Story (Demon Hunters) The New Spectrum Goddess

[gonewacky]

Chapter Two – The New Spectrum Goddess



When they returned to Dention Kathy took Sophia to her room in the Hotel. Kathy put her on the second-floor by the stairs. Then Kathy pulled the chamber pot from under the bed. Sophia had never seen one, and had no idea what it was. Kathy explained what it was for and how it work. Sophia was going through culture shock. With no cars and no electricity it seemed like the Stone Age to her. She had to learn a whole new way of life.

Then Kathy started setting down the ground rules, and explaining who is who. She told her who could know about them, and that they had to hide their powers from everyone else.

That’s when Suzy walked in with a dress. Handing it to Sophia she said, “Here I got this dress at the store. Put it on. We can’t have you walking around looking like that. Kathy get rid of those tennis shoes. We can’t let anyone see that. I’ll take her to the store to get shoes, and then to see Mable to have some dresses made.”

Kathy informed, “I just explained that Albert was the Sheriff and James was the Deputy.”

Sophia smiled, “That is the Hang men and Time Lord, and how about that Indian woman I saw when we came in?”

Kathy explained, “That’s Henry Zimmerman the Stable Master’s Wife Origin. Henry is part owner of the Hotel. Henry and Origin live at the Boardinghouse, but Origin makes Soda Bread for Henry here every day.”

Suzy insisted, “We’ll take you there for dinner on Sunday. Oh that dress fits you good. You’ll have to walk barefoot to the store to get shoes. Are you ready to go?

Nervously Sophia asked, “Is there a bathroom, or do I have to use an outhouse?”

Kathy smiled, “You live in the only building in town that has a bathroom. I’ll show it to you on the way out.”

Sophia sighed, “Oh good I thought I would have to use that pot and carry it out.”

Suzy giggled, “Dang Kathy she’s young. She looks like a teenage girl.”

Kathy replied, “That’s because she is Suzan. Now let’s get going.”



At the Store the bell over the door was still ringing as Sophia blurted, “Oh crap look at this place. It’s like Little House on the Prairie. No candy bars, no chips, heck I don’t even see any popcorn.”

Emily’s voice rang out, “Oh I have Popping Corn. It’s 5¢ a pound. Do you want some?”

Kathy replied, “Shure, we have to start somewhere.”

Suzy added, “She needs some Shoes too.”

Emily replied, “You know where there at Suzan. You can have her start trying them on. I’ll weigh up the Popping Corn.”

Kathy talked to Emily as she weighed the Popping Corn, “This is Sophia. She’s going to be here for a while. Then she’s going to live with her ant in San Francisco. Anything she wants just put it on my bill.”

Emily looked over at Sophia and said, “Nice to meet you Sophia. I’m Emily.”

Sophia replied, “Me too Emily.”

After getting shoes they went across the street to the Dress Shop. Inside Sophia met Mable, and got measured for a dress. Kathy and Suzy stepped out the door to talk.

Suzy revealed, “She looks so young like a kid.”

Kathy insisted, “I think they did that on purpose. They picked someone young because she’s going to be working with children. You know we don’t age, and she’ll look like that until a higher power does something. Remember when you led the animals away from the fire? Jim and Rebecca told me they made you a 13 year old girl.”

A tear slipped down Suzy’s cheek as she cried, “I loved that Bear. I rode it you know.”

Kathy wiped the tear away whispering, “I know you told me.”

Just then Sophia came out of the Dress Shop announcing, “She said three days. She was excited about her Sewing Machine, and how fast she could do it.”

Suzy smiled, “Yep, it would have taken two to three weeks before she got the Sewing Machine.”

Kathy asked, “You want to go to the Horseshoe for lunch?”

Sophia asked, “Is Suzan going with us?”

Kathy explained, “No, She’s going to go to the Boarding house with Jim, Albert, and Henry.”

Suzy added, “Don’t forget about Mable she will be going there too.”

Kathy went on, “We’ll have to get my husband Seig on the way. He doesn’t know what we can do, so you can’t say anything around him either.”

Sophia complained, “All of the who knows and who doesn’t know is getting confusing.”

Suzy replied, “It will come to you in time Sophia. Just don’t talk about it, and you’ll have nothing to worry about.”

Kathy saw Jim, Albert, and Henry walking up the boardwalk and said, “See you after you eat Suzy?”

Suzy replied, “No. I promised I’d help Victoria with dinner, but James and I will be down after dinner for popcorn.”



After dinner Jim and Suzy walked down to the Hotel. On the way Suzy requested, “Would you take Sophia to the future to get some butter? Being from the future she’s going to want butter on it. Get the one pound block kind.”

Jim replied, “Sure. Why?”

Suzy went on, “I need her to understand who you are. Make sure you tell her if she wonts to go somewhere in time you’ll take her.”

Jim smiled, “I got it covered sweetie.”

Sophia was standing by the door watching for Suzy and Jim. When they got there she opened the door wide and announced, “The guests have arrived.”

Kathy was standing by the stove and Seig was sitting at the table. Jim looked at Kathy and blinked his eye. Kathy walked over and put her hand on Seig’s head and said, “Sleep.”

Seig passed out and Kathy let his head down to rest on the table. Then looked at Jim and asked, “What did you need?”

Jim replied, “I’m taking Sophia to get butter for the popcorn. Sophia give me your hand.”

Sophia hesitantly put out her hand. Jim took it and they disappeared. They appeared in the back of a Wal-Mart and Jim asked, “This look more like your time?

Wide eyed Sophia replied, “Nooo.”

Jim smiled, “Oh, well this is a little over forty years in the future from your time. Let’s go over here to the dairy section. I just want you to know I’m like the Taxi Driver for the team. If you want to go somewhere in any place or time I’ll take you there.”

Sophia stopped and looked at Jim, “Could you take me home to my mom?”

Jim hung his head and disclosed, “I’m sorry it’s forbidden, but we could talk to an overseer. There might be a way, but I can’t do it.”

 

[gonewacky]

Jim picked up the butter as Sophia asked, “Who’s an overseer?”

Walking to the checkout Jim explained, “They’re the ones we get our orders from. Njal is like our General, and then there is the Ninja Warrior Princess. She guides us with everything to do with children and Love. The last one is Artemis. She has power over all the animals, and she helps us with anything that has to do with animals. Then above them are the Angels. We just stay out of their way and let them do whatever they do. Angels answer only to the Supreme Being that rules over all things.”

After paying Jim and Sophia walked out the door and disappeared. Reappearing at the Hotel Jim handed the butter to Suzy. She opened it and removed the rapper. Set the butter on a plate, and put the box and wrapper in the cook stove. As the flames shot up from the box she exclaimed, “Oops there goes the evidence.”

They laughed as Kathy put her hand on Seig’s head and said, “Wake.”

Seig sat up and uttered, “I must be more tired than I thought. I think I started to nod off.”

They all took turns shaking the pot, and made the Popcorn. Suzy melted the butter and poured it on after each batch. Soon they were sitting around enjoying the popcorn telling jokes. Soon the light of day had gone, and they all headed their way. Once outside the door Jim blinked him and Suzy to their room.

Kathy and Seig went to bed, and Sophia went to her room. Later that night Dreamer came to Kathy in a dream. He showed her Sophia crying in her room, and said, “Awake Goddess the child needs you.”

Kathy sat straight up in bed. Then she went to check Sophia. Kathy found her sitting on the edge of her bed crying. Her elbows were on her knees and her face was buried in her hands. Kathy sat next to her and laid her hand on her back. Kathy couldn’t help herself and read Sophia’s mind. Sophia was filled with fear, sorrow, and worry. She was thinking of home, and didn’t want this life. Kathy didn’t know what to do, as she wanted to come. Kathy thought about herself and that it was amazing that she had powers, and when she first came to this place. She never thought of going back. She just didn’t know what to tell Sophia.”

Finely Kathy asked, “Is there anything I can do.”

Sophia whimpered, “The Time Guy said he couldn’t take me. He said I had to talk to some General called Njal.”

Up at the boarding house Jim jumped from the bed and shook Suzy saying, “We have to get dressed Dreamer came to me. He told me Kathy needs us.”

Jim slowed time and got dressed in a flash.

Back down at the Hotel Kathy Stood from the bed, and took Sophia’s hand.

Then she pulled her to her feet saying, “Then I’ll take you to Njal, but first we need to put the team together. I’ll teach you how to call for help. Watch this and listen to the words. By the power of Njal I command Jim to appear.”

Then Jim appeared in front of them saying, “You summoned me.”

Kathy replied, “I sure did. Now Sophia you do it just like I did it. Say, By the power of Njal I command. Then add Suzan to the end and say to appear.”

Sniffling Sophia called out, “By the power of Njal I command Suzan to appear.”

Suzy appeared next to Jim saying, “You summoned me.”

Kathy insisted, “Answer her Sophia, and call Albert.”

Sophia said, “I did.”

Then she cleared her throat and called out, “By the power of Njal I command Albert to appear.”

Albert appeared three feet above the floor in his long johns. Dropping to the floor with a thud Jim put his foot on Albert and they disappeared. They returned in a flash and Albert was fully dressed complaining, “This new Goddess is a pain in the…”

Seeing Sophia staring at him Albert apologized, “Sorry Sophia I wake up grumpy some times. Are we hanging someone?”

Kathy replied, “Nope, we’re going to see Njal.”

Albert grumbled, “Oh great,” as Kathy called, “Njal!”

In a flash they were all standing in front of the nine foot giant Njal on a beach with the sun setting. Colors of the rainbow reflected from the clouds as Njal hit his axe on the beach. The sand rippled out in all directions, as Artemis and the Ninja Warrior Princess appeared.

Then like thunder ringing out Njal’s voice echoed, “I understand child. You think you don’t belong here.”

Njal held out his hand and called, “Bird!”

The Crow materialized on his arm and he ordered, “Show Sophia my servant.”

The Crow flew to Sophia’s head and her eyes rolled back in her head and turned black. Her body shook violently, and she rose up above the sand enough that her feet could not touch. After some time she stopped shaking and lowered back to the sand. Slowly her eyes turned back to normal and she held out her hand. The bird flew to her arm, and Sophia petted the bird and whispered, “You know everything Bird.”

Njal kneeled down on one knee to be closer to Sophia’s level and asked, “Do you wish me to send you back child?”

Sophia whispered, “No sir. There is nothing there for me but death. The reword would be great, but here I can help others get their reword.”

Njal stood and announced, “Then let it be known any Spectrum Goddess can join with any Love Goddess. It’s been my desire to see a Spectrum Goddess join with the Polar Bear someday. Now Artemis has something to say to Sophia.

Artemis looked to Sophia and declared, “You need to know that if they breathe, they live. If they live, they think. If they think, they feel. Just like you. I know you understand this. That’s why I give you the Sparrow as your spirit guide. In time you’ll understand why.”

Then a Sparrow appeared and landed on the Crow’s back. The crow took flight with the Sparrow riding on it. Then they both vanished as the Ninja Warrior Princess stepped forward. She pulled her sword and touched the blade to Sophia’s head, and little flickering stars started shooting from Sophia’s body. Then the stars exploded in the air with little flashes as the Warrior Princess announced, “I bestow the power of the Warrior to thee. You shell fight with courage and bravery. Yet be Loving to all.”

Then Njal flicked the blade of his axe, and a high pitched tone rang out as they appeared back in Sophia’s room. Sophia dropped her head and apologized, “I’m sorry I put you through that.”

Albert laughed, “I thought it went great. Njal didn’t turn me into a dog or something, and he never scolded me once. What did the Crow show you Sophia?”

Sophia smiled, “You know what the Crow shows you is between you and the crow.”

Jim snickered, “Yes Sophia we all know that.”

Sophia stood proud and announced, “Let’s just say I understand now. This is my new life. From now on I will know how special I am, and the honor it is to be a Spectrum Goddess. There are only two of us in the entire universe, and I get to be one. You have any idea how that makes me feel.”

Kathy smiled, and Suzy said, “You go for it girl! I think the Crow showed her things we’ll never understand, but I’ll tell you one thing. A Spectrum Goddess has no power without a Love Goddess. That makes me special too. Now come over here and get some Love.”

Suzy made a ball of bright flashing colored light, as Jim took Albert’s arm and exclaimed, “Let’s go home. These girls are getting into them self’s.”

Jim and Albert disappeared and appeared on the porch of the boardinghouse.

Albert asked, “What about Suzan?”

Jim explained, “She can fly home. I’ll wait out here for her. You can go back to bed.”

Albert replied, “After I make a stop at the outhouse.”

Then Jim fell asleep on the porch waiting for Suzy.



The next morning Victoria was starting the fire in the woodstove. That’s when she saw Jim sleeping in her chair on the porch. Suzy awoke from the sound of Victoria in the kitchen, and got up like any other day. Coming into the kitchen Victoria asked, “Is everything all right with you and James? I see he’s sleeping on the porch.”

Suzy smiled, “It’s all good Victoria. He just fell asleep out there, and I didn’t have the hart to wake him. I thought he would wake up and come to bed. I guess he must have been real tired.”

Victoria started the bread, and Suzy started the pancake batter.

 

[gonewacky]

Down at the Hotel Seig was shaking Kathy, “Hay sweetie did you forget I was going hunting this morning. I want to get to the creek by day break. Hopefully I can catch a deer coming for water.”

Kathy opened one eye and said, “Get the stove going. I’ll be right in.”

Seig replied, “I Already did that. Stove is ready to go.”

Kathy replied, “Alright I’m coming. Just let me get something on.”

Kathy was making the pancake batter, and Seig was over helping the stable boy saddle up a horse. Putting the pancakes on the table Kathy saw Seig wrapping the rains over the hitching post. Seig came in and took two cakes as Kathy pored him some coffee. Picking up the Jam Seig said, “The jam is getting low. Maybe you should start making some sugar-water syrup.”

Kathy replied, “I’ll take Sophia to the store today and get some more.”

Then a Hotel guest came from down the hall. Kathy asked, “You want a pancake Mr. Farrelley?”

Mr. Farrelley asked, “Do you think I can get an egg with that?”

Kathy asked, “How do you want that egg?”

Mr. Farrelley requested, “So the yolk runs out on the pancake when I cut into it.”

Kathy replied, “I’ll do my best.”

Mr. Farrelley went on, “I couldn’t ask for more darling.”

Kathy smiled, “You leaving today Mr. Farrelley?”

Mr. Farrelley revealed, “Right after I eat. I have to be in Lambert by noon.”

Setting the plate in front of Mr. Farrelley Kathy saw Henry and Origin kissing in front of the livery. Then Origin headed to the Hotel. At the same time Sophia came down the stairs. Looking over Kathy said, There is a cold pancake on the table from Seig’s breakfast. You can take it out on the porch and fee it to your bird, and I’ll make you a fresh one.”

Taking the pancake Sophia announced, “Make it two please.”

Kathy asked, “How about you Mr. Farrelley?”

Mr. Farrelley replied, “I’ll take another.”

On the porch the Sparrow landed at Sophia’s feet and chirped. Sophia tore off a peace of the pancake and tossed it down for the bird. Origin passed saying, “I see we have a friend. Does he have a name?”

Sophia replied, “Not yet. I guess we need one.”

After feeding her little bird Sophia went inside. Origin was making her Soda Bread, and Mr. Farrelley was leaving. Kathy was sitting at the table eating a pancake and looked up, “Sophia that’s your plate across from me. There is some jam in the jar to spread on it. You can eat it with a fork, or roll it up to eat.”

Sophia replied, “You mean like a burrito?”

Kathy asked, “What’s a burrito?”

Sophia explained, “It a round bread that is real thin. Not even half as thick as a pancake. You make it big the size of a frying pan then you put things in it and roll it up. Then you eat it like a sandwich.”

Origin butted in, “You talk funny. Where are you from?”

Kathy answered, “She’s from a land far way in a different time.”

Sophia asked, “Are you an Indian? You look like one.”

Origin smiled, “I a white woman, but I raised by Indians. Now I horseman’s wife.”

Kathy explained, “She is married to Henry that owns the livery across the street.”

Kathy stood and said, “Let’s do the dishes so we can go to the store.”

Origin spoke up, “You go, I do.”

Kathy smiled, “Why thank you Origin. Let’s go Sophia.”

They walked down to the store. A man at the counter was getting some chewing tobacco and Kathy could tell he had a Demon in him. Kathy watched him as he left, as she thought this is not the place or time for this.

Then Emily ask, “What do you need Kathy?”

That snapped Kathy out of her thoughts about the Demon. “I need to get some Jam.”

Emily informed, “Hank just got in some peach Jam from California, but it’s expensive. It cost twice what the grape Jelly cost. I still got a few of Miss Isabella Eicherman black berry Jam from last year.”

Thinking of the Demon Kathy mumbled, “I’ll take one of each.”

Emily replied, “Alright it’s your money.”

Gathering the jars Emily asked, “How do you like it here Sophia.”

Sophia said, “It’s nice, but it’s quite.”

Emily declared, “Tell that to the crickets. The things carry on all night.”

Sophia answered, “I meant I thought there would be cowboys riding around shooting off guns, and stuff like that.”

Emily laughed, “Albert would never let anyone getaway with something like that. He’d have them in Jail so fast they wouldn’t know what happen.”

Kathy was keeping an eye on the Demon. It kept looking at Sophia through the window as he put the chewing tobacco in his mouth. Then Emily said, “That will be a $1.00.”

Kath snapped out of her thoughts and said, “What?”

Emily said, “I know Kathy. It was 25¢ for the black berry Jam. 20¢ for the grape jelly, and 55¢ for the peach. That peach Jam is expensive.”

Kathy dropped a silver dollar on the counter and said, “Seig’s worth it.”

Emily laughed, “That should be a lesson Sophia. Stay away from a man with a sweet tooth.”

Kathy insisted, “You can carry the jar of peach Jam. I don’t want to be the one to drop it.”

Outside the store Kathy looked for the Demon, but he was gone. They passed Jim and Albert on the way. They were heading to the store to get a pop and sit on the bench. Back at the Hotel they saw Origin brushing a horse in front of the Livery. It was just another morning and a quiet day in Dention. Kathy took Sophia out behind the Hotel to teach her some things.

Kathy twirled her finger in front of her making a spinning rainbow. Then she shot it with a little spark, and the center opened up. You could see Sophia’s room in the hole in the swirl. Kathy took Sophia’s hand and said, “Let’s go. Now jump.”

They landed in Sophia’s room, and the swirling rainbow with the hole collapsed to a speck and flickered out. Kathy said, “You can’t travel through time or anything like that with this, but you can go from one place to another. You just have to have been there so you can picture it in your head. Now you try it. See if you can take us back to the water-tower.”

Sophia twirled her finger in front of her making a spinning rainbow. Then she shot it with a little spark, and the center opened up. They could see the back of the Hotel in the hole, and they jumped through. Then the hole collapsed to a speck and flickered out. Sophia smiled, “Far out! Like that’s cool. Thanks Kathy.”

Kathy assured, “Don’t thank me. That comes from a higher power.”

Sophia remarked, “It’s getting hot today.”

Kathy replied, “Yep, I think it’s going to be another scorcher.”

After learning a few more things they went back in the Hotel. Henry and Origin were at the table cutting the Soda Bread. Henry inquired, “You ladies want me to cut you a peace?”



Later that afternoon Sophia complained, “I guess there is no air conditioning in this time.”

Kathy asked, “What’s air conditioning?”

Sophia explained, “That’s a machine that makes cool air.”

Kathy suggested, “We have a few ways to cool down. Out the other end of town is the swimming hole. All the school kids will be there. The other is to go see Hank. He has an Icehouse out back of the store. He might let you sit in there, but you can get sick doing that. What I do is go down to the bridge over the creek. It’s just past the Livery and Blacksmith Shop. There’s a path that goes down under the bridge. You can sit in the shade under the bridge, and put your feet in the water.”

Excited Sophia exclaimed, “I’m going.”

Kathy replied, “If Seig comes back. I’ll have him watch the Hotel, and I’ll come join you.”

 

[gonewacky]

Sophia headed out stopping to talk with Origin in front of the livery on her way. Origin revealed she had just returned from doing the same thing. Then Sophia was on her way. As Sophia approached the bridge she saw the man from the store. He turned and looked at her and she felt a strange feeling. Then she saw a strange dark shadow inside the man. Sophia mumbled softly to herself, “I think that is a Demon inside that body.”

Then the Demon spoke in an earie deep voice, “You’re mine little girl. Come to me.”

Sophia froze. She didn’t know what to do, as the Demons eyes turned red and he walk towards her. Her little bird started flying all around chirping. He was getting close and Sophia tried to call for help, “I command Kathy to appear.”

But nothing happened. Then she called out, “I command Suzan to appear! Why isn’t it working? I command the Time Lord to appear.”

Nothing seemed to work and the Demon was putting out his hands going for her neck. Her little bird flew down and hit the Demons ear. Then hundreds of little birds appeared swooping down at him. The Demon was flailing his arms all around, but still coming. Out of fear Sophia yelled, “Njal!”

Time stopped, and the birds froze in the air like they were hanging from an invisible string or something. Then Njal appeared and knelled down on one knee next to Sophia and spoke softly, “I saw what was happening. I know you tried hard to do the right thing. Let me help you. Your power comes from the Supreme Being, but it comes through me. I know all that you do, so you have to use my name for somethings. To stop time say, “By the power of Njal I command time to stop.” Now you say it.”

In a shaky voice Sophia said, “By the power of Njal I command time to stop.”

At the boarding house Victoria had gone to the outhouse, and Rebecca was sitting at the table watching Bella. She was crawling around and Suzy was in the kitchen. Then Bella froze, and Rebecca announced, “Suzy, time just stopped.”

Back at the bridge Njal went on, “Now you just stopped time. You need to make a cloud and put it on the Demons head. You can do it. You have courage and bravery and you are a Warrior.”

Sophia held out her hand and a swirling black cloud turning in on itself appeared in her hand. It got bigger and bigger until it was the size of a basketball. Then she slammed it on the Demons head, and it came to life. Then the Demon started yelling and spinning around trying to get it off, but it moved with him.

Njal softly explained, “Don’t worry he can’t hurt you. Now you need to call the Love Goddess. She has the fighting power and let her put the team together. Now I’m going to go. We don’t need to tell anyone I came, but don’t lie, and remember by the power of Njal.”

Then Njal hit his axe handle in the ground and disappeared, and Sophia called out, “By the power of Njal I command Suzan to appear.”

Back at the boarding house Rebecca watched Suzy disappear. Then she looked at Bella froze on the floor and mumbled, “Looks like something is happening.”

On the bridge Suzy appeared seeing the Demon flailing his arms around yelling, and spinning around trying to get the cloud off. Looking to Sophia Suzy asked, “You stopped time?”

Sophia replied, “I did.”

Suzy went on, “You put a cloud on its head?”

Sophia insisted, “I did.”

Suzy responded, “Good job Sophia.”

Then Suzy shot the demon with a lightning Bolt, and it started squealing and howling. Then Suzy called out, “By the power of Njal I command Kathy to appear.”

Then Kathy appeared and saw the cloud on the demons head and asked, “Did you do that Sophia?”

Sophia replied, “That’s what I do? Right?”

Kathy smiled, “We need a hangman. This one is pure evil.”

Jim and Albert were sitting on the bench in front of the store when time stopped. Jim was taking a drink of his pop when Albert said, “All the people on the board walk are froze in place. It looks like time has stopped.”

Jim said, “I wonder who did it.”

Then he disappeared appearing with Kathy, Suzy, and Sophia. Suzy ordered, “Get Albert and the truck.”

Jim blinked out and appeared next to Albert. Jim grabbed Alberts arm and blinked out again. Appearing in front of the truck Jim pulled Albert to his feet as Albert complained, “Dang it James, you can at least let a guy get to his feet before you blink him out.”

Jim declared, “I’m sorry, but we have a Demon to hang.”

Without a word Albert got on the running board on the driver’s side, and Jim got on the running board on the passenger side of the truck. Grabbing ahold of the mirror Jim blinked the truck to the bridge. Albert jumped into action yelling, “Truck on. Clutch pedal in Winch P.T.O. Reverse High, Clutch out.”

Then he took the end of the winch cable and pulled it up over his shoulder. Then Albert pulled the cable to the Demon as it twisted, turned, and spun around. Whiping the cable over the Demons head Albert commanded, “Clutch pedal in Winch P.T.O. High, Clutch out.”

The cable snapped tight and the winch groaned under the strain as the Demon fought it. It grabbed the cable kicking, spinning, and whipping around. Albert yelled, “Clutch pedal in.”

Then put his foot on its neck and asked, “You want to try to cast it out Suzan?”

Suzy went to the demon and made a bright flashing colored ball of light, and slammed it into the Demon’s chest. Then she held her hand tight to the Demon’s chest as she ordered, “Back to hell with you Demon.”

The demon kicked its legs and whipped its arms wildly. Suzy stepped back and exclaimed, “Oh Yah its pure evil. Hang the thing Albert.”

Albert commanded, “Clutch out.”

Then he let up his foot and walked along side of the Demon as he commanded, “Back to hell with you Demon.”

Then a black cloud in the shape of a hideous monster rose up into the air. It was twisting around as it made a squalling sound. Then it was sucked into the ground.

Then Kathy ordered, “Sophia clap your hands.”

Sophia clapped her hands, and the cloud disappeared from the demons head. Albert looked back and asked, “Who caught it?”

Kathy and Suzy pointed to Sophia and Albert announced, “Not bad Girl. I think we got a Demon Hunter in our mist. Let’s go see Wind Walker and Bird Man.”

They all gathered in front of the truck. Then Suzy threw a ball of bright flashing colored light in the air, and shot it with a lightning bolt. Thousands of little flashing stars rained down on them as Jim blinked them out.

Appearing at the farm in 1984 they were met by Wind Walker the Indian Love God. Looking at Sophia Wind Walker commented, “So the girl saw her first action.”

Albert blurted, “Saw hell. She captured the damn thing.”

Wind Walker yelled, “Hay Bird Man. We have a first out here.”

Bird Man appeared from the house with a camera questioning, Okay who gets their picture taken with the Demon.”

Suzy pointed to Sophia and Bird Man ordered, “Well get over and put your foot on it.”

Sophia put her foot on the Demon and Bird Man snapped the picture. Then Albert and Wind Walker drug the Demon body to the barn.

Jim grumbled, “Well that is another two hours lost. It looks like dinner is going to be late tonight.”

Sophia asked, “What do you mean James?”

Jim explained, “Well you stopped time and it’s still stopped, so all the time we spend doing this. We’ll have to relive when we get back. It will still be the same time as when you stopped it.”

Sophia dropped her head and said, “Sorry James.”

Suzy declared, “Don’t let him get to you Sophia. He’s a Time Lord and can blink anywhere at any time and get something to eat.”



That’s it until next time. Joe

 

[feralferret]

Wacko, thank you!

 

[gonewacky]

I hope you all find this chapter here. I think this is the thread I’m going to use for this part of the story. Like all my stories I have to set the plot first, so hang on the wreck is coming. You can’t start a story with the wreck. You have to know how they ended up in the car in the first place. Okay I got drunk and passed out in the back seat. Then someone stole the car, and I awoke when we crashed.

Hope you enjoy the story Joe

 

[gonewacky]

Chapter Three – Spectrum Goddess in Training


It was a bad night in the Boarding house. It was three in the morning and Bella had been crying none stop all night. Finely Albert insisted that Rebecca take her outside. Rebecca took Bella to the back porch and sat in Victoria’s chair. Suzy awoke from the noise. Jim rolled over and said, “You think we should do something about it? Bella’s been caring on all night.”

Suzy replied, “Get dressed we’re going to the future. I can’t stand listening to her suffer any longer.”

Soon Jim and Suzy were standing on the porch. Rebecca looked up and insisted, “I don’t know what to do. She’s teething again and the cold washcloth isn’t working. She just spits it out. I know it’s not because she doesn’t get enough of snuggling and hugs. Everyone here is hugging and snuggling with her nonstop.”

