Disclaimer I own very little, especially not CSI NY.

Author Lily Moonlight

Notes Chapter 15: Secrets and discoveries…

Thank you very much for reviews, please continue! They're a great help with writing, and I love knowing what you think. Thanks to: Brinchen86 for a fantastic manip; Blue Shadowdancer for putting up with my nagging; to Catherine and Michelle for your reviews; everyone who has offered their thoughts and discussed the story with me; sarramaks, iluvCSI4ever, Forest Angel, chrysalis escapist, fractured-fairytale06, Brinchen86 and afrozenheart412.

Sorry this has taken so long; oneshot ideas took over, feel free to read them too!

Once Upon A Time In the Old West

Chapter 15: Ambush At Hattanville

Flack:

The smell wakes me up first. Unmistakeable. Though I gotta say, smell ain't the right word to describe the heavenly aroma that's driftin' up my nostrils. I take a deep sniff and savour the scent of ambrosia. If Mrs Hammerback ain't awake and cookin' one of the finest breakfasts a man could eat, then I ain't the Deputy of Hattanville. 'Cause this Deputy's got the finest tuned nose for smellin' out the best home cookin' in the state. Even if I do say so myself.

Course, it ain't no good just takin' a sniff of food; that'd be doin' Mrs Hammerback's cookin a real discourtesy. Hers is food that a man's obliged to eat. Plenty of it too. First thing I gotta do before eatin' though is to open my eyes, so as to see the food. Ain't no good eatin' with your eyes closed, and riskin' the danger of missin' your mouth. I call it a sin to let good food go to waste, 'specially food the quality of Mrs Hammerback's. Man, but if her chocolate and caramel and syrup pancakes ain't a sinful thing first thing in the mornin', then I don't know what is. But a man's gotta have a few little sins he can ask pardon for.

Now, I got my eyes open, but they're still sorta' blurry. Seems to be a face floatin' in front of mine… Geez, I hope I ain't droolin' at the thought of all this food. Can't have anyone seein' the Deputy of Hattanville droolin' in his sleep. Word'd get around town faster than Messer comes up with things to be layin' bets on. Which reminds me, I still owe him for a certain wager on a certain Saloon Owner. Guess I know it ain't entirely the right thing to be doin, and if Stell ever finds out, she's likely gonna find imaginative ways to kill me and Messer, and everyone else who's got a stake in this, but I'm confident she ain't ever gonna find out. Ain't no reason for her to be suspectin' Messer's got a bet goin' on the number of pistols about her person.

Wonder if Mac knows how many?

But a man's thoughts can run away with him first thing in the mornin', before he's even opened his eyes properly. I'm blinkin', still tryin' to clear my vision. Guess the thought of breakfast's gonna help me wake up and focus. And man, if that ain't a fair sight to wake up to. My poor eyes must be blessed, to see the sight of Miss Jessica Angell coming into focus. Reckon God must think I've done somethin' real special to be deservin' of this. 'Specially when I see what she's got in her hands.

"Mornin' Don." She says, and my heart beats a little faster with somethin' I can only describe as love at hearin' her speak my name and hand me a plate heaped up with breakfast items; bacon, eggs, fried potatoes, ham, toast, beans, mushrooms, pancakes… This has gotta be a good sign for today bein' a whole lot better than yesterday! Reckon a man can face most things with a good breakfast inside of him, and a good woman at his side.

"Mornin' Miss Jessica." I say, and scramble to my feet. Lookin' round, I'm seein' we're the only ones in the room. Guess the Hammerbacks and Miss Higgins are in the kitchen. I'm guessin' Messer and Lindsay've been up and about already, seein' to their own affairs. Nothin' inappropriate I'm hopin'. Otherwise the senior ladies of the town (the ones who organise the quilting parties that Stell, for some reason I can't fathom, lets them hold in the Saloon) will have plenty to say on the matter. However, the pair of 'em are old enough to know better, and guess they can be trusted to stay outta trouble. Well, Lindsay can; Messer on the other hand seems to attract trouble like hornets to a honey jar. So I'm hopin' the guiding hand of his fiance's gonna keep him on the straight and narrow. Reckon she's been a steadyin' influence on him, right from the day they met.

