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‘What we sometimes forget’
A poem by Maggie Smith for her best friend; Cassie Smith
Life has a way of sneaking up on us
And giving us burdens to bear.
But using our experiences and faith
We also come out on top.
Although once in a while we want to give up,
There are those always close by.
The ones who won’t let go
Or let you forget what you are.
These are known as best friends,
A rare gift God bestowed on us all.
If we are fortunate to have one,
We feel blessed beyond belief.
But if there is more than that one,
Then that, is truly the miracle of life.
Because love has many forms and descriptions,
We forget that in the end, its still just love.
And that my friends, can move mountains,
Making the impossibility of life, very possible.
Four Corners the day before Thanksgiving..........
The road into the small town seemed desolete and lonely, but J.D. Dunne thought it was the best feeling in the world to be home. He and Buck Wilmington had been in Eagle Bend on business for almost a week, and the young J.D. was afraid he would miss the holiday with his new found family. He knew each had there own feelings about such holidays’ but he didn’t care. As long as they were together, he would be the most thankful person on Thanksgiving.
“Hey ‘kid’, you still with me?”
Buck had stopped a few feet ahead of the young man, when he noticed the other wasn’t following.
“Uh, oh yeah. Sorry Buck, I was just thinking how happy I was to be back.”
Noticing the forlorn look, Wilmington chose not to tease him about being so sentimental. Buck knew the ‘kid’ was missing his momma, and wanted to do everything he could to make this a special day.
“So, you ready to eat some good food tomorrow?”
J.D. sat stunned at the older man’s question.
“Who’s cooking? I thought all the guys were just gonna treat it like another day.”
Buck snorted.
“Just because those wet hens aren’t celebrating don’t mean we can’t. I’m gonna cook. I bought a turkey just the other day from Ms. Potter, and Ms. Travis lent me her recipe on stuffing before she left for the Judge’s.”
J.D. didn’t know whether to be happy or wary.
“Where’d you learn how to cook?”
“Don’t looked so surprised ‘kid’, I haven’t killed me or Chris yet. Besides, Josiah volunteered to help out if I needed it.”
A gleam entered the sheriff’s eyes.
“What about me? Can’t I help?”
“Well sure, it wouldn’t be the same if we didn’t do it together.”
Smiling broadly, Buck turned his horse and resumed his course to the saloon. J.D. glanced around him once more, then spurred his horse to catch up to his friend. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Saloon.......
The two travel weary men entered and immediately sought out their friends’. They soon spotted them sitting in their usual seats and walked over to join them.
“So, you boys miss us?”
Buck grinned, reaching for the whiskey bottle in the middle of the table.
“You been gone.”
The answer came from the black clad Chris Larabee.
“Funny. Anything exciting been happening?”
“Nope, just the usual drunks and Ezra cheating the passerbys’.”
Vin Tanner finished, giving the fancy, dressed Ezra Standish a slow smile.
“I will not dignify that with a response, Mr.Tanner.”
“Notice he ain’t denying it either.”
Nathan Jackson laughed at the deadly look the gambler sent his way.
“Well how was your trip?”
Josiah Sanchez’s deep voice echoed through the room.
“It was fine, except for Buck getting us in trouble as usual.”
J.D. threw his friend a mischievious grin.
“I did not. I was the perfect, as Ezra would say, gentlman. It wasn’t my fault that poor fella decided I needed a new hole in my head. I just told him the truth, how was I suppose to know he would take offense to it.”
“Buck you told the guy he smelled like a pig who just got done playing in a load of manure.”
Wilmington shrugged off the questioning glances of the others.
“Hey, it was the truth.”
A slow laughter began to grow around the table.
“Josiah, Buck said you were gonna help us with the Thanksgiving dinner. You haven’t changed your mind have you?”
The part-time preacher gave him a slight nod.
“I still aim to help. Its been a long time since I actually done any real cooking. It sounds fun.”
Nathan looked at Josiah in puzzlement.
“Your gonna cook a turkey?”
“Why yes brother Nate. It sounds to be just what the Lord would want.”
“Well, does the Lord mind if I join in. I can make a mighty mean mess of potatoes.”
The ‘kid’s’ grin began to grow.
“Wow, that would be great Nathan. Anybody else want to help?”
He ran his gaze around to encompass the others. Ezra gave the young man and impugnant frown, and Chris never even acknowledged the question. Vin seemed to be thinking it over and then he answered.
“Well, I would like to help J.D., but I’m not much of a cook.”
“Thats okay Vin, as long as you promise to help us eat it.”
Tanner gave the sheriff a affirmative nod and one of his famous grins.
“I don’t know if that would be a pleasure or a threat, considering who’s cooking.”
“Alright, the next person who insults my cooking can just starve.”
Buck tried to sound angry, but failed miserably. He was beginning to feel J.D.’s enthusiasm and for the first time in about three years, it felt good. He just wished his old friend could share in it. Wilmington glanced to Chris and noticed the grim, stone-cold face.
‘Don’t worry pard. You may not feel thankful right now, but one day soon you’ll wake up and see whats beside you. And then you’ll realize what Thanksgiving is all about.’
Breaking himself out of the sad thoughts, Buck turned his attention back to the conversation and noticed it was about the dinner.
