Disclaimer: I don't own The Magnificent Seven and I'm not making any profit from this story. You could sue me but any percentage of nothing is still nothing.

Archive: Permission Granted - Will be added to my web page in June

Warnings: If you don't believe in spanking children as a form of discipline (not abuse), then don't read these stories.

Type: Gen

Rating: G

Pairing: None

Status: WIP

The New AU type: Okay, I know there are a couple of AU's with the boys as brothers, and I love them all. This is something I have been unable to get out of my head. The "what if?" of it was what if the boys were brothers but were actually still kids. I left them in the Old West and put them on a cattle ranch (think Bonanza). The boys all range in age from 31 to 5. I left Chris in charge but Josiah has all of the legal control, being the oldest and all.

This is the second story in this AU.

Status: I would like to keep the AU CLOSED for now. If others are interested in writing in this AU, I may consider opening it later.

Title: The Magnificent Seven Ranch : Perceptions

Author: [email protected]

"Vin?"

"What Ez?"

"We need to head home."

"In a minute. I want to show ya the chamber. It's beautiful."

"If we don't head out now, we'll be late for supper and have to explain what took so long. I for one do not want Chris or Josiah asking questions."

"It's just up ahead. Only take two minutes."

The boys went through the cave and found the cavern that Vin was looking for. The inner chamber of this particular cave was lit with natural light that made the cave look bright as day. There was a small fisher in the far wall where a trickle of water flowed freely, cascading down the smooth rocks to a small pool of water. Ezra was rendered speechless.

"Cool huh?" Vin smiled at Ezra's open mouth.

"It is most impressive. How did you find it?"

"I found it while we were lookin' fer JD after Pa died. I thought maybe he hid in here, but he didn't. Chris had a fit 'cause I didn't wait fer him. Jeesh, you would've believed that I learned nuthin' from living with my mama's people."

"I would love to spend some quiet time here, but not now. If we don't get home, we will be dead."

"Okay Ez. Wouldn't do to get Chris' britches in a twist." Vin moved out of the chamber with Ezra behind him. As they approached the entrance of the cave, Ezra lost his footing and fell.

"Aw hell."

"You okay Ez?"

Ezra stood up and brushed his hands on his pants. He winced in pain as his left arm brushed his body. "I think so Vin. Let's get home."

"I wonder what happened in school today?"

"We may never know since brother Nathan is home sick and can not tattle on our apparent absence." Ezra saw a confused look on Vin's face. "Never mind."

They walked out into the sunlight and realized they were going to be late getting home. Ezra looked at his arm and noticed a small scratch on his forearm running from his wrist to his elbow. He took his handkerchief and wrapped it around the scratch to stem the small flow of blood. Vin noticed and asked, "You okay Ez? That looks like a nasty scratch."

"Nonsense. It's just a scratch. However, I am more concerned with the condition of our rear flanks."

Vin looked confused. "Huh?"

Both boys mounted up. Ezra turned to Vin and smiled. "I said, we best get home or Chris will know we didn't go to school and will have our hides."

"Why didn't ya jest say so in the first place. Let's go."

Their horses were spurred toward home with hopes to make it in time.

JD was hungry. Chris had dragged him into town to do some errands. JD wanted to be home where he could play. Ever time he tried to play with something in town, Chris told him 'no'. Now they were in the general store and Chris was busy.

"Chris?" JD tugged on Chris' duster.

"JD. I'm talking."

"I'm sorry. I's hungry." JD tried his biggest puppy dog look. The storekeeper caved.

"JD, you like apples?" JD nodded. "Why don't you go outside to the front stand and get an apple?"

"Can I Chris?" Chris smiled at JD.

"Sure Sprout. Just one and come right back in here with it."

"Okay." JD ran outside to look at the apples.

"That boy has a lot of energy." The storekeeper said.

"More than you'll ever know."

JD looked over all of the apples and decided on a small red apple. It was perfect. He was about to return to Chris when he was suddenly picked up.

"Boy! You stealing that apple?"

JD was face to face with a nasty looking man who was missing his front teeth. His breath smelled like whiskey. JD couldn't talk he was so frightened. The man shook JD and he felt like his teeth were rattling. "I'm talking to ya boy. You stupid or something?"

JD cried.

"Maybe you'd like ta tell your story to the sheriff." JD started to kick and scream for the man to let go.

"Mister, put him down." The smelly man turned to see a very angry Chris Larabee standing with his hand posed over his gun. "I said put him down now."

