Winchester West

Disclaimer: I have no claims to the show Supernatural, the characters or themes. I also mean no insult to any and all Indian tribes, people etc. I just like to play with the characters, tease, torture, caress and the rest!!

CHAPTER 9


Previously: He still spent the odd day at the mansion, but these had gotten less. He preferred to stay in town and John sadly admitted that he might have been wrong to shoot the savage but he only admitted that to Mary, he could not admit it to Dean. Two weeks after everyone thought the hunting party had left, Dean was staying a night at the mansion and the Indians came back, to settle for the life of White Wolf.

When Samuel got off the coach the whole town was there to meet him and offer their consolations and regrets. His grandmother was also there as was Sarah, Henry and Lynda. His mother and father where not, for you see they did not know he was coming. They where at the mansion packing to leave and they where not happy. They had been told three days after they buried Dean, when Mary had gone in to take over the store, until it was sold, that they had no control or ownership over the store at all. Both Mary and John had been furious as the Major explained Dean's final wishes and what it meant as to the ownership of the store. John tried to argue that at least a quarter they could sell, because it was left to Samuel, but again the major, joined by the bank manager and the priest along with sheriff, explained that Samuel was the owner and until Sarah or he became of age, the store was to be run by Lynda or Henry. John finally realized his big mistake was letting money guide him. He had lost one son to the Indians and the other was in the big city studying to be a doctor. John wondered where it had all gone wrong. Mary suggested that they visit Samuel but John shook his head. He knew Samuel would never forgive for getting Dean killed and if he knew the truth, John had feeling that Samuel would kill him. Thus they only realized that Samuel had arrived in town, when he actual arrived at the mansion, with half the town following. Both John and Mary realized they would be in trouble if anyone realized the truth, so they got into their packed wagon ready to go, only to be stopped by the sheriff.

Mary, "You have no right to stop us. Haven't we lost enough. Our son is dead."

Sheriff, "Sorry, but no-ones leaving till we settle this and that means settling the rumors"

Mary, "Rumors, you really believe, rumors started by a unhappy serving girl."

The Sheriff moved to the side of the wagon, while another man grabbed the horses keeping them still. Mary realized she and John, where going nowhere and accepted the hand, offered to aid her to get off the wagon."

John, "And how are we going to settle these lies."

The sheriff scratched his head, he had no idea how, but loathed to admit it. Fortunately it was then that Martha arrived with a few strong men from the bar, who she had promised $20 each, for an afternoons work. She had also brought the priest, though he did not understand why, but then neither did anybody else. Martha led the way to Dean's grave, he had been dead 2-3 weeks and she did not want to do this, but it was the only way to settle the rumors and her own conscience.

What rumors, you may ask. Well the rumor was started by a young serving girl who said that Dean was alive, captured, well traded might be a better word, to the Indians by his father. Not a good rumor to have hanging over your head. His parents said that Dean had been killed helping to fight off some Indians, and that they had buried him quickly because his body was not in the best condition. The Indians had sliced him up a little, John said and Mary agreed. The problem was that there where no Indian bodies, and really the town did not like John and Mary, and it was nice for them (the town that is), to believe that somewhere out there Dean was still alive. Now tradition said that it was bad luck to disturbed the dead so, no-body was about to dig up the grave to find out the truth. OK nobody in town was going to dig up the grave, but when John and Mary accepted Martha offer of buying the mansion, things changed. You see Martha was traditional, and at first she purchased the mansion to make sure that Dean's final resting place was safe, that noone would disturb him. Then she heard the rumors and now she was here to settle them.

Martha held her head high and looking at the men she had brought with her, she said, "Dig it up!"

The men gulped, $20 dollars was a lot and making the sign of the cross, they started to dig. Mary and John where besides themselves and motioned to the priest to stop this.

The townspeople where also uneasy about it, and some of them stepped back not really wanting to be involved in anything like this. Others though stepped forward, wanting to know if the rumors where true or not. The priest stepped upto Martha, "This is sacrilege. Can you not let him rest in peace."

Martha, "If there is no body, then he is alive, and that I need to know. Sam and Sarah need to know. If he is alive, then there is hope of finding him. Hope that he will one day come back. I don't think God will punish me for wanting to know the truth. The priest turned to see Mary crying in her husband's arms and turned back to see Sarah and Samuel standing by Martha. Sarah was holding her hand and watching the men dig. "Surely his parents do not need to be here."

Mary, "If he is buried, then I regret having to put them through this, but if that coffin is empty, I will want to know why."

It was after two hours of digging that the men hit the lid of the coffin. Martha looked down, "Open It".

Digger, "I, hmmm I mean ", neither of the diggers wanted to open the coffin, in fear of what they might find. Samuel though did want to know the truth, so he jumped down into the grave and grasping the lid of the coffin opened it and looked inside. People watched him reach in and raise his hand, allowing the dirt to slip though his fingers. "Earth, it's filled with earth. Where is my brother." Sam clenched his fist and turned to face his parents, only to find them not there anymore. Mary and John had slipped away and people turned to hear a wagon roll away. They where fast, but not fast enough. After being caught and been dragged back to the graveside, Mary realized that they where in trouble and could be hung for this. The towns people just had one question before they considered whether to hang them now or later. The question was simple, where was Dean and what really happened that night!

Mary realized that they where the only ones who knew the truth, the whole truth, and Mary planned to exploit that fact. "OK, let us go, and we'll tell you what happened." The towns people where not happy but they agreed John and Mary could leave but first they wanted answers. So Mary started talking.

