STORY THREE - LOOSE REINS
By Molly M. Moon
Posted: 8/8/99
See disclaimer on Home Page
Darby Cole sat tall and proud as they entered the main street of Happenstance. He looked up at the stoic man holding the reins of the buckboard and, as though meeting some standard only Darby knew, the young man smiled. He remembered a short time ago, not more than 12 weeks when he had admired a similar scene as Jim Ellison rode into town with his young friend, Blair Sandburg. Darby remembered the envy he had felt at the scene. Now he had his own blessed protector. It's funny, Darby thought, just like Sophie and ma always said: you never know why things happen and sometimes they happen for a reason. He sure had no major complaints about his good fortune.
True, the man next to him didn't exactly smile a lot. His sense of humor, what there was of it, was sorely lacking on the "glinty side" as his ma often said. Practical jokes and horsing around were not things you did around Wolf, but all in all the man had changed Darby's life for the better. If it weren't for Wolf, Darby would be sitting right now in Laramie Prison, or more to the truth probably doing hard labor out in the yard or suffering the consequences of close proximity to cruel and hardened men. If he had made his escape successful, as he had hoped so passionately that day he clobbered Simon Banks---even then---he would have been starving and shivering in the depths of his little cave.
Now he had bountiful food supplies, a warm bed, clean linen, brand new clothes, and a man who put limits on his young life. Darby wasn't all that fond of the limits, but for the most part, Wolf was a pretty tolerant man. Just two days ago, Darby had been certain he would be face down over the ex-Marshal's knee---well, he probably shouldn't have put the.....
"Wolf!" Darby yelled out the front door, "Supper's ready."
Darby saw the tall man coming out of the barn, pushing the brim of his black hat back on his head, wiping the sweat from his forehead with his kerchief. Darby had been all bounce and piss and vinegar since Wolf agreed that they delay their last ride for supplies into Happenstance. Blair and Jim had announced that a Harvest Dance was planned for the third week in November, and Darby couldn't contain his eager self half the time since finding out they were going. He wanted to reach the somber man, who had come right out and admitted he needed Darby and enjoyed having him around. Darby always played jokes on people he liked. The women in the saloon knew Darby right well as a crafty charmer who often had them in stitches with his pranks on them as well as the bar patrons. Surely a little lightness on this dreary afternoon wouldn't hurt his relationship with the man any.
"I'm right hungry, Darby, and I must admit I could smell that stew out in the barn. Even the horses were getting pulled into the promise of the aroma." Wolf put his hat on the peg by the door and walked over to the water pump. He started washing up for the afternoon meal. When he reached for the bar of soap, his hand grabbed the similar shaped object. Before realizing what he had done, Wolf had his face smeared with lard and rice. The gooey, thick substance pocked his face in lumps. He tried to wash it off, but it merely smeared the more.
Darby cackled in the far corner of the cabin, within close proximity to the door, should the need arise. Wolf never said a word. He grabbed the towel and began a slow removal process, slowly scrubbing the thick grease from his face and hands.
"If you could see your face, Wolf," Darby ventured, nervously dancing by the door. "You look like a bowl of rice pudding, with two flies stuck in it," Darby said referring to the two bright, blue eyes that peered at him within the folds of the globby mess.
Then reason got the best of him as he noticed no white teeth could be seen on the visage. "I just thought you needed a little cheering, that's all."
Wolf turned back to the water pump and this time he found the bar of soap tucked behind the pump. He started washing his hands and face as he began a slow, inexorable count to lower his temper. He's a kid, he's been cooped up out here for weeks, and he just wanted to play a joke. Tarnation! It's practical jokes that got the kid in trouble the first time I saw him. I thought I cured him of this particular penchant.
"How about some of that stew now that you've had your fun." Wolf sat down still holding the towel, calling Darby forth from his secure area and into the line of action.
"Oh, yeah, right."
Darby cautiously came forward and picked up Wolf's plate. He turned to the stove and piled Wolf's plate high with the deliciously aromatic stew. As he placed the full plate before the dour-faced man, he felt his wrist casually grasped. Darby froze, bracing himself for the retaliation. Steel blue eyes looked up into the black pearls that still glistened with the afterglow of humorous tears.
"I hope you got it all out of your system, boy. When we get to Happenstance, I don't expect to hear one word from anyone about any of your shenanigans, do you understand me?"
"Don't you have a sense of humor at all?
