The Wild Bunch Pt 3
Castiel wasn’t sure how long he had been asleep when a sudden shifting in the bed beside him brought the former priest to full awareness. He grunted as Dean rolled away from him the sudden loss of body heat letting cold air of the bedroom pool uncomfortably around his bare skin. Remembering why he was naked brought a flush of blood to Castiel’s cheeks and he scrabbled the blankets around his shoulders. Dean caught the movement and chuckled causing the smaller man to blush even more. Leaning in the cowboy brushed a quick kiss over Castiel’s slightly parted lips, “Ain’t no going back now Cas. I seen it all and I liked it. Don’t think you’re getting’ outta this now.”
Smiling Castiel leaned into the touch, “I don’t want to, but what’s wrong? Where are you going?”
“I heard something in the courtyard. One of the boys is standing watch at the main gate. I think I heard my pa yelling.”
“Well, when John Winchester yells, everybody listens,” Castiel said leaning over the side of the bed for his discarded underwear and trousers.
“Ain’t it the truth,” Dean grunted pulling on his pants and boots. Grabbing a shirt from the chair where he had hung it earlier Dean reached into the corner by the door pulling out a shotgun. “You stay here, okay?”
Now Castiel frowned. “I can handle a gun, Dean. I may not be a crack shot like you or a gun-slinger like Rufus, but I can hold my own.”
“It may come to that, but you stay in the house until we’re sure what’s going on.”
In spite of Dean’s best efforts Castiel dressed and followed him into the hall. People were emerging from doorways all along the hallway leading to the staircase down to the main rooms of the huge house. Sam appeared at the door to Dean and, by default, Castiel’s room and the former priest wished that he had had more time to interact with the younger Winchester brother before now, when something dire was happening.
Sam’s wife Jessica waddled into the hall, her eight-month pregnant belly barely slowing her progress. Wrapping a thick woolen shawl around her shoulders she quickly followed the tall form of her husband to the staircase. “Dean, your Pa already roused Sam up and said for you boys to get down to the front room. He sent Rufus on out to the courtyard to see what Andy is hollering about. Bobby and Victor are rounding up all the boys and your Ma is handing out the guns. I’ll be loading rifles with her.”
Dean flinched, “Okay, Sam come with me. Cas, you stay with the women.”
“Dean, I will not be consigned to the back. I can fight.”
Dean seemed to fold under the smaller man’s intense blue gaze. Squaring his shoulder he took the other man by the arm, pulling him into a corner. “I’d feel better if someone was watching my Ma, Jess, Miss Ellen and the girls. The women folk need a man to guard ‘em. I want that man to be you.”
When they got downstairs Mary Winchester and Ellen Harvelle were loading rifles and revolvers as fast as they could, handing them out to the gathered men milling around the front entry-way to the house. Castiel saw both Ash and Adam strapping a leather holster onto their bodies, checking the Colt revolvers and thumbing the safety catch one. Then Mary tossed Ash a Winchester rifle and he headed to the door. Adam took up a shot gun following the other man out into the fray.
The sound of gun fire seemed extraordinarily loud now that the former priest was standing the hall next to the large front door. He could see vague shadows of men running, recognized Victor Hendricksen’s broad shoulders and gray Stetson standing guard at the outer edge of the front porch. Victor paused firing only long enough for Ash and Adam to make a break for the shelter of the barn before covering their mad dash across the courtyard with a steady stream of gun fire.
Mary pulled a huge Colt .45 out of the door and headed out onto the porch. Castiel jumped after her grasping the woman gently by the elbow, “Dean left me here to protect you.”
Suddenly the priest found himself caught in a warm hazel gaze as clear and bright as his lover’s. And Mary just laughed. Ellen Harvelle joined her shotgun leveled at one shoulder. Both women cast a sideways glance at the former priest and Castiel was sure that they were just humoring him when Mary said, “Why you are protecting use, sweetie.”
Jess appeared beside them carrying a large box of ammunition. She thrust the box at Castiel and motioned him to the door, “Stand behind Mary and Ellen, when they run out of ammo they’ll pass their gun back to you and pick up another one. You just keep loading the guns.”
