The week went quickly for Ezra. Chris and Josiah kept him too busy to think much about his mother's visit. The Judge was expected for dinner on Saturday and Chris had retrieved the legal documents needed to fight Maude. Ezra worked on his schoolwork to keep from getting behind and everyone seemed to help him out when he became moody or down right rude. Vin and JD helped with chores and covered for Ezra when he slacked off. Even Nathan helped.

Saturday evening came and Ezra became increasingly more agitated the closer the Judge came to the house. He excused himself a few times just to keep his lunch in his stomach. Chris and Josiah knew he was nervous and kept reassuring him that everything was going to work out. Finally Judge Travis and Mary arrived.

"Judge. Mary. I'm glad you both could make it." Josiah said.

"I wouldn't miss it for anything Josiah. I told you I would help if this happened." Judge Travis said.

"And I'm grateful. I don't know what we would do without Ezra."

"Well let's sit down a talk about our strategy. Mary found some interesting information that I think would convince Maude to back off."

"What information?" Chris asked.

"Well, I found out that her new husband, Charles McMaster, is involved in some shady business, mostly gambling and paid protection rackets. The rumors in New Orleans are if you don't pay for the protection, accidents occur."

"Convenient ones." The Judge added.

"I couldn't track down Maude at all. It seems she isn't using Standish as her last name. Maybe Ezra could help." Mary said.

"We can ask him, but I should warn you, Ezra doesn't share a lot of information about Maude. I'm not sure why." Josiah said.

Nettie entered to let everyone know that supper was ready.

"I'll call the boys, and then we can talk to Ezra after supper." Chris stood and rang the supper bell. After everyone was settled they had a normal conversation about school and the ranch. Dessert was served and after Vin and JD were sent to bed, everyone sat down to talk about Maude.

"Ezra?" The Judge asked.

"Yer sir?"

"Do you know why your mother would be marrying under a different name, and what that name would be?"

"She doesn't use Standish except with people who know me. She has a lot of different names. I could make a list. She's been married before." Ezra seemed a little nervous. The judge wanted to talk with him alone, so he looked at Chris who got the hint.

"Mary, why don't we go for a walk while Josiah, Buck and Nate finish the barn chores. We can give the Judge and Ezra some privacy." Chris said as he took Mary's hand.

"Sounds like a good idea. I'd love to." Mary gushed.

"Will you be okay Ezra?" Josiah asked.

"Sure." Ezra looked down and before Josiah could leave he asked, "Judge could Josiah stay please?"

"Whatever makes you comfortable Ezra."

"Thank you. Josiah could you please stay?"

"Sure little brother." Josiah sat down next to Ezra and settled in to listen and support Ezra in any way he could. The Judge made note if this fact.

"I have to ask you Ezra. Do you want to stay here or go with Maude?"

"I want to stay here. I love my mother but she doesn't know what it means to be a part of a family. A home."

"She's married now, Ezra. He has money and they could take care of you."

"No offense Judge but my mother has been married four times before this. I don't believe she married him for anything except for money. I want to stay here. This is my home."

"Then I will do everything within my power to keep you right here. I've looked through the custody papers your father made Maude sign. They are legal and the transfer of custody to Josiah is legal also."

Ezra smiled. "Does that mean I have to call him pa?" A small giggle escaped.

The judge smiled. He was glad Ezra was laughing.

"Keep it up boy. I can still put you over my knee; legally." Josiah said with a fake sneer.

"Thanks Josiah." Ezra smiled and leaned on Josiah a little.

"For what Ez?"

"For being my father, brother and friend."

"Anytime son, anytime."

"Well, I think I had better rescue my daughter-in-law from Chris and we should be on our way." The Judge stood and Josiah walked him out.

Turning to Ezra quickly, Josiah added, "Go get ready for bed Ez, and I'll come tuck you in."

"Okay 'pa'." Ezra giggled as he headed up the stairs.

"Smart mouth kid." Josiah grumbled as he followed the judge outside.

Judge Travis smiled and patted Josiah on the back. "He's lucky to have you boys."

"We feel like the lucky ones Judge. Thanks."

