Please see Chapter 1 for warnings and disclaimers. Additional warning: there is some violence in this chapter. Also, I am not Scottish, despite my ancestry, and I've done as well as I can with it here.
A/N: A big shout out to Wolfpyre for helping me with this chapter!
Chapter 21
"Ya sure ya ain't gonna be over doin'? Don't know much 'bout these new powers a yers. Keepin' track o' the guards, keepin' those that are sleepin' asleep, and stayin' in contact with all o' us, might be pushin' it. Ain't gonna help if we end up haulin' yer unconscious ass outta here too."
Rhianna smirked at her cousin's rather crude display of concern, though she recognized it for what it was. The children had devised a plan. Conall was big enough and strong enough to carry the asthmatic girl so he would retrieve her and head to the horses. True's stealth and other skills were best suited to retrieving Naomi who had been lightly dosed with laudanum by her captors. Not only was she adept at escapes, but her ability to levitate Naomi should the need arise, not to mention her fighting prowess, might prove invaluable. Rhianna would keep both mental and visual watch for their adversaries as well as keep in contact with everyone. Creed would be positioned to help get Naomi to the horses should there be any trouble that True needed to deal with. Rhianna had a rifle so she could provide some cover if the need arose.
"I will not overreach," Rhianna assured the younger girl. "But True, you have to stick to the plan. I know you could take out a number of their crew and probably get out alive but Naomi, Creed, and the other girls...they might not be so lucky."
"I know, I know," True groused. "Ain't gonna do nuthin' ta put folks in danger, much as I'd like to carve up a couple o' them assholes." The girl fingered her knife as she spoke.
Rhianna gave a nod. "Let's tell the guys we're ready then."
M7***M7***M7***M7
Breathing a sigh of relief, Rhianna relayed that Conall had the asthmatic girl safely to the horses, just as True managed to help a woozy Naomi out of the wagon. She had easily snuck in and freed the other girl's bonds. The telepath had helped to keep the other occupants of the wagon from awakening but True could most likely have accomplished her task regardless. As True used her powers to help Naomi over to where Creed awaited them, she suddenly paused.
"No True," Rhianna admonished. "Stick to the plan."
True gave a curt nod but gave a longing look to the sleeping scumbag that had struck Naomi. Her hand gripped the handle of the knife she carried, ready to embrace a familiar darkness within. Still, Naomi could barely walk, so she needed to get the other girl to Creed.
When they reached Creed, Naomi had revived some, and could at least walk. True motioned her best friend to help Naomi to the horses and turned back toward the wagons.
"True, no, leave him for later," Rhianna implored mentally while Creed grabbed hold of True's arm shaking his head vigorously and motioning toward the horses. He didn't know what his friend was about, but he did not want to see her hurt, and he could comprehend no reason for going back into a seriously dangerous situation.
"It'll be one less for later," True thought at her cousin, while ignoring the menacing scowl on Creed's face. "I'll keep it quiet."
"True, don't. The guards are coming back around."
"I'll be quick and careful," True told Rhianna through their link, moving stealthily back the way she'd just come.
"Creed, get Naomi to the horses," Rhianna directed the boy as she moved to provide what she knew would be necessary cover for her cousin. Although both True's stealth and her fighting skills were beyond compare, the odds were not in their favor.
True deftly crept to the sleeping man, but was pulled up short by Rhianna's mental warning, "Behind you." Spinning round the girl's knife landed in the approaching man's throat, but there was no time to relish the small victory.
"MOVE!" came Rhianna's urgent command as she brought up the rifle and fired at yet another man that had True in his sights. Unfortunately, he got his shot off a split second before the blonde-haired girl. It was little consolation that her shot had found it's mark when Rhianna felt True's pain before she heard her cousin's scream. Wasting no time getting to True, she cradled her unconscious cousin, looking in horror where the bullet had ripped through her small chest just below her right shoulder. Swallowing bile, Rhianna reached out her hand intent on using her healing to stanch the blood flow. As she felt energy flow from her body to her cousin's she heard a gun cock.
