Chapter 5

"Vin, we havta wait for Wolf!" Amalia demanded just as the tracker was about to lift her up on the front of his saddle. A second later named wolf appeared in the stable. The horses whinnied nervously as they smelled the animal. Wolf didn't even bother to look in their direction. He headed straight for his mistress. Raising his head he gave her a soft reassuring nudge with his nose. "Now we can go." She declared.

"Ya sure don't like ta take a step without yer wolf, do ya?" Vin grinned and lifted her up in the saddle.

"He ain't MY wolf. He's my friend."

"Sure he is." Vin replied while he was making sure she was sitting straight. Then he legged Rose up on Nutmeg and together they headed off to the forests.

Vin wanted to take a ride out to Nettie and introduce the newest member of Four Corners to her. He was sure that the lady could help Amalia to settle down in her new life. He glanced over to Rose to check if she was riding correctly. She still needed some guidance; she didn't use her legs correctly, but held the reigns in front and low while they walked.

"Rose use yer legs, but keep yer heels down." Vin advised. Rose quickly corrected her position and looked over to him. "Much better." He praised, "But now ya forgot the reins. Don't let them be slack."

"Yes, Vin." She sighed while she did as he told. She never seemed to learn. As she readjusted herself in the saddle one foot slid out of a stirrup. Vin rode closer to her. Leaning down he shortened it. "Here try that."

"Thanks."

"Yer welcome. Ya want to try a short gallop Rose?" he turned back and looked down at the child in front of him, "Not ta worry Amalia. I's holding ya."

"I can gallop by myself. I did it when I stole Chris' horse." Amalia replied with all her pried holding up her head high in the air.

"Ya weren't steady in the saddle when ya rode into town." Vin said recalling the their first meeting. He still hadn't figured out how the girl had managed to steal Chris' horse. He had asked the black clad gunman, but he had just grunted something and lit a one of his infamous cheroots. "How did ya steal Chris' horse anyway?"

"I dropped a stone on his foot and pushed him into the river. Then I jumped up on his horse and rode away." Amalia quickly summarized.

Vin nearly doubled over with laughter. "My, my, that musta been a sight. The most fearsome gunman in America gets tricked by a seven year old girl."

Amalia also grinned as Vin laughed. She thought perhaps he would get angry with her if she told him that story, but now….. Vin actually had a sense for humor compared to Chris who had tanned her hide as soon as he had caught up with her.

"Mister Vin actually I'm nearly eight. My birthday is next month."

"Ya can skip the mister Amalia. I ain't one anyway."

Vin showed them several nice places where she and Rose could go fishing with Chris later that week. Rose had wanted to take a rest and take in the nature around her and enjoy it's energy and pulse, just like she used to do. When she was sitting in a small glade watching and listening to the nature Wolf lay down next to her resting his head on her legs.

Amalia watched the idyllic scene somewhat jealous. Wolf belonged to her. He shouldn't stay with Rose. He should come to her, after all he was HER friend and not Rose's. Vin had lay down in the shade of a tree and was taking a nap. Bored, Amalia sat down next to him and started to pull at the grass. She looked at Rose, but the girl wasn't doing anything interesting either. She was lying in the grass with her arms and legs spread out. Wolf was next to her and didn't move either.

Rose took a deep breath and started to absorb the nature around her. She looked over to Vin who had lay down in the shadow of a tree and covered his eyes with his hat. He seemed fast asleep. She preferred to be alone when she was in the forest, but right now it would be better not to sneak off. Nathan had made it pretty clear what would happen to her if she did. She just had to wait a bit until everyone had forgotten about her previous misdeeds or adventures, as she saw it and of course depending on whether she was caught.

"Whatcha actually doin'?" Amalia asked as she couldn't stand the quiet any longer.

"Jist enjoying the beauty of nature." She replied happily.

"Ya sound like some kind of crazy person."

That comment immediately stopped her concentration. They had hung her mother saying she was a witch, a crazy witch or an abomination of nature.

"What did you say?" She growled standing up and clenching her fists. Wolf raised his head and looked with interest, sensing the upcoming conflict between two small girls.

Amalia felt a bit unease. She hadn't intended to make her that angry with her comment. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that."

Rose let out a sigh and sat down

"Okay, don't matter."

Amalia still felt a bit guilty and threw a quick glance over to Vin, then an idea struck her.

"Rose? You wanna see something funny?"

Rose shrugged but her curiosity got the better of her, "What do ya mean?"

"Look." Amalia ripped off a long grass and tickled Vin softly on the nose. First he brushed it away with one hand but as the girl continued he suddenly sat up trying to grab her. Giggling she tried to crawl away but Vin managed to get a hold on her feet. Then he slowly started to drag her towards him.

"No, let me go!" Amalia laughed trying to kick her legs.

