PLEASE SEE CHAPTER 1 FOR WARNINGS AND DISCLAIMERS
A/N: I know it's been a long time, but end of the school year and beginning of summer has been crazy busy! A big thanks to Wolfpyre who has helped me throughout this story and continues to do so.
Chapter 6
Lauren knocked softly on True's door, then a little louder when there was no response. "True?" Lauren called softly, before finally opening the door.
The girl lay with her back to the door, her small form quaking with silent sobs. Lauren entered, gently closing the door behind her and went to take a seat on the bed. True turned when the young teacher laid a gentle, comforting hand on her shoulder. Sad blue eyes looked up into concerned hazel ones and the look of compassion was the only invitation True needed to throw herself into Lauren's arms.
"Oh, honey," Lauren cooed, encircling True and rocking gently back and forth. "It'll be okay. Hush now, dearheart." Knowing that there were no words that would truly comfort the girl Lauren just murmured endearments and finally started singing a lullaby that she had learned some years ago.
"Beautiful dreamer, wake unto me, Starlight and dewdrops are waiting for thee; Sounds of the rude world, heard in the day, lull'd by the moonlight have all passed away! Beautiful dreamer, queen of my song, list while I woo thee with soft melody;
Gone are the cares of life's busy throng, beautiful dreamer, awake unto me! Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!" *
Eventually True cried herself out, but she made no move to vacate the safe haven of Lauren's arms so the woman continued her song and then sang another. True found Lauren's soft contralto extremely soothing and reveled in the completely novel experience of being held and comforted by a woman. She wondered if this is what it felt like to have a mother. She had never known her own mother, and throughout her life had always had male caretakers.
"Feeling better?" Lauren asked quietly.
True just shrugged. Lauren gave the girl a squeeze and then gently shifted True onto the bed careful to place her on her side. The young teacher got up and moved over to the porcelain washbasin and poured some water from a flowered pitcher onto a soft washcloth. She took the cloth over and gently washed True's heated face and then picked up the brush, and started to brush the girl's tangled hair.
Closing her eyes, True sighed contentedly. Rhianna did this most every night and though she grumbled, she really did enjoy the feel of having her hair brushed.
"Why wouldn't he believe me?" she finally whispered.
Lauren sighed and set the brush down. "Adults are not perfect True. We make mistakes, too. Vin loves you so much and he wants to do what is right by you, but he's only human."
"But you believe me," the statement was almost a question.
Lauren smiled. "Yes, I believe you, but then I have more experience with children than Vin. I come from a very large family and then I chose to be a teacher so I am around you rascals every day. Vin doesn't have that advantage."
True scowled, "He always seems ta know if I'm lyin'. Jest follows thet he aughta know when I'm tellin' the truth."
"Well, the evidence was rather convicting," Lauren replied. "Rhianna explained to me at the school house that she thought someone was framing you. I don't suppose the two of you shared that possibility with Vin."
"I woulda, but he wouln' even give me the chance," True's bottom lip stuck out.
Lauren sighed. She felt as if she had let both True and Vin down. Her own words came back to haunt her. "Courting is more than sunset walks and horseback rides…" Yes she had promised True that she wouldn't tell Vin she was in trouble that day, but it was a small town and she knew about the various pranks. She should have broached the subject with Vin and let him know her thoughts on the matter. If she had, True might not have been punished unjustly.
Her eye caught sight of the switches leaned up against the bedside table and she stood up to grab one. Venting her frustration, she broke the offending piece of wood over her knee, which wasn't particularly easy because though the stick was slender the wood was very green and supple. The act was rather satisfying and she reached for another, breaking this one into multiple pieces.
"Yer gonna tell Vin it was you thet done that, right?"
"Certainly," Lauren agreed, lifting the final switch. "Hmmm. Maybe I should save this last one and use it on Vin," she said with a mock scowl on her face. "What do you think?"
True giggled.
Lauren's eyes sparkled with humor. "You know they teach us all about disciplining naughty children in teacher school?"
"Yer shittin' me?"
Lauren ignored the swearing. "Not at all. Two entire weeks devoted to rapping knuckles and applying the cane."
True's blue eyes grew big and then narrowed when Lauren's broad smile gave away her jest. True threw her pillow at the young woman, who responded by tossing it back at the girl then grabbing up the pillow off of Vin's bed to launch another attack. Warfare of any kind, even a pillow fight was definitely True's bailiwick and before long feathers were floating serenely down to the hardwood floors of the bedroom while the two had collapsed in a fit of laughter on the bed. True on her tummy and Lauren on her back.
Blowing a feather from her lips, Lauren looked around the room with a grin, then grabbed up the remaining switch. "I think I'd best take care of this straight away, or Vin might just be using it on me," she said, splitting the last wispy piece of wood over her knee with a laugh.
