They met at the stables nearest the southern end of Longstown just before sunrise, Crawley had procured two animals for them along with enough supplies for one day. including two hand guns complete with 12 rounds of repacked ammunition each. Although Joplin was only a four-mile ride, and it wouldn’t take them long to reach it, Crawley wanted to play it safe. He handed a revolver to Mars as they were leading the two animals from the stables.
“We only have twelve rounds apiece, so use them sparingly.” He told Mars.
They both mounted their horses and headed south down Stackmill road, the moon was still out enough for them to tell that there would be plenty of ground fog to help keep them hidden from anyone who may have been watching for intruders from the woods. To Mars, though- if they only had seven men with them, it would make more sense to keep them as close to the wagon as possible for protection. Providing, too, that they would even still be at the old Joplin Settlement where Crawley had sent them. True to prediction, they never even saw the sun come up as the light slowly seeped through the thick fog along Stackmill Road as they drew nearer to where the trail led off into the woods. Crawley cautioned him that the fork heading east would be coming up soon, and then it would be about a mile and another half back into the woods until they reached Joplin.
There were only two trails going in and out of the settlement on that side of the river, and Crawly suggested that they only rode the horses so far back in and then went the rest of the way on foot. Mars agreed, but was starting to get anxious about finding Chi’s mother. They walked about three quarters of a mile back into where Joplin sat by the Sturgess and sure enough there was the skinhead wagon right out in plain view. Crawley and Mars both patiently watched and waited, looking for just the right approach. But it wasn’t until they saw the mistake in their math that they decided to split up where each one would hit them at opposite ends. There wasn’t seven men to contend with, there were eleven. He noticed that two were near the woods, so Mars crept along until in just the right position to make a small noise tempting them towards the trees. He took the first near the under brush, covering his mouth with one hand while burying his knife deep into his throat with the other. One down and ten to go, and when the second came searching clumsily for the first-he was met with much the same fate. Crawley at the other end was having similar luck, showing that he was equally adept at stealth as was Mars, and when another skinhead unaware blundered into his path Crawley covered his mouth and quietly snapped his neck like a twig. Quickly, the odds were becoming more even. Three down-eight to go.
Mars quietly inched his way closer to the back of the wagon when he began to hear splashing in the water, followed by muffled sounds of laughter. There were three in the river splashing around naked in the water, cowering near the shore half naked and soaking wet was the little oriental woman. He looked to the other end of the wagon, and Crawley was already within striking distance. He held up the pistol and pointed to the river, and Crawley nodded silently as he crawled under the wagon's front axle and watched for the rest of the gang to show itself. Once he was settled in, Mars rose to his feet and calmly walked to the edge of the water and opened fire on the three unsuspecting skinheads, all three took direct hits. Two more barreled out from the mouth of the wagon where Crawley was waiting for them, Mars loaded three more bullets into the revolver and turned back towards the wagon looking for more.
“That’s only five. Plus the three in the trees, that makes eight, I counted eleven before. Where are the other three?” He asked Crawley.
He kept the gun up and out in front of him ready to fire, cautiously looking around the encampment.
“I dunno, maybe in the woods looking for food and fire wood.” Crawley said.
Mars, looking around-silently nodded in agreement. He took two steps forward as the first came rushing towards him with club in hand, Mars quickly raised the pistol and fired, striking him in the skull, he stumbled forward and fell just three feet from Crawley. He turned to the little oriental woman shivering at the water's edge. He turned and motioned for Crawly to check the wagon for a blanket to warm her with, and there cowering in the back of the wagon they found the other two skinheads. Crawly urged them down from the wagon at gunpoint and forced them to the ground. He reached in the back and pulled out a blanket and threw it to Mars.
“So you fellers like kidnapping and thievery, do you?” He looked at Mars and then back at the two men. “So, what did you do with the stuff that you stole from Longstown?”
Mars walked to the edge of the water and held the warm blanket open for her, which she cautiously accepted.