"No problem. I think the best course of action would be for us to confront Maude as soon as she gets here. Lay all our information out on the table and make her an offer she can't refuse."

"Hey Judge, I just convinced Chris not to shoot her, am I going to have to have the same talk with you?"

The Judge laughed. "I can see why your father left all the responsibility to you Josiah."

"Thanks again for everything Judge."

Mary and Chris returned just in time to see Josiah blushing from the Judge's compliment. He helped Mary into the buggy and headed for the porch with Josiah. Nathan exited the barn and stopped by the carriage. "Judge?"

"Yes Nathan?"

"If ya need any character witnesses fer what kind of ma, Maude is, let me know. I was there when Maude pa visited Maude and I saw some of the abuse Ez took."

"You're a brave young man Nathan. I'll let you know. Thank you."

"Anytime Judge. I love Ezra, even if he don't think I do."

"I think he knows you love him Nathan. Some people just show it different."

"Like Maude?"

"Just like Maude." Nathan stepped away from the carriage and walked over to Chris and Josiah. Both brothers put their arms over Nathan's shoulders.

"Ezra knows you love him Nate." Chris said.

"Not by my actions, he don't."

"He knows that we're all family and even when we disagree and fight, that we stick together and love each other." Josiah added.

"Thanks guys. I'm gonna head to bed. Some of us have to go to school." Nathan dodged the slap that was aimed for his head and ran upstairs while Josiah and Chris waited for Buck to return from the barn.

"You think we should send Ezra back to school next week?" Chris added.

"It's not hurting him to stay home. He's keeping up with his schoolwork and helping out with the chores. I would feel better if he stayed home. I don't trust Maude to just show up and leave without a fight."

"You're probably right. She didn't want us to know about the letter so she probably has something up her sleeve."

"I'm gonna go check on the boys and then head to bed."

"Okay Josiah. I'm gonna go check on Buck then be right behind you." Chris stepped off the porch and met Buck half way across the yard. They locked up and headed for bed after checking on all the boys. Sleep came easier for the seven brothers, knowing that the Judge would fight to keep them all together.

"He wasn't there Sir."

"What do you mean he wasn't there? All the other children are there."

"He must be staying out at the ranch."

"Are all of the brother's at home?"

"No Sir. The other boys are in school."

"We may need to change our plans. Maybe take a different boy."

"We can't take a different boy! They would track us down and Larabee would kill us personally."

"You may have a point. Nobody would miss Maude's 'baby boy', but the others are loved." The man thought for a minute then smiled an evil sneer.

"What?" The henchman questioned.

"How good are you at ranch work?"

Vin was bored. School was always hard for Vin and this year was proving to be no different. Miss Jones let him go get a drink from the water pump and he came close to running out of the classroom. As he was getting a drink he looked up and noticed the stagecoach arrive. Vin saw a well-dressed man exit the coach. The man looked to be older than his pa. He had greying sections in his hair and was tall. He walked with confidence and power, a real Southern gentleman. Vin was about to return to his history lesson when two men approached the newcomer. They led the powerful man away from the coach and headed for the hotel. Vin wondered if this man had anything to do with the way Ezra was acting lately. Nobody told him or JD what was going on, but something was wrong. Ezra didn't even have to go to school! //Doesn't seem fair// Vin thought.

"Kevin Tanner! You've had your drink now get back in here." Miss Jones hollered from the front porch of the school.

"Yes ma'am." Vin returned to school and history. All thoughts of the Southern stranger all but forgotten.

"Well?"

"I saw the boy. He's staying home because his brother's don't trust Maude to snatch him."

"I had hoped she had enough control over the boy for him to follow the one order in the letter. It seems he doesn't obey very well."

"Could be he's been acting sick to avoid school?"

"You said it looked like he was being protected. Which is it?"

"I don't know Sir. They only hired me last week. I haven't had a chance to get close to the boy. Either he's being protected because of Maude, or because they care about him, I don't know."

"Maude told me they didn't care for him. That they were just trying to keep him away from her." The man said.

"I got the impression that Chris Larabee don't keep nobody he don't care about around for too long. And the older brother, Josiah, he calls the boy son, yet they're brothers."