"What do we have here?" a hard voice asked coldly. Upon turning, Rhianna saw True's intended target holding a gun to her head. She took several calming breaths.
"Looks like a bit more gold jest walked inta camp."
With her gaze focused behind the dirty, bearded man, Rhianna said in a calm but commanding voice. "Hit him. Knock him out."
"What the hell-" the man started to exclaim but was cut short as a gun crashed into his skull.
"Now give me your gun," Rhianna continued, which the burly red-haired man did, a confused look on his face. Trying to ignore the pounding between her ears, the young telepath continued, "Now drop your gunbelt." He did so and Rhianna took a couple of deep breaths as she pushed the pain in her head aside. "Pick her up and carefully and quietly, but as quickly as you possibly can take her over to that copse of trees behind that rise. Move as if your life depends on it, because it does."
After noting that the man had followed her instructions, Rhianna allowed herself to crumble, gulping in air and willing herself to stay conscious. The drain of imparting that bit of healing to True, coupled with using her new ability to manipulate another's mind was taking its toll. The camp was in utter confusion but how long before they got organized. Dragging herself up, she grabbed the gunbelt and tossed it toward the embers of a dying fire then headed after the man that was carrying True. Several moments passed before she heard the bullets firing and knew her toss had hit its mark.
When she made it to the horses, Conall was holding a gun on the burly red-haired man who was refusing to relinquish True. "Put her down, and then stay put," Rhianna rasped practically falling at her cousin's side when he had done so. She reached out her hand, focusing all her energy on True's injury.
"Rhianna, enough!" Conall insisted after only two minutes. He didn't know exactly what was happening, but he could tell that the blonde girl was fading fast in her attempt to help True.
"He's right, Rhianna," Naomi's soft voice agreed. "You've stopped the bleeding for now but you're no good to True if you put yourself into a coma."
Rhianna nodded and leaned into Conall, looking over to see tears streaming down a distraught Creed's face. The asthmatic girl sat wide eyed and frightened wrapped in a blanket. Conall offered Rhianna some water from his canteen which she gladly accepted.
"There's a Catholic mission about eight miles back to the Northeast. They went out of their way to skirt around it," Naomi suggested.
Concentrating the last of her energy, Rhianna looked at the burly man in their midst. "You won't remember exactly what happened or who we are, but you saw us ride out due West. Now run back to camp as fast as you can."
She swooned then, but came to within moments, her eyes focusing in on Conall's worried gray ones.
"I'm okay. We need to ride. I'll take True."
"No, she's dead weight. I'll take her," Conall contradicted, giving a stern look to Creed who looked ready to insist that he would ride with True. Conall knew that he could balance True's weight on the horse but didn't know if his smaller companion could. He looked to the stranger in their midst. "Can you ride?"
She shook her head.
"Neither can Naomi," Rhianna stated grimly.
Conall gave a nod of understanding. "Naomi, you ride with Rhianna. Creed, you ride with," he looked at the terrified girl.
"Anna," Naomi supplied the name.
"Anna," Conall repeated. "We'll bring True's horse alongside. You sure about the mission?"
"If there is one thing Naomi is sure about, it's direction, Conall. She can get us there," Rhianna assured the dark-haired boy.
M7***M7***M7***M7
Luckily the clergy at the mission had not asked too many questions when the bedraggled children had arrived in the middle of the night, seeing that they were in desperate need of rest. True had roused but under silent orders from Rhianna had continued to feign sleep, wrapped in a blanket from the bedroll. Conall explained that his little sister was exhausted and just needed a place to lie down so they avoided anyone seeing the injury. The girls were bedded down in one room and the boys in another.
Rhianna awoke first, and immediately checked on True. She had washed the wound and dressed it prior to giving in to exhaustion the night before, but True would not allow her to try any more healing after Naomi explained what had happened earlier. Other than a killer headache, Rhianna was fine this morning but she noted that True was feverish. Pursing her lips in frustration she laid her hands on True's chest focusing her energy on both healing the wound and fighting the infection that had already started.
"Ya put yerself in a fuckin' coma, I'm gonna beat ya senseless when ya wake up!" a grumpy True warned, peeling her eyes open and pushing Rhianna's hands away. "Fuck! Ya think an' injured body would be allowed ta sleep."