Castiel balked, “I should have a gun too.”
When all three women stared hard at him Cas blushed from the collar of his shirt to the roots of his hair, “I can shoot straight, as long as I don’t have to shoot too far!”
Smiling Mary handed a rifle to the former priest as she and Ellen moved out onto the porch. John had just emptied his revolver and Mary hurriedly thrust a second gun at him while quickly taking the empty weapon.
From his vantage point on the porch Castiel could see the Winchester brother with Victor and Ash behind the barn. Adam was on the roof all where firing at Marshal Azazel and the Pinkerton agent he had met in the town a few days ago.
Along with the two men there were various no-account, low-life, good for nothing men who hung around town generally being a nuisance. Although by joining the posse they had graduated from no-accounts to outlaws. Castiel was sure that the Sheriff of Sutter Hollow had nothing to do with these men. However, he had heard some muttering that Mr. Crowley, the railroad owner, might have brought some hire guns in the clear out the gang.
Suddenly Castiel caught sight of Dean making a break from his position behind the wall at the end of the porch heading across the driveway toward the outbuildings. Victor rose snapping off a rapid series of shots to cover Dean’s wild dash but one of the men behind the wagons stood up anyway training his gun on the elder Winchester brother.
Cussing a blue steak John jumped up bringing his rifle to bear on the posse, snapping off a shot. The man jerked once falling back and his friend pulled him behind the wagon. Two other men rose up bringing their guns up and firing. John jumped back and Mary took a step forward firing the Colt she was holding. The men ducked and covered.
As Mary turned shoving the Colt at John and taking the spent rifle Azazel stood up. The sound of the gun shot rolled like thunder and Mary took one step back looking down, eyes wide as a crimson stain blossomed on the front of her white night gown.
John’s mouth fell open and Castiel grabbed the woman before she could fall to the ground. But Bobby was suddenly beside him, catching Mary’s limp form in his arms, lifting her up. Ellen shoved the door to the house open screaming for the girls inside to clear the big, oak block table in the kitchen.
As soon as the door slammed behind Castiel found himself swept up in the whirlwind of activity. Madison and Sarah were clearing the dished and bowels of bread and fruit off the top of the oak-topped table. Jessica appeared from the pantry with a huge wicker basket that held all the doctor supplies and medicine bottles.
Bobby gently laid Mary’s still form on the table and Ellen hurriedly washed her hands with hot water from the stove and Lavender oil from a small brown bottle. Jessica took the bottle of oil and offered the older woman a clean white dish towel.
John was pacing the end of the room like a caged tiger and Ellen looked up catching Castiel’s eyes, “Cas you and John best be out on the porch before them boys from the posse try to storm the place.” John looked like he wanted to argue but Ellen face broached no disagreement.
Swallowing hard the former priest took John by the arm. For a minute he thought he might be punched in the face for his trouble but the Winchester patriarch surrendered with a minimum of cussing and frowning. Both men and Bobby headed for the door.
John put his shoulder to the door, and the three of them spilled out onto the porch to see four dead men in the yard and the Marshal holding a gun on Dean. John pulled to a halt, “You don’t wanna point that gun at my boy, friend.”
Azazel turned hazel eyes going warm yellow in the afternoon sun, “I ain’t no friend of yours, Winchester. If I don’t get to my horse your boy here is a dead man.”
Suddenly the marshal caught sight of Castiel standing on the porch behind John Winchester. Marshal Azazel snickered then tipped his hat, “Good day, padre. Why don’t you just step this way now and fetch my horse. She’s that big bay mare right beside the wagon yonder.”
Glancing at the elder Winchester brother Castiel nodded. Taking a deep breath he walked slowly and carefully to the huge horse. The mare flattened her ears a little when he reached out and grabbed her bridle but she didn’t try to bite him. For that Castiel was grateful.
Tugging he got the mare walking and they both made it back to the marshal. The Pinkerton Agent Alistair Black was seated in the saddle of his own horse staring at Dean as if looks could kill. Of course Dean was staring right back, hatred written in every line of his face.
