Interment

"Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,

and let perpetual light shine upon them."

The October sun greeted us as we prepared the casket at the bottom of the hill. The morning air was cold, yet the sun promised a warmer afternoon when the frost would melt. A promise that life will continue even through the freezing hell of winter. Though I've been told the winters are not nearly as bad in St. Louis as they are in Butte.

"Ready?" I asked the others. All nodded solemnly. It was a small service. We could barely find four men to carry the plain box, but Freckle, Wick, and Rocky took hold of one handle each and we hoisted Margaret up onto our shoulders. One step at a time, we ascended the long path to the top of the hill. Abelard and the Bastions were waiting at the top for the short procession. Young Joseph walked with Ivy as she held his hand followed close behind by Isabella, Mitzi, and Alena. It was probably a bigger funeral than poor Margaret would have expected. If only we knew her better.

At the top of the hill the sun breathed life into us once more and we quickly shrugged off the cold in our black suits. Setting the casket down on its cradle, we each backed up and allowed Abelard to do his thing. Clearing his throat, the reverend opened his bible and spoke:

"We now commit Margaret Calhoun, our dearly departed sister and courageous mother, to the earth from which she once came. Oh God, our shelter, and our strength, you listen in love to the cry of your people: hear the prayers we offer for our departed brothers and sisters. Cleanse them of their sins and grant them the fullness of redemption. We ask this through Christ our Lord."

"Amen" We all reply in unison. Well, at least those of us who had been in a church at some point recently.

"Would anyone wish to offer parting words?" Abelard asked the small gathering. No one could come up with anything at first.

"I'll miss you, mom." Joseph said, holding back tears.

I let out a shuttering sigh at the scene before speaking up. "We only knew you for a day, Margaret. But we'll remember you for a lifetime."

"I only wish we could have done more." Rocky said, sadness and guilt pouring from his soul.

After a minute of silence, save for the morning air gently rising up through the oak and southern pine, Abelard decided that enough had been said. "We now recite the Lord's Prayer. Follow along as best you can if you do not know it."

"Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Amen."

Concluding, Abelard closed his book and donned his large-brimmed hat while Bobby got to work. Motioning for us to help, Freckle and I jumped to. With rope and strap, Margaret was soon resting safely in her earthen bed. "Thank you, boys. Shoveling shouldn't take too long."

I caught a glimpse of Rocky walking alongside Joseph. He hadn't left the boy's side all week. For a couple of days the kid was sick. He apparently had been recovering from an illness when the tornado struck and all the stress caused him to relapse. Yet Rocky, with instruction, had helped the boy break the fever and now he was recovered enough to be active.

"What are you going to do with the boy?" Bobby asked in between scoops of dirt.

"We don't know yet." Freckle replied, taking his coat off to cool himself down, and not ruin the rented suit.

"Rocky wants to take care of him. I've never seen him this determined." I said, shaking my head. "The problem is, he's Rocky. I trust him with Riley but there's a big difference between keeping watch over a half-grown child who can mostly take care of herself and raising a little kid. Joseph still needs help washing himself!" I added. "Not to mention he needs food, clothing, a bed he can sleep in, school, and a dozen other things."

"There are facilities for wayward children and orphans, you know."

"I know. Orphanages. Trains that could take him out west…" I replied.

"There's also the church." Freckle added.

"You lads don't sound so sure." Bobby said as he wiped sweat from his brow.

"It does feel cruel that we'd stick him on a train or drop him off at some dark and dreary building right after the poor boy had his whole world torn from him." Freckle said, shaking his head in shame.

"It's not like he's the only one to have suffered such a fate." Bobby countered.

"We all die, Bobby." I said. "That doesn't make it hurt any less when someone we love goes. I had to bury most of my family. Everyone but Riley. Well, Joseph just buried his whole family too."

Bobby shrugged his shoulders. "Fair enough. If that's the case then keep the boy around. Nothing in the law says you must give him away and people aren't exactly queuing up for young kids without a home."

"The problem is we're putting him at risk by keeping Joseph with us. Freckle can leave the speakeasy behind but it's not like Rocky and I can just walk away and leave Mitzi out to dry."

"What of Riley?" Bobby asked, sensing an inconsistency in my logic.

"I don't have much choice with Riley." I said. "But she understands the dangers. Well, at least as much as a ten-year-old can."

