Please see Chapter 1 for warnings and disclaimers.
Chapter 23
After a great deal of discussion, the peacekeepers devised a plan. Since there was only one of the gang of kidnappers that had actually been to Four Corners and he now sat in a jail cell in that town, none of the outlaws would recognize the peacekeepers. Ezra and a couple of the others would ride into Purgatory where the card sharp would pose as a wealthy saloon owner looking to expand his business with some working girls. He would attempt to set up a private meeting where they were holding the girls, offering top dollar if he could get first pick. While he was in this meeting with two of his supposed 'henchmen', the rest would case the place where the young women were being held. Depending on circumstances, they would make their move or retreat and plan a more detailed attack.
While Ezra, Buck, and Chris rode into Purgatory to set the plan into motion, Josiah went to speak to the local clergy. He found out about an old widow living on a small ranch outside of Purgatory. She had sold off most of her stock and only had one remaining ranch hand. Widow Mendez welcomed the money they paid for a few days room and board. The rest of the seven, the two fathers, and the kids took up residence in the now empty bunkhouse. Much to the children's dismay, Josiah had spoken with Widow Mendez and then had compiled a long list of chores to keep the kids busy.
True cursed softly as she finished mucking out the horse stall, knowing there were several more to go. The boys were outside chopping and stacking wood while the girls cleaned the barn. Then there was tack to be cleaned, a garden to be turned, a chicken coop to be cleaned, and fences to be mended. The run-down ranch could keep several bodies busy for days if need be.
"True, you do not want Josiah coming back in here," Rhianna admonished.
"Shut up, Rhi!"
"Do not take it out on me. This is not my fault."
"No, it's the guppy's."
"I said I was sorry! I didn't mean for any of this to happen," Naomi chimed in, tossing a bit of hay into a clean stall.
"Yeah, ya jest wanted ta run away ta California, cuz ya was too chicken shit ta start carin' 'bout folks agin! Know the story, not impressed. Don't change the fact that I'm stuck here doin' fuckin' chores with a tannin' hangin' over my head."
"Well, I've got the same hanging over mine," Naomi snapped back.
Rhianna sighed. Thinking back to the previous evening and her walk with Chris.
"You and I need to talk," the green-eyed peacekeeper said curtly to Rhianna before turning to Conall. "After that, you and I are due for a talk, son," he growled.
"Yes sir," Conall answered swallowing down his fear. He knew his father would expect him to talk respectfully to Chris and accept any chastisement the man had to offer.
Rhianna walked with her surrogate father into the trees debating whether to read his thoughts or not.
"Don't," the man warned, coming to a halt and leaning against a boulder with his arms crossed. Sometimes she wondered if Chris Larabee had some telepathy of his own. He motioned for her to take a seat on a worn stump and she did so, waiting in silence as he faced her grimly.
Finally, Rhianna took the initiative, "Look, I know you are angry, but we had to help Naomi, time was of the essence, and you were not there."
"You are a little girl, Rhianna. You and True are special, but you are children," he stated tersely. "I know you've done dangerous things when you lived with your clan but those days are past. You got a problem, you go to an adult. I'm not there you go to one of the others. They aren't there, you go to Mary, or Nettie, or Lauren, or Mr. McGowan. Understand?"
"Yes sir," Rhianna acquiesced, though she wanted to argue the point. Knowing that to do so would in no way help her situation, however, she kept her mouth shut.
"The rest of this trip you are going to do exactly as you are told, when you are told, with no back talk."
"Yes, sir." Rhianna was rather proud of herself for repressing her eyeroll and keeping her voice completely neutral.
"There's too much goin' on right now for us to sit and talk like we need to about your abilities or for me to give you the tannin' you've earned," Rhianna breathed a sigh of relief, however Chris wasn't finished. "But, until we get safely home, I'm gonna be giving you a daily reminder that you are a little girl who's in a heap of trouble and that you had best behave."
Rhianna's face fell as Chris motioned her towards him. Reluctantly she stood and dragged her feet until she stood in front of him. Chris put his foot on a boulder and took her arm to guide the girl over his thigh. His hand fell heavily on her trouser clad bottom and she yelped despite herself. After fifteen equally powerful swats, Rhianna was crying and the gunman set her back on her feet and pulled her into a hug which she readily returned.