Just then Origin walked out on the porch. Looking at the blanket laid over Bella Origin asked, “Did you try the Indian trick?”

Rebecca pulled back the blanket and Bella was wrapped tight in her baby blanket as she replied, “I’ve been holding her under my arm between Albert and I when we sleep, but it seems nothing is working.”

Suzy insisted, “James take me to Wall-Mart.”

Jim took Suzy’s hand and they disappeared. Then in a flash they were back. Handing a little box to Rebecca Suzy asked, “What did Bella weigh last time you saw the Doctor.”

Rebecca replied, “I don’t know. Patrick told Hank his potato scale was off, but he did say fourteen and a half pounds.”

Suzy smiled, “That’s the doctor picking on Hank because he charges him to use the scale. See here where it says 12 to 17 pounds and 6 to 11 months. You fill the Syringe to the 1.25 mL mark. You open the box and I’ll show you.”

Rebecca opened the box as Bella bellowed nonstop. Suzy took the Syringe and opened the bottle of liquid and filled it to the mark. Then she showed it to Rebecca, and started squirting it in Bella’s mouth a little. Bella started choking on the medicine a little, but got her breath back. Suzy kept squirting it in a little at a time. It must have tasted good, because Bella stopped yelling and started sucking the Syringe.

When it was gone Bella went back to carrying on. Suzy explained, “It will take a little time, but it should work. Now keep this hidden in your room, and don’t let anyone see it.”

Jim went back to his room, and Suzy and Origin stayed on the porch with Rebecca. Origin insisted, “I think no wont baby. Not now. Too much… what is the word?”

Suzy whispered, “Trouble.”

Origin said, “Yes, Trouble. I like fun part. No like crying.”

Rebecca laughed, “You’re very young Origin. That will change when you feel something move inside of you.”

Origin replied, “Boy. Horse man say only boy.”

Suzy snickered, “Origin Henry will take whatever you give him.”

Origin was insistent, “No! He say only Boy baby.”

Suzy pointed to Bella and said, “Listen to that. Isn’t it like music? That is a wonderful sound.”

Origin insisted, “No, no, bad sound.”

Suzy made a little ball the size of a pea and looked at Rebecca. She nodded and Suzy let it roll off the end of her finger onto Bella’s head. Bella immediately stopped crying and was sniffling trying to stop. Suzy bent down using baby talk and said; “Now that’s better isn’t it. We just needed a little Love to go with the medicine.”

Rebecca smiled, “Oh thank you Suzy. I thought I was going to go insane.”

Suzy whispered, “She’s falling asleep. Maybe you better take her back to bed and see if you can get some sleep yourself.”

Rebecca went back into the boardinghouse with Origin right behind her. Suzy sat in Victoria’s chair and smiled, “I know you’re here. I can feel you. Show yourself.”

Sophia faded back and asked, “How did you know?”

Suzy replied, “There is a connection between a Love Goddess and a Spectrum Goddess. You see you have no power without a Love Goddess. I’m pure LOVE, and when I put Love in you I’m putting a part of me in you. We can also join together into one person and get super powers. So does Kathy know you came here?”

Sophia admitted, “No I’m just all wound up from that Demon thing yesterday. It seemed most of the people lived here. The store lady, the dress lady, the livery man and his wife, the Sheriff, and you and James all live here. I thought I could just make myself invisible, and come down here. I wanted to practice opening windows in the doors and see what was inside, but everyone was getting up and moving around. I had to keep getting out of everyone’s way. The dress lady came out of her room three times in just the last hour.”

Suzy insisted, “It might be my fault Sophia. I might have over amped you after the fight. I’ll try to do a better job, so do you want to go flying?”

Sophia asked, “Can we do that?”

Suzy replied, “Sure. We’ll just go out into the yard.”

In the backyard Suzy took Sophia’s hand and shot up in the air, as little flickering stars surrounded their hands. The stars exploded in the air with little flashes as they flew over the town. Sophia watched as they were joined by the Crow and her little Sparrow. Suzy rolled over so they were flying on their backs. Looking at the stars Sophia said, “Our birds come out at night to fly with us.”

Suzy replied, “A spirit guide will follow you wherever you go at any time. That’s their job. The sun is coming up soon. Let’s see if we can fly up high enough to see it.”

Suzy shot straight up into the sky. Sophia boomed, “Look how little things are getting. The river down there looks like a string lying on the ground.”

Suzy informed, “That’s the Great Columbia River down there. Oh look the other way. Here it comes.”

Suzy came to a stop so they could watch the sun rise up over the Rocky Mountains. Then she dropped them down to watch it come up again. Sophia exclaimed, “Wow this must be what it’s like seeing this from a Jet Plane. Only it’s better. Can we swap to my left hand? I want to try something.”

Suzy took Sophia’s left hand, and Sophia twirled her finger in front of her making a spinning rainbow. Then she shot it with a little spark, and the center opened up. You could see Sophia’s room in the hole in the swirl. Suzy was amazed, “Wow! Did Kathy teach you that?”

Sophia replied, “She sure did. Now if we fly through it real slow we’ll be in my room.”

Suzy flew slowly through the hole in the swirling rainbow. Then the hole collapsed to a speck and flickered out. Landing on the floor Suzy’s jaw dropped open. Then Suzy said, “Do it again.”

Sophia explained, “I can only open up a portal to another place, and have to have been there to do that. I can’t open one through time or anything like that.”

Suzy insisted, “I don’t care. Do it.”

Sophia warned, “Kathy told me I can’t let anyone in town see me do this stuff. How about I open one to behind the Hotel?”

Suzy insisted, “That’s fine. I just want to see you do it again.”

Sophia said, “All right I probably need the practice anyways.”

Sophia twirled her finger in front of her making a spinning rainbow. Then she shot it with a little spark, and the center opened up. They could see the back of the Hotel in the hole, and Sophia took Suzy’s hand. With little flickering stars surrounding their hands they jumped through. Then the hole collapsed to a speck and flickered out. Sophia smiled and asked, “Did I do it good?”

Suzy shook her head, “I never saw anything like that before. I didn’t even know Kathy could do that. We need to start going to the playground more.”

Sophia asked. “What’s the playground?”

Suzy explained, “It’s a place in the woods where we go to practice what we can do. We did stop time and do it out in the street, but that is too dangerous. I blew up one of Henry’s fence posts, and blew a big hole in the road. Oh yah and I killed a tree that was where the Hotel is now, so now we go to a place in the woods to train. I guess we need to start getting out so you can see more places.”

Just then the back door opened and Kathy stepped out, “What are you doing out here so early?”

Suzy spoke up, “Bella’s teething again. The Boardinghouse has been up all night, so I took Sophia flying. Then she was practicing something I’ve never seen before. Why haven’t you ever showed me you can make a portal?”

Kathy yawned, “Oh that. I just never need it. I always have James take me. You can’t go through time or anything with it. It’s only good to move around with, and people can see it so you can’t use it much. Come in I’ll get the coffee going.”

Walking down the hall Suzy made a ball of bright flashing colored ball of light and pushed it into Kathy as she explained, “I over amped Sophia yesterday and she was up all night too.”

Kathy proclaimed, “So I’m the only one in town that got any sleep last night.”

Suzy replied, “Looks that way. We need someone to watch the town anyway.”

Sophia said, “After going flying I’m wide awake. If you charge me up good I’ll walk around town watching things. Then if Kathy comes down to the store we can sit on the bench, and watch the town like the Sheriff and Deputy does.”

Kathy suggested, “Maybe you can over load her a little. Then she could fade out and do it that way. No one would see her, and nothing ever happens here anyway.”

Suzy pushed Love into Sophia and smiled, “Yah like when the store got robbed, and what happened to Mable. Did you forget about The Rosco Brothers, and the den of Witches that’s around here somewhere?”

 

[gonewacky]

Kathy agreed, “Okay things happen here, but not very often. Whoa how much are you going to charge her up?

Pushing even more Love into Sophia Suzy replied, “This is the last one.”

Sophia remembered something the Crow told her, “Oh my dear child you have no reason to fear. Don’t you know you’re a Demon Hunter? Nothing can kill you. Evil might stop you a little, but you have more power behind you than you could ever imagine. You are powered by pure Love, and that little spark you shoot is pure Love. It has the same power that a Love Goddess has, because it came from a Love Goddess.”

With this thought Sophia asked, “Do you think if I held out my palm of my hand I could shoot a ball like a Love Goddess.”

Kathy replied, “That could be possible, but it would most likely drain you to nothing.”

Suzy hypothesized, “I think it would be more like a huge lightning Bolt.”

Sophia questioned, “Do you think it could cast out a Demon?”

Suzy and Kathy looked at each other. Then shook their heads and said, “Don’t try it!”

Kathy insisted, “If we try that it would have to be at the playground with all of us there. You never know what might happen when you try new things. Suzy and I almost burned down the forest with something like that. We made little stars rain down shooting out little lightning Bolts. It started a fire everywhere one landed. No it’s not a good idea to try new things when we’re not altogether.”

Suzy smiled, “Good thinking Sophia I’ll put it on our list of things to try.”

Kathy opened the door to the fire box on the woodstove and asked, “Isn’t it about time you head back Suzan?”

Suzy replied, “I was thinking about flying, but Victoria might be up by now.”

Excited Sophia asked, “You want me to open up a portal to you room?”

Suzy asked, “I thought you said you had to have seen it to do that.”

Kathy informed, “No one’s around go ahead Sophia.”

Sophia twirled her finger in front of her making a spinning rainbow. Then she shot it with a little spark, and the center opened up. You could see Suzy’s room in the hole in the swirl as Sophia explained, “I opened up a window in your door when I was there.”

Suzy blurted, “Why Sophia you’re a Peeking Tom.”

Sophia exclaimed, “Sorry. Quick jump!” and gave Suzy a little push.”

Suzy landed in her room with a simile, as the hole collapsed to a speck and flickered out.

Jim sat up in bed and inquired, “What the hell was that? I could see into the Hotel Lobby. Then it looked like you jumped from there to here. I saw everything. I saw Kathy at the stove and Sophia pushing you through that thing”

Suzy informed, “Yah, Kathy has been holding out on us. She showed Sophia how to make a portal form one place to another.”

Jim asked “They can do that? Dang! That’s amazing.”

Suzy advised, “I’m going to help Victoria.”

Then she slipped out the door.



In the kitchen Suzy talked with Victoria and asked, “How did you sleep last night?”

Victoria insisted, “Good, I slept like a log. Why?”

Suzy informed, “Bella’s teething again. She kept everyone up all night.”

Victoria wondered, “I’ll have Emily check with Hank and see if he ever got in that spice. I asked him to try to get some last month when Bella carried on so. Cloves straight out of the can will make your mouth numb.”

Suzy gave her thoughts, “I think she’s getting her first molar. She’s over a year old and it’s that time.”

Victoria Replied, “I know she’s starting to walk too. I’ve seen her pull herself up using a chair, and take a few steps before falling down. I’m sure she’ll be wobbling around here in no time.”

Suzy revealed, “I’m going to hold off on the pancake batter until I see who gets up. Jim and I slept most of the night, until Rebecca came down to the porch with Bella. That’s right outside our window you know.”

Victoria snickered, “Sorry, but better yours than mine.”

Suzy smiled, “I understand.”

Emily came staggering in, “I think I’m it. Thank God she stopped. She’s a Demon child is what she is. I don’t think you’ll see anyone until noon. That is if the Demon child doesn’t have another attack. I’m going to the store then sleep there. Hank will have to run things.”

Victoria informed, “Bella’s teething. Can you see if Hank got some of the spice I asked him about?”

Emily asked, “Is there coffee? Please say there is.”

Suzy smiled, “Coming right up.”



Down at the Hotel Kathy sat next to Seig and across from Sophia as they ate. Seig informed, “I think I’ll go out to James and Suzan’s Homestead to hunt today. Then I can check on Charlie and Patty.”

Kathy replied, “Maybe that will bring you some luck.”

Seig went on, “I’m going to go get a horse, and head out. Can I get a kiss?”

Kathy pushed back her chair, and gave Seig a kiss as she pulled him down to her lap. That kiss was so intense it made Sophia clear her throat, so Kathy let Seig go.

Sophia commented, “You better get out of here before something else happens.”

Going out the door Seig mumbled, “Isn’t that the truth.”

Across the street at the Livery Seig met with Lyle the stable boy. “I think Henry and Origin are going to be coming in late today. Albert’s baby kept everyone up all night.”

Lyle explained, “I assume James won’t be around either. Mr. Brown came in to get a team this morning. He’s over at the Horseshoe waiting for James. You think…”

Seig butted in, “Sure I’ll go get Charlie and Patty for you. I was going out there anyway.”

Lyle replied, “Thanks Seig.”

Then Seig hopped on the horse and rode off.



In the Hotel Kathy requested, “Well let’s do the dishes. Then you can get off to checking things out.”

Sophia inquired, “Is that all James and Albert do is hangout in the Jail and walk around town. Then sit in front of the store and drink Pop?”

Kathy explained, “Oh no, sometimes there working over at the Blacksmith Shop. Albert is also the Blacksmith.”

Sophia marveled, “Wow he wears a few hats, he’s the Sheriff, Blacksmith, and one of the owners of the Hotel. He must be rich.”

Kathy replied, “No, we don’t measure wealth by how much money we have. What makes you rich is how much Love you give. You see the more you give the more you get back. Now if you want to know who has the most money in town it would be me. Next would be Suzan, and then Hank the store owner. Now the richest one around here doesn’t live in town, and that is Mr. Hanson. He’s a Cattle baron, and everyone knows him.”

Sophia’s mouth dropped open, “If you’re so rich why do you work here?”

Kathy laughed, “I just told you. Rich isn’t about money. I have a room in the Boarding House. I could stay there and have all my meals cooked for me, and just sit around waiting for something to happen. You and I both know that’s not life. That’s just an existents. What would I get from that? Nothing! Here I’m living.”

Sophia didn’t quite understand coming from a rich family. She never had the Joy of earning something. She had never had to go without and save and wait to get something. Kathy however never had anything just given to her. From the time she was eight years old she had to carry a water bucket and save to get anything. Now that the Time Lord was selling her Silver Dollars for hundreds, and buying gold with the money. Kathy was rich, but she didn’t feel that way. She was still Kathy. It’s just that now as Suzy would say Stinking.”

Kathy inquired, “So tell me what you’re going to do?”

Sophia explained, “I’m going to walk down to the Saloon. Then cross the street and come back. I’ll be watching people along the way, and learning what and how people do things in this time.”

Kathy replied, “Good, and if you see someone doing something wrong?”

Sophia revealed, “Go to the Jail and wakeup Albert and tell him.”

Kathy insisted, “Now if it’s something real bad. Like with a gun or someone is in danger stop time. Then call one of the team. It don’t matter who you call. Just call one of us.”

Sophia asked, “If they have a gun should I put a cloud on their head?”

Kathy disclosed, “No! Don’t touch them either. If their Demon possessed they will come to life if you touch them. It’s the same with the cloud. It will make them come to life. You can touch people when time is stopped, and they will come to life. But they freeze as soon as you stop touching them, but a Demon stays alive once touched. It is the same with the cloud, and if they have a gun they could start shooting wildly. Then that would be dangerous. Not right away, but when time started the bullets would fly. Oh never mind, just call someone. You need a lot of work yet.”

Sophia smiled, “Okay, I’ll just walk to the other end of town and back. Then we’ll go to the store and get the Pop. Right?

Kathy blurted, “Just go.”

Sophia went to the Jail first. Slowly she opened the door enough to see Jim and Albert sleeping in the bunks in the cell. Then she eased the door shut. She walked to the front of the Horseshoe and looked in the windows. She saw Orla poring coffee in a man’s cup. Next she stopped at the Barber Shop the Barber was getting ready to shave a man.

Her next stop was the store. There was a wagon with a team parked out front. The door was propped open and a lady was at the counter with a little boy.

Sophia went to the door to listen.

 

[gonewacky]

Mrs. Bigs gave Hank her shopping list and asked, “Would you get Bobby a Peppermint Stick.”

Hank replied, “I think he likes the Root Beer ones. How about it Bobby what do you want?”

Bobby replied, “Yes sir the Root Beer’s the best.”

Hank got the stick candy from the jar and gave it to the boy. Bobby’s mother insisted, “Take your candy and go wait in the Wagon.”

Bobby took the candy and headed out the door. Sophia stepped back to let the little boy pass. Then she went in the store to listen.

Mrs. Bigs explained, “It's just that since his father died. He's never made many friends. He's always invented his own.

Hank assured, “Why, it's harmless. Most all children with an imagination do it.”

Mrs. Bigs went on, “But this time he's done it, and it's not harmless,

Hank started gathering her order as he listened. “All around town they're calling my boy a liar.

Hank turned his head, “A liar, at his age?”

Mrs. Bigs continued, “Well, he started by telling his sister. But little girls can't keep a secret. Pretty soon, it was all over the school. Now, he insists it's true. Hank could you make him understand how bad lying is, and what it will lead to if he keeps it up. He'll believe you. He thinks you're the greatest man in the world.”

Hank inquired, “Well, what is it Bobby's lying about?”

Mrs. Bigs insisted, “Bad, ugly, wicked things. About A monstrous man and woman who live in a strange secret place. He said that it’s somewhere outside of town, and at night they go out and rob and murder. Do you see why I've come to you for help?”

Hank asked, “Can you tell me anything more about these monsters?”

Mrs. Bigs replied, “This man and woman that Bobby thinks he's seeing? I think you'd better hear it from Bobby.

Hank informed, “Well, I'll do what I can Mrs. Bigs. Just so long as you realize it's a little out of my field of knowledge.”

Mrs. Bigs insisted, “Just so long as you make Bobby realize what lying leads to Hank.”

Sophia stepped out of the way to let Mrs. Bigs go to the door. She yelled, “Bobby, can you come in here for a minute.”

Coming in the door his mother instructed, “Bobby Mr. Stein wants to talk with you.”

Hank smiled, “Hello, Bobby. I heard you were telling a story.”

Bobby insisted, “I didn't mean to tell anybody Mr. Stein.”

Mrs. Bigs pointed out, “I thought it was best you tell Mr. Stein.”

Hank kneeled down next to Bobby.

Bobby acknowledged, “Gee, Mr. Stein, I never been this close to you before. Wait till I tell them at school I was with the Mayor, and you called me by name. Except they'll think I'm lying.

Hank whispered, “Well, Bobby, I don't understand about all this. I'd like to know more about it.”

Then Hank looked to Mrs. Bigs and asked, “Would you mind if Bobby and I took a walk alone?”

Mrs. Bigs scolded, “You'll tell Mr. Stein the truth. Won't you, Bobby?”

Hank insisted, “Let’s go.”

Bobby replied, “If you want to.”

Sophia couldn’t help herself. She had to know the outcome of this story. Being invisible and watching something like this was like an interactive movie to her. Sophia followed close behind listing to every word.

Bobby exclaimed, “I don’t believe it’s you and me walking down front street Mr. Stein.”

Hank said, “Sit down on the edge of the Boardwalk Bobby. I’ll just stand here in the street. It’s okay if you call me Hank Bobby. You know your mother's worried about you. Now, I don't want to keep at you…”

Bobby butted in, “You think I'm a liar. Don’t you Mr. Stein?”

Hank insisted, “Well, it depends. I haven't heard your tall tales yet.”

Bobby demanded, “They're not tall tales.”

Hank questioned, “They're not?”

Bobby declared, “Little Bird is real.”

Hank said, “It is?”

Bobby demanded, “She! She is.”

Hank asked, “Well, who is "She," Bobby?

Bobby said, “An Indian.”

Hank mumbled, “Well?”

Bobby whined, “Don't you believe me?”

Hank insisted, “Well, what you haven’t told me anything outside of the fact that Little Bird's an Indian?”

Bobby went on, “Her folks don't have time for her either. You know why?”

Hank asked, “No, why’s that Bobby?”

Bobby complained, “They're too busy going outside of Dention at night to a special place. Then killing people dead and taking money off their bodies. They don't want Little Bird to know what they're doing. But I've stayed and watched them count the money.”

Hank asked, “What are you trying to tell me Bobby? That Little Bird's mother and father murder and steal? And that you watch them count the money they've stolen?”

Bobby kept going, “More than that Mr. Stein Little Bird and I followed them. We went all the way out to this place on the road. We hid in the brush and watched.”

Hank asked, “Watched what?”

Bobby insisted, “Watched them jump out of the sky and kill the man. Then they took his money, and...”

Hank stared at Bobby, “And what Bobby?

Bobby admitted, “I don't know what they did with the body. Little Bird and I always got away, so they wouldn't know we watched.”

Hank demanded, “Now, how is it none of these robberies and killings have been reported to the Sheriff Bobby?”

Bobby stuttered, “Uh, I don't know Mr. Stein.”

Hank ordered, “Stand up, Bobby. Come on over here and stand beside me. I don't believe a word you've said.”

Bobby looked intensely at Hank. “You don't?”

Hank insisted, “No, I don't. I think what they say about you is true. I don't blame them.”

Bobby vowed, “I'm no liar Mr. Stein. I could show you except it would hurt Little Bird.”

Hank barked, “No, you couldn't, because you're lying about the whole thing.”

Bobby offered, “I would show you. If you'd give me your word of honor you wouldn't say or do nothing about what you saw. Don't tell her mother and father, because that would hurt Little Bird.”

Hank revealed, “Well, I… I couldn't do that.”

Bobby said, “Then I can't show you, Mr. Stein.”

Hank uttered, “That’s what I thought. I'd better go Bobby.”

Bobby whined, “Yes sir?”

Hank loaded Mrs. Bigs goods in the wagon. Then she got Bobby and they headed out. Sophia got on the back of the wagon to find where the boy lived. For some reason Sophia believed the boy’s story. She felt she had to help him somehow.



Back at the Hotel Kathy was starting to wonder about Sophia. She went out and looked down the street, but there was no sign of Sophia. She did see Henry and Origin were at the Livery, but no sign of Sophia. Kathy knew no one could see Sophia but herself, so she couldn’t ask anyone. She had no choice but to look herself. She started walking down the street. She crossed the street and went by the Blacksmith Shop first. Then headed up past the Clerk’s Office. Then she went by the Assessor’s Office to the Dress Shop. She stopped and looked through the window for Mable, but the place was empty. She continued past the Freight Office and crossed the street to the Saloon and headed down the other side. Then she spotted Sophia walking towards her.

Sophia stopped and waited for Kathy to get to her. Kathy stopped and Sophia said, “Boy do I have a tale to tell you.”

Kathy looked around and said, “No one’s around. Go ahead and fade back.”

Sophia faded back and went on, “There is this little boy Bobby and he saw something, but no one will believe him.”

Kathy butted in, “Let’s get a Pop and sit in front of the store and you can tell me all about it.”

Walking in the store Hank announced, “Good afternoon Ladies.”

Kathy informed, “This is Sophia Hank.”

Hank replied, “Emily told me about you. Hope you’re enjoying your time here. What can I do for you Ladies?”

Kathy said, “We’ll have two Pops.”

Sophia added, “Make mine an orange.”

Hank stopped and turned around, “I’m sorry this isn’t San Francisco. I don’t have any Oranges. If I did ship some in here they would be so expensive no one would buy them.”

Kathy elbowed Sophia and she smiled, “Then it’ll be the Pop.”

They got their Pop and went out front to the bench. Taking a seat Kathy explained, “I know, I’ve been to the future, but here there is only one flavor. It’s Ginger ale or nothing.”

Sophia admitted, “I know. It’s just going to take me some time to figure it all out.”

Kathy inquired, “What about this wiled tale you were going to tell me?”

 

[gonewacky]

Sophia told Kathy all about Bobby, and the story she heard him tell. Then she told how she got on the back of the Wagon, and followed them to their house.

Kathy responded, “I think you just got a Journey Sophia. Now we should go tell Albert about this. He is the Sheriff after all.”

Sophia tipped her bottle up drinking the last of the Pop and replied, “I’m ready.”



Down at the Jail Jim was sitting at the desk and Albert was still asleep in the cell. Then Kathy and Sophia came in the door. Looking at Jim Kathy said, “Albert’s still asleep uh.”

Jim replied, “Yep it was an all-nighter for him.”

Kathy went on, “Sophia’s on a Journey and needs to talk to Albert about it.”

Albert’s voice rang out from the Jail-Cell, “I’m awake just give me a minute to get moving.”

Albert emerged from the Cell and wobbled out the backdoor. A few minutes later he appeared, “What do you need?”

Kathy insisted, “Tell Albert the story Sophia.”

Sophia told Albert all about Bobby and the story.

Albert recalled, “Bobby has a sister. I think she was eight when her dad past away. That would make her about ten or eleven now, so Bobby would be about seven. That’s a pretty wild story for a boy that small. You might be right Sophia. I think it’s worth checking out. You need to stay with the boy. Stop time and call James to move you around if you need to.”

Jim spoke up, “If you don’t want to leave, and just need something to eat. I can bring that to you to.”

Kathy took Sophia to the Horseshoe to get something to eat. Then Sophia was off to Bobby’s house. She found him out in a field looking for rocks. When he found just the right rock he’d put it in his pocket. Sophia couldn’t handle it any longer. She bent down and whispered in Bobby’s ear, “I believe you.”

Bobby spun around looking everywhere as he mumbled, “Are you an Angel? Did God send you?”

Sophia stepped back and put her hand over her mouth. Thinking, Oops, dangerous.

Bobby headed back to the house with Sophia right behind him. In the house his mother barked, “You need to fill the wood box before I can cook dinner.”

Bobby whined, “Yes mom.”

Then Sophia saw Bobby’s sister for the first time. Her mother asked, “Would you set the table Monica.”

Monica replied, “Sure mom. That stew smells good.”

Mrs. Bigs informed, “Bobby and I went to the store today, and I baked some bread to go with it.”

Bobby came in and dropped the wood in the box as Monica complained, “Do you have to be so noisy?”

Bobby responded, “Got to get another lode.”

Monica stuck out her tongue as Bobby passed. He just smiled and went out the door. Sophia just stood in the corner by the door watching. She moved around the little house until they went to bed. Bobby went to bed and Sophia followed him to his room. It was small only about six feet wide by eight feet long. It had a window on the long side across from the bed. The door was at the foot of the bed.

Sophia was about to give up and go home when she herd the noise. Someone was tapping at the window. Bobby got up and opened the window, and there stood a little Indian girl about his age. She took his arm and helped pull him from the window.

Sophia watched as they walked away and she climbed out the window. Running she got behind them. The boy talked, but she never said a word. They went about half a mile into the woods to a one room cabin. The girl put her hand on Bobby’s chest and pointed to the ground. Then she went in the cabin, and came back out. Then she pointed and took Bobby’s hand and they went deeper into the woods.

After traveling for some time they came to a road. Then they hid in some bushes by the road, and the little girl pointed to a tree hanging over the road. Sophia looked at the tree, but saw nothing.

Bobby whispered, “Do you think he will drop from the sky again?”

The Girl never answered and just kept looking. Sophia had a thought, so she moved close to the girl. Then she cupped her hand to her ear and whispered, “Do you hear me?”

There was no response and Sophia thought she must be deaf. Then a man on a horse came down the road. Sophia was distracted and looked in time to see a man jump from the tree. He pulled the man from the horse, and Bobby and the girl ran back into the woods. Sophia wanted to watch what happened, but she didn’t want to lose sight of Bobby. She chose to follow the children.

At the cabin the girl pushed Bobby and pointed to where they came. Sophia knew she was telling Bobby to go home. Now Sophia had another decision to make. Go with Bobby, or stay with the little girl. She decided to stay with the little Indian girl.

Soon a white man and a woman showed up. Opening the door the man barked, “What are you doing up? You don't look like you've been asleep.”

