Cheyanne woke to the aroma of frying bacon. She could hear voices in the other room talking just above a whisper. A tiny whimper from the wooden box on the floor next to her bed drew her attention. Vins Christmas gift stirred in his blanket. Cheyenne moved her own blankets aside, slide out of bed and quickly scooped the little wolf pup up into her arms he squirmed and wriggled.
¡°I understand little one¡±
She set the pup down for a moment while she took the quilt from the end of her bed and wrapped it around her shoulders then picking the pup up again she made her way into the other room.
?¡°Mornin Annie¡± Josiah greeted her ¡°Breakfast is about ready¡±
?Vin stood and politely pulled a chair out from under the table for her to sit in.
?¡°He is restless I must take him outside.¡±
?¡°Here, I¡¯ll take him.¡± Vin offered as he promptly grabbed his coat from the back of his chair and put it on then gently took the pup from Cheyanne¡¯s arms.
?¡°I'll clear him a spot so he won¡¯t have to traipse threw all the snow.¡±
?Cheyenne gave the bounty hunter a thankful smile and followed him to the door. Tightening the quilt around her shoulders against the cold Cheyanne looked out toward the barn. Though the biggest part of the snowstorm seemed to be over, small flakes still fluttered lightly over the ground.
¡°Barn doors are still shut Annie, I looked out there first thing this morning.¡± Josiah smiled as he set a plate of bacon on the table. He didn¡¯t¡¯ have to look over at her to know she was worried about her horse. ¡°Come have some breakfast, Vin and I will clear a path to the barn after we eat so you can tend to Blaze.¡±
Cheyanne flashed her guardian a grateful grin before returning to her room to dress.
**
Belle sipped at the hot coffee in her cup as she peered out the window of her up stairs room down into the street below. The snow had stopped for the most part thank goodness, save for a few small flakes that slowly floated down from the roof tops with the gentle breeze. The streets were quiet although there were a few towns folk that had begun to clear the walkways in front of their shops, something she told herself that she needed to be doing as soon as she finished her coffee.It wasChristmas Eve morning and a feeling of melancholy drifted over her. She missed her father and Brother. Even Though life had not always been easy in recent years a part of her still missed the holiday festivities with her family.Mr. Sanchez had mentioned a church service this evening. From what she had heard from the towns people there had not been a service in the rundown old church in many years, and there were some who had their doubts as to Mr. Sanchez¡¯s preaching ability¡¯s. But Belle was looking forward to it.A Christmas Eve services was just what she needed to help her get over her holiday recession.
By the time Belle ready herself and made her way downstairs and out the front door to take on the daunting task of shoveling the walks in front of her store she was pleasantly surprised when she opened the door to find some kind soul had already done the job for her. Belle looked up and down the walk hoping to see who had been so thoughtful when she spied Mr. Sanchez and some of the other men a few doors down shoveling their way towards the Clarion.
¡°Good Morning. I take it I have you men to thank for clearing the walkway for me?¡±
Josiah stopped, turned, politely removed his hat and leaned on his shovel.
¡°Good Morning Miss Chandler, why it was your beautiful smile that just melted that snow plum away ma¡¯m.¡± Josiah grinned
Belle blushed. ¡°Why Thank You Mr. Sanchez, but I¡¯m more inclined to believe it was your hard work and the rest of you. Thank You, your kindness is very much appreciated.¡±
¡°Just doin our part ma¡¯m¡± Vin tipped his hat and went back to shoveling.
¡°Are you still planning on holding church services this evening Mr. Sanchez?¡±
¡°That I am Ma¡¯m will you be attending?¡±
¡°I¡¯m looking forward to it.¡± Belle smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll see you then¡±
With that Bell retreated back into the store.
Josiah let out a smitten sigh holding his hat over his heart.
Vin and JD shared an amused glance. They had seen Josiah smitten like this before. Once with Emma Dubonnet and again with Ezra¡¯s mother, neither relationship ended favorably. Of course his lust for Maude seemed to be just a crush, Emma Dubonnet however had broken his heart.They hoped this time he would fare better.
