A Sentinel Western
By: Denise James
Note: Please see disclaimer in part one.
Part II: Small Surprises
Happenstance, Montana 1878
James Ellison had just turned 14 and for his birthday his dad, Michael Massey, had given him a rifle, much to his wife's displeasure. Martha Massey felt that Jimmy was still much too young to handle such a deadly weapon, but after much debate, Michael finally won out.
"We picked a fine day to hunt son."
"Sure did pop." Jim grinned, proudly carrying his gift.
"Let's find a place to set up camp and then we'll scout out a place to hunt." The older man grinned, gently ruffling his son's wild brown hair, thinking that they would have to visit the barber on their next trip to town.
As they walked through the woods, Jim spotted deer droppings and some rubbings. "Pop! Would you look at the deer signs? I think this would be a great place to hunt."
"I think you're right." Michael was proud of Jimmy. With a keen eye and a good head on his shoulders the young man was sure to make a fine man someday.
Martha had packed lots of goodies in one of the old burlap bags that Jimmy had carried. She insisted that just because they were hunting didn't mean they had to go without and for and extra treat she had added some of Jim's birthday cake to the provisions.
After the camp was set up, Jimmy went through the old bag and quickly put together a meal any hunter would die for. There was mostly silence, as they ate, except for the sound of metal utensils tapping against metal plates and the occasional croaking from the large toads down by the stream.
As both men sat by the fire, finishing off the remains of dinner, Jimmy spoke up, still nibbling on his chicken leg. "We should do this more often pop. It's fun even if we don't shoot anything."
Michael laughed. He had to agree with Jim; he enjoyed these special times together too.
"I'll check on the horses." Jim stated, as he got up and sat his plate on a rock next to Michael.
"You'll do anything to get out of doing the dishes won't you boy?"
Jim grinned. "Yep."
Jim was making sure the horses were taken care of and that they were tied up securely, when he heard a strange sound coming from the woods behind him. At first he thought it was a bobcat or a panther, but the longer he listened, the more he thought that it sounded like a child crying.
Curiously, the young man walked towards the sound. Five minutes later he spotted the source of the strange sounds, cuddled up next to a tree and shivering from the cold night air. Jim quickly removed his jacket and covered the child. "Shhh. It's okay. Where's your momma?"
Christopher's eyes grew wide and he began to whimper softly, his bottom lip trembling from more than the cold. Jim scooped him up and took him back to the camp.
"Pop! Look!" Jim called, walking into the clearing next to the campfire.
Michael was just making his way back into the camp, carrying freshly washed plates. "What in Heavens name?"
"I found him in the woods." Jim's face was filled with concern for the child. He was scared to think of what had caused the child to be so far from home. "Pop, we're miles from anyone. How did he get out here?"
"That's a good question son. Let me see him."
Jim handed the child to Michael. Christopher was quiet now. "Are you hungry?" The baby blinked but didn't say anything, a stray tear made it's way down a dirty cheek. "He's scared to death." Then after a moment of thought, "Jimmy have you got any of that cake left?"
"Sure!" Jim started digging through the supplies and found the cake.
"I haven't seen a child yet that would turn down your mothers cake." Michael broke off a small piece and offered it to the child. The boy looked at it and then looked at Michael. "It's okay, take it." Christopher took the cake and ate it, barely taking time to chew.
"He looks like he hasn't eaten in days." Jim frowned as he picked up a cup. "I'll get him some water."
The boy took another piece of cake. "Chew it slowly," Michael advised. The boy did as he was told. Taking smaller bites and chewing.
Jim handed him a cup of water. Taking it, the little one slurped the water loudly, not taking the time to breathe. When finished, he was gasping for air, but holding the cup out to Jim, his expressive blue eyes asking for more.
"How long do you think he's been out here?" Jim asked, watching the child take another piece of cake.
"Days maybe," Michael stated thoughtfully, watching the child.
"Can we take him home? I mean, it would be great having a little brother!" Jim asked, excitedly.
"Hold on there son, he may have family. He can stay with us until his kinfolk are notified."
"And if no one comes?" His son asked, gazing fondly at the child.
"Well, I guess you'll have a brother," The older man admitted cautiously, not wanting to get the young man's hopes up.
Jim knew it was a terrible thing to wish, but he hoped that no one came for him. He missed having a little brother and even though no one could ever replace Stephen, it would still be nice to have someone to tag along after him or to fish with.