Remember that day well, as it happens. Only a couple years ago, in Sinclair's Hardware Store. The both of them arrived at the same time, and Messer decided to play the gentleman and hold the door open for her, which led to conversation between 'em. Then led almost immediately to conflict between 'em, when Messer made an unwise remark about Lindsay's home state. Seem to recall the term 'Cowgirl' bein' used, and then the sound of Miss Monroe's shopping basket connectin' with Mr Messer's head. Things improved though, and now the Hardware Store's where they're usually to be found on a Saturday mornin' for shopping, right before they head on over to the Saloon for sodas. Sometimes me and Miss Jessica meet up with 'em there and enjoy spendin' time together. On a rare occasion, Mac sallies over, and he and Stell pull up chairs and join us. Gotta say, reckon it does Mac good, takin' a bit of time to relax like that. He always keeps us entertained too, with stories of his time in the Windy City of Chicago, and all the places he lived before makin' his way out to Hattanville.

Best part of those times though is sittin' next to Miss Jessica, and sometimes lettin' our hands meet each other under the table. Got a pang in my heart now though, as I'm smilin' at the lady herself, and acceptin' the plate of breakfast from her, 'cause I can't help but be thinkin' for how much longer we're gonna have the pleasure of sodas at the Star Saloon, or shoppin' at Sinclair's. If the Railroad Company get their way, and extend their line right the way through the town, then it ain't gonna be for much longer at all! Hattanville's in a whole heap o' trouble, and even the sun shinin' into the Saloon ain't takin' away from the fact that we gotta be facin' it today.

For some reason though, as I'm thinkin' about trouble, Messer's face is floatin' in front of my mind. Seems to be somethin' about Messer and trouble. 'Course, followin' the adventures of last night, I could be justified in sayin' that there's somethin' about Mac and Stell that also seems to attract trouble, though I ain't ever gonna say that to their faces. Can just picture the witherin' look Mac'd give me, and feel the heat of the glare Stella'd be sendin' my way. Best keepin' my mouth shut on that opinion, though it don't stop me thinkin' it.

However, trouble or not, whatever happens and whatever sort of trouble they, or Messer, get themselves into, they're my friends, and if they need help, I ain't gonna hesitate to offer it. 'Cause they ain't ever held back in offerin' to help me or anyone else in the town.

Guess I was real mad though at Mac and Stell last night for ridin' off without enough consideration for their safety, or the danger they were puttin' themselves in. Danger the rest of us faced as well. But someone was lookin' down on us last night, 'cause I can't think of any other reason how we all got outta that situation alive…

Reckon eatin' breakfast's a powerful good way of gettin' thoughts straight in your head. Can feel all this food doin' me no end of good as it's makin' its way into my stomach. Gotta be some kind of connection there, between a man's stomach and his head. Maybe his heart too. 'Cause I'm lookin' at Miss Jessica as I'm thinkin' that, and she's smilin' at me with a real beautiful smile.

"Enjoyin' your breakfast?" She asks, "Made sure I put plenty of everythin' on your plate, 'cause I know how important breakfast is to a man. Ma always makes sure Pa's got plenty inside his stomach before he starts his day."

My mouth's kinda' full, so I can only nod enthusiastically at her, and hope she catches my meanin' - that I'm enjoyin' the breakfast she's given me like no other breakfast I've had before.

Guess she understands, 'cause there's a smile and a wink in her eye as she speaks, "So you like the way I served up your food then, Deputy Flack?"

Hope the heat I'm feelin' in my face ain't visible to her. Gotta say, the thought of havin' breakfast served up to me every mornin' by Miss Jessica is a pleasant thought indeed. And I ain't just thinkin' 'bout the food.

It's a thought that leads me on to all sorts of thinkin' about the future. Strangely enough, it's a thought that takes me back to Messer, seein' as how he's gone and done what none of us thought he'd ever do, and asked Lindsay to become his wife. Seems there's matchin' up goin' on all over town; as soon as the moment's right, reckon I got a question to ask Miss Jessica. Askin' her if she'll do me the honour of becomin' Mrs Donald Flack. 'Cause breakfasts or no breakfasts (though I sure hope that ain't ever gonna be the case) I hope she's wantin' to spend her life with me, as Lindsay and Messer are agreein' to do with each other. Takes a certain courage though, and confidence, to be askin' a lady that.

