"Something big comin'," Vin Tanner drawled out calmly as he looked towards the road that led east with his spyglass.
"What is it?" Chris said, getting immediately to his feet and standing next to the Texan.
"Looks like a wagon train, but it ain't," Vin said slowly. He peered closely through his spyglass. A faint memory stirred in his mind as he watched the brightly painted wagons and carts come closer. A small smile spread across his face. "Shoot. It's a traveling show."
"A what?" JD asked.
"Like a circus. You know, got acrobats and fancy trick riders. Saw one a long time ago in Texas," Vin replied.
"And there coming here?" Chris frowned. He adjusted his hat. "Vin, JD, what say we ride out and meet them."
"Shoot Chris," JD said, "I don't think they're bringing trouble if it's just a show."
"No harm being careful," Chris replied. "Besides, best we let them know that there's law in town and that we'll be watching them."
The Wondrous Wynne Family Show settled on a field outside of town and set up their booths and attractions. Four Corners was buzzing with excitement as this new entertainment rolled into town. Chris had ordered the other men to keep a sharp look out for potential petty thieves. Being distracted by the sights, the show would provide a plethora of victims.
One person in particular was anxious to attend the fair.
"Can we go tonight Ma? Can we?" Billy Travis asked excitedly.
"Billy," Mary said in a sigh. The show was all he had been talking about today. "Yes, we'll go tonight."
"To the show?"
Mary and Billy looked up to see Chris Larabee standing in the doorway. Mary felt her heart beat increase as Billy bounded forward to greet his idol.
"Uh huh!" Billy nodded his head emphatically as Chris swung him up in the air as a greeting. "Momma said we can go tonight after dinner."
"Is there something wrong with that?" Mary asked when she saw Chris frown.
"No," Chris said, "Just that I like to be more certain about this group. Make sure they're not doing something against the law."
"They were at Bitter Creek last week and I haven't heard of any trouble there," Mary replied.
"I'm sure they're okay, I just like to be certain of everything. Live longer that way," he gave Mary a thin smile. If the show was a potentially dangerous area, he didn't want Mary or Billy anywhere near it.
"Well you can come with us tonight Chris and help me protect Ma," Billy said excitedly.
"Billy!" Mary scolded, surprised at her son's suggestion.
Chris's eyes twinkled in amusement and he looked down at the eager face of the little boy. He crouched down so he was at Billy's level and smiled into his face. "That's a good idea Billy. I'm sure between the two of us, we can keep your ma out of trouble."
As Billy whooped in joy, Chris looked up to see Mary frowning at him. He smiled back and was rewarded by a twitching of her lips as she tried to keep the smile off her face.
"Well in that case," Mary said, "I think we should invite Mr. Larabee to supper so he'll be strong enough to help you keep me out of trouble Billy."
"Can you stay Chris? Can you?" Billy asked.
Chris laughed lightly and stood up. He ruffled Billy's hair and looked at Mary. He was about to say no, but he suddenly wanted very much to have supper with the Travises. "Sure Billy, I can stay," he answered as he continued to look at Mary.
+ + + + + + +
They made an attractive sight as they strolled towards the nearby field where The Wondrous Wynne Family Show had set up. The man was dressed in black pants and a gray shirt. The pearl handle of his holstered gun would catch the odd light here and there glinting a message to others that this handsome man could suddenly turn very dangerous.
The woman beside him was the picture of modest beauty. Her head was crowned in silky, spun gold and her figure was beautifully set off by the lines of her deep, rose colored dress.
Before them ran a small, tow-headed boy he was eagerly drinking in the sights of the traveling show.
"Billy," Mary called out. "Stay where I can see you."
"Aww Ma!"
"You heard your momma young man," Chris said sternly.
Billy sighed and slowed down his pace. When they got to the entrance, Chris gallantly paid for their tickets.
"Chris you didn't have to do that!" Mary protested.
"It's all right Mary. You cooked supper tonight," Chris waved aside her objections.
"It was very kind of you to come with us," Mary said quietly.
"Well, I was going to come anyway to keep an eye on things," Chris said as he began to look around.
"Oh." Mary felt oddly deflated. "Well, don't let Billy and me keep you from anything," she added cheerfully. "If you need to go work, we'll be fine on our own."
