Into the West
Naivety of an Angel
Previously;
Kurt had rescued a Simmonite family (a father, his 18 year old daughter and 11 year old son) from three men, two of whom had plans to rape the 18 year old girl (Caitlyn).
Believing in a philosophy of non-resistance, the father was just going to let it happened. Kurt ended up killing the older of the three brothers, and then Kurt, who was also fleeing from the Confederate Army (he was a deserter) said his goodbyes and left; not wanting to wait for any law enforcement involvement
But moments later, the two surviving brothers ambushed Kurt!
"Shoot him," the other said to the one with the rifle.
POW!
A second later, Kurt's body was motionless on the ground...blood gushing from a gunshot on his left side...but he wasn't dead; not yet! The two brothers, confident Kurt was dead, road off in a hurry.
Our story continues
Moments later, the Simmonite family, having heard the loud sound of a gunshot, and fearing the worse, came riding down the dirt path on their wagon; Ian, the father of the girl and boy who sat next to him on the wagon, pulled the reins of the two horses and brought the wagon to a quick halt.
"Kaleb," Ian said to his son without haste, "open the back of the wagon; Caitlyn, you help me with the man."
At once, Ian, Caitlyn and Kaleb hurriedly got off the wagon. Kaleb ran around to the back of the wagon to unhitch the back hatch.
Ian and Caitlyn tended to Kurt; he was motionless and had lost a lot of blood from his gunshot wound.
Ian ripped open Kurt's shirt so as to get access to the wound. Caitlyn, who had grabbed two towels from their wagon, which were used to wipe down the horses should they ever get too hot and sweaty, held the towels at the ready, while also admiring the man's (Kurt) well shaped upper body, which was now exposed.
Ian looked at his 18 year old naïve daughter, and saw her ogling the man's muscles; he could only sigh…it was a natural thing for a young woman her age to do.
Ian's wife, Pauline, had died while giving birth to Kaleb 11 years ago. That meant he had raised both children ever since then. Raising a boy was one thing, but raising a girl was another. He had done his best, and so had the women of the Bruderhof, to raise Caitlyn; but the subject of the birds and the bees, especially in the 1860s, was left to God's unseen hand.
Ian and Caitlyn worked together and wrapped the towels around Kurt's waist.
"We need to get him to the Bruderhof as fast as we can," Ian said with the towels firmly wrapped around Kurt.
"Do you think Sister Joann can save him?" Caitlyn asked with worry in her voice.
"We can only hope so," Ian said, "Kaleb, come over here," Ian called out as he looked over at the wagon. "Help your sister and I load the man into the wagon."
Moments later, all three of them, Ian-Caitlyn and Kaleb, struggled together but were able to eventually load Kurt into the back of the wagon.
With that done, Ian and Caitlyn went about packing the sacks of salt, sugar and potatoes around Kurt so as to hold him in place for the hour ride back to the Bruderhof.
Kaleb, who had stepped out of the wagon to give them room, noticed something on the ground where they had first found Kurt moments earlier; it was his pistol!
As his father and sister were nearly done getting Kurt situated in the wagon, Kaleb went over to the gun…and swiftly picked it up and hid it inside his overalls…
And with that done, Ian mushed the reins and the horses took off, pulling the wagon behind them, down the path and toward the Bruderhof…
Continued…
This chapter featured
Brenton Thwaites as Kurt Scorpio
Mark Harmon as Ian
Conor Leslie as Caitlyn
Elias Harger as Kaleb