For disclaimers, please see chapter one. Made purely for fun, and was a free writing piece I did when I was frustrated during my Craft of Fiction Writing class.
Yeah, this was my I-have-a-fiction-paper-due-and-I-have-writers-block work.
But I think this turned our rather well.
Writing this allowed me also to get out the story I desperately wanted to write since I first saw Young Guns II at 2 am at Taenzcher's pad. By doing this now, I was able to move back into the first Young Guns' fic sequel.
I know some of you have been waiting ever so patiently for my Setting of the Sun sequel...so long in fact you've probably nearly forgotten the story. Sorry it's taking that long, but I am working on it! In fact, I brought a few notebooks to scribble things down in during class this past spring semester. Being an English major takes up all time of reading and writing for fun, but I am getting a Creative Writing minor out of is...c'est la vie.
If you are curious about my works, please visit my homepage I set up specifically for my works, fan fiction and original fiction.
Part 2 of 6. Enjoy!
A Small Measure of Peace
*~-|-~*~-|-~*Chapter Two*~-|-~*~-|-~*
Laisha had looked all over the small village, but she didn't find him. She could only think he was, thus, at Beever Smith's, but she really didn't want to go in there. Beever was rather, well, vulgar about young women. But she felt that maybe between Billy and Chavez, she should be okay. She pushed the curtain back and saw Chavez, Billy, Arkansas Dave, Pat Garrett, Hendry French, the blond man from earlier that Chavez called Doc, and the young boy that had been seen around the village.
Chavez looked up from his knives, "Laisha!"
Giggles erupted from Billy and Dave.
She made eye contact with Hendry French and beamed. "Good evening Mr. French," she said as she walked to the table the men were gathered around.
Hendry tipped his hat, "Hello there Miss Laisha. What brings you to this place?"
Laisha sent a pleading look at Chavez, "A major apology for the way my mother acted." She turned to Hendry, "You know her; always sticking it where the sun don't shine."
Hendry beamed and said sarcastically, "Your mother has a right way this words; always knows exactly what to say and when to say it."
The young boy joined the group and pointed to her basket. "What's all them biscuits for?"
"These," she swept an area of the table clean and gingerly sat the biscuits down, "Are the apology for which my mother will never, ever make." Laisha turned to Chavez, "Really, I am so sorry about what she said. She's always been pig-headed."
Chavez smirked, "I'm sure what was fuming at the thought of taking all the biscuits to feed the outlaws and Indian."
"Haha!" Laisha laughed, "Indeed she was!" She saw how they eyed the biscuits, "You may have them on one condition."
Billy looked up from his gun, "And what condition is that?"
Dave leaned on the table and crossed his arms. "Do we need to sleep with you in order to earn those biscuits?" he laughed.
Laisha felt herself sink in as though someone had punched her in the chest. A somber and hurt look crossed her face that matched her sudden feelings within.
A knife landed right in front of Dave and he jumped back from the table.
Chavez stood and grabbed his knife, glaring at Dave. "You don't mouth off like that to a lady."
Dave opened his mouth for a comeback, but Doc beat him to it. "Dave, watch your tongue. Chavez is right, you do not mouth off to a young lady.
Billy proceeded to round up the biscuits and pull them towards him. "For that Dave, you don't get ANY biscuits."
Dave's mouth dropped. "What! Come on Billy, that ain't fair!"
"It's perfectly fair Dave. NO BISCUITS FOR YOU."
Laisha smiled slightly, feeling a little better after Dave's insulting idea. "Well, umm, I have to go now, so goodbye to you all. Mr. French, Billy, Chavez..." She walked out of Beever's a little crushed.
"Laisha, wait up," a voice called.
Laisha spun around and saw Chavez walking to her. She stood her ground, heart pounding.
When he stood in front of her, he had a request, "Would it be alright if we went somewhere and talked?"
She nodded her head. "There's some benches on the side of the church."
Chavez nodded and smiled, "Sounds good."
They both walked in the direction of the church, silence passing between them. Laisha knew what she was doing was rather dangerous. Chavez wasn't a total stranger, but she did not know him very well. And to sit with him in a dark, secluded area would send her mother flying if they were discovered. But for once in her life, she wanted to take a risk, a chance!
