Please see Chapter 1 for warnings and disclaimers.

A/N: A huge thank you to Wolfpyre for all her help and input on this chapter.

Chapter 11

"Well, that's just plain stupid and I'm not goin' along with it!" Naomi fumed.

Rhianna offered a heavy sigh and wondered if her clan member had any idea how lucky she was that she wasn't seated any closer to Chris. It was patently obvious his right hand was itching to offer an attitude adjustment. This little family gathering to discuss Naomi's new place in the household had been nothing if not intense.

They had solidified a back-story for Naomi. Not difficult given Buck's history of carousing. Ezra suggested it would make things easier for Naomi if her parentage were legitimate so they had concocted a whirlwind romance and short marriage, ending in the tragic death of Buck's young bride in childbirth. Grief stricken, Buck had allowed his wife's family to take custody of the baby girl and thus a spinster aunt had raised Naomi to this point. He had visited of course and offered financial support and even named Chris Larabee as his child's Godfather. Naomi was none to pleased with this final addition. Nor was she particularly happy about other facets of what was to be her new life.

"Actually, it does make sense, Naomi," Rhianna countered before Chris could comment on the other girl's outburst. "If True is considered just turned ten, and everyone believes that I've just turned twelve, eleven would be a reasonable assumption of your age."

"I'm nearly thirteen!"

"But like so many in our clan, you appear younger than you are."

"Hell, by rights yer two months younger'n me!" True added her two cents worth, looking askance at Josiah, who had already called her on her language more than once during this little family discussion. True was still beyond angry with Naomi and really had no desire to see the guppy welcomed into their unique family but she was also loathe to see the girl set free to go off and do whatever she wanted. She was pleased to no end that Naomi had already received two spankings from Chris and had another one coming, but still believed that the guppy should get a taste of the switch that was used on her. Well, Lauren broke that one of course but one just like it would be fine with her.

"Well, the other rules are lame and I'm not goin' to that school!"

Green eyes alight with anger, Chris came to his feet, having had enough of Naomi's insolence, but Buck caught his eye and shook his head before turning to the girl seated next to him.

"Yeah, ya are," the tall peacekeeper stated quietly. "Yer gonna go to school and yer gonna follow the rules, cuz ya picked me ta be yer Pa and cuz I say so."

Naomi's dark eyes widened at Buck's calm response. "Well, maybe I changed my mind," she replied vehemently.

"Too late fer that, darlin'," Buck said seriously. He was hell far and gone from ready to be a father, but he supposed given his lifestyle he'd been lucky to dodge the bullet this long. God certainly did seem to have an odd sense of humor, though.

"You're gonna start showing some respect, too, and right quick or you and I are gonna be having another discussion," Chris added, curling his thumbs in his belt and leaning against the wall rather than taking his seat again.

Naomi had a fiery temper, but was not completely daft. She had no desire to have another run in with Chris so soon. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat and looked down at her boots, biting her lip. This was not at all what she had envisioned when she had first plotted to get even with True.

Satisfied for the moment, Chris continued. "We'll put another bed in Rhianna's room and you can bunk in with her until we figure something else out."

"WHAT?" It was Rhianna's turn to become indignant.

"All the rooms upstairs are taken right now," Chris responded curtly, looking Rhianna right in the eye. She easily picked up on his concerns about leaving Naomi unsupervised in her own room right now, but that didn't mean Rhianna was ready to give up her privacy without a fight.

"My sleep habits are hardly conducive to a roommate," Rhianna pointed out in a huff.

"The two of you'll be able to live with it for a spell," he answered firmly and Rhianna knew that the subject was closed, at least for now.

"This is going to be a bit of an adjustment for everyone," Josiah pointed out. "We all need to do our best to make it work."

"Hmpht!" True didn't have to comment in words to let the others know how she felt about the whole thing, her crossed arms and belligerent look spoke volumes. She'd been strategically placed between Ezra and Josiah, well away from Naomi, but close enough to Chris that she chose to keep her tongue in check, especially now that he was standing.

"The three of you in particular are going to need to learn to get along and leave the past behind you. There will be no more pranks and no fighting," Chris warned. "First sign of any trouble and I'll be letting my belt do the convincing. Understand me?"

Rhianna was the first to give a vexed sigh with the required, "Yes, sir."

Naomi and True eyed each other in irritation, but when Chris cleared his throat Naomi offered a reluctant, "I will if she will."

