Sam was unaware of how long he had been out. As he slowly came around, he could hear laughter- it was more than one person and seemed to be a male and female voice, though only the male voice seemed familiar. In his half-conscious condition, his mind hazily went over what could be going on. He vaguely remembered being in the caves, the chase by the cave buffalo, the deep cut, and finally the tall man in the darkness with him…but then…what happened? Where was he?

He opened his eyes sluggishly, and was startled to realize he was in a well-lit room. However, its stone walls suggested he was still in the Cheyenne Crossing Caves. What was going on?

“I guess I didn’t realize how good the money is in horse thieving,” the female voice remarked, with genuine surprise. It was clear she was somewhere close by.

“Like I said,” the male voice- which Sam could now recognize as his pal Flat’s- responded, “it’s really about the quality of the horse. Not every horse we bring fetches that much, but we’ve gotten better at picking out the good ones.”

Why was Flat telling this woman about their business? In a hurry, Sam pushed himself up into a sitting position. Upon doing so, a momentary dizziness rushed to his head.

“Sam!” Flat exclaimed, noting his friend’s movement. Sam could see Flat and the woman now; they were seated by a fire about eight or so feet away from him. The woman still did not seem familiar to him; her notably scarred face would have been hard to forgot, though it wasn’t unpleasant. Flat got to his feet and hurried over to his buddy.

“Howdy,” Sam said back as Flat crouched down beside him, “I see a lot has happened since I last saw you.”

“Are you feeling better?” Flat asked, though quickly shook his head, “no, you gotta be feeling better. You were in rough shape before. I was afraid you weren’t going to make it.”

“Yeah, I was…I wasn’t doing too well,” Sam agreed, glancing down to his leg, expecting to see it bandaged up good. He could not disguise his surprise when he discovered the wound both uncovered and partially healed.

Flat, knowing the reason for Sam's reaction, quickly motioned to the woman still seated by the fire. “Meriem healed you. She deserves all the credit. Well, her and Normal.”

“Normal?” repeated Sam, still looking like a deer in the headlights. He was no doctor, but cuts as deep as the one on his leg did not heal that fast, unless he had been unconscious much longer than he gathered he had been.

“The fellow who carried you here.”

Sam blinked. The tall man- his name was Normal? They hadn’t had time to exchange such information before but he would have to thank him. As he glanced about, Sam did not see Normal anywhere.

“Normal. Right, yes, with the strong…right arm. Where’s be gone…?”

“He’s gone to pick up the cave buffalo’s carcass he said he killed to get you to me,” Meriem responded, a smile on her ruby red lips. Sam could not deny her lips were quite supple-looking, “he mentioned it was a big one and we all decided so long as we had it as a fresh kill, why not cook up some buffalo meat for supper?”

So she was the ‘she’ Normal had mentioned, Sam pieced together.

“So, is this…” he turned to Meriem then back to Flat. He tried to subtly communicate with his pardner via looks to gauge whether or not Flat had learned much about either Normal or Meriem.

“Meriem,” Flat repeated, clearly trying to keep a straight face that Sam could see through. “She’s…um…she’s been a very good hostess to me since you and I got separated, and, as I said, she healed your leg…”

“Yes, and she appears to be quite the nurse.” He looked over again at Meriem, whose eyes still remained on him.

“I’m more than a nurse,” she said enigmatically, “there’s lots of things you’ll find I’m good at.”

“Flat,” Sam said, trying to figure out a way to get his buddy alone, “I don’t suppose I could ask a favor of you.”

“What’s that, Sam?”

“Well, I don’t know how long I’ve been laying here, but it seems my bladder’s been keeping track of the passing minutes. I probably should go answer nature’s call, but I’m not sure my leg is strong enough to walk on. Could you…could you help carry me? I’m sure once I’m up I can do the rest, it’s just the…moving.”

Sam looked at Flat, optimistic he would pick up on his true intentions.