Chavez pulled one bench up to another as to give them both more room. "So tell me," he said as he sat down, "What exactly was the original condition you were going to request."
Laisha smiled a little more, "That Beever Smith didn't get any."
Chavez laughed.
Laisha laughed now too. "Don't laugh! For your information the man is a scoundrel, a greedy cheat, and is well known around the village for peeping."
"I've known him less than 12 hours and I have to agree with you." He turned to her, "Look, it's my turn to apologize. I've also known Dave less than 12 hours and I can't stand him already."
"Then your journey with Billy should prove to be interesting."
Chavez chuckled, "Yes, it will." He looked up at the New Mexico sky. "Clear tonight, isn't it?"
"It looks like that every night."
"I haven't seen the sky here for a while. I've been in California for a few years, and then I was dragged back here. I was tied up in a storage car on a train, and then thrown into a pit for a while before Billy came to get Doc and me. I haven't seen this sky for so long."
She looked up at the sky too. "Is it different out there?"
"What do you mean?"
"Is the world different than here? This is all I know, but I...want more than what this place has to offer."
"Every place differs. The further east you go, minus Texas, the less likely you are to get shot randomly." He glanced at her, "I think you would fit in very well in the east."
She smiled at him, "Maybe I'll go there someday. My mother wants me to marry someone soon, but I don't want to. Not yet."
"Have you told her that?"
"Oh yes, and then she proceeded to throw a chair at the wall."
"May I ask you something slightly personal?"
"Of course."
"Why is your mother the way she is? I thought you said she came from humble origins."
"She did, but I guess she desperately wanted more, strangely like I want more. Her father was a caballero, but she was illegitimate, so she was denied his lifestyle. But grandmother loved her and so she let her go seek her fortune. The whole group was apparently happy to see her go. Mom is kind of the black sheep of the family."
"I thought you said your grandmother died when you were young?"
"She did. I got this information from a friend of my grandmother's, who died a few years ago."
A moment of silence passed between them as they gazed up at the sky.
"So if you don't plan on marrying soon, what will you do?"
"Well, I know she'd kick me out if I told her I didn't want to marry yet. I know I would not resort to walking the streets. At least Paulita Maxwell's parents let her choose the relationship she has." Chavez stole a glance at her and she met it. "What? Everyone in town knows she and Billy are involved in a little hanky-panky."
He half-smirked at her. "You into gossip or something?"
"No; it just happens to be a well-known fact."
He shook his head and whispered to himself more than anything, "Leave it to Billy." He looked back at her with his eyes alone. "So, what exactly do you want to do then?"
"Well, I could be a teacher, or a nurse."
Chavez was silent for a moment, "Would you force your religion on those who belong to another?"
Laisha slowly looked at him, "I...don't understand."
"For hundreds of years now, whites have been forcing an ultimatum on my people. And when I say my people, I mean every tribe that once lived on these lands before whites. That ultimatum was either to convert to Christianity; or to be killed quickly by gunfire or hanging, or slowly by being forced onto reservations. And even when we did convert, they did not treat us like the equals as they promised."
"I...I had no idea that was going on, Chavez," she said quietly. She wanted so desperately to apologize to him, but she, herself, had not done these things, nor anyone she knew. "If I did become a teacher, it would be to help. I would teach people how to read, how to perform basic mathematics. I did stay in school as far as the system would let me go; mother demanded that of me. I read reasonably well, and although my mathematic skills are not up to par, I think I could still manage to teach it with help of books."
"You have no desire to force religion on people?"
"I can't help but be truthful, Chavez. I would NOT force it on anyone, never ever. But if they were curious, I guess I could talk about it."
"Aren't there different branches of Christianity?"
"Umm, yes."
"What's the one around here?"
"Catholic mostly."
"Are you catholic?"
"Yes...?"
"Well, the farther north you go, it's more..." Chavez creased his brow, frustrated. "Oh, it's starts with a P..."
"Protestant?"
"Yes, that's it! And the two blend better when you go farther east. And the farther it spreads west, the more of my people loose who we are."
There was nothing Laisha could say.
