"Wow."

The whispered word, so filled with wonder, made Vin smile. Hugging his adopted son gently he said, "Nothin’ quite like it, is there?"

Ezra shook his head, mesmerized. "It’s beautiful," he murmured, eyes going wide as a double explosion of green and blue sparks lit the heavens and rained slowly down, only to be replaced with a spectacular blast of red.

Upon learning that the seven year old had never seen a fireworks display, Vin had started planning. It had taken a lot of driving to get here, but the look on Ezra’s face had been worth every mile.

"May I join you?"

Nathan hesitated. "Why?"

Ezra frowned at the less than cordial reply. He glanced at the table and noted, "Pickles, tea cakes, fried chicken and sugar cookies; a most unusual repast."

"Man’s entitled to eat what he likes."

"Certainly," Ezra agreed, "but all at once?"

Drawing himself up straighter, Nathan revealed, "Today’s an anniversary."

"Of?"

"Seven years since I became a free man."

"Ahh," Ezra said understandingly. "And the food?"

"Just things us slaves weren’t allowed to have."

Ezra paused to consider this, then asked again, "May I join you?"

Nathan smiled and pushed out a chair.

Vin sat on the bench, hands clenched, one leg rocking agitatedly. "He ain’t gonna make it."

Next to him, Buck nervously nibbled a thumbnail. "Why’d we bet him he couldn’t do this?"

"Because we didn’t think he’d try it?" Josiah guessed. "Should’ve known better. It’s a matter of pride."

"And fifty bucks apiece," Nathan reminded, "but if he makes a fool of himself, we’re all dead."

JD tried to be encouraging. "Maybe not, he’s in disguise so it’s not like anybody is going to know."

"We’ll know, and the fact that he didn’t have to take the bet won’t mean a damn thing," Chris said tensely. "Here it comes."

Ezra Standish, nearly unrecognizable in wire framed glasses, blue contact lenses, a goatee, worn blue jeans and a Colorado Rockies jersey, drew a deep breath. "O’er the land of the freeeee! And the home of the braaaave."

He grinned and waved his baseball cap as the crowd applauded. He had sung every note perfectly, without a waver. Up in the stands, he could see his friends cheering and offered them a small bow, his grin widening. They had made a fool’s bet and he had made an easy three hundred dollars.