Summary: Rhianna and True's adventures with the seven peacekeepers continue
Author's Note: This is written as an extension of Wolfpyre's Magnificent Seven "True Universe," and once again she deserves all the kudos for creating this fun AU! This is a rather unique AU so if you have not read Wolfpyre's "Truly Magnificent," & "True Wonder," and/or my "True Family," the OCs in this story (their presence, history, and abilities) might be a bit confusing.
Warning: Disciplinary spanking of minors. If you do not like or approve of this PLEASE to NOT read this story. There is some use of harsh language in this story.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Magnificent Seven characters and am writing this just for fun and for no personal gain. I do not speak any of the foreign languages represented in this fiction and have used certain words found in online sources without an understanding of syntax; apologies to anyone with a clear understanding of these languages.
True Growing Pains
Rhianna sat high in the branches of "her" tree on the edge of town. She had gotten in the habit of coming here to think, though she was cautious to keep to the lower branches if any of the seven peacekeepers were around to observe. Wrapping her arms around herself to ward off the cold that seeped in despite the coat she wore, the girl pondered how cold the winter would be if the fall was this chilly.
She was not looking forward to the winter with the accompanying need to be trapped primarily indoors for months on end. As it stood, she knew she was getting on edge and irritable again. Nathan had been out of town, having made a trip to visit Raine before winter set in, so Rhianna was stuck in the small classroom everyday which was driving her nearly insane! Given her gifts, it was difficult for her to be in constant close proximity to people without having time away.
That wasn't the only thing bothering her, though. Spending so much time in the classroom only brought to the forefront of her mind that she was actually fourteen and not eleven. Few kids continued on beyond sixteen in the one-roomed school, if they even stayed that long. Casey had never even had to attend and she was only a couple of years older than Rhianna's actual age.
Rhianna sighed heavily then noted True approaching. Her cousin was coming to collect her for supper. Not really hungry, Rhianna considered just skipping out on the meal. Of course that would bring unfavorable consequences.
True scrambled up the tree, quick as a bobcat, and sat next to Rhianna. "Ya comin' ta eat or ya plannin' on getting' yerself tanned?"
The blond turned to scowl at her cousin. "And exactly how is that any of your business?"
True shrugged, "Jest wonderin'. What's been buggin' ya enyway? Chris ain't gonna take much more o' yer moody bitch routine."
Interestingly enough, her cousin's frankness served to deflate Rhianna's temper some. "Too many people pressing in. I need to get away."
"Wouldn't recommend that," True shook her head. "Not by yerself leastways. Why don'tcha asked Chris to take a trip out to the cabin?"
"He'd worry."
"Yeah, and he ain't doin' thet atal now with ya goin' around like some fuckin' rabid cougar, snappin' at anyone gets too close to ya."
Rhianna's glare was back, but True was immune and just chuckled. "Yer lookin' more like Chris all the time. Been practicin'?"
Ignoring the other girl, Rhianna grabbed a dead leaf that had tenaciously clung to the branch on which it had grown and crumpled it in her hand. She'd been going to respond with her own snide comment when she caught the concern True was radiating. Her cousin was worried as well. That was understandable. In their world, in was not unheard of for telepaths or empaths to snap under the pressure of maintaining constant shields. The fallout wasn't pretty.
"I'm okay, True, just a bit tetchy."
"Alright," the younger girl started to climb down, "But this bein' Friday, I wouldn't suggest gettin' in trouble tonight. Not if it's some space yer wantin'."
Seeing the logic behind True's statement she followed her cousin down. Much to her dismay, when she reached the bottom of the tree Chris was standing arms crossed glaring at the two.
"Are you supposed to climb up that high?" the black-clad gunman demanded, his voice stern.
"No, sir," the girls answered in concert.
He landed three swats on True's rear and sent her to the boardinghouse to get washed up before turning his attention to Rhianna. He landed five smacks to her skirt covered backside.
"Hey!" she exclaimed, having to blink to keep the tears at bay. He'd put a lot into those few swats and he hadn't given True that many.
"You're older and you were up there first. True just climbed up after ya."
"I'm older? So now my age actually means something to you?"
"You'd do well to watch your tone."
Rhianna literately bit the inside of her cheek to keep from uttering a rude retort.
Chris tipped her chin up, his gaze serious and concerned. "What's been eatin' at you lately?"
Rhianna shrugged. "I do not know what you mean," she drawled in response though she now realized that True was right. Chris was worried. She was caught off guard when another hefty swat landed on her unprotected seat.
"That's a lie and you know how I feel about lying."
Rhianna looked away. "I need to get away," she whispered. "All the thoughts and emotions are pressing in and shoring up my shields is making me irritable."
Chris put his arms around the girl, engulfing her in a comforting embrace. "Why didn't you just tell me, pumpkin? I can't help you, if you don't tell me things."
"I don't know," she answered, sniffing as she lost the battle with tears. "I suppose I am just not used to talking about such things."