M7***M7***M7***M7***M7
Rhianna and Chris made their way to the stairs. Supper time was drawing close and though the gunman believed it was past time to get a few straight answers from the girls about what they knew, he thought it would do everyone good to have a warm meal under their belt first. At the stairs they ran into Vin who was coming up to check on Lauren and True.
One look at the disheartened tracker and Rhianna gleaned the entire sordid tale from Vin's thoughts. Though she could easily feel the sharpshooter's uncertainty and remorse, her temper flared in defense of her cousin. "Bolvaneagh mac y coo-bwoirryn! Ta'iu fer oainjeragh!" (You stupid son of a bitch! You're a bastard!) She yelled giving Vin a push that almost unbalanced his position on the stairs.
Chris was quick to steady his friend after which he grabbed Rhianna's arm and offered a thunderous swat to her already scorched backside. "What in the hell are you thinkin'?"
"Let her be, Chris," Vin said quietly.
Surprised, Chris loosed his hold on the girl's arm and Rhianna pulled from the gunman's grasp, running to the room True shared with Vin. The blond peacekeeper gave Vin a questioning look and the long-haired sharpshooter offered a heavy sigh.
"Come on downstairs and I'll fill ya in tha best I can," Vin said.
M7***M7***M7***M7***M7
Rhianna burst into True's room only to come up short at the astounding sight of her school teacher sitting on the bed with True amongst a pile of feathers, the remnants of three broken switches scattered about the floor. The utter shock on Rhianna's face was priceless and set True into a new fit of laughter. Even Lauren had to smile at the blond girl's amazed countenance.
It only took Rhianna a moment to pick up the details from their minds and fill herself in on what exactly had transpired. Her lips lifted in a smile at the unlikely picture. She wished she had a camera or True's talent for drawing because this was honestly one for the memory book.
Lauren chuckled as she came to her feet, "Well, I had best get a broom and dustbin and explain the demise of Mrs. Whittaker's pillows to her." The young teacher left the two girls alone, confidant that True would be okay now, especially with her cousin there to commiserate.
"Woulda been nice if you'd shown yer ass up a bit sooner," True grumbled once Lauren had left.
Rhianna moved forward to cup True's face in her hand, concentrating her efforts on healing the damage done to the other girl's backside, "Oh, Ennolid. I am sorry, but my ass was in its own sling I am afraid."
True was taken aback by her cousin's coarse language. Rhianna seldom swore, even a little.
"Spill," True demanded.
"I will, but first, are you okay?"
True rubbed her recently restored rear and offered a somewhat halfhearted and lopsided grin. "Am now. Ain't ya afraid of what Vin said he'd do if you ever healed me from a lickin' agin?"
"Well, it appears Lauren has taken care of the switch threat," Rhianna quipped, "And quite frankly I don't give a damn if he does see fit to try," the girl's green eyes burned at the injustice that had been done to her cousin. "You were innocent and he should have at least given you a chance to explain! I was so angry I gave him a push that quite nearly tumbled him down the stairs."
"You did?"
"Indeed. Not that I didn't pay for it," She added, rubbing her own backside, "Chris was standing right behind me. Luckily Vin stopped him before he could stoke the fire anymore. It already feels like the fires of hell have taken up residence in my skirt."
"Vin stopped him?"
"Yes, he feels quite bad actually. He's still confused, but I guess Lauren gave him quite a talking to, and now he realizes that he was hasty in offering you such a severe chastisement without hearing you out."
True turned to pace the floor, not really ready to think too much on her earlier run in with Vin. It was better now that the pain was gone, but she was still plenty mad at the man. He should feel bad! Sure the evidence was damning and she hadn't exactly been upfront about her ideas concerning Naomi but he should have at least heard her out! Naomi! True's fury found a more deserving target and she spun on her heel to face her cousin.
Rhianna nodded, unfazed by the dangerous look on True's face. She understood that her cousin wanted payback and for once was in full agreement. Naomi deserved everything she was going to get. "Yes, it's past time that we find our delinquent clan member and exact a little justice. I do not think we have much time either. She'll be moving on soon."
"Why'dya think thet?"
After explaining what had happened between herself and Chris, Rhianna shared her theory with her cousin. "Naomi, will not want to be far from the ocean or at least a major body of water for long. It is far too dry here for her taste. Not only has she pulled off all of the pranks but she pinned them on you, with the one exception that she hung on me."
"So she's proved she's the queen of pranks and now she's gonna take off?" True ground out kicking the bed frame in frustration.
"Not quite. Pretty much everything she's done, outside of framing us, has been a repeat of something you've done. I think she's going to want to prove that she really is the superior prankster."
"How?"
"By doing something even you wouldn't do."
"Yeah, and exactly what would that be?" True scoffed.
"Well, I've given that a great deal of thought, and I think I have it figured out. I think she's going to plan a major prank on Chris."
True whistled. "She really does have a death wish."
"Which makes our job even harder." True gave Rhianna a quizzical look wondering what her cousin was getting at. "We need to find her before she leaves the area but apprehend her after she pranks Chris, because once we are done with her we can then hand her over to him and sit back and watch the fireworks."