Once the marshal had swung up into the saddle the former priest thought he would be pushed away or perhaps even shot. What he was not expecting was to be grasped by the arm and hauled bodily across the mare withers in front of the marshal.
With a snap of his gloved hand against the mare’s side Castiel found himself swept along at a dizzying speed. He closed his eyes praying, not to the God he had always served, but to Dean Winchester.
Once the marshal and Agent Black were gone Dean jumped onto the porch following his father inside. The rest of the Winchester gang all ran for the door to the house.
Ellen grabbed John by the arms, and it was difficult to tell who was holding who up. With a sigh the women patted john’s arm “it was a clean through and through shot. But in the shoulder. Mary’s doing okay. She’s a tough woman and she’ll pull through.”
“Be that as it may, Ellen, no man comes into my home and hurts me or mine. Not any one of you. You all threw in you lot with me and I aim to see that we are all safe. “
Dean nodded, “What are you gonna do, Pa?”
“I’m going after that bastard Azazel. And I ain’t gonna stop until he’s dead. Fetch my Colt, Sam.”
Sam nodded, “I’m going with you.”
John shook his head, “Sam…I can’t ask you to do that. Jessica needs you here, what with the baby and all.”
“If he came after us this time do you think he’ll stop? Jess is only safe if everybody knows we take care of our folks.”
Dean nodded, “And that bastard has Cas. Ain’t no way that’s happen’ on my watch.”
Smiling John motioned toward the barn, “Saddle up boys, we’re going to town.”
Victor followed Sam and Dean to the door but John caught him by the arm, “Vick, you don’t have…”
Smiling the other man clapped him on the shoulder, “John you called me friend when a lot of white men wouldn’t have. You helped me take care of my folks and sisters when a lot of white me thought they were nothin’ but another man’s property. Don’t think you’re getting’ outta here without me.”
“Fair enough,” John replied with a smile.
&&&&&&&
There was thunder on John Winchester’s face as he rode into Sutter’s Hollow. John spurred his horse forward with a grim smile on his lips. The fact that Mary was not dead, had calmed him only a little, and he still had that look like he wanted to kill the first person he ran across on his face. Dean was terrified, for his mother’s life, for his father’s sanity and for his lover, so soon found and now taken. Sam followed along beside his brother and father, ever reliable helper and back=up. No one, no one at all touched one Winchester without having to deal with all of them. And lastly Victor followed behind …riding hard, not a Winchester by birth, but in heart.
The main road into town was straggly quiet at this time of the day. And Dean wondered if the townspeople had not already heard of the attack at the Winchester compound, had not seen the marshal and the Pinkerton man dragging Castiel to Crowley’s offices.
Sheriff Deacon was sitting on the porch in front of the jail building when the four men road past. He must have known why they were in town, might have even known that they intended to kill the marshal and agent, maybe even Crowley if they had too. Yet he didn’t seemed inclined to roust himself from the rocking chair he occupied, even nodding pleasantly at them as they went past.
&&&&&&&
Castiel was sitting in a fine red velvet chair in the dining car of the number Nineteen Union Pacific railroad. Across from him was the two men who had lead the raid on the Winchester gang’s compound earlier that day.
Marshal Azazel was hunched over the gleaming oak bar glass of whiskey in his hand. The Pinkerton agent, Alistair Black was pacing at the far end of the room, his lean ratty features twisted with rage. The raid this morning had been his idea and two of his fellow agents were now laying stone cold dead on the Winchester grounds. He cast a long glance at the marshal.
“This morning was very sloppy business, marshal. Very sloppy indeed.”
Azazel sneered at him. “It served its purpose. We drove John Winchester out of his hidey-hole exactly like you wanted.”
“Only because you shot his wife. There is nothing more dangerous than a man with a vendetta. If Mary Winchester dies John is will be as dangerous as a corner rat.”
“That’s why I grabbed the padre here. Everybody and his brother knows that Dean Winchester fancies himself a little slice of angel food cake. And the padre is insurance that none of the Winchesters do anything foolish.”