"It seems my information from my lovely new bride has been skewed. No matter. She wants her son home and that's all that matters. Since she signed over legal rights to him, we must find a viable illegal way to make the boy disappear. Maude and myself are headed for Europe after this and that will give the boy plenty of time to learn some manners and obedience. Stay close to the ranch and keep me informed." Charles McMaster left the room.

"I would hate to be that boy when we finally retrieve him, Jim." Frank said.

"I know what you mean. I've witnessed a few of his lessons on obedience and it's enough to keep me from disobeying orders." Jim replied with a shutter and headed out.

Frank headed back to his horse and his job at the Magnificent Seven Ranch.

Ezra decided that he must have lost his mind. He was finding himself wishing to go back to school. Miss Jones was a strict teacher, but she had so many other students, that Ezra could get his work done and still waste time. Not so here at home. Every time he finished one assignment or task, Josiah or Chris would immediately find him another to do. He figured he had accomplished twice as much in these two weeks at home then he would have the entire month if he were at school. If the lessons weren't bad enough, he never got a break except at lunch. Then after lunch he helped with the ranch.

Ezra didn't mind the ranch work. //Mother would be appalled// All three of his older brothers were keeping him busy to keep his mind off his mother and her letter. Most days it worked, but when he would think about how much he enjoyed being out with one of his brothers working the ranch, he would find himself thinking how Maude would react to such behavior.

"Ezra? Are you finished with those arithmetic problems?" Chris asked from his desk.

"Yes." //I've been done for about twenty minutes//

"Finish up the rest before lunch." Chris turned back to his work and missed Ezra sticking his tongue out at him.

Josiah entered the room from the kitchen just in time to see Ezra's reaction to Chris. "Young man!" Josiah boomed.

Chris and Ezra both turned to Josiah and say his stern look. Ezra immediately hung his head and mumbled, "Sorry."

"Is all your work done?" Josiah asked.

"Yes."

Chris looked at Ezra and asked, "Why didn't you say you were finished?"

"What would be the point? You wouldn't let me go out and play until lunch, so I figured I would just sit here and draw."

Chris sighed. "Okay Ezra. Since you're done today's work, you can go out and play." Ezra was up and about to run out when Josiah added, "But you will stay in the yard."

"The yard? Does that include the barn?"

"As long as you stay out of trouble and come when the lunch bell is rung."

"Yea sirs." Ezra ran out before they could change their minds.

Josiah chuckled.

"What's so funny?" Chris asked.

"I have a feeling he wishes he was back in school."

"Really?"

"They give the kids breaks in the morning and in the afternoon. If he were in school he wouldn't be sitting all morning like we've had him doing for the last two weeks."

"Well as soon as Maude shows up and leaves, without Ezra, he can go back to school."

"He'll be happy to get things back to normal." Josiah headed out to the corral to check on the hands before lunch.

Free at last, Ezra raced to the barn to work on Josiah's birthday present. It took him all summer to get as far as he was and it was getting closer to Josiah's birthday so he wanted to finish it. As he entered the barn he bumped into one of the hands.

"I'm sorry. I didn't see you." Ezra said.

"No problem young fella. I should have been payin' attention also."

Ezra looked up into the face of a man he didn't know. "Are you new here?"

"Yep. Was hired last week. Names Frank. What's yer name?"

"Ezra. Ezra Standish."

"I didn't think they hired boys your age. Shouldn't you be in school?"

"I don't work here. I live here. This is my home."

"Really? Which one of the boss' is yer pa?"

"None. My pa died last year. It's just me and my brothers."

"Don't seem right not to have a pa. You have a ma?"

"Yes, but she doesn't live here."

"Why don't you live with her?"

"That is none of your business." Ezra tried to get past the man. Something about him just didn't seem right.

Frank noticed the hesitation when asked about his ma. If he hadn't known better, he would have believed he saw anger when his ma was mentioned. //McMaster said the boy needed rescuing// Frank was starting to doubt that information. Frank reached out and grabbed the boy.

"Whoa, youngin'. I didn't mean ta upset ya. I was jest askin'."