True grinned. "I really like how you think, but I ain't promisin' there'll be anythin' left fer Chris once I'm done with her."
"She's clan," Rhianna reminded her cousin.
True snorted in response to that. After what happened earlier with Vin, she just might be able to forget that Naomi was family and gut the little guppy. Of course, Rhianna had a point. If Naomi really was stupid enough to prank Chris, True really wanted to see the fall out.
"So how are we gonna find her? Yer powers ain't helpin' much and the animals in town ain't been no help atal."
"I've been thinking about that. If we could have given one of the dogs a scent or knew more about her current physical appearance, we might have gotten somewhere, but there are just too many people in town. Outside of town, though, the animals would be well aware of a strange interloper that was out of place."
"So yer thinkin' I should have a chat with some of the critters outta town, but what if she's not leavin' town?"
"Even with her stealth training and the Eiyrt crystal, she couldn't avoid detection if she stayed in town all of the time. Besides, there is no way she'd go more than a day or two without swimming."
"The lake? In this weather? It's colder than a witch's tit in a brass bra face down in a snowbank."
"Nonetheless, I would wager she deems it worth the chill to get her swimming fix, which means she would need a fire handy to warm up."
"Which means this just got very easy," True said with an evil grin. "Why the hell didn't ya think of this a day sooner?"
"Well excuse me for needing time to puzzle through the particulars. It is not like I came through this unscathed," Rhianna replied in a huff.
"Oh, yeah. Can't believe ya were crazy enough ta bring out thet gun. He musta really let ya have it."
"Well, he was not exactly holding back," the blond girl groused, shifting in an effort to relieve some of the discomfort. "Still, I think it was the best option available under the circumstances." Rhianna wasn't about to reveal to her cousin that it had been worth it when Chris admitted to believing her. She knew how deeply her cousin was hurt by Vin's lack of faith and didn't want to pour salt in an open wound.
"So what now?"
"Well, Chris wants some answers so we have until after dinner to decide exactly how much we are going to tell them."
M7***M7***M7***M7***M7
"So yer really thinkin' there is someone else ta blame?" Vin asked in a guilt-ridden voice after he and Chris had conferred.
"Yeah, I think there is."
"But, I'm sure some o' thet stuff had ta come from the girls' world and how in the hell has someone been able ta sneak in an' outta the boardinghouse without us knowin'?"
"I think there are two little girls upstairs that might be about ready to give us the answers to those questions. We're all gonna sit down for a little talk after supper."
Vin swallowed hard and looked down at his feet. He'd never forgive himself for what he'd done to True. His heart had told him she was being truthful but he'd thought he was just being blinded by his love for her. The evidence had seemed so conclusive, and he'd been so hurt by the fact that she'd lied to him that he didn't even give her the chance to explain. He of all people knew what it was like to be accused of a crime unjustly.
"Knock it off!"
Vin's head popped up at the other man's sharp tone.
Chris continued. "Ya made a mistake, Vin. One any one of us might of made in the same situation. And I've got news for you. It ain't gonna be the only one. Everyone makes mistakes, Vin, but yer not yet twenty-five years old and you're doing a damn fine job with True. Had the girls been up front with us in the first place it might not have happened. I'd wager my horse they know something about what's been going on and they should have told us."
Vin shook his head. "I was so hard on her. Wouldn't even listen to what she had to say."
"So, next time maybe you go a bit easier on her. You had just cause to think she was in the wrong. It's a hard thing, but she'll get over it…and so will you."
Vin shook his head. "I'll never lay a hand on her agin."
"Bullshit! At least it better be or you're the one I'll be taken a switch to next. True needs consistency, Vin. Love and consistency. I don't mind steppin' up while you get things straight in your head but there's no way in hell that you're letting that girl run roughshod over you just because you made one mistake."
"It was a hell of a mistake. Think I'd feel better if'n ya did take switch to me," Vin said with a wry grin. "Or maybe just yer fist. I deserve it."
"Well, the switches are no longer an option, as I've broken them into bits," Lauren's voice broke in, "And I seriously doubt that Mrs. Whittaker would approve of a brawl in her sitting room." Lauren approached Vin and despite Chris's presence reached up and offered Vin a kiss on the cheek, bringing a pretty blush to her own cheeks. "I'm sorry, Vin. I was wrong to lose my temper. Chris is right. All parents make mistakes and it isn't as if you've had the benefit of the ten years experience it took True to get to her age. If I'd openly discussed my thoughts on the matter earlier, this whole unpleasantness might have been avoided."
Vin shook his head, "This don't fall on you, Lauren."
"No, it doesn't, but the real culprit will be brought to justice," Chris stated darkly.
TBC...
* "Beautiful Dreamer" is a parlor song by Stephen Foster published in March 1864 by Wm. A. Pond & Co. of New York.