Surrender

[DJ_Wordplay]

"I'm sorry, I've completely forgotten my manners. My name's Isabelle, Isabelle Bailey,"

Jack couldn't help but smile throughout the flustered young gal's little speech. His heart had sank somewhat when it was revealed that she wasn't wealthy enough to promise him some big reward for coming to her aid but, well, Jack was just as excited about the prospect of finding a young lass all on her lonesome with a wagon he could join on with. The undeniable fact that she was quite a pretty gal only added to Jack's interest. He met her hand with his own and gave it a quick shake.

"Johnathon Johnson, ma'am. But folks have taken to calling me Jack" he said as he broke the handshake. He gave the girl another look with a smile. Even disheveled from time spent in the woods, she was still quite a sight. Long black hair, full lips and what looked to be quite the figure.

"You kin keep any trinkets you might have, ma'am and the only book I ever had a taste for myself was the good book" Jack said as he turned his attention to the broken rear axle "Besides, it'd be downright unchristian of me to leave a lady in such an awful position"

Jack removed his waistcoat and ducked down near the wheels. It seemed to be a relatively simple brake, nothing a couple of splints couldn't fix until they made it to the next stop to get it fixed proper.

"Shoot, out here you got all manners of dangers. Cherokee, Shawnee, even a few Nez Perce stragglers. Savage folk" Jack couldn't help but give a little chuckle "Not to mention all them freed slavefolk. No, ma'am, this is certainly no place for a christian gentleman to leave a white woman all on her own. Those folks you were wagonin' with must have been snakes of the lowest order"

Jack made his way back to his horse to grab a couple tools for the job. He gave a look back to Isabelle who'd been watching him. Jack couldn't deny it, she stirred his lusts something fierce.

"I'll definitely take you up on your offer of protection for domestic services. I've been in the war and it's been going on 5 years since I've had a real homecooked meal"

 

[rvplymates]

[OOC: Sorry, but I thought that I'd said that Amy was a dog, but never mind].

As Clayton approached the campsite, he could see it looked like people were beginning to stir in their tents and that the camp was coming to life.
Of the various tents around, there only seemed to be a couple of people awake and up.
Even at a range of 50 feet or so, one of the people immediately caught his eye...a strikingly gorgeous young woman dressed in pants and a large shirt stood by the campfire.
Although weaponless, it looked as though she had strong, independent air about her and certainly no-one out here would be able to fend for themselves unless they were hardy and could look after themselves.

He whistled to my and she came bounding across the grass towards him, her tail wagging and yipping excitedly at the new company they had found.

"Hi!" he shouted across to her.
He motioned at the small dog beside him: "This here's Amy and my name's Clayton...we've been travelling a long time...d'you mind if we could maybe's stop here a little while and could maybe buy some of your food..? We'd be no bother to y'all".

He waited hopefully for a positive reply, but he knew that -if they had guns and decided to use them on him and Amy- out in the open, they would both stand no chance...

Julia blinked her eyes, her eyes focused, she knew she was in big trouble. She had seen two people instead of the one. She trembled as he approached but found her voice.

"You are welcomed to food, Mr. Clayton, your dog also but,

Julia hated to asked a stranger for help.

"I am not feeling well, would you mind making breakfast for both of us. I am alone and need a bit of help"

Her English accent overcame her southern drawl as she felt a wave of dizzyness.
After a moment she continued.

"You see, I placed the eggs and bacon there, more food is in the supply tent over there"

She buried her pale face in her trembling hands, she knew she had to get some food into herself soon.

 

[caela]

"Not to mention all them freed slavefolk. No, ma'am, this is certainly no place for a christian gentleman to leave a white woman all on her own. Those folks you were wagonin' with must have been snakes of the lowest order"

Isabelle couldn't help but to snort in a most unladlylike fashion at the mention of "christian gentlemen", after all it had been good christian gentlemen that had left her stranded out here in the first place. Still she agreed with him at least about those men being snakes.

"The women were nice enough. If not for them I wouldn't have lasted this long. It was the stores they gave me that allowed me to manage until now. It was the men that stranded me out here. The wagon trains leader didn't take it kindly when I passed on what he demanded as payment for fixing the wagon," she said in as straightforward a manner as she could muster.

Climbing from the wagon she watched as he examined the axle and smiled when he agreed to her offer of protection for cooking and mending.