"They strip us slowly; inch by inch, acre by acre of land. Then we are made to move and keep moving while we die of disease and hunger. When we cried out for food or water, we were denied basic necessities because we were Indians. We were forced onto barren lands and told to farm for our living. How can you plant crops where the land is sandy and dry? Even when we speak amongst ourselves, fear overcame whites and dispersed us. Frustrated we fought back with the weapons we had bought or traded fair in square for. Army men came in and stripped us of those weapons. They thought us a threat so much for trying to survive, that they have massacred so many of my people..." Chavez looked down from the sky and away from her. He took in sharp breaths.
"Chavez?" She said quietly and placed a hand on his forearm.
Chavez placed his other free hand over hers, but did not turn to look at her for many moments. When his breathing calmed, he leaned against the church wall, but did not let go of her hand. "My life story is similar to many others. I am the last of my tribe. I went to California to find a way to revive my tribe, but I have failed. All I have left in this world is Billy and Doc, and Doc more than Billy."
He quickly looked back and her and smiled slightly. "So, what about your nursing career? Don't you have to go to some fancy school for that?"
The tension melted away with his slight smile. "Oh no, schooling is for doctors. Doctors, from what I've read in the papers, tell the women what to do, and that's how they become nurses I guess." She sighed and leaned against the wall with him. "I have watched children die in this village, and I cry over them because there is nothing I can do. I cannot whip up a magical remedy and cure them. I feel so powerless. I want to be able to possibly save someone if they've been shot, feed them to help them get better. No child, more matter what they look like or where they come from, should have to die when they are so young. No one should have to succumb to an illness. If he or she is bleeding from being shot, I want to stop the bleeding." She sighed and closed her eyes. "I want to help others, Chavez, so desperately. I have no real desire to partake in the traditional female role of being a reproductive tool. I don't care what God supposedly said about replenishing the earth. I mean seriously? Does it still need replenishing? The last time I looked, it looked perfectly fine the way it was."
After a few moments, Chavez turned her hand over, palm side up, and traced the lines ever so lightly. Laisha felt her checks go hot; his touch was so simple, so intimate. He looked up at her, "Laisha?"
"Yes?" she whispered back.
"May I kiss you?"
She opened her eyes and gazed at him. A question such as that was unbelievably and undeniably personal that her breathing became a little heavy.
"If you do not want it, Laisha, simply say no. I just...I don't know if you feel it, but I feel an attraction to you, a pull. There's a strength in you that is rare in these parts. You speak your mind; you do not hide it in fluffy words. Billy has always been reckless. I do not know if I will live through this; I don't know if I will ever see you again."
"Then stay," she said softly. "Stay here, Chavez."
He smiled sadly and shook his head, "I cannot. Your mother was right about one thing – I AM an outlaw. I cannot live like a normal person. My only chance is to escape. My best chances are in old Mexico."
Laisha stared into the dark lands before her. "But that's so far away..." she softly said.
One of his hands caressed her check. "Laisha..."
She looked back into his eyes. "Yes, please kiss me Chavez."
Chavez gingerly let go of her hand, letting it fall slowly. He stood up and pulled her up with him. One hand went to her upper back, and his other hand cradled her neck, fingers splayed out, each gently touching her. His face dove down to her small oval one. His lips touched her with such a passion that she wrapped her fingers around his waist. She felt inexperienced and awkward as he lips parted hers and coaxed her tongue out to meet his. But soon she fell into suit as he moved his head to change things up.
It was bliss. Laisha's body grew warm under Chavez's touch. She would never be able to think of mass the same way ever again after this night. He was the one to pull away and she found herself wanting more. He sat her down on the bench gracefully, but she was the one to reach for him this time. She tugged on the front of his shirt.
Chavez smirked at her, "Did you enjoy yourself?"
She nodded, her eyes wide and honest.
He leaned forward and his arms encircled her neck. "I don't like it when hair is pulled back like this." He pulled out a few pins and helped her hair fall down.
The dark chocolate waves fell about her shoulders and down to the middle of her back. She looked back up at him.
He smiled, "That's better." He stroked one of her locks for a moment and leaned forward. "I think women look much more beautiful when their hair is down."
"Do I look beautiful Chavez?"
