Chapter 9 Scarecrow
A/N: Here's a sad chapter if you've seen the movie you know what I'm talking about and for all of you who hate Riley well you're about to hate him even more.
Buffy and Cordelia got up early like always and headed out to the farm to begin the day. These days it was getting cooler out. Summer days were over and fall was setting in. Buffy liked the fall season the air was crisp and it felt light. It wasn't hot or freezing it was just nice. The land was always pretty in the fall with the changing of the leaves. She loved the colors of the leaves as they varied from orange, red and purple. Today the two were making their way to Willow and Xander's place to have some pie and coffee it was such a nice day for it. The two were walking together talking and over the last few months they were becoming good friends. Buffy seemed to have mellowed Cordelia out and Cordelia made Buffy tougher.
The pair then came up to the Harris' doorstep and Cordelia grabbed a rope and swinging and a bell rang. Willow came to the door and was surprise to see them. Buffy was the bigger surprise she looked healthy again and her smile was coming back.
"Buffy Summers and Cordelia Chase look at you both." Willow smiled seeing them as they had on small over coats and hats on. Buffy would wear her father's top hat sometimes but it was always slightly too big on her.
"Look at us both what?" Cordelia asked and Willow chuckled again.
"Like a couple of scarecrows after a thunderstorm." Willow answered. But then it hit Cordelia Willow was a genius.
"We need a scarecrow," Cordelia turned to Buffy realizing that was the answer and then turned back to Willow. "Birds done ate up half our winter garden." She sounded a little annoyed and Buffy thought it was a good idea and they'll put together one later. Buffy then handed Willow a basket.
"For all your kindness, coffee and a pie." Buffy said and Willow took the basket.
"Yeah and that's real coffee it ain't chicory and dirt. Found a sack hid in the larder." Cordelia informed the red head as Willow smelt the bag of coffee and it smelt so good and fresh. She was surprised about this.
"Mmm thank you both." Willow looked up. "Cordy I look forward to this we all do," Then Willow paused as if she made a mistake. "Xander and me." She corrected herself hoping the girls wouldn't notice.
"She made it," Cordelia informed Willow that Buffy made the pie not her.
"I made it." Buffy said proudly she can cook these days. Willow was now shocked because Buffy was standing on her own two feet she was stronger now.
"Good God in heaven." Willow smiled looking into the basket of treats.
"I'm still livin'," Cordelia joked and Buffy nudged her as they stood there smiling. But it was time for them to leave.
"Well I know Xander's gonna be real sorry he missed you." And that was Willow telling them to leave and the three all shared a hug and Willow went back inside. Buffy and Cordelia remained standing there feeling a little well that was rude for the most part. Willow watched through the window as the girls left. The pair walked down the road not laughing or giggling anymore they were puzzled.
"Strike you as odd?" Cordelia asked as they walked in a leisurely pace on the dirt road. Buffy thought about but played it off like she didn't know and crossed her arms. The day was coming to an end and the cooler night air was setting in.
"What?" Buffy asked to see what Cordelia thought about it. Cordelia, Willow and Xander knew each other and very well so for her that wasn't just odd it was completely out of place.
"Stood at her front door." Cordelia answered and crossed her arms in frustration and looked back to the house and then back to the road.
"I know." Buffy said meaning yeah I was there and stood outside her front door too.
"Number one," Cordelia began listing her facts and reasons. "I knowed that woman all my life and I never stood outside her house." Cordelia sounded annoyed. "She'd let a wolf in if it knocked at the door." Which meant Willow lets everyone in.
"Perhaps…" Buffy was thinking as well as they continued to walk home. "I don't know perhaps she was busy." Buffy suggested which could be true.
"Number two Xander's inside that house I could smell his pipe burnin'." Then Cordelia looked around the place into the fields. "Number three look at them fields." She pointed out and Buffy looked around. They were cleared, cut and the hay was bundled up nicely.
"What about them?" Buffy asked so what if the fields were nice Xander and Willow were working hard keeping their land neat just like they were.
"We come by here a week ago and they was waist-high in hay." Cordelia pointed out she was getting at something she was like a hound dog. Buffy also knew something was up. "You tellin' me that's work for one man with half a foot and his dog?"