**
Cheyanne watched as her little pup frolicked in the hay.Blaze paid the young wolf no mind as Cheyanne continued to smooth the brush through his mane. The black and white paint had come through the storm unscathed thanks to the barn doors holding shut. Cheyanne had spent much of the day caring for him and letting the little pup play in the barn. But it was going on late afternoon and it was time she went in, she wanted to help Josiah ready the church for services tonight.
Setting the brush down Cheyanne shut the stall door and latched it. She picked up her wolf pup and brushed the hay off of him before she went inside.
The church was warm and a fire crackled in the fireplace. Josiah stood at the pulpit practicing his sermon. Cheyanne stealthily closed the door behind her as she entered then carefully, so as not to disturb him, made her way to one of the pews and sat down her little wolf curled up at her feet.
It had been a very long time since she had heard Josiah preach, she was just a child the last time she¡¯d watched him practice a sermon, it was not long after she and her father had met Josiah that she first heard him practicing in the woods¡Cheyanne¡¯s memory drifted back to a time when she was just a little girl. /A young Josiah stood under a large tree bible in hand shouting out as if he were driving out evil spirits from the trees./
/He stopped when he noticed her peering at him from behind one of the pine trees./
/¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. Come here little Annie, I¡¯m not angry¡±/
/¡°You shout to much.¡± She scolded coming out from behind her hiding spot./
/Josiah let out a big chuckle. ¡°I suppose I do, that¡¯s so all those sinners will hear my words and head the almighty word of God.¡±/
/The little girl looked at him quizzically and still speaking in her father¡¯s French language innocently asked. ¡°what is a sinner?¡±/
/Josiah crouched down in front of the little girl /
/¡°Well that little Annie is some one who goes against God¡¯s words.¡±/
/¡°I do not know your God, am I a sinner?¡±/
/Josiah sat on the ground ¡°Come her Annie¡± /
/The little girl made her way over to her fathers friend and he set her on his lap./
/¡°Of corse you are not a sinner Annie, just because you don¡¯t know God as I do does not mean you are a sinner, you know him as the creator, you worship him in your own way. The way Blue Leaf and your father have taught you. God is all things, he is the creator, he is Jehovah, he is Yahweh, he is everywhere and all things. He is love. Sinners are bad men, men who steal from others, men who kill. Those are real sinners.¡±/
/Like the men who killed John Henry and stole his furs Are they sinners?¡±/
/¡°Yes darlin, those men are sinners, very bad sinners. Now here, you are much to young to worry about bad men and sinners, look over there.¡±/
/The little girl turned to see her pet baby racoon sitting next to an old stump staring at them./
/¡°I think troublemaker over there wants you to come and play¡±/
/¡°His name is not Troublemaker; it is only Papa that calls him that. His name is Ayashe it means little friend.¡±/
/Josiah chuckled. ¡°well go on then and play with Ayashe, but don¡¯t stray to far, your father will be looking for you.¡±/
//
Josiah¡¯s anxious voice pulled Cheyanne from her memories.
¡°Well what do you think Annie?¡±
¡°Very good¡±
Josiah paced
¡°I¡¯m not so sure, maybe I should call it off, I haven¡¯t done any preachin since, well, since you were a little girl. I got no business trying to be a preacher, hell I only believe about half a what I preach anyways.¡±
Cheyanne stood and went of over to her guardian putting a soft hand on his arm.
¡°There are many ways to worship the creator, you and my father have taught me this. You will find your own way. It will be a good thing. I believe in you.¡±
Josiah reached over and smoothed her hair. ¡°Thank You Annie, listen I know you don¡¯t much like being around many people, but I was hopin maybe you would come tonight sort a be my back up and reassurance?¡±
Cheyanne smiled ¡°I will come, for you¡± She paused ¡°Just, do not shout to much, the creator can hear you.¡±
Josiah laughed and pulled her into a loving embrace ¡°I promise, no shouting.¡±
Linda Brown