"I'll definitely take you up on your offer of protection for domestic services. I've been in the war and it's been going on 5 years since I've had a real homecooked meal"

"Well I'm more than happy to cook. Mostly what you'll get Mr. Johnson is stew. I hope you like rabbit. I set a few snares and so it's fresh and the women from the wagon train left me plenty of vegetable to add to it..." her voice trailed off into a laugh as she realized she was rambling again.

Moving to the back of her wagon she rose on her toes and reached into it pulling out a ribbon and deftly tying her hair back into a loose braid before turning her attention back to her new companion.

"I'm sorry Mr. Johnson, I have a tendency to ramble. I'll hitch up the horses while you work, please let me know if I can be of any help."

With that she left and headed for the small stand of trees that had sheltered her horses through the night. The matched bays were lovely and probably the most valuable thing she owned but she hadn't considered them in the least when discussing payment with Jack. After all she couldnt' afford to part with them or she'd be stranded once more. Hitching them to the wagon she found herself hoping he was being fascetious before when he'd said the only book he was interested in was the "good book".

It was probably one of the few books she didn't have in her wagon. Not that she was going to openly advertise that.

Once the horses were hitched she grabbed her bags of foodstuffs and set about fixing a small lunch. Just some leftover rabbit stew and the last of the bread that she had in her back. By the time he was done with the axle she had the stew warmed over a small fire and a bowl ready for him.

 

[DJ_Wordplay]

"I'm sorry Mr. Johnson, I have a tendency to ramble. I'll hitch up the horses while you work, please let me know if I can be of any help."

Jack couldn't help but laugh a bit at this. He'd been called a lot of things in the past few years but Mr. Johnson hadn't been one of them.

"Well, ma'am. You can start by calling me Jack." He said as he rolled up his sleeves and began applying the replacement pieces to the broken axle. The work was not terribly hard but the hot Georgia sun was bearing down quite a bit. Throughout his work, Jack couldn't help but turn his attention towards the camp where Isabelle was making her stew. The smell was enticing enough, especially for someone who'd lived on hardtack and salted pork for the long days between towns, but as often as not it was Ms. Bailey herself who was the focus of his attentions.

Still, distractions aside, Jack managed to finish the work in a little under an hour which seemed to be well timed as the stew was prepared as he'd finished. He made his way towards the camp and undid his gunbelt before sitting down to join her. Taking the bowl of stew in hand and began to eat. It was good stew and certainly the welcome change in pace he'd been hoping for.

Jack put the bowl down and rubbed his chin in thought for a second. He hadn't shaved since he'd left Lewisburg and he'd accumulated a healthy amount of stubble.

"So Ms. Isabelle Bailey, if you don't mind me askin', what brings you west?" Jack asked, genuinely curious. Everything about the woman said she was from a very different part of society than Jack was and, as far as Jack knew, westward was pretty wild territory "Meeting up with a fellow who's gone out in search of his fortune?"

 

[macmillian]

surrender

I walked down the center of the road traveling inan eastern direction. A quarter of a mile I came upon a camp off the side of the road in a small meadow. I slipped into the woods and circled the camp and entered from the east with the sun on my back.

I could smell the cooking and the aroma of boiling coffee..

'HELLO in the camp! Can I come in. My camp is just back on the road. I was out hunting."

 

[CollegeRomantic]

Ava opened her eyes slowly, realizing that it was long past dawn. She bolted awake quickly, preparing to pack up her tent as soon as possible. Looking over, she saw that 'Kid' had left. She sighed, wondering where he had gone. She had little time to dwell on it, as there was work to be done and road to be traveled. Ava packed in little time at all, setting the saddlebag back on the horse and mounted.

Allowing curiosity to get the best of her, she wandered down to the point where she thought she spotted the other camp the night before. Much to her amazement there was a camp, with a few tents forming a circle around the fire pit. Someone was cooking breakfast. The lure of bacon and eggs was almost enough to make Ava's mouth water, but somehow she refrained and kept to her manners. Instead, she called out to the inhabitants.

"Uhm. Hello in there? Is there anyone home?"

 

[andygorn]

Clayton

Clayton had noticed that the lovely woman was in trouble and - moving quickly torwards her- he realised that he'd seen food deprivation before: One stormy winter's night, the family had given lodging to a lone traveller, but they had set out too soon and he was never heard from again.

Clayton gently helped her to sit down on a nearby log...
"Hey, now, take it easy little lady...we'll soon have something rustled up for you in no time, don't you worry about a thing."