"We'll get him washed up in the morning. Right now I would say this little guy needs some rest." Michael turned concerned filled eyes back to the child, that was still in the older man's arms, as it stared into the fire and slowly rocked back and forth.
Jim flipped out his bed role and patted the blanket. The gesture caught the child's attention causing Christopher to look at him and then the bed. Confused, the baby looked at Michael.
"It's okay. It's time for bed." The kind giant coaxed.
Christopher walked to the blanket and looked expectantly at Jim. The older boy smiled before he turned the covers down and held the blanket up while the child crawled beneath it. After tucking the boy in, Jim was about to leave when Christopher grabbed the sleeve of his shirt. When Jim looked into the child's mammoth blue eyes, all he could see was fear. "Do you want me to sleep with you?"
The child nodded.
Jim smiled at Michael and his father returned the smile. 'Jimmy has really taken to this lad.' He thought to himself. He watched, as Jim gave into the little imp, by crawling beneath the covers.
Christopher rolled over and placed a small arm across Jim's chest, while using the older boy's arm for a pillow. The older boy pulled the child in closer, allowing the closeness to stir old memories. "Go to sleep baby blue. Nothing will hurt you here." Christopher snuggled closer and drifted off, feeling secure in the older boy's arms.
The next morning found the child still silent. While Michael prepared breakfast, Jim bathed Christopher in the nearby stream.
When they came back to camp, the child was all squeaky clean and wrapped in a blanket. Jim carried him in one arm and his wet clothes in the other, while looking sufficiently soaked himself. "I went ahead and washed his clothes while I was at it," then looking at himself, "...and he washed mine." He grinned, broadly, then gestured to the clothes still in his hands. "I'm afraid I didn't do as good as ma, but I got most of the dirt out." Carefully, he laid the clothes across a large, flat boulder in the sun. "Hopefully they'll dry before too long," he stated, coming back and sitting next to Christopher. "You hungry?" He asked, watching the child closely, becoming worried that the boy still hadn't spoken. Jim also noted that he had yet to see a smile grace the small angelic face.
Picking up one of the plates, the older boy spooned a small amount of eggs and a piece of bacon onto it. "It's good," Jim coaxed, while loading a fork with eggs and offering it to Christopher. The child turned his head away.
"Look."
Christopher turned and looked at the older boy.
Thankful to have the child's attention again, Jim took a bite, then rubbed his stomach and smiled. Once again he offered the child another bite. This time Christopher accepted much to Jim's delight.
"That's it." Jim beamed, giving the plate to the child and watching as he ate.
Christopher picked up the bacon and offered it to Jim. Jim took a small bite and gave it back and for the first time, Christopher smiled and then took a bite himself.
Jim and Christopher did the dishes while Michael packed things up. "Sorry about the hunting trip being cut short Jimmy," the older man called over his shoulder.
"It's okay pop. I think this is more important." Jimmy looked down at his young charge, who was trying to tuck the corner of the blanket back beneath his arm to keep it from falling off. "Isn't that right baby blue?"
Christopher giggled, causing his blue eyes to dance with merriment, before splashing the older boy with water.
After packing the dishes away, Jim went over to check on the clothes. Aided by a combination of the sun beating down on the rock and a nice spring like breeze, they were just about dry. Jim flicked them a few times to shake out some of the wrinkles and to rid them of the ants that had ventured upon them. "They're still damp..." he began, studing the clothes closely, as he walked back into camp, "...but I think they'll do." Sitting down, he patted the ground and motioned to Christopher. "Come here."
The curly haired child looked at the clothes and shook his head. He liked the feeling of just being wrapped up in the blanket, it being so soft and cozy against his skin.
"You can't stay wrapped up like a papoose all day," Jim teased.
Chris took a step away from Jim, still shaking his head, causing chestnut curls to slap his own face.
"You wanna play huh?" Jim growled playfully, while getting up and starting towards Chris.
The babies eyes grew incredibly wide, as he realized what was happening. With a quick turn, miraculously not tripping over the dragging blanket, Chris ran from the older boy.
Michael leaned back against one of the many old trees surrounding the campsite and watched the show. After a moment of running, the blanket fell off, allowing Chris to streak around the camp naked. Michael was laughing so hard at the sight that his sides were hurting and tears were beginning to flow down the six foot six man's face. For a short time, that morning, the surrounding woods were filled with the sounds of laughter and delightful squeals.
Little did anyone know that it would be the last time they would feel like laughing for sometime to come.
To Be Continued.