Vin smiled when True came down the stairs. She was a beautiful child, but seeing her in a dress made it even more so. For his part, he'd changed into dark pants and a red shirt Mary had given him for his birthday.
"Come on. We don't wanna be late."
When Lauren opened the door, she was shocked at the sight before her. Vin looked even more handsome than ever and she wasn't even sure if that was True standing beside him. "My, you look beautiful in that dress True."
"Damn it all…I look like a fuc…." A quick swat and tug on her ponytail changed her tune. "Thank you Miss Willis."
"Please, come in. I have supper on the table."
True watched in amazement as Vin ate his supper. She didn't know he had table manners! "Okay, who are ya an what did ya do with my brother? OW!" She giggled and rubbed her shin. "Now that werent very gentleman like!"
"Hush up an eat. We got a lot ta talk about."
When they had finished dessert, Miss Willis invited them to sit in the parlor. True smiled when Vin and Miss Willis sat next to each other on the settee, then plopped down on the floor in front of Vin. When no one said anything, she sighed.
"Well, did ya figure things out? Cause I gotta tell ya…"
"I think we have heard enough out of you today." Miss Willis stated firmly. She glanced at Vin and continued when he nodded, giving her okay to talk first. "Now, as you stated earlier, I am quite fond of your brother. I have recently discovered the feeling is mutual, which makes me very, very happy."
"So, this mean ya two are gonna go courtin?"
"Well that depends on you."
"Me? Why me? You're a little old fer me, not ta mention that yer a girl."
Vin smacked the back of True's head. "Hena'háanehe! (That's enough!)" He picked her up and set her on his knee. "Ya know I wont do nothing without knowin yer okay with it."
"Okay with it! I'm the one finally got ya ta see reason! Course I'm okay with it!" True turned to Miss Willis. "So, now that yer courtin, do I still gotta call you Miss Willis when we aint at school? It'll feel weird!"
"I suppose you can call me Lauren, but only when we are not in school!"
"Deal!"
Lauren placed her hand on True's leg. "Now that we have provided your assurances, I'd like an explanation of what I saw earlier."
True took a deep breath and lauched into the story of her life and her abilities. Once finished, Lauren sat back and tried to absorb it all. "Well, that certaintly explains some things."
"I'm sure it does." True muttered, suddenly realizing it was going to be much harder to get away with things now.
Vin had watched Lauren closely while True talked, watching her expressions and body language carefully. If he saw anything that might mean Lauren wouldn't accept True as she was, he would back off of any relationship. True was his priority and he wouldn't jeopardize her in anyway.
"Relax Vin." Lauren smiled. "While I admit I am somewhat shocked by what True has said, I can accept it. I suspected something was different from the way Mary shied away from any questions I asked about True that didn't pertain to her life her in Four Corners."
"So yer okay with all a this?" Vin asked.
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"A ex-gunfighter, a preacher, a healer, a ladies man, the kid an a card sharp, plus a little girl like none ya ever seen before an Rhianna…" He deliberately left out Rhianna's relation to True and her background, deciding that was something Rhianna would need to do if she chose to. "We aint yer typical family."
"No your not." She kissed his cheek. "But I can handle it."
Vin gently caressed her face and leaned in, kissing her gently on the lips.
"EW! Get a room, will ya?" True covered her eyes. "Yer gonna burn my eyes out!"
This time Lauren reached down and lightly smacked her on the back of the head.
"Hey!"
"She's gonna be part a this family, she cain take after ya if she needs ta."
"What? Someone else able ta have a go at me?" True asked, outraged. She crossed her arms and slouched down. "Ah hell!"
The following day, Vin went out to Netties to deliver some supplies. Nettie could see something was bothering her boy, and was determined to get to the bottom of it. After plying him with cinnamon rolls she sat him down with a cup of coffee. "So, out with it son."
"Huh?"
"Somethins eatin at you so just spit it out."
Vin sighed. "I jist don't know if I should be courtin Lauren."
"Whyever not?"
"Well, I aint exactly civilized Nettie. She's an upstandin citizen of this town, bein a teacher an all. She goes traipsing around with me, folk'll talk."
"Let them." She took Vins hand. "Aint you always tellin True that they are just words and to ignore them?"
"This is different Nettie. Lauren don't deserve the towns scorn all on account a me."
"Hogwash! Your relationship will not be that much different than Chris and Mary."
"Oh, its different. Chris is just a normal man who's had a hard road, but he's still respected by the town. Me? I'm nothin but an injun trained tracker who had a price on my head and takes off into the wild when the need strikes." He looked at the table. "An what she gonna do when she realizes I'm stupid." Vin knew as soon at that word came out of his mouth he just invited trouble. "Now Nettie…I didn't mean it. It just kinda slipped out!"
Nettie got up from her chair, grabbed his ear and pulled him to a standing position. "Vin Tanner what did I say I'd do if I even heard ya call yourself stupid?" When he didn't answer, she gave him a shake, eliciting a yelp of pain as his ear was twisted. "What did I say young man?"
"Ah! Dang it Nettie, that things attached!"
She popped him on the backside with her free hand. "What did I say?"
"That ya'd set my tail on fire!" He yelped. "But I'm too old for that!"
"Ya aint but a boy in my eyes and you know I wont stand for ya putting yourself down!" She dragged him over to the counter, grabbed her wooden spoon, and pushed Vin down over the table. Without pause, she brought that spoon down hard, several times in rapid succession. "Ya aint stupid boy. Ya just aint had a lot of schooling." More swats rained down. "I ever hear ya say that again, I'm gonna make Chris take his belt to your bare backside, ya hearin me?"
Vin blushed at the thought. There was no way he wanted Chris to do that! Hell, he'd probably enjoy it, especially after some of the crazy things he'd done. "Yes Ma'am! I hear ya!" He yelled. "Please stop!"
Nettie let ten more lick fall before setting the spoon down and letting him up. She pulled him into a hug. "You're a good, loving, caring young man. Just because you aint book smart, don't mean a hill a beans. Lauren is a bright woman who is crazy about you and has agreed to let you court her. She knows what she is getting into."
Vin hugged Nettie back. "Yeah, ,I reckon yer right." He kissed Nettie cheek. "Thanks Nettie."
"Anything for my boy."
He rubbed at his burning backside and smiled ruefully. "I gotta remember how much that damn spoon hurts."
