Chapter 10 - Cracked Seal and an Unwanted Gatekeeper

Ohio territory – April 1864

The sun peeked out into the window. It filled the room with welcomed warmth. Erik rolled over onto the down filled mattress. He felt the tips of the goose feathers poking at him in certain spots. He could smell coffee brewing downstairs. It was a much-needed luxury with the way he had been traveling. He felt at peace on this farm and a smile crossed his face. This was the simple life, he thought to himself. It was hard, honest work; but peaceful. He could not have this in his world. It was nothing but upheaval and chaos. He closed his eyes and began to daydream for just a moment. What would it be like for him, to settle down for once and have a simple life. He knew though there was just too much at stake. One day when the time was right, he could pass on his relic, start to age and live life normally. He hoped soon, he would love to grow old with Running Brook. There was a gnawing in the pit of his stomach, that may never happen. He cared for her deeply, right now he felt he had to have a wall up with her.

He stood up and began to dress himself in his buckskin clothes. To his surprise, he found that they had been cleaned for him. He was overwhelmed with gratitude. His buckskins were very tough and made for long term wear. Someone had been up all night cleaning them, then drying them out by an open fire. The hospitality was being shown from both parties, it seemed. A knock came at the door.

“Erik, are you up?” It was Lars, however this time he was speaking in the common tongue.

“I am sir, thank you for the bed.” Erik opened the door to find the Lars smiling at him. His giant beard was nicely groomed. He stood looming over Erik, tall and strong as an oak tree.

“My daughters are attending to our other guests, my boys are out doing the chores on the farm. Your guide just got up. Seems she had a rough night. She’s down in the kitchen eating breakfast with my wife now. I think we all have a lot to talk about. My wife was very happy with all the turkeys, she loves them. She’s having the boys pluck them now since they are done draining. The feathers will go nice in the pillows, she said.”

“We were already imposing on your farm,” Erik began to laugh a bit. “We also brought so many extra guests with us, it would be impolite not to bring a wee bit of food to the party.” They both laughed and headed downstairs. Erik admired the craftsmanship of the home. He knew everything was built by hand, either by Lars himself or a community effort. As Erik's hands hit the staircase, he could feel his pendant get warm, it got warmer and warmer as he descended. He didn’t say a word, but his eyes focused on every tiny detail of the woodwork. “Your home is very beautiful. Did you make it alone or did your community help build it with you?” He asked, now very curious. When he reached the end of the banister there was a small wooden carving at the end. A six-pointed star or flower. He had seen them painted on barns, but never in houses, let alone on a staircase. He could feel a massive amount of heat, both from his pendant and on his hand, as he laid it on top.

“My family has been in the Americas’ for quite some time. We came out this way right around the revolutionary war. We were some of the first in the area. It was much quieter then. This house has had so many additions, my father has made several, I have made quite a few. It seems to grow every year with our needs.” He laughed. Erik made a mental note about the carving in the staircase. There was something hidden in it, by the way it looked, the whole bottom banister might have to be removed to get at it. This person wanted it to stay hidden. Lars probably had no idea about what was keeping the family safe for all these years. Was it even his business for him to reveal something like that? The Order was pretty good at keeping track of everything that was given out. There had been a time or two that someone had slipped through the cracks and as a family grew, or traveled, things happened to go missing. There was always a reason for each piece to go out. He knew a few had gone out on the mayflower and several of those pieces were unaccounted for. It would be at least a year or two before anyone from The Order would be able to get out here and check out on his hunch.

“Well, I thought you were going to sleep forever!” A warm pleasant voice came from the kitchen. Fresh eggs, along with sausage and warm biscuits, were laid on the large wooden table. Erik could also see the fresh black coffee. Running Brook was already diving in to the coffee. Her eyes had large circles around them from her harsh night with the runaways.

“My wife, Tilly.” Lars said with a smile. Erik took off his buckskin cap and hung it on the chair.

“Thank you kindly for the breakfast. I hope the hunt my guide provided will help a bit feeding the extra company we brought you last night.” Erik swallowed hard. Running Brook just gave Erik a look, filled with daggers, then went back to her coffee and eggs.

“Where are you folks headed?” Tilly asked. Running Brook shot Erik another dagger filled stare. He gave her a pat on her back and signed to her that she was in safe territory. She just rolled her eyes.

