CHAPTER 16
Vash groaned as he woke, squinted at the light coming in through the open window. He rested a hand on his forehead and fought the urge to throw up. He ran his hand back through his hair and pulled loose the short ponytail he'd put in it a few days ago. His shoulder bones cracked as he stretched. He stood up and crossed the room, didn't realize that he kicked one of the empty beer bottles until he heard it roll across the panel floor. He reached outside and put a hand on one of the shutters, but hesitated as he looked at the suns.
"The second rise was three hours ago."
He jumped at the sound of Knives' voice. He pulled the shutters closed as he turned around, look at the hands on his watched, tucked neatly at the seven and twelve.
"Your watch stopped two days ago."
Vash sat back down on the couch. "I didn't notice."
"I'm not surprised. I don't think you've been sober for more than five minutes in the past three days." He wrinkled his nose. "And that window was open for a reason. Smells like a goddamn drunk tank in here."
He went back to the window and opened it again.
"This is about the girl, isn't it?"
Vash didn't answer.
"I don't know what's gotten into you lately, but I'm sick of it."
"You don't know what you're talking about."
"Then what is it, Vash? Is it your damned self-absorbed guilt, or is it your shame in who you are?"
He turned and walked towards the door.
"In any case, Vash, you need to get over yourself." He turned and walked away from the lounge towards the kitchen. Vash stood and followed him.
"When in your life have you ever thought of anyone other than yourself?"
"I got the impression from Millie you were a happy drunk."
They turned around to face Eliana, falling silent. The anger on Vash's face dissipated, turned to surprise as he saw her.
"It's uncanny isn't it?" Knives' voice cut through the surprise.
He ran a hand through his hair again, tried to smile. "You got a haircut."
"Yeah, Knives did it."
"Just last night as a matter of fact." A hint of a smirk grew on his lips. Vash turned towards the door and shot knives and angry look. "It looks nice, doesn't it?"
"Piss off Knives." He walked out slamming the door behind him.
Knives looked up at her, she stared back looking rather puzzled. "What was that all about?"
"I'll tell you later."
"But..."
"Don't you have a telegram for Millie and Sophie that needs to be mailed?"
"Yeah, I guess."
"Get dressed and go after Vash, he'll take you to town."
"Why can't you do it?"
"I don't want to."
"He doesn't look much like he wants to, either."
Knives smiled. "All the more reason to make him do it." She frowned at him. "Besides, he needs to get out. Give him something to do besides sit around here and mope."
She hesitated, looking through the door that Vash had gone out.
"You'd better hurry up if you want to get to town before the office closes." As she went back up the stairs he when out onto the porch, Vash was a fair distance away not about a hundred feet.
"You need to wait, the girl needs taking into town." He leaned against a post while Vash stopped, paused for a moment, then turned a little and raised his middle finger at Knives. Who scowled a little.
"Look, I didn't mean for it too look like her. It surprised me too" His tone was slightly apologetic. Vash stopped and slumped a little as some of the anger slid away.
"I know." He turned back to Knives and started to walk back. When he got close he sighed. "We don't tell her about Tessla."
"But I thought you weren't going to lie to her."
"She doesn't need to know."
"If you say so, but remember what happened last time somebody lied."
"Yeah, well that was different."
"Of course it was."
"Knives."
"I know." The usual smirk followed.
The door swung open and Eliana crossed through, one of Vash's old duster jackets, hanging loosely over her injured shoulder. And her arm tugged through the other sleeve which was rolled up a little, held the jacket on.
"Ready to go Vash?"
"Yeah, I'll be there in a sec." He gave a slight disarming smile and waved her in the direction of the car. She nodded and went to the car, carefully she opened the door and sat so. Being extra careful not to jolt her shoulder. Where as normally she vault into the backseat from the footboard or something else rather extravagant. However this time she gingerly climbed in and sat down in the front seat. Vash shot Knives a grim look then walked toward the car, He waved over his shoulder.
"Anything you want?"
"Not really, Tane could use some new coolant piping if they have some."
"I'll check with ol' Mr. Henderson."
"Thanks."
"Anythan' else?"
"Yeah, could you get me some black metal polish, a new blade of the cutting disk and a spare chamber guard. But those aren't really urgent, I could go get them myself if your not planning on sticking around."
"What happened to nothing much?"
He reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out a few bills, he flicked through them till he had the right amount then tossed them to Vash. "That should cover it." He nodded in reply. Then climbed into the car which rocked a little with his weight.
"We shouldn't be too long." Knives shrugged as he walked into the house. Vash turned the ignition key and the car's engine revved into life. He pulled the car away and towards Brightridge. He took it slow at first trying not to jolt the car.
"Looking forward to your birthday party?"
"It's hardly a party, since when have four people constituted a party."
"Well its better than just me and Knives isn't plus you get extra presents." She scoffed.
"Makes a change from the usual twenty five double dollars from mom."
"Really, Meryl always picked good gifts for Millie" She shifted in the east and rested her good arm on the edge of the door, then let her chin rest on top of that.
