The Test
By Brate
ATF Universe
"What do you mean yer sexier than me?"
JD, Josiah, and Nathan had left town for a conference in Boulder, and bored without his partner, Buck decided to torment the next youngest agent.
"Now, calm down, Vin." Wilmington 's deep blue eyes were twinkling. "I ain't saying you're not sexy, just not as sexy as I am." The ladies' man's eyes twinkled as he watched Vin become even more irate at Buck's attempt to mollify him.
"Jest 'cause I don't go 'round flashing ladies' numbers don't mean I don't get none."
"Of course you do, Junior. Why, just last week, Lyn passed you her number at the Saloon... no... wait a minute -- that was me." Wilmington laughed uproariously at his own joke.
"Hardy har har." Vin watched the cocky agent and fumed. He knew he wasn't as outgoing as Buck, but he'd had his share of female attention. "I bet I could get more phone numbers in one day than you."
"Did I hear the word bet, Mr. Tanner?" Ezra had been listening to the others arguing, but they were easily ignored until one of his most beloved words was mentioned. "And what would the wager be regarding?"
"What are you guys up to now?" asked Larabee as he passed their desks on his way to the break room.
"Not much, Chris. Junior here thinks he can get more ladies' phone numbers than I can."
Chris tried his utmost not to laugh, but he let a snort escape. "Damn, Tanner. Don't you realize you'd have talk to the women in order to get their numbers?"
"Y'all are a bunch of comedians." The sharpshooter was getting tired of this ridicule. He knew he was digging his own grave, but he grabbed another shovel and plowed on. "I bet ya that I could git more numbers from the ladies in this building than you."
"When?"
"Tomorrow."
"What if I win?" challenged the mustached man.
"Name it."
"You get your hair cut... short as Chris."
Gasps were heard from the others in the room, but Vin recovered quickly. "Fine. And when I win, you shave yer mustache off."
Buck flinched, but held his smile. "It's a bet." They shook hands.
"Ahem." Both contestants turned to look at the agent clearing his throat. "I'd like to be a part of this challenge, if I may, gentlemen."
"See, Vin? Everyone knows you made a sucker bet."
"Au contraire, mon ami. I would like to enter this competition as Mr. Tanner's partner."
Larabee disagreed. "I'd have to go against you there, Ez."
"Chris," Vin lamented accusingly.
"Sorry, Cowboy. But as Buck's oldest friend, I've seen this guy in action enough times. You're outmatched."
"What would you care to wager?" the undercover agent inquired of his superior.
Chris eyed his agent speculatively, before raising an eyebrow and smirking. "If Buck wins, you have to be the first one here to work each morning for the whole month. For every day you are not, you have to wear Vin's clothes for a week."
"You don't mean--"
"That includes his buckskin coat."
Ezra was aghast; Vin was offended. "What th' hell is so wrong with m'clothes?" he demanded.
Standish raised his hand to silence his partner. "Agreed. And if I win?"
"Anything."
"Is that so?" This time the feral grin was on the gold-toothed man. "You will perform a dare of my choosing."
Larabee's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "What kind of dare?"
"Don't fear, Mr. Larabee. I assure you it will not be illegal merely embarrassing."
Chris didn't want to imagine what the conman could come up with, but he was confident in Buck's animal magnetism. "Deal." He looked at his men, and set down the ground rules. "Okay, tomorrow morning at eight o'clock, the two of you will leave here and tour the building. At noon you will return and we will count the number of numbers."
"It was s'posed ta be fer a day," Tanner protested.
"Vin, I'm already allowing you to waste half a day on this nonsense, I think that's more than generous."
Unable to defeat that logic, the men agreed to the terms.
"I suggest y'all get back to work. You have two more hours and I expect all three of you to accomplish something." With a final glare, Larabee retreated into his office.
Buck and Vin returned to their desks, while the conman excused himself for a few minutes. He returned shortly, and the trio worked steadily until they went home.
~+*+~+*+~+*+~+*+~
"How much longer?" Ezra asked.
"They have ten more minutes," Larabee answered, looking at his watch. Both men were fidgeting with anticipation. Normally unflappable, each had too much riding on the outcome to remain calm.
Vin was the first to appear. "So how many did you get?" Chris asked, nearly accosting his best friend.
"Relax, Cowboy." Tanner smiled and winked at the anxious men. "Reckon I'll wait fer Buck."
Moments later, a dejected ladies' man walked through the office doors. He slowly made his way to his friends. "I just don't get it," he spoke, clearly confused.
"What's yer problem, Bucklin?"
"I didn't get a single number," he responded, incredulous.
"What?!" Chris glared at his friend. "What do you mean you didn't get any?"
"Exactly what it sounds like, pard. Not one of those sweet ladies would share their digits."
"I didn't seem to have any problem," stated Vin as he unloaded a pile of note cards, post-its, and various pieces of paper. There had to be nearly a hundred numbers in the stack.
"How the hell did you do that?" exclaimed Buck. Even Chris was looking at the mound in shock.
"Have no idea. Ev'rywhere I went, they just gave 'em to me, some without me askin'."
"I might have a clue about that, gentlemen."
"I knew it," Chris sneered. "What did you do, Ezra, pay them off?"
Green eyes opened wide as a hand was pressed to his chest in innocence. "I would do no such thing. I merely informed a secretary downstairs as to the consequence of Mr. Tanner's failure. Apparently, she shared that information. It appears that the women in this building are very attached to our sniper's long hair."
Vin started to blush when he thought about all the women who gave him their numbers. He shook his head to clear the thought; preferring to think of how the fun was just beginning. "Well, Bucklin, looks like you need a shave."
Buck drew a sharp intake of breath, reaching up to caress his mustache.
"And you, Mr. Larabee. What shall I have you do?"
"I got an idea," grinned the sharpshooter. At Larabee's outraged look, Tanner shrugged. "Ya shouldn't bet against me, Cowboy."
