
    Buck was laughing at the spectacle of Maggie blushing, thinking that it was over her clumsiness and not the heat of the moment between her and Ezra.  Buck seemed oblivious to what had been about to happen.
    She had not noticed that the other five men were a block down the street.  How had she missed that and the fact that they were standing in front of the hotel in the late afternoon sun with all the world, able to see what had transpired between them.  She glanced around and saw that her, Ezra and Buck were the only ones on the sidewalk at the time.  She had just gone through a little humility.  She could not imagine, if others had seen her.
    She turned to Buck, trying to break the tension that floated around the three like a fog.  "Buck, the day I am yours is the day I get you in a ball and chain.  And if it were up to me, I would want them...Around your neck!"
    "Miss Maggie, flattery like that will just give a man thoughts of settling down with a tame thing like you."  Buck wiggled his eyebrows and mustache in amusement.  He then grabbed her hand and placed it in the crook of his arm.  He proceded to escort her the rest of the way to the Golden Spitoon.
    Ezra hung back wondering why he suddenly felt a pang in his chest, seeing these two so close.  Buck and Maggie were a great match.  He made her laugh, which is something he hadn't been able to do lately.  Maggie tempered all of Buck's flirtations with hard, cold honesty.  She seemed to never take him seriously, until yesterday.  Maybe, he was afraid of losing his friend.  Ezra came to the decision that that was precisely the reason why he felt the way he did when they were together.  Fear of losing his friend!  The only problem, why had he been about to kiss her.  That had nothing to do with Buck.  Ezra continued on down the sidewalk, deep in thought.


    They finally reached the front of the Golden Spitoon.  Maggie extracted her hand from Buck's arm.  "Well gentlemen, I have to go get cleaned up before I can go into the Spitoon."  "Granted, most men in there are not the cleanest of people, but I prefer to be."
    Buck grasped Maggie's hand and bent over it.  He lightly kissed the back of her hand and rubbed his thumb over the area just kissed.  He looked up at Maggie to find her blushing prettily.  "Why Maggie, you are blushing!"
    Maggie pulled her hand away from Buck's, not wanting the feelings that he had stirred up inside of her.  "I am blushing, dear Buck, at the gall you are showing in treating me as if I was a bonifide lady."  "I have never been and choose never to be a stuffy, binded lady and I don't want you to treat me as such."  She said the first thing that came to mind, to cover her reaction.  She didn't mean it, but she couldn't very well tell him the truth.  She thought to herself, "Yes, Maggie, what is the truth?"  The truth was that she had enjoyed the kiss way too much.
    Ezra watched Buck bend and kiss Maggie's hand.  He wanted to reach out and stop him.  He had the sudden impulse to push Buck away from Maggie and barring him from her for the rest of time.  He saw Maggie's blush and felt one creeping over his face for a totally different reason.  He felt his lungs tighten at her response to the kiss.  Was this jealousy he was feeling. "Impossible."  "She was a grown woman and could be interested in anyone she pleased," Ezra thought to himself.  But it still stung and Ezra turned and entered the Spitoon.  He could not watch anymore.  He felt intrucious.
    Buck had feelings going through him that he had not experienced in quite a while, when she had blushed at his kiss.  He did this with all women, but this woman was affecting him in different ways.  He watched her walk away and was compelled to call her name. "Maggie?"
    Maggie stepped back from Buck and started walking away from him.  She turned when she heard him say her name.  "Yes, Buck?"
    "You will be returning tonight, won't you?"  Was that him enquiring if a woman was going to come acalling.  He had droves of women, why should he care if this little spitfire came tonight or not.  To cover it up he wiggled his eyebrows and his mustache started twitching also, and said with sparkling brown eyes, "I need protection from all the women that will be fighting over me tonight.  Your the local law, it is your duty to protect my body!"
    The tension broke and so did Maggie's laughter.  "Go inside and have fun you scoudrel.  I will be back later to protect that most prized physique of yours!"  Maggie walked up the street to her hotel, giggling all the way.
    Buck walked into the dimly lit saloon and glanced around the place until he found the table he was looking for.  He went to the bar and retrieved a bottle of whiskey for himself and his commrades.  He reached the table and sat down with the six other men sitting at the table.  "Alright guys, how are we going to keep her out of this situation.  She is too curious for her own good and that could get her hurt.  I don't want to see Maggie hurt."
    Ezra turned and stared at the tone of Buck's voice.  He believed that somewhere in Buck's huge heart for women, he held a tender spot for Maggie.  "I second that opinion, Mr. Willimington."  "We need to formulate a plan to keep her occupied until there is no longer a threat to her person."