Rose got to her feet and went over to them. Actually she wanted to tell them that she wanted to continue their ride, but Vin quickly grabbed her with a mock-growl and she was thrown into the playful fight, quickly forgetting about her intentions of going for a ride.

"Get his hands!" Amalia ordered twisting out of Vin's grip and grabbing his left hand with hers. Rose tried to do as she was told, but Vin put her arm around her and held her tight and close to him, while wrestling Amalia with the other arm. She grabbed his hand with both of hers and held it tightly to her chest. He gave her a light push and she tumbled backwards releasing his hand. With a quick motion he grabbed her ankle, dragged her a bit closer to him and then wrapped his arm around her waist as she tried to crawl away. Now both girls were caught in a tight grip and Vin stood up with a hysterically giggling child under each arm.

"Let's go now." He said and was just about to set them down when Wolf joined in. He grabbed Vin's left foot with his jaws and dragged while he growled energetically, though without malice. Surprised by this attack Vin lost his balance. Jumping on one foot and cursing under his breath he tried to put the girls down without falling on them. First he dropped Amalia, then, as he was about to lose his balance completely, Rose. As he fell into the leaves both girls were immediately over him holding him tight to the ground while Wolf was licking Vin's face.

Laughter filled the air and they continued their rambunctious romp until both children were completely exhausted and covered in dirt, leaves and grass. Vin had managed to stay as clean as whistle, considering the the nature of their activity. Wolf faired even better, there was not a single stain of dirt not even a small piece of grass on his coat.

"Come now. We should go." Vin said while he brushed off some dust from his pants.

"You got leaves in yer hair!" Rose laughed and pointed at him.

"You two don't look better." He replied then added, "Maybe ya should take a bath at Nettie's."

"Nooo!" They chorused and quickly took a step back.

Chuckling, Vin shook his head. Amalia seemed to settle down more and more. She didn't seem so afraid anymore and slowly her normal appearance of a mischievous little girl came to the surface. He went over to Amalia and picked her up setting her on his shoulders. "Let's get to Nettie. She's sure ta have some cinnamon rolls for two little scallywags an' maybe for an ol' tracker too."

"You're not old." Rose said and tilted her head, then added with a broad grin, "You just look like if ya are."

"Ya take that back." Vin ordered with a mock-frown while he reached out for her.

"Uh-uh." Rose shook her head and quickly jumped out of Vin's reach. She ran over to Nutmeg where she waited for him. Vin bent down and hoisted her in one smooth motion up in Nutmeg's saddle, but not before giving her a quick playful swat. Then he headed over to Amalia where he repeated the process. They settled on the back of their horses and continued their ride to Nettie.

Rockridge

Sam walked out of the clinic with his arm in a sling. He was met by a grinning Dean who grabbed his good arm and dragged him over to the Saloon. John shook his head as he stared after them. Dean was exactly like him, when he had been in his age. He should follow them and see that they stayed out of trouble, but he had other things to do.

John looked over to a neat little house at the end of the main street. He had hoped that Grace would come out, but as yet she hadn't showed herself. Maybe she had seen him and was now avoiding him. After all, five years had passed since he had seen her last. He still remembered as it was yesterday. He had asked Bobby to look after his boys while he went out on a hunt. The job had been a quick salt and burn nearby. However, it had turned nasty when two ghouls had turned up. He had come into Rockridge to get medical treatment his wounds. Grace had looked after him until he was healthy. In the following year he had visited her regularly, then the unavoidable had happened; she had gotten pregnant.

Flashback

John knocked on the door trying to stifle the nervousness which rose once again as he heard steps coming closer to the door. It opened and a tall woman with long black hair appeared holding a small girl in her arms, who was hollering and squirming desperately trying to get out of her mother's grip.

"John! I wasn't expecting you for another hour at least"

"I couldn't wait any longer." He said smiling and gave her a short kiss, then directed his attention to the noisy bundle in Grace's arms.

"Nearly two, isn't she?" He asked.

Grace nodded tired. "She decided to start with the terrible two's a bit earlier and I bet she'll end it later too."

"She's cute." John said not really paying attention to what she was saying.

"Well then you can take her for a while. Maybe you can put her to sleep and make her take a nap." She handed the toddler over to a rather surprised John, who took the child out of reflex.

"What's her name?"

"Her name's…" The rest was drowned out with an ear piercing scream the child let out as she stared into the strangers face.

"Hush." John crooned lovingly. The child decided not to listen to him and wind up the volume some more. Sighing he stepped into the house while he gently cupped the child's face with one hand. That got the girl's attention. She grabbed his little finger and stuffed it into her mouth immediately becoming quiet, despite some soft sniffs.

