Chapter 2
At the stalwart chestnut trees by the cavern of Goddess Spring, Jamie spent a sunny afternoon gathering chestnuts.
The angst-ridden cowboy took a moment to take off the trademark cowboy hat and wiped some sweat off the brow, then put on the hat back and stared in the big blue sky.
"Out of most of nature's splendors, she really valued chestnuts. That's why she fortified the trunks to make them nearly uncutable, and had them grow by her spring. I used to wonder why it is that the fruit trees could not be given the same strength, and then she finally gave me an answer:
"They are that way because the tree is offering its life force to bear its ripe, beautiful sweet fruit. It' is its necessary sacrifice to ensure the quality of new life. Unfortunately, even I have my limits, Jamie. The chestnuts are unable to sustain themselves as well as the fruits, so I have blessed those trees with my power. Besides, people have grown appreciative of the fruit produced by those frail trees. I believe they have ample protection by the humans who appreciate them"
Her explanations were always so beautiful and thoughtful. I see now, despite your great power, that you have continually sacrificed yourself for the lives around you. So does this mean that you, who've provided life and hope like the trees to its fruit, are also as frail? Is that why your gentle heart is so easily hurt? Is that why, out of anguish, you've turned yourself to stone from the ignorance of humanity?"
Jamie's eyes narrowed. The rancher's nostalgic thoughts switched into bitter ones. "This is why people are bad! They're so selfish and inconsiderate! Ha! The only reason they ever protect the helpless trees is out of their insatiable greed for fruit! They could care less of the frail tree itself were to rot and die, as long as they could have all the fruit they ever wanted! Such a twisted existence in this world! If only she had not had me make that pledge! If I were only... complete, I would make them ALL understand! I would... I would... GAAH!"
Out of rage, Jamie punched a nearby chestnut tree with full force. The cowboy then stared in shock at the tree in front. Were it not protected by the power of the Harvest Goddess, the tree would most certainly have a considerable dent in it.
Jamie took a deep gaping breath. "I... I almost hurt this tree... n-no... I-I'm sorry... I... I didn't mean to forsake you like that, I---"
Before Jamie could finish babbling, the cowboy had to dodge an incoming hammer blow. The purple-haired rancher turned around to see a furious Rothe with hammer in hand.
"I've just about had it with your pissy little attitude! This is an all time low, going from picking on little old me to punching the daylights out of some helpless tree! Well, I won't stand for it anymore! Geez, every time I bump into you, it's just an accident, and you always have to make a big deal about of it! Quit being such a jerk and get a life, already!" Rothe complained.
Jamie huffed in response. "You think you've got it all figured out, when in reality, you understand nothing! Now just leave me alone!". The rancher then proceeded picking up chestnuts while pretending that the angry city girl was no longer there. As soon as Jamie reached for a chestnut right by Rothe's feet, the frustrated young lady kicked it out of the rancher's grasp.
"No way! Not this time! I'm not leaving until I receive an acceptable apology from you!" Rothe demanded.
Jamie glared at the kicked chestnut in horror. The rancher then quickly snatched Rothe's hands after quickly disarming her. A violent wrath surged in Jamie's eyes.
"HOW DARE YOU TREAT THAT CHESTNUT SO CARELESSLY!" Jamie shouted.
Rothe made an awkward side glance at the chestnut, and looked at Jamie in confusion.
"Geez, psycho. You see me as someone beneath you, and yet you hold a chestnut in high esteem?" she uttered slyly under her breath.
Jamie tightened the grip on Rothe's wrists, which caused her to wince in pain.
"YOU DISGUSTING, IGNORANT HUMAN! IT WAS THE ARROGANCE OF YOUR KIND THAT TOOK HER AWAY FROM ME! IT'S CITY PEOPLE LIKE YOU THAT ESPECIALLY SPREAD CORRUPTION AND TAKE AWAY THE KINDNESS REMAINING IN THIS WORLD! WHY CAN'T YOU JUST BE HAPPY STAYING IN YOUR TAINTED HELLHOLES?" Jamie shouted.
A cold shiver ran down Rothe's spine. The image of a beautiful young lady flashed into her mind. Long, wavy crimson hair flew from her angelic face, which shone with aquamarine eyes and a tender smile. Along with the pure white dress she always wore, this young woman possessed a heavenly beauty.
A memory then came, of desperate, violent men bearing guns rushed in to a building, threatening the lives of everyone in the vicinity. Ignorant of the threats was a young man with bluish-brown hair, an older man with spiky blonde hair and gentle red eyes, and the woman with red hair, who were laughing and having a good time.
The memory then changed into a gruesome one. The red-haired young woman laid dying on the floor, with blood spilling from holed wounds she received. She was so young and gentle, and yet she was dying. She was dying all because of a single act.
She had died, trying to save the life of another.
Rothe shook off her tearful memories to resist the pain Jamie inflicted and thrusted her trapped hands to grab Jamie's poncho on the collar area.
"YOU SELFISH JACKASS! WHAT MAKES YOUR LOST ONE MORE SPECIAL THAN ANYONE ELSE'S? KIND PEOPLE ARE BEING KILLED WHO KNOW'S WHERE IN THIS WORLD! YOU CAN'T JUST HATE EVERYONE AROUND YOU ALL OF A SUDDEN! BESIDES, DO YOU EVER REALLY CONSIDER HOW THIS PEROSN WOULD WANT YOU TO GO ON!" Rothe shouted.
Jamie growled furiously. Although the rancher sensed she was on common ground, Jamie felt there was something incoherent about her understanding of Jamie's own pain.
"She... wouldn't just leave... this world to be cared for by such thoughtless fools" Jamie uttered in a low tone.
At that moment, Rothe snapped as she sent a straight right punch directly into Jamie's face, sending the rancher crashing into a chestnut tree.
"You... you creep! Are you even listening to yourself? All you're doing is making your personal problems worse by shoveling your crap into people's faces! You honestly think your special friend would love you for that? If that's the case, she must be a really big bitch, then!" Rothe remarked.
Jamie got up immediately with both feet firmly planted on the ground. "HOW DARE YOU TALK ABOUT HER THAT WAY?"
Rothe slowly marched up to Jamie and resumed her offense with a hard slap.
"You're missing... the point..." Rothe growled in a frustrated tone. " Listen, you're not the only one with hardships and lost ones in this world! Even if some people are actually rotten and greedy in this world as you say, you can't just mark everyone else off that same way! That's racism! And that's wrong, no matter what excuse you have for it! No one in the world lives without suffering once in life. How do you think I feel, trying to cope with all these sudden changes in my life? My friends decided to leave me, my old Librarian job proved meaningless, and now I have to adjust living out here with a bunch of strangers! At the very least, I understand that I still have choices in my life to make! And I'm not going to waste my choices by spreading misery wherever I go!"
Jamie glared at her funny, utterly speechless while shaking. The rancher looked away while trying to take in what was just said until a cheerful young man wearing a backwards blue cap and overalls made his merry way past the angry pair and into the cavern of the Goddess Spring.
Jamie and Rothe stared at the interloper for a minute, then turned their heads to the side.
"Damn. Does this mean what I think it means?" Jamie muttered.
"Say, wasn't that the same spring I dreamed about last weak?" Rothe said aloud as she scratched her head.
The two then faced each other with perplexed glares.
"What do you mean by that?" Rothe asked.
"You had that same dream like that demented farmer?" Jamie asked.
In a quick fashion, both Jamie and Rothe leapt up and sprinted off towards the Goddess Spring.
Within the darkness of the cavern, an excited voice echoed outside.
"It is time!"