The woman urged, “Let her alone and come over here. Look eight dollars and 85 cents. It's better than last week.”

The Man replied, “I'd say plenty good add it to the rest.”

Then the man shut the door and Sophia gasped, “I knew the story was true.”

She went into the woods a ways and twirled her finger in front of her making a spinning rainbow. Then she shot it with a little spark, and the center opened up. Sophia could see her room in the hole and jumped through. Then the hole collapsed to a speck and flickered out.

She sat on the bed thinking what she should do. It was late at night and everyone was asleep. Sophia laid back on the bed and drifted off to sleep.



The next morning Sophia awoke to the sound of Kathy and Seig talking. She got up and headed down stairs. Coming she saw them hugging and Seig gave Kathy a kiss saying, “I’ll try to get back early.”

By the time Sophia was to the bottom of the stairs Seig was going out the door. Kathy looked at Sophia and asked, “How was Bobby’s family?”

Excited Sophia blurted, “It’s true it’s all true I saw it for myself. The girl is a little Indian girl just like Bobby said. There is a problem though. I’m sure she’s deaf. I tried to whisper in her ear, but it had no effect. She never spoke once and just used hand signals. Now I don’t know what to do? Oh yah, and the man and woman doing the robbing aren’t her parents. There white people so that can’t be.”

Kathy insisted, “Sit down and I’ll cook you something. Do you have any dirty clothes?”

Sophia replied, “Just some socks and my underwear. My dress is not dirty. Do you think I could wear pants some times? You and Suzan wear them.”

Kathy smiled, “If you want, but people won’t treat you the same if you do. If you had a husband he might beat you for that.”

Sophia said, “Then I’d tell the Sheriff and have him arrested.”

Kathy laughed, “The Sheriff can’t do anything about it in this time. A man has the right to beat his wife.”

Sophia’s mouth opened wide and her eyes bulged as she exclaimed, “What!”

Kathy informed, “In this time a married woman is the man’s property. You are no different than a horse, pig, or dog to him.”

Sophia replied, “Well that isn’t happening, so why do I need my dirty clothes?”

Kathy explained, “This is Saturday and the women at the boarding house do laundry and take a bath. Henry goes to the Livery, but Origin goes to the bathhouse. Jim and Albert won’t go to the Jail today. They’ll open the Blacksmith Shop, and Suzan and Rebecca will go to the bathhouse. Mable won’t open the dress shop, and Emily won’t go to the store. Hank will do the store by himself. Then there is you and me. We go to the bathhouse.”

Sophia asked, “Why do you wash your own clothes? I saw there is a Chinese man that is washing clothes in town. You’re rich why don’t you just take them to him?”

Kathy smiled, “I do sometimes, but I enjoy the time with my friends in the Boardinghouse. Besides I’ve had to do for myself all my life. Why should I stop? Look Henry is at the Livery. That means Jim and Albert are at the Blacksmith Shop. If you’re done we can go talk to Albert about Bobby.”

Over at the Blacksmith Shop Albert looked up and saw Kathy and Sophia, “You’re running late. All the gals are in the bathhouse, and I don’t see your clothes.”

Kathy informed, “The story Bobby has been telling is true. Sophia saw it for herself.”

Albert stirred the coals in the forge as he asked, “Just what did you see Sophia.”

Sophia told Albert all about her night with Bobby and the Indian girl. Albert thought for a moment and asked, “Did you see anyone killed?”

Sophia replied, “No.”

Then Albert asked, “Did you see them taking the money from the guy?”

Sophia replied, “No.”

Albert insisted, “Then what we have here could have been someone playing a joke on a friend. You can take me to the cabin and I can talk to them, but I have no proof there was a crime. I need a victim, a body, or an eye witness that a crime has happened. We just need proof. Let me think on it some.”

Kathy took Sophia’s arm and gave it a tug, “Let’s go Sophia. He said he’d think about it. We need to get our clothes.”

At the Bathhouse they could hear everyone caring on and laughing. Opening the door Kathy instructed, “Sophia get two buckets.”

Everyone welcomed them, and they headed to the well. Kathy explained, “We all take turns bringing water to the big pot on the stove. That way everyone gets a hot bath.”

They filled the buckets and headed back in. After they poured the water in the big pot Kathy stoked the fire. Everyone gathered around Sophia welcoming her. Then Origin stood up in the tub and announced, “Me done.”

Emily put her hand in the pot of water on the stove and informed, “I think the water Kathy put in there made it just right. Then Emily and Rebecca filled a

 

[gonewacky]

bucket with the water from the pot, and poured it over Origin to rinse her off. Kathy informed, “See that’s how we do it Sophia.”

Suzy announced, “I’m next.”

Kathy instructed, “Get your clothes and wash then in that washtub with the wash board. Then put them in a bucket, and we’ll take them to the creek to rinse.”

Mable offered, “I’ll help you.”

Then she picked up a pair of Sophia’s panties and announced, “Hay come feel this.” Rebecca rubbed the fabric, “Wow is this Silk?”

Suzy called from the tub, “She’s from New York. You know Benjamin would tell a story about the material and what is made with it.”

After getting a bath and doing their laundry they went inside. Victoria had tea waiting for them, and served them as they came in. They sat at the table weighting for their laundry to dry. When the laundry was done Origin walked back to the Hotel with them, so she could walk home with Henry.

At the Hotel Kathy told Origin about the Indian girl. Origin replied, “Me thinking… me be here one snow, it two snows ago. Wild child five snows as traded for two horses. This might be Little Bird. Me know not this name.”

Kathy informed, “Five and two is seven. That would make the girl about seven.”

Origin insisted, “Little girl no understand anyone.”

Kathy explained, “That girl’s not wild. She’s deaf. She doesn’t understand anyone because she can’t hear them.”

Origin responded, “Oh…”

Then Sophia called out, “Look they’re coming here.”

Kathy looked out the window and saw Henry, Jim, and Albert all walking together. Sophia opened the door and let them in. Henry staid at the door and announced, “Let’s go Origin. Albert wants to talk to Sophia.”

Albert sat at the table and urged, “How about some cold water. I’ve been slaving over a hot forge all day.”

Taking a pitcher from next to the stove Kathy instructed, “Sophia take this to the back sink and fill it with water. Rinse it out to cool it down first.”

Sophia took the picture and said, “Got it.”

With Albert chugging down some water Jim explained, “Albert came up with a plan. Sophia is going to make her and I invisible, Then we’re going to watch the cabin. When they leave we’ll follow them, and if they go to the tree we’ll stop time. Then I get a horse. Most likely Patty, and start time. Then I’ll ride by and see what happens. If they jump me then we got them.”

Kathy revealed, “Sophia told me she can see a shadow in the man like the man on the bridge.”

Albert added, “I thought about that. That’s why I want you and Suzy on standby, I’m going to ride back a ways from James, and if something happens I’ll move in. James is going to ware different clothes so they don’t know he’s the Deputy. If it goes south I’ll stop time and get the Iron Horse. If it turns out he is pure Evil. Then I’ll have Sophia put a cloud on its head for practice. Then I’ll noose it and send it back to hell.”

Jim added, “We never know what’s going to happen for sure, so I want Kathy there as backup for Sophia.”



That night Jim and Sophia waited outside of the cabin. Then just as they thought the man and woman appeared at dusk, and Jim and Sophia followed them to the road. The woman hid in the bushes and the man climbed the tree. Jim stopped time and ordered, “Make me visible.”

Sophia shot Jim with a little spark and he blinked out. This was the first time Sophia had been left alone when time was stopped. It was dead quiet and she could hear her heart beat and her breathing. That was the only sound she heard. She walked over to the tree and looked up at the man. He was sitting on a branch hanging over the road. She walked back and forth on the road looking at the moon. Then she walked down the road looking for Jim or Albert.

She was just about to call Kathy when she heard Albert yell, “I’m starting time.”

Then she saw Jim coming down the road. When he got to the tree the man jumped on him, and pulled him off his horse. The woman ran out and pointed a gun at Jim as they rolled around on the ground. Seeing the gun Albert called out, “Truck on.”

Then Jim disappeared and Sophia faded back. Jim reappeared next to them, and Albert insisted, “Get Kathy.”

Jim disappeared and reappeared with Kathy. One look at the man on the ground and Kathy revealed, “He’s pure Evil. There’s no soul in that body.”

Albert barked, “Take me to the truck. We know what we have to do.”

Jim grabbed Albert’s arm and blinked out. A moment later the truck appeared with Jim on one running-board and Suzy on the other. Albert was sitting on the hood with his feet on the winch. Jim jumped down and went to one side of the road, and Kathy went to the other. Suzy went and stood next to Sophia.

Albert commanded, “Sophia go put a cloud on his head.”

Sophia held out her hands and a swirling black cloud turning in on itself appeared in her hands. Then it got bigger and bigger until it was the size of a basketball. Then she slammed it on the Demons head, and it came to life. Then the Demon started yelling and spinning around trying to get it off, but it moved with him.

Sophia ran back and stood next to Suzy, as the Demon stopped and made a howling sound. Then a Vulture flew in and landed on the Demon’s shoulder. He waved his hand. Then a Bear appeared next to the Demon. The sky started to cloud up, and Jim yelled, “I think we pissed Him off.”

Then a lightning bolt came down right in front of them. In the flash Jim could see Suzy holding a dome of protection around Sophia, as she threw a ball of bright flashing colored light at the Demon, The demon just held out the palm of his hand, and the fire ball exploded in the air raining down to the ground. Then the Demon shot a lightning bolt up to the sky, and Lightning rained down on Suzy and Sophia. Next the Demon pointed to Suzy, and the bear leaped and ran at her. Jim saw this as Albert grabbed the winch cable.

Suzy took Sophia’s hand and they levitated in the air as Jim jumped on the back of the Bear. Then Jim and the Bear disappeared. The Demon pointed his finger at Albert, and a lightning bolt shot from the Demon’s finger. Albert squatted to duck under it, but the invisible shield around the truck bounced it right back at the Demon. This kicked the Demon back a little, but it didn’t miss a beat.

At this point Albert had saw enough and called out, “Clutch pedal in Winch P.T.O. low, Clutch out.”

Then Albert pulled the cable up over his shoulder and leaned his body forward, and dragged the cable heading to the Demon. Suzy yelled, “Albert he can see! He’s seeing through the eyes of the Vulture on his shoulder.”

Kathy flung her arms out, and light exploded from her. A pulse of bright white light that was so bright all anyone could see was white. It engulfed the entire area. The high intensity white light she released emitted a series of flashes. Then disappeared and was replaced with total darkness. Kathy was unaffected by the light and could see everything in the darkness that had no charged light particles. Kathy pointed at Albert and shot a little spark. It floated invisibly through the air hitting Albert. Then she did the same to Suzy and Sophia. Finely Jim reappeared and Kathy shot him with a little spark.

Then Kathy helped Albert put the noose around the Demons neck and Albert yelled, “Clutch pedal in Winch P.T.O. Reverse High, Clutch out.” With that command the cable pulled tight and dragged the Demon to the front of the truck. Albert walked alongside the Demon as he dragged on the ground. A black cloud in the shape of a hideous monster rose from the demon. Then it was sucked into the ground as Albert exclaimed, “Back to hell with you Demon.”

When the Demon’s head was against the truck bumper Albert yelled, “Clutch pedal in.”

Sophia cried out, “Holy crap Batman that was unbelievable.”

Albert replied, “It’s Iron Man. You know like a Blacksmith.”

Kathy looked at Sophia and said, “Well it’s your cloud Sophia.”

Sophia replied, “Oh.” Then she clapped her hands and the cloud disappeared.

Jim looked around and asked, “Time is still stopped right?”

Everyone agreed and Jim informed, “We’ll just leave it this way until we get back. We still have the woman and the Indian girl to deal with.”

Then Suzy threw a ball of bright flashing colored light in the air, and shot it with a lightning bolt. Thousands of little flashing stars rained down on them as Jim blinked them out.

Appearing at the farm in 1984 Suzy threw a ball of bright flashing colored light in the air. Then Kathy shot it with a little spark. Thousands of little flashing stars rained down on them and they became visible. Sophia looked back at the Truck and announced, “Look the Crow and my little bird are on top of the truck.”

Wind Walker came walking from the barn and informed, “You just missed Bike Man and Time Traveler 762. You’ll have to wait I got one in there right now.”



That’s it until next time. Joe

 

[feralferret]

Thanks! Looking forward to more.

 

[gonewacky]

I have gone stupid and added a Deaf Indian Girl to the mix. Oh Sh!t what have I done? This next chapter is a nightmare. Now I have a wild thing that is out of control. Have you ever tried to give a Wild Deaf Indian Girl that’s like a feral animal a bath? How do you write about that? Find out coming up in the next chapter…

In too deep to stop Joe

 

[gonewacky]

Chapter Four – The Indian Girl

After they put the truck away they all headed back to the woods. Jim pulled the gun from the woman’s hand, and Albert touched her. She blurted, “Jack!”

Then she looked around and asked, “Where’s Jack”

Albert informed, “He’s dead.”

The woman relaxed, “Oh thank God. That Evil bastard isn’t going to ever beat me again.”

Albert questioned, “What was he to you?”

The woman grumbled, “Pure hell is what he was. The Evil bastard killed my husband and forced me to go with him. He’s been robbing and killing people. Then he would drape them over their horse, and slap the horse on the butt. We’ve been moving around from place to place doing this. He has like a super power or something. I tried to get away a few times, but he always knew and was waiting for me. Then he’d drag me back by my hair.”

Albert asked, “What about the little girl?”

The woman moaned, “Oh her. The poor thing she can’t hear a lick. She just lives in her own little world. Jack traded with the Indians for her. He said she would be a good sacrifice to give him more power. The Evil bastard was already powerful. He could shoot lightning bolts from his finger, and call lightning down from the sky. He could even make animals appear out of thin air. Hell he would shoot me in the ass with a lightning bolt for fun.”

Suzy stepped close to the woman and pushed Love into her. Then Suzy insisted; “Now you can’t lie to me. Is all you have told us the truth?”

The woman insisted, “I swear every word of it.”

Suzy asked, “What’s your name.”

The woman replied, “Alice Simes.”

Albert pulled his hand away and the woman froze. Then he asked, “What do you think?”

Sophia put in her thoughts, “They had almost two hundred saved up. We should take her to town, and send her home on the stage on Wednesday.”

Kathy added, “We need to find out if she is taking the girl with her.”

Suzy touched Alice and asked, “If we send you home will you be taking the girl with you?”

Alice replied, “Not that I don’t like the girl, but I’ll have trouble taking care of myself with my husband gone.”

Suzy pulled her hand away and asked, “What should we do with the girl?”

Kathy asked, “Do you think you can use the healing power that Bike Man, showed you, and fix her hearing?”

Suzy explained, “I might be able to do that, but she would have no idea what the words were. She has never heard a sound of any kind. It would be like me trying to understand a foreign language. Heck she never even heard the sound of someone walking or a dog barking. Everything would be new to her. Can’t you just put it in her head like you did Henry?”

Kathy disclosed, “Never happening. What I did with Henry was put things back that was missing from him. Jim can’t take me to a time when she knew the words, so I can’t get them to put back.”

Jim suggested, “We could pretend the doctor could fix it. Then put cotton in her ears for a while, so she don’t freak out. Then start teaching her. It would make it a lot easier to find her a home. I’ll take her as my own before I send her to the orphanage. That is if they would even take and Indian girl. Anyone else?”

Albert asked, “Where are we going to keep her?”

Jim looked at Kathy and she said, “I think she would learn fastest at the boardinghouse. We could rent Amos’s old room and put her there. What do you think?”

Albert insisted, “We got a plan. Let’s go get the girl, and put Alice in the Hotel until the stage comes.”

Jim said, “That works. Suzy can load Alice up and I’ll blink her to the Hotel. Then I’ll meet you at the cabin.”

Suzy pushed Love into Alice a few times, and Jim took her hand. Then they disappeared. At the Hotel he sat her in a chair at the table and she froze. Then he blinked to the cabin.

Soon the other members of the team showed up, and Suzy opened the cabin door. There sat the little girl on the floor. She was dressed in rags and filthy. Suzy’s heart went out to her, and she felt petty for the poor girl. She did her job and pushed love into the girl, and she came to life each time.

Then Sophia’s Sparrow flew in and landed on the little girl making her come to life, and Sophia had an instant connection with the girl. Then she exclaimed, “She’s afraid and scared of us. That’s better my Bird is making her understand. Suzan hold out your hand.”

Suzy held out her hand and the girl took a hold of it. Then she pulled the little girl to her feet. Jim ordered, “Everyone gather around the girl. I’m going to blink us to the boarding house.”

They all huddled together and Jim blinked them to the porch of the boardinghouse. Then Jim blinked Kathy and Sophia to the Hotel, and came back. Albert informed, “One thing’s left to do.”

Jim asked, “What’s that?”

Albert revealed, “Get the horses and take them back to the livery.”

Jim groaned, “Oh I forgot all about them. I’ll take care of that Albert, and you can start time.”

Jim disappeared and Albert started time. Then Albert asked, “What about this girl? What are we doing with her?”

Suzy insisted, “She is sleeping with Jim and me tonight. Then we’ll set up a room for her tomorrow.”

Albert insisted, “She can’t go to Church wrapped in rags like that tomorrow.”

Suzy replied, “I know I’m thinking about it. She needs a bath bad too. I was thinking about doing it right now, but then what would I put on her? I can’t wrap those dirty rags back around her.”

The girl just stood and stared at Albert and Suzy as they talked.

Albert informed, “I’ll start the fire in the Bathhouse, but I think you might need some help giving her a bath. She’s probably never been in a tub before. Who knows what she’ll do. She might freak out on you. You want me to get Rebecca after I start the fire?”

Suzy agreed, “Sure, and I’ll send James after Sophia when he gets back. She seems to have a connection with the girl.”

Albert went to the Bathhouse and started making a fire in the woodstove. Suzy took the little girl’s hand and took her to the Bathhouse. Picking up a bucket Suzy handed it to the girl. Then she picked up one and they went to the well. Suzy filled the girl’s bucket half full and filled her bucket up. Then they went back to the Bathhouse, and pored the water in the pot on the woodstove.

Then Suzy pushed Love into the girl well she talked, “I know you don’t hear a word I say, but I don’t know how that feels either. I think it’s like the first time Jim touched me. I had a tingling rushing through me, but I really don’t know the feeling. A little boy told me one time that it felt like a hug from his mommy, but I can’t remember that feeling. The little girl just looked wide eyed at Suzy.

Then Rebecca came in and smiled, “Albert has Bella, and I got one of Albert’s shirts. If we roll up the sleeves she can sleep in it. Her I’ll get a bucket and help you.”

Walking to the well the girl kept looking at Rebecca. At the well the girl pushed with all she had to get the bucket up on the edge of the well, but she did it. Suzy filled the little girl’s bucket half full and filled her and Rebecca’s bucket up. Then they headed back.

On the way Rebecca informed, “Albert told me she’s deaf. Are you going to take her to the orphanage?”

Suzy divulged, “There is no way I could do that, besides I don’t think they would take an Indian girl. I’ll raise her myself first if I have too.”

Rebecca argued, “You can’t do that Suzan. You’re a Demon Hunter. What are you going to do take her to a Demon fight and let them shoot lightning Bolts at her?”

Suzy uttered, “You know if I left her in the truck she’d be protected. Nothing could hurt anyone in the truck. It has a shield around it you know that.”

Suzy knew there was no way she could raise a child being a Demon Hunter. But girls were hard to find a home for, and an Indian girl would be almost impossible. Back at the Bathhouse they poured the water in the Pot. Then Jim came in and asked, “Albert said you wanted me.”

Suzy requested, “Would you go get Sophia for me.”

Jim whined, “Why don’t you just call her? I know it’s only a little before midnight here. For us it’s after two in the morning our time, or did you forget we stopped time.”

Suzy replied, “No I’m just having a hard time thinking of her as a Demon Hunter. By the power of Njal I command Sophia to appear.”

Then Sophia appeared in front of them saying, “You summoned me.”

The girl stepped back when Sophia appeared, and looked wide eyed at her.

Rebecca replied, “Yah, we might need help giving this little girl a bath.”

With a dumbfound look Sophia asked, “Are you a Demon Hunter?”

Suzy butted in, “No this is Albert’s wife, and the only power she has is she don’t freeze when time is stopped. She knows all about us, so everything is fine.”

The little girl moved closer to Sophia and touched her to see if she was real.

Sophia put her hand on her head and divulged, “We can try, but I don’t think we’ll ever get all the tangles out of her hair.”

Rebecca agreed, “We’ll just have to do the best we can.”

Putting her hand in the pot Suzy announced, “I think it’s just about right.”

Then she dipped a bucket in the pot, and poured it in the tub. Then the three of them gathered around the girl, and she filled with fear of the unknown. Rebecca started unwrapping the rags from her, but the girl grabbed the cloth and pulled back. She wanted no part of it. Suzy tried to pry her hands from the rag, but she pulled away and turned around. Sophia yelled, “Stop.”

 

[gonewacky]

Then she pulled her dress up over her head, and removed it. She kicked off her shoes and stepped in the tub. Then looked at the girl and pointed down at the water in the tub, and put out her hands. Suzy and Rebecca stepped back and the girl moved to Sophia. Then she pulled on a strip of the rags she was wrapped with, and let go.

The girl wiggled and pulled on the rags, and then they slipped down her body and fell to the floor. Then Sophia helped her into the tub, and set down in the tub. The girl just stood in the water looking at Sophia, so Sophia insisted, “Give me the soap.”

Rebecca handed Sophia the soap, and Sophia put the soap in the girl’s hand. Then took her hand and rubbed the soap on her arm. Then she pulled the girls hand down and the girl bent over a little as the soap dipped in the water. Then Sophia rubbed the bar on her leg, and let go. Then she pointed at the girl to do it some more. The girl smiled and rubbed the bar on Sophia’s arm.

Sophia instructed, “I think we’re ready to try the wash cloth.”

Suzy handed Sophia the wash cloth. Then Sophia dipped the cloth in the water and rubbed herself with it. The girl dropped the soap and took the cloth from Sophia, and rubbed it on herself and smiled. Then Sophia tried to get her to sit in the tub. The girl shook her head no, so Sophia stood in the tub and turned her back to the girl. The girl tried pulling on Sophia’s arm, but Sophia ignored her. After a few attempts the girl sat in the tub, and pulled on Sophia’s leg. She turned around and sat facing the girl, and they started bathing each other.

With a sigh of relief Suzy looked up as looking to God and said, “Thank you.”

Rebecca whispered, “Don’t be so thankful Suzan. We haven’t tried to dump water over her head yet and wash her hair.”

Suzy insisted, “You don’t have to whisper Rebecca. She can’t hear you.”

Rebecca smiled, “Oh Yah,”

Sophia and the girl were washing each other. It was like a game and the girl was happy. That is until Suzy tried to pour some water on the girls head. Then she shot straight up in the air flailing her arms around, and making a grunting sound. Suzy and Rebecca jump back from the wild feral animal. It was without a doubt this was no normal child, and could snap at any time. Sophia jumped up as the girl’s swinging hand raked across her face. The girl’s finger nails dug deep into her cheek.”

Sophia slapped her hand on the girls head and yelled, “Sleep!”

The girl went limp and Sophia caught her as she went limp. She set her down in the tub and stepped out. Rebecca handed Sophia a towel as Suzy exclaimed, “Kathy taught you that?”

Sophia replied, “No I just see her do it to Seig all the time. I thought if she could do it I could.”

Suzy put her hand on Sophia’s face to heal the deep scratch as she smiled, “Thank you Sophia you did extremely well.”

Rebecca had a look of fear on her face as she suggested, “I say we wash her hair and take her out and dress her before we wake her up.”

Suzy insisted, “I don’t think there’s any other way. I never dreamed she would be that wild.”

Sophia got dressed as she pointed out, “Wild hell. That was like trying to take a bath with a Bobcat.”

Suzy pushed Love into Sophia, and they washed the girls knotted and tangled hair.

Rebecca informed, “We might have to put her out again to do her hair. We might even have to cut some of the knots to get them out.”

Then they took her from the tub, and laid her on a towel. Then they dried her off, and put the shirt on her for a dress. Then the crow was squawking at the door to the Bathhouse. Suzy opened the door and the bird flew to the girls head, and hopped on Suzy’s head. Suzy reached out and took a hold if Sophia’s arm. Then Suzy and Sophia saw what happened when the girl was with the Demon.

They saw him drag the girl to the door by the hair, and physically kick her so hard she would fly in the air out the door. Then they saw the Demon beating the girl for wetting the bed. Well lying on the pile of straw she slept on in the corner. They saw the Demon dragging the girl around by the hair, the woman would try to stop the Demon, but he would just swing his arm knocking her down. Then they saw the Demon shooting little lightning bolts at the girl and laughing. Then the crow flew back out the door, and went to its tree.

Rebecca asked, “What did the Crow show you?”

Suzy replied, “That she’s a bed-wetter.”

Rebecca explained, “That means you’ll have to wake her ever hour all night long. What are you going to do about your chamber-pot? It has stuff from the future in it doesn’t it?”

Suzy thought about the gold bars in her chamber-pot and asked, “How do you know that Rebecca?”

Rebecca laughed, “I’ve lived with you for two years, and never once did I see you empty it. Either you’re hiding something in it, or you don’t know what it’s for. It’s okay Suzan I have one you can use. I’ll bring it down when we go in.”

Sophia’s mouth dropped opened, “You must have not seen what I did, because it was horrifying. The things that Demon did to that girl were pure Evil. It’s no wonder that girl is wild like that. She must have thought we were attacking her. If I wake her up she will still be out of control.”

Suzy smiled and pushed Love into the girl. Then she did it again and said, “Not if I can help it. She might not even be able to stand.”

Pushing more Love into the girl Suzy said, “Go ahead and wake her up Sophia, but be ready to put her back out if need be.”

Sophia bent down on one knee and put her hand on the girl’s head as she lay on the floor. Her eyes came open and Suzy pushed Love into her again. Then the girl squirmed a little and Suzy took her hand and pulled her up. The girl was weaving and wobbling around, and Suzy pulled her next to her leg. Then she wrapped her arms around her, and held her tight.

Looking to Sophia Suzy informed, “I think we got it from here Sophia. Thank you so much.”

Sophia replied, “Isn’t this part of my job? I am a Demon Hunter you know.”

Suzy replied, “Yes you are!”

Then Sophia twirled her finger in front of her making a spinning rainbow. Then she shot it with a little spark, and the center opened up. You could see Sophia’s room in the hole in the swirl. Then she jumped through and the hole collapsed to a speck and flickered out.

Rebecca exclaimed, “Wow! Did you see that?”

Suzy smiled, “Yes she is something special isn’t she?”

Then Suzy picked up the child in her arms and requested, “If you open the doors for me. I’ll take her to my room.”

Rebecca opened the Bathhouse door and went ahead of Suzy to the back door. Then to Suzy’s room and informed, “I’ll get the chamber-pot.”

Suzy laid the limp girl on the bed. Then she pulled back the blanket and slipped the girl under it next to Jim. Rebecca set the chamber-pot next to Suzy’s bed and headed out as Suzy asked, “Would you leave the door open so I can hear the clock chime in the dining room.”

Then Suzy slipped into bed. It seemed like she had just gotten to sleep when she heard the clock chime twice. She pushed some love into the girl and tried to wake her. She was still half asleep when Suzy pulled her from the bed, and set her on the chamber-pot. Like magic the girl went, and Suzy smiled. Then she put her back in bed, and hugged her tight as she drifted off to sleep.

Dreamer came to Suzy in a dream. “I’m sending you to the little girls world.”