The former priest settled back in the chair glancing at the tall blonde man seated beside the marshal and Crowley. Castiel recognized the man from grainy sepia colored tin-type photographs on Wanted posters at the Post Office and the train station. Nick “Kid Lucifer” Morningstar was as hard as nails. His nickname well-earned for all the atrocities he had committed. He might as well be the devil himself.
Crowley glanced out the window a slow smile cross his face, “Look who just rode into town. Show time, boys.”
Without a word the marshal, the Pinkerton agent and the gun fighter headed into the street. The three men were standing in a line as the Winchesters and Victor pulled to a halt just at the end of the train station platform. Moving to the side John dropped the reins on his horse and the big gelding whickered softly. Patting the horse side the Winchester patriarch stepped forward, “Azazel, this has gone on long enough. You shot my Mary and the only reason I’m giving you the chance to stand up like a man and not the snake you are is ‘cause she ain’t dead.”
The marshal shrugged, “We’ll see what you got, Winchester.”
Whirling quickly he pulled the gun from the holster at his hip snapping off a shot. The bullet went wild ricocheting off the sign above the Crazy Horse Saloon, and John ducked drawing his own revolver. Dean and Sam fanned out on either side of their father with Victor falling in line just a pace in front of the elder Winchester brother.
Dean fired his own sidearm and Sam ran up beside his brother. Victor got a series of rapid-fire shots at the Pinkerton agent catching Alistair in the shoulder then the chest. A red stain spread across his shirt and the man gasped once, gun dropping from his cold, dead fingers. He hit the ground face-first and didn’t move.
Dean turned slightly smirking at the other man, “So I guess I owe you one.”
Victor smiled in return, “You owe me ‘bout a hundred, Dean.”
John stepped forward firing again, “Vick, Dean…they’re slingin’ lead like it’s raining and you two are gabbing like a couple old maids at a quilting party. Less talkin’ and more shootin’.”
“Yes, sir, boss.” Both younger men hissed at the same time. John shot them both a glare. Just as she turned marshal Azazel stood up firing. John jerked around once, a bright spot of red growing on the sleeve of his shirt. Dean gasped, Pa!”
His face set as hard as steel the elder Winchester brother caught his father as John staggered back, colt dropping from his trembling hand. With a snarl Dean dropped his own gun grabbing up his father’s .45 jumping forward.
Azazel stood a smirk spreading over his features, “Looks like you’re out for the count Johnny-boy!”
Chuckling he raised his gun pulling the trigger. But the weapon bucked silent and empty in his hand. Dean grinned raising the Colt and firing once. The marshal jerked once as the shot hit him square in the forehead and he slumped to the ground.
Dean bent down grasping his father gently by the arm, but John rolled away waving his son off, “I’m okay. Just worry about that gun-slinger of Crowley’s.”
Sam moved beside his brother, “Don’t worry about him, Dad. I got him. Dean you just go get Cas.”
Dean nodded, running for the door to the car of the train he had seen the three men leaving. Sam stepped up smiling at the gun-slinger but Morningstar just tipped his hat, “Well, Sammy-boy I’ve been waiting for you.”
Cocking his head Sam shrugged, “Kid Lucifer…one of the slimiest, low-life bastards I’ve ever had the displeasure to meet.”
Nick grinned even wider, “You’re pretty self-righteous for a man who robs trains and banks for a living, Winchester.”
“We look at it as more of a wealth re-distribution program, Lucifer. We only take back what the train barons and the bankers rob for honest law abiding folks in the first place.”
Quick as lightening Kid Lucifer whirled drawing his gun. He snapped off a quick shot but Sam was quicker still. You didn’t grow up with John Winchester to slow on the draw. The sound of thunder roared in the small enclosed alley and when the dust cleared Sam Winchester was standing tall as Nick clasped a hand to his belly. Blood pooled over his fingers. Grunting Nick fell to the ground his gun skittering over the hard packed earth.
