JUNE 4, 1839
I sat near my charge’s parents as they created my babe’s body in love. I couldn’t look away from the wondrous soul that was placed in my keeping, for he was unlike my first charge and the other unborn souls that I had seen. For this soul burned with fire and steel of a warrior and leader meant to protect and defend those in need from evil. But I could also see within the seriousness and fierceness of the soul the great capability to love and laugh.
The child lay quietly in my arms watching me with an intensity that all to familiar, for Archangel Michael have been subjecting me too similar looks lately. It was almost as if he was measuring me against some criteria that only he knew and I wondered at the destiny that awaited my little warrior.
Knowing it was time I stood and started to lower the soul of my little charge into his newly made body. Before joining with his body, he reached out with that wondrous soul of his and embraced me with the power of his being and love, shaking me to the core for it was like being greeted by a brother angel.
APRIL 2, 1840
I watched from the corner of the ceiling as the women of the Larabee Clan fussed around my second charge’s mother who was in child labor. Each woman offered words and touches of encouragement and support to the young woman giving birth for the first time. Even though she was in pain there was such joy and hope in her eyes that I knew that she would make the perfect mother to my little one.
Knowing that the birth of my babe will take a while and that the mother was not having any problems with the birth, I decided to check on my babe’s father who was pacing back and forth in the next room. He jerked at each moan, his eyes filled with love but also worry. I could tell that he was thinking about all the women who lost their lives by giving birth and he feared what might happen to his beloved wife. It was then Jessica screamed as she started to push. Franticly he pushed through his older brother and father to enter the room just as the head was crowning.
Quickly I went to the Jessica’s side to shout my encouragement and joy to both mother and child, as my babe slid from his mother’s body into the waiting hands of his grandmother and aunt. I looked up with joy into the white face of Robert Larabee just in time to see the man’s eyes rolled up in his head as he passed out in his father’s arms.
Knowing that both father and mother were in the loving caring hands of their family I concentrated on my little babe whose cry was that of a warrior as he gave thanks to God at his birth. I followed my child’s aunt as she started to clean him up wanting to be close to my little charge. When he smiled up at me, I had to lean over to kiss him gently on his little forehead letting tears of happiness fall from my eyes.
I leaned down to pull the blanket up around Jessica and Robert as they slept entwined around each other. I gently moved the sweat soaked blonde hair from Jessica’s forehead and placed a soft healing kiss there before placing another kiss to Robert’s cheek. I knew that these two before me would have a long full life together filled with love for each other and their children.
“Sleep well, my children for you have given this world a wondrous gift.”
Once I was satisfied that they were deeply asleep I turned towards the cradle where my little charge laid. Gently I scooped the child in my arms as I sat down in the rocking chair Robert had made for his wife. Rocking gently I looked down into the green eyes of my second charge and introduced myself. “Well Christopher Robert Larabee, it’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Ezra and I have been appointed your guardian angel.”
The child silently watched me before reaching out with his chubby little hands to grasp my finger with a surprising strong grip before giving me a blinding smile. With a large yawn my Christopher simply closed his eyes and went peaceful back to sleep, never loosening the steel like grip he had on me. In joy I sat holding my little warrior, knowing that I was bound to him with ties of love that are far stronger than anything else in this world of man, until the light of dawn started to break.
JULY 13, 1847
Today my fifth charge was born and I watched with wide eyes as my seven-year-old Chris met his new brother David Kevin Larabee for the first time. The quiet child looked at the squalling infant in his father’s arms and reached out a gentle hand to softly rubbed one of tightly clutch fists of the newborn. Sudden silence descended on the room as the newborn opened his beautiful blue eyes to look into his big brother’s.
Silently the two brothers looked at each other and it was as if knowledge of all that they were and would become were exchanged in that instant. The newborn’s clenched fist opened and reached out towards his big brother. Seeing this, my Chris quietly held out his arms as their father placed the newborn into his arms.
Very slowly Chris turned and walked over to his chair under the watchful stunned eyes of the Larabee clan. My little warrior sat down, never looking away from the blue eyes of my wild child that looked trustingly up into his green ones. Smiling down at his brother, Chris told him, “Hello David. I’m your big brother. That means that I’m going to protect you and teach you everything you need to know.”
My little charge just giggled and brought one of Chris’s fingers to his mouth before suckling on it.
They looked so happy together that I couldn’t resist so I walked over and embraced both my second and fifth charge in my arms.
SEPTEMBER 19, 1850
If I had a heart it would have stopped when I saw my little Chris disappear down the mineshaft. In my panic I appeared to him frantically checking to see if he was all right. Luckily he fell only about 10 feet before landing on the floor of the mine. He had twisted both his ankle and wrist on the way down and with the mineshaft collapsed on either side the only way out was to climb the walls, which was impossible with his injuries.
It was only as I looked at startled green eyes that I realized what I had done. With a smile he gently patted my hand before tilting his head to the side and asked, “You’re my guardian angel, aren’t you?”