He soon had the bacon and eggs on the fire (cooking for her first as she was the most in need) however, he knew that the food would take a little while to cook and she looked like she needed something now.
Taking his last large piece of salted beef jerky out of his backpack and offering it to her, he said:
"Chew on this...it might taste a little strong, but chewing will help to reduce the hunger pangs."
He sensed that she was a little hesitant about this, so smiling warmly at her, he jokingly added: "well, it's either this jerky or some chewin' tobbacco, but I don't figure you as a spitoon type of gal, so I figured you'd prefer this." and he waited for her reply.

 

[caela]

"So Ms. Isabelle Bailey, if you don't mind me askin', what brings you west?"..."Meeting up with a fellow who's gone out in search of his fortune?"

The question made Isabelle laugh gently and while she ate she continued to smile and answered, "No. There's no fellow. My father was a University Professor until the war. Then like most men he enlisted and was killed. Like him I'm a teacher but the Universities won't hire a woman to teach and the south is too busy starving right now to worry about teaching her children. I've ssen more than one ad in the papers for teachers needed out west and figured it was time to leave the sadness of the past behind and start life somewhere new."

Her voice trailed off at the end and her gaze had become distant in the way of people reliving memories. After a moment she gave her head a shake and smiled once more, "Don't mind me Mr...er, um, Jack," she stammered over his name and blushed slightly at the familiarity with a complete stranger. "Sometimes the bad memories creep up on me."

Finishing her stew she waited until he was done as well before taking his bowl and washing out both of them, drying them, and tucking them back away in her pack which she swung easily into her wagon.

"Shall we get started?"

 

[rvplymates]

Clayton had noticed that the lovely woman was in trouble and - moving quickly torwards her- he realised that he'd seen food deprivation before: One stormy winter's night, the family had given lodging to a lone traveller, but they had set out too soon and he was never heard from again.

Clayton gently helped her to sit down on a nearby log...
"Hey, now, take it easy little lady...we'll soon have something rustled up for you in no time, don't you worry about a thing."

He soon had the bacon and eggs on the fire (cooking for her first as she was the most in need) however, he knew that the food would take a little while to cook and she looked like she needed something now.
Taking his last large piece of salted beef jerky out of his backpack and offering it to her, he said:
"Chew on this...it might taste a little strong, but chewing will help to reduce the hunger pangs."
He sensed that she was a little hesitant about this, so smiling warmly at her, he jokingly added: "well, it's either this jerky or some chewin' tobbacco, but I don't figure you as a spitoon type of gal, so I figured you'd prefer this." and he waited for her reply.

Warm, strong, gentle hands suddenly were assisting her to a nearby log. She felt foolish and if she were stronger she would have protested but all she could do was let him manuver into a sitting position.

The smell of the food cooking peeked her appitite and sudden pains of hunger surprised her in it's strength. He approached her with some beef Jerky. She couldn't even raise her head to him as he spoke. She wondered how he knew she had hunger pangs. She hesitated taking his offering. Curiosity made her look up into his face. When he mentioned chewing tobacco she could not hold back her laugh. He pressed the beef jerky into her hand and she brought it to her lips and bit off a piece. And as she chewed she found he was right it did reduce the pangs she was having. She looked at him amazed.

"Thank you"

She watched him cook her food wondering if an angel had sent him to her.

 

[macmillian]

surrender

About the same time I had Hailed the camp, I heard a woman's voice also calling to the camp off the road. I was cutting across the field and the woman on horseback rode in from the road.

There was ayoung man cooking at the fire and to my surprise, Julia was sitting on a log nearby. I boldly walked into camp and the young man rose to meet me.

"Morning", I said, "I know the lady, I'm a friend, Alex Franks, an my party is just down the road." The young man was not sure of what to say or do, I continued.

"Hey Julia, you OK?" I quired.

About this time the woman on horseback pulled up a few feet away.

There we were, Four strangers standing/or sitting, looking at each other. It was a long moment before anything happened.

I went forward and knelt by Julia and took her hand.

"Julia, it's me Alex. You ok? What's the matter?" I asked the questions so fast, I didn,t give her a chance to reply.

The woman on horseback realizing something was wrong, slid out of her saddle and walk over to where Julia and I was.

 

[macmillian]

surrender

Luke "The Kid"...........

Luke had woke early and moving quietly, took his belongings and left Ava's tent. He put his equipment on his horse and led her out onto the road. He missed the frist camp completly , but by the time he reached the next camp, it;s people were up and moving around and cooking.

