Chapter 4
And so that night they all slept in the house, all except Albert and Andy who slept outside in the barn. The house was over crowded and Mr Edwards was letting off the most horrendous beer farts. Seriously what in the hell. Percival beside him covered his face and thought he would die.
Meanwhile out in the barn.
"I just feel so terrible. What could be happening to Almanzo. The worst is not knowing, not being privy to all the depraved acts being perpetrated on his lithe well toned body. Sweat glistening on his torso as he's being savagely whipped into submission."
"I know Andy, try not to think on it too much,"
Albert nodded in sympathy.
Somewhere in the vast hills a coyote howled out a lonesome tune. His lonely lament mingled with the thump thump thump of an out door Reggae concert. The residents of Walnut Grove and surrounding areas were blue in the face complaining, it was the third concert this year and it was a school night.
~o~
The stranger's dark blue eyes narrowed as he took in the little house.
Bandit should have barked like a mad thing when the man approached but instead he went to him and lay down at his feet looking for the man to tickle his tummy.
Charles emerged from the house pulling braces up over his long johns.
"Howdy friend, what can I do for you?" Charles asked.
"More rightly it is what I can do for you. I believe you are looking for a guide," the man smiled thinly.
Charles shrewd eyes took him in from his toes right up to his head.
He was tall…..
"Hay that was rather rude," the man complained suddenly. " looking me up and down like I'm a common criminal. I come here with an offer of help and you just treat….."
Charles went to him.
"No offense, they need a description." He told him.
"A description?"
"You're an OC."
"OC?"
"Own character, not one of the original crew. So they want to know what you look like."
"Such nonsense. I have blond hair, blue eyes and I'm originally from Russia."
Charles nodded, then frowned.
"You're not….Illya Kuryakin?"
"No."
"You look like him."
"That would be a crossover so no."
Charles brought Mr kur….the man into the house to meet the rest of the family."
~o~
"Welcome, welcome," Caroline beamed. "I've baked a pie just for you."
"How could you…..never mind." Charles shook his head.
"Everyone this is…."
"Ivan, Ivan Piskorski," the man nodded with a smile.
Caroline took a closer look at the stranger
"Charles he looks for all the world like…"
"Yeah best not to mention it though. He's a bit over sensitive."
Suddenly a rock came flying through the window, everyone ducked.
"Charles, there's a note attached to it," Mr Edwards took up the rock.
"What does it say?" Laura asked.
Instead of worrying about the note Ivan flung open the front door to see who had delivered it.
There in the yard was a large hefty man on a poor small donkey. The man had a large round face and steel blue eyes. The donkey looked wrecked tired like he belonged on one of those commercials for the donkey sanctuary.
"Come on Nelly," the man urged kicking the animals sides as Ivan walked up to them.
The large man gave up and got off the poor animal.
"You delivered the note, kindly explain yourself."
"Well ye see it was like this…."
Without warning the man pushed Ivan over and took off running after the donkey.
The others piled out of the house and ran up to him as Ivan dusted himself off.
The large man could still be seen running off down the straight dirt road after the donkey.
"Shouldn't we go after him?" Andy asked.
"I'm wearing my new trousers," Charles argued.
"Yeah and I have an ingrown toenail," John added.
"Time of the month," Laura chimed in.
Mr Edwards turned to the two boys. "Albert, Andy. You boys are young. You chase him down. Go on now git."
Albert and Andy looked at each other a little uncertain. They could easily catch him but what would they do when they did, he was huge."
"Go on now," Charles gave them a gentle push in the direction. "Off you go."
"Yes sir," the boys began jogging slowly. Not really anxious to catch the big man up.
Ivan turned to Charles,
"What was in the note?" He asked.
"What note?"
"The note thrown through the window. What was in it?"
Charles reluctantly took the note from his pocket.
"Oh just a few short words asking after my health and that of my family."
Ivan snatched the note from his hands.
"Give us back what is rightfully ours you little piss ant or we'll give you a thrashing which will make a trip to the barn with Pa look like a Sunday picnic."
Ivan crumpled the note in his hand. "Are you sure you don't know these people?"
"Yeah, pretty sure."
Charles bit his lip as he looked to the horizon and watched the fleeing donkey, the large man running after it and two children giving chase.
Ohhh, what to do, what to do!