    Josiah sat up in his chair and inquired, "Is she totally unaware of the situation she has placed herself in, because of Sheriff Brody leaving?"
    Ezra responded, "Yes, the girl is totally unaware of the situation.  Sheriff Brody was also oblivious to the danger, as well.  Mr. Brody would not have left Ms. Turland here on her own, even though she has reinforcements in Buck and I, if he had known that Hank Barnes, had extricated himself from incarciration."  "That is why we are all here, gentlemen.  Mr. Barnes will head here directly to administer pain upon Sheriff Brody for imprisoning him and killing his brother in the process.  The man is hatred.  He will kill anyone even remotely close to Mr. Brody.  I would prefer this quiet little town to remain this way and Ms. Turland to remain out of harms way. "
    Ezra sat back and looked around the table inquiringly.  He wanted to make sure they were all willing to do this for Chipmunk.  If they were not, she was going to get hurt and Ezra did not want to see that happen.
    Each man nodded their heads in agreement.  To pass the time they sat and played cards, with Ezra dealing and J.D. cracking some jokes to lighten the mood.
    Maggie walked into her room and sighed at the sight of the brass bathtub filled with scented, cooling water.  She had requested this bath before she had gone to the Sheriff's station and was pleased that Ramon had remembered.
    She stripped out of her hot, dusty, sweaty and dirty clothing and stepped into the tub.  She sank down into the tepid water with a sigh escaping her lips.  This was pure pleasure.  She sat there for what seemed like hours, just relaxing and enjoying the silence.  She finally made herself move and washed herself and her hair quickly.
    She got out of the tub and dried herself off.  She quickly dressed in clean, crisp clothes and walked over to the mirror over her boudouir.  She grabbed the towel on top and rubbed as much of the water out of her hair as possible.  She would have loved to have put her hair up prettily, but with her bad habit of running her fingers through her hair, that would have been a wasted effort.  She quickly braided the long hair and through the plait back over her shoulder.
    She examined herself in the mirror.  She wore one of the few nice, pretty shirts she owned and she actually was wearing a peasant skirt tonight.  She pinched her cheeks to give them some color and she was ready to go.  She did not, however, want to examine the reasoning behind the dressing up prettily.  The reason started emerging in her mind and she pushed it back and out of her room, closing the door behind.
    She returned to the Spitoon and took a deep breath before entering.  The reason popped into her head as she pushed the swinging doors wide. "Ezra."  She entered the saloon with butterflies in her stomach and looked into the far corner where the seven men were sitting playing cards and getting rowdier by the minute.  She observed several empty bottles of whiskey and one bottle of wine, laying on the table and around their feet.  Her help was getting drunk!  Who was she supposed to call when they started shooting up the place!
    She squared her shoulders and made her way over to the table.  She pulled up a chair and sat down, listening to the drunken coversation that a few of them were carrying on.

    She sat there staring at the drunken men for about five minutes then lost her temper.
    She stood up and turned to Buck and Ezra, who were thankfully sitting beside each other.  Now she could kill two birds with one stone.
    She placed her hands on her hips and darted them a glare. "What in hell do you two think you are doing?"  When she only received silence she said, "Just because you are not in the sheriff's office, don't think for one second that you two are not on duty. You are ALWAYS on duty!"
    She watched as two pairs...no wait, seven pairs of eyes swung towards her at her loud outburst.  She looked into each and every set of eyes, trying to shame them into sobriety.  Each set of eyes was surprisingly alert and cloudless.  Their eyes should be crossing by now, with all of the large amount of bottles as evidence of their drunkness strewn about the floor and table.  She started getting an inkling that something wasn't right here.  She looked quizzically at them again and wondered why they might be pretending to be drunk as skunks.  "Though a couple were already skunks, " she harumphed in her head.
    She turned to Ezra to ask him what the hell was going on here.  What kind of game were they playing when she saw Ezra glance at Buck.  She had no sooner opened her mouth to ask that question and Buck stood drunkenly. He placed a hand over his heart with a merry twinkle in his eyes and proceeded to serenade her.  She was floored by the unexpectedness of his little song.  Her lips went from hanging apart at the raunchy little tune to drawing up into a beautiful smile at him singing it to her.
    She watched him walk towards her as he continued to sing and her his voice wobble for a few words and then continue on as loud and boisterous as before.  He was mere inches from her when the song ended.  She watched as he wrap his arm around her and proceeded to dip her.  She went along with him and fell back gracefully, laughing all the way.
