Deepest appreciation to BCW for her beta reading, and support of my writing. You are true blue, mi querida amiga.

This is a little piece that Little Bit was ready to talk about, so I wrote it out for him.

You may need a tissue.

Keepsake
by Klair

Mid-July, 1874

****

Blair sat on the bouncing seat of the buckboard while his father steered them back toward home. Fingering his mother's locket through his shirt, he stared off at the countryside sliding passed their rig, remembering the first time he'd seen it...

"Sweetie, have you ever seen a bluer sky?"

He looked up at the vast blueness above them.

"Why'd we get off the train, Mama? We gonna stay here?" he asked hopefully.

"No, baby. I wanted to see the countryside. Can't do that from a train. It all passes by so fast. We'll go across country to Fort Bridger and get the train from there."

He went back to watching the golden hills around them when he heard a rumbling noise and saw movement out of the corner of his eye. "Oh! Look, Mama! Horses!"

A herd of horses came galloping over a ridge, tails high and sassy in the air, the sight took Blair's breath away. When Mama stopped the wagon, so they could get a better look, Blair jumped down and scrambled up a tall boulder to get closer. He closed his eyes, trying to feel the power and energy of the running animals. Noise from behind him drew his attention back to the wagon in time to see it take off, Mama trying to stop the panicked wagon horses. The out-of-control wagon disappeared around a rise and Blair jumped down from his perch to run after it.

His legs ached and his chest felt tight when he finally caught sight of their rented wagon overturned by a small stream. He didn't see Mama until he came round the other side. She lay several yards away, very still.

"Mama? Wake up. We have to fix the wagon." He shook her shoulder and was rewarded with a groan. He ran to the little creek for some water. Carefully cupping his hands to hold the cool liquid, he walked as quickly as he could back to his mother. Only a small handful remained when he reached her side. He let a little trickle into her mouth and sprinkled the rest over her face.

So intent he'd been on tending his mother, he didn't hear the rider approach until the big, imposing, man knelt down across from him and leaned over his mother’s still form.

Rough stubble from a shadowy beard covered the man's chin and cheeks. His eyes were a piercing blue, and full of concern. Blair watched the man remove the heavy leather gloves from his hands before tilting his mother's face towards him.

That's when Mama woke up.

"Blair?..."

"I'm here, Mama. You gotta get up."

"In a minute, sweetie. Why don't you go down to the creek and get me a little water?"

"But, Mam--"

"Do as you're told, boy." The stranger ordered brusquely.

Blair grudgingly did so, cursing the bossy stranger under his breath. He better not hurt his mama or there'd be hell to pay.

When he arrived back with his puny handful of water, the man looked up, jaw clenched so tight, Blair thought he'd pop his jaw off. The water trickled from his fingers into the dirt.

"Mama?"

"Blair..." Her voice sounded so weak. It scared him. Mama's voice always bubbled with excitement and happiness, at least when she talked to him. He resumed his spot by her head.

"Sweetie, this is Mr. Jim Ellison. He's going to help us. I want you to do everything he tells you."

"But, Mama, we don--"

"Promise me, Blair, you'll be a good boy for him."

"I promise, Mama."

"I love you, baby...Do me a favor, sweetie,...and get my shawl from the wagon."

Blair went quickly to do as his mother bid. He didn't like the way Mama was acting. Not one little bit. When he returned, Mr. Ellison still knelt by his mother, but now his head was bowed.

Mama looked asleep, her eyes shut, her features calm.

"Mama, wake up. I brought your shawl."

"Boy,” the rancher began a little roughly. The man paused briefly before continuing more tenderly, "Blair, I'm sorry, child. She's gone."

"Gone?" This man was crazy. "No she's not. She's right there."

"She's dead, son. Let me have the shawl so I can cover her." The soft fabric moved through his hands as Mr. Ellison took the colorful cloth to cover his mother.

He sat under a shady tree next to the creek, trying to ignore the sound of Mr. Ellison digging on the other side. After awhile, Mr. Ellison called for him. Blair didn't want to come, but he remembered the promise he'd made Mama, so dragging his feet, he went. The somber man stood next to a fresh mound of dirt. Blair didn't want to think what was under it. Mr. Ellison said some words that Blair didn't listen to. A hand squeezing his shoulder brought him out of the void he'd put himself in.

"Blair, we need to go now. We can come back any time you want. The next trip to town, I'll buy a marker."

After hearing they were leaving his mother, Blair stopped listening. "Go where?"

"You're coming home with me. To my ranch. It's about four hours away. We better get a move on so we get there before dark."

"But, Mama and me were going to San Francisco! I want to see the ocean." He didn't care if he ever even saw a picture of the ocean. He wanted Mama. Now.

"I'm sorry, child. That's not going to happen. Help me get what we can from the wagon. I'll round up the wagon horses so we can use them as pack animals."

When Blair didn't move, the tall man turned him firmly towards the wagon. With Mr. Ellison's big hand resting in the middle of his back, Blair was coaxed to do as he was told. Almost half and hour later they were ready to ride.

"Up you go, boy." Effortlessly, Blair was lifted from the ground and plopped in the saddle astride a huge black horse. The rancher swung up behind him, reaching around his shoulders to grab the reins.

"Mr. Ellison, what's his name?" Blair asked as he stroked the horses
neck.

"It's Sentry...and you can call me, Jim."

Blair made no reply. He continued to pet the great horse until he felt drowsy. The next thing he knew, he woke in a warm bed in a small, tidy cabin...

And now they were returning to that little cabin. His home. The first real one he'd ever had. Blair knew that no matter where he went in the world after he grew up, he could always come back here.

He looked up at the man sitting next to him on the wagon seat, who gave him a wide smile in return. A strong arm anchored around his shoulders for a quick hug and he felt a kiss delivered to the top of his head.

"You okay, Little Bit?"

Blair let go of the locket, and leaned into his father's side. "Yes, Papa. I'm just fine."

The end
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