Guess that's the reason Mac ain't asked Stell the question yet. Not that he's lackin' in courage, far from it; fact I'd go so far as to say he's got the most courage of any man I've ever known. Confident too, 'specially in the face of knowin' what's right and wrong. Thing with Mac is, as I've come to realise, he ain't so confident and courageous in matters of the heart. We ain't spoken much about it, as Mac's a private kinda' man about his feelin's, but I know Stell's the closest person to his heart, and the way I see it is that he's afraid of openin' up about all his feelings for her, maybe 'cause he's afraid of losin' her. Which ain't gonna happen. They ain't gonna lose each other. Well, so long as the pair of 'em don't keep actin' as recklessly as they do at times, and gettin' themselves into trouble. It'll be the death of 'em if they ain't careful…

Guess I shouldn't speak so lightly about it though. 'Cause trouble or not, I reckon all of us in town look to them as kinda' important. If there's a single person in town who don't think highly of the Sheriff and the Saloon Owner, then I've yet to meet 'em.

Realise suddenly that the bacon in my mouth's startin' to go cold as I've been chewin' on it and thinkin' at the same time. Best swallow it down, otherwise Miss Jessica's gonna think I'm turnin' down breakfast and'll only start her worryin' about me.

Which is the very thing that's stopped me tellin' her more about what happened to me yesterday afternoon, before Mac and Stella decided to go ridin' blithely out in a blizzard. Still ain't told anyone what the outlaw who knocked me over the head had to say before he took off. The warnin' he gave me for Messer's been ringin' in my head since then and I don't reckon I know what to do about it all. Guess I should talk to Messer himself, ask if he knows anyone from his past who might be wantin' to cause trouble for him, and the rest of us. Trouble is though, with the adventures we've had since yesterday, it's been sorta' hard to find a moment to take him to one side. It ain't gonna be somethin' I make public. If Messer's in some sorta' trouble with his old buddies beyond the law, then as he's a friend of mine, I'm gonnna do what I can to get him out of it. Can't be botherin' Mac about it at the moment. Reckon the best thing to do's get a hold of Messer soon as I can. Soon as he and Lindsay return from wherever they've disappeared to…

"You all right, Don?" The voice of an angel breaks into my troubled thoughts and I realise I've been standin' there a good few minutes chewin' my breakfast and thinkin'.

"You looked sorta' pensive." She continues, and reaches up to adjust my hat, which seems to have slipped a little to one side. Then she smiles that smile again, the one that makes my heart melt, and for an instant, all my troubles melt away with it, "Guess you were thinkin' 'bout yesterday, huh? All the trouble we've had since yesterday mornin'?"

Seems at times as if she can almost read my thoughts. Same as I've observed between Mac and Stell at times; how they kinda' finish each other's sentences and all, and can have a conversation without either one of 'em openin' their mouths. Reckon me and Miss Jessica have got our own kind of understandin' too, and it's one I wouldn't be without now.

So I nod my head, and swallow my mouthful, and realise I'm lookin' at an empty plate. Which Miss Jessica takes outta my hands.

"I got a good plan." She smiles, "You go upstairs and check on the Sheriff, and whilst you're doin' that, I'll go carry on gettin' things sorted in the kitchen, and keepin' an eye on Mr Hammerback. I've left Miss Higgins in there with him, so she might be in need of some assistance."

"Where's Mrs Hammerback?" I gotta ask, as you don't often get one Hammerback without the other, and reckon the rest of us owe some of our sanity, and existence, to Mrs Hammerback's steadyin' influence on her husband.

"She's gone upstairs to relieve Dr Hawkes and let him get some sleep. Took herself and a large plate of food up there not a half hour ago, right before you woke up." She smiles again and adjusts my tie, pattin' it down lightly against my shirt. Real nimble fingers she's got, as well as the power of seein' into my mind. "You were sleepin' so peacefully, we didn't want to wake you, 'specially after all you did last night. Guess you needed the rest."

"Didn't do no more than anyone else" I mumble, and she pats my cheek.

"You did brave deeds, as did everyone, but don't be modest 'bout it. Don't reckon the rescue could've gone so well without your coordinatin' it all."

Guess she sees how I'm feelin' sorta' uncomfortable talkin' 'bout it, as she tells me, "I'll get some more food for your plate whilst you head up those stairs.

"Thank you, Miss Jessica." I find my hand claspin' hers for a moment, which I hope she don't mind. Don't think she does though, as she don't stop smilin'. Never known anyone better suited to their name than Miss Jessica Angell. Wonder sometimes if I said that to her, if she'd be embarrassed, or if she'd tease me 'bout it. Wouldn't want to be embarrassing her; though I wouldn't mind her teasin' me.