    She raised her head and looked into his eyes as his head lowered and his lips covered hers.  His mouth applied pressure and she opened her lips in shock.  She felt his tongue lightly dart into her mouth and she closed her eyes at the butterflies that it brought to her stomach.  She lightly ran her hand up his arm and over his shoulder.  Barely brushing his neck and face, she buried her fingers in his thick, silky hair.  She returned the kiss after a few moments of indecision.  She felt her body heat and her mind go numb.
    Buck pulled away from her so that they could catch their breathes, when the real world came rushing back in.  She remembered where they were and who they were performing for.  Her face blushed fire.  Buck stood her upright and mumbled something about tending to the horses and walked out of the saloon.
    She turned to gaze at the six silent men at the table who were looking at her as if she had just grown buffalo horns out of her head.  She was just about to ask them what they thought they were staring at, but realized she couldn't speak.  She turned on her heel and walked out of the saloon, for some fresh air.
    She pressed her fingers against her lips in shock and prayed that she hadn't just made the biggest mistake of her life.  She reran the whole scene through her mind.  She had been honored that Buck though drunk and it was a raunchy song, had song a song just for her.  It made her light up like the noon day sun.  She had felt like the only woman in the world in that room.
    She shook herself out of her musings and straightened up away from the wall.  "Get over it Maggie.  Buck has kissed many women!"  she mumbled to herself.  And from what she had seen and heard herself, he had done alot more than just kiss those women.  "He is not interested in you.  He was drunk and probably thought it would be a funny joke."  But when he had looked into her eyes right before he had dipped her, she had seen blazing, clear eyes.
    Maybe, he hadn't been drunk.  But why would he do this and why would they all be pretending to be drunk.  This was a quiet little town.  No one had to live up to a reputation here.
    She was stumped and confused at the emotions rolling through her.  On the one hand, around Buck she always felt like a woman and he made her feel special.  On the other hand there was Ezra, who thought of her as a kid sister and consistantly called her Chipmunk.  He was her best friend and did things to her insides that not even Buck with that fiery kiss, could compete with.  Ezra was a hard man to get close to, but she wanted to be around the day that he finally realized that she was a grown woman and his for the asking.  She didn't want to be chasing after Buck and miss the opportunity to have Ezra as her own.  Though she loved Buck in her own way and he set her on fire with his kisses, she could never see herself getting seriously involved with him.
    She let out a frustated screech "Auugghhh!!  MEN!!!  and brought her voice down a level when she said, "Can't love them and can't shoot them, so what good are they for?"  She answered herself "Not a damn thing, but being a thorn in every woman's side!  They were awfully cute though!"  She smiled at her comments and chuckled in amusement. "Awfully cute!"
    She squared her shoulders and reentered the Spitoon and walked over to the bar.  She never looked at Ezra's face.  She didn't want to see the disappointment and embarrassment coming from his eyes, that would be directed at her.  She kept to herself for the rest of the night, noticing when Buck returned from the stables and carried on as if nothing had happened.

    Buck walked slowly to the stables and saw a water trough full of cold water.  He hesitated beside it, considering jumping in to cool himself off.  He shook his head in amusement.  He knew he could find more warm and soft company to relieve his stress, then some cold water.
    He continued on and walked into the stables.  He headed for Wildfire, the most beautiful mare being kept in the stables.  He always seemed to be attracted to beautiful females.  He petted Wildfire's neck and spoke soothingly to her.  "Hey, girl.  How you been?"  Wildfire whinnied in response to his crooning and he cracked a wicked smile.  "I do have a way with you females, don't I?"
    His smile slowly faded as he ran through the last few minutes in his mind.  "That girl gets under my skin Wildfire. "  He bent down and grabbed a brush off the stool outside of Wildfire's stall.  He combed out her mane with slow even strokes, not really concentrating on what he was doing.  "I don't know what came over me actually.  I just saw the smile and the look in her eyes and my hormones took over I guess."  He was stumped.
    Usually, he was the one that drew the woman in not the other way around.  "Wildfire, let me tell you this though.  Don't think that I didn't want that to happen.  I have for a long time.  Always wanted to see how that wildcat would kiss, but I didn't mean for it to happen in such a public place.  She is a good woman who doesn't deserve to go around town as being the one of many Buck's women.  She's too good for that."
