DISCLAIMER: The Young Riders is the creation of Ed Spielman, and the property of Ogiens/Kane productions in association with MGM/UA television. This Story is created for entertainment purposes only, no infringement intended. Not to be copied without permission from the author.
They all sat down to one of Rachel’s delicious meals, all a little wary of the strange newcomer. Rachel and Lou watched them as they interacted with Clarry. Ashamed for the way they were behaving with the youngster in their midst, although proud of the way that Jesse coped with the boys hostility and deflected it from his new friend. Clarry was someone he saw an ally in, someone his own age that could befriend and relate to, someone who could understand him so he did his best to make her feel comfortable as he could, casting hostile glances at anyone who made what he considered to be a antagonistic remark.. Teaspoon sat back and watched his boys, almost ashamed of their behaviour but wanting to give Clarry the opportunity to defend himself, to see just how far the boys could push him before he lashed out at him.
Supper seemed to go on for an interminable length of time, but as soon as they were finished Clarry and Jesse stood and willingly did the dishes. As soon as the dishes were done Clarry, feeling as if she was somehow intruding, she made her excuses and left the bunkhouse. The door was no sooner closed behind her, before Jesse was on his feet his fisted hands planted on the table as he cursed at the people he now called family.
“You should all be ashamed of yourselves” he looked long and hard at them all
“Now son….” Teaspoon started trying to forestall the temper of his young charge.
“No Teaspoon you were all horrible to Clarry, all he wants is a job and a chance, surely that’s not too much to ask” Jesse spat as he walked towards the door, slamming it behind him as he left.
“What was that all about?’ Cody spoke seeming somehow confused by Jesse’s outburst
“he’s right you know, you were all horrible’ Lou stood and spoke calmly
“How do we know who he is?” Kid spoke speaking for all the others
“How did we know who you all were?” Teaspoon spoke “When you all arrived here, you were not much younger than he is, we didn’t know you from Adam, but we trusted you, we became family, surely Clarry deserves the same treatment you all recieved.’ He spoke standing and leaving the bunkhouse, wandering out to the barn to see how his new employee was settling in.
“I don’t trust him, there’s something he’s hiding’ Buck spoke looking at the others for guidance as Lou and Rachel both giggled, somehow amused at Buck’s choice of words
“ I’m not saying we should trust him, but we could at least give him a chance.’ Kid replied
“I don’t think he should be sleeping in the barn, can’t we find a bed for him somewhere else.’ Rachel spoke softly
“Jesse sleeps in the barn” Jimmy spoke, a little indignant that Rachel should be asking for special favours for the newcomer.
“Yeah Jimmy, but Jesse is… well Jesse and he asked to sleep in the barn, I think that Clarry should be sleeping in here.’ Rachel spoke
“You could keep a closer eye on him if he slept in here as well’ Lou spoke as she took her seat beside Kid again
“She has a point boys” Rachel spoke watching the idea take root in the boys minds.
--oo0000oo—
Clarry sat in the barn, absently listening to Jesse chatter about the Waystation inhabitants, trying to tell her that they really were good people, just a little wary of strangers. She had already worked that out for herself, but she was confused by her own reaction to Wild Bill.
She had spent the last two years hating him with every fibre of her being, convinced that he was a cold hearted evil man, with a heart of stone and the absence of soul. From the moment she had met him her perceptions of her sworn enemy began to change, he was a lot younger than she had expected and watching him smile and joke with the others at the supper table had turned the unknown man she had vowed to kill into a human being that she knew and liked.
She was roused from her reverie by Jesse shaking her as he sat beside her on the hay strewn floor.
“Clarry, Teaspoon was talking to you.’ He spoke watching her through narrowed eyes realising that she hadn’t been listening to a word he was saying.
“I’m sorry Marshall Hunter, I am a bit tired, I guess I just got distracted.’ Clarry tried to explain her rudeness
“Call me Teaspoon Clarry, everybody here does. I just wanted to apologise for the boys rudeness. They aren’t usually like this.’ He stammered a little not used to apologising for his boys
“I would be the same in their shoes’ Clarry spoke truthfully knowing that she was indeed speaking the truth.
“The first run is just before sun up in the morning, its Jimmy according to the roster, Jesse can show you what to do” Teaspoon spoke as he moved to the door of his tack room “I hope you two aren’t going to keep me awake all night talking.’ He walked into the room he called home, turning down the wick in his lantern, bathing the barn in almost total darkness.
--oo0000oo—
Jesse shook her gently the next morning, breaking her deep to sleep to show her what to do for the horses before they were to go on a run. Once he was sure that she knew what to do, Jesse quite happily went back to bed, Clarry led the beautiful big palomino out to the hitching rail, crooning gently to him as she stood with him, nuzzling against his face she reached up and scratched his neck, receiving a gentle whinny as her response.
“He likes you” a deep voice spoke behind her.
“He just likes the attention” she answered trying to hold on to her dislike of the man standing on the steps behind her.
“Oh he likes the attention alright, but he doesn’t usually talk to just anyone’ Jimmy stated as a rider approached and he mounted up. Taking the handoff of the Mochilla as a man who had done this job many times before, he spurred his horse off, waving to Clarry as his horse galloped from the way station.
Clarry stood watching, vowing that she would be true to her convictions and she would confront this man and kill him to avenge her brothers death, no matter how likeable he was.
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