"Quiet," Rhianna hushed her cousin. "The others are still asleep."
"If only that were a true statement," Naomi groused.
"You were feverish True," Rhianna said quietly after checking that Anna, at least, still slept. "Besides I am fine outside of a headache, and after that stunt you pulled yesterday, I do not even want to hear it from you."
"It was the rat bastard that hit Naomi, Rhianna. Ya heard what he had planned fer her."
Naomi looked at True in utter surprise then at Rhianna. True had gotten shot because she went back to get some pay back for something done to her? The corner of Rhianna's mouth lifted and her eye brows raised as she returned Naomi's questioning gaze.
"Don't get yer panties in a twist, Guppy, the guy's a fuckin' asshole jest beggin' ta be gutted. Hope ya at least shot him, Rhianna."
"No but he should have a headache even worse than mine. Perhaps even a cracked skull. Now, True, let me finish healing you."
"Maybe when ya don't look like a fuckin' racoon! Circles under yer eyes are so dark, ya could pass for one."
"I'm fine."
"Ya kin finish yer hoo doo after breakfast, once ya got some sorta fuel in ya."
With a heavy sigh and an eye roll, Rhianna reluctantly acquiesced. "Before I go in search of sustenance, we should discuss how we are going to extricate ourselves from our current haven. We need to move soon if we want to rescue the other girls."
"We might have a bit more time than you think," Naomi interjected. "They talked about going to "Edna's" to make the girls presentable so they can get the most out of their 'merchandise'," Naomi's snarl let the other's girl know exactly how she felt about the reference. "Sounded like her place was across the border and maybe half a day's ride to Purgatory. I got the impression they would stay there a couple days at least so the girls could be well rested, well fed, and maybe prettied up a bit. Heard them arguing about Edna's cut, and how long they wanted to delay."
True nodded. "Still wanna light out soon as possible. Don't see gettin' past a few priests as a big problem. They got no right ta be stoppin' us."
"True, as far as they are concerned, we are a bunch of children. I doubt they will be amenable to us just riding out, and before you even suggest what you are thinking, consider Josiah's reaction to our assaulting a few clergy and burning down a mission. I think we are in enough trouble as it is."
True's brow furrowed at the thought. "Weren't plannin' on burnin' nuthin' down," the younger girl grumbled.
"I think if I explain that our families are looking for us and we need to get back to them, along with a little non-verbal persuasion, that should do the trick."
"Yeah, cuz ain't like Josiah's gonna have a problem with you mind fuckin' a couple a priests at all."
"He will not even know, True," Rhianna said with an eyeroll. "We do need to procure you some new clothes, however. You cannot very well go anywhere covered in blood."
"Ya got no little bit o' blood on you neither," True responded.
"I was able to explain this away last night, there is no way anyone could miss that you have been shot."
"You'll still need some others. I'll go see what I can find in the way of clothes," Naomi suggested. "True why don't you rest up, maybe Rhianna can find us some food. We all need a bit more rest before we go after the others and this is as good a place as any."
M7***M7***M7***M7
Later that morning, a completely healed True approached Creed who sat under a tree in the stone walled garden that the priests used as a place for quiet reflection. He'd not said a word to the girl during the simple breakfast the children had been given earlier and True could sense there was something amiss between them.
"Hey," she greeted him apprehensively, crossing her arms to ward of the cold.
"Hey,"he responded without looking up.
Cocking her head sideways, True watched her friend for a minute, waiting for some response. Sure their adventure had been scary, especially for the boy who had led a fairly quiet and uncomplicated life outside of losing his mother. Still, they had rescued Naomi and they were all fine so she couldn't quite figure out what was wrong with Creed.
"What the fuck's wrong with you?" she finally demanded.
"Wrong with me? What the hell's wrong with YOU? Why couldn't you stick to the damn plan? Why did you have to go back and get yourself shot? YOU ALMOST DIED, TRUE!"