The next day Cordelia was doing inside house work such as mopping and dusting while Buffy was outside in the garden fixing up a scarecrow. It was kind of fun building a person and dressing it up. She threw over a hat on him and fixed his clothes. While Buffy was involved with her work Riley crept up behind her watching her.
"That scarecrow ain't gonna frighten off no Yankee." He said and Buffy almost screamed and turned around. She had to settle down he scared her but then her insides told her to get into the house. It was like red flags went off when Riley came around. "Or are you tryin' to make a man for yourself?" He asked laughing trying to make small talk.
"No," Buffy said with a hint of venom and started back inside but Riley followed her like a fox following a rabbit. Buffy was praying that Angel would just come riding over the hills and fend this man off but that was too much to hope for.
"I come by…" Riley started and Buffy looked back as he stood there and took his hat off. "A few days I don't pass by. Lookin' out for you." But to Buffy it wasn't looking out it was stalking her and waiting for the right time. She was grateful for Cordelia to be here, strength in numbers.
"I know," Buffy said and then crossed her arms trying to be big and stand her ground. This was her land and he needed to leave and stay off of it. "I see you and I don't like it." And Buffy went off to the house.
"Where's your little servant girl?" He asked as he walked closer to her. Buffy had no servants just friends. "Cordelia, she tradin' off more of your daddy's silver?"
"Stop it!" Buffy demanded and inside the house Cordelia looked up seeing Riley and Buffy and she knew something wasn't right.
"Her nose is in the butter her nose is right in your butter!" Riley yelled as Buffy got into the house and shut the door and Cordelia came over with a shot gun ready. "This farm's got my name on it! You listenin' woman? You're gonna need more than a scarecrow!" Riley threaten and then turned away as the girls watched him leave. Riley wanted this land and to get it, it meant to get Buffy. It could be easy she was alone for the most part her father was dead and the man she loved was gone. Even if this war ends and Angel did survive Riley would not allow him to return. Cold Mountain was his and so was Buffy.
"You ok?" Cordelia asked and Buffy nodded as the danger was over. "You know how to use a shot gun?" Cordelia asked and Buffy shook her head no. "Well if he's gonna be comin' around here like that better learn come on." And the two girls headed out back. Cordelia was going to teach Buffy how to defend herself with a gun. "Riley psh never liked him," Cordelia started. "He thinks he's better than everyone else I say his nose is too big." Buffy smiled at that part as they were now out back. "Beside Angel is better for you by far ok so let's do this."
Another few days passed and Willow was outside with sheets and about ready to take them down as they were done drying. It was a very beautiful day as Xander sat in his chair. She wished Xander could stand and walk properly he was too young to using a cane. Maybe after this war they could plan a family that would be nice. They talked about children but they didn't want to bring any into the world that was filled with war right now. Then the two heard the sound of horses and Xander hobbled up seeing Riley and his Home Guard.
"Will," Xander said and she headed inside as Xander reached for his shot gun ready to defend Willow and himself. Riley came galloping up and his men on their horses stood around.
"Afternoon," Riley sounded nice but Xander knew he was here for something else other than chatting up the afternoon.
"Why are they spreadin' out?" Xander asked as he watched Riley's men either on their horses walking around the front yard or some of them got off their horses walking around. Willow was inside scared and hoped they would just leave.
"I never seen a man work a field with a shotgun before." Riley pointed out to Xander and the man looked up.
"There's a war on," Xander stated which was true and then one of Riley's men got closer to Xander and he pointed his gun to him. "Get off my land." Xander demanded this wasn't right they had no right to be here.
"Willow's brothers come home?" Riley asked and from inside Willow could hear the conversation and her heart started race even faster. Xander told her if Riley ever came here asking she was to run with her brothers and head to the mountains. There was an old cabin up there where they would be safe until this was over.
"Haven't seen her brothers in what three years." Xander was keeping his cool maybe they would go away and Riley can go back to sticking his head up his ass. "They're out fightin' other boys not old men and women."