“Well, finish it Sammy or you gonna leave me to gut shot and dying slow.”
“That’s exactly what I’m gonna do, Lucifer.”
“What about a little compassion, Winchester?” Nick called out as he watched the younger Winchester brother walk away. Sam turned. Carefully he walked back down the alley picking up Kid Lucifer’s own gun. With a quick practiced hand Sam opened the chamber dumping all the shells into one large palm. Casting a quick glance at the fallen gun-slinger Sam carefully slid one round into the revolver and handed it back to the other man.
“Considering all the innocent souls you laid to waste over the years Lucifer, consider this a mercy.”
&&&&&&&
The door to the dining car was half opened when Dean clambered up the short flight of wrought-iron stairs onto the small landing. He could hear the rich British accent of the railroad tycoon as he talked to Castiel. Leaning in the outlaw looked around the corner of the door to the former priest sitting stiffly in a chair and Crowley pacing agitatedly around the small room.
Crowley turned smiling an oily-looking small at the younger man, “Now Cas…that is what he calls you, yes?”
“I prefer if you called me Castiel,” the former priest snapped. “Only Dean calls me Cas.”
Smiling Crowley bowed gallantly, “As you wish, Castiel. You’re a very beautiful person. I always believed that you were wasted in the priesthood. And a breeder too. You’d be a prize. I’m a very wealthy man…even with all the thieving the Winchesters do. I can make life good for you.”
“I’d rather be dead than deal with you, Crowley.” Castiel snapped shoving the smaller man away. Dean felt his heart swell with pride. Stepping around the corner of the door Dean waved his father’s Colt .45 in Crowley’s face.
“You’re damned lucky you didn’t lay your slimy, snake-oil sellin’ hands on him, Crowley. Now step aside.”
When both men got to the alley entrance Sheriff Deacon was surveying the damage. The three bodies had already been claimed by the funeral parlor and the director was measuring away with his tape chattering about coffins and photographs.
When Dean rounded the alley toward the post they had tied off their horse he was glad to see his father seated in the saddle head held high. Victor had fashioned a good field dressing over the wound on John’s shoulder and although the older man was pale he was still steady in the saddle.
Dean swung up onto his horse then reached down a hand to Castiel. Cas smiled swinging up behind the outlaw and wrapping his arms firmly around the other man’s waist. As Dean urged the black horse into a fast trot with a whispered, “Giddyup, impala” Castiel leaned his cheek against his leather clad back sighing.
The four horses and their riders headed out of town and back along the trail to high country.
&&&&&&&
In the four months since Castiel had first come to the Winchester gang’s hide out the long cold winter had melted into a glorious spring. The creeks were running high with all the water from the early spring thaw and everywhere around the house was acres of lush green grass.
The vegetable garden was green and healthy promising food for long into the sultry summer, and the fruit trees were heavy with ripening apples and pears.
The house was buzzing with excitement it seems as if Jessica was in labor. Sam was hustled down the stairs early that morning as skittish as a newborn colt. All jangling limbs and stuttering. Finally Mary had calmed him down enough to figure out what was wrong. So the kettle had been put on to boil for hot water and the men were consigned to the front room and the dining table. John had groused long and hard about taking his coffee away from the warm smells of the kitchen until Mary had uttered the magic words “Grand child.”
Now Castiel and Dean were sitting in rocking chairs on the front porch listening to the hustle in the house as Jessica gave birth to her and Sam’s child. Castiel was nervous, pacing them settling and Dean kept trying to pull the smaller man into his lap, but Cas couldn’t settle.
Suddenly he retched leaning over the side of the porch brining up what little he had managed to eat that morning. Dean leaned over rubbing Castiel’s back gently, “You okay, Cas? I would say that all the excitement was getting to you but truthfully you been sick three out of the past four mornings. And most of the last two weeks as well. Maybe Ellen should have a look at you or Cassie.”
Castiel waved him away, “Oh no their busy with Jess and the delivery…”
Suddenly the sound of a baby wailing split the air and both men jumped up from their seats. Dean grinned for all he was worth, “Not any more they ain’t. Let’s go take a look at our little niece or nephew.”