Ezra saw the sincerity in the man's eyes and relaxed a little. "I'm sorry. It's just that I don't like to talk about my mother." Ezra heard the lunch bell and tried to remove his arm from Franks grasp. "I have to go."

"What did yer ma do that was so bad?" Frank held on to Ezra. He wasn't ready to let him go until he found out for sure who was telling the truth.

Ezra struggled a little harder. "I have to go. Please let go."

"Answer my question boy."

"She sold me. Made my pa pay her off. You satisfied? Now let me go." Ezra was starting to get mad.

"Sold her own son? I don't believe it."

Ezra screamed, "I'm not her son! Let me go!"

Josiah heard the scream as he crossed the yard to find Ezra. He came through the doors just in time to see Frank release Ezra's arm and see Ezra fall onto him backside. "I'm sorry." Frank said.

"What's going on in here?" Josiah demanded.

"Just askin' Ezra some questions. I didn't mean to upset him so much."

"Get back to work Frank." Josiah gathered Ezra into his arms and hugged him close as Ezra cried.

"Why Josiah?"

"Why what Ezra?"

"Why did she do it?"

"I don't know what you're talking about Ezra."

Ezra didn't say anymore. He calmed down and wiped at his eyes. Josiah helped him up and led him to the house. Chris met them at the door.

"What happened Josiah? Ez you okay?"

"He just got upset with one of the hands."

Chris crouched down to Ezra's level and lifted his chin. "You okay?"

Ezra just nodded.

"Let's get some lunch okay?"

Ezra nodded again. Chris rose and headed for the dining room. Lunch was quiet and Josiah noticed Ezra didn't eat much.

"May I be excused?" Ezra asked.

"Sure. Go get cleaned up and we'll head out in about 30 minutes, okay?" Josiah asked.

"Sure." Ezra stood and headed upstairs. As soon as he closed his door he buried his head in his pillow and sobbed. //Why// was all he could think.

When Josiah knocked and entered 30 minutes later, Ezra was asleep. Josiah noticed the tear tracks and decided to let Ezra sleep. He pulled a quilt over Ezra and kissed his forehead. "I love you little brother." Josiah whispered. He quietly left the room to find out if Chris was staying close to the house or if he needed to.

As he came down the stairs, Chris raised an eyebrow at Josiah. "Where's Ezra?"

"Sleeping. He went upstairs and cried himself to sleep." Josiah sat down heavily with a sigh.

"What upset him so much?"

"I don't know. Frank had hold of his arm when I entered the barn, but Ezra was screaming at him. I'm gonna have a long hard talk with the man though."

"Maybe I need to talk with Frank, because you might kill him."

"I wouldn't kill him Chris, just hurt him a little." Josiah smiled innocently.

"Sure you would." Chris stood up and headed out to find Frank. He turned back toward Josiah, "I'll stick close to the house if you want to finish that fence line."

"I probably should. If nothing else, it will keep me from killing a ranch hand."

"You go fix that fence, I'll talk to Frank and Ezra can finish his nap." Chris headed out and after staring up the stairs, Josiah followed.

Chris found Frank in the barn cleaning out the stalls. They spoke and Chris advised Frank to stay away from Ezra and Josiah until Josiah calmed down. Chris had been puzzled by Frank's questions.

"Josiah seems to be very fond of the boy." Frank said.

"Frank, I don't know what you heard, but we all love Ezra. Josiah especially. They may be brothers, but Ezra goes to Josiah with all of his troubles and loves this family very much. We would all be lost without him."

Frank had agreed to stay away from Ezra and asked Chris to apologize to Josiah and Ezra for him. Chris agreed and checked on Ezra, who was still sleeping. Chris decided to work on the woodpile until Ezra woke up.

Ezra was dreaming.

"Why don't you give this Mr. Larabee the boy Charlene? You never wanted him."

Both 'Maude' and James left the room to send word to Linc Larabee. Nobody noticed the small boy behind the door with tears running down his face.

Ezra woke with a start and wiped at the tears that were running down his cheeks. He decided that now was the time to share his horrible secret, before Maude could get a hold of him. He had to find Chris.