Brought back to the present by the escalating argument, Rhianna gave her head a shake. "Come on you two knock it off. We are all in trouble and nothing is going to change that. The last thing you two need to do is go making it any worse."
"That is sage advice," a gruff voice agreed from the doorway of the barn. "I'd better see more working and hear less talking, arguing, or cursing. If I have to come in again, none of you will be wanting to sit down to supper," Josiah warned.
***M7***M7***M7***M7***
Luckily, the first part of the strategy worked well, and Ezra set up the meeting for the following day. The men proceeded to fine tune their plan asking occasional questions of the children, especially Naomi, who had the most knowledge of the kidnappers. True wheedled and whined and then pitched an all out fit at being left behind but only succeeded in gaining a sore backside compliments of Chris's belt and a promise of the switch should she leave the ranch. That coupled with Vin's reminder that she still had to answer to him for leaving Four Corners without permission finally convinced her to do as she was told. When the men rode out to rescue the captive young women, the children stayed behind with a daunting list of chores.
As he rode towards the meeting, Vin found himself praying that True would stay put and behave for once. He couldn't get the image of the scar from her recent bullet wound out of his head. The thought of losing her sent cold chills down his spine and turned his stomach, until he thought he'd be physically ill. She was just a little girl! Two days ago, when they had sat around the campfire listening to the kids' story, he had been torn between taking a strip off True's hide and holding her close and never letting go. That afternoon he had taken True and Creed aside for a private conversation.
Flashback
The two children walked in front of Vin casting furtive glances at one another, letting Vin know that they were plenty nervous. Well, that was good because they should be!
"Okay, take a seat on that there log," Vin ordered stopping in front of the two, hands on his hips glaring at them. "You two have landed yerselves in a heap o' trouble before, but I ain't never expected ya ta be quite this stupid!" Seeing that True was ready to respond, Vin held up his hand and shook his head, "I know ya was tryin' ta help Naomi, an' I'm glad ya was able ta put yer differences aside long enough ta wanna help her, but ya should a waited fer Josiah and Nate and let them deal with it. Ya got shot fer God's sake, True!" Vin ran a hand through his long hair.
True started to answer back in her usual colorful fashion but she heard the crack in Vin's voice at his last statement and saw the look on his face. It didn't take Rhianna's abilities to know the worry she had caused the man she looked to as a brother or see the very real pain in his eyes. She sighed heavily swallowing her angry retort.
Vin took a breath and pointed a finger at Creed, "You, son, if yer gonna keep hangin' out with True, ya gotta learn to say, 'no,' to her and not go along with her hair brained schemes! I know she's your friend, but bein' a friend means more than goin' along with whatever she says!"
"Hey! Don't yell at him!" True interrupted. "It ain't his fault."
"Oh, I know that! You, little girl, need ta think twice before puttin' yer best friend inta the kinda danger thet could get him killed! How'd ya a felt if it'd been Creed shot instead o' you? Ain't like he's got any kinda experience with this type o' thing."
"She didn't make me come," Creed said softly before True could answer. "I wanted to help."
Vin sighed deeply. "I know, and yer heart was in the right place, but yer head weren't. Ya shoulda gone ta yer Pa. Now, I know he already dealt with what ya done, Creed, but I'm tellin' ya I've half a mind ta give ya another lickin' ta make this point stick. If True goes off half cocked, ya ain't ta be goin' with her." His blue eyes held Creed's for several seconds trying to convey the seriousness of his words. "Alright, son, ya head on back ta camp. I need ta talk ta True."
Creed rose immediately to do as he was told. As he passed Vin, the tracker took hold of his arm and offered a flurry of swats to the boy's backside, reigniting the fire Mr. Tucker had set earlier that morning.
"Thet was a crappy thing ta do," True said angrily as her friend made a speedy retreat trying to rub the sting from his rear as he went.
"Ya best mind yer mouth," Vin warned. "I'm mad enuf as it stands," he growled his eyes hard as he stared down at the girl. "Ya coulda died, True. Woulda if it weren't for Rhianna. Ain't nuthin' gonna make thet okay. I love ya an' I'll do whatever it takes ta see ya safe." He closed his eyes and breathed heavily trying to calm himself.