“We are trying to find the nearest town with a railroad. I figured since we are out of the war zone we should be safe. We have been sticking to the deep woods. Doing our best, trying to stay away from soldiers. It’s been a bit hard, trying to keep near a water source for the horses. Game always stays near water as well. I’m not worried about the union soldiers so much, they have supplies. It’s the Confed’s I worry about. Those boys are about as half-starved as the runways. Seeing a horse, they would have put ours down for the meat alone.” Erik said sadly. “We have also run into other trouble but not anything to do with the law. You have seen my papers from Washington. I have to get to New York City. We are on a research expedition. My guide has been absolutely wonderful helping me.”

“Next town is about 20 miles north. It’s a place called Meltonville, only go there if you have to right now. The train comes in, but it’s really only moving troops. You can try to catch a ride. It doesn’t come that often anymore. You may be stuck here for a little while. For the past few months, odd things have been going on in town. People have not been acting right. Even the weather seems to be just sucking the life right out of you. The local law man, Steven, has ridden out a few times to check up to see if we are alright. It's mighty kind of him, being it’s a far ride. We all used go into town to trade for sugar and supplies. That has changed. If we have to go to trade, we send a band of men to go. The women stopped going to the dress shops and the kids can’t go to the candy stores, due to its become so violent out of the blue. Everyone is just turning on each other. They even burned down the church. The people have nowhere to pray, it’s scary to go.”

“There are a few good folks though. The school teacher, she’s opened up the school on Sunday for the locals to go, even with all the threats she still opens her doors. She has a big bell for the kids to hear it’s time to go to school in the morning. Every Sunday she clears the desks out and puts up benches. We even chipped in and built her some furniture, to help out.”

“Why do I have a feeling we are about to do some cleaning?” Running Brook said as she put her coffee mug down on the table a little too hard. “I said I would come on this, here I am, doing insane things. How are our friends by the way? Is miss thorns attitude changed yet?”

“I assume you mean Rose. We cleaned them up last night. Poor things were freezing half to death. Whose idea was it to make them get all muddy like that?” Tilly asked.

“It’s so they wouldn’t be followed. Rather half frozen and alive than dead, unfortunately.” Running Brook took another sip of coffee. “How bad are their wounds? They all had pretty swollen feet and wrists. If they are warm, the swelling is going to come back pretty bad. If you don’t mind me exploring your farm a bit, I’d like to see what herbs I can find to help with the pain and inflammation. I can show you what I have picked. It’s good for the livestock too and you can make it into teas. I had no choice last night but to have them just chew the stuff,” Tilly’s face softened a bit. Running Brook got up and started to clean her plate.

“I’ll take care of that dear. Go on, our neighbors won’t bother you, Just say your guests of Lars and Tilly, you’ll be fine.” Running Brook smiled and took off out the kitchen door.

“She’s very rough around the edges but she’s got an amazing heart. Where she comes from, her land was being taken over. Her people were being forced off their land. Don't be too harsh.” Erik said.

“God is with you both.” Lars said. “I could feel it when you approached. I don’t know how to explain it, but I just know.”

“Lars, I have something to ask you and I need you to be very honest with me.” Erik took a deep breath. “Does the term Gatekeeper have any meaning to you?”

“I have heard it mentioned actually, by my grandfather, but I don’t know much about it. He kept several of his old diaries about.” Lars said mystified.

“I think he might have ties with them, or maybe one of your great great grandparents. Its early enough, I am going to ride into town. I should be back by sundown. If you can find anything, old journals or letters, it would be a great help to me. I don’t think our crossing paths was by mistake. I found a marking in the house that makes me a bit curious, however, to get the proper people out here might take a few years. If I can help figure out a key to your past while I am here, it might be for the better. You are pretty close to the Kentucky border. I want to make sure this house and your family stay safe at all costs. The sooner we find out, the better,” Erik said stiffly.

“Tilly, I think we have all the family records in the attic.” Lars said. “Be safe on your trip into town. My son Isaac is in the barn, he will have your horse ready for you.”

“Thank you, Lars. I will be back before it gets dark.” Erik took off for the barn to get his horse.

