Things had been pretty quiet in Four Corners in the past week. One attempted bank robbery. One attempted saloon brawl. One attempted shoot out. One successful trail. One healthy birth. And one very unusual and down right amusing dance competition.

Vin Tanner swaggered down the street in a way that only he could. The day was fine, the air warm and the street peaceful. He felt comfortable with his existence and with the path he had unexpectedly taken. For the first time in his life he had friends. People he could depend on. People he trusted. People who annoyed the shit of him. People who couldn’t mind their own damn business. Six people he regularly wanted to shoot because they tried to fuss about him. A half smile brushed his young face as he considered the motley group he had joined up with several weeks earlier.

Staring around the relatively empty street, Vin contemplated the whereabouts of his team mates. Chris, J.D. and Buck had ridden out early to escort the stage in, something that the judge had insisted upon. The other three members of Four Corner’s resident protectors were probably in the saloon. Drawing in a deep breath of the dusty air, Vin decided to head there to catch up on any news.

As the scruffy looking tracker walked through the bat wing doors he instantly drew the attention of his three comrades seated at a table to the far left. The trio glanced at one another and then grinned at him in a way that made the hair stand up on the back of Vin’s neck. He’d seen that look before. Ezra was scheming again and was hoping he’d agree to play a part.

"Mr Tanner, please come and join us." ‘......said the spider to the fly’. Vin eyed the colourfully dressed man carefully and then cautiously made his way toward the table.

"Take a seat, Brother Vin," Josiah boomed a somewhat over enthusiastic welcome.

"Reckon I might stay standin," Vin drawled still evaluating the all too false grins on his companion’s faces. "What you fellas up to?"

"What makes you think we’re up to anything?"

"Them stupid ass smiles on your ugly faces."

"Well, actually, Mr Tanner we are attempting to solve a problem and we believe that you may hold the key to our salvation."

Vin’s eyes flicked to Ezra then back at Josiah and Nathan. "Now you’re making me nervous."

"Did you know that today is Chris’ birthday?"

Vin’s nose crinkled with consideration. He didn’t even know what today was. Was it Tuesday or Friday? Didn’t much matter to him. Time had very little meaning to Vin. He just watched the sun and listened to his stomach.

"So?"

"So it is a day for celebration," Ezra proclaimed his hands waving dramatically in a sweeping action.

"Reckon it’s more a day for mourning. What the hell was your God thinking the day he allowed Chris Larabee to be brought into the world, Josiah" Vin muttered finally pulling out a chair and dropping into it.

"Now, now, Mr Tanner."

"Our problem," Nathan explained, "is that Mary has found out."

Vin’s left eyebrow arched. "How the hell did she find out?"

"Mr Tanner. Who is the person that knows more about Mr Larabee than anyone else? And who has the biggest mouth in town."

"Buck," Vin muttered in agreement.

"Exactly. And Mrs Travis has set her heart on throwing Chris a surprise party."

The three men that had spent all morning scheming, now evaluated their friend’s blank face. Vin just sat. He didn’t smile. Didn’t frown. Didn’t move a muscle. He just sat, his blue eyes studying each of his companions carefully.

Ezra muttered something under his breath. Trying to get anything out of Vin Tanner was like trying to draw blood from a stone.

"The party is going to held at Mary’s place this afternoon."

"Good luck," Vin drawled. "Ain’t no way in the world that you’re gonna get Chris over there today. I thought he was acting strange this mornin. He must suspect somethin." Vin’s three companions were nodding.

"Yep and that’s our problem, Vin. He knows that Mary knows. And he knows that she will try to give him a cake or something. Of course what he don’t know is that she’s planning on a party."

"And Mrs Travis has asked us if we could ensure that Mr Larabee has the courtesy to actually attend his party."

A small grin appeared on Vin’s face that moved up to touch his bright blue eyes. "You fellas ain’t got a chance in hell of getting him anywhere near Mrs Travis’ place."

"Exactly. And that’s where you come in."

Vin’s eyes narrowed. "Meanin?"

"Well Mr Larabee doesn’t trust me as far as he can throw me."

"Always said that boy was a good judge of character," Vin stated with mock seriousness. Ezra chose to ignore that comment.

"And as for the rest of our merry band.....well let’s just say that Mr Larabee is about as trusting as a cobra."

"Ain’t got any arguments there," Vin agreed.

"But," and Ezra paused for effect. "....we have no doubt you could probably convince him to come. He trusts you." Vin’s eyes flicked from Ezra to Nathan to Josiah."

"When pigs fly."

"I beg your pardon?"

"You heard me, Ezra."