Then Suzy was in a field of flowers watching the girl chasing a butterfly. Then they were watching a Ladybug crawl around a flower, and a bee getting nectar. The wind was blowing and everything was swaying around. That’s when Suzy realized there was no sound. The bee wasn’t buzzing and the wind wasn’t making any sound. It was dead quiet and then Gong, Gong, Gong. It was three in the morning. Suzy slowly opened one eye, and reached down and felt the girl, she was dry and Suzy closed her eye and slipped back to sleep.

Then she herd Victoria in the kitchen. She jumped from the bed as she mumbled, “Damn I missed the four o' clock gong.”

She got the girl up and sat her on the chamber-pot. The girl went and Suzy pulled her up, and put the lid on the chamber pot. Then she took the girl in one hand and the chamber-pot in the other, and headed to the outhouse. Passing the kitchen Victoria announced, “I see you have a little friend.”

Going out the door Suzy replied, “I’ll tell about it when I come back in.”

After taking care of business Suzy took the girl back to her room to leave the chamber pot, and then to the kitchen to tell Victoria about the girl.

Coming in Victoria looked at the girl and asked, “What’s your name?”

Suzy replied, “She’s deaf and I don’t know what her name is. Albert killed the Evil man she was with last night. She was dressed in rags and has nothing. Rebecca and I bathed her last night. We had to she smelled so bad you couldn’t stand her.”

Victoria muttered, “I’ll be right back.”

Then she went to her room and came back with a stool, and put it in the corner saying, “Set her over here to watch us.”

Suzy replied, “I’ll try, but she has a mind of her own.”

Victoria patted her hand and Suzy walked the girl to the stool. Amazingly the girl climbed up on the stool and sat. Like a cat lying on a rug she sat and watched their every move. She watched intensely as Victoria took the bread bowl from the top of the bread warmer and kneaded the dough. Then put it in the bread pans, and set the pans up on top the bread warmer to rise. Suzy made Mabel’s tea and moved the coffee so it would stop perking.

The girl was watching everything like she was watching a movie. Then Victoria put the bread dough in the oven and announced, “Time to take a break.”

Suzy got the leftover bread and cut a slice. She hadn’t even noticed the girl had gotten down and was behind her. The girl grabbed the bread and started shoving it in her mouth. Startled Suzy turned and smiled. Slowly moving her hand to the girls she pushed it gently, but the girl jerked her hand away. Suzy just cut two more slices, and gave the girl another slice for her other hand. Then she guided her to the door.

On the porch Suzy tour off a piece of bread and tossed it out for the Crow. The girl watched as the bird came down and ate the bread. Suzy tossed out another piece of bread, and saw the girl’s cheeks bulging from stuffing bread in her mouth.

Victoria commented, “The poor thing acts like they never fed her.”

Suzy said, “I’m sure her life was a living hell. I also know she has no boundaries. It is like she has never interacted with people before. I’m sure she’ll be like Origin was when she came to us, and she can only eat with her hands.”

Victoria insisted, “Origin was like that when she came and look how fast she learned.”

Suzy argued, “True, but Origin knew a language it was just a translation problem. This girl knows no language, and doesn’t even know the word “No” and couldn’t hear it even if she did. Even Bella knows what no means, and she is only a year old. This girl is six or seven.”

 

[gonewacky]

Victoria replied, “You should see if you can get her to come back inside. I need to check the bread.”

It took some doing, but Suzy got the girl back to the stool. Suzy made the pancake batter, and Victoria pulled the bread from the oven. Then Mable came to the table and Suzy poured her some tea. The girl saw this and went over and pulled on Mable’s dress reaching for her cup. Victoria quickly put some sugar and tea in a cup and poured some water in it to cool it. Then she announced, “See if you can turn her around.”

Mable inquired, “Ware did that wild thing come from?”

Suzy replied, “Ask Albert. He killed the man that had her last night.”

Mable mumbled, “Oh,” as she moved her cup around behind the girl, and the girl turned around. Victoria waved her arm and squatted down holding out the cup. The girl came back across the room, as Victoria stood up holding the cup too high for her to reach. Then she patted her hand on the stool, and held the cup so she had to get on the stool to reach it. Then Victoria gave the girl the cup.

Next Henry and Origin came to the table, and Suzy turned Mable’s toast and started the pancakes. Victoria snatched the first pancake and put some jam on it. Then rolled it up and gave it to the girl. As soon as the jam hit her mouth her eyes were wandering. She was like a Lion on the hunt looking for where it came from.

Then it happened. The girl saw Mable spreading the Jam on her toast. Like a jackrabbit she leaped from the chair, and ran for the jar. Albert was coming in when this happened. He saw the girl leap and said, “Truck on!”

Suzy spun around and Albert asked, “What’s going on around here?”

Suzy replied, “She’s a wild thing.”

Albert replied, “I know. Rebecca told me you had to knock her out last night. She was afraid to bring Bella down because of her.”

Suzy said, “I’m on it. By the power of Njal I command Sophia to appear.”

Then Sophia appeared in front of them saying, “You summoned me.”

Suzy instructed, “I need you to knock her out until after we’re done with breakfast.”

Sophia looked at the girl and asked, “Her feet are off the floor. If I touch her she’ll come to life. Will she just fall or keep flying through the air?”

Albert replied, “She’ll just fall, but if I start time she’ll continue. I’ll catch her when you do it.”

Albert put his arms under the girl to catch her, and Sophia put her hand on her head and said, “Sleep.”

The girl fell into Alberts arms and he set her on the floor. Then Sophia insisted, “Wait until the portal is gone before starting time.”

Then she twirled her finger in front of her making a spinning rainbow. Then she shot it with a little spark, and the center opened up. They could see the Hotel Lobby in the hole, and Sophia jumped through. Then the hole collapsed to a speck and flickered out.

Albert said Truck off and time started. He dove on the girl and yelled, “Oh crap I knocked her out. Who’s letting this wild thing run around anyway?”

Suzy whined, “We had her under control Albert.”

Albert growled, “Yah it sure looked like it. Why don’t you come open the door to your room Suzan, and I’ll put her on your bed.”

Henry asked, “Where did that wild child come from?”

Albert came out and demanded, “I need some coffee if I’m even going to try to explain this.”

Victoria set a cup of coffee in front of Albert, and Suzy set a plate with two pancakes on it down. Then Albert started the story, “Last night James came and got me about a man that was robbing and killing people just outside of town. We went to check it out, and he tried to kill James. I had to take him out, but wait there’s more. There was a woman with him. She told us he killed her husband and kidnapped her. Then she took us to the old Dryer cabin and showed us the girl.

The woman said he traded to the Indians for her. She’s deaf and a wild feral child no one can control. I put the woman in the Hotel until the stage comes, and had Suzan and Rebecca take care of the girl. She probably never took a bath in her life, and only had rags wrapped around her for clothes. Boy did she smell. It was bad, and you wanted to stand up wind of her for sure. I left them in the bathhouse and went to bed.

I don’t know how they did it, but somehow they got her cleaned up. Then put one of my shirts on her for a dress. That’s all I know.”

Henry looked at Albert and asked, “What are we doing with that thing?”

Origin pointed out, “Not thing. She Little Bird. Singing Bird’s child. She no hear nothing.”

Henry suggested, “Maybe we can get Hank to let us do some shopping after Church to get her some clothes. I’ll pitch in five dollars.”

Albert declared, “I’ll ask Emily to ask him. He’ll do most anything she asks.”

Emily was standing right behind Albert and said, “Ask me what?”

Henry laughed and Mable snickered as Albert informed, “We want him to open up to get some things for a six or seven year old child. She has no clothes and is wearing one if my shirts.”

Emily asked, “Where is she?”

Henry replied, “In on Suzy’s bed, Albert just knocked her out and put her there.”

Emily smiled and insisted, “Nooo.”

Mable knotted her head and affirmed, “Yep, he sure did.”

Just then Jim came from his room and Emily asked, “You got a girl in there?”

Jim went to the table saying, “She’s lying on the bed.”

Emily walked to the door and looked at the girl and gasped, “Albert! How could you?”

Albert replied, “I didn’t mean to, but she’s a wild thing.”

Mable insisted, “Its true Emily, that child is dangerous.”

Henry announced, “I saw the whole thing. He just tried to stop the girl.”

Victoria walked to the end of the table and explained; “Well now we all know. This child has never had any boundaries, and it will be up to us to set some. We will have to work together to make her know what she can do and can’t do. We need to have a zero-tolerance policy for this to work. I can tell you right now. We’re never getting a family to take this child. She’s an Indian so no orphanage will ever take her. Albert could take her to the Marshal, but he’d just turn her over to the Army. Then the Army would send her to Indian Affairs to put back on the reservation. Then she would be traded again or set loose to run wild. I’m willing to give her Amos’s old room rent free. We could lock her in there for punishment when we need to. I’ll keep the key over the door, but you will all have to decide what you want to do. The only other option is to tie her up outside like a dog.”

Emily barked, “I’ll be praying at Church today that you all know we only have one choice.”

Victoria added, “We’ll make our decision at dinner tonight.”

After breakfast Albert got another cup of coffee and went out to the porch. Albert looked through the kitchen window and mumbled, “Truck on.”

Suzy looked at him through the window, and Albert pointed to Jim. She turned and announced, “James Albert wants you on the porch.”

Out on the porch Albert requested Jim go get Sophia. Jim blinked to the Hotel and got Sophia. Then Albert had her fade out so no one would see her. Then Jim went back to his place and Albert started time.

Albert appeared to be talking to himself and mumbled, “I need you to go in and wake the girl.”

Sophia went to Jim and Suzy’s room and put her hand on the girls head. She awoke disorientated and sat up on the bed. Then she climbed down and staggered to the Dining Room. Everyone but Albert was still at the table. He watched through the window, as Suzy and Victoria turned to see. The girl saw the jar of jam on the table and went for it. Albert saw this and ran to the door.

The girl snatched the jar from the table. Then sat on the floor and started eating it from the Jar. That’s when Albert barked, “Jim go to the cellar and get another jar of jam. We all need to make a circle around her and stare at her. Then that is what they did. They watched as she pushed her tiny hand in the jar, and shoved the jam in her mouth. The girl looked up at them from time to time, but she kept going. She was working to get the last of the jam when Jim arrived.

Albert ordered, “Open the jar and set it in front of her James.”

Jim did as Albert asked, and the girl took the jar and started on it. Her face and hands were covered with jam at this point, but the girl kept going. That is until the jar was about half empty. Thin she stopped and tried to get up. Albert demanded, “Don’t anyone let her up. She’s finishing this jar. She wanted it we’re giving it to her. This is the only way we’re going to break her from this kind of thing. Now someone get us two spoons. We’ll half to force the rest of this jar down her. She’s wild and will bite, kick, and scratch, so be careful.”

Emily went and got the spoons, and they all held her arms end feet. Albert pried her mouth open with one of the spoons, and Henry scooped the jam in her mouth. It was a wild ordeal as she was spitting jam all over the place, as Henry tried to put it in her mouth. Finely Albert said I think that’s enough. Get me a wet rag to wipe her up.

Suzy went and got a kitchen towel and tossed it in the sink and pumped water on it. Then she took the dripping wet rag to Albert. He wiped the jam from her face as she flung her head from side to side. Then he moved to her hands and insisted, “Don’t let her up until I’m done. We need to drag her outside on the porch first.”

After Albert washed the girl up they all drug her out kicking and grunting. On the porch Albert barked, “Don’t let her back in the house. Then they let her loose. She ran out in the back yard grunting and flailing around. She rolled on the ground then ran at them a few times. They all just stood and watched protecting the back door.

Then she stopped and bent over and puked up the jam. She straitened up and put her hands on her midsection. Then bent over and puked again. This is when Victoria went in and got the Stool. She set it on the edge of the porch and slapped her hand on it. The girl stomped around grunting as Victoria slapped her hand on the stool. Then she stood with her arms crossed. Slowly the girl moved towards her flinging her arms at everyone and grunting.

Finely the girl made it to the stool, and little by little she climbed on the stool. Then Victoria bent over and kissed her on the cheek. The girl pulled away like she didn’t want it, but Victoria wrapped her arms around the girl and kissed her again. Then she let go thinking, I wonder if this child has ever been kissed before?

Then Victoria announced, “Everyone needs to come over here and praise her, and pet her like a dog. Let her know you love her. They all gathered around her smiling and rubbing her. She wiggled and squirmed as if she didn’t want it, but they could tell she didn’t understand what Love was.

 

[gonewacky]

Henry walked in saying, “That horse ain’t broke yet. I’m surprised she didn’t run off.”

Then Victoria took her hand and pulled her down. Then took the stool in the other hand and led her to the kitchen. Victoria put the stool back in the corner and patted her hand on it. The girl let go of Victoria’s hand and climbed up on the stool. Then Victoria went back to work gathering up the dirty dishes. She pulled the tub from under the work table, and set it on the top. Then she started pumping water in the water pitcher, and pouring it into the tub. Taking a pot from the stove she poured the hot water in the tub. Then she put her hand in it and moved it around. Looking at the girl watching her every move she smiled and said, “Just right.

Then she started putting the dishes in the tub. Suzy came with the last of the dishes from the table, and set them in the washtub. Victoria pulled a loaf of bread from a pan and informed, “She just lost everything she ate. Would you slice a slice of bread for the girl?”

Then Victoria pointed to the girl and pointed to the bread. Then she pointed to Suzy and to the bread then to the girl again. The girl watched as Suzy cut the bread and handed it to her. She just held the bread in her hand looking at Suzy and Victoria. They both smiled and went back to doing the dishes. Slowly the girl ate the bread. Suzy said, “I can finish up here if you want to get ready for Church?”

Victoria replied, “No I’m not going to Church. I’m staying with the child.”

Suzy asked, “Are you sure? I was going to have James do that.”

Victoria looked at Henry and asked, “You still got that little wagon?”

Henry replied, “It’s in my office. It’s got some Harnesses piled on it. Why?”

Victoria informed, “I’m going to take the girl down and get it well you’re at Church.”

Henry acknowledged, “That’s fine,” as he thought. You should put one of the Harnesses on the girl well your there.

Then Victoria saw the girl’s bread was gone and pointed to the girl and to the bread. Then she sliced another slice of bread and gave it to the girl. Looking at Suzy Victoria said, “I think we need to start pointing to everything we do. She can’t talk, but she can point. Maybe we can teach her to point at what she wants.”

Suzy replied, “That’s a great idea Victoria all kids do that when their little. She is just a little behind the gun.”

Victoria suggested, “We need to give her a name. We can’t just keep calling her girl.”

That is when Suzy heard Sophia whisper in her ear. Suzy had forgotten all about Sophia being with them. Sophia whispered, “Her name is Little Bird. How about calling her Birdy?”

Suzy spoke up and asked, “How about Birdy? They said her Indian name was Little Bird.”

Victoria agreed, “I like it. Well just Americanize it and spell it Birdee.”

Suzy praised, “Good thinking Victoria. All right Birdee it is then.”

By the time the kitchen was clean everyone was off getting ready for Church. They all started heading out and Victoria took the girl’s hand and pulled her from the stool. Then they headed for the Livery. Victoria knew Birdee couldn’t hear her, but she talked to her anyway, “I’m going to burn off some of that energy so you’re not so wild. You know I like you wild and all. Maybe it’s just I feel pity for you, but you deserve a chance at life. God made you that way for a reason. It might be us that are learning from you. I can tell you Henry sees you as a wild horse, and he has his own way of training you.

You’re not the only one to learn something the hard way. My brother stole one of our father’s Cigars and kept it hid behind the wood shed. I know he was sneaking back there puffing on it, but I never told. One day our dad caught him with it. He sat him down and made him smoke the whole thing. Then he made him start another. He was coughing and choking until he puked. He never touched another Cigar. It was like you and the jam. I just hope it don’t make you never want jam again. That would be a shame. Well it looks like we’re here.”

The stable boy Lyle met them in front of the Livery, “Hi Miss. Tomson how can I help you?”

Victoria explained, “I’m here to get the Wagon from Mr. Zimmerman’s office.”

Lyle insisted, “I’ll get it for you.”

Soon he returned with the wagon, and Victoria thanked him. Then she put the tongue in Birdee’s hand and they were off. Victoria took Birdee down to the creek and she sat on the wagon, as Birdee played in the creek. Victoria saw a nice flat skipping rock, and gave it a toss skipping it three times. Then she watched as Birdee tried to do it. Victoria laughed at some of her tries. Birdy didn’t understand it had to be a flat rock, or how to do it. Finely Victoria could hear people leaving the Church, and got Birdee and drug her to the Wagon. She didn’t want to leave the creek, but Victoria forced her.

Then she put the wagon in her hand. She pulled it a little ways and let go of it. Victoria picked up the Wagon tongue and forced it in her hand. Birdee just dropped it to the ground. Victoria pointed to the wagon and gave Birdee a mean look. Birdee tried the sad puppy dog look, but Victoria just kicked her lightly in the butt and pointed. Birdee picked up the tongue and pushed out her bottom lip. Victoria said, “Good you don’t know it, but pouting is good for you. At Main Street she dropped the tongue again. Victoria stopped and pointed again. A lot of people were walking down the street by then.

As it happened Jim and Suzy along with Henry, Origin, and Hank and Emily were coming by. Jim said, “Looks like Victoria needs some help.”

Then Jim went and stood next to Victoria joined by Suzy, Emily, and Henry. Soon they were all standing around her pointing at the Wagon. Birdee picked up the tongue and they all followed her to the store. Victoria had her drop the wagon in the street in front of the store. Then she pulled her to the bench and sat with her. Everyone else went in the store.

Inside Emily helped pick out things for Birdee.

In the store Suzy was looking in the catalog. “Here it is. This is what I need to order.”

Emily went and looked at the page and informed, “We got this one in the top corner of the page. It’s $3.50 in the catalog, but Hank said we had to add 50¢ for shipping. It’s a nice Alarm Clock and it gongs out the hour, and once on the half-hour. If you want the Alarm Clock it will be $4 total.”

Suzy insisted, “Add it to the stuff I need it to get her up at night. I’m sure she’s a bed-wetter. You could smell the urine on her when she came to us, and her rags were stained from it.”

Emily said, “I toss in a bed pad just in case.”

Hank and Jim were on their own mission. Jim got a board from a crate and said, “I think this board will work. I just need a way to drill four holes in it. I need one in each corner.”

Hank informed, “There’s a brace and bit in the tool box with the pry bar. I’ll get the rope.”

Jim advised, “We need about twenty feet.”

Hank replied, “I’ll get twenty-five.”

Out front Emily was trying a shoe on Birdee. Birdee wanted no part of it, but all the gals ganged up on her, and picked out a pair of shoes. A store bought dress that Mable made. Under close, socks, and a store bought blanket that Victoria picked out. They piled the stuff in the Wagon. Then Jim and Hank came out with the board and rope. They set it on top of the pile, and Hank locked up the store.

Jim picked up the Wagon handle, and Victoria took Birdee to the Wagon. Then she pointed to the handle. Birdee took the handle, and Jim helped her pull the wagon. About halfway Jim complained, “Someone else needs to help her. Bending over like this is making my back hurt. Henry took over as Origin asked, “Why rope?”

Jim replied, “It’s in case we choose the tie her up like a dog option.”

Origin hit Jim and shouted, “No! Not dog!”

Hank announced, “No it’s a surprise James and I thought up. Believe me you will like it. You might even use it yourself.”

At the house the men carried the Wagon up on the porch. Then Jim tossed the rope and board in the back yard. They gals took the wagon in the house. Mable and Rebecca where making apple pies. Birdee saw the apples Mable was pilling on the work table, and ran to get one. Victoria grabbed her arm stopping her in her tracks. Then Victoria said, “Mable hand me an apple.”

Birdee was jerking and pointing at the apples, as Mable passed an apple to Victoria. She held it high over Birdee’s head. Victoria pointed to the stool and moved the apple to the stool over Birdee’s head. Victoria let go of Birdee’s arm and slapped her hand on the stool. Birdee climbed up on the stool, and Victoria handed her the apple.

Birdee looked wide eyed at Victoria as she bit into the apple. Victoria mumbled, “Only another fifty times and she might get the hang of it.”

Albert was at the table bouncing Bella on his knee when Rebecca called out, “Albert would you and Bella go down to the cellar and get us another apple we lost one.”

Putting Bella on his hip Albert headed out mumbling.

A little later the smell of the Pot Roast that filled the house was replaced with the smell of the apple pie.”

Suzy went out on the porch and saw Jim up in the Crow’s tree. She yelled, “What are you doing up there?”

Jim replied, “What does it look like I’m doing. I’m tying a knot.”

Henry joked, “You came out so you could be the first to try it?”

Suzy smiled, “Get out of that tree. This better pass the test?”

Suzy sat on the swing and complained, “You put it in to low.”

Jim barked, “That’s because it’s not for you.”

Suzy teased, “Oh I see a new girl comes and you put up a swing for her, but you don’t even think about me.”

Henry whispered to Hank, “I think that firecracker is about to go off.”

Hank blurted, “It was my idea Suzan. Don’t you think every kid should have one?”

Jim climbed down from the tree and looked at the swing. Then he said, “We do good work Hank.”

Henry insisted, “It don’t matter how good it is if the girl won’t get on it. You can put the best saddle there is on a wild horse, but that don’t mean you can ride it.”

 

[gonewacky]

Suzy replied, “She’s not a horse Henry. We’ll just have to see what happens.”

Suzy went in the house and explained her plan to everyone. Rebecca Mable and Emily followed Victoria Suzy and Birdee out to the porch. No one even knew that Sophia came out with them. Suzy went and sat on the swing and rocked back and forth smiling. Then she got up and Emily did it. Birdee watch intensely as they each took a turn doing it. Victoria let go of Birdee, but she just stood watching.

Then Sophia walked over and pushed the swing so it looked like it was swinging itself. Birdee went over and stopped it with her hand and stepped back. Then Sophia pushed it again, and Mable gasped, “Did you see that?”

Birdee stopped it again and moved away. Everyone was watching the swing at this point waiting for it to start again. Sophia had to put her hand over her mouth, and run around the side of the house. Then she broke out laughing, and saw Kathy and Seig coming. She moved next to the house and faded back. Then she joined Kathy and Seig.

As they came up on the porch they could hear Henry say, “I told you. She’s never seen anything like that in her life.”

Kathy saw the swing and proclaimed, “Oh we have a swing now. Seig push me.”

Then Kathy went and sat on the swing and Seig pushed her. She had to keep her legs out because the swing was so low, but it was fun.

Then Birdee grabbed Kathy’s leg and pulled on it. Kathy looked at Birdee and said, “I think you’re trying to tell me to get off.”

Kathy got off the swing and Birdee sat on it and wiggled her butt and shook the ropes, but nothing happened. Everyone stood on the porch laughing.

Then she got off and went to Victoria and took her hand and started pulling. Victoria let her pull her to the swing. Then she stood there as Birdee sat on the swing. Then she got off and pulled Victoria around to the back of the swing and put her hand on the rope. Then went around and got back on.

Sieg insisted, “Victoria you know she wants you to push her. Just do it.”

Victoria gave the swing a push, and walked back to the porch saying, “She’ll have to learn to do it herself. I don’t have time to be out her pushing a swing.”

They had been planning this dinner all day. Mashed potatoes and gravy was out of the question, so they decided on roasted carrots. Birdee could eat them with her hands. They made up Birdee’s plate and set it on the stove in the bun warmer. There was cut up Roast Beef, Carrots and a Roll on her plate. They set the table and put Birdee’s stool between Albert and Sophia. Bella’s High Chair was between Albert and Rebecca. The Dining Table had been maxed out. There was no room to add another guest. The boardinghouse had changed a lot over the last two years.

Victoria went to the porch and announced, “We’re putting it on the table.”

Inside Suzy Mable and Rebecca were putting the food on the table. Victoria took Birdee by the hand, and pulled her to the house. She didn’t want to come in, but Victoria forced her.

Holding Birdee’s hand at the head of the table Victoria announced, “We have decided to call her Birdee. I know she can’t hear us, but we have to call her something. Just calling her Girl isn’t going to work. Now we need to Vote on whether we keep her are not. I heard James wants to tie her up like a dog.”

Jim stood from his chair and insisted, “That was a joke, and everyone should know it.”

Victoria insisted, “Sit down James. We know you are a jokester. Now if we do this it will take all of us. It’s going to be a fight just like with the jam. If she starts to do something that’s wrong then we all have to surround her, and let her know that we won’t allow it. Everyone in agreement raise your hand.”

Hank raised his hand and Henry exclaimed, “You’re not part of this house Hank. You can’t vote.”

Hank replied, “True, but I’m the Mayor. And I’m voting for the town. That little girl is a citizen of Dention, and I’m representing her.”

Henry replied, “Oh…”

Victoria went on, “Looks like we’re all in agreement. Hank would you pray so we can eat.”

Hank said a quick prayer, and Victoria went to the kitchen to get Birdee’s plate. Birdee started to get on the table for food and everyone stood up and looked at her. There was a standoff, and Birdee was having second thoughts. Then Victoria set her plate on the table, and Birdee set her butt back on the stool. Everyone sat back down, and she started shoving food in her mouth until her cheeks were bulging.

Albert reached over and held her hands down, and everyone stood and looked at her again. This went on until her plate was about empty. Then Sophia put her hand on her head and whispered, “Sleep.”

Birdee’s face fell into her plate and Sophia commented, “She’s all tuckered out and has a full belly. It looks like she’s out for the count.”

Emily praised, “Thank god. That child doesn’t slowdown for anything. Suzan I saw that Alarm Clock you got. I thought Victoria got you up every morning.”

Suzy explained, “I got it for Birdee. I’m sure she’s a bed-wetter, so I’m going to get her up every two hours at night until she can do it on her own. I know a little bit about it, because I was a bed-wetter when I was a child. I just slept so deep I didn’t wake up. Then I would wake up wet and cold. It’s a terrible thing to go through. I felt so embarrassed about it. It affected my entire life. I had to take a bath every morning so I didn’t stink. Then I had to wash my own linen every day and hang them out. It was like a flag waving in the yard. Hay a bed-wetter lives here. I don’t want to add that to her tuff life.”

Everyone looked at Suzy as she told the story. Henry asserted. “I’m sorry Suzan. I never knew you went through something like that.”

Suzy went on, “It’s okay Henry. Mine was a physical problem that wasn’t my fault. I fear Birdee’s is Psychological or Emotional from stress caused by traumatic events or abuse. If we can give her a normal life she might get over it.”

The night went on and food got put way, and the dishes got done. Birdee got cleaned up and Sophia put her to bed releasing the spell. They sat and drank coffee until Hank left. Then Kathy, Sophia and Seig headed to the Hotel.

Suzy went to Birdee’s room every two hours, and put her on the Chamber-pot. During the night Dreamer came to Victoria taking her to the land of Birdee.

Victoria saw Birdee standing in the rain shivering. Then she was watching her barefoot in the snow trying to catch a snowflake on her tongue. Then Victoria watched her following a Bumblebee as it went from flower to flower, and she saw Birdee chasing a Butterfly through a field. Victoria filled with love, and felt her childhood coming back.

Then the dream took a turn and turned into a nightmare. She saw Birdee tied to a chair and made to eat like a dog. A wicked Evil man was pushing her face into the plate. Then she saw the man dragging her around by the hair, as he kicked her. In the dream Victoria tried to stop him and jumped on him. But she just went through him. It was like trying to fight a ghost, and he just laughed an evil laugh. Then he grabbed Birdee’s arm and slung her around tossing her out in the mud. Then stood over her and laughed. Victoria became enraged and started screaming as she woke.

Suzy herd Victoria screaming and flew from her bed to Victoria’s room. She found Victoria sitting up in bed crying. Suzy sat on the edge of the bed and whispered, “It was just a bad dream.”

Then she did something she would normally not do. With her hand behind Victoria’s back she made a ball of bright flashing colored light, and pushed it into her back. Then she did it again and whispered, “Do you feel better now?”

Then the Dining Room Clock gonged four times followed by the sound of Suzy’s Alarm Clock Gonging. Victoria proclaimed, “It’s time for me to get up, and you need to go potty Birdee.