"True," Chris growled crossing his arms over his chest.

"I got switched. So should she," she answered resolutely.

"That's not your decision to make. Now are you gonna agree to behave or are you and I goin' upstairs for another little talk?"

True hesitated. It was kind of hard for a girl to stick to her guns when being threatened with a whipping, especially when she'd already been paddled and spanked just an hour before. She knew Chris's patience had long since run out and if she chose to take a stand, she'd be standing for a LONG, LONG while.

"Yes, sir," she finally mumbled.

"Good." Chris turned back to Naomi, "Now, most everyone will think you just arrived in town, Naomi, including Mrs. Whittaker, but the school teacher, Lauren Willis, and my fiancé, Mary Travis, will know the truth, Nettie too when she gets back. Won't work to have you apologize to all of those you've wronged but you can and will apologize to Mary and Lauren. You're supposed to have been shipped out here because of causing trouble with your aunt so it will make sense that Buck's keeping you on a short leash which means you don't go anywhere unless you have permission."

"If Buck's gonna be my daddy, how come you're the one makin' up all the rules?" Naomi asked smartly.

"Cuz he's a mite more practiced at this than me," Buck answered with a chuckle. "Not to worry. I'm sure I'll get the hang of it 'fore too long."

M7***M7***M7***M7***M7

Later that night, True sat on her bed trying to process through everything that had happened today. She couldn't believe the clan was gone. Sure, she had a completely different life now and had known she would never return, but it was still hard to fathom.

A knock at the door brought her out of her deep thoughts. Casey poked her dark head in, "Can I come in?"

True shrugged in response. The young woman entered, softly closing the door behind her. "I'm sorry, True. JD told me all 'bout the truth o' what happened an' how you was framed an' about this Naomi girl. I'm sorry I kept blamin' ya an' thet I was so awful 'bout it an' fer startin' thet fight. It was wrong o' me. Ya aught never treat family like thet."

When True didn't respond, Casey dropped onto Vin's bed with a sigh. "Truth be tol', I guess I's a bit jealous. Vin's like the big brother that I never had but since you come along seems you git all his attention. Don't make it no more right, and I truly am sorry. If it makes ya feel any better, he tanned me good fer startin' thet fight." The teen blushed at this, but she figured it was only fair that True hear that she was punished.

"Yeah, thet kinda does make me feel better," True said with a grin. She could tell how embarrassed Casey was about it and she supposed she could understand that. Casey was sixteen and had a beau. Some girls in the area were married at sixteen so True figured it had to be pretty humiliating to admit she'd just gotten tanned like a little kid.

Casey threw a pillow, which True easily ducked.

"Ya know, some of thet attention I get ain't all that pleasant," True reminded the older girl.

"Yeah, but all of it's cuz he cares so much. 'Sides some of it's good, too. Ya'll do alotta fun stuff together. I love Nettie ta bits, but I really wish Vin woulda been around when I 'as yer age. Sometimes when I see ya crawl up on his lap," Casey shrugged, looking down and playing with the hem of her blouse.

"Yeah, well, he still wouldn't listen to me when I tried ta tell 'im I didn't do it. Ya might a got tanned but I got switched and fer stuff I didn't even do."

"JD tol' me 'bout thet. Guess I'd be pretty mad, too, if I 'as you. Mad an', well, hurt." There was quiet for a few moments. True picked up the pillow Casey had thrown and punched it then brought it up under her chin. It smelled like Vin.

"I'm sure Vin's mighty sorry, True, and no offense, but can ya really blame him fer believin' the way he did? I mean, this sorta weird stuff might happen all the time where yer from," Casey shook her head, "But people from different worlds an' different times, thet's a might hard to swallow fer simple folks like us. He had no way o' knowin'."

True scowled.

"Guess my sayin' it don't help thet much," Casey noted, "But Vin loves you. Loves ya like ya truly were his flesh and blood. I know he loves me too, but it's different. Reckon thet's why I git jealous. Hope ya kin find it in yer heart ta fergive him, cuz Vin's about the best big brother a body could have."

Casey looked earnestly at the other girl and noted the single tear trickling down True's flushed cheek. If Vin was a wonderful big brother...to both of them...that had to make her the absolute worst big sister alive the teen realized coming to her feet and moving over to wrap her arms around True. She resolved to do better, though, and was relieved when True returned the hug.