Castiel followed Dean up the stairs. There was a small crowd milling around the doorway to Sam and Jessica’s room but suddenly the door burst open and Sam stepped out carrying a tiny blanket wrapped bundle in his arms.
John was pacing at the end of the hall and he whirled trotting up to his younger son. Sam pushed the baby at his father and John gulped. With shaking hands he took the precious bundle. Sam grinned, ‘Say hello to your granddaughter, Pa.”
John smiled lifting the corner of the blanket and hefting the baby so that everyone in the hall could see, “Oh Sam, she’s beautiful. She’s got Jess’s looks.”
As Mary and Ellen appeared in the hallway Dean stepped forward to see the new arrival. Castiel leaned in but a sudden wave of dizziness washed over him and he swayed dangerously. Dean caught him. Turning to Ellen with a panicked expression on his face.
Ellen wiped her hands on the towel draped over her shoulder, “Bring him in here. Guess the excitement got to him.”
Dean frowned shaking his head, ‘Nope he’s been sick for a few weeks now, but he didn’t want to bother you what with the baby coming and all.”
Ellen frowned, “Cas, how long have you been sick?”
“About three weeks, dizzy and I get sick to my stomach most mornings. I just can’t keep anything down until about noon, but sometimes it comes later too.”
Gently she touched his forehead, “No fever. Lift your shirt.”
Castiel balked blushing furiously, “Why?”
“Just do it,” she said. When he finally lifted the hem of his shirt Ellen took in the sight of is slightly swollen puffy nipples. She reached out gently giving one a slight pinch and Castiel jerked watching a droplet of clear fluid pearl at the tip. “Well, I’ll be damned.”
Turning she swatted Dean with the towel. “I guess congratulations are in order.”
Dean, John and Sam all turned to stare at Castiel. Then Mary uttered a giggle grabbing him into a tight hug, “Oh Dean…I’m so happy.”
Dean shot her a look that said he clearly thought his mother had lost her mind, “Happy that Cas is sick?”
“No,” she snickered. “Oh Dean, Cas isn’t sick. He’s pregnant. It looks like Sam’s baby won’t have to grow up alone after all!”
Kneeling down Dean took Castiel’s hand in his, “A baby? We’re gonna have a baby?”
“I wasn’t sure. I didn’t want to say anything. I’ve seen how enviously you looked at all those little booties and sweaters Cassie knitted all winter.”
With a smile Cassie threw her arms around Castiel’s shoulder, “Well, it’s a good thing I got all that practice in. Looks like I’m gonna be knitting a lot more.”
Later in the evening, after dinner John and Mary stood on the porch watching Ash and Adam harnessing the horses for the buckboard. The time had come to take the girls back into town although if Adam’s forlorn face was anything to go by Madison would be spending a lot more time on the ranch.
Jessica was settled in one of the rocking chairs on the porch wrapped in a shawl nursing the baby. And across the way John could see Dean and Castiel sitting in the old wooden swing pressed close together. Well, the Winchester clan was growing, first Sam and Jessica’s baby and soon Castiel would blossom, grown rounder with the new little one inside him. Maybe it wasn’t always what John had thought he wanted for his boys, but he was content.
Mary smiled up at him, “John are you okay. I mean with Dean and Cas. It ain’t exactly what everyone would call a perfect family.”
“Well, we ain’t exactly what everyone would call normal by a long shot. But we got one new grandbaby and one on the way. Yeah, I’m happy.”
As he watched Sam came out of the front door pulling a stool up beside Jessica reaching down to touch the baby’s face with trembling fingers. She smiled at him.
Across the lawn Dean leaned back in the swing putting am arm around Castiel pulling him close. Looking down the elder Winchester brother placed his hand on the smaller man’s belly, pressing his palm down as if searching for the spot that the tiny, child lay snuggled in Castiel’s belly. Cas preened under the attentions like a cat, pressing himself close to Dean and they settled back in the late afternoon sun.
To Be Continued in the Sequel High Country…