Author's Note: Sorry it took a little longer to get this chapter out- I've been sick and also had a case of writer's block, so I appreciate your patience. I hope you will enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 9
Charlie dressed quickly-she had been on her way downstairs when she heard her grandfather pleading with Bass to convince her to see her mother one last time, that she'd been asking to see her. She'd watched as he walked solemnly out the front door and in that moment something in her changed; she realized that he was right. She would most likely never see her again and even though Rachel had done unspeakable things she was still, in the end, her mother.
As she walked out the front door she heard Bass and Miles talking about something but was in too much of a hurry to make out what. She walked down the street towards the center of town the same way her grandfather had just gone fifteen minutes before. She stopped in front of the sheriff's office, took a deep breath and then walked inside.
"Hi Sheriff," she said.
The jail house was very small comprised of a front office with two desks for the sheriff and his deputy and two small jail cells. Miles often joked that it was straight out of The Andy Griffith Show, a reference which Charlie never got.
"Charlie…hi," the sheriff who just happened to be named Andy stood up and shook her hand. "You look well…that's good to see."
"Thank you," Charlie smiled.
Across the room two people stood up. "Charlie?" Rachel asked hesitatingly. Gene smiled and exhaled deeply.
"I'll leave you two alone," Gene said placing his hand on Charlie's shoulder as he passed by her.
"I didn't think you would come," Rachel said.
"I wasn't going to…but I heard you were asking for me…and…I'll probably never see you again," Charlie said.
"Charlie…I'm so sorry," Rachel began, "for everything. I had no idea you were at your house that night and I'm so sorry for what I put you through."
"It wasn't just me, mom," Charlie said, "I know you don't care about my husband but you nearly robbed my baby of its father…and there were two other families living in those woods; did you even think of them? Families with kids; do you remember what you asked me after we attacked the re-education camp?"
Rachel nodded, "I asked if you killed kids."
"Right…and those kids were programmed to kill. I know I'm not perfect and I've made plenty of mistakes…but Bass is not one of them. Mom, your hate for Bass has taken over your life and your mind…and now, because of it, you're being sent away to be locked up or exiled. You need help…and you have a chance to get it; I hope you will try to work with this psychologist in Austin- he's your only hope. And I just want to say that…even though I don't think I can ever forgive you for this…I…I don't hate you…and it's not for a lack of trying either because I've tried…I should hate you for trying to kill my husband – it breaks my heart that you wanted to take him away from me…not to mention what you did to my horse," she held up her hands when Rachel tried to protest. "I don't want to hear excuses so just don't…I don't want to yell anymore. I just wanted you to know what I said…that I don't hate you."
"Thank you," Rachel sighed, "I hope someday you can forgive me but if not I understand…but please just know that I love you- and I am sorry for what I did…setting the fire- I'll spend the rest of my life regretting that choice. I will try to work with this man in Austin; I promise you…I'll do it out of love for you."
Charlie took a deep breath, "I love you too, Mom." Even with everything Rachel had done she was still her mother and the bottom line was that she needed help. As Charlie left the sheriff's office she sincerely hoped that Rachel would get it.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Where have you been- I've been looking everywhere for you," Bass cried, the relief at seeing Charlie clearly written on his face.
"I'm sorry, I went to the jail- you were busy when I left," Charlie said, her eyes questioning his reaction. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," he lied, "I was just worried- you know how I get…so …did you see your mom?"
"Yes, I did…I heard Grandpa talking to you earlier and just decided I should say good bye…I told her that I hoped she got help. I told her that I love her," she said looking down at her hands.
"And how do you feel?" he asked in a tender tone.
"Okay…it's weird knowing I'll never see her again but I also know she can't be around us- I don't want her near you or our baby," Charlie said sinking into his warm embrace. "They're leaving right after lunch."
"I know," he said stroking her back, "Miles was here to say goodbye; Blanchard wants him back in Austin ASAP. But he'll be back in a few days."
"I should go say goodbye to him but I suddenly feel very tired…all these emotions are exhausting," she said laying her head upon his chest.
