Please excuse the language errors. I did my best with the help of a friend and internet translations. I apologize for the mistakes.
Jean Luc Chapter 3
Jean Luc Benet climbed down from the stage. The driver handed him his satchel and he waited on the walkway for his grandfather. He saw the boys walking toward him and he was scared. One boy was tall with blond hair and blue eyes; he looked young, but he was muscled like a man. The other boy was a little older and a little taller, but he was thinner. Jean Luc had enough taunting and insults to last him the rest of his life! His accent and language errors made people laugh at his speech, and he didn't always understand their sayings, so people made him feel stupid. Sometimes big boys, like the ones advancing, tried to take his satchel or his money. Jean Luc held very still and wished he could make himself disappear. He traveled so far and it took so long, he just wanted to find his grandfather and sleep in a bed for change!
John Calhoun-Sanchez and Matthew Sanchez were standing outside the hotel when the stage stopped to unload passengers. They just delivered a stack of towels and were watching the people disembark. The adults didn't interest them; none appeared to be their uncles, but the boy was new in town! He was about seven years old; he was short, had dark hair, and blue eyes like Ruth. No one seemed to be there to meet him; he stood awkwardly, looking around. John and Matt began to approach him, maybe he needed some help.
"Hey, kid!" called John.
"Please leave me alone. I do not want trouble," pleaded Jean Luc.
"No," said Matt. "We saw you standing there all alone and wondered if you needed help. My name's Matt and this is my brother, John. Our Pa's one of the peacekeepers in Four Corners."
"My name is Jean Luc Benet." He pronounced it 'Zhon Luke, like it was one name, Ben-nay' with the accent on the nay. "I am waiting for my…my…grandfather, did I say that correct?"
"You speak English quite well," commented John. There were children in the orphanage who came from other countries and they were working to learn English. Naturally, Mrs. Fuller was harder on them. "What's your grandfather's name?"
"Jacques Benet. Do you really think my English is well?" asked Jean Luc happily.
"Good. Your English is good," corrected Matt. "But I don't know your grandfather. Let's go to the sheriff's office to see if anyone does." John gave Matt a look that spelled bad news.
"The sheriff…is he like a policeman? I do nothing wrong…" began Jean Luc.
"He's our uncle; you'll like him; J.D. looks like a kid!" laughed Matt.
M7M7M7M7M7
Chris sat at the desk in the sheriff's office, glaring at the telegram in his hand, then at the other six who lounged about the office. Judge Travis wanted two or three of the seven to handle a disagreement between two ranchers near Eagle Bend. The families had been feuding for nearly a year and it was beginning to get out of hand; two young men had been killed and a third seriously wounded. "Any volunteers?" Chris asked through clenched jaws.
Buck stood and sidestepped across the room toward Chris. "Seems to me the situation calls for some smooth talking and a little flirtation. I seem to recall there are a few daughters in those two families!" Buck smiled and waggled is eyebrows at the thought of fresh females!
"Prime reason you're not goin'!" Chris said quickly. "Last thing we need is a shotgun wedding!"
"Gentlemen," Ezra began, "what is required is someone with a little finesse; an individual with the diplomacy and intelect to convince the families to forestall their antagonism and settle their confrontation in a mutually agreeable manner."
"They'll take one look at that fancy outfit of yours and shoot your dandified ass on sight," growled Chris.
"Besides," laughed J.D., "how can you settle the problem when no one understands half of what you're saying! I'm willing to go..."
"Won't work, J.D., you're sheriff here and Eagle Bend is out of your jurisdiction," interjected Chris before J.D. even finished.
Nathan shook his head as he spoke, "Don't like to shirk responsibility, but the Gibsons are all down with the fever. Don't like to leave them 'til at least some of'em are back on their feet."
"Guess that leaves me, Vin and Josiah. Let's leave at first light," Chris said finally.
"Excuse me, Mr. Larabee," Ezra interjected, "Mr. Sanchez has the ...eh...maturity and Mr. Tanner has the instinct, but finesse and fear are at opposite ends of the spectrum. Do you honestly feel your presence will facilitate communication?"
"Guess that leaves Vin and Josiah," growled Chris. He looked daggers around the room daring anyone to say another word. The rest of the seven shifted their gazes and tried to hide smirks and smiles with coughs and yawns.
"Come to the shop for breakfast tomorrow. We'll leave right after," Josiah said to Vin. Vin smiled and nodded.
Just as the seven finished, Matt and John walked into the sheriff's office and introduced Jean Luc. While John and Matt explained the situation, Jean Luc looked at the men. Two especially frightened him – the man dressed all in black and the big man with the blue eyes. There were two he was drawn toward – the tall, thin man with the mustache and laughing eyes, and the dark skinned man with the kind smile.
"When was the last time you ate, Jean Luc?" rumbled the big man with the blue eyes as he drew near the boy.
