Loving River

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pter one of

e had reason to be. The sound of men talking could be heard through the wooden doors. It

e rent would be paid when the crops came in. The weather refuse

and Willow heard her daughter wh

d." River whispe

ly loud bellow was made above. Making a decision, Willow pulled away so she could see her girl

as she clung to her moth

and spoke in her no nonsense tone. "You stay in this cellar. Hide if you have to bu

sheer terror that was cloggi

cussion outside. You wait for

nd felt her ma

ar, River." Willow warn

e help my mama and my papa. Please God, save them." Over and over she repeated her sho

--

f adult voices, when a particularly sharp voice caught her att

!" Mr. Krillin bellowed

s a our d

, we on

o, woman and I a

on of gunshots. Trembling beyond b

had arrived. Her papa was not armed. Those gu

cellar door the sun would fill the hole with light. She would be found. Holding her hands out in front of herself, River cautiously walked forward. She found the shelving her papa

. Krillin announced. "I

at do you nee

d. " I have plans for her." Loud rambun

he remembered the time her mama and she had been playing hide and seek. She hid in the pickle barrel. It took mama a long time to find her and when she did she kissed River's head and told her that was the best hiding place she had come up with so far. Tha

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holsters. His father had murdered an innocent couple, and a woman at that! And he showed no regret. Of course he wouldn't. Zane knew his father had no conscience. But what would poor

tructed. "That's where the woman came f

d down the narrow wooden steps. He blinked as his vision adapted to the darkness. When he was finall

arch the place. She's probably hiding. Cryin' like a baby." He

a dusty pickle barrel standing in the corner. He casually made his way over

Beautidul dark brown eyes. Eyes exactly like her mama's

od before dropping the lid back in place. He gave

pickles. " he de

Hefty was the man who didnt pull his weight but had plenty of suggestions. H

oked around the cellar in disgust. He was sure the girl would

nner time." Hefty whined scratc

towards the door hoping the others would follow

Yer right, boy. She can't stay holed up forever."

longer. Zane hated the obsession his father had with the child. At age 13, Zane was a 'man of the world'. Life was rough with his father. He lived through more in his few short years then normal people did in their whole l

--

y. Hefty turned his head and snarled at the man when t

k of beans!" F

me!" Hefty exclaimed. "I

countered unreasonably. "Beans! Beans! Beans! Nobody eve

hear Fritz' answer. In Zane's mind there was nothing good about this miserable life he was forced to live. Forced. Who said? His

een a farmer at least I would've

ept the woman alive." Hefty grumble

uld've given him. It angered Zane to see the heartlessnes of this group. They didn't seem to care or even notice that a man and woman were

for some fish tonight." Hefty loved fish

ran toward town. He ran hard, pumping his fists and weaving around a small grove of trees. Grasshoppers flew as he tore his way through the gr

had always treated Zane kindly. She gave him the small taste of mothering that he longed for. He knew that Mrs. Christian had been friend's with River's m

s used to running but for some reason, today he couldn't catch his breath. His mind whirl

y. Are you alright, boy? Come in dear." She said wrapping

n't making any sense but he could't seem to help it. He had lived through many 'buisness dealings', as his father called them, but today was di

tell me what the trouble is. Who needs help now?" Mrs. Kate gripped h

dn't wait for it, Mrs. Kate! She's in a pickle barrel in the cellar.

"You run off now before they come looking for you." She pulled Zane into a tight hug. He wrapped his arms aro

Thanks." He said before taking

an

wards the middle aged w

ver forget it. And rememeber, the

nce and then

--

t Mr. Krillin to see her. He was a horrible man. Several tears slid down her cheeks. She knew her parents were dead. The men would've never gotten into

of the cellar hinges woke her up. She legs were throbbing with pins and needles a

wasn't thinking rationially. To her everyone seemed to be an enemy bound t

ng for River to make the first move, Mrs. Kate reached in and pulled the small girl from the cramped pickle barrel. She hugged her tightly and River melted into her soft caring embrace. Sh

-

Years

's

e stack of wanted posters on his desk. His d

ur

words. As always, thoughts of his pa brought thoughts of River. A day didn't pass that

an

Micah's g

ants

ood. "What does he want her for! He's an old man! He's alr

at he's been asking around for her. He's been

r the door. He slapped his hat o

" Micah asked with a

ing to ge

you'd say that." He gestured to bays tied to th

d turned toward her toward

rode past the livery and me

He had the scars to prove it. During the last four years, Zane had put a lot of men behind bars, he rescued many innocent folks, stopped more stage robberies then he careed to remember. But his father. His father proved to be his most formible enemy. After years of searching and tracking, Zane h

hat's th

ll'

ll

of

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