The Fugitive Part 4 By Sarah Doss
See part 1 for disclaimer
Setting: Later that day at plumbfield
Characters:
See part 3
Plus
Amy
Laurie
Meg
Jo, Meg, Amy and Christa were sitting on a blanket under a tree at Walden Pond while
The children went swimming. Christa's arm had been mended and she had changes into
Some buckskin pants and a white sleeveless button-down shirt that she had gotten out of her saddlebags.
"It's so beautiful here", Christa said softly. Taking in the trees and the wonderful sparkling water.
"Yes it is it's the children's favorite spot. I bring them out here all the time for picnics and such." Jo said watching the young woman carefully.
Christa saw Jo staring and gave a smile.
"I don't bite Mrs. Baer."
Jo blushed slightly; this woman's keen scenes had Jo unnerved.
Meg smiled at Christa.
"The rumor is that you're a wild woman from Australia, is this true?"
Christa gave a laugh.
"Well that would depend on how you would define 'wild' ", She started.
She didn't finish because Nick and Asia had returned with the picnic.
The children came in from water and sat down and started to eat.
Christa watched as the others also begin to eat. Her stomach growled in anticipation, but her childhood habit kept her at bay.
She tilted her head back slightly so sunlight bathed her face with it's heavenly warmth.
Then the words that were given to her by the creator silently were read to her.
In her childhood these words had been like a whisper of hope, telling her to hold on because help would come. Indeed it did. In her early days of womanhood the words told her that the physical pain would end. It had. In these last days they had said that she would have freedom to be herself. They had been right.
Nick notest this small act and his heart was warmed toward this woman because his sister had done the same.
Christa opened her eyes to see him staring at her but was not embarrassed in the least.
She simply smiled and picked up her corn and began to eat.
Meg saw the exchange but sought a different conclusion. Nick was taken with this strange girl! A smile crossed her lips as she continued her earlier question.
"So your from Australia?" She prodded
Christa was a little annoyed at this interruption of her prayer but smiled and continued.
"Well, I was born in Australia at Snowy River,"
"Where's that?" Nan interrupted.
"In the mountains near the Delcoves ", She explained.
"My Mother died giving birth, my father took me and my brothers and we moved to Boston." She said almost wistfully.
"How many brothers do you have?" Asked Jo curiously.
Christa look embarrassed for a moment and then replied,
"Nine, and I was the baby, born exactly 2 min after my twin brother Daniel."
"Nine! That's allot" Tommy said.
Christa nods her head, her eyes full of laughter.
"Yes especially when you are trying to get ready in the morning."
She kept them in stitches all through lunch.
"What did you do next", Nan asked, her eyes wide. The children were all leaning forward in anticipation. "What do you think, she stopped", Emil scoffed.
'Emil does not think of her as equal" she thought to her self.
"Wrong Emil, I didn't, I jumped. The water was freezing cold."
The children laughed.
"Children I have a question for our guest", Jo interrupted.
"Please, call me Christa" She asked.
"Christa" Jo said, "Where do you live?"
Christa stretched out onto the grass and looked carefully at Jo.
"Anywhere the road leads, or at least where I can find work."
"What do you do?" asked Nick
"My gift" she stated.
"Gift like painting" Beth asked.
Christa rolled onto her stomach. "Exactly Beth!"
Beth beamed at the complement.
"What exactly is your gift Christa?" Laurie asked.
"Ya, What are you?" said Dan.
Christa pulled herself up and went over to Destiny where he was grazing.
He nuzzled her cheek.
"I am what I am. I'm a Horse Wisperer."