I slowly walked over to the camp and called out as I approached. I saw two women, one white and one black.

"May I come in? I am alone and I mean no harm to anyone." I raised my left arm and walked forward. I hoped they could see that I only had the one arm.

"Morning, My name is Luke. That coffee smells real good. Think I could get a cup?"

 

[icu1978]

jumping at the sound of the strangers voice jenny turned slightly to see how far he was from camp. realizing he was only a few feet away jenny pulled her nipple from the baby's still suckling lips resulting in a loud whail from him. buttoning her shirt and letting it hang on her she stood and faced the stranger.

she could see he was holding one arm in the air. the other seemed to be missing.
she silently held the baby and watched him for a few moments before exchanging glances with cassi who offered a slight nod.

calling out to the man she offered him a cup of coffe as she put the crying baby on her shoulder and softly pat his back. when he had stoped crying and fallen asleep jenny offered the man a smile. " my names jenny. this is my friend cassi. our other friend should be back any moment. he is just scouting about."

making it a point to let him know they where not alone out here on the road but had a man around to protect them if this man decided to do them any harm. she watched as he took a sip of the dark brew and noded his head in understanding. when cassi joined them with her hand hidden in the folds of her skirt. jenny stood and placed the sleeping baby in his sling that cassi had so carefully made for him.

 

[macmillian]

surrender

Luke............

I dropped my horse's reins, she was old, but she was well trained.

"Thank you. Coffee smelled awfully good. I had to stop. Hope you don't mind?" Accepting the cup, I took a tentative sip and nodded my head.

"Names' Luke Harrold, please excuse me for not tipping my hat." I set the cup down and removed my hat. "MY daddy always said to be courteous to all women. I beg your pardon!" I bent and retrived my cup of coffee and took a bigger sip this time and smilled.

"Very good coffee. Can't remember when last I had a cup. Thank's again." I draind the cup and handed it back to the black woman called Cassi.

"Mam, Mind if I wait for your man to return?" I addressed myself to the young woman that had held the baby. He looked like a right handsom boy. I picked up my hat. "Is there another cup in the pot mam?" I asked the woman holding my cup.

 

[icu1978]

"Names' Luke Harrold, please excuse me for not tipping my hat."
smiling jenny nodded her head "

that sat in silence as luke took another drink of coffee. "Mam, Mind if I wait for your man to return?" smiling jenny looked to cassi. " i think that would be alright. but he isn't my man. just my friend. alex and cassi saved david and i.. and well we just taged along with them after that." giggling at the look that cassi cast in their direction as she took the mans cup and refilled it.

jenny watched as he drank from his cup she found herself examening his profile. their seemed to be a heavey silence amoung the small group or could just be that jenny was the only one feeling it. she couldn't help but wonder when alex would be back.

slaping her palms against her thighs she looked to luke " how rude you must think us mr. harrold. are you hungry? we have a little breakfast left over and i might add that cassi here is the finest cook in all the land." looking at cassi she offered a smile.

 

[landiek]

"May I come in? I am alone and I mean no harm to anyone." I raised my left arm and walked forward. I hoped they could see that I only had the one arm.

"Morning, My name is Luke. That coffee smells real good. Think I could get a cup?"

Cassi nodded as it was just polite to offer a cup to another, she was still prompt to her manners.

" my names jenny. this is my friend cassi. our other friend should be back any moment. he is just scouting about."

Cassi went to the wagon and grabbed the short, it would be handy if things turned worse as often times robbers came into camps to scout the things they have before taking all there was. She was taking the precautions for the sake of Jenny and David. She let the gun slip into the pocket and brought a cup to the newcomer.

"Thank you. Coffee smelled awfully good. I had to stop. Hope you don't mind?" Accepting the cup, I took a tentative sip and nodded my head.

"I's reckon it's da Christ thing to do." Cassi replied as she moved casually about the camp her eyes every vigulant watching him

"Names' Luke Harrold, please excuse me for not tipping my hat." I set the cup down and removed my hat. "MY daddy always said to be courteous to all women. I beg your pardon!"

Cassi quickly realized that he dismissed her as a servant which suited her well as she moved the drying diapers to the nearby line she strung from tree to tree

"Very good coffee. Can't remember when last I had a cup. Thank's again."

"Your welcome." Cassi replied politely as she took the cup.