I could only nod at his question afraid to speak. Then very calmingly he asked me, “Am I going to die?”
In shock I looked around to see if I could see Andrew, the angel of death, but there was no one. Reaching out I wrapped my arms around my little babe and lifted him onto my lap. “No. No you’re not going to die. I will bring help, but I want to make sure that you will be all right first.
Chris silently nodded his head and rested against me as I rocked him like I did while he was an infant. When I felt him relax, his breathing even out in sleep only then did I move to get help. Summering a warm blanket I wrapped my sleeping charge in it before going for help.
Quickly I flew towards Chris’s home and family knowing that help could only come from there. Robert was working in the barn with Chris’s two younger sisters as they milked the cows. Frantically, I implanted the need for Robert to go and find his oldest son along with the idea of where to look.
As I started to follow Robert I saw a woman reaching down to pick up three-year-old David and start to walk away with him towards a grove of trees. I looked around for Jessica or any of the family but no one was in sight. I started after the women determined to get David back but was stopped by a hand on my arm.
Startled I turned towards the owner of the hand to find Tess standing there. “Tess? I don’t have time right now. I have to get David back.”
I then tried to pull away, but was prevented by Tess. “No angel child.” I was stunned and turned to look at her. “David is going with her. He needs to go with her.”
Shaking my head I try to pull away from her, “No Tess, your wrong. David needs to stay here.”
Her eyes were so sad as she pulled me in her arms and she started to rock me. “No angel boy. He needs to go with her. God wants this, Ezra.”
I looked up at her fearing to ask what would happen to my happy wild child. Somehow she knew and hugged me closer. “No child. She won’t hurt him. She’s going to raise him as her son. Don’t worry he’s safe. I promise he will be reunited with his family. ”
Knowing that she wouldn’t lie to me I had to come to terms with this unhappy twist of fate. Gently I withdrew from her arms and told her, “Tess let me go. David needs me now.”
With a sigh she let me go and with a heavy heart I went to David to comfort him as he settled into his new life as Vin Tanner. David was inconsolable as he called out for Chris, wanting his brother and wondering why he didn’t come for him. The poor woman gently held my little babe trying to comfort him. I could tell she was a kind woman who had lost her way with the death of her own child. With a heavy heart I used a little of my power to command my little babe to sleep. I sat there watching my little wild one sleep as the moon rose. I only left because I knew that my Chris would need me as well as his parents tonight. With a sorrowful heart I returned to my second charge.
The adults in the Larabee clan had gathered together to offer comfort and support to the distraught parents of the missing child. The younger children had been put to bed leaving only Chris awake and crying quietly into his pillow.
I gathered my crying babe in my arms, careful of the bandaged wrist and ankle. I could tell that my so serious child was blaming himself for the disappearance of his brother. As I held him, I got my little leader to tell me what was going through that brain of his. He figured if he hadn’t had gone fishing with his cousins and fell down the old mine shaft he would have been here to protect his brother. That it was his fault that David had disappeared.
My little leader looked up at me with red-rimmed eyes and begged me to tell him where David was, but I couldn’t. I told him that David was doing something really important but as soon as he finished what he had to do, that he would come home. The solemn green eyes of my child seemed to reach deep inside me as if he could see all and nodded, accepting what I told him.
Those so adult eyes of my charge looked up at me and asked, “Ma told me that I have a guardian angel. You’re him aren’t you?” I simply nodded my head before he continued, “Will you look after David for me? Be his guardian angel instead of mine.”
Holding my little babe tightly I told him, “Don’t worry my little one. I look after you both.”
Chris pushed me away so he could look at me and shake his head. “No! David needs you more than I do. You look after him for me. Keep him safe. I’m older and can look after myself but he’s to young to.”
Smiling at my brave little leader I told him, “Don’t worry Chris. I can look after you both with no problems. I’ll keep David safe until he comes home to you and your family.”
MAY 13, 1862
My plan to bring Buck and Chris together so that they would have someone to guard their backs and allow me to keep an eye on both of them worked. With them together like this I should be able to keep an eye on my two troublemakers.
I watched as the two of them shared a meal together, laughing and talking as if they were old friends. It warmed my heart, but also had me trying to understand that brief silent exchange the two of them had. It was almost as if they knew each other in some manner that left me puzzled. It kind of brought back that moment when Chris met his brother David.
JUNE 2, 1862
Maybe putting Buck and Chris together was not the right idea since they have gotten into more trouble together than individually. This time they were lost behind enemy lines and I had to come to their rescue. They were about to be found by a group of Rebel soldiers as they were hiding in an abandoned root cellar. Knowing that I had to get them out of there I decided to appear to hem as a child hopeful they will listen to me.
I approached them openly stopping far enough away so that they could see me and I could whisper to them. "Misters, you better follow me if you want to get away from those Rebs."