“Sure…sure I can, Sam!” Flat answered, turning to Meriem. “I hope it’s not…rude of me to intrude, but where does a fellow go to…you know…”

“If you have to piss, there’s a room just down that way,” Meriem pointed, “I believe you, Sam, were just there when Normal found you, so I suppose it will be familiar. Normal is probably over there with his torch taking care of the cave buffalo meat, so you should be able to see your way. It’s not too far.”

“Thank you, Meriem,” said Flat. The woman smiled back at Flat in a way Sam could not help but notice. But he didn’t have long to analyze, as Flat was quickly hoisting Sam’s arm over his shoulder and pulling him up.

“I had no idea you were this heavy,” remarked Flat, helping Sam stand on his one good foot, “just goes to show how strong Normal really is!”

“Haha, very funny,” replied Sam, “if you think I’m heavy you should try looking in a mirror.”

Behind them, Meriem chuckled a little.

Flat did his best to assist Sam as they walked in the direction that Meriem pointed; as they left the area with the large fire to enter a smaller, shadowed passage, they could see the burning of another, weaker light source not far in the distance. No doubt Normal hard at work.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Doesn’t look like it’s too far-” Flat began, but quickly felt Sam tugging his ear. “Ouch! What?!”

“Shh!” Sam held up a finger to his mouth, “come over here! Out of the way!”

“What? Don’t you have to piss?” Flat looked at his friend with confusion.

“Huh? No!” Sam whispered, “that was said so I could get you alone. Come over here, we have to talk!”

Flat looked around nervously; Meriem didn’t seem like she could see them in their new location, nor did it seem like Normal down the way could see them either. “What, you don’t have to pee?”

“I can piss later! Come on, get over!”

Flat obeyed his friend’s wishes, stepping with him out of the way into a dark cranny.

“What is it?”

Sam continued to talk in a hushed whisper. “So, it’s all true, then?”

“What is?”

“What the sheriff told us! About a prairie witch and a guy brought back to life with his right arm?”

“Well,” Flat shrugged, “Yes. But I thought it was true from the beginning. You're the one who had doubts.”

“Yes, I did! Big doubts! So, this is a bit of a shock to me!”

“You met Normal in the dark and you still didn’t believe what the sheriff said was true?” Flat seemed puzzled.

“I thought Normal was the bank robber, sure, but didn’t think then the whole part about the prairie witch was real.”

“He is the bank robber, Sam,” Flat said matter-of-factly.

“Okay, yes, I figured. But indulge me, Flat, I’ve not had the time to sit and chat around the campfire with these characters like you have.”

“No, you were pretty badly hurt. I’m glad Meriem was able to heal you.”

“With magic, right?” Sam pressed.

“Yes…you said you recognized who she was,” Flat remained confused, “so…of course you know it was with magic…”

“And at what cost?”

“Huh?”

“What was the catch? Did you have to promise her your arm? MY arm?”

“No, Sam, she healed you because Normal said to and I was there.”

Sam stared blankly back at Flat. “There was no catch. She just healed me because she’s a good person. Good witch. Good whatever she is.”

“Yes? Sam, I’ve been talking to her for a bit. She’s very different from what the sheriff had us think.”

Sam remained staring at his friend. “What, has she put a spell on you? You’re under her sway?”

“What?” Flat exclaimed, his voice louder than intended. “No!”

The noise echoed through the passage.

“Everything okay?” Meriem called from in the fire area. She didn’t sound close, but she could certainly hear them if they were loud enough.

“Haha! Sorry!” Sam called out, his eyes remaining fixed on Flat, “I was a little overzealous! Thought we were already at the spot! No worries!” He lowered his voice and glared. “You better keep it down, Flat, or else I’ll know you’re in cahoots with her.”

“I’m not in cahoots! And I’m not under a spell! Meriem’s really not the evil creature the sheriff made us to believe! She’s just like a normal woman. Heck, when I found her she was singing Eilleen Allanna! You know, the song you whistle sometimes!”

“So, she…didn’t steal the sheriff’s arm?” asked Sam. Flat paused.

“Well, okay,” Flat faltered a little, “I…I haven’t really brought that up. I tried to but she didn’t say much on the subject and you know how I am with words, so I let it drop.”