Running Brook was out deep in the forest collecting herbs and once again hunting small game. She felt at peace near the creek in the woods. Mother Earth had always filled her heart with peace when she was alone. The sunlight warmed her skin. No matter where she was in the woods, her mind could always find its center. She began to wonder if going to New York was really the right journey for her. Already this endeavor was becoming too much of a mess. It was turning her stomach into knots. She had already snagged a few rabbits and another turkey to bring back to the farm. They were going to need their own meat to smoke for the long road.

Even if they hit towns, fresh game was plenty now. The closer they got to settlements, the harder it was to find. She hated living on squirrel but that’s usually all she could find near towns. They also tasted different than what she would find in the forest. Her bag was becoming full with different herbs and barks from the trees that were growing wild. Her mother had shown her since she could walk, all the things the forest could give for healing. She knew that she would have to take Tilly out here and show her what she was collecting to benefit her family. Not many of the white settlers knew about the gifts of mother earth, unless they were taught by the native tribe. That was unlikely, due to the conflicts that were happening.

Her people had scattered out of the Ohio Valley area many years ago, since the Iroquois battles during the Spanish occupation. Her tribes’ numbers had dwindled. Their numbers had dwindled down more, since the occupation of the new settlers. She knew in her heart, that most of the settlers here were like Lars. They came here to find a home for their families, trying to find a better life. Then there were others with hearts cold as ice. They came with greed, instead of hearts, with no respect for the land. They viewed their fellow man just as they would a kill roasting on a fire. It was getting harder and harder to tell the difference, fear overtook both sides. She found a fresh creek on her walk, a very pleasant surprise. She sat down and took off her moccasins. The cool water ran over her tired feet for a few moments. She took a deep breath of the clean air and closed her eyes. A deep roar came from about twenty meters off.

Running Brook jumped up and grabbed her bow. There were no tracks of a panther in this area. She had been very careful to search for an apex predator. They almost never came this close to a farm unless extremely desperate for food. There was plenty of game in this area to be shared. This encounter made no sense to Running Brook. She drew her bow and fired an arrow near the big cat to scare it off. The big panther did not budge. She fired another arrow very close to the panther, once again to try and scare off the big cat. It stood there as still and strong as a mountain, staring at her with its piecing blue eyes.

“Brother panther, what are your intentions? I mean you no harm. If it’s my game you are after, I have more than enough to share.” She cried at the large cat. He stood there like a stone. Running Brook felt all reason leaving her. Could she have angered the forest spirits? She was not over hunting, she was only taking what was needed.

“I have a message from Kokumthena. She says be strong. We all are with you,” it growled low. The panther stepped into the creek and became one with the water. That was enough for Running Brook. She gathered up her belongings and ran straight back to the farm.

Erik had an easy time reaching the town. His mustang was fast and enjoyed out pacing the wind. He had barely broken a sweat before they had reached the town. As they approached, Erik and his horse both got chills. There was something foul in the air. Lars was right. He pulled his horse into a slow trot, riding into the populated town. He could see the townspeople almost had a hollow look about them. The streets should be noisy and bustling about with trade. There were no children laughing and playing. The only noise Erik could hear was coming from the several saloons. It was very early to hear an organ grinder at this hour. Running Brook could not step foot in this town, that was for sure, he thought to himself. The runaways had to stick to the woods to avoid this place at all cost. This was a breeding ground for low lives and vermin, it seemed. He made sure his six shooter was loaded and hidden under his buckskin jacket. He was not looking for a fight, but he was ready in case it happened. He made sure to keep his long skinning knife in plain sight. For passersby, they would just think of him as a mountain man passing through. In these parts, it was common and they would pay him no mind. He tied his horse by the sheriff station and walked on in.

“Can I help you sir?” A young deputy sat at a wooden desk, warming a pot of coffee on a chubby stove.

“Odd little town you got here.” Erik said as friendly as he could.

“Mister, it was not like this, until about four months ago. Couldn’t tell you what happened but we have been over run. It’s not the rebel boys either.” the young deputy said. Erik could hear the spurs on a gentleman’s boots long before he entered the small building.

“We have had several buildings burnt to the ground, even our church has been attacked.” a voice said. Erik turned his head to find a stocky man, with two six-shooters and a worn sheriffs badge.

