Part 2
A tiny black dot grew in the horizon. The rider followed something described as a 'path' by the greatest stretch of imagination. The barely discernible trail led through the brushy growth to a wooden house that had obviously seen better days. The white wash was stained from blowing dirt and blistered by heat. The front porch sagged horribly as a figure exited the house to watch the the rider approach.
As the rider turned into the area of the house, the figure ran forward.
"Did you- I mean could you have possibly..." stuttered the excited woman. Her hair was brown and hung loose to her shoulders and her blue eyes sparkled in hope. She wore a white apron and a calico print dress that like the house had seen better days.
"You mean... this?" asked the rider with fake nonchalance. He presented her with a small chest.
"Oh... you got it back, thank you," she said as she cradled the chest like it was one of her children. "Thank you thank you THANK YOU!" she said happily as she tried to hug the rider while they were still on the horse.
The horse blew his nose at her, his version of a laugh. His rider laughed as well and dismounted, returning the hug.
"Now think nothing of it, Mrs. Une. I was happy to help."
"God bless you, Duo Maxwell, God bless you!" she said excitedly.
"I don't need God's blessing while Shinigami has his hand on me, but I'll accept it just the same," Duo said, tipping his hat back with a smile. This unfortunately unbalanced his hat and it fell to the ground, letting his long braid of chestnut hair free and fall to his waist.
The horse picked up the hat and offered it to Duo. Duo made a face at him and wiped off some of the drool on it.
"Get along Shados, go find the water hole." Shados snorted, laughing at Duo but trotted off.
"Please stay for dinner Duo," urged Une.
"Well..." said Duo.
"I've made my famous apple pie for dinner..." she said, hoping to tempt the braided boy to stay.
"Hot dog! Sure I'll stay if I get to sample the finest cuisine in the west!" said Duo. He and Une walked towards the house. Une stepped in to put her chest away as her husband came from behind the house.
"You found it then?" said the ginger haired man, wiping his hands on a piece of cloth.
Duo nodded. "He hadn't sold it yet, I was lucky." Duo shrugged modestly.
"We owe you a great debt Duo. I don't know how we'll repay you."
"Think nothing of it, Mr. Treize. Listen, I know people who'd pay a pretty penny for your barbecued chicken and you wife's apple pie. You two really waste yourselves in this backwater town. You should think about heading further west or even east and maybe start a restaurant. Get away from the cheatin' landlords here." Duo's earnest expression took Treize aback.
"Well, if you think we could do it. There's just the matter of money-" Treize was cut off as two hurtling objects crashed into Duo full force, staggering the black clad boy. He hugged the kids attached to his legs, picking up one and then the other, leaning them on his hips.
"Duo!" cried the littler girl.
"We missed you!" said the slightly older boy.
"Well I missed you too Alex. And my Sylvia, you've grown since I saw you last," Duo teased, making the girl blush.
"Ah missed you too," said a third child with much darker skin then the other kids.
"Hey Mueller," said Duo, reaching to ruffle the boy's short dark hair. "Now, how about some dinner, huh?" Mueller grinned and the hired boy led the way into the house.
Une smiled at the group and finished stirring the gravy. Despite the simple fare of mashed potatoes, gravy and barbecued chicken, the meal was delicious as was the apple pie and cream that followed.
"Please stay the night," said Une as she cleaned up the supper, the kids helping.
"Well..." started Duo.
"Pleeeeeeease," begged the kids, three pairs of eyes boring into his.
"Ack! I'm struck!" declared Duo, holding a hand over his heart. "Since you asked so pretty, sure I'll stay," he said. The kids cheered and threw themselves into helping clean up. Duo also helped.
"Treize said you think we could start a restaurant back east?" Une inquired, voice soft.
"Yeah. People would come from far and wide to sample your cooking, Mrs. Une and I don't lie. You'd do real well away from these dirty cheatin' landowners."
Une sighed and stared off into the distance. "To go east... that would be so wonderful. But we have no money, and I simply can't part with those."
Duo looked towards the chest. He didn't know what was in it, it wasn't his business. But he was very curious.
Une dried her hands and carefully opened the chest. Duo walked over. Inside were a dozen perfect crystal statuettes, wrapped in flannel and stuffed with cotton.
"They were my mother's. She gave them to me and every time I look at them they remind me of her." She smiled sadly and shut the chest.
"Don't you worry ma'am, something will work out. I promise you that." Duo held a hand over his heart.
"Thank you Duo, you give us hope." Une smiled at him and shooed him to bed.
Duo chuckled and shut the door, sitting on the chair provided. It was across from a mirror and he looked into it. He sighed. The mirror told him that he had a heart shaped face with unusual violet eyes, framed by long, braided chestnut hair. His upturned nose was smudged with dirt, as were his cheeks and forehead. He sighed again. He poured some water into a basin and washed his face and dried it. Now his eyes were drawn to the shadows under his eyes.
He stood and quietly slipped out the window. He whistled up Shados and saddled him. He took a pouch from one of the saddlebags and slipped back inside. Looking for the best spot for this, he spied the perfect place. There was a section in the living room where Une had placed statues of the Virgin Mary and Jesus and another saint. He placed the pouch under the saint's statue and slipped out.
Duo mounted Shados and rode off into the night, stars winking down and lighting his path.
A sliver of moonlight hit the pouch and Saint Hubert seemed to smile beatifically as the funds necessary to head east were filled by moon glow.[1]
1- And that's how the chain of St. Hubert chicken restaurants was started... no, just kidding
TBC...