Taken aback by Creed's outburst True didn't respond at first. Her friend was generally very accepting of her escapades and seldom stood up to her even when he did disagree. In fact, Creed was so cool-headed he seldom lost his temper with anyone and certainly not with her. Though she realized that he must care a great deal about her for him to react this way, she didn't quite know how to deal with the raw emotion that he was showing. Characteristically, rather than deal with the underlying feelings, True responded in kind.
"Well I didn't so back the fuck off!"
"No I will NOT back the fuck off, True. I told you not to. Rhianna told you not to. But oh no, the big bad warrior True knew better than anyone else and had to go back for some revenge and get shot! Damnit True! Do you have any idea how I felt when that fella carried you into camp, bleedin' everywhere?" Creed's voice broke and he turned away to get a hold of himself and blink away the unwanted tears.
As she swallowed hard, an unfamiliar and extremely unpleasant sensation of guilt twisted in True's gut. Creed was really upset. She'd worried him and she felt bad. "I'm sorry, Creed. It's just...well, at times like that, it's like there's this darkness that sneaks up in me and, and it's just so powerful. I'm sorry."
Creed spun back around. "Well it's not okay, True. I, I haven't been this mad since my ma died and there was nothin' she could do about gettin' sick but there WAS something you coulda done. You say that the darkness is powerful hard to ignore, well I don't give a shit! Yer sayin' it's more important than me, than our friendship. Yer my best friend True, and I would turn my back on revenge and darkness before I ever turned my back on you!"
True's vision blurred as tears filled her eyes, his response cutting her to the quick. "No Creed, it ain't like that. Yer jest as important to me, ya are. I'm sorry, I am, it's just…what'dya want me ta say?"
"I want ya ta say that ya won't do that to me again."
"I, I want to say that I won't, I truly do, but when I get inta the zone, I don't think right…I wanna promise, but…" True sniffed. She did not want to lose her best friend, and she wanted to make this right but she knew only too well that she became a different person when faced with those situations that took her back to her clan life.
"Then promise me you'll work on it. Once we get back to Four Corners, you and me, and Rhianna if need be, we'll work on you gettin' control of that darkness."
"I promise," True agreed with a little sniff.
"Good, 'cause ya do somethin' like that again, and I'm gonna smack ya silly, True Tanner."
True gave a nod, wiping her tears away on her sleeve. "If I do it again, I'll let ya."
M7***M7***M7***M7
That afternoon, the children from Four Corners were all sitting in the garden, plotting their next move.
"I spoke with Anna. She will not be saying anything to anyone other than we rescued her when the kidnappers left her to the wolves. Poor girl. She is an orphan, and she had hoped the acting troupe would offer her a better life than becoming the wash woman and cook for the orphanage where she grew up.
"What will happen to her now?" Naomi asked.
"Once she is healthy, the priests will send her on to a convent back east. Apparently the nun's there have a program where they work to educate and train the older female orphans and then help them find acceptable positions in the community."
"Damn! Poor girl," True shook her head. In her mind being sent to a convent was about as bad as anything she could think of short of what the flesh traders had in mind.
Rhianna cocked her head sideways, listening. "Horses coming."
"The priests said they were expecting mail today," Conall offered and the children relaxed some.
"So once we are out of here, do we head to Purgatory and wait for them to show up?" Naomi asked getting them back on track.
"If we have some time, shouldn't we wait for the peacekeepers?" Creed asked brow furrowing. "They gotta be on their way."
"Don't know how much time we got or when they'll get to Purgatory," True pointed out.
"Regardless, Purgatory is where they will head so that would be the most expedient route," Rhianna observed.
"So head out first thing tomorrow morning?" Conall asked. "You're sure you can convince the priests to let us leave with no trouble?"
"Yes," Rhianna started to reply but gasped looking toward the garden gate instead. Moments later two men rushed through, looks of worry changing to relief when they saw the children.
"Pa!" Creed shouted running to Mr. Tucker and being caught up in the man's arms in a fierce embrace.
The larger of the two men met his son halfway but the end result was much the same as Mr. McGowan enfolded Conall in his massive arms. It was only a moment, however, before the huge Scotsman dropped one arm to smack the boy in the back of the head. "Are ye aff yer heid lad? I dinnae ken what ye were thinkin'."