There had been no fight with the Indians. It had not been possible, they had got into the house quietly, and made sure to capture everyone, and bringing John and Mary to one room, while they locked the servants in another. They had nearly succeeded but somehow they had missed Dean and a young serving girl. They had hid under a bed and for once it worked, the searching Indian only looked in the room not under the bed. It was then that Mary and John where forced to their knees with their hands tied behind their backs. It was only when all was secure that another Indian walked in.

John, "Who are you."

White feather, "To answer your question I am White feather and White Wolf was my son. Where is the boy."

Brave, "We found no boy."

White Feather, "We know he is here. Search again."

Dean crept down the stairway. He had found his father's gun, the same one his father had used to kill with. He now realized that he was going to kill with it too. He hoped though that he did not have to go that far. As he came into sight of the Indians, he raised the gun aiming it at the chief, "That won't be necessary. Leave my parents alone. I'm the one you want."

White Feather, "I am here for revenge for my son's death. Why do you think you are the one I seek, when your father killed him."

Dean, "My father made a error. He did not know I had allowed White Wolf to ride the horse. He thought your son was stealing it. It is my fault that he is dead, not my father's."

White Feather, look at the two braves who had come with him, they shook their heads, "He does not know, he did not see."

White Feather turned to move behind John, he was filled with anger and hatred for the man. "One more step and I will fired." said Dean straightening his arm and preparing to shoot. He did not want to, mainly because it would start a fight that they would lose in his opinion. If he shot the chief, the others would kill them without a second thought. He knew this and the chief knew this unfortunately, "You will not fire. You are smart enough to know what would happen if you did." White feather raised his hand and the knife he held to John's throat. Looking straight at Dean, he prepared to slit his father's throat, when Dean spoke again. "Why do you blame my father for my error."

White feather paused, should he explain to the boy. "Your father watched both you and my son talk and he knew that you had allowed my son to ride."

Dean, "NO, that isn't true. He said, It was a mistake. Dad, tell him." For the first time the gun wavered in Dean's hand. The two braves that had watched, nodded their heads. "Dad." John shook his head, as much as is possible that is, with a knife to your throat. "No, Dad, you tell them." John could finally see the heart break his son felt, he should never have let Mary talk him into this.

White Feather, "Now you know."

Dean, "No, He's still my father and I won't let you kill him. What is your son worth. Maybe we can make a trade. There must be something that could maybe not replace your son, for that can never be, but maybe ease the burden of his death."

One of the braves stepped toward the chief, "You must listen, the child offer a life for a life. It is the law, the offer must be heard."

White Feather, "He does not offer that. He does not understand what he offers."

The Brave turned to face Dean, "You offer a life for a life."

Dean, didn't really understand what the brave meant by his question, but he did recognize a opening for a deal when he saw one. "Yes, I may not understand fully what I offer, but I do offer it, if it will save my family and lands."

White Feather, "I will not accept. My son was said to grow to be known by all the tribes for the deeds he had done. I will not trade that for him." he said pointing at Dean. He moved the knife back to John's throat, but was stopped by two of his braves. "We know your heart aches for your son but the law must be obeyed. When this offer is made. It must be listened too and considered. You cannot dismiss it."

The brave, looked at John, "You are his father and mother, what do you say."

To his shame, as he was helped to stand, John said, "You want him, take him. Everyone will get what they want."

Dean, understood what was happening, but he still could not help but be shocked at his father's uncaring tone. "Dad" White Feather though knew he had lost. The Indian law was clear in matters of this nature. When a life was taken unfairly, a trade could be offered and had to be listened to. Usually, the price requested was high, but it had never been paid without great thought and sadness. The only hole in the law and the main reason why it was seldom used was that the offended party could dictate any punishment he wished, thus White Feather could agree and still kill Dean or make him a slave. Death was the usual result though, a slow and tortuous one usually.

White Feather, looked on John, with disgust. He himself would rather have cut off his hand then hand over one of his sons. It was obvious the man did not care for the boy. "Come down here."

Dean walked slowly down the last few steps, his father's words ringing in his ears. "Everyone would get what they wanted". You may ask what John meant by that, well it was simple. Dean would learn all about the Indians, something he had wanted to do for years. The chief would get revenge for his son's death and John well, he and Mary would get the store. So you see in John's mind, it all worked out very nicely.

When Dean reached the bottom step, he dropped the gun and his hands where tied behind his back.

White Feather, "You offer a life for a life. You understand what you offer."

Dean, "I do not understand fully but I offer it."

White Feather grabbed him by the hair, "It means you are mine to do with as I wish. To serve any punishment I see fit, for the death of my son. Do you still make the offer?"

Dean, "Yes."

White Feather, "Take him to my horse." When Dean had been taken away White Feather turned to face John, "You do not deserve a boy like that." With that the Indians left, leaving John and Mary to untie themselves. They kept their word not a animal or person was harmed, but in the years to come, no Indian of the Sioux or the Blackfoot tribe came near the town. It was left to the Apache and the Cherokee to trade and hunt in that area.

John and Mary managed to get themselves untied and before releasing the servants, they shot off a few guns. Then they closed Dean's room and released the servants, pretending that Dean had been shot. They never saw the little serving hiding, watching and listening to all that occurred that night.

When Mary finished, the townspeople where seriously thinking of hanging them anyway, but the priest calmed them down and convinced the sheriff (who was actually making a noose at the time), to escort them to the wagon and out of town.

Next:

Mary and John leave. The rest decide what to do and we catch up with the Indians, as Dean discovers the punishment the chief has in mind.