“Okay, I’m cooking the stuffing and gravy. Nathan’s in charge of the mashed potatoes and corn. J.D., you’ll be in charge of the refreshments, and I don’t mean milk. Josiah’s taking care of the turkey. Uh oh. Who’s gonna bake the pumpkin pie. We can’t have a dinner without it.”
“Well, I’m afraid, brother Buck, I don’t know how to bake a pie.”
“Me neither.”
Nathan glanced at J.D. expectantly.
“Don’t look at me. I used to watch my ma, but that was it.”
Ezra cleared his throat, bringing all eyes to him.
“It seems that my services may be required afterall. I am very capable of making said pie.”
“Really?”
The youngest of the seven looked at Ezra as if he had grown another head.
“You seem amazed young Mr. Dunne. I assure you I can. But if you do not think I can accomplish such task, please feel free to pick someone else.”
“No! I mean, yes I think you can bake the pie, and no please don’t take back the offer. It would mean a lot to me.”
Mr. Standish was at a loss for words at the apparent faith the young man had in him, so he simply nodded his head. This left J.D. with one unfinished thing.
“Chris. If you don’t want to join us I’ll understand.”
Larabee looked at the boy for the first time since he sat down. The pleading he saw in the ‘kid’s’ eyes reminded him of the times Adam, his son, would beg him to be home by dinner. He couldn’t resist that look from Adam then, anymore than he could J.D. now.
“I’ll be there if you want.”
The grin that broke through the worry creases spoke volumes.
“Yes, I would like that.”
Chris also nodded his head in agreement.
“Well, what are we waiting for. Let’s go.”
Buck slapped the ‘kid’ on the back, and then gave his oldest friend silent thank you.
Josiah, Nathan, Buck, J.D., and a reluctant Ezra left the saloon to embark on their Thanksgiving adventure.
“You alright?”
The silent tracker rarely imposed on another’s privacy, but he felt the need to comfort his friend.
“Yeah. Its just been a while since I had a holiday of being sober.”
The gunman sighed softly.
“It means alot to the ‘kid’ don’t it?”
Vin looked at the older man and realized his motives for agreeing where selfless.
“Yeah it does.” The bounty hunter laughed shortly. “I just can’t understand how he latched on to a ragtag bunch like us, to adopt as his family.”
Chris turned to the younger man and wondered the same thing about himself. ‘How indeed.’
“Dumb luck, I’d guess.”
The two men glanced at one another and knew luck had nothing to do with it, God’s hand was everywhere. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
The hotel kitchen..........
“Buck, how’d you convince Mr. Collins to let us use his kitchen?”
Nathan asked, as he stirred the white mush.
“I told him if he didn’t, we wouldn’t pay him to deliver food to the prisoners anymore.”
“Buck, thats blackmail. Thats illegal.”
J.D. couldn’t believe what the older man had just did.
“No it ain’t ‘kid’. Its persuasion. Ain’t that right Josiah?”
“Yes indeed. I’ve felt the need to use that tool myself a few times.”
The gunslinger was pulling his cooked turkey out of the oven.
“Might I inquire as to how much longer this endeavor is going to take?”
Ezra stood at the kitchen door looking fit to be tied.
“What’s wrong Ezra, ‘fraid everybody will be full and not get to eat your pie?”
“Not at all, Mr. Jackson. I just want this to begin as soon as possible, so Mr. Tanner and Mr. Larabee will stop engaging me in menial labor, which would otherwise be achieved by yourselves.”
“A little sweat never killed nobody Ezra.”
The gambler simply raised an eyebrow and exited the room.
“Well, I think we’re ready. What do you think, Buck?”
“I think your right. Dinner is served fellas’.”
Josiah and Nathan grabbed the turkey and mashed potatoes, and followed in Ezra’s wake. Just as Buck attempted to retrieve his stuffing and gravy, he felt a light touch on his arm. He turned to see a sad young man.
“J.D., what’s wrong?”
“I-I wanted to thank you. Since my ma died, I thought I’d never get the chance to have a family. I figured someday to marry and have some kids, but never to feel like I do right now.”
“And how’s that J.D.?”
Buck could see the tears threatening to run down the young man’s face.
“Truly loved and wanted.” J.D. sniffed and continued, “Chris could have refused to join us. I know how hard this must be for him. My ma died naturally, so I don’t know how it must feel to know someone took the one you loved on purpose. Ezra, well Ezra seems to be scared to death of getting to close to any of us. Nathan and Josiah try to include me like a man. You, well you treat me like a kid most of the time, but I understand thats the way you are. And Vin, he’s never had a family. He’s been alone since his ma died when he was five. But all of you came together and are giving me reason to be thankful. Its the best feeling in the world.”
“Yeah it is ‘kid’. And your not the only one who has a reason to be thankful.”
The two embraced, letting all the love, friendship, and happiness a best friend could offer flow between them.
“Hey. We gonna have any stuffing with this bird.”
Buck and J.D. jumped apart and turned to find Chris, Vin, Josiah, Nathan, and Ezra gathered around them.
“Absolutely you old war dog. Absolutely.”
Chris nodded, reading the underlying message. He saw the contentment expressed in the faces around him and finally settled on the bounty hunter’s soft gaze. ‘I too feel thankful old friend. The past may never go away, but I have hope for the future right here.’
“Josiah, I think a prayer is in order so we can get to these fixins’.”
As the seven gathered in a circle, the ex-preacher relayed a life long prayer of peace, happiness, and eternal life.
“Amen.” @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