"If you can keep her safe, I'm sure you boys can do the same for Joseph."

Finally done with the job, Bobby and Freckle lugged the tools down the hill while I hung back. Two graves now sat upon this hill. "Well Viktor, at least you've got some company. In case you object to the missing leg, you were missing an eye. I wonder what I'll be missing when I end up here one day."

Watching the clouds moving past for a minute, I inhaled deeply and continued. "You know, it's too bad you aren't here, Viktor. Alena told me how excited you were to finally get to know her. You seemed like the kind of guy who would have also adored having a little boy to raise. In your arms he would be safer than the Rock of Gibraltar."

"You know, talking to the dead might make a person think you're crazy." Mitzi said as she walked back up the hill.

"If it's about what we need to do for the speakeasy this week, I think it can wait a while, Miss M."

"Oh, this has nothing to do with this week's activities, hon. I just noticed you weren't walking down with the others."

"Well, at least talking to the living is a bit more productive. Viktor says 'hello,' by the way. Or at least I imagine he would."

"I see him every day, Ethan. He's in the photographs on the walls, the rifle mounted above the bar, the walking stick behind the cabinet, and the tools spread throughout the garage. I like to think that now he's our guardian angel."

"Ha." I chuckled. "What a hell of a guy to have for a guardian angel! The devil himself would be terrified."

"You laugh, Ethan, but there's so much we can't know for certain. Most of us need to believe in something so that we can keep going."

"If you came up here hoping to get me to find my faith, I'm sorry to disappoint. I lost it somewhere between France and the bottom of a copper mine. I only talk to the dead because I hope I'm wrong and that somewhere out there they are listening."

"No, I came up here because it's the first time I've caught you alone all week. I have an idea I want to run by you."

"I'm always open to suggestions."

"Lackadaisy is active again, thanks to you. But we need to start selling better product. I'm happy to keep the Arbogasts' business, but the bottom-shelf stuff that Kehoe and others sell…" Mitzi shook her head in disgust just thinking about the taste. "It's also putting us at risk."

"I agree with you there, but it's not like we can find new suppliers without stepping on toes."

"That's why I want you to become the supplier."

"What?" I asked, confused. "I already combed through this place. Those farmers didn't stash anything here long-term."

"No, I meant you should make the booze for the speakeasy. Think about it. We just need some supplies, and you've got people here full-time to keep watch. It would take a few weeks, but you could have a first batch ready before Thanksgiving."

"That's… not a bad idea. But we'd need to make quite a lot of the stuff. I would also be nervous about keeping the moonshine anywhere near the farmhouse. Anyone finds out about it and decides to start a fight will be putting Riley and the rest of us right in the crosshairs."

"No one knows you're out here, right? And how many acres do you have, anyway?"

"About two hundred. There is a section that's well away from prying eyes down in a tree grove. There's an old root cellar down there from the pioneer days."

"Well, just think about it for a while. We at least have the money to get started."

Boiling Point

Finally back in the house, I went upstairs to change into working clothes. My window lookout out at the knoll where the graves were placed. It was a shame Margaret couldn't be with her true family, but at least she wasn't in a pauper's grave. I had to sit down for a minute and hold my head in my hands. The stresses of the past week were starting to get to me. Between the tornado, rescuing people, clearing the road back to the farm, and dealing with Joseph and Rocky, I needed some time in the next week to myself. Or Isabella and me. Yes, that would be better. Still, I wouldn't trade this stress for anything. It meant that I was part of a family again, and a leader of sorts. They were my family and my responsibility.

Walking out of the room with street clothes on, I noticed that Joseph was sitting between Rocky and Freckle in the living room.

"Anybody want something to drink? Eat?" I asked as I moved into the kitchen. I didn't get an answer.

"Very well, more for me I guess."

I sat down in the chair across from the couch. Joseph was nested under Rocky's arm, still recovering from the service. Freckle was sitting their awkwardly, but he didn't know what else to do.

"So, what now?" I asked. Rocky gave me an uncharacteristic look. It was like the anniversary of his mother's death, but more intense. A week later and he wasn't letting up.

"Cousin, could you take Joseph out of the house for a while?"

"I-I guess." Freckle moved off the couch and lent the boy a hand. "Did Rocky ever show you the creek down the hill?"

"No?"

"Come on, lad. Better than sitting around here."