"Mam, Mind if I wait for your man to return?" At least he was here rather then out there which gave Cassi a slight good feelign of lessen reasons to worry.

" I think that would be alright. but he isn't my man. just my friend. alex and cassi saved david and i.. and well we just taged along with them after that."

Cassi shot Jenny a look as the story of Alex being her husband was just blown away. Yet there was nothign she could do about it and left her fury unspoken.

"Is there another cup in the pot mam?" I asked the woman holding my cup.

" how rude you must think us mr. harrold. are you hungry? we have a little breakfast left over and i might add that cassi here is the finest cook in all the land." looking at cassi she offered a smile.

Cassi went and poured another cup, handing it back to him then asked. "Have you ate.. I's can fix yore some eggs if yore hungry."

 

[macmillian]

surrender

Luke Harrold*******

"Thank you, something to eat would be fine". I turned, piced up the horses reins and walked her away from the fire area. I quickly hobbled her and removed the bridle and let forage in the meadow.

Returning to the camp, I took a seat on a crate and set my hat off to the side. Cassi was finished cooking and handed me a plate and a fork.

"Thanks.....But may I ask for a spoon.? I asked,"Haven't quite mastered this yet, doing everything lefty." They gave me a spoon and I ate in silence . The Black Woman went about cleaning up camp, pured me more coffee and then poured herself a cup. she emptied the remains and such into the fire and prepared another pot.

When I finished eating, I set the empty plate down and picked up my coffee. I slowly drank the dark brew and enjoyed the morning.

 

[icu1978]

jenny watched as cassi moved around camp in silence. feeling the energy change in the camp jenny's stomache began to hurt. she knew that cassi was angry but could not figure if she was mad at her or mad that the man was here.

when he left to hobble his horse cassi with her back to jenny prepared lukes eggs. whispering to cassi with a shaky voice jenny asked " cassi are you ok? did i do somthing?" when cassi did not respond to her she figured it was becuase luke was heading back. sitting in silence cassi's silence weighing heavy on her mind jenny tryed to think of everything she had said and then it hit her like a fist to the gut.


she had told him alex wasn't her man.... she had blown their cover. with a sigh and a pale face she turned to cassi. but was unable to say anything with luke sitting there. she could feel her eyes growing moist and turned from luke and cassi. with shaking hands she picked the baby up and stood. with shaking voice she anounced that she was going into her tent to take care of the baby's needs.

walking away from the warm fire jenny opened the tent flap and dunked in. sitting on her knee's she looked down at the sleeping baby.
she didn't know what she could do to fix the problem she had just caused.
thanks to her slip of the tongue she had put them all in danger. she layed david down and began stuffing her belongings into her little pack. she knew that cassi and alex would resent her and more than likely ask her to leave anyways she felt no need to let them see her tears too.

wraping the baby snuggly into his thickest blanket she through her pack over her shoulder and picked the baby up. peeking out the front of the tent she could see that the man luke was eating.

turning she sliped from the tent through the back where no one woould see her.
after walking for a few minutes by the road she sliped into the thick forest the was on eithor side of the muddy road. it was darker in the thick tree's than it was on the road and a chill seeped through her long shirt. holding the baby closer to her chest jenny kept walking. it was hard for her to tell but she figured she had been walking for an hour or a little more maybe. when david stired and began to cry. opening her shirt with out stoping she let her breast fall free and the baby hungerily took hold of her.

she couldn't beleive that it was only mid morning and already she had managed to ruin everything. her since of safetly had sliped from her very grasp with those little words. she had ruined everything for them all. but she knew that she would never be able to continue traveling with cassi and alex now not after she had blundered so badly. oh she knew that they where bound to be found out eventually. any woman worth her salt would know as soon as they seen cassi and laex togethor. they fairly burst into flame when they where near each other. and you can not mistake the looks they give each other or how they touch when ever possiable. yes indeed it was bound to be discovered. and jenny knew it the moment alex had told her of his plan.

shaking her head jenny looked around her for once realizing she was completely alone and with out protection. and she found herself growing angry.. andgry that her husband would dare to leave her and their new baby alone out in the middle of no where. that he would die on her like he did. biting her bottom lip until she tasted blood and tears ran down her cheeks she stoped and leaned against a large tree. oooh what kind of woman was she. blaming her husband for being attacked and murdered in cold blood and ruining cassi and alex's plans. crossing her legs she looked down at her bright eyed son who was suckling contentedly from her breast. " oh my by your mommy has destroyed it all. * sigh* what am i to do now." sitting back she let her legs rest. when david closed his tiny eyes and sliped into a deep slumber jenny again got up and began to walk. she had no idea where she was going but one way was as good as another.