In too deep to stop Joe

 

[feralferret]

Wacko, thank you.

 

[gonewacky]

Reading a story can be like going on a date. You don’t start in the Bedroom. Maybe you go for a walk in the park, and then dinner and a movie. Then there is the chance you go to the bedroom, but witch bedroom will it be? The room with the lace or the one with the baseball mitt, but sometimes you never make it past dinner. Then you fall asleep on the couch with the T.V. on.

The thing is you never know until you get to the end. Will there be fireworks, or will it just fizzle out?

Please let me know which one this was… Joe

 

[gonewacky]

Chapter Five – Birdee Sees The Doctor

​

Suzy reached over the door and got the Key. Opening the door She saw Birdee sleeping on the floor. She knew what happened and a tear slipped down her cheek. She sat on the floor and pulled Birdee up to her breast, and hugged her tight as another tear slipped down her cheek. Suzy whispered, “I’m so sorry Birdee. It’s going to be okay. We’ll fix this. It’s just going to take some time.”

Then she got up and pulled the linen from the bed. She took Birdee’s hand and carried the linen to the Bath house. Then she dropped the linen in the wash tub and called out, “By the power of Njal I command Sophia to appear.”

Then Sophia appeared in front of them saying, “You summoned me.”

Suzy asked, “You think you can put Birdee out for me.”

Sophia put her hand on Birdee’s head and said, “Sleep.” She went limp and Suzy caught her and laid her on the floor.

Sophia asked, “You going to give her a bath?”

Suzy replied, “Yep can’t you smell her? I can’t take her to the doctor like this.”

Sophia informed, “I’ll start the fire in the stove. That’s if you want to start getting the water.”

Suzy grabbed two buckets and headed to the well. Returning she sat the buckets on the Floor and requested, “Can you put the water in the pot? I’m going in and get a towel and some clothes. Passing the kitchen Victoria asked, “Did she wet the bed?”

Suzy stopped and replied, “I knew it would happen, but I was hoping to prolong it from happening so soon.”

Kneading the bread Victoria went on, “Sorry sweetie. You need any help out there?”

Suzy replied, “No, I got the fire going and some water heating. Birdee fell back to sleep, so I think I can handle it. I’m just getting her some clean clothes”

Then Suzy got the clothes and towel and headed back out.

In the bathhouse she set down the clothes, and picked up the water buckets. Then she headed back to the well. When she returned she dumped one bucket in the washtub, and poured the other in the pot.

Sophia asked, “You think I can go to the big city with you today?”

Suzy answered, “I wouldn’t go without you, but don’t get your hopes up. What we call the big city is just a small town. It’s about four times the size of our little town, but that isn’t saying much. They do however have a theater there. James and I have been there. The owner of the Newspaper took us. It has a Bank that we don’t have here. The U.S. Marshal’s office is in Lambert. It was the closest Jail when we first came here, and James and Albert had to take all their prisoners there.”

Sophia put her hand in the pot and moved it around as Suzy asked, “How is it?”

Sophia replied, “It’s lukewarm. I think we can use it. We’re just washing the bottom half of her aren’t we?

Suzy replied, “That’s what I was thinking. No need in doing any more than we half to.”

Sophia insisted, “You do the laundry and I’ll wash her up and dress her. I don’t know how to run that washing machine. I think I’m going to half to take my clothes to the Chinaman.

Suzy laughed, “It’s not that bad Sophia. You’ll get the hang of it.”

Suzy washed the bedding and put it in a bucket. Then she took it to the creek and rinsed them out. After she hung them on the line she went back in the bath house.

Birdee was all dressed on the floor and Sophia was holding her in a sitting position. Suzy took one hand and Sophia took the other. Then Sophia put her hand on Birdee’s head and said, “Wake.”

Then they pulled Birdee to her feet. Suzy led Birdee to the kitchen, and Sophia twirled her finger in front of her making a spinning rainbow. Then she shot it with a little spark, and the center opened up. She could see the Hotel Lobby in the hole, and Sophia jumped through. Then the hole collapsed to a speck and flickered out.

In the Kitchen Victoria saw Birdee and went and patted her hand on the stool. Suzy led her to the stool and she climbed up and sat on it. Victoria took Birdee a tin cup of tea and a roll from last night’s dinner. Victoria had them setting out waiting for her. Birdee chucked down the drink and held the cup out for more, but this time Victoria filled it with water. Handing it to Birdee she pushed it away, so Victoria dumped it in the sink. Then she put the tin-cup on the worktable, and pulled the bread dough from the top of the warmer. She made the two loaf pans and put it back on the warmer.

Then Birdee got down from the stool and went to get the cup, but Victoria grabbed her by the arm. She tried to take her back to the stool, but she went into a full blown temper tantrum. Suzy grabbed the other arm and they dragged Birdee to her room. Then they pushed her in and pulled the door shut locking it. Mable came by asking, “Having a bad start to the day are we?”

Suzy replied, “I’ll go start your toast Mable.”

Victoria explained, “No, just a learning process. I just don’t know who’s learning me or her.”

Suzy mumbled, “I think it’s me.”

Victoria laughed, “I’m right behind you. I don’t know where we’re going, but I’m right there with you.”

Henry and Origin walked past Amos’s old room and Henry mumbled, “She did something wrong. Hope that door holds up to all that pounding.”

Origin whispered, “Not broke yet.”

Henry replied, “Not by a long shot.”

In the dining room Henry asked, “What did she do now?”

Victoria replied, “She through a temper tantrum. What are you up so early for?”

Henry explained, “James and Suzan are taking Birdee to see the Doc today. Origin and I are going to ride out and get his team, and hitch up his Wagon for him.”

Victoria insisted, “In that case you better get that batter going Suzan, or James will have to do the job himself.”

Suzy smiled, “I’m on it.”

Mable boasted, “I almost have another dress made for Birdee.”

Origin replied, “Seig get Deer me make dress for Bird.”

Mable insisted, “If you do Origin. I want to help. I would love to learn to make an Indian dress. I don’t see you wear yours much anymore.”

Origin insisted, “Me do, only at Livery working. Ware white woman dress in big house.”

Mable smiled. She knew Origin did it for Henry. She had seen her head dress in their room, but never seen her ware it.

Mable spread the jam on her toast as Henry and Origin finished eating. Suzy walked over and knocked on her door and said, “Let’s get going sleepy head.”

Then she went back to the stove as Henry and Origin left. Albert and Rebecca passed Birdee’s room with Bella, but Birdee had stopped pounding on the door. Albert took his seat at the Dining room table and asked, “Where’s Birdee?”

Rebecca put Bella in the highchair as Suzy replied, “You didn’t hear her pounding on the door?”

Albert insisted, “Nope, quiet as a church mouse she was.”

Victoria spoke with concern, “Maybe you should go check on her sweetie.”

Suzy slipped down the hall and retrieved the key. Slowly she opened the door. Birdee was sitting on the edge of the bed, and gave her a sad puppy look. Suzy thought it was her way of saying she was sorry, and went and sat next to her and put her arm around her. Birdee leaned her head on Suzy and she knew she was worn out from the temper tantrum. Suzy took her hand and led her back to the stool.

Victoria took Birdee a cup of tea with sugar and a rolled up pancake. Birdee just sat and ate as she watched Victoria take the bread from the oven, and put it on the worktable. Then Jim came to the table, and Suzy put a plate with pancakes on it in front of him. Jim looked around and asked, “Henry isn’t down yet?”

Victoria announced, “James he’s been and gone. Origin and him left early to get your team from the homestead.”

Suzy’s thoughts were starting to race through her head. Everything seemed to be going slow, and she was getting excited about what she was going to do. She pumped Love into a lot of people, and used it to send Demons back to hell. This would be the first time she ever tried to use it for what would be a miracle. This was the work of the Supreme Being using her, and she knew it. This one act was making her think of how special she was.

Birdee was clueless. She didn’t even know she had gone from rags to riches. She soon would be riding in a Wagon with some of the richest people around. In fact Jim had become so rich taking coins to the future and turning them into gold. It meant nothing to him anymore. Kathy had Jim stop trading her Silver Dollars, and just kept most of them under her bed. Suzy still had her Chamber Pot under her bed full of gold bars.

Yet they all worked simple jobs and enjoyed the slow life. Unknown to them this one act was about to change their life forever. The love that would flow from this act would have impacts they could never have thought of.

Outside Victoria was pushing Birdee in the swing, and Suzy was feeding her Bird. Jim went to get the Wagon, Sophia and Kathy. Suzy was watching Victoria with Birdee, and knew she was getting attached to her. Victoria was trying to teach Birdee to swing by herself. She was having her lean back and put out her feet, and then sit up. Birdee was trying hard, but her timing was off.

Then Victoria left her to herself and went and sat in her chair. Victoria defended herself, “Well someone has to teach her, or she’ll never learn anything.”

Suzy replied, “If she could hear we could teach her Yes and No. If we could teach her that she would learn fast. Just look at Bella she’s only a little over a year and she’s starting to say some words, but she’s known what Yes and No means for a while now.”

Victoria cautioned, “Don’t get your hopes up to much. I haven’t heard of anyone getting their hearing back, and I think it would take a miracle.”

Suzy insisted, “Then you better start praying for a miracle.”

Then Jim’s voice rang out, “You coming?”

 

[gonewacky]

Suzy took Birdee’s hand, and pulled her from the swing. Heading out front Jim informed, “I already got Kathy and Sophia. There’re waiting in the back of the Wagon.”

Suzy asked, “You want me to make it rain stars when we get out of town?”

Jim replied, “No, I think we’ll just enjoy the ride. I don’t think Birdee needs to see that.”

Then they were off to Lambert to see the doctor. They were about five miles out of town when Jim saw the three men riding at them. He knew they were up to no good, because their hands slipped down and hung an easy distance from their guns. One of them Jim recognized as Vick a cowboy who worked for Mr. Hanson. Jim’s grandfather had fired him for stealing cattle, and selling them in Lambert. The other two Jim never saw before. One rode up along either side of the Wagon and Vick grabbed Patty’s harness and gave Jim a cold look. “What you doing out riding around with a Wagon full of women Deputy? You think that tin star makes you better than anyone else?”

Jim barked, “It seems to me the Sheriff told you not to show your nose around here again Vick.”

Vick replied, “I don’t remember that Deputy.”

Jim insisted, “I know your reputation Vick, but right now I got no cause to arrest you. Far as I know you're clean in this territory, but you're not staying here. As soon as I get this Wagon going you and your pals are getting out of the county.”

Vick laughed, “Well we just got here Deputy. We thought we'd stay over for a spell. Looks like you got some mighty fine entertainment here in this Wagon. I don’t think the funs going to start till after nightfall, and you're going to be gone then. Funny thing Deputy I've heard a lot of talk about you being fast with a gun.”

Jim watched Vick’s hand twitch as Suzy made a ball of bright flashing colored light behind Jim’s back. Jim watched Vick smile as he sat back in his saddle. It was the smile of a man who says one thing with his lips and another with his eyes. He reached to his holster and rested his thumb on it and said, “Like you said Deputy, as far as you know you got no cause to arrest me. Let’s keep it that way.”

With that Vick let go of Patty and yelled, “Let’s go boys. We’re done here for now.”

As they rode off Suzy whispered, “You don’t want to know what I was thinking.”

Jim mumbled, “I already know. I was thinking the same thing. That could have gone either way.”

Sophia blurted, “Can I have more than one cloud going at a time?”

Kathy smiled, “You can make as many as you need dear. Big, small, it doesn’t matter, but if you clap your hands they will all disappear all at once.”

Sophia revealed, “I don’t know about you, but that was kind of scary to me.”

Suzy insisted, “You should never have fear when we’re all together. Our combined power is a match for anything. If it gets too bad for us to handle a Horsemen will show up and chop off their head. If a Light Being shows up just get out of its way.”

Sophia smiled, “Like shouldn’t we ware tights and cape so everyone knows not to mess with us.”

Suzy and Jim cracked up laughing, and Kathy asked, “What’s so funny?”

Suzy explained, “In the time we’re from there are mythical Super Heroes. There a fictional hero having extraordinary or superhuman powers. Their exceptionally skillful or successful person compared to everyone else. They wear a skin tight outfit with a mask and cape. Most have a letter on their chest. James would have a “T” for Time lord. You would have an “S” for Spectrum.”

Kathy responded, “That sounds kind of goofy.”

Sophia laughed, “It is, but people love the fantasy of it. The thing is I’m living that fantasy, and can’t even tell anyone.”

Jim parked the wagon in front of the Doctor’s office, and they all unloaded from the wagon.

Walking into the Doctor’s office Jim announced, “By the power of Njal I command time to stop.”

The doctor froze, and Jim walked over and touched him. The Doctor came to life, as Suzy came right behind Jim with Birdee in hand. She let go of Birdee and she froze in place. Doctor Heanley’s eyes opened wide as he exclaimed, “Oh this is going to be one of those kind of visits.”

Suzy smiled and pulled her gun. Then she removed one of the bullets made from the metal of the truck, and handed it to Patrick. He looked at Suzy as she explained, “Put that in your pocket so you won’t freeze when we don’t touch you. To answer your question this is not one of those kinds of visits. This is just a checkup for this girl, but we had to stop time because we never know when she’ll go wild.”

Then Suzy explained about Birdee as Kathy and Sophia came in behind her. Then Patrick asked, “Who’s this girl? I haven’t seen her before.”

Kathy stepped up and explained, “This is Sophia. She’s a Spectrum Goddess in training. Show the doctor something Sophia. It’s alright he knows all about us.”

Sophia twirled her finger in front of her making a spinning rainbow appear behind the Doctor. Then she shot a little spark that drifted by the doctor and hit the spinning rainbow. Then the center opened up and you could see a dirt road in the hole in the swirl. Sophia pushed the Doctor through the hole, and stepped through behind him. Sitting on his butt in the middle of the road Patrick saw Kathy waiving through the hole in the spinning rainbow. Then the spinning rainbow collapsed to a speck and flickered out as Patrick asked, “Where are we at?”

Sophia replied, “On the road somewhere between our Town and yours.”

Patrick inquired, “You going to take me back?”

Sophia replied, “Don’t you want to have some fun first? I know Bird Man. He’s a Time Lord and can take us to anytime or place. Then he’d bring us back and no one would even know we did it. You want me to call him?”

Patrick insisted, “No! I think you should take me back.”

Sophia said, “Alright I’ll take us back. You’re not much fun. Heck I never get to show people what I can do.”

Sophia twirled her finger in front of her making a spinning rainbow. Then she shot it with a little spark, and the center opened up. You could see Suzy, Kathy, Jim, and Birdee in the Doctor’s office. Sophia took Patrick’s hand and pulled him through the hole. Then the spinning rainbow collapsed to a speck and flickered out.

Kathy asked, “Where did you take him?”

Sophia made up a whopper of a tale, “I took him to the road half way between here and home. Then I called Bird Man, and had him take us to the 1920’s. We went to a speakeasy and the Doctor learned the Charleston. Then he picked up a Gal and spent the night with her. Then Bird Man took us back to the same place and time we left, and we came here.”

Kathy pointed to Patrick standing behind her with his arms crossed.

Sophia looked at Patrick and admitted, “Okay I added the part about picking up the girl.”

Patrick just stood with his arms crossed looking at Sophia. Taking a deep breath Sophia added, “Alright I made the whole thing up. We just went to the road and back. I don’t get to have any fun in this time.”

Suzy explained, “What I want to do is to try to heal her, but I will have to tell people you did it. Is there anything you can do for hearing loss in this time?”

Then Patrick explained, “Hearing loss yes. For being deaf I have nothing. Then he went to his desk and got a card. This company keeps sending me these cards to give to my patients with hearing loss, but I’ve never put them in anyone. I don’t even know if they work, but I could say I did it. You can tell them she was born with closed ear canals, and I put this device in to open them up. What do you think?”

Suzy replied, “Hay it works for me. What do you think James?”

Jim replied, “Well if it works. You don’t even know if you can do it yet Suzan.”

Suzy put her hands over Birdee’s ears and said, “We’re about to find out.”

Birdee’s head started too glow and was pulsating as Kathy asked, “How long are you going to do that?”

Suzy replied, “Until it feels right or a Light Being comes and stop’s me. Oh there I think I might have done it.”

Kathy asked, “How will we know if it worked?”

The Doctor replied, “Well they have tuning forks for testing that, but I don’t have any. I just use a bell, but I think we’ll know right away. She has never heard anything before, and will be trying to figure out what it is. Since she’s never heard sound before. She won’t even have a reference on where it’s coming from. You’ll have to let her see your lips move for her to understand the sound is coming from you. It will be some time for her to learn if the sound is on her right, left, or behind her. She will have to learn everything about sound.

When you don’t hear your brain has to work twice as fast to make up for not hearing. Her eyes sees things way faster than yours do. Her brain has to work fast to pick things out and work out the possibilities of what it sees. You look at a pot on the stove you hear the water boiling and the pot sizzling. She hears nothing. She has to look at the rate of the steam coming from the pot. Determine how much is coming out how fast to know if it’s just steaming or boiling. You hear the fire crackle in the fire box and know its going. You don’t even have to look, but she has to see the flicker of the fire, and feel the warmth to know.

For her to do anything as fast as you her brain has to work twice as fast. We need to slow that down if you’re going to teach her. When your brain works fast like that it’s hard to keep concentration on things. She will most likely have a short attention span. With all the new sounds, every little noise will be a distraction. I think I want to give you something to slow her down. Walk her over to the scale.”

Suzy took Birdee’s hand and she came to life. Then she led her to the scale. Then Suzy let go and she froze.

The doctor moved the weights on the scale and said. “42 lbs. I was thinking she should be about 50 lbs. I’m sure she’s not been getting enough food to eat. You know you don’t think as good when you’re hungry, and it makes learning difficult. You need to make sure she gets plenty to eat. If you were one of my poor patients I would go talk to Mill owner Mr. Lauman. Philip and his wife Savina not only own the Mill, but Savina runs their Bakery here in town. At the end of the day she takes all the leftover bread to the poor families. Savina and Philip always have wonted children, but there not able.

It’s sad because she so thought I could fix her, but medicine just doesn’t have the knowledge. I don’t know why it’s not working. If ever there was a couple that deserve a child it would be them. Anyway I know you’ll keep her belly full. Sorry I went off on that.”

Suzy pushed love into Patrick and said, “We know you see a lot of people you can’t help. I can’t imagine what it would be like carrying all that around with you. Then not even being able to tell anyone.”

Patrick laughed, “Oh but I can. Why do you think I come down to Dention every week to check Bella? You gave me Rebecca to talk too. We talk about everything. She’s the only one I can share your secret with. I read her books too, and I’m probably the only one that knows their true. I better weigh up that powder for you.”

 

[gonewacky]

Patrick set his little scale on his work table, and got a jar of white powder from his medicine cabinet. He set out some sheets of paper and set one on the scale. Then he took a tiny spoon and scooped the powder on the paper. When the scale leveled out he took the paper from the scale. Then he put another paper on the scale, and did it again. After he had a few on the table he folded them like a little envelope, and stacked them. Then he got a little cloth bag from a drawer. Put the packages in it, and pulled the drawstring tight.

Handing the cloth bag to Suzy Patrick instructed, “Put one package of powder in her drink in the morning. This is just a sleeping powder, but it’s not enough to put her to sleep. It should just slow her down a little. It will wear off by midafternoon, so you should do your learning in the early part of the day. I’ve given you enough to last a week. We’ll just have to see how it goes. I’ll want to check on her next time I come to Dention.”

Suzy questioned, “Is that it?”

The doctor advised, “Help her work out what she’s feeling. Teach her to Empathize. Practice what to say. It is importin you teach her to say yes, no, and when to say she’s sorry.

Anger is a feeling, while aggression is a behavior. You will have to teach her that she cannot use it to solve her problems. Here are some tips to help her in learning how to manage her emotions. Teach her how to calm down. Lay it on the line with a zero-tolerance policy. You will need to manage your anger. If you over react it will teach her what you’re trying to break her of. You have a two year old in a six or seven year old body. Reword training works well, but you have to be consistent. When she’s good she gets rewarded, and when she’s bad you punish her.”

Suzy announced, “I guess this is the time we see if it works.”

Jim announced. “By the power of Njal I command time to start.”

Time started and the Doctor kneeled down on one knee and said, “Can you give me your hand?”

He held out his hand as Birdee looked around. She was disorientated, and didn’t know what was happening. Suzy pointed to the doctor’s hand and said, “Give the doctor your hand.”

Birdee looked at Suzy and put her hands over her ears. The Doctor announced, “I’m sure she can hear, but has no idea what it is. Now would be the time to do an examination if you can get her on the table”

Suzy acknowledged, “Birdee responds best to Sophia. I think she should do it.”

Sophia smiled, “That’s because we have a link to each other. Tweety.”

The little Sparrow appeared in front of Sophia with little stars flashing around it. Then it went to her head, and hopped to Birdee’s head. Pulling up on Birdee’s dress Sophia explained, “My little bird puts pitchers in her head of what I want. Then it’s up to her if she does it or not.”

As the dress came off the Doctor looked away, and stepped next to Suzy asking, “Who did this to her?”

Suzy replied, “Albert hung him.”

Patrick reasoned, “Then there is a God.”

Sophia lifted Birdee up on the exam table, and Patrick got his stethoscope. Pushing it to Birdee’s chest she pushed it a way. Sophia took the end of it and put it under her armpit.

Patrick insisted, “I knew that. I should have warmed it up first. It’s just all the scars and old bruises and contusions make it hard to think right.”

Sophia pushed the stethoscope to Birdee’s chest and smiled. Birdee smiled as Patrick moved it a little and smiled, “Sounds like it’s working fine little girl. You want to hear?”

Then Patrick put the other end of the stethoscope in Birdee’s ears. Her mouth dropped open and she stared at the doctor as he said, “That’s you.”

Birdee could feel her heart beat with each sound. It took her a moment to understand this was her, and then her mind starved for the knowledge. She pulled the stethoscope from her chest and tried to put it on the Doctor. Patrick guided the stethoscope so she could hear his heart beat. This made Birdee look at the Doctor and smile.

Sophia took the stethoscope and pushed it against her heart, and Birdee pointed to Sophia and smiled. Sophia whispered, “Yes that’s me.”

Patrick removed her shoes and checked her feet as he talked, “A child’s foot isn’t fully developed until their late teens, and shoes that are worn during these years should have ample room for the feet to grow. This will prevent serious conditions from developing, such as ingrown toenails. Another thing we watch for is things like flat feet. This may make her walking appear to become clumsy.”

Then the Doctor ran his hands over her ankles, and checked her knees. Then he checked all the way to her head and said, “Well she doesn’t have lice or louse. You will have to check for that, and if it happens rub a can of Lard in her hair. I know most people use Cole Oil, but the Lard works and I think it’s not as hard on her. Wrap something around her head, and leave it in her hair for about three days. I know it doesn’t work as fast as the Cole Oil, but believe me it’s a better way.”

Patrick helped Birdee down from the exam table and said, “We need to talk about Lip reading. This is the only way Birde had to understand words. Lip reading requires you to be in front of her when talking, if you turn away, she’ll lose your mouth shapes.

Lip reading, contrary to what many hearing people assume, is not a super power and is actually remarkably difficult. Even under the best circumstances, it doesn't let you perfectly understand spoken word. For Birdee it is most likely even more difficult, because she spent most of her life with a different language.

Lip reading can be nearly impossible in certain scenarios. Places with lots of background noise, or multiple people talking at once can make lip reading much harder. At best, lip reading allows you to pick up maybe 30%-40% of what people say in ideal conditions.

When you talk to her you must look in her eyes so she sees the movements of your lips. Lip reading requires you to be in front of the person talking. This will help her learn your voice, and what the word means. That’s all I have for you. Good Luck”

Jim stepped up and asked, “How much is the visit Doc?”

Patrick shook his head and said, “You know I can’t charge you. Just keep removing evil from us.”

Jim flipped a five dollar gold peace on the table and said, “Buy a meal for Anvil. He won’t buy food for himself.”

Patrick dropped his head and mumbled, “Oh, you don’t know. Anvil’s not with us anymore. They found him stiff as a board in the alley with a bottle in his hand.”

Jim became upset and blinked out. Suzy disclosed, “James loved that drunk. I think Anvil thought he was imaginary, because James blinked in and out of the alley all of the time.”

Sophia took Birdee’s hand and led her to the door. At the door Birdee heard a wagon going by and jumped back from the sound. Sophia gave her a tug and they continued. Walking by Charlie he neighed, and Birdee jumped back. She looked all around hearing the clippity-clop of horses going up and down the road. The symphony of creaks, squeaks, and groans from the tortured wood of wagons moving around, and the faint sound of people talking. This made Birdee put her hands over her ears. It was all becoming too much to take in all at once.

Sophia took Birdee by the shoulders, looked in her eyes, and said, “Noisy. I know lots of sounds.”

Suzy pushed some love into Birdee’s back, and Birdee put her head on Sophia’s hip and wrapped her arms around her legs.”

Sophia looked at Suzy and smiled, as Kathy asked, “What are we doing about James? He’s still gone.”

Suzy said, “I say we walk through town, and let Sophia see what’s here. Then we work our way to the Hotel for lunch.”

Sophia’s little bird was darting around landing on the covers over the board walk as they went. It would swoop down and chirrup as it past in front of Birdee. Birdee would smile and follow the bird with her eyes. Sophia swung Birdee’s arm as she walked. She was happy and life was good.

Seeing a meat market Sophia requested, “Can we stop? They have sausages and salami hanging in there.”

Suzy said, sure, “I think you’ll like it.”

Inside the market Birdee pointed at the sausages hanging from the ceiling. Suzy said, “We’ll take a side of Bacon, a Ham, a Salami, and a string of the sausages.”

The man took a knife from behind the counter, and walked to the sausages. Then he cut one off and handed it to Birdee, as he took down the string. He got a wooden box and filled the order, “Bacon is 12¢ a pound. A 5 pound slab is 60¢. Ham is 15¢ a pound. 16 pound Ham is $2.40. $1.25 for the Salami, and 12 sausages at 10¢ each.”

The man added up the list he wrote down and said, “That will be $5.45.”

Kathy set a stack of silver dollars on the counter and said, “Throw in another six sausages, and we’ll call it even.”

The man replied, “Sure thing Mam. You want me to carry this out for you?”

Suzy spoke up, “No, we got more shopping to do. We’ll pick it up when we leave town.”

The man replied, “That’s fine. I’ll have it here waiting for you.”

They went back down the boardwalk and Suzy said, “Look it’s the Bakery the Doctor told us about. I’m going in.”

Kathy, Sophia, and Birdee waited outside and watched through the window. Suzy went in and asked for two Loaf’s of bread. The woman said, “That will be 2¢.”

Suzy set one of Jim’s shaving nickels on the counter and said, “Give them to some needy children and keep the change. You’re Savina Right?”

Savina replied, “I am. That’s me.”

Suzy went on, “I’ve heard you’re without child and want one. I’m a healer and might be able to help you.”

Then time stopped and a Light Being appeared, “I’ve been sent to remind you about the balance of life. Creating or ending Life changes the balance of all Life. What is given must be taken. Do you understand?”

Suzy replied, “I know, but she is so deserving.”

Sophia asked, “Is that an Angel?”

Kathy replied, “Yes, I think it’s a messenger from the Supreme Being. Suzy might be in trouble.”

 

[gonewacky]

The Light Being informed, “The great I am has herd her cries, and she is with child. Your wishes are unfounded, but remember that Creating Life has consequences you might not like. I know that’s not how Love thinks, but sometimes Love hurts. I’m resetting time so she will never have heard what you offered. However, someday you might have to explain me to that little girl holding the Goddesses hand. She’s watching me through the window. That is your punishment. Now go.”