As soon as they were gone, Rocky was adamant about his position. "We're not abandoning that boy!"

"Rocky, please! There's no need to get angry. You know I wouldn't just leave him to fend for himself on the street."

"You were going to leave him, and Margaret to their fates though."

"I…" He did have a point there, but it wasn't borne out of cruelty. "I didn't want to risk you, or Freckle, or Ivy, or any of my family! What you and Ivy did was courageous but also incredibly stu—"

"It was worth it to try!" He growled. This was indeed a new emotion he was exhibiting. His usual happy and eloquent façade was gone now.

"It was a gamble, Rocky! It worked for you, it nearly didn't work for Ivy, and it made no difference for Margaret. The only thing you can say about her is she at least got to see her boy one last time. She died knowing he was safe."

"Yes, safe with us!" Rocky insisted. "Who better to take care of him than us? We both lost our parents. Freckle lost his father and hasn't spoken to Aunt Nina in months. If we stick Joseph in some dirty orphanage then it's as good as abandoning him. But if you let me—"

"You are NOT ready to raise a child, Rocky!" I insisted, my patience wearing thin. "I trust you and Freckle to watch Riley but she's independent enough to do most things on her own. This kid is different. He's an emotional wreck! He's been ill, and I can guarantee you he'll be ill again. He still needs help bathing for Christ's sake! Surely you are self-aware enough to realize that a bootlegging musician that regularly puts himself in danger is incapable of—"

Tears formed in his eyes as I forced myself to stop. "Okay, let me back up a bit…"

"Ethan, if Joseph is given to someone who doesn't love him, he'll end up like me…" Rocky explained. "He'll hate himself! He'll always think he's not good enough, and people will believe it. Just like you're doing now!"

"Shit…" I breathed, looking down. Calming myself once again, I moved to the couch and embraced Rocky. "If you ever have children of your own, I'm sure you'll be a great father. You'd be a better father than either of ours anyway. But I'm also trying to be realistic about things, Rocky."

"Then it's time I step up." Rocky said, wiping away tears.

"It's brave and noble of you to want to help Joseph. But becoming the person that kid needs isn't something anyone can do overnight. And, frankly, you've got a long way to go."

"I owe it to Joseph to try."

"Rocky, you've done far more already than anyone could possibly ask of you." I paused, breathing again as an idea came to me. "How about this? Joseph stays here with us, but we will be on the lookout for the right people. When we find a family who will care for him with as much love as you've given the kid, then we can both leave him knowing that Joseph is in good hands."

Rocky sniffled. "I think I can agree to that."

"But in the meantime," I continued, "he's your responsibility. That means teaching him, making sure he's fed and has a warm bed to sleep in. Most importantly, it means keeping Joseph well away from our occupation."

"Isn't that going to make it hard to get work done for Miss M?" Rocky asked.

"Welcome to being a parent. Now, if we're finished with that business, Miss M has a proposition for us. One that could work in our favor…"

Invitation

"Let me help you with those tools, dear." Elsa said as she grabbed one of the shovels off Bobby's shoulder.

"Thank you, darling." Bobby said. "Terrible shame about that poor woman. It was nice of Ethan to pay for a proper funeral."

"They seem fond of the boy." She commented while hanging up the shovel in the garage.

"I believe our business is concluded. Shall we go home?"

"You know, we should have brought their weekly shipment out here. To bad I didn't think of that before!" Bobby said as he hung his own shovel.

"What? Use someone's actual funeral for our criminal enterprises? That's blasphemous even for a heathen such as yourself."

"Heathen? If you had been in the Somme, Abelard, I think God—"

"Ahem." Ivy audibly cleared her throat.

"Miss Pepper! Shame we could not have met on a happier day!" Bobby greeted.

"You remember Alena, right?" Ivy said as she stepped aside.

"Of course we do! I didn't want to say anything during the service, as brief as it was, but how is St. Louis treating you?"

"More like, how are these sinners treating you?" Abelard butted in. "I do hope you are not following in your father's path."

"Come now, boys. I'm sure Alena is staying out of trouble, right? Elsa said, looking the two younger women in the eyes.

"Me? No, of course not! About the rum-running and the fighting, that is…" Alena defended herself. "But St. Louis has been… interesting."