"Even with Nathan gone, I think the others can do without us for a couple of days. Why don't we head out to my cabin tomorrow?"
"That would be nice."
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Though the weekend away didn't solve everything, it did go a ways toward improving Rhianna's temperament. Nathan returned and she once again had a few afternoons a week out of the confines of the classroom, which also helped. Wednesday, as she headed down the steps of the clinic she noted a wagon in front of the boot and saddle shop.
Continuing ahead, she saw a burly man and a boy of about fourteen descending from the wagon. Her breath caught as she got a better look at the tall youth. He had to be the most handsome boy she'd ever seen. His black hair had a bit of curl and framed a roguish face. His light grey eyes peered out from under dark brows and lashes too long for such a masculine face. Embarrassed by her thoughts, Rhianna blushed and looked around, glad to find there was no one to observe her silliness.
Her curiosity piqued, she made her way to the boot and saddle shop and saw the dark haired man, shaking hands with Mr. Simmons, the proprietor. A quick read of the situation afforded Rhianna the understanding that the newcomer was buying the establishment so that Mr. Simmons could move further West, closer to his grown children.
"Ah, Rhianna," the shop owner called out. "Come over and meet Mr. McGowen. I'd like ya ta pass the message on to your uncle and the rest that he'll be takin' over my store. He's a gunsmith as well as a leatherworker. Should do well here."
Mr. McGowen, who was nearly as tall as Buck and built more like Josiah, turned to smile broadly at the girl. "Och, what a bonnie lass ye be."
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. McGowen," she answered in the soft southern drawl she had adopted since settling here, though the similarity of the man's surname to that of her birth somehow made her want slip into the clan language.
"The pleasure be mine, lass," he replied in a thick Scottish brogue offering her a wink. "And this is be my son Conall."
The boy nodded to her and Rhianna smiled, not able to resist reading his impression of her. What she found out did not make her happy and as she said goodbye she seethed inwardly. CUTE KID? CUTE KID! To her utter shame, Rhianna felt tears forming in her eyes as she made her way back to the boarding house.
Brushing past Buck and JD without so much as a word, nearly tipping the young sheriff off of the porch rail in the process, she stormed up the stairs and slammed her bedroom door behind her. She was not terribly surprised by the soft knock on her door after about ten minutes.
"I do not feel like talking, Buck."
Her door opened and the mustached man entered, despite her less than cordial tone. "Well darlin', sometimes it helps to talk and ole Buck's a good listener. Occurs to me you might wanna get a handle on whatever it is that's botherin' ya cuz Chris is likely ta warm yer tail for ya if he sees a repeat of what just happened downstairs."
Rhianna's face flushed. Any of the others, well outside of JD, would have taken her to task for her behavior. "I apologize."
"Ain't lookin' fer an apology. Wanna know what's got ya on the verge of tears," he replied taking a seat beside the girl.
"I am NOT on the verge of tears," she answered back fiercely.
"That so?"
"That is so."
"Must be I was mistaken."
"Yes you were."
"Alright, well come over here and give ole Buck a hug and I'll leave ya be." Rhianna reached over for a quick hug, but was pulled right into Buck's lap. He held her tight and she found herself returning the embrace accepting the silent comfort the dark-haired peacekeeper was offering. Before she knew it the tears were falling. The lady's man just rocked her back and forth, tenderly playing with strands of her hair until she had cried herself out.
"Feelin' better?"
"No. I do not like crying."
"Mmm. Hmm. Well, it helps sometimes."
"Tears are for infants."
"Well, now as I understand it girls right about yer age on up to past Casey's end up sheddin' a lot more tears than even a baby."
"Hormones? You think this is hormones?"
"Can't say as I'm familiar with that word, but if thet means yer growin' up, then yeah."
Rhianna couldn't help but smile at that. "Do you think I've grown since coming here?" she asked coyly.
"Pert near an inch I'd say."
"Buck Wilmington, you are a liar," she said with a laugh, but she reached up to kiss his cheek feeling the tickle of his mustache before climbing off his lap. She'd rather be growing out than up anyway, but was quite certain that she'd done neither in the past few months.
"What's gott'n you in such an all fired hurry ta grow up?"
"I just want credit for the years I have already lived. Why do I have to pose as eleven?"
"It's only three years difference, darlin'."
"But eleven is a child. Fourteen is a young woman. Casey is only just turned sixteen and she's allowed to keep company with JD who is a full grown man."
"I don't know that I'd say the kid is full growed," Buck chuckled before looking carefully at Rhianna. "You got yer eye on a beau? That what this is all about?"
"No! Of course not!" Buck looked unconvinced. "I just grow weary of being treated like a child."
"Well, as I see it, ya should take advantage of the extra time ya got. Climbin' trees and playin' ball…" Buck sounded wistful, "I only wish I could have a few more years as a boy."
"Yes, well you did not live under the threat of Chris's displeasure should you climb too high."