"Well, come here," he said taking her by the hand. He led her up onto Gene's porch where the swing was perched and they both sat down, Charlie cuddling into his arms. As he held her and rocked her back and forth Bass hummed a tune from long ago and she quickly went to sleep.
He didn't know how or when he would tell her the news Miles shared with him but he knew he couldn't keep it from her. The whole town would know soon enough when Miles came back and he worried there would be widespread panic. One day at a time, Monroe, he thought as he cradled his wife and their baby protectively.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
She was still sleeping when the caravan carrying Rachel to Austin passed by on their way out the town gates. Bass was grateful for the bushes blocking their view from the street. He didn't want to see Rachel again for as long as he lived and was thankful she was being carted away in shackles. She had become dangerously off-balance and although he personally, was not afraid of her he did not want her anywhere near Charlie or their baby. He supported Charlie in how she felt towards her- of course, she was her mother. Even after everything she'd done Charlie still loved her. He himself knew he'd be nothing without the love and forgiveness of both Miles and Charlie and was thankful every day for that. He did hope for Charlie's sake that Rachel could be helped but he had serious doubts; so did Miles.
Gene stood in the front yard as the caravan passed waving to Miles and Nora and then to his daughter. He too knew it was unlikely that the psychologist in Austin could help her and the thought of that made him very sad. He felt like he'd aged twenty years in the past couple months.
He slowly walked up onto the porch and smiled when he saw Charlie and Bass. He silently went into the house and up the stairs to his room where he lay down and cried silent tears for his daughter.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Charlie found her grandfather in the stable later on and when she saw how pale and tired he looked she went up to him and hugged him; he held onto her tightly, needing the comfort. Charlie realized she did too
"I'm here for you, Grandpa; I love you so much," Charlie said.
"I love you too, kiddo. Thanks for visiting her before she left- she loves you so much. I hope she gets help," he sighed.
"Me too," Charlie said, giving him an extra squeeze before pulling away. Changing the subject she said, "So how are the girls today?"
He smiled, one arm draped around her shoulders as they looked at their horses. "They are well- these two love each other like sisters," he laughed. "Ya' know, I think you could ride Flame today if you're up to it."
"Definitely," she grinned.
They saddled both horses, as Gene had patients to go see and rode them around the house to the front.
"Bass is running errands but I better leave him a note- he gets worried," Charlie sighed.
"He is overprotective but I can't blame him," he winked at her.
After leaving the note they both went out the town gates, Gene heading to the Waterson farm to see patients and Charlie going down the road for a quick walk.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Bass got back to Gene's and saw that both horses were gone; thinking maybe Charlie took them to the corral like she'd been doing recently he went around the front of the house and looked down the street. Even from this distance he could tell she wasn't there and his heart skipped a beat.
He went inside and found the note:
Bass,
Grandpa says Flame is ready to ride so I took her out to the main road for a little bit. Be back soon.
Love ya'
Charlie
The panic arose in him so fast but he quickly stomped it down as he ran out the front door.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Flame was especially energetic this day and started to gallop on down the road; Charlie decided to let her lead, wanting to see how much the horse could take before she wore out. She ran almost a mile and a half before slowing down.
"That was great girl!" Charlie said patting her neck.
She stopped off at the creek so Flame could drink and looked around; the land was black and ashen- except for the occasional outcropping of rock there was nothing to see but wasteland. And it was all due to her mother.
Charlie thought about Rachel now on her way to Austin- she remembered her mother's apology for the fire- she wondered if she really meant it or if it was just said for Charlie's benefit. In the end she supposed it didn't matter; no one died and her mother couldn't hurt them anymore- it was time to let it go.
She began a slow walk back letting Flame cool down from her run when she thought she heard someone in the distance shouting something. The voice came from the direction of town. She led Flame into a canter and saw a figure down the road. As she grew nearer she realized it was Bass and he was shouting her name.
Oh God, did something happen, she thought. She had Flame gallop once more to bridge the distance between them. When she caught up to him he was sweaty and out of breath having run quite a distance from town.