Chavez smiled, "Of course you do."
Why did she have a feeling that he didn't mean it completely? Or maybe her insecurities were getting the best of her and Chavez meant it. "Do you mean it, Chavez? Paulita Maxwell is considered the beauty of the village."
Chavez tipped her chin up to him and kissed her softly. "I do mean it, chica. You are beautiful."
She smiled and threw her arms around him. Yes, it probably seemed rather childish, but it did mean a lot. "I don't believe I've ever had this much confidence." She pulled back. "How can it be that we've known each other less than six hours? You've already had a profound effect on me."
He laughed, "Glad I could help."
"Please, tell me more about yourself...that is if you want to."
Chavez looked back up to the sky. "There is so much that is to my life, it would be impossible to tell it in a few hours."
"Speak whatever you like, and leave out all the rest."
Chavez proceeded to tell her about the massacre that he and his family were involved in. Now Laisha understood why he had become ridged when he asked her those questions pertaining to being a teacher. He talked about a man by the name of John Tunstall, who Chavez swore saved his life by teaching him a way to bury hate without hurting anyone. It was John's murder that had sentenced him to a life as an outlaw. Seven of them set out to capture those who killed John Tunstall, but four of them died in the process, and one of the four had been a traitor all along.
"Did you ever get this Murphy fellow?"
"Billy took him down with one shot to the head from a great distance away. Billy, Doc, and myself went our separate ways, but now we find ourselves back here again in New Mexico. I thought the nightmare was over with when we all left, but it seems it will never end. I fear my fate will end in blood."
"Maybe, but maybe not. I guess...I guess you don't seem the kind of person who believes in fate. We make our on paths on fortune's wheel, and every different path creates a new wheel." She glanced to the side of Chavez, watching the lamps of the village being put out. "Is it...really that late?"
Chavez turned around to see what she was looking at. "What time is it then?"
"It'd be around eight o'clock."
"When do you normally go to bed?"
She stared at him for a second, a little shocked.
He held his hands up and smiled. "I just want to make sure you get home in time so your mother doesn't throw a fit."
She felt relieved by his intentions, and sighed. "Well, sadly, I go to bed around nine."
Chavez nodded. "Then I'll escort you back to your home." He stood up and offered her his hand.
"So soon?" she asked while she took his hand and stood up.
"She'll have a temper tantrum when she sees me taking you back to your place, but she can't accuse me of keeping you out past your bedtime," he laughed quietly.
"I guess..." she murmured. But she latched onto his arm. She didn't want this to be over with so soon. Before she knew it they were standing in front of her home. "So...is this goodbye then Jose Chavez y Chavez?"
Chavez smiled at her softly, "Possibly. Maybe someday I'll come back, when the outlaw life has died down."
All she could do was nod. What could she say? She had already asked him to stay, but he was right. He was an outlaw and he would be hunted. If he could reach Mexico, maybe he could survive. And throughout many years, maybe he would look back on this day.
With two hands on either side of her neck, Chavez bent down to kiss her. He parted her lips, deepening he kiss. She gladly kissed him back, clinging to his shirt. After a few moments, he pulled back. He smiled down at her, his thumb caressing her cheek bone.
"Please don't forget me," she choked out.
"Never."
"And even if you do not meet again someday, I'll always remember you Chavez. I want to be a better person because of you."
"Glad I could help. And thank you for giving me an evening of peace and happiness. God knows I'll need it in the days to come."
She nodded and smirked, "Glad I could help." She wiped away a quick tear, "Goodbye Chavez."
"Goodbye Laisha."
Laisha stood on her toes and kissed him gently. She pulled away and walked to her door and opened it. Laisha heard her mother start to yell at her from the backyard. But it didn't faze her. She turned around and gazed into Chavez's eyes for a fleeting moment before she closed the door. She leaned against it, wanting to cry heavily. There was a heavy and sad feeling that sat upon her heart.
Chavez walked to the door and touched it gently with his fingertips. He looked at the ground before letting go and trudging back to Beever Smiths. He knew Billy, possibly Doc, and company would all question him. And despite the fact that Laisha was back in her home, he would defend her from snarky Dave and anyone else until the day he died.