"Who are you? I caught this boy stealin' an apple."

"He's my brother and he wasn't stealing it, now put him down." Chris had stepped closer to the man and glared at him. JD was released and ran sobbing to Chris. He hid behind Chris' legs while Chris dealt with the stranger. "Mister, I don't know who you are or why you felt it was your place, but this boy is my responsibility, not yours. You should learn to mind your own business."

"I was just trying to help." The man backed away and left quickly.

Chris turned and took JD into his arms and hugged him close. "You okay Sprout?"

JD cried hard. That stranger had scared him and he was holding onto Chris like he would disappear. Chris spoke softly to him and rubbed his back as JD cried.

"It's okay Sprout. You're safe now." Chris noticed the apple JD had picked out on the floor. He bent over to pick it up and handed it to JD. "This your apple JD?"

JD turned his head and hiccupped then nodded.

"Well, let's rinse it off and you can eat it on the way home." Chris carried JD to the water pump and rinsed the apple. He then carried JD with him into the store and paid for his goods. They were about to leave when Miss Jones approached them.

"Mr. Larabee. How are the boys?"

Chris was confused. "Nathan's good. He will probably be in school tomorrow."

"And Kevin and Ezra?"

"What about them? They aren't sick?"

"No? The note I received said they were all down with a cold."

"All? Nathan's the only one who was sick. Vin and Ezra are fine."

"They haven't been in school all week. I didn't think anything of it since the note explained it."

"I did write a note, but I gave it to Ezra to deliver and sent them both to school for the last three days."

"Then they were skipping, because I haven't seen them all week. Young Danny delivered the message."

"Danny? So Ezra and Vin haven't been in school the last three days?"

"Correct."

"Miss Jones, I'm sorry. Those two were suppose to be in school. Nathan was the only one I kept home sick. Rest assuredly; all three of them will be back tomorrow. Nathan is feeling better, but I think Vin and Ezra are gonna be feelin' poorly. Ma'am." Chris tipped his hat and headed the buckboard toward home. JD didn't say a thing. He knew Chris was mad 'cause that vein was throbbing again.

Ezra and Vin raced their horses into the yard. They both knew that they would get yelled at for riding so fast but it was better than being late. As they dismounted, Buck came out of the barn.

"You boys are late. Supper's ready. Put your horses up and make it quick, Chris is in a foul mood."

"Okay." They replied. Buck headed to the house and Ezra and Vin looked at each other.

"You think he's mad 'cause we're late or 'cause we skipped school?"

"Who knows Vin. He could be upset about anything. If he does know, we're dead."

"You could talk us out of trouble Ez."

"I doubt it. Not without lying and you know I can't lie to Chris."

"Ya. He always sees through ya." Together, Vin and Ezra headed in to wash up and for supper.

As they entered the main room, they could hear the rest of the family gathered around the table. As the door closed everyone went quiet and Chris looked up.

"You boys are late. Come and eat. We'll talk after supper."

"We're sorry 'bout bein' late." Vin said.

"After supper boys, now sit down and eat." Supper was a somber affair, with Buck telling Chris how his day was. JD piped in and told everyone about the stranger in town and how scared he was.

"You should've seen it Buck. Chris scared that fella silly. One look from Chris and he was runnin' away." Chris blushed. He wasn't trying to be scary, well, maybe a little bit. "Then we came home after Chris talked to the school teacher."

Chris looked at Vin and Ezra, who had looked at each other. Chris knew and they were dead.

"JD finish your supper." Chris said.

"Yes sir." Buck looked at Josiah to see if he knew what was going on and Josiah just shrugged his shoulders. They would find out after supper.

When Chris was finished eating, he stood up and said, "Vin. Ezra. When you're finished, I want to see you in the den." Chris walked away. When he was gone, Buck asked, "Okay, what have you two gotten into this time?"

"Nothin'. We were late is all."

"Miss Jones told Chris they was skippin' school." JD added.

"You two have been skipping school?" Buck said.

"For how long?" Josiah added.

"Few days." Vin whispered.

"Ezra?" Josiah said. Ezra looked at him and tried to smile.

"We simply didn't want Nathan to feel like he had fallen behind in school."

"What?" Buck said.

"Since Nate was going to miss some school, he felt it was his brotherly duty to miss some too. Correct?" Josiah said.

"Precisely. We made the sacrifice for Nathan."

"I doubt Chris will see it that way."