"Oh, I have a sense of humor all right, I just don't think endangering people's lives to keep you in high spirits is all that funny." Wolf pinned him forcefully with his gaze. He slowly released Darby's wrist.
When Darby turned back to the stove to fill his own plate, he heard a slow edict, "Best see it stays quiet in Happenstance, son."
Now Darby remembered the warning all too well, but he was not going to allow Wolf's stubborn reticence and sour disposition to spoil the fun he was looking forward to these past two weeks. He planned on making his stay in Happenstance a real hoot. Heck, he thought, man, he even has me thinking while watching my language...HELL! Darby corrected his own thoughts, If I have to serve my year with him, this might be my last chance for a little fun. It's going to be mighty lonely and boring up there with him all winter.
As they made their way down the main street of the small town, Darby saw the brothers come out of the general store with their Pa. Joshua and Jeremy stood stock-still and gaped openly at the boy who tried to ride off on their Pa's prize stallion. Barney Cassidy had agreed with Simon Banks and Judge Green that the boy didn't need to go to Laramie prison, and he had tanned both their hides out in the woodshed when they had tried their own brand of vigilante justice on Darby. They, however, still did not forgive the prankster. Darby had made them look like fools one time too often before he even took the darn horse.
Now they watched as he sat puffed up and proud next the ex-lawman. Acting for all the world like a law-abiding citizen entitled to the same rights they had, made them both clench their fists by their sides and exchange knowing glances.
From his perch on high, moving slowly through town, Darby saw the beginnings of his trouble stirring the pot already and he hadn't even set foot down yet off the wagon. Being Darby, being a boy who never backed down and never showed fear...well, not to anyone save Wolf----Darby cheekily waved a right fine hello---"I'm back" kind of wave. The boys' faces reddened all the more. Barney Cassidy caught the looks on his boys' faces and immediately turned to them. Darby couldn't make out the words from this distance, but the expressions on both boys' faces mirrored a "good talking" to. He smiled happily to himself, righted himself as he straightened to face forward and by chance turned slightly to look into the direct gaze of Wolf Stoddard.
"You're pleased with yourself, are you?" The question was said silkily, almost like a caress and Darby gulped from the pure threat that gilded the edges.
"No, sir, I didn't do nothin,” Darby said, acting confused and unaware. "I got nothin to be pleased about." At that moment an altar boy would have been hard pressed to look more innocent and charming.
"That's right, boy, you don't. I hope you remember the talk we had before we left, cause I'm more than willing to give you a good reminder in front of Miss Cassie, the Cassidy boys, and the whole of Happenstance if necessary. But...and it's a big BUTT, little mite, I'll be talking to that will have your own, right friendly with the whole town. You deal the cards, boy, and I'm willing to play my hand."
Darby knew full well the play on words "but" and "hand" were Wolf's own personal brand of humor, but he didn't see anything funny about the warning look Wolf threw his way.
As Wolf pulled the buckboard into the stable yard, he turned to Darby.
“We’ll board the horses and wagon here. First off, you go see Judge Green, like you're supposed to." Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out a 50-cent piece. "Go get yourself a bath and haircut, what's left over, spend as you see fit."
Wolf was satisfied to see a wide grin crease the young face that stared at him. Wolf didn't know if Darby was more stunned by the trust or the generosity. Moments ago the boy had a pensive, lost look, probably worried about the cost of his impudence to the Cassidy brothers. Now he looked like he could conquer worlds.
"Mind your manners. Remember 'yes, sirs,' and 'no, sirs." Tell Judge Green I'll be down to see him after I settle matters here and get us settled at the hotel. Then I'll be at the General Mercantile ordering our supplies." Wolf pulled the list out of his pocket. The paper was soft and linen-like from the constant ministrations in preparation for the trip. He and Darby had gone over the list so often, Darby already knew it by heart.
"Can you think of anything else?" Wolf asked with a frown creasing his brow as he studied the list intently.
Darby jumped down off the wagon, eager to be on his way. The dance was first and foremost in his mind. "You've worried long enough about it, don't you think? Once we get chickens, a milk cow, and more laudanum," Darby lowered his head to keep the smile tugging at his mouth from being visible to Wolf, "we should be set."
Wolf took his hat off and swatted the wild locks below him. "Get moving, boy. Just stay out of trouble. Meet me at the hotel at sunset, we'll have dinner."
"Yes, sir," Darby said, cheekily showing off his 50 cent piece. "I've got things to keep me occupied."