Chris looked down at her in surprise. "Mary, I'm not going to leave you and Billy alone here," he protested. "I can keep an eye on things just as well with you and Billy as I would alone."
That helped, but Mary didn't feel exactly flattered. She merely mumbled something and turned her attention to the attractions that were being offered.
Various strategically placed lanterns cast a lighted, but dreamy glow on the fair. The booths seemed to be more cavern like as the shadows gathered. Here and there were different games where one could test their skills.
Mary and Chris caught up with Billy at one of these game booths. The little boy watched one of the townsfolk try his shooting skills.
"Oh! That's too bad sir," lamented the booth operator as the man failed to hit his target. "Why don't you try again?"
The man shook his head and gave the operator the gun back. The fair man turned his head and saw Chris and Mary.
"Step right up sir and try your skill. Win a prize for the beautiful lady!"
Chris moved forward and stared at the gun that the man offered him. "No thanks," he said, "I've got my own." His gun appeared in his hand in a flash and the man barely had time to duck before Chris let off six shots that quickly hit six targets. He twirled his gun in his hand and dropped it back quickly into his holster. A small crowd had gathered to watch and they gave him a ragged round of applause.
The man operating the booth looked at the six shattered targets and back at Chris who motioned for him to come closer.
"Now," Chris whispered quietly so only the booth worker could hear his words, "That ain't fair loading the guns with blanks. I advise you to change that right away." He bared his teeth at the other man.
"Ye-, yes sir," the man stammered, frightened by what he saw in Chris's face. "Six targets hit, that gets you this china doll." He quickly handed Chris a large doll with a china head. It was a pretty doll with blond hair and blue eyes. It wore a violet silk dress with lots of lace on it.
"A doll?" Billy asked in disgust.
Chris grinned at the little boy and presented Mary with the doll. She looked at him in surprise. "Well, I'm not keeping it," Chris declared.
Mary laughed lightly and Chris found himself smiling at the sound. They continued their walk. Chris kept his eyes roaming the fair and noticed the other men were in attendance as well. He saw what appeared to be someone about to pickpocket the blacksmith. He started to move in that direction when Ezra's scarlet coat came out of nowhere and neatly collared the perpetrator. Josiah appeared form another direction to help the southerner, so Chris remained by Mary's side.
He looked down at his companion and smiled when he saw the doll nestled in her arms. The doll bore a vague resemblance to her and he thought how natural she looked with a child in her arms.
"Chris? Is something wrong?" Mary asked hesitantly when she found Chris staring at her.
Chris came out of his fog and looked into Mary's eyes. Eyes that seemed to shift from a light gray-blue to a hazelish-green depending on the light. But they were always clear. "No," he said. "Just admiring the doll."
Mary smiled as she looked down at the toy. "It is pretty. Like a little girl." Her face clouded over as she seemed to be lost in some memory.
"Mary?" Chris called quietly. "Are you okay?"
Mary shook herself and looked back at him, seeing the concern in his eyes. She smiled an uncertain smile. "I'm fine. Just remembering." She didn't elaborate further and Chris didn't push, but he regarded her thoughtfully.
Billy's excited shout made them quicken their pace. They arrived beside the little boy as he stood in front of the strong man test. He gazed up the long pole that had a bell attached to the top. Some of the younger, brasher men were attempting to impress the ladies around them by showing off their strength. They were failing miserably, the best result only reaching the "Merchant Man" line on the scale.
"Chris can hit that bell," Billy declared loudly.
Several of the men who failed to succeed glared at the gunslinger. The women gathered around turned admiring eyes towards Chris.
"Billy," Mary admonished.
"Why don't you try Larabee? ‘Fraid to?" taunted one man.
The young ladies began to twitter among themselves as they waited eagerly to see what the handsome gunslinger would do. Chris merely shrugged and handed his hat to Billy to hold. He looked at Mary.
"Can't let a challenge go," he explained to her. He took the mallet from the fair operator and looked at the target he needed to hit. He adjusted his grip on the handle and then with one fluid motion raised up the mallet and brought it down with a mighty blow.