    He dropped the brush and picked up a cloth and rubbed down her neck and whatever else he could reach.  He continued talking to the horse, like she understood everything he was saying.  "And Wildfire, this stay's between us o.k.?  That girl could kiss the rattle off a rattesnake.  I was enjoying the kiss so much I had forgotten what I had stood up from the table for, in the first place."  He leaned his forehead against Wildfire's flank and prayed that these funny feelings he was having would pass.
    He straightened and finished rubbing Wildfire down.  "Well girl, I have to get back to the Spitoon and make sure nothing happens to the wildcat.  Not that I would ever call her that to her face.  She would probably take a swing at me, like I've seen her do a couple of times to Ezra, everytime he calls her Chipmunk."  Buck chuckled at the cute nickname.  It didn't fit her tonight, but he could see the resemblance.
    He walked out of the stall and patted Wildfire on the neck one last time. "Thanks for listening to me ramble, girl."  As he was walking out of the stables her whinny and laughed.  He actually thought that she had understood him and was saying goodbye in her own way.
    "I have got to get a grip on myself."  He continued to the Spitoon and as he walked through the door and saw Maggie at the bar he thought, "Down Willimington, DOWN!"
    He headed over to the table where the six men.  If he didn't know the plan, he would have guessed that they had been praying to the imbiding spirits all night long.  He caught J.D.'s joke just in time, unfortunately.


    "Do ya'll want to hear a dirty joke."  J.D. asked excitedly.
    He heard the men groan and continued anyway.
    "A white horse rolling in the mud."  He let out a loud guffaw of laughter at his joke.
    Ezra, Vin, Chris, Nathan, Buck, and Josiah sat there simply staring at him.  "Come on you guys, dontcha get it.  The white horse rolls in the mud and get's dirty."
    Nathan spoke up, "We get it J.D.  It just wasn't funny.  When you actually tell a funny joke, we may laugh."
    Ezra listened to the conversation continue about J.D.'s jokes and how bad they were, but his mind wandered over to the woman sitting at the bar all by herself.  He thought about the scene that had taken place earlier and wished he hadn't.  He felt jealousy roll through him again.  He wasn't sure why.  It could have been that he had wished for a brief moment that it had been his lips pressed so passionately to hers, instead of Buck's.  He wanted to be the one to protect her, but he didn't have Buck's way with women, so he let Buck convince him into distracting Chipmunk.
    He continued to gaze at her, tracing her profile with his eyes.  She had beautiful, long golden hair up in a plait.  She was even wearing a skirt to his surprise.  He couldn't ever remember her wearing one.  She was always dressed like a man.  He wondered if she had dressed up for Buck.  Maybe he was just jealous of Buck and his way with women.
    He watched as Chipmunk stood up and looked over at him.  She smiled shyly and waved goodbye.  He wanted to walk her to her room, but he knew she needed some time.  He smiled in return and said, rather loudly, "Goodnight sweet Chipmunk!"  He watched a blush crawl across her face as she disappeared out the door.
    In his mind he finished, "I wish I could make it sweet for you."  He slammed the door shut on  the mental picture, that came unbidden into his mind.  A picture of him and Chipmunk and a dark, hot night.  "Restrain yourself Mr. Standish. She is just your friend and you need a woman who has all the subtleties of a woman, not some tomboy playing dress-up for the day."  Even in his own head those words sounded harsh.  He did not want to examine the why of it.  He turned to the conversation at hand and joined in.

    Maggie dragged her sorry, exhausted and emotionally drained carcus, up the stairs, to her room.  She tiredly turned the knob of the door and entered the dark, quiet room.  She breathed a sigh of relief at the solitude, as she fell across her bed and closed her eyes.
    As her eyelashes drifted softly to her cheeks, so thought she heard a noise, like a rat scurrying across the floor.  She was too exhausted to raise her eyelids, let alone investigate the noise and mumbled something about the boogey man leaving her be tonight...she was bushed.
    The man stepped out of the shadows and into the moonlight streaming in through the window, to the sleeping form on the bed.  He smiled hatefully down at her.  Revenge was his for the taking and right now allhe had to do was reach out.  The sharp edge of the blade knife glinted in the moonlight as he thrust his hand down at the sleeping woman.  He pulled back to view his handywork, turned and left the same way he had come, through the window and down the tree. When he hit the ground he went scurrying for cover, whistling happily as he did so.  "It was turning out to be a good night after all!" he thought and went back into hiding.

    She had just had the most pleasant dream!  She stretched lazily, relishing the dream and the warmth she felt enveloped in.  She slowly opened her eyes with a smile on her lips.  She didn't want to get out of bed.  As her eyes came into focus, they narrowed on an object sticking out of the mattress, mere inches from her nose.