"It'll be nice to see Millie again, it's always fun when she comes."
"Yeah, I was thinking, why didn't you ever come by, when I was a kid I mean, Millie always said you two were good friends, yet I never saw you once."
"Yeah, Well life gets complicated, and people thought I was dead, I had to keep out of sight for a while, taking care of Knives, you can imagine what kind of a chore than would be." He smiled, he couldn't tell if she did the same, her kept the back of her head to him, staring out over the never ending sands.
"Millie said you came to visit all the time."
"Yeah well Millie had the orphans and Soph to take care of, and well me and Meryl didn't really part ways well." She nodded a little, she knew how her mother took bad news. It was usually badly with a very loud and sometimes violent reaction.
"Mom needed friends."
"Huh?"
"When I was a kid she had no real friends, only Millie and she didn't see her that often."
"Moved about a lot huh?"
"Yeah."
"That sounds like Meryl alright." They spent most of the remaining time of the ride in silence. The town was a lot quicker by car than the walk she remembered, it had taken her a good two hours to walk here last time. But then she hadn't had much of a perspective then. The town seemed smaller than before when they drove into it, but she hadn't been back since the night she got drunk. It seemed like a good idea. As the crossed the edge the wind began to howl and the sand started to whip she tugged the jacket around her a little tighter and pulled the sand hood, sewn onto the back of the jacket over her head. Immediately a shadow feel over her face as the hood hung down over her face a little.
"Storms coming, better make this quick, I'll go grab the stuff knives wants, if you'll be okay posting that by yourself." She nodded. "Okay, just say you want to use Alex Thomas' P.O box."
"Alex Thomas?"
"Yeah, I didn't that it would be the best of ideas to use my real name."
"Oh, okay." He pulled the car too a stop outside of the post office, which was next to the general store and got out." he moved around to help her down, but she had already climbed out onto the footboard and gently stepped down.
"I'll be in the hardware store across the road okay, I'll come get you when I'm done." He shoved his hand into his pocket and dug around for a moment till he pulled out several coins.
"Here this should cover the postage cost. And if you wanna get yourself a book or something there should be enough left over." She raised an eyebrow.
"Trashy paperbacks? I'd rather stick with of mice and men."
"Knives give that to you?"
"Yeah." He nodded and walked towards the hardware store.
"I'll be back in a few." She half smiled, but it lacked the effort. Turning she pushed open the door and walked into the small post office, it was a tiny room, on the back of the general store, with a large wooden counter that ran along the back of the room and a few sleeves holding with boxes and envelopes of various sizes on the walls and a rotating rack of two double dollar novels, all of which were generally the same ones found in every general store and Post Office throughout Gunsmoke. There were three or four middle aged woman all standing around the corner talking when she walked in, all of them looked up at her when she opened the door. The one behind the counter she looked to be the younger of the four, but still had an element of age too her, highlighted mostly by the grey streaks starting to show at her roots.
"Yes dear?"
"I'd... I'd like to post this through Alex Thomas' P.O pox please." She handed the woman the telegram and two double dollars.
"And you are dear."
"Ellie Thomas ma'am."
"Ah Alex's niece yes?" She nodded blankly, following what she hoped was the correct lie. The women looked her over as she stood in front of the counter.
"Are you alright dear?" One of them asked.
"Yeah, I just had an accident, and hurt my arm."
"Really, didn't see you come into Doc Hodges?"
"No, Well Alex fixed me up."
"Oh, the boy never said he was good at first aid."
"Yeah... he's okay, it's not that bad anyway."
"You sure dear? You look awful pale."
"I'm fine." The bell above the door rung and Vash walked in carrying a large paper bag in one hand.
"Hiya Martha."
"Mornin' Alex, looks like a bitch of a storm brewin'."
"Yeah, should be fine out my way though."
"True. I got some post for you by the way, wanna come sign for it."
"Oh, okay sure." He passed the bag to Eliana on his way over. "You can wait in the car if you want."
"Thanks." She took the bag and left the shop, closing the door behind her and shutting out the loud wind.
"Now Alex, I didn't wanna say this in front of your niece an all, but if she even needs a place to stay, away from her father, then she's more than welcome with me and Doug."
"What are you implying, That Cain beats her?"
"Not exactly, its just you don't get hurt like from falling over."
"Well he's never raised his hand to her, he thinks the world of that girl."
"How come she's hurting then?"
"She tripped on a broken step in the basement, that's why I just brought some lumber so I could fix it, I feel awful bad about not doing it before."
"Oh... alright Alex. I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it Martha, I'll see you in a day or two, I'll probably be down to help out Sam dig people out."
"Okay, see you then Alex." He waved as he walked out to the car and climbed in to the driver's seat.
"Let's get you home before this storm sets in." She nodded somberly.
"Yeah, I wanna get some sleep if that okay."
"Sure." He replied dryly, taking out his sunglasses and sliding them up his nose as the wind that howled around them was drowned out by the car starting.