“I hope you don’t mind me intruding sir. Lars sent me up here to take a look around, see if you boys might need some help. My name is Erik Cullen. If you need any credentials, I can have you send a telegram to a few of my friends in Washington. That should clear things up. I have a few papers with some documentation on it that might suffice for now.” He tossed a smaller leather notebook to the local sheriff. The lawman stood as pale as a ghost, while he flipped through the small booklet.

“Mr. Cullen, I fear its we who should be asking you, what we can do for you,” the sheriff stammered.

“No sir.” Erik chuckled. “Say I didn’t get your names.” The sheriff stumbled to his chair, holding the small leather-bound book, staring at it in disbelief.

“Thomas Conner, but everyone here calls me Tom. This is my deputy, Benny Harris, but we all call him Buck.” Tom passed the leather-bound book to his deputy, who also turned a pale shade of white.

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“Mr. Cullen, what brings you out this way?” Buck said stammering and very shaken.

“Oh relax you two. I am not here for any investigation of the local law. From what I hear, you fellows are clean shooters and do a fine job protecting the town.” He could see both men have the color return to their faces. “I need transport on the nearest rail line. From what I have heard, that’s been held up a bit. Any idea why?” Buck banged his hand on the table.

“I can tell you why sir, but you won’t believe a word. I tell ya nobody has. We have sent several telegrams for back up! For anything at this point. We understand men are hard to come by. There is this gang of men, they posing as Jesse James, but we know it’s not them. The telegram we got said that the next time we can get a Pinkerton out here might be at the end of the war. Who knows when that will be. I have shot directly at several of them and not a bullet has touched them. Not to brag, but I never miss. Throw them in the jail cell, by night they disappear like demons! Back in the bar, hurting the bar girls next day. We don’t have any such establishment as a brothel, but these vermin take what they want. Children aren’t even safe. Most of the townsfolk come out only during daylight hours. At night, everyone locks up early. They hold church now at the local school house, nobody feels safe. It’s like a trance has come over the common man. Like there is something in the water, is all I can explain. We have seen friends for twenty years, kill each other in the streets over nothing. Our priest hides and we have no explanation. Yet, several are not affected at all. Others go absolutely crazy. Our doctor left town for fear he would be killed.” Buck said shaking his head.

“I ride out to the farms about once a week, if I can gather supplies. The farmers come up in a group, but we run out of thing. I make a run when we have too. I know the farmers don’t want to come into town to barter. Our town needs the supplies and I risk leaving my deputy here alone. The people here have to eat too. Yet somehow our saloon always seems to get their deliveries on time. I am having a hell of a time getting eggs, fresh milk, anything. We used to get almost daily deliveries from the farms. They just refuse to come here. The railroad won’t come here either. I have sent several telegrams too. I think the line is down. Its been two weeks since we have heard a word. I don’t have the man power to even try to figure out where its down.” Tom said.

“Well, maybe we can make a deal here. I have to get to New York and I might have some extra hands for you. This is free land or is it not?” Erik gave a half smile. “I am pretty sure I can get rid of what’s in your town. However, I have a little problem of my own. About five to be exact, I think our situation would be mutually beneficial.” Tom looked at Erik very hesitant.

“You’re saying you have an idea what’s going on with our town?” Tom bit his lip.

“I can see you’re the type of man that will need a bit of convincing. I can’t say much.” Erik looked around the office. It had five cells, two bunks to a cell. Barely enough for what he needed to do. He knew this task was going to cause a bit of damage. Erik hoped he could work with such a small space. He figured he had worked with less in the past, if he was going to win their trust, this was something he had to do.

“I need a bucket of water, twine, two sticks, salt, oil from a lamp and two empty buckets. After that, if I can’t prove to you what’s going on in your town, I don’t know what will. Shall we make a wager?” Erik laughed grimly.

“Alright.” Tom pulled out his hand to shake.

“I’ll need five strong horses. I will gladly pay for them, saddles and all. I will provide the man power you will need to help you find the down lines. Meanwhile I need that train. It will take me months to cross on horseback, and time is something I don’t have. You will not question who I bring you to help. They are good people and treat them well in this town. Give them a home under your protection.” Erik said sternly. “I have been held up too long as it is. I have a feeling what is going on here is no accident. When was your last train supposed to arrive?” Erik asked.

“Your right! We are due a train of soldiers to cross into the Kentucky area. They are month late. With everything being in upheaval, we just figured they might have been canceled. We do get post by rider, but even that is a month late. It seems we are cut off.” Tom began to grind his teeth.