A rather surprised Grace looked out through a door smiling at the scene in front of here. Her little daughter was sucking her father's little finger while her big green eyes gazed up at him. John wiped away the tears on her little face, then oblivious to the world around him, he started to sing softly.

Hush-a-bye, don't you cry,
Go to sleepy little baby.
When you wake, you'll have cake,
And all the pretty little horses.

Black and bay, dapple and grey,
Coach and six little horses,
Hush-a-bye, don't you cry,
Go to sleepy little baby.
Hush-a-bye, don't you cry,
Go to sleepy little baby,
When you wake, you'll have cake,
And all the pretty little horses.

By the end the little girl was fast asleep in John's arms. As he tried to pluck his finger out of her mouth again, she stirred and grabbed his hand with hers, but still didn't wake. Sighing he let her suck on his finger and headed for the kitchen from where the wonderful smell of freshly baked bread tickled his nose.

"I see she already has you wrapped around her little finger." Grace said smiling as John entered the kitchen.

He simply nodded and sat down on a chair. Again he tried to free his finger, but without any success. Instead, he just managed to wake her up. She looked up at him with a stern glare, then sunk her teeth into his finger. He hissed of the pain and quickly dragged it out. The girl giggled and smiled broadly up at him, as if she knew that she had done something cheeky. John cocked an eyebrow; however it was impossible to be angry with her.

End Flashback

John got to his feet. It was about time that he met up with her again. He still had to explain everything to his sons, but he would wait until he really had to tell them. He brushed off some dust from his pants, then headed over to her house. Over the years he had sent her a letter every second week explaining why he wasn't able to come and visit. He didn't want to put her or the child into danger. It would never risk history repeating itself and just hoped that they would be able to live a normal life without ever meeting a supernatural being.

He had sent money, though he doubted it was ever really enough and that it would help much. Grace would give him hell no doubt about that.

Four Corners

A week had passed since they had visited Nettie, and until now Rose had no chance to go into the forest. None of the peacekeepers had enough time to take her. A ranch had been robbed five days ago and all of the family had been murdered. Vin, Chris, Josiah, Buck and Ezra were after the outlaws, so only Nathan and JD were left in town to look after everyone. Rose decided this was the perfect time to sneak away for a short while. She would take Nutmeg to make the trip faster. If she was quick enough they would just think she was outside playing with Fury. She just needed some time on her own with nature.

Amalia sat outside the boarding house in a chair looking around. Wolf was lying lazing in the shade of the clinic not moving one muscle. He was panting heavily and showed no desire to play with her. She knew when he lay like that he didn't want to be disturbed. He just wanted to rest, if he wanted to play with her he would come to her wagging his tail. She sank down in the chair feeling bored as all hell. Suddenly she spotted Rose ride around a corner, heading out of town towards the woods. Curious, Amalia got to her feet. She winced lightly. Her feet were still tender, but the wounds had nearly healed completely. So she was finally allowed to walk around on her own.

Keeping over hundred yards in distance, she followed Rose who was quietly walking nutmeg towards the forest. Amalia ran, staying low and ducking between shrubs towards the woods, and hot on Rose's tail.

Rose looked back if any of the peacekeepers were following her. Amalia dived to the ground behind some large tufts of grass before Rose could see her. Rose turned Nutmeg around and kicked her lightly with her heels. The horse started a slow cantor and they were soon out of Amalia's sight. However, the girl was able to trail the horse's clear hoof-prints on the ground.

After several minutes of looking for a good place, Rose finally found a small glade and lay down in the grass.

Back at town, the grey-haired man let out a deep sigh as he watched the girls sneaking out of the town. Why did they always have to go running off? Especially Rose. Why couldn't they both stay in town where they were safe and sound? He thought back at this Ezra he had met in the saloon. He had been quite naive. The gambler had believed him when he had said his name was Sanderson. He felt the pangs of guilt as the memories that connected him to that name washed over him. He shrugged them off. He hadn't killed the hunter on purpose; it was self preservation, after all the man had shot him. The grey-haired man was thankful that the bullets hadn't killed him. Absent mindedly, one hand gently caressed the round scars on his chest through the fabric of his shirt. One silver bullet had hit him directly in the heart. He had been young, only sixteen years old, and hadn't been able to control his powers or his natural instincts. Had that been the case, things would have surely been different and he wouldn't have gotten caught. The grey haired man pushed himself of the wall and headed after the girls. All of sudden the smell of rotten flesh stung in his nose. He had already smelled it once. He knew what it was. They were in danger! He had to hurry.

As usual a big thank to Gaben who helped me with beta-reading this story and a thank to otkcp who gave me the allowance to use her character.

I hope you liked it and please review.

Disclaimer: The lullaby was originally sung by an African American slave who could not take care of her baby because she was too busy taking care of her master's child. She would therefore sing this song to her master's child.