"You mean you do not believe that you could successfully arrange for Mr Larabee to arrive at Mrs Travis’ at the appropriate time."

"I mean I ain’t willin to be a part of another one of your dumb arse plans."

"But Vin...."

"No."

"You may be the only one who...."

"No."

"It isn’t for us, Mr Tanner, it is for the lovely Mrs Travis."

"The hell it is. You’re all trying to get back at Chris for nominating ya for that dancing competition." Vin Tanner’s face flashed with mirth and his companions all had to grin. When Vin smiled he looked at least five years younger, and if the truth be known, closer to what was probably his actual age. "Reckon Chris got ya good with that one." Ezra eyed the smiling man and for the first time considered that perhaps Chris Larabee had not been alone in arranging that dastardly deed.

"Mr Tanner, I assure you that we have no ulterior motive. We just want to assist Mrs Travis to give Mr Larabee the birthday party that he so rightly deserves."

"You all just want to laugh at his discomfort when Mary starts fussin over him." The huge grins on his friend’s faces confirmed this suspicion. If there was one thing that Chris hated, it was to be made a fuss of. He was almost as uncomfortable with that as Vin was. Both men hated the thought of being the centre of attention. "I ain’t gonna be a part of no cock and bull plan to embarrass, Chris."

"Now come on, Mr Tanner. I know you love nothing better than to see Mr Larabee blush as he is sidestepping Mrs Travis."

At this, a hint of a grin touched the tracker’s youthful face. "Reckon I do. But that don’t make no difference. I ain’t helping ya. Reckon I value my life too much. You’ll just have to find your own way to get Chris there." And with those final words, Vin tipped his hat, climbed to his feet and sauntered out of the saloon.

"Well, that went well," Nathan grumbled.

"Vin’s the only one that is gonna be able to get Chris to the party," Josiah sighed. "Wouldn’t matter what the rest of us told him, he’d know we was trying to trick him. Don’t reckon he’d even trust Billy today."

"Maybe we should tell Chris that Mary’s planning him a party. Maybe he’ll feel obliged to come."

"Yeah and maybe Vin’s pigs will fly!"

"All’s not lost yet my friends. It is very true that we need Mr Tanner to con Mr Larabee if we want him to come to the party."

"So we can exact the revenge that we deserve," Nathan agreed.

"But Vin ain’t gonna do it. And he’s almost as stubborn as Chris." A smile was spreading across Ezra’s glowing face.

"All we have to do is to find someone to con Mr Tanner."

"Huh?"

"Wouldn’t you agree that Mr Tanner is a sucker for anyone or anything in pain or in trouble? Stay here my friends, I have an idea." Nathan and Josiah watched Ezra leap to his feet and disappear though the bar and out the back door. As one they lifted their drinks in a salute and then downed the contents.

Vin sat leaning back in the simple wooden chair that was situated on the veranda of the saloon. He shook his head with amusement. One thing was for sure, he was gonna enjoy watching Ezra, Josiah and Nathan trying to con Chris to enter Mary’s house. He could just imagine some of the ridiculous schemes they would come up with. Yep, he was gonna sit himself right here and watch the farce unfold. Just like he had done last week when he had got Billy to tell Mrs Potter that Chris wanted to enter Nathan, Josiah and Ezra in the dance competition. The young tracker hadn’t laughed so much in all his life. And no matter what Chris had said, the other three refused to believe his vehement denial that he had had anything to do with their inclusion on the entry form.

It was with those thoughts in mind that Vin pulled his hat down low over his face, lifted his feet up to rest on the rail and settled himself to wait. Some minutes later, he noted Mary come from her house and cross the street. The blond woman climbed the stairs, her face creased with worry. Instantly, Vin’s hat lifted.

"Mrs Travis? Is something wrong?"

"Yes. No......" She thought about the question some more, patted Vin’s shoulder and then walked by him and entered the saloon.

Vin Tanner climbed to his feet and followed her. He shouldered his way through the bat wing doors and watched her approach Ezra. The gambler stood, listened to her whisperings and then slipped his arm across her shoulder in a show of comfort. Josiah and Nathan rose and crossed the room, both looking concerned. With three long strides, Vin joined them.

"Mrs Travis? Is there something I can......" And Vin stopped mid sentence. His eyes narrowed and then he began to shake his head disgusted that he had almost fallen for such an obvious trick. "Ezra!" he demanded firmly. Mary lifted her eyes and began to blush with deep embarrassment and shame.

"Mrs Travis do you have any idea of what he’ll do to me if I take part in this," Vin asked grinning. And then he turned to Ezra and those blue eyes transformed to ice. "I ain’t tellin ya again. I ain’t gonna do it." With that, he tipped his hat politely to Mary and then spun on his heels and headed for the door.