M7***M7***M7***M7***M7

"So, you still mad at me too?" Naomi asked curled up at the head of her bed wearing a borrowed nightdress.

"Well, I am certainly not thrilled to be sharing my room with you," Rhianna replied tersely, taking a seat on her own bed and eyeing her younger clan member. "I dare say my animosity is less than True's but you certainly caused a great deal of strife and even knowing what you have been through, I find it difficult to let that go."

Naomi sighed heavily. "Well, you could help me get away from here. Then you could have your room back, and I'd be out of your hair."

"I cannot begin to explain the futility of that proposal. You had best resign yourself to your new life."

"How? I mean, how did you of all people? You NEVER had any rules or anyone to answer to."

"I was given no more choice than you were."

"But I know you. You COULD have gotten away. Why didn't you?"

Rhianna sighed. "When my first attempt was thwarted, I was taken aback by the degree to which these people seemed to care about my well being. In our world I was well used to being an asset, but my worth was always in my abilities. Here it was different. Not to mention, if you had not noticed, Uncle Chris has a very heavy right hand."

Naomi's brow furrowed as she considered the other girl's words. She shifted and winced at the pain in her side. She still had the bruises from the fight with True. Most the pain in her backside was gone, though there was enough of a sting left to provide a reminder and she could whole-heartedly agree with Rhianna's last statement.

"And they really care? This new family of yours and True's?"

"Yes, they do." Rhianna heard the longing in Naomi's voice and easily read the unasked question, wondering if this new family might come to care for her as well. Rhianna found herself in a difficult position. She was still angry with Naomi, and was extremely displeased to be sharing her room. However, having seen all that Naomi had gone through, and felt the deep loss and pain, the empath found it impossible to truly hold on to her rancor. On the other hand, if she befriended the newcomer too quickly, True would feel betrayed and abandoned. She would never, ever hurt her cousin like that.

With a sigh she stood and retrieved the brush from the dresser. "Your hair is a fright," she said offering the implement to the other girl. Naomi accepted the brush and started taking out what was left of the thick braid.

"I just don't know if I can do this. You know, live here and follow their silly rules, after the life I've lived."

"Though I understand your sentiment, I highly suggest you consider trying," Rhianna replied returning to her own bed. Naomi pulled at a particularly difficult knot in her dark auburn hair.

"Buck seems alright, and maybe the rest, but Chris is…well…scary. Thought I'd managed to get out from under his thumb, but it doesn't seem like it worked so well."

"You are lucky. Chris has been extraordinarily patient with you thus far."

"Patient? That's him being patient?"

"Indeed," Rhianna nodded.

M7***M7***M7***M7***M7

The next morning Buck took Naomi to meet Mary and offer her apology. Chris had gone to explain things to the newspaperwoman the previous evening. After supper, Vin had visited Lauren to fill her in as well and to seek a few moments of solace. The adults had decided that Buck would introduce Naomi to Lauren after school, thinking it best if they kept True and Naomi separated for at least another day.

Everyone else had gone about his or her business now that the young hooligan had been caught. The girls and Lauren were in school. Nathan had decided to inventory his medicines to make sure he was prepared for the small illnesses that always accompanied the colder weather. Josiah was cleaning the flue in the small stove in the little church. JD and Casey were helping Mrs. Potter unload a wagon load of supplies that had just come in. Chris was out front of the jail, whittling and Ezra of course was still sleeping after a late night poker game.

Deciding that a ride on Peso would do him some good, Vin started toward the livery, but was brought up short when he saw a weathered old woman with gray hair heading his direction. He picked up his pace and enveloped the woman in a hug, spinning her around in his enthusiasm to see her.

"What's all this? Put me down!" She insisted batting at Vin's head, but bestowing a sound kiss to his cheek despite her grumpy tone.

"Yer back early."

"Yes, I am. Finished my business and saw no reason not to come on home. Now, how 'bout you come on over and buy this old bird a cup o' coffee," Nettie looped her arm around his and headed in the direction of the restaurant. "Fill me in on what's been goin' on here." The circles under the young tracker's eyes and his haggard appearance spoke volumes to the perceptive matron.

"Oh, Nettie," Vin shook his head, "You've got no idea."

"Thet's why we're gonna go sit a spell so's ya kin tell me all 'bout it."

TBC...