“Has there been any prospectors in your area lately?” Erik asked.

“Yes, now that you mentioned it. We told them it was foolish because there is no gold in this area. No silver, just farm land. The only gold they were going to find is corn and we have plenty of it. Yet these fools set off with wagons filled with TNT and donkeys. We have not heard from several again. Every so often, we will hear a random blast from out of nowhere in one of the hills. Then everything will go dead quiet again.”

“Shit, its worse than I thought.” Erik grimaced.

“Mister, do you know something we don’t?” Buck asked.

“Just get what I asked ready. Make sure you have ALL the buckets.” Erik nodded as he left the small office.

“Hey, why will we need the empty buckets?” Tom yelled back at him.

“In all my years of doing this, I have yet to see a man not vomit!” Erik laughed and headed into the most popular saloon.

He stepped over several patrons before he could make it inside the door. This place had the stench alright. He figured there had to be at least a few inside. Erik could easily pass as a mountain man wandering though. The bartender would know he had gold and would not let the patrons harass him easy. He would draw the right type of attention. He had his back to the door and let his eyes adjust. This was something he had learned from years of experience. As his eyes quickly adjusted to the smoke filled room, he kept his back to the wall and made his way to a corner stool. He sat and waited patiently. His eyes were tucked low beneath the buck skin cap. He scanned the room, looking at each patron in it. Most were lost souls, just trying to kill the pain of the situation they were stuck in. As he figured, there were a few hags. They were content on the laps of gentleman, trying to suck not only a dollar from them, but every ounce of moral. They would be leaving them as empty shells to roam the world. It was so common in places like this one.

He saw the bar maids, trying to earn an honest wage being pulled down by grief and sorrow. Erik hated going into saloons for this very reason. It was this part of his profession that always left a bitter taste in his mouth. The bartender finally acknowledged him.

“Bit far from the mountains aren’t ya?” He said in a very scruffy voice.

“I am, but the mountains don’t have whiskey or beer. I am hoping you can help me get the trail dust out of my mouth.” Erik put a silver coin on the counter. The bartender did not hesitate to put a full bottle of whiskey and a clean glass, along with a full pint of beer next to Erik. This drew a bit of attention. He pulled out another silver coin. “Keep the change. It’s not every day I get to treat myself.” Erik poured the whiskey and sipped it slow. This was all part of the dance, or show he called it.

Time to draw them out. In about half an hour Erik was pouring drinks and sipping on his beer very slowly. He had had his target. A low-level incubus that was inhabiting a man that had probably been dead for over a year now. He could smell the stench on him and the rot smell was making Erik a bit queasy. He noticed the incubus had tattered clothes, which was extremely common for them. How they could get away with living right under the common folks noses, always had him baffled. He lured the man outside with the bottle of whiskey, acting drunk and singing songs as if they had known each other for years. When they were down the road a bit, Erik showed him where his horse was and gave him the bottle after pretending to take a large swig out of the bottle himself. This was all going according to plan. He had lured the creature right outside the sheriffs office.

“My friend ya must be freezing! I can’t let a fine gentlemen who has done me the great honor of singing such songs with me, go on with such rags like that!” Erik was thankful Incubi were pretty easy to manipulate. It still had the characteristics and needs of men. “I am a trapper; I have a nice beaver skin coat. A spare in my saddlebag.” While the incubus was busy guzzling the last of the bottle, Erik pulled out the sword and rammed him through the chest. Then, all hell broke loose. The demon came completely out.

“Tom! Buck! I can use a little help! Open the door before we have the whole town going crazy!” Erik yelled. The sheriff’s door opened with a bang to reveal the two law men. Their jaws dropped to the ground in horror.

“Open a cell and stand back.” Erik growled. Buck and Tom were frozen with shock. They were looking at a man they once knew, completely rot away on Erik’s blade. The monstrosity continued to fight Erik, pulling himself closer and closer onto the blade.

“Help me throw it in a cell! You are moving too slow! Get a rope around its neck.” Erik called out directions for the two law men. They all struggled to get this creature inside the cell, then slammed the cell doors behind it. Erik’s sword was still lodged deep in its chest. “You wondered why you kept shooting at these things and nothing happens? Well, you have your answer now.”