    She sat bolt upright in bed when she realized what the object was.  She quickly scanned the room, looking for an intruder.  She was afraid to get off the bed.  Though it was bright inside the room with the morning sun, she didn't trust someone to not be hiding under her bed.
    She finally woke up her ever-present nerve and stepped off the bed, giving it as wide a berth as her legs would allow.  She bent down and looked under the bed to assure herself that no one was there and proceeded to examine the room, looking for anything that might help explain why there was a wickedly sharp knife planted firmly in her bed.
    Maggie found nothing but an open window.  Chills ran down her spine with the thought that someone had been in here while she was sleeping.  She changed quickly, closed and locked the open window before she rushed out of her room in nervous fear.
    She went to the sheriff's office, looking behind her to make sure no one was following.  It was quite early in the morning and she would have been on her own, had someone wished to harm her.  Maggie all but ran the rest of the way to the office.

    Maggie burst through the door and slammed into the hard wall of chest that was leaving.  She felt strong hands grip her upper arms to keep her from tumbling them both to the floor.  She glanced up in alarm and saw the face of the last person she wanted to see right now. Ezra!  "Why now?  I must look afright in appearance and nerves!"  She thought to herself.
    "May I inquire where the fire is located, that you are in such a rush to put out?"  Ezra asked sardonically, with a twist of his lips.  "We have to stop meeting like this Ms. Turland."
    He gazed down at her, seeing the frightened look in her eyes.  Alarm went rolling through his body.  "What is the matter dear child?  You look fearsome enough to crawl out of your skin!"
    She didn't want to tell him and have him think she was a silly child scared of a lil' ole intruder. "Nothing is wrong, don't call me a child and please release my arms!"  She tried to bluffing her way out of the conversation and shrugging her way out of his grasp.
    Ezra looked down, realizing that he was still grasping her arms.  He wondered why he hadn't let her go yet.  "I will release you my dear ch...my dear when you tell me what has caused such fright in you."  He stated, knowing all the while that it was just an excuse to keep her close for a few more moments.
    "Oh all right.  If you must know, I woke up this morning and found a very sharp knife sticking out of my bed, mere inches from my face and I am a little shaken up about it.  That's all. Will you let me go now?"  She would have stayed in his arms forever if it were up to her.  The butterflies were back and she started feeling embarrassed about last night.  She gazed up at him. "Please release me?"  She whispered softly, looking into his sea-green eyes.
    Ezra looked down at her lovely, mussed appearance and for a grief moment forgot what they had been speaking about.  He saw her lovely, tempting mouth and all his thoughts centered on kissing it until it was swollen with passion.
    His head lowered slowly toward hers, and a thought slipped into his head.  The memory of her lips swollen with passion from Buck's kiss last night.  It was like cold water being thrown in his face and he pulled back sharply.  Ezra stepped away from Maggie and release her arms.
    He asked her to repeat what she had just said, only to give him enough time to get his calm about him again.
    The need for him was starting to effect her.  She was eating and sleeping less and less and now she was imagining that he had been about to kiss her.  "You really are a child, just like he said!  He has plenty of women and why on earth would he ever want you?"  She shook her head and tried to answer him as calmly as she could.
    Maggie cleared her throat and repeated what she had just told him.
    "This is the only place I feel safe right now."  She looked down at her hands as she whispered her secret.
    He put his hand under her chin and lifted her head. "Miss Chipmunk, you have nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed about.  It is the body's natural reaction to danger.  You are handling your little wake-up quite wonderfully under the circumstances, I might add."  "Now may I ask you to show me the scene of this unscrupulous crime?"
    His words comforted her but the fear did not completely disappear.  If she knew why this had happened, or who would want to harm her, she could better deal with it.  This crime had come out of the blue.
    Rememberances started clicking together in her mind, "Why would all seven men be in town right now?  Surely, they could deal with being seperated from each other for a couple of weeks.  The were grown men after all, not children."  That is the thought that was concerning her at the moment.  These seven men never left Four Corners unguarded unless there was a problem that needed their help elsewhere.  Something was going on in River Flats and she was going to get to the bottom of it.
    Ezra escorted her out of the sheriff's office and up the street.  Thoughts ran through his mind.  It appeared that Hank Barnes, the damned coward, was going to be sneeky in his revenge.  He had gotten to Chipmunk at her most vulnerable and now she would have to be watched around the clock.