Buck carefully emerged from the cellar trying to see if I was part of a trap, but not seeing another out of the ordinary except for a child of about eight years old warning them of danger. He came out and squatted down before me and asked, "Well, little pard, you shouldn't be wandering these woods by yourself. Where are you parents?"
I had to smile at how Buck took me under his wing, just like David had taught him. I answered him quietly, "They don't live far from here, but don't worry about me - we have to get you both out of here. There is a Yankee camp about a day's walk from here, but we have to hurry or you're not going anywhere."
Both Buck and Chris hurriedly packed their things and covered up the evidence that they were there, but I added a little angelic power to ensure that the Confederates wouldn't find anything. It took us a day and half to get there with both of my charges trying to protect me and I had to smile at the compassion both men felt toward a small boy. At noon as we rested I used a whispered command for them to sleep. With gentleness I wiped their memories clear of the little boy's features and the only thing I left them was my green eyes to remember me by. Then I planted in a memory of the little boy leaving them to return home and I simply disappeared.
They awoke shortly afterwards, panicking when they couldn't find me, but the planted memory came to mind and they hurriedly cleaned up behind themselves and made good time to the Union camp.
SEPTEMBER 17, 1864
After six months of my Chris being in the Dark powers of Ella Gains, who sold her soul to the Devil long ago, he was freed. Freed by the friendship of my child of mischief, Buck.
Ella had used everything she knew to try to turn Chris from the light to follow a darker path, to make Chris her Dark King, which would have allowed her to be his Dark Queen. She was totally insane and obsessed with Chris, but with the help of Buck her spell was broken and he was riding far away from her.
I shuddered as we left her for I knew that we would meet once again. Somehow she will try to take my Chris away from me but I won’t give up without a fight.
MAY 29, 1867
Today I watched as my child fell in love with a beautiful young woman by the name of Sarah O’Connor. He had just come into town to purchase some supplies for his horse ranch and arrived just as the town’s spring festival was starting. Ever the serious one he snorted at the happy activities going around him and headed to the mercantile.
Neither young people were really watching were they were going and ended up running into each other. I watched as a shy blue-eye, seventeen-year-old girl looked up at my tall handsome Chris through her eyelashes. My Chris on the other hand was struck dumb as he looked down into dark blue eyes and drowned in them.
Blushing furiously the young woman moved out of my child’s arms and stammered an apology before rushing away with her friends.
My charge took a few steps after her, but when she paused at the end of the boardwalk to look back at him with a blinding smile, it froze him where he stood until the festive crowd swallowed her up. Once her form was got he simply shook his head and started back into the store, but I couldn’t allow that to happen after planning their meeting so I started to whisper continually in his ear about going to the festival and trying to find that blue-eyed girl. Ever the stubborn one it took me almost hour to talk him into going and finding her.
JUNE 18, 1868
Today my Chris is getting married with Buck as his best man while the town gathered to watch the two young people commit to each other for the rest of their lives. The only one who refused to come to the wedding was Sarah’s father, who took an instantly instant dislike to Chris.
There was something wrong with Sarah’s father, but I could not put my finger on it. I could only encourage the two young people to follow their hearts as they courted each other and ignore his harsh words and actions. It was well worth it to be part of their joy and happiness on this special day.
MAY 23, 1869
I sat in wonder as I watched my Chris’s son being born. He was a fighter just like his father coming into the world kicking and squirming and with a loud warrior’s cry of thanks to the Lord for his birth.
They named him Adam David Larabee, David for the brother that Chris had never given up trying to find.
MAY 11, 1872
My two charges were lost in sorrow and rage at having Sarah and Adam ripped from their lives, and I hoped that the years spent as best friends would help them both fight the pull of the evil that was encircling them in its web.
Sarah and Adam along with myself tried to comfort the two men who stood by their graves. Chris had withdrawn from the world, lost in his pain and despair, unknowing that Buck was feeling the same. But my little Buck thought with his heart and stood by Chris as he sunk into the pain and suffering of losing the two most important people in the world.
How could I tell them both that Ella Gaines had hired men to kill Chris' family to finally claim her Dark King?
How could I tell them that the Devil's web of evil was encircling both men, to claim them both as his warriors?
I couldn't...but I would do everything in my power to prevent the Devil from winning. Even if I had to fight him face to face for my babes.
SEPTEMBER 15, 1875
When the lord asked me to gather all my changes and send them to Four Corners, I felt that with the help of all my charges I could turn Chris away from the dark that he was slowing falling into. It took me three months before he turned his horse towards Four Corners, but now he has arrived.
Arrived just in time to help save Nathan from a hanging and to finally find the one person he had never stop looking for, David.
When the two brothers looked across the street at each other I could see their connection that they had as children flare back into life and then heard the best sound of all. The Devil screaming in rage that he lost all chances at my warrior child.
They are now together, my children, my babes and I can tell that their future will be a Magnificent one.
The End