Then before Wolf could bring any more rules and edicts to mind, he was off with a skip towards the center of town.
"Yes, sir," I understand. Darby squirmed in his chair, eager to be off on his adventures. He had people he wanted to see, gossip to catch up on, and preparations for the dance in two days. Here it was Friday, the dance was scheduled for Sunday afternoon. He had heard there would be a feast of food, several musicians had volunteered their services, and all the folks in town and about were planning on attending. The only crimp in the affair was it was being held in Mr. Brady's barn, just on the outskirts of town. Darby was none too sure he would be received warmly if Mr. Brady remembered his hand in the saddle prank.
"Darby, are you listening to me, boy?" Judge Green was trying to determine the emotional and intellectual state of the young ward's mind. By his best judgment, the boy seemed to be a totally different person from the one who swore like a sailor at him when he passed sentence of one year’s time in Laramie. He knew if anyone could straighten the defiant little miscreant out, it would be Wolf, but whether the relationship was working was still dependent upon what ex-Marshal Wolf Stoddard had to say about the arrangement.
When Darby raised a confused and worried face up from the study he was doing of his hands, Judge Green knew the boy was preoccupied.
"I asked you, are you happy staying with Wolf? Does he treat you fairly?"
"Yes, sir. I guess he does. I never had a man.... I mean, I was always with my Ma and the ladies. They were a lot different than Wolf, that's for sure, but he can be an old Mother Hen at times." Darby smiled at the image this one brought to mind. He saw the tall lawman walking around clucking as he squatted in the barnyard.
"Do you think you're learning to be a law abiding citizen?"
Hell and be damned, Darby thought, what is this...a revival meeting?
"Yes, sir, Wolf keeps me in line. My only complaint would be the whippings he gives me, sir." Darby lowered his head, as though the mere thought of the punishments made him cower and cringe.
"You mean he whips you?"
"Yes, sir, with a bullwhip he keeps in the barn." Darby decided that Judge Green, the man who Wolf said would never send a boy under eighteen to Laramie, might have second thoughts about keeping Darby with Wolf for the winter. Darby was hoping against all hope that maybe he could get off, maybe be transferred into the care of Miss Cassie or someone a little easier to manipulate.
"You know, I owe you an apology. The last time we talked I wasn't exactly honest with you. I just turned seventeen, sir, just a few weeks ago. I lied to you about being twenty-two. I should have been honest with you, Judge Green, sir, but I thought I was a man and I could take care of myself, but I was wrong. I just hope Wolf don't think he needs to whip me regularly. I try to obey him, sir, I really do, but he has strange and strict rules." Darby still kept looking down in his lap, but glanced up occasionally to see the effect his words were having on the elderly man.
"Well," Judge Green cleared his throat, as though totally affected by the speech. "Why don't you stand up Darby and take your shirt off. I need to see these lashes he's inflicted on you."
Darby lifted his head sharply, a bump in the road he didn't see coming, hell, more to the fact, a dead end, a cliff hangar, and a dead fall right into the void.
"Uh, actually, no, sir. He's mighty careful about scarring. He knows how to whip you without leaving any scars."
Judge Green turned his chair around with a slight swivel and faced the picture above his back credenza. He needed to control the grin that was forcing itself upon his features. He needed to be a strong law enforcer here. There was nothing cute or charming about a little liar, but gosh, darn it, the kid was quite the scamp.
"Oh, I see. Well, I'll need to talk to Wolf."
"OH! NO! Please, sir, don't mention to him that I told you. He'll be mighty angry and take his frustration out on me with his whip. Please, sir. I thought you should know in case it mattered to you, what with the whip and me being only seventeen. Just thought you should know, but I'd be mighty grateful if you would keep this between you and me."
"Darby, I'm here to see that you get set back on the straight and narrow. Cruel and unusual punishment is not my idea of sparing you time in Laramie. I'll need to look into this. But I'm glad you confided in me, boy. It will go in your favor when I make my final decision about whether this arrangement is working or not."
Darby thought this over in his quick mind. True, if Wolf found out about the lie he would be angry, but if it did in fact work in his favor, maybe there wouldn't be a hell of a lot Wolf could do about it. Maybe Darby Cole wouldn't have to spend the winter out at the dreary ranch...the ranch several hours ago he was happy to call home...maybe now he could be released from his probation and be off on his quest.
Part 2 of Story Three