"Well off you go, no time like the present! Standin' there ain't gonna do any good!" She shoos me towards the stairs, and I feel my face splitting into a grin. Feels real good to be grinnin'; can't say I've felt like doin' that much in the last twenty four hours. But as I'm headin' towards the stairs, and watchin' Miss Jessica walkin' with a spring in her step towards the kitchen, I ain't losin' that grin. It's the start of a new day, and that's always a cause for hope.

So I head up those stairs and towards the room where I left the Doc, Mac and Stell last night, and as I'm walkin' down the landin', I hear what sounds like Mac's voice. Gotta be a good sign, that he's awake and talkin'. Few steps further along, and yep, that's the voice of the Sheriff for sure. A few feet from the door, and I'm able to make out what he's sayin'. And it don't sound like the kinda' thing I'd expect Mac to be sayin'. Can feel my brow furrowin' in confusion as I reach the door and hesitate for a moment to listen. Ain't no question it's Mac's voice, but surely he ain't just said what I thought he just said? Somethin' about Stella's…? No! No way! But either my ears are doin' me a mighty disservice, or Mac really did say somethin' I'd never expect him to about Stella and her…

This I gotta hear more of! My hand's hesitatin' before knockin', but Mac's fallen silent, so a little disappointed, I knock, and push the door open soon as I hear Mrs Hammerback's voice tellin' me to come in.

Mac's lyin' in the bed, and Stell and Mrs Hammerback are sittin' in chairs either side. Stell's is drawn up beside the pillow, and she's got a cloth in her hand, which she's dabbin Mac's forehead with. As I enter and clear my throat, she looks up sharply, with a look I ain't seen too often on her features. Embarrassment. Her cheeks are blushin' red, and her eyes kinda' dart between me and Mac.

"How long were you standin' outside that door?" She asks accusingly, "'Cause I'm sure you ain't a one for listenin' to conversations you oughtn't to be listenin' to…" I don't miss the pointed look she gives me, nor the sarcasm.

I got the grace to blush a little myself, as maybe I did pause a moment or two longer before knockin' than I needed to. Only 'cause of what I thought I heard Mac say though.

I change the subject, "See you're in bed restin', like I expected you to be."

I'm as good as she is at usin' pointed looks and sarcasm, and she's also got the grace to blush. Even more than she was doin' already.

"I woke up, and wasn't gonna be lyin' in bed when I don't need to be, and when there's plenty to be doin'." She snaps, "As you can see, Mac's bein' taken care of by Mrs Hammerback and myself. So you can go back downstairs and make sure no one's makin' a mess in my Saloon!" All the time she's speakin', she's glancin' anxiously at Mac, who ain't said anythin' else for the moment. He's lookin' better, but there's perspiration on his skin and he's a little flushed.

"How is he?" I ask, and it's Mrs Hammerback who answers me, whilst Stell dips her cloth into a basin of water, wrings it out and presses it onto Mac's forehead again.

Her lips quirk and she gives me a look I can't entirely figure out for the moment, "Improving, my love. Touch of fever, that's all, but Miss Stella's keeping a good eye on him, and I'm keeping an eye on both of them, making sure nothing untoward happens. So you needn't worry, Mr Don. How's my Sidney? Hope you're not allowing him to make a muddle of Miss Stella's kitchen, hmm?" Her eyebrows raise, and her brown eyes twinkle at me, "Maybe you'd best be heading back down those stairs to keep your own eye on everyone. Miss Jessica might be missing you my lovely." Unless I'm very much mistaken, again, Mrs Hammerback gives me a wink.

"If you're sure you don't need me here…"

"We're sure!" Stell interrupts, at the same moment as a groan comes from Mac, "You can go, Don. Now." There's a frantic sorta' tone in her voice, as I see Mac blink and open his mouth, "And you know what? I could really enjoy a cup of coffee, if you care to bring me one up…" She adds hastily, with a look of pleadin' in her face.

As I'm about to give in and leave, reluctantly, Mac starts speakin' again.

His eyes flicker open, and his hand clutches hold of hers, "Stell?" He mutters, "You still there? You ain't gone?"