A loud clang could be heard above them as the bell was struck. The women and some of the men applauded him as Chris handed the mallet back to the operator. He in turn gave Chris a pocket knife for his efforts. The gunslinger promptly handed it to Billy and took his hat from the young boy.
The little boy merely stared at the new gift with wondrous eyes until his mother gently recalled to him his manners.
"Thank you Chris!" Billy looked up at the man with adoring eyes.
Chris laughed, something he often did with the child and ruffled the boy's hair. He was oblivious to the admiring stares of the young ladies gathered around. He looked up and saw Mary's smiling face and smiled back at her. He gathered the Travises to him and they continued on with their walk.
They ran into Mrs. Potter and her two children.
"Good evening Mary, Mr. Larabee," Gloria greeted them. "We were just on our way over to the magic show. Would you care to join us?"
"Oh boy!" Billy said excitedly.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw that Chris was not particularly excited about the magic show. Probably he wants to keep patrolling, Mary said to herself. "Billy, I think we should continued looking around."
"Well I can take him Mary if you and Mr. Larabee want to take in more of the fair," Gloria looked suggestively at the couple.
Mary blushed slightly and was about to say she didn't want to put her through so much trouble when Chris spoke up.
"That's real nice of you Mrs. Potter. Thank you ma'am."
Mary turned her head and looked at him in surprise. Gloria Potter quickly gathered Billy towards her and arranged a spot where they could pick Billy up later. She bustled off with the three children leaving Mary still speechless.
"I hope you don't mind," Chris said. "But I'll be able to move around a bit better without Billy distracting me."
"Oh," Mary said again. "No, I don't mind." She paused for a moment. "I can occupy myself if it'll be easier for you to move about alone."
"Oh no," Chris said quickly. "I mean, you're not that distracting." He groaned inwardly realizing how bad that sounded.
"Really?" Mary said in a somewhat acid tone.
They continued walking in silence when they came to a small, brightly colored tent. Chris's attention became focused on a man a few feet down from them.
"Mary, wait for me here," he said as he hurried off to investigate what the man was doing.
Mary sighed and waited with her hands clasped loosely around the doll.
"Hey there pretty lady."
Mary turned her head and stared in the face of a clearly inebriated man. She started to take a step back when he suddenly grasped her arm.
"Dance one dance with me beautiful," he slurred out.
"Let me go," Mary said evenly.
"Now don't be mean," his other arm snaked around her.
Mary's hand shot out and she slapped him hard across the face.
"Feisty," growled the man and he began to drag her into the shadows. Mary began to struggle and scream. She was suddenly released and sent reeling backwards into a tent pole. She grabbed hold of the pole to steady herself and looked up.
Chris had one of the would-be attacker's arm twisted painfully behind the man's back. His other hand was holding the back of the drunk's neck.
"You come near her again and break your skull open," Chris whispered menacingly.
"Owww, oww, I didn't mean no harm," whimpered the man.
"Ain't the way I saw it. You so much as look in her direction or any woman and you're going to regret it."
"Need some help Chris?"
Chris looked up to see Vin standing beside him. He pushed the drunk towards the ex-bounty hunter. "Yeah. Lock this garbage up until he dries out."
Vin easily caught the man and tipped his hat. "You okay Miz Travis?"
Mary nodded mutely, still shaken by her experience. Vin walked off with his prisoner. Chris looked worriedly at Mary and hurried to her side. "He didn't hurt you did he?"
Mary was looking off to the side but she shook her head. Gently, Chris placed his hand under her chin and made her look into his eyes. He saw tears brimming in hers and his concerned increased.
"He just, reminded me so much of what happened with Wickes," Mary replied in response to his silent question.
Pain, guilt, fear and anger gripped Chris. They had never discussed the Wickes incident again after her rescue. Fortunately, Wickes hadn't done much harm to Mary. If you considered beating her so badly that she couldn't stand by herself not much harm. But Chris had been relieved to find out that Wickes had done nothing further to her. Had he, Chris wasn't certain what he would have done, but he knew he would have been the one to kill Wickes, and not Buck.
He wrapped his arm around her comfortingly. "Hey, it's okay. I'm not going to let anything happen to you." He smiled reassuringly. "This is why I didn't want you to come here alone. This type of stuff happens to beautiful women all the time." He said that last sentence without thought and almost immediately regretted it. While he did think Mary was beautiful, perhaps one of the most beautiful women he has ever seen, he knew to voice his thoughts would be to pull him further down a road that he wasn't sure he was ready for.