"It’s just a party, Vin," Nathan called.

"Only be a couple dozen people there."

"We’re gonna get Chris to dance. You’ll enjoy seeing that."

"I just want to show him that we care. Just let him know that he’s got friends that think enough of him to ......" But the woman’s voice faded out. It was useless. Now that Vin had turned his back, her chances of getting Chris there were nonexistent.

Vin Tanner reached the door and stopped, Mary’s pained voice echoing in his ears. Slowly he wheeled around to appraise the deep disappointment radiating from her beautiful face.

"This is real important to you, isn’t it."

"Yes, it is." A long defeated sigh echoed out of the tracker as he glanced sideways at his team mates. They’d set him up. Yeah, they’d set him up good.

"What time did you say you wanted him there?" He had barely got the words out, when Mary Travis raced forward, threw her arms around him and kissed him on the cheek. Vin stood there rigidly, stiff as a board. It occurred to Mary that for someone who was as genuinely friendly as Vin, he had no idea of how to accept thanks or any form of real affection from another human being. Realizing and understanding that she was making him extremely uncomfortable she released him, smiled and then left the room to continue preparations.

"What time?" Vin grilled again, but his eyes betrayed him. He wanted to be a part of this, the others could tell. And again Ezra began to contemplate if Vin Tanner had had a part in Larabee’s dance scheme. The Seven’s serious leader had never struck the gambler as the type of person who would par take of practical jokes. Tanner of the other hand.......

"Four o’clock. But it isn’t going to be easy, my friend. Mr Larabee is going to become more wary as the day goes by."

"You just make sure you’re there when he walks in. I’ll get him there, but it’s gonna be up to you all to keep him there." Not surprisingly, the young man had no intention of attending the party himself. Vin had never attended any of the town’s celebrations. Large gatherings of people made him restless and uneasy. Too many people to watch and assess.

Mary knew she had no need to hide the decorations in the event the birthday boy made an unexpected visit. There was no way in the world Chris was going to call today. As a matter of fact, she was wondering how Vin was going convince the pig-headed gunfighter to enter her home so he could take part in his own party. She knew the unassuming tracker would never lie to his leader. Not even in jest. There was something very unique about Chris and Vin’s friendship. It was based on absolute trust. Complete and total loyalty. And lying to each other, even with the best of intentions, just was not an option.

The stage arrived in a whirlwind of dust. Chris glanced at Vin and the two nodded an unspoken welcome.

"I hear it’s your birthday, Cowboy" Vin drawled as Chris tossed the reins of his horse to J.D. The gunfighter’s eyes narrowed as he shot a look at Buck. The mustached man grinned apologetically and then made himself scarce.

"Who told you?"

"Ezra."

"They planning somethin?"

Vin grinned. "Reckon you should get yourself cleaned up."

Chris glowered at Vin and headed toward his room.

"Hey Cowboy. You aren’t busy tonight are ya. You know around about seven?" Chris turned. His head bobbed once and then he disappeared into the boarding house. Vin grinned, pleased at his own ingenuity. It had been a simple enough question. He was only asking if Chris was gonna be busy at seven. It wasn’t his fault that Chris had misinterpreted the question as a warning that that was the time Mary was gonna have the party. Now Chris should drop his guard a little in the afternoon. Should make things easier.

Contented and noting that it was still three hours until the celebration, Vin moseyed up to the livery to collect Peso. Time to go and reacquaint himself with nature. Being in town all morning was making him feel claustrophobic.

At ten to four, Ezra nervously peered out the window of Mary’s small living room. Where the hell was Vin? He had ridden out hours earlier and there had been no sign of him since. Chris, on the other hand, was seated on the chair outside the saloon looking for all the world like he intended staying there for eternity. The scowl on his face frightened everyone into retreating before they got within ten feet of him.

"Come on Mr Tanner. It is time for you to weave your magic." Josiah, Buck, Nathan, J.D. and Mary moved over to join the gambler.

"Any sign of him?"

"I hate to say this, but I fear that Mr Tanner may have forgotten. You know what he is like once he starts ferreting around in the wilds."

Another five minutes flashed by. The crowd that had gathered for the party was starting to get restless. Mary sighed deeply.

"Don’t worry Ma’am. We’ll get Chris here even if we have to shoot him to do it."

"Wait a minute, wait a minute, there’s Vin." The anxious group crowded behind the curtains and watched the tracker coax his horse into the livery.

"What do you reckon he’s gonna say to Chris?"

"I have no idea, but Chris is in a damn awful mood."