"Some time tomorrow..no, that is not right, the day before today…" struggled Jean Luc. He knew how to say it, but this man had him so scared!
"Yesterday?" offered John.
"Oui! I mean yes, yesterday!" exclaimed Jean Luc.
The big man put his huge hand on Jean Luc's shoulder and said partly to the boy and partly to the other men, "Rebecca speaks French, and she can rustle up some food. Come on, Jean Luc, let's go to the shop."
Matt and John had lots of questions and Jean Luc did his best to answer, but he was so tired and English was so difficult! Josiah opened the door to The Weaving Shop and they all walked in. Jean Luc saw a beautiful woman weaving at a loom just like his mother's! He was so excited that he missed what was said, until she spoke," Bonjour, mon cher, Jean Luc!"
« Ma mère était une tisserande ! » exclaimed Jean Luc. (My mother was a weaver !)
Rebecca stood and hugged the boy. "Let's get our guest something to eat," she said to the others.
While Jean Luc ate a plate of scrambled eggs and ham, Rebecca read the letter he carried. It explained that his mother and father died; his only living relative was Jacques Benet, his paternal grandfather in America. His parents were loved and respected in the village, so the people sold his family's weaving business to buy Jean Luc's passage to Four Corners.
« Qu'est arrive a votre mère et père ? » asked Rebecca. (What happened to your mother and father?)
« Ma mère et mon père est décède d'une maladie. Beaucoup de personnes dans mon village sont mortes ! » replied Jean Luc. (My mother and father died from a sickness. Many people in our village died.)
After Jean Luc finished his milk and cookies, Josiah sat next to him at the table. Rebecca took the others to the studio to give Jean Luc some privacy.
"Jean Luc, I have some bad news for you. I'm sorry to tell you that your grandfather died a few months ago. He was severely injured by a horse on his ranch. Do you understand?" asked Josiah kindly.
Jean Luc nodded his head with tears in his eyes. "I do not know my grandfather, but I think I wanted to. I am …how do you say…lone?... no one?"
"No, Jean Luc, you are not alone. You will stay with us until you decide what you want to do. You are welcome here," and saying that, Josiah put his arms around the boy, pulled him onto his lap and hugged him.
After a while, Jean Luc looked up at Josiah and asked, "Your children, do they anger if I live here?"
Josiah explained how John, Mark and Ruth came to be adopted; then he gave part of the story about Matt's adoption, no need to say how Matt's father died. Jean Luc was no longer terrified of the big man with the blue eyes; he saw a very kind heart!
After a while, Rebecca and the children came into the kitchen. She had explained the circumstances to the other children and they were happy to get another brother! The children eagerly discussed where Jean Luc could sleep and what kinds of things he liked to do.
Rebecca needed to start supper, "John!" Two boys responded. "Oui!" "Yeah!" Jean and John looked at each other and laughed.
"My papa's name was also Jean and Mama call me Luc, and Papa, Jean. You call me Luc, too!" suggested Jean Luc. Rebecca smiled at the enthusiasm of young Luc and his ability to find a simple solution.
A cot was put into the little ones' room. Luke was eight years old; he was closer in age, stature and maturity to Mark than to John. Josiah and Rebecca were proud of all the children. They welcomed Luc and did their best to make him comfortable. John grew out of so many clothes that there were some that fit Luc with a few alterations.
Josiah and Rebecca discussed Luc's future. "You seem to assume he wants to live with us!" laughed Rebecca. "What if Luc wants to go back to France?"
"The bank was holding a mortgage on Benny's ranch; we didn't think he had any relatives, so we sold the ranch and the stock. The money was put into the bank and a few of Benny's personal items were stored in the back of the sheriff's office. I'll give Luc a chance to adapt before I tell him. There might be enough to get him back to France, but it doesn't sound like he has anyone there. Seems like a good boy with a strong disposition. I like him!" Josiah said brightly.
"Well I like him, too!" agreed Rebecca, "but children are not like stray cats, Josiah! You can't just keep bringing them home and keep them...can you?" Josiah and Rebecca smiled at each other and they both knew the answer. Yes, they have room in the shop and in their hearts, and so do their children. Luc has a home with them if he wants it.
In the middle of the night, Rebecca jumped out of bed and ran to the children's room. Luc was having a nightmare, or maybe he was just contemplating the reality of his life. He was sobbing uncontrollably. "Elle ira bien. Ne pleure pas," soothed Rebecca as she rocked Luc. (It will be alright. Don't cry.)
« Je suis effraye! Que est-ce que je ferai? Je n'ai personne a s'occuper de moi ! » cried Luc. (I am afraid! What will I do? I have no one to care for me!)
« Vous vivez avec nous et serez notre fils, » Rebecca stated firmly. (You will live with us and be our son.) Luc looked up at Josiah sitting on the end of the bed. Josiah smiled and nodded his head. "Our son," he said.
To be continued...