Mary looked at him in surprise. Did he just call me beautiful? Chris's face had shut down making his expression unreadable so she wasn't certain how to react.
"Are ye all right dearie?"
They turned to look at the speaker and saw an old woman leaning out of the tent they were standing by.
"Yes, I'm fine," Mary assured her, although she was still a little shaken.
"Come inside and sit a moment dearie," the woman invited. "It'll be good for ye."
"She's right Mary," Chris said quietly. He placed his hand on her back and gently steered her inside the tent.
The tent was dimly lit by two lamps. There was a small table that was covered in a gaily patterned scarf. Three chairs, two beside each other and one at the other end of the table were the only other objects in the tent.
"Sit," the woman ordered as she indicated the two chairs beside each other. She sat down in the other chair and looked at her two visitors. "Aye, you're a handsome pair."
Mary blushed and Chris took off his hat to hide his discomfort. He looked back up to see the woman sizing them up. He returned the favor.
She was old, probably anywhere from 50 to 60 years old. Her face had settled into a mass of wrinkles but bright black eyes still indicated sharp intelligence. Her head was covered in a purple paisley scarf where wisps of gray hair straggled out. She wore a black shawl around her shoulders and a dark gray dress. Her accent held a light Irish lit to it, but Chris wasn't certain if it was authentic or not.
"I be Madame Fiona," the woman introduced herself.
"Chris Larabee and this is Mrs. Travis."
"Ah, ye not wed to each other then? Sorry, but I thought yer were." She tilted her head to the side. "While we wait, I can tell ye your fortunes."
Chris smiled thinly as he found out what racket Madame Fiona ran. However, she had been kind to Mary, so he was willing to be lenient with her.
"Oh I don't think so," Mary demurred.
"A young pretty widow like you must wonder what's in stored for you and that boy of yours," Madame Fiona continued.
Chris and Mary stared at her. How did she know Mary was a widow and about her son? Chris dismissed it immediately figuring she had heard it from some townspeople. Afterall, Mary was very easily singled out.
"Come lass," the old woman continued. "Just a bit of fun."
Mary looked at Chris in exasperation who merely shrugged. Getting no help from him, Mary fished a coin out of her pocketbook and placed it in the old woman's outstretched palm. She had afterall been kind enough to give Mary a place to collect herself.
The woman snapped up the coin and placed it into a pocket in her dress. "Let me see your palm dearie," she ordered.
Mary held out her palm and the woman gently grasped it. She studied the lines on there for a moment.
"Ah, for one so young, ye've suffered greatly," the woman said sadly. "So horrible that your husbanded was murdered at so young an age, but even worse that the babe you carried died before it had a chance to live. The poor wee lassie."
Chris heard Mary's sharp in take of breath and looked quickly at her. From the expression on her face, he knew that Madame Fiona had hit upon the truth. No wonder she had looked at the doll so sadly, Chris thought with a pang.
"And your sister when you were eleven and she was eight. Horrible way to die, drowning and all."
Mary stared at the woman in shock. No one in town knew about her sister's death. Chris saw the look on Mary's face and turned to look at Madame Fiona in amazement.
"But I see much happiness for ye in the future lassie. The very near future. He'll be a good man who'll love ye forever and be a good father to that boy of yours. He's a strong man and honest man. The two of you will have many years together and many children. Neither of you will ever want for anything and both of ye will finally be complete."
Madame Fiona released Mary's hand and held out her hand for Chris's. "I'll do ye too young man."
"Sorry," Chris said firmly. "But I don't believe in that stuff."
"Ain't a matter of believing," cackled the old woman. "I'm just telling you what'll be. Up to you to believe me or not." She nodded towards Mary. "‘Sides, young lady paid enough for your reading too. Don't want her to be wasting her money now, would ye?"
Chris reluctantly held out his hand and the woman pounced on it. She pursed her lips and shook her head. "Ach. Tragedy here too. Much of it. The loss of your wife and child did more than take their lives. It took most of you. But it wasn't only that. Your mother's death by the fever started it all dinna it? It's what led to the fights and the wild ways.
