A BETWITCHING MOON
By: Suzy B.
Chris and Josiah watched from their post in front of the jailhouse as a wagon rattled into town, the horses pulling it lathered with the sweat of a long run.
"They're sure in a hurry," Josiah's deep bass rumbled. They both stood to greet Pickering as he jumped out of the wagon as it rolled to an abrupt stop in front of them.
"What can we do for you?" Chris asked.
"You can find my daughter," he said, his voice filled with fear and anger, his face tear stained. A young woman sat in the wagon sobbing. "Please, Mister Larabee. Get my daughter back from them!"
"From who?" Chris frowned.
"Why don't you start at the beginning folks?" Josiah asked.
"Those heathen gypsies. They stole my baby!" she wailed.
"Did you see them?" Chris pushed his hat back and watched the parents closely.
"No," the man stated. "They didn't want us to, but we know they did it."
"How do you know?" Josiah probed.
"They need little children for their heathen rituals," he spoke. "Don't let them sacrifice my baby!"
"There isn't gonna be any sacrificing." Chris exhaled, mulling through the options.
"When did you last see her?"
"Last night when we tucked her in," the mother spoke. "They stole her when they hid the moon!"
"They didn't do that, Ma'am," Josiah tried to explain. "That was an eclipse."
"Everyone knows they did it," she shook her head wildly, refusing to listen. "They did it so they could steal our children and kill our cattle."
"That's nonsense ma'am." Josiah shook his head.
"Why don't you both go home and wait there...just in case they decide to bring her back," Chris said, his voice filled with sarcasm. "In the meantime, we'll do what we can to find her for you."
Nathan stood beside the fire gently stirring the cauldron filled with water almost ready to boil. Rain moved silently between the rows of cots that held the bulk of her village, comforting the sick as best she could. Seeing Nathan rubbing the back of his neck wearily, she moved to stand behind him and allowed her fingers to gently massage the knot of muscles at the base of his neck.
"What's wrong Nathan?" she murmured.
"I have no idea how to help, Rain," he whispered. "I'm no doctor. I've tried everything I know, but nothing seems to be helping them."
"You are helping them," she stated. "They are better than they were yesterday."
"But they're not improving. My herbs are only making them more comfortable." He shook his head. "If I could only work out what is making them sick."
"You will," Rain murmured, leaning forward to press a gentle kiss against the base of his neck. "I know you will." She began to move amongst the sick once more, comforting them whatever way she could.
Walking their horses slowly into the gypsy encampment, JD and Buck were uncomfortably aware of the eyes that watched them from every direction.
"My daughter tells me you want to see us," a heavily accented voice said as a large swarthy man stepped from one of the garishly colored caravans.
"That's right," Buck spoke with a nod. "My name's Buck Wilmington. This here is JD Dunne." JD responded with a gentle nod of his head, tipping his fingers to his hat brim. "We're two of the peacekeepers in these parts."
"We have not broken any of your laws, have we?" he frowned as he reached the bottom step, his fisted hands firmly on his hips.
"None," Buck spoke. "We just wanted to introduce ourselves."
The gypsy considered them both for a long minute before he stepped forward and extended a hand to Buck.
"I am Joachim Trjanejkic." He grasped Buck's hand in a tight handshake. "Please let us welcome you to our home."
Even as he spoke, the people who had been watching from the shadows and the inner sanctum of the caravans began to filter into the campsite. JD watched carefully, his eyes scanning the people who were rapidly filling the campsite for Danella. Finding her suspicious violet gaze, he looked away, a light flush of embarrassment staining his cheeks.
Ezra sat astride his mount watching as Vin pored over the ground, leading his horse by the reins.
"Really, Mr. Tanner," he sighed. "Why don't we make our way back to town and resume this little excursion at a later date?"
"Ez, we're gonna find the wolves before we go back."
"Why did I know you were going to say that?" Ezra rolled his eyes as he answered. Hearing the rapid approach of a horse, he turned to watch. "It seems we have company."
"Yep." Vin swung into the saddle and sat, his hand resting on his weapon as they both watched the new rider approaching.
"It's Miss Wells," Ezra announced as she drew closer. "What are you doing out here, my dear?"
"Chris sent me to find Buck and JD at the waterhole," she answered breathlessly.
"What's wrong?" Vin asked quickly.
"Louisa Pickering is missing," she replied. "Her papa thinks the gypsies took her. Chris wants Buck and JD to help in the search."
"That would explain the tracks I've been seeing," Vin mused.
"Please Miss Wells, don't let us keep you." Ezra smiled. "We'll keep a lookout for the youngster. I'm sure she's out here somewhere."
"I'll tell them," Casey said as she spurred her horse into action and rode away at a hectic pace.
"What did you mean that would explain the tracks?" Ezra turned on his companion.
"Xactly what I said, Ez," he murmured as he began to follow the tracks that were clearly visible only to him.
"And when are you planning on letting me in on the secret?" Ezra retorted, gathering up the reins.
"No secret, Ez," Vin shrugged. "It just makes sense is all."
"Of course it does." Ezra sighed and resumed his task of following the tracker in silence.
Chris and Josiah watched from their post in front of the jailhouse as a wagon rattled into town, the horses pulling it lathered with the sweat of a long run.
"They're sure in a hurry," Josiah's deep bass rumbled. They both stood to greet Pickering as he jumped out of the wagon as it rolled to an abrupt stop in front of them.
"What can we do for you?" Chris asked.
"You can find my daughter," he said, his voice filled with fear and anger, his face tear stained. A young woman sat in the wagon sobbing. "Please, Mister Larabee. Get my daughter back from them!"
"From who?" Chris frowned.
"Why don't you start at the beginning folks?" Josiah asked.
"Those heathen gypsies. They stole my baby!" she wailed.
"Did you see them?" Chris pushed his hat back and watched the parents closely.
"No," the man stated. "They didn't want us to, but we know they did it."
"How do you know?" Josiah probed.
"They need little children for their heathen rituals," he spoke. "Don't let them sacrifice my baby!"
"There isn't gonna be any sacrificing." Chris exhaled, mulling through the options.
"When did you last see her?"
"Last night when we tucked her in," the mother spoke. "They stole her when they hid the moon!"
"They didn't do that, Ma'am," Josiah tried to explain. "That was an eclipse."
"Everyone knows they did it," she shook her head wildly, refusing to listen. "They did it so they could steal our children and kill our cattle."
"That's nonsense ma'am." Josiah shook his head.
"Why don't you both go home and wait there...just in case they decide to bring her back," Chris said, his voice filled with sarcasm. "In the meantime, we'll do what we can to find her for you."