"Anyway…" Ivy interrupted. "I couldn't help but overhear that we missed an opportunity to resupply the speakeasy. Alena has been trying to reconnect with Viktor as best as she can. Everyone has been telling her stories. Well, I was thinking that maybe we could come out to Defiance. Let the boys load up the liquor and save your backs while Elsa trades stories with Viktor."

"That isn't how we conduct business, Miss M. If I remember correctly, the last time your people were out there we were all nearly killed."

"And Ethan saved you." Ivy reminded the preacher.

"Aye, that he did. Quite the fighter, that one is. If we had more like him at home then the war really would have been over by Christmas."

"I think he might have a different opinion on that, but anyway… what do you say? It wouldn't cost you anything more than some time. Time you'd need to spend anyway."

"Viktor's daughter is always welcome at our home." Elsa said, smiling warmly. A rare sight for a woman who always seemed tired. "And I'd be more than happy to tell you about your father, Alena. There's nothing on our schedules tomorrow until late afternoon. Stop by sometime in the morning and there will be plenty of time to chat."

Walking away, Ivy winked at Alena. "See, I told you I could make it happen. They don't like visitors… just ask Rocky. But Elsa was fond of Viktor and knows a lot about him."

"Thanks, Ivy. This will be so exciting!"

Living Skies

Cleaning behind my ears with a wet rag, I put my work shirt in the laundry pile after three days of consecutive use. Working on a farm sure built up a sweat, but it was worth every moment if it meant not having to breathe chemical air or listen to constant police sirens. Isabella was up studying for exams while in bed when I climbed in next to her. The original plan was for the ladies to drive back after the funeral, but in a change of plans I guess Freckle was going to drive Ivy and Alena to Defiance.

"I don't know much about college, Bella, but wouldn't a good night's sleep be more beneficial than running yourself ragged for tests on Monday?"

"You're right. Screw this stuff, I can do it on Sunday." She said, dropping the textbook on the floor next to the bed with a heavy thud. "I feel guilty about using Margaret's funeral as an excuse to stay the weekend, though."

"I'm sure she wouldn't have minded. It's too bad there was no one here who really knew her. Besides Joseph, anyway."

"Speaking of Joseph, did you finally talk to Rocky?"

"Yeah. It wasn't pleasant, but we had to get a plan together. Bobby suggested that we get him to an orphanage and—"

"You wouldn't?! Not to that sweet little thing."

"Oh great, not you too! You know, Bella, if you want kids we should probably get married first."

"A couple of people I know in town came from one of the local orphanages. The stories they have to tell…"

"We're not sending him to an orphanage." I said, trying to smooth over the troubles of the last week. "Rocky insisted on that. I swear he would have fought me if I had been more adamant. I've never seen anyone that protective over a kid."

"Oh, I can think of one person." Bella said, smiling knowingly.

"Who?"

"You, silly! You're rubbing off on him. If someone threatened to take Riley from you and put her in such a miserable place, what would you do?"

I paused for a minute and realized Isabella had a point. Anyone who went after my sister had better pray to God that he has mercy on their soul, because I certainly wouldn't be offering any. "Touche. You really think Rocky would change himself just by being around me?"

"He'd do that with anyone he spent so much time with, it's natural. In case you haven't noticed, he's been treating Joseph just like how you treat Riley. You're basically her father, you know."

"Wait until you see us have an argument. It'll be obvious we're siblings then. Anyway, the plan is to find Joseph a proper home with proper parents. At least Rocky agreed to that. In the meantime, I told Rocky he's responsible for the boy."

The cold air rose from the Missouri River bottomlands and into the surrounding hills. It carried with it the sound of rattling leaves as the black gum and dogwood were changing color. Winter would soon be upon the region once more, and with it would come the cold rains and occasional snow. Joseph sat on the back porch, staring up at the hill which was now his mother's tomb. In his seven short years on this Earth she had been his everything. Guardian, protector, teacher, nurse, and a thousand other things any decent mother learns to be for her children.

"Room for one more?" Rocky asked gently as he opened the back door. This did not illicit much of a response other than the kid acknowledging Rocky's existence. "You know, it's good to see you up and about. For a few days there you were nearly catatonic."

"What's cat-a-tonic?" Joseph asked quizzically.