Then the Light Being disappeared, and Suzy left. Outside Kathy asked, “What happened?”

Suzy replied, “I went stupid and thoght I was God or something.”

Kathy inquired, “You ready to head to the Restaurant?”

Suzy replied, “Sure, we can cross the street and go up the other side.”



Jim sat on a log watching the waves wash up on the beach. Then Najl appeared asking, “What troubles you my child?”

Jim replied, “I found I lost a friend today and I don’t know where he went.”

Najl whispered, “He had been fighting a Demon for years. The Demon influenced him to drink, but he never let the Demon in. It was time for the suffering to end. I can tell you he went to the right place. He is better now. I think you need to take on a Demon by yourself. It will help you. I’ve picked out a man possessed by a Demon of greed. He has become rich by killing good people. Her lets watch the last one. This man invented the Electric Iron.”

Najl hit his axe handle on the ground and a portal opened up, and they were looking into and old shack.

Two men were talking.

Jack insisted, “You'll have to tell me how you make that drink. It has a bitter taste that I like. That there is a Witch’s brew.”

George replied, “Yes, I'll tell you Jack are you sure the unit is perfect.”

Jack insisted, “I'd stake my life on its perfect performance. That's how sure I am that it will do the work. The next thing is to get the necessary patents. You have all the papers haven't you?

George proclaimed, “Yes.”

Jack asked. “Why don't we draw them up now?”

George insisted, “Why not wait till the morning. We’ll do that first thing all right?”

Jack confessed, “I feel a little sleepy. I think I'll turn in in a few minutes.”

George smiled, “That might be a good idea Jack. I'm not very sleepy I think I'll sit up a while.

Jack revealed, “That drink seems to have gone to my head.”

George asked, “In what way. How do you feel?”

Jack replied, “Very dizzy, and my head feels very heavy.”

George laughed, “Not as heavy as it will feel in a few more minutes.”

Jack questioned, “What do you mean? Is it supposed to work that way?”

George kept laughing, “Yes it is supposed to work that way.”

Jack asked, “Why do you say it that way? Why are you staring at me the way you are?”

George laughed, “The witch's brew that was a good name Jack.”

Jack insisted, “You had the drink don't you feel dizzy too?”

George replied, “No, I didn't drink the Witch’s brew.”

Jack demanded, “Why are you staring at me that way?”

George laughed, “Yes I have poisoned you.”

Jack cried, “You devil!”

George insisted, “Try to get at me. Try to use your limbs.”

Jack confessed, “I can't.”

George smiled, “Your head's getting heavier.”

Jack cried, “Why did you do this?”

George asked, “Whose money is going to Market this invention. Mine.”

Jack insisted, “You wouldn't have anything to Market if not for me.”

George smiled, “And whose money are you using in the making of this invention? The Burnes Iron is going to make a fortune. The Burnes unit, not the Burnes and Hall unit.”

Jack cried, “George don't do this give me an antidote.”

George laughed, “There's no antidote known, and I wouldn't if I could.”

Jack begged, “I'll go away. I won't lay any claim to the invention. For heaven's sake don't kill me just to get it for yourself you'll.”

George smiled, “You’ll go away. I've made sure of that.”

Jack begged, “Please. I can hardly see you. Give me an antidote. Save my life you can't be so inhuman.”

Gorge explained, “The poison is made from two common herbs that grow here in a swamp and the Indians have known for centuries. In 24 hours there will be no trace of it left in your body. With all identification marks removed from your clothes, and no relatives to come sticking in their noses. Yes, that was convenient Jack You not having any relatives. Go ahead Jack. In a few moments when the poison is ready to overpower the heart you will jump like a Jack in a box. They will find your body, and not know who you are. Kick go on Kick this was the only sure way. This unit is going to make me a fortune, and I'm not going to share it. It's over he's dead, and no one will ever know who he is or how he died. Life is going to be easy now. I’ll have riches luxury and be safe, because they'll never trace this to me.

Najl hit his axe handle on the ground and the portal disappeared. Then he instructed, “You will scare this man to death. His own fear of what he’s done will kill him. I will make you look like the man he killed. You’ll just go to his office on the third floor, and you’ll know what to do.”



Jim went in the building, and up the to the third floor. The sign on the door said, “Gorge Burnes company”

Walking in the door Jim saw the receptionist and she said, “Good morning welcome to the Gorge Burnes company, so how can I help you?”

Jim replied, “I wish to see Gorge Burnes.”

The gal asked, “Whom shall I say is calling?”

Jim replied, “Tell him it’s John Doe.”

She asked, “What's that?”

Jim insisted, “I am called John Doe. Mr. Burnes knows me.”

She inquired, “What did you wish to see Mr. Burnes about?”

Jim replied, “The Hall unit.”

She insisted, “Just a moment I'll check with Mr Burnes to find out if he can see you.”

Jim just ignored her and headed to his office door. She exclaimed, “Mr. hay Mr. your gonna have to wait a minute so… you can't go into his office yet.”

When Jim reached the door he blinked to the inside of the office. She cried out, “Oh look, look at that. He walked right through the door he didn't open the door! He walked right through it.”

Then she passed out.

In the office Gorge looked at Jim and asked, “Who are you, and how did you get in here.”

Jim replied, “I’m John Doe and I want you.”

Gorge demanded, “What's wrong with that girl? Why did she let you in here?”

In a deep voice Jim said, “Mr. Burnes I’m John Doe. You remember John Doe don't you?”

Gorge mumbled, “Jack?”

Jim replied, “No, I’m John Doe.”

Gorge sighed, “For a moment I thought you were Jack Hall. You look like Jack Hall, John Doe.”

Jim kept talking in the deep voice, “Now I’m John Doe.”

Gorge insisted, “How did you get in here? What do you want?”

Jim replied, “You Gorge Burnes. I want you!”

Gorge insisted, “Get out of here! Get out of my office! Who are you!”

Jim insisted, “You know me Mr. Burnes. You remember the witch's brew?”

Gorge shouted, “Jack!”

Jim asked, “You remember now?”

Gorge stuttered, “Jack Hall your dead. You’re an imposter.”

Jim insisted, “No longer am I Jack Hall. You took care of that. I'm John Doe and my residence is a cold slab of marble. You were right your crime was clever you reckoned with everything but me.’

Gorge shouted, “Get away!”

Jim teased, “It'll do you no good to call for help Mr. Burnes. You've come face to face with me. Your face is quite hot now too like mine. Your heart is burning with fear, and your time on Earth is almost drained away. Hey your mouth is dry and parched. You will get sick, and you’ll feel dizzy. Try to use your limbs you can't. A glass of water is sitting in front of you. You need water! Yes drink it. Oh no, it wasn't water Gorge it was poison. You hear me poison. You have drunk poison.”

Gorge mumbled, “Help!”

Then Gorge grabbed his chest and fell from the chair.

Jim whispered, “You'll speak no more it's all over Mr. Burnes. You reckoned on everything, but John Doe and death. I’m John Doe, and my work is done.”

Then Jim blinked out.

Out in the reception area a man explained, “I found her just like this Doc lying on the floor.”

The Doc insisted, “She’s just fainted. She'll be all right.

The man informed, “At the moment I walked by. I thought I heard someone call for help. It sounded like it came from in here, so I ran in and found her lying on the floor. Then I ran down to your office Doc.”

The Doc assured, “Oh she's going to be all right. She’s coming to now. Here take a drink of this please.”

The man insisted, “She was calling for help. That's what she's saying now.”

She mumbled, “Mr. Burnes.”

The Doc asked, “What about Mr. Burnes?”

She went on, “Oh man a man who said his name was John Doe. He walked right through the door, walked through it. I saw him. What don't you understand it? He wasn't real he vanished through the door into the office.”

The Doctor asked, “Is this Mr. Burnes private office?”

She insisted, “Yes he vanished through his door.”

The Doctor mumbled, “I guess I'd better find out from Mr Burnes what this is all about.”

The Doc went in to the office and announced, “Mr Burnes, pardon me Mr Burnes.”

The man heard the doctor gasp and asked, “What's wrong?”

The Doc insisted, “Come in here quickly.’

The man questioned, “What's wrong doc?”

The Doc revealed, “It’s Mr Burnes. He’s dead. Look at him.”

The man said, “The strange looking man walked through the door. Came in here and killed Mr. Burnes.”

The doctor insisted, “There are no wounds. It must have been his heart. I have never seen such a look on anyone's face before. This is terrible. It’s a look of pure horror on his face. It looks as if he was scared to death.”

Jim appeared in front of the Doctors office. His Wagon with Patty and Charlie were still hitched to the hitching post. Looking up and down the street he thought, I guess I start at the Hotel Restaurant. Then work my way through Town.

Looking through the window Jim saw them at a table with Birdee, so he headed in. At the table Jim asked, “Is Birdee acting all right?”

Birdee watched Jim as he spoke. Suzy explained, “I think all the sounds she’s hearing are keeping her from thinking of anything else. She’s been real good.”

Jim sat at the table and the Waiter came and asked, “Would you like to order anything sir?”

Jim replied, “I’ll have the Soup and Sandwich Special.”

The Waiter asked, “Would you like anything to drink?”

Jim replied, “No, Just the Special.”

After eating they went to the Wagon, picked up the meat from the smoke shop, and headed home.





That was day two of Birdee from the diary of Sophia Collins.

From May 8th, 1876

 

[feralferret]

Thank you!

 

[gonewacky]

Worried about the price of butter and eggs? Fed-up with the housing shortage and the cost of living? Want to get away from it all? Want to get lost in the woods? Live the life of the 1800’s with Seig in this chapter as he goes hunting.

Seig was alone and unarmed in the green hell of the Idaho woods. He’s being trailed by a pack of fiercely hungry dogs, and a mad Hunter armed for the kill. The mad Hunter believes that Seig is the most dangerous game in the woods.

Would you please post something! A pic of a middle finger or something. You can even give me a thumbs down. I don’t care I just want to know I should keep going. At this point the only people I know are reading this is feralferret and Mr Bill.

In too deep to stop Joe "Maybe"

 

[gonewacky]

Arriving at the Hotel Kathy pulled the Salami from the box and handed it to Sophia saying, “Here this is yours. The Ham goes to the Boardinghouse for Sunday dinner. Suzan and I are splitting the side of Bacon.”

Suzy insisted, “James give me your knife. You keep it the sharpest.”

Pulling his knife from the sheath Jim commented, “I have to keep it sharp for Demons. I can’t shoot lightning bolts like you, or blind them like Kathy.”

Suzy took the knife and it slid through the slab like a hot knife through butter. Then she insisted, “Pick your half Kathy.”

Kathy took half of the Bacon and said, “I’ll take the Six Sausages I got for Seig.”

Birdee sat in the wagon seat taking in every word. She had no idea what they were saying, but the sound of their voices intrigued her. Unknown to them she was learning their voices. She could already put the pitch of their voice to the person.

At the house they unloaded the wagon, and Birdee ran to the swing. Jim took his wagon to the Livery, and put Patty and Charlie away. In the kitchen Suzy showed Victoria the ham for Sunday dinner.

Victoria advised, “I have dinner almost ready. Henry and Albert will be coming in soon. Why don’t you go get Birdee, so we can clean her up?”

Suzy replied, “That thing the doctor did to fix her ears must have worked. I think she knows her name already. Why don’t you try to call her, and see if she comes?”

Victoria remarked, “I’ll give it a try, but I don’t expect much.”

Victoria went out onto the back porch and called out, “Birdee!”

Then she went back inside, as Birdee got off the swing and headed in. in the Kitchen Birdee went right to the stool and climbed up. With Birdee sitting on the stool Victoria Looked at Suzy and uttered, “I don’t believe it.”

Suzy replied, “We have been calling her by her name all day. I was sure she knew it.”

Taking a towel Victoria put it under the pump and got it wet. Then went to Birdee and she talked, “We need to get you cleaned up for dinner. Let me wash your face.”

Birdee moved her face from side to side as Victoria wiped it, but she didn’t fight it. Victoria said, “Now let me see your hands.”

Picking up one hand Victoria said, “Hand,” as she wiped it off. Then she held out the washcloth and said, “Washcloth. You know Suzan we’ll have to start saying the name of everything we do around her. It’s the only way she’ll learn.”

That night Suzy got Birdee up every two hours and she had a dry night. The next morning when Suzy got Birdee up she went right to the kitchen, and sat on the stool. Victoria gave her the tea and sugar she had waiting. Then she put the bread dough on the warmer to rise, and said, “I think we’ll do Biscuits and Gravy since you got the Bacon. If you start the Gravy I’ll start the Biscuits.”

As Victoria was adding the Flour to the bowl. She felt Birdee pulling on her dress. Looking down Birdee was pointing to the swing through the window. Victoria asked, “You want to go to the swing?”

Suzy divulged, “She knows what a S A U S A G E is too. I can’t say the word around her. She can’t say it, but she knows it.”

Victoria smiled, “You want a sausage?”

Birdee pointed to the string of sausages hanging by the window. Victoria pointed to a sausage letting her finger touch one of the links and said, “Sausage.”

Birdee kept pointing and grunted. Victoria replied, “Not quite a word, but it will have to do.”

Then she took a knife and cut a link from the string. Then she went to the back door with Birdee following her pointing at the sausage and grunting. Victoria bent down on her knee and handed Birdee the sausage and pointed to the swing saying, “Swing.”

Birdee went across the porch and out to the swing. Then she sat on the swing and ate the sausage as Victoria went inside. In the kitchen Victoria confessed, “You know, I wanted that girl the first time I saw her. She’s probably as close to having a child as I’ll ever get. I will always let her live here. In fact she’ll probably be running this place when I’m gone. I’ve heard the rumors about the wild Indian girl living here, and I don’t care what people think. The color of your skin doesn’t make you who you are. The people that teach you make you who you are. And she has the best teachers around here.”

Down at the Hotel Seig was making his pack for an overnight hunting trip.

He laid his blanket out on the table and folded in half one way. Then he folded it in half the other way, and set two cans of beans on it. He added a ten cup and a bag with some coffee and a small pot. Then he started to roll it up. Kathy said, “Stop, here put some of these sausages in there.”

Seig added the sausage and rolled up the blanket. He tied straps on the ends as he explained, “I think I’m going to go up north this time. It’s 20¢ each way for the Ferry.”

Kathy smiled and went to her room and came back. Putting five Silver Dollars in Seig’s hand she gave him a kiss and said, “Just in case you need to trade for something.”

Then Kathy watched out the window as Seig tied the blanket on his horse and rode off.


At the Ferry Sieg walked his horse onto the ferry. As the Ferry glided across the river Seig was standing by the back of the Ferry. Seig heard a shot ring out, and his horse went down rolling off the back of the Ferry into the river. Seig was pulled in with it, and Seig thought not again. No one saw it happen as the current carried him away. Then the Ferry operator looked and barked, “Stupid fool. There goes another one. Well there isn’t anything I can do about it. All I can say is I hope he gets to shore before he gets to the rapids. It looks like he’s halfway there now.”

All the Ferry operator could do was watch as flashes of Seig’s head bobbed up and down then disappeared.

Seig went into the rapids fighting for his life. His shoulder hit a rock and his dead horse rolled over him. Then he got a shooting pain up his back. Then his bad leg hit another bolder causing immense pain. Next thing he knew he was rolling like a log down a hill as he faded in and out of consciousness. Then everything went black. It was very dark so dark he could have slept without closing his eyes. The night would have been his eyelids.

He came back to the surface and was washed from the speeding water onto the bank. Sieg was spitting water from his mouth as he gagged. Then he coughed and spat it out. Finding his voice he mumbled, “I need help!”

He struggled out of his clothes to find he had lost his pistol in the river, but his knife was still intact. Lying back he passed out.

When he awoke late in the afternoon he was on land in the soft warm sand. A sharp hunger gnawed at him. Slowly he came to his feet. He saw not too far from where he’d been lying. There were signs of a terrible struggle in the underbrush that sloped down to him. Some wounded thing evidently a large animal had thrashed about there in its death fight. Sieg saw a small glittering object at his feet. It was an empty cartridge from a small caliber gun. Sieg thought, What’s up with this hunter? He had his nerve to tackle a large animal with so small a gun.

Sieg examined the ground closely and found what he'd hoped for. It was the tracks from the hunters hunting boots. They pointed up toward a recess in the cliff, and he headed quickly after them, because night was beginning to settle in the woods.

It was already dark when Sieg came upon it. At first he thought it was a logging camp, because there were so many lights. But as he came closer he saw that all the lights were in one building. It was a Chateau on a high Bluff. In just a few moments his bare feet were going up Stone steps, and he stood in front of the massive Open Door.

Sieg announced, “Good evening, please don't be alarmed there's no need for that. I have no gun, and I'm no robber. It sounds silly, but I fell off the Ferry. My name is Sieg Rickhardt of Dention City.”

He was certainly not alarmed by Seig. He was a giant of a man who stood facing him with a revolver in his hand. He continued to point steadily at Seig’s chest. The Man behind it was solidly built, and had a black beard to the waist and was silent. He waved Seig in with the gun, and closed the door behind him.

Seig was in a huge Hall, but there was no time to look around. Another man was coming down the broad stairs. He was a slender man in evening clothes. Seig stepped toward him and disclosed, “I've just been explaining to this man that I've had an accident. My name is Sieg Rickhardt.

 

[gonewacky]

The man announced, “It's a great pleasure and honor to welcome you Mr. Rickhardt. I'm Lawrence and I’m very happy to see you. I must apologize for Fritz. You can put down that gun Fritz. This gentleman is a guest. Fritz is an incredibly strong fellow, but he has the misfortune to be a mute. The simple thing is he’s a bit of a Savage. Come we should not be chatting here. You want clothes, food, and rest you shall have them. This is a most restful spot you landed.”

Seig replied, “I can't tell you how grateful I am.”

Lawrence insisted, “It’s my pleasure. Just follow Fritz if you please Mr. Rickhardt. I was about to have my dinner, but it can wait. I think my clothes will fit you.”

Seig followed the man into a huge beam ceiling bedroom with a canopy bed. It was large enough for six men. Fritz silently laid out an evening suit, as Seig put it on he noticed it came from a London tailor. Seig thought, I wonder what they call this place. It’s to isolated even for Indians.

After dressing he went downstairs and sat down opposite of Lawrence in a dining room. The food was excellent and Seig explained, “Perhaps you were surprised when I showed up. I was out hunting and fell in the river. I lost my horse and my rifle and hand gun.”

Lawrence admitted, “I’m a like to hunting myself. I have but one passion in life and that is the hunt.”

Seig answered, “I notice you have some wonderful heads here.”

Lawrence boasted, “I keep the Buffalo over there. The largest I've ever seen. That monster, oh yes he charged me and threw me against a tree. Fractured my skull he did, but I got the better of him. I've always thought the buffalo was the most dangerous of all big game. However I’ve learned that’s not true the most dangerous don’t live here in these woods. I hunt more dangerous game. Oh it is not here naturally. I had to stock the woods with them.

Seig questioned, “Well what have you imported Lawrence Tigers?

Lawrence insisted, “No, hunting Tigers don’t interest me. When I exhausted their possibilities there is no thrill left in Tigers, and there’s no real Danger. We will do hunting you and I’ll but what game I'll tell you later. You will be amused I know. I think I must say to you that I have done a rare thing. I have invented a new sensation in hunting. I've been a hunter all my life but after many years of enjoyment. I founded the hunt no longer fascinated me. It had ceased to be what you call a sporting proposition.

I always got my prey always, and there is no greater perfection than that. I had merely discovered that the animal has nothing but his legs and his instincts. Instinct is no match for reason, and when I realized this it was a tragic moment for me. I told you I loved to hunt and then it came to me as an inspiration. What I must do and that was I had to invent a new animal to hunt.”

Seig laughed, “A new Animal? Boy you're a joke.”

Lawrence insisted, “I assure you I am not joking. A new animal and so I found one. I built this house and here I do my hunting in the woods. It is perfect for my purpose. This woods has a maze of trails and hills in it. I can match my wits an ideal quality with courage, cunning, and above all reason, but no animal can reason my dear fella, but there is one that can.”

Seig blurted, “I can't believe you're serious! This is some grizzly joke of course.”

Lawrence declared, “I'm serious, I'm speaking of hunting.”

Seig scolded, “You're speaking of murder.”

Lawrence smiled, “Surely your experiences, ah later you forget your Notions when you go hunting with me. I have genuine new thrilling stuff for you Sieg Rickhardt.”

Seig claimed, “Thank you, but I'm a hunter not a murderer.”

Lawrence responded, “Oh dear me that unfortunate world again, but I hunt the scum of the earth. I treat my visitors with every consideration. They get plenty of good food and exercise. They get into splendid physical condition you shall see for yourself tomorrow. Would you like some more pork?”

Seig replied, “Please, what shall I see tomorrow?”

Lawrence explained, “We'll visit my training school. It’s in the cellar. I have about a dozen there now. Farmers and Cow Hands they are in theory. I regret to say they are more accustomed to the Plow than the Forest.”

Fritz came in with the coffee pot and Lawrence said, “Time to have our coffee now if your appetite is gone.”

Seig uttered, “No coffee thank you.”

Lawrence went on, “Just one. This is a game you see. I suggest to one of them that we go hunting. Then I give him a three hour start, and I try to follow. I'm the only one with a pistol, and it’s of the smallest caliber of course. If my opponent eludes me for three whole days he wins the game. If I find him he loses and if he refuses to be hunted. Well I give him the option if he won't hunt. I turn him over to Fritz here. Fritz serves as official executioner, and he has his own ideas of the sport. Invariably they choose, but to date I have not lost.

I don't wish you to think someone can’t win, because once a man almost did win. Eventually I had to use the dogs. Just step over here to the window. I want you to see my Courtyard. Go ahead Mr. Rickhardt open the window please. I have a dozen as you can see. They are let out at seven every night, and if anyone should try to get into my house or out of it. Well it would be regrettable. Now I want to show you my new collection of heads. Will you come with me to the library?”

Seig insisted, “I hope you'll excuse me tonight I'm really not feeling at all well.”

Lawrence smiled, “Oh I am sorry you need a good restful night's sleep. Tomorrow you'll feel like a new man and then we'll hunt.”

Seig heard him call, but he was already hurrying from the room and up the marble stairway. Seig heard him calling after him, “Sorry you can't go with me tonight. I expect rather Fair sport. He’s a big strong native from the west coast. He looks resourceful.”

Seig found the bed was good. He was tired but he didn't sleep and he didn't toss an turn. He didn't move he just lay rigidly in one spot. His eyes were glued on the ceiling, and his arms tight against his side. His breathing was slow and he felt heavy. His mind went empty waiting in the black darkness. This was just beginning to dissolve and thin line of gray was just beginning to seep insidiously into his room.

Then Seig drifted off to sleep. When Seig awoke the sun's Shadows were already slanting through his room. It must have been well into the afternoon. Seig came down to find Lawrence pouring himself a glass of Brandy by the sideboard.

Looking up Lawrence inquired, “Feeling better I trust?”

Seig replied, “Yes,”

Lawrence went on, “I wish I could say the same. No I'm not well. Hunting was no good last night. He made a stray trail, and offered no problems at all.

Seig insisted, “I want to leave at once.”

Lawrence laughed, “Mr Rickhardt tonight we will hunt you.”

Seig demanded, “I've told you I will not hunt.”

Lawrence insisted, “I beg you to reconsider my idea of this sport. It is much more deserving than ever.”

Seig proclaimed, “You mean that. You and I.”

Lawrence maintained, “It's really an inspiration a full one worthy of a hunt. You'll find this game worth playing, your brain against mine, your wood craft against mine, your strength and spamming against mine. Then if I do not find you by midnight on the third day I'm defeated, and Fritz will place you on the main road. You can trust me. I give you my word as a gentleman and as a sportsman. Of course you in turn must agree to say nothing of your visit here.”

Seig barked, “I'll agree to say nothing of the kind.”

Lawrence exclaimed, “Well in that case why discuss it now. Three days from now we can chat about it over a bottle. Unless you’re with hunting clothes food and life I suggest you wear moccasins. They leave a poorer Trail. I suggest too you avoid the Wetlands in the Southeast corner of the woods. There's Creeks out there, and now you'll want to start. I shall not follow until dusk. Hunting at night is so much more exciting than by day. Don't you think Mr Rickhardt? Good hunting”

Seig kept telling himself in his head. His first idea had been to put distance between himself and Lawrence, so he plunged into the woods in a blind panic. Before long Seig shook it off and stopped. He realized straight flight was feudal. That would only bring him out to the river. Then he hit upon the idea of giving Lawrence a trail to follow.

Seig would begin their dangerous game by playing the fox. For more than two hours He went through the trackless Wilderness. He executed a series of intricate loops doubling again and again on his trail. By night Seig was in agony with hands and face lashed by the branches from playing the fox. He decided now to play the cat, and he climbed into the crotch of a huge tree.

A startled bird suddenly screamed, and Seig flattened himself against the tree. Through a screen of leaves as thick as tapestry he saw Lawrence coming slowly. His eyes fixed on the ground almost beneath Seig’s tree. Lawrence paused and went down on one knee studying the ground. Seig would have gone for leaping the way a panther does, but the small pistol in his hand made him thank better of it. After a seemingly endless time Lawrence came back to his feet.

Lawrence’s eyes left the ground and traveled inch by inch up the tree. Seig froze, every muscle tensed for a spring when the Hunter's eyes stopped. Just before they reached the limb which seig laid on.

A slow smile spread over Lawrence’s face as he muttered, “Where can you have gone? Wherever are you? You clever dog I simply must go home, and lie down a bit to think this whole thing through.”

Lawrence turned back and disappeared. Seig thought, so Lawrence is playing with me. He was saving me for another day's sport. Lawrence was the cat and I was the mouse.

In that moment Seig knew the real meaning of Terror. He slipped from the tree and set off into the woods. Seig went a few hundred yards when he found a huge dead tree leaning against a smaller living one. He pulled his knife from his sheath and set to work. When the job was finished seig threw himself down behind a log 100 feet away. How long he waited seemed like days.

 

[gonewacky]

It was probably only a few hours. Then it was coming again with the assuredness of a bloodhound. Nothing escaped those searching black eyes. No crushed blade of grass or bent twig. Not even a mark however faint in the Moss. Lawrence was so intent on this stalking. He was upon the thing before he saw it. His foot touched the protruding branch that was a trigger. The dead tree delicately adjusted to rest on the cut living one crashed heavily to the Earth, and Seig waited yet another moment not daring to look up. Seig was afraid to see if it really had done its work.

Then Lawrence called out, “If you are within the sound of my voice let me congratulate you. There aren't many men who know how to make a melee man catcher. I am lucky my reflexes are still good. Did you see me spring back even while it was falling. Can you hear me? You’re proving interesting. I'm going back now to have my wound ready. Don’t be alarmed it's only a slight one I shall be back. I shall be back.”

It was dark and Seig had been going for hours. The vegetation became thicker, and insects were biting him savagely. That’s when mud began sucking viciously at his feet Like Giant Leeches. Seig knew where he was. He was about to enter the wetlands with its quicksand like mud. However the softness of the earth gave Seig an idea. He stepped back about a dozen Paces out of the quicksand. Then he began to dig. When the pit was above his shoulders he climbed out, and found some hard saplings. He cut steaks sharpening them to a fine point. Then he planted the stakes at the bottom of the pit with their points up.

With aching fingers Seig wove a rough carpet of weeds and branches, and covered it with twigs and leaves. Then wet with sweat and aching Seig pulled himself behind the stump of a lightning blasted tree.

After waiting some time Seig heard the sound of feet on the soft earth. He knew Lawrence was coming. The night air brought Seig the smell of a wet dog. Seig could see nothing, but it seemed Lawrence was coming with unusual swiftness. That he was not feeling his way along foot by foot. Then in one brief moment Seig lived what seemed an entire year. He heard the snap and crackle of the breaking branches that covered the pit.