"Done more killing than you like and for that you think you're bad. Bad also for letting your family die. But it ain't true. You're a good man. An honest one. You need to let go of the guilt. That's the only thing that bogs you down. It's not the loss of yer loved ones or missing them. It's the belief it's your fault." She peered hard into the palm and a smile crossed her face.
She looked up at the couple. "Let me see your hand again dearie," she asked Mary.
Puzzled Mary held out her hand. Still holding Chris's hand, she took Mary's with her other one and placed it next to Chris's. "These two hands are joined like your lives. Together is the only way the two of you will find the peace ye both be seeking." She looked hard at both of them. "Life is hard enough without trying to avoid fate. Don't go and ruin it all."
Mary and Chris stared at the old woman. They stood in unison and quickly made their excuses and hurried out of the tent. They stood outside the tent, staring uncomfortably at each other. Neither one knew what to say.
"Maybe I should get Ezra to take lessons from her," joked Chris.
"She was rather convincing," Mary said weakly.
Both shifted on their feet. Not only had Madame Fiona been convincing, she had been deadly accurate with her facts. She had said things about them that no one within a hundred miles knew about. Could she also be right about the future?
"I should go find Billy and go home," Mary began. "It's getting late."
Chris nodded and fell into step with her as they hurried towards the magic show. However, unlike before, he didn't put a comforting hand on her elbow. In fact, he avoided touching her.
The magic show had just ended when they found Billy and the Potters. The little boy, exhausted by the activities, offered no real protest to going home. Seeing how his steps lagged, Chris swung him up to his shoulders and carried him back to The Clarion.
Chris waited outside in The Clarion's front offices as Mary tucked Billy in for the night. He stared out of the window into the starry night sky and the full moon. His thoughts wandered back to what Madame Fiona had said.
He had often wondered why he came back to this area. It was so close to his old ranch and all the memories associated with it. Even more often, he wondered why he stayed. Perhaps he was tired of wandering around. It gets to a point where a man just can't do that any more, especially a man who likes to be settled.
But why stay in Four Corners? He had convinced himself it was the right thing to do, but before he had agreed to, Judge Travis already had six men on the payroll, more than enough to protect the town. Chris had told himself it was because he owed the men he served with a responsibility.
That was partly the reason, but as Madame Fiona's words rang in his head, he had to acknowledge that some part of him couldn't just leave Four Corners without a second thought. A part that had been reawakened by the sight of Mary Travis striding down the street to stand alone against ten men about to lynch an innocent man.
A part that made him grudgingly admire her even though he wanted to shake some sense into her when he couldn't convince her to leave Four Corners.
And a part that wanted to kill every man that so much as touched her or looked at her the wrong way. The part that cried and shivered in fear when she was taken by Wickes. The part that would die should any harm come to her.
Was it Fate that led him here to Mary?
But Sarah. How could he forget Sarah? He wondered though whether this constant torture he placed himself through was not fed by the lost of his wife and child but by his own selfish guilt? Could the old woman be right?
And if she was, would he find happiness with Mary?
He heard her light tread behind him and he turned around to look at her. The room was dark, but was lighted by the bright moonlight filtering into the room. Chris was backlit, but he could clearly see Mary. He saw her hesitate. She seemed to make up her mind and moved quietly forward towards him.
"I didn't get a chance to thank you for saving me from that man," she said quietly.
"Well," Chris mumbled. "I couldn't let him accost you." He turned to look back outside at the sky. "Truth is I don't want anyone touching you." He looked back down at her surprised face.
"Chris," Mary said slowly. "I don't understand."
Chris shook his head ruefully. "Nevermind, neither do I." He moved towards the door as if to go, but Mary stopped him.
She placed a hand on his cheek and turned his face towards hers. "Thank you," she said. Mary leaned forward and gently kissed him on his other cheek.
He felt an electric current shoot through his body and warm parts of himself he thought long dead and cold. The touch of her lips were as soft as rose petals. Mary slowly withdrew when his arms went around her and he drew her close to him. Chris bent his head down and gently pressed his mouth to hers.
They shared their first kiss in the soft moonlight as the sound of the fair echoed through the night.
The End