"I don't." Everyone turned to see Chris standing in the doorway. "Ezra and Vin go wait for me in the den. Josiah, why don't you join us. Nate, I want you to go rest and Buck can take JD outside to run off some of his energy before bed."

Ezra and Vin left with Josiah and Chris right behind them.

The lecture seemed to be dragging on forever. Ezra found it hard to concentrate and felt a little dizzy. He figured it was just exhaustion. He was brought back out of his thoughts when Josiah touched his left arm. The arm was sore and he jumped from the touch.

"You boys are confined to the ranch for the next three weeks. You know I don't approve of skipping school. I'm sure I can find something to keep you both busy for that period of time. You will come straight home from school everyday. I don't want to hear about any trouble at school either. Is that clear?"

"Yes sir." Both boys replied. Chris turned to Josiah. "He's all yours."

"Ezra, go wait for me in your room."

"But... you already confined us." Ezra said.

"Yes I did. And when Josiah is done with your tanning and I'm done with Vin's we will move on." Chris turned to Vin. "You can wait for me in your room Vin."

"But..." Vin began.

Chris pointed toward the stairs and both boys went to their rooms.

Ezra was not a morning person. When he was with his mother, Ezra would stay up late, usually in a saloon, and was allowed to sleep as late as he wanted. Living on a ranch took some getting use to. When he first came to the ranch with his father, he was allowed to sleep in. It wasn't long before his father insisted he join everyone for breakfast. Breakfast was at 6am, not 11am. When his father died, Chris and Josiah made sure he didn't go back to his old habits. Habits are hard to break.

"Ezra! Get up or you will be late for school!" Chris yelled through the door as he walked by. "NOW!"

"I'm up!" Ezra yelled back. //God I hate mornings//

Ezra rolled over onto his back and immediately rolled back to his stomach as the pain registered in his backside. //I must remember not to skip school again// Ezra got up slowly and dressed. It took a little bit longer because he ached all over. When finished, he looked at his reflection and noticed he was sweating. He wiped his forehead and wondered when the headache had started. //God I'm tired//

Ezra absently rubbed his left arm as he went downstairs. //It was going to be a long day//

Vin gingerly finished his and Ezra's chores. He felt guilty, because it had been his idea to skip school. He didn't have to try hard to convince Ezra, but he still felt bad.

He finished pitching the hay down to the stalls and took hold of the block and tackle and jumped from the loft. He had discovered that the tackle would release at a good rate when a boy of his weight pulled on it. Of course it was quite a rush. As he got heavier, the faster the tackle would move. Ezra could get the tackle to fly.

"You better not let Chris see you do that or you won't leave this ranch until you're Buck's age."

"Hey Ez. How ya feelin'?"

"Sore."

Vin rubbed his backside and smiled. "Yeah. I can relate."

Ezra smiled. "You learn that in school?"

"What?"

"Relate."

"Nah. I been hangin' with you so long, it's startin' ta rub off on me."

"God help us." Buck said from the door. "You two can find more trouble together. Chris could save that vein on his head if he would just keep you two apart."

"What fun would your life be brother Buck, if we didn't stir things up once in a while."

"I would have more time for the ladies."

"You're incorrigible Buck."

"Incora... what?" Vin asked.

"Never mind." Ezra wiped his brow again and sat down on a bail of hay. "I hate mornings. I hate chores. And I hate heat."

"It ain't hot Ez. Besides, I finished yer chores."

"Why?"

"Felt bad bout yesterday."

"I skipped school because I wanted to, not because you talked me into it."

"I know but I still feel bad."

"Nonsense Vin. I am the older brother," Ezra noticed Vin start to blush. "Thank you Vin."

"Let's go eat. Miss Jones will probably make us skip recess to punish us fer skippin' her classes."

"You go ahead. I'm not hungry." Ezra closed his eyes and leaned back against the stall.

"Nope. If you don't show up at the table, Chris will come out here and drag you inside. Come on." Buck helped Ezra stand.

"I'm not hungry." Ezra staggered in front of Buck as he pushed Ezra toward the house. Vin followed.

Breakfast was quickly over. Ezra only ate a couple of bites because Chris forced him to eat. All the rest of his meal ended up in his napkin.

"Okay boys, go get your books and get in the buck board." Chris said as he got up.

"Buckboard?" Vin asked.

"I am personally escorting you two to school. Nate's not up to riding yet and I doubt either of you can sit a horse."

Chris took Nathan, Ezra, and Vin to school and returned to the ranch to work. It was Buck's day to watch JD and Chris was looking forward to a few days of hard work, away from brothers.