There was a yelp from a dog and Lawrence yelled, “You've done well very well. Where did you get the time? Your tiger pit has claimed one of my best dogs, and so you score again. I must see what you can do now against my whole pack.

Lawrence went away again, but Seig just lay there in the swamp that night. Then at daybreak he was awakened by a distant sound of a pack of hounds. Seig went up into a tree and not a quarter of a mile away he could see the bush moving. Seig strained his eyes and saw the lean figure of Lawrence just ahead of him Seig also made out the gigantic Fritz holding the pack. Seig prepared for the native trick he’d learned from the Irishmen Liam.

Seig slipped from the tree and found a young sapling. Then he fastened his knife to it. With the blade pointing down the trail Seig got a peace of wild vine and tied back the sapling. Then he ran for his life. The hounds hit the fresh scent and raised their voices and Seig knew how an animal at bay must feel.

Back at the Hotel time stopped and the Ninja Warrior Princess appeared. Kathy looked out the window and saw her in the street. She turned to Sophia and said, “That’s for us. We have to go see what she wants.”

From the Jail window Jim saw the Ninja Warrior Princess and announced, “The Ninja Warrior Princess is out there Albert.”

Jim and Albert went to the porch of the Jail, and watched as the Princess pointed her sward at Sophia. Kathy put her hand on Sophia’s back and gave her a push saying, “She wants you.”

Sophia took a deep breath, and slowly walked out. Fear of the unknown was taking over her. The look of the Warrior was as intimidating as Wind Walker. Sophia thought I can do this. The Warrior Princess announce, “Time for you to make a Journey my child.”

Then she lowered her sword until it touched Sophia’s head, and they disappeared. Time started and Kathy walked to Jim and Albert.

Taking a deep breath Kathy informed, “Seig’s still not back yet.”

Albert replied, “I wouldn’t worry too much Kathy. You know he took enough for two days. If he’s not back by dinner James can use the book to check on him. Seig has been hunting for the last two weeks. Seig’s not a quitter, and he won’t give up until he gets something.”

Kathy whined, “I know.”

At the farm in 1982 Sophia appeared next to Wind Walker and Bird Man. The Helicopter was behind them and the Ninja Warrior Princess was in front of them. The Princess instructed, “Two Demons are hunting a man. It is your job to take care of the Demons. I need say no more. You know what to do. Then leave Sophia alone with the Victim. Her Journey is to safely return him home. Now prepare your self’s and I’ll send you.”

Wind Walker took Sophia’s hand and led her to the Helicopter. With Sophia sitting next to Bird Man Wind Walker stepped on the rail putting him next to Sophia. The Ninja Warrior Princess lowered her sword and touched the Helicopter.



In the woods Seig was fighting for his life. He climbed up a tree and looked back and his hope died. Lawrence was still on his feet. The knife driven by the recoil of the springing tree had done nothing. Then the dogs took up the cry again, and Seig was on the ground once more. He looked the woods over and over as he fled. He saw a blue gap through the trees dead ahead. Seig forced himself towards the Gap and reached the River. It was 20 feet below him rumbling and hissing. Poised looking over the edge Seig heard the hounds. He knew it was the end then…

In a flash the pounding sound of the Helicopter filled the air. Time was stopped and they were in the woods. Bird Man scanned the area looking for his target. Dropping down by the river he saw Seig standing at the edge of a 20 foot cliff to the river. Looking to Sophia Bird Man announced, “That there is your victim.”

Bird man moved in for a closer look and Sophia gasped, “Oh nooo! That’s Kathy’s husband.”

Bird Man informed, “My advice would be when you get down there with him. The first thing you do is call a Time Lord.”

Sophia questioned, “Aren’t you a Time Lord?”

Birdman replied, “Yes, but this is not my Journey. It’s yours, and you have to make your own decisions. Besides I’m on my own Journey with Wind Walker.”

Wind Walker hung on the side of the Iron Bird. His long black hair was blowing in the wind from the Helicopter, but his head band kept his hair from his face. He was holding an arrow in his hand, and had his Tomahawk hanging on his side. The Iron Bird came down behind the Demon. Then Wind Walker leaped from the Iron Bird, and swung the arrow into the Demon’s eye socket. The Demon quivered as Wind Walker called out, “Back to hell with you Demon.”

Then a black cloud in the shape of a hideous monster rose from the Demon. It twisted and turned around as it made squalling and howling sounds. Then it was sucked into the ground. Then Bird Man lowered down to the ground and said, “Your ride is over time to go to work.”

Sophia leaped from the Helicopter looking at the monster of a man holding four dogs. Wind Walker leaned to Sophia and said, “The Demon is mine. What are you going to do about the dogs?”

Sophia thought for a moment and replied, “Call the Goddess of the animals?”

Wind Walker replied, “That would be my choice. I’d call Artemis.”

With pride Sophia called out, “By the power of Njal I command Artemis to appear.”

There was a flash and Artemis appeared. Looking at Sophia she said, “You summoned me?”

Sophia replied, “We have dangerous animals here.”

Artemis waved her Bow over the dogs, and they came to life. One at a time they sat with their tong hanging from one side of their mouths. Then Artemis commanded, “Remove their collars and set them free, I have put a spell on them for now.”

Artemis disappeared and Sophia removed the collars as Wind Walker stabbed an arrow into Fritz’s eye socket. The Demon quivered as Wind Walker called out, “Back to hell with you Demon.”

Then a black cloud in the shape of a hideous monster rose from the Demon. It was spinning like a small tornado as it made strange sounds. Then it was sucked into the ground. Sophia watched as Bird Man lowered the Helicopter with a rope, and Wind Walker put it around the Demon’s neck as he said, “You better go take care of your victim.”

Sophia snapped back to reality, and ran to the edge of the cliff. Looking back she saw the Iron Bird rise up into the air. It had a Demon hanging from each rung as it disappeared. Then time started and Seig was moving. Sophia put her hand on his head and said, “Sleep.” Then she held him and let him slip easily down to the ground.

With a smile Sophia called out, “By the power of Njal I command James to appear.”

In the Jail Albert affirmed, “Looks like time has started again. Whatever was happening is over.”

Then Jim disappeared as Albert mumbled, “You should say something if your blinking out.”

In the woods Jim appeared saying, “You summoned me?”

Sophia replied, “Yes. It’s Seig. Two Demons were hunting him. Bird Man left me here as part of my Journey.”

Jim scolded, “First there some rules. You have to stop time before you call someone. What if I was in the Restaurant, and disappeared in front of a bunch of people.”

Sophia muttered, “Oh, I didn’t think of that.”

Jim just kept looking at Sophia. Finely he said, “I’m waiting.”

Sophia sighed, “Oh, “By the power of Njal I command Time to stop.”

Jim looked at Seig and admitted, “He looks bad. We better not let Kathy know about this. I’ll get Suzan.”

Then Jim blinked out and returned with Suzy. One look at Seig and Suzy asked, “How did he get this way.”

Sophia revealed, “Two Demons were chasing him through the woods with dogs.”

 

[gonewacky]

Immediately Suzy made a ball of bright flashing colored light, and started looking around. Jim exclaimed, “It’s alright Suzan. Bird Man and Wind Walker already took them out.”

Suzy closed her hand and the ball of bright flashing colored light disappeared. Then she eased her feet back to the ground. Bending down next to Seig Suzy remarked, “His face looks like it was shot with a shotgun. I’ll start there; I can’t stand looking at it. Suzy put a hand on each side of Seig’s face. Seig’s face lit up and started to pulsate as the wounds started fading away. Then she moved to one of his arms commenting, “It almost looks like someone beat him with a sticker bush. He’s just covered with scrapes, scratches, and bruises.”

Jim asked, “What do you want us to do Sophia?”

Sophia looked dumbfounded. She wasn’t sure what to do. Suzy proclaimed, “This is your Journey, so you have to ask or tell us what to do. You’re in control here, so what are we doing with Seig?”

Sophia thought for a moment, but wasn’t sure what to do. She had never been put into this situation before. Suzy spoke up, “Take your time and think it through. Time is stopped so you just need to think it through. Use what you’ve been given, and what you already know.”

Sophia put out her hand and called, “Tweety.” The little Sparrow appeared in front of Sophia with little stars flashing around it. Then it went to her head, and flew up and landed on a branch of a tree.

Sophia gave the plan, “Okay, my birdie told me to have James take us to a disco in the 1970’s. The music and the flashing lights will make him forget what happened.”

Suzy crossed her arms and demanded, “What did the Bird tell you?”

Sophia sighed and disclosed, “The bird told me to take Seig to the road north of here. Then I should have James get horses, and come back for Seig. After James gets back with the horses he takes Suzan home. Suzan starts time, and James and I take Seig home.”

Jim smiled, “That sounds more like it.”

Suzy insisted, “You need to take me to the store when you get the horses. Seig has no shirt, he’s wearing some kind of dress pants, and he has moccasins on his feet. Take me to the boarding house and I’ll start time. Then I’ll meet you at the store.”

Sophia whined, “I guess I stay here with Seig by myself.”

Suzy smiled, “You’re a Demon Hunter. You can fight off anything. If you get bored call someone to stay with you. You might try the Eskimo and the Polar Bear. You can introduce yourself to them.”

Then Jim took Suzy’s hand and blinked out. Sophia mumbled, “What the heck. By the power of Njal I command the Eskimo and Polar Bear to appear.”

In a flash they appeared in front of her. The nine foot Polar Bear bent down and roared at Sophia. She pulled her shoulders up to her head and forced a smile, as she waved and squeaked, “Hi.”

The Eskimo scolded, “Knock it off Bear.”

The Polar Bear roared and Eskimo said, “Okay, he said to tell you he’s Wild Beast.”

Sophia whispered, “I’m Sophia the new Spectrum Goddess.”

The Polar Bear roared and made a ball of bright flashing colored light, and pushed it into Sophia. Then He roared again and the Eskimo said, “He told me you run on pure Love, and want to know if you need help.”

Sophia dropped her head and replied, “No, I just wanted to see if you really existed.”

The Eskimo smiled, “Well were glad to meet you. We know who to call if we need a Spectrum Goddess. Are you with a team?”

Sophia disclosed, “I think other teams call them the Iron Horse Team.”

The Eskimo looked puzzled, “I thought they already had a Spectrum Goddess. Did you know you can join with the Bear and have super power?”

Sophia replied, “I heard that from Kathy. She’s the Spectrum Goddess training me. There is only the two of us you know.”

The Eskimo replied, “We know who Kathy is, so you’re in training?”

Sophia insisted, “Kathy is the only one that can train me.”

Back in Dention at the Jail Jim appeared. Albert inquired, “Where did you go?”

Jim replied, “I was summoned by Sophia. She was rescuing Seig from two Demons hunting him with a pack of dogs.”

Albert’s mouth dropped opened, “Oh crap! That was her first Journey.”

Jim went on, “I have to go to the Livery and get horses. Seig’s horse is gone, and all he had is tore up pants and moccasins. Suzy and I are going to go back. Then Sophia and I will bring Seig home.”

Albert asked, “You want me to go with you?”

Jim replied, “No I need you to stay here and run interference. I don’t want Kathy to freak out. Suzy healed Seig up, but he still looks ruff.”

Looking out the window Albert informed, “I see Lyle moving around at the livery. Someone must have started time. You better get going.”

Down at the Boardinghouse Suzy announced, “I almost forgot. I was going to meet Jim for a picnic or something. I got to get going.”

Then she darted out the door.

Back down at the hotel. Kathy watched Jim ride out of the Livery with two horses tethered to the back of his horse. She wondered where Jim was going. She went out to the street and watched him stop at the store. Then Suzy ran out of the store, and got on one of the horses. Then they rode off. Kathy knew something was happening, so she went to the Jail to ask Albert.

Coming in the door Kathy barked, “Where is James going?”

Albert replied, “To get Seig I think.

Kathy demanded, “Why are they taking an extra horse?”

Albert insisted, “I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Seig’s horse might have gone lame or broke a leg. He said he was fine, and they should be back late tonight.”

Kathy complained, “Great the only guy that can take me to him, and he just left town. Well two can play that game. By the power of Njal I command Bird Man to appear.”

Bird man appeared saying, “You summoned me?”

Kathy insisted, “I need you to take me to Seig.”

Bird man disclosed, “I’m sorry Kathy. I can’t do it.?”

Kathy demanded, “Why? You’re a Time Lord. Isn’t it your job?”

Bird Man explained, “That’s Sophia’s Journey and only she can summon you.”

Kathy stomped her foot, “Well I know one that might not know that. By the power of Njal I command Eskimo to appear.”

The Eskimo appeared. Looking at Bird Man then Kathy he asked, “You summoned me?”

Kathy insisted, “I need you to take me to Seig.”

The Eskimo explained, “That’s Sophia’s Journey and only she can summon you. I was just there and Seig is fine.”

Bird Man added, “I was there too. She is doing a good job, and Seig was fine.”

Kathy grumbled, “I release you. Just go.”

With that Bird Man and The Eskimo blinked out.

Just outside of town Suzy threw a ball of bright flashing colored light in the air, and shot it with a lightning bolt. Thousands of little flashing stars rained down on them as Jim blinked them to Seig. Appearing they saw the Eskimo and Polar Bear were there.

Suzy exclaimed, “I didn’t mean you had to do it.”

Sophia replied, “I know, but I wanted to see if there really was an Eskimo and Polar Bear.”

Suzy asked, “How do you want to do this.”

Sophia explained, “I’ve been thinking about this, and I have an idea. I say we put him in the edge of the river. He was ready to jump in there when I arrived. We could say we just found him washed up there.”

Jim announced, “That’s a great idea.”

The Eskimo said, “Nice to meet you Sophia. James, Suzan, we’ll let you get back to work.”

Then the Eskimo and Bear blinked out. Sophia stopped time, and Jim took Suzy to the Jail.

At the Jail Jim and Suzy appeared, and there stood Kathy with Albert. Kathy barked, “Where’s Seig?”

Jim muttered, “He’s fine. I got to go.”

Then he blinked out, and Kathy looked meanly at Suzy.

Suzy explained, “Well you don’t have a horse any more, but Seig is fine. He’s just beat-up a little from walking through the woods. Sophia did a great job. You’d be proud of her. You’ll have to have Seig tell you what happened, but if you teach Sophia to do that projection thing. She can show you what she saw. I don’t really know what happened. She called Bird Man and Wind Walker. She also called the Eskimo and Polar Bear. Then you know she called James and me. She wasn’t afraid to call Demon Hunters to protect Seig. I wasn’t there but I think she called an overseer at one point.”

Kathy insisted, “I knew it had to be something important, because time kept stopping all day.”

Suzy informed, “I probably shouldn’t tell you, but Seig is about a three hour ride north of here. He’s up just past the Ferry.”

Kathy relaxed, “She really called all those Demon Hunters.”

Suzy replied, “Kathy it was Seig. What do you think she thought when she saw your husband was her first Journey? She was sent to protect her teacher’s husband. She had a few mishaps, we all do.”

 

[gonewacky]

Back at the river Sophia put her hand on Seig’s head and said, “Awake.”

Seig came to bewildered, “What is going on? How did I get here? It’s not safe. He’s coming!”

Jim whispered, “You’re fine now Seig. We’re here, help me get you out of the water. I got some dry clothes at my horse.”

Seig mumbled, “My horse is dead. I lost everything, my rifle, my pistol, my knife. I lost it all.”

Jim whispered, “It’s Okay Seig. You’re still alive, and that is all that matters.”

Sophia and Jim got Seig into dry clothes and on a horse. Then they headed out. Seig mumbled on and on about being hunted by the man with the dogs. Until they got to the Ferry then he panicked, and didn’t want to get on.

The Ferry was coming across when they got there. When it landed a wagon and two cowboys got off. Then the Ferry operator came to talk to Jim.

The operator explained, “Oh thank God he’s alive. I need you to send the Sheriff up here Deputy. This man is the third one I’ve had shot off my Ferry. I’ve had to make all my passengers stay in the middle of the Ferry. Anyone that would ride by the ends of the Ferry were getting shot off.”

Jim insisted, “I’m sure we got him. The only shooting he’ll be doing is shooting up weeds, but if it happens you send someone to tell us.”

Sophia and Seig were off their horses and Sophia was trying to get Seig on the ferry. Jim took the horses and walked them on the Ferry, and the operator help get Seig on the Ferry. The operator insisted, “It’s just like a horse. If you fall off. You just have to get back on.”

At the other side Seig couldn’t wait to get his feet on the ground. He shot off the Ferry like a bullet coming out of a gun. Then it was just a slow ride home.

Riding up at the hotel Kathy almost pulled Seig off his horse. A tear slipped down Seig’s cheek, “I lost it all. Our horse, my guns, everything, I lost it all.”

Kathy squeezed Seig tight and whispered, “I’ll buy a new horse. I’ll buy whatever you want. I just can’t buy another you.”

Seig whined, “You know what the worst part is? I never got to try the sausages you sent. Some fish is probably eating them right now.”

Sophia walked passed smiling, “You’re Welcome.”



That was day Five and Six from the diary of Sophia Collins.



From May 11th & 12th, 1876

 

[Mr Bill]

Thanks For the fine storytelling

 

[steamroller]

Great story, thank you very much for sharing it with us.

 

[feralferret]

Thank you!

 

[gonewacky]

Sorry it took so long, but I have a lot on my plate right now.

Hope you enjoy this ride. It gets bumpy at times.



Joe

 

[gonewacky]

Chapter Seven – Kate comes to Town

​

16 year old Kate was doing the dishes with the window open when she overheard her stepfather Jacob. He was talking to a man outside.

Jacob insisted, “Look I don’t have time for her anymore. Since her mom died last week she’s been a wreck Tom.”

Tom said, “I’m sure I can snap her out of it, but fifty bucks for the girl sounds a little high.”

Jacob maintained, “Look if you don’t want her. I got another guy that is ready to pay me. I just thought I would give you first shot at her.”

Tom insisted, “I’ll have to go get the money. Say noon tomorrow. Then we can be wed before the day is over.”

Jacob smiled, “Sounds good to me.”

Kate’s mind was spinning. She just lost her mother, and now her stepfather was selling her to some old cowboy. She had to do something, but what. She thought, I have to get out of here.

She went to the barn and saddled up her mother’s horse. Then she rode off in a light dress and bear feet. She rode into the night not even knowing where she was going. Coming to a road she followed it. Where it went she didn’t have a clue.

Tired hungry and cold she came to a town. It was the middle of the night, and everything was locked up tighter than a drum. After she went past the Saloon and Turners Guns and Hardware she came to the store. She got down from her horse and looked in the window. Everything she needed was right there. Coat, Blanket, Boots, and food she just couldn’t get to them. She went around back and tried the door. It was locked, but she could see inside through the window.

The next morning Hank found the broken window. He’d been robbed. He looked around the backroom and everything seemed in tacked. He went up front to see what was missing. Then he started a list. Emily came in and Hank ran to the door and shouted, “Hay Albert, can you come over here.”

Emily asked, “What’s the matter Hank?”

Hank replied, “We got robbed last night. They came in through the window in the back. Could you get a broom and clean up the glass. I have to report this to the Sheriff.”

Emily headed to the backroom as Albert came in. “What do you need Hank?”

Hank admitted, “Somebody broke into the store last night.

Albert asked, “How'd they get in?”

Hank said, “Well by breaking the glass in the back window.

Albert insisted, “I told you a year ago you ought to put grates over those windows.”

Hank explained, I know, but grates cost money Albert.

Albert went on, “And so do burglaries. What did they take Hank?”

Hank explained, “Well that's what I've been compiling a list of. Now here's exactly what I see. Two pair of pants $2.00 each, one blue blanket retail price $2.00, one blue Den jacket size 36 retail price $3.”

Albert advised, “The price is not important Hank.”

Hank argued, “Oh to me they are. I have a certain respect for money.”

Albert sighed, “Yeah so I've heard what else?”

Hank went on, “Well now let me see. Uh, one hat gray of course finest quality.”

Albert replied, “Yeah I know I got one Hank. Go on with the rest.”

Hank said, “All right one pair of boots size six. Some hand tools. Let me take a look at my list. An old shirt, 5 lb of bacon, 3 lb of dried beans, pound of salt, box of matches, a Skillet, one canteen, one hand axe, some cheese, and one 44 caliber Colt model 6.”

Albert remarked, “I think you just grubstaked someone Hank.”

Hank replied, “I thought about that.”

Albert asked, “What about cartridges you don't have them on the list?”

Hank admitted, “I’m out of them. I'm expecting cartridges in today.”

Albert shook his head, “The gun won't be much use without them. I wonder if any place else was robbed last night.”

Sophia came in the store and stood behind Albert.

Hank blurted, “Great heaven.”

Albert asked, “Now what's the matter Hank?”

Hank admitted, “I just notest something has been taken. There were three bottles right there on that shelf, and now there's only two bottles of…”

Albert asked, “What?”

Hank divulged, “Perfume imported all the way from Paris France. Now what would a man want Perfume for?”

Albert smiled, “Maybe he has smelly feet and wanted it for his boots. The size of the boots and the jacket take a pretty small man to wear clothes like that. It could be a girl you know.”

Emily mentioned, “Can I help you Sophia?”

Sophia stepped to the counter, “I need a can of Baking Powder.”

Emily set the can on the counter and said, “I’ll just put it on Kathy’s bill.”

Just then Charles came in and announced, “Albert, Turners Guns and Hardware got robbed. Somebody came into Frank’s store and held him up.”

Albert asked, “When was that?”

Charles said, “A while ago.

Albert asked, “Did Frank recognize who it was?”

Charles explained, Frank told me he stuck a gun in his back, and made him go into the store room and locked the door on him. That’s where I found him. He said whoever it was had a real soft voice like a kid. Frank said they weren’t after the cash.”

Albert inquired, “If not the cash. What was stolen?”

Charles insisted, “Nothing except a box of 44 caliber cartridges.

Albert asked, “How many of those bottles have you sold Hank.”

Hank hemmed and hawed, “Well at $1.50 a bottle the women kind of shy away from it.”

Albert smiled, “Then that would be none.”

Hank replied, “That would be one way of putting it.”

Albert demanded, “Hank open a bottle of that Perfume, and let me take a whiff of it.”

Charles joked, “Careful Sheriff he might charge you 10¢ for that.”

Hank opened the bottle and said, “Knock it off Charles.”

Albert took a whiff, and Charles put his nose over the bottle saying, “Well if it’s free I’ll try it. Hay that’s nice I like that. That could put a guy in the mood.”

Sophia leaned and gave it a whiff asking, “What kind of mood would that be?”

Charles cleared his throat, “I’ll give you a dollar for a bottle for the wife Hank.”

Hank replied, “Only if she wearers it to church on Sunday so the other Ladies can smell it.”

Charles coughed, “I don’t know Hank. She might think it makes her smell like a Saloon Gal.”

Hank mumbled, “I’ll do it. Just give it your best shot. It’ll just sit here on the shelf anyways.”

Albert informed, “I better go get a statement from Frank”

Hank added, “Maybe you should have your Deputy come in and have a whiff of the Perfume. Then you and Jim can walk around town acting like you’re doing something. You can both be sniffing around.”

Albert laughed, “I’ll tell him Hank.”

Sophia walked in the Hotel and the smell of the Perfume hung in the air. Handing Kathy the Baking Powder she asked, “Do you smell that?”

Kathy replied, “I sure do. I think she spilled her bottle of Perfume. I put her in the room next to yours.”

Sophia mumbled, “Oh I see.”

Kathy said, “That’s her horse out front. She had it loaded like a pack mule. It took her two trips to get it all upstairs. Why don’t you take her horse over to Origin? Oh never mind she’s coming over to make the Soda Bread Now. Maybe Lyle can do it.”

Origin came in the door announcing, “Kathy, Sophia, me see girl. Tell Lyle horse must get.”

Kathy replied, “Yes she’s a guest. I put her upstairs.”

Sophia excused herself, “I’m going to my room. I’ll be right back.”

Kathy replied, “Okay.”

Upstairs in her room Sophia looked at the wall in her room and a speck of light appeared on the wall. Then the spot got bigger and brighter as Sophia watched it. It grew outward like a ring of fire burning through something. It opened up a hole and Sophia could see through the wall into the next room. The girl was asleep on the bed, and the stuff she stole was in the room. Sophia closed the hole and sat on the bed.

In the Jail Albert had returned and Jim asked, “Did Hank get robbed?”

Albert replied, “Oh yah. He was Robbed alright. It was just a strange Robbery.

Jim asked, “What was strange about it?”

Albert replied, “The stuff that got stole. Like a bottle of Perfume.”

Jim laughed, “That shouldn't be too hard to track down. You just need to sniff around.”

Albert grumbled, “Yeah provided the person who stole it opens it. Hank wants you to go to the store and take a whiff of the Perfume. Then you can go around town sniffing for it.”

Jim exclaimed, “What!”

Albert insisted, “Get your butt down there and start sniffing.”

Sophia went back to the lobby, and Origin was just putting the Soda bread in the oven. Sophia said, “What do I do if I need some money?”

Kathy looked up and asked, “How much do you need?”

 

[gonewacky]

Sophia replied, “I’m not sure. How much dose pants, a shirt, hat and, boots cost?”

Kathy grumbled, “What do you want that stuff for? Your little body is made for a dress. A dress looks good on you, besides people won’t treat you the same if you start waring that.”

Sophia insisted, “Oh it’s not for me.”

Kathy looked confused, “About twenty dollars. Are you going to tell me who it’s for?”

Sophia replied, “Sure, but I have to talk to a lawman first.”

Kathy suggested, “You should talk to James about whatever it is. He has a big heart and helps people all the time. He might even buy the stuff for you.”

Sophia said, “Thanks Kathy.”

Then she shot out the door, and went to the Jail next door. Albert was sitting at his desk reading something when she came in and asked, “Where’s the Deputy?”

Albert said, “He’s out investigating the Robbery. James is in town somewhere. You’ll just need to look around.”

Sophia smiled, “Thanks Albert.”

Then she was off to find Jim. Walking past the Restaurant she saw Jim sitting on the bench in front of the store. Walking up Sophia asserted, “I need to talk to you about something.”

Jim patted his hand on the bench and insisted, “Have a seat.”

Sophia sat next to Jim and leaned back. Then she let out a big sigh and whispered, “I know who the thief is.”

Jim revealed, “I know.”

Sophia shot straight up, “How do you know?”

Jim whispered, “I’m a Time Lord. I just went back and watched her break out the window. Then I followed her back in time to find out why. It’s sad. I mean real sad. Her stepfather beat her mother to death, and then he beat Kate blaming her for it. Kate is so scared of him she thinks she’s going to have to kill him, and she might. He just rode into Lambert looking for her. I would think he’ll be here tomorrow. I’m trying to think of a plan for when he gets here.”

Sophia gasped, “Is he Demon possessed?”

Jim replied, “I’m not like you and Kathy. I can’t see the Demon inside someone. The only time I can see that is if I’m invisible, or touching a Spectrum Goddess.”

Sophia replied, “Oh,”

Then Albert came walking down the boardwalk and scolded, “You’re supposed to be walking around sniffing for that smell.”

Jim replied, “That's what I've been doing all day. Sniffing and smelling around all over town. Just like a hound dog, but I haven't caught a whiff of it. Well he wouldn't be likely to test it anyway Albert. Maybe it’s a girl?”

Albert hypothesized, “If it is a girl. She might have already left town.”

Jim said, “I hope so. She might have wanted the gun just to protect herself you know.”

Albert growled, “Yah, that’s why she pushed it in Frank’s back. That’s armed Robbery you know.”

Jim insisted, “The gun was empty Albert.”

Albert barked, “But it isn’t anymore.”

Sophia asked, “What if the girl…”

Jim grabbed Sophia’s arm and they blinked out. Albert looked around to see if anyone saw, but no one was around. Then he bitched, “Damn it James what’s going on?”