"I'm here Mac, don't fret. Remember I told you? You're safe now, and I'm safe too. I got back to town in one piece, we all did. Ain't no need for you to be worryin'…"

"Gotta tell you things, Stell…" He mutters, and then his face furrows, "Tell… Stell… Rhymes. I like rhymes. Like poems… Like Stella… She's like a poem. Like poetry the way she moves when she walks and kinda sways her…"

"Mac!" Stell exclaims, and hushes him with a finger to his lips, "Mac, you shouldn't be talkin'! Should be restin. Quietly…"

My mouth's hangin' open. This is a side to Mac Taylor I never imagined existed! Declarin' feelin's that oughtn't strictly to be declared in company. Guess the reason is that he ain't fully aware he's got company…

He grabs hold of Stell's hand, and presses it to his lips, and all the while Mrs Hammerback and me are tryin' not to catch each other's eye. 'Cause this ain't funny, I tell myself sternly. Not funny at all. Should be ashamed of myself for findin' any sort of amusement in the situation…

"Stella…" He murmurrs again, and she throws me a glare, but I can't leave now. This is just gettin' interesting.

"Stella… You gotta listen… Got things I need to tell you…."

"Mac, you need to sleep!" She says desperately, "Just close your eyes and rest…"

He shakes his head, "Can't. Can't sleep yet. Gotta tell you things…" His eyes close for a moment, and I can see Stell's holdin' her breath. Don't take long before they open and he's murmurin' again. Softer this time though. Meanin' I gotta step forward and strain my ears to hear what he's sayin'.

"If I sleep, I'm gonna be dreamin' again… Dreamin' about you, Stella." There's definitely a smile on his face now, "Dreamin' we go for a walk and it starts rainin' and we get soakin' wet… So we gotta run to shelter and take off all…"

"Mac!" Stella yelps. And I fail to choke back a snigger. Though it really ain't right to be laughin' at a man in a fevered state of fantasy, and a woman whose cheeks are almost on fire with embarrassment…

And it seems Mac ain't finished. After Stell's managed to cut off whatever he was gonna say about his dreams (though it don't take much imagination to fill in the gaps) he starts mutterin' again.

"Stell…"

"It's all right, Mac. I'm right here, still holdin' your hand." She soothes him, runnin' her hand across his brow, and the smile on his face returns.

"Feels good… Real good. Havin' your hand in mine… Your hand touchin' me…" He's smilin' again, a happy smile, "You got a gentle touch, Stell… Real gentle… Get to wonderin' sometimes 'bout touchin' and kissin' your face and neck real gently and then runnin' my hands down and touchin' your beautiful…"

"Mac!" It's a squeal this time from her, and reckon you could almost burn yourself on the heat comin' from her cheeks. Oh lord, my own cheeks are hurtin' too, from the laugh that wants to come burstin' out. Can't laugh though. That'd be wrong. Real wrong…

"Don Flack, are you laughin'?" Stella hisses suddenly, turnin' to face me with a ferocious glare. So I take a step back.

"Nope. Not me. I ain't laughin'. Ain't a man known for laughter…" She surprises me then by gettin' out of her chair faster than I can blink and standin' toe to toe with me, glowerin'.

"Good, 'cause if you are… And another thing, if this ever leaves this room, you won't be laughin' for a long, long time. Got it?"

I take another step back, and my face is as straight as a yardstick, "Got it." Then I glance over to the bed, "Think Mac's demandin' your attention again…"

Sure enough, his hand's sorta' gropin' about on the covers, so she hurries back over, and takes hold of it, "All right, Mac, I ain't gone anywhere."

"Don't be goin' anywhere, Stell… Need you with me… Need you holdin' my hand… Wish I could hold it more often… Hold it tight… Hold onto every part of you…"

Stell's lookin' apprehensive.

I'm smirking.

And Mac ain't finished all he gotta say, "Get to wishin' sometimes, when we're in the Saloon, that we're the only ones there…" He murmurs with a smile, "Get to imaginin' that I'd hold you real tight then… Start kissin' you… Then I'd sorta' sweep everything off of the bar, lay you down on it, and we'd…"

"Mac!" It's a howl this time that comes from Stell, and her hand clamps over his mouth with a look of horror.

Before I can even begin to think of anythin' coherent to say in response to Mac's startlin' confession, however, the door busts open and Miss Jessica flies through it. She stares round wildly and announces trouble of a terrible kind.

"It's Lindsay and Mr Messer!" She takes in a gulp of air, "There's footprints and blood in the snow out back, Mr Messer's hat and Lindsay's necklace, and a rag with stuff that smells like chloroform on it! Gotta be only one explanation… They've been kidnapped!"

Hope you liked this, and it made up for the delay. I did enjoy writing it :D Reviews very welcome, thank you, Lily x