"So you won't mind if we look around?" Riley asked not convinced one bit and he knew something was up. "'Cause we think they're here." Riley looked around meaning these fields have been kept clean and neat something Xander couldn't do on his own not with half a foot. "We think you've got 'em hid up somewhere."
"What I gotta give you? Chicken? Lamb?" Xander asked Riley has been known to be a bully and have other farmers give him food. He was a mean man and the sooner this war was over the better he can literally get off his high horse. But this whole town knew Riley wasn't going to give up his power not easily it's something he's wanted for a long time.
"Sure," Riley said and Xander thought that was the end of it but Riley sat up and Xander held up his weapon. "The thing is you've only got one barrel and there's five of us that's not a fair fight." Riley seemed to sound a bit sincere about it but Xander didn't buy it and wanted to shoot Riley right off that horse. Then Lindsey smiled as Riley turned to him giving him the single.
"King of kings!" He rolled off his horse as the other men advanced to Xander. Xander fired the gun and a bullet caught one of the men on the shoulder and he went down. Lindsey came up to Xander as he used the butt end of the sword and fought off another man but not without trouble he was tripping because he had no cane or anything to support him. Then Xander swung the gun as Lindsey and Lindsey caught it taking out his knife and Xander felt go into him and he screamed. Inside Willow saw what happened and fell to her knees sobbing as her world started to spin.
"You're harboring deserters; I could confiscate this farm and everything on it. Every plate, every sheep, every little pellet of chickenshit. I could confiscate your lady's asshole so don't you offer me no bird." Riley said to Xander as he fell to his knees. "Where are they?" And Xander looked up at Riley.
"Go to hell." Xander said to Riley and he nodded and walked over to Xander holding a gun to his head and pulled the trigger.
"Get Willow." Riley ordered and a few men went into the house and Willow was crawling on the floor to the back door but the front door swung open. She screamed for help she was mostly screaming for Xander but he wasn't going to be able to do anything. Willow was brought out to the front and dragged to the fence. Lindsey shoved her to the ground and another man had a noose and looped it around her neck as Riley crouched down kneeling before Willow. "Now we can make this very easy you just tell me where your brothers are and we'll leave you alone." Riley made a deal but Willow said nothing she just let tears roll down her cheeks and looked towards Xander's lifeless body being hung on a post. She looked back to Riley and spat in his face and he nodded. Two men lifted the fence and slipped Willow's hands under it and let it fall. Willow fought the pain and sat there while Lindsey climbed up the fence.
Lindsey started to whistle as he walked on the fence smiling and Riley leaned up against it waiting. Then Lindsey jumped on the fence where Willow's hands were and he could hear the crunching of her bones. Willow screamed in pain as Lindsey jumped on the fence.
"Come on boys!" A man yelled hoping this would draw out her brothers from their hiding. "Little sister's callin'!" Willow screamed again as Lindsey jumped crushing her hands and they started to go numb. Then up just across the ways the barn door flung open and two men came running out with a pitch fork and a hatchet running in anger ready to kill these men.
"Willow!" They cried to their sister as they ran and Lindsey drew his weapon.
"No!" Willow cried out knowing what was about to happen
"Willow! Willow!" As they got closer thinking they could save her. Lindsey fired his weapon and one of her brothers stopped dead and fell to the ground. Lindsey took another shoot and her second brother was down.
"No!" Willow cried as the place quiet she looked over and saw Xander's and her two brothers' dead bodies and Riley and his men started to leave. Riley looked back to Willow as she sat there on the ground sobbing.
At Black Cove Buffy and Cordelia were working in the gardens getting some of the crops that were ripped and ready to pick. A chicken was de-feathered and ready to be cooked and some of these fresh vegetables would make a nice side. While they were working they both heard a gunshot go off. At first they paid no attention not realizing it was the gunshot Xander fired. The two went back to work and as they finished up heading back to the house they heard another gunshot not realizing that was the one that killed Xander.
Buffy and Cordelia raced inside and set down the bowls and Cordelia grabbed the shotgun and made sure it was loaded and ready. Buffy headed out to the shed and grabbed a machete and the two girls heard two more gunshots almost back to back and were off in the direction of the gun shot. But first they were heading to Willow and Xander's place to make sure they were ok. They jogged down the dirt road and in another hour or so it would be dark so they had to hurry.