 

[landiek]

"Thank you, something to eat would be fine"

While he tended to his house she listened to Jenny. She wanted to talk but wasn't sure how to say anything with their company so close by.

" cassi are you ok? did i do somthing?" Jenny asked.

Cassi set to work preparing a meal for their guest and when he returned she handed him the plate with a slight smile. "There be more if yore still hungry."

"Thanks.....But may I ask for a spoon?" I asked,"Haven't quite mastered this yet, doing everything lefty."

Cassi obliged and let the man eat in peace while she cleaned things up. In her mind idle hands were something that got whacked off. Then when there was nothing to do she took and filled herself a cup of Joe.

"Are yore kinfolk from these parts?" Cassi asked trying to be friendly as her ear twiched listening for the sound of Jenny and David returning. Yet deep in her belly she felt a growing knot and wished that Masser Alex would return soon.

 

[andygorn]

Clayton was just about to introduce himself to this lovely lady when he heard a shout and a tall white man came striding into the camp.

He heard the man say: "Morning, I know the lady, I'm a friend, Alex Franks, an my party is just down the road", but the sight of the man's armoury of pistols and long-rifle made Clayton pretty nervous.

He didn't quite know what to say: The man said he knew the woman, but -then again- she would not be the first innocent, alone, woman he had seen who a heavily-armed white man had claimed to know.

He was going to move towards the pair, when another woman came riding into the camp, dismounted and moved over towards them.

Amy scampered across the site, yipping excitedly at the sight of new people.
Picking her up into his arms, he kissed her face and whispered softly "Yeah, happy to see you too, girl...not sure if all'a these folks is friendly, though..."

Sticking to what he knew -and feeling a bit pushed out of this scene already- he looked briefly at the horse which the lady had been riding...'not a bad-looking creature', he thought.

Turning back to the people and walking slowly towards the group with Amy in his arms, he asked (a little nervously): "Hey, what's going on...are we all friends, or what...? Well, my name's Clayton..."
...and he waited for a reply...

 

[rvplymates]

Clayton was just about to introduce himself to this lovely lady when he heard a shout and a tall white man came striding into the camp.

He heard the man say: "Morning, I know the lady, I'm a friend, Alex Franks, an my party is just down the road", but the sight of the man's armoury of pistols and long-rifle made Clayton pretty nervous.

He didn't quite know what to say: The man said he knew the woman, but -then again- she would not be the first innocent, alone, woman he had seen who a heavily-armed white man had claimed to know.

He was going to move towards the pair, when another woman came riding into the camp, dismounted and moved over towards them.

Amy scampered across the site, yipping excitedly at the sight of new people.
Picking her up into his arms, he kissed her face and whispered softly "Yeah, happy to see you too, girl...not sure if all'a these folks is friendly, though..."

Sticking to what he knew -and feeling a bit pushed out of this scene already- he looked briefly at the horse which the lady had been riding...'not a bad-looking creature', he thought.

Turning back to the people and walking slowly towards the group with Amy in his arms, he asked (a little nervously): "Hey, what's going on...are we all friends, or what...? Well, my name's Clayton..."
...and he waited for a reply...

"Alex, it is good to see you again. You shouldn't worry about me so. My good friend Clayton is taking care of me right now"

She had heard the stranger say his name and latched onto it like a lifeline. Julia looked at him meaningfully. She hoped he would back her up.

"I was feeling a bit under the weather as my friend and I crossed the country and he has taken good care of me. All I want to do right now is rest with Clayton by my side. Once I feel better, we will catch up with you"

She held out her hand to the stranger praying that he would not fail her.

 

[CollegeRomantic]

Ava felt a tad out of place, as clearly the people at this camp all knew each other. "Uh, I do hate to intrude, if you are not headed west, I do not wish to bother you and will be on my way. I was just inquiring as to your destination and if you had encountered anyone who is travelling west on this particular road..." She smiled, feeling more and more awkward by the moment.

Never really a 'people' person, Ava looked around, blushing slightly. She wondered idly if she had stumbled upon a camp of cannibals. There was a party that tried to cross west some years ago that had succumbed to cannibalism. Maybe this group had succumbed a bit early...

