A BETWITCHING MOON
By: Suzy B.
Nathan walked silently upstream, somber eyes scanning the creek and its banks carefully. It didn't take him long to find what he was looking for. Less than 300 yards upstream, three small metal casks sat in the center of the stream.
Wading into the chilled water, he lifted one from its watery grave and carried it back to the banks. Repeating the trip two more times, he lifted them onto the muddy bank. Rolling one of the partially rusted drums, he cursed softly as he read the label on the barrel. What had once been well labeled was only partially visible, but he could still see everything he needed to know.
Moving the barrels further out of the water's reach, he made his way back to the village. As he reached the edge of the village he yelled for Rain. Hearing the urgency in his voice she ran from the tent she had been in, fearing for his safety.
"Nathan," she called as she stepped into the sunlight. "What is it? What has happened?"
"Rain, is there another water supply close by?"
"There is another stream," she replied. "Its water is not as sweet, but we do sometimes use it."
"Then from now on, you use the other stream," he ordered. "I'll have to go back to town to find a remedy in my books, but I know what is wrong with your friends."
"What have you found, Nathan?" she asked, frowning.
"They are slowly being poisoned," he answered. "There were several barrels of arsenic in the water."
"Who would do that?" Rain frowned.
"I don't think it was done deliberately," Nathan explained carefully. "They were near a crossing that looks rough. They probably fell off a wagon."
Rain leaned up and placed a soft kiss on Nathan's cheek. "I knew you'd help us."
"I ain't helped yet Rain," he shrugged.
"But you found out what is wrong," Raine nodded.
He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. "Are you okay here if I go back to town?"
"I will be fine Nathan. You go." She clasped his hands. "I will see you when you return."
Nathan looked deeply into her face and smiled. "I'll be back as soon as I can." He started to move away from her then turned back. "Make sure you get your water from the other creek."
"I will be sure, Nathan," she nodded and watched as he moved to leave.
Vin and Ezra rode slowly into town, the wolf pup cradled inside Vin's jacket,
the body of its mother slung behind his saddle. Stopping in front of the
jailhouse, Vin swung his leg over the pommel and dropped lithely to the
ground. Ezra was mere moments behind him in dismounting, but both men turned
at the sounds of several horses galloping into town.
Watching the large group of men ride toward them, Vin and Ezra moved quickly
to stand on the boardwalk in front of the jail and turned to face the crowd.
Neither man turned at the sound of the jailhouse door opening, or at the slow
but measured jingling of Chris' spurs as he walked to stand beside them.
"Larabee!" Pickering called from where he sat on his paint stallion's back.
"I'm going to get my daughter back!"
"She isn't there, Pickering," Buck spoke loudly from behind the crowd as he
slid off is horse's back.
"How the hell would you know?" Pickering whirled on the ladies man angrily.
"I've been there that's why," Buck spoke calmly.
"Those heathens are responsible for killing our cattle and now they've taken
my daughter," Pickering growled. "I won't let them take my baby without a
fight!"
"Stop being such a damned ignorant fool and listen to reason Pickering," Buck
cursed as he moved towards the jailhouse.
"Your girl isn't there, Mr Pickering," JD stated as he followed Buck.
"Might have known you lot would defend the heathens!" Pickering looked them
up and down. "Their women have blinded you to the truth." He looked
pointedly at Buck.
"As your ignorance has blinded you apparently" Ezra almost sneered.
"The gypsies aren't killing your cattle," Vin spoke calmly, "she was." He gestured towards the carcass slung over his mount. "She was only trying to feed her youngun'." He pulled the sleeping pup from his jacket and held it up for them to see. "She was only doing what nature intended." He shrugged before pressing the pup into JD's hands.
JD cuddled the tiny puppy against his chest stroking it gently until it stopped whimpering and settled down to sleep once more.
"Pickering might think he has to do this," Chris spoke calmly, his steely glare pinning each and every one of Pickering's nervous accomplices. "But you don't," he stated. "If you follow him I swear you will suffer for it." His words broke off as the sound of melodious singing reached them
"What the…?" Josiah's deep voice rang out as they watched the small crowd at the opposite end of the street grow nearer
A grin began to crease Buck's face as he watched, listening to the song. Sung in a language known only to their gypsy friends, the lilting words and harmonious voices served only to calm the jangled nerves of all that listened.
Stopping scant feet from the standoff, Joachim helped the tiny blonde poppet from his shoulders to stand on the ground and watched patiently as she ran to her father.
"Papa," she cried excitedly. "Papa!" She scrambled to reach her father's leg and grabbed his arms as he leaned down to swing her across his lap. "I was lost, Papa," she informed him, her young voice matter of fact. "JoJo and Danny found me."
"How did you get lost Lou?" He brushed her hair back from her face.
"I wanted to see the kittens in the barn," she answered solemnly, her bottom lip beginning to pout. "It was dark."
"Your mama is worried about you," Pickering spoke calmly. "I think its time to take you home." He looked up his eyes meeting the dark eyes of Joachim.
"Thank you," he stated quietly before he turned his horse and steered his horse away from the crowd and towards his home. Neither his words nor his attitude offering apology for his thoughts.
"You are welcome," Joachim replied as Pickering's horse pushed through the crowd of Gypsies.
The would-be lynching mob quickly dissipated as their ringleader rode away. None of them wishing to be the ones to attract the ire of the mysterious Gypsies.
As the townsfolk cleared, Buck and JD walked toward their newfound friends. Buck walked up to the large gregarious gypsy and enfolded him in a hug of greeting.
"Thank you, friend," he said as he released him and caught his hand in a quick handshake.
"No thanks needed, Friend," Joachim answered. "We will return to our campsite." He nodded, "Now all is as it should be."
"Yep," Buck replied.
"You and your friends are all welcome at our feast this night!" Joachim spoke in a voice loud enough for the others to hear.
"We might just take you up on that, buddy." Buck grinned and clapped Joachim on the back as he turned to walk back to the campsite.
"You will be welcome in our camp any time," Joachim called as he and his family began the walk back to their campsite.
JD stood slightly back from Buck and the gypsies, cuddling the tiny wolf pup protectively.
"What will you do with the wolf JD Dunne?" Danella asked quietly.
JD shrugged. "It's not mine to do anything with."
Danella nodded. "It is its own master."
JD shook his head. "No, I meant that Vin found it."
"You will need to care for it," Danella stated
JD looked back at Vin, who was watching the exchange with interest. The tracker replied without words, just with a single nod of his head
"Would you like to care for the pup?" JD held the pup in both hands and extended it to her.
"You are sure you do not wish to care for her?" Danella looked between JD and Vin, her eyes lit with an expectant sheen.
JD looked back to Vin and then back to Danella. "We're sure." He pressed the pup into Danella's arms.
"Then I will care for her." Danella nodded and leaned forward to press a kiss against JD's cheek. "Thank you, JD Dunne," she murmured.
Nuzzling her face against the coarse fur of the wolf she turned to follow her father down the street. Her attention focused on the pup in her arms and not the voices behind her as the other six men mercilessly teased the gently blushing JD. Neither did she notice the glare from the young girl sweeping the boardwalk in front of Gloria Potter's store.
Buck clapped his young friend on the back companionably. "Sometimes, Kid, I swear you are blind!"
"What'd I do?" JD sputtered confused.
"Nothing," Buck replied walking across the lift his horses reins and walk towards the livery. "Nothin' at all….that's the point!"
At the outburst of laughter from their assembled friends, JD indignantly lifted his reins and followed the gregarious ladies' man, slowly pondering Buck's words with a confused frown.
Fini