"Da, Naomi was in danger. I had to go with them to help," the boy answered standing up straight.
"Aye right! An' comin' to fetch me rather than chore me horse dinnae cross yer heid? Atspish!"
Conall looked down in shame, "I'm not a little boy anymore, Da. I'm a man and-"
"A man ye say? Ba'-heid says I. Be needin' a reminder ye'ar still but a lad." With that the burly man turned the boy sideways and landed several powerful swats to the seat of Conall's trousers.
"Da," the boy whined, looking around in embarrassment while at the same time wincing at the pain. In recent years, his father had on a few occasions taken a belt to his son's backside but it had been a long time since Conall had been spanked.
"Och! I'd no be makin' a fuss laddie, 'less it's a trip o'r me knee ye'd rather. Ye've a skelpit leathering such as ne'er ye've had comin' to ye when we're home and it'll be the strop I use this time."
Conall's complaint died in his throat, though he needn't have worried that all attention was focused on him. Once Mr. Tucker assured himself that his son was alright, he'd taken a seat on a garden bench and pulled Creed bottom end up over his lap to deliver the spanking of the boy's life. Never had his son scared him so badly and Creed was soon crying out his apologies as only a boy over his father's knee can.
Meahwhile, Rhianna stepped forward, laying a hand on the brawny Scotsman's arm. "Mr. McGowan, please. It's not his fault. He just wanted to help and he did rescue a girl that those awful men had left out to die. He was very brave. You should be proud."
"Aye he's a tapaidh lad to be sure and proud I am but cannae ye ken that a better plan would've been askin' for help?" the man replied turning his gray eyes to the girl before him, letting his son be for the moment. "Ye were daft to be takin' after such bajin's by ye're lonesome. An' ye, lass, were exactly what those de'ils were wantin' to get their hands on. I've grown fond of ye, lass, and wouldna see ye come to harm," the man scolded as he reached to pick her up under her arms like a toddler and carry her to another of the garden benches where he laid her across his knees and landed a hefty smack to her backside.
Rhianna could not quell the surprised yelp any more than she could the tears that sprung to her eyes as Conall's father proceeded to rain swat after swat down on her rear. His hands were huge and felt more like a paddle in her estimation. After a series of particularly powerful smacks he lifted her onto his lap and cuddled her into his massive chest, holding her close and gently patting her back. "As God is me witness, I'll no lose another wee lass if there's a thing I can do to stop it," he whispered softly before clearing his throat. Rhianna knew that the man was thinking of the daughter that he'd lost and her breath caught in her throat as she realized he was saying that he saw her as another daughter. "I know ye're uncle will be havin' a more lengthy discussion wi' ye soon so we'll call it done, but ye'll stay clear of trouble in the mean time or I'll skelp ye again, lass."
Naomi didn't know where to focus her attention because not only was the drama with Mr. McGowan playing out but no sooner had Mr. Tucker finished thoroughly tanning his son's backside, finishing with another hug and a few whispered endearments, than the man grabbed hold of and unwitting True and pulled her across his lap. Before True had time to object or argue his right to do so, her best friend's father was paddling the girl he'd come to care so much about. Mr. Tucker did not hold back, smacking his hand down with just as much determination as he had with his own son and True's kicking and hollering definitely rivaled or maybe even surpassed her friend's. As soon as he finished delivering the girl's spanking he positioned her in his lap offering the comfort that she so desperately needed.
Naomi shook her head, both appalled and oddly enough missing Buck terribly. Though she wasn't looking forward to the tanning she was almost certain to receive, her ordeal had been horrible enough to want the comfort and support of her adoptive father's arms and she found herself fighting tears.
TBC...
Scottish translations:
Aff yer head - out of your mind
Dinnae ken - do not understand
Chore - steal
Atspish - That's not good - quite frankly, I'm disappointed
Ba'-heid - someone with an over-inflated opinion of his importance
Tapaidh - brave or courageous
Cannae ye ken - Can't you understand
Bajin - bad person or criminal
De'ils - devils