Chris had seen Vin return and was waiting to talk to him. He intended prying some more information out of his young friend about the party Mary was planning to throw that evening. Chris’ hat was pulled down over his face, a signal to the world that he wasn’t to be disturbed. Of course that wouldn’t deter Vin. Nothing Chris ever said or did seemed to deter the quietly spoken tracker.

Chris continued to wait. He was just starting to wonder what was taking his companion so long when he heard a muttered....."Oh shit." Chris pressed his hat off his forehead and glanced in the direction of the voice. To his surprise he discovered Vin, not heading towards him, but rather heading in the opposite direction back towards the livery. And he was limping. Limping bad, but moving swiftly and quietly. Trying not to attract my attention, Chris surmised. Damn stubborn bastard’s gone and hurt himself and is trying to hide it. Typical!

The older man watched as his friend pulled up next to a post and reached out to steady himself. Not waiting any longer Chris climbed to his feet and strode along the street with long even strides. Stupid, bloody minded, hard nosed, pain in the ass fool!

"Vin!" Chris saw the startled and annoyed look cross his team mate’s face as he quickly dropped down to sit on the steps at the front of Potter’s store. Briskly the tracker crossed his ankles and casually took out his harmonica. He’s tryin to make out he hasn’t seen or heard me. "Vin!"

"Chris?" The picture of surprise and innocence stared back at the gunslinger.

"What’s wrong with your leg?" the older man demanded arriving and glaring down at the lop sided grin on the dusty man’s face.

"Don’t know what you mean." Vin lifted the harmonica to his lips and began to force air through it.

"What’s wrong with your right leg?" Chris demanded again. He was not in the mood for games. If Vin had hurt himself then it needed to be tended to.

"Nothin."

"Vin!"

"There ain’t nothing wrong with my right leg."

Chris continued to scrutinize his friend. "Your right foot then."

"Ain’t nothing wrong with my right foot. What’s your problem, Larabee?"

"I saw you limping. Are you hurt bad?"

"Chris stop mother’in me."

"Get up."

"Nope, I reckon I’m comfortable right here. Now why don’t you go off and find yourself someone else to annoy."

Chris Larabee snorted with frustration. "Alright. Come on. I’m takin you to see Nathan."

"Go to hell Larabee. I ain’t shiftin from this spot."

"I ain’t askin ya, Tanner!"

"And I ain’t movin from this spot!"

Furious, Chris spun around and stormed off down the street towards Mary’s. He’d seen Nathan go in there about half an hour earlier, which wasn’t unusual. Nathan often shared a cup of coffee with Mary in the afternoon. If Vin wouldn’t go to Nathan then Chris would take Nathan to his stubborn, pigheaded, sonofabitch friend.

Vin watched Chris go, happily listening to the loud curses echoing out of the man that scared the living shit out of most people who crossed his path. Amused, Vin tipped his hat to the party goers he knew had been watching every movement from inside Mary’s quaint little house. Satisfied with his afternoon’s work, the young man leant back, pocketed his harmonica and pulled his hat down over his eyes. Yep that had been easier than he had thought.

Seconds later he heard the cry of ‘Surprise’ fill the street, followed by one line of Happy Birthday to You’ which stopped abruptly. No doubt Chris was trying to explain to the others that he needed Nathan. Buck’s, J.D.’s and Ezra’s uproarious laughter confirmed this. And then...

"TANNER!!" Chris bellowed appearing in the doorway of Mary’s house. "You lying sonofabitch. You told me your leg was hurt."

"Nope. You said that. I said there weren’t nothing wrong with my leg," Vin called from under his hat.

"TANNER. Get your mangy sorry carcass over here. I ain’t gonna suffer this alone."

"I already told ya. I ain’t movin," Vin drawled tipping the brim of his hat to Chris without actually lifting his head.

"TANNER. I swear that if it takes the rest of my life, I’m gonna git you you lousy backstabbing worthless piece of shit. When you least expect it, I’m gonna make you pay you two timing, double dealing, cheating bastard. You had better start sleepin with one eye open, you hear me."

"I already do, Cowboy," Vin chuckled.

"TANNER are you coming or not?!" The last line lacked the force of the previous ones and Vin knew that his friend was not really angry. At least, not all that angry. And he knew that Chris would understand if he declined to attend. So Vin remained quiet, his hat down, his chin resting on his chest. With one final outburst of curses, Chris turned and rejoined the party to take his punishment like a man.

Vin Tanner smiled to himself, pleased to have been a part of his best friend’s downfall. Of course, he had the feeling that Chris had meant very word when it came to getting him back. Yep, Vin Tanner was real pleased with his life at the moment.

"Happy birthday, Cowboy."