    Along the way to the Lazy Daisy Hotel, they met up with Josiah, Nathan and JD.
    Ezra explained to the men what was going on and they were concerned but appeared otherwise unaffected by her circumstances.
    For men that weren't really concerned, they had followed Maggie and Ezra to the Lazy Daisy, saying it was only out of curiosity than anything else that made them want to view the sceen.
    Maggie was becoming more and more suspicious as the minutes passed.  They had arrived at her room and she watched the men in total wonder.  She had never seen them act this way.  And that's what was bothering her...they were acting.  Usually, they were calm, relaxed, on edge or just plain riled-up, but today they were acting. "And not very well, I might add!"  She thought to herself.  "I am going to get to the bottom of this mystery, even if I have to kick each and every one of their behinds to get the truth out of them, but I will get it!"  This show of bravado inside her head brought back some of her courage.  It also helped that there were four strapping men there to protect her too.  She giggled at the thought.
    The men entered her room like they lived there and Maggie felt herself blush at the scene before her.  Ezra, Josiah, Nathan and JD in her room at the same time.  Boy, the rumor mill would be working extra long on this one.  She wiped the thought from her mind and wished she could wipe the blush from her face as easily.
    The four men examined Maggie's room thoroughly, asking questions of her as they went. "Was the window open or closed when you left?"  Josiah asked.  She told him that it had been closed when she left but it might or might not have been opened when she had returned last night.  She had been too exhausted and hadn't been paying attention to that detail.  At her explaination, Josiah's eyebrows rose and in his blue eyes, she saw a devilish twinkle.  "He's probably wondering if that kiss just sucked all the common sense out of my head last night."  She thought and felt her ears burn with embarrassment.

    The men continued firing questions at her.
    Did she touch anything before leaving?
    Did she draw attention to herself when she left the room?
    Was anything else damaged in the room?
    Had to culprit come in while she was sleeping or was he there before she even got into the room?
    Did she know how the culprit had gotten into the room?
    Was the door unlocked?
    Was the window unlocked?
    Was anything done to her body?

    At that last question, Maggie covered her ears with her hands and yelled, "Enough already.  Please stop the inquisition!"  "You all are acting strangely.  For men that were only curious, something has gotten you all atwitter.  Mind telling me what that is so that I know what I am up against?  Because you have yet to ask me the all important question.  Who would do this to me?  Which leads me to believe you all already know the answer to that.  Now spill your guts!"
    Ezra stared down his nose at Maggie, "My dear lady, men do not get all atwitter.  That is the woman's responsibility.  Could you please refrain in the future, from using the words men and atwitter in the same sentence?"  He said in his most offended, hoighty-toighty tone.
    Maggie was so shocked at the statement, that laughter burst out of her mouth.  She felt the pressure that had been building up between her and Ezra, lift from her shoulders a little.  She hadn't laughed at or with Ezra in a very long time and it felt good to do so now.
    She was still chuckling when she again asked them what was going on.  She actually saw JD scuff his boot on the floor and her laughter started all over again.  He looked like she had just caught him going through her drawer of frilly underthings.
    After several minutes of meaningful looks between the four men, Ezra finally spoke up and explained to her what was going on and why her life was now in danger.  She was stunned and unnerved by the news.  She was thankful that they were here and she told them so.
    Ezra told Maggie that she would have to be watched around constantly now and she all but exploded.  "I can take care of myself.  Now that I am aware of the danger, I will be more observant.  I appreciate that the seven of you are here to protect me and that's just fine, the more the merrier, but I want my space and refuse, I repeat refuse to let someone stand guard over me like I am some prisoner.  Do you understand me?"  She was so outraged at the suggestion that she was practically shouting by the end of her statement.
    Ezra shrugged his shoulders and said "Whatever you desire Chipmunk."
    She glared at him, knowing that he always had something up his sleeve.  "You aren't listening to me are you Ezra?  Ya'll will do whatever you feel, whether I want it or not, right?"
    He smiled a devilish smile, "You are quite correct Miss Chipmunk!"
    She was so mad that she stormed out of the room, and looked behind her to see Ezra following.  "Will you please leave me be?"
    "I gave a promise to protect you and if that means watching over you while I am here and against your wishes, that is what I will do."
    She sighed and continued down the stairs.  "Fine!  I don't want to see you or talk to you or the rest of them for that matter!"
    For the rest of the day she was shadowed by one or another of the men.  First it was Ezra, than Chris, than JD and finally Buck.  Though they didn't speak and tried to give her space, she felt their presence none the less.



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