Jim and Sophia appeared in the Jail and Jim requested, “Shoot me with a spark and fade out.”

Sophia shot Jim and faded out as she asked, “What did you do that for?”

Jim replied, “I know Albert. He was about to figure out where Kate was. I couldn’t let you talk to him any longer. Now I’m going to take you to Kate’s stepfather so we can see if he’s possessed.”

Then in a flash they were standing by the corner of Kate’s house. Her stepfather was talking to the Cowboy about buying Kate. Sophia leaned into Jim and whispered, “You see how there is a shadow in him? That’s the Demon. He’s possessed, but not pure Evil. If he was pure Evil you wouldn’t see him at all. You’d just see the Demon. Should I call Suzan to cast it out?”

Jim insisted, “No we can’t do that. We’re in the past, and that would mess up the time line. We can’t do anything here, or it might make a temporal paradox. Its bad news and I can’t fix it. I’m taking us back.”

Albert headed down to the Hotel to see Kathy. He saw her sitting on the porch with Henry and Origin eating Soda Bread. Walking up he asked, “Do you know what is going on with Janes and Sophia?”

Kathy replied, “I don’t know, but Sophia has been acting strange all day.”

Albert insisted, “I think she knows something about the Robbery. She was going to say something to me about it, but Jim grabbed her and ran off.”

Kathy looked confused, “What Robbery?”

Albert went on, “Well I thought everyone would know by now. Hank’s store got robbed last night.”

Henry butted in, “I heard something about that, but thought it was just talk. Some kid taking candy or something.”

Albert assured, “Oh no, he was robbed alright. They took the gun he keeps behind the counter too.”

Jim and Sophia appeared in the jail. Sophia asked, “What if we put the stuff back in the store?”

Jim laughed, “And just how do you plan on doing that?”

Sophia disclosed, “I’ll wait until Hank goes to bed. Stop time and take all the stuff through a portal, and stack it up in front of the counter. Then leave a note with some money. I can’t take the clothes she’s wearing. I’ll have to pay for them. You know where I can get some money? I asked Kathy, but she wanted to know what I wanted it for. Then she told me to talk to you, because you help people all the time.”

Jim’s eyes opened wide, “Does Kathy know the girl robbed the store?”

Sophia explained, “I don’t think so. I never told her the store got robbed, or about the girl.”

Jim confessed, “That’s okay. We need to put the team together and get this out in the open. Albert is a stickler for the law, but he’s more understanding when a Demon’s involved. By the power of Najl I command time to stop.”

Time stopped and Jim insisted, “I’ll get Suzan and you can go next door and get Kathy.”

Then Jim blinked out, and Sophia went out the door. Rounding the corner of the porch loading dock she saw Albert and Kathy in front of the Hotel. She yelled, “Meeting in the Jail.”

Then she went back in the Jail to find James and Suzan waiting. Albert came in the door demanding, “What’s going on?”

Kathy came in behind Albert scolding, “Sophia you wanted the money for the stuff that was stolen. Didn’t you?”

Jim explained, “It’s not that simple. I went back in time, and watched her break in the store. Yes it’s a girl. It’s a young Girl. Kathy saw her she knows. Any way I found her stepfather beat her mother to death, and then he beat Kate blaming her for it. The stepfather was trying to sale her like a slave. Kate is so scared of him she thinks she’s going to have to kill him. That’s why she took the gun. I know about guns and the law, but if you were her and had a Demon after you. Well Albert by the law you would just turn her back over to her stepfather. But I say we’re Demon Hunters first and then Lawmen. He just rode into Lambert looking for her this morning. I would think he’ll be here tomorrow. I’m trying to think of a plan for when he gets here. He’s Demon possessed, so this is not an ordinary man.”

Albert grumbled, “Well Hank just wants his stuff back, or to get paid for it. He doesn’t want to put some teenage girl in Jail.

Jim insisted, “Sophia and I already have a plan for that. Frank is a different story. She locked him in the storage room, and he’s steaming mad about that. I don’t think he’s as mad about the 50¢ box of 44 caliber cartridges. He just pissed about getting locked up.”

Albert declared, “I’ll take care of Frank. You and Sophia do what you have to do.”

Jim insisted, “We still need to figure out what we’re doing with the girl.”

Albert ordered, “The first thing we do is take our places and start time. Then we all meet in the lobby of the Hotel, and go to the girl’s room. Then we have to convince her to trust us. From there we will just have to take it one step at a time.”

Jim insisted, “I know this kind of man. If Suzan cast out the Demon he’ll just let it back in. Then she can’t do it again. We can’t hang him because he has a soul. We’ll be stuck.”

Sophia said, “There might be a way. Jim told me about something him and Bird Man talked about. Just put him in a life and death situation and let the Supreme Being take care of it. James told me Bird Man said, “If it was me I’d put him in the ocean and let whatever happened happen.” I can do it if you want.”

Jim asked, “How?”

Sophia replied, “I know a place. I’ve been there, and I can do it. If anyone has the right it’s me. I was killed by a Demon remember.”

Suzy shrugged her shoulders and said, “Well, not really we saved you, but you’re right. I say let her try it.”

Sophia added, “Then if he comes back he won’t have a soul, and Albert can hang him.”

Albert smiled, “I say everyone takes their place and I start time. Jim took Suzy’s arm and blinked out, and Albert went back to the front of the Hotel. Then Albert said, “Truck off,” and time started again.

Jim and Sophia walked up, and Henry took Origin’s arm and said, “I think this is our clue it’s time to go back to work. Then they headed back to the Livery. They all went into the Hotel and waited at the table. After a while Suzy showed up explaining, “Sorry it took so long, but Rebecca wanted to know why we were stopping time.”

Albert announced, “Okay this is it. You got a key Kathy?”

Leading the way she replied, “I always have the master on me.”

She slipped the key in the lock and opened the door. Kate was lying in the bed with her back to them as Albert announced, “Time to wake up.”

She rolled over and pointed the gun at them and Albert barked, “Truck on.”

Kathy pulled the gun from her hand and handed it to Jim. Then Albert said, “Truck off, and time started. Kate was in shock. To her the gun just disappeared, and she couldn’t comprehend what happen. Then Sophia sat on the edge of the bed and spoke softly, “It’s okay Kate we know what happen. You should have come to the Sheriff, and not robbed the store. We just want to help you. We know your evil stepfather is after you, and we won’t let him get you. We can protect you. That is what the law is for, but we have to fix this mess you made.”

Sophia got up from the bed, and Jim and Albert blocked the door. Just in case she tried to dart away. Kate rolled to the edge of the bed, and swung her feet to the floor. With her eyes wandering over everyone she mumbled, “How long will I be in Jail?”

Albert asked, “How old are you Kate?”

 

[gonewacky]

Kate replied, “I just turned 16.”

Albert shook his head, “If your stepfather wasn’t so evil. I’d just put you over my knee, and send you home. That’s not going to happen, so I guess we have to think of something. I should put you in Jail, but I can’t do that to you. However if you try to run I’ll put you in there to keep you safe.”

Jim spoke up, “You’re safe here in the hotel, and I’ll stay here until we know you’re going to be alright. I’ll be in the room right across the hall. There is something I would like you to do for me. I want you to write a note saying you’re sorry to the store owner.”

Kate whined as a tear slipped down her cheek, “I can’t.”

James asked, “Why not?”

Kate revealed, “I can’t read or write. I’m sorry.”

Suzy said, “No that’s fine honey. We don’t need it. Why don’t we go get something to eat? I say we all go over to the Restaurant.”

Kate whined, “I don’t have any money.”

Jim said, “That’s alright I’m buying.”

Kathy argued, “No I’m buying, I’ll go get Seig.”

In the Restaurant they pushed two tables together, and they all sat down. Sophia sat on one side of Kate, and Suzy sat on the other. Josette came to the table and Kathy announced, “We’ll have the special all around.”

Josette said, “That will be six roast beef sandwiches smothered in gravy and soup.”

Then she yelled, “Six specials Martin.”

Kathy requested, “Why don’t you tell us about who you are Kate.”

Kate started, “I came out west in 1870 when I was ten. I was born in Council Bluffs Iowa and grew up in Traders Point. When I was ten my parents packed us up and we headed west on the Oregon Trail. In Wyoming my father got sick, and we couldn’t travel. The Wagon Train just kept going without us. A week later Mom and I had to bury my father. The ground was so hard and rocky we could only dig a little ways. After two days of digging we gave up, put him in the shallow grave. Then we covered him with rocks. I remember it was hot and rocks were heavy. We worked late into the night.”

Josette came with a coffee pot and some cups, and started pouring coffee.

Kate kept talking, “The next day mom insisted we had to keep going, so we set out on our own. It was hard to get the Oxen hooked to the Wagon, but after a lot of fighting we got it. Then we were off. I remembered mom cried every night. The days were hard and we weren’t going very far each day. I don’t remember how many days we went like that. But one day a Wagon Train got to us, and we joined them. One man was nice. I remember his name was Clay, and he helped us a lot. His wife helped us to. She would cook with mom and me. He had two boys too, but they didn’t like girls.

When we got to Fort Hall the Wagon train split, and Clay’s family took the California Trail. We kept going on the Oregon Trail. That’s when mom met Jacob Becker. We teamed up with him, until we homesteaded here in the new territory. Jacob treat mom cruelly. I never liked him, but mom told me we have to have a man. I didn’t understand why she let him hurt her all the time, but mom told me he keeps food on the table.”

Josette said, “Did I hear put the food on the table?”

Then she started setting the bowls of soup in front of everyone. Kate wasted no time and started in as soon as the bowl was in front of her. Suzy put her hand over her soup bowl and said, “I know you’re hungry, but we all wait for each other. Then we pray first.”

Kate apologized, “I’m sorry. We weren’t allowed to pray. Jacob said God was for fools, and there would be no foolishness in his house.”

Albert announced, “I’ll pray, Thanks for the food God, Amen. Let’s eat.”

Suzy gave Albert a mean look, and Albert remarked, “What, she’s hungry. Let her eat. Isn’t that what we came here for?”

Josette returned with the roast beef sandwiches and gravy. She set the plates next to the bowls. After they all ate Kate tried to tell more about her life, but Jim stopped her saying, “We don’t need to hear anymore Kate. We’ve all heard these stories. The trail was hard, and the first winter would be the worst.”

Albert asked, “What do you think we should do with you? We can’t send you back home. That would be out of the question.”

Kate started to cry, and Suzy made a ball of bright flashing colored light under the table, and pushed it in Kate’s belly. Then put her arm over her shoulder saying, “Don’t worry we all love you Kate, and we’ll do whatever it takes.”

Picking up the plates Josette commented, “I didn’t mean to be listening to you, but this guy that came through yesterday. He told me their looking for someone to clean rooms at the Hotel in Lambert.”

Suzy said, “See there is something we can check out. Jim and Albert know importin People in Lambert. I’m sure we can work something out.”

Back at the Boardinghouse Victoria got out the wagon and had Birdee pull it to the store. Getting close to the store Birdee saw Bobby. He was sitting on the bench outside of the store. She dropped the handle to the wagon, and ran to Bobby. She took his hand and pulled him to the wagon. She pointed to the wagon and bushed Bobby to get in. Looking at Victoria Bobby uttered, “I think she wants me to get in the wagon Mam.”

Victoria asked, “Do you know Birdee?

Bobby replied, “Oh is Birdee her name. She doesn’t talk, and I never knew her name. We’re friends Mam.”

Birdee pushed Bobby again to get in the wagon, as Victoria explained, “That’s because she couldn’t hear, but the doctor fixed that. Now we need to teach her words so she can talk. You think you want to help do that.”

Bobby replied, “Yes mam but my mom don’t want me to see her anymore. She says she’s a bad influence, and a wild child. I don’t think she’ll let me.”

Victoria asked, “What’s your name child?”

Bobby replied, “Bobby mam. Bobby Bigs,”

Victoria smiled, “I think you should get in the wagon so we can get the rest of the way to the store.”

Bobby got in the wagon and they crossed the street to the store. Then Victoria requested, “Would you take Birdee to the bench and sit with her. I’m going to go in the store and talk to your mom. You do know who I am Bobby?”

Bobby smiled, “Yes mam, you’re Miss Tomson. Everyone knows who you are. You have the big house.”

Victoria smiled as she went in the store. Looking up Emily hollered, “Hank, Victoria is here.”

Victoria walked over to Mrs. Bigs looking at the material and asked, “Mrs. Bigs isn’t it. I’ve seen you at church. You’re the quilt maker aren’t you?”

She looked up and replied, “You want to commission a quilt?”

Victoria insisted, “Yes I would like to get one for my Birdee.”

Mrs. Bigs stood straight up and asked, “Who is Birdee?”

Hank came from the back room and stood by Emily as Victoria revealed, “Birdee’s the girl that the Sheriff rescued.”

Mrs. Bigs said, “$20 for a patchwork quilt.”

Then Victoria inquired about Bobby, “I would like to have Little Bobby come over in the afternoons to play with Birdee.”

Mrs. Bigs snapped, “Are you out of your mind. After what that child did to my child. She had Bobby tell stories about killing and things.”

Victoria asked, “Do you know who I am?”

Mrs. Bigs, insisted, “Of course I do Miss Tomson. You own the biggest house around here. How could I not know who you are?”

Victoria explained, “Then you know I have the most influence of any woman around here. I could help or ruin anyone. I have the ability to influenced or manipulate most the people in this town, but I don’t work that way. I always have a better way. How about I pay $30 for the quilt, and you put little birds on it for me. Then I clear your bill here at the Store, and Bobby comes by in the afternoons.”

Mrs. Bigs was in deep thought as Hank added, “You know Bobby was telling the truth, and no one would believe him but some out of towner. She went to the Deputy and convinced him to check it out. Even I didn’t believe Bobby, but now we all know the truth.”

Then looking at Victoria Hank went on, “Her bill is quite high Victoria. You might want to rethink your offer.”

Victoria replied, “Whatever, it’s worth it for Birdee.”

Mrs. Bigs stared at Victoria and said, “I think we can try it.”

Hank declared, “If you have Birdee pull the wagon to the loading dock. I’ll load your order up.”

Victoria said, “Emily, “Whatever Mrs. Bigs gets today put on my bill.”

Then she went out the door, and put her hand out for Birdee. Birdee came pulling Bobby with her. Then Victoria said, “Bobby go tell you mother you’re coming with us.”

Bobby pulled away from Birdee and put his finger in the air. Then he pointed to the store, and back to Birdee. He darted in the store and back out. Then he helped Birdee pull the wagon to the loading dock, and home.

Victoria watched the kids play in the backyard. This brought great joy to Victoria. She was so happy that Birdee had a friend even if she had to buy the friendship from the boy’s mother. The children would never know, because you can’t buy love like that. This made Victoria do something she didn’t do very often. She baked cookies.

After eating Kathy and Sophia took Kate to the dress shop. Albert went and sat on the bench in front of the store, and Jim and Suzy went to the Jail and blinked out. Appearing in the alley in Lambert Jim and Suzy walked to the Lambert Times.

Seeing the receptionist Suzy announced, “Hi Ida. Is Mr. Ryan available?”

Ida replied, “Oh James, Suzan, how is Rebecca and Bella doing?”

Suzy replied, “Rebecca is fine, and Bella is starting to walk.”

Ida replied, “They grow so fast. You tell Rebecca to bring her by so we can see her. I’ll check and see if Richard is busy.”

Ida returned and said, “He said to come on back. He has a minute or two.”

In Richard’s office Jim asked, “We need a favor. We heard they needed a maid to clean rooms at the Hotel. We don’t know the Owner, but would like to make a deal for a young girl.”

Richard pulled a piece of paper in front of him and started writing. Then he folded it in half and yelled, “Tom!”

Tom appeared at the door and Richard insisted, “Take this note and have a delivery boy take it to Mr. Anderson.”

Then he turned to Jim, “I’ve arranged for us to have dinner with the Owner of the Hotel. Now I need a favor from you. I want you to go talk with your Banker friend about the 20 Cent Coins. I’ve heard they stopped making them, and they are going to be abolished. I just need it verified so I can print something about it. If you do that for me, I’ll twist Mr. Anderson’s arm for you.”

 

[gonewacky]

Jim knew the coin was going to be abolished, and this was the last year for them. He’d been taking them to the Future to get rich, because they were only in circulation in 1875 and 1876. The coin was struck from 1875 to 1878, but only for collectors. Jim knew all the aspects of the new 20 Cent Coin.

Jim smiled, “Sure we can talk about the 20 Cent peace tonight.”

That night at dinner Jim and Suzy met Richard and he announced, “This is Mr. Samuel Anderson the Owner.”

Samuel Said, “You can call me Sam Deputy. You know they still talk about you and Jack Callen. Everyone thinks you should have gone to work for Wells Fargo, or the Pinkerton’s.”

Jim replied, “I love my life the way it is. I get to do things like I’m doing now. We have a young girl that needs a job that will take care of her. She will need room and board, as she will be coming with nothing.”

Sam said, “Richard has told me all about what you’re looking for. This is my offer I’ll give her a room and she can eat in the Restaurant for free. In exchange for cleaning the rooms, and if she wants to work in the laundry with Won after she’s done. I’ll pay her another 25¢ a day for that. That will give her some money for the things she needs. What’s this girl’s name?”

Unaware the evil Jacob Becker was sitting at the table right behind them. Suzy revealed, “She’s Kate and she’s 16.”

Jacob’s ears perked up and he listened to every word as Sam went on, “That’s right at the marrying age. I hope some guy don’t come along and steal her from me. When can she start?”

Suzy replied, “We’re keeping her at the Hotel in Dention. She came to us with nothing, and we’re having some clothes made for her. Maybe the day after tomorrow we could bring her to town. It’s kind of touch and go right now. She has been through some trauma, and we’re trying to get her through it. The thing is we all know if she gets working around good people. She’ll get over it faster.”

Richard assured, “That’s true. There’s nothing like a good days work. It makes you sleep better, and that makes everything better.”

Jim asked, “You want me to tell you what I found out about the 20 cent piece?”

Richard insisted, “What did you find out James?”

James explained, “The 20-cent coin was often mistaken for a quarter due to its similar size and design. Due to confusion with the quarter, to which it was close in both size and value merchants would slip people a 20 cent piece. This would make them another 5¢ on the transaction. This made little demand for the coin by people. The coin is still going to be struck, but only for collectors. Does that help you?”

Richard insisted, “Check next week’s paper and find out.”

Sam laughed, “Now that sounds just like a newspaper man.”

Back at the Hotel Sophia had Kate put on one of her dresses. Then Albert helped them move all the stolen stuff. They put it across the hall in the room Jim was going to stay in. Sophia let her keep the boots and perfume.

Then Sophia insisted, “We have to write a note saying you’re sorry. I know you can’t write so I’ll do it for you. We’re going to leave some money for the broken window and the things you kept. You just tell me what you want to say, and I’ll write it.”

Kate said, “I want to say I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking right. Hope this pays for the Boots, perfume, and fixing the window. Should I say something else?”

Sophia smiled, “I think that will work just fine.”

At the Boardinghouse Bobby went home, and dinner was ready to go on the table. Birdee was sitting on the stool in the kitchen repeating, “Bobby, Bobby, Bobby.”

Victoria smiled, “You’ve learned your first word. Is that your friend?”

Birdee just mumbled, “Bobby, Bobby, Bobby.”

The first word would be just the beginning of things Birdee would babble. She now understood words were attached to people and things. Her life had changed that day, and she didn’t even know it. What she did know was Victoria wouldn’t let her eat with her hands that night, and was making her try to use a spoon.

At the table Birdee wanted nothing to do with it, and threw the spoon on the floor. Then she tried to eat with her hands. Origin was sitting next to Birdee, and put her arm between Birdy and the table. Birdee couldn’t reach the bowl, and started to throw a fit. That made Origin do something she hadn’t done in a long time. She spoke in her native language, “If I can do it you can do it, or we’ll lock you in your room.”

No one knew what Origin said and Birdee didn’t either. The sound was strange to Birdee, and she didn’t know what to think about it. She just came to a complete stop looking at Origin. Then Origin took her spoon and put it in Birdee’s hand. Gripping her hand over Birdee’s she scooped a peace of potato from the bowl, and moved it to Birdee’s mouth. Birdee was trying to get her hand free, but Origin had the grip from hell on it.

Henry Joked, “That’s it ride that thing until it can’t move anymore.”

Rebecca scolded, “Henry she’s not a horse.”

Just then Suzy and Albert came in. Victoria questioned, “Where’s James?”

Albert informed, “He’s pulling guard duty.”

Suzy cut Albert off, “I would have stayed with him, but I have to get Birdee up at night. The stew smells good.”

Emily replied, “It is, but Birdee is having trouble with it.”

Origin insisted, “Me teach. Can do.”

Suzy smiled and she watched Birdee fighting to get her hand free. Albert looked at Birdee and said, “Give it up kid. Origin will never give up.”

Everyone laughed, and Birdee looked all around trying to understand. She had never seen the reaction of everyone laughing at once.

Mable insisted, “There must be an easier way.”

Victoria revealed, “I’ll have Bobby try to teach her tomorrow. She does whatever he does.”

Hearing bobby’s name Birdee started chanting, “Bobby, Bobby.”

Albert ladled some stew in his bowl as he spoke, “Hay look at that she can say a name.”

Victoria replied, “Yep, that was her first word. I think I’ll let the boy teach her to use a spoon. She does everything he does.”

Albert asked, “Is this?”

Victoria cut him off, “Don’t say his name. She’ll start looking for him.”

Albert went on, “The same boy that started all this?”

Victoria explained, “We went to the store with the wagon today. The boy was sitting out front. Birdee saw him and ran and tried to get him in the wagon. She was going to take him home with her. After I threatened and bribed his mother. He came home with us. He will be coming after school every day. I think that will be the best teacher to get her talking.”

Suzy smiled, “Oh that’s so sweet. She wanted to bring him home. I think he’ll be a good teacher. Learn and play at the same time.”

Birdee got her other hand free and snatched the potato from the spoon and pushed it in her mouth. Albert laughed, “That horse is wilder than I thought. I say just let her have at it. Then well clean up the mess when she’s done.”

Jacob saw a boy go in the Doctor’s office. Then he saw the Doctor come out with his bag and the boy. They headed down to the Livery. He kept his eye on them as they took the Doctors buggy out of town. Then Jacob went back to the Doctor’s office. He looked the place over, and decided to sneak around to the back. Then something caught his eye. He stared at the woman in the window, and lust started to take him over.

He worked his way around the side. Then he looked in the window, and didn’t see anyone. Then he moved to the next window, and still he didn’t see anyone. He started to think she was the only one there, so he moved to the back door. He checked the handle and it was locked, so he gave it a hard kick. But it didn’t give at all, so he used his sawed-off shotgun and blew the door open. He came out in the kitchen, and there stood the woman.

Jim had just finished leaving the pile of Hanks stuff in front of the counter. He set the note on the pile, and put a twenty dollar gold peace on top of it. This is when he had a day dream. Something like this had never happened to him before. Dreamer appeared to him saying, “The Doctor needs your help. Now!”



Jacob’s mind was overtaken by greed and lust, all he really wanted was to possess her. He backed Caroline to the kitchen table with the sawed off shotgun. It was powerful and light, a formidable killing instrument.

Caroline felt her emotions consume her. Her muscles were tense, her breathing shallow, and she was having contractions in her stomach. She knew she was feeling fear, and it was taking control of her. She turned pale, and her body started shaking. With her desire to strike out, she pushed him back from her.

Dizzy with anger at her defiance, he knocked her down to the floor with his free hand and briskly tore off her robe. Her naked beauty nearly took his breath away. Never in all of his days had he seen such a magnificent body. Beholding the vision of her lying weak and defenseless before him, his lust welled up into a mighty force. Without a thought, he dropped the weapon, and lifted her body. With his great strength, he placed her easily onto the table. Pinning her down, he thought of the irony of this situation, he grinned with pleasure. Drunk with madness he was about to take her on the table.

With great effort, she pulled herself back from him, as he forced himself upon her, but it only stimulated him further. He had just raised his hand to strike her when he heard the click of a hammer being pulled back. He turned his head, only to discover that his own overpowering lust had trapped him. Jim would be the last thing he would see before his lifeless body fell to the floor.

But Jim didn’t shoot he called out, “By the power of Najl I command time to stop.”

The he called the team. With them all standing in the Kitchen Jim explained, “I know this Demon. Sophia and I tracked him. He had a soul, but I had to stop him. You don’t know how bad I wanted to shoot him, but this is Sophia’s plan. Do what you think is right Sophia.”

Sophia looked at Kathy and asked, “If I touch him he will come to life right?”

Kathy replied, “Yes but since he is demon possessed he won’t freeze when you’re not touching him. He’ll stay unfrozen.”

Sophia used a chair to get on the table. She straddled Caroline and twirled her finger in front of her making a spinning rainbow behind Jacob. Then she shot it with a little spark, and the center opened up. She could see the River in the hole, and pushed Jacob through the hole. He fell in the water with a splash then the hole collapsed to a speck and flickered out.

Sophia asked, “How was that?”

Jim shook his head, “At least we know he didn’t land on the Ferry.”

Then Jim blinked out as they all looked at each other. Reappearing Jim said, “Just as I thought. He blew the back door open with the shotgun.”

Then Jim emptied his gun on the table and started reloading it. Albert asked, “Why are you taking out your Demon bullets.”

Jim replied, “The Marshal and his Deputy are out there trying to find where the shot came from. Its night and it’s quite. I’m going to take everyone back. Then I’m going to go out the back door, and empty my gun. Then tell the Marshal I chased him off.”

Suzy insisted, “Let me fill her with love first. She’ll need it.”

Jim took everyone home then he started time and shot his gun. Caroline rolled off the far side of the table, and fell to the floor. Jim ran out the back door and kept on shooting. Jim came back in and Caroline watched the shells fall to the floor as she heard Jim loading more rounds. Then Jim spun all around and shouted, “Is there anyone else?”

Caroline tried to talk, but the words wouldn’t come. Looking around Jim shouted again, “Is he it, or is there another one?”

Caroline couldn’t get out a word. Her mind was telling her to talk, but her mouth wouldn’t move. It was as if she was trying to scream, and someone had their hand over her mouth.

Picking up the robe, Jim thru it over the table and commanded, “Put this back on well I check the place out.”

Then Jim went to the front door and yelled down Main Street. I need some help down here. Then men came running from every direction. Bill showed up and Jim explained, “I came to talk with the Doc, but when I got here a guy had his wife on the table.”

Then he leaned and whispered in Bill’s ear, “He ripped her clothes off.”

Bill’s eyes opened wide, “You get the bastard?”

Jim confessed, “I think I hit him, but he got out the back door.”

Bill went in and saw Caroline on the floor shaking in her Robe. Bill turned and yelled, “Deputy go get Miss. White.”

Picking up the shotgun Bill broke open the breach of the double barrel shotgun and said, “There’s a live one in here. You’re lucky he didn’t use it. This would have cut you in two. You must have hit him to make him drop this.”

Bending down Bill comforted Caroline, “It’s all right mam we’re here now, and you’re safe. Half the town is out there.”

Looking up Bill mumbled, “The door is toast. Not any fixing that.”

Looking at Jim Bill insisted, “I’ll put a Posse together at first light. I can’t track him in the dark. Was he on foot?

Jim replied, “He was when I was shooting at him, but you and I both know that don’t mean he don’t have a horse.”

Jim thought, I wonder if he’ll come back with a soul.





That was day Nine and Ten from the diary of Sophia Collins.

From May 15th & 16th, 1876

Comment; Birdee’s first word was Bobby.

 

[gonewacky]

Not the story I wanted to write, but this is how it came out. You know when a child grows up not knowing who their parent is. Sometimes it’s better not to find out. Take this trip with Albert and find out.

Now that the counter went over 1k I won’t even know if anyone is reading.

Joe