"So ya ain't gonna hear my side?" she asked accusingly.
Vin's jaw tightened at the obvious dig, but he held his temper and ignored the itch in his right hand. He couldn't punish her right now, his emotions were too raw and besides, they needed to focus on rescuing the other captives. "Yeah, I am. Fact I'm gonna let ya have some time ta think through exactly what ya wanna say ta me. I'm gonna wait 'til we get back home ta deal with ya high-tailin' it outta town and straight inta danger and before I tan yer hide I will hear everythin' ya have ta say on the matter."
True was taken aback by his words. She was thrilled to find out that her butt was out of immediate danger. Heck, maybe Rhianna could even help her come up with an argument that would at least lessen what she had coming if not get her out of it. Part of her knew that was no more than a pipe dream but, hey, a girl could hope.
"Ya need ta know, though, thet how ya behave and what ya say from now on 'til we get home is gonna affect yer punishment. Can't imagine anythin' ya say talkin' me outta the whippin' ya got comin' to ya, but I guess we'll see. Any attitude or disobeyin' twixt now 'n then is gonna mean another paddlin' with the hair brush after my belt's done discussin' matters with your backside. Might be right after, might be the next day. Hell, if ya rack up enough might be every night fer a week after we get back. Guess thet'll be up ta you."
"What the fuck?" True was incredulous.
"That there's five with the hair brush on top of whatever else ya got comin' when we get home," Vin stated calmly before stepping forward and wrapping his arms around True. "I'm glad yer safe, Sunshine. It makes be sick ta think about ya bein' hurt like ya was. I love you."
Vin's words had curtailed her angry response and taken the fight right out of True. For just a moment she remained stiff in his arms, but then she returned his hug. She didn't really want to fight with Vin, not right now. She just wanted to be held and feel safe. Everything else could wait. "I love you too, Vin."
End Flashback
Vin swallowed. Chris had taken it upon himself to deal with True's tantrum last night, but Vin had reminded her that her poor self-control had earned her another ten with the hair brush on top of what she already had coming when they got home, bringing the tally to fifteen. He sighed, hoping True would steer clear of any more trouble, not wanting her to add to that count. Still, she had to learn to think about her actions. The fact that she could have been killed kept running through his head, and he knew he had to stay firm with her. Vin really hated leaving True, not even wanting to have her out of sight. Normally, he would count on Rhianna to help keep True out of trouble, but the older girl had not shown great judgement of late. He shook his head trying to clear it of the terrible sense of foreboding. His focus needed to be on the task ahead and freeing the other kidnapped girls.
***M7***M7***M7***M7***
"This fuckin' sucks!" True exclaimed, throwing down the shovel she'd been using. "Why the hell ain't we goin' after the guys to help with those sons of bitches?"
Naomi rolled her eyes and held up a finger, "One Chris's belt." Another finger joined the first, "Two that switch he promised to cut," she continued adding a third finger, "Three that hairbrush Vin keeps talking about, and oh, yeah how about multiplying that by NINE angry men if we do."
True's angry retort was cut short by Rhianna's warning, "Horses coming."
"They can't be done already, can they?" Creed asked.
"It is not them. Perhaps it is time for a break. The bunk house has full view of the house, yard, and barn," Rhianna suggested, and all of the kids were quick to make their way there.
Mrs. Mendez came out of the house as the men rode up and asked to water their horses. The old woman agreed waving them toward the barn and water troughs.
Before they came into view Rhianna gasped. "True," she motioned for her cousin to look at the rider who had just removed his hat to reveal a bandaged head.
"Hot damn! Josiah's right, there is a God!"
Naomi's look was black as she saw her one-time captor...the one who was responsible for most of the bruises she'd received. Then her eyes narrowed in hate as she recognized another of the men as well. After what she had seen this man do she, her anger at the one called Fitz was forgotten. The other faces she did not recognize. The gang had left one man in Four Corners, two others had been killed when Naomi was rescued, and another had pretty much lost his mind, so they had gone recruiting.
"Looks like we get ta have some fun afterall!," True said with glee.
TBC...