 

[andygorn]

"Alex, it is good to see you again. You shouldn't worry about me so. My good friend Clayton is taking care of me right now"

She had heard the stranger say his name and latched onto it like a lifeline. Julia looked at him meaningfully. She hoped he would back her up.

"I was feeling a bit under the weather as my friend and I crossed the country and he has taken good care of me. All I want to do right now is rest with Clayton by my side. Once I feel better, we will catch up with you"

She held out her hand to the stranger praying that he would not fail her.

Clayton gave a long, smiling look back into Julia's gorgeous eyes (recognising her meaning straight away).
He put Amy back on the floor and gave her a slice of bacon to keep herself occupied with (Amy giving her soft little play-growls of contentment as she happily ate).
Then he took Julia's soft, white hand in his slightly rough, black one and held it gently; still smiling, he turned to look at Alex and -still holding Julia's hand- said:

"Yeah, we've both had a tough time of it lately, especially Julia, what with the storms and...other things..." [Clayton gives a gentle, yet noticeable, reassuring squeeze to Julia's hand as he says this].

Clayton looks at Alex and the unknown lady, genuinely yawning slightly before saying:
"Nothing personal to you both, but, if you don't mind, we could both REALLY do with some rest about now."

Turning to Julia and looking deep into her eyes, he respectfully (yet with a hint of mock-admonishment which could, perhaps, indicate something a little more than mere passing acquaintance) says:
"Speaking of which, little lady, I think perhaps YOU should go back to the tent, I'll bring our breakfast along shortly and then we can both get some shut-eye."

...Clayton waited for Julia's response...

 

[landiek]

It was too quiet for Cassi as she sat and enjoyed her cup of coffee. Every once in a while she would gaze over towards Jenny's tent watching for her to emerge and when she didn't that bothered Cassi even deeper in the gut.

"Yore gonna have to excuse Miss Jenny... she's powerfully touched.. some union jacks kilt some of her kinfolk... she.. she don't remmer that Masser Alex is her husban... we's headin west... Miss Jenny has more kinfolk.. we's hopin her mind will heal.... It's hard.. what with the new baby and the war... folks hurt all inside." Cassi hoped that Luke would buy her story as Cassi rose and strode to Jenny's tent.

When Cassi emmerged faster then she went in, the face told everything. This was not good in her mind and she hated having to leave camp to look for Miss Jenny with a stranger. Deep down Cassi hoped Masser Alex was near enough to hear the gunshot as she pulled the gun from her pocket and fired a shot in the air.

"Please Masser Alex.. come back quick.. I's fear Miz Jenny done do something bad." Cassi prayed in a hushed whisper unable to hold back the tears.

 

[macmillian]

surrender

I stand, helping Julia raise to her feet and then turning twords Clayton.

"Glad to me you, My name is Alex, and this lady indicating the woman who had just arrived I do not know. Mam, I and my party are heading west, I am Alex and we are glad to make your acquaintence" I tip my hat as Clayton helps Julia over closer to the fire and the food He was cooking.

"It looks as Miss Julia is going to be alright," and I turn towards the other woman and was going to ask her name when I hear the single gun shot. I froze and listened again. Nothing..........

The others all looking intently at me, thing that the shot was somekind of signal.

"Clayton, That was from my camp. Keep everyone here and off the road. Mam, you stay here too please. I promise I will be back, and Julia will tell you I mean no one any harm." I picked up my rifle and started out running towards my Camp...

All Kinds of things raced through my mind as I ran. Were they attacked, was there an accident. Why the gun shot Why Why I ran even faster. It was not fast enough as my mind raced ahead of me.

Leaving the road I see Cassi and a Stranger standing by the fire, the strangers back to me.

*********************************************************

Luke talking with Cassi

Luke...."What is the matter Mam! Why you shoot up into the air? I didn't do anything wrong. Did I? What's the matter?

 

[landiek]

...."What is the matter Mam! Why you shoot up into the air? I didn't do anything wrong. Did I? What's the matter?

"no no taint yore doing..... Miz Jenny done run off... " Cassi wept fearfully. "I's hopin Masser Alex done be close enough to find her."

Cassi looked past Luke and saw him. Without a word she shuffled past Luke and rushed to Alex's arms. "Miz Jenny.. she slipped away.. I's done somethin.. I's swear I didn't mean to.. Miz Jenny is out dere.. please please Masser Alex.. finds her fore somethin bad happens.."