When he came downstairs, Ezra saw no one. He heard someone chopping wood so he headed outside to the woodshed. Chris was so involved in chopping that he didn't hear Ezra approach. He jumped when Ezra spoke.

"Chris?"

Chris looked up and saw Ezra. The nap didn't seem to help with the tired boys' appearance. He wasn't getting enough sleep at night. Chris also noticed the fresh tears in his eyes. Chris set down the ax and wiped the sweat from his face and chest.

"Did you have a good nap?" Chris asked already knowing the answer.

"No."

Chris saw the tears roll down in earnest. Chris opened his arms and smiled. "Come here."

Ezra didn't hesitate, but ran into Chris' arms and sobbed. Chris didn't understand why he was upset, and he would find out later, but he just held Ezra to make him feel safe.

"Why don't we go inside? It's getting chilly out here, especially with no shirt on."

Ezra let himself be led into the house. Chris released Ezra and put his shirt back on. Chris called Nettie and asked for some coffee, two cups. After they were settled with two cups of coffee, Chris asked, "Are you okay?"

Ezra shook his head.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Ezra nodded. Chris waited. After what seemed like forever, Chris heard the whisper.

"Josiah won't want me anymore."

"Ezra, Josiah and all of us love you very much. We will always want you. No matter what." Chris hugged Ezra close.

"You may not feel that way after I tell you the truth."

"The truth about what Ezra? You could tell us you were a murderer and we would still want you and love you. I need you to understand that."

"My heart knows it but I can't convince my head."

"Then tell me the truth, from your heart."

There was a pause. "Maude isn't my mother." //There he said it//

"You are Maude's son, Ezra."

//Chris didn't understand// "Yes. I am Maude's son, but Maude is dead. The woman calling herself Maude is really my Aunt Charlene. They were twins. My real mother died when I was born. I only found out right before pa came to get me. Even he didn't know and now you won't want me." Ezra started to cry again. Chris gathered him up into a big hug and smiled. Once Ezra calmed again, Chris said, "Ezra. We will always love you. We will always want you, and I already knew about your mother and her twin sister trading places."

Ezra's head snapped up. The question in his eyes was plain as day. "How?"

"Pa knew as soon as he meet 'Maude' that it was Charlene. He loved your mother Ezra. When you love someone that much, you can tell them apart from another, even a twin. Pa was upset about your mother's death and about the switch, but he decided that as long as Charlene gave you to him, he wouldn't say anything about the switch. That was how he got her to sign the custody papers. He paid her off as a thank you for taking care of you as she did. She kept you, even though you weren't hers. Somewhere in that cold heart of hers, she does love you. She is your aunt."

"If pa knew and you knew, then how come she wants me back again?"

"All I can figure is she either convinced her new husband that we stole you from her or she has some con planned. I do know, that she doesn't have a legal leg to stand on. She signed papers in front of a lawyer admitting that she was your aunt not your mother."

"Does the Judge know about the papers?"

"He's seen the custody papers. I had hoped I wouldn't need to show him the proof, but he needed to understand why pa had a special condition on your name when all the paper work was done. I had to show him the proof."

"If he knew, why did he ask me if I wanted to go with her?"

"Because he wasn't allowed to tell you about Maude. It's in the agreement that no one was allowed to tell you about Maude and Charlene until you turned 18."

"But I already knew. I heard her and James talking when I was just a little boy."

Chris smiled. //You still are our little boy// he thought.

"Will there be a problem because I know?"

"Good question. I don't think anyone knew you over heard the truth. Maybe we should just keep it in the family until your 18."

Ezra smiled. "Are you encouraging me to lie?"

"No! Just don't volunteer any information, like you always do."

Ezra giggled. It was good to hear him laugh. Ezra hugged Chris tightly and whispered in his ear, "Thank you. I love you."

"I love you too Ezra." Chris returned the hug and then released Ezra. "Why don't we ride up and check on Josiah's progress then head into town to get your brothers?"

"I'll go saddle up the horses." Ezra left and headed for the barn feeling better than he did in a long time.

Chris sat for a few minutes and watched his cleaver little brother head outside. //Oh the tangled webs we weave//