“And does she know that we’re here because of the sheriff?”

“No, that I made sure of that. I stuck to the story that the sheriff said we ought to tell- I told her we were horse thieves and we were hiding from the marshal in the caves until we can escape easier.”

“And she believes you?”

“Yes, she does! I feel kind of bad about not telling her the full story, but she hasn't anything further and I ain't given her reason to ask, so...”

Sam seemed to contemplate that. “Well, good, I didn’t think you had it in you to lie without me there.”

Flat stood up a little taller. “Well, maybe I’m capable of more than you believe.”

“So, then, where’s the money?” Sam suddenly inquired.

“Huh?”

“You said Normal- the tall guy- he is the bank robber. Where is it at? Did anyone say where it's being stored?”

“Well…” Flat looked down at the ground, “I didn’t think it proper to ask. Meriem and Normal did both save your life. There was no reason to sound like I was being greedy. Besides, Meriem told me what they plan to do with all the money and, I’m telling you, Sam, they’re not monsters like Sheriff Reynold made them seem!”

“What possible noble pursuit is that?” Sam asked dryly. Him and Flat getting some of that money seemed like the noblest of pursuits but it was clear Flat felt otherwise.

“They’re going to donate all the money to help build orphanages,” Flat said back, “it sounds like for the past however many years that’s what they’ve been doing- robbing banks and then donating the proceeds to orphanages.”

“How altruistic of them. They never take a cut for themselves?”

“I suppose they take a little for their food and transportation, but otherwise no! It all goes to help needy children without a family. Helping children escape the terrible life she had to endure not having a father or mother herself. I'ts a passion of Meriem’s, Sam! She was telling me all about it!”

“And so now are you,” snidely remarked Sam.

“What?”

“I saw that look she gave you. She’s all into you, smiling like that.”

Flat blushed. That was not how he had interpreted the witch’s glances. “She’s just friendly, Sam.”

“I don’t know that I trust her, whatever she is.”

“That’s obvious.”

“What about the spell book? Have you found that? You must have if I’ve been healed.”

“ Well…” Flat looked down again. “It’s in that area with her, but I’m not sure where. We got to talking and I-”

“-Flat, you gotta get it together!” chided Sam, “We were sent here to get her, that arm on Normal that' belongs to the sheriff, and the spell book. Our being pardoned depends on that! I didn’t hurt my leg just for you to make lovely eyes and conversation with a prairie witch!”

“She healed you,” Flat pointed out once more, “your leg is doing better thanks to her.”

“Whatever, Flat- new plan, in light of the situation. Normal and I, I think we bonded before I passed out. I’m gonna get him to tell me where all the money that was stolen has been stashed. Likewise, you’re going to keep making chit-chat with your new lady friend and get her to reveal where the spell book is hidden. Once we have what we need there, we’re going to need to destroy that spell book, round those two up, and bring them back to Fox Den to collect our freedom. We'll come back here and loot the cash once they're with the sheriff. Win-win for us. ”

“…how are we going to ‘round those two up’, Sam?” Flat asked back, unconvinced, “Meriem’s a prairie witch and we don’t know what kind of spells she can cast without needing her spell book. And Normal, with that arm of his, how do you plan to round him up with that muscular majesty?”

Sam paused a moment. “Look, it’s an evolving plan. We can at least do the first part. Find out where the spell book and where the spending money is. We’ll work on the next part from there. We clear?”

Flat nodded. It pained him, though; he had been enjoying getting to know Meriem and their organic conversation, and to think now he would be doing so with a loaded and insincere agenda didn’t quite sit right. But Sam was correct. They had come to the Cheyenne Crossing Caves on a mission and there was a higher price at stake if they did not do what they were sent to do. Flat did not want to spend the rest of his days in a federal prison, even if he had done the crimes to warrant it.

“Good. Now then, if we're agreed, let’s get back in there,” Sam said, though he paused. “Well, in one second. May as well take a piss while here.”

“Should I carry you the rest of the way, then-” Flat began but Sam was already unbuttoning his pant to do his business.

Flat turned away to give his companion the privacy such an act deserved.