“God, help us,” Buck said shaking wildly.

“That’s kind of why I am here.” Erik said, spit forming around his lips. He was struggling to get this creature under control. “Buck, tie the sticks into a cross with the twine and hand it to me.” Erik was still keeping the creature pressed against the bars, the sword deep inside its chest. He whispered a prayer onto the cross. “ Where is the oil? Dump it on the cross and mix the salt with the bucket of water.” Erik barked out more directions to the frightened law men. It felt like an eternity before the cross was placed into his hand. As soon as he felt the oil dripping down his wrist from the cross, he tapped the hot chubby stove. The cross set fire immediately and Erik threw it on the vile creature. The incubus was set ablaze. Its flesh started to burn and out of the creature, came unholy screams.

“There are so few of you, Gatekeeper. The seal here, is found. We know of another hiding in the area waiting to be awakened.” It screamed through the agony.

“I’ve heard enough of his rubbish. Finish him! Dump the water!” Erik yelled. His sword was still attached and the flames were starting to burn the tips of his hands. Both lawmen dumped the large bucket of salt water onto the struggling creature. They all watched it instantly turned to ash. Like clockwork Erik dropped his sword and handed each of the lawmen a bucket. He listened to them vomit for several minutes before they each sat on the floor, pale as sheets of bed cotton.

“Is this what the president is up to?” Tom asked still holding his bucket between his knees.

“No. He knows very little about our department. I would very much appreciate it if it stays this way. He has enough to worry about with the war effort. The Pope and the Chief Rabbi are aware, it depends on how involved they want to get. It’s not just that we have rabbis working with us too. It’s a pretty big world you know.” Erik laughed. “You have no idea who you may come across, who is working with us. Could be a Buddhist monk! Things work in odd ways. This time isn’t ready for it yet, I don’t think. Now about my bargain? I will also help you get rid of these things. As you see, bullets won’t stop them. I need you to drag your priest out of his hidey-hole. I want you to come to the Lars farm tomorrow morning, like I said five horses. You will have five new deputies, below the one you have now. You need two sheriffs in town. Find a blacksmith, you will need swords, it’s the only thing I have found effective. Guns kill lawless men and they are great for hunting. What you’re up against is not only lawless, it may resemble the flesh of man. It’s only a hollow shell of what once was.” Erik said with a heavy heart.

“This is something like out of the book of revelations.” Buck said his head resting over his bucket.

“No, we still have a couple hundred years to fix some mistakes, I hope. That’s again one of the reasons I am here. We don’t normally say much to the common folk, but I need your railroad. It seems I am stuck here and not by chance. The five I bring have no idea what is going on, not yet. I want to try to shield them from as much as possible, I rather pass it off as something else. I have not figured out what yet. They are God fearing, maybe possession would be easier to pass off.”

“That was no possession.” Tom said starting to stand.

“Read the book of Solomon, it might bring you some insight. That is all I can say for now. It’s getting late and I have to head back to Yoder farm. You will see the town quiet down for a few days, maybe a week. The news this event happened will get back pretty quickly. They are only expecting one, not nine of us.” Erik gave them a toothy grin.

“I have a guide with me, she is very good in battle. The five I am going to help train, plus you two, makes nine. If you know of any good trusted men that can keep their mouths shut, it would be good to have them. I need that railway open as soon as possible.” Erik tipped his buck skin cap and rode as hard as he could back to the farm. He could still smell the stench coming off of his blade. He just wanted to get back to the farm where he knew there was peace, even if it was very short lived. He was very thankful as he saw the farm while the sun set into the mountains. He was exhausted. He could smell a good home cooked meal as he put his horse in the barn.

“We have to talk.” Running Brook came out of the shadows of the kerosene lamp hanging in the large barn. “This is too much.” Erik looked her over. He had never seen her like this before. She was clearly shaken up.

“Did something happen?” Erik asked softly. She could see the clear concern in his face. His usual soft demeanor was gone. She could even detect a twinge a fear for her. She knew that he trusted her possibly more than anyone alive. By his own doing he still kept her at some distance, hiding something. She was used to this with tribe politics, but now there was no tribe. It was just them and the barrier had to come down.

“What is going on?” she asked coldly.

“What exactly do you mean?” Erik looked a bit puzzled.