“It’s ok, you're safe now. I came here to get you for a friend, she’s waiting for you back at Longstown.” He said.
She tried to smile, but could only manage a blank stare.
“They are all-dead?” She asked.
He turned to look at them, and then her.
“Mostly-those two cowards over there are probably going back to Longstown to be punished.” He told her.
They tied the prisoners up separately until Mars went into the woods and brought both of their animals down to the river. The horses that had been pulling the skinhead wagon were still in their harness so they both agreed that Crawley and Chi’s mother would ride up in the wagon, the two prisoners would remain tied and forced to walk behind the wagon where Mars would trail behind with their two animals to keep an eye on them until they all reached Longstown. The trail leading out was rocky in places, but they managed to reach Stackmill Road before eleven o’clock in the morning, which meant they would be in Longstown well before sundown.
They stopped twice along the Nil Creek that ran beside of Stackmill twice to get water, and just when Crawley had thought that the tired undernourished animals pulling the wagon weren’t going to get much farther without food and rest-they rounded the final bend and Longstown came into view. Mars followed close behind as the wagon pulled to a final stop in front of the constable’s office, Four men came from the building and took the two prisoners into custody. Crawley tended to the tired animals, and Mars carefully helped Chi’s mother up onto the horse before climbing up in the saddle behind her.
“We’ll need to be finding a doctor to check her over before we reunite her with her daughter.” Mars told Crawley.
“Large gray two-story brick building at the end of the street, Doc Langford should be there.” Crawley answered.
He dropped her off at the doctor's office and rode back down to Alice’s to retrieve Chi, who as it turned out was already sitting on the porch with Alice. When they saw Mars coming down the street, they both stood abruptly, Chi’s young eyes lit up with anticipation. He pulled rein on the horse right in front of the porch and slowly leaned forward, looking down at Chi.
“Young miss. Have you ever ridden a horse before?” He asked.
She hastily shook her head no.
“Well, C’mon then, this will be your first time. Someone is waiting for you at the doctor's office.” He smiled.
Alice helped her up into the saddle. And he turned the animal around and headed back down the street. He pulled rein just in front of the doctor's office and told Chi to hang onto the saddle horn until he reached the ground and could get her down safely. He led her into the doctor's office and once inside the door she tore loose from his grip and bolted towards her mother. The two-from that point on, were inseparable. Chi’s mother's eyes swelled with tears as she looked up at Mars. He nodded and turned to the door where Crawley was waiting outside.
“You know you could stay on here, we could use your help.” He said.
Mars shook his head.
“What about them?” He motioned towards Chi and her mother.
“Alice is already making a spot for them.” He answered.
“I best be on my way in the morning then.”
As he walked back to Alice’s he could almost feel the voice roll across the back of his neck like a cold breeze. He turned towards it, and he saw her standing there, he looked up and down the empty street but knew, as he watched Crawley walk back into the doctor's office, that no one else could see her. No one ever did. He turned to face her.
“I’m not good with goodbye’s I should probably be heading east tomorrow.” He told her.
“And what of the child?”
“She has her mother now, that’s all every child needs is their mother.” He answered.
But as with everything in Mars Michaels life, it wasn’t that easy, and when he stepped out onto the front porch of Alice’s at dawn the next morning, he found Chi standing there waiting for him.
“I know that you’re going to leave now, because you have to.” She said.
He knelt down in front of her.
“I didn’t want to disturb you, Chi, I mean with goodbye.” He answered.
“I wasn’t waiting to say goodbye, I wanted to say thank you for helping me and my mother. We won’t forget about you.” Chi said.
“Could you do me a favor, little one?”
Her eyes widened a bit and she nodded yes.
“If you could take out that little flute of yours-you know, just every once in awhile, and just find a breeze to stand in and play it, and no matter where I am- I’ll hear it, and I’ll know that you are safe. Will you do that for me?” He asked.
She smiled and opened the door and watched as he walked down the street and slowly faded into the rising dawn. She went inside and softly closed the door behind her.
~FIN~
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