"Still, motionless… lifeless." Rocky hesitated on that last synonym. The last thing he wanted to do was keep reminding the poor kid about what happened. But perhaps it was unavoidable. Rocky leaned against the side of the house and slid down the wall until he was sitting on the porch itself. He was exhausted from the past week, all of it coming to a head with Ethan a few hours earlier. Few things could truly make Rocky mad. Sad? Certainly. Hurt? He's been there many times. But that sort of anger, the idea that someone as great as Ethan would suggest leaving the boy in someone else's care… A boy that had been hurt by the world in the same way as himself… Well, at least Ethan had proven that it wasn't as bad as Rocky thought. Finding a loving family would be tough, but nothing less than what Joseph deserved.

They both sat there in quiet silence for nearly five minutes. All was quiet and peaceful outside the city. It reminded Rocky of when he had to travel in between cities. Countless nights out under the stars. Though exciting, the thrill of adventure had worn him down in the time he had gone out west. Having seen only a city sky at night his whole childhood, seeing the brilliance of the stars for the first time was awe inspiring. Whether in Custer or Cripple Creek, the skies seemed to sing and dance to a song that was as old as time itself. The skies themselves were alive!

"Am I going away?" Joseph asked, finally breaking the mutual silence between them.

"No. Ethan and I we talked about it and—"

"I heard yelling when Freckle took me to see the creek."

"Yes, well… sometimes that's how people talk. You aren't being sent away, Joseph. We want to find you a family who will love you first. And in the meantime… In the meantime you're our honored guest."

Another cold wind sent a shiver down the boy's spine. He got up to go inside, but saw that Rocky was sitting there with a big jacket just for him. He patted the wooden porch boards next to him and Joseph complied, tucking himself in next to Rocky as the jacket was wrapped around him. "Here. Wouldn't want you getting sick again just when the leaves are starting to fall."

The boy was grateful for the compassion, but also confused. Why would someone care so much about him? No one else except his mother had before. "Rocky?"

"Yes?"

"Why did you rescue me? Ethan said it was dangerous."

"Dangerous it was! But… I couldn't possibly leave you down there. That's not really what you're asking though, is it?"

"No…" Joseph said, looking down at his hands.

"You're wondering why I'm taking care of you, aren't you?"

He nodded his head, leaning on Rocky as an arm and tail pulled him in closer. "I guess you might as well know. Joseph, when I was about your age, maybe a little bit younger, my mother died too."

"How?"

"Tuberculosis. There's no cure for it and the doctors did all they could, but… soon I was alone and, in a home, where I wasn't wanted. Can't say I blame Aunt Nina, I was a handful who caused a lot of trouble, but… that's just the way it felt. I don't want you to feel the same way."

"Was that why you were mad at Ethan?"

"I guess you could say that. But I promise he has a heart too. He didn't want anyone else to risk themselves getting Margare—, your mother, out. He was down there for hours trying to steady the building. And Ivy and Freckle? Well, if it weren't for them, you wouldn't have gotten a chance to see her one last time. But none of them know what it's like to lose a mother so young. I was mad because they were making decisions about something they couldn't fully understand."

Silence overtook them for another minute before Rocky continued. "Anyway, you're here because we want you here. That's all you really need to understand. Everyone thinks to the world of you."

"I'm glad you're here, Rocky."

"And I'm glad you're safe with us." Rocky said, breathing in the night air and relaxing his tired body.

"Did they go to heaven?" Joseph asked.

"Who?"

"Our moms. They're in heaven, right?"

"They're both up there, I'm sure of it. Beyond the untamed wheat and the feral ryes. Where the clouds shimmer like gold and silver in a crystal-clear creek. They're in the land of the living skies."

"Wow." He said, tears in his eyes.

"And one day, I do think we'll see them again. I know it's hard, Joseph, but your mother would want you to keep going. Keep living. Keep trying to enjoy life while it lasts. I want that for you too. So does everyone else here."

"But… I miss her."

"Your mother is never far, Joseph. Part of her will always be with you. Just like part of my mother is still with me."

The two sat there for a while longer as a nearly full moon arced across the sky. Rocky soon realized that the boy had fallen asleep next to him. Stretching out, Rocky stood up and picked Joseph up, letting the boy's head rest on his lean shoulder. Quietly sneaking upstairs, Rocky set the kid down in his own bed and pulled the covers over his little body. Content knowing the kid would get a good night's sleep, Rocky pulled out a spare blanket from under the bed and laid down on the rug in between the two beds in the room. Joseph soundly sleeping in one, Freckle and Ivy sharing the other.