“My father and the elders held a lot from me. I figured along the way I would at least figure out something. Instead, I get to have an encounter in the woods with a panther that disappears before my eyes into the creek.” She took a deep breath and sat down on a bale of hay. “I don’t understand.” She put her head into her hands.

“You’re not supposed to yet.” Erik got on his knees and held her hands. “I can’t make this any easier on you. I wish I could give you all the answers, but I cannot.”

“You have been on the search, looking for something. I don’t know what you’re looking for.” She hissed.

“It’s not exact.” He put his forehead on her hands. “I do need your help. You know the languages of the land here. I don’t. I have been here a while but, some tribes will not trust me. You are my guide in more ways than one.” He gritted his teeth. “What could I tell you that would put your mind at ease for now.” He sat down beside her on the bale of hay.

“The elders welcomed you in our camp, no questions asked. They don’t usually do that. My father adopted you like a son, immediately! Again, no questions asked. You walked into our camp half-starved and grandfather looked like he had seen a spirit come to life. It was the same look on my father’s face. Tell me what went on during the tribal meeting.” She said softly. The wind blew around her, filling her nostrils with the sweet aroma of the forest beyond the farm. She smiled.

“What are you smiling about?” Erik looked a bit confused.

“Sister wind, that’s all. I like when she visits me.” She twisted her hands together. “I think you can answer some.”

“I know your grandfather, and your father. Your tribe knows of me.” Erik said truthfully.

“My grandfather has not left camp in twenty winters and you don’t look a day over forty winters. Something doesn’t add up.” She looked at him with daggers in her eyes.

“I was younger when I met both of them. Is that so hard to believe?” He smiled. Erik was extremely glad she had still not connected anything yet. “Now there is something I want to tell you. I found something in this house. I think it’s in the staircase.” He stood up. “Come with me, before the twilight makes it too hard to see the other barns.” He walked outside and began to point at each of the barns. Each one had an ornate painting above them.

“What’s that got to do with it?” Running Brook asked.

“I will say I am really rusty on this. I have run into a few on my travels in Pennsylvania. From what I understand, the farmers there painted these on their barns to ward away evil spirits. I found a small carving almost hidden at the bottom of the stairs. I think its hiding something. I have a hunch there is more here than meets the eye.” He took a deep breath and sighed. “I ran into a bit of trouble in town too.”

“When you say a little, you mean a lot.” Running Brook shook her head. “How bad?”

“Rail way has been running late. About the same time we left the tribe I think. The local law are good men, they are willing to help. You will be happy to know, I have solved our runaway issue as well. We are basically trapped here. The trip to New York will take months on horseback. We still have a lot of things we have to do there before we meet up with my colleagues as well. This was no accident either. They knew we were coming.” Erik swallowed hard.

“Who is they?” Running Brook shook her head again. “No, all you’re going to tell me is it’s a long story and I will explain later.” She hissed though her teeth. Erik pressed his lips together. This was getting harder and harder to keep straight. The deeper and deeper they continued, the messier this was getting. He just prayed he could get her to New York without too many follies.

“The law men have agreed to take on the runaways as deputies for now, to help us clean up the trouble. I will need your help to find where the telegraph line is down. The sheriff is coming in the morning with some supplies. We are going to have to look for a good blacksmith. Guns are no good in this case.” Running Brook saw the troubled look in his eyes. It was rare to see this much concern ever in his face.

“ I will help. You have never let me down in the past. You have never turned your back on my elders, my father or my brothers when they have needed anything. Our friendship goes too deep for me to say no now,” she said softly.

“From here on in there is no turning back. There is no heading back to your tribe, at least not for a while. I have to press forward with or without you.” He said foreboding. A chill came through the night air.

“Erik! Running Brook! You’re going to miss out! Dinner is about cold!” Tilly yelled from inside the in warm farmhouse.

“Let’s go in. It seems we both had a tough day.” Erik said. The fatigue was apparent in his voice.

“I am pretty sure as long as I bring Ms. Tilly wild turkey, we can pretty much not outwear our welcome.” Running Brook laughed. “I brought a few more back from my time in the woods. There are plenty around and that’s very unusual.”

“Well, I will say this.” Erik held his pendant through his shirt. “I have always believed we are provided for, if you just have a little faith.” He put his hand on her back and they walked into the warm peaceful farmhouse.