Vin, Nathan and JD had begun a game of hide and seek with Buck. Vin was finding shelter under the board walk when he noticed two familiar faces. He crawled out of his hiding place and ran after them.
"Kate! Maddie!" he called after them.
The two girls stopped walking and turned around.
"Vin? What the hell are you doin' here?" Maddie asked with a frown.
"Nice to see you too Maddie." Vin huffed.
"I thought you were still in that other town, or on the stage coach." Kate finally spoke up.
"I thought that was what happened to the both of you. We found these men who says they're going to take care of us." Vin grinned at the last part.
"Is one of those men the ones who did that to you?" Maddie pointed at the arm in the sling.
"I actually fell on the steps and injured myself. Buck says I just need to drink more milk to get stronger bones."
"These men just took you?" asked Kate.
"No." Vin shook his head, "They took in JD and Ez and another boy. He's a darkie, but real nice. We're playing a game of hide and seek right now."
"So that's it? You're all adopted now."
"Well, it don't seem to be official yet, because no papers were signed like the lady said was supposed to happen, but I consider us to be adopted, yes."
"What you think don't matter." Maddie sniffed.
"Hey, junior. I don't think you grasp the concept of hiding." Buck laughed as he approached the little group. "Now who's this? You making friends?"
"This here's Kate and Maddie Stokes. They were on the stage coach with us."
"You abandoned that poor lady too then? Woman is going to be out of a job." Buck shook his head.
"Who are you mister?" Maddie frowned up at him.
"Well I'm Buck little lady. Now are you Kate or Maddie?"
"Maddie."
"Well it's nice to meet you Maddie."
"Do you drink?"
Buck didn't really understand the question. "Yes."
"Do you get angry when you drink?"
Clarity dawned on Buck and he knelt down in front of the girls, "There's not a mean bone in my body except for those who would harm a woman or child."
"Are the other men like you?"
"I'm one of a kind." Buck smiled at Kate who had asked. "But know that they would never harm you either. You have my word on that matter."
Chris had only been sleeping for twenty minutes when he heard the loud knocking and then the door flung open to reveal Vin.
"Pa!" Vin said as he tried to climb onto the bed.
"Shh, Vin. Ezra's still asleep. Careful, that's his head." Chris said softly, propping the skinny boy by the waist so he wouldn't fall onto Ezra's head. "What is it?"
"Kate and Maddie are here. They was on the coach with us."
"Okay." Chris said, not really seeing where this was going.
"Can you adopt them too? They have nowhere else to go."
Two more children.
"Did you ask Josiah and Buck what they thought?"
"They said yes as long as you were okay with it." Vin said, looking expectantly at Chris with big doe eyes.
Chris let out a sigh, "Well I suppose two more won't make much more of a difference."
"Thanks pa." Vin grinned and wrapped his arms around Chris's neck, all the while Chris kept him from kneeing Ezra in the face.
Vin then squirmed free and ran out of the room after promising to slow down once he reached the stairs.
An hour later Chris woke up and carried Ezra into the children's rented room to get him dressed.
Ezra had bad bed head and was cranky.
"But I don't feel well enough to go outside."
"It's only for a short while, and you need the exercise. Part of getting better is to be out and being active."
Ezra let out a fit of coughs, whether it was on purpose or that he really needed to was up for Chris to make the conclusion.
They made it outside where Buck and Josiah had the children sitting together on the edge of board walk. Chris noticed the new additions sitting next to JD. The younger of the two was getting into a scuffle. Nathan sat at a distance, sub-consciously or because the others weren't being friendly.
Ezra sat down next to Vin who was not wearing his sling properly again.
"Nathan, I want you to switch places with the little girl." Chris said.
There was hesitation, but the children switched spots so that the little girl was on the end.
"I'm Chris Larabee, girls, and I was told an hour ago that you are in need of a place to stay. We've told the boys already that while we are not sure how this would work, we take care of you all to the best of our abilities. With that said, there are a few things that need to be discussed with all of you. The boys know this already in who is under the charge of one of us three men. JD is with Buck, Nathan with Josiah, Vin and Ezra with me. Now to make things easier, the older girl will be with Buck and the younger with Josiah. This does not mean you can't ask for help from any of us still.
Moving on, when we ask you to do something, like any other adult, we are doing it because it is in your best interest even if you cannot see it. Everything we're doing is for a reason. That means naps, baths, doing as your told not rebelling. We're heading back to my place tomorrow afternoon, but we'll be staying here up until that point.
Now any questions?" None of the children said anything. "Alright, let's get you all washed up for dinner then."
The scramble to get up and six young people hurrying inside was hectic to watch.
"Well Chris." Josiah smiled, "I believe you two are on duty after dinner."
The next morning was Sunday. Josiah had planned for that morning to do a sermon for those who would listen. It was the easiest way he knew to get a church congregation started. For now, he'd have his little audience.
"Why do I have to go?" Vin complained as Chris helped him into a clean shirt to prevent the boy from injuring his arm further.
"Because you're showing your support and you can reflect on things." Chris murmured.
"But I ain't no Christian. All I know of is the gods the Indians worship."
"Well, you're still going."
"I've never even been to a church before. My mother always said that God would strike us dead if we tried entering His house." Ezra said as he pulled on his little jacket.
Vin and JD paled.