XXX000XXX000XXX000XXX
That night at the supper table, Rhianna casually shared the news Mr. Simmons had asked her to.
"Be right handy havin' a gunsmith in town," Vin observed.
"Just so long as he don't draw the wrong type of customer," Chris commented.
"Well, I've been thinkin' on a new saddle," JD piped in, "I'll have to go over and meet him."
"He got any kids?" True wanted to know.
"Just one son," Rhianna replied.
"Well, how old?" True demanded with a note of frustration at Rhianna's tight-lipped response.
"I would say around fourteen," Rhianna answered, not looking up from her potatoes.
Buck cast a look at the blond girl, his blue eyes twinkling. "So Rhianna, you gettin' excited for that birthday you got comin' up?"
Looking up sharp, Rhianna met Buck's eyes and then smiled. Twelve was better than eleven. "I had not really thought about it." She noted the confused look on True's face and hoped her cousin would catch on quickly.
"I did not know we were approaching such a monumental occasion," Ezra remarked.
Chris's eyes looked sharply at Rhianna and she just shrugged. With Mrs. Whittaker sitting right there he could hardly make a comment that would indicate he had not known his own niece's birthday was coming up.
"Surprised ya didn't mention it, Sunshine," Vin remarked, looking suspiciously at True.
"Guess it slipped my mind," she stated innocently. She didn't know what Buck and Rhianna were up to, but she'd play along.
"Well when is it?" JD wanted to know.
"Week from Saturday," Buck announced.
Rhianna was certain she had never loved the lady's man more.
XXX000XXX000XXX000XXX
The next morning, all conversation stopped as Rhianna approached the breakfast table. Instead of her usual split skirt and blouse, she wore a dress complete with petticoats and smart black boots. Her honey blond curls were swept up becomingly and her cheeks seemed to sport a bit more color than usual.
"Well, don't you look pretty as a picture?" Josiah commented.
"What you all gussied up for?" Nathan wanted to know.
"I just felt like a change," Rhianna responded, pleased that Buck was not at the table this morning.
"Change is fine, but you'll go wash your face before you sit down at this table," Chris all but growled.
Rhianna's green eyes locked with Chris's. She'd hoped her cautious use of the few cosmetics would not be noticed. Like True she'd come back to the old west with a few tools of her trade, though Rhianna's differed some from True's. As a spy she had often needed to come off a bit older or a bit younger. Of course in this day and age cosmetics were only used by dance hall girls or prostitutes, which explained Chris's reaction.
With a heavy sigh Rhianna moved to do as she was told, well aware that arguing would only earn her a sore backside. When she returned, a sleepy True had made an appearance.
"You wearin' that to school?" the younger girl demanded in horror. True didn't even care for the culottes Rhianna wore, but wearing a dress was just plain loco so far as she was concerned.
"No. I am wearing it for my day trip to San Francisco," Rhianna answered sarcastically.
Interrupting the argument before it got started, Chris addressed Rhianna. "Young lady, I don't care if you're twelve or twenty, I never want to see you painted up like that again."
"Yes, sir," Rhianna replied as she pushed her eggs around her plate with her fork. Silence reigned for the rest of the meal. Once she had eaten enough to pass muster the young blond excused herself and headed to school.
She was unsurprised to find that Conall was not in attendance. Even if his father did make him go to school, he'd most likely get a few days to settle in before he was sentenced to this fate. She planned on ducking out at lunch under the pretense of helping Nathan. Miss Willis was fairly easy to get around. The girl was anxious to see if the young newcomer's opinion of her would change at all.
XXX000XXX000XXX000XXX
"Hell, I can't believe all of this shit is over a boy!" True laughed at her cousin as they sat outside the boardinghouse Friday afternoon. Billy and Creed tried to hide their own amusement. Rhianna just hadn't seemed the type. After a day and a half of observation, the younger girl had finally gotten to the root cousin's odd behavior, or at least a part of it. Now she intended to tease her ruthlessly!
"Just drop it True," Rhianna replied hotly. She'd changed and was planning on going for a bit of a ride before the evening meal. Yesterday, Conall had thought she looked older, but he still appeared mostly disinterested.
"Rhianna's in loooove," True sang gleefully, "Rhianna's in looove."
"Bee dty host, neufuillaghtagh loo keck." (Shut up, you insufferable little shit!)
This only made True laugh louder. It wasn't often that she could push Rhianna's buttons. "You gonna make me?"
"As a matter of fact," Rhianna took a step towards True her green eyes flashing in fury.
"Ooooo! I'm soooo scared," True continued to laugh. "Whatever would your dear Conall think," she mocked, holding her hands beneath her chin and blinking her eyelashes over her blue eyes coquettishly.
To be honest, Rhianna couldn't even say that she 'snapped.' She was perfectly aware of what she was doing but quite simply she was past caring. After the strain of the past weeks she had had enough. As her fist slammed into True's face she felt nothing but a deep satisfaction.
TBC