The girls made it to the farm and were caught way off guard seeing bloody white sheets. Cordelia pointed her gun as they searched the area and Buffy removed the sheet and it was Xander hanging there. Buffy let out a gasp and started to take him down or at least tried.
"Xander it's Buffy!" She said but he said nothing and as she tried to get him down he was dead weight. While Buffy did her best to get her friend down Cordelia looked around and the sight before made her heart drop and her blood boil.
"Willow!" Cordelia screamed as tears started to fall seeing her friend on the ground like that with her neck bounded. Cordelia tossed the shotgun away and ran to her long time friend. "No! No! Oh God, Willow?" She skid to the ground to her. "Buffy!" Buffy stopped trying to get Xander down and ran to Cordelia and Willow also crying. Cordelia loosen the noose up and then along with Buffy they were going to lift the fence up to release her hands. "All right, all right!" The two lifted the fence as best as they could but nothing and then Cordelia heard something and Buffy got down to help. "Sweetheart, what?" Cordelia asked and Willow mumbled something and that made Cordelia let out more tears. "She's sayin' don't bother! Go!" And Buffy stood back up and they tried again and managed to lift the fence up just high enough so Willow's hands fell out. Buffy got back to the ground as the two eased Willow to the ground. "Get her neck! Willow! Get her neck," And they untied the noose.
Buffy looked around making sure there was no one else and she could hear a horse up at the barn that would be the only way to get Willow out of here. They were not going to leave her here not like this. Both of the girls were now tired and exhausted and sobbing. They just lost a friend and another was wounded.
"This world won't stand long," Cordelia looked up and around with tears in her eyes. Her friends Willow and Xander the ones she nearly grew up with we hurt. "God won't let it…" Cordelia sobbed and Buffy looked up. "Stand this way long." Cordelia stated and Buffy reached out placing a hand on Cordelia's shoulder trying to comfort her. Buffy got up and headed to the shed and when Cordelia looked up Buffy had a horse. They did their best to get her on the horse and back to Black Cove without hurting her.
Once at the farm and in the house Buffy soaked Willow's hands in warm water while Cordelia got the bandages ready. They cleaned Willow up as she sat there not saying a word just her eyes were red and swollen. Cordelia sat down and Buffy helped her as they each wrapped a hand. Once that was done they helped Willow up to a spare room and into a bed. They would keep Willow here for a few days and help her knowing she was going to be in both physical and emotional pain.
Buffy came downstairs and saw Cordelia at the kitchen table with a cloth drying her eyes.
"Cordy?" Buffy asked and she looked up as Buffy leaned against the entry way.
"I hope your man Angel comes home so he can take out Riley and his little army." Cordelia said. "This isn't right at all and Willow and Xander they didn't do anything wrong."
"Her brothers came home," Buffy said and sat down opposite of Cordelia. "And Riley found out and did exactly what he said he'd do."
"Riley's a bastard by all accounts." Cordelia said and sniffed.
"No doubt but until this war ends,"
"He'll keep goin'," Cordelia cut Buffy off. "For all we know the war is over but Riley always wanted this land and you." Buffy sighed she knew it was true but what Riley just did that wasn't going to win her over. "All of our boys need to come home or we don't stand a chance." Riley was going to roll through here someday and have his way with Buffy whether she accepted or not.
"We'll get through this one way or another." Buffy said trying to comfort her friend but she knew this wasn't over not by a long shot. "Get some sleep." Buffy then got up and headed to her room. She then picked up her book and opened it and the page marker was Angel's picture and she sighed. She needed him home not just for protection but she needed him she missed him. She wondered where he was or what he was thinking. She just prayed he was alive because if he wasn't she was as good as dead.
And so Riley made everyone mad. But Angel isn't on his way back home he's on his way to war again so what's going to happen now. Nine more chapters to go. And I know all of you are hoping Angel will kick Riley's ass don't worry it's coming. More on the way thanks for reading comments and reviews are welcomed.