"He is not going to strike you dead. If anyone is going to be killed it'd be me." Chris said as he checked to make sure his half of the children were dressed.
"Because you killed people?" Vin asked.
"Reflect on your life Vin, not mine. I can reflect on my own without help." Chris said as he gathered the boys and began walking them downstairs. Buck was already waiting for him with the girls.
Chris put them in pairs as they walked down the street in a line.
It was almost like watching a little army or parade. Passers watched with smiles as the procession went by with the stern black-cladded leader in front and the grinning tall and handsome man in the back.
Mary noticed them and looked surprised and confused.
They found Josiah with several benches set up already ready for them. Chris took half of the children and sat with them with Buck took the other. Josiah began speaking, his voice loud and commanding as he gave the sermon of the day. Vin, who sat next to Chris stared at the ground not really listening. Ezra was ramrod straight as if one ill move would have him struck dead in his seat. Maddie covered her ears in a pretty defiant manner.
Chris tried to remove her hands from her ears, but they went back up.
Sighing, he pulled her over to him and had Vin and Ezra scoot down so she could sit next to him.
"Why are you covering your ears?"
"Cause I don't like preachers and I don't like God."
"Why?"
"They's the ones who took my momma."
"Is that true?"
Maddie shook her head hard and went back to covering her ears. Chris sighed and pulled her in to rest her head on his lap as he rubbed her back. Her body shook as she began to cry silently.
The service went rather well with no real problem for the new fathers. Chris released them to play providing they change out of their 'church clothes' it was basically their cleanest clothes that they had available. It reminded him that all of their clothes would need to be washed and the children all bathed again.
"Mr. Larabee." Came a voice from behind and Chris rested his hand on his gun but removed it once he saw it was only the shop owner, Potter. "I heard that you and your men took in some orphans."
"Mrs. Travis's newspaper tell you that?"
"No, one of my customers and I had to see it for myself. Six little ones. Looks like you'll be having your hands full."
Chris wasn't sure if this man was mocking him, but he was definitely way too happy about something.
"I have some clothes that my children have gotten too big for if you'd like them. They should fit the older boy. My daughter's dresses should work for the oldest girl. I'm afraid we've given away the smaller ones."
"Thank you." Chris said, and he meant it. He needed all the help he could get.
"It's no trouble at all. If you need anything else, just ask. My wife would be glad to send some meals your way."
"Do you by any chance have a position available at your shop?"
"Be happy to take you on sir. I must say it isn't that exciting as you're probably used to."
"Well not for me. I can't stay indoors for too long. But my friend Buck could probably fill in the position well."
"Just send him over when he's ready to work." Potter nodded.
Chris thanked him one more time before going to go fetch his horse.
Mary found Buck sitting outside of the saloon whittling at a block of wood with JD.
"Mr. Wilmington."
"Mrs. Travis." Buck nodded.
Mary looked at the little boy, who had smiled at her before going back to his work on his block of wood. The child looked so much like the man he sat next to. She wondered if they could actually be blood.
"Need something ma'am?"
"I was looking for Mr. Larabee."
"You just missed him. Chris left town already."
"Left town?" Mary was about to start making her case about them being horrible choices of parents when Buck put his hand up to stop her.
"He's going ahead to start making Sunday dinner. Bit of a tradition from his previous family and he's trying to start it with this one. It's going to take him a bit longer with nine of us now."
"Nine?"
"Yes. Four boys, two girls, and three grown boys." Buck smiled.
"I see." Mary said as she began walking away.
"Did you want to leave a message for Chris with me?"
"No, I can tell him later."
In fact, she already started formulating a plan.
Mary went to where she lived and prepared something simple to reheat and take over. Cornbread, ham with cold milk.
She packed it all before having a horse saddled and riding out of town.
Mary had never been to Larabee's place, but she was aware of where it was. The house was a pretty nice size, big enough to allow for six children and three people to not feel incredibly cramped. The land around it was nice, with a pen for the horses and a nearby garden. It almost was, no it definitely was a bit surprising for the infamous gunslinger Larabee. She couldn't imagine him domesticated.
Tying her horse away, she carried her basket and knocked on the door. Chris answered it with his gun visible. When he realized who it was, he put his gun away.
"Bit away from home aren't you Mrs. Travis." Chris said as he rested himself against the doorjamb.
"I came to offer you some help."
"Help?"
"With dinner. This is your first time having to cook for everyone correct? "
"I'm capable of cooking dinner if that's what you are referring."
"You have nine people to cook for. It would be easier and quicker if you had an extra pair of hands."
"Alright." He finally said.
Chris backed out of the doorway and allowed her to come inside.
Mary looked around the new area. It was pretty clean for several men and children to be living in, but then she had to remember that they had just gotten there. Still, everything was cleaned off and was organized.
"So what are you planning on making?" she finally asked.
"Dumplings."
"Do you know how to make them?"
It was a pretty bold choice in meals to make.
"I've seen them made a couple of times." Chris said, not turning around to look at her.
Mary thought she heard a touch of bitterness.
"Well I brought some food to go along with it. That is if you don't mind."
Chris just nodded and the two got to work.
Mary was surprised at how easily he worked at the stove. She wondered if he had actually made dumplings instead of just watching.
"You're quite the mystery, Mr. Larabee." She smiled.
A/N: Patching things up, and who doesn't need a time to reflect with God on Sunday?