"Bass, what is it? Is it Grandpa? Did something happen?" she asked scared.
"No, no…everything's okay…now," he breathed.
"What are you talking about? You know, you scared me half to death! Don't do that, Bass," she said nearly crying. These hormones are a bitch she thought.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he sighed, pulling her down off the horse needing to hold her. She melted into his arms even though she was mad at him for scaring her.
She punched his chest and asked, "What is going on? You've been acting weird all day…what is it you're not telling me? I thought we made a pact of no secrets between us," she scolded.
"Yes, we did," he said kissing her forehead, "and I'll tell you everything I know…just…let's go back to town first- it's not safe out here."
She wondered about that last statement but decided she would wait until they went back; knowing how stubborn he was he wouldn't tell her anyway until then. She knew they were never completely safe even within the town limits but she only came out as far as where they used to live. What scared him this much that he would come running down the road after her?
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Clans," Charlie repeated, "I thought the remaining clans were defeated in Texas when the Rangers started fighting the Patriot's- they took out the clans too."
"They did…these are new clan's from the West- Arizona, New Mexico…they're coming in from the west through El Paso and the north through Amarillo; they haven't made it this far south yet…but they will," he said grimly.
"Hmm…well, I wasn't here the time the Andover clan attacked Willoughby…and it turned out some of them were actually Patriot's…but now we have the Ranger's back- can't they take them out again?" Charlie asked.
"In theory, yes…but that's just it…there are no Ranger's left in Texas; well, except for the few in Austin guarding Blanchard," Bass trailed off.
"W-what?" Charlie asked, "But why? Why aren't there any here?"
"Well, as Miles said, Blanchard got cocky…felt so sure Texas was in the clear that he sent all his troop's northward and east…to take out all the Patriot's sooner rather than later…he was on a giant ego trip, basically," Bass said scathingly. "Now these clans…some of them have banded together and are more dangerous than anything here before."
"Oh," was all Charlie could muster.
"Now Blanchard summoned Miles back to Austin to increase his protection but Miles said he's coming back here with or without Frank's okay," Bass added.
"We have to tell the town…we have to let them know, especially everyone living outside the gates- we have to make the town stronger, fortify our walls," Charlie said.
"We will," Bass said placing his hands on Charlie's shoulders, "but not yet. Miles wants to be the one to tell the town- he says he'll come back with reinforcements. I don't know how or who since no one's here- so you can't say anything to anyone…even your grandfather."
"What? No. We can't do that- we have to tell him…and the sheriff!" Charlie said determinedly.
"Baby, we can't…telling everybody now will cause a widespread panic. Miles will be back in a few days with help and then will tell everyone- he hopes that if there is more help here it will ease the tensions here a bit…and if anyone wants to go to Austin instead he will provide an escort…safer that way. Do you understand, Charlotte?" Bass pulled her into his arms.
"I guess so," Charlie said against his chest, "But I don't like keeping this from Grandpa."
"I don't either…but do you understand why we can't?" Bass pulled away looking into her eyes.
"Yes…he would tell," Charlie said.
"Charlotte, there's one more thing," Bass hesitated, "if Miles comes back without support I want you to consider going to Austin."
"What? No, I won't leave Grandpa…and if you and Miles are both here then this is where I want to be," Charlie said.
"These clans," Bass said, "The towns they've gone to…they rape the women and kill the men and children…but the babies," he swallowed, "they must be Satan worshippers or something 'cause…" he faltered.
"Because they what?" Charlie said, fear clearly in her voice.
"They…sacrifice them," Bass shuddered just thinking about it.
Charlie turned ghostly pale, "Sacrifice…them?"
"They have some sort of ceremony…offering their blood out of worship…they…they let the babies bleed to death and then each of them take a sip of it, offering the rest to Satan…then they…burn the baby's body," Bass felt sick to his stomach.
