A Cry on the Wind (PG) Some disturbing scenes.
By Cat
The Cartwrights were in the mercantile store getting supplies when they heard the jeers and laughter. Curious, they went out into the street and saw some young toughs drunk and circling around a wagon with a man and woman sitting in it. Both looked scared. The woman was clutching a blanket close to her. Ben thought she looked like a frightened deer. Her eyes were wide with fright and tears were coming down her cheeks as she clutched the bundle closer.
The men were grabbing at it and yelling, "Hey com'on, Mizz Hendricks, let's see your baby."
"Yeah, Mizz Hendricks, Let's see him."
"Judas Priest!! What do you boys think you're doing?" Ben roared, charging toward the men. His sons were close on his heels, with their hands on their guns, in case of trouble. Most of the men stopped and turned toward Ben, but one man, Caleb Hanks, took advantage of the Hendricks being momentarily distracted by Ben. Quickly, he snatched at the blanket, but not getting a firm grip, just caused it to unravel and drop its contents onto the street. Mrs. Hendricks screamed.
"My baby, David, my baby!"
Everyone shuffled and the drunken men quickly ran away. Hoss bent over and rewrapped the small bag of grain that had been dropped from the blanket. Very carefully, as if he was carrying something very fragile and precious, he handed the wrapped bag back to the woman.
"There now, Mrs. Hendricks, it's okay, he's all right," Hoss said softly.
Fanny Hendricks smiled up at Hoss, "He's a strong one, isn't he, Hoss? Someday he's going to be bigger than you."
Uncomfortable, Hoss just mumbled, "Yes, ma'am. He surely will."
Fanny smiled over to Little Joe. "He just might turn out more handsome than you, Little Joe."
Joe placed his hand over hers and said softly, almost choking on the words, "Yes ma'am, I bet he will."
Adam closed his eyes and turned away. Mrs. Hendricks began cooing over the wrapped bag while her husband turned away with tears in his eyes.
"I want to thank you, Ben, for everything you've done for us." Frank Hendricks said. Uncomfortable, Ben tried to tell Frank it was nothing.
"No sir, you and your boys have been big help to Fanny and me. I need to ask you one more favor."
"Why of course, Frank, anything, anything at all," replied Ben.
Frank gave Ben a weak smile, "Don't worry, Ben. All I want you to do is keep an eye on my place while I take Fanny back east. Can't do anything here for her. Her family thinks there might be a doctor back home that can help her. Already talked to Mr. Miller at the bank to settle our affairs. He'll be looking for a buyer for the place, Jackson already bought what stock I had left, but, us being neighbors, I thought if you would just stop by and make sure nothing happens to the place in the meantime…"
Ben nodded. "Yes, Frank. My boys and I will keep an eye on your property. Don't worry about it. When are you leaving?"
Frank looked down at the reins in his hands. "We're getting things settled today. I'm hoping to leave on the stage tomorrow; we'll catch the boat in San Francisco as soon as we arrive. Ben, I can't take it here no more. I can't see her like this."
Ben nodded. Ben remembered how happy Fanny had been when David was born. They had tried to have a family before, but as the small tombstones in the family plot behind the house could attest, the children had not been carried through to full term, or only lasted a couple of hours.
Fanny and Frank were so excited when David was born, and were cheered with each month that David thrived. Until a few weeks short of David's first birthday, he died in his sleep. There was no warning; he wasn't sick, but when Fanny went to wake him to feed him and he was cold. Fanny couldn't take it. For weeks, she would just sit there staring into space, while her husband fed, washed, and dressed her like she was a newborn. One day, Frank had to leave her alone in the house to tend to a sick animal in the barn. When he came back, she was singing a lullaby while rocking David's cradle. He went to look inside, and there was a small bag of grain, wrapped up in a blanket.
"Shhhh, Honey, he's asleep. You watch him now, while I get us something to eat." Fanny smiled at Frank and went to the stove and began to prepare dinner. She was almost normal again, but she kept insisting the grain bag was their dead David. Frank had hoped that Fanny would eventually realize that the bag wasn't their baby, but no matter what happened, the bag was forever David in Fanny's eyes.
Ben sighed as he watched the wagon go towards the livery stable. It was a hard life out here in the west, Ben acknowledged. Somehow, he thought it was harder on the women. Sadly his thoughts went back to his own three wives, now gone.
"Pa? Wagon's packed. Time to go?" it was Adam speaking, his face as emotionless as a mask. Ben knew from old that this meant he was really upset with what happened. Unlike Joe, whose emotions were always just under the surface, Adam kept his in check except in extreme moments. Hoss and Little Joe were just behind Adam waiting for word so they could leave the town.
"You boys, go on. I'll stay in town to make sure the Hendricks get on the stage with no trouble."
Adam looked at his father. "Do you want us to stay with you?"
Ben forced his face into a smile he did not feel. "No, boys, I'll be fine."