Charlie felt her stomach lurch and her knee's give out at the same time; Bass grabbed her and she turned her head to the side, throwing up all over the kitchen floor. He helped her to a chair where she immediately put her head between her knee's feeling like she might be sick all over again. Bass dipped a cloth in a basin of water and held it to her forehead and then the back of her neck.
She breathed heavily, in and out, "Oh my God."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Miles paced back and forth in Frank Blanchard's office; Nora sat in one of the chairs in front of his desk.
"I need you here, Miles," Blanchard said emphatically.
"No can do, Frank. With or without your permission I'm going back to Willoughby; my family is there and I know a great deal of those townspeople- I'm not leaving them hanging. You can charge me with desertion- I'm still going," Miles grumbled.
"You can't be serious," Frank said.
"Serious as a heart attack, Frank. You're the one who fucked this up, Frank; you and your ego- you never should have sent all the troops away. All of your top advisor's, including me, told you it was a bad idea and you're the one who chose not to listen- that's on you. If these people in Willoughby die because we weren't there to help them…well, that's on me," he said.
"Monroe is still out there, isn't he? Hell, he could probably take 'em all on and win," Frank laughed. No one laughed with him. "Tell me why you have to go back there."
"Because I promised them I would," Miles said.
"Now why the hell would you make a promise like that? One you know you can't keep," Blanchard stood up and pounded his desk.
"I'll tell you why," Miles said meeting him at his desk and staring him down. "My niece is six months pregnant, Frank." He let that sink in.
"Oh," Blanchard said, the meaning behind that statement hitting him. "Charlie, right? I always liked her; she's Monroe's woman, right?"
"Yea, right," Miles said, thinking that if Charlie ever heard herself being referred to as anybody's 'woman' she would punch him. "I won't leave them in the lurch."
"You feel the same way?" Blanchard asked, his attention turning to Nora.
"I feel I would be of more help there than here, sir, but if you insist I'll stay," Nora explained.
"Finally, someone showing some sense," Blanchard responded, his eyes going back to Miles with a glare and Miles simply rolling his eyes.
"All right- I'll let you go…both of you," Blanchard conceded, "But you won't have reinforcements for a few weeks."
"What?" Miles glared back.
"I've contacted some of our troops in Missouri…Monroe's kid- Connor, is it? Well, he and that other kid, Scanlon, want to be sent to Willoughby. Their whole unit wants to come…band of brothers and all that…I already okayed it but it's going to take a while for them to get there," Blanchard said. "I'm bringing back other units to be stationed in other places."
"Well, I guess that'll have to do," Miles concluded, "Thankfully those clan's are still pretty far west and north of the town…for now."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
When Bass saw Miles' lack of reinforcements his heart sunk- he had expected it anyway but actually seeing it was all the more painful and real. He was seriously nervous about Charlie and wanted to get her out of here.
"You're still taking a group to Austin, right?" he asked Miles.
"Yea, whoever wants to go," Miles looked at his friend.
"Well, Charlie and I want to go…at least until Connor's unit gets here," Bass said.
"Good, I'm glad," Miles nodded.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
They told the sheriff, Andy, and Gene before they told the town; both were angry for not being told sooner but Miles explained that he was under orders not to tell until now. If Blanchard hadn't allowed he and Nora to come back Bass would've been the one to tell the town, as technically, he still worked for Frank also.
When they held the town meeting they left out the part about the infant sacrifices- as it was, people still got panicked and had numerous questions. Miles told them that if anyone had family or friends living outside the town gates that weren't here for the meeting, to let him know so he could make them aware the next day. People living outside the gates were encouraged to move into town where room would be made for them.
As the flurry of movement picked up over the next several days so did the nerves of everyone present. Fights broke out, tension was high and some looting took place.
They held another town meeting where the sheriff stressed cooperation was needed and they had to work together if they were going to protect themselves from these criminal clansmen; otherwise, they'll defeat us all he said.
Everyone took that message to heart. Everyone began to cooperate and focus.
They all knew something big was about to come their way.
A/N: If you have a moment please leave me a note or review- I greatly appreciate them and they do help.